MEDICAL LABORATORY JOURNAL
Year:2019 | Volume:13 | Issue:6|Papers Count:8

Background and Objective: Strongyloides infection is usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals; however, immunocompromised patients are subject to potential hyperinfection involvement. Hereby, we report disseminated and hyperinfection strongyloidiasis in two immunosuppressed patients from north of Iran, an endemic region for Strongyloides stercoralis. Case description: After assessment of clinical symptoms, disseminated strongyloidiasis was identified in the first case with pemphigus vulgaris by the presence of abundant larvae in direct stool smears and gastric biopsy. The second patient had metastatic carcinoma and was hospitalized with complicated symptoms. The infection was diagnosed by detection of numerous first-stage larvae in wet mount stool smears and agar plate analysis. Despite antiparasitic treatment, both patients died during the hospitalization. Conclusion: Delayed diagnosis of active strongyloidiasis in immunosuppressed patients can lead to hyperinfection syndrome. Thus, screening for S. stercoralis infection in these patients is recommended in endemic regions to reduce mortalities.

Background and Objectives: Candida albicans is one of the most common fungal pathogens in biofilms that is widely seen in medical surfaces and medical devices, and in recent years has shown increased resistance to antifungal agents. In this experimental study, we aimed to study the Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (Fe3O4 nanoparticles or SPION), as a nanotechnology, on biofilm formation of C. albicans. Methods: In order to evaluate the effects of SPION on C. albicans, the SPION were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method. The formation of nanoparticles confirmed by FTIR and Xray diffraction. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) of SPION were determined. Then effects of these nanoparticles on biofilms formation of C. albicans yeast were investigated by using of ELISA micro-titer plate method. Data were analysed by using variance analysis, Minitab and SPSS soft-wares (P < 0. 05). Results: The X-ray diffraction indicated that the SPION have a mean diameter about 70 nm. MIC and MFC of SPION on C. albicans were recorded 100 and 200 ppm in which biofilm formation reduced 87. 2 and 100 percent, respectively. Nanoparticles had significant effect on reduction and inhibition of growth & biofilm formation by C. albicans yeast. Conclusion: In light of the findings of this study, it seems that iron metal oxide nanoparticles may be a good candidate of a novel family of fungicidal compounds, but for human usage, it needs further research.

Background and Objective: The purpose of this research was to determine the interaction effect of vitamin D during a course of endurance training on anthropometrical parameters in Wistar Rat following the consumption of a high-fat diet. Material and method: this research was an experimental study. Thirty-eight Wistar Rat with the mean age 5-6 weeks was assigned into 5 groups. (1: control with normal diet(n=5), 2: control with high fat diet (HFD) (n=5), 3: HFD and vitamin D (n=10), 4: HFD and endurance training (n=10), 5: HFD-endurance training and vitamin D (n=10). These rats were put on 13 weeks of %40 HFD followed by 12 weeks of exercise plus vitamin D. Results: The results indicated that there were significant differences between groups 1 and 2 in weight, BMI, Lee index and energy efficiency and between group 4 and group 2 (p<0. 05). In addition, there were significant differences between groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1 in BMI and between Lee index of groups 2, 3, and 4 compared to group control (p<0. 05). There were also significant differences between the feed efficiency and energy efficiency between the group 2, 3, 4, and 5 compared to group 1 and there were significant differences between the group 4 and 5 compared to group 3 in Lee index and Energy Efficiency (p<0. 05). Conclusion: the result of the present research indicated that participation in endurance training and taking vitamin D alone significantly decreased were observed in some anthropometric indices.

Spectral karyotyping is a novel method for the simultaneous visualization of the entire chromosomes of an organism by painting the chromosomes using a combination of fluorochromes. This allows improved identification of chromosomal aberrations that cannot be identified by conventional banding methods. Since introduction of cancer as a disease of the genome, researchers have employed various molecular techniques for a better understanding of malignancies. This review discusses the role and contributions of spectral karyotyping in the study and characterization of both solid and hematological malignancies.

Background and Objectives: Reduced insulin secretion in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) results in accumulation of fat in the liver and elevation of liver enzymes. Destruction of hepatocytes due to non-alcoholic fatty liver is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate association of liver transaminases with lipid profile in patients with T2DM and healthy subjects. Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 500 subjects with T2DM (250 men and 250 women) and 500 non-diabetic counterparts. Diagnosis of T2DM was confirmed based on the World Health Organization criteria. Fasting blood samples (5 ml) were obtained from all subjects in the morning and serum was extracted for assessment of biochemical parameters. Data were analyzed with SPSS (version 20) and using the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, TC/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio and atherogenic index of plasma were significantly higher in subjects with T2DM compared to non-diabetic individuals (P<0. 005). Of lipid profile parameters, only risk ratio (TC/ HDL-C) was positively correlated with ALT (P=0. 037), and no significant correlation was observed for other variables. Conclusion: Individuals with T2DM have higher lipid profile, atherogenic index of plasma and liver enzymes compared to healthy individuals. Furthermore, TC/HDL-C is significantly correlated with serum level of alanine aminotransferase.

Background and Objectives: Exogenous lung surfactant (ELS) obtained from extraction of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, is prescribed in some respiratory disorders, which could affect production of lung-related cytokines. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a major cytokine that could affect severity of lung diseases. In this study, we investigate the possible impact of ELS on IL-8 expression, hematological parameters and IgG and IgM levels in rabbits. Methods: ELS solution obtained from fresh calf’ s lung bronchoalveolar lavage was infused into the lungs of five rabbits via tracheal tube. Blood samples were collected before and after ELS treatment for 30 days. Results: Serum IL-8 levels decreased over time following ELS administration. IL-8 expression also decreased after exposure to ELS, but leukocytes count increased significantly 24, 48 and 72 hours after ELS therapy compared to baseline values (P<0. 05). IgM level increased significantly 72 hours after the ELS therapy and returned to normal range at the end of study. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that ELS could down-regulate IL-8 expression in mononuclear cells while increasing leukocytes population and total immunoglobulins level, which can trigger immune responses without lung damage. However, further studies should be performed to confirm the regulatory effects of ELS on inflammatory responses in lung diseases.

Background and Objectives: Cerebral ischemia causes irreversible structural and functional damage in certain areas of the brain, especially in the hippocampus. The aim of this study was to examine effects of exercise preconditioning on neuronal cell death and expression of neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) and tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) in the hippocampal CA1 region following transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rat. Methods: Twenty-one male Wistar rats (weighing 250-300 g) were randomly divided into three groups (control+healthy, control+ischemia and exercise+ischemia). The rats in the exercise group ran on a treadmill five sessions a week for eight weeks. Ischemia was induced by occlusion of both common carotid arteries for 45 minutes. Cresyl violet staining was performed to assess cell death, and real-time PCR was carried out to evaluate expression of NT-4 and TrkB. Results: Cerebral ischemia was associated with significant neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 region (P<0. 05). Exercise significantly decreased the ischemia-induced cell death (P<0. 05). NT-4 expression was significantly lower in the control+ischemia group and in the exercise+ischemia group compared to the control+healthy group (P<0. 05), but there was no significant difference between the control+ischemia group and the exercise+ischemia group in terms of NT-4 expression (P˃ 0. 05). Moreover, TrkB expression did not differ significantly between the groups (P˃ 0. 05). Conclusion: When used as a preconditioning stimulant before the induction of cerebral ischemia, exercise could have neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemiainduced cell death, but it has no significant effect on NT-4 and TrkB expression.

Background and Objectives: T helper (Th) lymphocytes play a key role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. As a new subset of lymphocytes, Th9 is thought to be involved in a wide range of disorders including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we evaluated frequency of Th9 and Th2 cells and its correlation with disease activity in patients with different stages of RA. Methods: The frequency of circulating interleukin 9-and/or interleukin 4-producing CD3+CD8-T cells was determined among 41 patients with established RA, 14 patients with very early RA (VERA) and 23 healthy controls by flow cytometry analysis. Then, correlation of cell frequencies with disease activity score 28 (DAS-28) was assessed. Serum levels of interleukin 6 and anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies were measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Results: Frequency of Th9 cells was significantly higher in RA patients compared to healthy controls (P=0. 009). Moreover, mean percentage of circulating Th9 cells in patients with inactive VERA was significantly higher than that in those with active disease (P=0. 046). In addition, mean percentage of Th9 cells had a negative correlation with the DAS-28 (r=-0. 568, P<0. 05). There was no significant correlation between the mean serum level of interleukin 6 and percentage of Th2 and Th9 cells (P>0. 05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that Th9 cells may have a potential role in RA initiation. Thus, targeting Th9 cells could be a promising strategy for advanced RA therapies.