Comparative Assessment of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) and Cystatin C as Early Biomarkers for Early Detection of Renal Failure in Patients with Hypertension

Background:

Hypertension is one the most common causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). One of the major concerns in hypertensive patients is early detection of renal disorders. In the past, serum creatinine (Scr) concentration was used as a marker of kidney function, but it proffers a late reflection of reduced glomerular filtration rate. Cystatin C and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) have been recently proven to be useful for quantification of CKD. Therefore, we compared the diagnostic value of NGAL with cystatin C and creatinine to evaluate kidney function in hypertensive patients.

Methods:

In this study, 42 hypertensive patients and 30 healthy volunteers were recruited. Serum cystatin C (Scys C) and plasma NGAL were measured using ELISA method. Creatinine, urea, hemoglobin, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein were measured according to the routine methods. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was considered as the gold standard method (cut-off value of < 78 ml/min/1.73 m².

Results:

In the patient group, plasma NGAL, cystatin C, and creatinine were all significantly correlated with eGFR, and plasma NGAL correlated best with eGFR. Receiver-operating characteristics analysis indicated that plasma NGAL was a better indicator than creatinine and cystatin C for predicting a GFR < 78 ml/min/1.73 m². The sensitivity and specificity for NGAL were 96% and 100%, for cystatin C were 92% and 60% and for creatinine were 76% and 47%, respectively.

Conclusion:

Plasma NGAL demonstrated a higher diagnostic value to detect kidney impairment in the early stages of CKD as compared to Scys C and Scr in hypertensive patients.Key Words: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), Cystatin C, Creatinine, Hypertension     

Responses of Anise Medicinal Plant Species in Terms of Essential Oil Contents and Concentrations to Different Planting Times and Various Nitrogen Fertilizer Sources under Semi-Arid Climatic Conditions

Essential oil content and concentration of anise plant planted in different times under various sources of nitrogen was evaluated in this study. The experiment was conducted in a split plot based on a randomized complete block (RCB) design (different sources of fertilizer as the main plot and planting dates as subplots) with three replications in the Agricultural Research Station at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in 2015–2016. Treatments included: planting times (sub plot factor): (27^th of October, 27^th of November, 1^st of March, 10^th of March, and 8^th of April) and nutritional sources (main plot factor): (Cow Manure, Chemical Fertilizer, and mixture of Cow Manure + Chemical Fertilizer). The results showed that the anise plant essential oil qualitative characteristics were significantly influenced by treatments. Also, interaction between the fertilizer treatments and planting dates on the essential oil content and concentration of the plants were significant. The highest percentage of plant essential oil (3.71%) was found in the cow manure treatment, and the lowest percentage of essential oil (2.95%) was obtained in the chemical fertilizer. The highest essential oil yield (16.09 kg/ha) was found in the mixed treatment of the cow manure and the chemical fertilizer, and the chemical fertilizer treatment had the lowest rate of essential oil yield (11.41 kg/ha). The highest percentages of the plant oil (14.31%) and the plant oil yield (77.46 kg/ha) were found in the integrated treatment of the cow manure and the chemical fertilizers. The lowest amounts of the plant oil (12.19%) and the plant oil yield (41.28 kg/ha) were found in the chemical fertilizer. According to the percentage and the yield of the essential oil, the best planting time and fertilizer treatment was the one on 10th of March and using integrated cow manure and chemical fertilizer.     

Vegetative Growth,Yield and Leaf Mineral Composition in Strawberry (Fragaria × Ananassa DUCH. CV. Pajaro) as Influenced using Nickel Sulfate and Urea Sprays

In this study, interactions of nickel sulfate and urea sprays on vegetative growth, yield and leaf mineral contents in strawberry were investigated. Rooted Pajaro strawberry plants were potted in 3 liter pots filled with soil, leaf mold and sand (1:1:1, v/v/v). Established plants were foliar sprayed with nickel sulfate at 0, 150, 300 and 450 mg L^?1 and urea 0 and 2 g L^?1 concentrations. Results indicated that nickel (Ni; 300 mg L^?1) plus urea (2 g L^?1) significantly increased the yield and runner numbers. Nickel sulfate at the rate of 300 and 150 mg L^?1and urea (2 g L^?1) significantly increased the crown numbers. The greatest root fresh and dry weights were obtained from untreated plants. Urea at 2 g L^?1 without nickel significantly increased shoot fresh and dry weights. Nickel at 450 mg L^?1 without urea significantly increased Ni concentration in leaves. Overall, nickel sulfate at 150 and 300 mg L^?1 along with urea at 2 g L^?1 were the best treatments.     

Inhibitory effects of Sage extract on the growth of enteric bacteria

Antibacterial activity of Sage extract at concentrations of 0.1, 0.05, 0.025, 0.0125, 0.00625, 0.003125, 0.00156, 0.0005 and 0.00025 g dL(-1) against Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, S. flexneri, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, ETEC Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated. Susceptibility testing of bacterial strains against 18 antibiotics was also performed for comparison. The results showed that P. aeruginosa and ETEC E. coli were completely resistant to Sage extract even at concentration of 0.1 g dL(-1). Its antibacterial activity (0.1 g dL(-1)) against P. vulgaris, S. flexneri and S. sonnei was the same as nitrofurantoin and ampicilline respectively. Sage extract (0.1 and 0.05 g dL(-1)) exhibited the same effects as ampicilline and streptomycin against S. typhi. Its antibacterial activity (0.1, 0.05 and 0.25 g dL(-1)) against S. aureus was the same as ceftazidim, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, neomycin and nitrofurantoin and was more significant compared to streptomycin and vancomycin. The results suggest Sage can be considered as an alternative herbal in the treatment of infections caused by the above-mentioned bacteria.     

In ovo injection of flavanone on bone quality characteristics,biochemical parameters and antioxidant enzyme status of blood in daily chicks

In ovo injection (IOI) of Naringin (N), flavanone was examined on post‐hatch blood biochemical parameters, antioxidant status and bone characteristics. Fertile eggs (n = 700) were distributed in seven groups with 100 eggs. On 14th and 17.5th days of incubation, four groups were injected using 15 or 30 mg active ingredient levels of naringin/0.5 ml saline/egg, low and high level, into amnion sac. Controls include sham (injected normal saline, 0.5 ml/egg on day 14 and 17.5th) and un‐injected group. IOI of high naringin and saline on 14th day of incubation resulted in lower hatchability and then higher mortality in last week of embryonic life. On day hatch, high levels of injected groups more body weight compared to the control. Chick length was increased at high levels of naringin on day 17.5th compared to control and saline injected. Quality traits of bones were improved in naringin‐injected groups compared to control. IOI of naringin influenced thyroid hormones on 14th day of incubation. Naringin groups influenced the Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Calcium (Ca), superoxide dismutase (SOD), blood biochemical and lipids. Totally, amniotic IOI of naringin in last days of developing embryo may be useful for hatched chick, development of leg long bone or effect on biochemical metabolites by levels of flavanone that it needs more research.     

Estimation of combining ability for yield and yield components in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars using diallel cross

In order to estimate combining ability and gene action of a number of rice cultivars, a 5 x 5 half a diallel cross genetic design has been used. Parents and their hybrids have been evaluated in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates for yield and 6 yield components in 2007 in Rice Research Station of Iran-Amol. Mean squares of genotypes for all traits were highly significant (p < 0.01). Significant mean squares of combining ability for all traits showed additive and non-additive effects in control of the related traits. Having nonsignificant MS(GCA)/MS(SCA) ratio for all traits but 1000-grain weight show higher importance of nonadditive effects in comparison with additive effects of controlling genes. High relative importance of specific combining ability indicated that all traits but 1000-grain weight are highly affected by impacts of specific combining ability. Generally, Dasht, Neda and Binam were the best parents for general combining ability and Binam x IR62871-175-1-10 and Mashhad Domsiah x Binam were the best hybrids for grain yield and its components.     

Proline accumulation as a response to salt stress in 30 wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) cultivars differing in salt tolerance

The effects of NaCl salt (EC = 16 dS m⁻¹) on water potential, and accumulation of proline, Na⁺ and K⁺ in leaves on the main stem of 30 wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) at awn appearance and 20 days after anthesis (20 DAA) were evaluated in a greenhouse experiment. Plants were arranged in a according to a randomized complete block design with factorial treatments in three replications. Proline accumulation at 20 DAA increased with increasing salt stress. This increase was 27.4-fold with the salt-sensitive cultivar “Ghods,” while the mean was 5.2-fold for 19 salt-resistant cultivars. Positive correlations between proline, and K⁺ + Na⁺ concentrations associated with higher sensitivity to salt stress indicated that proline may not have a protecting role against salt stress. No correlation was observed between leaf proline and water potential. Almost no contribution to the osmotic adjustment seems to be made by proline. The contribution made by proline to the osmotic adjustment of plants at 20 DAA was 0.69 bar, whereas that made by K⁺ and Na⁺ was 2.11 and 4.48 bar, respectively. The 30 wheat CV_s used in this experiment showed different performances regarding the traits observed. Eleven of them showing the higher stress sensitivity indices had the highest level of proline and Na⁺ concentrations. They were considered to be salt-sensitive cultivars. Among the others, nine cultivars showed salt tolerance with almost the same Na⁺ and proline concentrations, but a higher K⁺/Na⁺ selectivity of ions from leaf to grains. In 10 of the cultivars, Na⁺ and proline concentrations were low, indicating the presence of a salt avoiding mechanism.     

Transformation kinetics of inorganic P forms in relation to calcareous soil properties of western Iran

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of time on chemical forms of P in 10 calcareous soils of western Iran. Phosphorus was added to soils at the rate of 200 mg kg^?1 as KH₂PO₄. The samples were incubated for 1, 7, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 days at 25°C and constant moisture. After incubation, P was fractionated by the sequential extraction procedure: soluble and exchangeable P (NaHCO₃-P) Al + Fe-P (NaOH-P), Ca-P (HCl-P) and residual P (Res-P). The distribution of added P into different fractions consisted of two phases involving initial rapid retention followed by a slow continuous retention. In general, the majority of the P applied entered mostly in the HCl-P and Res-P fractions. After 120 days incubation, the HCl-P fraction remained the most dominant in all soils. A combination of silt and sand content of the soils together explained between 88.5 and 83.3% of the variance inNaHCO₃-P and HCl-P transformation rates, respectively, 76.6 and 72.8% of which is explained by silt alone. CaCl₂-P and electrical conductivity (EC) together accounted for 66.3% of the variation in the rate constant of NaOH-P. The release rate of Res-P was not significantly related to soil properties.