RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Considerando a associação entre câncer colorretal (CCR), a resistência à insulina, à obesidade e o papel proeminente da grelina nessas doenças metabólicas, foi explorado se os níveis plasmáticos de grelina estavam associados ao CCR. Além disso, nos pacientes com CCR foram pesquisadas as possíveis correlações entre a grelina, insulina, resistência insulínica e índice de massa corporal (IMC) como indicadores de obesidade. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos neste estudo 170 indivíduos, sendo 82 com CRC e 88 controles. Os níveis plasmáticos de grelina, insulina e glicose foram medidos em todos os sujeitos utilizando métodos ELISA e glicose oxidase. Além disso, a resistência à insulina foi avaliada pelo cálculo do índice HOMA-IR. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes com CRC apresentaram redução dos níveis de grelina (P<0,001) e maior índice HOMA-IR (P<0.001) do que os controles. Curiosamente, quando os pacientes com CRC foram estratificados com base no local do tumor, níveis mais baixos de grelina e maior índice de HOMA-IR foram observados nos indivíduos com câncer de cólon ou retal versus controles também. Além disso, houve uma correlação negativa entre idade e IMC independente entre os níveis de grelina e HOMA-IR (r=-0,365, P<0,05) e uma correlação negativa independente da idade entre os níveis de grelina e IMC (r=-0,335, P<0,05) no subgrupo retal. CONCLUSÃO: Nossos achados apoiam o papel da grelina em relação à resistência à insulina e à obesidade na suscetibilidade do CRC; no entanto, ela precisa ser corroborada por estudos posteriores.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Considering the association between colorectal cancer (CRC) and both insulin resistance and obesity, and the prominent role of ghrelin in these metabolic disorders, we explored whether plasma levels of ghrelin were associated with CRC. Moreover, in the patients with CRC the possible correlations between ghrelin and insulin, insulin resistance, and body mass index (BMI) as an indicator of obesity were examined. METHODS: A total of 170 subjects, including 82 cases with CRC and 88 controls were enrolled in this study. Plasma levels of ghrelin, insulin, and glucose were measured in all the subjects using ELISA and glucose oxidase methods. Furthermore, insulin resistance was assessed by calculating HOMA-IR index. RESULTS: The cases with CRC had decreased ghrelin levels (P<0.001) and a higher HOMA-IR index (P<0.001) than controls. Interestingly, when CRC patients were stratified based on tumor site, lower ghrelin levels and a higher HOMA-IR index were observed in the patients with either colon or rectal cancer vs. controls too. Additionally, there were an age and BMI-independent negative correlation between ghrelin levels and HOMA-IR (r=-0.365, P<0.05), and an age-independent negative correlation between ghrelin levels and BMI (r=-0.335, P<0.05) in the rectal subgroup. CONCLUSION: Our findings support a role for ghrelin in connection with insulin resistance and obesity in CRC susceptibility; however, it needs to be corroborated by further studies.

ABSTRACT. Data collected on 2550 Kurdi lambs originated from 1505 dams and 149 sires during 1991 to 2015 in Hossein Abad Kurdi Sheep Breeding Station, located in Shirvan city, North Khorasan province, North-eastern area of Iran, were used for inferring causal relationship among the body weights at birth (BW), at weaning (WW), at six-month age (6MW), at nine-month age (9MW) and yearling age (YW). The inductive causation (IC) algorithm was employed to search for causal structure among these traits. This algorithm was applied to the posterior distribution of the residual (co)variance matrix of a standard multivariate model (SMM). The causal structure detected by the IC algorithm coupling with biological prior knowledge provides a temporal recursive causal network among the studied traits. The studied traits were analyzed under three multivariate models including SMM, fully recursive multivariate model (FRM) and IC-based multivariate model (ICM) via a Bayesian approach by 100,000 iterations, thinning interval of 10 and the first 10,000 iterations as burn-in. The three considered multivariate models (SMM, FRM and ICM) were compared using deviance information criterion (DIC) and predictive ability measures including mean square of error (MSE) and Pearson's correlation coefficient between the observed and predicted values (r(y, ŷ)) of records. In general, structural equation based models (FRM and ICM) performed better than SMM in terms of lower DIC and MSE and also higher r(y, ŷ). Among the tested models ICM had the lowest (36678.551) and SMM had the highest (36744.107)DIC values. In each case of the traits studied, the lowest MSE and the highest r(y, ŷ) were obtained under ICM. The causal effects of BW on WW, WW on 6MW, 6MW on 9MW and 9MW on YW were statistically significant values of 1.478, 0.737, 0.776 and 0.929 kg, respectively (99% highest posterior density intervals did not include zero).

RESUMEN Se realizó un experimento de campo en un diseño de bloques completos al azar con cuatro niveles de azufre, S0, S1, S2 y S3, incluyendo 0, 12, 24 y 36 kg ha-1 (respectivamente) junto con 115 kg N ha-1, para evaluar el rendimiento económico de una variedad de canola (Hyola401) en Abandankash en el Distrito Central del condado de Sari en el norte de Irán. Se registraron parámetros tales como actividad de la nitrato-reductasa de la hoja, contenido de nitrato en raíz, contenido de azúcares en hojas y en raíz, actividades de peroxidasa en raíz y de catalasa en hojas y rendimiento de semilla. Los resultados del análisis de varianza revelaron diferencias altamente significativas entre los caracteres para la mayoría de los rasgos como contenido de nitrato y de azúcares en hojas y raíz, actividades de peroxidasa en raíz y de catalasa en hojas y rendimiento de semillas. Debido a una correlación positiva significativa entre la nitrato- reduc-tasa de la raíz y el rendimiento de la semilla, el aumento de esta enzima en la raíz mediante la aplicación de azufre tiene un efecto acelerador en el rendimiento de la semilla de colza. Una correlación positiva altamente significativa determinada entre el contenido de azúcar en la hoja y el rendimiento de la semilla (0.75**) indica que los niveles crecientes de azufre tuvieron un efecto directo sobre el contenido de azúcar en la hoja, lo que tuvo un efecto acelerador sobre el peso del rendimiento del grano. La aplicación de azufre aumentó significativamente el rendimiento de la semilla sobre el control (nivel de S0) y varió de 2744 a 3215 kg ha-1 en S0 y S3, respectivamente.

ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four sulfur levels, S0, S1, S2 and S3, including 0, 12, 24 and 36 kg ha-1 (respectively) along with 115 kg N ha-1, to evaluate the economic yield of the rapeseed variety (Hyola401) in Abandankash in the Central District of Sari County in Northern Iran. Parameters such as activity of leaf nitrate reductase, root nitrate content, contents of sugars in leaves and root, root peroxidase activity, and leaf catalase activity as well as seed yield were recorded. The results of the analysis of variance revealed that there were highly significant differences between characters for the majority of the traits such as contents of sugars and nitrate in leaves and root, root peroxidase activity, leaf catalase activity, and seed yield. Due to significant positive correlation between activity of root nitrate reductase and seed yield, increasing this enzyme in roots by sulfur application would have an accelerating effect on rapeseed seed yield. A highly significant positive correlation determined between leaf sugar content and seed yield (0.75**) indicated that increasing levels of sulfur had a direct effect on leaf sugar content, which had an accelerating effect on the weight of seed yield. Sulfur application significantly increased seed yield compared to the control (S0 level), and it ranged from 2744 to 3215 kg ha-1 in S0 and S3.

ABSTRACT Background Leishmania major is a causative agent of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in the center of Iran, Abarkouh district. Molecular characterization and precise incrimination of Leishmania species was carried out to perform controlling measurements and to design treatment programs for zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods All smears isolated from ulcers of suspected patients were examined under a light microscope and graded for amastigotes frequency. Extraction of DNA, PCR, RFLP and sequencing of ITS-rDNA genotype were done to increase the efficacy of Leishmania parasites identification at their species-specific level and to detect any Leishmania infections within. Results Humans were found to be infected with L. major with high infection frequency and also Leishmania tropica was identified with low occurrence for the first time as non-native species using molecular analyses. The rates of infections was considerable with microscopic observation (n= 65, 73%) out of 89 smears prepared from suspected patients. Molecular analyses showed that the density of L. major was significantly higher (n= 48, 53.93%) than L. tropica (n= 4, 4.49%) (Mann-Whitney U test: p< 0.05) and two samples (2.25%) remained ambiguous after several sequencing. L. major did not have diversity with two common haplotypes but L. tropica were found to exhibit high diversity with three novel haplotypes. Conclusion L. major was considered the causative agent of leishmaniasis in the region, but the identification of a non-native L. tropica revealed the importance of further isolation of Leishmania parasites following molecular analyses and confirmation, and also revealed the importance of further isolation of Leishmania parasites from patients of the field areas who do not have easily access to health care centers for specialized treatment strategies.

RESUMO Foram avaliados compósitos termoplásticos feitos com 45, 60 e 75% de palha de arroz como material de enchimento e dois tipos de termoplásticos, polietileno virgem (PE) e polipropileno (PP). As placas finais foram feitas com e sem polipropileno modificado com anidrido maleico (MAPP) a 2% do peso total de cada amostra. As resistências à flexão e à tração foram medidas para compósitos secos e também medidas após 24 h de imersão em água dos compósitos (condição úmida). Ao aumentar o teor de enchimento, as resistências à flexão e à tração e também a densidade dos matérias diminuíram. O tipo de matriz (PE ou PP) não afetou significativamente a resistência à flexão, mas o PP levou os maiores valores de resistência à tração para baixas cargas de fibras (45% e 60%). Os agentes de acoplamento aumentaram a resistência à flexão e à tração. Após a imersão em água, o módulo de elasticidade e o módulo de ruptura diminuíram, enquanto que a resistência à tração foi menos influenciada.

ABSTRAT Thermoplastic composites made with 45, 60 and 75% of rice straw as filler and two types of thermoplastics, virgin polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were evaluated. The final boards were made with and without maleic anhydride modified polypropylene (MAPP) at 2% of the total weight of each specimen. The flexural and tensile strengths were measured for dry composites and also measured after 24 h of water immersion of the composites (wet condition). By increasing the filler content, the flexural and tensile strengths and also the density of the specimens decreased. The type of matrix (PE or PP) did not affect significantly the flexural strength, but PP led to higher values of tensile strength for low fiber loadings (45% and 60%). Coupling agents increased the flexural and tensile strength. After water immersion, modulus of elasticity and modulus of rupture were decreased, while tensile strength was less influenced.

Abstract Candida species, especially C. albicans, are commensals on human mucosal surfaces, but are increasingly becoming one of the important invasive pathogens as seen by a rise in its prevalence in immunocompromised patients and in antibiotic consumption. Thus, an accurate identification of Candida species in patients with pulmonary symptoms can provide important information for effective treatment. A total of 75 clinical isolates of Candida species were obtained from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients with pulmonary symptoms. Candida cultures were identified based on nuclear ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS1-ITS2 rDNA) sequence analysis by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP). Molecular identification indicated that the isolates belonged predominantly to C. albicans (52%), followed by C. tropicalis (24%), C. glabrata (14.7%), C. krusei (5.3%), C. parapsilosis (1.3%), C. kefyr (1.3%) and C. guilliermondii (1.3%). Given the increasing complexity of disease profiles and their management regimens in diverse patients, rapid and accurate identification of Candida species can lead to timely and appropriate antifungal therapy.

Abstract Lavandula officinalis Chaix, Lamiaceae, extracts can inhibit inflammation and also pain induced by formalin in mice. This study evaluated the effects of L. officinalis hydro-alcoholic extract on pain induced by formalin and also cyclooxygenase (COX) type 1 and 2 activity in mice. To evaluate probable analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the extract, flowers were prepared by maceration and extraction in alcohol and their analgesic effects were studied in male mice, using formalin and hot plate tests. The effect of intraperitoneal hydro-alcoholic extracts of L. officinalis (100, 200, 250, 300, 400 and 800 mg/kg), subcutaneous morphine (10 mg/kg), dexamethasone (10 mg/kg; i.p.) and indomethacin (10 mg/kg; i.p.) on formalin induced pain were studied. Our results indicated that administration of the extract (100, 200, 250, 300, 400 and 800 mg/kg; i.p.) has inhibitory effects on inflammation induced by formalin injection into the animals hind paw. Moreover, this inhibitory effect was equal to the effects of morphine, dexamethasone and indomethacin. The extract in100, 200 and 300 mg/kg; significantly reduced heat-induced pain. The extract also reduced COX activity in dose dependent manner, where the inhibitory effect on COX1 activity was 33% and on COX2 activity was 45%. Here for the first time we show that L. officinialis extract can modulate pain and inflammation induced by formalin by inhibition of COX enzymes.

Vasectomy is a common contraceptive procedure in men. The present study is aimed to explore the impact of vasectomy on epididymal morphology and sperm parameters in adult male Balb/c mice. Twenty adult (age: 8 weeks) male Balb/c mice, weighting 20-30 g were used in the experiments. They were divided into 2 groups (vasectomy and sham). The operations were performed under sodium pentobarbital (40 mg/kg body weight, IP) anesthesia via a lower mid-abdominal incision. The left epididymis caput was fixed for histological studies and the right one was used for sperm count and motility. Progressive fast and slow sperm motility were significantly decreased in the vasectomized compared to the sham operation group (P<0.05) and the number of immotile sperm in the vasectomized group was increased in comparison to control group. Sperm granuloma was seen in 60% of epididymis after vasectomy. Also, Histological study showed an increase in tubular lumen diameter, interstitial space and infiltration of immune cells in interstitial tissue in vasectomized group. Vasectomy increases histopathological changes in epididymis and decreases the motility of sperm developing a reduction in fertility rates.

La vasectomía es un procedimiento anticonceptivo común en los hombres. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo explorar el impacto de la vasectomía sobre la morfología del epidídimo y los parámetros espermáticos en ratones macho adultos Balb/c. Fueron utilizados en el estudio 20 ratones adultos (8 semanas de edad), con un peso ponderado de 20-30 g. Se dividieron en 2 grupos (vasectomía y Sham). Las cirugías se realizaron bajo anestesia con pentobarbital sódico (40 mg/kg de peso corporal, IP), con acceso a través de una incisión medio- abdominal inferior. La cabeza del epidídimo izquierdo fue fijada para estudios histológicos y la cabeza del epidídimo derecho se utilizó para el conteo de espermatozoides y evaluar su motilidad. La motilidad progresiva rápida y lenta de los espermatozoides se redujo significativamente en el grupo de ratones vasectomizados en comparación con el grupo Sham (p<0,05), y el número de espermatozoides inmóviles en el grupo sometido a la vasectomía aumentó. Granuloma espermático se observó en el 60% de los epidídimos después de la vasectomía. También, el estudio histológico mostró un aumento del diámetro del lumen tubular, espacio intersticial e infiltración de células inmunitarias en el tejido intersticial en el grupo sometido a la vasectomía . La vasectomía aumenta los cambios histopatológicos en el epidídimo y disminuye la motilidad de los espermatozoides, generando una reducción en las tasas de fertilidad.