[ establishment of Iranian DNA bank for genetic and epigenetic studies in psychiatric disorders]

In most advanced countries, there are tissue, deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA] and ribonucleic acid [RNA] banks which have been made to provide samples for researchers in order to speed up genetic studies in different medical disorders. This may save time and materials in comparison to self-governing projects that usually spend months to collect samples independently. In these banks patients are cautiously diagnosed based on international diagnostic criteria. Thus, the results are more reliable than scattered studies and meta-analysis can be done with the data generated in different laboratories using the same samples. For the establishment of a DNA bank for psychiatric disorders in Iran, after clarifying the aims and signing the consent forms, 300 saliva samples were collected using Oragene DNA Kit from the patients diagnosed based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders [SCID-I]. Related data to demographics, family history, date of disorder onset, duration of disorder, drugs in use and other variables were compiled and opportunity for future contacts was set to gather more information including the course of disorders. A saliva bank for DNA extraction of 300 psychiatric patients suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 30 ones relatives as well as 75 matched healthy control subjects for genetic and epigenetic studies was established. The opportunity for donation of DNA samples collected from Iranian psychiatric patients has been provided to be used in hundreds of national and international genetic studies

randomized controlled trial of 5-day regimen of azithromycin and a 10-day regimen of co-amoxiclav for treatment of acute sinusitis

Acute sinusitis constitutes a significant portion of health service utilization globally both in- and outpatient as well as emergency department visits, with 83% resulting in a prescription for an antibiotic. This study compared the efficacy of a 5-day regimen of azithromycin [a macrolid antibiotic] with a 10-day regimen of coamoxiclav [combination of an aminopenicillin with a betalactamase inhibitor] for the treatment of acute sinusitis. A total of 76 subjects with acute sinusitis were randomly assigned in two groups, azithromycin [n=40] and co-amoxiclav [n=36]. One group received azithromycin, 500mg in the first day and 250mg for 4 days and the other group received co-amoxiclav 625mg, 3 times a day for 10 days. Patients were visited 4 times during the study [baseline, phone call, end of treatment, end of study] and regression/progression of their symptoms and their response to the treatment was evaluated. There was no significant difference between the two groups' demographic and clinical presentations. Duration of regression of the symptoms in the azithromycin group was significantly shorter than the co-amoxiclav group [7.6 days versus 10.6, p=0.03]. Clinical success rate at end of the study was 80% for azithromycin and 66.7% for co-amoxiclav [p=0.025]. Clinical success rates among females in both groups seemed to be higher than males, but this difference was not statistically significant [p=0.13]. Results revealed that azithromycin regimen is more efficient, has less side effects, and required shorter treatment period. Patients were able to tolerate the medications better with a higher compliance and less economic cost than co-amoxiclav regimen

Comparison of 3-day and 7-day ciprofloxacin regimen for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women: a randomized double-blind clinical trial

Urinary tract infections [UTIs] are among the most commonly bacterial infections in clinical practice. Almost half of all women experience at least one urinary tract infection in their lifetime. This study compared efficacy and safety of 3-day and 7-day ciprofloxacin regimen for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women. A total of 76 patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. One group received ciprofloxacin, 250 mg twice a day for 3 days [n=39] and the other group received ciprofloxacin 250 mg twice a day for 7 days [n=37]. Subjects were visited and assessed three times during the study period [baseline, end of treatment, and test for cure]. Clinical and bacteriological responses to the treatment were compared between the two groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age distribution and clinical signs/symptoms during the baseline visit. There was no significant difference between clinical or bacteriological responses between the two groups. Three-day regimen of ciprofloxacin showed high microbiological eradication rate for E. coli [66.7%] which was similar to the eradication rate observed for 7-day regimen [64.8%]. No statistically significant difference was found in adverse effects between the groups, except for nausea [p=0.041]. A 3-day ciprofloxacin regimen appeared to be safe and effective for the treatment of UTI in women. Therefore, shorter therapy duration with ciprofloxacin can potentially improve patient compliance and decrease costs

Epigenetic and genetic aberrations of the brain dopaminergic system in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: Achievements and prospective

The molecular mechanisms of the fact that more than 50% of the individuals with the same genetic make up [e.g. identical twins in schizophrenia] do not show the same psychiatric phenotype remained undefined in psychiatry. This along with the failure to find responsible genes with major effects in psychiatric disorders and lack of consistency of genetic association studies led to the current unanimous conclusion that, in addition to the genetic factors, environmental and epigenetic factors influence the functions of brain and the presentation of the symptoms in mental diseases. Here we reviewed the potential epigenetic dysregulations of genes related to dopaminergic [DAergic] system. A comprehensive genetic and epigenetic analysis of the DAergic and the interacting pathways such as serotoninergic and glutaminergic systems could help to understand the molecular bases of the differences in disease severity in individuals with similar or identical genetic make-up that can assist for the identification of novel targets with therapeutic and preventive applications