Mehdi Zarei
University of Tehran, Iranian Studies, Post-Doc
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Background: Asprosin, a newly identified adipokine, is pathologically increased in individuals with insulin resistance. However, the available evidence on the association of asprosin and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) status is still... more
Background: Asprosin, a newly identified adipokine, is pathologically increased in individuals with insulin resistance. However, the available evidence on the association of asprosin and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) status is still scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between serum concentrations of asprosin and T2DM status . Methods: This observational study was performed based on 194 adults (97 newly diagnosed T2DM and 97 healthy individuals). Anthropometric and biochemical variables were determined in all participants . Serum concentrations of asprosin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: In patients with T2DM, the serum concentrations of asprosin were significantly higher than the healthy controls (4.18 [IQR: 4.4] vs. 3.5 [IQR: 1.85], P< 0.001). The concentrations of asprosin were significantly correlated with body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in healthy subjects and with BMI, FBG, hemoglob...
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Identification of the most proteolytic Pseudomonas strains that can produce heat-resistant proteases and contribute to the Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk destabilization is of great interest. In the present study, among the 146... more
Identification of the most proteolytic Pseudomonas strains that can produce heat-resistant proteases and contribute to the Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk destabilization is of great interest. In the present study, among the 146 Pseudomonas isolates that encoded the aprX gene, five isolates with the highest proteolytic activity were selected and identified based on 16S rRNA, rpoD and gyrB gene sequences data. The identification results were confirmed by phylogenetic analysis based on multilocus sequence analysis and identified the representative isolates as P. jessenii (two isolates) and P. gessardii (three isolates). Casein zymography demonstrated the ability of these species to produce heat-resistant enzymes, AprX, with molecular mass of about 48 kDa during storage at 7° C for 72 h. In sterilized milk samples, the residual activity of AprX caused a considerable enhancement in the degree of protein hydrolysis, non-protein nitrogen and non-casein nitrogen contents of the samples d...
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The limited postharvest storage life of apricot is the focus of this study. Presenting a solution to improve the postharvest storage of studied apricot cultivars is the goal. Studding the effect of different concentration of postharvest... more
The limited postharvest storage life of apricot is the focus of this study. Presenting a solution to improve the postharvest storage of studied apricot cultivars is the goal. Studding the effect of different concentration of postharvest putrescine on quality attributes and antioxidant activity of two apricot cultivars during storage is the approach taken. The two apricot cultivars (‘Lasgerdi’ and ‘Shahrodi’) were harvested at the commercial ripening stage, and fruits were immerged in 1, 2, 3 and 4 mM putrescine as well as distilled water (control) for 5 min, then fruits were packed in boxes with polyethylene cover and stored at 4°C and 95% relative humidity for 20 days. The changes in weight loss, fruit firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, maturity index, ascorbic acid, total phenolics and antioxidant activity were estimated after 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 days during storage. The results showed that the weight loss, total soluble solids, pH and maturity index increased...
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This randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed for 8 weeks to investigate the potential effects of astaxanthin (AST) supplementation on the adiponectin concentration, lipid peroxidation, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and... more
This randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed for 8 weeks to investigate the potential effects of astaxanthin (AST) supplementation on the adiponectin concentration, lipid peroxidation, glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and anthropometric indices in participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We enrolled 44 participants with type 2 diabetes who met our inclusion criteria. Eight milligrams of AST supplementation or a placebo were randomly administered once daily for 8 weeks to these participants. The 8-week administration of AST supplementation increased the serum adiponectin concentration and reduced visceral body fat mass (p<0.01), serum triglyceride and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations, and systolic blood pressure (p<0.05). Furthermore, AST significantly reduced the fructosamine concentration (p<0.05) and marginally reduced the plasma glucose concentration (p=0.057). We demonstrated that because participants with type 2 diabetes often...
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In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in using food additives from natural sources to improve taste and also extend the shelf-life of semi-preserved foodstuffs. The aim of this study was to examine the chemical and... more
In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in using food additives from natural sources to improve taste and also extend the shelf-life of semi-preserved foodstuffs. The aim of this study was to examine the chemical and microbiological changes promoted by a local marinating process in rainbow trout fillets during chilled storage. Fish fillets were immersed in marinades and stored at 4 ˚C for 10 days and were analyzed for total volatile basic nitrogen (TVN), thiobarbitoric acid (TBA), water holding capacity (WHC), pH, mesophilic and psychrophilic bacterial count every two days. Variations in TBA and WHC were not statistically significant between marinated and control groups. The values of TVN, pH, total psychrophilic bacteria count (TPC) and total mesophilic bacteria count (TMC) in marinated samples were significantly lower than controls. The most obvious finding of this study was that traditional marinated rainbow trout fillet stored in 4 ˚C had no undesirable changes at...
The most common serotype of enterohaemorrhagic Esherichia coli group or Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli is O157:H7. Domestic and wild ruminants are regarded as the main natural reservoirs. O157:H7 serotype is the major cause of... more
The most common serotype of enterohaemorrhagic Esherichia coli group or Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli is O157:H7. Domestic and wild ruminants are regarded as the main natural reservoirs. O157:H7 serotype is the major cause of gastrointestinal infections in developed countries. In this study was conducted to survey on the toxigenic E. coli O157: H7 strains in milk of industrial dairy farms. A total number of 150 milk samples were collected from dairy industry in Khuzestan, over a period of 6 months and were evaluated by cultivation in selective media (CT-SMAC) and multiplex PCR. Two isolates were identified as E. coli using biochemical tests, none of them were toxigenic E. coli O157:H7 as determined by multiplex PCR. Using direct PCR on milk samples, 45 samples contained at least one gene of the studied genes in this investigation (rfb, flic, stx1, stx2). With direct PCR, 2 milk samples were positive for toxigenic O157:H7. E. coli O157:H7 is present in this region and so the necessit...
Ammonia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and energy crisis is known as a critical consequence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Hence, mitochondria are potential targets of therapy in HE. The current investigation was designed to evaluate... more
Ammonia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and energy crisis is known as a critical consequence of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Hence, mitochondria are potential targets of therapy in HE. The current investigation was designed to evaluate the role of taurine treatment on the brain and liver mitochondrial function in a rat model of hepatic encephalopathy and hyperammonemia. The animals received thioacetamide (400mg/kg, i.p, for three consecutive days at 24-h intervals) as a model of acute liver failure and hyperammonemia. Several biochemical parameters were investigated in the serum, while the animals&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; cognitive function and locomotor activity were monitored. Mitochondria was isolated from the rats&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; brain and liver and several indices were assessed in isolated mitochondria. Liver failure led to cognitive dysfunction and impairment in locomotor activity in the rats. Plasma and brain ammonia was high and serum markers of liver injury were drastically elevated in the thioacetamide-treated group. An assessment of brain and liver mitochondrial function in the thioacetamide-treated animals revealed an inhibition of succinate dehydrogenase activity (SDA), collapsed mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial swelling, and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, a significant decrease in mitochondrial ATP was detected in the brain and liver mitochondria isolated from thioacetamide-treated animals. Taurine treatment (250, 500, and 1000mg/kg) decreased mitochondrial swelling, ROS, and LPO. Moreover, the administration of this amino acid restored brain and liver mitochondrial ATP. These data suggest taurine to be a potential protective agent with therapeutic capability against hepatic encephalopathy and hyperammonemia-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and energy crisis.
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Sesamin is one of the most abundant lignans in sesame and has multiple functions and high values such as antioxidative effect and promoting-immunity function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sesamin supplementation on... more
Sesamin is one of the most abundant lignans in sesame and has multiple functions and high values such as antioxidative effect and promoting-immunity function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sesamin supplementation on glycemic status, serum levels of inflammatory markers and adiponectinin patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Forty-eight patients with type 2 diabetes participated in this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to two groups: intervention group (sesamin capsules; 200 mg/day, n = 24) and control group (placebo capsules; 200 mg/day starch, n = 24). Anthropometric indices and serum levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and adiponectin were assessed at the baseline and after 8 weeks. Sesamin supplementation caused a significant reduction in FBS, HbA1C and TNF-α levels compared with the placebo (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05). Waist circumference, hip circumference, body adiposity index (BAI), FBS, HbA1c, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels were decreased, and adiponectin levels were increased significantly in the intervention group at the end of study (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05). According to the beneficial effects of sesamin supplement on glycemic status and inflammatory factors, it may be considered as a supplementary therapeutic approach for diabetic patients. However, future investigations are needed in this field.
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ABSTRACT Where clay minerals are analyzed in soils, often there is some confusion, because in the widespread loess-affected and moraine landscapes of Europe quite a variety of clay minerals is found. The sources of these minerals are... more
ABSTRACT Where clay minerals are analyzed in soils, often there is some confusion, because in the widespread loess-affected and moraine landscapes of Europe quite a variety of clay minerals is found. The sources of these minerals are inherited from the local solid rock, transported through different processes, transformed through mineral changes and inherited from paleo-environments. Very often a miserable assemblage in the clay fraction is found with mica clay, smectite, kaolinite, chlorite and also some quartz. In order to understand the current dynamic of clay mineral formation, very detailed and quantitative analysis in comparison of horizons and landscape are necessary. It is much easier to through light on the development, if conditions are looked for where a single specific mineral can be formed like short range order minerals from volcanic ashes or smectites from basaltic parent material. Old leaching land surfaces will form kaolinitic and in tropical areas gibbsitic clay fractions. In arid environments of deserts and desert fringes, palygorskite and sepiolite can dominate. In general, clay minerals buffer the environment. This is mainly due to the extraordinary large interfaces between mineral surface and pore systems. In the last years mainly the processes of buffering through charging soil solution and of buffering through mineral organic compounds have been analyzed. Development of new microscopic and spectromethods have brought great progress in understanding the role of clays in soil environments.
Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic disorders and is related to oxidative-stress-induced diseases. Given the role of dietary antioxidants in the control and prevention of diabetes, this study aimed to examine the effects of... more
Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic disorders and is related to oxidative-stress-induced diseases. Given the role of dietary antioxidants in the control and prevention of diabetes, this study aimed to examine the effects of sesame butter versus sesame oil on the serum levels of glucose, lipid profile, and oxidative stress biomarkers in diabetic rats. Forty male albino rats of Wistar strain were randomly divided into 4 groups (i.e., nondiabetic control rats, diabetic rats, diabetic rats treated with sesame butter, and diabetic rats treated with sesame oil). Experimental diabetes was induced with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). Sesame butter (1.25 g/kg) and sesame oil (0.5 g/kg) were given by oral gavage to the diabetic rats for 6 weeks. Finally, serum glucose, lipid profile, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured and analyzed statistically. Our data showed that the diabetic groups treated with sesame butter...
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A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in phytoremediation of lead (Pb)-contaminated soil by vetiver grass. Experiment was a factorial arranged in a completely randomized... more
A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in phytoremediation of lead (Pb)-contaminated soil by vetiver grass. Experiment was a factorial arranged in a completely randomized design. Factors included four Pb levels (50, 200, 400 and 800 mg kg(-1)) as Pb (NO3)2, AM fungi at three levels (non mycorrhizal (NM) control, Rhizophagus intraradices, Glomus versiforme). Shoot and root dry weights (SDW and RDW) decreased as Pb levels increased. Mycorrhizal inoculation increased SDW and RDW compared to NM control. With mycorrhizal inoculation and increasing Pb levels, Pb uptake of shoot and root increased compared to those of NM control. Root colonization increased with mycorrhizal inoculation but decreased as Pb levels increased. Phosphorus concentration and uptake in shoot of plants inoculated with AM fungi was significantly higher than NM control at 200 and 800 mg Pb kg(-1). The Fe concentration, Fe and Mn uptake of shoot in plan...
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ABSTRACT In a pot experiment, the effects of the bacterium strain Micrococcus roseus, native soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the fungus Glomus mosseae on the growth, P, N, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cd uptake of maize in a soil polluted... more
ABSTRACT In a pot experiment, the effects of the bacterium strain Micrococcus roseus, native soil arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and the fungus Glomus mosseae on the growth, P, N, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cd uptake of maize in a soil polluted with Cd were investigated. A three-factor experiment was set up in a randomized complete design with three replicates of each treatment. The factors in the experiment were as follows: 1) AMF with two levels, G 1 (native AMF) and G 2 (G. mosseae + G 1); 2) bacterium promoting plant growth with two levels, B 0 (no inoculation) and B 1 (inoculation with M. roseus); and 3) cadmium with three levels (0, 100 and 200 mg Cd kg –1 soil). G 2 significantly increased root colonization, plant biomass, shoot nutrients and Cd uptake of plants in comparison with G 1 in Cd polluted conditions. The single presence of AMF contributed to the stabilization of Cd in roots and soil. Shoot and root dry weights, and shoot nutrients uptake of plants co-inoculated with bacterium and AMF were higher than mycorrhizal plants in the soil polluted with Cd. Plants co-inocu-lated with bacterium and G 2 had higher amount of shoot Cd uptake, root Cd uptake, Cd phytoextraction, translocation, and uptake efficiencies under both Cd concentrations than only mycorrhizal plants. The results showed that, most of the Cd was sequestered in roots of plants co-inoculated with bacterium and native AMF in the soil with 100 and 200 mg Cd kg –1 .
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This paper describes an efficient and practical method for economic dispatch problem in one and two area electrical power systems with considering the constraint of the tie transmission line capacity constraint. Direct search method (DSM)... more
This paper describes an efficient and practical method for economic dispatch problem in one and two area electrical power systems with considering the constraint of the tie transmission line capacity constraint. Direct search method (DSM) is used with some equality and inequality constraints of the production units with any kind of fuel cost function. By this method, it is possible
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Antileishmanial drugs traditionally used for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis are mainly toxic, ineffective for some parasite isolates, and costly. Since chitosan is reported to accelerate wound healing, the aims of this study were to... more
Antileishmanial drugs traditionally used for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis are mainly toxic, ineffective for some parasite isolates, and costly. Since chitosan is reported to accelerate wound healing, the aims of this study were to assess the effectiveness of nanochitosan films in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania major (Iranian strain) and to investigate alterations of antioxidant enzyme activities and malondialdehyde levels. Six weeks after L. major inoculation, when lesions appeared at the base of the tail of 36 female Balb/c mice, treatment was initiated. Lesion sizes, parasite proliferation, histopathological changes, antioxidant enzyme activities, and malondialdehyde changes were evaluated in groups treated with nanochitosan film and groups treated with the combination of nanochitosan film and daily peritoneal injection of glucantime. There was no significant difference between nanochitosan and glucantime in reduction of lesion size. But, les...
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ABSTRACT Export Date: 18 October 2014
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ABSTRACT In this study, the effects of various concentrations of NaCl and KCl on the growth characteristics and cell morphology of L. monocytogenes were evaluated. It was found that L. monocytogenes can grow in the presence of 1-9% NaCl... more
ABSTRACT In this study, the effects of various concentrations of NaCl and KCl on the growth characteristics and cell morphology of L. monocytogenes were evaluated. It was found that L. monocytogenes can grow in the presence of 1-9% NaCl and 1-11% KCl. The higher the ...
Ecotoxicologists have used the concentration of metallothionein (MT) as a biomarker for toxic � metal contamination. Copper accumulation and metallothionein (MT) concentration were ̀ determined in the liver of Prochilodus scrofa exposed... more
Ecotoxicologists have used the concentration of metallothionein (MT) as a biomarker for toxic � metal contamination. Copper accumulation and metallothionein (MT) concentration were ̀ determined in the liver of Prochilodus scrofa exposed to copper after acclimation to 20 and 30 o during 30 days at the respective 96h-LC 50 at 20 and 30 o C and pH 4.5 and 8.0 during 96h.
ABSTRACT Export Date: 18 October 2014