International Journal of Health Studies
Year:2016 | Volume:2 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background: One of the new methods for elimination or destruction of estrogen hormones is ultrasound irradiation. The aim of this study was to determine the main mechanism of steroid hormones removal by ultrasound. Methods: In this study, estrogen (E1) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) were irradiated with ultrasound at different frequencies, powers, and exposure times in two cases: with and without butyl alcohol in a batch-mode cylindrical reactor made of Plexiglas in the amount of one liter. Residual concentrations of hormones were measured by solid phase extraction and gas chromatography-mass chromatography (GC-MS). Results: The result showed that ultrasound has high ability to remove hormones E1 and E2 (between 56. 3% and 79. 2%). Also, after adding butyl alcohol which is a free radical scavenger, the removal efficiency of ultrasound in both hormones was greatly reduced but didn’ t reach to zero, so the main mechanism of hormones removal was hydroxyl free radical production. Conclusions: Due to the high efficiency of ultrasound for the removal as well as defects in other removal methods, more studies about optimization of the effective parameters on it, and technical and economical comparison with other removal methods are needed.

Background: Resistance to anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs is a global problem. Previous studies showed that the prevalence of primary MDR-TB is higher and has been increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine the primary drug resistance in strains isolated from patients with smear-positive of the new cases to anti-TB drugs. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 266 smear positive pulmonary TB Iranian patients were enrolled during the April 2011 and March 2012. Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) of M. tuberculosis isolates to the first-line drugs, isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, and streptomycin, were performed by the proportion method using conventional Lowenstein-Jensen (L-J) medium. Results: The average age was 48. 4± 21. 3 years, and 56. 5 percent were male. In this study, out of 266 pulmonary TB suspects studied, susceptibility testing was performed for 189 isolates. Resistance to at least one drug was present in 11. 1% (21/189) of cases. Resistance among newly diagnosed patients was most common for streptomycin, and MDR prevalence rates (resistant to ISONIAZID and RIFAMPIN) among these patients were 2. 1%. Conclusions: Our finding suggests that the incidence of MDR tuberculosis in high TB burden settings stresses the need for drug susceptibility testing to be done for every patient who is culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Background: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCS) can be obtained from autologous cells for therapeutic purposes. So, far, many studies have been done to produce induced pluripotent cells by transferring specific pluripotency genes using different methods. In this study, pluripotency gene expression induced by external stresses was assessed in cord blood mononuclear cells. Methods: In this experimental study, mononuclear cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood. Isolated cells were divided into three groups. The first group had been exposed to HCL (pH 5. 7) for 25 minutes and then transferred to the medium with normal pH. The second group was triturated with hamilton syringe for 15 min (external pressure), and the last group was considered the control group and did not receive treatment. Then, total RNA was extracted on Day 7. Gene expression of OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, REX1, and KLF4 was evaluated using qRT-PCR. Results: Gene expression of OCT4, NANOG, REX1, and KLF4 was increased after exposure to acidic pH and external pressures in comparison with control cells (P < 0. 05). SOX2 gene expression was decreased in cells exposed to acidic pH but increased by external pressure. Conclusions: Exposure of umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells to acidic pH and external pressure lead to re-activation of pluripotency genes in mature cells. These findings indicate that mature cells may be reprogrammed with manipulation of environmental conditions.

Secular Trend of Birth Height and Weight in a Population of Iranian Neonates during 1991 and 2011

Background: In Iran, despite various attempts to increase recruitment of female blood donors, women include less than 10% of the blood donors. Methods: The purpose of the study was to evaluate impact of face to face education via Train-the-Trainer (TTT) model on people’ s willingness to donate blood specially women. A field trial study was designed based on face to face educational plan for population in 22 municipally regions of Tehran (capital of Iran). The time of Study in trial 1 was between February 2010 and March 2010 and in Trial 2 was between February 2010 and March 2011. Results: Total number of volunteers in trial 2 was 9178 cases including 2785 females and 6393 males compared with 4074 cases including 454 females and 3620 males in trial 1. Female/male ratio in trials 1 and 2 were 0. 13 and 0. 44, respectively, (p< 0. 001). Of the 4074 donors, 24% (981/4074) in trial one and of the 9178 donors, 29% (2693/9178) in trial two were deferred, p<0. 001. The most common cause of deferral donors in trial 1 and 2 were secondary erythrocytosis, 20% (197/982) and anemia, 21. 5% (581/2693), respectively. Conclusions: Overall, the face to face education is an appropriate method for safe blood donor motivation and recruitment.

Background: Today, through various industrial processes, toxic heavy metals are released into aquatic environments that are harmful to the ecosystem. In the present investigation, removal of such contaminants from industrial wastewater is necessary. The purpose was made to extend an ecofriendly technology by using a bio carbon generated from sunflower waste biomass. Methods: The impact of initial pH of solution (2– 10), initial heavy metal concentration, and bio carbon dose on the adsorption processes was studied. The residual concentration of samples, Cr(III), Cd(II) and Pb(II) after adding adsorbent and then filteration was determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: The equilibrium data were found to be well described by the Langmuire model. The Langmuire isotherm feasibility was checked with the dimensionless separation factor (RL). Conclusions: The introduction of a new adsorbent represents a great challenge for both academia and industry, and among all of the methods for removal contamination, we choose adsorption processes. Overall, the work demonstrates the possible use of sunflower waste biomass, as an effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metals from wastewater.

Background: Angiogenesis is an important process in various physiologic and pathologic states. The most significant stimulator of angiogenesis is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). In contrast, vasohibin1 acts as an angiogenesis inhibitor which specifically inhibits new vessels formation. The aim of the present study was cloning and expression of vasohibin1 gene in E. coli as well as purification of recombinant vasohibin1 protein. Methods: Total RNA was extracted from human umbilical vein endothelial cells and cDNA was synthesized by RT-PCR. cDNA was amplified using a specific designed primer set. The PCR product was evaluated by electrophoresis and then cloned in pET28a expression vector which transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) as a host. IPTG is used as an expression inducer in media. Alternatively, PCR products were analyzed by sequencing and double digestion with EcoRI and HindIII restriction endonuclease. The expressed protein was purified by Ni-NTA column and confirmed by SDS Page and western blotting. Evaluation of gene inhibition was carried out through western blottting and RT-PCR. Results: No mutation or sequence variants were found in PCR products as a result of sequencing analysis. Moreover, the quantity and quality of expressed recombinant protein in the presence of IPTG with selected vector in E. coli was high. VASH1 significantly prevented the receptor expression. The quality and level of expressed protein in pET28 expression vector indicated the efficacy of the applied system in vasohibin1 production. Conclusions: The produced vasohibin1 protein probably can be used as an angiogenesis inhibitor in further studies on retinopathies.

Background: Renal ischemia reperfusion (IR), one of the most important causative mechanisms of acute kidney injury, is a major clinical problem that occurs in some hospitalized patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of hydroxytyrosol (HT) on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury in mice. Methods: Male mice were randomly assigned to three groups (N = 9): (1) sham operated, (2) renal IR (45 min ischemia followed by 24 h reperfusion), or (3) renal IR+HT (5 mg/kg orally for 7 days before renal IR and one hour before IR). Animals were sacrificed and the blood and kidney tissue samples were collected for glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) evaluation. Results: Renal IR injury led to decreases in renal tissue GSH and increases in MDA levels compared to sham operated. Hydroxytyrosol partially inhibited the IR-induced decrease in GSH activity. In addition, in the renal IR+HT group, MDA was increased compared to the renal IR group. Conclusions: These findings suggest that HT diminished oxidative stress in renal tissue after renal IR.