[Protective role of glutathione in buck semen cryopreservation]

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of low levels of glutathione on post-thawed buck sperm quality. In this experiment, different concentrations of glutathione [0 [LG-0], 0.5 [LG-0.5], 1 [LG-1], 1.5 [LG-1.5], and 2 [LG-2] mM] were added in a soybean lecithin-based extender. A total of 16 ejaculates from four bucks were collected and pooled. Each pooled sample was divided into five equal parts and each part was diluted by one of the above mentioned groups. After freeze-thawing process, motility and velocity, plasma membrane integrity and functionality, and apoptosis features of spermatozoa were evaluated. The results of this experiment showed that total motility [50.75 +/- 2.33], plasma membrane integrity [55.75 +/- 3.01] and functionality [46.75 +/- 2.79] were higher in LG-1 extender compared to other extenders [P<0.05]. The percentage of live spermatozoa [53.23 +/- 3.26] was higher in LG-1 extender compared to other extenders, with the exception of LG-1.5 extender [P<0.05]. Also, the percentage of late apoptotic spermatozoa [21.33 +/- 1.63] was lower in LG-1 extender compared to other extenders [P<0.05]. In conclusion, our results showed that GL-1 extender resulted in higher post-thawed buck sperm quality compared to other extenders.

Phytobiological characteristics of Rosa hemisphaerica Herrm. extract

Roses are one of the most important groups of ornamental plants referred to as the queen of flowers and their fruits and flowers are used in a wide variety of food, nutritional products and different traditional medicines. A large diversity is expected to be found in Iranian Damask rose landraces with different biological properties. The antibacterial, antioxidant and cytotoxicity of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Rosa hemisphaerica Herrm. were studied. Methods: The agar disc diffusion method was employed for the determination of antimicrobial activities. Total phenol contents of both extracts were estimated. Antioxidative properties of the extracts were determined by bleaching of beta carotene or 2, 20-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl [DPPH]. The Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power [FRAP] was expressed as gallic acid equivalents. Cytooxicity of the extracts were tested using Hela and human healthy peripheral blood cells. of various microorganisms tested, only S. aureus was found susceptible. The total phenol contents of the methanolic and aqueous extracts were 138.33 +/- 11.37and 129.67 +/- 4.51 micro g Gallic acid equivalent/mg sample respectively. DPPH scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition effects were higher than those of the synthetic antioxidants. Ferric-reducing antioxidant power [FRAP] of the methanolic and aqueous extracts were determined as 96.134 +/4.25 mg/g and 98.63 +/- 2.51 mg/g respectively. The 50% cytotoxic concentrations were found to be 0.327 mg/ml 0.177 mg/ml for Hela cells and human lymphocytes respectively. It can be concluded from the above results that R. hemisphaerica extract exhibited antimicrobial activity only against S. aureus. The extracts provided better antioxidative activity as compared with synthetic antioxidants. The extracts were toxic to the Hela cells as well as human lymphocytes. Hence, the R. hemisphaerica extract may be exploited as a natural antioxidant and health promoting agent

impact of hepatitis b infection on outcome of kidney transplantation: a long-term study

With the success of kidney transplantation, liver disease has emerged as an important cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney recipients. To determine the impact of hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection on patients and graft survival in both short- and long-terms. 99 renal transplant patients infected with HBV on follow-up in two major transplant centers were included in a retrospective study. These patients were grafted between 1986 and 2005 and divided into two groups: [1] those only positive for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] and [2] those who were also positive for hepatitis C virus antibodies [HCV Ab]. There were 88 patients with HBsAg[+] and 11 with both HBsAg[+] and HCV Ab[+]. The mean +/- SD age of patients was 38.8 +/- 13.2 years, and the median follow-up after transplantation was 19 months. Although not significant, the allograft survival rate in the first group [HBV[+] was better compared to that in the second group [HBV[+] and HCV[+]; 1, 5 and 10 years graft survival rates were 91, 77 and 62 in the first group and 70, 56 and 28 in the second group, respectively [P=0.07]. The overall mortality was 5% [4 of 88] in the first and 27% [3 of 11] in the second group [P=0.02]. Renal allograft recipients with HBV and HCV infections has a poor survival rate compared to pa- tients with only HBV infection. However, there is no significant difference in terms of renal graft survival between the two groups

preliminary report on prevalence of antibody response to GBV-C, E2 protien in Iranian blood donors and multitransfused patients

To analyze serologic markers of Hepatitis G virus [GBV-c] infection in Iranian blood donors and two major groups of multitransfused patients, hemophiliacs and thalassemics. Nine hundred and five serum samples collected from the volunteer blood donors and two patient groups under the study were tested for the presence of antibodies to the GBV-C antigen [anti E2] by an ELISA assay .Those found positive for anti- E2 were also tested for possible exposure to HCV by detecting anti- HCV in their sera. Levels of ALT were also tested to evaluate impact on liver function. Approximately 8.6% of the volunteer blood donors were found positive for anti-E2 .The prevalence rate in hemophiliacs was 41.4% and in thalassemia patients was 33.4%, which was significantly [P< 0.05] higher than donors. However, the prevalence rate among the two high risk groups was not statistically significant. A large number of the healthy blood donors in Iran have been exposed to the GBV-C. The significantly higher levels seen in the multitransfused patients can be regarded as an important route of transmission. It seems that no evidence of liver damage in individuals exposed confirming that GBV-C is not a hepatitis virus

[Preparation of fetal calf serum alternatives and their effects on growth and secretion of hybridoma cell lines]

Providing fetal calf serum [FCS] alternatives as cell culture supplements is an important field of research to compensate for the FCS supply shortage.This study focused on preparation of fetal calf serum alternatives and their effects on growth and secretion of hybridoma cell lines.Outdated human platelet units undergo extraction for its growth factors to be obtained. Human AB blood group plasma was also converted to serum and its growth effect was compared to FCS, hypoxanthine-thymidine [HT] and RPMI1640 as cell culture media and supplement. Cell growth indices were preliminary counting of cells, confluency as surface area of plates filled with cells, and titration of monoclonal anti-A and anti-B blood group antibodies collected from cultured mouse hybridoma cells. Statistical analysis including one sample t-test, logarithmic multiple regression curve fit, and factor analysis was done by SPSS v12 software. The four nutritional supplements of [1] human serum AB [AB], [2] human platelet extract [PLT], [3] equal mixture of AB and PLT [ABP], and [4] fetal calf serum as cell culture were examined on mouse hybridoma anti-A and anti-B monoclonal antibody producer cell lines for cell growth indices and compared with the same indices on RPMI1640 media. The growth-stimulating effects in descending order of values were [1] ABP5%, [2] FCS10%, [3] ABP10%, [4] AB5%, [5] AB10%, [6] PLT5%, [7] ABP20%, [8] PLT10%, [9] PLT20%, and [10]HT; but AB20% inhibited growth of mentioned hybridoma cell lines. The titer of anti-A and anti-B monoclonal antibodies produced by cultured hybridoma on 5 and 10 percent concentration of AB, PLT and ABP compared to FCS5-10% at descending order were [1] PLT5%, [2] PLT10%, ABP5%, ABP10%, AB10%, and [3] AB5%. In general FCS had the following effects on curves of cell growth: [1] the highest increase on slope of multiplication [ascending] phase, [2] the highest increase on slope of death [descending] phase, and [3] the lowest duration of stationary phase. Then, FCS can be appropriate for growth of cells at initial low cell count. Human serum AB, human platelet extract, and equal mixture of both at optimum concentrations [these supplements at high concentrations killed cells] compared to FCS showed [1] decreased slope of multiplication phase, [2] decreased slope of death phase, and [3] increased duration of stationary phase. Thus, AB and PLT may be suitable for continuous cell culture systems in which cell survival during longer times is required. Factor analysis was introduced as a model to evaluate kinetics of cell growth at different supplements