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Toxoplasmosis is an important health concern for people and farm animals, leading to many studies on its effects on these populations. Despite this, there is a lack of research on the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among horses in Iran. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) in northwest Iran horses. In this study, blood samples were taken from 385 horses in Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, and West Azerbaijan provinces. Data regarding the age, gender, and location of each horse was documented to assess their impact on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis. The data was analyzed using the chi-square test, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Of the 385 samples, 34 (8.8%) were positive for Toxoplasma gondii. Among the 271 male and 114 female horses, 24 (8.9%) and 10 (8.8%) were seropositive, respectively. Of the 116 horses under and 269 over five years old, 15 (12.9%) and 19 (7.1%) were seropositive, respectively. The prevalence rates in Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, and West Azerbaijan were 11.7% (18 out of 154), 5.1% (7 out of 136), and 9.5% (9 out of 95), respectively. According to the statistical analysis, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection based on age, gender, or sampling location. This study is the first extensive report on the toxoplasmosis seroprevalence among horses in northwest Iran. The results provide important information that can help control and prevent the spread of toxoplasmosis.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a gram-positive and ubiquitous bacterium, isolated from various habitats, materials, and organisms. Over 100 varieties and ~60,000 strains of this bacterium have been identified. The produced toxins from this bacterium are specific to invertebrates with various modes of action. More reports are available regarding toxins indicating potential for biological control against agricultural pests and human and animal parasites. Therefore, an excellent and promising prospect for their use in the future as unique alternatives for current synthetic pesticides can be imagined. In this mini-review, we only reviewed the findings of the previous studies about the biological activity of Bt products on important medical and veterinary parasites.

The continuous progress in digital communication has played a crucial role in meeting the increasing need for faster data rates. Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), a pivotal methodology in this progression, attains improved data rates through the efficient utilisation of densely packed carriers within a specified channel bandwidth. This article focuses on the investigation of channel estimation in OFDM systems. the study of search lies in its examination of the performance consequences associated with the incorporation or lack thereof of a convolutional encoder in OFDM systems and looks at how well two well-known channel estimation algorithms, Least Square (LS) and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE), work in 4-Quadrature amplitude modulation (4-QAM) OFDM systems with and without a convolutional encoder with a comprehensive evaluation of the efficacy of the OFDM system across various channel conditions. It uses MATLAB implementations as its main tool. The findings of the study indicate that the MMSE algorithm, despite its higher complexity, exhibits superior performance in comparison to the LS algorithm when combined with a convolutional encoder. The gain in terms of bit error rate (BER) improvement approximately 12 dB. This represents the logarithmic scale improvement in BER from BER1(uncoded) to BER2(coded) at the same the energy per bit to noise power spectral density ratio (Eb/N0) of 40 dB.

The immune response to Echinococcus granulosus s.l. hydatidosis in an intermediate host is complicated. A T-helper-2 response can support parasite establishment, which is exacerbated by the pregnancy, whereas a T-helper-1 response would be destructive for the parasite. Thus, the present study was aimed to investigate the effects of pregnancy on the serum levels of some cytokines during parasite inoculation. Twenty Balb/c mice were divided randomly into four groups including: A) control group, B) healthy pregnant, C) pregnant inoculated with granulosus s.l. protoscolices, and D) non-pregnant inoculated with protoscolices. Subsequently, the Serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin -4 (IL-4) and interleukin -17 (IL-17) were determined during four weeks by ELISA method. At 7th-day post-infection (d.p.i), the levels of cytokines increased in all groups, but there were no significant differences between increased levels. At 14 d.p.i, the levels of cytokines were nearly similar to the first week, except for IFN-γ and TNF-α, which their levels were significantly higher in group D than the other groups (p < 0.05). At 21 d.p.i, the levels of IL-17, TNF-α, and IFN-γ cytokines were significantly higher in the D group than the others (p < 0/05), but IL-4level was significantly higher in the C group than the other group (p < 0/05). At 28 d.p.i. level of IL-4 was significantly higher in the C group than the others (p < 0/05). Considering that pregnancy can increase the level of cytokine related to Th2, it can effectively survive of the E. granulosus parasite.

Aim: The present study aimed to detect Babesia ovis and Babesia motasi in the blood samples of sheep and goats from Northwest of Iran by the semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Materials and Methods: A total of 166 whole blood samples (including 123 sheep and 43 goats) were collected. In the first stage, the PCR was performed to amplify a piece of 18S rRNA gene of Babesia and Theileria genera. Then, semi-nested PCR was carried out on all PCR products to differentiate B. ovis and B. motasi. Results: The PCR indicated that totally, 19 (11.44%) out of 166 samples were positive for Babesia or Theileria spp. The semi-nested PCR showed that 38 samples (22.89%) were positive only for B. ovis. No significant association was found between the infection rate of B. ovis and age, gender and species of animals. Conclusion: In the present study, there was no evidence for B. motasi infection in small ruminants from Northwest of Iran. Therefore, B. ovis was the main causative agent of ovine Babesiosis in this region.

Background: Fasciola species are the main causes for fascioliasis with great financial losses and are among the most important food/water-borne parasites worldwide. The basic proceedings such as epidemiology and effective control of fascioliasis rely mainly on precise identification of Fasciola species. The present study was conducted to determine the Fasciola species in ruminant fecal samples from East Azerbaijan Province in Iran. Methods: Overall, 2012 fecal samples were collected and processed initially for microscopic examination of Fasciola eggs in 2014-15. Then, recovered eggs were subjected to molecular identification. A fragment of 618 bp of the 28S rRNA gene pertaining to Fasciola genus was amplified under PCR. The amplified fragment was restricted by fast digest Ava II enzyme in order to a Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism. Results: Based on microscopic examination, 72 samples were infected, from which, 10 and 62 cases pertained to cattle and sheep samples respectively. Based on RFLP, the PCR products restricted by the Ava II restriction enzyme produced 529 bp fragments only. According to the positive controls, all restriction patterns were related to Fasciola hepatica, while no restriction patterns were linked to F. gigantica. Conclusion: Based on PCR-RFLP, F. hepatica was dominant species in animals of the studied areas and no evidence of F. gigantica was observed. Therefore, further field studies to verify these results are suggested.

During summer 2010, in order to investigate ectoparasites infestation, a total of 12 carrion crows (Corvus corone) were caught from Miandoab region. Thereafter, a total of 32 lice (19 female, 13 male) were collected on feathers of seven infested crows and dehydrated, cleared and mounted. Measurements of different body parts of mounted specimens were made. The identification of lice indicated that they belong to Philopterus ocellatus. Morphologically, body is elongated, brown in color, measured about 2-3 mm in length and ≤1 mm in width. Head is triangular in shape, measured 0.7-0.8 mm in length and 0.3-0.4 mm in width, expanded in the caudal region. Five-segmented, very short antennae with initial long segment lie posterior to conus. It has large buccal cavity having 3-4 pairs of very prominent lateral sensory hairs as pre and postconal setae in which postconal setae are longer than preconal setae. The legs are short ending in a stout single claw. Third pair of legs is relatively sturdy and longer than two other pairs. The abdomen has 9 abdominal segments with abundant setae and quite evident respiratory pores on marginal plates. In females, the ovipositor and in males genitalia with characterizations related to reported species are clearly seen. According to the obtained results, the infestation rates varied from 3 lice in lowest to 8 lice in highest rate. The prevalence of infestation was determinated as 58.33%. Regarding the lack of comprehensive research on bird lice infestation in this study area, it is essential to conduct further extensive studies on various aspects of lice infestation.

Background: Trematodes are a diverse group of endoparasites which require molluscan and vertebrate animals as intermediate and definitive hosts in their life cycle. The present study was carried out to determine the diversity and geographic distribution of infection with trematodes’cercariae in the snail Lymnaea gedrosiana from north-west Iran.Methods: A total number of 6759 Lymnaeidae snails were collected from 28 snail habitats; of these L. gedrosiana was the prevalent snail (74.37%) which examined for cercarial infection by shedding method.Results: The overall infection rate was 8.03%. The most frequent trematodes cercariae in the snail were xiphidiocercariae (81.98%), furcocercariae (32.26%), echinostome cercariae (5.19%), and monostome cercariae (1.24%). The highest infection rate in L. gedrosiana (100%) was with echinostome cercariae from Golestaneh in autumn.Conclusion: Due to the important role of pond snails in transmission of cercariae to fish as a source of zoonotic diseases, it is essential to estimate the distribution and abundance of the snails and the rate of their infection with different trema­todes’ cercariae, and establish control programs in each region

The pond snail Lymnaea auricularia serves as an intermediate host for many digenian species. In West Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran, the cercariae infection investigation was undertaken in L. auricularia from May to November 2010. Of 6759 collected Lymnaeid snails, 370(5.5%) L. auricularia snails were identified. Cercariae infection was found in a number of 276 (74.56 %) snails. The results showed that removed cercariae from L. auricularia belonged to Echinostomcercariae (96.38 %) and Furcocercariae (3.62 %) which were found in two out of 28 sites during the course of study. In summer and fall, the highest prevalence of cercariae infection was recorded for both identified cercariae. It is concluded that L. auricularia could be an important intermediate host of large group digenian trematodes in the region, which is necessary to take consideration in the control program of trematode infection.

This study was performed from February to April 2006; several visits were made to abattoirs in the north of Iran for Hypoderma spp infestation. Necropsy inspection of slaughtered and skinned animals were carried out by examination of the inner skin surface and subcutaneous tissues. Warbles were isolated by squeezing nodules from subcutaneous tissues. In the case of abscess presence, aseptic sample were taken from abscesses. The parasitological and bacteriological examinations were performed on the samples. The results indicated that 104 out of 958 of slaughtered animals were infested to Hypoderma spp in which 48 (46.15 %), 34 (32.69 %) and 22 (21.15 %) were infested to Hypoderma bovis, Hypoderma lineatum and both species, respectively. Following bacterial analysis, the following bacteria were isolated: Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Klebsiella pneumonia.

Background: The trematodes of the genus Fasciola (the liver flukes) are among the well-known instances of food-borne parasites worldwide. Differentiation of Fasciola species is important because of their different transmission and epidemio-logical characteristics. The current study was undertaken to discriminate Fasciola species in the domestic ruminants of Urmia city, Iran. Methods:Adult flukes were isolated from the naturally infected livers of the slaughtered water buffaloes and sheep. The flukes were initially identified based on morphological and morphometric parameters. A 618-bp-long fragment of the 28SrRNA gene of Fasciola was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplified fragment was digested by DraII or AvaII enzymes for a restriction frag-ment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and sequenced for the phylogenetic tree construction. Results:Based on the morphometric examination, the flukes belonged to F. he-patica, F. gigantica and an intermediate Fasciola form. The PCR-RFLP analysis was able to differentiate F. hepatica from F. gigantica. While the phylogenetic reconstruc-tion justified, to some extent, the morphological diagnosis, it failed to segregate F. hepatica from F. gigantica identified in this and the previous studies. Conclusion:To resolve fully the problem of taxonomy and evolution in Fasciola species, employing a broad range of molecular and morphological approaches is necessary. This is crucial for epidemiological surveys and successful clinical man-agement of their infection.

Objectives: The primary objective of the current study is to assess which is better for obtaining the proper femoral rotation during IMN of femoral fractures, the radiological or clinical method. The secondary objectives were to document malrotation's incidence and its effect on the hip and knee functional outcomes., Methods: Thirty-three patients with unilateral femoral shaft fractures were treated using intramedullary nails (IMN) on a usual radiolucent operative table. Intraoperative rotation adjustment was performed using a radiological method (relying on the contralateral lesser trochanter profile) in 16 patients (group A), while in 17 patients, a clinical method was used (group B). Postoperative assessment of malrotation was performed using a CT scan, and 15 degrees was the cutoff value where below is an acceptable rotation (group I) and above is true malrotation (group II). Functional assessment was performed using the Harris hip score (HHS), the Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale (TLKSS), and the Neer score., Results: The patients' mean age was 30.7 ± 9.3 years; 81.8% were males, and the left side was injured in 63.6% of patients. After a mean follow up of 18.2 ± 6.9 months, all fractures were united, and the overall mean amount of rotational difference between the fractured and the contralateral side was 14.7° ± 6.0 (3-29.4), 84.8% were in external rotation. No difference in the mean rotational deformity in group A compared to group B. Measurements were 13.9 ± 6.7 and 15.7 ± 5.5, respectively (p = 0.47). Seventeen (51.5%) patients in group I with a mean deformity of 9.8 ± 3.4 (3-14.7), while group II consisted of 16 (48.5%) patients with a mean deformity of 19.6 ± 3.7 (15.3-29.4). There was no difference in the functional scores between group I and group II; HHS was 89.4 ± 7.4 versus 87.7 ± 8.9 (p = 0.54), TLKSS was 84.6 ± 9.6 versus 80.4 ± 13.9 (p = 0.32), and Neer score was 87.9 ± 9.5 versus 83 ± 12.5 (p = 0.21) for group I and group II, respectively., Conclusion: There was no difference in malrotation incidence after unilateral femoral fractures IMN with either an intraoperative clinical or radiological method for rotational adjustment; furthermore, malrotation did not affect the functional outcomes., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study aimed to assess the role of paternal genetics in the development of diabetic mellitus (DM) and determine the impact of DM on the urinary system by investigating the percentage of patients with urinary tract infection (UTI). The study included 100 people with DM; their ages ranged from 5 to 83 years. The DM and blood sugar levels were diagnosed clinically and at a laboratory in Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital and the outpatient clinics. The age, gender, and causes of DM and the family history of diabetes were reported. Isolation and identification of bacterial species were made depending on culture media and biochemical tests. The average age of patients was 47.7±5.5, and most of them were female (67%). The incidence of DM increased with age, and the main cause of DM was likely to be a genetic predisposition (family history), where 32% of patients appeared to have a positive family history and the presence of DM in both parents or only the mother had a significant role in increasing the genetic predisposition of developing DM. Among the non-genetic causes of DM, the most common was exposure to sudden psychological or nervous shock (41%). Obesity also had an important role in the development of diabetes, and also pregnancy and smoking. Moreover, 66% of patients with type 2 DM and all with type 1 DM suffered from UTIs. The main causative agents were E. coli (60%) and Proteus spp . (13%). The majority of patients suffering from UTIs (73%) were females. In conclusion, type 2 DM is the most common, especially in females, and increases with age. The main cause of DM was family genetic predisposition and sudden shocks. The current study also showed that most diabetic patients suffered from UTIs, especially females, and the main causes of UTI inflammation are E. coli isolates., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (©2022 JOURNAL of MEDICINE and LIFE.)

Background Hepcidin concentrations measured by various methods differ considerably, complicating interpretation. Here, a previously identified plasma-based candidate secondary reference material (csRM) was modified into a serum-based two-leveled sRM. We validated its functionality to increase the equivalence between methods for international standardization. Methods We applied technical procedures developed by the International Consortium for Harmonization of Clinical Laboratory Results. The sRM, consisting of lyophilized serum with cryolyoprotectant, appeared commutable among nine different measurement procedures using 16 native human serum samples in a first round robin (RR1). Harmonization potential of the sRM was simulated in RR1 and evaluated in practice in RR2 among 11 measurement procedures using three native human plasma samples. Comprehensive purity analysis of a candidate primary RM (cpRM) was performed by state of the art procedures. The sRM was value assigned with an isotope dilution mass spectrometry-based candidate reference method calibrated using the certified pRM. Results The inter-assay CV without harmonization was 42.1% and 52.8% in RR1 and RR2, respectively. In RR1, simulation of harmonization with sRM resulted in an inter-assay CV of 11.0%, whereas in RR2 calibration with the material resulted in an inter-assay CV of 19.1%. Both the sRM and pRM passed international homogeneity criteria and showed long-term stability. We assigned values to the low (0.95±0.11 nmol/L) and middle concentration (3.75±0.17 nmol/L) calibrators of the sRM. Conclusions Standardization of hepcidin is possible with our sRM, which value is assigned by a pRM. We propose the implementation of this material as an international calibrator for hepcidin.

Hepcidin-25 was identified as the main iron regulator in the human body, and it by binds to the sole iron-exporter ferroportin. Studies showed that the N-terminus of hepcidin is responsible for this interaction, the same N-terminus that encompasses a small copper(II)-binding site known as the ATCUN (amino-terminal Cu(II)- and Ni(II)-binding) motif. Interestingly, this copper-binding property is largely ignored in most papers dealing with hepcidin-25. In this context, detailed investigations of the complex formed between hepcidin-25 and copper could reveal insight into its biological role. The present work focuses on metal-bound hepcidin-25 that can be considered the biologically active form. The first part is devoted to the reversed-phase chromatographic separation of copper-bound and copper-free hepcidin-25 achieved by applying basic mobile phases containing 0.1% ammonia. Further, mass spectrometry (tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize the copper-peptide. Lastly, a three-dimensional (3D) model of hepcidin-25 with bound copper(II) is presented. The identification of metal complexes and potential isoforms and isomers, from which the latter usually are left undetected by mass spectrometry, led to the conclusion that complementary analytical methods are needed to characterize a peptide calibrant or reference material comprehensively. Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), ion-mobility spectrometry (IMS) and chiral amino acid analysis (AAA) should be considered among others., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Mass spectrometry-based methods play a crucial role in the quantification of the main iron metabolism regulator hepcidin by singling out the bioactive 25-residue peptide from the other naturally occurring N-truncated isoforms (hepcidin-20, -22, -24), which seem to be inactive in iron homeostasis. However, several difficulties arise in the MS analysis of hepcidin due to the "sticky" character of the peptide and the lack of suitable standards. Here, we propose the use of amino- and fluoro-silanized autosampler vials to reduce hepcidin interaction to laboratory glassware surfaces after testing several types of vials for the preparation of stock solutions and serum samples for isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS). Furthermore, we have investigated two sample preparation strategies and two chromatographic separation conditions with the aim of developing a LC-MS/MS method for the sensitive and reliable quantification of hepcidin-25 in serum samples. A chromatographic separation based on usual acidic mobile phases was compared with a novel approach involving the separation of hepcidin-25 with solvents at high pH containing 0.1% of ammonia. Both methods were applied to clinical samples in an intra-laboratory comparison of two LC-MS/MS methods using the same hepcidin-25 calibrators with good correlation of the results. Finally, we recommend a LC-MS/MS-based quantification method with a dynamic range of 0.5-40 μg/L for the assessment of hepcidin-25 in human serum that uses TFA-based mobile phases and silanized glass vials. Graphical abstract Structure of hepcidin-25 (Protein Data Bank, PDB ID 2KEF).

Background: Chalcones, 2-pyrazolines and thiazoles have been reported to possess various pharmacological activities., Objective: Synthesis of new chalcones and utilizing them as a building block for constructing a series of thiazole derivatives and evaluating some of them as anticancer agents., Method: The new compounds were synthesized via stirring at room temperature or thermal heating. Cytotoxic evaluation of the new synthesized compounds was tested using the method of Skehan et al. Moreover, the computational studies were performed using MOE 2014.09 software., Result: A series of new chalcones were prepared by the reaction of ethyl 3-acetyl-1-aryl-5-methyl- 1H-pyrazole-4-carboxylate with a number of substituted benzaldehydes. One of these chalcones was used as a building block for constructing a pyrazoline ring via its reaction with thiosemicarbazide. The produced carbothioamide derivative was used for the preparation of two series of thiazole derivatives by its reaction with a number of hydrazonoyl chlorides. Moreover, reaction of 3- acetylpyrazole thiosemicarbazone derivative with a number of N-aryl-2-oxopropane hydrazonoyl chlorides afforded 5-arylazothiazole derivatives. The assigned structures for all the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed on the basis of elemental analyses and spectral data. Some of the newly synthesized chalcones and thiazoles were tested for their cytotoxicity against human colon carcinoma cell line (HCT-116) and the molecular docking was carried out on the most active compound 3f., Conclusion: The results of the anticancer activity revealed that compounds 3f, 3e, 3c and 3b have promising activities compared with the standard drug Doxorubicin. Moreover, the computational studies confirm the results of biological activity. Also, the ADME profile study showed that compound 3f can be considered as a promising drug by conducting good pharmacokinetic and medicinal chemistry tests., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.)

The small heterobifunctional linker succinimidyl iodoacetate (SIA) was examined for the preparation of peptide-protein bioconjugates with predicable conjugation ratios. For many conjugation protocols, the protein is either treated with a reductant to cleave disulfide bonds or is reacted with thiolation chemicals, such as Traut's reagent. Both approaches are difficult to control, need individual optimization and often lead to unsatisfactory results. In another popular approach, a heterobifunctional linker with a N -hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and a maleimide functionality is applied to the protein. After the activation of some lysine ε-amino groups with the NHS ester functionality, a cysteine-containing peptide is attached to the activated carrier protein via maleimide. Particularly, the maleimide reaction leads to some unwanted byproducts or even cleavage of the linker. Many protocols end up with conjugates with unpredictable and irreproducible conjugation ratios. In addition, the maleimide-thiol addition product should be assumed immunogenic in vivo . To avoid these and other disadvantages of the maleimide approach, we examined the known linker succinimidyl iodoacetate (SIA) in more detail and developed two protocols, which lead to peptide-protein conjugates with predefined average conjugation ratios. This holds potential to eliminate tedious and expensive optimization steps for the synthesis of a bioconjugate of optimal composition., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Objective: The attitudes toward school pupils with epilepsy are influenced by the degree of school teachers' knowledge of the disorder. Teachers usually do not receive any formal instructions on epilepsy during their training. This study aims to assess school teachers' knowledge, attitude and practice when dealing with epilepsy in school children., Materials and Methods: This study was part of a series mandated by the Gezira Epilepsy Care Programme (GECP), to obtain baseline data for a community-adapted epilepsy education program. A pretested, semi-structured, 35-items questionnaire was the investigational tool. It was used to evaluate the knowledge of the basic facts about epilepsy among school teachers in this cross-sectional study. The questionnaire allowed teachers to express their opinions by means of free answers. The schools were chosen at random but not in a systematic equiprobability design. Two hundred teachers from public primary (100) and secondary (100) schools in the rural area of south Gezira Locality, Gezira State, Central Sudan, were recruited., Results: In this study, the majority of respondents had never been informed about epilepsy and therefore gave evasive answers to many questions. Few of the respondents considered epilepsy as contagious. None of participants objected to having epileptic children in their classes. Only 47 teachers (47%) in the primary schools had any knowledge of the initial procedures to help a child in seizure, presenting reasonable answers, compared to 64 (64%) teachers in the secondary schools., Recommendations: All school teachers should be given some kind of training in health services. The GECP should involve teachers in its current training programs for caregivers and lay association to help epileptic patients.