Background: The Zarudny's spur-thighed tortoise or Iranian tortoise (Testudo graeca zarudnyi) has just been reported from Iran so far. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of season and gender on serum biochemical parameters of this valuable species in Iran.
Results: This study was performed on 20 clinically healthy adult Zarudny's spur-thighed tortoises.
Gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) are related to tumor invasion and metastasis. In humans, the diagnostic value of serum levels of gelatinases has been confirmed in breast cancer, but their diagnostic value in canine mammary tumors is still unknown. This study aimed to determine the serum level of gelatinases in dogs with mammary tumors in order to determine their value in the diagnosis of malignancy or benign tumors and also in predicting the possibility of metastasis and recurrence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe usage of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and antibody fragments, as a matter associated with the biopharmaceutical industry, is increasingly growing. Harmonious with this concept, we designed an exclusive modeled single-chain variable fragment (scFv) against mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) oncoprotein. This scFv was newly developed from Onartuzumab sequence by gene cloning, and expression using bacterial host.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common diagnosed cardiovascular disease in dogs. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) tests are used to diagnose congestive heart failure, but there are conflicting reports about their value in diagnosing the subclinical stages of MMVD in dogs. Moreover, the diagnostic value of blood lipoproteins in dogs with MMVD is still unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMucin-1 (MUC-1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein, which bears many similarities between dogs and humans. Since the existence of animal models is essential to understand the significant factors involved in breast cancer mechanisms, canine mammary tumors (CMTs) could be used as a spontaneously occurring tumor model for human studies. Accordingly, this review assessed the comparison of canine and human MUC-1 based on their diagnostic and therapeutic aspects and showed how comparative oncology approaches could provide insights into translating pre-clinical trials from human to veterinary oncology and vice versa which could benefit both humans and dogs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRecently, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), in particular the gelatinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, generally considered as tumor markers for clinical applications. A longitudinal 2-years follow-up survey was performed on dogs with cutaneous tumor. Serum samples were obtained from 22 dogs with different cutaneous tumors and 22 health dogs at the time of surgery and one month, three months and one year after surgery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a selective inhibitor of Inosine-5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase. Gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances in immature ones are reported for MMF-induced compilations, which in the case of occurrence dose reduction is required. Thus, in the present study, the fructooligosaccharide raftilose(®) (RFT) was co-administrated with MMF to estimate the protective effect of RFT against MMF-induced GI complications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The present study was carried out to investigate the accurate status of ovine Theileria infection in sheep from Ahvaz and surrounding region, a tropical area southwest Iran.
Methods: A PCR-RFLP method based on 18S ribosomal RNA gene was designed which could detect and differentiate Theileria and Babesia spp. and also differentiate main Theileria species in sheep at the same time.
Cellular replacement therapy is a potential therapeutic strategy for diabetes. In this study, we investigated the effect of transplantation of induced mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) into endoderm and early hepatocyte-like cells in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic mice. After embryoid body (EB) formation from mESC, the EBs were cultured in the presence of dexamethasone (DEX) and insulin for 4 days then was added acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and oncostatin M (OSM) for 10 days, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMarrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been heralded as a source of great promise for the regeneration of the infarcted heart. There is no clear data indicating whether or not in vitro differentiation of MSCs into major myocardial cells can increase the beneficial effects of MSCs. The aim of this study is to address this issue.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe performed a prospective clinical study to select cut-off points for total plasma protein (TPP) and plasma fibrinogen (PF) to differentiate between traumatic reticuloperitonitis (TRP) and other gastrointestinal diseases with similar clinical signs, and to estimate the dependence and accuracy of TPP and PF when used in series or in parallel. TPP and PF were estimated preoperatively by refractometry in 93 cattle with TRP and 65 cattle with gastrointestinal diseases such as vagus indigestion (n = 16), liver abscesses (n = 17), omasal impaction (n = 19) and Johne's disease (n = 13). Three different cut-off points were selected by two-graph receiver-operating characteristic (TG-ROC) analysis for TPP and PF.
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