Objective: CREB1 is an important downstream protein for many signaling pathways. By designing efficient siRNAs against CREB1, it may be possible to assess the role of molecules involved in signaling pathways in different cell types. In this research the efficiency of CREB1 knockdown by two different siRNAs in K562 cells has been studied. Materials and Methods: siRNAs have been designed according to the criteria suggested by Reynolds et al. K562 cells were transfected by siRNA using Lipofectamine 2000. The efficiency of CREB knockdown has been assessed by quantitative relative Real-time PCR. Results: Our results have shown that only one of the siRNAs has a high level of inhibitory effect on CREB1 gene expression. The expression of CREB1 by this siRNA was knocked-down by 87% in K562 cells. Conclusion: In this research, although two siRNAs were designed according to the Reynolds et al. criteria, only one showed an inhibitory effect. Reasons other than the aforementioned criteria may be involved in effectiveness of siRNAs.

Background: Dermatophytosis is common cutaneous fungal disease with worldwide distribution. Interleukin8 (IL-8) realized from keratinocytes in the presence of dermatophytic antigens causes induction of acute responses in dermatophyte infection and subsequently production of acute phase proteins occurs in hepatocytes. C-reactive protein (CRP) and Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) are acute phase proteins. Since few researches in the case of acute phase proteins in dermatophytic infections has been accomplished, this study has been designed for determining serum CRP and MBL levels in patients affected to dermatophytosis.Methods: This was a cross sectional study and samples were carried out on 96 healthy individuals and 105 patients affected to dermatophytosis with non probable and in access procedure. For isolation and identification of dermatophyte direct microscopic examination, culturing and complementary examinations were done and for determination of serum CRP and MBL levels in healthy individuals and in patients ELISA test were used. For investigation of relevance between variables, Chi-square, Fisher exact, Mann-Whitney and Roc curve analysis were used and p< 0.05 was considered as meaningful level.Results: The median serum CRP level in healthy individuals and in patients group was 3.31±3.32 mg/ml and 16.60±35.96 mg/ml (p<0.001) respectively and the median serum MBL level was 1.53±1.87 mg/ml and 1.97±2.03 mg/ml (p=0.039) respectively. CRP (p<0.001) and MBL (p=0.042) were determined meaningful parameters for dermatophytosis. MBL deficiency (MBL concentrations <1 mg/ml) was higher in control subjects (56.2%) than in patients (41.0%). Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate increased concentrations of CRP and MBL in patients affected to dermatophytosis and their role in this infection. Probably observation of high frequency of MBL deficiency in healthy individuals in compare with patients group indicates that it is not predisposing factor in affecting to dermatophytosis.

Background and Objective: Atherosclerosis is one of the most common causes of death in different societies, which occurs as a result of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries and this complication is exacerbated in some stages of life, one of which is menopause. At this stage, due to reduced physiological estrogen levels and android obesity, increased activity of the sympathetic system malfunction and fat oxidation, endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women increases. One of the factors reducing the risk of atherosclerosis is the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCA) 1 mRNA, which is involved in reverse cholesterol transfer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of aerobic exercise on ABCA1 mRNA expression in PBMC cells.Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 30 post-menopausal women who were randomly divided into two groups of control and eight weeks of aerobic exercise.Then, before and after the intervention, blood samples were taken from all subjects in 10 cc and lymphocytes were isolated by centrifugation and mRNA was isolated and assessed by PCR and the information obtained were analyzed by covariance tests with significance at P <0.05 in SPSS19.Results: The results showed that aerobic exercise had a significant effect on the expression of ABCA1, HDL, LDL and APO-A1 genes (P <0.05).Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that eight weeks of aerobic exercise improves reverse cholesterol transfer and prevents atherosclerotic factors in post-menopausal women.

Background: Choline-binding proteins (CBPs) are a group of surface-exposed proteins, which play crucial and physiological roles in Streptococcus pneumoniae. The novel member of CBPs, choline-binding protein M (CbpM) may have binding activity to plasma proteins. This study aimed to clone and express CbpM and demonstrate its interaction with plasma proteins and patients’ sera.Methods: The total length of cbpM gene was cloned in pET21a vector and expressed in BL21 expression host. Verification of recombinant protein was evaluated by Western blot using anti-His tag monoclonal antibody. Binding ability of the recombinant protein to plasma proteins and the interaction with patients’ sera were assessed by Western blot and ELISA methods.Results: The cbpM gene was successfully cloned into pET21a and expressed in BL21 host. Binding activity to fibronectin and fibrinogen and antibody reaction of CbpM to patients’ sera was demonstrated by Western blot and ELISA methods, respectively.Conclusion: CbpM is one of the pneumococcal surface-exposed proteins, which mediates pneumococcal binding to fibronectin and fibrinogen proteins.

Background: Sperm selection for ICSI is based on morphology and motility, but these parameters may not relevant chromatin integrity. One of the sperm selection methods for ICSI is based on sperm functional characteristics. This study was designed to compare two sperm selection methods (HA binding and Zeta method) for selection of spermatozoa with normal morphology and intact chromatin.Methods: Semen samples of 70 infertile couples referring to Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center was assessed during this study. Semen analysis was carried out according to WHO criteria. Semen samples divided into 3 groups. A portion of neat semen considered as control group and remained of semen used for Zeta and HA binding procedures. Sperm morphology, protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation were assessed by Papanicolaou staining, Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining, and SCD test, respectively in 3 group.Findings: Both HA binding assay and Zeta method are efficient to select sperm with normal morphology and lower protamine deficiency (P < 0.05).But in term of DNA fragmentation Zeta method appear to be more efficient to select sperm with low DNA fragmentation (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that these sperm selection methods can select spermatozoa with normal morphology and protamine content for ICSI. But Zeta method may be more efficient to select sperm with low DNA fragmentation. In patient with high DNA fragmentation, Zeta method can be useful to select spermatozoa for ICSI.

The mechanism of plasmid mediated silver (Ag) resistance was investigated in Acinetobacter baumannii BL54. The intracellular accumulation of Ag in both original strain BL54 and Escherichia coli K12 transconjugant containing plasmid pUPI276 began immediately and reached a maximum within 60 minutes. This initial accumulation was followed by net loss of Ag which reached a maximum within 180 min. Pre-treatment of cells with 0.5 mM 2,4 dinitrophenol (DNP); 20 mM N, N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD); 3% toluene; 25 mg/ml cefotaxime and polymyxin-B resulted in considerable decrease in the accumulation process. Ags plasmid less cured derivative (BL54.1) also accumulated silver but only onefourth the amount compared to the resistant strain BL54. The intracellular accumulated silver is detoxified by binding to a cysteine rich metal binding protein. The purified Ag-binding protein exhibited maximum absorption at 280/215 nm. From the above data it could be concluded that the intracellular detoxification of silver in A. baumannii BL54 is achieved through binding to a cysteine rich metalloprotein.