ARAK MEDICAL UNIVERSITY JOURNAL (AMUJ)
Year:2011 | Volume:14 | Issue:6 (59)|Papers Count:16

Background: Biochemical studies have shown that iron produces reactive oxygen species via Haber-Weiss and Fenton reactions. The goal of this study is to examine the role of iron in oxidation of human hemoglobin and its structural changes in erythrocytes.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, blood samples from healthy subjects were incubated aerobically with the iron containing metal catalyzed oxidation (MCO) system in the presence of 0.036, 0.7, 0.14, 0.28, 0.57, 1.14, 2.28, 4.55, 9.09, and 18.18 micromole of iron. Structural changes in Hb were followed by spectrophotometric analysis from 300 to 650 nm. In addition, carbonyl assay was performed for estimation of protein oxidation in globin chains. Results: Based on the results, oxy-Hb decreased up to 68% in iron-treated erythrocytes. Decrease in the absorbance ratio (A577, A542 wavelength) indicated the conversion of oxy-Hb to met-Hb.Also, met-Hb concentration was 4.7 fold of hemichrome. After 24 hours of incubation, oxyHb concentration decreased up to 50% and metHb concentration increased up to 85%. Moreover, increase in iron concentration resulted in significant carbonyl formation in hemoglobin.Conclusion: These findings indicate that Hb oxidation instead of its oxygenation leads to anemia and hypoxia. The findings of this study may be directly applicable to oxidation states during hemolytic diseases and iron treatment.

Background: Nucleostemin plays a critical role in controlling proliferation and self-renewal of stem cells and cancer cells.Thus, inhibition of nucleostemin expression could be a potent therapeutic approach in cancer treatment. In the present study, the effects of nucleostemin gene silencing in K562 cell line were studied.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, after transfecting NS-specific siRNA into K562 cells, changes in nucleostemin gene expression pattern were determined by semi- quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Trypan blue exclusion test, MTT assay, and fluorescent microscopy were used to evaluate the growth inhibition and apoptosis of K562 cells, respectively. Flow-cytometery was utilized for evaluating the effects of nucleostemin gene silencing on cell cycle.Results: The results showed the high expression of nucleostemin gene in K562 cells. NS-siRNA transfection into K562 cells at 200 nM inhibited the nucleostemin mRNA level up to 55% after 48 hours when compared to corresponding control cells. Forty eight hours after transfection, the cell growth decreased up to 33.7%. In addition, the silencing of nucleostemin induced G1 cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, fluorescent microscopy assays indicated that apoptosis occurred 48 hours after silencing nucleostemin gene expression.Conclusion: Noticing the potent growth inhibitory and apoptotic effects of nucleostemin siRNA in human myeloid leukemia K562 cells, silencing this gene can be a potential target for inhibiting K562 cells as the stem cell model of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Background: Aquatic ecosystems pollution with heavy metals, especially mercury, has always been a major concern for aquatic organisms health. Hence this study not only described an innovative method for analyzing organic mercury compound, but also evaluated total and organic mercury concentrations in great cormorant and compared them with world health standards.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 18 great cormorants were randomly captured in March, 2009. Total and organic mercury of muscle, kidney, and liver tissues were analyzed by an advanced mercury analyzer made in the United States (Model; Leco, AMA 254), and statistical analysis was done by Mann-Whitney U, and Kolmogrove-Smirnov tests.Results: Mean accumulated total mercury in liver, kidney, and muscle tissues were 5.67, 3.59, and 2.26 mg kg-1 w.w., respectively and organic mercury formed 82, 79, and 58% of the total mercury.Conclusion: The levels of accumulated mercury in all tissues of great cormorant were more than the established limits by WHO, FAO, and EPA. These results can be a serious warning for consumers of these birds, especially vulnerable people.

Background: Major depression is one of the most prevalent psychiatric diseases, whereas schizophrenia is one of the worst human diseases. Therefore, finding low-cost treatment methods with few side effects can be of great help to patients. The present study was done to compare the serum levels of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorous in individuals with major depression and schizophrenics with healthy subjects.Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, serum levels of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorous were assessed in 100 major depressive, 100 schizophrenic, and 100 healthy subjects. Subjects with a history of renal failure, hepatic failure, parathyroid disease, and consumption of vitamin D, parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorous supplements were excluded from the study. SPSS software version 15 was used for data analysis.Results: Depression was accompanied with decreased serum levels of vitamin D and increased serum levels of parathyroid hormone (p>0.001, p=0.01), but there was not a significant difference between depression and healthy subjects in calcium and phosphorous serum levels (p=0.69, p=0.15). Schizophrenia presented a significant correlation with decreased serum levels of vitamin D and phosphorous (p>0.001, p=0.01), but there was not a significant difference between schizophrenic and healthy subjects in calcium and parathyroid hormone serum levels (p=0.47, p=0.67).Conclusion: Since depression and schizophrenia are accompanied by decreased serum level of vitamin D, consumption of supplementary vitamin D can be helpful in the treatment of these patients.

Background: Noticing the significant role of fertility in Iranian families, the incidence of infertility and its social and cultural dimensions, this study was carried out to compare general health status of infertile women with fertile women.Materials and Methods: This observational case-control study was done on 147 women as the control group and 147 infertile patients as the case group who were matched in terms of influential variables. Data collection was done through demographic questionnaire and general health questionnaire (GHQ) which were completed by both groups. The results were analyzed by logistic regression analysis, t test, and chi-square using STATA 10 software.Results: Means of general health score in fertile and infertile women were 19.24±9.72 and 28.06±10, respectively. Here the mean score of the infertile women was significantly higher in comparison with the fertile women (p<0.001).Physical symptoms, anxiety, social interaction, and depression scores of infertile women were significantly higher in comparison with the fertile women (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in the means of age and duration of marriage between the two groups and the distribution of educational level, occupation, and income levels were the same in the two groups.Conclusion: Average scores of general health and physical complaints, anxiety, impaired social interaction, and depression in infertile women were higher than those in fertile women. This indicates their involvement with some degrees of public health diseases.

Background: Bartter syndrome is renal tubular disorders that inhibit salt transport and increased renal salt wasting. Type II Bartter syndrome is caused by mutations in the KCNJ1 gene which encodes the inwardly rectifying ATP-sensitive potassium channel Kir1.1 (ROMK). They play a vital role in secretion of potassium into the tubule lumen. The effects of mutation at position 338 of ROMK2 (Kir1.1.b) was investigate.Materials and Methods: Site-directed mutagenesis was used to substitute of threonine for methionine at position 338 of ROMK2 (Kir1.1.b). M338T mutant ROMK2 expressed in oocytes of Xenopus laevis, and in a non-polarized mammalian cell line (MDCK). Two electrode voltage clamp and were used to measure oocyte ROMK-dependent currents. Confocal microscopy of EGFP-tagged ROMK2 determined express and distribution of these channels in MDCK cells.Results: The M338T mutant ROMK2 protein expressed in oocytes was functionally identical to wild type. Its cellular distribution was different in polarized and non-polarized MDCK cells.Conclusion: The M338T mutation is altered residue interactions within the carboxyl terminus of ROMK2 channels. Thus mistargeting of ROMK2 in vivo reduces the driving force for potassium secretion in the TAL and reduces salt reabsorption by this nephron segment.

Background: Launaea acanthodes is used as a common medicinal plant in central regions of Iran.To investigate the probable hypoglycemic activity of hydro-alcoholic extract of L. acanthodes as well as its effects on serum level of insulin and biochemical factors in normal and hyperglycemic rats, the present study was carried out.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 24 male albino Wistar rats, weighting 250-300 g were randomly allocated into four groups (n=6); control, type 1 diabetic rats (STZ; 55 mg/kg), type 1 diabetic rats treated by subcutaneous injection of 5 IU/kg insulin (STZ+insulin) and type 1 diabetic rats treated by injection (i.p) of 150 mg/kg hydro-alcoholic extract of L. Acanthodes (STZ+extract). The injection of insulin and extract were done every day from day 1 to day 21 of experiment. After that, all animals were kept up to day 30. Blood serum were collected and analyzed for the levels of glucose and biochemical factors (cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and HDL) measurements, in the 15th and 30th day of experiment.Results: The results showed significant decrease (p<0.001) in glucose level and significant increase (p<0.05) in insulin level in STZ+extract group, when compared with other hyperglycemic groups in 30th day of experiment.Conclusion: These results indicate that the hydro- alcoholic extract of L.acanthodes could be effective in the treatment of diabetes.It can be concluded that extract administration somehow induce insulin secretion probably through stimulation of remaining β cells or their hyperplasia in Langerhans islets. This effect can also be referred to flavonoides constituent and antioxidant property of extract, too.

Background: Sexual dysfunction is a common, progressive disorder which is related to age and it affects the quality of life and sexual and interpersonal relationship. The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between self-esteem and sexual dysfunction and satisfaction in women who referred to the health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional (descriptive-analytic) study was done on 120 women referring to the health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences that met the inclusion criteria. Data collection tools were demographic, GHQ-28, Kovair Smith, and FSFI questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16).Results: The overall incidence of sexual dysfunction was 64% and the greatest frequencies were related to pain and sexual satisfaction 37% and 20%, respectively. Also, 90% of the subjects had high self-esteem and the rest 10% had low self-esteem. There was a significant relationship between self-esteem and sexual dysfunction (p<0.05).Conclusion: The findings of this study showed a significant relationship between self-esteem and sexual dysfunction and satisfaction in women, especially in those with low self-esteem that presented greater sexual dysfunction and satisfaction.

Background: Influenza is an acute respiratory disease caused by influenza virus. Influenza epidemics are reported every year and worldwide pandemics occur with varying frequencies. The majority of mortalities are due to underlying diseases and complications associated with influenza. In this study, we evaluated ten fatal cases caused by the established type A influenza (H1N1) infection in the 2009-2010 pandemic.Materials and Methods: This mortality survey was compiled by a review of the deceased patients’ files. The assessed variables were demographic data, underlying diseases, secondary infections, delayed commencement of therapy, and non-medication. Collected data were analyzed by measures of central tendency and dispersion using SPSS software.Results: In the ten deaths due to the established H1N1 virus, the median of age was 30 years and 90% of the cases had underlying diseases. Ninety percent of the deaths occurred during October and November and the rest took place in December and February.Conclusion: The main cause of death was the delayed commencement of antiviral treatment. This emphasizes the importance of timely treatment in high risk patients. In flu pandemics, physicians should swiftly start specific therapy in at-risk groups to reduce the mortality rates.

Background: The major aim of this study was synthesis and assay of antimicrobial activity of peptide D28 and its new analogues derivatives as dimeric peptides.Materials and Methods: Three antimicrobial peptides known as D28, Di-D28-Lys, Di-Cys-D28 including 20, 41, 42 residues were synthesized respectively. For peptide synthesis, solid phase peptide synthesis method using blocked amino acids with flourenyl methoxy carbonyl group and for peptide purification HPLC were used. Peptides compositions were confirmed by amino acid analysis and SDS-PAGE electrophoresis.Antimicrobial tests against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were performed as disk and well diffusion on plate and by adding to liquid broth culture (Broth macro dilution) in different concentrations.Results: Three required peptides (D28, Di-D28-Lys, Di-Cys-D28) successfully were synthesized. All three peptides were effective against S. aureus, but Di-Cys-D28 on the contrary to two other ones, showed no antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa. The inhibitory activity of Di-D28-Lys against P. aeruginosa was more than that of D28 peptide.Conclusion: Improvement of antimicrobial peptides activity through dimerization depends on the methods of dimerization and the strain of bacterium. Di-D28-Lys peptide in comparison with D28 and Di-Cys-D28 showed wide range and more antimicrobial activity. Therefore, Di-D28-Lys peptide could be a suitable antibiotic candidate for future studies.

Background: Programmed death 1 (PDCD1), a negative T-cell regulator which induces peripheral tolerance, belongs to Ig super and CD28/CTLA-4 families.PD-1 gene induces negative signals in T-cells during interaction with its ligands. Thus the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between PD-1 polymorphism and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Iranian patients and healthy controls.Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood samples using DNA purification kit (DNG-plus, Cinnagen, Iran). PD1.1G/A as a SNP located on promoter with position-536 were genotyped for 120 RA patients and 188 healthy controls through PCR-RFLP method. Association of genotypes and alleles frequency in the patients was compared with controls and analyzed using Chi-square test and 2x2 contingency table in SPSS software version 15.0. The diagnosis of RA patients and provision of their clinical information was done in Rheumatology Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.Results: The A allele of the PD1.1 polymorphism located on the promoter of PD-1 gene was significantly more frequent in Iranian RA patients than the controls (p=0.04).There were no significant differences in PD1.1G/G genotype (p=0.08), PD1.1A/A genotype (p=0.39), and PD1.1G/A genotype (p=0.16) between RA cases and controls.Conclusion: The findings of this study showed the presence of a significant relationship between the A allele of the PD1.1 (-536) of the promoter and susceptibility to RA in Iranian patients.

Background: origanum vulgare l.spp viride was used in ancient medicine and it was medicated for digestive disease, diabetes, remedy of trauma. While antimicrobial, ant diabetic, anticancer and antioxidant effect of this plant was proved but there is done no study for its effect on reproductive system.Therefore the purpose of recent study is surveying eventual androgenic effect of this plant on hormonal level of pituitary - gonadal axis in mature male vistar rats.Materials and Methods: recent study was done on five groups of male rats of vistar race and every group includes nine rats. The control group received no drug. The sham group received physiological serum and experimental groups of A, B and C were received the ethanolic extract of origanum vulgare l. with concentration of 40, 20, 10 mg/kg body weight respectively with gavaj for 14 days. Then levels of FSH, LH and TSH hormones in blood sample was measured with RIA method and obtaining result was compared between control group and other groups. Data was analyzed with SPSS software and statistical method of ANOVA and Tukey test. In this research, significant level was p<0.05.Results: in control group, sham group and A, B and C groups, respectively mean and standard deviation from average of plasma concentration for LH hormone based on mlU /ml were: 0.18±0.006, 0.183±0.017, 0.187±0.026, 0.241±0.012 and 0.284±0.027 And for FSH Hormone were: 0.321±0.025, 0.342±0.071,0.372±0.026, 0.383±0.031 and 0.372±0.026 And for TSH hormone were: 5.28±0.683, 6.07±0.5, 6.09 ±1.94, 6.66±1.48 and 8.1±1.66.Conclusion: ethanolic extract of origanum vulgare leaf in maximum dose have androgenic effects and it can affect the activity of different levels of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and increase the secretion of testosterone and gonadotropic hormones.

Background: Laryngoscopes are one of the potential mediators of infection transmission due to their blades contact with oral mucous membranes. Using single-use plastic blades is a method of preventing infection transmission. The aim of this study is to compare the efficiency of single-use plastic and reusable metal laryngoscope blades in orotracheal intubation during the rapid- sequence induction of anesthesia Materials and Methods: In this clinical-trial, 310 patients, more than 10 years of age, who were candidates for elective surgery, were selected. After anesthesia induction, orotracheal intubation was done by either single-use plastic or reusable metal blades for patients.Duration of intubation and arterial oxygen saturation were recorded before and after intubation. Data analysis was done using SPSS software.Results: Orotracheal intubation was done successfully in all patients. Mean differences of intubation time from the standard upper limit were 1.42±8.19 and 13.1±4.22 seconds in the plastic and metal blades groups, respectively. Also, the mean of difference in oxygen saturation of the low 90% after intubation were 6.07±2.71 and 7.16±1.21 in plastic and metal blades groups, respectively. Both parameters indicated statistically significant differences.Conclusion: In rapid-sequence induction of anesthesia, by using single-use blades, both intubation time and arterial oxygen saturation drop will increase in comparison with metal blades. This will cause complications such as aspiration in the patients.

Background: Localization of ectopic parathyroid glands is one of the most sophisticated challenges in endocrine surgery and there is considerable controversy regarding the suitable approach to localize ectopic parathyroid glands and indications for using different modalities. The failure of the first operation leads to pain, scar, and financial burden of the following operation.Case: The patient was a 39-year-old woman hospitalized with hematuria as the main complaint and noticing the presentation of hypercalcemia in the initial tests underwent more thorough examination. Ultrasonography and 99mTc sestamibi scan helped us to localize the ectopic parathyroid gland in an anterior mediastinum and treat the patient in a one stage operation.Conclusion: Paying careful attention to the symptoms and signs, considering all differential diagnoses, and using appropriate diagnostic methods can be helpful in the diagnosis of rare syndromes.