ABSTRACT
Objective@#Uropathogenic Escherichia coli is known to cause urinary tract infections, and the endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) of this bacterium may cause deficiencies of sperm quality and morphology. In the present study, the effects of LPS on mouse sperm were studied, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-17A and possible changes in testis tissue were evaluated. @*Methods@#LPS of uropathogenic E. coli was extracted using the methanol-chloroform method, followed confirmation using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Purified LPS (100 µg/kg) or phosphate-buffered saline was injected intraperitoneally into BALB/c mice for 7 days consecutively in the test and control groups, Mice were sacrificed on days 3, 7, and 42 after the first injection. Blood was tested for levels of IL-17A using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Testis tissue and sperm were collected from each mouse and were studied according to standard protocols. @*Results@#The mean sperm count and motility significantly decreased (p=0.03) at 3, 7, and 42 days after the injections. The level of IL-17A in the test groups increased, but not significantly (p=0.8, p=0.11, and p=0.15, respectively). Microscopic studies showed no obvious changes in the morphology of the testis tissue; however, significant changes were observed in the cellular parenchyma on day 42. @*Conclusion@#LPS can stimulate the immune system to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, resulting in an immune response in the testis and ultimately leading to deficiency in sperm parameters and testis tissue damage. In addition, the presence of LPS could significantly impair sperm parameters, as shown by the finding of decreased motility.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#Uropathogenic Escherichia coli is known to cause urinary tract infections, and the endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) of this bacterium may cause deficiencies of sperm quality and morphology. In the present study, the effects of LPS on mouse sperm were studied, and the levels of interleukin (IL)-17A and possible changes in testis tissue were evaluated. @*Methods@#LPS of uropathogenic E. coli was extracted using the methanol-chloroform method, followed confirmation using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Purified LPS (100 µg/kg) or phosphate-buffered saline was injected intraperitoneally into BALB/c mice for 7 days consecutively in the test and control groups, Mice were sacrificed on days 3, 7, and 42 after the first injection. Blood was tested for levels of IL-17A using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Testis tissue and sperm were collected from each mouse and were studied according to standard protocols. @*Results@#The mean sperm count and motility significantly decreased (p=0.03) at 3, 7, and 42 days after the injections. The level of IL-17A in the test groups increased, but not significantly (p=0.8, p=0.11, and p=0.15, respectively). Microscopic studies showed no obvious changes in the morphology of the testis tissue; however, significant changes were observed in the cellular parenchyma on day 42. @*Conclusion@#LPS can stimulate the immune system to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, resulting in an immune response in the testis and ultimately leading to deficiency in sperm parameters and testis tissue damage. In addition, the presence of LPS could significantly impair sperm parameters, as shown by the finding of decreased motility.
ABSTRACT
Background: the role of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 [MMP9] in tumor invasion and progression is prominent. A single nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] in the promoter region of MMP9 [-1562 C/T] increases the transcription and expression of this gene. On the other hand, MHC class I chain-related protein A and B [MICA/B] in soluble forms may impair tumor immunogenicity by reducing Natural Killer Group 2D [NKG2D] densities on NK cells and MMP9 enzyme activity has a prominent role in shedding of MICA/B
Objectives: to investigate the association between MMP9 [-1562 C/T] polymorphism and serum MICA/B level in breast cancer patients
Methods: in this case-control study, 105 patients with breast cancer and 100 healthy age-matched women were selected from Yazd hospitals, Iran. The polymorphism of MMP9 [-1562 C/T] was determined by PCR-RFLP. Concentration of MICB and MICA in the sera of breast cancer patients and healthy women were measured using ELISA method
Results: the frequency of CC, CT and TT genotypes and T allele of the MMP9 [-1562 C/T] did not show significant differences between breast cancer patients and healthy donors [p>0.05]. On the other hand, the mean serum levels of MICB and MICA were significantly elevated in patients compared with healthy individuals [p<0.05]. In patients with MMP9CC genotype, the mean serum MICB concentration was significantly higher than those patients with CT polymorphism [p<0.05]. Although the mean of blood MICA concentration in patients with the CT genotype was higher than those patients with CC genotype, the difference was not statistically significant
Conclusion: the T allele of the MMP9 [-1562 C/T] does not show a correlation with serum levels of MICA and MICB in breast cancer patients
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire-50 (NOSACQ-50) was developed by a team of Nordic occupational safety researchers based on safety climate and psychological theories. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Persian version of NOSACQ-50 and assess the score of safety climate on a group of workers in a steel company in Iran. METHODS: The Persian version of NOSACQ-50 was distributed among 661 employees of a steel company in Qazvin Province (Iran). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis were used to determine the dimensions of the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach α coefficient. Pearson correlation test was applied to investigate the correlation between different dimensions. RESULTS: The results of EFA showed that the Persian version of NOSACQ-50 consisted of six dimensions. The Cronbach α coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.94. The mean score of safety climate in all dimensions was 2.89 (standard deviation 0.60). CONCLUSION: The Persian version of NOSACQ-50 had a satisfactory validity for measuring safety climate in the studied Iranian population.
Subject(s)
Climate , Iran , Occupational Health , Psychological Theory , SteelABSTRACT
Retinoic acid as one of the most important regulators for cell differentiation was examined in this study for differentiation of human umbilical mesenchymal cells [hUCM]. After isolation, hUCM were evaluated for mesenchymal stem cell properties by flow cytometry and alkaline phosphatase assay. Also, doubling time of the cells and their differentiation potential into adipogenic and osteogenic cells were tested. hUCM were then cultured with different concentrations of retinoic acid, and on days 1, 7, and 12, the percentage of differentiated cells was determined by immunostaining for nestin, anti-microtubule associated protein 2 [MAP[2]], glutamic acid decarboxylase [GAD], and gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA] markers. The isolated cells were negative for the hematopoietic markers and positive for the mesenchymal markers. They showed the population doubling time 60 +/- 3 hours and differentiated into osteogenic and adipogenic cells. A descending trend in nestin and an ascending trend in MAP[2], GAD, and GABA expression were observed from the first day until the last day between different concentrations of retinoic acid. hUCM cells may have the potential to differentiate into neural cells in the presence of different incubation period and concentration of retinoic acid
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Umbilical Cord , Tretinoin , Cell Differentiation , Neural Stem CellsABSTRACT
Anatomic variations in forensic extrahepatic bile ducts is common. Knowledge of extrahepatic bile duct variations is important for surgeons in order to prevent iatrogenic damage during surgery. This study aims to determine the variations in extrahepatic bile ducts among 150 cadavers located at the Kerman Medicine Organization. We performed autopsies on 150 cadavers. Bile ducts were exposed and studied to determine their anatomic variants and diameters. We observed anatomic variants of the biliary tree in 7 cadavers [4.6%]. In 3 [2%] cadavers, the right hepatic duct was missing, in 2 [1.33%] the left hepatic duct was missing and 6 [4%] did not have a common hepatic duct. In one case the common bile duct was absent. We may conclude that the Variation of bile duct is different in multiple population
Subject(s)
Humans , Anatomic Variation , Adult , Forensic Medicine , CadaverABSTRACT
Mycobacterium tuberculosis lipid antigens take part in pathogenicity of the bacterium but the response of monocytes/macrophages to these antigens in tuberculosis is not well known. The aim of current investigation was to study the M. tuberculosis lipid antigens in tuberculosis pathogenesis. In the present study M. tuberculosis lipid antigens were extracted. Monocytes and macrophages from multidrug-resistant tuberculosis [MDR-TB], TB patients, asymptomatic healthy individuals with positive tuberculin skin test positive and healthy individuals with negative tuberculin skin test were collected using magnetic cell sorting. The cells were stimulated by M. tuberculosis total lipid antigens and IL-12 and IL-10 in their supernatants were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The IL-12 production by monocytes in response to M. tuberculosis total sonicate antigens in the MDR-TB patients did not show a considerable difference with the PPD positive healthy subjects, whereas in the active TB patients, IL-12 levels significantly decreased [p<0.05]. IL-10 production by monocytes in TB patients in response to total lipid antigens showed a significant increase in comparison to MDR-TB patients and healthy individuals. In the MDR-TB patients, IL-10 and IL-12 production by monocytes in response to M. tuberculosis lipid antigens are similar to the healthy subjects
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/immunology , Antigens, Bacterial , Interleukin-10 , Interleukin-12 , Lipids/immunology , Macrophages , MonocytesABSTRACT
CD4 [+]T-cell have a central role in protective immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis [M. tuberculosis] protein antigens, but function of these cells in response to M. tuberculosis total lipid antigens has remained unclear. The present study was undertaken to determine role of CD4[+] T cells in the MDR-TB patients against M. tuberculosis total lipid antigens. CD4[+]T- cells were isolated from MDR-TB patients and stimulated with M. tuberculosis total lipid antigens. Proliferative responses and cytokine secretion were assessed by MTT and ELISA, respectively. Our study results showed that proliferative responses of stimulated CD4[+]T- cells to M. tuberculosis total lipid antigens and IFN-gamma production in MDR-TB patients were significantly lower than those of the PPD-positive subjects [P < 0.05] whereas, IL-4 production in the MDR-TB patients was elevated[P < 0.05]. Responses of CD4[+]T -cells of MDR-TB patients to total lipid antigens was significantly lower than that of PPDpositive healthy subjects. Therefore, it seems that M. tuberculosis lipid antigens, as protein antigens, have an important role in specific immune response