JOURNAL OF ARDABIL UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (JAUMS)
Year:2020 | Volume:20 | Issue:2|Papers Count:12

Background & objectives: Colon cancer is a common disease in the world that causes high mortality in affected people. The lack of appropriate diagnostic and prognostic markers has led to the failure in early diagnosis of colorectal malignancies. MicroRNAs play an important role in controlling the expression of target genes involved in the development and progression of colon cancer. The aim of the present study was the bioinformatics identification of microRNAs with distinct expression in cancerous and non-cancerous colon samples. Methods: This type of study was theoretical bioinformatics and microarray data of 1513 colon cancer samples with the accession number of GSE115513 were obtained from the GEO site and marker genes were selected by using R program. Target genes of the identified microRNAs were provided by TARGETSCAN software and finally, the graphical network was plotted in Cytoscape software. Results: Analysis of microarray data showed that has-miR-663b, has-miR-650, has-miR-17-5p, has-miR-4539 and has-miR-501-3p have biomarker potential in cancer samples. Statistical analysis and investigation of the target genes indicated that miR-663b (ROCAUC=0. 8965, p=0. 001) and has-miR-650 (ROCAUC=0. 9104, p=0. 001) had significant distinct expression between cancerous and non-tumor margins with biomarker potential. Conclusion: The has-miR-663b and has-miR-650 genes can be used as diagnostic markers to distinguish colon cancer from non-cancerous samples.

Before describing the structure and mechanism of action of a protein, it must first be subject to purification procedure. Protein purification is a set of processes in which one or a small number of proteins are purified from a complex compound that may be a complete cell, tissue, or organism. Understanding the functions, structural properties, and interactions of the protein are directly related to the degree of purity of the protein of interest. In the purification process, the protein and non-protein parts are separated. The biggest challenge is when the protein must be separated from other proteins. The purification procedure of an unknown protein is usually depends on the size, physicochemical properties, binding affinity, and biological activity. The end product of the purification process is called protein isolate. The protein purification process usually involves filtration and one or more chromatographic steps. Chromatography is a useful method for acquiring very pure protein for using in very accurate experiments. Therefore, by purifying the desired molecule, it can be used in various industries, such as medicine.

Considering the pandemic of the COVID-19 disease, the use of various drugs in patients has been investigated. Recently, numerous studies have been done on the effectiveness of drugs which used to treat the underlying disease such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, as well as coronary artery disease in various countries, because the patients with underlying conditions are more likely to develop COVID-19 disease. Two classes of the most commonly used drugs in these underlying diseases are angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin-receptor-blocking drugs. Because the two classes of drugs that mentioned above increase the levels of enzyme-converting enzyme receptor-2, it has been hypothesized that the initiation or continuation of such drugs will play some roles in initiation, progression or acceleration of the COVID-19 disease. In the case of a COVID-19 pandemic, there are some questions; which method should be chosen? start, continue or stop of the two classes of drugs as well as which one should be chosen to have a lower risk in patients suffering from COVID-19? . Accordingly, the studies reported from different countries which conducted with the aim of investigating this assumption, was reviewed in this article. As a result, all of those studies have announced this common result that the start-up order for these two groups of drugs in patients with COVID-19, who have underlying cardiovascular disease, should be treated in the same way as other patients, based on valid and accepted current guidelines. Furthermore, do not discontinue these medications if the patient has taken any of them before having COVID-19 disease.

Background & objectives: Leptin and galanin are hormones involved in appetite and energy balance that play an important role in metabolism regulation and energy balance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 12 weeks of intense intermittent exercise (HIIT) and curcumin consumption effect on leptin and galanin levels on inactive obese women. Methods: 30 obese women were randomly selected from 85 women referring to sports clubs in the Urmia city with an age range of 30-35 years in the form of a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test and were divided into two groups of 15 Individual HIIT-Placebo and HIIT-Curcumin. The preparation period lasted for three weeks and HIIT training for nine weeks (4 sessions per week). Blood samples were taken in two stages before and 48 hours after the last training session in the follicular phase. Serum leptin and galanin were measured by ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed using the Shapiro-Wilk test and analysis of covariance. Significance level was considered 0. 05 and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Results: The results of statistical analysis showed that 12 weeks of HIIT training reduced leptin (p<0. 05), galanin (p<0. 05), body mass index (p<0. 05), and weight (p<0. 05) was significantly higher in the HIIT-Curcumin group than in the HIIT-Placebo group. Conclusion: The results showed that HIIT training combined with curcumin consumption as a non-invasive method can have a positive effect on reducing leptin and galanin levels and obesity-related factors.

Background & objectives: The present study investigated the effects of royal jelly on lead acetate induced toxicity on sperm parameters, reproductive hormone assay, and bak gene expression in NMRI male mice. Methods: In this study, fifty four male mice were randomly divided into nine groups: control group (without royal jelly) (n=6); sham group(10 ml normal saline) (n=6); lead group (1000 ppm, oral) (n=6); Group 4: royal jelly (100 mg/kg/day, oral) (n=6); Group 5: royal jelly (250 mg/kg/day, oral)(n=6); Group 6: royal jelly (500 mg/kg/day, oral)(n=6); Group 7: royal jelly (100 mg/kg/day, oral) + 1000 ppm lead (n=6); Group 8: royal jelly (250 mg/kg/day, oral) + 1000 ppm lead (n=6) and Group 9: royal jelly (500 mg/kg/day, oral) + 1000 ppm lead (n=6). On day 35, blood samples were collected from anaesthetized mice by cardiac puncture to assess reproductive hormones and the testes were harvested for determination of sperm parameters and expression bak gene. Sperm parameters including motility, viability, DNA damage, morphology and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were determined. Results: The results showed that administration of royal jelly significantly enhanced sperm parameters and all reproductive hormone levels compared to control mice, (p<0. 05). Also, treatment with lead acetate caused a significant reduction in levels of all reproductive hormones and a significant diminution in sperm motility, morphology, viability; with an increase in percentage of dead spermatocytes (p<0. 05). The co-administration of the 250 and 500 mg/kg/day royal jelly with lead acetate could ameliorate the deleterious effects of lead acetate resulting in a significant increase in sperm parameters and all reproductive hormones and increase the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels (p<0. 05). Also, the expression of bak gene in all treated (sham, royal jelly groups) and control groups was significantly lower than the lead acetate group (p<0. 05). Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings suggest that the royal jelly has a beneficial effect on male reproductive parameters following lead acetate induced toxicity in mice.

Background & objectives: Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (Morquio syndrome type A) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a mutation in the GALNS gene located on chromosome 16q24. 3 and is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. To date, more than 300 different mutations associated with MPS IVA, have been reported. Mutational heterogeneity can lead to difficulties in interpretation of molecular testing results, as novel mutations/variants of unknown significance may be detected relatively frequently. The purpose of this study is to analyze the GALNS mutations in Iranian MPS IVA patients. Methods: Mutation screening of the GALNS gene was performed using direct sequence analysis on DNA samples from 8 unrelated Iranian MPS IVA patients. Results: We have identified three novels and four previously reported mutations in 8 Iranian patients. We identified three novel missense mutations including: c. 680T>C (p. F227S) in exon 7, c. G949C (p. G317R) and c. 956G>C (p. R319T) in exon 9 in three different Iranian MPS IVA patients. Bioinformatics analysis predicted the novel mutations as being diseasecausing. Conclusion: Our findings indicate the molecular heterogeneity of GALNS gene in Iranian patients. We also managed to find three new mutations of MPS IVA in Iranian patients, which are helpful in diagnosis, genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in affected families.

Introduction & objectives: Cannabis extract is an important psychoactive substance that have used by people around the world. Due to the diverse effects of cannabis on brain cells, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of cannabis extract on the growth of SH-SY5Y neurons. Methods: In this experimental study, SH-SY5Y cells were prepared from Pasteur Institute of Iran and then incubated in DMEM, supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, embryo-L glutamine, penicillin and streptomycin at 37oC and 5% CO2. following cell proliferation, the cells in the fourth passage were divided into control and experimental groups which were treated with cannabis at concentrations of 100 and1000 ng/ml. during 1 to 9 days, SH-SY5Y cells growth was calculated by flow cytometry using PDT= T× formula. Results: SH-SY5Y cells adhered to the bottom of the flask 24 hours after transfer to the cell culture flask. These cells were initially spherical and after 24 hours become spindle. The results of cell count test on days 1 to 6 showed the growth of cannabis-treated cells similar to the control group, but from the sixth day, in the cannabis extract treated groups, a significant reduction in cell growth was observed at the level of p<0. 05 compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results showed that SH-SY5Y cells in the culture medium were spherically shaped, similar to fibroblast cells, and the based on the results of cell count, it was determined that cannabis inhibits the growth of these cells.

Background & objectives: Toluene as a systemic toxin and industrial solvents has different effects on vital organs of the body. There is little mechanistic study of the interactions between toluene and human lymphocytes. In this study, the direct toxicity of toluene and the potential of agents with antioxidant, mitochondrial/lysosomal protective effects to reduce its possible toxicity in human lymphocytes were studied. Methods: Blood lymphocytes were isolated from healthy male volunteer's blood, using Ficoll Paque Plus followed by gradient centrifugation. In this study, cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, lipid peroxidation (LPO), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lysosomal membrane damage, glutathione (GSH) and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels, were determined in blood lymphocytes after incubation with toluene and antioxidant, mitochondrial and lysosomal protective compounds. Results: Results showed that toluene reduced lymphocyte viability, increased ROS levels, LPO content, damage to lysosomal membranes, mitochondrial damages and GSH depletion, which these damages were significantly inhibited by dibutyl hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a synthetic antioxidant, cyclosporine A (Cs. A) as an inhibitor of mitochondrial pores, and chloroquine as a lysosomotropic agent. Conclusion: Results of our study suggest that using of antioxidants, mitochondrial and lysosomal protective agents can be effective in reducing toluene-induced toxicity in exposed individuals.

Background & objectives: Probiotic dairy products as a functional food have a positive effect on the health of consumers that have been confirmed by scientific evidence. Yoghurt is considered as one of the most popular dairy foods in Iran, which the incorporation of the probiotics into the yoghurt matrix can improve their microbiological and sensory properties and subsequently will play a vital role in promoting the health of the community. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus on the microbial and sensorial properties of probiotic yoghurt during refrigerated storage. Methods: In this in vitro study, the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus PTCC=5189 was used to produce probiotic yoghurt and Aspergillus parasiticus PTCC=5018 (IR 63) and Penicillium chrysogenum PTCC=5074 were used as known pathogens and the main spoilage agents in yoghurt. Changes in the number of probiotic yeasts and spoilage species as well as the sensory acceptability of the samples during 28 days of storage at 4° C were evaluated and compared with the control samples. Results: The population of both species, involved in yoghurt spoilage, during refrigeration were significantly reduced by the presence of Kluyveromyces marxianus (p<0. 01). After 28 days of storage, the number of Kluyveromyces marxianus was at the recommended level of the International Dairy Federation with a 7. 35 log CFU/g. The sensory evaluation results demonstrated that the control yoghurt samples were more acceptable. Conclusion: Kluyveromyces marxianus has a significant effect on improving microbiological properties and can be used in the formulation and production of probiotic yoghurt with high storage capability and optimal sensory acceptability.

Background & objectives: The respiratory system is one of the areas that are most vulnerable to unhealthy workplace injuries. One of the most common occupational diseases, are illnesses and respiratory complications in employees who exposed to harmful pollutants in the workplace. Flour powder is a complex organic particle with different components. These ingredients include wheat bran, pollen, starch particles and a variety of bacteria. The high temperature of the bakery oven and the flour in the bakers' work environment can cause allergic and respiratory disorders. Evaluation of pulmonary function tests (spirometry) plays an important role in the diagnosis and management of lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and threatening disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate pulmonary function tests and compare it with non-bakers and healthy people in Ardabil traditional bakers. Methods: Lung function tests including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), maximal expiratory airflow velocity (PEF), maximal expiratory airflow velocity at 75%, 50%, and 25% of vital capacity (MEF75, MEF50, MEF25) and respiratory and allergic symptoms of 51 traditional male bakers and 51 non-bakers in the same age with other occupations were compared. Respiratory and allergic symptoms using a standard questionnaire including jobrelated respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, shortness of breath, and job-related allergic symptoms. In each phase, in addition to calculating the mean and standard deviation, t-test used to compare the means, the probability of error less than 5% considered significant. Results: In the present study, there was a significant difference between the case group and the control group in pulmonary parameters. In addition, there was no significant difference between the level of education, type of bakery, number of working hours per day and BMI of bakers. There was a significant relationship between work experience (year) and FVC, FEV1, FEV1 percentage and FEF50%. There was also a significant relationship between the age of bakers and the all parameters above, except FVC, and there was a significant difference between different tasks in bakeries only in the case of FEF50%. Conclusion: In control subjects, pulmonary parameters decreased with age, but in bakers, this trend is more severe and needs to follow up. The present study showed that traditional bakers in Ardabil are at risk for obstructive respiratory diseases. High oven temperature and exposure to irritants such as wheat flour may play an important role. Preventive tools such as proper ventilation and protective equipment needed.

Background & objectives: Bacterial antibiotic resistance is becoming a global health crisis. The aim of this descriptive, cross-sectional study was to investigate the prevalence of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains in Ardabil. Methods: During 9 months, between July 2019 and March 2020, 50 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from different clinical specimens in four hospitals of Ardabil and the prevalence of MDR, XDR and PDR strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were evaluated. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was assessed using the disk diffusion method. Results: In the present study, the prevalence of MDR, XDR and PDR strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 52%, 40% and 14%, respectively. Conclusion: Due to high prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Ardabil, continuous monitoring of the antibiotic resistance trend in clinical isolates in order to select the best medication is necessary.