[Effect of vitamin C on colony formation of ovine spermatogonial stem cells in vitro]

Background and Aim: The technology of using spermatogonial stem cells [SSCs] has been limited due to lack of an ideal culture system for growth and proliferation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different doses of vitamin C on SSCs colony formation in vitro

Materials and Methods: The cells were isolated from testes of prepubertal lambs by two enzymatic digestions, purified by differential platting, and then treated for 10 days by using 4 methods: Simple culture including SSCs in DMEM containing 1% antibiotic and 5% FBS as our control group and for the three other cultures we used the same culture medium as that in control group plus 20, 40 and 60 micro g/ml of vitamin C respectively. Culture media were refreshed every 72h and colony numbers and diameters were determined on the 4[th], 7[th] and 10[th] days after the beginning of culture by using inverted microscope. Spermatogonial cells were identified by immunocytochemistry staining against PGP9.5. Using R software, the results obtained from 5 repeats were evaluated by ANOVA. P<0.05 was considered significant

Results: On the 7[th] day, we found a significant difference between the culture No. 2 [0.41 mm[2]] and culture No. 3 [0.08 mm[2]] in regard to spermatogonial colonies surface areas [P<0.05]. Also, colonies surface areas on the 10[th] day in the culture No. 2 was significantly greater than those in the other groups [P<0.05]

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that vitamin C with a dose of 40 [micro g/ml] was effective in increasing the surface area of spermatogonial colonies. But it had no effect on spermatogonial cell number

[Hepatitis B virus x protein coding sequence variation in chronically infected patient]

Background and Objective: Chronic infection with Hepatitis B virus [HBV] is one of the main causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]

The pathogenicity of the virus is determined by the multi-functional protein x [HBx]. Changing the sequence of the gene encoding this protein causes the regulation of transcription and pathogenicity factors. This study was done to analyze the genetic dynamics of the HBx coding gene in a person with chronic HBV

Methods: In this descriptive laboratory study, an infected person with chronic hepatitis B virus infection was first amplified and cloned into complete sequence of HBx encoder. Then, the reference sequences of genotypes, serotypes and different virus subtypes of the GenBank database were matched by CLC Sequence Viewer software. The comparative result was used to plot the phylogenic tree by T-rex server and population genetic analysis using DnaSP software. Natural selection at the nucleotide and protein level was performed by the Tajima's D test

Results: No known mutation at the level of the protein was found in the chronic sequence of the HBx encoder. The results of natural selection indicated neutral mutations in the HBx gene. The phylogenetic results showed that the HBx encoding sequences in the chronic infected individual had a genetic affinity with genotype D and ayw2 subtype

Conclusion: Neutrality polymorphism takes place in HBx coding region. Also, the phylogenetic results of the present study are consistent with the previous findings of Golestan province and Iran which have reported the prevalence of genotype D and subspecies ayw2

[Diagnostic value of physical examination for topographic detection of infratentorial lesions in patients with cerebrovascular syndromes]

The Detection of neurologic signs for topographical disorders in central nerves system can prevent unnecessary neuroimaging techniques such as MRI. This study was performed to determine the diagnostic value of physical examination for topographic detection of infratentorial lesions in patients with cerebrovascular syndromes. This descriptive study was done on 200 patients with cerebrovascular syndrome in Qaem Hospital in Mashhad, north-east Iran during 2011. Regarding to topographic physical examination, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and accuracy of signs of syndromes were compared to MRI as gold standard method. The accuracy of tetraparesis and crossed syndromes for localization of brain lesion in brainstem was 79% and 83%, respectively. The accuracy of hemiataxia for localization of brain lesion in ipsilateral cerebellar hemisphere was 98%. The accuracy of Wallenberg syndrome for localization of brain lesion in posterolateral medulla was 98%. Using clinical neuro-examination skills and accurate topographic physical examination can prevent unwanted MRI technique for the diagnoses of cerebrovascular syndromes

[ effect of priacetam in aphasia due to acute brain ischemic stroke: clinical trial]

Background and Aims: Stroke incidence is 15 million people world wide annually and one third of these patients suffer from aphasia. Aphasia is often associated with significant disability in patients. Costs due to cerebrovascular diseases play an important role in national health expenditures. We aimed to assess the effect of piracetam in treatment of aphasia

Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke after completing informed consent form were divided randomly into two groups. The intervention group recieved standard treatment and 4800 mg piracetam daily for 12 weeks and the control group received standard treatment plus placebo. All patients on admission, and one, two, and three months post-stroke were evaluated using Nilipour Farsi aphasia test

Results: A total of 40 patients with stroke and mean age of 60.1 +/- 17.2 years were assessed. Among them, the Broca aphasia had the most frequency and global and Wernicke aphasia had the least. The aphasia test showed significant difference between the intervention and control groups at the first and second months of follow-up; but the difference was not significant at the third month

Conclusion: Totally, piracetam does not affect the rate of recovery from aphasia, despite increasing patients' early recovery

Comparison of panoramic radiography in detection of carotid artery calcifications with Doppler Sonography results

One of the important findings in panoramic radiology is the detection of a calcified plaque in the carotid artery therefore the dentist may be the first health care practitioner to detect a life-threatening illness. The aim of the present study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the panoramic radiographs with Doppler ultrasound for detection of carotid artery calcification in patient with end stage disease. Thirty-eight adult patients with renal disease were referred for Doppler ultrasound examination for the detection of carotid artery calcification. Later, the panoramic radiographs of these patients were evaluated by two radiologists for the detection of calcification around the carotid bifurcation. Data of panoramic radiography and Doppler ultrasound were analyzed by SPSS using Cohen kappa analysis and chi-squared test. Accuracy, sensitivity, and the specificity of panoramic radiographs were 75.6%, 70.1%, and 77.2%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the panoramic radiology and Doppler ultrasound results with moderate agreement [p<0.05, k=0.490]. Inter observer reliability in panoramic technique was shown to be excellent [kappa=0.890]. All panoramic radiographs made for evaluation of oral structures, should be carefully screened for detection of carotid artery calcification, particularly radiographs of high risk patients

Blood transfusion acute reactions in patients of Shahid Ghazi Hospital

Cancer patients due to bone marrow suppression, sepsis, and other relevant complications require appropriate blood components for transfusion. However, there are risks of transfusion reactions. These reactions are influenced by many factors varying across different geographic regions and medical centers. This study was performed to determine incidence of early transfusion reactions and their clinical symptoms and signs in cancer patients, and to calculate the correlation of these adverse reactions with some demographic data and some specifications of blood components. In this descriptive study, 39 reactions from 4023 blood transfusion attempts were assessed. Patients were monitored for symptoms and changes in vital signs within 24 hours following transfusion. Data analysis was performed by descriptive and inferential statistics [X 2 and ANOVA].The majority of reactions belonged to platelets [56.43%] and packed cells [43.58%]. The most common symptoms were shown to be rigors [2.72%], and fever [2.33%]. The incidence rate was estimated to be 2.7% for FNHTR, and 2.1% for allergic reactions. Haptoglobin deficiency was found in 0.8% of FNHTR cases. A correlation was observed between sex and history of previous reactions [p=0.048, p=0.04, respectively] with blood transfusion reactions. These findings indicated that incidence of blood transfusion reactions and clinical symptoms correlated with other studies. The incidence of reactions in women and individuals with previous history of repeated blood transfusions was shown to be greater. Transfusion of packed cell was associated with allergic reactions [p=0.04], and high platelet lifetime associated with pulmonary reactions [p=0.044]

Evalution of the relationship between vitamin d receptor gene polymorphism [FOK I] and thyroid cancer

Background and purpose: Vitamin D is an antiproliferative agent against cancer cells and regulates cell differentiation. It acts via Vitamin D Receptor [VDR]. The VDR gene contains a Start Colon Polymorphism [SCP] that can be detected with the restriction enzyme Fok I. Previous studies report an association of SCP and some diseases and some suggest that this polymorphism alters VDR function. As no studies so far have reported the association between Fok I genotype in Thyroid cancer, this study is intended to determine the association of Fok I polymorphism of VDR with thyroid cancer risks in Iranian population

Methods and Materials: 58 patients with papillary carcinoma, 13 patients with follicular carcinoma and 82 controls participated in a case-control study. A PCR-RFLP method used to determine VDR gene polymorphism in start codon characterized by the restriction enzyme Fok I. 95% confidence intervals and odds ratio were calculated for testing the relationship between Fok I polymorphism and thyroid cancer

Results: The odds ratio for the Fok I polymorphism on thyroid cancer was 0.39 [95% CI, 0.12-1.27] witch signifies no relationship between this polymorphism and the ris of thyroid cancer

Conclusion: As no relationship was found between this polymorphism and thyroid cancer, other genetic or environmental factors may be considered in thyroid cancer

Effects of experimental proximal duodenal obstruction on clinical, hematologieal, serum and urine biochemical changes in sheep

The objectives of this experiment were to determine clinical and clinicopathological changes after proximal duodenal obstruction in sheep. Experiments were carried out on seven Iranian crossbred male sheep aged between 2-2.5 years and weighing 45-50 kg. All operative procedures were performed under general anesthesia by intravenous infusion of sodium thiopental. A polyethylene tube reinforced with braided cotton tape was surgically placed around the duodenum 5 to 6 cm caudal to the pylorus. Experimental observations commenced two days before tightening the ligatures and inducing obstruction. Measurements at this stage were considered as the control values. Clinical [appetite, urination, defecation, ruminal contractions, temperature, respiratory and heart rates] and clinicopathological indices [hematological parameters, concentrations of sodium, chloride, potassium, calcium, magnesium, inorganic phosphorous, urea nitrogen, creatinine and acid-base status in serum and urine] were determined simultaneously at 12 hrs intervals for 72 hrs. At the end of the experiment the animals became lethargic, anorexic, weak and dehydrated. Finally, six sheep died and one sheep was slaughtered. There were significant differences [P<0.05] between temperature, respiratory and heart rates of the control and experimental values. Moreover, significant increases [P<0.05] in hematocrit, RBC and WBC counts, hypokalemia [P

[Square- flap procedure: a report of 31 cases]

Here we represent a report of 31 patients treated for increasing the distance between two points on skin surface by using two triangular and one square flaps. Theoretically, best skin lengthening is made by using one triangular with right - angled position. Squared - flap procedure as compared with other procedures for increasing the distance between two points of skin surface including Z - plasty and all its other modified procedures and also in comparison with Limberg procedure is more effective. We performed square - flap procedures for 31 patients with post- burned contractive scars and clefts in ear lobules and nasal alar rim in Poorsina Teaching Hospital [Guilan - 1989] with excellent results. And we found that square flap procedure is an effective procedure and has many practical applications