[Effects of CO[2], clove oil stunning procedure and asphyxia on meat quality in common carp [cyprinus carpio]]

A pre-slaughter stunning procedure is one of the most important steps in management of the first meat quality. The aim of the present study was to evaluate meat quality of Common carp affected by different stun-slaughtering procedures. In this investigation effects of 3 experimental treatments consist of 1] stunning carps via submerging in saturated CO[2] bath, 2] stunning carps through immersion into bath containing clove oil and 3] common fish slaughtering method [Asphyxia], were evaluated on meat quality of Common carp. Results revealed that anaesthetizing and killing procedures significantly made effect on meat quality compared to the immersion in clove oil method [p<0.05]. We have shown that muscle pH varied significantly within trial time and among the experimental groups [p<0.05]. Immediately after death, mean muscle pH for CO[2], clove oil and asphyxia groups were 6.34, 6.48 and 6.99, respectively. At 72 h postmortem, fish in clove oil group had the lowest drip loss [p<0.05]. Asphyxia group had the highest mean refraction index throughout the post mortem period. Meanwhile, different stunning procedures significantly affected the fillet and skin color [p<0.05]. It seems that stun/killing fish with clove oil preserve meat quality more than the other methods

[Validity of the Iranian version of the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV [SCID-I] in the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders]

To assess the validity of diagnoses obtained with the Iranian version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV [SCID-I]. This study was undertaken in two stages: [a] translation of SCID-I into Persian [Iranian language], [b] assessing the validity of the Persian version in a sample of Iranian patients. We recruited 299 psychiatric patients- including inpatients and ambulatory cases- from 3 teaching hospitals. A trained SCID interviewer administered the SCID and then two psychiatrists developed a consensus diagnosis, using data from multiple sources. The degree of agreement between SCID interviews and psychiatrists' diagnosis ranged from "moderate" for obsessive-compulsive and major depressive disorders to "good" for bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. With the psychiatrists' diagnosis used as the gold standard, the SCID-based diagnosis showed high specificity and moderate to high sensitivity for most psychiatric diseases. The results of this study indicate that the Iranian version of the SCID is a valid instrument for diagnosis in clinical settings

[Evaluating the presence of testis specific transcripts in mature human spermatozoa]

Progress and completion of spermatogenesis is related to simultaneous expression of various genes. Recent studies show that many genes are expressed in the sperm and several RNA copies are present in the mature spermatozoa. Identification of these genes and evaluation of their functions would improve our understanding of the molecular basis of fertilization, early embryo cleavage and the causes of many types of unexplained male infertility. In this study, we investigated the expression of DAZ, PRM1, PRM2, TSGA10, SYCP3 and AKAP4 genes in ejaculated human spermatozoa. Semen samples were collected from men referring to Avicenna Infertility Clinic. Normal semen samples [According to WHO criteria] were subjected to density-gradient centrifugation to specifically recover the pure fraction of motile spermatozoa with normal morphology. Total RNA was extracted from sperm pellets and cDNA was synthesized using RT-PCR. The presence of DAZ, TSGA10, PRM1 and PRM2 cDNAs were evaluated using appropriate primers. Expression of SYCP3 [Testis specific gene] was evaluated by nested RT-PCR. The cDNA synthesized from normal testis tissues was used as positive control. Study on cDNAs showed that DAZ, TSGA10, PRM1 and PRM2 transcripts were present in normal human testis and all of the evaluated mature spermatozoa samples but not AKAP4 or SYCP3 transcripts. According to our previous study, the expression of SYCP3 and AKAP4 genes is started from spermatocyte level in human testis during spermatogenesis process. However, we did not found any transcripts of these genes in mature spermatozoa. It is estimated that mRNAs of TSGA10, PRM1, PRM2 and DAZ and other testis specific genes in spermatozoa may participate in later sperm functions such as fertilization and early embryo cleavage. Therefore, further studies are needed to understand the role of these transcripts in the process of fertilization and early embryo development

Cloning of glucose oxidase gene in PKK233-3

Glucose oxidase [GO] has found a variety of industrial applications such as food, chemical and personal care industries. However one of the most important application of GO is used as diagnostic kits. The aim of study was isolation of GO gene from a recombinant vector [PET21aGO] and sub cloning and expression in PKK233-3 vector. Recombinant PET21a GO was extracted from E.coli DH5alpha and was digested with Restriction Enzymes; BamHI, Hindlll then isolated GO gene [1.8kb] and cloned in PKK233-3. PKK233-3GO was transformed in to E.coli DH5alpha. Our data demonstrated that the GO gene has expected size in agarose gel electrophoresis and also the cloned Go has a correct size after restriction analysis. The GO gene was cloned in prokaryotic host. This is a report of cloning of GO gene in Iran that can be used for further cloning of that gene in expression vectors for production of recombinant Enzyme

Spiral CT scan for detecting coronary artery stenosis

Coronary vessel calcification is an obvious sign of atherosclerotic disease of coronary arteries. Electron beam CT scan is currently the imaging modality of choice for assessing coronary artery calcifications. However, its high cost makes it unavailable to a large number of medical centers. We carried out this study to compare the diagnostic yield of spiral CT scans as an alternative, to coronary angiography. A hundred patients suspicious of having coronary artery disease [CAD] underwent angiography as well as spiral CT scan of the heart. On CT scan, calcification of >90 Hounsfield on a surface area of >0.5 mm2, anatomically superimposed on coronary arteries were highlighted as calcified areas using the volumetric feature of the scanner. The findings were compared to angiographic results. Of 100 patients enrolled [62 males], 69 had coronary artery obstruction [>50% stenosis on angiography]. Angiography was normal in the rest. Spiral CT scan had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 61% for the diagnosis of coronary artery disease. The PPV and NPV were 84% and 79%, respectively. Among the coronary arteries, LAD findings had the highest sensitivity [92%] and the lowest specificity [65%] in the diagnosis of CAD. With age, spiral CT scan had more sensitivity and less specificity for CAD. Detecting calcification by spiral CT scanning could be a useful non-invasive method for diagnosis and evaluation of coronary artery stenosis

Study of XmnI polymorphism in 5 region of the apoAl gene in Iranian hyperlipidemic subjects

Several studies have demonstrated the relationship between polymorphisms in the ApoAl - CIH - AIV gene cluster and hyperlipidemia. This study was conducted to elucidate the association between polymorphism of ApoAI/XmnI and Iranian hyperlipidemic subjects. Total genomic DNA was prepared from seventy-six Iranian patient with primary hyperlipidemia and seventy-five normolipidemic subjects. The subjects in the control group were age-and sex-matched to the patients. Fragment of 392 bp for 5 region of the apoAl gene [C-2500T] was amplified by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. In the hyperlipidemic group, the genotype frequency of X1X1, X1X2, X2X2 were 0.63, 0.24, 0.13, respectively. In the control group those were 0.81, 0.11 and 0.08, respectivley. There was a significant difference [p<0.05] between 2 groups. The rare allele [X2] was more frequent in hyperlipidemic group than in controls [p<0.01]. Various genotypes of apoAl/Xmnl had no significant effect on lipids or apoAI levels in hyperlipidemic group. The above results show that polymorphism ApoAl/XmnI is associated with hyperlipidemia in Iranian hyperlipidemic subjects. Therefore, our data confirmed the previously reported association between genetic polymorphism ApoAI/XmnI and hyperlipidemia

[Baclofen and clonidine in opioid detoxification]

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of baclofen and clonidine treatments in opioid detoxification

Method: 66 subjects from an outpatient setting diagnosed with opium dependency [based on DSM-IV] took part in a double blind study. Randomly 32 and 34 subjects were assigned to take respectively baclofen and clonidine for 14 days

Findings: Both drugs showed similar efficacy in regards to physical and mental symptoms of withdrawal syndrome. No significant difference was noted between the two groups on depression and anxiety scales. The side effect profiles of the two groups were more or less the same except for "vomiting" and "euphoria" which were more significantly evident in the baclofen group

Results: Baclofen can be invariably considered as an equivalent of clonidine, in opium detoxification

Isolation of Aspergillus Niger Glucose Oxidase gene and cloning of that prokaryotic host

Glucose oxidase [GO] is an enzyme, which use in food, chemical and personal care industries as well as glucose diagnostic kits. The aim of this study was PCR-mediated amplification of GO gene from Aspergillus niger genome and cloning of it in E. coli as a basis for production of recombinant GO in Iran. A. niger [2029] was cultured in media containing peptone, glucose and malt extract in 24'C for 48-72 h. Genomic DNA was extracted by sonication and freeze-thaw in liquid nitrogen in a lysis buffer containing EDTA and SDS. GO gene was amplified with designed primers under optimized PCR condition. The PCR product was cloned in pTZ57R plasmid using InsT/Aclone[TM] [Fermentas] and the constructed plasmid was transformed into E. coli DH5. Map of this plasmid was confirmed by restriction analysis and named pTZ57RGO. Our data showed the methods used in this study was adequate for culture and extraction of DNA from filamentous fungi such as A. niger. We showed amplified DNA fragment has expected size in agarose gel electrophoresis and also the cloned GO has a correct size after restriction analysis. The GO gene isolated successfully from A. niger via optimized PCR conditions and was cloned in prokaryotic host. This is the first report of isolation and cloning of GO gene in Iran that can be used for further cloning of that gene in expression vectors for production of recombinant enzyme