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Introduction and Aim: The process of spermatogenesis requires a continuous supply of nutrients for producing normal sperms. Methionine and choline are considered important amino acids in transport of energy substrates, redox balance, and in DNA methylation while the protein adiponectin is known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic function. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of methionine and choline on mice testis when fed with a methionine choline deficient diet (MCDD) as well as the protective effect of adiponectin on mice testis. Materials and Methods: This study comprised of 25 mice, which were divided into three groups: Control (n=5); M1 (n=10 that were fed with MCDD for three weeks) and M2 (n=10 that were fed with MCDD for three weeks and in the third week were administered with daily injections of adiponectin for one week). Results: The present study revealed MCDD caused a significant reduction in body weight and increase in the incidence of apoptosis where P value was 0.001; caspase-3 expression was higher than that of Bcl2 in group M1. Adiponectin therapy in the last week showed the potential to restore body weight, reduce apoptotic rate, and the expression of Bcl2 which was higher than that of caspase-3. Conclusion: A diet lacking in methionine and choline not only significantly reduced body weight in mice, but also increased the apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells. Adiponectin therapy in MCDD fed mice reduced the apoptotic rate and restored spermatogenesis.

Background: Sepsis is an issue of globular health care, characterized by complete inflammation of the body in response to microbial infection, which results in organ malfunction. This becomes a chronic patient complication. Therefore, sepsis may be a diverse and combined disease with varying etiology, severity, and treatment plan. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the existence of exposure and the resistance of microorganisms to the range of antibiotics in subjects of the local community. Results: Among 11 species of bacteria isolated from a variety of specimens, Escherichia coli (22.1%) and Staphylococcus aureus (20.3%) were the most common organism found over the subjects had been collected. The most sensitive antibiotics for Gram-negative E. coli were colistin 97%, imipenem 89%, meropenem 88%, and amikacin 79%, while the highest resistant rate was benzylpenicillin 93%, and oxacillin 86%. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) prevalence was 90%, vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) 31%. Conclusion: Because of the high incidence of VRSA and MRSA, clinicians should become more vigilant in using vancomycin and another important antibiotic. Moreover, maintain this useful drug to be used for a prolonged time with good efficacy.

Magnetohydrodynamic micropumps received more attention due to its applications in pumping of biological and chemical specimens, such as blood, DNA, and saline buffers. In this paper the MHD flow in different cross section microchannels has been numerically investigated with different electromagnetic boundary conditions. Square, rectangular, circular and trapezoidal cross section microchannels have been used to explore the effect of channel geometry on the MHD micropump operation. The study covers a selected range of applied electric currents and magnetic flux to show their effects on MHD flow. Thermal characteristics of MHD flow have been also studied by calculation the temperature distribution through MHD micropump region. The results obtained show a considerable effect of channel geometry, the applied electric and magnetic fields on the velocity and flow rate. The circular cross section micropump gave higher velocity and flow rate compared with other cross sections, and there is a slight increase in temperature due to small effect of Joule heating.

Background: Retinoic acid (RA) is one of the most critical molecules in the organic development of human being; it has been implicated in controlling of hundreds of genes which control several processes in human development. Furthermore, RA has negative insult on pregnancy outcome since it has teratogenic potential when used in high doses. Materials and Methods: Human neural stem cells are used in this study to test the effect RA in different doses on cell viability, cellular protein amount, neurite length, neurosphere sizes, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and migration distance. Results and Conclusions: Our results show that RA at low doses (2, 5 μM) preserve cell stemness and increase the sizes of neurospheres significantly, but at high doses, it appears that RA has a neurotoxic effect on these stem cells through significant increase in ROS which has negative effects on neurite length and cellular migration.

To assess the length of the spinal cord relative to the vertebral column during fetal development, we performed translumbar myelograms on 340 spontaneously aborted fetuses. Of these, 146 were selected for study. There were 76 males and 70 females, with fetal age ranging from 7 to 33 weeks. Significant variation in the level of spinal cord termination was found in fetuses between 12 and 25 weeks gestational age. In fetuses between 25 and 33 weeks gestational age, the cord ended at or above the third lumbar vertebra.

The blue-green alga Anabaena variabilis was cultivated in association with the fungus Trichoderma harzianum or the fungus Aspergillus flavus in axenic cultures. It was found that the fungi had a stimulating as well as an inhibiting effect on the nitrogen fixation and growth of the alga. The effects were influenced by the spore density of the inocula and by the light conditions used. Stimulating agents could be separated by dialysis from the fungal medium, which were of high molecular weight, while the inhibiting agents were of low molecular weight.

peer-reviewed Background: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual fifth edition (DSM-5) provides new criteria for delirium diagnosis. We examined delirium diagnosis using these new criteria compared with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual fourth edition (DSM-IV) in a large dataset of patients assessed for delirium and related presentations. Methods: Patient data (n = 768) from six prospectively collected cohorts, clinically assessed using DSM-IV and the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R98), were pooled. Post hoc application of DRS-R98 item scores were used to rate DSM-5 criteria. ‘Strict’ and ‘relaxed’ DSM-5 criteria to ascertain delirium were compared to rates determined by DSM-IV. Results: Using DSM-IV by clinical assessment, delirium was found in 510/768 patients (66%). Strict DSM-5 criteria categorized 158 as delirious including 155 (30%) with DSM-IV delirium, whereas relaxed DSM-5 criteria identified 466 as delirious, including 455 (89%) diagnosed by DSM-IV (P