Evaluation of serum C-reactive protein level and its related factors in hemodialysis patients in Sari, Iran

Chronic inflammation, as reflected by increased level of acute phase protein such as C-reactive Protein (CRP) is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients. CRP is a strong predictor of overall and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in hemodialysis patients. This research was conducted to determine the C-reactive Protein (CRP) levels and its correlation to demographic and clinical characteristics and Laboratory values in hemodialysis patients in Sari, Iran. In a cross sectional study, 147 hemodialysis patients were studied. Patients' demographic and clinical data were recorded and also serum CRP, Cholesterol, Albumin, Phosphorous, Calcium, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit levels were measured. Overall, the mean CRP concentration was 15.8 mg L(-1). With considering to the different cutoff point (5, 6.2, 10 mg L(-1)) for CRP level, 107 patients (72.8%) had CRP level >5 mg L(-1), 99 patients (67.3%) had CRP level > 6.2 mg L(-1) and 77 patients (52.4%) had CRP level >10 nmg L(-1). The CRP levels greater than 6.2, had a direct statistically significant correlation with duration of hemodialysis and phosphorus level (p = 0.01). Also, CRP levels above 10 mg L(-1) had a direct statistically significant correlation with age and phosphorus levels (p = 0.02). According to the prevalence of high CRP level and it's correlation with age, duration ofhemodialysis and phosphorus level in hemodialysis patients, CRP level should be screened in this group of patients routinely because of its prognostic importance.     

The influence of dietary fish oil replacement with mixture of vegetable oils on reproductive performance,immune responses and dynamic of fatty acids during embryogenesis in Oncorhynchus mykiss

A 90‐day feeding trial was carried out to examine the influence of fish oil (FO) substitution with blends of vegetable oils (VOs) on reproductive efficiency of female brooders and fluctuation in fatty acid (FA) profile of embryos in Oncorhynchus mykiss. A basal diet was formulated in which 20% (80FO/20VO), 50% (50FO/50VO), 75% (25FO/75VO) and 100% (100VO) of FO were replaced by mixture of VO. Reproductive performance of brooders was not affected by drastic alternations in FA profile of diets. The level of saturated and monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) significantly increased, whereas the levels of long‐chain polyunsaturated FAs (LC‐PUFAs), mainly docosahexaenoic acid, profoundly decreased during embryogenesis. The concentrations of MUFA and n?6 PUFA increased in the eggs with increasing the incorporation of VO mixture in diets; however, the concentration of LC‐PUFA and n?3/n?6 PUFA ratio decreased. Haematological parameters and humoral immune responses including total immunoglobulin content, lysozyme and alternative complement pathway activities in brooders fed with the experimental diets did not statically different. In summary, incorporating mixture of various VO sources especially linseed and sunflower oils as good sources of α‐linolenic and linoleic acids, respectively, along with low levels of residual fat from fish meal in diet suggested a good strategy for providing the appropriate essential FA requirements of O. mykiss brooders for their successful reproduction.     

Estimation of spatial and temporal changes in net primary production based on Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model in semi-arid rangelands of SemiromCounty,Iran

Net primary production (NPP) is an indicator of rangeland ecosystem function. This research assessed the potential of the Carnegie Ames Stanford Approach (CASA) model for estimating NPP and its spatial and temporal changes in semi-arid rangelands of Semirom County, Iran. Using CASA model, we estimated the NPP values based on monthly climate data and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) obtained from the MODIS sensor. Regression analysis was then applied to compare the estimated production data with observed production data. The spatial and temporal changes in NPP and light utilization efficiency (LUE) were investigated in different rangeland vegetation types. The standardized precipitation index (SPI) was also calculated at different time scales and the correlation of SPI with NPP changes was determined. The results indicated that the estimated NPP values varied from 0.00 to 74.48 g C/(m²?a). The observed and estimated NPP values had different correlations, depending on rangeland conditions and vegetation types. The highest and lowest correlations were respectively observed in Astragalus spp.-Agropyronspp. rangeland (R²=0.75) with good condition and Gundeliaspp.-Cousiniaspp. rangeland (R²=0.36) with poor and very poor conditions. The maximum and minimum LUE values were found in Astragalus spp.-Agropyronspp. rangeland (0.117 g C/MJ) with good condition and annual grasses-annual forbs rangeland (0.010 g C/MJ), respectively. According to the correlations between SPI and NPP changes, the effects of drought periods on NPP depended on vegetation types and rangeland conditions. Annual plants had the highest drought sensitivity while shrubs exhibited the lowest drought sensitivity. The positive effects of wet periods on NPP were less evident in degraded areas where the destructive effects of drought were more prominent. Therefore, determining vegetation types and rangeland conditions is essential in NPP estimation. The findings of this study confirmed the potential of the CASA for estimating rangeland production. Therefore, the model output maps can be used to evaluate, monitor and optimize rangeland management in semi-arid rangelands of Iran where MODIS NPP products are not available.     

Extracellular production of silver nanoparticles by using three common species of dermatophytes: Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis

Background: To develop a new green approach for biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles, myconanotechnology has been represented as a novel field of study in nanotechnology. In this study, we have reported the extracellular synthesis of highly stable silver nanoparticles using three species of dermatophytes: Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum canis. Methods: Clinical strains of these species were grown in a liquid medium containing mineral salt and incubated at 25°C for 5-7 days. The cell-free filtrate of each culture was obtained and subjected to synthesize silver nanoparticles in the presence of 1 mM AgNO₃. Results: The reduction of Ag+ ions in metal nanoparticles was investigated virtually by tracing the solution color which was switched into reddish-light brown after 72 h. For T. mentagrophytes, a UV-visible spectra demonstrating a strong, quite narrow peak located between 422 and 425 nm was obtained. For M. canis, a fairly wide peak centering at 441 nm and for T. rubrum, a weak spectrum to decipher were observed. According to transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results, fairly uniform, spherical, and small in size with almost less than 50 nm particles were forms in case of T. mentagrophytes. For the other two species, TEM images showed existence of small spherical nanosilvers but not as small as nanoparticles synthesized by T. mentagrophytes. Conclusion: We observed that species belong to a single genus of the fungi have variable ability to synthesize silver nanoparticles extracellulary with different efficiency. Furthermore, the extracellular synthesis may make the process simpler and easier for following processes.Key Words: Nanoparticles, Dermatophytes, Extracellular biosynthesis     

Detection of QTL for greasy fleece weight in sheep using a 50 K single nucleotide polymorphism chip

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have introduced an influential tool in the search for quantitative trait loci (QTL) influencing economically important traits in sheep. To identify QTL associated with greasy fleece weight, a GWAS with 50 K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed in a Baluchi sheep population. Association with greasy fleece weights was tested using the software Plink. The results of our GWAS provided three novel SNP markers and candidate genes associated with greasy fleece weight. A total of three chromosome-wide significant associations were detected for SNP on chromosomes 17 and 20 affecting greasy fleece weight across the four shearing. One of the significant SNP markers was located within ovine known genes namely FAM101A. Further investigation of these identified regions in validation studies will facilitate the identification of strong candidate genes for wool production in sheep.     

In vitro plant regeneration from cotyledon-derived callus cultures of leguminous tree Gleditsia caspica Desf.

An in vitro regeneration system was developed using organogenic callus derived from in vitro grown cotyledonary explants of Gleditsia caspica Desf., an important leguminous tree. Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium augmented with 0.2 g L^?1 myo-inositol and various concentrations of either 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), naphthaleneacetic acid, or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) alone as well as combined with cytokinins was used for callus induction. The highest frequency of organogenic yellowish-white and nodular callus (93 %) was obtained from explants grown on medium supplemented with 13.5 μM 2,4-D and 4.4 μM benzyladenine (BA). The yellowish-white and nodular callus when transferred to MS medium supplemented with BA (2.2–17.7 μM) or kinetin (KT; 2.3–18.8 μM) solely or in combination with 2.3 μM 2,4-D produced several microshoots after 5 weeks culture. The calli cultured on MS medium with 4.4 μM BA singly showed superior growth response and produced both maximum shoot regeneration (94 %) and the highest mean number (4.3) of microshoots per callus. Transfer of regenerated microshoots onto modified MS basal medium fortified with 5.8 μM gibberellic acid and 4.4 μM BA resulted in the maximum number of internodes per shoot and the highest shoot elongation after a period of 6 weeks. Optimum rooting of 90 %, an average 6.1 roots per shoot, and a mean root length of 3.6 cm was observed when half-strength MS medium was supplemented with 9.8 μM IBA and 0.92 μM KT. The regenerated healthy plants with well-developed shoots and roots showed a survival rate of 77 % after acclimatization and transplanting to garden soil for a 10-week hardening period under ex vitro conditions.     

Dietary fatty acid profiling in plant protein‐rich diets affects the reproductive performance,egg fatty acid profile and haematological parameters in female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The influence of dietary fish oil (FO) substitution with blends of vegetal oils (VO: canola, linseed, olive, sunflower, corn and coconut oils) in plant protein‐rich diets on reproductive performance and fatty acid dynamics of embryos was evaluated in female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) brooders (1.8 ± 0.1 kg). Four diets were formulated in which 20% (FO₈₀/VO₂₀), 50% (FO₅₀/VO₅₀), 75% (FO₂₅/VO₇₅) and 100% (VO₁₀₀) of FO were replaced by mixture of VO. The above‐mentioned diets were administered for a short period prior to spawning (3 months). Fish fed the VO₁₀₀ had the lowest fertilization rate (81.3 ± 2.3), whereas brooders fed the FO₈₀/VO₂₀ diet had the lowest survival rates at eyed embryo stage (83.7 ± 1.6%) and hatching rate (79.9 ± 3.1%). The fatty acid dynamics of embryos were not only affected by embryonic developmental stages, but also they were influenced by the dietary fatty acid profile. Our study confirmed that using blends of different VO sources and FM residual fat in the FO₂₅/VO₇₅ for the short‐term period prior to spawning seemed to be a good strategy in terms of successful reproduction for sparing high levels of FM and FO in diet of O. mykiss brooders.     

The Effects of Cold Plasma Application on Quality and Chemical Spoilage of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) during Refrigerated Storage

Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is an important species in aquaculture worldwide. Post-mortem changes during cold storage reduce the quality of shrimp and shorten its shelf life. Cold plasma (CP) was applied for 45, 90, and 150s as T₁, T₂, and T₃, respectively, to fresh harvested shrimp. The biochemical parameters and melanosis were analyzed in comparison to metabisulphite treated (T_M) and control during 12 days of refrigerated storage. The results highlighted lower rate of increase in pH, total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) content, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide value (PV), and fluorescent compounds (FC) in shrimp exposed to CP and metabisulphite compared to control (P < 0.05). Although CP lowered biochemical changes in T₁ and T₃ shrimp, T₂ was the most effective treatment in reducing undesirable changes and improving quality of shrimp. In all storage periods, melanosis was significantly lower in T₂, T₃, and T_M samples. Results demonstrate that CP exposure effectively decreases relative activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme, and prolonging the exposure to CP for 150 s resulted in 50% reduction in enzyme activity. We conclude that application of CP for 90 s was the most efficient circumstance to extend shelf life of white shrimp during cold storage.     

Effect of Fe,Zn and Cu on quantity and quality characteristics and nutrient accumulation in wheat

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Wheat is the most important food on earth. Therefore, to produce high-quality products with efficient utilization, the micronutrient groups are needed....     

Cyanobacteria—From the Oceans to the Potential Biotechnological and Biomedical Applications

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotic organisms which represent a significant source of novel, bioactive, secondary metabolites, and they are also considered an abundant source of bioactive compounds/drugs, such as dolastatin, cryptophycin 1, curacin toyocamycin, phytoalexin, cyanovirin-N and phycocyanin. Some of these compounds have displayed promising results in successful Phase I, II, III and IV clinical trials. Additionally, the cyanobacterial compounds applied to medical research have demonstrated an exciting future with great potential to be developed into new medicines. Most of these compounds have exhibited strong pharmacological activities, including neurotoxicity, cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against HCMV, HSV-1, HHV-6 and HIV-1, so these metabolites could be promising candidates for COVID-19 treatment. Therefore, the effective large-scale production of natural marine products through synthesis is important for resolving the existing issues associated with chemical isolation, including small yields, and may be necessary to better investigate their biological activities. Herein, we highlight the total synthesized and stereochemical determinations of the cyanobacterial bioactive compounds. Furthermore, this review primarily focuses on the biotechnological applications of cyanobacteria, including applications as cosmetics, food supplements, and the nanobiotechnological applications of cyanobacterial bioactive compounds in potential medicinal applications for various human diseases are discussed.