Pathobiology Research
Year:2010 | Volume:13 | Issue:1|Papers Count:14

Materials and Methods: In this study, patients data were collected from Flow Cytometry tests of the Iran Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO) have been used. 304 different diagnosed samples in 8 classes of acute leukemia were investigated. Samples were initially in numerical format. In the next stage, we transformed them into Boolean format according to the defined threshold. Then, weights were assigned to these samples based on cooperative game theory and Shapley value. In this regard, different samples of acute leukemia were separated and classified (Learning Phase). In the diagnosis phase, using similarity measures, the similarities between new under study and the training samples were assessed and the type of under study leukemia were detected (Diagnosis phase). Results: The accuracy rate of the classification method based on the cooperative game theory for leukemia was 96.3% which indicates that the proposed method has a considerable precision rate to classify the different kind of classes. In order to find the validity and efficiency of the proposed method, the results were compared with neural network, which is one of the useful learning algorithms. The accuracy rate of the classification method based on Radial Basis Function method (RBF) was 91.80%. Conclusion: Considering the data, the proposed method gave very hopeful results for acute leukemia classification. In this regard, it can assist hematologists and physicians in reasonable and accurate diagnosis of the kind of leukemia, to make more suitable decisions.

Objective: The use of bacterial plasmids carrying specific genes of pathogens as genetic vaccines is a relatively new technique for induction of cellular immune responses against microbial pathogens. Mechanisms of production of specific immune responses against these vaccines are not still completely understood. Therefore, it is necessary to examine various routes of inoculation to find the best way of immunization for specific antigens. In this research, intramuscular method of inoculation of influenza vaccine nucleoprotein (NP) encoding vector was compared with that of intra-dermal method. Materials and Methods: In this study, the ability of two different methods of immunization (intramuscular and intra-dermal) in induction of CTL responses as well as their efficiency in clearance of influenza virus from the lung of BALB/c mice was compared. Female BALB/c mice were immunized with influenza virus NP expressing plasmids on days 0, 14 and 28. CTL activity of mice was evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase technique two weeks after the last inoculation. In addition, the mice were challenged by live influenza virus and the viral titer was measured 4 days post-challenge in the lungs of animals. The results of experiments demonstrated that intramuscular immunization of mice induces a stronger CTL response. Mice immunized by intramuscular route also showed a higher ability in virus clearance from the lungs. Conclusion: Results of this study showed that different routes of immunization of influenza NP genetic vaccine induce different levels of cell-mediated immune responses and protection from the live virus.

Objective: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that causes Toxoplasmosis in human and animal. In recent years, significant progress has been made in the identification of vaccine candidates which can induce protective responses. In this study we used complete Rhoptry protein 2 gene of Toxoplasma gondii as a single DNA vaccine and evaluated its immune responses in comparison with control groups. Materials and Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized intramuscularly with three weaks time interval with pcROP2 (as case group) and pc-DNA3 and PBS (as control groups). After immunization, we evaluated the immune response using cytokine and antibody measurements. Results: The results of cytokine (IFN- g, IL-4) assays showed that mice immunized with pcROP2, elicited stronger Th1-type cellular immune responses than those immunized with empty plasmid, or PBS (high level of IFN-g and low-level of IL-4). Also Anti-T. gondii IgG titres (OD) increased markedly in the pcROP2 group, which was significantly higher than those of control groups (P<0.05). When challenged with the highly virulent Toxoplasma gondii RH strain, mice immunized with pcROP2 had siginificantly higher survival rates compared to control groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that pc-ROP2 as a single DNA vaccine is effective to prime enhanced and balanced cellular and humeral immunity responses, and relatively improved mice survival time against toxoplasmosis.

Objective: Addiction, especially morphine dependence is a prevalence and incurable disease. With Regard to low ability of new chemical drugs in treatment of addicted ones and with respect to herbal medicine recommendation due to lower side effects and cheap production. This study experimentally examined the effect of P.harmala on morphine withdrawal syndrome. Materials and Methods: Animals were addicted with escalating morphine consumption in drinking water within 21 days. Naloxone (2.5 mg/kg, i.p) was injected for precipitating of pharmacological withdrawal syndromes. The signs were observed for 40 min after naloxone injection. Physiological withdrawal syndromes were followed 48 h after disruption of morphine consumption. In the treatment groups P. harmala (6.25% in food pellaete), methadone and Raha with 30 mg/kg and 1.7 l/kg were respectively prescribed via drinking water. Results: The grade physiological sign, ejaculation was significantly diminished by methadone consumption (P<0.05). Also, teeth chattering sign was markedly reduced in methadone Peganum h., and Raha groups (P<0.05). Also, the physiologic chocked sign diarrhea was markedly reduced by methadone. Jumping, ejaculation and teeth cattering pharmacological grade signs were decreased in Peganum, methadone and raha groups more than control ones. Also diarrhea pharmacologic sign was diminished by Peganum and methadone significantly. Finally, if methadone could decrease both physiological and pharmacologic Opiate withdrawal score (OWS), but the effect of Peganum in reduction of physiological OWS is more significant than methadone group. Conclusion: The data from peganum show that this plant could diminished both pharmacological and physiological withdrawal signs in morphine dependent rats. However it was found that its effect for of morphine physiological withdrawal signs is more potent than methadone and raha treatment groups.

Objective: Verotoxin is a member of Shiga toxin family. This family contains AB protein toxins with an enzymatic (A) and a binding (B) compartment. Cells that have receptor (Gb3) are sensitive to cytotoxic effects of toxin. It has been shown that various tumor cells have Gb3 receptor and are selectively sensitive to apoptotic effect of verotoxin. Studies on tumor cell lines and laboratory animals have shown antineoplastic and antiangiogenesis effects of this toxin. The aim of this study was comparison of cytotoxic effect of verotoxin 1 on two cell lines: Vero (gold standard for evaluation of cytotoxic effect of Verotoxin) and Raji (a cell of a cultured line of lymphoblastoid cells derived from a Human Burkitt's lymphoma patients). Materials and Methods: The toxigenic strain was cultured and the production of toxin was evaluated by reverse passive latex agglutination test. Verotoxin 1 was purified by affinity chromatography. Vero and Raji cell were treated with serial dilutions of toxin, and viability was evaluated by MTT test. Results: Our result indicated that Verotoxin has cytotoxic effect on Raji cell lines. This effect is directly related to toxin concentration. Differences on cytotoxicity of toxin on Raji cells at 1:4-1:128 dilutions in relation to cytotoxicity of toxin on Vero cells at the same dilutions were considered statistically significant (P<0.05). But difference of cytotoxicity of toxin at higher dilutions was not significant. Conclusion: Our results revealed that Verotoxin has cytotoxicity on Vero and Raji cells, and this effect on Vero cells is more than Raji cells (P<0.05).

Objective: To investigate the friction of rabbit’s knee joint with designed pendulum friction tester to diagnose and evaluate different pathological and therapeutic conditions following haemarthrosis, osteoarthritis, and other joint disorders. Materials and Methods: Friction coefficient of 10 adult male Albino rabbit’s joint (5 right and 5 left knees) weighted 1.59 ± 0.27 Kg, after designing and compiling the instrument and its processing software in the Physiotherapy department of Tarbiat Modares University were measured. Maximaum pendulum rotation, number of oscillations to reach equilibrium, coefficient of friction with Stanton’s equation, exponential and linear curve fitting, average logarithmic and linear decrement methods were measured. Results: Maximum rotation after pendulum releasing in the left joints were higher than the right ones, P<0.001. Number of oscillations to reach equilibrium in the left knees were also greater than the right knees, P=0.005. All different friction estimation methods had the same results and showed greater friction in the right in comparison to the left side. Conclusion: The pattern of the joints amplitude decay did not have a linear behaviour and the rabbit’s knee joint coefficient of friction with nonlinear estimations was less than linear ones. The findings revealed that selecting a separate control group in such investigation is essential and the contralateral limb could not be considered as control group. Pendulum friction tester has the capability of evaluating changes in coefficient of friction after application of different therapeutic methods. These changes have important role in diagnosis, evaluation of joint diseases and developing techniques for treating those pathologies.

Objective: Due to the frequent use of surface electromyography as a tool for the study of muscle function, to accurately compare electromyographic data from different muscles and different subjects, it is necessary to normalize the integrated data obtained from each muscle. The most common normalization technique is the use of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of a predetermined isometric movement as the reference electromyographic signal. The purpose of this study was to determine the Reproducibility of maximum voluntary isometric contraction of shoulder muscles in Empty Can position test and the correlation between force and MVIC of shoulder muscles. Materials and Methods: The electromyographic activity of these four muscles (anterior and middle deltoid, upper and lower trapezius) was examined in 20 healthy subjects (10 men and 10 women with 31.25±8.92 age). Muscle force was determined by dynamometer. Each test repeated 3 times. Results: Results showed that same day test retest reliability coefficients were significant (ICC>95%), but separate day test retest reliability coefficients were not significant. Maximum muscle force did not relate to any of muscles MVIC amplitude. Conclusion: Reproducibility results may be due to electrode placement, emotional and physical condition of subjects and the large range of motion of shoulder and compensatory movements of shoulder and trunk.

Objective: Fungal nail infection (onychomycosis) is a common disease in all communities consisting about 50 percent of nail disorders. Yeasts are one of the important causative agents of onychomycosis. Identification of the yeast species is important in the epidemiological and therapeutical point of views. The aim of the present study is the precise species identification of the pathogenic yeast isolated from fungal nail infections, using the DNA-based methods. Materials and Methods: The isolates were preliminary studied according to study of morphological characteristics. For species identification, the genomic DNA of each sample was extracted by boiling method and the ITS region of ribosomal DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplified DNA was digested by the restriction enzyme MspI and each isolate was identified according to the electrophoretic patterns. A new enzymatic profile was used for final differentiation of Candida albicans and C. dubliniensis. A few of yeast isolates were identified by using ITS-sequensin. Results: C. albicans with the prevalence of 45.6% was the most common isolate, followed by C. parapsilosis with 22.5% and C. tropicalis with 21.8%. The less common species were C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. kefyr, C. lusitaniae, C. guilliermondii and C. pulcherrima that consisted 2.72%, 2%, 1.36%, 0.68% and 0.68% of the isolates, respectively. No C. dubliniensis was found among C. albicans isolates. Two isolates (1.36%) were identified as Trichosporon spp. The most common group of the patients was in the age range of 40-70 years old and the majority (83.2%) of the patients were women with finger nail infections. Conclusion: Although C. albicans is still the most prevalent isolates of nail candidiasis, the increasing number of non-albicans species is notable. The study showed that for identification of some rare species, the routine phenotypical approaches are not efficient and application of the ITS-PCR-RFLP can improve the level of differentiation up to 98%. The remaining isolates can be identified by more expensive methods such as sequencing.