Research in Molecular Medicine
Year:2023 | Volume:11 | Issue:2|Papers Count:7

Background: The antimicrobial characteristics of biological products are fundamental in medicine due to their ability to treat microbial infections. This research aimed to assess and compare the antimicrobial properties of various platelet concentrates, including platelet-rich plasma (PRP), plateletrich fibrin (PRF), plasma-rich in growth factor (PRGF), and conditioned medium (CM) derived from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) obtained from rats. Methods: This experimental study obtained blood-derived products from 50 healthy Wistar rats. After obtaining 5 mL blood sample from each rat via cardiac puncture, it was used to prepare PRGF (group 1), PRP (group 2), and PRF (group 3). For the preparation of PRGF, 0. 9% mL of 3. 8% sodium citrate was used for every 8. 1 mL of the blood. The centrifugal speed was 2500 rpm for 8 min. For the preparation of PRP, the centrifugal speed was 1800 rpm for 10 min and then 3600 rpm for 10 min. PRF was obtained with a centrifugation method of 3000 rpm for 10 min immediately after blood collection, and no anticoagulant was used. Furthermore, 2–4 g abdominal adipose tissue from each rat was used to isolate and culture ADSCs. Then, the CM derived from ADSCs was obtained (group 4). Bacterial strains were grown in blood agar medium and were separately treated with these four groups for 24 h at 37 °C. Results: In this study, PRP stopped the growth of the Staphylococcus epidermidis bacterium, with a clear zone of inhibition around the PRP. This blood-derived product also stopped the growth of Escherichia coli, while the PRF prevented the growth of three bacteria: Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. PRGF and CM showed no antibacterial activity against these bacterial strains. Conclusion: PRP and PRF can create antimicrobial conditions in vitro due to their secretion of growth factors like platelet factor 4, fibrinopeptide A, and fibrinopeptide B. They can equally be used as treatment options to ameliorate microbial infections, although preclinical and clinical trials are necessary to understand their characteristics and activities better.

Background: Several studies have recently been conducted on herbal plants due to their growing medicinal usage. Since it is estimated that male partner causes 40% of infertility, we aimed to examine the effects of herbal combinations, including Zayesh Booalidaroo + Safoof-e Hefz + Royal jelly, in increasing male fertility in men with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Methods: A total of 50 OAT men were chosen, confirmed, and diagnosed by a urologist. They were randomly divided into two groups: Herbal and routine therapy (Sperigen supplement). All the parameters in semen analysis, hormonal assay, sperm DNA fragmentation, protamine deficiency, and the concentration of seminal plasma antioxidants, including malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), were assessed in both groups before and after the intervention. Results: According to the obtained data, the herbal group showed improved total sperm and /mL count (P=0. 0001 and P=0. 007, respectively) along with increased progressive and total motility (P=0. 02 and P=0. 043, respectively), while routine therapy did not change any of sperm parameters significantly (P>0. 05). Also, in hormonal assessment, there were no significant changes after interventions except in the herbal therapy group, where patients showed an elevated testosterone hormone level (P=0. 00). Furthermore, the seminal concentration of all assessed antioxidant enzymes significantly increased in both groups (P≤0. 05). Conclusion: The antioxidant properties of herbal composition ingredients and their ability to improve the level of testosterone hormone are the main factors responsible for lessening the percentage of sperm DNA fragmentation and sperm parameters. So, this herbal therapy can be regarded as a practical option in improving semen quality.

Background: Given the increasing resistance of Aspergillus spp. to azoles, finding effective new compounds, such as the spirocyclopropane oxindoles (4a-4b-4c) derivatives, seems necessary. The present study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of spirocyclopropane oxindoles (4a-4b-4c) derivatives against Aspergillus spp. Methods: In vitro, the cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated against MCF-7 cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. In the next step, the antifungal susceptibility of 50 Aspergillus isolates of clinical origin to spirocyclopropane oxindoles (4a-4b-4c) derivatives and itraconazole was evaluated according to CLSI (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute) M38A2 guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 20, and the significance level was considered P<0. 05. Results: The results revealed that 4c exhibited the lowest toxicity to MCF-7 cells among the three synthesized compounds. However, this level of toxicity was higher than control. The present study shows a significant difference between the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4a-4b-4c oxindole derivatives of spirocyclopropane and itraconazole against Aspergillus spp. Comparing the MIC values of 4a, 4b, and 4c oxindole spirocyclopropane derivatives with each other, 4b derivatives have lower MIC values for Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus isolates. In addition, 4c derivatives had the highest MIC for Aspergillus terreus. Conclusion: Although the antifungal effects of spirocyclopropane oxindoles (4a-4b-4c) on Aspergillus spp. were significantly lower than itraconazole, we hope to increase the antifungal effects of these compounds with structural changes.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of 8 weeks of aerobic exercise combined with vitamin D supplementation on nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in patients with hypertension. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 40 eligible men and women with hypertension were randomly divided into four groups: supplement, placebo + exercise, supplement + exercise, and control. The training program included eight weeks of aerobic exercise running on a treadmill for 8 weeks, 3 sessions per week. The supplementation program included the intake of vitamin D supplements (2000 IU) daily in a double-blind manner. The placebo program was the intake of a capsule containing maltodextrin. Blood sampling was taken to evaluate biochemical variables 48 hours before and after the intervention in a fasting state. Results: After 8 weeks of aerobic exercise plus vitamin D supplementation, there was no significant effect on body mass index, NO, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, vitamin D level, and weight (P>0. 05). However, the ET-1 level and systolic blood pressure were changed significantly in the supplement, supplement + exercise, and exercise + placebo groups compared to the control group (P<0. 05). Conclusion: Eight weeks of vitamin D supplementation combined with aerobic exercise can reduce ET-1 level and improves systolic blood pressure in people with hypertension.

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is associated with problems in women’s life and hormonal disorders. This research aims to investigate the effect of resistance training and melatonin supplementation on luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and prostaglandin F2α (PGF2a) in females with primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with a pre-test/post-test design. Sixty girls with primary dysmenorrhea recruited from a women’s sports club in Mashhad, Iran, were randomly divided into four groups: Training+melatonin, training+placebo, melatonin, and control group. For supplementation, 10 mg of melatonin was taken daily using two 5 mg capsules, and the placebo was 10 mg of carbohydrates using two 5 mg capsules. Resistance training consisted of 50-60 minutes of weight training daily, three days a week, for eight weeks. Collected data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, followed by a post hoc test. Results: The results showed a significant increase of FSH and LH levels in the training+melatonin group compared to other groups and in the training+placebo and melatonin groups compared to the control group. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in PGF2a in the melatonin group compared to other groups and in the training+placebo and training+melatonin groups compared to the control group. Conclusion: The resistance training protocol used in this study is effective for women with primary dysmenorrhea. Melatonin, by affecting gonadotropin hormones as well as prostaglandin, overcomes the hormonal disorders caused by dysmenorrhea and can eliminate its symptoms.

Background: Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by bronchospasm, airway inflammation. The occurrence of microbial infections is related to the severity of asthma symptoms,thus, their development can be prevented by controlling microbial agents. This study aims to determine the relationship of asthma symptoms severity with Haemophilus influenzae type A infection in patient with asthma compared to healthy people. Methods: In this case-control study, sputum samples of 31 patients with asthma (16men and 15 women,mean age=58. 58±14. 13) and 31 healthy individuals (16 men and 15 women,mean age=52. 03±14. 72 years) who referred to a hospital were collected. DNA extraction was done using the kit (Cinnagen Co. ). The prevalence of H. influenzae type A was investigated using the bexA gene primer by real-time PCR method. The collected data were analyzed in Excel and SPSS software, version 20. Results: 24 sputum samples (77. 4%) from patients and 13 samples (41. 9%) from healthy people were positive for H. influenzae type A. The increase in the severity of asthma symptoms, cough and shortness of breath showed that the severity of the infection decreased with the increase in asthma symptoms. Also, in terms of the asthma control test (ACT) score, spirometry indices, fractional exhaled nitric oxide index, and percentages of lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils and eosinophils, there was a significant difference between patients and healthy people (P=0. 0001). Conclusion: Further studies are needed to determine the role of H. influenzae type A in the development of lung diseases, including asthma.

Background: Infertile men have higher levels of sperm reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to fertile men. The high level of free radicals in semen can disrupt sperm function, damage sperm DNA, and reduce male fertility. We investigated the effect of resistance exercise alone or together with ginger and date palm pollen (DPP) supplements, as well as these two supplements alone, on sperm quality in infertile men with oligoasthenotratospermia (OAT). Methods: This randomized, single-blinded trial was conducted on 48 infertile men with OAT. The volunteers were randomly assigned to 6 groups: Exercise (8 people), DPP (8 people), ginger (8 people), DPP+exercise (8 people), ginger+exercise (8 people) and control (placebo) (n=8). Participants in the ginger and ginger+exercise groups were taken two capsules (250 mg ginger) and also in DPP and DPP+exercise, two capsules (DPP 250 mg) daily for two months. Before and after the treatment, semen and blood samples of the participants were collected. Also, the semen was analyzed according to World Health Organization (WHO) reference value. DNA fragmentation and hormonal profile (luteinizing hormone [LH], follicle stimulating hormone [FSH] and testosterone) were determined by TUNEL and ELISA kit. Results: The sperm motility increased significantly in the supplements alone and supplements with exercise groups compared to before the treatment (DPP: P=0. 006,ginger=0. 04,DPP+exercise: P=0. 001,ginger+exercise: P=0. 002). Sperm concentration had a significant increase in the supplement alone and supplements+exercise groups (DPP: P=0. 013,ginger=0. 005,DPP+exercise: P=0. 001,ginger+exercise: P=0. 01), while no significant difference was observed in the normal morphology of sperm. The DNA fragmentation index level in all studied groups, except the control group, showed a significant decrease. Also, a significant increase in the levels of the studied hormones was observed in all groups except the control group (DPP: P=0. 016 ginger=0. 007,DPP+exercise: P=0. 025,ginger+exercise: P=0. 008 and exercise=0. 006). FSH and total testosterone (TT) increased after consuming the DPP or ginger or doing exercise alone or along with supplements. While the increase of LH in all of groups was significant except exercise group and control. Conclusion: Ginger, DPP and exercise have positive effects on the sperm quality of infertile men.