[Assessment of pure and B hydatid cyst fluid antigens for the diagnosis of hydatidosis]

Hydatidosis is a chronic, zoonotic worldwide infection which induced by larval stage of Echinococcus worm. This study was done to assessment the pure and B hydatid cyst fluid antigens for the serological diagnosis of human hydatidosis. In this descriptive laboratory study, infected liver with Hydatid cyst were obtained from Tehran's slaughterhouses to prepare cyst fluid in different stages. After draining and purifying the cyst fluid, it was centrifuged and subsequently concentrated. Specificity and sensitivity of sera samples including hydatidosis [n=60], worm parasites [n=55], fascioliasis [n=35], toxocariasissera [n=20] and negative control [n=35] were tested by Counter Immunoelectrophoresis [CIEP], ELISA and Dot ELISA methods. Specificity and sensitivity of pure antigen of hydatid cyst using CIEP method was 68.9% and 86.7%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of B-antigen using CIEP method was 87.8% and 83.3%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of pure antigen of hydatid cyst using ELISA method was 76.7%, and 93.3%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of B-antigen using ELISA method was 96.7% and 88.3%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of pure antigen of hydatid cyst using Dot ELISA method was 83.3% and 100%, respectively. Specificity and sensitivity of B-antigen using Dot ELISA method was 100% and 98.3%, respectively. B-antigen using Dot ELISA method is the most suitable serological test for the diagnoses of hydatid test

[Investigating the effects of TNF-alpha knockdown gene on insulin resistance in C2C12 muscle cells in the presence and absence of palmitate]

Insulin resistance plays a major role in type 2 diabetes and obesity. In this disorder, lipid accumulation is accompanied by increased TNF-alpha expression in the muscle. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of tumor necrosis factor-a [TNF-alpha] gene knockdown on key elements of insulin signaling pathway [IRS-1 and. Akt] and insulin resistance in C2C12 muscle cells in the presence and absence of palmitate. To knockdown protein expression of TNF-alpha, the C2C12 cells were transfected with the shRNA containing antisense sequence of murine TNF-alpha gene. The analysis of TNF-alpha protein expression and phosphorylation and protein levels of IRS-1 and Akt were subsequently detected by western blot. In TNF-alpha knockdown cells, the protein expression level of TNF-alpha was reduced by 58%. Under treatment with palmitate, insulin stimulated phosphorylation of IRS-1 [Tyr632] and Akt [Ser473] in knockdown cells was increased 1.7 and 2.6 fold, respectively, compared to the controls. Our findings showed that decreasing the TNF-alpha protein level can enhance the activity of the important elements of insulin signaling pathway [IRS-1 and Akt], leading to the improvement of insulin resistance in myotubes, data suggesting that TNF-alpha may potentially be a therapeutic target for fatty acid induced insulin resistance observed in type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome

[ comparative evaluation of terbinafin 1% cream and clotrimazole 1% in the treatment of pityriasis versicolor]

Terbinafine, a member of the allylamines group, is a new class of antimycotic agents. The aim of this study was to compare the antifungal efficacy of Terbinafine 1% with that of Clotrimazole 1% in the patients with Pityriasis Versicolor. This controlled-clinical trial study was performed on 53 patients [28 males and 25 females] with a mean age of 25 years old. The patients were divided into two groups. The first group was treated with Terbinafine 1% and the second group with Clotrimazole 1% twice a day. The patients were evaluated both clinically and mycologically at the beginning of the study as well as the end of the second and the fourth weeks. The findings were analyzed using Fisher Exact and Chi Square tests. In the 2[nd] week of the treatment, clinical cure was observed in 44.4% of the patients in the first group [Terbinafine recipients] and in 48% of those in the second group [Clotrimazole recipients] [P=0.90]. At the end of the fourth week, the lesions disappeared in 89% and 81% of the first and second groups, respectively [P=0.467]. Mycological cures were observed in the 2[nd] week in 48% of the first group and 38% of the second group [P=0.477] which respectively increased to 92.5% and 88.5% by the fourth week [P=0.66]. although the fungicidal activity of both drugs were found to be almost similar, Clotrimzole is recommended because it is more available and less expensive

Persistent unstable chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes of radiotherapy workers after 1[st] mitotic divison in Tehran, Iran

Studies indicate that ionizing radiation can induce persistent genetic instability in a high proportion of exposed cells. It has also been reported that exposure of radiotherapy workers to ionizing radiation causes chromosomal damages. Some of the damaged cells show a large number of aberrations such as dicentrics, polycentrics, rings, and numerous acentric fragments.To determine, whether chromosomal damages can be used as a biomarker of possible radiation in occupational exposure in a hospital setting. In this study, chromosome abnormalities were evaluated in peripheral blood lymphocytes from fifty medical radiotherapy workers who handled ionizing radiation for an average of twelve years, and forty three control individuals who did not knowingly come in contact with any radiation source. Chromosome aberrations were evaluated by the conventional solid stain technique. Dicentrics, fragments, followed by ring chromosomes, as well as total chromosome aberrations were elevated in the experimental group. We did not observe any aneuploidy chromosome in the present study. Although the level of exposure was below the annual permissible limit of twenty mSv/y recommended by the International Commission for Radiation Protection for whole body exposure, the mean frequencies of different chromosomal aberrations were higher in radiotherapy workers compared with controls [P=0.041]. Although the mean frequencies of chromosomal aberrations in the female workers [3.5 +/- 1.42] was slightly higher than in males [3.28 +/- 0.95], there was no significant differences [P=0.74] in the frequency of chromosome aberration between males and females of ionizing radiotherapy workers. The results of this study underscore the need of adopting measures to avoid or minimize overexposure to radiation in hospital settings

prevalence of Anterior Open Bite and the associated dentoskeletal malformations in 9-14 year-old students of Qazvin

Anterior Open Bite [AOB] is one of the most severe orthodontic diseases to treat and often with poor prognosis. However, an early diagnosis accompanied with proper evaluation of etiological factors may lead to a shorter therapeutic period and also a better prognosis. To determine the prevalence of AOB and the associated clinical and cephalometerical changes in 9-14-year-old students of Qazvin. 1461 students [males: 701, female: 760] were evaluated and AOB was found in 56 students [32 boys and 24 girls]. Thirty students out of 56 were referred to the School of Dentistry for a lateral cephalometric radiography. Thirty lateral cephalogram x-rays were also taken from students with normal occlusion as control group. The prevalence of AOB in 9-14-year-old students in Qazvin was 3.83% which was significantly higher in girls than boys. From a cephalometric point of view, the articular, gonial, sum of post, SN-MP and basal angles significantly increased but UAF/LAFH and UAFH were decreased. Patients with Anterior Open Bite showed a downward backward lower jaw rotation with a growth pattern in their faces more vertical than horizontal. The posterior upper teeth in patients were also over-erupted which must be considered in treatment plan

study on the effect of applying cast splints in treatment of tennis elbow

Background: tennis elbow is a common orthopedic disease affecting elbow in middle aged people. Ninety percent of patients are cured using conservative treatments. In the past, emphasis was placed on the use of long arm splints for its treatment; however, recent studies put doubt on the use of this method of treatment for the complications arising from the application of splints. The results of using long arm splints for the treatment of tennis elbow were evaluated in our study

Methods: this was a case series non randomized clinical trial involving 25 patients treated with long arm castsplints, and 25 patients treated without the use of splint. Local corticosteroid injections and oral NSAIDs were administered for all patients. The two groups were compared in the third week, third month and sixth month of their treatment for the presence of local tenderness and pain in passive flexion test of wrist and fingers against resistance. Using SPSS 9.0, data were analyzed via repeated measurements test of ANOVA

Results: patients in case and control groups had mean ages 43.6 +/- 7.2 and 43.6 +/- 6 years, respectively. Prior to any treatments, all patients in this study suffered from pain and tenderness in the origin of forearm extensor muscles. Their pain exacerbated upon passive flexion of wrist and fingers against resistance. No significant difference was seen in third week, third month and sixth month [P value =0.32], and no significant difference was seen in the results of our tests regarding the presence of local tenderness and pain in passive flexion of wrist and fingers against resistance between the two groups

Conclusions: after a follow-up period of six months, this study demonstrated no statistically significant difference between the two groups treated with and without long arm splints