Results of skin test surveys for systemic Mycoses in Iran

Several investigators had carried out histoplasmin skin test surveys in 3 different areas of Iran before 1960 (5). To detect skin sensitivity to both histoplasmin and coccidioidin a study was carried out by the Institute of Public Health Research in parts of 7 of the country's 13 provinces on both apparently healthy persons and on clinic patients from February 1962–September 1966. These studies uncovered a small focus with a rather high level of positive reaction to histoplasmin (about 17 %). Positive cultures ofHistoplasma capsulatum were not obtained from either sputum of the positive reactors or from collected soils. In spite of a previously reported case of coccidioidomycosis, very low percentages of positive reaction to coccidioidin were noted.These studies were supported in part by the Institute of Public Health Research Teheran University, and funds of the Ministry of Health and Plan Organization for Project No. 631101 and N.I.H. Grant No. TW00170.Paper read at the Eighth International Congresses for Tropical Medicine and Malaria, September 1968, Teheran (Iran).     

ATP regulation of a large conductance voltage-gated cation channel in rough endoplasmic reticulum of rat hepatocytes

ATP-sensitive K⁺ channels play an important role in regulating membrane potential during metabolic stress. In this work we report the effect of ATP and ADP-Mg on a K⁺ channel present in the membrane of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) from rat hepatocytes incorporated into lipid bilayers. Channel activity was found to decrease in presence of ATP 100 μM on the cytoplasmic side and was totaly inhibited at ATP concentrations greater than 0.25 mM. The effect appeared voltage dependent, suggesting that the ATP binding site was becoming available upon channel opening. Channel activity was suppressed by the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog (ATPγS), ruling out a phosphorylation-based mechanism. Notably addition of 2.5 mM ADP-Mg to the cytosolic side increased the channel open probability at negative potentials. We conclude that the large conductance voltage-gated cation channel in RER of rat hepatocytes is an ATP and ADP sensitive channel likely to be involved in cellular processes such as Ca²⁺ signaling or control of membrane potential across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.     

Enhanced h6h transcript level,antioxidant activity and tropane alkaloid production in Hyoscyamus reticulatus L. hairy roots elicited by acetylsalicylic acid

Hyoscyamine (Hyos) and scopolamine (SCP) are drugs widely used as antimuscarinic to treat diseases such as Parkinson’s or to calm schizoid patients. In this study, with the aim of enhancing tropane alkaloid production in H. reticulatus hairy root cultures, the effects of the signalling molecule acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) were investigated at different concentrations (0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mM) and inoculation times (24 and 48 h). As well as reducing biomass production, ASA treatment significantly enhanced the activity of catalase, guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase (p < 0.01), which was highest at 48 h of exposure to 1 mM of ASA. The highest accumulation of Hyos and SCP (1.6- and 3.5-fold more than in the control, respectively) was obtained at 24 h of exposure to 0.1 mM ASA. Additionally, semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed an increased expression of the hyoscyamine-6-beta-hydroxylase (h6h) gene, involved in the last Hyos and SCP biosynthetic step, which correlated with the enhanced level of Hyos and SCP production under ASA elicitation. Our findings suggest that ASA, by stimulating the expression of key biosynthetic genes and enzymes, can be applied to increase commercial tropane alkaloid production in a H. reticulatus hairy root system.     

Prediction of the effect of chitosan on cell suspension culture of Azadirachta indica by response surface methodology

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Azadirachta indica is used to insects repellent, control diabetes, and combat&nbsp;with cancer. In this study, the effect of different...     

Association of interleukin-18 gene variants with susceptibility to visceral leishmaniasis in Iranian population

Host resistance to Leishmania infection is mediated by cellular immune responses leading to macrophage activation and parasite killing. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) known as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) inducing factor, stimulates IFN-γ production by T cells. Taking into account the important role of IL-18 in the defense against visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and the known effect of IL-18 gene polymorphisms on its production, the aim of this study was to investigate the probable relationship between IL-18 gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to VL. The study groups included 118 pediatric patients who suffered from VL and 156 non-relative healthy people as the controls from the same endemic area. IL-18 gene polymorphisms at the positions ?656 G/T, ?137 G/C and +105A/C (codon 35/3) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). The results showed that the frequency of T allele at the position -656 was significantly higher in the controls, compared with that in the patients (P = 0.047), but it couldn’t tolerate Bonferroni correction. Regarding the IL-18 genotypes, there was no significant difference between the patients and controls. Although the frequencies of ATG single haplotype and AGG/ATG double haplotype were significantly higher in the controls (P = 0.043) and the patients (P = 0.044), respectively, the two P values couldn’t tolerate Bonferroni correction. Furthermore, a strong linkage disequilibrium was observed among the ?656, ?137 and +105 single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-18 gene (all Ps < 0.001). In conclusion, this study suggests that the inheritance of T allele at the position ?656 may be considered as a genetic factor for resistance to VL.     

Dietary deoxynivalenol does not affect mineral element accumulation in breast and thigh muscles of broiler chicken

Deoxynivalenol (DON), a well-known contaminant of feed, can have negative effects on gut permeability and function in poultry, which then could affect major and trace element content of the broilers’ breast and thigh muscles, and ultimately reduce meat quality. To study this hypothesis, DON-contaminated diet was fed to broiler chicks. Two groups of birds were housed in metabolic cages with free access to water and feed, with or without DON (10 mg/kg). After 5 weeks, birds were dissected and samples of the breast and thigh muscles, feed and droppings were analysed for five macro (Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P) and ten micro elements (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, and Zn) by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) or inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) methods. In both groups, increased (p?<?0.05) concentrations of Ca Na, Fe, Mn, and Zn were found in thigh muscles compared with the breast, whereas the concentrations of Mg, P, and Rb were higher in the breast muscles. DON had no effect on the elemental contents of the broilers’ breast and thigh muscles. In conclusion, DON at a level of 10 mg/kg feed to broiler chicken over of 5 weeks did not alter the macro or micro element composition in muscle meat.