Hydrocortisone Reduces Toll-Like Receptor 4 Expression on Peripheral CD14+ Monocytes in Patients Undergoing Percutanoues Coronary Intervention

Bacground: Evidence from several lines of investigations suggests that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is involved in atherosclerosis as a bridge between innate and acquired immunity. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can trigger inflammation through activation of human TLR4 (hTLR4) on monocytes. Hydrocortisone as an anti-inflammatory and immuno-suppressant agent has multiple mechanisms of action. In this study, we aimed at assessing the effects of hydrocortisone on monocyte expression and activity of hTLR4 in patients underwent PCI. Methods: Blood samples were taken from a total of 71 patients with chronic stable angina who were scheduled for a PCI, before the intervention. Thirty patients received 100 mg hydrocortisone prior to the procedure. Control group was composed of 41 patients underwent PCI without receiving hydrocortisone. Blood collection was repeated 2 and 4 h after PCI. The expression of hTLR4 on the surface of CD14⁺ monocytes and the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-1β were measured using flowcytometry and Sandwich ELISA. Results: Compared with controls, hydrocortisone significantly reduced monocyte expression of hTLR4 in test group (P<0.01). In addition, it had a significant effect on reduction of serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-1β in test group in a time-dependent manner (P<0.01). Conclusion: In this study, hydrocortisone was able to reduce the hTLR4/CD14 positive monocytes and its related pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus it can decrease inflammatory responses following PCI. Key Words: Toll-like receptor 4, Cytokines, Hydrocortisone     

How does light availability affect the aboveground biomass allocation and leaf morphology of saplings in temperate mixed deciduous forests?

New Forests - Light is the most important physical variable that affects patterns of biomass allocation. A quantitative understanding of biomass allocation patterns is crucial to quantifying...     

Correction to: How does light availability affect the aboveground biomass allocation and leaf morphology of saplings in temperate mixed deciduous forests?

New Forests - The original version of this article was inadvertently published without the acknowledgements section.     

Crop sequences and fertilization affect soil vital enzyme activities

This experiment was conducted in split plots based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Three crop sequences: (R1): chickpea, sunflower, wheat, and canola; (R2): green manure, chickpea, green manure, wheat, green manure, and canola; (R3): canola, wheat, and canola were used as main plots. Sub plots consisted of six methods of fertilization: (N1): farmyard manure; (N2): compost; (N3): chemical fertilizers; (N4): farmyard manure + compost; (N5): farmyard manure + compost + chemical fertilizers; and (N6): control. Results showed that the enzyme activities were higher in the N4 treatment. The highest amount of acid phosphatase, protease, dehydrogenase activity, and grain yield was observed in R2 sequence. The highest urease activity (58.6 µg g^?1 h^?1) was obtained in R2N4 treatment. In R2N4 treatment using in-farm inputs, a non chemical fertilizer system can be carried out to improve soil biological activity.     

Detection of mistletoe infected trees using UAV high spatial resolution images

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Remote detection of aerial parasitic plants in forests is imperative in precision forestry, as it can help to manage tree stands and to monitor forest...     

Entomopathogenic fungi and plant essential oils are not compatible in controlling Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and essential oils (EOs) can show either positive or negative interactions when used for controlling insect pests. First, the...     

Weed infestation is affected by chickpea farmer demographics and agronomic practices

To investigate the effects of agronomic practices and farmer demographics on levels of weed infestation in chickpea fields, a survey was conducted during 2015 in Sanjabi district, Kermanshah, Iran. Two sets of data were collected: (a) weed sampling from the selected chickpea fields, and (b) questionnaire recording of farmer demographics and agronomic management. The farmers were asked about their residence status (resident or migrant), occupation (farming only, farming plus a second job), experience and education levels, as well as seedbed preparation, sowing date and method, source of seed supply, crop cultivar, sowing seed rate, weed control operation and crop rotation history. The results showed that weed species composition was similar across the studied fields. The use of a row crop planter, a sowing rate of 45 kg ha^‐1, and weed control resulted in 30.2, 23.03 and 34.2% reductions in weed infestation compared with hand sowing, a sowing rate of 30 kg ha^‐1 and lack of weed control, respectively. Weed density decreased with increasing farmer experience and decreased by 33.0% and 23.5% in chickpea fields of resident farmers and owners whose sole occupation was agriculture. We found that 89.5% of the most experienced farmers adopted weed control operations and most resident landowners (77.4%) opted for crop planter (77.4%) and weed control (90.3%) compared to migrant farmers (50 and 68.5%, respectively). More landowners who were exclusively farmers performed weed control (90.6%) than owners who had a second job (67.9%).     

Genetic structure of Iranian indigenous sheep breeds: insights for conservation

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Genetic structure and genetic diversity levels of indigenous Iranian sheep breeds are not clear, despite the interest this region has in itself as an...     

Assessing the Function of Biological Soil Crusts on Soil Fertility (Case Study: Kiamaky Wildlife Refuge,East Azerbaijan,Iran)

Eurasian Soil Science - Biological soil crusts (BSCs), are common on soil surface in arid and semiarid regions. They consist of cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, lichens and bryophytes associated with...