To investigate the effect of dietary lipids with different fatty acid compositions upon the in vivo cytokine response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), mice were fed for 5 weeks on a low-fat diet or on one of four high-fat diets that contained 20%, by weight, of coconut oil (CO), olive oil (OO), safflower oil (SO) or fish oil (FO). The mice were injected intraperitoneally with a non-lethal dose of Escherichia coli LPS (100 micrograms/20 g body weight) and killed 90 or 180 min later. Plasma tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma TNF-alpha and IL-10 concentrations were higher 90 min postinjection than after 180 min, whereas plasma IL-1beta and IL-6 concentrations were higher 180 min postinjection than after 90 min. Peak plasma TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 concentrations were lower in the CO- and FO-fed mice than in those fed the SO diet. Peak plasma IL-10 concentrations were higher in CO-fed mice than in those fed some of the other diets. These observations suggest that, relative to the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich SO diet, CO and FO diminish production of proinflammatory cytokines in vivo. This indicates that these fatty acids might be useful therapies in acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. The enhanced production of IL-10 following CO feeding appears to be an additional antiinflammatory effect of this oil, which could give added benefit in various clinical conditions.

Deregulations of both core and supernumerary subunits of complex I are involved in the aetiology of SCZ and PPD. These deregulations have effects on brain activity as well as disorder characteristics.

ObjectivesObesity is a significant risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Obesity usually results from a combination of causes and contributing factors, including genetics and lifestyle choices. Many studies have shown an association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) and the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) genes with body mass index (BMI). Therefore, recognizing the main genes and their relevant genetic variants will aid prediction of obesity risk. The aim of our study was to investigate the frequency of rs9939609 and rs17782313 polymorphisms in FTO and MC4R genes in an Iranian population.MethodsWe enrolled 130 obese patients and 83 healthy weight controls and calculated their BMI. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the frequency of rs9939609 and rs17782313 polymorphisms in FTO and MC4R genes was determined using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR).ResultsSignificant associations were found between FTO rs9939609 and BMI. Where homozygous risk allele carriers (A-A) have significant higher odds ratio (OR) of being obese than individuals with normal BMI (OR = 6.927, p < 0.005, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.48–13.78). No significant correlation between MC4R rs17782313 and obesity were observed when compared to healthy weight individuals. Although subjects with C-C genotype had higher odds of obesity (OR = 1.889, p = 0.077, 95%CI: 0.92–3.84).ConclusionsThis study shows a relationship between FTO polymorphism and increased BMI, therefore, SNP in the FTO gene influence changes in BMI and can be considered a prognostic marker of obesity risk.

Alopecia areata represents an autoimmune pathological process driven primarily by cellular aberrations contained within the immune system, which activates various humoral and cellular elements of the immune response. The aim of this study was to determine the mRNA expression levels of T-bet and GATA-3 as potential inducers of T helper (Th)1 and Th2 differentiation, respectively, as well as Th1(IFN-γ) and Th2(IL-4) cytokine mRNA expression in patients with alopecia areata. Using real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), the relative amounts of T-bet, GATA-3, IFN-γ, and IL-4 mRNA transcripts were determined in PBMCs from 20 Iranian patients with alopecia areata and compared with those of 20 healthy control subjects. In comparison with the normal group, T-bet and IFN-γ mRNA expression levels were signifi cantly up-regulated in the alopecia areata patients, while GATA-3 and IL-4 mRNA expression levels were down-regulated. Notably, positive correlation (P < 0.05) was found between IFN-γ and T-bet levels in patients and controls. In addition, signifi cant positive correlations existed between GATA-3 and IL-4 (P < 0.05). These results indicate that a Th1/Th2 imbalance exists in alopecia areata, and it may be implicated in the pathogenesis of disease.

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The research was undertaken to find association of genetic variation in the exon 3 of the leptin gene and breeding value of body weight traits in Makooei sheep breed using single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). The PCR product was obtained to encompass exon 3 of leptin gene corresponding to ovine leptin gene. The PCR fragments were subjected to electrophoresis to reveal the SSCP patterns. Among the total of 130 sheep, five SSCP patterns (haplotypes) were identified for amplified fragment. The frequencies of SSCP patterns of polymorphic fragment were 0.09, 0.17, 0.37, 0.14 and 0.23.The relation between the different haplotypes and body measurements including body length (BL), heart girth (HG), height at withers (HW), height at back (HB), rump length (RL) and scrotal circumference (SC) were ascertained in all of the analyzed animals. According to our results, there is significant association between the different haplotypes of this fragment with additive estimated breeding value for the HG and RL traits. These results confirmed the potential usefulness of leptin gene in marker-assisted selection programs for sheep breeding in Makooei sheep breed.

Azathioprine therapy was recently used to treat dermatologic conditions such as alopecia areata (AA). Previous reports showed that thiopurine s-methyltransferase (TPMT) activities in human red blood cell are associated with a polymorphism in this gene. Therefore, patients carrying mutant allele of TPMT may show severe myelosuppression when they are treated with standard doses of Azathioprine drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the TPMT gene amongst Alopecia areata patients and healthy adult in Iranian populations. TPMT gene polymorphisms were investigated in 1285 Iranian healthy adult blood donors and 632 patients with Alopecia Areata Universalis (AU). Tetra Arms PCR, Real-Time PCR and Sequencing were used to evaluate the presence of allele-specific polymorphisms of TPMT gene (TPMT *2(c.238 GC,), TPMT *3A (c.460 GA and c.719 AG), TPMT *3B (c.460 GA), and TPMT *3C (c.719 AG). Results were shown that the TPMT*2 allele is associated with a low enzymatic activity that was detected in 22.51% (863 in 1917) of Iranian individuals. Heterozygous genotypes were in 827 (43.14%) subjects (232 AA and 595 healthy), and homozygous genotypes were in 18 (0.94%) individuals (3 AA and 15 healthy). The normal allele (wild-type) was found in 55.92% of the studied individuals (20.70% AA and 35.21% healthy). According to a higher frequency of TPMT polymorphism in Iranian population in comparison with other population, determination of TPMT genotype in may have the clinical benefit to thiopurine dosage selection and treat patients as well.

Now, image processing is a better technique than the subjectively assessments for linear scoring of morphologic traits, especially in fattailed ewe?s. The objective of this study was to assess this application in animal characterization on a case study in order to comparing of, udder morphological characteristics in two Iranian crossbred sheep populations including Ghezel-Arkhamerino (GH-MR; 25 ewes), Moghani-Arkharmerino (MG-MR; 25 ewes) and a pure one that was Ghezel ewes (20 ewes). Ten udder factors and five milk traits were measured on seventy ewes during three stages of lactation. Digital pictures were analyzed by Digimizer 3.6 software. Statistical analysis of udder liner scores was performed by using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.1 software. Results showed that long udders were more frequent in the Ghezel ewes than in crossbred?s ewes. Least variation was observed for teat placement score in Ghezel purebred ewes. The means of udder depth in the Ghezel ewes were larger than in the crossbreds (P<0.01). A positive correlation between left and right teat length scores were found in the all genetic groups (rp=0.47-0.65). Milking rate (rp= 0.81) and milking time (rp= 0.37) showed significant correlations with milk yield (P <0.001). The most useful udder scores for predicting daily milk yield appears to be the left teat length, teat placement and attachment width in Ghezel ewes. Phenotypic correlations variations within linear scores and their relationships with daily milk showed the potential of improvement of these traits in breeding programs of dairy sheep.