[Effects of vitamin E supplementation on activity of serum paraoxonase, SOD, GPX enzymes and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemia patients]

In pathogenesis of beta major thalassemia, tissue damage is occurring due to oxidative stress. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E supplementation on serum Paraoxonase, SOD, GPX enzyme activity and lipid profiles in beta major thalassemia patients. In this clinical tiral study, Sixty [25 males, 35 females] beta major thalassemia patients with age >/= 18 years who had criterias to enter the study, were selected randomely in two groups. The patients in interventional group, vitamin E at a dose of 400 mg/day were given for three months, with no supplementations in control group. The enzyme activities of paraoxonase, SOD, GPX and lipid profiles [LDL-c, HDL-c, triglyceride, total Antixidant Capacity] were measured prior and after 3 months in both case and control groups. Data analyzed by using paired t-test. Significant increases in serum levels of vitamin E, Paraoxonase activity, HDL cholesterol [P<0.001], BMI [P

[Effect of red onion intake on serum uric acid, lipid profile and paraxonase activity in hyperuricemic rats]

Hyperuricemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by an increase in serum uric acid levels and Reactive Oxigen Species production, and considered as a risk factor for gout and oxidative stress- induced diseases. The antioxidant effect of dietary polyphenols in control and decreasing of oxidative damage have been confirmed previously, therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of red onion intake on serum uric acid levels, lipid profile and paraxonase activity in hyperuricemic rats. In this experimental- interventional study, 24 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, hyperuricemic, normal and hyperuricemic rats receiving onion. Hyperuricemia was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 250mg/kg potassium oxonate. Onion was administrated by oral gavage at dose 5g/kg. The intervention took 2 weeks. At the end of study, serum uric acid levels, Lipid profile and paraxonase activity were determined and data was statistically analyzed. In healthy rats, effect of onion intake on serum uric acid levels and lipid profile were not statistically significant, but paraxonase activity was increased significant in comparison to healthy control group. The intervention in hyperuricemic rats caused to a significant decrease in uric acid levels and significant increase in paraxonase activity in comparison to hyperuri- cemic control rats. There was a significant positive correlation between paraxonase activity and HDL-C, and significant reverse correlation between paraxonase activity and uric acid concentrations [p<0.05]. Onion intake by decreasing of uric acid levels and increasing of paraxonase activity could be effective in control of hyperuricemia and improvement of antioxidant capacity in hyperuricemic rats

[ effect of interleukin 28 B polymorphism on sustained virology response [SVR] in Patients with chronic hepatitis C]

The effect of IL 28 B polymorphism on sustained virology response [SVR] in patients with Hepatitis C genotype 1 varies among races. Multiple studies have shown that the SVR is two or three times higher in patients with CC genotype compared to those with TT genotype. This study aims to assess the relationship between IL 28 B polymorphism and SVR in Iranian patients. Materials and In a cross-sectional study, 48 patients with Hepatitis C genotype 1 who underwent PCR testing six months following treatment were divided into two groups, SVR positive and negative in order to compare IL 28 B polymorphism. The SVR rate was higher in patients who presented with high baseline ALT levels, independent of IL 28 B genotype [p=0.023]. Logistic regression analysis showed a higher SVR rate in patients with CC genotype compared to TT genotype [p=0.007, OR=29.333, CI=2.558-336.387], however no significant difference was noted between TC and TT genotypes [p=0.177, OR=2.887, CI=0.618-13.496]. Additionally, there was a significant difference between CC and non-CC groups [TC, TT] in SVR rate [p=0.017, OR=13.750, CI=1.602- 118.061]. A high SVR rate was seen in the C group [CC, TC] when compared with the TT genotype [p=0.036, OR=4.923, CI=1.111-21.816]. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of the IL 28 B genotype in predicting SVR was 88.8%, 38%, 64.8% and 72.8%, respectively. In addition; although the CC genotype was positive, the sensitivity and NPV were increased to 91.6% and 95.2% respectively. This study confirms the relationship between IL 28 B genotype and SVR rate in the patients with Hepatitis C genotype 1. It seems; IL 28 B genotype could be the reasonable Lab. test for treatment plan of the problematic cases of the patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

[Effect of isolated soy protien on prevention of rheumatoid arthritis in collagen-induced rats]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of isolated soy protein on prevention of rheumatoid arthritis in collagen-induced rats. A total of 24 female Sprague-Dawley rats [body weights: 180-200g] were randomly divided into four equal groups including normal; control of rheumatoid arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis + isolated soy protein [7g/kg]; rheumatoid arthritis + dexamethasone [1mg/kg]. Experimentally rheumatoid arthritis in rats was induced by subcutaneous injection of collagen II emolsified in Incomplete Frund s Adjuvant in days 1 and 7. Treatments were gavaged to animals for 30 days, once a day. The severity of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms in paws were daily measured in double blind format by standard method. The statistical comparison between the experimental groups was performed by Independent -samples t- test and One-Way ANOVA using SPSS software. The clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis started from day 17.4 +/- 2.4, 20 +/- 4 and 14.1 +/- 1.9 in isolated soy protein, dexamethasone and control groups, respectively [P<0.05]. The severity of clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis on day 30 was 3.84 +/- 2.04, 2 +/- 1.78 and 6.5 +/- 1.76 in isolated soy protein, dexa methasone and control groups, respectively [p<0.05]. At the end of the study, the incidence rates of rheumatoid arthritis in isolated soy protein and control groups was 83.33% and 100%, respectively. Isolated soy protein decreased the severity of clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, it could be a key factor in prevention and even treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Hypouricemic and antioxidant activities of Allium cepa Lilliaceae and quercetin in normal and hyperuricemic rats

To evaluate the hypouricemic and antioxidant effects of Allium cepa Lilliaceae [Allium cepa L.] and quercetin in normal and hyperuricemic rats. The following study was conducted in the Department of Nutrition and Biochemistry, Tehran University of Medical Science, Iran, between May 2007 and March 2008. A total of 48 male Wistar rats [body weights: 180-200 g] were randomly divided into 8 equal groups including normal; normal + Allium cepa L. [5g/kg]; normal + quercetin [5mg/kg]; normal + allopurinol [5mg/kg]; hyperuricemic; hyperuricemic + Allium cepa L. [5g/kg]; hyperuricemic + quercetin [5mg/kg]; hyperuricemic + allopurinol [5mg/kg] once a day for 14 days. Experimentally, hyperuricemia in rats was induced by intraperitoneal injection of potassium oxonate [250mg/kg]. Allium cepa L. and quercetin treatments for 14 days significantly reduced [p=0.000] the serum uric acid levels of hyperuricemic rats in a time-dependent manner. All treatments significantly inhibited hepatic xanthine oxidase/xanthine dehydrogenase activity. Allium cepa L. and quercetin treatments led also to a significant improvement in biomarkers of oxidative stress in hyperuricemic rats [p=0.000]. Although the hypouricemic effect of allopurinol was much higher than that of Allium cepa L. and quercetin, it could not significantly change oxidative stress biomarkers. These results may be responsible partly for the beneficial effects of Allium cepa L. and its major flavonoid on hyperuricemia and oxidative stress

[ comparison of phenobarbital and phenytoin serum levels between children with status epilepsy and refractory status epilepsy]

Due to high kinetic variation of antiepileptic medications in children, judgment on the efficacy of intravenous phenytoin and phenobarbital in treatment of refractory status epilepsy, requires measurement of serum levels of the drugs. The aim of this study was determine and compare serum levels of phenytoin and phenobarbital, as the two major and common first- line drugs in treatment of children with status epilepsy and refractory status epilepsy. Serum levels of phenytoin and phenobarbital in 20 children [1 month - 12 years] with refractory status epilepsy [candidates for midazolam infusion] was compared with 20 children with status epilepsy. Age, gender, etiology, type of seizure and previous use of antiepileptic drugs were matched. In patients with status epilepsy and refractory status epilepsy mean serum levels of phenobarbital were 28.03 +/- 12.7 microg/ml, 37.22 +/- 20.78 microg/ml respectively while serum levels of phenytoin were 30.38 +/- 16.80 micro g/ml, 31.42 +/- 14.81 microg/ml respectively. There was no significant difference between phenobarbital [P=0.1] and phenytoin [P=0.8] serum levels in these two groups. There was no significant correlation between phenobarbital serum level with age in the group of status epilepsy [P=0.1] and refractory status epilepsy [P=0.8]. In contrast, increased phenytoin serum level was associated with increased age in status epilepsy group [P=0.004] and refractory status epilepsy group [P=0.01]. In both groups, blood level of the drugs were within the therapeutic range. High pharmacokinetic variation of antiepileptic medications in children does not cause any changes in the serum level of intravenous phenytoin and phenobarbital in the groups of status epilepsy and refractory status epilepsy. Development of refractory status epilepsy is probably due to the nature of disease or other unknown factors which need further studies

Comparison of serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels in women of childbearing age, oral contraceptive users, postmenopausal and who take hormone replacement therapy

There is a growing awareness that vitamin D sufficiency is required for optimal health, and also the role of vitamin D in calcium absorption and metabolism for bone health is well known. The objective of this study was to investigate the serum vitamin D level in childbearing age and postmenopausal women and comparing with women who use oral contraceptive pills [OCP] and who take hormone replacement therapy [HRT]. Ninety-seven healthy non pregnant-non lactating women with a mean age of 32.67 +/- 5.14 years old [50 OCP users and 47 non- OCP users] and 56 healthy postmenopausal women, with a mean age of 51.42 +/- 3.22 years old [29 were taking HRT and 27 were not taking HRT] were studied using biochemical procedures [measurement of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D], anthropometric measurements [weight and height] and completing 24-hour recall questionnaire for determining daily dietary calcium intake. No significant differences were found between either OCP and non- OCP users or HRT and non- HRT groups in terms of mean body mass index [BMI], and dietary intakes of calcium. Mean daily calcium intake in all groups was lower than recommended daily allowances. There was no significant difference in serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D levels between OCP- users and non-OCP users, However the mean serum 25- hydroxyvitamin D level in HRT group was significantly higher than that of non- HRT group [P<0.01].The majority of subjects in OCP and non - OCP, and HRT groups had serum vitamin D levels lower than normal limit. Vitamin D deficiency was common in the study subjects, which may have important health consequences. Using low- dose OCP had not resulted in altered Vitamin D metabolism compared to non -OCP users. However, in postmenopausal women, taking HRT had positive effect on serum vitamin D level. It is suggested to emphasize for overcoming vitamin D deficiency in community as one of the health priorities

[ potentiating effects of citrullus colocynthis extract on immune system]

The stimulating effects of medicinal plants on immune system were taken into consideration. In this relation, saponins and flavonoids are well known compounds. The presence of these compounds in Citrullus colocynthis [CC], also a report based on leucocytosis activity of C.C, it caused that we were going to investigate the effect of this plant on immune system. In the present paper, the histologic effects of pulps and seeds extracts of CC on gastrointestinal mucosal from the point of view of immunity were investigated. Aerial parts of CC were extracted with MeOH 70% and the presence of different groups of natural compounds were assessed by phytochemical methods. Then 30 male rabbits are used, they divided into 5 groups. One group is kept as diabetic control and from the other 4 groups, 2 groups were received 100 and 200 mg/kg/day of pulp extract and two groups were received 100 and 200 mg/kg/day of seed extract of C.C by gavage. After 1 month of experimental period, rabbits were sacrificed by chloroform and specimens from intestine were fixed in 10% formalin and studied with light microscopy. The number of penetrating lymphocytes to intestinal epithelium observed in morphometery were criteria of immune system functional marker. All of animals that received 200mg/kg/day pulp extract of C.C, and 46% of animals that received 100 mg/kg /day of pulp extract died. The number of intestinal mucosal lymphocytes enhanced in group of received 100 mg/kg/day pulp extract. Mean of penetrating lymphocytes was significant in 100 mg/kg/day pulp extract group in comparison to control group[p< 0.05]. Increasing of lymphocytes was significant in 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of seed extract and mean of penetrating lymphocytes was significant in comparison to control group [p<0.005]. Immunostimulant effect of the extract of CC seed is higher than the extract of CC pulp but the toxicity of the pulp extract is more than the toxicity of the seed extract

[Evaluation of serum anti-HBS concentration in children vaccinated with recombinant hepatitis B vaccine at birth]

Vaccination with the major surface antigen of hepatitis B virus [HBsAg] induces anti-HBs antibody production and level of 10 IU/L is considered protective. It has been shown that the level of anti-HBs antibody does wane after vaccination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence of anti-HBs antibodies in healthy Iranian children 10 years after primary vaccination. Blood samples were collected from 146 children, 10 years after completion of primary hepatitis B vaccination course at birth. The sera were tested for anti-HBs, antibody to hepatitis B core antigen [anti-HBc] and HBsAg by use of ELISA technique. At 10 years after primary vaccination, 70 [47.9%] children had protective levels of antibody [anti-HBs> 10 IU/L] with mean titer of 68.1 IU/ml. Moreover, 45 [30.82%] children were negative for anti-HBs antibody. Distribution of children according to anti-HBs concentration revealed that the proportion of subjects with antibody titer of 0-10 IU/L, 10-100 IU/L, 100-500 IU/L and 500-1000 IU/L was 52.1%, 24.6%, 20.5% and 2.7%, respectively. All children were negative for HBsAg, although anti-HBc was positive in 11 [7.5%] children. There was no difference in the seroprotection rates of males and females. The results of present study show that after 10 years after primary vaccination with recombinant HB vaccine, 47.9% of the children had protective levels of anti-HBs antibody. On basis of the HBsAg and anti-HBc results, it seems that effective immunological memory exists in children. Additional follow-up studies need to be conducted to determine the duration of protection

Serious gender imbalance in medical and dentistry majors: how to prevent a crisis

Decreased males' motivation for entering universities has caused a low male/female ratio in different university majors. In 2005-2006 academic year enrollment of female students in Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences reached 83.14%. This tremendous gender imbalance may lead to the development of a mono-sex system for health service providers and will, affect the social health system. As females constitute the majority of students, in all medical sciences majors, in this study academic achievement of girls is compared to that-ofthe boys. This cross-sectional study was performed on 114 medical and 50 dentistry students who were enrolled at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in the spring of 2003. Grade-point average [GPA] was used as a marker for academic achievement. The scores were classified into 3 groups; A [17-20], B [14-16.99] and C [less than 13.99]. Data were analyzed by Chi-square test. This study indicated that not only girls constitute the majority of students in the Medicine and Dentistry majors, but also the academic achievement of girls was significantly higher than that of the boys. Among medical students only 2.7% of the boys had. A scores, while 18.2% of the girls had A scores. Furthermore, among dentistry students, none of the male students had A scores while 8% of the girls had an A score. It seems that the observed differences are not related to academic intelligence. These differences may have originated from the decreased motivation in male students for studying efficiently after the enrollment

Effects of nibbling and gorging on lipid profiles, blood glucose and insulin levels in healthy subjects

Although there is some evidence indicative of some beneficial effects of an increased meal frequency on the lipid profiles, the results published are controversial. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of feeding frequency on blood lipids, glucose and insulin. The subjects of this study were 15 healthy non-smoker males aged 27.2 +/- 6.4 years. All subjects were placed on 2 identical diets in which they consumed the same food either as 3 meals at 7-hours intervals [gorging diet] or as 9 snacks at 2 hours intervals [nibbling diet]. Each diet was of 2 week's duration and was separated from each other by a period of 3 weeks. At the end of both diets, the plasma was obtained from fasting blood samples and its lipid levels were determined. The study was carried out in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran between 30 October 1998 and 19 December 1998. The nibbling diet was associated with an increased level of glucose [p<0.01] and a decreased level of insulin [p<0.05]. The plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, and lipoprotein [a] were found to be lower in the end of nibbling diet compared with the gorging diet, however, only for the last parameter this reduction was significant [p<0.02]. The nibbling diet resulted in an insignificant increase in the high-density lipoprotein concentration. Taking into account, the difficulty in following the nibbling diet with a fear of weight gain, there would be no advantages in recommending the nibbling dietary pattern for normal free-living subjects, although its metabolic benefits in obese people could be the subject for further studies