Investigating the effect of aqueous extract of Chicorium intybus L. leaves on offspring sex ratio in rat

A traditional belief in Iranian culture indicates that parental consumption of chicory leaves (Chicorium intybus L.) affects the gender of newborns. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of chicory on offspring sex ratio in rat. All rats in experimental groups 1 and 2 were i.p. injected with either 1.0 or 0.7 g/kg body weight (LD₅₀ = 2.244 g/kg) of an aqueous extract of chicory leaves for 30 days at 72 h intervals. The control rats were injected with distilled water in the same manner. After the 8th injection, blood pH, and Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ serum levels, were measured in all groups. On day 30, all the rats were mated within and between groups. The results revealed that in comparison with the control group, there were significant increases (p < 0.01) in Na⁺ and K⁺ levels, as well as the sex ratio of male to female offspring (10.23%) in experimental group 1. Therefore, it can be concluded that the administration of chicory leaf extract has a significant effect on the sex ratio of the rat offspring. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Genetic Diversity in the G Protein Gene of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus among Iranian Children with Acute Respiratory Symptoms

Objective

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is main viral agent of ARI in infants and young children in terms of effect and prevalence. The aim of this study was to investigate HRSV genotypes during one season in Iran.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 107 throat swabs were collected from children less than 5 years of age with acute respiratory infection from October to December 2009. The respiratory samples were obtained from several provinces: Tehran, Isfahan, Hamadan, Zanjan, Kordestan, Lorestan and West Azarbayjan, and were tested for G protein gene of HRSV by RT-PCR.

Findings

Of the 107 respiratory samples, 24 (22.42%) were positive for HRSV, of which 16 (66.6%) belonged to subgroup A and 8 (33.4%) to subgroup B. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that subgroup A strains fell in two genotypes GA1 and GA2, whereas subgroup B strains clustered in genotype BA.

Conclusion

This study revealed that multiple genotypes of HRSV cocirculated during the season 2009 in Iran. Also subgroup A strains were more prevalent than subgroup B strains, and genotype GA1 was predominant during the season.     

Western equine encephalomyelitis virus infection affects the life table characteristics of Culex tarsalis (Diptera: Culicidae)

The life table attributes of Culex tarsalis Coquillett females infected experimentally by feeding on 4 and 6 log10 plaque-forming units (PFU) of western equine encephalomyelitis virus (WEEV) per milliliter of heparinized chicken blood were compared with an uninfected control group. Females continually were offered 10% sucrose and an oviposition substrate and daily a blood meal through a biomembrane feeder. Mortality (dead females) and fecundity (female eggs per female) were monitored daily until all females died. Overall, 94% of 198 females in the two virus-infected groups were positive for WEEV at death when tested by plaque assay; the average body virus titer at death did not differ between groups. WEEV infection significantly altered the life table characteristics of Cx. tarsalis. Life expectancy at infection in days (ex), reproductive effort in female eggs per female per generation (Ro), and generation time (T) in days for the infected cohorts were significantly lower than for the uninfected controls, whereas the reproductive rate (rc) in female eggs per female per day was higher for infected than uninfected cohorts. In agreement with the WEEV infection data that showed similar body titers, there were few differences between the life table parameters for the 4 and 6 log10 PFU treatment groups. Greatest differences were observed for survivorship between days 17-40 when virus titers in infected dying females were greatest. Our data extend recent studies that indicate mosquito infection with encephalitis viruses has a cost of reduced life expectancy and fitness.     

A predictive biomimetic model of cytokine release induced by TGN1412 and other therapeutic monoclonal antibodies

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are routinely used in vitro to detect cytokine secretion as part of preclinical screens to delineate agonistic and antagonistic action of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Preclinical value of standard human PBMC assays to detect cytokine release syndrome (CRS) has been questioned, as they did not predict the "cytokine storm" that occurred when healthy human volunteers were given a CD28-specific super-agonist mAb, TGN1412. In this article, we describe a three-dimensional biomimetic vascular test-bed that can be used as a more physiologically relevant assay for testing therapeutic Abs. For developing such a system, we used TGN1412 as a model mAb. We tested soluble TGN1412 on various combinations of human blood components in a module containing endothelial cells grown on a collagen scaffold and measured cytokine release using multiplex array. Our system, consisting of whole leukocytes, endothelial cells, and 100% autologous platelet-poor plasma (PPP) consistently produced proinflammatory cytokines in response to soluble TGN1412. In addition, other mAb therapeutics known to induce CRS or first infusion reactions, such as OKT3, Campath-1H, or Herceptin, generated cytokine profiles in our model system consistent with their in vivo responses. As a negative control we tested the non-CRS mAbs Avastin and Remicade and found little difference between these mAbs and the placebo control. Our data indicate that this novel assay may have preclinical value for predicting the potential of CRS for mAb therapeutics.     

Influenza A virus elevates active cathepsin B in primary murine DC

Dendritic cells (DCs) act as a first-line recognition system for invading pathogens, such as influenza A. The interaction of DC with influenza A virus results in DC activation via endosomal Toll-like receptors and also leads to presentation of viral peptides on MHC class II molecules. Prior work demonstrated that influenza A virus (A/HKx31; H3N2) infection of BALB/c mice activates lung DCs for antigen presentation, and that the enhanced function of these cells persists long after viral clearance and resolution of the virus-induced inflammatory response. Whether influenza A virus has acute or longer-lasting effects on the endo/lysosomal antigen-processing machinery of DCs has not been studied. Here, we show that antigen presentation from intact protein antigen, but not peptide presentation, results in increased T cell stimulation by influenza-exposed lung DCs, suggesting increased antigen processing/loading in these DCs. We find that cathepsin (Cat) B levels and activity are substantially up-regulated in murine lung DCs, harvested 30 days after A/HKx31 infection. CatB levels and activity are also increased in murine splenic and bone marrow-derived DCs, following short-term in vitro exposure to UV-inactivated influenza A virus. Modest effects on CatX are also seen during in vivo and in vitro exposure to influenza A virus. Using a cell permeable Cat inhibitor, we show Cats in influenza-exposed DCs to be functional and required for generation of a T cell epitope from intact ovalbumin. Our findings indicate that influenza A virus affects the MHC class II antigen-processing pathway, an essential pathway for CD4(+) T cell activation.     

Genetic Characterization of a Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolate from the Respiratory Tract of a Patient in a University Hospital in Northeastern Iran

Emergence of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) strains has led to global concerns about treatments for staphylococcal infections. These strains are currently rare even though there is an upward trend in their reported incidence. Therefore, appropriate screening and epidemiological evaluation of VRSA strains can affect future global health care policies. Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were obtained from various clinical samples and were then evaluated with agar screening, disk diffusion, and MIC methods to determine resistance to vancomycin and methicillin. After confirmation of the isolated VRSA strain, genetic analysis was performed by evaluating mecA and vanA gene presence, SCCmec, agr, and spa types, and toxin profiles. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and plasmid analysis were also performed. The VRSA strain was resistant to oxacillin (MIC of 128 μg/ml) and vancomycin (MIC of 512 μg/ml). Disk diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed resistance to oxacillin, vancomycin, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, rifampin, and tetracycline. The isolate was susceptible to minocycline and gentamicin. PCRs were positive for the mecA and vanA genes. Other genetic characteristics include SCCmec type III, agr I, spa type t037, and sequence type (ST) 1283. The plasmid profile shows five plasmids with a size of ∼1.7 kb to >10 kb. The isolated VRSA strain was obtained from a critically ill hospitalized patient. Genetic analysis of this strain suggested that the strain was a methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clone endemic in Asia that underwent some genetic changes, such as mutation in the gmk gene and acquisition of the vanA gene.     

Hematological profiles of goats naturally infected with Anaplasma ovis in north and northeast Iran

This study was conducted to measure selected hematological parameters in goats naturally infected with Anaplasma ovis. In this study 193 blood samples were collected from adult and young goats in north (Gonbad) and northeast (Mashhad) of Iran. Out of the 193 blood samples, 123 samples were positive (infected group) and 70 samples were negative (uninfected group) for A. ovis by polymerase chain reaction. Hematological analysis was carried out on 47 samples from the infected group and 37 samples from the uninfected group. Hematological analysis indicated significant decreases (P?<?0.01) in RBC counts, HCT values, and hemoglobin concentrations in the A. ovis-infected group of goats compared to the uninfected group (P?<?0.01). The mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, WBC counts, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and monocytes in the infected group were lower but neutrophils were higher than in the uninfected group. These differences were not statistically significant (P?>?0.05). The result from this study revealed that A. ovis infection in goats is associated with marked changes in hematological parameters.