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Leaf and root explants from 10 to 20 day– old seedlings of Plantago lanceolata, were cultured on MS, MSH, NT and B5 basal media with various concentrations of different plant growth regulators. The best callus induction was obtained with 0.4 mgl-1 2,4-D in MSH I with 400 callus index. Callus growth was significantly stimulated (P=0.05)with 0.8 mgl-1 2,4-D and 0.1 mgl-1 Kin in MSH II, with 799 mg fresh weight and 79 mg dry weight. A higher production of mucilage was obtained in MSH II. The mucilage content of different media varied from 10.40 to 14.73% dry weight. Perusal of the data reveals significant differences with regard to the total mucilage content. Callus has nearly 3 times and 1.5 times more mucilage than seeds and leaf and root parts respectively.

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Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is a 65 kDa member of serine protease family. tPA is naturally expressed by endothelial cells of vessels in negligible amounts. The enzyme converts plasminogen to plasmin and results in dissolution of blood clots. Retepalse (Retavase) is a mutated variant of human tPA that lacks a segment of 137 residues. Reteplase is produced in Escherichia coli and lacks post translational modifications including glycosylation. Due to presence of nine disulfide bonds, expression of this protein within bacterial systems is so difficult and mostly results in protein aggregates. Refolding and reactivation of inclusion bodies is an expensive, time-consuming procedure with low efficacy for disulfide-bonded proteins. In the present research we have changed the regulatory sequences to produce active and soluble reteplase enzyme in E. coli BL21 host. Inducible expression of reteplase under the control of T7 promoter resulted in aggregation of proteins in inclusion bodies while the use of a constitutive promoter could produce biologically active reteplase in the cytosol of E. coli cells.

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Water stress is a serious environmental problem throughout the world. It is a conse-quence of both drought and salinity which may be relieved by breeding cultivars that can tolerate low soil water potentials. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is normally grown in arid and semi-arid zones. One approach to improving the ability of the crop tolerate drought is to make use of the variation provided by tissue culture derived from somaclonal varia-tion. Seedlings of a moderately salt tolerant line CUF 101-1S derived from the commercial variety CUF 101 were used as a source of explants to initiate and regenerate tissue cul-tures. Regenerant plantlets were allowed to grow to maturity, selfed, and set seed. These seeds (R1) were germinated and grown in a nutrient medium containing 0, 200 and 250 g l-1 polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and additional calcium as CaCl2 (4.0 mol m-3) for 14 days to assess their ability to withstand stress in the progeny generation. Tolerance to PEG was assessed using measurements of root and shoot lengths. Proline levels and activ-ity of the antioxidant enzymes, catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) and glutathione reductase (GR) (EC 1.6.4.2) were also determined. Selected somaclones were more tolerant than the parent. A large increase in the level of proline was observed in the somaclones compared with the parent variety in response to PEG stress. The activity of catalase and glutathione reduc-tase increased in the tolerant genotypes but remained unchanged in the parent when they were subjected to PEG stress.

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Aims: With regard to increasing the consumption of seafood in fresh form, the present study was conducted with the aim of investigating color and tissue of Rainbow Trout fillet by chitosan edible coating incorporated with marjoram essential oil during refrigerated storage.
Materials & Methods: This experimental study was conducted as factorial experiment with completely randomized design. Three fillets without coating were treated with 2% chitosan solution and 2% chitosan solution+0.5% of the essential oil and were examined three times for each treatment. The color and tissue properties were evaluated after 0, 7, 14, and 21 days. The data were analyzed by SPSS 22 software, using two-way ANOVA, and Duncan's Multiple Range Test.
Findings: There was no significant difference in the composition of moisture, ash, protein, and total fat between 0 and 21 days at refrigeration temperature. The amount of cold bacteria increased during the storage time and was significantly different in different treatments (p<0.05). The initial number of bacteria showed no significant difference on day 0 between control fillet and treated fillet (p>0.05), but with time, this difference became significant (p>0.05). Fillets treated with chitosan and essential oil resulted in better elastic state and, consequently, better fillet quality compared to the control. The use of 2% chitosan preserved these indices in the fillet without any significant change compared to the control (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Coating Rainbow Trout fillet with marjoram essential oil increases its antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and significantly improves the quality of the color and tissue of the fillets of this fish during refrigerated storage.

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Background: This study was designed to investigate the frequency and tissue distribution of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) in turkeys with respiratory syndrome in Isfahan province.
Materials & Methods: Totally, samples were taken from the trachea, lung, air sac, infraorbital sinus, hock joint, blood of heart, brain, liver, spleen, intestine, and kidney of 30 turkey flocks. After DNA extraction, a 787 bp fragment of 16S rRNA gene of ORT was amplified.
Findings: The PCR results revealed that 53% of turkeys were infected by ORT. The results showed that although ORT was mainly found in the respiratory tract, it could be systemic and infect some other organs, including the joints, brain, liver, spleen, and blood of heart, but could not infect the intestines and kidneys.
Conclusion: Due to the lack of a clear pattern in tissue distribution of ORT among clinical samples, it seems that other factors play a role in ORT tissue distribution, such as dose, route, type of infection, and probably prevalent serotype.

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Objectives: Toxoplasma gondii is a coccidian protozoon which forms tissue cyst in different organs of infected intermediate host. The present study was conducted to demonstrate the active form of parasite in different tissues of rat, which was experimentally infected with RH strain of Toxoplasma gondii using bioassay method inmice. Materials & Methods: In the experimental assay, 75 rats and 500 mice were used. The rats were infected experimentally with 40-50 thousands of tachyzoites intrapritoneally. Three rats were killed every 24 h then with up to three days 3 days interval for 60 days and their different organs were searched biologically for presence of the parasite. In this regard, the organs were squeezed with mortar in normal saline, diluted and following adding streptomycin and penicillin injected intrapritoneally in three outbreed mice each. Then the mice were followed up for 10 days. Results: Toxoplasma cyst was found in brain, liver and spleen of the rats within 5 to 9 post infection. The parasite was appeared in heart and muscles within 9-13 days after infection but not found in the kidney. The parasite was disappeared in spleen and liver following12 and 28 days of infection respectively but remain active in the brain, heart and muscles within 60 days of the study. Implication: Toxoplasma gondii could remain active in spleen and liver of infected rat for a short time. Meanwhile brain and muscles (heart and skeletal muscles) of the infected animal can keep the parasite for a long time. Kidney is not appropriate tissue for Toxoplasma gondii localization.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding protein concentrate of Bream (Abramis Brama) on chemical properties, texture, color and sensory evaluation of pasta. The fillets were cooked in boiling water for 10 minutes, then minced using a meat grinder. The minced fish was dried at 60 C for 24 hours in an oven and powdered with a grinder. Pasta was prepared with different percentages of FPC (0, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 15% and 20%). Chemical properties (energy, carbohydrate), tissue tests (hardness, adhesion and resilience), color tests (b, a, L) and sensory evaluation were evaluated. The results showed that by adding fish protein concentrate, the amount of pasta carbohydrate decreased compared to the control sample. In contrast, with increasing fish protein concentrate in pasta, the amount of energy increased significantly (p <0.05). The highest energy content was observed in the pasta containing 20% FPC and the lowest energy content in the control sample. The addition of FPC did not cause any adverse changes in the color of the pasta. The amount of yellow and redness of the pasta increased with the addition of FPC. The amount of pasta patency increased with the addition of fish protein concentrate. The color, taste, chewability, elasticity, odor, filament appearance, adhesion, hardness and overall evaluation of pasta with 7.5% FPC was better than others.  Regarding the texture, color and sensory characteristics of the pasta, it can be concluded that the pasta containing 7.5% fish protein concentrate had better characteristics than other samples.

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Aims: In bone tissue engineering, the scaffold as a supportive structure, plays a vital role. Putting the scaffold in dynamic cell culture, such as perfusion bioreactor, makes the role of mechanical parameters such as shear stress and hydrodynamic pressure more important. On the other hand, these mechanical parameters are influenced by scaffold architecture. In this study, the effects of bone scaffold architecture on mechanical stimuli have been analyzed and their effects on the mesenchymal stem cell fate have been predicted.
Material & Methods: Using the tools of computer simulation, five bone scaffolds (Gyroid, high porous Gyroid, Diamond, IWP, and gradient architecture Gyroid) based on mathematical functions of minimal surfaces were designed and exposed in a simulated dynamic cell culture under the inlet velocities of 1, 10, 25, 50, and 100μm/s. Cell accumulation on the inner part of the scaffold was considered as an 8.5-micron layer. This layer was designed for Gyroid and IWP scaffolds.
Findings: Based on the results, Diamond scaffold showed the most efficient performance from the homogeneity of stresses point of view. In the presence of the cell layer, the von Mises stress was reported as 60 and 50 mPa on the Gyroid and IWP scaffolds, respectively which eases osteogenic differentiation.
Conclusion: In gradient architecture scaffolds under dynamic conditions, there is a gradient in shear stress that causes various signaling in different positions of theses scaffold and facilitates multi-differentiation of the cells on the same scaffold.

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In recent years consumption of sausages has been increased mainly in large cities of our country. According to the recently reports and publications, captive consumption of sausages is about 5 kg per year, so safety and quality of these products especially quality control of raw materials is more important than before. In this study 30 samples were collected from 3 different types of sausages (40, 55 and 70 percent beef content) from 10 manufactures located in Tehran province randomly. Samples were assessed for histological aspect, also total protein; collagen and hydroxyprolin content of samples were assigned. Histological results demonstrated that 70, 60 and 30 percent of 40%, 55 % and 70% samples had unpermitted edible tissues respectively. The most popular observed unpermitted edible tissues were chicken skin, hyaline cartilage, peritoneal fat and kidney. Hydroxyprolin and collagen rate of all samples were conformed to national standard of sausages in spite of application of unpermitted edible tissues in most of samples. Comparison of histological and chemical results showed there is not any significant relationship between them P>0.05 .Also we found histological method had much better precision for detection of unpermitted edible tissues in sausages than chemical analysis of collagen related indices.    

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Since one of the main problems in bone tissue repair is the bacterial infections, recently the development of drug-eluting nanocomposite scaffolds for bone regenerative medicine applications has attracted significant attention. In this study Polycaprolactone (PCL)-based composite scaffolds containing 10vol% of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (~21nm), and bioactive glass particles (~6µm), were prepared without drug and also loaded by Tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) antibiotic (0.57, 1.15 mg/mL) through solvent casting method for bone tissue engineering applications. Structural characterizations based on Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and FTIR analysis were utilized to study the chemical bonds of glass/ceramic particles, and antibiotic crystals on the surface. In addition, in vitro cytotoxicity, and antibacterial analysis were performed by MTT, and Agar well-diffusion assays, respectively. In this study polymeric and composite scaffolds were fabricated with TCH clusters decorated on the surface. It was shown that the bioactive glass/PCL scaffolds loaded by 0.57 mg/mL of TCH revealed significant antibacterial effect, despite the acceptable cell viability. These scaffolds seem to be of interest as a potential candidate in drug-eluting scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.

 

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Fibrinogen is a major component of the coagulation cascade following tissue damage and rapidly forms an insoluble fibrin scaffold. Fibrin is a filamentous biopolymer that naturally forms from fibrinogen polymerization during blood clotting. After tissue damage and coagulation cascade initiation, soluble fibrinogen polymerization by thrombin enzymebegins and forms an insoluble fibrin network and blood clots with platelets. This fibrin network is crucial for the development of homeostasis after tissue damage. This biopolymer also plays a key role in the wound healing as a temporary scaffoldand due to its unique structural properties and physiological function; it is used in reconstructive medicine. Fibrin is able to absorb extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) such as fibronectin and growth factors. The main types of fibrin scaffolds like platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are being used as autologous biomaterials in reconstructive medicine, wound healing, orthopedics and skin reconstruction and cosmetic sciences. Fibrin derivatives and degradation products also play an important role in the process of wound healing by stimulating cell infiltration and tissue regeneration and they are being widely used in developing new products as a biological material for over a century.

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Parsi Zira, Bunium persicum (Boiss.) B. Fedtsch., or Black Zira, a member of the Umbellifera family, is one of the most important medicinal species with high economic value. Generally, there is limited information about in vitro culture of Bunium persicum. In this study, the effect of various media (MS, B5) and combinations of plant growth regulators, NAA and 2,4-D alone or together with Kin, on callus induction and shoot regeneration from hypocotyl explant were investigated. This experiment has been carried out in a completely randomized design with 30 treatments and 10 replications per treatment. The results showed significant effects of treatments on regeneration and callus induction. All the measured traits for MS medium were superior. The highest callus frequency was observed on the medium containing 0.1 mg L-1 or 1 mg L-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) as well as 2 mg L-1 2,4-D and 0.5 mg L-1 kinetin. The best treatment for somatic embryogenesis was the medium containing 2 mg L-1 2,4-D. The best response for shoot regeneration was observed on the medium supplemented with 1 mg L-1 2,4-D. The medium containing 1 mg L-1 2,4-D was the best for callus induction and shoot regeneration simultaneously. The regenerated shoots were rooted on basal medium.

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Objective: Tissue engineering is an (interdisciplinary field that applies polymeric scaffolds to control tissue formation in three-dinemtion (3D). The scaffold provides the microenvironment (synthetic temporary extracellular matrix) for regenerative cells, supporting cell attachment, proliferation, differentiation, and neo tissue genesis due to their suitable chemical, physical and biological structures. In this study, chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol) (CS/PVA) was exploited as scaffold for nerve regeneration. Materials and Methods: Electrospinning was used to fabricate CS/PVA nanocomposites for U373 cells seeding and proliferation. Electrospinning is a versatile and simple method to fabricate non-woven thin layer fibers from polymeric solutions. Consequently, the biocompatibility of CS/PVA nanocomposite was evaluated using biological assays and cell attachment study. Results: Results indicated that CS/PVA nanocomposites with 15/85 proportion shown an almost homogenous network of the electrospun fibers and confirmed that they can be knitted in meshes and improve U373 cells proliferation and cell attachment. Conclusion: The nano-sized CS/PVA scaffolds are nontoxic and biocompatible which can promote proliferation of U373 cells and their appropriate adhesion to nanocomposite for improved peripheral nerve regeneration.

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Objective: The LRR (leucine rich proteoglycans) is a molecular recognition motif found in proteins with some roles in cell adhesion, signal transduction, DNA repair and RNA processing. Opticin is a member of this family. Takanosu et al (2001) detected messenger RNA expression of mouse opticin in the eye, heart, brain, testis, thyroid and epididymis by dot blot hybridization. In this study, expression levels of mRNA and protein of opticin was investigated by two monoclonal antibodies which were raised against opticin peptides. By this method structure of opticin in human and mouse has been studied. Materials and Methods: Mouse tissues including, kidney, testis, liver, lung, heart, brain, muscle, spleen and eye were isolated. Opticin expression was identified at mRNA and protein levels by RT-PCR and Western blot. Results: PCR analysis revealed that opticin mRNA is expressed in all the tissues studied except for the lung. However, opticin protein was detected in all tissues analyzed. Conclusion: Expression of opticin in the adult murine tissues may suggest functions other than that of putative regulation of vitreous collagen fibrillogenesis for this molecule.

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Objective: Nowadays, as the field of neural tissue engineering advances, the fabrication and application of combined structures open a new window of research for the regeneration of nervous system injuries. In this study, chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)-carbon nanotube nanocomposites has been exploited as scaffolds. Materials and Methods: Electrospinning was used to fabricate chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)-carbon nanotube scaffolds. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to evaluate the chemical and physical structure of the electrospun scaffolds. Then, the biocompatibility of the scaffolds was evaluated using MTT assay and Neutral red assay. Results: The results showed that the chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)-carbon nanotube nanocomposites have suitable structural and morphological aspects for human brain-derived cells growth and proliferation. Therefore, the cells could maintain their usual morphology while adhering to the surface of the nanocomposites due to an appropriate biocompatibility of the scaffolds. Conclusion: Chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)-carbon nanotube nanocomposites could enhance the proliferation of human brain-derived cells due to their proper structure and biocompatibility.

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Iran is the fourth main producer of kiwi fruit in the world but the post-harvest wastage of this valuable fruit is considerable. On the other hand, the microalgae are natural and extraordinary nutritional sources that can be used in the production of functional food. The purpose of this study was the formulation of an innovative product of kiwifruit with high durability and its enrichment with Spirulina platensis algae and investigation of some of physicochemical and sensory properties of this product. In this study, the effects of different levels of Spirulina Platensis micro-algae in four levels (0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 1%), agar hydrocolloids in three levels (0.25%, 0.5% and 1%) and guar in three levels (0.25%, 0.5% and 1%) on water activity, textural feature and color parameters of kiwi puree- based fruit pastille were studied and the best formulation been selected considering total acceptance and nutritional characteristics including vitamin C, total ash, protein, fat, fiber and iron and calcium content. The results showed that three variable (Spirulina Platensis, agar and guar) significant  effect on water activity. Additionaly, the results of coliremetre using Image processing techniques showed that the effects of agar and guar on "a*", "l*" and "b*" were not significant but Spirulina has a significant effect on color parameters on fruit pastilles. Texture analysis showed that agar and spirulina changed gumminess of the samples significantly. According to the sensory analysis, the 0.25% Spirulina, 0.25% agar and 1% guar obtained the highest score of total acceptance.  

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