Focus on Science
Volume:2 Issue: 2, Apr-Jun 2016

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and degenerative disease of the human central nervous system (CNS). Genetic aberrations of autoimmunity pathway components have been proven to significantly influence MS development. According to genome wide association studies (GWAS), HLA in the 6p21 locus seem to be associated with the MS. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the remarkable association of one allele at 6p21 locus, HLA DQA1*0102, with MS in South-West Iran.
In this case-control study, HLA DQA1*0102 was analyzed in MS patients. The collected blood samples belonging to 205 MS patients (case group) and 202 healthy individuals (control group) were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction using specific sequence primers (PCR-SSP) technique, and we examined the relationship of genotypes with risk factors such as gender, age, phase of the disease and other clinical parameters. Data analyzed using SPSS 16 statistical software and chi square test
We observed a significant difference in the frequency distribution of HLA DQA1*0102 (OR = 0.37; 95% CI = 0.23-0.67; P-value = 0.006) between patients and controls. Strong association was found between the HLA DQA1*0102 and Intestinal symptoms of MS (P = 0.029). However, there was no association between HLA DQA1*0102 and various classifications and severity of MS. No significant association was found between this allele in Arabs as compared with the control group.
The higher frequency of HLA DQA1*0102 in controls indicates that HLA DQA1*0102 may play a protective role against developing MS. This study is in line with previous study in Iran; but contrasts with most of the studies in European populations and is the first study reporting in southwest Iran and Arab population.

Childbirth is considered as the most significant event of a women’s life and a transitional time, a potentially stressful one during which a woman needs to face both the new maternal role and changes in her body. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the three indicators of quality of life, lifestyle and happiness of Iranian mothers experiencing their first childbirth at different ages.
Statistical population of this study were all women with first delivery in four age groups: below 20 years, between 20 and 30 years, 30 to 40 years and above 40 years that were selected from Arash, Saarem and Mahdieh Tehran hospitals. Four questionnaires: i) demographic questionnaire, ii) the oxford happiness inventory (OHI), iii) miller lifestyle questionnaire, iv) quality of life questionnaire were used to collect the data. Spss software and MANOVA test was used to analysis the data.
There is a significant difference between the happiness of women in four groups (F (3,116) = 11.014, P The happiness and satisfaction of life of each individual is directly in relation with people’s attitudes to life. Having children at a younger age may have influenced women in terms of education, employment opportunities, income and wealth in the short term and the long term. Therefore, young mother would experience more poor state and less happiness which is also confirmed by obtained data in this study.

The experiment was conducted to investigate the pre-planting hardening of seedling on the growth, dry matter accumulation and tillering of inbreed and hybrid rice.

The experiment was carried out with three varieties i.e. BRRI dhan53, BRRI hybriddhan4, and Pajam and five seedling hardening treatments viz. direct transplanting (T1), storage in shade condition for 48 h (T2), storage in open field condition for 48 h (T3), storage in water condition for three days (T4) and storage in cool air condition for 24 hours (T5). This experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (factorial) with three replications.

Results revealed that among the varieties BRRI hybriddhan provided maximum number of leaves, tillers, and accumulated highest amount of dry matter. On the other hand, Pajam exhibited the tallest plants at earlier growth stages. Among the hardening methods open field storage showed the best result.

Seedling hardening provides the rice seedlings better adaptability during its entire growth period and gives better yield.

A new wave of science innovation is based on something much smaller than ever before. Nanotechnology is the hottest buzz in laboratories around the world. Scientists are using this cutting edge technology not only to develop incredible new products, but also to work towards cleaning water. Recently, heavy metal contamination has develop to be the essential serious ecological issues. The treatment of heavy metals is of special concern in the environment. As of late, different techniques for removal of heavy metal ions from wastewater have been widely considered. Adsorption is a standout amongst the most simple and productive process for treating industrial effluents, and a helpful mechanism to safeguard the ecosystem. The uses of novel nano-adsorbent for the treatment of waste water are confirmed by the continuous increment in research articles publication on adsorption of heavy metal ions using organic-inorganic nanocomposites. The present article highlights the late advancements in the preparation of nano adsorbents incorporating polymer-silica hybrid materials by sol-gel technique. The primary goal of the present review is to depict the versatile nature of polymer-silica hybrid materials and their ability to absorb variety of heavy metal ions which are present in the wastewater. An endeavor is likewise being made to incorporate adequate data like the strategy for synthesis of polymer-silica hybrid materials, structure, their adsorption capacity, variables affecting the adsorption and the plausible mechanism involve in adsorption of heavy metal ions from contaminated water.

Cancer is characterized as one of the deadliest diseases and claims millions of lives every year with higher proportion of causalities in developing countries as compared to the developed ones. Though there exist a number of treatment technologies against cancer including chemotherapies, radiotherapies, surgeries etc. But people are now turning towards plant derived herbal therapies for treatment of cancerous diseases due to ill-effects associated with allopathic treatments. These plant derived bioactive compounds may target fast dividing cells by impairing mitosis or cause target cells to undergo apoptosis without affecting normal cells. This manuscript is concerned about current scenario of epidemiological prevalence of various cancer lines, the pharmacological applications of various plant derived bioactive compounds with potential competency as anticancer therapeutic agents and delineation of probable effects of these compounds on cellular targets and their mechanisms of action.

Melatonin is an indoleamine present in animals and other organisms. Its main function in animals where it acts as a hormone regulating circadian rhythms related processes is well established. It was not until 1995 that this compound was detected in plants and, since then, interest clarifying their role has been increasing. This article describes the functions that have been identified so far in plants that might be of agronomic interest. As in animals, plant melatonin appears to have developed a type of hormonal function, similar to that observed for other plant hormones, such as auxin, to induce growth in stems and stimulate rooting. It is also able to delay senescence by protecting photosynthetic systems and processes. One of the most studied actions is its effect on biotic and abiotic stresses in the plant, such as drought, extreme temperature, chemical pollution, UV radiation, etc. Some of these functions could be explained by the fact that melatonin is a powerful natural antioxidant, although more recent data have demonstrate its role as a regulator at the level of gene expression under certain conditions. This has given rise to the idea that it might be used as a natural biostimulating substance for treating field crops, for the phytoremediation of contaminated soils and as a nutraceutical compound.