[ effect of high intensity interval training [HIIT] and pilates on levels of irisin and insulin resistance in overweight women]

Effects of Phenotypic changes in adipose tissue due to training are a new theory. However, the cellular - molecular mechanisms for these phenotypic changes are not yet clearly understood. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of high intensity interval training [HIIT] and Pilates on levels of Irisin and Insulin resistance in overweight women. This study was a Quasi-experimental research with a pre-post testing. Twenty-one overweight women, aged >/= 29.55 years were divided into two groups: High intensity interval training [N=12] and Pilates [N=9] groups. The first group performed one session of Vo2max testing for 30 s [15 s the with 120% of maximum aerobic speed and 15 s rest], while second group performed one session of Pilates. Following the second blood sampling, data analysis was performed with p values<0.05 considered significant. Results of this study show that Irisin levels increased significantly after exercise only in the HIIT group [P=0.039, t11= 2.3]. Immediately after exercise insulin resistance increased and decreased respectively in the HIIT and Pilates groups, but changes were not statistically significant [P>0.05]. Based on the findings, levels of Irisin increase in overweight women, whereas those of insulin resistance do not

[ effects of antifungal azoles on inflammatory cytokine production in human keratinocytes]

Azoles drugs are being used successfully in treatment of fungal infections. Recently, immunosuppressive effects of some of these agents have been reported. Keratinocytes as the major cells of the skin, have an important role in innate immunity against pathogenic agents. Considering the scanty of information about the effects of azoles on immune responces, this study was conducted to assess the expression and secretion of inflammatory cytokines in keratinocytes following treatment with azole drugs. This is an exprimental study conducted in molecular biology division in Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Immunodermatology Department in Vienna Medical University. Primery keratinocytes were cultured and treated with different concentrations of fluconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole and griseofulvin. Secreted IL1, IL6 and TNF-alpha by keratinocytes in culture supernatant were measured by quantitative enzyme immunoassay technique. Moreover, expression of the genes encoding IL1 and IL8 was evaluated by Real Time-PCR. Treatment of keratinocytes with different concentrations of fluconazole and low concentration of ketoconazole resulted in decrease in IL1 secretion, but itraconazole and griseofulvin did not show such an effect at the same concentrations. In addition, none of the examined drugs had an effect on secretion level of IL6 and TNF-alpha. Quantitative analysis of IL1 and IL8 encoding genes revealed that transcription on these genes might be suppressed following treatment with fluconazole or ketoconazole. Fluconazole and ketoconazole might modulate the expression and secretion of IL1 and IL8 and affect the direction of immune responses induced by keratinocytes

Colony-PCR is a rapid and sensitive method for DNA amplification in yeasts

Yeast infections are increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. In order to perform a DNA-based diagnostic test, availability of a rapid and easy-to-perform DNA extraction protocol is essential. In the present study we evaluated colony-PCR as the easiest way to amplification of target DNA. Instead of using templates of purified genomic DNA, we performed the PCR directly from yeast colonies or cultures. Serial cell dilution of three reference yeast strains including Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used for determining the sensitivity of the colony-PCR. A total of one hundred yeast isolates were also tested. All reactions were performed using the universal fungal primers ITS1 and ITS4 complementary to the rDNA region. The colony-PCR resulted in a single band [with different sizes] for 106 cells or more for all reference species. Furthermore 98 out of 100 [98%] of samples showed a relevant single band after PCR. Directly application of the yeast cells obtained from culture colony for PCR reaction is a fast, reliable, cost-effective and simple method for performing any PCR-based protocol including diagnostic tests

Molecular characterization of subunit G of the vacuolar ATPase in pathogen dermatophyte trichophyton rubrum

Trichophyton rubrum is an anthropophilic fungus causing up to 90% of chronic cases of dermatophytosis. Several properties of this fungus have been investigated so far. However, a few studies were carried out in the field of molecular biology of this fungus. In the present study, we tried to identify the subunit G of its vacuolar ATPase [V-ATPase]. Pairs of 21 nt primers were designed from highly conserved regions of the V-ATPase subunit G genes in other fungi. Mentioned primers were utilized in PCR using isolated genomic DNA template as well as cytoplasmic RNA of T.rubrum and the PCR and RT-PCR fragments were then sequenced. About 469 nucleotides were sequenced which encoded a polypeptide with 119 amino acids. Nucleotide sequence comparison in gene data banks [NCBI, NIH] for both the DNA and its deduced amino acid sequence revealed significant homology with V-ATPase subunit G genes and proteins of other eukaryotic cells. The amino acid sequence of the encoded protein was about 84% identical to the sequence of V-ATPase subunit G from other fungi. In summary, we have cloned the first V-ATPase subunit G of dermatophytes and characterized it as a member of this gene family in other eukaryotic cells

[Frequency of the accidents in children under 15 years old referring to the emergency center of Ali Ebn Abitaleb Hospital in Rafsanjan 2000-2001]

Nowadays, accidents and injuries are the main community health problems and are also the most important cause of children death worldwide including in our country [Iran]. To prevent these accidents from occuring an epidemiological investigation concerning the type of accident and its relevant risk factors including personal characters, time and place condiotions are warranted which were the goal of this study. This research was a cross-sectional study that performed on all children under 15 years old during a period of one year referring to the emergency ward of Ali Ebn Abitaleb Hospital in Rafsanjan from January 13th of 2000 to January 13th 2001. The patients accompaniers were interviewed using a questionnaire and the data were then analyzed by SPSS software and descriptive statistical method. The results showed that, 69.6% of injured children were male and most of them [71.6%] were living in the urban areas of Rafsanjan. More than half of the accidents [58.8%] occurred outdoor and most of the victims 45.5% were more than 7 years old. The higher frequencies caused by fall [34.1%], and collision [26.7%] and the smallest ones by animals [0.7%]. Since in cases of accidents children are especially vulnerable any prevention programs should be based on teachers training and also on childhood education programs with strong parent involvement