Association Study of rs1333040 and rs1004638 Polymorphisms in the 9p21 Locus with Coronary Artery Disease in Southwest of Iran

Background:

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multifactorial and heterogenic disease. Recently, genome-wide association studies have reported that rs1333040 (C/T) and rs1004638 (A/T) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 9p21 locus have very strong association with CAD. This study aimed to examine these associations in Southwest of Iran.

Methods:

Blood samples were collected from 200 CAD patients and 110 healthy individuals with no CAD. The association of two SNPs with CAD was evaluated by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Results:

Chi-square test showed no association between rs1333040 SNP and CAD (X²: 4.66, df: 2, P=0.09). Also, there was no association between rs1004638 SNP and CAD (X²: 0.27, df: 2, P=0.88).

Conclusion:

No association was observed between rs1333040 and rs1004638 SNPs in the 9P21 region and CAD in Southwest of Iran. Key Words: Coronary artery disease, Single nucleotide polymorphisms, Genetic association study, Iran     

Evaluation of copper desorption characteristics using DTPA and citric acid for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rhizosphere of soils amended with sewage sludge

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to determine copper (Cu) desorption characteristics in ten bulk and rhizosphere soils (Typic Calcixerepts) amended with sewage sludge (1% w/w) using rhizoboxes. The kinetics of Cu desorption in the bulk and the rhizosphere soils were determined after successive extraction with DTPA‐TEA and 10 mM citric acid in a period of 1 to 504 h at (25 ± 1)°C. The results show that Cu extracted after 504 h using DTPA‐TEA were significantly (P < 1%) lower in the rhizosphere than the bulk soils. However, Cu extracted after 504 h using citric was significantly (P < 1%) higher in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soils. The results illustrated that, on average, citric acid extracted 56% more Cu from the bulk soils than DTPA‐TEA, and citric acid extracted 85% more Cu from the rhizosphere soils than DTPA‐TEA. Desorption kinetics of Cu in the two extractants was well described by power‐function, parabolic diffusion, and first‐order equations. The results show that a 10 mM citric acid extractant may be recommended to determine the kinetics of Cu desorption in calcareous soils amended with sewage sludge.     

Rhizosphere effects on Cu availability and fractionation in sewage sludge‐amended calcareous soils

Rhizosphere processes have a major impact on copper (Cu) availability and its fractions in soils. A greenhouse experiment with wheat was performed to investigate availability (using seven chemical procedures) and fractionation of Cu in the rhizosphere of ten agricultural soils (Typic Calcixerepts) amended with sewage sludge (1% w/w) using rhizoboxes. The results show that available Cu concentrations in rhizosphere soils were significantly (P < 1%) lower than in bulk soils. In comparison with the bulk soils, in the rhizosphere soils the concentration of Cu associated with organic matter and residual Cu increased by 24 and 4%, respectively, whereas exchangeable Cu, Cu associated with iron‐manganese oxides, and Cu associated with carbonate decreased by 20, 14, and 12%, respectively. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and Cu associated with iron‐manganese oxides and Cu associated with organic matter in the rhizosphere and bulk soils were significantly correlated (P < 5%). The results show that the differences between rhizosphere and bulk soils in chemical conditions such as DOC concentrations can change the proportion of soil Cu fractions and, therefore, Cu availability for wheat in calcareous soils amended with sewage sludge. The results show that the wheat root‐induced modifications of chemical and biological soil conditions do not only lead to Cu depletion in mobile soil Cu fractions, but also to modification in soil Cu fractions which are commonly considered as more stable.     

Effect of adding different levels of caffeine in the extender on some biochemical constituents,enzymatic activities and physical characteristics of chilled and frozen ram semen

Two experiments were carried out to determine the efficiency of supplementation of ram semen extender with caffeine on chilled storage and frozen capacity of spermatozoa. In the first experiment, eighty ejaculates were collected by an artificial vagina from five adult Barki rams, aged 2–3 years and weighted 45.0 ± 2.0 kg throughout the experimental period (January to February 2017). The ejaculates were pooled and diluted (1:10) with tris‐citric egg yolk extender and were split into five groups. Group 1 served as control, whereas groups 2‐5 were supplemented with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 mM caffeine. All diluted semen specimens were evaluated for physical characteristics immediately after dilution (T₀) and throughout preservation period of 48 hr at 4°C. Simultaneously, oxidative stress and indices such as total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde concentrations (MDA) and alkaline transaminase (AKP) concentrations and value of resazurin reduction test (RRT) were determined. In the second experiment, the raw pooled ejaculates were diluted (1:10) with glycerolated tris‐citric egg yolk extender, receiving the previously mentioned caffeine levels. The post‐thaw assessment of cryopreserved spermatozoa, in all groups, was conducted by a computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system. The results revealed that adding caffeine to ram semen extender at low (0.1 mM) or medium (0.2 mM) levels had positive impact on both physical characteristics of ram sperm and the enzymatic activities compared to the other semen groups. Caffeine supplementation also enhanced post‐thaw sperm dynamics, which implies its potential as an exogenous antioxidant supplement.     

A genomic regulatory network for development

Development of the body plan is controlled by large networks of regulatory genes. A gene regulatory network that controls the specification of endoderm and mesoderm in the sea urchin embryo is summarized here. The network was derived from large-scale perturbation analyses, in combination with computational methodologies, genomic data, cis-regulatory analysis, and molecular embryology. The network contains over 40 genes at present, and each node can be directly verified at the DNA sequence level by cis-regulatory analysis. Its architecture reveals specific and general aspects of development, such as how given cells generate their ordained fates in the embryo and why the process moves inexorably forward in developmental time.     

Measuring crop status using multivariate analysis of hyperspectral field reflectance with application to disease severity and plant density

Using spectral reflectance to estimate crop status is a method suitable for developing sensors for site-specific agricultural applications. When developing spectral analysis methods, it is important to know the influence of different crop parameters on the spectral reflectance profile. The objective of this report was to present and evaluate a multivariate method for objective hyperspectral analysis in the examination of how different parts of the reflectance spectrum are affected by disease severity and above ground plant density. Data from two field experiments were used; fungal disease severity assessments in wheat 1998 and above ground plant density measurements 2003. The analysis method consisted of two steps: a pre-processing step where the data was normalized and a classification step for estimating the crop variable. Using only 12% of the data as training data, the method resulted in coefficients of determination (R ²) of 94.3% for the disease severity data and 96.9% for the plant density data. The hyperspectral analysis method presented could also be used to extract spectral signatures of disease severity and plant density using the experimental data. In general, two types of spectral signatures for both data sets, with respect to increasing disease severity and decreasing plant density, were observed (1) a flattening of the green reflectance peak together with a general decrease in reflectance in the near infrared region and, (2) a decrease of the shoulder of the near infrared reflectance plateau together with a general increase in the visible region between 550 and 750 nm.     

Improvement in wild endangered Persian sturgeon,Acipenser persicus (Borodin, 1897) semen cryopreservation by 2‐hydroxypropyl‐beta‐cyclodextrin (HβCD)

In this study, cryopreservation feasibility of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) and the effect of different doses of 2‐hydroxypropyl‐beta‐cyclodextrin on thawed spermatozoa quality (motility duration and motility percentage) were investigated. For freezing, semen of seven male individuals was pooled in equal volumes and diluted with 4°C [Tris‐HCl (100 mM), pH = 8, DMSO 10%] extenders containing 0, 5, 10, 15 mM of HβCD in a ratio of 1:1(semen/extenders). Then semen was filled into 0.5‐mL straws, and was frozen with vapour of liquid nitrogen at 4‐cm above surface of liquid nitrogen. After 3 min, straws were plunged in to liquid nitrogen. Thawing was performed at 40°C water baths for 15 s. Motility duration of the 10 mM HβCD treated spermatozoa at days 14 (228.98 ± 16.39) and 56 (199.66 ±21.78) were longer than other treatments. In day 56, the motility percentage in treatment with 10 mM was significantly higher (16.14 ± 2.54) (P < 0.05) compared with 5 mM treatment (8.75 ± 2.47) (P < 0.05). Therefore, it is recommended that 10 mM of HβCD can be used as an additive cryoprotectant for increasing cryopreserved spermatozoa quality in this species.     

IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression in pulmonary lymphocytes in equine heaves

Heaves is a common condition of horses of cold climate that is characterized by small airway inflammation and obstruction following exposure of susceptible horses to moldy hay and straw. It has been shown that helper T lymphocytes (Th) orchestrate the inflammatory response in asthma and in various animal models of allergic lung diseases by the release of Th2-type cytokines. Results of previous studies indicate that a predominant expression of Th2-type response by airway cells may also be present in heaves. To evaluate the temporal mRNA expression of Th1 (IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5) type cytokines in heaves and their relationship to clinical disease, we studied the pulmonary mechanics and cytokine mRNA expression (IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma) in bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocytes of horses with heaves (n=6) and control (n=6) before and after 24h and 9 days of continuous natural inhalation challenge. Starting 24h after challenge horses with heaves, but not control horses, had a significant increase in pulmonary elastance and the number of lymphocytes expressing mRNA for IL-4 and IL-5. These changes were further increased at 9 days, at which time the number of cells positive for IFN-gamma mRNA was decreased. In this study we have shown that BAL lymphocytes of horses with heaves during clinical exacerbation have a predominant Th2-type cytokine response and that this response coincides in time with the presence of airway obstruction.     

Comparison of different soilless media for growing gerbera under alkalinity stress condition

A factorial experiment was developed with two factors of the growing medium (v/v): 100% coconut fiber (CF), 75% vermicompost+25% perlite (VP), 25% zeolite+75% perlite (ZP), 75% peat+25% perlite (PP), 75% coco chip+25% perlite (CCP), 75% coconut fiber+25% perlite (CFP) and 100% perlite (P); and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) (0, 20 and 40 mM) involving the growth of gerbera cv. Dafne. Compared with CF substrate, NaHCO₃ in the nutrient solution caused significant decrease in vegetative and reproductive traits and nutrient concentration [especially iron, phosphorus, and magnesium (Fe, P and Mg)] in the rest of the media. The improved crop performance of plants grown onto CF substrate was attributed to their strong capacity to accumulate Fe in the aerial part under alkaline conditions and to maintain a better plant nutritional status (higher P and Mg). It is concluded that the use of CF substrate could provide a useful tool to improve alkalinity tolerance of gerbera plants under NaHCO₃ stress.     

Epidemiology, pathology, immunology and diagnosis of bovine farcy: a review

Bovine farcy (which is caused by Mycobacterium farcinogenes and Mycobacterium senegalense) is a chronic suppurative granulomatous inflammation of the skin and lymphatics of cattle and is seen mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. It is not yet certain whether Nocardia farcinica causes cutaneous nocardiosis (farcy) in animals that mimics bovine farcy. Epidemiological data have steadily reported finding bovine farcy in adult cattle of the transhumance pastoralist tribes of the Sahel and the Sudanian savannah zones. M. farcinogenes and or M. senegalense do not affect other domestic or non-domestic animals; it is not known whether these bacteria are zoonotic. The disease--once widespread in many regions--has disappeared from some countries historically known to have it. Reports of bovine farcy prevalence seem to be linked to the existence of survey initiatives by governments and diagnostic capabilities in each country. Farcy causes economic loss due to damaged hides and also is a public-health burden (because the lymphadenitis due to farcy resembles the lesions of bovine tuberculosis in carcasses and the meat is considered inappropriate for human consumption). The current literature is deficient in establishing definitely the prevalence, transmission patterns, and risk factors of bovine farcy. Ixodid ticks transmit other skin diseases (such as dermatophilosis) and might play a role in bovine farcy (given the similarity in the bio-physiology and geographic distribution of the disease). In addition, the tick-resistance of cattle breeds such as the N'Dama, Fulani or the Nilotic might explain their resistance to bovine farcy. Apart from the judicious use of conventional smear-and-culture methods, few diagnostic tests have been developed; the molecular and serological tests have not been evaluated for reproducibility and accuracy. This review points out aspects of bovine farcy that need further research and updates available data on the prevalence, distribution, risk factors, economic and public health implications, diagnosis, and control.