MEDICAL LABORATORY JOURNAL
Year:2014 | Volume:7 | Issue:4|Papers Count:21

Background and Objective: One of the diabetes complications is the tissue damage caused by the imbalance of oxidants and antioxidants (oxidative stress). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the activity of two antioxidant enzymes -superoxide dismutase and catalase- in the serum of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Material and Methods: This investigation was conducted on adult male rats assigned to diabetic and control groups. Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Seven weeks after diabetes induction, glucose concentration, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities of the serum were assessed.Results: Glucose concentration of streptozotocin-injected animals was significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.001). The level of Serum superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in diabetes group were significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01). There was a positive significant correlation between glucose concentration and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities (P<0.001).Conclusion: The high activity of antioxidant enzymes in diabetic rats is probably due to compensation responses to oxidative stress produced by high concentration of free radicals. It seems that the higher glucose concentration, the greater compensatory responses.

Background and Objective: Glutathione as a master antioxidant plays a key role in eliminating free radicals from your body and in preserving cell membrane integrity esp. blood cells. We aimed to assess the Erythrocyte Glutathione level of favism and non-favism neonates.Material and Methods: This study was conducted in Ekbatan hospitals of Hamadan (2009) on 15 favism patients and 60 non-favism ones matched by sex and age. Using Beutler method, the reduced Glutathione (GSH) level of red blood cells was measured.Results: Based on the results, the amount of erythrocyte GSH in favism patients was 14.99±4.62 mg/dl and that of controls was 58.2±10.59 mg/dl.Conclusion: the results show that the erythrocyte GSH in favism patients is significantly lower than that of non-favism subjects; therefore, the former seems more likely to be afflicted by hemolytic crises owing to the use of oxidant stuff.

Background and Objective: Flavonoids play an important role in non-enzymatic reaction against oxidative stress. These are polyphenolic compounds in tea structure that could be reacted with free radicals and neutralized them. In this study, we investigated the anti-oxidant impact of Camellia Sinesis on the liver of thioacetamide -injected male albino mice.Material and Methods: In this study, 40 male mice were categorized in five groups of eight. The first group was control. The second and the third group received 100mg/kg and 150mg/kg of thioacetamide, respectively. The fourth group received 100mg/kg thioacetamide followed by black tea (5 gr/100) and the fifth one received 150mg/kg thioacetamide followed by black tea (5 gr/100). Tioacetamide was given via intraperitoneal. After that, for 30 days, they were only fed on black tea (5 gr/100). At the end, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were measured.Results: Based on the results, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were significantly increased in the groups of Thioacetamide and black tea compared to those of only Thioacetamide groups (p<0.05).Conclusion: The increase of these enzymes in tea groups shows the anti-oxidant effect of black tea that can be caused by Catechin.

Background and Objective: Carbohydrates are considered as the major source of energy in physical activity. Studies show that consumption of carbohydrate foods before exercise can balance blood glucose and free fatty acids and increase athletes’ performance. In this study, we compared the effect of three kinds of foods with different glycemic indices on blood glucose (BG) and serum free fatty acids (FFA) in cycling, male athletes.Material and Methods: In this clinical trial, 21 members of national cycling team randomly allocated to three equal groups of glucose (low glycemic index), lentil (low glycemic index) and potato (high glycemic index). First, Fasting blood samples (5ml) were obtained to measure BG and FFA. Then the subjects were asked to eat their foods. After 45 mins of rest, they pedaled with maximal oxygen consumption VO2max) for two hours and again their blood samples were taken to compare with the levels of before interventions.Results: Glucose consumption resulted in a significant decrease in FFA level after 2 hours of pedaling (P=0.01) but no significant change in BG level. Plasma glucose was higher after eating lentil than that of potato (P<0.05), but it was not true for FFA level of both groups.Conclusion: based on the results, the pre-exercise use of low glycemic index (lentil) compared to high glycemic index (potato) can better lead to increased blood glucose during exercise.

Background and Objective: Magnetic nanobeads have a large surface- area-to-volume ratio, which is used for immobilized antibody. Using nanoparticles could increase the amount of antibodies in surface in comparison to ELISA. We investigated the ability of magnetic nanobeads to evaluate CRP by colorimetric method and compared the results with ELISA.Material and Methods: This study is an applicable research conducted in Tehran University of Medical Sciences, 2012. The Magnetic nanobeads conjugated by CRP antibodies were used to measure the protein in the concentration of 1-10 ng/ml (ELISA kit levels) and 0.1- 0.01 ng/ml. After antigen measurement, the results were compared with Mann Whitney test.Results: The results in concentration of 1-10 ng/ml are not significantly different (p=0.78). But In concentrations of 0.1-0.01 ng/ml, the difference is significant (p=0.02).Conclusion: The ability of Magnetic nanobeads in measurement of low concentration of antigen is 100 times better than ELISA. Thus Magnetic nanobead method is useful for early measurement and can easily be used in clinical laboratory.

Background and objective: There is increasing evidence for the role of oxidative stress in female reproductive tract. The purpose of this study was to determine the activity of antioxidant enzymes during menstrual cycle. In addition, the relationship between activity of antioxidant enzyme and sex hormones was evaluated.Materials and methods: In this study the activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase and total antioxidant capacity during the menses, follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in twenty women with regular menstrual cycle were studied. Furthermore, the correlation between activity of antioxidant enzymes and estradiol, progesterone, LH, FSH and testosterone were evaluated.Results: There was no significant difference between activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, catalase and total antioxidant capacity during the menses, follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle (P>0.05). We found significant correlation, in luteal phase, between superoxide dismutase and FSH (P<0.05, r=0.44) and LH P<0.05, r=0.54). Also it is observed between LH and glutathione peroxidase (P<0.05, r=0.44).Conclusion: Based on the results, there is no significant difference between antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidant capacity of plasma during menstrual cycle. In other words, physiologic system of women with regular menstrual cycle can protect body against oxidative stress and this is probably performed due to action of FSH and LH hormones.

Background and Objective: Identification of malignant cells and the type of malignancy in Effusionsis very important. The main aim of this study was to differentiate between reactive mesothelial cells and malignant cells; and to determine the type of the tumor cells in effusions with the aid of tumor markers Creatine Kinase (CK), EMA and CEA.Material and Methods: Forty serous fluid cytology samples delivered to pathology laboratory of Panje- Azar Hospital (15 were malignant and 25 were suspected for malignancy) were stained by immunocytochemistry technique with the aid of aforementioned tumor markers, CK, EMA and CEA.Results: Of 15 malignancy cases, 13 were positive for three markers and the rest were negative just for CEA. In 25 of suspected to malignancy for EMA: 15 were strongly and 6 weakly positive and 4 were negative; for CK: 10 were strongly and 5 weakly positive and 5 cases were negative; and for CEA: 5 were strongly and 5 weakly positive and 15 were negative.Conclusion: Totally, % 87.5 of malignant fluid were positive for CK marker and %90 for EMA marker. EMA and CK were found to be the most reliable epithelial markers and very useful in differentiating carcinoma cells from reactive mesithelial cells. In Ten (40%) of the samples suspected to adenocarcinoma, CEA was positive and this indicate that CEA can be an important reference for identifying malignant effusions.

Background and Objective: Microsporidia is an obligatory intracellular parasite known as an opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. Its laboratory diagnosis is relatively difficult and modified trichrome staining is a standard diagnostic method for detection of Microsporidia. The aim of present study was to identify intestinal Microsporidia in kidney- transplanted patients, using modified Trichrome Staining and Calcofluor White Methods.Material and Methods: In 2012, 180 stool specimens were taken from kidney transplanted- patients given immunosuppressive drugs in Hamadan, Iran. To identify Microsporidia we use modified Trichrome Staining and Calcofluor White Methods.Results: The mean duration of kidney transplant and immunosuppressive drug using was 5.5 Years. Only one female patient was positive for Microsporidia.Conclusions: Owing to low frequency of this opportunistic infection among kidney transplanted patients, we can conclude that their hygienic conditions are good enough and they are not exposed with the parasites.

Background and Objective: the rate of Superficial mycoses are increasing in special conditions. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the epidemiological parameters of Pityriasis versicolor and Erythrasma during 1994-2011.Material and Methods: In this study, we assessed the results of direct microscopic study and the other data of the patients for Pityriasis versicolor and Erythrasma in 1994- 2011.Results: Of 2265, 1294 (57%) suffered from pityriasis versicolor, who were mostly males (60%). The highest frequency was related to 20-29 year old and the lowest to 0-9. High school and university students were the most infected groups (33%), September was the most common period and the most common site of involvement was chest and abdomen. The people infected with Erythrasma (971; 42%), were mostly 30 -39 year old, males (58%), urban (98%), reported in July and involved in groin.Conclusion: The frequency of both diseases was high in active age group, males, and the hot months of the year, which are the most common predisposing factors.

Background and Objective: Laboratory personnel have always accidental exposure to clinical samples, which can cause the transmission of infection. This threat can be prevented and controlled by education for the use of safety instruments. The purpose was to determine the frequency of accidental exposure to laboratory samples among Yazd laboratory personnel in 2011.Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 of Yazd clinical laboratory personnel. The data was collected, using a valid and reliable questioner, via interview and analyzed by means of SPSS software.Results: Eighty-six percent of the subjects reported an experience of accidental exposure to clinical samples, such as blood, serum and urine. The causes were carelessness (41%) and work overload (29%). Needle- stick was the most prevalent injury (52%) particularly in sampler workers (51%) and in their hands (69%). There wasn’t significant relationship between accidental exposure to laboratory samples and the variables such as private and governmental laboratories (p=0.517), kind of employment (p=0.411), record of services (p=0.439) and academic degree (p=0.454). The subjects aged 20-29 (p=0.034) and worked in sampling unit had the highest accidental exposure.Conclusion: Based on the results, inexperience of the personnel especially in sampling room, overload at work and ignorance of applying safety instruments are known as the most important reasons for accidental exposure to clinical samples.

Background and Objective: Acanthamoeba species are free-living protozoa that can be isolated from all environments. They can bring about different diseases in healthy individuals and immune suppressed patients, for example, Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE), Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK), Cutaneous and Nasopharyngeal infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Acanthamoeba prevalence in rural water sources of Markazi province.Material and Methods: In this cross sectional study, 54 water samples were collected from 36 villages of Markus province. First, the Samples were filtered by filter paper (watchman 42). Next, the filtered paper were placed in page saline solution and centrifuged. Then, the obtained sediment was cultured on non-nutrient agar (NNA) plates overlaid with heat-killed Escherichia coli. After that, the provided smear (after 4 - 7 days) stained with Geimsa.Results: The samples were positive (33; 61.11%) and negative (21; 38.89%) for Acanthamoeba cyst. The best result for isolation of Acanthamoeba cysts was obtained after shaking of filter paper.Conclusion: A high percentage of rural water sources have been contaminated with Acanthamoeba, which can be the major factor in causing human infections. Therefore, some effective methods are required to prevent from water sources contamination.

Background and Objective: Parasitic diseases are the most important infectious disorders and one of the main public health problems esp. in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of parasitic infections in the patients referring to Baqiyatallah hospital.Material and Methods: In this descriptive study, in one year, for all patients (n=9846) referring to Parasitology laboratory of Baqiyatallah hospital Parasitology investigations were carried out to detect intestinal parasites.Results: Of 9846 cases referring to the Parasitology laboratory, 398 were infected by parasites. The highest prevalence was related to Blastocystis hominis (72.8%) and the next to Giardia (10.8%). Among Helminth infections, Enterobius vermicularis (1%), Hymenolepis nana (0.25%), Strongiloides stercolaris (0.25%), Taenia saginata (0.25%) were reported.Conclusion: The highest prevalence was related to intestinal protozoa and in spite of relative improvement of health services, intestinal parasitic infection is still one of the health problems in our country.

Background and Objective: Proficiency testing schemes as a part of quality system in clinical and research laboratory centers provides the opportunity to evaluate the quality of test results. In this paper, we try to introduce the proficiency testing schemes as a useful method for achieving standardization and homogenization of test results in clinical and research laboratory centers.

Background and Objective: The patients with Post-Infectious Irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS), a subtype of irritable bowel syndrome, suffer from bacterial gastroenteritis. Since campylobacter Jejuni (CJ) is one of the most common agents in this syndrome, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Campylobacter Jejuni in patients with Irritable Bowel Disease.Material and Methods: This case - control study was conducted on 160 patients divided into 2 equal groups of healthy and unhealthy. The presence of Anti- CJ antibody (IgG and IgA) was evaluated by ELISA and the comparison was performed by chi-square test.Results: The mean age of case (31.51) and control (31.84) was not statistically different (P=0.87). Titer of Anti- Campylobacter Jejuni antibody IgG was positive in 25% of patients and 18.8% of the healthy ones (p=0.02). IgA Seropositivity in patients was 7.5% but no one in control group was positive (p=0.01) Conclusion: Seroprevalence of Cj in patients with IBS was higher significantly than that of control group. Thus, Cj can be known as one of the causes of Post-infection in patients with IBS in our region and it should be paid more attention in diagnostic assessment of these patients.