The receptor for advanced glycation end-products enhances lung epithelial wound repair: An in vitro study.

Re-epithelialization of the alveolar surface is a key process of lung alveolar epithelial barrier repair after acute lung injury. The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) pathway plays key roles in lung homeostasis, and its involvement in wound repair has been already reported in human bronchial epithelial cells. However, its effects on lung alveolar epithelial repair after injury remain unknown. We investigated whether RAGE stimulation with its ligands high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) or advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), alone or associated with RAGE inhibition using RAGE antagonist peptide, affects in vitro wound healing in human alveolar epithelial A549 cells. We further asked whether these effects could be associated with changes in cell proliferation and migration. We found that treatment of A549 cells with HMGB1 or AGEs promotes RAGE-dependent wound healing after a scratch assay. In addition, both RAGE ligands increased cell proliferation in a RAGE-dependent manner. Treatment with HMGB1 increased migration of alveolar epithelial cells at 12 h, independently of RAGE, whereas AGEs stimulated migration as measured 48 h after injury in a RAGE-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that RAGE pathway is involved in lung alveolar epithelial wound repair, possibly through enhanced cell migration and proliferation.

Factors promoting Iranian older adults' spirituality: a qualitative content analysis.

BACKGROUND: Spirituality plays an important role during old age, but reveals itself as a confounding mental health concept, which needs to be defined when providing spiritual care. The purpose of this study was to explore factors promoting Iranian older adults' spirituality. METHOD: In a qualitative content analysis approach, we searched for the factors promoting spirituality among a selection of Iranian older adults. Totally, 22 people aged above 60 years old were interviewed using open-ended questions. The recorded interviews were then transcribed, and a coding process was applied based on a qualitative, conventional content analysis. RESULTS: Three key factors were found to promote the spirituality among the older adults: 1) insight in personal belief, 2) spiritual socialization, and 3) peace of mind. Traditional dimensions, the cultural surroundings, and participants' religious beliefs were apparent in each of the categories. CONCLUSION: Society's role in making the seniors spiritual role models was very important; moreover the hereafter life on religious grounds seemed to be another important factor in reaching for high levels of spiritual and mystical perfection. Educational interventions based on the elders' needs for spiritual empowering by health care professionals especially with regards to their spiritual based social interactions and reaching peace of mind, will comprise a major part of wellness approaches.

Variation among populations of Trichogramma euproctidis (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) revealed by life table parameters: perspectives for biological control.

The successful mass-rearing of potential biological control agents is a prerequisite for sustainable pest control. In this study, the performance of 3 Trichogramma euproctidis (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) populations collected from different locations in Khuzestan (Southwest Iran) were evaluated to optimize the egg parasitoid mass-rearing for augmentative biological control of lepidopteran pests. We aimed to investigate the effects of both population origin and host quality on biological traits of ovipositing females (number of parasitized eggs) and of their progeny (development time, survival rate, sex ratio, longevity, and fecundity). The effect of host quality was assessed by allowing the parasitoid to oviposit into 1, 2, 3, or 4-day-old Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs. The 3 T. euproctidis populations developed successfully regardless the age of the host eggs. However, we found significant variation among populations and a strong influence of host quality on the traits investigated. Progeny performance in all populations decreased with increasing host age. The best-performing population (collected in Mollasani) showed the highest parasitization rate, highest survival rate, and progeny sex ratio with the greatest percentage of females. A life table corroborated these findings with superior estimates of the net reproductive rate (R0), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and reduced generation time (T) for the Mollasani population on 1-day-old host eggs. We conclude that ample variation exists among T. euproctidis populations and that rearing the Mollasani population on young rather than old eggs of E. kuehniella would be recommended to implement the biological control programs to target lepidopteran pests in Southwestern Iran.

Two species of Brachyunguis (Hemiptera: Aphididae) new to Iran, and a key to the Iranian species of this genus.

Brachyunguis dendrostellerae Kadyrbekov, 2014 and B. monstratus Kadyrbekov, 1999, both living on Diarthron lessertii (Wikstr.) Kit Tan. (Thymelaeaceae), are recorded for Iranian aphid fauna for the first time. The hitherto unknown alate viviparous females of B. dendrostellerae are described, and the little-known apterous viviparous females are redescribed. An identification key for apterous viviparous females of Brachyunguis species known from Iran is provided.

Effect of Different Constant Temperatures on Life History and Life Table Parameters of Trichogramma euproctidis (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).

Temperature has a profound effect on performance and behavior of egg parasitoids. Egg parasitoids are a well-known alternative for the control of lepidopterous pests. Selected life history parameters of Trichogramma euproctidis (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), an established egg parasitoid species in Khuzestan- Southwest Iran, were appraised at eight constant temperatures (22.5, 25, 27.5, 30, 32.5, 35, 37.5, and 40°C) using Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs as the host. We found significant effects of temperature on the number of parasitized eggs, development time, sex ratio, progeny's longevity, and fecundity. T. euproctidis developed on E. kuehniella eggs at all temperatures tested, but performed best at 32.5°C. At this temperature, they parasitized the most eggs, produced the most female progeny, and had high rates of survival. Our findings revealed that temperature significantly affected the longevity of female progeny and fecundity of T. euproctidis. A life table analysis confirmed that temperature resulted in optimal effects on T. euproctidis life history. Net reproductive rate (R0) of T. euproctidis was different among the temperatures tested. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was positively correlated with temperature from 22.5 to 32.5°C and then decreased from 35 to 40°C. Generation time (T) and doubling time (DT) decreased as temperature increased from 22.5 to 37.5°C and then increased at 40°C. These data suggest that this strain of T. euproctidis is adapted to high temperatures and harsh environmental conditions and has the potential to be used in integrated management programs in Southwest Iran.

Contribution to the Ophioninae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) of Iran with the description of 16 new species and an illustrated key to the Eremotylus of the Western Palaearctic.

In this study, material of Iranian Ophioninae was examined. In total, 63 species are recognized as occurring in Iran. Sixteen species are described as new to science: Enicospilus amerii Johansson sp. nov., E. apocalypticus Johansson sp. nov., E. haladai Johansson sp. nov., Enicospilus peri sp. nov., Ophion al Johansson sp. nov., Ophion angustigena Johansson sp. nov., Ophion breviflagellator Johansson sp. nov., Ophion golestanicus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion klimenkoi Johansson sp. nov., Ophion persicus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion schmidti Johansson sp. nov., Ophion sinuosus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion sistanicus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion transcarinatus Johansson sp. nov., Ophion vasi Johansson sp. nov. and Ophion xrafstra Johansson sp. nov. Sixteen species: Enicospilus combustus (Gravenhorst, 1829); E. intermedius (Johansson, 2018); E. undulatus (Gravenhorst, 1829); Ophion angularis Johansson Cederberg, 2019; Ophion bipictor Aubert, 1980; Ophion crassicornis Brock, 1982; Ophion confusus Johansson, 2019; Ophion ellenae Johansson, 2019; Ophion eremita Kokujev, 1906; Ophion kallanderi Johansson, 2019; Ophion rostralis Meyer, 1935; Ophion rufoniger Kohl, 1905; Ophion semipullatus Kokujev, 1909; Ophion tenuicornis Johansson, 2019; Hellwigiella dichromoptera (Costa, 1886) and Eremotylus curvinervis (Kriechbaumer, 1878) are new records for the fauna of Iran. Enicospilus flavocephalus (Kirby, 1900), Enicospilus monostigma (Vollenhoven, 1879) and Eremotylus sibiricus Szpligeti, 1905 are excluded from the Iranian checklist due to previous misidentifications. Enicospilus tarsalis Hedwig, 1957 syn. nov. is excluded from synonymy with E. ahngeri and instead introduced as a junior synonym of E. cruciator Viktorov, 1957. Enicospilus affinis Hedwig, 1957 stat. rev. is excluded from synonymy with E. ocellatus Shestakov, 1926 and reinstated as a valid species. Enicospilus splendidus Rousse, Soliman Gadallah, 2017 syn. nov. is a junior synonym of Enicospilus stenopsis Kohl, 1905. Enicospilus grandiflavus Townes Townes, 1973 (= E. grandis Morley) syn. nov. is synonymized with Enicospilus unicallosus (Vollenhoven, 1878). Enicospilus contributus Shestakov, 1926 is confirmed as a junior synonym of E. merdarius (Gravenhorst, 1829). Ophion fossulatus Hedwig, 1957 stat. rev. is excluded from synonymy with Ophion mocsaryi Brauns, 1899 and reinstated as a valid species close to Ophion parvulus Kriechbaumer. Ophion mocsaryi var. decedens Hedwig, 1961 syn. nov. is a synonym of Ophion bipictor Aubert, 1980. Ophion obscuratus var. heratensis Hedwig, 1961 syn. nov. is treated as a synonym of Ophion turcomanicus Szpligeti, 1905. Ophion pravinervis Kokujev, 1906, previously only known from the lost type collected in Georgia, is redescribed. Despite the relatively high number of new species here presented, the Iranian fauna most likely still harbours additional species awaiting discovery.

Tribe Myrmeleontini (Neuroptera: Planipennia: Myrmeleontidae) in Iran.

During a study of the family Myrmeleontidae of Iran, specimens of the tribe Myrmeleontini, housed in Hayk Mirzayans Insect Museum were examined. Specimens of Euroleon nostras and Myrmeleon noacki were identified for the first time from Iran. An identification key, illustrations and distributional maps are presented for the Iranian species of Myrmeleontini.

Outcomes of Idiopathic Full-Thickness Macular Hole Surgery: Comparing Two Different ILM Peeling Sizes.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to show the impact of different extents of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on visual and anatomical outcomes following idiopathic full-thickness macular hole (FTMH) surgery. METHODS: In this single-center prospective study, patients with idiopathic FTMH underwent standard pars plana vitrectomy with two different extents of ILM peeling: 2-disc diameters (DD) or 4 DD. The main outcome measures were the closure rate of the holes based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings at three months after surgery. RESULTS: Forty eyes from 39 patients were enrolled in the study. After three months, anatomical closure was achieved in 78% and 76% eyes in 2 DD peel and 4 DD peel groups, respectively. From 29 eyes with macular hole index (MHI) ≤ 0.5, type 1 closure was achieved in 42% eyes receiving a 2 DD ILM peel, compared to 66% eyes receiving a 4 DD peel (p=0.041). In comparison, this significant difference was not seen in the subgroup of MHI > 0.5 (p=061). In the subgroup of subjects with baseline MHI ≤ 0.5, visual improvement was significantly more in eyes with 4 DD ILM peeling (p=0.034), which was not seen in the MHI > 0.5 subgroup (p=0.61). CONCLUSION: In patients with idiopathic full-thickness macular hole (MHI ≤ 0.5), a larger ILM peel of 4 DD appears to yield better anatomical outcomes than a more limited 2 DD peel.