Immunotherapy for Breast Cancer Treatment

Breast cancer, as a heterogeneous disease, includes a wide range of pathological and clinical behaviors. Current treatment protocols, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone replacement therapy, are mainly associated with poor response and high rate of recurrence. Therefore, more efforts are needed to develop alternative therapies for this type of cancer. Immunotherapy, as a novel strategy in cancer treatment, has a potential in treating breast cancer patients. Although breast cancer has long been considered problematic to treat with immunotherapy, as it is immunologically "cold," numerous newer preclinical and clinical reports now recommend that immunotherapy has the capability to treat breast cancer patients. In this review, we highlight the different immunotherapy strategies in breast cancer treatment. Key Words: Antibodies, Breast cancer, Immunotherapy     

Enhancement of frost tolerance of almond flowers using potassium

Abstract

Using mineral nutrients is recommended as a plan to alleviate or avoid spring frost damage to blossoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of potassium application on reducing or preventing spring frost damage of almond (Prunus dulcis Mill.) flowers. Treatments were four levels of K₂SO₄ (0, 1, 2, and 4%). The nutrition solutions were sprayed on trees in two times (bud swell stage and green tip stage) in 2018–2019. The spurs containing flower buds were collected during the full blooming phase. The spurs segments were exposed to three different freeze test temperatures (0, ?2, and ?4?°C), and some relevant physiochemical changes were evaluated. The application of K₂SO₄, especially 4% K₂SO₄, decreased freezing injury, electrolyte leakage percentage, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations of flowers after freezing tests compared with control. The nutrient treatments, especially 4% K₂SO₄, increased significantly the contents of soluble proteins, soluble carbohydrates, total phenolic compounds, and proline of flowers. The results of the present study could have implications for the use of potassium in freezing tolerance improvement of other temperate fruit trees grown in low temperatures regions.     

Large intestine in pheasant (phasianus colchicus) and see-see partridge (ammoperdix griseogularis). A comparative morphological and histological study

Anatomical and histological studies of the large intestine in birds are essential for necropsy and histopathological examinations. On the other hand, large intestine plays a critical role in the immune system and absorption. The present study's objective was to provide information about the morphological, morphometric and histological characteristics of the large intestine in see-see partridges (Ammoperdix griseogularis) and pheasants (Phasianus colchicus). These two members of the Galliformes order are found in large areas of Iran. In this study, ten male see-see partridges and ten male pheasants were randomly selected. Also, the histological studies were carried out on tissue specimens using haematoxylin for staining. In both species, the cecum was visible as two large tubes at the beginning of the rectum. The cecum and rectum's outer surfaces were flat and had no sacculation in both of the birds. Histologically, intestinal villi in all the large intestine parts and increase their height from the base to the apex is remarkable. The muscularis mucosae was distinct, and lymph nodes and Liberkuhn glands were found in all parts of the large intestine, approximately. It can be concluded that the morphology of the large intestine is very similar to the other avian species, but there are more differences in the histological features. These structural features are in full accordance with the bird's habits and diet.     

Foliar Application of Silicon,Sulfur, and Flowering Fruit Set Biostimulant on Canola

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of foliar application of silicon, sulfur, and flowering fruit set biostimulant on canola in the farmer’s condition in Darzian, 12?km from Marivan city in the northwest of Iran. The experimental layout was designed as a split-split plot in a randomized complete-block design, with three replications during two consecutive growing seasons, 2017–18 and 2018–19. The main factor included silicon application at two levels: control (0: non-application) and silicon application at 2?kg ha^?1. Sub-factor was sulfur spraying at three levels (0, 1, and 2?L ha^?1) and sub-sub-factor was Tecamin flower (Agri Tecno Fertilizantes, Valencia, Spain) spraying as a flowering fruit set biostimulant at three levels (0, 1, and 2?L ha^?1). The results of the combined analysis showed that the number of grains per pod and biomass were increased significantly at the 1% level by silicon application. Sulfur application improved 1000-grain weight, grain yield, and biomass. This increase was 7.42% for grain yield. Tecamin also significantly increased all traits, including fertile and infertile pod numbers, grain number per pod, 1000-grain weight, grain yield, and biomass. As the most important economic traits, Tecamin increased grain yield by 14.12% compared to controls. Among the treatments, the effect of Tecamin on increasing grain yield was superior. In this experiment, some traits were significantly affected by interaction effects of treatments.

     

Outbreak of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium infection in one flock of domestic pigeons

An outbreak of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium infection was diagnosed in one breed of domestic pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) in the Czech Republic. Nodular granulomatous lesions were found in 42 (9.7%) pigeons of the 435 examined; histopathologic examination of livers with gross lesions of mycobacteriosis from 15 randomly selected pigeons revealed granulomatous inflammation typical for avian mycobacteriosis in all samples. Direct Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) microscopy and conventional culture were performed for a total of 117 liver samples (42 pigeons with nodular lesions, 55 randomly selected pigeons without nodular lesions, and 20 randomly selected squabs). Acid-fast bacilli were observed in 19 (16.2%), and conventional culture yielded growth of M. a. avium in 40 (34.2%) liver samples. A triplex quantitative real-time PCR assay based on the IS901 detection system was performed successfully in 115 liver samples and revealed M. a. avium in 63 (54.8%) of them. Mycobacterium a. avium was also detected in two squabs. Eight domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus f. domestica) living in the breeding facility were also examined. Pyogranulomatous lesions were only found in one adult male rabbit. At necropsy, both direct ZN microscopy and culture gave negative results for mycobacteria in all examined rabbit tissues. Mycobacterium a. avium was diagnosed in a liver sample of one juvenile rabbit using triplex qPCR, suggesting that M. a. avium infection can occur as early as juvenile animals.     

VEGETATIVE GROWTH,YIELD, FRUIT QUALITY AND FRUIT AND LEAF COMPOSITION OF STRAWBERRY CV. ‘PAJARO’ AS INFLUENCED BY SALICYLIC ACID AND NICKEL SPRAYS

Salicylic acid (SA) occurs naturally in plants at low concentrations. Previous studies reported a vast range of responses after SA application on plants. Nickel (Ni) as an essential element for plant growth and development has been proven to have positive impact on overall plant life cycle. To evaluate influence of these two compounds on strawberry plants cv. ‘Pajero’ this study was carried out as a 3 × 4 factorial in a completely randomized design in greenhouse conditions. Treatments included SA at 0, 1, 2, and 3 mM and nickel sulfate (NiSO₄) at 0, 150 and 300 mg L^?1 concentration. It seems that treatments had promoting effects on measured parameters as 2 mM of SA increased root and shoot fresh and dry weight, concentration of anthocyanins and poliphenolics of fruits significantly, 3 mM of this phytohormone caused augmentation of vitamin C content of fruits. Nitrogen and nickel concentration within leaves and fruits were affected after SA treatments. 150 mg L^?1 of nickel solution promoted total yield, root dry weight and nitrogen concentration of fruits. Worth mentioning, beneficial effects of such treatments were higher when applied together. Further research is needed before recommendation on other cultivars and commercial use.     

A low prevalence of mycobacteria in freshwater fish from water reservoirs, ponds and farms

A survey of the occurrence of mycobacteria was conducted from 717 freshwater fish (25 species) in two water reservoirs, five ponds and two farms in the Czech Republic. A total of 2182 tissue samples from these fish were examined using the conventional culture method. Thirteen mycobacterial isolates were obtained from 12 (1.7%) fish belonging to nine species. Isolates were identified using sequence analysis of the 16SrRNA gene as: Mycobacterium algericum, M. fortuitum, M. gordonae, M. insubricum, M. kumamotonense, M. nonchromogenicum, two isolates of M. peregrinum, M. terrae and M. triplex. Mycobacteria were isolated more frequently from fish skin and gills than from internal organs or muscles.     

Effect of intervention and type of forest management on quality and quantity characteristics of dead wood in managed and reserve forests: A case study

We compared the dead wood (DW) conditions of Cheshmeh-sar forest and Sardab forest with different management history,including reserve forest and harvested forest. The First forest took 100% inventory from all the available DW. Also dead trees were compared interms of species, shape, location and quality of fracture in both forests.Volumes of dead wood in Cheshmeh-sar and Sardab forests were 207.47and 142.74 m3, respectively. Due to this significant difference, impact onthe management level was determined. In Cheshmeh-sar forest, 42% ofdead trees were standing and 58% were fallen type while in Sardab forest 38.6% were standing and 61.4% fallen. But the difference was not statistically significant between them (p = 0.0587). In terms of quality, dead trees of hard, soft and hollow had the highest frequency, respectively.However, 71.5% of DW was seen as hard dead in Cheshmeh-sar forestwhile hard dead trees in Sardab forests were 54.2%. Soft quality degree ofdead trees which formed in Cheshmeh-sar and Sardab forest were calculated as 26.6% and 43.4% respectively. Also 30% of the dead trees of Sardab forest were eradicated while in Cheshmeh-sar this amount was reduced to 12%. Due to this significant difference ((Р=0/018), it is concluded that the type of management and human interference are affecting the quality of dead trees and makes us to think the human interferences could effect on the ecosystem of touched forests.     

Trend of fertilizer application during the last three decades (Case study: America,Australia, Iran and Malaysia)

The use of chemical fertilizers in four countries (Iran, Malaysia, Australia and US) was compared over a period of 30 years. Results showed that the use of nitrogen as a nutrient in Australia, Iran and Malaysia had a wide change due to the population growth and the need to provide food for the community. By growing the trend of urbanization, the ratio of population parameters of arable land has been reached from 3 ha/person in 1980 to less than 2 ha/person in 2010. Finally, the ratio between the main nutrient elements in Iran, Malaysia, the US and Australia was 100-70-0.2, 100-80-145, 100-43-51 and 100-329-100 in 2010, respectively. Regardless of the specific reasons and differences in sources of soil, crop and climate in these countries, the ratio in US is much closer to the balance of plant and stabilizes the long optimum ratio during the period.