Our data prove that the puborectalis, a component of the pelvic floor muscles, is an important contributor to urethral pressure in the rabbit.

Background:Rodents are an important source of zoonotic diseases for human. The aim of this study was to determine the infectivity of rodents with intestinal helminths in North Khorasan Province, Iran.Methods:One hundred and thirteen rodents were collected using different collection methods such as kill and live traps, digging of their burrow, filling of their hiding places with water and hand net during 2011–2013. Their alimentary canals were removed in the laboratory and helminths were determined in the department of parasitology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences.Results:Thirteen species of helminths parasites were found in 13 species of rodents, including Aspiculuris tetraptera, Hymenolepis diminuta, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Protospirura Seurat, Rictolaria ratti, Skrjabinitaenia lobata, Streptopharagus kuntzi, Syphacia obvelata, Taenia taeniaeformis, Trichuris muris, Cysticercus fasciolaris, Acanthocephal. spp and Trichuris spp. Some of them were reported for the first time in new host in Iran. S. obvelata and A. tetraptera were the most frequent parasites and P. Seurat, R. ratti and C. fasciolaris were found only in one rodent.Conclusion:This is the first study to investigate the intestinal parasites in rodents in this area. Among different species identified, some of helminths were reported in new host.

Blastocystis hominis is the most common intestinal parasite found in humans and many other hosts. Pathogenicity of Blastocystis spp. remains controversial, and it has been suggested that it may be associated with specific subtypes of the organism. This study identified the B. hominis subtypes and their prevalence rates in the northeast of Iran. A total of 1878 samples were collected from the northeast of Iran from January to December 2017. The patients’ demographic details were recorded. Samples were examined by a wet mount, and genomic DNA was extracted from positive samples. Also, PCR was done on the positive samples, and sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were subsequently performed. From 1878 collected stool samples, 152 (8.1%) Blastocystis samples were detected by the microscopic method. Of the 152 samples, Blastocystis spp. were found in 53.6% of the men and 28.9% of the women who showed clinical gastrointestinal symptoms, and a significant relationship was observed between gender and clinical symptoms ( P = 0.002 ). A meaningful relationship was found between the season and infection with this parasite ( P value = 0.003). The results of the sequencing of 22 PCR products showed the dominance of ST3, which was isolated from 10 (45.45%) patients, while ST1, ST2, and ST7 were found in 4 (18.19%), 7 (31.81%), and 1 (4.55%) patients, respectively. In this study, ST7 had a low prevalence in the northeast of Iran, and similar to previous studies, ST3 was the dominant subtype.

Rajasekaran MR, Sinha S, Seo Y, Salehi M, Bhargava V, Mittal RK. Myoarchitectural and functional alterations in rabbit external anal sphincter muscle following experimental surgical trauma. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 307: G445-G451, 2014. First published July 3, 2014; doi:10.1152/ajpgi.00450.2013.-Obstetrical trauma to external anal sphincter (EAS) is extremely common; however, its role in the development of anal incontinence is not clear. We examined the regenerative process and functional impact of experimental surgical trauma to EAS muscle in an animal model. Surgical myotomy, a craniocaudal incision extending along the entire length and thickness of the EAS, was performed in rabbits. Animals were allowed to recover, and anal pressures were recorded at weekly intervals for 12 wk using a custom-designed probe system to determine the length-tension property of EAS muscle. Animals were killed at predetermined time intervals, and the anal canal was harvested for histochemical studies (for determination of muscle/connective tissue/ collagen) and sarcomere length measurement. In addition, magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (MR-DTI) and fiber tracking was performed to determine myoarchitectural changes in the EAS. Myotomy of the EAS muscle resulted in significant impairment of its length-tension property that showed only partial recovery during the 12-wk study period. Histology revealed marked increase in the fibrosis (connective tissue ϭ 69% following myotomy vs. 28% in controls) at 3 wk, which persisted at 12 wk. Immunostaining studies confirmed deposition of collagen in the fibrotic tissue. There was no change in the sarcomere length following myotomy. MR-DTI studies revealed disorganized muscle fiber orientation in the regenerating muscle. We conclude that, following experimental injury, the EAS muscle heals with an increase in the collagen content and loss of normal myoarchitecture, which we suspect is the cause of impaired EAS function. length-tension; fibrosis; magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging FECAL INCONTINENCE (FI) is extremely common and reported by 7-10% of women over 60 years of age (1, 3, 4). Childbirthrelated injury to the muscles of the anal sphincter complex is a possible cause of FI in women (11,26). The injury to these muscles occurs through several mechanisms. First is the stretch of the muscles caused by the fetus during its passage through the birth canal. Second is the trauma related to instrumentation, and third is surgical episiotomy. Women who sustain thirddegree obstetrical tear develop FI soon after delivery if muscles are not properly repaired (13). However, in the significant majority of women, injury to the anal sphincter and other pelvic floor muscle is occult. Symptoms develop in the fifth to sixth decade of life, the reasons for which are not clear.Of the three components of the anal sphincter complex [the internal anal sphincter, external anal sphincter (EAS), and puborectalis muscle (PRM)], it is generally believed that EAS muscle plays a significan...