[Evaluation of the efficacy and correlation between blood glucose measured using glucometers and enzymatic laboratory methods]

Diabetes Mellitus [DM] is the most common chronic metabolic disease, with many complications including renal failure, blindness and non-traumatic amputation, so it is important to monitor and regulate blood glucose. Considering how easy home blood glucose monitoring is, we decided to evaluate the performance of two available glucometers for detection of blood glucose compared with standard laboratory methods. In this analytical study, we compared the capillary blood glucose levels of 60 volunteers with mean age of 32.8 +/- 9.6 years in Tabriz Mehr Laboratory as determined by test strips [two different Glucometers] with venous blood glucose levels' measurements by the enzymatic method [the standard laboratory kit]. Data were analyzed using one way-ANOVA test, T-test, Pearson correlation and Bland and Altman plot. The mean differences of No: 1 and No: 2 Glucometers with enzymatic laboratory method were 20.78 +/- 11.61 and 4.5 +/- 3.76mg/dl respectively. The one way ANOVA test indicated significant differences between three methods [p<0.05]. Further Duncan's test revealed significant differences between two devices [p=0.001] and device No.1 and laboratory method [p=0.001]; however, the differences between device No.2 and laboratory method were not statistically significant [p=0.83]. According to the results, calibrating the devices with laboratory instruments in order to make major clinical decisions is recommended

[Effect of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein I405V polymorphism on the lipid response to changes of dietary fatty acid composition]

Atherosclerosis results from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Free cholesterol efflux from peripheral tissues and transferring to the liver for excretion from bile which is known as reverse cholesterol transfer [RCT] plays a central role in protection against atherosclerosis. HDL and cholesteryl ester transfer protein [CETP] are the major participants of RCT. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the cholesteryl ester transfer protein I405V polymorphism modifies the response to changes in the dietary ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat [P:S]. The population study included 85 healthy subjects with the different l405V genotypes [35 II, 36 IV, and 14 VV] who assigned to two consecutive 28 days experimental period. All subjects consumed a high polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFA] diet with P:S of 1.2 for the first period and a high saturated fatty acids [SFA] diet with a P:S of 0.3 for the next 28 days period. At the first and the end of each dietary period, serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were measured. At beginning of screening, lipid or lipoprotein concentrations were not significantly different among CETP I405V genotype groups. After the high SFA diet, subjects carrying V allele had a greater reduction in apolipoprotein A-I [apoA-I] and HDL cholesterol [HDL-C] than subjects with II genotype. The CETP I405V polymorphism contributes to the unfavorable changes of apoA- I and HDL-C when a high PUFA diet were replaced with a high SFA diet

[ effect of Dorema aucheri extract on breast tumor induced by DBMA in rats]

Dorema aucheri is from the piaceae family that exists in margins of Zagros mountains in Iran. In this study, the effect of 200 and 400 mg doses of Dorema aucheri extract on DMBA induced breast tumors in rats was investigated. This experimental study, was conducted in Herbal Medicine Research Center of Yasuj University of Medical Sciences. Forty rats were allocated in experimental and control groups. In experimental groups, after receiving DMBA, Dorema aucheri alcoholic extract in doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg of body weight were used orally for 12 weeks. One group of control animals received DMBA only and the other group received 200 mg of Dorema aucheri extract. At the end of 12 weeks, the tumor mass was isolated and evaluated by hematoxylin eosin histology staining. The average tumor size, number of tumors, and histology of tumors in groups were compared. The gathered data were analyzed using SPSS version 18, using ANOVA and Paired T test. Mean of tumor number were significantly different in experimental and control groups. No tumor was seen in control group which received 200 mg of the extract while breast tumor was seen in other groups. Mean of tumor number in animals which received 400 mg of extract was significantly higher that the other groups [p<0.05]. It seems that the dose of 400 mg extract of Dorema aucheri increases the tumor size, causes weight loss, decreases longevity and durability of rats while dose of 200 mg of extract reduces the tumor growth and tumor necrosis in Sprague Dawley female rat's with breast tumor induced by DMBA

Fungal contamination of consumed tea in East Azarbaidjan Province

Information on the fungal contamination of consumer tea is limited and this kind of contamination is important for food and therefore a survey was undertaken to determine the fungal contamination of consumer tea in East Azarbaidjan province. A total of 100 samples were obtained using standard 20 cm collection sond from whole sales and stores in different part of East Azarbaidjan province and examined according standards methods, Samples were cultured in YCFA medium and incubated at 25oC for maximum 3 weeks and a screening survey for positive samples was carried out 73 [73%] out of total 100 samples had fungal contamination more than 104 colony forming units/gram [cfu/g], Aspergillus niger, Penicillium Sp, Fusarium Sp, Asergillus fumigatus, Alternaria Sp, Cladesporium Sp, Mucor Sp, Gliocladium Sp and Trichotecium Sp were the most frequently detected microorganisms throughout the survey respectively. The presence of moulds such as Aspergillus Sp, Penicillium Sp, Fusarium Sp, Alternaria Sp, Cladesporium Sp, Mucor Sp, Gliocladium Sp and Trichotecium Sp in consumer tea can lead to the presence of harmful mycotoxins produced by these moulds and then could result in serious toxicity and illness in humans, As the fungal contamination has a strong influence on the ultimate quality of tea, tea end products and food safety, more attention to the quality and safety of tea are necessary

[ 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

[Comparison of serum zinc and copper levels between term and preterm neonates cord blood and their mothers' blood]

Zinc and copper belong to the essential trace metals needed for optimal growth and development. Measurement of serum zinc and copper in maternal blood and cord blood of neonates was carried out to study and compare the level of trace metals in term and preterm neonates and their mothers. 152 healthy neonates, both term and preterm and their mothers were selected. Measurement of serum zinc and copper was carried out by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean serum zinc level in the term neonates and their mothers was 0.83 microg/ml and 0.62 microg/ml respectively. The mean serum zinc level in the preterm neonates and their mothers was 0.78 microg/ml and 0.47 microg/ml respectively. The mean serum copper level in the term neonates and their mothers was 0.55 microg/ml and 2.29 microg/ml respectively. The mean serum copper level in the preterm neonates and their mothers was 0.63 microg/ml and 2.17 microg/ml respectively. Cord blood zinc level was significantly higher and cord blood copper level was significantly lower than the corresponding maternal blood levels [p<0.05]. There was no significant difference between cord blood zinc and copper levels in term and preterm neonates. The serum levels of zinc in both maternal and cord blood seem to be lower in our sample population compared to the levels found by other authors