In this special issue, 23 research papers are published focusing on COVID-19 and operational research solution techniques. First, we detail the process from advertising the call for papers to the point where the best papers are accepted. Then, we provide a summary of each paper focusing on applications, solution techniques and insights for practitioners and policy makers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSalmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne outbreaks and infection worldwide. The gold-standard detection method of Salmonella is cultivation. There is a need to investigate rapid and accurate processes with time-consuming cultivation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe assessed the impact of photobiomodulation (PBM) plus adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) during the anabolic and catabolic stages of bone healing in a rat model of a critical size femoral defect (CSFD) that was filled with a decellularized bone matrix (DBM). Stereological analysis and gene expression levels of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF1) were determined. There were six groups of rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Parasitol Parasites Wildl
December 2020
Haemosporidian parasites characterize multi-host and multi-parasite structures which are prevalent among wild bird populations. Here, determination of host records, estimation of the prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian lineages were performed in wild and domestic birds in 11 provinces in Iran. To our knowledge, for the first time in this region, molecular characterization of haemosporidians in migratory water birds, raptors, and domestic birds was carried out: blood or tissue samples were collected from 246 birds belonging to 36 species, 12 families, and 11 orders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMethamphetamine (METH) is a high addictive psychostimulant drug which triggers brain atrophy via neuronal degeneration. Striatum is the main part of the brain that is regarded as a key target for drug-induced damages. MiRNAs as small regulatory molecules at the post-transcriptional level play a major role in biological pathways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince 2005, H5Nx highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of the Goose/Guangdong (Gs/GD) lineage have spread worldwide, affecting poultry and wild birds in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. So far, the role of Western Asia and the Middle East in the diffusion dynamics of this virus has been poorly explored. In order to investigate the genetic diversity and the role of Iran in the transmission dynamics of the Gs/GD lineage, we sequenced the complete genome of twenty-eight H5Nx viruses which were circulating in the country between 2016 and 2018.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common and multifactorial disease associated with female factor infertility. Ulmus minor bark (UMB) is one of the medicinal plants used in Persian folklore as a fertility enhancer. In the current study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of UMB hydro-alcoholic extract on histological parameters and testosterone condition in an experimental model of PCOS rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe current study evaluates potential applications of Sertoli cell (SC)-conditioned medium (CM) and explores the effects of the conditioned medium on the spermatogenesis process in azoospermic mice. For this study, 40 adult mice (28-30 g) were divided into 4 experimental groups: (1) control, (2) DMSO 2% (10 μl), (3) busulfan (40 mg/kg single dose) and (4) busulfan/CM (10 μl). SCs were isolated from 4-week-old mouse testes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In patients with breast cancer, gene expression is of a great importance in reacting to Herceptin treatment. To evaluate this event, immunohistochemistry (IHC) has been done routinely on the basis of scoring it and so the patients were divided into 4 groups. Lately, as there have been disagreements about how to treat score 2 patients, chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and florescence in situ hybridization (FISH) are introduced.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a highly infectious pathogen, which affects the respiratory tract, reproductive system, and kidney of chickens. Many different genotypes of IBV are recognized which cause different clinical manifestations. According to the antigenic differences, different serotypes of the virus do not cross-protect.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCerebellar ataxia (CA) is regarded as a miscellaneous cluster of brain disorders related to the cerebellum. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound. Previous reports suggest that resveratrol confers neuroprotection in various animal models of brain damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly infectious avian pathogen, which affects the respiratory tract, gut, reproductive system, and kidney of chicks of all ages. Many different serotypes of IB virus (IBV) are recognized which cause different clinical manifestations. According to the antigenic differences, different serotypes of the virus do not cross-protect.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBusulfan is an anticancer drug, which causes the apoptosis germ cells and azoospermia in humans and animals. Abnormal morphology of spermatozoa related to the male infertility. The sperm morphology is evaluation of sperm size, shape and appearance characteristics should be assessed by carefully observing a stained sperm sample under the microscope.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAvian influenza A virus (AIV) subtype H9N2 is the most prevalent subtype found in terrestrial poultry throughout Eurasia and has been isolated from poultry outbreaks worldwide. Tracheal tissue specimens from 100 commercial broiler flocks in Afghanistan were collected between 2016 and 2017. After real-time RT-PCR, AI-positive samples were further characterized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAt least 18 viruses have been reported in the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.). However, severe diseases in honey bees are mainly caused by six viruses, and these are the most important in beekeeping.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn biology field, the ontology application relates to a large amount of genetic information and chemical information of molecular structure, which makes knowledge of ontology concepts convey much information. Therefore, in mathematical notation, the dimension of vector which corresponds to the ontology concept is often very large, and thus improves the higher requirements of ontology algorithm. Under this background, we consider the designing of ontology sparse vector algorithm and application in biology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrently, natural polymer based hydrogels has attracted great attention of orthopedic surgeons for application in bone tissue engineering. With this aim, osteoinductive capacity of Gum Tragacanth (GT) based hydrogel was compared to collagen hydrogel and tissue culture plate (TCPS). For this purpose, adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) was cultured on the hydrogels and TCPS and after investigating the biocompatibility of hydrogels using MTT assay, osteoinductivity of hydrogels were evaluated using pan osteogenic markers such as Alizarin red staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, calcium content and osteo-related genes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfectious bronchitis (IB) is a viral avian disease with economic importance in the world, including Iran. S1 gene sequencing has been used for molecular epidemiological studies and genotypic characterization of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). A total of 118 IBV isolates were obtained from tissue samples from chickens with clinically suspected IB from Iranian broiler farms (eight provinces, 200 samples).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNuclear transfer embryonic stem cells (ntESCs) show stem cell characteristics such as pluripotency but cause no immunological disorders. Although ntESCs are able to differentiate into somatic cells, the ability of ntESCs to differentiate into primordial germ cells (PGCs) has not been examined. In this work, we examined the capacity of mouse ntESCs to differentiate into PGCs in vitro.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with poor wound healing. Studies have shown accelerated wound healing following pulsed low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in non-diabetic animals. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of pulsed LLLT on wound healing in streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ-D) rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWomen with tubal ectopic pregnancies have high levels of circulating interleukin 6 (IL-6). IL-6 treatment in vitro significantly reduces the ciliary activity of tubal epithelium. The effects of IL-6 on target cells occur via the formation of a high-affinity complex with its receptors IL-6Rα and glycoprotein 130 (Gp130).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHypoxia is a potent regulator of gene expression and cellular energy metabolism and known to interfere with post-natal growth and development. Although hypoxia can induce adaptive changes in the developing liver, the mechanisms underlying these changes are poorly understood. To elucidate some of the adaptive changes chronic hypoxia induces in the developing liver, we studied the expression of the genes of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and glucose metabolism, undertook proteomic examination with 2D gel-MS/MS of electron transport chain, and determined activities and protein expression of several key regulatory enzymes of glucose oxidative metabolism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF