Molecular phylogeny and divergence times of Astragalus section Hymenostegis: An analysis of a rapidly diversifying species group in Fabaceae.

The taxa of Astragalus section Hymenostegis are an important element of mountainous and steppe habitats in Southwest Asia. A phylogenetic hypothesis of sect. Hymenostegis has been obtained from nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid ycf1 sequences of up to 303 individuals from 106 species, including all 89 taxa currently assigned to sect. Hymenostegis, 14 species of other Astragalus sections, and two species of Oxytropis and one Biserrula designated as outgroups. Bayesian phylogenetic inference and parsimony analyses reveal that three species from two other closely related sections group within sect. Hymenostegis, making the section paraphyletic. DNA sequence diversity is generally very low among Hymenostegis taxa, which is consistent with recent diversification of the section. We estimate that diversification in sect. Hymenostegis occurred in the middle to late Pleistocene, with many species arising only during the last one million years, when environmental conditions in the mountain regions of Southwest and Central Asia cycled repeatedly between dry and more humid conditions.

Oxidative stress biomarkers in endometrial secretions: A comparison between successful and unsuccessful in vitro fertilization cycles.

A potential role of oxidative stress has been implicated in the outcome of various steps of assisted reproductive technology (ART). In a prospective cohort study, a total of 100 patients undergoing IVF/ICSI procedure due to male factor infertility were recruited based on the inclusion criteria. In all patients, 1-2ml of endometrial secretions was aspirated prior to embryo transfer. The oxidative stress markers in endometrial secretions, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, lipid peroxidation (LPO), total thiol groups (TTG), and total antioxidant power (TAP) were investigated and compared among study groups including term pregnancy, failed IVF cycle, and miscarriage. P<0.05 was considered statistically different. Of the 100 patients, 28 cases (28%) resulted in ongoing pregnancy (biochemical pregnancy followed by clinical pregnancy), 11 cases (11%) resulted in miscarriage, and 61 cases (61%), resulted in failed IVF cycle. SOD, LPO, CAT, and TAP levels in the endometrial secretions of the three groups were statistically different (P-value <0.01, <0.001, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). TTG levels in endometrial secretion of three groups were not statistically different (P-value=0.837). Our results indicated that higher levels of antioxidants such as SOD, CAT, or TAP, and lower levels of oxidative stress markers such as LPO in the endometrial secretions were associated with successful IVF outcome.

Molecular Phylogeny and Morphological Analysis Support a New Species and New Synonymy in Iranian Astragalus (Leguminosae).

As a result of a taxonomic and phylogenetic revision of Astragalus section Hymenostegis we identified a new species of Astragalus from northwestern Iran, namely A. remotispicatus spec. nov., which is described and illustrated here. It is morphologically similar to A. karl-heinzii in possessing a lax inflorescence. Phylogenetic inference of the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region support A. remotispicatus as a clearly distinct species within the lax-inflorescence group of this section. Also the placement of A. sciureus var. subsessilis was found to be wrong and this taxon should be treated as a synonym within A. kohrudicus.

Computer simulations of pressure and velocity fields in a human upper airway during sneezing.

In this paper, the airflow field including the velocity, pressure and turbulence intensity distributions during sneezing of a female subject was simulated using a computational fluid dynamics model of realistic upper airways including both oral and nasal cavities. The effects of variation of reaction of the subject during sneezing were also investigated. That is, the impacts of holding the nose or closing the mouth during sneezing on the pressure and velocity distributions were studied. Few works have studied the sneeze and therefore different aspects of this phenomenon have remained unknown. To cover more possibilities about the inlet condition of trachea in different sneeze scenarios, it was assumed that the suppressed sneeze happens with either the same inlet pressure or the same flow rate as the normal sneeze. The simulation results showed that during a normal sneeze, the pressure in the trachea reaches about 7000Pa, which is much higher than the pressure level of about 200Pa during the high activity exhalation. In addition, the results showed that, suppressing the sneeze by holding the nose or mouth leads to a noticeable increase in pressure difference in the tract. This increase was about 5 to 24 times of that during a normal sneeze. This significant rise in the pressure can justify some reported damage due to suppressing a sneeze.

The relationship between some endometrial secretion cytokines and in vitro fertilization.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial secretion analysis is a non-invasive and promising method in evaluation of endometrial receptivity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between the success rate of IVF procedures and some endometrial secretion cytokines, including interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interferon gamma-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a prospective cohort study, 50 women selected for IVF met the study inclusion criteria. All the patients underwent endometrial secretion aspiration prior to embryo transfer. The level of IL-1ß, TNF-α, IP-10 and MCP were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method using special standard kits. To detect successful implantation and pregnancy patients underwent serum human chorionic gonadotropin measurements and ultrasound evaluation. RESULTS: Five samples were excluded. Nine women (20%) had successful clinical pregnancies, which resulted in live birth. Other 36 women (80%) were classified as failed pregnancy. Comparison of cytokine levels showed lower concentrations of TNF-α, IP-10, and MCP in the group with successful clinical pregnancy compared to the group with failed pregnancy (p=0.007, 0.005 and 0.001, respectively). However, no significant difference was revealed in IL-1ß levels between two groups (p=0.614). CONCLUSION: The current study suggested that lower concentrations of TNF-α, IP-10, and MCP in endometrial secretions might be associated with improved endometrial receptivity and IVF outcome. Regarding IL-1ß, no statistically significant differences were seen between the groups with and without successful pregnancy.

Comparison of prevalence of periodontal disease in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age, affecting 4-18% of them. Previous studies also showed that periodontal diseases are associated with different components of the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study is to determine the association between PCOS and periodontal diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 196 women (98 with PCOS and 98 healthy controls) were enrolled. PCOS diagnosis was confirmed by history, clinical signs, physical examination, laboratory parameters, and ultrasound studies. Both cases and controls were examined by the same periodontist. Periodontal parameters including bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth, clinical attachment loss (CAL), plaque index, and tooth loss were investigated in all participants. Pregnant women, smokers, individuals with a history of malignancy or osteoporosis, and those taking prophylactic antibiotics for dental procedures or receiving periodontal treatment during the 6-month period before examination were excluded. Data were analyzed using t-test, Chi-square test, and linear regression. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: CAL and sites with BOP were significantly higher in women with PCOS (P < 0.05). However, no significant difference was observed in the tooth loss rate between PCOS and non-PCOS participants (P = 0.384). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of periodontal disease seems to be higher in women with PCOS. This may be related to the role of chronic systemic inflammation in the pathophysiology of both PCOS and periodontal diseases.

Features of Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Iran: a Report from Double Center Study.

Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia is one of the important malignancies in children. For better managing the prognosis of this disease, there should be enough information about common features of this malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate these common features in children with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia. A total of 104 eligible children less than 15-year-old have been referred from 2007-2011 to two referral centers for childhood malignancies. Basic epidemiological information recorded in checklists for each individual. Analyzes have been done by SPSS version 22. Out of patients, 57 cases were males (54.8%). The male/female ratio was 1.2. The mean age of patients was 6.5 ± 4.3 years. The majority subtypes of patients were M3, M4, non-M3, and M2, respectively. The common molecular abnormalities were t (15;17) and inv (16). Of patients, 19.2% had an early relapse. The mean age of relapse in patients was 6.7 ± 3.9 years. Sixty patients (57.7%) were alive, and 44 cases (42.3%) died during or after therapy. The three years overall survival rate of patients was 42% in this study. According to our data, AML has the same frequency as compared with data from developing countries. But different epidemiological characteristic was a lower rate of three years overall survival in patients. These data may serve the health authorities for more effective environmental and preventive measurements, purposeful allocation of resources for facilitating up-to-date diagnostic and treatment modalities, psychological support programs for respective family members and educational purposes.

Cycloartane Triterpenoids from Euphorbia Macrostegia with their Cytotoxicity against MDA-MB48 and MCF-7 Cancer Cell Lines.

The dried plant was extracted with dichloromethane and after defatting with hexane, transferred repeatedly on silica columns using dichloromethane-hexane and ethyl acetate-hexane as mobile phases. Finally the fractions were purified by high performance liquid chromatography using a Pack-Sil column and hexane: Ethyl acetate as mobile phase. The structures of the isolated compounds included: cycloart-25-ene-3ß, 24-diol (1), cycloart-23(Z)-ene-3ß, 25-diol (2), cycloart-23(E)-ene-3ß, 25-diol (3), and 24-methylene-cycloart-3ß-ol (4) were elucidated by (13)C- and (1)H-NMR as well as IR and by the aid of mass fragmentation pattern and comparing with the literature. The biological effects of the compounds were done by the MTT assay on two different cancer cell lines including MDA-MB48 and MCF-7. Among these compounds, cycloart-23(E)-ene-3ß,25-diol (3) was the most active compound on MDA-MB468 cell line (LD50 = 2.05 µgmL(- 1) ) and cycloart-23(Z)-ene-3ß, 25-diol (2) was the most active compound on MCF-7 cell line (LD50 = 5.4 µgmL(- 1)).

Alteration in frequency and function of CD4⁺CD25⁺FOXP3⁺ regulatory T cells in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder characterized by production of auto-antibodies against platelet antigens. It is obvious that regulatory T cells (Tregs) have a major role in controlling immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmunity.To investigate the frequency and functions of Tregs, twenty ITP patients and twenty age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and the proportion of Tregs was defined by flow cytometry method. The expression of immune-regulatory markers, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and glucocorticoid induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR) were also assessed by quantitative Real-time PCR TaqMan method. For evaluation of Treg function, Tregs were enriched and their ability to inhibit proliferation of T cells was measured and levels of immune-regulatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-ß were also measured.Results showed that the frequency of Tregs and the mean fluorescence intensity of FOXP3 protein significantly decreased in ITP patients compared to those in healthy controls. In addition, there was a significant reduction in relative expression of both CTLA-4 and GITR mRNA in ITP patients (P=0.02 and P=0.006, respectively). The suppressive function of Tregs also diminished in ITP patients compared to that in controls. Both IL-10 and TGF-ß cytokines were produced in lower amounts in ITP patients than controls.It could be concluded that alteration in Treg frequency and functional characteristics might be responsible for loss of self-tolerance and subsequently destructive immune responses observed in ITP patients.

Influence of Environment on Glandular Trichomes and Composition of Essential Oil of Perovskia abrotanoides Karel.

BACKGROUND: Perovskia abrotanoides Karel. is a medicinal plant used in Iranian folk medicine as a pain killer. Forty-one components have been identified in P. abrotanoides samples collected from Baluchistan Province, and 29 components have been recognized in samples collected from Khorasan Province. The leaves of P. abrotanoides have glandular trichomes (capitates and peltate) on both sides of the lamina. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the variation of oil constituents of the plant and illustrate the glandular trichomes types and then show the influence of environment on oil constituents and glandular trichomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The essential oil of the plant was obtained using hydrodistillation and the analysis of oils carried out using GC-MS. The anatomical analysis of leaves was done by fixing, coloring, and photoing the sections. RESULTS: Glandular trichomes composed of capitates and peltate trichomes. The essential oil composition differs. Viridiflora and neryl acetate were not identified in yellow glandular trichomes. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that there is no relation between anatomical characteristics of the plant leaves and its essential oil composition.

The relationship between clinicobiochemical markers and depression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated that clinical features of Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are associated with a lower degree of health, self, and sex satisfaction. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to investigate possible associations between depression and different clinicobiochemical markers of PCOS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional analytic study, 120 PCOS women aged 18-45 yr, were enrolled. Beck Depression Inventory was used to assess depression. Also, all participants underwent biochemical studies. Individuals with 15 points and more in Beck test were referred to a psychiatrist to participate in a complementary interview for the diagnosis of depression based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSMIV-TR) criteria. RESULTS: Among the study participants, 82 women (68.3%) were non-depressed, and 38 patients (31.7%) had some degrees of depression. According to the psychiatric interview, 10 patients (8.3%) had major depression, 22 patients (18.3%) had minor depression and 6 patients (5%) had dysthymia. We failed to show any significant difference in body mass index, hirsutism, infertility, serum total testosterone, lipid profile, and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) between depressed and non-depressed subjects (p>0.05). Using Spearman correlation, we did not find a positive correlation between BDI scores and clinicobiochemical markers for all PCOS subjects (-0.139≤r≤+0.121, p>0.05). CONCLUSION: In spite of high rate of depression in women with PCOS, there was no significant association between Clinicobiochemical Markers and depression.

Evaluation of humoral immune function in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Coincidence of autoimmune diseases such as immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) with immunodeficiencies has been reported previously in patients who suffered from primary antibody deficiency (PAD). But there is no original study on immunological profiles of ITP patients to find out their probable immune deficiency. In this case-control study, ITP patients' humoral immunity was investigated for diagnosis of PAD in comparison with normal population. To evaluate the humoral immune system against polysaccharide antigens, patients' serum immunoglobulin levels were measured and a 23-valent pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) was administrated to evaluate the antibody response to vaccination. In this study, 14 out of 36 patients (39%) were diagnosed with antibody mediated immune deficiency including 2 patients (5.5%) with immunoglobulin class deficiency and 4 (11%) with IgG subclass deficiency. The remaining patients suffered from specific antibody deficiency. The most frequent deficiency in ITP patients was specific antibody deficiency.Therefore, immunological survey on ITP patients may be important especially for those who have undergone splenectomy.

ß-Thalassemia mutations found during 1 year of prenatal diagnoses in Fars Province, Iran.

We report the spectrum of ß-thalassemia (ß-thal) mutations observed in a cohort of at-risk couples, who presented for prenatal diagnosis at the Thalassemia, Hemophilia and Prenatal Diagnosis Genetic Research Center, Shiraz Medical University, Fars, Iran, from March 2001 to April 2002. Using polymerase chain reaction-amplification refractory mutation system (PCR-ARMS), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and direct sequencing technologies, in different combinations, we were able to provide preventive medical abortions to 55 couples at-risk of having an affected fetus. Fetal samples of chorionic villus (63.6%) or amniocentesis (37.6%) were collected according to the gestational age. The average presentation age was 11.6 ± 2.6 weeks. The expected prevalent mutations were IVS-II-1 (G>A, 23.6%) and IVS-I-110 (G>A, 10.0%) followed by IVS-I-5 (G>C, 6.4%) and IVS-I, 25 bp deletion (8.2%).

Chemotaxonomic significance of the essential oils of 18 Ferula species (Apiaceae) from Iran.

To evaluate the chemotaxonomic significance of the essential oils of 23 populations of 18 Iranian Ferula species, the chemical composition of the oils was investigated by GC/FID and GC/MS. Altogether, 84 constituents, representing 81.3-99.7% of the total composition of the oils, have been identified. The composition of six species of the genus, i.e., F. oopoda, F. foetida, F. behboudiana, F. diversivittata, F. galbaniflua, and F. hezarlalehzarica, has been reported for the first time. The main constituents identified were α-terpinyl acetate (73.3%), 2,3,4-trimethylthiophene (2; 49.0%), sabinene (75.3%), verbenone (5; 69.4%), ß-pinene (59.0-66.3%), and (Z)-ß-ocimene (41.7%). Cluster analysis (CA) of the percentage content of the essential oil components of the Ferula species resulted in the characterization of four groups, i.e., taxa containing either i) monoterpene hydrocarbons, ii) oxygenated monoterpenes, iii) organosulfur compounds, or iv) monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and aliphatic hydrocarbons as the principal classes of compounds. Based on the results obtained, the chemical independence of F. hirtella from F. szowitsiana and of F. galbaniflua from F. gummosa at the specific level was concluded and their positions as distinct species were confirmed. The chemotaxonomic relationships among the representatives of the genus Ferula have been discussed in detail.

Relationships among the A Genomes of Triticum L. species as evidenced by SSR markers, in Iran.

The relationships among 55 wheat accessions (47 accessions collected from Iran and eight accessions provided by the Institute of Plant Biology of the University of Zurich, Switzerland) belonging to eight species carrying A genome (Triticum monococcum L., T. boeoticum Boiss., T. urartu Tumanian ex Gandilyan, T. durum Desf., T. turgidum L., T. dicoccum Schrank ex Schübler, T. dicoccoides (Körn. ex Asch. & Graebner) Schweinf. and T. aestivum L.) were evaluated using 31 A genome specific microsatellite markers. A high level of polymorphism was observed among the accessions studied (PIC = 0.77). The highest gene diversity was revealed among T. durum genotypes, while the lowest genetic variation was found in T. dicoccoides accessions. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed a significant genetic variance (75.56%) among these accessions, representing a high intra-specific genetic diversity within Triticum taxa in Iran. However, such a variance was not observed among their ploidy levels. Based on the genetic similarity analysis, the accessions collected from Iran were divided into two main groups: diploids and polyploids. The genetic similarity among the diploid and polyploid species was 0.85 and 0.89 respectively. There were no significant differences in A genome diversity from different geographic regions. Based on the genetic diversity analyses, we consider there is value in a greater sampling of each species in Iran to discover useful genes for breeding purposes.

Retroelement insertional polymorphisms, diversity and phylogeography within diploid, D-genome Aegilops tauschii (Triticeae, Poaceae) sub-taxa in Iran.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The diploid goat grass Aegilops tauschii (2n = 2x = 14) is native to the Middle East and is the D-genome donor to hexaploid bread wheat. The aim of this study was to measure the diversity of different subspecies and varieties of wild Ae. tauschii collected across the major areas where it grows in Iran and to examine patterns of diversity related to the taxa and geography. METHODS: Inter-retroelement amplified polymorphism (IRAP) markers were used to analyse the biodiversity of DNA from 57 accessions of Ae. tauschii from northern and central Iran, and two hexaploid wheats. Key Results Eight IRAP primer combinations amplified a total of 171 distinct DNA fragments between 180 and 3200 bp long from the accessions, of which 169 were polymorphic. On average, about eight fragments were amplified with each primer combination, with more bands being amplified from accessions from the north-west of the country than from other accessions. CONCLUSIONS: The IRAP markers showed high levels of genetic diversity. Analysis of all accessions together did not allow the allocation of individuals to taxa based on morphology, but showed a tendency to put accessions from the north-west apart from others regions. It is speculated that this could be due to different activity of retroelements in the different regions. Within the two taxa with most accessions, there was a range of IRAP genotypes that could be correlated closely with geographical origin. This supports suggestions that the centre of origin of the species is towards the south-east of the Caspian Sea. IRAP is an appropriate marker system to evaluate genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships within the taxa, but it is too variable to define the taxa themselves, where more slowly evolving morphological, DNA sequence or chromosomal makers may be more appropriate.

Thalassemia in Iran: epidemiology, prevention, and management.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and geographic distribution of thalassemia and to evaluate the success of the thalassemia prevention and treatment programs in Iran. METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Thalassemia Registry of Iran, Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization, genetic laboratories involved in prenatal diagnosis, related pharmaceutical companies, and centers performing bone marrow transplantation for thalassemic patients. RESULTS: A total of 13,879 living patients have been registered, mostly from the northern and southern parts of Iran with the median age of 15 years. Twenty-three percent of patients were older than 20 years. The number of newly diagnosed cases has been decreased considerably after the start of the prevention program. Since the introduction of prenatal diagnosis, 2819 couples (2549 fetuses) have been tested, with only 6 false results. Elective abortion was not performed in 10 affected fetuses. Most common mutations detected were IVS II-1 and IVS I-5. In 2003, approximately 25% of the national blood products and 6 million vials of desferal were used for thalassemic patients. Overall, 340 patients have received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, of those 46 patients deceased. Bloodborne infections have also been decreased significantly owing to the national screening of blood products for bloodborne viral infections. DISCUSSION: Owing to the national prevention program and provided special care, the age distribution of thalassemic patients in Iran is getting adapted to a full prevention and treatment program and life expectancy of these patients has been increased considerably. This shift in the age distribution of thalassemia, a traditionally considered pediatric disease, will face us with new challenges and the health care system should be prepared for this new face of thalassemia.