Tamoxifen Induces Apoptosis of Leishmania major Promastigotes in Vitro

Tamoxifen is an antagonist of the estrogen receptor and currently used for the treatment of breast cancer. The current treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis with pentavalent antimony compounds is not satisfactory. Therefore, in this study, due to its antileishmanial activity, effects of tamoxifen on the growth of promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major Iranian strain were evaluated in vitro. Promastigotes and amastigotes were treated with different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 µg/ml) and time periods (24, 48, and 72 hr) of tamoxifen. After tamoxifen treatment, MTT assay (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 biphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay) was used to determine the percentage of live parasites and Graph Pad Prism software to calculate IC50. Flow cytometry was applied to investigate the induction of tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in promastigotes. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of tamoxifen on promastigotes was 2.6 µg/ml after 24 hr treatment. Flow cytometry analysis showed that tamoxifen induced early and late apoptosis in Leishmania promastigotes. While after 48 hr in control group the apoptosis was 2.0%, the 50 µg/L concentration of tamoxifen increased it to 59.7%. Based on the in vitro antileishmanial effect, tamoxifen might be used for leishmaniasis treatment; however, further researches on in vivo effects of tamoxifen in animal models are needed.

Expression of Galectin-3 as a testis inflammatory marker in vasectomised mice

Vasectomy, though in some cases are being confronted with irreversibility, has been accepted as an effective contraceptive method. It is estimated that near 2-6% of vasectomised men ultimately show a tendency to restore their fertility. In some cases, vasectomy has been considered as an irreversible procedure due to many post-vasectomy complications causing this debate. The aim of present study was to investigate the pattern of expression of galectin-3, an inflammatory factor secreted by macrophages and immune cells, following the vasectomy in mice testis tissue. In this experimental study, twenty mature male Balb/c mice, aged two months, were divided into two equal groups: sham and vasectomised groups [n=10]. They were sacrificed four months after vasectomy, while the pattern of galectin-3 expression was investigated using a standard immunohistochemistry technique on testicular tissues. Stereological analyses of testes parameters in vasectomised and sham-operated groups were compared by mixed model analysis. Based on observations, although galectin-3 was not expressed in sham-operated group, it was expressed in 40% of testicular tissues of vasectomised mice, like: seminiferous tubules, interstitial tissues and tunica albugina. Also, our result showed a significant alteration in number of germ and sertoli cells of testicular tissue in vasectomised group in comparison to sham-operated group. In addition, the result of mixed model method confirmed a significant reduction in germ and sertoli cells of vasectomised group. The expression of galectin-3 at different parts of testicular tissue in vasectomised group is higher than sham group. This express illustrates the increase of degenerative changes and inflammation reactions in testicular tissue, leading to chronic complications and infertility, after the vasovasostomy

Study of risk factors for cervical cancer a case-controlled study in Isfahan-Iran

Cervical cancer is the third most common malignancy of the female genital tract. The main objective of this study was to determine the risk factors for cervical cancer. Method: This was a case-control study. From a total sample of 263 women, 87 patients with diagnoses of invasive cervical cancer comprised the case group arid another 176 healthy females were in the control group. The location of research was at two oncology referral hospitals of 1sf ahan: Amin and Seyed Al-Shohada. Multiple logistic regression modules were used to analyze the data by SPSS-9 software. The results of the study showed that cervical cancer is related to age at first marriage [OR=5, 95% CI 1.5-16.6; P=O.008], number of deliveries [OR=3.3, 95% CI 1.2-8.8; P=O.02] and type of oral contraceptive used. In connection with duration of using oral contraceptives, the results showed that in those women who used oral contraceptives for a period of >5 years [OR=3.3, P=O.008], the mean number of sexual intercourses per week at four decades of marriage life was more in the case group compared with the control group [P=O.0001]. Socioeconomic status differences were not significant. False negative Pap smear test results were about 15.5%. This study identified some risk factors related to the incidence of cervical cancer i.e. younger age at the first coitus, number of intercourses per week, number of deliveries and duration of oral contraceptive use