Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Year:2013 | Volume:31 | Issue:225|Papers Count:5

Background: Low back pain is an important disorder linked with degenerative changes in the intervertebral disc (IVD). Degradation of IVD is caused by decreased number of cells, reduced production and degradation of extracellular matrix of IVD tissue especially in nucleus pulposus (NP).Natural and synthetic scaffolds are used for regeneration of IVD in tissue engineering. Aggrecan is an important proteoglycan in NP tissue of IVD. This study aimed to levels of aggrecan secreted by human NP cells of IVD in alginate and chitosan-gelatin scaffolds.Methods: Collagenase enzymatic hydrolysis was used to extract NP cells from NP tissue of patients with IVD hernia in Alzahra Hospital (Isfahan, Iran). Chitosan gel was mixed with gelatin gel and freeze dried to make the scaffold. An alginate scaffold was also prepared. Cellular suspension containing the extracted NP cells was transferred to each scaffold and cultured for 14 days. The levels of secreted aggrecan were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A light microscope was used to assert the morphology of NP cells.Findings: Secretion of aggrecan had significant increases during the third to the 14th day. The increments were more considerable in alginate scaffolds. There were significant differences in secreted aggrecan between alginate and chitosan scaffolds on the seventh and 14th days. However, no such a significant difference was observed on the third day. The two scaffolds were significantly different in terms of the secretion of extracellular matrix by NP.Conclusion: Compared to the chitosan-gelatin scaffold, the alginate scaffold provided better conditions for aggrecan secretion in NP cells in vitro. The use of thus scaffold is suggested to culture NP cell in vivo.

Background: Donepezil (DON) is a reversible and non-competitive cholinesterase inhibitor and a well-known drug for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The main objective of this study was to prepare an oral dosage form of DON with gradual drug release characteristics in order to reduce the gastrointestinal side effects and increase patient compliance. For this purpose DON was intercalated into montmorillonite (MMT) and drug release was manipulated by inclusion of different polymers into DON-MMT hybrids.Methods: DON-MMT hybrids were prepared and the effects of drug concentration and temperature on drug loading were evaluated. To achieve the desired release profile, DON-MMT hybrids were dispersed separately into a solution of carbomer, chitosan, sodium alginate, or Eudragit. The resultant suspensions were spray-dried separately. The weight fraction of hybrid to the polymers was 1.0: 1.0, 1.0: 0.6, and 1.0: 0.3. All prepared nanocomposites were tested for drug loading capacity and drug release profiles. The surface morphology of optimized nanoparticles was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.Findings: The highest drug loading (16.8%) was achieved by nanocomposites containing 2 mM DON prepared at 70oC (formulation coded D2MMT70). The lowest drug loading (12.3%) belonged to hybrids coded D1MMT25 prepared at 25oC. Among four polymers, Eudragit L100-55 and sodium alginate had more distinct effect than carbomer or chitosan on drug release from the DON-MMT hybrids. Cumulative drug release from nanocomposites coded as H1AL1 was 34.0% and 18.84% in hydrochloric acid and phosphate buffer, respectively.Conclusion: Increasing temperature to 70oC could increase drug loading during the preparation of hybrids. Drug release rate from hybrids could be certainly manipulated by the presence of sodium alginate or Eudragit L100-55.

Background: The necessity of modifying the content of basic sciences curriculum has been emphasized in recent decades. The Department of Anatomy in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (Isfahan, Iran) has been responsible for a part of this modification. Therefore, this study was planned and implemented to integrate physical examination methods and surface and radiological anatomy in the applied anatomy course.Methods: This interventional study was performed in the Department of Anatomy of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2011. Students of medicine were allocated to groups one to four to receive conventional training, applied training alone, theoretical training alone, and theoretical plus applied training, respectively. At the end of the intervention, the students’ clinical knowledge was evaluated and compared.Findings: The groups were not significantly different in terms of sex distribution. The mean score of knowledge about physical examination was significantly higher in the first two groups. The highest score in surface anatomy belonged to the first group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in radiological anatomy scores between the four groups.Conclusion: Its seems that integrating clinical material in the anatomy course could improve the students’ knowledge especially about physical examination and surface anatomy. More complete and enhanced versions of this program will definitely promote better learning of anatomy among students of medicine.

Background: According to available data, breast cancer occurs about a decade earlier in Iranian women than among the world’s population. This issue magnifies the importance of screening for the disease. Screening will enhance both disease-free survival and overall survival. We assessed the relations of age and primary metastases with disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with breast cancer in Isfahan, Iran.Methods: This retrospective analytic study was conducted during 1998-2009. The study population included women with confirmed breast cancer who had referred to offices of oncologists or Seyed-Al-Shohada Hospital (Isfahan, Iran). Cancer was staged according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) classification. The patients’ information was collected from their files and analyzed.Findings: We followed up patients with breast cancer for over 10 years. The mean age of subjects was 47.9 ± 11.08 years at the time of diagnosis. Disease-free survival was 95 months in patients younger than 40 years of age and 113 months in those above 50 years old. Primary metastases decreased overall survival by 20 months.Conclusion: As expected, the incidence of breast cancer at younger age was found to be associated with decreased disease-free survival and overall survival. As early diagnosis of the disease prevents primary metastases, appropriate screening is of utmost importance.

Background: Many studies have suggested the benefits of garlic oil extracts against Leishmania parasites. Recent research has proved that these derivatives (such as allicin) are cytotoxic and therapeutic effects of garlic are in fact due to an odorless compound (S-allyl-cysteine). Considering the small number of studies in this field, we evaluated the effectiveness of S-allyl-cysteine on survival, apoptosis, and proliferation of Leishmania major promastigotes in vitro.Methods: In this study Leishmania major promastigotes (MRHO/IR/75/ER) were used. The parasites were first cultured and then treated with S-allyl-cysteine at end concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, 40.0, and 50.0 mM. Their survival, apoptosis, and proliferation was assessed after 72 hours.Findings: None of the concentrations of S-allyl-cysteine could induce apoptosis in parasite promastigotes. Lower concentrations (5.0 and 10.0 mM) of S-allyl-cysteine had greatest effect on proliferation. On the other hand, direct observation showed that cultures comprising S-allyl-cysteine at end concentration of 20.0, 40.0, and 50.0 mM formed more rosettes.Conclusion: The antioxidant effects of S-allyl-cysteine have been previously proved. Similarly, this study showed that some concentrations of S-allyl-cysteine could affect the survival and growth of promastigotes in culture medium. Therefore, this substance seems to be a good stimulating factor for growth of parasite promastigotes in culture media.