The effects of short- and long-term diet supplementation with Iranian propolis on the growth and immunity in rainbow trout [Oncorhynchus mykiss]

Propolis, a resinous substance collected by Apis mellifera bees from various plant sources is transformed in the presence of bee enzymes. Short- and long-term effects of diet supplementation with ethanol extract of Iranian propolis [EEIP] was investigated on growth and immunity in juvenile rainbow trout. The fish [mean body weight 30 +/- 3.2 g] were fed a commercial diet supplemented with 0 [control], 1, 2 and 5 g/kg EEIP for 96 h and 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg EEIP for a 45-days. Rainbow trout growth performance significantly [P<0.05] increased by the dietary supplementation of Iranian propolis. Our results showed that significant increase in serum lysozyme activity, complement activity and total immunoglobulin were seen in all treatment groups during short- and longterm feeding trial when compared to the control group. On the basis of our findings, propolis improved rainbow trout growth performance and some immune parameters. Key words: Rainbow trout, Iranian propolis, Growth performance, Immunity

[ impact of medical information systems on health care quality and factors affecting the use of these systems from physician's viewpoints in Hormozgan university of medical sciences]

Quality improvement is the main purpose of health care organizations in general and of hospitals in particular. Physicians are the main users of information systems. It is, therefore, necessary to study the impact of using medical information systems on health care quality and the factors affecting the physicians' use of these systems. This is a descriptive-analytic study in which simple randomized sampling was used to select 74 physicians in teaching hospitals. The reliability of a researcher-made questionnaire - validated by experts - was confirmed by test-retest. The data were analyzed by SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics. Laboratory information system, online vital sign system, and drug interaction inspection system [with mean values of 4.61, 4.28, and 4.08, respectively] showed the highest effects on health care quality. Moreover, the factors of data security concern, constant system upgrade, and lack of trust in the quality of the services of information technology workforce [with mean values of 4.05, 4.04, and 3.97, respectively] were found to have the highest impact on the physicians' use of medical information systems. Physicians stated that information systems had an effective role in the quality improvement of health care. Data security concerns, lack of computer skills, lack of training for the optimal use of information systems, and slow transmission speed were the most effective factors in preventing physicians from using information systems. Thus, optimization of information systems especially in the aforementioned areas seems necessary for health care quality improvement

[ effects of green tea extract on serum adiponectin concentration and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus]

Adiponectin is a novel adipose tissue-specific adipokine that can increase insulin sensitivity. Many studies have shown anti obesity and anti diabetic effects of green tea consumption. In this study we examined the effects of green tea extract on circulating adiponectin levels and insulin resistance status in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM]. In this double blind randomized clinical trial 58 type 2 diabetic patients with BMI >/= 25 were recruited from an unselected population from the outpatient clinic of Shariati hospital, Tehran, Iran. Patients were randomly divided into two groups; green tea extract and placebo. All the patients received the capsules for 8 weeks. Laboratory measurements including fasting serum adiponectin, insulin, HOMA-IR, FPG, OGTT, HbA1c and lipid profile and anthropometric were performed before and after the intervention. Nutrient intakes were obtained via 24-hour recall from each patient in three successive days. The data were analyzed using appropriate software. We found a significant effect of green tea extract on increasing the logarithm of serum adiponectin in diabetic patients [0.15 +/- 0.10 micro g/ ml, P<0.05]. A significant independent correlation between the logarithm of serum adiponectin and WHR [Waist to Hip Ratio] was found [P=0.009, t=-2.7]. The consumption of green tea extract had a significant effect in control the levels of HbA1C, weigh and also BMI in green tea group [P<0.05]. The results showed that consumption of green tea extract can be useful in the control of T2DM by increasing the levels of serum adiponectin and controlling the weight, BMI and HbA1C levels in patients with T2DM

Cytoplasmic expression of recombinant interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 proteins results in hydrogen peroxide accumulation and reduction in catalase activity in escherichia coil

The Reactive oxygen species [ROS] is induced in the cells following various stresses but the effect of recombinant protein expression on ROS generation has not been studied yet. In this study, H2O2 concentration and catalase activity variations and their correlation with cell growth following cytoplasmic expression of human interleukin-2 [hIL-2] and mouse interleukin-4 [mIL-4] in Escherichia coli were investigated. Additionally, the effect of recombinant protein expression under different conditions was compared to the effect of foreign DNA introduction on these factors. Plasmids pEThIL-2 and pETmIL-4 were used for expression of human interleukin-2 [hIL-2] and mouse interleukin-4 [mIL-4] inside the cytoplasm of the cells. Having confirmed protein expression using SDS-PAGE analysis and ELISA assay, H2O2 concentration and catalase activity were measured at various ODs. Empty vector introduction increased significantly H2O2 concentration of the cells. However, H2O2 concentration in hIL-2 and mIL-4 expressing cells was significantly higher than its concentration in empty vector transformed cells. Catalase activity was reduced in foreign DNA introduced cells. It was more lowered following expression of recombinant proteins. Results of this study revealed the relationship between foreign DNA introduction and protein expression with H2O2 elevation and catalase activity reduction. There was also correlation between H2O2 elevation and reduction in catalase activity with the cell growth depression

Serum antisperm antibodies in fertile and infertile individuals

Presence of antisperm antibodies [ASAs] in infertility and their adverse effects on fertility is a matter of controversy. The aims of this study were to determine the percentage of antibody positive sperms and rate of ASA positive sera in both fertile and infertile men and women, and to find the association between these antibodies and infertility. This study consisted of 29 fertile and 60 infertile men and women. The serum immu-noglobulin [Ig] M, G, and A antisperm antibodies were evaluated after incubation of the sera with normal and high-quality fresh sperm from healthy donors. The percentage of spermatozoa positive for IgM, IgG, and IgA antibodies and the rate of antisperm antibody positive sera in fertile and infertile groups were measured by flow cytometry. Mean percentage of antibody positive sperms in fertile and infertile groups showed no significant differences [all P > 0.05]. The rate of ASA positive sera in fertile and infertile individuals showed no significant differences [all P > 0.05]. There were no significant differences between the mean percentage of antibody positive sperms and the rate of ASA positive sera in fertile and infertile men and women [all P > 0.05]. Presence of ASAs in the serum may not be associated with infertility. Although antisperm antibodies may interfere with fertility, not all types of ASAs can associate with infertility. Current tests cannot differentiate the ASAs that interfere with infertility from those that do not, because the antigenic specificities of these ASAs are not known. The antigens of the infertility-related ASAs must be characterized to allow an accurate detection for individuals with ASAs

Association between renal stone, bone mineral density and biochemical parameters

To investigate the relationship between renal stone formation and osteoporosis. Eight hundred thirty healthy subjects aged between 20 and 76 years were randomly selected from 50 clusters to take part in the study. Of these, 68 [8.2%] had a previous history of renal stone disease. All participants underwent clinical examination and bone mineral densitometry of the lumbar spine and femur using the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry technique. Plasma levels of vitamin D3, calcium, phosphate, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone were also measured. Data showed that patients with a history of renal stones had a higher prevalence of osteoporosis [16.7%] and os-teopenia [53.3%] than the subjects without a history of renal stone disease [11.2% and 35.7%, respectively]. For both men and women the mean age of patients with a history of renal stone disease was significantly lower than patients with no dis-ease history [men: with history 44.27 +/- 14.8, without history 50.28 +/- 12.3; P= 0.02] [women: with history 43.21 +/- 11.8, without history 49.06 +/- 9.6; P= 0.02]. Female patients with a history of renal stone disease also had a significantly lower [8.74%] mean spinal bone density [P= 0.02], but there were no other significant differences in either the biochemical parameters that were measured or in the hip bone density. These data suggest that osteoporosis may be more prevalent in those patients that have had a history of renal stone formation

Epidemiology and risk factors of 377 AIDS [HIV infected] patients

Oral manifestations of HIV infection are common and include oral lesions and novel presentations of previously known opportunistic diseases. Some risk factors are significantly contributed to probability of developing opportunistic infection of oral candidiasis. We have performed the current survey to evaluate their role in Iranian patients with HIV infection. Totally, 377 documented HIV infected patients were included. Oral candidiasis was investigated with clinical observation, direct smear, and culture. Meanwhile, CD4 count was determined at the first visit and following antiretroviral therapy. The study population included 316 males and 60 females with a mean age of 36.5 +/- 8.7 years. Patients were diagnosed for a mean duration of 2.9 years. The most common route of infection transmission was shared needles [117 cases or 31%]. In serologic tests, 11 cases [2.9%] were positive for HBsAg, 206 cases [71.5%] for HCV nucleic acid and 53 cases [14.1%] for tuberculosis infection. At the first visit 52 cases [13.9%] and following HAART 31 cases [8.2%] were revealed to have oral candidiasis. Mean CD4 count in patients with oral candidiasis was significantly less than other patients [193.8 vs. 349.7 cells, P=0.0001]; however, the difference was not significant at follow up. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection may have a significant role in prognosis and clinical course of patients with HIV infection and could decrease the rate of opportunistic infections

Vitamin D status in pregnant and their newborns

Adequate vitamin D concentrations during pregnancy are necessary for neonatal calcium homeostasis, bone maturation and mineralization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum vitamin D in mothers and their newborns. This study comprised 552 pregnant women from Tehran University hospitals. Maternal and cord blood samples were obtained in delivery room just after child birth. The serum samples were assayed for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in mothers and cord blood were 66.8% and 93.3% [<35nmol/l] respectively. There was a significant correlation between maternal and cord blood levels of vitamin D. In mothers with vitamin D deficiency, cord blood vitamin D levels were lower than those of normal mothers [p=0.001]. Furthermore, considering increased requirements of calcium and vitamin D during pregnancy; intake of higher amounts of these nutrients are recommended

Application of chlorine dioxide for secondary effluent polishing

There are still many difficulties for developing the projects of using treated effluents. In this study, the efficiency of chlorine deoxide in the process of preparing the effluent of Sahebgharanieh Plant of Tehran for reuse purposes has been determind. Major results are as follows: Total COD reductions resulted from effluent treatment by ClO[2] solutions having concentrations equal to 1/4, 1/2 and 1/1 of COD samples at one hour contact time have been about 42%, 49% and 59% respectively. Total suspended solids were also reduced by treatment with ClO[2] solutions having the certain concentrations mentioned, and the reductions were about 37% ,47% and 58% respectively. Besides total and fecal coliforms results indicated that ClO[2] apllied was quite efficient in effluent disinfection. The conclusion is that reasonable reductions would be expected in the amounts of remained major pollutants and so reuse applications for some non-potable purposes may become possible. The acidification of chlorite has been used for ClO[2] generation as it is better suited to small treatment systems