ABSTRACT
Objective@#Studies of the effects of estrogens on the male reproductive system have emphasized the role of these hormones in male fertility. Sesame oil has many phytoestrogenic compounds and may improve male fertility. This study investigated the effects of sesame oil and different concentrations of estrogen on sperm parameters and DNA integrity in male mice. @*Methods@#Twenty old NMRI (The Naval Medical Research Institute) male mice (40 weeks; weight, 30–35 g) were treated with sesame oil or different concentrations of estrogen (estradiol, 1 and 10 μL/kg/ day) or received no treatment (controls). After 35 days, sperm parameters and DNA integrity were assessed and analyzed. @*Results@#Sperm count, progressive motility, and morphology were decreased in the group that received 10 μL/kg of estradiol. A remarkably lower percentage of DNA fragmentation and protamine deficiency were detected in the group that received 1 μL/kg of estradiol. In the groups that received sesame oil and 1 μL/kg of estradiol, the numbers of spermatogonia and Leydig cells were higher than in controls. The combination of sesame oil and 1 μL/kg of estradiol led to improved sperm parameters and chromatin and testicular structure. @*Conclusion@#Based on this study, consumption of sesame oil and a low concentration of estradiol may improve testicular function in older mice.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study is the evaluation of the effect of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy with Radachlorin on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. New windows are open in the antimicrobial field so-call Photodynamic therapy that incorporates a nonpoisonous photosensitizer [PS] with innocuous special wavelength photons to excite the PS. Two strains of bacteria used in this study were Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus [ATCC 33591; PTCC 1764] and Escherichia coli [ATCC 25922; PTCC1399]. Concentrations of 0.2 ml of Radachlorin were applied on 0.2 ml of bacterial suspensions and placed in a 48-well microtiter plate. The following groups were used: [I] L- PS- [no laser, no photosensitizer], [II] L-PS+ [treated only with PS], [III] L+ PS- [treated only with laser] and [IV] L+ PS+ [treated with laser and PS: photodynamic therapy group]. Aliquots of bacterial suspensions were sensitized with Radachlorin for 15 minutes in the dark at room temperature and then bacterial suspensions in group III and IV were irradiated with 210 mW [power density] and 12 J/cm2 [energy density] on continuous mode. This study showed that photodynamic therapy reduces 0.14 log 10 in E.Coli [group IV] and there were significant differences for group IV [P<0.01]. Photodynamic therapy in S.Aureus showed 6.28 log 10 colony count reduction [group IV] and there were highly significant differences in Photodynamic therapy group [P<0.0001]. Radachlorin have bactericidal effect on S.aureus [6.28 log 10] and bacteriostatic effect on E.coli [0.14 log 10]
ABSTRACT
Limited resources for adult stem cells necessitate their in vitro culture prior to Clinical use. Investigating mitochondrial DNA [mtDNA] and telomere shortening has proved to be important indications of stem cell validity. This study was designed to investigate these indicators in multiple passages of three adult stem cell lines which were produced in our stem cell laboratory. In this study, Dental Pulp Stem Cells [DPSCs], Periapical Follicle Stem Cells [PAFSCs] and Human Foreskin Fibroblast [HFF] cell lines were expanded for 20 passages. After 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 passages, expanded cells were harvested and DNA was extracted for further studies. Common mtDNA mutation was detected by multiplex PCR and telomere shortening was tested by Southern blot analysis. The common deletion was not detected in any of the stem cells or cell lines after several passages. In addition, Southern blot analysis indicated that the mean difference of telomere length between first and last passage was 0.25 kb in DPSC, 0.1 kb in PAFSC and 0.32 kb in HFF which indicates that the mean telomere length in various passages of the samples showed insignificant changes. Absence of mtDNA mutations in adult stem cell lines indicates good mitochondrial function even after 20 passages. In addition, absence of telomere shortening indicates stem cells validity after multiple passages. It is hoped this information could pave the way for using in vitro expansion of adult stem cells for future Clinical applications
ABSTRACT
Bruxism is defined as the habitual nonfunctional forceful contact between occlusal tooth surfaces. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bruxism and correlated factors in children referred to dental schools of Tehran, based on parents' report. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 600 4-12 year-old children with a mean age of 7.4 +/- 2.4 years, who were referred to four dental schools in Tehran. After collecting information with questionnaire filled out by parents, chi[2] Fisher Test, Mann-Whitney and t-Test were used to analyze the data. The prevalence of bruxism was 26.2%. Bruxism begun in average at the age of 4.9 +/- 2 years. Also it occurred 2.6 times more in children who had a family history of bruxism [father-mother], compared to children who didn't have such a history. 87% of children with bruxism had a history of distressing events in their life, and 13% of children with bruxism did not report any history of distressing events in their life. In this study most common oral habit was nail biting. In study of parasomnias, drooling was the most, and snoring the least reported sleep disorder. Bruxism in children with drooling was twice more than in other children. The prevalence of bruxism in children with temporomandibular disorder was 63.6% and in children without TMD was 24.7%. Based on parents' report, 26.2% of children showed bruxism and there was a significant relation between bruxism and mother's job, family history, distressing event in life, parasomnias, especially drooling and sleep walking, TMD, hyperactivity, depression, acrophobia and lygophobia