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Wingless-related integration site (Wnt) signaling is one of the main oncogenic pathways in different malignancies. Therefore, targeting this pathway has been considered an exciting strategy in cancer treatment. Porcn is among the central enzymes in this pathway that has recently been considered for cancer-targeted therapy. As a membrane-bound O-acyltransferase, Porcn plays a critical role in wnt ligand palmitoylation and its subsequent secretion. In addition to Porcn's role in stem cell signaling and differentiation, recent findings have shown its role in developing and progressing colorectal, pancreatic, liver, head, and neck cancers. Developed small molecule inhibitors have also opened a promising window toward cancer treatment strategies. In this review, the structure and biological role of Porcn in different cancer-related signaling pathways and inhibitors used for inhibiting this enzyme are discussed., (© 2022 International Federation for Cell Biology.)

This research aimed to develop a healthy cookie formulation containing different types of resistant starch, through the application of TOPSIS approach, as a potent feature of MCDM methodologies. Physicochemical investigations reveled that a harder, denser and less sticky dough was produced by the addition of both types of RS. The baking of these doughs resulted in the production of crumblier cookies of less spread ratio, lower porous crumb and whiter surface/crumb. Moreover, in-vitro digestibility of the cookies demonstrated that the baking process can adversely reduce the resistance of RS4 to the enzymolysis reactions. This phenomenon was further corroborated by in-vivo studies where the RS4 enriched cookies were less capable in reducing the postprandial blood glucose. TOPSIS, through successful solving of the multiple criteria decision 9 (alternatives) × 15 (evaluated attributes) matrix suggested that the cookie containing 15% RS is the best alternative in all aspects, possessing acceptable physicochemical/organoleptic attributes, and in-vivo/in-vitro dietary fiber., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Malignantly transformed cells must alter their metabolic status to stay viable in a harsh microenvironment and maintain their ability to invade and spread. Anoikis, a specific detachment-related form of apoptotic cell death, is a potential barrier to cancer cell metastasis. Several molecular/pathway alterations have been implicated in preventing anoikis in metastatic cancers. Specific alterations in the lipid metabolism machinery (such as an increase in fatty acid uptake and synthesis) and modifications in the carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism are partially identified mechanisms associated with the anoikis resistance in various types of cancers, among other survival benefits. Following a summary of the molecular basis of the anoikis pathway, its resistance mechanisms, and the fundamentals of lipid metabolism in cancer, this article aims to elucidate the impact of lipid metabolism deviations recruited by cancer cells to escape anoikis., (© 2022 International Federation for Cell Biology.)

In this work, CdWO 4 (CWO), CWO: Ag, and CWO: Gd nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by a simple method. Incorporation of the prepared NPs in a polymeric matrix (Polyester) developed a highly luminescent and ionizing ray nanocomposite sensor. Results from XRD, XPS, FE-SEM and EDAX, verified the successful synthesize of pure and doped CWO nanoparticles with the mean size of approximately 50-70 nm. The luminescence properties of the synthesized NPs were examined under UV and ion-beam excitation. CWO: Ag nanoparticles exhibited the most intense emission in the blue-green range compared to the CWO and CWO: Gd samples. The scintillation response of the prepared composite films against alpha irradiation ( 241 Am source) was studied. The highest absolute efficiency (ε) was obtained for CWO: Ag composite film (58.18%) which has promising applications in flexible and transparent optical detectors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

One of the main characteristics of cancer cells is the alteration in lipid composition, which is associated with a significant monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) enrichment. In addition to their structural functions in newly synthesized membranes in proliferating cancer cells, these fatty acids are involved in tumorigenic signaling. Increased expression and activity of stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD1), i.e., an enzyme converting saturated fatty acids to Δ9-monounsaturated fatty acids, has been observed in various cancer cells. This increase in expression and activity has also been associated with cancer aggressiveness and poor patient outcome. Previous studies have also indicated the SCD1 involvement in increased cancer cells proliferation, growth, migration, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, metastasis, chemoresistance, and maintenance of cancer stem cells properties. Hence, SCD1 seems to be a player in malignancy development and may be considered a novel therapeutic target in cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review study aims to discuss the impact of SCD1 as a major component in lipid signaling in HCC., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: MicroRNA-129-2 (miR-129-2), targeting SOX4, has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of different cancers. Here in this study, we examined the methylation levels of the promoter region of MIR19-2 gene as well as transcription of miR-129-2 and mRNA expression of SOX4 in the tumoral tissues from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and compared those in the normal marginal tissues., Methods: Fifty CRC patients with Iranian Azari ethnicity were recruited. Genomic DNAs were extracted from the tumoral and normal tissues and the methylation level of the promoter regions of the MIR129-2 gene was determined using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) by evaluating 100 CG sites. The RNA content of the samples was isolated and the transcript levels of miR-129-2 and SOX4 were measured using quantitative real-time PCR., Results: Methylation level of the MIR192-2 promoter was significantly higher in the tumoral tissues compared to that in the normal marginal tissues (84% vs. 28%; P = 0.0041). The expression level of miR-192-2 was significantly downregulated (fold change = 0.34, P = 0.028) but SOX4 mRNA expression was upregulated (fold change = 2.7, P = 0.019) in the tumoral tissues compared to that in the normal marginal tissues. There was a significant correlation between the methylation level of the MIR192-2 promoter and the expression levels of miR-192-2 and SOX4 in the tumoral tissues. Associations were observed between the methylation of the MIR192-2 promoter and lymph node and liver metastasis., Conclusions: It seems that MIR192-2 promoter hypermethylation might regulate the expression of SOX4 and therefore modulate metastasis in CRC., (© 2021. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The article has been withdrawn at the request of the author of the journal Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology., Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may have caused., Bentham Science Disclaimer: It is a condition of publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure or table that has been published elsewhere must be reported, and copyright permission for reproduction must be obtained. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and by submitting the article for publication the authors agree that the publishers have the legal right to take appropriate action against the authors, if plagiarism or fabricated information is discovered. By submitting a manuscript the authors agree that the copyright of their article is transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net)

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common endocrine cancer. However, the role of biomechanics in the development and progression of PTC is obscure. The microarray dataset GSE104005 was examined to identify important microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) and their probable roles in the carcinogenesis of PTC. The gene expression omnibus (GEO) database was used to obtain the data. R was used to access the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) and genes (DEGs). The multiMiR software was used to predict DEM targets. To validate the top DEMs and DEGs, thirty tissue samples were obtained from PTC patients who had their thyroids removed and compared with 30 normal samples. The total RNA content of the tumor and corresponding non-tumoral adjacent samples were purified and converted to cDNA. Expression levels of top dysregulated miRNAs and their target and predicted DEG were evaluated using the RT-qPCR method. miR-182 and miR-183 were top upregulated miRs and miR-30d was the most downregulated miR among DEMs. Furthermore, FOXO1 which was shown to be targeted by aforementioned miRNAs, was the most downregulated genes among other DEGs. 10 hub nodes were detected by PPI construction. PTEN was the hub node with highest score. The i n vitro gene expression analysis was also showed the same expression pattern in tissues. Significant increase in miR-182-5p and miR-183-5p expressions, as well as a significant decrease in FOXO1 and miR-30d-5p expressions, suggest that PTC cells may tend to preserve their autophagy capability., Competing Interests: The authors have stated that they have no possible conflicts of interest in respect to this publication to disclose.

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) accounts for approximately 80% of all human thyroid malignancies. Recently, there has been a dramatic rise in the prevalence of thyroid cancer all over the globe. Through analysis of the GEO database, GSE104005, the authors of the current research were able to determine the differential expression of microRNAs (DEMs) as well as their target genes. Real-time PCR was used on a total of 40 samples, 40 of which were from PTC samples and 40 from normal tissues, in order to validate the discovered DEMs and the genes. Gene Ontology (GO) categories were identified, and KEGG was used to conduct pathway enrichment analysis. The multiMiR R package was used to predict target genes of DEMs. Mir-142 was found to be overexpressed in PTC samples, as compared to normal tissues, and this was validated by the identification and validation. In addition, metal ion binding and the cellular response to metal ions were identified as essential pathways in the carcinogenesis of PTC. This demonstrates their significance in the development of this malignancy. The results of our research will serve as the foundation for further research in the area of miRNA-based cancer treatment., Competing Interests: The authors of this research have indicated that they have nothing to report about potential conflicts of interest in relation to this publication.

Todays, with the industrialization of human societies, pollution of aquatic ecosystems with plastics derivatives are a serious concern, affecting the life of their organisms. The present study was conducted to investigate the size effects of micro-plastic, polystyrene on some physiological lesions of the goldfish, Carassius auratus. Fish were exposed to two sizes (0.25 and 8 μm) polystyrene at different environmentally relevant concentrations. The exposure trial was done in two steps. First, fish exposed to a stable concentration of 300 mg/L polystyrene for 168 h. Gill, intestine, and liver tissues were sampled every 24 h to investigate the accumulation of polystyrene. Then, fish were exposed in three replicates to 0 (control), 0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/L polystyrene in two sizes of 0.25 and 8 μm for 28 days. After the exposure period, gill, liver, and intestine tissues were sampled for histological study, also, serum samples were collected for biochemical assays. Fluorescent microscope observations confirmed the accumulation of polystyrene in tissue samples with time. In addition, histological lesions were found in the liver, intestine, and gill of the exposed fish. The severity of lesions showed a size and dose-dependent pattern. Polystyrene induced the antioxidant system of exposed fish through elevating the levels of SOD and CAT activity and significant difference in expression of antioxidant related genes (CAT, SOD and HSP70). In conclusion, the results of the present study confirmed the toxic effects of microplastic, polystyrene on goldfish., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Cobalt oxide nanoparticles were prepared via green chemistry route and fully characterized by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses; the CoO and Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles, in sheet-shaped cobalt oxide form, ensued simultaneously in one step. The varying concentrations of NPs were analyzed via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) test on the cancer cell line (U87) which revealed that with increasing concentration of cobalt oxide nanoparticles, the survival rate of U87 tumor cells decreases; IC 50 of nanoparticles being ~ 55 µg/ml -1 .

Superhydrophobic cotton fabrics were fabricated using chitosan/titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanocomposites. Morphology results revealed that the fabric's surface was utterly coated by the nanoparticles leading to the formation of a highly packed nano-scale structure in the case of superhydrophobic coating. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results also proved that TiO 2 nanoparticles were highly adsorbed onto the fabric's top layer. Durability of the superhydrophobic coating was investigated by immersing the fabric into harsh solutions and also by subjecting the fabric to sonication. The results showed the high resistance of the superhydrophobic fabric against harsh conditions. The nanocomposite-coated fabrics were found to exhibit promising UV-protecting properties especially for the superhydrophobic fabric which showed around 80% enhancement in the UV protecting properties as compared with the uncoated fabric. The bacterial adhesion results revealed that the combination of chitosan and TiO 2 results in high antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. The bacterial reduction percentages were further increased to 99.8 and 97.3% against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively, once the superhydrophobic character was also induced to the fabrics. The developed nanocomposite coated fabrics exhibited promising potential to be used as antibacterial and self-cleaning garments in hospital-related applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None is declared., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have diverse applications in the diagnosis and treatment of ailments. This study describes an extremely simplified synthesis of AuNPs using antioxidant-rich pollen extract as a local natural source. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the synthesized AuNPs; strong UV-vis absorption at 534 nm confirmed their formation, the XRD pattern showed the presence of a crystalline structure, and TEM images showed them to be spherical nanoparticles with an average size of 9.3 ± 2.9 nm. As synthesized AuNPs remained stable for up to two months under laboratory conditions without any sedimentation or change in the absorption value, presumably due to the protection afforded by the capping agents from pollen. AuNPs revealed low toxicity effects on MCF-7 and HUVECs cell lines (with an IC 50 value of ∼400 μg mL -1 for both the cell lines). The proposed method did not use any hazardous materials or high-energy consuming devices; thus this efficient protocol may be adapted for large-scale production using local resources., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Background: The available approaches for reducing mental problems, particularly for elderlies, include physical activities and exercise. Pilates is a sport that has received much attention during the past few years. The present study was conducted to explore the influence of Pilates on depression and happiness levels of elderly women., Methods: This randomized trial work was conducted on 60 elderly women referred to the health center of Rafsanjan city, southern Iran. The participants were randomly assigned into two intervention (Pilates) and control groups, each with 30 members. In the intervention group, participants did Pilates three sessions each week for 8 weeks. The control group did not receive any intervention similar to the intervention group. The happiness level of the participants was measured using the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI) and their depression was measured using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before, one month after, and two months after the intervention. A mixed ANOVA was applied for data analysis., Results: The majority of the participants were married housewives with primary education and age range of above 62 years. Based on the findings of this study, the mean happiness and depression scores of the participants at the end of months one and two in the intervention groups increased significantly compared to those of the control group., Conclusions: Doing Pilates for 8 weeks may positively affect the depression and happiness levels of the elderly. Thus, it is recommended as a healthy exercise for elderlies.

A comprehensive review of the literature on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients and recommendations regarding the evaluation and treatment of these patients was conducted. The overall prevalence of CLL and COVID-19 concurrence was found to be 0.6% (95%CI: 0.5% to 0.7%). Diagnostic interaction between CLL and COVID-19 remains a major challenge. Also, CLL patients have a lower rate of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG development. Evidences show the unacceptable therapeutic outcome in these patients. Although the CLL-COVID-19 occurrence is associated with adverse clinical consequences, no general and standard agreement has yet been presented for the management and treatment of this disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most prevalent acute leukemia in adults. It possesses different cytogenetic and molecular features. The expression of Wilms tumor-1 (WT1) , brain and acute leukemia, cytoplasmic (BAALC) and ETS-related gene (ERG) might be considered as prognostic factors in AML patients. The aim of this study was to determine the mRNA expressions of WT-1 , BAALC and ERG genes in bone marrow of mononuclear cells and their effects on complete remission in the Iranian AML patients, pre- and post- chemotherapy. Methods: Forty AML patients with normal karyotype were evaluated. The mRNA gene expressions were measured with quantitative real-time PCR in bone marrow of mononuclear cells of AML patients at the baseline and after chemotherapy. The subtypes of AML and flow cytometry panel were also assessed. Complete remission (CR) after the treatment was addressed for all patients. Results: The mRNA expressions of WT-1, BAALC and ERG were significantly decreased after the treatment ( p = 0.001, 0.017, 0.036). WT-1 mRNA expression was inversely correlated with CR after chemotherapy ( P =0.024). There was also significant correlation between baseline expression of BAALC and CR ( P =0.046). No significant correlation was observed between ERG and CR pre- and post- chemotherapy ( P =0.464 and 0.781). There was also significant correlation between BAALC mRNA expression and CD34+ ( P <0.001). Conclusion: The present study showed that WT-1 decreased significantly after standard chemotherapy which could have favorable effects on CR. Also, the high expression of BAALC could have a poor prognostic role in AML patients. The identification of these gene expressions can be an efficient approach in targeted therapy among AML patients., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Exosomes are nano-sized vesicles secreted by nearly all cells and have received massive attention recently. In addition to their roles in pathophysiological processes and diagnostic evaluations, recently, several studies have applied exosomes to design novel therapeutic applications. Exosomes can be derived from a variety of cells and tissues and based on the source, they can carry different native contents such as DNAs, non-coding small RNAs, mRNAs, and proteins. They can also be engineered by adding desirable agents including specific biomolecules or drugs. Both forms can be therapeutically used for delivering their cargoes to the target cells and desirably alter their functions. The present study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the various studies which applied exosomes as a therapeutic tool in the treatment of different types of diseases including cancer, cardiovascular, neurologic, psychiatric, liver, and kidney diseases., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

A 56-day research was performed to examine the influence of graded levels (0 (control), 0.5, 1 and 2%) of Fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) leaves powder (FLP) in diet on immune competence and growth of common carp (Cyprinus carpio, initial weight = 20 g). The serum total immunoglobulins content and lysozyme activity in the 1 and 2% FLP groups remarkably increased compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). The skin mucosal lysozyme activity enhanced with increasing dietary FLP level in a dose-response manner. Fish fed on the FLP-supplemented diets had higher skin-mucosal superoxide dismutase activity than the control (P < 0.05). However, serum antioxidant enzymes were not affected by dietary fern (P > 0.05). The serum bactericidal activity against human and fish pathogens increased with enhancing the FLP level in diet against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli (EHEC ATCC 43895), Escherichia coli (CI), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia and Aeromonas hydrophila. The serum antibacterial activity against Yersinia ruckeri in the 2% FLP group was higher than the other treatments. Furthermore, the serum bactericidal activity against P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) only observed in fish fed on the 1 and 2% FLP-supplemented diets. The skin mucosal bactericidal activity and inhibitory effects increased with enhancing the FLP level in diet against E. coli, K. pneumonia, Y. ruckeri and A. hydrophila in a dose response manner. Moreover, the skin mucosal bactericidal activity against S. aureus only observed in fish fed on 1 and 2% FLP-supplemented diets. The weight gain values in the 1 and 2% FLP groups were higher than the other treatments (P < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved with increasing FLP level in diet in a dose-response manner (P < 0.05). By considering serum and mucosal bactericidal activities against different pathogenic bacteria, the supplementation of 2% FLP in diet is recommended for C. carpio during grow-out phase., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite various individual studies on the quality of life (QOL) in patients with CHF, a comprehensive study has not yet been conducted; therefore, this study aims to assess the QOL of CHF patients. In the present systematic review and meta-analysis, PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of science databases were searched from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018, using QOL and heart failure as keywords. The searches, screenings, quality assessments, and data extractions were conducted separately by two researchers. A total of 70 studies including 25,180 participants entered the final stage. The mean QOL score was 44.1 (95% confidence interval (CI) 40.6, 47.5; I 2 = 99.3%) using a specific random effects method in 40 studies carried out on 12,520 patients. Moreover, according to the geographical region, heart failure patients in the Americas had higher scores. In 14 studies, in which a general SF-36 survey was implemented, the average physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS) were 33.3 (95% CI 31.9, 34.7; I 2 = 88.0%) and 50.6 (95% CI 43.8, 57.4; I 2 = 99.3%), respectively. The general and specific tools used in this study indicated moderate and poor QOL, respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out periodic QOL measurements using appropriate tools as part of the general care of CHF patients.

We report here a simple microwave irradiation method (850 W, 3 min) for the synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) using ascorbic acid (as reducing agent) and sodium alginate (as stabilizer agent). The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Antioxidant properties and cytotoxic effects of as-synthesized Pd NPs and Pd (II) acetate were also assessed. UV-Vis study showed the formation of Pd NPs with maximum absorption at 345 nm. From TEM analysis, it was observed that the Pd NPs had spherical shape with particle size distribution of 13-33 nm. Based on DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power assay, the antioxidant activities of Pd NPs were significantly higher than the Pd (II) acetate (p < 0.05). At the same concentration of 640 μg/mL, the scavenging activities were 32.9 ± 3.2% (Pd (II) acetate) and 27.2 ± 2.1% (Pd NPs). For A549 cells treated 48 h with Pd NPs, Pd (II) acetate, and cisplatin, the measured concentration necessary causing 50% cell death (IC 50 ) was 7.2 ± 1.7 μg/mL, 32.1 ± 2.1 μg/mL, and 206.2 ± 3.5 μg/mL, respectively. On HSkMC cells, the IC 50 of the Pd NPs (320 μg/mL) was higher compared to Pd (II) acetate (228.7 ± 3.6 μg/mL), which confirmed lower cytotoxicity of the Pd NPs.

Joubert syndrome (JS) disease is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorder with mutations in more than 35 genes involved in its pathogenicity. Molecular genetic methods including next generation sequencing (NGS) and Sanger sequencing are effective techniques used for identifying rare genetic variants that have a strong effect on disease pathogenesis. In this study, we tested a large pedigree with a history of several affected members with JS. At first the proband was sequenced by NGS technique then, confirmed by sanger sequencing method. After this, all available members of the pedigree were subjected to molecular analysis by sanger sequencing technique. The results of this study showed a novel variant in the C5ORF42 gene c.3080A > T: p. D1027V leading to a substitution of a valine for aspartic acid (D1027V) and may be associated with JS. This variant was present in proband compatible with autosomal recessive pattern. Also this variant was present in all parents (both father and mother) of affected individuals in a heterozygous state. It seems that mutations in C5ORF42 gene are associated with JS. However, the substantial mechanism requires further investigation.

The use of veterinary drugs for the treatments of fish diseases has often health and environmental side effects and thus alternative more sustainable strategies are needed. In this study we have explored the effect of dietary administration of lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) leaves powder on growth, immune parameters and antioxidant enzyme activity of rainbow trout (Oncorrhyncus myskiss). The results show that adding lemon verbena (LV) leaves powder (0.5, 1 and 2%), as feed supplement does not affect significantly rainbow trout growth, but increases the levels of some immune parameters. All enriched-diets induced an increase in the levels of lysozyme activity and total immunoglobulin in rainbow trout serum (P < 0.05), whilst 1 and 2% enriched-diets increased lysozyme and immunoglobulin in skin mucus. Expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was enhanced in all fish supplemented with LV leaves powder (0.5, 1 and 2%) whilst only the diet with the highest dose (2%) induced a significantly higher expression of IL-8 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α). Fish fed with LV leaves powder at 1 and 2% had significantly lower expression of transforming growth factor (TGF-β, P < 0.05). Furthermore, all enriched-diets significantly increased the activity of super oxide dismutase (SOD, P < 0.05) and diets containing 1 and 2% of LV leaves powder also increased activity of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). In conclusion, LV leaves powder administered as feed supplement at 2% enhances the expression of some immune-related genes (IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF- α), rises the levels of lysozyme and total immunoglobulin in serum and skin mucus and increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GST and GPx) in rainbow trout., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the extracted egg yolk antibody along with lycopene on the chemical quality of the rainbow trout fillet during 16 days of refrigeration storage. Chickens were immunized against Pseudomonas fluorescens ( P. fluorescens ) , Shewanella putrefaciens ( S. putrefaciens ) and total spoilage bacteria and their eggs were collected for the isolation of egg yolk antibodies. Then fish fillets were immersed in chitosan-based coating solutions, containing lycopene and extracted antibodies, and analyzed for lipid oxidation changes (peroxide, thiobarbituric acid, free fatty acid and fatty acid profile), physico-chemical properties (pH and water holding capacity), and sensory evaluation, during 16 days of refrigeration storage. Results showed that chitosan solutions with lycopene or IgY could significantly ( p  < 0.05) increase the oxidative stability of lipids in fish fillets; although, combinational use of lycopene and IgY showed a higher effect on delaying the rate of lipid oxidation. Significant differences were also observed between treatments contained combination of chitosan, antibody and lycopene with the control group, regarding pH and WHC. Saturated fatty acids increased in all treatments, although the changes in the treatments containing lycopene and antibody were significantly ( p  < 0.05) lower than the control group. Hence the addition of egg yolk antibody and lycopene in coating solution are good bio-preservatives for seafood products as it improves sensory attributes and prevents lipid oxidation., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2019.)

On-going prediction and synthesis of two-dimensional materials attract remarkable attention to engineer high performance intended devices. Through this, comprehensive and detailed uncovering of the material properties could be accelerated to achieve this goal. Hexagonal boron arsenide (h-BAs), a graphene counterpart, is among the most attractive 2D semiconductors. In this work, our objective is to explore the mechanical, electronic, and thermal properties of h-BAs. We found that this novel 2D material can show a high elastic modulus of 260 GPa, which is independent of the loading direction. We also observed that this system shows a direct and narrow band-gap of 1.0 eV, which is highly desirable for electronic applications. The focus of our investigation is to gain an in-depth understanding of the thermal transport along the monolayer h-BAs and further tune the thermal conductivity by strain engineering. In this regard, the thermal conductivity of a stress-free and pristine monolayer was predicted to be 180.2 W m-1 K-1, which can be substantially enhanced to 375.0 W m-1 K-1 and 406.2 W m-1 K-1, with only 3% straining along the armchair and zigzag directions, respectively. The underlying mechanism for such a remarkable boosting of thermal conductivity in h-BAs was correlated to the fact that stretching makes the flexural out-of-plane mode the dominant heat carrier. Our results not only improve the understanding concerning the heat transfer in h-BAs nanosheets but also offer possible new routes to drastically improve the thermal conductivity, which can play critical roles in thermal management systems.

Background: The key proliferative RTKs for AML include c-KIT receptor (CD117) and FLT-3 receptor (CD135). The aim of this study was to evaluate the CD135 and CD117 expression, co-expression of CD135 and CD117 (CD135+CD117), and the association of that co-expression with Event Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS) rates. Material and Methods: We analyzed CD117 and CD135 expression on AML blasts by flow cytometry and its association with Event Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS) in 66 AML treated on Hematology-Oncology Research Center, Iran, Tabriz. Results: The overall OS and EFS were 50% and 80.3% respectively during our study. Cox-regression analysis revealed that a poor EFS was significantly associated a low CD135 (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.13–0.88, P = 0.02). Conclusion: This is the first study from Iran to show that the expressions of CD135, CD117 is easily measurable by routine diagnostic flow-cytometry, and CD135+117 were not significantly associated with CR, EFS, or OS .

In the present work, cross-linked resistant starch (RS4) was prepared under sonication and conventional conditions at various levels of pH (9-12) and cross-linker concentration (sodium trimetaphosphate/sodium tripolyphosphate 99:1, 5-15%). It was found that phosphorous and resistant starch content was generally increased by increasing the cross-linker concentration, pH and application of sonication. The damage to the surface of sonicated granules was revealed by scanning electron micrographs. The presence of cross-linked phosphorous groups was demonstrated by FT-IR results through the appearance of a new peak at wave numbers of 1248-1252 cm -1 that was more conspicuous in sonicated cross-linked samples. Sonicated cross-linked starches showed higher gelatinization temperatures and lower degrees of crystallinity, while no changes was detected in terms of A-type crystalline pattern. The development of viscosity was diminished prominently by the extreme cross-linking reactions in both sonicated and conventional cross-linked starches. The least glycemic index value was obtained for sonicated cross-linked starches which was negatively correlated to their higher RS content measured in-vitro. These results provide novel information on the preparation of cross-linked resistant starch under sonication conditions., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The relative contribution of foodstuffs to intake of heavy metal is still equivocal, and thus, available data are rare. Here, the concentration of ten heavy metals and arsenic were measured in the content of hen egg from five strains of commercial laying hens to evaluate contamination level and potential health risk among local and international consumers in Iran. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of all heavy metals was significantly lower than the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) and respective tolerable daily intake (TDI). The non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk values for eating eggs were in the safe range for all consumers, indicating that the no health risk for consumers due to the daily intake of either arsenic or heavy metals. Therefore, intake of heavy metal exposure through the consumption of commercial egg product in Iran is completely safe for both national and international consumers.

Incorporation of natural ingredients antioxidants in edible fats can profitably affect their oxidative stability during production and storage. The purposes of the current work were to assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial effect of walnut kernel septum membranes hydroalcohol extract (WHE) in traditional butter (TB). Antioxidant characterization of the extract was screened through methods of DPPH, reducing power and total phenolic assays. After preparation of traditional butter from yogurt, WHE was incorporated into TB at three different concentrations; 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.5% and compared with a control, BHT and tocopherol treated samples (200 mg of BHT and tocopherol/kg). Microbiological studies ( Staphylococcus aureus , Coliforms, Psychrotrophic bacteria, yeasts and molds) were done during 90 days of storage time. Changes in Anisidine value (AV), acid value, peroxide value (PV) free fatty acids (FFA), Schaal and Totox value were monitored at 45-day intervals. Sensory evaluation was done using 10 semi-trained panelists based on the 5-point hedonic scale. It was found that the total phenolic content of WHE was 368.86 mg GAE/g. The BHT had higher antioxidant activity than WHE inhibiting 92.3% of the DPPH radical at 600 μg/mL. Peroxide value of TB treated with tocopherol, BHT and WHE 0.5% was 0.29 ± 0.07, 0.39 ± 0.07 and 0.52 ± 0.04 respectively. Furthermore, the WHE incorporated butter has shown low levels of free fatty acids, Schaal and Totox value when compared to control treatment. The WHE 0.5% incorporated sample had the most antimicrobial activity and it inhibited the growth of all the microorganisms (except Staphylococcus aureus ) used in the study. Among the treated TB, the samples treated with the control and WHE 0.05% had the highest sensory attributes score. The study showed that WHE could be an excellent natural origin of antimicrobial and antioxidant agents which can be used in butter.

Objectives: Rosmarinus officinalis L., a member of the family Lamiaceae, is regarded as the spice with the highest antioxidant activity., Materials and Methods: In this study, the transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) physicochemical characteristics of the nanostructure of gamma-irradiated rosemary were investigated., Results: The particle size distribution of the gamma-irradiated rosemary prepared under irradiation at 30 kGy in a Cobalt-60 irradiator exhibited a very narrow size distribution with average size of 70 nm. The results showed that irradiated (30 kGy) and crude rosemary had similar patterns of FTIR spectra, typical of phenol compound, without any notable changes in the key bands and functional groups status. Rosemary irradiated with 50 kGy and 10 kGy showed the highest and lowest crystallinity, respectively. Rosemary crystallinity of irradiated samples was lower compared with the nonirradiated sample., Conclusion: Therefore, 30 kGy can be optimum for the synthesis of nanoparticles, average size of 70 nm, with low crystallinity and without any notable change in key bands compared to nonirradiated samples., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors., (©Copyright 2019 Turk J Pharm Sci, Published by Galenos Publishing House.)

Background: Dendritic cells (DCs) are used in many malignancies as vaccines to induce immunity against specific cancer antigens. The role of DCs in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is not determined. In this study, the proportion of mCRPC patients with clinically significant response to targeted therapy by DCs pulsed with prostate-specific membrane antigen was evaluated, and the possible adverse effects of this modality were investigated., Methods: Major databases were searched up to Feb 2017, to identify studies in which the antitumor efficacy of DCs pulsed with the extracellular portion of PSMA was studied for the treatment of mCRPC. Data were collected by two reviewers and analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software, version 2.0., Findings: Our study consisted of 6 nonrandomized prospective (cohort) trials, overall reporting on 153 mCRPC patients. The event rate that is the representative of fraction of patients showing antitumor response was 0.43 (95% confidence interval = 0.355-0.512; P  = 0.097). No significant between-study heterogeneity or inconsistency was detected (I 2  = 5.47; Q = 5; P  = 0.382). Our study failed to demonstrate a significant therapeutic efficacy for DCs in mCRPC. However, no significant adverse effects were seen.

The double emulsions and freeze-dried microcapsules containing fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) and fish oil (FO) were stabilized by complexs of whey protein concentrate (WPC) with inulin (Inu) and fucoidan (Fuc) in terms of physical characteristics (particle size distribution, morphology, encapsulation efficiency, solubility, …), oxidative stability, nutritional quality and in vitro release. Higher encapsulation efficiency and solubility were observed in Fuc-WPC microcapsules (86.31% and 30.26 mg/100 g, respectively). The combination of Fuc-WPC in the wall material showed higher oxidative stability than other wall material. The higher values of PUFA and SFA were observed in Inu-WPC Fuc-WPC microcapsules, respectively. The Fuc-WPC and Inu + Fuc-WPC micrographs showed a more porous structure compared to Inu-WPC. The mean particle size ranged from 536.8 ± 52.70 to 842.36 ± 21.41 nm. No significant differences were observed in the released oil and the fatty acid composition during gastrointestinal digestion. Sensory evaluation of fortified natural yogurt with microcapsules showed lower fishy flavor in Inu-WPC samples than those fortified with Fuc-WPC and Inu + Fuc-WPC. In general, the use of inulin with WPC as a wall materal resulted in good characteristics and sensory attributed, although the use of fucoidan with WPC conferred higher oxidative stability during storage., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aim: Extending the shelf life of foods is an essential concept in food safety. Most of the time, foods deteriorate through the growth of microorganisms or oxidation process. Essential oils (EOs) derived from plant material have well-documented antioxidant and antibacterial activity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss EO (ZEO) and Mentha piperita EO (MEO) on the chemical stability of minced meat during storage at 7°C., Materials and Methods: Total phenolic content, β-Carotene bleaching test, ferric reducing antioxidant potential assay, and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity were used to determine the antioxidant potential of EOs. Five different groups including control, ZEO 0.3%, ZEO 0.5%, MEO 0.3%, and MEO 0.5% were designed to assess the chemical stability of minced meat by measuring pH, thiobarbituric acid (TBA), total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN), and peroxide value (PV)., Results: pH did not have any significant change during storage. TBA values in the control group were significantly higher than the treatment groups, especially from the 5 th day of storage. TVBN in the treatment group was significantly lower than the control group during storage. PV values in the treatment group were significantly lower than the control group during storage., Conclusion: Results indicate that ZEO and MEO had an excellent antioxidant activity and retarded the spoilage process in minced meat.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of amino acid metabolism caused by mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene, characterized by intellectual deficit and neuropsychiatric complications in untreated patients with estimated frequency of about one in 10,000 to 15,000 live births. PAH deficiency can be detected by neonatal screening in nearly all cases with hyperphenylalaninemia on a heel prick blood spot. Molecular testing of the PAH gene can then be performed in affected family members. Herein, we report molecular study of 635 patients genetically diagnosed with PKU from all ethnicities in Iran. The disease-causing mutations were found in 611 (96.22%) of cases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive molecular genetics study of PKU in Iran, identifying 100 distinct mutations in the PAH gene, including 15 previously unreported mutations. Interestingly, we found unique cases of PKU with uniparental disomy, germline mosaicism, and coinheritance with another Mendelian single-gene disorder that provides new insights for improving the genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis (PND), and/or pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for the inborn error of metabolism group of disorders.

The impact of strain or feed intake on food trace elements and its health risk assessment is still ambiguous, and therefore, available facts are rare. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effects of both strains and feed intake on trace elements depositions to egg, toxic heavy metals concentration, and health risk assessment of egg consumption. In the current cross-sectional study, the selected strains, including Shaver White, Hy-Line W36, Bovanse White, Lohman LSL-Lite, and Native laying hens of Khorasan Razavi province, were examined. A total number of 50 samples of eggs and 15 samples of their feed was purchased from poultry farms. Yolk and white were separately analyzed. Sample preparation was performed by wet digestion followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Trace metals Pb, As, Cd, Hg, Cr, and Ni were detected. Statistical analysis was performed in Stata11.2 portable software. Although there was a significant difference in strains and feed, no significant difference was observed in trace elements in egg contents (weight of egg white and egg yolk). Mercury concentration in all the samples was below the instrument detection limit. In this study, the target hazardous quotients were below one for all trace elements. Therefore, Iranian does not experience the adverse health effects due to the consumption of egg.

The self-assembly into dynamic oligomers of Cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), a positive ditopic Ir(III) bis-terpyridine complex, and a negative ditopic Fe(II) bis-terpyridine complex flanked by four butyrate side chains was assessed to answer a seemingly straightforward question: does CB[8] adopt a social self-sorting pattern by encapsulating both positive and negative units into a heteroternary complex? We showed that this is indeed the case, with CB[8] linking a positive Ir unit to a neighboring negative Fe unit whenever possible. Furthermore, the solubility of the dynamic oligomers was significantly affected by their sequence; upon addition of 0.6-1.2 equiv of positive Ir oligomer to its negative Fe counterpart, the predominant assembly present in solution was a mixed oligomer with a (Fe-Ir-Ir-) n sequence. Weak interactions between the negative butyrate side chains and the partially positive outer wall of CB[7] were also identified by two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, and resulted in a negative p K a shift (0.10 p K a unit) for the terminal carboxylic groups.

Two-dimensional (2D) structures of boron atoms, so-called borophene, have recently attracted remarkable attention. In a recent exciting experimental study, a hydrogenated borophene structure was realized. Motivated by this success, we conducted extensive first-principles calculations to explore the mechanical, thermal conduction, electronic and optical responses of borophene hydride. The mechanical response of borophene hydride was found to be anisotropic, with an elastic modulus of 131 N m -1 and a high tensile strength of 19.9 N m -1 along the armchair direction. Notably, it was shown that by applying mechanical loading the metallic electronic character of borophene hydride can be altered to direct band-gap semiconducting, very appealing for application in nanoelectronics. The absorption edge of the imaginary part of the dielectric function was found to occur in the visible range of light for parallel polarization. Finally, it was estimated that this novel 2D structure at room temperature can exhibit high thermal conductivities of 335 W mK -1 and 293 W mK -1 along the zigzag and armchair directions, respectively. Our study confirms that borophene hydride shows an outstanding combination of interesting mechanical, electronic, optical and thermal conduction properties, which are promising for the design of novel nanodevices.

Background: Food-borne trematode infections and hydatidosis are endemic diseases caused by helminths in Iran that are responsible for great economic loss and getting public health at risk., Aim: Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of fasciolosis, dicrocoeliasis, and hydatidosis infections in slaughtered sheep and goats in Nishapour, Khorasan Razavi province of Iran., Materials and Methods: A survey was implemented on 130,107 sheep and goats slaughtered at an abattoir in Nishapour (Neyshbur) city, north central Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran, to determine the prevalence of fascioliasis, dicrocoeliosis and presence of hydatidosis., Results: During a 1-year period of study, among 130,107 of sheep and goats slaughtered at Nishapour abattoir, 1064 and 7124 livers were condemned totally and partially, respectively. A total of 255 (0.19%), 181 (0.12 %), and 7751 (5.95%) of livers were condemned due to cysts of Echinococcus granulosus , flukes of Fasciola spp., and Dicrocoelium dendriticum , respectively. Totally, 1932 (1.48%) lungs were condemned due to hydatidosis. The significant seasonal pattern was seen for fasciolosis, dicrocoeliosis, and hydatidosis, statistically (p<0.01)., Conclusion: According to this study, it seems that Neyshabour is considered as an endemic region for Fasciola spp. and D. dendriticum infections and D. dendriticum is the most widespread liver fluke found in sheep and goats.

We were guided by the Protection Motivation Theory to test the motivational interviewing effects on attitude and intention of obese and overweight women to do regular physical activity. In a randomized controlled trial, we selected using convenience sampling 60 overweight and obese women attending health centres. The women were allocated to 2 groups of 30 receiving a standard weight-control programme or motivational interviewing. All constructs of the theory (perceived susceptibility, severity, self-efficacy and response efficacy) and all anthropometric characteristics (except body mass index) were significantly different between the groups at 3 study times. The strongest predictors of intention to do regular physical exercise were perceived response efficacy and attitude at 2- and 6-months follow-up. We showed that targeting motivational interviewing with an emphasis on Protection Motivation Theory constructs appeared to be beneficial for designing and developing appropriate intervention to improve physical activity status among women with overweight and obesity.

This study was designed and conducted to evaluate the frequency, antimicrobial resistance, and presence of six virulence-associated genes among thermophilic Campylobacters isolated from raw milk, poultry (chicken, turkey, and duck), fish, cattle, and sheep meat. Out of 590 samples, which were recovered from different origins, 141 (23.9%) samples were positive for Campylobacters. Campylobacter spp. was isolated in 40.8% (106/260), 14% (28/200), and 8.7% (7/80) of poultry meat, red meat, and milk samples, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility test indicated a high frequency of resistance to ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and nalidixic acid among the isolates. Furthermore, prevalence of waaC, ciaB, and pldA genes were 91.7%, 86.7%, and 80.8%, respectively; and, none of the isolates harbored both wlaN and cgtB genes, simultaneously. Moreover, there was a weak correlation between antibiotics resistance and presence of the pathogen genes. However, the existence of Campylobacter spp. isolates in food animal products, with high resistance to antibiotics and several virulence gene possessions, is alarming and increases the attention to the widespread use of antibiotics.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the bacteria associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates during 2013-2015 in Northern Iran., Materials and Methods: Overall 3798 patients with clinical symptoms of UTI were subjected as samples, and they were cultured and pure isolated bacteria were identified using biochemical tests and subjected to antibiogram assessment using disc diffusion method., Results: Totally, 568 (14.96%) from 3798 patients had positive UTI. Four hundred and ninety-seven (87.5%) from 568 isolated bacteria were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus spp., and Pseudomonas spp. were the most prevalent bacteria. Isolated bacteria indicated the highest antibiotic resistance to methicillin (76.06%) and ampicillin (89.29%) and also revealed the most sensitivity to imipenem (99.1%) and amikacin (91.57%). Statistical analysis of the resistance pattern trend during 3 years indicated the insignificant increase ( P > 0.05) in antibiotic resistance of the isolates., Conclusion: The results of this study revealed a great concern for emerging UTI-related multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria causing UTI in Iran., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Herbal-derived medicines have introduced as sources of novel drugs due to minimum systemic side effects. Silibinin as a flavonoid compound has showed with effective chemotherapeutic effects on different cancers. Here, we investigated the impact of combination therapy of silibinin, with paclitaxel and cisplatin in inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and the percentage of apoptotic cells was measured using flowcytometric assay. Understand of molecular mechanism of this combination related to apoptotic pathway were evaluated by Real Time RT-PCR assays. The IC50 values for silibinin, paclitaxel and cisplatin were 160 ± 22.2 μM, 33.7 ± 4.2 nM and 3.2 ± 0.5 μM, respectively. Paclitaxel and cisplatin induced higher percentage of apoptosis in MCF-7 (P < 0.05). Treatment of cell line with combination of silibinin and paclitaxel or cisplatin showed enhanced early apoptosis 56% and 61%, respectively (P < 0.05). Gene expression patterns demonstrated a significant decrease in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 with increase in pro-apoptotic Bax, P53, BRCA1 and ATM mRNA levels. Taken together combination therapy of breast cancer cells by applying paclitaxel or cisplatin with silibinin synergistically increases the anti-proliferative effect of single agents., (Creative Commons Attribution License)

The present study was conducted to preserve the microbial quality of chicken meat fillets during storage time by using sodium alginate active coating solutions incorporated with different natural antimicrobials including nisin, Cinnamomum zeylanicum (cinnamon), and rosemary essential oils (EOs) which were added individually and in combination. The samples were stored in refrigeration condition for 15days and were analyzed for total viable count, Enterobacteriaceae count, lactic acid bacteria count, Pseudomonas spp. count, psychrotrophic count, and yeast and mold count, as well as fate of inoculated Listeria monocytogenes at 3-day intervals. Results indicated that values of tested microbial indicators in all samples increased during storage. Antimicrobial agents, when used in combination, had stronger effect in preserving the microbial quality of chicken meat samples rather than their individual use and the strongest effect was observed in samples coated with alginate solution containing both cinnamon and rosemary EOs (CEO+REO). However, all treatments significantly inhibited microbial growth when compared to the control (P<0.05). Therefore, based on the results of this study, application of alginate coating solutions containing nisin, cinnamon, and rosemary EOs as natural preservatives is recommended in meat products especially in chicken meats., (Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Listeria monocytogenes is one of the major causes of infections in developing countries. In this study, chemical composition and anti-listerial effect of the essential oil of Zataria multiflora Boiss. alone and in combination with monolaurin were evaluated at different pH values (5, 6, and 7) and temperatures (5 ˚C and 30 ˚C). Chemical composition of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the essential oil and monolaurin were determined using microbroth dilution method and the interactions of essential oil and monolaurin were determined by the evaluation of fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC) index. Carvacrol (63.20%) and thymol (15.10%) were found as the main components of the essential oil. The MIC values of the oil and monolaurin at pH 7 and 30 ˚C were measured as 312.50 µg mL(-1) and 125.00 µg mL(-1), respectively. Combination of monolaurin and Z. multiflora essential oil were found to act synergistically (FIC index < 0.5) against L. monocytogenes under different pH and temperature conditions. Decrease in the pH and temperature values have increased the anti-listerial activity of monolaurin and the essential oil. The lowest MIC value of monolaurin and essential oil was observed at pH 5 and 5 ˚C. According to our results, the oil alone or in combination with monolaurin at low pH and temperature conditions showed a promising inhibitory effect on L. monocytogenes.

Although poultry meat is considered as the main source for human Campylobacter infections, there is limited information about non-poultry sources. The present study was aimed to investigate the prevalence and the antibiotic resistance of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in fecal samples of the cattle and sheep in Shiraz, Iran. A total of 302 fecal samples were obtained from clinically healthy, slaughtered cattle and sheep from Shiraz slaughterhouse. The animals were clinically healthy before being slaughtered. The samples were cultured according to the specific cultivation method under thermophilic conditions. The susceptibility of Campylobacter isolates were determined for 13 antimicrobial agents. All enriched samples and cultured isolates were targeted for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of 16S rRNA and multiplex PCR for determining their species. Among 302 fecal samples, 65 (21.5%) and 205 (67.8%) samples were positive for the presence of Campylobacter species with the cultivation and PCR techniques, respectively. All 65 distinct isolates were susceptible to neomycin and colistin and the isolates showed high resistance to cephalotin (83.0%) and ciprofloxacin (67.7%). After the multiplex PCR, 78.5% of total positive samples showed the simultaneous presence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli . In conclusion, the results emphasized that non-poultry farms are important as a possible source of Campylobacter infections.

This study is conducted to determine the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of Arcobacter spp. isolated from clinically healthy food animals. A total of 308 samples from cattle (200) and sheep (108) were collected from Shiraz slaughterhouse, southern Iran to investigate the presence of the important Arcobacter spp. using cultivation and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Arcobacter isolates was determined for 18 antibiotics using disk diffusion method. Among 308 samples, 27 (8.7%) and 44 (14.28%) were positive for the presence of Arcobacter species with cultivation and PCR procedures, respectively. The predominant species was A. butzleri in both cattle (58.33%) and sheep (55%). In addition, concurrent incidence of the species was observed in 25% of the positive samples. All Arcobacter isolates were resistant to rifampicin, vancomycin, ceftriaxone, trimethoprim and cephalothin. The isolates showed high susceptibility to tetracycline, oxytetracycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, kanamycin, amikacin, gentamicin and enrofloxacin. No significant difference among cattle and sheep isolates in resistance pattern was observed. The results indicate that cattle and sheep are significant intestinal carriers for Arcobacter spp. Moreover, tetracycline and aminoglycosides showed great effects on Arcobacter species in antibiogram test and can be used for treatment of human Arcobacter infections., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of date palm fruit extracts (DPFE) on skin mucosal immunity, immune related genes expression and growth performance of fry common carp (Cyprinus carpio). One hundred and twenty specimens (4.06 ± 0.13 g) were supplied and allocated into six aquaria; specimens in three aquaria were fed non-supplemented diet (control) while the fish in the other 3 aquaria were fed with DPFE at 200 ml kg(-1). At the end of feeding trial (8 weeks) skin mucus immune parameters (total immunoglobulins, lysozyme, protease and alkaline phosphatase activity) and immune related gene expression (tumor necrosis factor α [tnfa], lysozyme [ly] and interleukin-1-beta, [il1b]) in the head-kidney were studied. The results revealed that feeding carp fry with 200 ml kg(-1) DPFE remarkably elevated the three skin mucus immune parameters tested (P < 0.05). However, evaluation of immune related gene expression demonstrated that the expression of tnfa and il1b was considerably decreased (P < 0.05) in fish fed DPFE diet, while the expression of ly remained similar (P > 0.05) compared to control fish (fed control diet). Furthermore, growth performance parameters were significantly improved in fry fed DPFE (P < 0.05). More studies are needed to understand different aspects of DPFE administration in fry mucosal immunity., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common disorder caused by bacterial agents in pregnancy, which can lead to important complications in newborn of such mothers in case of inappropriate diagnosis and treatment., Objectives: The purpose of this study was to study the prevalence of UTI among pregnant women and its complications in their newborns during the birth in the hospitals of Dezful City, Iran, during 2012 - 2013., Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional retrospective study, 1132 women admitted to Dr. Ganjavian and Ayatollah Nabavi Hospitals in Dezful City, Iran, during 2012 - 2013 were randomly allocated into the case and control groups and were matched based on their age, numbers of pregnancy, sex and diseases of their children. UTI was the only difference between the two groups., Results: Twenty-two thousand six hundred deliveries occurred within the course of this study. Due to UTI, 5% of deliveries led to hospitalization of mothers (1132 patients).Weight and height of newborn infants of mothers afflicted with UTI (P < 0.001) were significantly lower compared to newborns of healthy women (P < 0.001). There was a significant association between the two groups of pregnant women with UTI in terms of type of delivery (normal and caesarean section) (P < 0.008)., Conclusions: The lower incidence of UTI in pregnant women compared to other areas of Iran represents the role of climate and weather in the prevalence of UTI. In addition, the increased number of low-birth-weight infants had a remarkable correlation with UTI, which can influence the health of the next generation.

Meat products, especially fish meat, are very susceptible to lipid oxidation and microbial spoilage. In this study, first, gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of Zataria multiflora essential oil (ZEO) components was done and then two concentrations of ZEO, (1% and 2%) and two concentrations of grape seed extract (GSE), (0.5% and 1%) were used in carboxymethyl cellulose coating alone and in combination, and their antioxidant effects on rainbow trout meat were evaluated in a 20-day period using thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) test. Their effects on total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) and pH were evaluated as well. The main components of ZEO are thymol and carvacrol. These components significantly decreased production of thiobarbituric acid (TBA), TVBN and pH level of fish meat. The initial pH, TVBN and TBA content was 6.62, 12.67 mg N per 100 g and 0.19 mg kg(-1), respectively. In most treatments significant (p < 0.05) effects on aforementioned factors was seen during storage at 4 ˚C. The results indicated that use of ZEO and GSE as a natural antioxidant agents was effective in reducing undesirable chemical reactions in storage of fish meat.