Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Year:2011 | Volume:29 | Issue:159|Papers Count:5

Background: Alzheimer’s disease is a prevalent disease resulting in learning and memory impairments.Recently, erythropoietin (EPO) has been demonstrated to improve cognitive functions and to have neuroprotective effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of erythropoietin on learning and memory in rats after intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of streptozotocin (STZ), a well defined model for Alzheimer’s disease.Methods: To produce Alzheimer’s disease model in rats, STZ was infused in lateral ventricles of the brain. Two weeks later, the rats were tested by passive avoidance learning test to confirm the induction of learning and memory impairments. They then received EPO (5000 IU/kg) once every two days for two weeks. Finally, behavioral tests were conducted again.Findings: A reduction in time delay for the first entrance of rats to dark chamber as a result of ICV-STZ was found, i.e. there was a significant deference between the sham and the ICV-STZ groups. Although EPO did not have any significant effects on time delay for the first entrance to dark chamber in the sham group, it prevented impairments resulting from ICV-STZ. In fact, the index significantly increased in the STZ-EPO group compared to the STZ group. However, there was not a significant difference between the STZ-EPO and sham groups.Conclusion: The present results suggest use of EPO to probably cause significant improvements of learning and memory defects in Alzheimer’s patients.

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is the most prevalent knee disorder. In fact, one in every four knee patients suffers from this syndrom. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of kinesiotape and strength training on knee pain and quadriceps strength in people with patellofemoral pain syndrome.Methods: Thirty one male patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome, with a mean age of 25 ± 1 year, a mean height of 173.6 ± 6.15 cm, and a mean weight of 71.25 ± 7.1 kg, were randomly assigned into three groups of kinesiotape, exercise, and combined kinesiotape-exercise. All groups underwent six weeks of intervention. Pre- and post-tests were administered. A visual analogue scale and the Biodex isokinetic dynamometer were used to measure pain and strength of the knee muscles, respectively.Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the data. The significance level was considered as a=0.05.Findings: After six weeks of intervention, significant pain reductions were observed in the kinesiotape, and combined kinesiotape-exercise groups (P< 0.05). However, mean of maximum quadriceps muscle torque improved significantly only in the combined kinesiotape-exercise group (P< 0.05).Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that taping significantly reduced pain. It could be concluded that using kinesiotape increased the contact surface between patella and intercondylar groove and decreased pressure which in turn improved pain.

Background: Tumor environment consists of various cells and cytokines. The cytokines are widely produced in the environment by tumor and immune cells. Tumor growth and development depends on the cytokines secreted in this environment. Cytokines have either pro-or anti-inflammatory activity as well as immunesurvilance stability which influence tumor progression in microenvironment.Methods: From 29 patients with breast cancer, 14 patients with malignant and 15 with benign tumors were considered. Specimens were collected from patients who were operated for breast cancer. Obtained tissues were kept at -80°C and then were prepared by homogenizer device. IFN-g, IL-4 and IL-17 were measured in tumor tissue, adjacent tumor tissue, and patients’ serum using ELISA technique.Findings: The concentration of IL-4, IL-17, and IFN-g were 112.3 ± 15.2, 16.9 ± 2.3, and 14.6 ± 3.8 pg/ml in malignant tissues, respectively. The concentration of IL-4 and IL-17 in tumor tissue, adjacent tumor tissue, and serum of patients with malignant tumors were higher than those with benign tumors.Conclusion: Our data indicates that elevated IL-4 and IL-17, but not IFN-g, in tumor microenvironment may affect the malignancy progression.

Background: The morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery diseases (CVD) make it a main public health problem and every year billions of Dollars are spent on treating such disease. There are many epidemiological evidences indicate that iron is an essential factor in the development of atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms stimulating atherogenesis by iron is still unclear, but it is believed that the likely catalytic role of iron in lipid peroxidation could be an important factor in formation of atherosclerosis lesion.Methods: Serum level of ferritin, transferring and TG/HDL-C ratio were measured in a total of 140 male patients (age³ 45 years) who referred to have a diagnostic coronary angiography. Subjects were divided into two groups according to their angiographic results (case group with ³ 75% and control group<75% stenosis in one of the coronary arteries).Findings: Mean iron stores concentration were higher in cases (ferritin: 129.8 ± 99 vs 107.7 ± 75 n g/ml and transferrin: 288.8 ± 53.9 vs 285 ± 58.9 mg/dl), however these differences were not statistically significant, but after adjusting basic characteristics, the difference for ferritin was significant (P<0.05). By grouping ferritin levels in 3 quintile (Q1£ 126, 126<Q2 £233, and Q3>233) and control of confounding factors, the relationship of ferritin and the number of involved vessels was not significant. Although, the ratio of TG/HDL-C in the case group was higher than controls, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).Conclusion: Our findings showed that ferritin, hemoglobin, and TG/HDL-C ratio can be important diagnostic indicators of coronary atherosclerosis progression. But applying the level of ferritin, as a prognostic indicator, in determining the number of involved vessels may be unreliable.