Search

Approaches to investigate adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) by targeted cell ablation in the rodent central nervous system have been limited by methodological challenges resulting in only partial and transient OPC depletion. We have developed a novel pharmacogenetic model of conditional OPC ablation, eliminating 98.6% of all OPCs throughout the brain. By combining recombinase-based transgenic and viral strategies for targeting OPCs and ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ)-derived neural precursor cells (NPCs), we found new PDGFRA-expressing cells born in the V-SVZ repopulated the OPC-deficient brain starting 12 days after OPC ablation. Our data reveal that OPC depletion induces V-SVZ-derived NPCs to generate vast numbers of PDGFRA+NG2+cells with the capacity to migrate and proliferate extensively throughout the dorsal anterior forebrain. Further application of this novel approach to ablate OPCs will advance knowledge of the function of both OPCs and oligodendrogenic NPCs in health and disease.

Background Infant mortality rate is widely used to assessing the health status of population in both developing and developed countries. The aim of this study was to identify the main factors affect infant mortality rate in ECO countries for the years 2005 to 2012. Methods A panel data model from ECO countries from 2005 to 2012 used to identify the some of key explanatory variables (GDP per capita, female labour participation rate, public expenditure as % of total health expenditure and total fertility rate) effect on infant mortality rate. These data was obtained from World Bank and World Health Organization. The data analyzed by STATA v.12. Results This study indicated the GDP per capita and public spending had a negative and significant effect on infant mortality in studied countries. A higher total fertility rate is also associated with higher infant mortality. In addition, our analysis showed there is not association between female labour participation rate and infant mortality. Conclusions GDP per capita, public expenditure as % of total health expenditure and total fertility rate were identified as the main determinant of infant mortality in ECO countries in study period. We hope the results of current study provide useful information for health policy- makers to better understand the main factors affecting on infant mortality.

Objective(s): Although previous studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of human umbilical cord matrix stem cell (hUCM) transplantation post myocardial infarction (MI), but this stem cell resource has no potential to induce angiogenesis. In order to achieve the process of angiogenesis and cardiomyocyte regeneration, two required factors for cardiac repair agents were examined namely; hUCM and VEGF on an infarcted heart. The main objective of this research is to investigate the combinatory effect of dhUCM and VEGF transplantation on an infarcted heart. Materials and Methods: 45 min of ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery, the MI-induced animals received 50 μl PBS, 5 μg VEGF, 5×106 hUCM cells alone, combined with 5 μg VEGF and 5×106 differentiated hUCM cells alone or combined with 5 μg VEGF through intramyocardial injection. MI group, without hUCM and VEGF served as the control group. Left ventricular function and angiogenesis were also evaluated. Results: After eight weeks post MI, there were significant rise in left ventricular ejection farction in dhUCM+VEGF group compared to the other treated and non-treated groups (P

An efficient procedure of in vitro plant regeneration through direct shoot bud induction was tested for different explants of Capsicum annuum L. The best performance was observed for cotyledons on MS medium containing 6 mg L-1 6-benzylaminopurine and 1 mg L-1 indole-3-butyric acid. Regeneration for other types of explants (i.e., shoot tip, hypocotyl and root) did not show satisfactory results because the explants did not develop into normal shoots but instead developed into calli after 12 days of culture. Histochemical analysis showed that only the cotyledons revealed a direct induction of more teratological protuberances that arose around the cut end of the explants. Elongation of shoot buds was obtained on MS medium containing 1 mg L-1 BAP + 0.5 mg L-1 indole-3-butyric acid. Regenerated shoots rooted best on the same medium on which also elongation was realized. After hardening, the rooted plants were transferred to the greenhouse conditions where they grew, matured and flowered normally with a survival rate of 85%. We concluded that the present protocol can be efficiently used for mass propagation of sweet pepper

This study was carried out in August – september 2009 in Bushehr province waters. Two different shrimp bottom trawls were used in which were woven by Poly Amid and Poly Ethylene with mesh sizes (stretched) of 50 mm and sack with 35 mm. Also 2 different vessels of two dhows and one steel ship each with 26 and 30 hauls were used and taken in to comparison from point of obtained results. Total catch of PA and PE trawels were 4592 and 5535 kg of which the ratio of shrimp catch and by catch for PA trawl was 32.4 and 67.6 % respectively; and for PE trawl was 34.2 and 65.8%. Total catch of PA and PE trawls of steel trawler ( ship ) were estimated 3158.0 and 4784.7 kg, respectively, of which the shrimp/ bycatch ratio was 6.6 : 93.4%. There was a higher amount of bycatch for PE comparing to PA trawl (p

Introduction: Our aim was to compare transureteral lithotripsy (TUL) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in the management of upper ureteral calculi larger than 5 mm in diameter. Materials and Methods: Patients who had upper ureteral calculi greater than 5 mm in diameter were enrolled in this clinical trial. The calculi had not responded to conservative or symptomatic therapy. Semirigid ureteroscopy and pneumatic lithotripsy were used for TUL in 52 patients and SWL was performed in 48. Analysis of the calculi compositions was done and the patients were followed up by plain abdominal radiography and ultrasonography 3 month postoperatively. Results: The stone-free rates were 76.9% in the patients of the TUL group and 68.8% in the patients of the SWL group. These rates in the patients with mild or no hydronephrosis were 85.7% and 59.1% for the SWL and TUL groups, respectively. In the TUL group, half of the patients with no hydronephrosis developed upward calculus migration. The stone-free rates were 75.0% and 89.3% for the patients with moderate hydronephrosis and 70.0% and 100.0% for those with severe hydronephrosis in the SWL and TUL groups, respectively. All of the failed cases were treated by double-J stenting and TUL or SWL successfully. There were no serious complications. Upward calculus migration after TUL was more frequent in cases with no hydronephrosis or mild hydronephrosis (41.0%). Conclusion: Upper ureteral calculi smaller than 1 cm can be safely and effectively managed using semirigid ureteroscopy and pneumatic lithotripsy. However, the SWL approach has still its role if an experienced endourologist is not available.