Iranian South Medical Journal
Year:2018 | Volume:21 | Issue:4 |Papers Count:10

Background: Resveratrol (RSV), one of the most effective natural polyphenolic compounds synthesized by plants, has antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-insulin-resistance properties. Some studies suggest that the mechanism of action of RSV is mainly mediated by the deacetylase Sirt1. However, other studies have shown that RSV plays its role through other metabolic routes such as its stimulatory effect on the secretion of adiponectin. Adiponectin is a hormone that plays an important role in the regulation of insulin sensitivity and energy homeostasis. In addition, RSV can control obesity by preventing the development of central leptin resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of RSV on blood concentration of adiponectin and leptin in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial recruited 51 patients with type II diabetes from a previous study. Patients’ demographics and medical history were recorded in an interview. The intervention group received 500 mg RSV capsules twice a day for 45 days while the control group received identical placebo capsules. Blood pressure, weight, BMI, lipid profile, blood levels of adiponectin, leptin and liver function tests were measured at baseline. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t-test in SPSS 18. Results: There were no differences in the concentration of adiponectin and leptin between the two groups. However, Mann-Whitney test revealed a difference in the concentration of leptin between intervention and control groups (p= 0. 025). That is, the blood level of leptin was significantly more in the intervention group. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that supplementation of 1 g per day of RSV for 45 days has no effect on the blood level of adiponectin and leptin in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: The Shiga cytotoxin (Stx) is involved in serious human intestinal diseases. Recently stx has been found in non-S dysenteriae1 Shigella species. This study aimed to identify stx gene in clinical strains of Shigella isolated from two shigellosis outbreaks in previous years in Bushehr, southwest of Iran. Materials and Methods: Purified DNA of 143 Shigella isolates was used for PCR to detect stx and ipaH genes. The number of PCR products in various Shigella species isolates was sequenced with the same primers (evt) used to amplify this region. Results: Fourteen (22. 3%) out of 63 shigella isolates related to previous shigellosis outbreaks during 2002-2004 contained the PCR positive result with evt primers. The sequencing results indicated that the evt PCR product had the most identity (97%) with Shigella dysentery shiga toxin subunit A. All clinical shigella strains isolated during 2013-2015 yielded PCR negative results with primers stx and evt. PCR results revealed that ipaH was present in all isolates. According to biochemical and species-specific antiserum tests, the stx gene harboring isolates included 9 (14. 3%) S. flexneri, 4 (6. 4%) S. sonnei, and 1(1. 6%) S. boydii. Conclusion: The stx gene has already been distributed in different Shigella species of Bushehr region. However, the absence of this gene in the clinical isolates of recent shigellosis outbreaks may be temporary. Because stx gene increases the pathogenic potential of Shigella, it is necessary to monitor the prevalence of the stx harboring Shigella species by molecular methods in the future.

Background: Cuttlebone is composed mostly of CaCO3 and chitin, and can be used as a natural source of CaCO3 nanoparticle production. Materials and Methods: In this study, ball milling and dispersion of initial powder in a surfactant, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) aqueous solution were used to produce CaCO3 nanoparticles from cuttlebone (Sepia pharaonis) of the Persian Gulf. Then, the results of the two methods were compared. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) were used to characterize particles. Results: The results showed that two hours grinding of the initial powder produced nanoparticles of 44 nm diameter. Moreover, increasing the grinding time had a direct effect on reducing the size of the nanoparticles. The obtained results from dispersion of initial powder in surfactant aqueous solution indicated the great result of nanoparticles of 40 nm diameter. Conclusion: The capability of cuttlebone powder (Sepia pharaonis) of the Persian Gulf to produce nanoparticles in a process characterized with low energy consumption and low processing time suggests that it may be used at industrial scale for the synthesis of biocompatible nanoparticles.

Background: Distortion product otoacoustic emissions evaluate the function of outer hair cells in the cochlea. The present study aimed to compare distortion product otoacoustic emissions between normal hearing adult human and rat to better understand their differences. Materials and Methods: In this study, signal to noise ratio of distortion product otoacoustic emissions was evaluated and the results of normal hearing persons (n=60) and rats (n=30) were evaluated in similar conditions at of 2, 3, 4, and 5 KHz. Results: The difference between the two groups was significant in most frequencies except 3 KHz. In rats, a higher signal to noise ratio was observed at 4 and 5 KHz and a lower ratio at 2 KHz. There was no significant difference among different frequencies in human samples. Conclusion: Significant differences in distortion product otoacoustic emissions in the two groups may demonstrate the different mechanisms for cochlear function in human and rat. This result may indicate the need for extra cautions in using rats as an animal model.

Background: Multiple myeloma is a type of plasma cell carcinoma, whose development depends on the interaction between malignant plasma cells and the microenvironment that is regulated by the receptors. Although the initial adhesion of the cells, resistance to apoptosis, and increased secretion of cytokines and growth factors contribute to the survival, growth and proliferation of myeloma cells, maintaining lung cells in the laboratory is not easy and faces certain challenges. Since conducting research on myeloma requires optimizing and maintaining their culture conditions in vitro, it appears that amniotic fluid can promote the culture of these cells in vitro. Materials and Methods: Myeloma cells were isolated from six patients by MACS technique. Cells were cultured in media containing RPMI with 10% FBS (active and inactive) and 10%, 25%, 50% amniotic fluid (active and passive) for 2 weeks. Cell survival was measured every other day using trypan blue staining during these two weeks. Next, the expression of proliferation genes (BCL-2), implantation genes (CXCR4) and cell cycle stop genes (P21, P27) were studied using qualitative PCR technique. Results: The results showed that the medium containing 25% passive amniotic fluid and 10% inactive FBS significantly increased the proliferation of myeloma cells, and on day zero (on the day of isolation) all of these genes were expressed. Furthermore, on the fourth day of cultivation, in all groups, BCL-2 and CXCR4 genes were expressed, while P21 and P27 genes were not. This difference could indicate the effect of amniotic fluid on the growth and proliferation of the myeloma cells. Conclusion: According to the results, the use of a medium containing 25% inactive amniotic fluid plus a base medium that contains active RPMI and FBS 10% is recommended for the culture of myeloma cells.

Background: The growing trend of aging population and age-related diseases, such as dementia, stresses the importance of addressing caregiving. One of the notable issues in this area is the positive appraisal of caregivers of their cares, therefore, the present study aimed to explain the positive experiences of family caregivers of older adults with dementia in Iran. Materials and methods: This qualitative study used conventional content analysis approach. Twelve family caregivers of older adults with dementia were selected through purposeful sampling from among those attending Memory Clinic of Yadman and Alzheimer's Association of Iran in Tehran. and participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed simultaneously with data collection. Results: Data analysis led to the emergence of three main categories of satisfaction with care, personal growth and caregiving gains along with nine subcategories, which show the positive appraisal of caregivers of their caregiving. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, although the results of our study are somewhat similar to those of the western studies, the appraisal of family caregivers of their care has unique dimensions specific to Iranian culture. These positive appraisals can be used to design specific interventions to reduce the negative outcomes of caregiving.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by two species of Leishmania major and L. tropica in Iran. The disease has been known and treated in Iran by many of the most prominent Iranian physicians including Avicenna and Rhazess over the past centuries. In Qajar era, following the introduction of modern medical knowledge, and major changes in our understanding of diseases, the diagnostic and treatment methods were changed. The first new reports on this disease were provided by European physicians living in Iran. During the 1940s, some prominent Iranian researchers began to study the epidemiology, treatment and laboratory specification of the disease in different parts of the country. Due to the outbreak of the disease during the Iraq-Iran war in a dense human population (soldiers), health authorities had to try different ways to control the disease. Most importantly, soldiers were injected with live parasite vaccine. However, this procedure did not continue after the war, and immunization with inactivated vaccine replaced it and passed different phases of clinical trials. Finally, these studies were published as scientific papers. The present paper summarizes the history and control of leishmaniasis in Iran.