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The optimal rearing density (RD) enhances fish performance, but there is little information about the effect of rearing densities(RDs) on triploids. This research aimed to estimate the impacts of RDs on the growth, immunity, and antioxidant activity of triploid rainbow trout. A total of 1071 fish (35.16±1.10g) were randomly stocked into 18 fiberglass tanks and divided into six groups based on RD, including 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60kg/m[sup.3]. After 70 days, final weight, weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly higher and feed conversion ratio (FCR) was significantly lower in rainbow trout reared at 20, 30, and 40kg/m[sup.3] in comparison with fish reared at 50 and 60kg/m[sup.3] (p<0.05). Serum cortisol level was highest in fish reared at 60kg/m[sup.3], then RD50 group, and lower in other groups; cortisol level of RD20 and RD30 groups was also significantly lower than the RD10 fish (p<0.05). Moreover, serum lactate level was significantly higher and serum total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and lysozyme activity and liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were significantly decreased in fish reared at 50 and 60kg/m[sup.3] compared to 20, 30, and 40kg/m[sup.3] (p<0.05). Serum osmolality and total immunoglobulin content and liver catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were significantly decreased in fish reared at 10, 50, and 60kg/m[sup.3] compared to other groups (p<0.05). Serum alternative complement (ACH50) activity and globulin content were also significantly lower in RD50 and RD60 groups compared to the other groups (p<0.05). In addition, liver malondialdehyde (MDA) content was highest in RD60 group, then RD50, followed by RD10, and lowest in other groups. Overall, the optimal RDs for juvenile triploid rainbow trout can be suggested to the fish farmers at intermediate densities of 20-40kg/m[sup.3].

This study aimed to investigate any inflammatory effect of nicotine on rat embryo by exposing their mothers to different dosages of nicotine during pregnancy. During this experimental study, 32 pregnant healthy Wistar rats were divided into 4 equal groups, including a control and 3 nicotine exposure groups. Injections were performed subcutaneously starting at the first day of pregnancy until parturition. As the dosages of nicotine were increased, the weight gain by pregnant rats and the mean weight of their newborns were significantly reduced. Mean ± SD of hs-CRP was significantly higher among groups exposed to various dosages of nicotine (2, 4, and 6 mg/kg) compared to the control group ( P < 0.0001 ) and its increasing rate was also dose dependent. Mean ± SD serum level of IL-6 and TNF- α among all groups exposed to nicotine, except for 2 mg/kg nicotine injected group, was increased significantly ( P < 0.0001 ). Mean ± SD of serum level of TGF- β and nitrite oxide among exposure groups showed significant differences compared to the control group only at the dosage of 6 mg/kg ( P < 0.0001 ). The current study showed that exposing pregnant rats to nicotine causes a dose dependent increase in the rate of all the studied inflammatory serum markers among their newborns.

This study was designed to examine the effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of bicuculline (GABAA receptor antagonist) and muscimol (GABAA receptor agonist) on glutamate-induced eating response in 24-h food-deprived (FD24) broiler cockerels. At first, guide cannula was surgically implanted in the right lateral ventricle of chickens. In experiment 1, birds were ICV injected with different doses of glutamate. In experiment 2, birds were administered with effective dose of glutamate after bicuculline. In experiment 3, chickens received muscimol prior to the injection of glutamate, and cumulative food intake was determined at 3-h postinjection. The results of this study showed that glutamate decreases food consumption in FD24 broiler cockerels (P <= 0.05), and this reduction occurs in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of glutamate on food intake was significantly increased with bicuculline pretreatment, and this effect was attenuated with muscimol (P <= 0.05). These results suggest that there is an interaction between glutamatergic and GABAergic systems (through GABAA receptor) on food intake in broiler cockerels.

Community composition heterogeneity and its changes along environmental gradients are important aspects of landscape management and conservation. However, variations among different trophic levels are still poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the variability of beta diversity and its components (spatial turnover and nestedness) along an elevational gradient in two dominant exposures (north and south) for plants and mesofauna in a semi-arid oak forest in western Iran. Vegetation sampling was conducted in randomly distributed macro-plots (100 × 100 m²) in which the abundance of herbaceous and woody species was recorded using five plots of 2 × 2 m² and three plots of 20 × 20 m², respectively. Soil and litter samples were separately collected in each 20 × 20 m² plot with a cylindrical soil extractor. The beta diversity of plant and mesofauna samples was additively separated into spatial turnover and nestedness, and these variables were regressed against elevation for each group. Compared to mesofauna, plant beta diversity and its components were more affected by topographic variables. Spatial turnover was the main driving mechanism of beta diversity in both mesofauna groups (soil vs. litter). In the case of plants, however, spatial turnover was also related to plant functional groups and topographic characteristics. Compared to mesofauna, plant diversity was more closely related to elevation although this relationship differed between functional groups. These results suggest that herbs are more sensitive to environmental gradients than mesofauna and can therefore be considered as sensitive indicators of environmental variations.

Purpose Leptin, an adipose tissue-derived hormone, plays an important role in energy homeostasis and metabolism, and in the neuroendocrine and reproductive systems. The function of leptin in male reproduction is unclear; however, it is known to affect sex hormones, sperm motility and its parameters. Leptin induces mitochondrial superoxide production in aortic endothelia and may increase oxidative stress and abnormal sperm production in leptin-treated rats. This study aims to evaluate whether exogenous leptin affects sperm parameters, hormone profiles, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in adult rats. Methods A total of 65 Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into three treated groups and a control group. Treated rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of 5, 10 and 30 μg/kg of leptin administered for a duration of 7, 15, and 42 days. Control rats were given 0.1 mL of 0.9 % normal saline for the same period. One day after final drug administration, we evaluated serum specimens for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), leutinizing hormone (LH), free testosterone (FT), and total testosterone (TT) levels. Samples from the rat epididymis were also evaluated for sperm parameters and motility characteristics by a Computer-Aided Semen Analysis (CASA) system. Samples were treated with 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA) and analyzed using flow cytometry and TUNEL to determine the impact of leptin administration on sperm DNA fragmentation. Results According to CASA, significant differences in all sperm parameters in leptin-treated rats and their age-matched controls were detected, except for TM, ALH and BCF. Serum FSH and LH levels were significantly higher in rats that received 10 and 30 μg/kg of leptin compared to those treated with 5 μg/kg of leptin in the same group and control rats ( P  < 0.05). ROS and sperm DNA fragmentation was significantly higher in rats injected with 10 and 30 μg/kg of leptin for 7 and 15 days compared with rats treated with 5 μg/kg of leptin and the control group (P < 0.05) for the same time period. However, at day 42 of treatment, ROS and sperm DNA fragmentation levels significantly decreased in all groups ( P  < 0.05). Conclusion According to these results, leptin can possibly affect male infertility by ROS induction or hormone profile modulation.

The online version of the original article can be found under doi:10.1186/s13048-014-0105-3.

Mast cells are one of the characteristic factors in angiogenesis, growth, and metastatic spread of tumors. Further studies are suggested to determine the type of these cells which might be useful in the assessment of biological nature of the tumor and its future treatment modality. Few studies have evaluated mast cell infiltration in visceral tumors, especially uterine tumors. In this study, age, sex, death rate, and histologic patterns were in agreement with those of previous reports on canine mast cell tumors. Cytopathology assays are widely used to prognosticate canine uterine mast cell tumors (MCT). There is limited information about these prognostic assays used on MCT that arise in the uterine. The anisocytosis and anisocytosis and giant cells were present in the tumor. Furthermore, the tumor had nuclear atypia with scattered multinucleated cells and prominent nucleoli and tumor were classified as poorly granulated. Under microscopic examination, we observed diffuse infiltration and proliferation of tumor cells from the uterine different area and the infiltrative characteristics and distribution patterns of neoplastic cells were observed. This tumor consisted of sheets and cords of uniform round cells with discrete cytoplasmic margins. Microscopically, the neoplastic masses were poorly-demarcated and lacked capsules and tumor cell usually showed a distinct cell boundary. Nevertheless, the neoplastic cells were located between collagen bundles forming small clusters and sheets and had large, centrally located, round to ovoid nuclei. In addition, eosinophils were scattered among the mast cells at the periphery of the masses. The presence of eosinophils and the observation, at high magnification, of cells with cytoplasmic metachromatic granules. Based on these findings, a diagnosis of poorly-differentiated mast cell tumor was made and data histologic grading was available for tumor. Neoplasm was poorly differentiated or gradeIII.

Background Mast cells are one of the characteristic factors in angiogenesis, growth, and metastatic spread of tumors. Further studies are suggested to determine the type of these cells which might be useful in the assessment of biological nature of the tumor and its future treatment modality. Few studies have evaluated mast cell infiltration in visceral tumors, especially uterine tumors. Case presentation In this study, age, sex, death rate, and histologic patterns were in agreement with those of previous reports on canine mast cell tumors. Cytopathology assays are widely used to prognosticate canine uterine mast cell tumors (MCT). There is limited information about these prognostic assays used on MCT that arise in the uterine. The anisocytosis and anisocytosis and giant cells were present in the tumor. Furthermore, the tumor had nuclear atypia with scattered multinucleated cells and prominent nucleoli and tumor were classified as poorly granulated. Under microscopic examination, we observed diffuse infiltration and proliferation of tumor cells from the uterine different area and the infiltrative characteristics and distribution patterns of neoplastic cells were observed. This tumor consisted of sheets and cords of uniform round cells with discrete cytoplasmic margins. Microscopically, the neoplastic masses were poorly-demarcated and lacked capsules and tumor cell usually showed a distinct cell boundary. Nevertheless, the neoplastic cells were located between collagen bundles forming small clusters and sheets and had large, centrally located, round to ovoid nuclei. In addition, eosinophils were scattered among the mast cells at the periphery of the masses. The presence of eosinophils and the observation, at high magnification, of cells with cytoplasmic metachromatic granules. Conclusion Based on these findings, a diagnosis of poorly-differentiated mast cell tumor was made and data histologic grading was available for tumor. Neoplasm was poorly differentiated or gradeIII.

Diabetes mellitus (DM), one of the most pervasive and enduring metabolic diseases, has been demonstrated to adversely impact male fertility. Conversely, both exercise training and Chrysin have been identified as potential interventions capable of mitigating the deleterious effects of diabetes on spermatogenesis. Thus, the current study aims to explore the individual and combined influences of Chrysin supplementation and running exercise on oxidative stress and germ cell apoptosis in the testicular tissue of diabetic adult rats. In this experimental study, the DM was induced by streptozotocin (STZ,50 mg/kg). Rats were divided into control (received STZ solvent), DM-sole, Chrysin-sole (50 mg/kg, daily), moderate-intensity running exercise training (MIRET-sole, warm-up, 5 minutes at 30% of Smax1 (Maximum speed); Moderate intensity exercise, 60 minutes at 60% of Smax1, and recovery, 5 minutes to 30% of Smax1), DM+Chrysin, DM+MIRET, and DM+MIRET+Chrysin. Following 8 weeks, the histopathological changes (Johnson's score, epithelial height, and tubular diameter), testicular malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and the mRNA levels of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic gene Bax was analyzed. Chrysin solely and simultaneous with MIRET could remarkably (P=0.001) improve the DM-induced histopathological damages, increase the testicular SOD and GPx levels, and decline the DM-increased MDA content. Moreover, our results showed that Chrysin solely and more simultaneously with MIRET could significantly (P=0.001) decrease the mRNA expression of and improve the expression and rebalance the balance. Our findings showed that co-administration of Chrysin along with MIRET can significantly ameliorate the DM-induced histopathological, and biochemical impairments and reduce the pro-apoptotic impact of DM on testicular tissue.

Background From the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the development of infrastructures to record, collect and report COVID-19‏ ‏data has become a fundamental necessity in the world. The disease registry system can help build an infrastructure to collect data systematically. The study aimed to design a minimum data set for the COVID-19 registry system. Methods A qualitative study to design an MDS for the COVID-19 registry system was performed in five phases at Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences in Khuzestan Province in southwestern Iran, 2020–2021. In the first phase, assessing the information requirements was performed for the COVID-19 registry system. Data elements were identified in the second phase. In the third phase, the MDS was selected, and in the four phases, the COVID-19 registry system was implemented as a pilot study to test the MDS. Finally, based on the experiences gained from the COVID-19 registry system implementation, the MDS were evaluated, and corrections were made. Results MDS of the COVID-19 registry system contains eight top groups including administrative (34 data elements), disease exposure (61 data elements), medical history and physical examination (138 data elements), findings of clinical diagnostic tests (101 data elements), disease progress and outcome of treatment (55 data elements), medical diagnosis and cause of death (12 data elements), follow-up (14 data elements), and COVID-19 vaccination (19 data elements) data, respectively. Conclusion Creating a standard and comprehensive MDS can help to design any national data dictionary for COVID-19 and improve the quality of COVID-19 data.