Use of Esienia fetida Worms to Produce Peptone for Clostridium perfringens Vaccine Production.

Concurrent with an increase in the human population on the earth, more than ever, the creation of energy and maintenance of health is necessary, and nowadays, various sources of energy supply are being developed. The general global view in this regard is to provide protein and energy from available and cheap sources. Iran is no exception to this general rule, only in the field of ensuring the health of livestock resources every year, about 10 tons of peptone is needed for producing clostridial vaccines. Vermicomposting worms (Esienia fetida) with high protein percentages and rapid reproductions are a suitable source for peptone production. Based on this, the vaccine strain of Clostridium perfringens type D cultivated in two different media contain peptone produced from worms and meat peptone. The growth rate, epsilon toxin (ETX), and alpha toxin (CPA) of Cl. perfringens have been compared in two media. The results showed that the growth rate of bacteria in the worm peptone medium in 48 h was 22% higher than that of the meat peptone. Additionally, the activity of alpha toxin (phospholipase C) was in worm peptone 15% higher than meat peptone during 80 min of measurement. Regarding epsilon toxin lethality, all three mice of the N-worm peptone group died, while all three mice of the meat peptone group survived even 72 h after injection. The average survival time of mice in the N-worm peptone group was 1700 min. Therefore, we suggest the worms' protein is more suitable than industrial meat in peptone production for vicinal propose. To eliminate the need for hydrolyzed protein in the production of vaccines in the future, we suggest an increase in the fields of employment and the development of fertilizer and worm farms in Iran.

Cytotoxic Effect of Biebersteinia multifida Alcoholic Extracts on MCF-7, HeLa, and A2780 Cell Lines.

Conventional cancer treatments are costly and have different serious side effects for patients. Natural herbal treatments are widely accepted among people because of their minimal side effects, although there is little scientific knowledge about them. One of these remedies utilizes the root of Biebersteinia multifidi that has been used for years in Iran to treat different chronic genital diseases. The current study examined the effects of methanolic and ethanolic extracts of B. multifida (induction of necrosis and apoptosis) on breast cancer (MCF-7), ovarian cancer (A2780), and human cervix cancer (HeLa) cell lines in comparison with normal breast cells. These effects were determined to be morphological alterations in cell light microscopy, by flow cytometry (staining with annexin V and propidium iodide), and by measuring live cells and inhibition concentrations by MTT assay. IC50 of B. multifida on the MCF-7 cell line (methanolic extract) was 400 µg/ml and for A2780 was 250 µg/ml. The IC50 amount of B. multifida on the MCF-7 cell line (ethanolic extract) was 750 µg/ml and 1500 for A2780. Results demonstrated that apoptosis and necrosis occurred in MCF-7 and A2780 following the addition of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of B. multifida to the medium. These findings confirmed the anti-cancer effects of mehthanolic extracts of Biebersteinia multifida root and its safety for normal cells; thus, it can be applied in cancer therapy as a novel medication.

Magnetic Graphene-Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction for Preconcentration and Determination of Lead and Cadmium in Dairy Products and Water Samples.

A magnetic-dispersive solid-phase extraction (MDSPE) was used for precocentration of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in milk, yoghurt and water samples. An appropriate amount of suspension containing the magnetic graphene and Triton X-114 was injected rapidly into the aqueous sample by a syringe. Triton X-114 was used to achieve stable suspension of graphene in solution. The structure of the resulting products was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectrometry. The effects of various parameters were studied. A detection limit of 0.16 and 0.50 µg L(-1) for Cd(II) and Pb(II) was obtained, respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSDs, n = 10) of 50 µg L(-1) of Pb and Cd were 3.3 % and 2.1 %, respectively. The results indicated that the present method can be reliably used for determination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in dairy products and water samples with good recoveries.

Omega-3 fatty acids attenuate glomerular capillary hydraulic pressure in rats with renal ablation.

To clarify the emerging role of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) in the regulation of the renal microcirculation, we recently performed micropuncture studies in normal rats maintained on diets enriched with omega-3 FAs. Although those studies suggested that omega-3 FAs alter the renal microcirculation in normal rats, it was not apparent whether this dietary maneuver could modulate intrarenal hemodynamics in the setting of renal disease. Therefore, the present renal micropuncture studies were performed in nephrectomized rats maintained on control diets or diets enriched with omega-3 FAs. Omega-3 FAs abrogated glomerular capillary (56.2 +/- 0.8 vs. 63.9 +/- 2.0 mm Hg) and transcapillary hydraulic pressure (40.9 +/- 1.4 vs. 50.6 +/- 1.3 mm Hg) compared to untreated rats. This effect was attributable to (1) a reduction in mean arterial pressure (138 +/- 3 vs. 163 +/- 2 mm Hg) and (2) a decrease in efferent arteriolar resistance (0.43 +/- 0.06 vs 0.98 +/- 0.19 dyn x seconds x cm-5 x 10(10)). Sclerosis index and albuminuria were also lessened by this dietary maneuver. To further characterize the mechanism of altered renal arteriolar resistance, we then explored the effects of omega-3 FAs on renal prostaglandin synthesis and angiotensin II-stimulated phospholipid turnover. A significant decrease in the urinary excretion of the renal vasoconstrictor, TXA2 (12.8 +/- 2.3 vs. 35.1 +/- 14.0 ng/24 hr), was induced by treatment with omega-3 FAs. Moreover, angiotensin II-stimulated phospholipid turnover was attenuated in intact glomeruli pretreated with omega-3 FAs. We conclude that omega-3 FAs exert favorable effects on experimental renal injury by eliciting a salutary effect on the renal microcirculation of rats subjected to subtotal renal ablation. Moreover, the similarities between these findings and those obtained with sustained inhibition of angiotensin II converting-enzyme suggest that these compounds act through parallel pathways of inhibition.