Journal of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences
Year:2017 | Volume:17 | Issue:1|Papers Count:11

Background & objectives: According to importance of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in production of different cell lines, transplantation of these cells are used for treatment of many different diseases during cell therapy. Viability and proliferation of these cells after transplantation are very important. Since infertility is as public health problem in men and women, the scientists attempt to produce germ cells from differentiation of stem cells. It is supposed to use these cells for treatment of different illnesses especially for men with lack of germ cells in testes in future. However, in using stem cells for cell therapy the culture medium should be designed to increase the number of cells and efficiency of transplantation and to guarantee the health of the cells in terms of DNA damage. This study designed a suitable culture medium in order to increase the number of colonies and decrease the cell injuries.Methods: In this study mesenchymal stem cells isolated from bone marrow of mice and exposed to retinoic acid (RA) with concentration of 10-6 M and Sertoli cells condition medium. Since mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) produce fibroblastic colonies so the number of colonies was counted every 3 days after culture (days of 2, 5, 8, 11, and 15) under inverted microscope. The staining of ethidium bromide-acridine orange was also done for determination of apoptotic nucleus in days of 10 and 15 after culture.Results: The results showed that the effects of retinoic acid on grow and viability of MSCs is related to the time. It seems that RA increased the proliferation of the cells and the number of colonies increased in low time but the apoptotic cells elevated with increasing the time of culture. Condition medium of Sertoli cells also increased the proliferation of bone marrow stem cells.Conclusion: According to proliferative properties of condition medium, it seems that using condition medium together with RA is better than RA alone for differentiation of MSCs to germ cells.

Background & Objective: Nowadays, female infertility and abortion is considered one of the most important issues in the medical world. Due to high consumption of chamomile as a medicinal herb, this study aimed to investigate the effects of chamomile consumption on abortion, estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH hormones and ovarian follicles in adult female rats.Methods: In this experimental study, 80 adult female rats were divided to 2 categories in 5 groups of 8 pregnant and non-pregnant rats, including control groups, sham group and groups receiving intraperitoneal doses of 30, 60 and 120 mg/kg chamomile hydro-alcoholic extract.At the end of the day 16 of pregnancy, aborted fetuses in pregnant groups were counted, and in day 21, the number of follicles and corpora-lutea in non-pregnant groups was obtained by separating ovaries, and sexual hormone levels were measured after phlebotomizing the samples. The results were analyzed by SPSS software (Ver.18) using ANOVA and Tukey tests. Significant difference of data was set at p£0.05.Results: The results of this study showed that chamomile caused a significant increase in the number of aborted fetuses and follicle atresia and a significant decrease (p£0.05) in serum level of estrogen, progesterone, FSH and LH hormones as well as the number of pre-antral follicle, antral follicles, graph and corpora-lutea.Conclusion: The results showed chamomile extract decreased LH and FSH, thereby decreasing ovarian follicles, sexual hormones and aborted fetuses.

Background and Objective: Since Abelmoschus esculentus plant has many medical benefits, the present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Okra Powder (Abelmoschus esculentus) against high-fat diet fed-streptozotocin (HFD/STZ) -induced diabetic rats.Methods: In this experimental study, 25 Wistar Albino female rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: I: control group; II: healthy rats receiving A. esculentus (200 mg/kg); III (HFD/STZ group): Rats fed with high-fat diet (HFD) (60% fat) for 4 weeks and then injected low-dose STZ (35 mg/kg); IV: diabetic rats receiving A. esculentus (200mg/kg) and V: diabetic rats receiving metformin (200 mg/kg). At the end of experiment, biochemical parameters, including Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG), insulin levels, Homa-IR index, ALT, AST and lipid profile were measured. Pancreas and Liver samples were removed, and 5-6 m sections were prepared and stained by H& E and aldehyde fuchsin staining.Results: All the biochemical parameters, except HDL-C and insulin, were increased in diabetic rats, while these parameters were decreased in Okra supplementation group compared to diabetic rats (p<0.05). Furthermore, Okra improved the histological impairments of pancreas and liver, including vacuolization, and decrease of b-cells as well as hypertrophy and vacuolization of hepatocytes in diabetic rats.Conclusion: Okra powder improved biochemical parameters, liver structure and restoration of beta cells of pancreas in diabetic rats. Thus, it can be considered a complementary therapy to improve diabetic patients.

Background & Objectives: hcpD gene in Helicobacter pylori is a member of cysteine-rich proteins family which triggers the host's immune system and antibody production. H. pylori is found in human's stomach and causes digestive diseases such as duodenal ulcer, chronic gastritis and stomach cancer. The objectives of this study were to isolate, amplify and clone H. pylori's hcpD gene in pcDNA3.1 (-) vector and to study its expression in eukaryotic system.Methods: H. pylori genomic DNA was isolated by extraction kit. The hcpD gene was amplified using PCR reaction and then purified from gel, followed by pTZ cloning.Subcloning of hcpD was performed in pcDNA3.1 (-) eukaryotic expression vector. The accuracy of cloning steps was investigated through PCR, enzymatic digestion by BamHI and EcoRV enzymes, and sequencing, respectively. Transfer of expression construct into CHO cells was done by electroporation. The gene expression in these cells was analyzed using RTPCR and SDS-PAGE.Results: PCR results showed amplification of a 933bp segment related to hcpD gene.Successful cloning of the gene in pTZ vector and construction of pTZ-hcpD recombinant vector were achieved. Enzymatic digestion and sequencing confirmed the correctness of subcloning and creation of pcDNA3.1 (-) -hcpD construct. hcpD was expressed in eukaryotic system, and its protein product was observed on SDS-PAGE gel.Conclusion: pTZ-hcpD construct can be used as a source of H. pylori's hcpD gene for future research, like production of recombinant protein and vaccine in different systems.Furthermore, successful expression of the gene using pcDNA3.1 (-) -hcpD in CHO animal cells shows the potential of vector as a gene vaccine against H. pylori.

Background & objectives: Terfezia boudieri (TB) has more than 15 types of proteins, gallic acid, catechins, flavonoids, tannins and other compounds such as beta-carotene and linoleic acid. Some of these compounds have antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemia effects. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the antioxidant and protective effects of this fungus on the liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride.Methods: 30 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into 5 groups (each group containing 6).Group 1 (normal control group) and group 2 (control CCl4) were given normal saline for 14 days. Group 3, 4 and 5 received 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/ kg doses of methanol extract of TB for 14 days, respectively before the injection of carbon tetrachloride. In the fourteenth day, all groups except group 1 were given 1.5 ml/kg of carbon tetrachloride (V / V 1: 1 dissolved in olive oil). Group 1, instead of carbon tetrachloride, received 1.5 ml/kg of olive oil on the fourteenth day.Results: Injection of carbon tetrachloride in rats increased serum activity of ALT, AST, ALP and serum degrees of triglycerides, VLDL, LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, glucose, and reduced HDL and total antioxidant capacity (TAC); while pre-treatment with methanol extract of TB significantly reversed the changes.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that methanol extract of TB can protect the liver against oxidants and free radicals produced by carbon tetrachloride metabolism.

Background & Objectives: Wounds healing especially as to surgical wounds is considered clinical problem. Kombucha is used as a food and adminstarted for wound healing. The aim of this study was to assess histopathological and histomorphometrical effect of Kombucha on surgical wound healing process in stomach of rat.Methods: Thirty adult male Wistar rats with 10-week-old and weighted between 200-250 g were randomly divided into two groups (Control and Experimenral). After anesthesia, rats’ stomach was removed and a gastrotomy incision with the length of 1 cm was made in greater curvature, thereafter, sutured in 2 layers. Experimental group received Kombucha extract (1 ml/100gbw) and control group received normal saline (1 ml/100gbw) daily for 14 days through the gavage. In 3, 7 and 14 days after operation, five rats of each group were euthanized and stomach tissue specimens were collected for histopatholocical study by H& E and Masson's trichrome staining. Histopathological and histomorphometrical studies of wound healing among the groups were carried out considering more effective agents on wound healing including proliferation of fibroblasts, angiogenesis, re-epithelialization and collagen organization in healing tissue.Results: The numbers of fibroblasts, capillary buds and organized collagen content in healing site of experimental group were significantly more than control group (p<0.05). The size of epithelial gap in experimental group was significantly lesser than control group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Based on the results, Kombucha extract possesses beneficial effects on healing of stomach surgical wounds in rats.

Background & aim: Nowadays because of difficulty in the supply and injection of insulin and blood sugar reducing drugs and considering the side effects of chemical drugs, researcher’s attention is drawn to using herbal medicines. Liver is one of the organs affected by diabetes in different functional aspects. The purpose of this research was studying the effect of Rosa canina extract on reducing the adverse effects and improving diabetes symptoms related to histophysiology, amount of biochemical serum factors and liver enzymes in male rats.Methods: 32 male Wistar rats, weighed 200-220 gr, were divided into 4 groups. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ (60mg/kg). The period of experiments was 4 weeks. At the end of experiments, the rats were sacrificed and their serums were collected for measurement of liver enzymes. Also, histological sampling of liver was done. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA).Results: The results of this study showed that treatment with ethanol extract of Rosa canina led to significant reduction of liver enzymes in the Rosa extract-treated groups in comparison with the diabetic group, indicating the protective effect of alcoholic extract of Rosa canina on liver tissue against diabetes-induced damages. In liver histopathology, a distinct fat change in the lobular center areas was created in the diabetic group. Pathological changes were not significant in the liver of the Rosa extract-treated groups; liver in this group was relatively healthier than in diabetic group.Conclusions: Rosa extract improved this organ's function in STZ-induced diabetic rats by reducing serum biomarkers of liver pathology and reducing histological damages.

Background & aims: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of NEO personality dimensions on general health, quality of life and job burnout in a sample of faculty members of Iran University of Medical Sciences.Methods: In this correlational study, data were collected by convenience sampling using General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), WHO Quality of Life- Brief (WHOQOL-FFI), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and NEO-FFI. In order to analyze the data, statistical indices, including mean, standard deviation and Pearson correlation coefficient were used.Results: The results showed a significant correlation between personality dimensions, including neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness and agreement with any public health variables (correlation coefficients 0.435, 0.533, 334.513, 0.0) and quality of life (correlation coefficients 0.294, 0.438, 312.459, 0.0) and burnout (correlation coefficients 0.259, 0.351, -0.302, -0.299, 0.0), respectively in the Department of Surgery, but openness to experience had no significant correlation with any of the above-mentioned variables. Also, there was a significant relationship between the three variables of public health, quality of life with burnout.Conclusions: According to the findings, it can be concluded that in the participants of this study, increase of neuroticism scores was associated with decreased general health and quality of life scores and increased job burnout. Further, increased extroversion scores were associated with increase in general health and quality of life and decrease in job burnout scores.

Background & objectives: Propolis is a natural product with powerful antioxidant and therapeutic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of propolis on passive avoidance memory in adult male mice.Methods: In this study, 40 adult male mice were divided into 8 groups, including control, sham (solvent) and 3 treatment groups orally treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of propolis, respectively for two weeks before and one week after treatment. Then, passive avoidance learning and memory were recorded in timescales of 24 and 48 hours, 4 days and a week after shock by the shuttle box. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Dunnett’s post hoc tests, and p<0.05 was considered significant.Results: Administration of propolis (50 mg/kg) significantly increased the dark chamber entering time at intervals of 24 and 48 hours (p<0.001) and at concentrations of 100 and 200 mg/kg in all time periods after the shock (p<0.001).Conclusion: Oral administrations of propolis can improve learning and memory dosedependently in adult male mice.

Background & Objectives: Infertility (abortion & stillbirth) is one of the most common medical problems during pregnancy. Approximately 10-15% of all clinically recognized pregnancies are lost before the birth. Pregnancy loss is a multifactorial phenomenon. This study was an attempt to analysis the cytogenetic abnormalities of the parents with frequent spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.Methods: In this study, the samples were analyzed by GTG-banding technique.Results: From a total of 200 reviewed blood samples, 188 persons (94%) had natural karyotype and 12 persons (6%) had chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosomal aberrations were found in 5 (2.5%) females and 7 (3.5%) males. The prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities was as follows: 5 (41.6%) pericentric inversion of chromosome 9, 3 (25%) polymorphism 15p+, 1 (8.3%) translocation, 1 (8.3%) polymorphism 15ps+, 1 (8.3%) polymorphism 1qh+and 1 (8.3%) unknown chromophil band on the short arm of chromosome 21.Conclusion: Chromosomal analysis is an important etiological investigation in couples with recurrent spontaneous abortions and stillbirth, and genetic counseling helps to make a correct decision on further options of reproduction.

Background & objective: One of the objectives of health reform plan in Iran is to reduce the rate of cesarean section delivery. This needs research and use of results to improve the maternal and neonatal outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes after normal vaginal and cesarean section delivery in hospitalized low-risk mothers in Arash Hospital in Tehran, Iran.Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 1900 low-risk pregnant women, with 37-40 weeks of gestational age, referring to the emergency department and being hospitalized for delivery were included. The data were collected from two groups of patients (normal vaginal delivery and cesarean section delivery). Data on wound infection, abnormal postpartum hemorrhage, decrease of hemoglobin, transfusion requirement, injuries to the genitourinary system, fever until 10 days after delivery, neonatal respiratory complications, NICU admission, jaundice and obstetric injuries were collected by a questionnaire.Results: From 1900 pregnant women, 62.1% had cesarean delivery and 37.9% had normal vaginal delivery. The reasons for cesarean delivery included repeated cesarean (68%), failure to progress (18.1%), and fetal distress (13.9%). Wound infection (p=0.004), abnormal postpartum hemorrhage (p=0.042) and low hemoglobin (p<0.001) were more frequent in cesarean delivery group than in normal vaginal delivery group. But obstetric injuries were higher in normal vaginal delivery group (p<0.0001). There was no difference between the two groups in terms of fever ten days after delivery and blood transfusion requirement. For neonatal outcomes, transient neonatal tachypnea (p=0.032), neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (p=0.002), and NICU admission (p<0.0001) were more frequent in cesarean delivery group than in normal vaginal delivery group. There was no difference between the two groups in neonatal jaundice rate and neonatal injuries.Conclusion: Due to the high rate of cesarean section delivery in our country and higher rate of maternal and neonatal complications after cesarean section delivery, appropriate strategies are required to be applied to decrease unnecessary cesarean section delivery and increase normal delivery with minimum maternal and neonatal complications.