Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Year:2013 | Volume:31 | Issue:236|Papers Count:7

Background: Trichomonas vaginalisis a flagellate parasite causing vaginosis as a common sexual transmitted disease. Metronidazole is the drug of choice for this disease; but due to its side effects it is necessary to search for an alternative drug. In this study, the effect of Tanacetum parthenium on Trichomonas vaginalis was investigated.Methods: Using percolation method, hydro-alcoholic extracts of Tanacetum parthenium was prepared. The extract was dried using vacuum rotary evaporator. Different doses of the extract were added to 8 tubes containing culture medium of Trichomonas vaginalis; metronidazole was added to 1 tube. Finally, 104 Trichomonas vaginalis was added to each tube. Every 24 hours for 3 days, the tubes were seen for count and motion of the parasite under the microscope.Findings: In concentrations of 4, 5, 8 and 10 mg/ml of Tanacetum parthenium, the parasite did not grow. The effect of the extract on Trichomonas vaginalis was similar to the effect of metronidazole.Conclusion: Tanacetum parthenium has efficient effect against Trichomonas vaginalis growth in culture medium; so, this herb can be considered as alternative drug for methronidazole.

Background: High psychiatric disorders frequency, especially mood disorders, among patients with skin diseases has been proved. Skin diseases can reduce the self-esteem and more suicidal thought and commitment have been reported among these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychological profile of patients with skin diseases.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 250 patients with skin lesions aged from 16 to 60 years were submitted to survey by random convenience sampling. General health questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) and Hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS) were used for measuring psychological profile. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney, chi-square, independent-t, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman correlation tests.Findings: Psychiatric disorders prevalence, based on GHQ-28, was 60%. Social function disorder, anxiety and insomnia, somatic symptoms and depression had the higher average rank and frequency, respectively. HADS screening showed 27.6% of prevalence for psychological profile problems and 27.87% for anxiety and depression subscales. Sex and age had no significant correlation to the psychological profile of patients. On the other hand, the marriage status and body location of skin lesions were statistically correlated to psychological profile.Conclusion: This study confirms the correlation between impaired psychological profile and skin lesions. With regards to high amount of outpatient refer to dermatology clinics, psychological consideration of dermatologic outpatients for preventive and probable therapeutic measurements is recommended.

Background: Bone is a tissue with high repair capacity; but, this ability dramatically is limited during irrecoverable bone and skeletal defects. Stem cell therapy is a promising approach for construction of bone tissue. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been introduced as basic tools for bone tissue generation in tissue engineering. Core binding factor alpha 1 (Cbfa1) is one of the main genes involved in osteogenesis. Since relative expression of Cbfa1 in differentiated osteoblasts from adipose derived stem cells is unknown, this study aimed to evaluate the gene expression pattern of Cbfa1 in adipose derived differentiated osteoblasts in 4 different time intervals.Methods: Real-time PCR was used for studying the gene expression of Cbfa1 in human normal osteoblasts and adipose derived osteogenic osteoblasts at the days 7, 14, 21 and 28.Findings: There was a progressive increase in Cbfa1 expression over the differentiation period of adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) from day 7 to day 28. Differentiated osteoblasts expressed Cbfa1 lower than native osteoblasts (P<0.05).Conclusion: ADSCs are an attractive source for engineering a new bone tissue. According to our results, adipose derived differentiated osteoblasts express candidate gene at least on day 7 of culture.Our study indicates that longer treatment of ADSCs in osteogenic medium confer better osteoblastic properties to these cells.

Background: Furthermore application of bacteriocins as alternates for antibiotics, they are fermented as food preservation currently. The aim of this study was isolation and purification of ultravioletresistant bacteriocins from enterococci strains active against Listeria monocytogenes.Methods: Different strains of enterococci bacteria were isolated and identified from various clinical specimens and bacteriocin production were evaluated against strains of Listeria monocytogenes. An isolate of enterococcus bacteria that produce significant bacteriocin against all studied strains of Listeria monocytogenes was identified based on its phenotypical and biochemical properties as well as its 16SrRNA gene sequencing. In the next stage, this bacteriocin was purified and the effects of proteolytic enzymes, pH, temperature and ultraviolet radiation (UV) on its activity were tested and its molecular weight was determined by SDS-PAGE (Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) method.Findings: 17 strains of enterococci were isolated and five isolates exhibited an inhibitory effect against Listeria monocytogenes strains and among them, one enterococcus had inhibitory effect against all four strains of Listeria monocytogenes. This enterococcus was identified as Enterococcus faecium strain DSH20 (access number: JX567733.1). Using proteolytic enzymes led to the loss of antimicrobial activity; so, protein nature of it was confirmed. Bacteriocin production was resistant to UV, high temperature and pH changes. The molecular weight of the bacteriocin was at approximately 35 kilodaltons.Conclusion: Biochemical properties of this bacteriocin, such as thermal stability, resistance to UV radiation and pH, were significant. These properties present it as an alternative of antimicrobial agents against Listeria monocytogenes and preserving of fermented foods.

Background: Silibin is the major (70–80%) and the most active biological flavonolignan of silymarin with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Studies have shown that nanoparticles can effectively be swallowed by macrophages which are associated with inflammation procedure of ulcerative colitis.In addition, further reducing the particle size increases particle uptake into the intestinal cells and the particles could be deposited more effectively on affected areas. In the present study, nanoparticles of silibin were designed to evaluate their effectiveness on ulcerative colitis in rats.Methods: Test nanoparticles consisted of 15 mg of silibin loaded in 15 mg of poly (ethyl acrylate-comethyl methacrylate-co-trimethyl ammonium ethyl methacrylate) polymer with average particle size of 109 nm which had been coated by 20% w/w of poly (methyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate-comethacrylic acid) polymer in order to deliver nanoparticles to colon specifically. Five separate groups of rats were fasted for 36 hours and then, colitis was induced with 2 ml of acetic acid 4%. Treatments were made for 5 days, once a day, started 2 hours before colitis induction. The designed groups were: nanocapsules containing 75 mg/kg silibin, nanocapsules without silibin, dexamethasone (1 mg/kg), normal saline (2 ml/kg) and normal group.24 hours after the last administration, colon tissue was removed; macroscopic and histopathologic assessment, also determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were conducted.Findings: Silibin nanocapsules were effective to diminish inflammation and ulcer severity while it was not able to reduce ulcer area statistically. Weight/length ratio in dexamethason and silibin nanocapsule group was close to that in normal group. Microscopic assessment of silibin nanocapsule group showed a mild to moderate inflammation of mucosa and minimal crypt damage as the values were significantly different from those of control group. Treatment with silibin nanocapsules resulted in decreasing of myeloperoxidase activity and also both levels of IL-6 and TNF-a compared to control group.Conclusion: Poly (ethyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate-co-trimethyl ammonium ethyl methacrylate) nanocapsules of silibin could be considered as a suitable alternative for present drugs with anti-colitis property. However, more studies are needed to support this hypothesis for clinical use.