MEDICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL OF ISLAMIC AZAD UNIVERSITY
Year:2014 | Volume:24 | Issue:2|Papers Count:13

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder that has a lifetime prevalence of ~1% in the most studied population. Schizophrenia is a multifactorial disorder that is characterized by the contribution of multiple susceptibility genes that could act in conjunction with epigenetic processes and environmental factors. Linkage and association studies have shown a number of candidate risk genes including Nerugulin 1, Disrupted in schizophrenia, Disbyndin and Epsin 4 that have associated with schizophrenia. However, their biological function remains elusive. ‘Disrupted in schizophrenia 1’ (DISC1), a gene locus originally identified at the first in a large Scottish family, showing a heavy burden of major mental illnesses associated with a balanced t (1;11) (q42.1;q14.3) chromosome translocation. Substantial genetic and biological research on DISC1 has been displayed in past decade that DISC1 is now recognized as a genetic risk factor for a spectrum of psychiatric disorders and it impacts on many aspects of central nervous system (CNS) function, including neurodevelopment, neurosignaling, and synaptic functioning. Evidences emerged from genetic studies have shown a relationship between DISC1 and quantitative traits, including working memory, cognitive aging, gray matter volume in the prefrontal cortex, and abnormalities in hippocampal structures as well as function. DISC1 interacts with numerous proteins, also involved in neuronal migration, neurite outgrowth, cytoskeletal modulation, and signal transduction, some of which have been reported as independent genetic susceptibility factors for psych iatric morbidity. Here, we studied association of genetic variants of several susceptibility genes to schizophrenia, specially DISC1 and its intractor proteins and their effect on functional and structural of the brain in human and in the mouse.

Background: Cerebral ischemia is known as a main cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and there was no effective treatment yet. Global cerebral ischemia causes loss of pyramidal cells of brain cortex following global ischemic/reperfusion. Recently, using immunophilin ligands has been considered as a potential and appropriate strategy for neuroprotection. Since it was observed that tacrolimus (FK506), a useful immunosuppressant used in organ transplantation, provides neuroprotection and prevents neuronal damage,the importance of immunophilins in the development of neuroprotectors has emerged. In this study, we investigated the neurotrophic effect of the immunosuppressant agent FK506 in rat after global cerebral ischemia.Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 25 Wistar rats were assigned to control (intact), ischemia and 3 FK506 treated (1, 3, 6 mg/kg) groups. Both common carotid arteries were occluded for 20 minutes followed by reperfusion. In 3 experimental groups, tacrolimus or FK506 was given as a single dose exactly at the time of reperfusion respectively as 1, 3, 6 mg/kg by intravenous administration (IV). The same doses repeated by intraperitoneally administration (IP) 48 hours after reperfusion. After 4 days, the rats were sacrificed and brain sections were stained by H & E and Nissl.Results: Our findings showed that 20 min ischemia decreased the number of the cortex pyramidal cells. But there were significant differences between number of cortex pyramidal cells in ischemia and FK506 (6mg/kg) groups.Conclusion: Our study suggests that tacrolimus has a neurotrophic effect on pyramidal cells of brain cortex and may candidate for treatment of ischemia brain damage.

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder which causes disorder in the ovulation and infertility in women. This study was design to investigate the effects of alcoholic extract of white Marrubum vulgare plant on the hormonal parameters model of polycystic ovarian syndrome in the adult female rats.Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 48 adult female rats from wistar race with approximate weight of 180 to 200 grams were evaluated. The rats were divided into 6 groups of 8 numbers each randomly. Control group, sham group, experimental group 1 received 500 mg/kg of oral extract for 21 days, experimental group 2 PCOS, experimental group 3 (PCOS+500 mg/kg) and experimental group 4 (PCOS+1000mg/kg) were fed extract for 21 days. On the 22nd day, blood samples were collected from all the groups for measuring serum levels of LH, FSH, testosterone, estradiol and progesterone hormones using RIA.Results: LH hormone serum level in the group of “PCOS+1000mg/kg” showed a significant reduction compared to PCOS. FSH hormone level did not show any difference in any groups, compared to control group and PCOS. The level of estradiol hormone in the group of PCOS+500mg/kg, PCOS +1000mg/kg revealed a significant reduction, compared to PCOS. Testosterone hormone level in the group of PCOS+1000mg/kg showed a significant reduction in comparison to PCOS, and finally the level of progesterone in the group of PCOS +500mg/kg and PCOS +1000mg/kg exhibited a significant reduction, compared to PCOS.Conclusion: The results indicate that alcoholic extract of white Marrubium Vulgare improves hormonal parameters in polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Background: Although Stachys lavandulifolia is growing in the most parts of Iran and regional countries and it has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antianxiety effetcs as well as controls signs of dysmenorhoorea, there are limited data regarding its toxicity potentials. Acute toxicity and “No Observable Adverse Effect Level” of this medicinal herb have been recently reported by our group, but present study was conducted to find the histopathological effects of the extract in order to suggest the appropriate doses for further clinical studies on its oral pharmaceutical dosage forms.Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 60 female mice were divided into 30 cases and 30 controls. Stachys lavandulifolia extract in doses of 7 mg/kg (mild), 70 mg/kg (moderate) and 140 mg/kg (high) were administered in 45- day model. All histopathological changes were assessed in baseline, midpoint, and endpoint and after the recovery period and compared with control group.Results: Other than significant weight changes in some target organs, abnormal histopathological changes were detected in liver, kidney and spleen after 45 days in a dose and time dependent manner but all abnormalities were returned to normal state after the recovery period in day 90.Conclusion: Stachys lavandulifolia extract can induce mild dose- dependent toxicity in liver, kidney and spleen. So, doses less than 70 mg⁄kg should be prescribed in long- term. However, this changes isn’t associated with clinical symptoms, and these mild toxic effects are normalized after the recovery period.

Background: Studies have shown that any disruption in wnt signaling pathway is associated with Alzheimer disease (AD). One of the important molecules involved in activation or inactivation of this pathway is GSK3b (glycogen syntase kinase3  b). The main goal of this study was to evaluate GSK3 b phosphorylation by treatment of cells with dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a kind of neurosteroid that decreases in the brain with aging.Materials and methods: In this experimental study, neural progenitor cells were obtained from mouse embryos brain. Then, these cells were treated with 1mm concentration of DHEA for 48h. After 48h, the phosphorylation of GSK3 b was analyzed by immunocytochemistry.Results: DHEA increased phosphorylation of GSK3 b in neural cells treated by DHEA, whole in control group, we could not detect the expression of GSK3 b.Conclusion: DHEA can increase phosphorylation of GSK3 b in neural cells and inactivation of GSK3 b can help to cure AD.

Background: Haps protein plays central role in initial interaction of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) with human respiratory epithelial cells. While other surface-exposed proteins of NTHi are highly variable, The HapS domain is highly conserved among H. influenzae strains. Recent studies demonstrated that HapS adhesive activity resides within the C-terminal 311 amino acids of the protein and also they showed that the C-terminal 311 amino acids of HapS (C-Haps) are capable of eliciting a protective immune response against NTHi colonization.Materials and methods: The pET24a-chaps plasmid harboring c-haps sequence from NTHi PTCC1766 was constructed. The amino acid sequences of C-Haps of this study was aligned with C-Haps of three NTHi strains (N187, TN106, P860295) and antigenicity plot of studied rC-Haps was done bioinformatic software. The pET24a-chaps expression was conducted in E.coli BL21 (D3E) and its expression was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting methods. The rC-Haps was purified via immobilized metal affinity chromatography.Results: Amino acid sequence alignment of rCHaps sequence of current study and rC-Haps from the NTHi strains N187, TN106, P860295 showed more than %97 identity. Antigenicity plot identified 9 common highly antigenic domains that were located exactly in conserved regions among 4 different NTHi strains.Conclusion: Due to presence of highly conserved antigenic epitopes among C-Haps of NTHi PTCC1766 and other NTHi strains, rC-Haps of current study could be theoretically a vaccine candidate against NTHi strains of different geographical areas.

Background: Various surgical procedures have been developed to repair stress urinary incontinence in women. This study aims to compare the efficacy of two common methods; open Burch colposuspension and transvaginal tape.Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 283 married women with stress urinary incontinence was undergone either open Burch colposuspension (157 patients) or transvaginal tape (126 patients) surgical procedures between 1993 and 2011. Outcomes of surgical procedures were evaluated 6 and 12 months after surgery. A concurrent cystocele existed in 262 women that were repaired simultaneously during Burch colposuspension (157 patients) or transvaginal tape (105 patients) procedures.Results: The success rates in Burch group were higher than transvaginal tape group at the 6th month (99.4% vs. 94.4%) and the 12th month (97.5% vs. 50%) (p<0.05). Repair of concurrent cystocele was successful in all patients of the Burch group and 93.3% of patients of the transvaginal tape group.Conclusion: We recommend open Burch colposuspension to repair stress urinary incontinence in women, with the advantage of simultaneous repair of severe concurrent cystoceles.

Background: Depression is a possible side effect associated with antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depression in patients receiving different anti-viral medications before, during and after treatment.Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was undertaken on 248 CHB or CHC patients referred to two clinics of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences between March 2011 and April 2012. Those who received alpha interferon, another antivirus medication or combination of them were evaluated by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and clinical psychiatric interview before initiation of the medications, 12 and 24 weeks after the initiation of the treatment and 6 weeks after termination of antiviral therapy.Results: The prevalence of depression in patients with either hepatitis B or C was higher than general population, but similar to each other. During the 12 and 24 week of the antiviral therapy, the prevalence of depression was increased especially in whom were receiving alpha-interferon. Six weeks after the termination of medical therapy, the prevalence of depression in whom received alpha interferon was decreased statistically. However, this event did not happen in the group that did not use interferon.Conclusion: It is suggested that patients receiving alpha-interferon should be psychologically assessed in the course of treatment. Displaying the symptoms of depression, doctors should apply the prophylactic and therapeutic measures as soon as possible.

Background: Emotional intelligence, as the ability to manage emotions, plays an important role in people life and achievements. Regulatory processes are automated defense mechanisms that reduce dissonance cognitive and minimize abrupt changes in acts perceptions of the impact of disaster threatening act. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the relationship between emotional intelligence and defense mechanisms.Materials and methods: In a descriptive study, 72 medical students at the University of Ahvaz were selected randomly. Data collection tools were emotional intelligence scale (EIS) and the Defense style Questionnaire (DSA). Data were analyzed by correlation coefficients and regression using SPSS Software.Results: Emotional intelligence was positively associated with mature defense mechanisms and negatively associated with immature defense mechanisms.Conclusion: It is concluded that higher emotional intelligence increases using mature and neurotic defense mechanisms. Ego defense mechanisms are influenced by emotional intelligence through management, understanding, regulation, and evaluation of emotional in an unconscious level.

SCARF syndrome is a rare syndrome that so far only two cases have been reported in the papers. In this paper, a 3 months female SCARF syndrome was presented with multiple congenital abnormalities and problems to Imam Hossein hospital of Shahroud.