Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Year:2009 | Volume:12 | Issue:3-4 (43)|Papers Count:9

Objective(s): Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most important cause of chronic lung infections and death in patients with cystic fibrosis. Determining the distribution of specific strains within patient populations is important in order to examine the epidemiology of the disease and the possibility of cross infection among patients. Materials and Methods: Forty six Iranian patients with cystic fibrosis were studied for colonization with P. aeruginosa. Colony phenotype was recorded and antibiotic susceptibility to 11 antibiotics was determined using the disc diffusion method. Genetic fingerprinting was carried out by RAPD–PCR and by PFGE.Results: rty five P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered from 31 patients including sequential cultures from 9 subjects. The rate of colonization increased with age. All isolates were susceptible to tobramycin and ciprofloxacin, 97.8% were sensitive to amikacin and piperacillin, 93.3% to gentamycin, 91.1% to ticarcillin, 86.7% to colistin, 80% to carbenicillin, 48.9% to cefotaxime, 26.7% to imipenem and 11.1% to ceftazidime. Genetic fingerprinting showed similar distribution profiles for RAPD-PCR and PFGE and the majority of the isolates had unique fingerprints.Conclusion:  relationship was observed between the obtained genotypes and antibiotic susceptibility profiles and common predominant virulent clones were not found among the isolates.

Objective(s): The aim of this study was to search for new antiviral agents from herbal medicines. Ethanol extracts of C. semipervirens, C. semipervirens var. horizontalis and C. semipervirens cv. Cereiformis were used in experiments to test their influence on herpes viruses (HSV-1). Materials and Methods: HeLa cells monolayers were infected with herpes viruses (HSV-1). Antiviral activity of the plant extracts assessed using Hematoxylin & Eosin method and observed under a light microscope. All tests were compared with a positive control, acyclovir.Results: Results showed that all three plants have antiviral activity against HSV-1 virus. The most active extractwas  the obtained extract from C. semipervirens. Among the different parts of this medicinal plant tested, the fruit’s extract appeared to possess the strongest anti- HSV activity. Conclusion: In conclusion, of the extracts tested in this survey all showed significant antiviral potency.

Objective(s): The present study was undertaken to investigate the nociception activity of promethazine, a tranquillizer devoid of hypnotic activity in mice.Materials and Methods: Antinociception was evaluated, using the acetic acid-induced writhing, tail flick, hot plate and formalin ain tests.Results: Promethazine (4 and 6 mg/kg) and acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg) produced a significant inhibition of the second phase response in the formalin pain model (P<0.05) and the drug couldn’t show an antinociceptive effect in the first phase. Morphine (10 mg/kg) inhibited both first and second phase response (P<0.01). Drug also showed a dose-dependent inhibition of acetic acid-induced abdominal writhes. The tail flick and hot plate latency weren’t different from control (P>0.05) and administration of naloxone (0.1 mg/kg) couldn't block the antinociceptive effect of promethazine.Conclusion: The data obtained suggest that antinociceptive effects of the promethazine may be mediated via peripheral and not central mechanisms.

Objective(s): The role of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in patient care has grown rapidly since its introduction three decades ago. The aim of present study was to evaluate the possible relationship between serum levels and the clinical response of valproic acid (VPA).Materials and Methods: In the present study we evaluated a homogeneous group of adult patients receiving VPAmonotherapy. A total of 18 epileptic patients who fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria were entered this prospective study. Steady state trough plasma concentration was determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA). The correlation between therapeutic response and VPA serum concentration was evaluated. Results: Mean VPA dose and mean total VPA plasma concentrations were 8.35±1.49 mg/kg/day and 50.40±4.18 mg/ml respectively. Mean VPA clearance was 8.84±4.43 (ml/kg/h). Plasma levels within the therapeutic range were found in 33% of epileptic patients. Plasma levels were below the therapeutic range in 67% of study population. Of patients 75% and 17% with sub-therapeutic levels achieved complete control and partial control respectively.Conclusion: Poor correlation was found between the plasma concentration of VPA and its therapeutic effects. Therefore, this study showed that TDM of VPA will be useful only when individuals are non-responsive to treatment or vulnerable to adverse reactions with standard doses.

Objective(s): The possible risks of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) for the living organisms and humanbody  are a growing concern for our society. In this study, we examined the possibility of changes in working memory and hippocampal histological characteristics effects in mice brain following whole body exposure to microwave radiation.Materials and Methods: During gestation period, we exposed mice for 4 hr to Global system for mobile communications (GSM), Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 200 mW/kg. Pregnant control mice were sham-exposed or free in a cage without further restraining. Three month after exposure, animals were prepared for behavioral (Radial Arm Maze (RAM) and Morris Water Maze (MWM)) and histological studies.Results: The results showed that microwave exposed mice were slower than sham, and control in finding the platform. Analyses of error rates in RAM and MWM performance revealed significant differences which emphasize the effect of acute exposure to pulsed microwaves in deficit of spatial reference memory in the mice. However in this study exposed group didn’t show any statistically significant loss of hippocampal CA1, CA3 neurons versus controls or sham. Conclusion: We conclude that there is evidence from the current study that exposure to MW radiation under parameters examined caused decrements in the ability of mice to learn the spatial memory task.

Objective(s): Extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane (BM) play important roles in many developmental processes during development and after birth. Among the components of the BM, collagen fibers specially type IV are the most important parts. The aim of this study was to determine the time when collagen type IV appears in the BM of lens structure during mouse embryonic development. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 22 female Balb/C mice were randomly selected and were kept undernormal condition, finding vaginal plug was assumed as day zero of pregnancy. From embryonic day 10 to 20, all specimens were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and their heads were fixed, serially sectioned and immunohistochemistry study for tracing collagen type IV in lens were carried out. Results: Our data revealed that collagen type IV appeared at the early stage of gestation day 12 in BM of anterior epithelial lens cells and the amount of this protein gradually increased until days 15-17 in ECM and posterior capsule epithelium. After this period, severe reaction was not observed in any part of the lens. Conclusion: These findings establish the important role of collagen IV in developing optic cup and any changes during critical period of pregnancy may be result in severe visual system defect.

Objective(s): Quinazolinones are heterocyclic components (able to form cyclized compounds) which have several medical effects such as anti-malarial, spasmolytic, anti-microbial, sedative, etc. They are also known for their fungicidal properties, inhibition of tyrosine-kinase and DNA repair enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and are also effective in treatment of cancer, diabetes, and parkinsonism complications. Materials and Methods: In this study, for the first time different aspects of developmental effects of two new Quinazolinone components (QPPE and QEPE), on kidneys of Balb/C mice embryos were investigated. Pregnant Balb/C mice were divided into four groups of control (n=30), sham (n=30), experimental 1 (n=30) and experimental 2 (n=30). Control mice remained intact, sham and two experimental groups received 0.05% methyl cellulose and 100 mg/kg/body weight (most effective dose) of QPPE and QEPE, intraperitoneally (IP), on day 10th of gestation. Kidneys were removed by c-sections, stained with H&E, PAS, trichrome, reticholin and jones staining. Some embryonic kidneys were prepared for measurements of level of alkaline phosphatase and TEM studies.Results: Light and TEM microscopes, and level of enzyme surveys demonstrated that QPPE and QEPE are toxic components, creating protrusions at the surface of convoluted proximal tubules, protein casts, renal necrotic cells, pseudothyroidezation, mitochondria degeneration, hyperemia, glomeruli hypertrophy, widening of renal spaces, vacuolization, as well as decrease in the number of brush border villi and level of alkaline phosphatase.Conclusion: By being teratogens and toxins, these two new derivatives affected development of embryonic kidneys at histological, biochemical and intracellular levels; QEPE had more effects and convoluted proximal tubules were more sensitive than convoluted distal tubules.

Objective(s): The process of wound healing involves tightly integrated events including inflammation, granulation tissue formation and remodeling. Systemic administration of L-arginine promotes wound healing but its global side effects are undesirable. To confine the action of L-arginine at the site of injury, we tested the effects of local administration of L-arginine on the healing of excisional wound in the rat.Materials and Methods: Full thickness excisional wounds were generated on the dorsum of adult male rats. The test wounds received 200 mm or 400 mm of L-arginine on day 3 and 5 post-wounding. Normal saline was injected into the sham wounds which were otherwise treated as the test wounds. Control wounds remained unmanipulated. The wound size was monitored daily by imaging. To determine the rate of wound closure, wound images were scanned and the rate of size reduction was analyzed and quantified by ScnImage software. The repaired tissues were harvested on day 12 post-wounding. The tissue sections were prepared and stained for microscopic examination.Results: Wounds treated with L-arginine showed a significant increase in the rate of wound closure. The morphology of basal keratinocytes was altered, and the thickness of neoepidermis was markedly reduced in the wounds treated with L-arginine. Both tested dose of L-arginine were equally effective. Conclusion: Local administration of L-arginine accelerates wound closure and has profound effects on keratinocytes performance during the process of healing. Therefore, it can be potentially used for treatment of skin disorders, in particular, those characterized by hyperkeratosis.

Objective(s): Shark Liver Oil (SLO) is an immunomodulator. Macrophages play a key role in host defense against pathogens like fungi. Candida albicans have mechanisms to escape immune system. We determined the effect of killed-Candida on the in vitro viability of macrophages and the effect of SLO on augmentation of this potency. Materials and Methods: Peritoneal macrophages were separated and cultured (3×105/well). At first, the effect of killed-Candida (200 cells/well) on macrophage viability was evaluated, using MTT test. Then, MTT was performed on macrophages stimulated with killed-Candida in the presence of SLO. Results: Killed-Candida suppressed the ability of MTT reduction and hence macrophages viability (P=0.026), but addition of SLO (100 mg/ml) significantly enhanced cell viability (P=0.00). So, SLO could neutralize the inhibitory effect of Candida. Conclusion: Simultaneous with cytotoxic effect of killed-Candida cells on macrophages viability, SLO augment macrophages viability. So, it can be applied in candidiasis as a complement.