Physiological specialization of Puccinia triticina and genome-wide association mapping provide insights into the genetics of wheat leaf rust resistance in Iran

Leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina Erikss. (Pt) is the most widely distributed and important wheat disease worldwide. The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of Iranian Pt races, their virulence to key resistance genes and map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance to different Pt races from 185 globally diverse wheat genotypes using a genome-wide association study (GWAS) approach. The virulence pattern of the 33 Pt isolates from various wheat-growing areas of Iran on 55 wheat differentials showed that the FKTPS and FKTTS were relatively frequent pathotypes among the 18 identified races. The weighted average frequency of virulence on the resistance genes Lrb, Lr3bg, Lr14b, Lr16, Lr24, Lr3ka, Lr11 and Lr20 were high (> 90%). However, low virulence on the resistant genes Lr2a, Lr9, Lr19, Lr25, Lr28 and Lr29 indicates that these genes are still effective against the pathogen population in Iran at present. GWAS on a panel of 185 wheat genotypes against 10 Pt races resulted into 62 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) belonged to 34 quantitative trait loci (QTL) across 16 chromosomes. Among them, 10 QTLs on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 3B, 3D, 4A, 6D, 7A and 7D were identified as potential novel QTLs, of which four QTLs (QLr.iau-3B-2, QLr.iau-7A-2, QLr.iau-7A-3 and QLr.iau-7D-2) are more interesting, as they are associated with resistance to two or more Pt races. The known and novel QTLs associated with different Pt races found here, can be used in future wheat breeding programs to recombine different loci for durable resistance against leaf rust races.

Genetic analysis of novel resistance sources and genome-wide association mapping identified novel QTLs for resistance to Zymoseptoria tritici, the causal agent of septoria tritici blotch in wheat

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by Zymoseptoria tritici is one of the most important foliar diseases of wheat causing significant yield losses worldwide. In this study, a panel of bread wheat genotypes comprised 185 globally diverse genotypes were tested against 10 Z. tritici isolates at the seedling stage. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) using high-throughput DArTseq markers was performed and further gene expression analysis of significant markers trait association (MTAs) associated with resistance to STB was analyzed. Disease severity level showed significant differences among wheat genotypes for resistance to different Z. tritici isolates. We found novel landrace genotypes that showed highly resistance spectra to all tested isolates. GWAS analysis resulted in 19 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for resistance to STB that were located on 14 chromosomes. Overall, 14 QTLs were overlapped with previously known QTLs or resistance genes, as well as five potentially novel QTLs on chromosomes 1A, 4A, 5B, 5D, and 6D. Identified novel resistance sources and also novel QTLs for resistance to different Z. tritici isolates can be used for gene pyramiding and development of durable resistance cultivars in future wheat breeding programs.

The anti-candidal activity of Satureja khuzistanica ethanol extract against clinical isolates of C. albicans

Candida albicans is the common cause of some infectious diseases such as vaginal candidiasis or candidemia. Due to the emergence of drug resistant isolates of C. albicans, finding a new anti-Candida agent is a new strategy for current treatments. This study evaluated the anti-candidal activity of Satureja khuzistanica ethanol extract against clinical isolates of C. albicans. S. khuzistanica ethanol extract from aerial parts of plant at full flowering stage was evaluated against 30 clinical isolates and two ATCC reference strains of C. albicans by disc diffusion and micro-broth dilution assay. Also, in this study we evaluated the synergistic effects of amphotericin B, clotrimazole and ketoconazole with S. khuzistanica ethanol extract. The means of MIC and MFC of S. khuzistanica ethanol extract against clinical isolates were 299.4 and 722.6 (μg/mL), respectively. S. khuzistanica ethanol extract increased the anti-candidal effect of amphotericin B and ketoconazole, while it had no synergistic effect on clotrimazole against clinical isolates of C. albicans. Therefore, S. khuzistanica ethanol extract can be introduced as a new source of anti-candidal agent against clinical isolates of C. albicans.

Effects of piroxicam administration on pregnancy outcome in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Uterus contractibility is considered a powerful prognostic factor in predicting the embryo transfer outcome. Moreover, uterine contractions are known to be stimulated by prostaglandins which are produced by cyclooxygenase from arachidonic acid. As such, suppressing the inflammatory response and contractions using anti-inflammatory and relaxant agents is expected to result in increased success rate of embryo transfer and artificial insemination.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of piroxicam administration on the success rate in intrauterine insemination (IU) cycles in patients presenting with unexplained infertility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial included 260 women with unexplained infertility undergoing IUI cycles. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either piroxicam ten mg/day on days 4-6 after IUI or placebo (control group). The main outcome measures were number of IUI cycles, pregnancy, abortion, and multiple pregnancy rates.

RESULTS

The pregnancy rate was found to be 25 (19.2%) and 16 (12.3%) in piroxicam and control groups, respectively (p = 0.039). Five patients (3.8%) in piroxicam group experienced twin pregnancy whereas only three patients (2.3%) in control group had twin pregnancy (p = 0.361). The pregnancy rate per cycle was also significantly higher in those who received piroxicam as compared to controls (11.16 vs. 6.66; p = 0.021).

CONCLUSION

Administration of piroxicam after IUI is associated with decreased number of cycles, as well as increased pregnancy rate and pregnancy rate per cycle in IUI cycles. However, piroxicam did not have any effect on abortion, multiple pregnancy, and ongoing pregnancy rates.

The antifungal activity of Artemisia sieberi essential oil from different localities of Iran against dermatophyte fungi

Dermatophyte fungi are the most common cause of dermatophytosis in humans and animals. Artemisia sieberi is traditionally used for treatment of fungi related skin infections. In this investigation, we analyzed five samples of A. sieberi oils (different harvesting times and distinctive collecting locations) by GC-FID and GC-MS. The antifungal activities of A. sieberi oils were evaluated against different dermatophytes. The anti-elastase activities of essential oils were also evaluated. The results of analysis showed that the harvesting time and collecting location can affect the chemical compositions and oil yields. The best time for collecting the A. sieberi with high yield was spring season (January-February). There was no significant difference between the desirable anti-dermatophyte activities of A. sieberi oils with different chemical compositions. M. gypseum, T. rubrum and M. canis had more sensitivity than others to A. sieberi oils. The oils with higher amounts of α-thujone, β-thujone showed the higher anti-elastase activity. Therefore, A. sieberi can be used as topical antifungal agent for treatment of skin dermatophyte infections.

A study of the influence of dexamethasone on lipid profile and enzyme lactate dehydrogenase

Dexamethasone is an exceptionally applied glucocorticoid unfortunately prescribed too much. This drug is attached to its receptors in the cytoplasm by going through the cell layer, and opens the cell nucleus by the drug-receptor system, being ultimately responsible for systematic effects of corticosteroids. This study was conducted to explore the influence of dexamethasone on serum level of some biochemical parameters in adult men rats. 40 adult male rats were put into 4 test and check collections. The test collection only received saline and the experimental group received dexamethasone of 0.4, 0.7, and 1 mg/ kg doses daily in the form of intraperitoneal inoculation of 1 mL/ day. After serum separation, the serum value of cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and lactate dehydrogenase were measured and the outcomes were examined by using SPSS and Dunnett software. The test of lipid profile and lactate dehydrogenase was done by using the biochemistry tools and the collections were examined. In this research, meaningful differences in the application of the above hormones were not observed up to 0.7 mg/ kg dose. However, important differences were seen in higher doses i.e. 1mg/ kg in the test collection associated with the administration group (P<0.05). The final result was that the injection of dexamethasone followed in the development of cholesterol and adverse lipid and it could cause tissue damage by increasing lactate dehydrogenase.

Clinical outcomes of MyoRing implantation in keratoconic eyes by using the Femtosecond laser technology

Purpose: To assess the outcomes of the insertion of the MyoRing (DIOPTEX, GMBH, Linz, Austria) by applying the Femtosecond Laser Technology (FLT) method in eyes that have keratoconus problem. Methods: A prospective, nonrandomized, clinical examination was managed. 27 eyes of 15 subjects with stable keratoconus (6 females and 9 males), with lifetimes differing from 14 to 49 years were involved. All subjects have problems about decreased fine-accurate ocular awareness, lens intolerantness or trouble, and also the middle corneal height larger than 350 micrometers. MyoRing additions of about 320 micrometers into height and 2.5 mm into radius were inserted in each subject inside an Intrastromal Corneal Pocket using(ICP) formed with applying FLT. Ocular, refractive errors, corneal shape, and pachymetry changes were assessed throughout a 6-months follow-up period. Results: The average UDVA (uncorrected distance visual acuity) notably increased originating at 1.73 ± 0.53 LogMAR preoperationally to 0.54 ± 0.40 LogMAR post-operationally. The average CDVA (corrected distance ocular awareness) notably increased from 0.59 ± 0.47 LogMAR preoperationally to 0.27 ± 0.16 LogMAR post-operationally. The change in the average UDVA and CDVA was analytically meaningful (P< 0.000). The average reduction in the average keratometry from preoperational to 26 weeks post operational was -6.41 ± 3.62 D. This change was analytically meaningful (P< 0.000). The average lowest and highest keratometry amounts were similarly analytically notable at shorter than 26 weeks preoperatively. A notable increase in UDVA and CDVA was observed 26 weeks following the operation, that was compatible with the notable decrease in sphere and cylinder. Moreover, a notable corneal straightening with an average amount of -6.41 ± 3.62 diopters (D) was determined. Conclusion: MyoRing implantation employing FLT would be a harmless, effective, and predictable method to treat selected subjects of keratoconus, being a helpful choice for the therapy of keratoconus.

The effect of radiology services outsourcing on patients' satisfaction in Tehran city hospitals

Background: To have a developed society we should have healthy, active, and happy individuals and present that extended healthcare services perform an essential function in increasing the society's health level. Health in a society includes the society's, and people comfort with the condition and an assuring the situation that they can live healthily. Also, considering the self-governing plan of hospitals from 1995, the hospital authorities should choose a method of presenting services, and, the hospital is ready to present those activities during its own activities from an economic viewpoint. The current study was done while trying to discover the effect of the Outsourcing of the Radiology Unit on the patients' satisfaction in hospitals of Tehran. Method: The present research was done in a case-evidence and sectional study. Considering the weight of a month's references to the Radiology Unit, which included around 1200 individuals, the volume of samples for measuring the frequency of the patients' satisfaction with the means of Morgan table was similar to 291 individuals. To decrease the error percentage in each hospital we questioned 300 individuals. (n+10) were questioned and the gathered information were examined by what means SPSS application variant 21 and were then studied by climagraph - Smirnoph, Du Whitman - Vitney K tests. Findings: the mean of the patients' satisfaction of turned over and non-turned over Radiology Unit services were 41.46 and 45, respectively (from the maximum score of 60). A meaningful variation was seen among the patients' Satisfaction in the two hospitals from the analytical viewpoint (p-value<0.001) and there was also a significant difference between the patients' waiting time (p-value<0.001). The research's findings showed that the outsourcing has a negative influence on the patients' satisfaction and the duration of their waiting time. Conclusion: Many times, managers do the outsourcing without considering individual and organizational dimensions and characteristics by just justifying it based on decreasing the expenses. Therefore, it is essential for authorities to consider not only the economic characters but also the individual and human aspects while setting the outsourcing contracts and arrangements.

Biochemical Activities of Iranian Cymbopogon olivieri (Boiss) Bor. Essential Oil

Cymbopogon olivieri essential oil from aerial parts was analyzed by gas chromotography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and led to the identification of 38 compounds. Piperitone (72.8%), 4-carene (11.8%) and β-himachalene (7.6%) were found as the major components of the oil. The antimicrobial activity was achieved using disc-diffusion and microbroth dilution assays and microbicidal kinetics of oil was screened against different microorganisms. The possible antioxidant activity of oil was evaluated by diphenylpicrylhydrazyl free-radical scavenging system. The oil had excellent antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The oil exhibited inhibitory effect against Bacillus subtilis and fungi. D_values of oil were 12.5, 10 and 2.4 min for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans, respectively. The IC₅₀ value of Cymbopogon olivieri oil was 35 mg/ml and its antioxidant activity was lower than that of butylated hydroxytoluene. Cymbopogon olivieri oil possesses compounds with antimicrobial properties that can be used as antimicrobial agents.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Satureja hortensis and Trachyspermum copticum essential oil

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Satureja hortensis and Trachyspermum copticum essential oils against different kinds of microorganisms in vitro.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by micro broth dilution assay and the chemical composition of essential oils was analyzed by GC and GC/MS.

RESULTS

Thymol, p-cymene, γ-terpinene and carvacrol were the main components of S. hortensis oil while thymol, γ-terpinene, and o-cymene were the major components of T. copticum oil. Two essential oils exhibited strong antimicrobial activity but the antimicrobial activity of T. copticum oil was higher than that of S. hortensis oil.

CONCLUSION

Thymol as a main component of oils plays an important role in antimicrobial activity.

The Antimicrobial Activity of Essential Oil from Perovskia abrotanoides Karel and its Main Components

In Iranian folk medicine, Perovskia abrotanoides is used for treatment of leishmaniasis. These patients may develop secondary infections with opportunistic microorganisms. Therefore, the antimicrobial activity of essential oil from aerial part of P. abrotanoides and its main components was evaluated against different microorganisms. Disc diffusion and broth micro dilution assays were used for in vitro antimicrobial screening. The antibacterial activity of this oil and main components on viability of S. aureus was determined. The oil showed antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans and Gram positive bacteria especially Staphylococcus aureus with zone inhibitions and minimal inhibitory concentration values in the range of 7.6 to 29 mm and 2 to 8 μl/ml respectively, whereas the least susceptible were Aspergillus niger and Gram negative bacteria. In viability test, the results showed that the antimicrobial activity of 1,8-cineole was more than that of α-pinene and camphor but after 60 min this effect gradually decreased only for 1,8-cineole and ultimately the antibacterial activity of camphor was more than that of α-pinene. 1,8-cineole had weak antimicrobial activity against all of the tested microorganisms. Hence the use of P. abrotanoides oil could be useful in fighting secondary infections in leishmaniasis especially against S. aureus.

In vitro synergistic efficacy of combination of amphotericin B with Myrtus communis essential oil against clinical isolates of Candida albicans

In this study, we evaluated the antifungal activity of the essential oil from Myrtus communis (myrtle) leaves against Candida albicans (eight clinical isolates and one ATCC type strains) and different species of Aspergillus sp (A. niger, A. parasiticus, six isolates of Aspergillus flavus) using broth micro dilution assay. In addition, we evaluated the synergistic effect between the essential oil and the antifungal compound amphotericin B by checkboard micro titer assay. The essential oil was obtained from myrtle leaves by hydrodistillation method and the oil was analyzed by GC and GC-MS methods. Chemical analysis of oil revealed the presence of 70 components, representing 99.23% of the total oil. 1,8-cineole (36.1%), alpha-pinene (22.5%), linalool (8.4%), bornyl acetate (5.2%), alpha-terpineol (4.4%), linalyl acetate (4.2%) and limonene (3.8%) were found to be the major components of the oil. The antifungal evaluating showed that myrtle oil exhibited good antifungal activity against fungi. Myrtle oil showed significant antifungal activity when combined with amphotericin B.

Earliest known simian primate found in Algeria

The record of early fossil Simiiformes (Anthropoidea) from the Late Eocene and Early Oligocene of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula has increased dramatically in recent years. We report here the discovery of a new, diminutive and much older (Early or Middle Eocene) simian from an Algerian locality, Glib Zegdou. This species is smaller than any other living or fossil African simiiform. Derived similarities shared with Aegyptopithecus suggest that the new genus is more closely related to propliopithecines than to oligopithecines, implying that these two subfamilies differentiated during the Early Eocene. The new discovery confirms predictions about the great antiquity of Simiiformes and emphasizes a long and endemic African history for higher primates.

Earliest known proboscidean from early Eocene of north-west Africa

The earliest known proboscidean remains have now been found at a new early Eocene locality at Brezina in southern Algeria (El Kohol). These new finds, represented by complete skulls and postcranial material, show several unexpected derived characters shared with the modern representatives of the Elephantoidea and the Deinotheriidae, suggesting close phylogenetic affinities and demonstrating also the great antiquity of the differentiation of modern proboscideans in Africa. These remains have been dated by associated charophyte flora and vertebrate remains which constitute the oldest known vertebrate community from the African Eocene.