Isolation of Nannocystis species from Iran and exploring their natural products.

Several different techniques were employed for the isolation of Nannocystis from various sources. A polyphasic approach was used for identification. Twelve strains of N. pusilla, N. exedens, and N. konarekensis with distinctive distribution between climates were identified. The bioactivity was examined against a panel of eight bacteria, two yeasts, and one fungus; cytotoxicity was tested on the L929 fibroblast cell line. Eleven strains mainly inhibit Gram-positive bacteria, and only one isolate was cytotoxic. The extract analyses by HPLC and LC-MS were compared to Myxobase, and eight different compounds were detected; a correlation was observed between compounds and producing species. 70% of strains had the potential to produce structurally diverse compounds. Nannochelins and althiomycin were the most abundant metabolites. The discovery of a new species of Nannocystis and the high potentiality of strains to produce secondary metabolites encourage further sampling and in-depth analysis of extracts to find new active metabolites.

Nannocystis konarekensis sp. nov., a novel myxobacterium from an Iranian desert.

An orange-coloured myxobacterium, MNa11734T, was isolated from desert in Iran. MNa11734T had rod-shaped vegetative cells, moved by gliding and was bacteriolytic. No real fruiting body formation could be observed, but sporangioles were produced on water agar. The strain was mesophilic, strictly aerobic and chemoheterotrophic. 16S rRNA gene analyses revealed that MNa11734T belonged to the family Nannocystaceae, genus Nannocystis and was closely related to Nannocystis pusilla Na p29T (DSM 14622T) and Nannocystis exedens Na e1T (DSM 71T), with 97.8 and 97.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. Laboratory-measured DNA-DNA hybridization showed only 9.5/15.7 % (reciprocal) similarity between the novel strain and N. pusilla Na p29T, and 14.1/20.4 % between the strain and N. exedens Na e1T, whereas DNA-DNA hybridization estimates derived from draft genome sequences were 21.8-23.0 % and 22.2-23.7 %, respectively, depending on the calculation method. The G+C content of DNA from Nannocystis konarekensis MNa11734T was 73.3 mol%, for N. pusilla Nap29T it was 71.8 mol% and for N. exedens Nae1T it was 72.2 mol%. The major fatty acids of the new strain were C16 : 1 (56.2 %), iso-C17 : 0 (14.4 %), C14 : 0 (8.2 %), C16 : 0 (6.6 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (5.9 %). Strain MNa11734T exhibited phylogenetic and physiological similarities to the two other species of Nannocystis, i.e. N. pusilla and N. exedens, but the differences were sufficient enough to represent a novel species, for which the name Nannocystiskonarekensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MNa11734T (=DSM 104509T=NCCB 100618T).

Racemicystis persica sp. nov., a myxobacterium from soil.

A novel myxobacterium, strain MSr11462T, was isolated in 2015 from a soil sample collected form Kish Island beach, Persian Gulf, Iran. It displayed general myxobacterial features like Gram-negative staining, rod-shaped vegetative cells, gliding on solid surfaces, microbial lytic activity, fruiting-body-like aggregates and myxospore-like structures. The strain was mesophilic, aerobic and showed a chemoheterotrophic mode of nutrition. It was resistant to many antibiotics like gentamycin, polymyxin, fusidic acid and trimethoprim, and the key fatty acids of whole-cell hydrolysates were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, C18 : 1, iso-C17 : 1 2-OH, C18 : 1 2-OH, iso-C15 : 0 OAG (O-alkylglycerol) and C16 : 1 OAG. The 16S rRNA gene sequence showed highest similarity (98.6 %) to Racemicystis crocea strain MSr9521T (GenBank accession no. KT591707). The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) spectroscopy data supports a novel species of the family Polyangiaceae and the genus Racemicystis. DNA-DNA hybridization showed only about 50 % similarity between the novel strain and the phylogenetically closest species, Racemicystis. crocea MSr9521T. On the basis of a comprehensive taxonomic study, we propose a novel species, Racemicystis persica sp. nov., for strain MSr11462T (=DSM 103165T=NCCB 100606T).

Relationship between Parenting Styles and Tendency to Addiction in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Various factors are involved in the initiation of drug abuse, such as genetic and social factors. Among the factors that can be mentioned in associated with the tendency to addiction in children is the role of family prediction. This study aimed to explore the relationship between parenting styles and addiction tendency in Iran. Methods: We searched Persian database included Magiran, SID, IranDoc and Noormagz for articles from 2007- 2022 in Iran. Seven articles with 1734 subjects were ultimately included in the qualitative and quantitative syntheses. Five subscales (parenting method) were brought up for investigation of the relationship between parenting styles and addiction tendency. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each associated factors using random-effects/fixed-effects models. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plot and the Eggers test and each effect size was calculated manually. Results: Based on Cohen's interpretation criterion are as follow: the mean effect size of the relationship with the permissive style is 0.33 (average), the mean effect size of the relationship with authoritative style is 0.31 (average), the mean effect size of the relationship with the dependent style is 0.28 (average), the mean effect size of the relationship with the freedom-control is - 0.02 (small), the mean effect size of the relationship with the method based on affection-rejection is 0.33 (moderate). Conclusion: Parenting styles have a significant relationship with addiction tendencies in Iran. Therefore, appropriate programs can be provided to strengthen and educate the correct and suitable parenting methods with their children as safe as possible in order to avoid risky behaviors and injuries such as addiction.

Evaluation of relationship between breast cancer and migraine.

BACKGROUND: Frequency of migraine changes at different times of a woman's reproductive cycle because of fluctuation of estrogen levels. Breast cancer has also a link with hormonal changes. Given this fact that both migraine and breast cancer are affected by estrogen, the prevalence of migraine may be different in breast cancer patients compared to the normal population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this case-control study, two groups of women with and without breast cancer were compared regarding the prevalence of migraine. Each group consisted of 400 women. The diagnosis of different types of headache was made based on The International Headache Society (IHS) guidelines. Type of headache, type and receptor status of breast cancer, as well as history of taking hormonal medications was recorded. Independent t-test and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Relative frequency of migraine headache in the normal woman was 38% compared to 19% in the breast cancer group (P < 0.0001). Tension headache was also significantly more prevalent in the normal group (P < 0.001). The frequency of migraine was significantly lower in estrogen receptor (ER)+/progesterone receptor (PR)- women compared to ER-/PR+ (26 and 43 women, respectively; P = 0.04); however, this difference was not significant for tension headache (P = 0.68). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the lower frequency of migraine, as well as tension headache, in breast cancer sufferers. This could be contributed to several non-hormonal factors, such as a history of long term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and hormonal factors, although only migraine showed a strong link with hormone status.

Trigeminal nerve stimulation: A new way of treatment of refractory seizures.

BACKGROUND: Refractory epilepsy is a significant problem in clinical practice. Sometimes, multiple antiepileptic drugs are required to control the attacks. To avoid various complications ensuring from these drugs, new methods of treatment such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) have been recommended. Trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS) is a new method under evaluation. The purpose of this paper is to determine whether this method is effective or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Percutaneous simulation of supraorbital branches of the trigeminal nerve by an electrical device was planned in 18 patients over a six-month period. Participants who fulfilled the research criteria were selected randomly from epileptic patients referred to the clinic. (November 2011-December 2012). T-test was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Only eight of 18 patients stayed in the study during all 6 months. A 47.9% reduction in daily seizure frequency was seen in this group (P = 0.022). Other subjects left the study earlier. In this group, seizure frequency increased by 10.6% (P = 0.82). CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism of the antiepileptic effects of TNS is not yet clear. In animal studies, it is suggested that the trigeminal nucleus and its projection to nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and the locus ceruleus, are involved in seizure modulation. Although in comparison with seizure frequency prior to the study there was significant seizure reduction, according to the usual criteria for VNS i.e. 50% seizure frequency reduction, the effect of TNS per se may not yet be adequate for treatment of seizures. Trigeminal nerve stimulation may be an effective "adjuvant" method for treatment of intractable seizure.

The relationship between computer games and quality of life in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Term of doing computer games among teenagers is growing rapidly. This popular phenomenon can cause physical and psychosocial issues in them. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between computer games and quality of life domains in adolescents aging 12-15 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study using the 2-stage stratified cluster sampling method, 444 male and female students in Borkhar were selected. The data collection tool consisted of 1) World Health Organization Quality Of Life - BREF questionnaire and 2) personal information questionnaire. The data were analyzed by Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, chi-square, independent t-tests and analysis of covariance. FINDINGS: The total mean score of quality of life in students was 67.11±13.34. The results showed a significant relationship between the age of starting to play games and the overall quality of life score and its fourdomains (range r=-0.13 to -0.18). The mean of overall quality of life score in computer game users was 68.27±13.03 while it was 64.81±13.69 among those who did not play computer games and the difference was significant (P=0.01). There were significant differences in environmental and mental health domains between the two groups (P<0.05). However, there was no significant relationship between BMI with the time spent and the type of computer games. CONCLUSION: Playing computer games for a short time under parental supervision can have positive effects on quality of life in adolescents. However, spending long hours for playing computer games may have negative long-term effects.