JOURNAL OF ISFAHAN MEDICAL SCHOOL (I.U.M.S)
Year:2019 | Volume:37 | Issue:539|Papers Count:5

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and inflammatory disease of the nervous system, and the progression of the disease is associated with an increase in specific cytokines. Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is considered as an animal model for MS, and is used to assess the disease process and therapeutic process. According to studies on the benefits of Nigella sativa, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of Nigella sativa on female rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Methods: In this study, 24 adult Lewis female rat (average age of 6 to 8 weeks, weighing 200-220 g) were selected in 4 groups of 6. The control mice received normal saline and the ones with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis received 0/05 cc of hydroalcoholic extract of Nigella sativa at doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight every other day as intraperitoneal injection. Symptoms of disease and body weight changes were recorded in daily bases. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α ), C-reactive protein (CRP), nitrate, and body weight changes were recorded daily. After the end of the period (15 days), the production of TNF-α and CRP was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and nitrate levels using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The collected data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Duncan tests. Findings: Serum levels of TNF-α , CRP, and nitrate were significantly lower in treatment groups than the control group (P < 0. 001). Conclusion: Because inflammation plays an important role in the process of MS, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and protective effects of the extract of dandelion (200 mg/kg body weight) reduce inflammatory factors and improve inflammatory status in rats with experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Background: Recombinant human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) is a protein with 153 amino acids and molecular weight of 16. 83 kDa. This drug protein is known as Anakinra, and has an effective application in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. This study was conducted to examine the produce of the recombinant IL-1RA protein in Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains. Methods: Codon optimization of IL-1RA gene was done using GenScript, and the gene was cloned in the pUC18 as cloning vector. Then, plasmid was cut by two restriction enzymes including NdeI and BamH1 enzymes. IL-1RA gene was purified from the agarose gel. IL-1RA gene was ligated into expression vector. The constructed expression cassette was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) Origami (DE3) and Rosetta (DE3) using CaCl2 and heat shock method. Findings: Identification and confirmation of transformed colonies was performed using colony polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Induction of this gene was done with isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). The protein expression was analyzed using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western blotting techniques, and it purified by Ni nickel resin. Expression analysis of transformed E. coli strains confirmed that gene integrated into expression host. Molecular weight of expressed protein was estimated to be 16. 83 kDa. Conclusion: In this study, Human IL-1RA was successfully produced in E. coli Origami with high quantity other than the rest of E. coli strains. Therefore, E. coli BL21 Origami (DE3) can be used as the suitable host for production of recombinant IL-1RA, and this technology has a potential for localization.

Background: Due to the prevalence of congenital heart diseases, this study was performed to evaluate the effect of endurance training and silver nanoparticle injection on maternal serum troponin T level and fetal histopathological index in the mice. Methods: In this experimental study, 40 female laboratory mice with the average weight of 30 ± 5 g were randomly divided in four equal groups of endurance training, silver nanoparticle injection, endurance training together with silver nanoparticle injection, and the control. The endurance-training group did exercises by running on a treadmill before pregnancy for 11 weeks, 5 sessions per week (with the intensity of 30-65 percent of the maximum capability of the mice) from 5 to 50 minutes. After becoming pregnant, these mice continued exercising by running on the treadmill for 3 more weeks with the intensity of 20 to 60 percent of the maximum capability of the mice. The second group received silver nanoparticles intraperitoneally from the second day of pregnancy at a dose of 400 mg per kilogram body weight. The third group had the exercise and received the injections similar to the other two groups. The control group had no activities. Maternal blood sampling was taken on the 19th day of pregnancy, as well as the evaluation of histopathological changes and staining with hematoxylin-eosin. Then, the maternal serum troponin T levels were measured. Findings: Troponin T levels decreased in the experimental groups (P < 0. 05). There was a significant difference between silver nanoparticles and endurance training group. The least amount of fetal heart tissue damage was seen in endurance training group, and the highest damage was observed in the control group. Conclusion: Endurance training reduces the serum troponin T level, and minimizes the tissue damage to fetal heart tissue in laboratory mice. Silver nanoparticles also reduce troponin T level and the damage to fetal heart tissue of mice.

Background: Ankle syndesmosis injury is among the common ankle injuries. This injury results in a long-term inability to perform physical activities. Various surgical techniques have been experimented that each accompanies with limitations, advantages, and disadvantages, and controversial outcomes have been presented. In the current study, two techniques of tightrope and tricortial-screw fixation were compared. Methods: The current randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 30 patients with ankle syndesmosis injury in the Alzahra and Kashani hospitals, Isfahan, Iran, during the years 2014-17. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of tightrope and tricortical-screw treatments. The two groups were followed and compared considering the range of motion, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, required time for return to work, and need for reoperation within 6, 12, and 18 months. Findings: Patients of the two groups were not different regarding age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) (P > 0. 050); but the recovery time and need for reoperation were significantly less in tightrope group (P < 0. 001). According to AOFAS score, tightrope group was better considering pain, activity limitation, maximum walk, and walk surface (P < 0. 050); but they were not statistically different regarding plantar and dorsiflexion, gait, sagittal motion, hind foot motion, and function (P > 0. 050). Conclusion: Based on the findings of the current study, tightrope fixation technique was accompanied with better outcomes in comparison to tricortical-screw fixation in ankle syndesmosis injury.

Background: Optic nerve lesions cause a group of visual impairment and especially low vision. Children with this defect have problems such as social isolation, lack of commitment to activities, increased dependence on others, and delayed cognitive development. In this research, we aimed to study the effect of neuropsychological interventions by using an optical stimulus system (OSS) (in the other words, applying special rehabilitation exercises) on visual performance, perception and recognition of light and color in children with low vision. Methods: In this study, visual acuity assessment was performed in response to the exercises based on the dependent variables of the single subject method on 5 children with low vision. First, 4 sessions of their baseline were measured, and then, 8 intervention session was conducted with the optical stimulator of rehabilitation exercises. Follow-up sessions were conducted to assess the effect of the exercises, and the mean of the percentage of non-overlapping data (PND) and percentage of overlapping data (POD) for variables were used to evaluate the effect of the exercises. Findings: Mean POD and PND scores for all subjects and for all variables were 92. 5% and 7. 5%, respectively. The average scores in the intervention phase increased by 14. 84%, and the scores in the follow-up period were 13. 73% higher than the baseline. Conclusion: The results showed improvement in the performance of all 5 children in the perception and recognition of light and color.