Purified protein fraction of garlic extract modulates cellular immune response against breast transplanted tumors in BALB/c mice model

Garlic [Allium sativum] has anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenesis, and immunomodulatory properties that modulate anti-tumor immunity and inhibit tumor growth. In this study we have examined the effect of a protein fraction isolated from fresh garlic on anti-tumor response and intra-tumor lymphocyte infiltration. In this experimental study a protein fraction was purified from fresh garlic bulbs using ultra filtration, followed by chromatofocusing, and SDS-PAGE analysis. Anti-tumor activity was assessed by intra-tumor injection of the protein fraction and garlic extract, itself, into groups of 5 mice each. The percentage of peripheral blood and intra-tumor CD4[+] and CD8[+] cells were assessed by flow cytometry. Un-paired student's t test using the SPSS program was applied for all statistical analyses. Garlic extract included different type of proteins with different molecular weight. One of protein's fraction was immunomodeulator and was composed of three single polypeptides, with molecular masses of -10-13 kDa and different isoelectric points [pI]. These molecules augmented the delayed type hypersensitivity [DTH] response compared to the control group. Intratumor injection of the fraction provoked a significant increase in the CD8[+] subpopulation of T-lymphocytes, as well as a decrease in tumor size. The fraction increased peripheral blood CD8[+] T-lymphocytes in treated animals. The data confirms that protein fractions purified from fresh garlic bulbs augment CD8[+] T-cell infiltration into the tumor site, inhibiting tumor growth more efficiently than garlic extract. These findings provide a basis for further investigations on the purified polypeptide as a useful candidate for immunomodulation and tumor treatment

Salt intake and the association with blood pressure in young Iranian children: first report from the middle east and north Africa

This study aimed to assess the salt intake of Iranian children, and to assess the correlation of urinary electrolytes excretion with blood pressure. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011-2012 among 3-10- year-old children, selected by multi-stage cluster sampling from urban and rural areas of Isfahan, Iran. The sodium [Na], potassium [K] and creatinine [Cr] were measured in a random sample of the children's first morning fasting urine. Three- day averages of dietary intakes were analyzed by the Nutritionist-4 software. The mean [SD] of urinary Na was 177.17 [28.68] mEq/day without significant difference according to gender and living area. The mean [SD] dietary intakes of Na and K were 2017.76 [117.94] and 1119.06 [76.03] mg/day, respectively. Children of urban and rural areas consumed similar sources of salty foods [bread, cheese and snacks] and had low intake of vegetables. No significant association was documented between urinary electrolytes excretions and blood pressure. This study, which to the best of our knowledge is the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa region, revealed that Iranian young children consume a large amount of sodium and small amount of potassium. The non-significant associations of electrolyte excretions with blood pressure may be because of the very young age group of participants. Given the development of preference to salt taste from early childhood, and the tracking of risk factors of chronic diseases from this age, reducing salt intake of young children should be emphasized

comparison of the ratio of patient's height to thyromental distance with the modified Mallampati and the upper lip bite test in predicting difficult laryngoscopy

The aim of the present study was to compare the ability to predict difficult visualization of the larynx from the following preoperative airway predictive indices, in isolation and combination: modified Mallampati test [MMT], the ratio of height to thyromental distance [RHTMD] and the Upper-Lip-Bite test [ULBT]. We collected data on 603 consecutive patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia requiring endotracheal intubation and then evaluated all three factors before surgery. An experienced anesthesiologist, not informed of the recorded preoperative airway evaluation, performed the laryngoscopy and grading [as per Cormack and Lehane's classification]. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value, Receiver operating characteristic [ROC] Curve and the area under ROC curve [AUC] for each airway predictor in isolation and in combination were determined. Difficult laryngoscopy [Grade 3 or 4] occurred in 41 [6.8%] patients. The main endpoint of the present study, the AUC of the ROC, was significantly lower for the MMT [AUC, 0.511; 95% CI, 0.470-0.552] than the ULBT [AUC, 0.709; 95% CI, 0.671-0.745, P=0.002] and the RHTMD score [AUC, 0.711; 95% CI, 0.673-0.747, P=0.001]. There was no significant difference between the AUC of the ROC for the ULBT and the RHTMD score. By using discrimination analysis, the optimal cutoff point for the RHTMD for predicting difficult laryngoscopy was 21.06 [sensitivity, 75.6%; specificity, 58.5%]. The RHTMD is comparable with ULBT for prediction of difficult laryngoscopy in general population