Investigation of genetic diversity of Iranian wild relatives of bread wheat using ISSR and SSR markers.

BACKGROUND: Wild relatives of wheat are one of the most important genetic resources to use in wheat breeding programs. Therefore, identifying wild relatives of wheat and being aware of their diversity, is undeniably effective in expanding the richness of the gene pool and the genetic base of new cultivars and can be a useful tool for breeders in the future. The present study was performed to evaluate the molecular diversity among 49 accessions of the genera Aegilops and Triticum in the National Plant Gene Bank of Iran using two DNA-based markers, i.e., SSR and ISSR. Also, the present study aimed to examine the relationships among the accessions studied belonging to different genetic backgrounds. RESULTS: Ten SSR and tan ISSR primers produced 2065 and 1524 polymorphism bands, respectively. The number of Polymorphic Bands (NPB), the Polymorphism Information Content (PIC), Marker Index (MI), and Resolving Power (Rp) in SSR marker was 162 to 317, 0.830 to 0.919, 1.326 to 3.167, and 3.169 to 5.692, respectively, and in the ISSR marker, it was from 103 to 185, 0.377 to 0.441, 0.660 to 1.151, and 3.169 to 5.693, respectively. This indicates the efficiency of both markers in detecting polymorphism among the accessions studied. The ISSR marker had a higher polymorphism rate, MI, and Rp than the SSR marker. Molecular analysis of variance for both DNA-based markers showed that the genetic variation within the species was more than the genetic diversity between them. The high level of genomic diversity discovered in the Aegilops and Triticum species proved to provide an ideal gene pool for discovering genes useful for wheat breeding. The accessions were classified into eight groups based on SSR and ISSR markers using the UPGMA method of cluster analysis. According to the cluster analysis results, despite similarities between the accessions of a given province, in most cases, the geographical pattern was not in accordance with that observed using the molecular clustering. Based on the coordinate analysis, neighboring groups showed the maximum similarities, and distant ones revealed the maximum genetic distance from each other. The genetic structure analysis successfully separated accessions for their ploidy levels. CONCLUSIONS: Both markers provided a comprehensive model of genetic diversity between Iranian accessions of Aegilops and Triticum genera. Primers used in the present study were effective, informative, and genome-specific which could be used in genome explanatory experiments.

Penetrating Keratoplasty versus Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty for Keratoconus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Keratoconus is the most common form of primary corneal thinning. Different methods have been suggested to deal with the condition, including glasses, contact lenses, and surgical interventions, like penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), well-known methods of the latter. This study was conducted to compare the outcomes and side effects of the two mentioned keratoplasty techniques. First, we systematically reviewed all original articles studies on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Then, the extracted data were pooled and meta-analyzed on each of the intended outcomes. A total of 30 studies were included in which PKP was more commonly performed compared to DALK. We found that adverse outcomes consisting of cataracts, graft rejection, graft failure, High-IOP, and corneal infection, were all more common findings in the PKP groups compared to the DALK groups. However, only for the high-IOP, cataracts, and graft rejection, the analysis of the extracted results demonstrated statistical significance. Overall, the DALK groups demonstrated significantly better results when considering the improvement levels by measuring the Endothelial Cell Count (ECC) and Spherical Equivalent (SE). In addition, though statistically insignificant, the Central Corneal Thickness(CCT), Best Corrected Visual Acuity(BCVA), Topographic Cylinder(TC), Refractive Cylinder values were greater in the PKP groups. Based on our study and with its limitations in mind, we can conclude that DALK can be a relatively safer and more effective procedure. Though, a larger number of high-standard randomized clinical trials still need to be conveyed for more definite conclusions.

Adverse Reactions from Topical Ophthalmic Anesthetic Abuse.

Purpose: To assess the adverse drug reactions (ADR) of tetracaine among patients referred to an eye emergency department in the southeast of Iran. Methods: In this case series study, we assessed 31 eyes of 24 patients who were referred due to adverse effects of ocular anesthetics during2017-2020. We collected the data, including age, sex, job, how the medicine was obtained, symptoms, examination results, and ADR. Results: Of 24 patients, 22 (91.7%) were male. The mean (standard deviation) age of the patients was 32.6 (1.9) years. Twenty-two patients obtained the medicines without a prescription and a general practitioner prescribed the medicine to two patients. In the first interview, the most common symptoms were: photophobia, reduced vision, ocular pain, and redness. The main signs of persistent epithelial defect, patchy or diffuse corneal stromal infiltration, ring infiltration, and Descemet's folds were noticed in the examinations. Finally, 51.6% (n =16) of the eyes had decreased vision, 45.2% (n =14) had corneal opacity, 16.1% (n = 5) had elevated intraocular pressure that needed long-term anti-glaucoma therapy, and 6.5% (n = 2) had corneal pannus. Corneal perforation and phthisis bulbi were the final results in one eye. Conclusion: ADR related to the use of ophthalmic topical anesthetics could cause sight-threatening severe morbidities. It seems that some general practitioners are not careful regarding the prescription of these kinds of medicine. Moreover, the over-the-counter availability of tetracaine eye drops should be managed.

Diagnostic value of non-contrast brain computed tomography in the evaluation of acute cerebral venous thrombosis.

Acute cerebral vein thrombosis is usually seen as increased attenuation in brain non-contrast computed tomography. It is so helpful to define measurable parameters for subjective evaluation of sinus thrombosis in non-enhanced brain computed tomography, especially where advanced neuroimaging techniques are not available. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of venobasilar attenuation ratio and venobasilar attenuation difference in the evaluation of acute cerebral venous sinuous thrombosis in non-enhanced brain CT scan. Fifty confirmed cases of acute cerebral vein thrombosis were sex- and age-matched with 73 subjects who did not have the condition. Average venous sinus attenuation, Hounsfield to hematocrit ratio, basilar artery density, venobasilar attenuation ratio and venobasilar attenuation difference were measured. Mean attenuation was 65.8 in thrombosed and 44.9 in non-thrombosed sinuses (P < 0.0001). A cutoff absolute sinus attentuaion of 61 HU led to a sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 100% and accuracy of 92%. A cutoff ratio of 1.4 for venobasilar ratio led to a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 78% and accuracy of 87%. A cut-off value of 24 for venobasilar difference resulted in the sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 100% and accuracy of 92%. The additional measurement of venous sinus and basilar artery attenuations and calculation of venobasilar ratio and difference can increase the sensitivity and specificity of NCCT in the diagnosis of acute CVST.

Psychological status in children with ear and nose foreign body insertion.

OBJECTIVE: Children with psychological disorders are prone to various unintentional injuries, one of the most common of which is foreign body inserting. In spite of the high incidence, the association is not studied yet. METHODS: This is a case control study in otorhinolaryngology and psychology departments, at a tertiary referral teaching hospital. One hundred five children (2-12 years old) who were referred for removal of foreign bodies in their ear or nose over a period of one year were selected for the study. Also, 155 children were selected and matched from the same community as the controls. Parents were given the standard strengths and difficulty questionnaire (SDQ) for psychological evaluation of their child. The total score and also the subscales for emotional symptoms, hyperactivity disorders, conduct problems, peer-relationship problemsand prosocialbehaviors were recorded and statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: In the case group, 34 cases (%32.4) were suffering from foreign bodies in their ear, 70 cases (%66.7) in their nose, and just one case (%1) in both. Age and sex distributionin the two groups were comparable. There were significant differences of SDQ scores between the two groups in total score (p < 0.001), emotional symptoms (p < 0.001), hyperactivity disorders (p < 0.001), conduct problems (p < 0.001), and prosocial behaviors (p < 0.001). However peer-relationship problems showed no significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.161). CONCLUSION: Psychological problems are more common in children with foreign bodies than the controls. Thus physicians are recommended to consider referring these patients to the pediatric psychologist.

Seed germination of medicinal plant, fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill), as affected by different priming techniques.

Reduced seed germination is among the most important factors adversely affecting crop stand and subsequent plant growth. Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill) is an important medicinal plant with poor seed germination rate, occasionally. It is accordingly pertinent to find methods which can enhance fennel seed germination and remove the barriers of dormancy breaking. The present experiments studied the effects of two different priming (cold moist stratification and osmopriming) and 14 dormancy breaking techniques (hormonal, osmopriming, biopriming, chemical priming, and hydropriming) on the seed germination and seedling growth of two different fennel genotypes under growth chamber conditions. In the first and second experiment, the priming techniques including the time lengths of cold moist stratification (0, 15, 30, and 45 days) and the concentrations of polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG6000, osmopriming at -0.99, -1.35, and -2.33 MPa) were used as the main plots. However, in both experiments, the dormancy breaking techniques and fennel genotypes were factorially combined and used as the subplots. Different seed- and seedling-related parameters including germination (%), plumule, radicle and seedling length, average germination time, rate and homogeneity of germination, and seed vigor index were determined. Both priming techniques were efficient on the enhancement of seed germination and seedling growth. Among the dormancy breaking techniques, Aminol Forte (biopriming), kadostim (biopriming), benzyl adenine + kinetin (biopriming), distilled water (hydropriming), gibberellin + kinetin (hormonal priming), and benzyl adenine + kinetin + gibberellin (biopriming) were the most effective ones. The related concentrations were equal to 100 mg/l, 10(-5) M, and 0.4 %. The fennel genotypes reacted significantly different under priming conditions. It is possible to enhance seed germination and seedling growth of fennel using priming and dormancy breaking techniques, which is useful for the increased production of fennel under different conditions. The results indicate that bio and hydropriming techniques were among the most effective ones, which significantly increased seed germination and seedling growth, and removed the seed dormancy barriers.

IL-10 and IL-12 production in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis total lipid antigens in multidrug resistant tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipid antigens take part in pathogenicity of the bacterium but the response of monocytes/macrophages to these antigens in tuberculosis is not well known. OBJECTIVE: The aim of current investigation was to study the M. tuberculosis lipid antigens in tuberculosis pathogenesis. METHODS: In the present study M. tuberculosis lipid antigens were extracted. Monocytes and macrophages from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), TB patients, asymptomatic healthy individuals with positive tuberculin skin test positive and healthy individuals with negative tuberculin skin test were collected using magnetic cell sorting. The cells were stimulated by M. tuberculosis total lipid antigens and IL-12 and IL-10 in their supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The IL-12 production by monocytes in response to M. tuberculosis total sonicate antigens in the MDR-TB patients did not show a considerable difference with the PPD positive healthy subjects, whereas in the active TB patients, IL-12 levels significantly decreased (p<0.05). IL-10 production by monocytes in TB patients in response to total lipid antigens showed a significant increase in comparison to MDR-TB patients and healthy individuals. CONCLUSION: In the MDR-TB patients, IL-10 and IL-12 production by monocytes in response to M. tuberculosis lipid antigens are similar to the healthy subjects.