Seroepidemiological study for toxocariasis among children in Zanjan-northwest of Iran

Determination of seroepidemiological survey of Toxocara infection in 810 sera from children inhabitants in rural and urban area of Zanjan (North-West of Iran) was adjusted for specific antibody level against of second stage larvae of Toxocara for excretory and secretory antigens based on ELISA technique. In contrast of the other studies, the overall seroprevalence was quite low, reaching to 2.7% out of 810 samples was positive to anti Toxocara species antibodies. Neither age nor gender seemed to be significant factor to positive serology. Seroprevalence of anti Toxocara antibody were detected in 8 out of 494 (1.6%) children from urban area, whereas 316 sample (4.4%) were the positive in the rural area. Positive children who had contact or ownership of cats and dog were 6.9 and 3.9%, respectively. Albeit, concerning to this study, seroprevalence of toxocariosis is lower than other countries and other studies in Iran. But protections of toxocariosis in children must be taking into account in public health program. Suggest that increase of hygiene education would be a crucial affective on population to reduce infection risk factor and zoonotic disease.     

Effectiveness of methoprene, an insect growth regulator, against malaria vectors in Fars, Iran: a field study

Methoprene, an insect growth regulator, was evaluated under field conditions against the main malaria vectors in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The effect of 5, 10 and 20 kg ha(-1) concentration ofmethoprene granule formulation and 100 and 200 mL ha(-1) concentration of EC formulation was measured to determine any changes in Anophelini larval abundance and IE ratio in both rice fields and artificial ponds. In artificial ponds, granular methoprene at a dose of 20 kg ha(-1) inhibited adult emergence by 77.1% after 1 day and 65.9% after 3 days. The emulsifiable concentrate formulation of methoprene at 200 mL ha(-1) inhibited adult emergence by 83.7% after 1 day and 32.2% after 3 days. In rice fields, inhibition of emergence was 44.3% at 20 kg ha(-1) granule and 35.8% for emulsifiable concentrate at 200 mL ha(-1) after 3 days. The results vary depending on the mosquito species, treatment methods, breeding places and type of formulation.     

Contemporary Strategies for the Synthesis of Tetrahydropyran Derivatives: Application to Total Synthesis of Neopeltolide,a Marine Macrolide Natural Product

Tetrahydropyrans are structural motifs that are abundantly present in a range of biologically important marine natural products. As such, significant efforts have been paid to the development of efficient and versatile methods for the synthesis of tetrahydropyran derivatives. Neopeltolide, a potent antiproliferative marine natural product, has been an attractive target compound for synthetic chemists because of its complex structure comprised of a 14-membered macrolactone embedded with a tetrahydropyran ring, and twenty total and formal syntheses of this natural product have been reported so far. This review summarizes the total and formal syntheses of neopeltolide and its analogues, highlighting the synthetic strategies exploited for constructing the tetrahydropyran ring.     

Pedipalps and venom vesicle anomalies in two families of scorpions (Scorpiones: Hemiscorpiidae, Buthidae) from Iran

The developmental anomalies are reported in this study. The first and second abnormally are presented in right pedipalps of Paraorthochirus and Orthochirus (Buthidae) while Paraorthochirus pedipalp just includes coxa, trochanter and without other parts (femur, patella, movable and fixed finger). The right pedipalp of Orthochirus specimen has abnormally too; it has all parts ofpedipalp except complete fixed finger. In both of scorpions, the left pedipalp is normal. Another case is present in venom vesicle of Hemiscourpius (Hemiscorpiidae). Pictures and morphometric measurements for three specimens are given.     

Application of IRS-1D data in water erosion features detection (case study: Nour roud catchment, Iran)

The aim of this study was capability of Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) data of 1D to detecting erosion features which were created from run-off. In this study, ability of PAN digital data of IRS-1D satellite was evaluated for extraction of erosion features in Nour-roud catchment located in Mazandaran province, Iran, using GIS techniques. Research method has based on supervised digital classification, using MLC algorithm and also visual interpretation, using PMU analysis and then these were evaluated and compared. Results indicated that opposite of digital classification, with overall accuracy 40.02% and kappa coefficient 31.35%, due to low spectral resolution; visual interpretation and classification, due to high spatial resolution (5.8 m), prepared classifying erosion features from this data, so that these features corresponded with the lithology, slope and hydrograph lines using GIS, so closely that one can consider their boundaries overlapped. Also field control showed that this data is relatively fit for using this method in investigation of erosion features and specially, can be applied to identify large erosion features.     

Epidemiology and antibacterial susceptibility patterns of bloodstream infections, 2001-2004: an experience with BACTEC 9240 in Southern Iran

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of bacteria recovered from bloodstream samples by Bactec 9240 at our hospital wards and to evaluate their antibacterial susceptibility patterns. During January 2001 through December 2004, 9407 referred blood samples in Bactec bottles from admitted patients at three main wards, neonates, pediatrics and adults at Nemazee Hospital, affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Shiraz were processed. Positive cultures were purified and identified according to standard methods. Sensitivity of bacteria to different antibiotics was determined by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Staphylococcus aureus 132(25%), Escherichia coli 64(12.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 52(9.8%) were the most pathogenic bacteria which were recovered from the blood samples. Pathogenic microorganisms were isolated from blood samples of 305 (57.8%) at pediatrics, from 181 (34.2%) at adults and from 42 (8%) at neonates wards. The highest antibiotics activities against gram positive isolates observed for vancomycin (98.4%), chloramphenicol (86.4%) and ciprofloxacin (77.4%), while in gram negative bacteria imipenem (96.1%), ciprofloxacin (83%) and amikacin (77.9%), were effective antibiotics. Frequency of isolated bacteria at pediatrics compared to adults and neonates wards were approximately two and seven folds high, respectively which indicates special attention should be paid to pediatrics patients both in prevention and treatment aspects. Vancomycin and imipenim are the effective antibiotics and could cover majority of gram positive and negative bacteria. Therefore, combined administrations of these antibiotics seems mandatory for empirical therapy.     

Responses of rice leaf thickness,SPAD readings and chlorophyll a/b ratios to different nitrogen supply rates in paddy field

The objective of this paper was to investigate the influence of different nitrogen (N) application rates to some morphological and physiological features of leaf blades, including leaf thickness, chlorophyll content at different leaf ages and chlorophyll a/b ratios. A paddy field and a cement tank experiments were conducted simultaneously. Rice leaf thickness was measured through a specially developed displacement sensor. Meanwhile, chlorophyll content was estimated using chlorophyll meter (SPAD) and spectrophotometer after ethanol extraction of leaf samples. With the increase of N application, leaf thickness became thinner and chlorophyll a/b ratios decreased. Moreover, the sensitivity of the SPAD readings of the same leaf at different leaf ages to N rates was assessed through coefficients of variation (CV). CV of SPAD readings increased from 8.8% to 21.6% during leaf lifetime, which indicates that SPAD readings became more and more sensitive to nitrogen rates as leaf aged. Therefore, SPAD readings of the lower leaves, which were physiologically older than the upper ones, were more sensitive to nitrogen rates.     

Alpha‐tocopherol and β‐carotene in legume–grass mixtures as influenced by wilting,ensiling and type of silage additive

Effects of wilting, ensiling and type of additive on α‐tocopherol and β‐carotene contents in legume–grass mixtures were examined. Swards of birdsfoot trefoil + timothy (Bft + Ti), red clover + timothy (Rc + Ti) and red clover + meadow fescue (Rc + Mf) were harvested as a first regrowth in August 2005. Forage was wilted to a dry‐matter (DM) content of 273 g kg^?1 and ensiled without additive or with an inoculant or acid. Wilting decreased α‐tocopherol concentration by 30% in the Bft + Ti mixture (P = 0·015). Untreated Bft + Ti silage had higher α‐tocopherol content than red clover silages (56·9 vs. 34·2 mg kg^?1 DM; P = 0·015). The α‐tocopherol concentration of Bft + Ti forages increased during ensiling from 41·1 mg kg^?1 DM in wilted herbage to 56·9, 65·2 and 56·8 mg kg^?1 DM in untreated, inoculated and acid‐treated silage respectively (P = 0·015). The inoculant increased α‐tocopherol content in the red clover silages (50·1 vs. 34·2 mg kg^?1 DM; P = 0·015) compared with untreated red clover silages. Red clover mixtures had lower β‐carotene content than Bft + Ti (32·3 vs. 46·2 mg kg^?1 DM; P = 0·016), averaged over treatments. In conclusion, wilting had small effects but the use of bacterial inoculant as an additive and a Bft + Ti mixture increased α‐tocopherol concentration in the silage.     

Metformin as an adjunct to insulin for glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes after CABG surgery: a randomized double blind clinical trial

Perioperative hyperglycemia is common in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery and there is a direct relation between postoperative hyperglycemia and mortality rate in these patients. The aim of the present study is to determine the efficacy of metformin on glycemic control in diabetic patients after CABG surgery. In a randomized double blind clinical trial, 100 patients with type 2 diabetes admitted in open heart ICU after CABG surgery in Mazandaran Heart Center were enrolled. They were randomly assigned to two intervention and control groups. Three hours after extubation, therapeutic antiglycemic regimens were applied in these two groups and continued for three days. Intervention group received regular insulin infusion along with two metformin 500 mg tablets per twelve hours while control group received regular insulin infusion with two placebo tablets per twelve hours. Blood glucose level and other parameters were measured and recorded in determined intervals. To analyze the data, independent T-test, paired T-test, Mann-Whitney and repeated measure ANOVA tests were employed. Mean blood glucose level was not significantly different in the two groups at the beginning of the ICU admission; however, mean glucose level in insulin-metformin group, twelve hours after the initiation of the study, was significantly lower than insulin group (p < 0.05). In addition, mean doses of potassium and insulin demand as well as mean number of episodes of hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia and glucose levels out of the accepted range were significantly lower in insulin-metformin group (p < 0.05). Alterations in mean levels of lactate, BE, pH and creatinine were not statistically significant in these two groups. It seems that adding metformin to insulin leads to a better glycemic control in type two diabetic patients undergoing CABG surgery without causing metabolic acidosis. Therefore, it might be a potential option in blood glucose control protocol in this group of patients.     

Growth hormone deficiency in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: relation to gross motor function and degree of spasticity

Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) often have poor linear growth during childhood with short final height. Thus, we aimed to assess serum growth hormone (GH), insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels among CP patients and their relation to each of gross motor function and degree of spasticity. Fifty CP children and adolescents were studied in comparison to 50 healthy age-, sex- and pubertal stage-matched children and adolescents. All subjects were subjected to clinical evaluation, Intelligence Quotient (IQ) assessment and measurement of serum GH, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3. All auxological and hormonal parameters were significantly lower among cases. Fifty two% of cases were GH-deficient and 62% had reduced IGF-land IGFBP-3 levels. Gross Motor Function Measure- 88 (GMFM-88) score correlated negatively with each of basal (r = -0.71, p = 0.02) and peak stimulated GH (r =-0.88, p = <0.001); IGF-1 (r = -0.64, p = 0.04) and IGFBP-3 (r = -0.69, p = 0.031). There were significant negative correlations between the degree of spasticity assessed by Modified Ashworth Scale and each of basal (r = -0.61, p = 0.032) and peak stimulated GH (r = -0.78, p = 0.01); IGF-1 (r = -0.65, p = 0.041) and IGFBP-3 (r = -0.62, p = 0.035). Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) is prevalent in children with CP and could be one of the causes of their short stature.     

Breeding for drought tolerance: Direct selection for yield, response to selection and use of drought-tolerant donors in upland and lowland-adapted populations

Drought is the most important constraint reducing rice yield in rainfed areas. Earlier efforts to improve rice yield under drought mainly focused on improving secondary traits because the broad-sense heritability (H) of grain yield under drought stress was assumed to be low, however gains in yield by selecting for secondary traits have not been clearly demonstrated in rice. In present study, the effectiveness of direct selection for grain yield was assessed under lowland reproductive stage stress at Raipur in eastern India and under upland reproductive stage drought stress at IRRI. The selection under severe stress (in both upland and lowland trials) resulted in greater gains under similar stress levels (yield reduction of 65% or greater under stress) in evaluation experiments than did selection under non-stress conditions, with no yield reduction under non-stress conditions. We observed similar H of grain yield under stress and non-stress conditions, indicating direct selection for yield under drought will be effective under both lowland and upland drought stresses. None of the secondary traits (panicle exsertion, harvest index, leaf rolling, leaf drying) included in our study showed a higher estimate for H than grain yield under stress. Secondary traits as well as indirect selection for grain yield under non-stress situation were predicted to be less effective in improving yield under drought in both lowland and upland ecosystem than direct selection for grain yield under the respective stress situations. The low, but positive values observed for genetic correlation (r_G) between yield under stress and non-stress indicated that it is possible to combine drought tolerance with high-yield potential but low values also indicated that selection for grain yield needs to be carried under stress environments. The study also indicated that under lowland drought stress, the use of highly drought-tolerant donors, as parents in crosses to high yielding but susceptible varieties resulted in a much higher frequency of genotypes combining high-yield potential with tolerance than did crosses among elite lines with high-yield potential but poor tolerance. Breeding strategies that use drought-tolerant donors and that combine screening for yield under managed drought stress with screening for yield potential are likely to result in the development of improved cultivars for drought-prone rainfed rice producing areas.     

Redox Status and Neuro Inflammation Indexes in Cerebellum and Motor Cortex of Wistar Rats Supplemented with Natural Sources of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Astaxanthin: Fish Oil,Krill Oil,and Algal Biomass

Health authorities worldwide have consistently recommended the regular consumption of marine fishes and seafood to preserve memory, sustain cognitive functions, and prevent neurodegenerative processes in humans. Shrimp, crabs, lobster, and salmon are of particular interest in the human diet due to their substantial provision of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3/PUFAs) and the antioxidant carotenoid astaxanthin (ASTA). However, the optimal ratio between these nutraceuticals in natural sources is apparently the key factor for maximum protection against most neuro-motor disorders. Therefore, we aimed here to investigate the effects of a long-term supplementation with (n-3)/PUFAs-rich fish oil, ASTA-rich algal biomass, the combination of them, or krill oil (a natural combination of both nutrients) on baseline redox balance and neuro-inflammation indexes in cerebellum and motor cortex of Wistar rats. Significant changes in redox metabolism were only observed upon ASTA supplementation, which reinforce its antioxidant properties with a putative mitochondrial-centered action in rat brain. Krill oil imposed mild astrocyte activation in motor cortex of Wistar rats, although no redox or inflammatory index was concomitantly altered. In summary, there is no experimental evidence that krill oil, fish oil, oralgal biomass (minor variation), drastically change the baseline oxidative conditions or the neuro-inflammatory scenario in neuromotor-associated rat brain regions.     

Response of European starlings to menthone derivatives: evidence for stereochemical differences in repellency

The present experiments were designed to identify inexpensive substitutes for -pulegone, an effective vertebrate repellent. In experiment 1, European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were presented with -pulegone and 12 additional menthone derivatives in one-cup tests. No derivative was as effective as -pulegone. In experiment 2, starlings were presented with -pulegone, -pulegone and -pulegone in onecup tests. -pulegone was as aversive as -pulegone, and both -pulegone and -pulegone were more aversive than -pulegone. More extensive evaluation of -pulegone as a vertebrate repellent appears warranted.     

Analysis of sample size for variables related to plant,soil, and soil microbial respiration in a paddy rice field

Pre-samplings for sample size determination are strongly recommended to assure the reliability of collected data. However, there is a certain dearth of references about sample size determination in field experiments. Seldom if ever, differences in sample size were identified under different management conditions, plant traits, varieties grown and crop age. In order to analyze any differences in sample size for some of the variables measurable in rice field experiments, the visual jackknife method was applied to pre-samples collected in a paddy rice field in Northern Italy, where a management typical for European rice was conducted. Sample sizes for 14 variables describing plant features (plant density, spikelet sterility, biomass, carbon and nitrogen concentration for the different plant organs and for the whole plant) and for 12 variables describing physical and chemical soil features (texture, pH, water holding capacity, soil organic matter, total carbon and nitrogen concentration, mineral nitrogen concentration) and soil microbial activity were estimated. The elementary units of observation were a 3-plant sample and an aggregate sample of four 125 cm³ sub-samples respectively for plant- and soil-related variables. Sample sizes ranged between 15 and 27 for plant-related variables and between 5 and 6 for soil variables. Relating to plant features, remarkable differences in sample size were observed in carbon concentration values of different plant organs, probably due to maintenance respiration. Homogeneity among sample sizes for soil variables could be explained by the capability of aggregate samples in capturing a big part of the total variance. This study underlines importance of carrying out pre-samplings aiming at sample size determination for different variables describing the cropping system.