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Background. Migraine is the most common neurological disorder associated with a wide range of psychiatric comorbidities. It is therefore regarded as a major global health problem due to its high prevalence. Here we investigated the factors associated with migraine among an Iranian population. Methods. This investigation included a cross-sectional study consisting of 270 migraine patients. Initially, a questionnaire was designed based on demographic information and headache characteristics. SPSS analyzed the collected data, and chi-square and logistic regression were used to evaluate the clinical data. Results. Our findings revealed that many migraine patients are experiencing multiple trigger factors, with stressful life events being the most common in both genders and migraine subtypes. The incidence of migraine was higher in women than in men. Among the trigger factors leading to the intensification of migraine attacks, stress, sleep changes, and bright lights were the most common and important causes of headache, followed by tiredness and weather change disturbance. Conclusions. Considering the contradictory reports on the effect of trigger factors on migraine, further studies are needed to be performed. Due to the significance of the socio-economic impact of migraine on patient’s quality of life, strategies for managing these factors should be effectively implemented to improve the community’s health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Upland genotypes of rice are less sensitive to soil water deficit (SWD), making them suitable candidates for revealing the strategies underlying plant tolerance. The physiological factors, the biochemical traits needed to withstand oxidative stress, and the metabolite fluctuations of an upland genotype (Azucena) and an intolerant lowland genotype (IR64) genotype were measured under two levels of SWD (withholding water for 7‐ or 14 days) to identify SWD‐responsive strategies associated with tolerance. RESULTS: After withholding water for 7 days, no significant changes in physiological and biochemical traits of Azucena were observed, whereas in IR64, significant decreases in physiological factors were recorded along with increases in oxidative‐stress indicators. However, the root length of Azucena increased significantly, showing a clear stress avoidance strategy. Under a prolonged treatment (14 days), IR64 entered an oxidative‐damage stage, whereas Azucena exhibited a highly efficient antioxidant system. Our metabolite analysis also revealed two different enriched pathways. After a 7‐day SWD, the sugar levels were decreased in the leaves of Azucena but increased in IR64. The reduction in the sugar levels (up to 1.79‐log2FC) in the Azucena leaves may be indicative of their transport to the roots, supplying the carbon source needed for root elongation. Under a 14‐day treatment, proline and aspartate family members accumulated to the highest levels in Azucena, whereas an increase in the levels of aromatic amino acids with key roles in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites was detected in IR64. CONCLUSION: The adaptation strategies identified in two types of rice genotypes in confronting SWD may assist researchers in finding the proper indicators for screening more tolerant genotypes. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-derived natural products are known to have cancer chemo-preventive and chemo-therapeutic properties. Plant extracts or their active constituents are used as folk medicine in traditional therapies by 80% of the world population. The aim of the present study was to determine the anti-proliferative potential of Fumaria vaillantii extracts on three different cancer cell lines including malignant melanoma SKMEL-3, human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 and human myelogenous leukemia K562 as well as human gingival fibroblast (HGF) as normal cell line. Anti-proliferative activity was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), flowcytometry and annexin methods. Total phenolics and flavonoids were determined by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods. Chloroform fraction had the lowest IC50 value at 72 h (0.1 µg/ml) in MCF-7 cells. Flowcytometry and annexin-V analysis indicated that the chloroform fraction induced necrosis in MCF-7 cells. In addition, the colorimetric methods showed that the methanolic fraction possessed the highest amount of total phenolics (33.03 ± 0.75 mg/g of dry powder) and flavonoids (10.5 ± 2.0 mg/g of dry powder).The collective data demonstrated that F. vaillantii chloroform fraction may contain effective compounds with chemo-therapeutic potential act through an apoptotic independent pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medicinal use of plants dates long back in the history of the human beings and has recently gained a great deal of importance in treating different diseases. Due to the importance of Pseudomonas aeroginosa strains as agents responsible for common secondary infections and their resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants, the present study aimed at investigating the antimicrobial effects of the plant Cyperus rotundus on multiple drug resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa strains. Methods: Ethanolic extracts of Cyperus rotundus tuber were prepared by maceration. The antimicrobial effect of these extracts on P. aeruginosa isolates (ie., sensitive to antibiotics and multiple drug resistant strains), isolated from clinical and soil samples, was determined by both disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods.. Results: It was revealed that ethanolic extract concentrations of Cyperus rotundus tuber higher than 0.1 mg/ml suppresses the growth of all antibiotic sensitive and resistant P. aeruginosa strains which were used in this study. Conclusion: It is concluded that Cyperus rotundus possesses antimicrobial properties and thus can be used in treating multidrug resistant P. aeruginosa-induced wounds and infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Due to the importance of the metal zinc as an essential biological element with known toxic properties, and considering the widespread secondary infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants, the present study aimed at exploring the antimicrobial properties of the metal zinc in both clinical and environmental multiple drug resistant (MDR) strains of P. aeruginosa. MDR in P. aeruginosa is defined as the resistance to several antibiotics. Methods: Bacterial strains were cultured in cetrimide agar medium at 37 °C for 48 h. Strains were identified both morphologically and biochemically. MIC values of the metal zinc were reported using the broth microdilution method. Results: A total of 84 strains were isolated and identified. MIC values for sensitive and MDR strains were reported at 20 and 130 ppm, respectively. Conclusions: It was concluded that the metal zinc at concentrations greater than 130 ppm will have an antimicrobial effect on all sensitive and MDR strains of P. aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tehran pine (Pinus eldarica Medw.) belongs to Pinaceae family with significant economic and ecological benefits. To gain further insight into anatomical-developmental structure of P. eldarica, both the vegetative and generative meristematic tissues and microsporogenesis were been studied during certain stages of development. To do this, meristematic tissues and male cones were initially fixed in FAA solution (37% formaldehyde, 96% ethanol and glacial acetic acid with a 2:7:1 ratio, respectively). They were then embedded in paraffin and sectioned using a rotary microtome. Prior to visualization and photography under a camera-equipped light microscope, they were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (Zeiss model). Our results revealed the vegetative meristem of P. eldarica to be in the Cryptomerya-Abies category. The results also indicated it is a protuberant (dome-like) type containing four regions. The meiosis occurs before the winter dormancy and continues through the winter. The pollen is shed at the four-cell stage of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]