Protein malnutrition promotes hepatic steatosis, decreases insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I production and retards growth. To identify new molecules involved in such changes, we conducted DNA microarray analysis on liver samples from rats fed an isoenergetic low-protein diet for 8 h. We identified the fibroblast growth factor 21 gene (Fgf21) as one of the most strongly up-regulated genes unde...

Naturally occurring radon in ground water can potentially be used as an in situ partitioning tracer to characterize dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) saturations. The static method involves comparing radon concentrations in water samples from DNAPL-contaminated and noncontaminated portions of an aquifer, while the push-pull method involves the injection (push) and extraction (pull) of a rad...

In the present study, analytical solutions are obtained for two-dimensional advection dispersion equation for conservative solute transport in a semi-infinite heterogeneous porous medium with pulse type input point source of uniform nature. The change in dispersion parameter due to heterogeneity is considered as linear multiple of spatially dependent function and seepage velocity whereas seepag...

background chromosomal aberrations are one of the most common causes of mental retardation (mr). objectives in this study, in order to identify the rate of chromosomal abnormalities in idiopathic mr, 50 mr patients at a charity center in hamadan, iran, were investigated. methods fifty mentally retarded male patients without specific chromosomal abnormalities (e.g., down syndrome, fragile x synd...

background: the prevalence of intestinal parasites infection in institutions for mental retarda­tion of ur­mia city, west azerbaijan province, iran was investigated. methods: this descriptive - cross sectional study was carried out in of urmia city in 2007-2008. fecal samples of 225 less than 29 year old mentally disabled individu­als were examined using direct smear, formalin - ether concen­tr...

Phytoglycogen is a naturally occurring polysaccharide nanoparticle made up of extensively branched glucose monomers. It has a number of unusual and advantageous properties, such as high water retention, low viscosity, and high stability in water, which make this biomaterial a promising candidate for a wide variety of applications. In this study, we have characterized the structure and hydration...

Mice lacking the mesenchymal winged helix transcription factor Foxl1 exhibit markedly abnormal small intestinal epithelia and postnatal growth retardation. We investigated whether defects in intestinal nutrient uptake and specific transport processes exist in mice homozygous for a Foxl1 null allele (Foxl1-/-). Foxl1-/- mice and controls on a defined genetic background were weighed regularly and...

Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), mapping on the 15q26.3 chromosome, is required for normal embryonic and postnatal growth. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the IGF1R gene expression and function in three unrelated patients with chromosome 15 structural abnormalities. We report two male patients with the smallest 15q26.3 chromosome duplication described so far, and a fe...

The fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is a selective RNA-binding protein implicated in regulating translation of its mRNA ligands. The absence of FMRP results in fragile X syndrome, one of the leading causes of inherited mental retardation. Delayed dendritic spine maturation was found in fragile X mental retardation patients as well as in Fmr1 knockout (KO) mice, indicating the functi...