[Effects of hydroethanolic extract of kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. leaf on total antioxidant capacity and BMP7 gene expression in rat white adipose tissue]

Background: Obesity is one of the problems of major concern to today's society. Weight loss has been reported for Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff

Objective: Aim of this research is to examine the effect of this plant extract on plasma total antioxidant capacity and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 [BMP7] gene expressions in white adipose tissue [WAT]

Methods: Eighty male wistar rats were divided in two prevention [A] and treatment [B] groups and every group were divided to four subgroups. The A for prevention from obesity and B were used for reducing of obesity. WAT was obtained after the study for BMP7 gene expression [with using Real time PCR]. Liver sample for catalase activity, blood for measuring of total antioxidant capacity and paraoxonase 1 activity were prepared

Results: Weight loss and BMP7 gene expression was seen only in subgroup that receiving K. odoratissima hydroethanolic extract in the A group. Contrary to expectation, K. odoratissima extract was reduced the total antioxidant capacity in both groups, reduced level of serum paraoxonase 1 activity and increased liver catalase [p value = 0.002] in comparing to the subgroup that received high fat diet [p value = 0.011]

Conclusion: K. odoratissima hydroethanolic extract has an effective role in prevention of weight gain and enhanced liver catalase activity. Increasing in BMP7 gene expression probably causes alteration of WAT to brown adipose tissue [BAT]. According to this study, consumption of extract can reduce serum total antioxidant capacity and is likely to exacerbate oxidative stress

-514C/T polymorphism of hepatic lipase gene among Iranian patients with Coronary Heart disease

The T allele of the hepatic lipase [HL] C-514T polymorphism was previously found to be associated with lower plasma HL activity. Here, we examined the association between this polymorphism and plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations in patients with coronary arteries stenosis. We studied 342 subjects undergoing coronary angiography in two groups of non CAD [n=146] and CAD [n=196]. -514C->T polymorphism was determined using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism [PCR-RFLP]. After adjustment for age, smoking and body mass index, HDL-cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in men with the C/T and T/T genotype than those with the C/C genotype [mean 38.6 and 34.7 respectively P=0.01]. The frequency of T allele in non CAD was 0.136 and 0.226 in female and male respectively and 0.170 and 0.223 for female and male in CAD subjects. There was no difference in T allele frequency in CAD and none CAD groups in male and female [P=0.466 and 0.722 respectively]. -514C-"T of LIPC gene have a positive effect on HDL-C concentration especially in male gender. However, no difference was determined in frequency of T allele between CAD and normal arteries subjects

[ effect of resistance training on plasma and skeletal muscles sphingosine-1-phosphate levels of male Wistar rat]

Sphingosine 1-phosphate [S1P] is a bioactive platelet-derived sphingolipid that is involved in regulation of proliferation, differentiation, hypertrophy and anti-apoptosis of cells and activation of satellite cells. The purpose of present study was to examine the effect of resistance training on S1P levels of plasma and skeletal muscles in male Wistar rats. Twenty four 8-week-old male Wistar rats were used in this study. The initial body weight of rats was 190 to 250 gr. All animals were maintained in pairs in an environmentally controlled room at 22°C, 12:12-h photoperiod cycle and allowed normal cage activity. The animals were fed standard rat chow and water ad libitum. After a week of acclimation to the animal facility, the rats were assigned randomly to a control [N=12] or training [N=12] group. Resistance training was done using a 1 meter height ladder with 2 cm grid with an 85 degree incline, and weights attached to rat's tails. The content of sphingosine-1- phosphate [S1P] present in the chloroform layer was determined by means of high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]. Resistance exercise training increased the total content of S1P in FHL [fast-twitch] [P=0.003] and soleus [slow-twitch] [P=0.008] muscles and plasma [P=0.001] in comparison with control group. It is concluded that resistance exercise training strongly affects the S1P content in fast and slow twitch muscles and plasma

[Study of I405V polymorphism of cholesterol ester transfer protein gene in efficacy of statins on plasma level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol]

Cholesterol ester transfer protein [CETP] plays a pivotal role in high density lipoprotein [HDL] metabolism and reverse cholesterol transport [RCT] pathway. CETP gene variants such as I405V that affect HDL cholesterol directly modulate CETP gene transcriptional activity. This study aims to determine influence of I405V polymorphism of CETP in statin effects with regard to plasma HDL cholesterol levels. In this descriptive analytical study, 196 adult patients with LDL-C more than 120 mg/dL were divided into two groups based on the lovastatin and atorvastatin using. There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics between two groups. Lipid profile was measured in all subjects before and after treatment and I405V polymorphism of CETP promoter was studied using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method [PCR-RFLP]. Data were compared using paired t-test and ANOVA. Cholesterol was decreased and HDL was increased in VV genotype more than other genotypes by lovastatin and atorvastatin [P<0.05] but ApoA1 was increased in II genotype. ApoA1 also was increased in IV by atorvastatin despite of lower HDL. Lovastatin and specially atorvastatin increased ApoA1 in HDL particles in II genotype more than other genotypes. Therefore, treatment with lovastatin and atorvastatin is more effective in patients with II genotype for preventing of CAD

[Comparison of two educational methods [slide presentation and using microscope monitoring] in teaching experimental histology]

Background and aim: Using new technologies has been emphasized in higher education in recent years. It seems that applying these technologies is helpful for teaching and learning experimental histology. However, the effect of changing the educational methods on student's learning has been questioned for a long time. In this study, the effect of classical education [using slide presentation of schematic histological photos] and new method of using microscope monitoring on final experimental histology scores has been compared in medical students

Methods: This experimental study was performed on 36 medical students who had selected histology course. Students were randomly divided into two groups. First group was thought by old method of slide presentation and second group was thought with new method of microscope monitoring. After finishing the educational course, one similar exam was taken from both groups and the student's scores were compared using student-t test in SPSS software [ver. 11.5]

Results: Based on the results of this study, the students' scores in the microscope monitoring group was 14.32+/-2.39 compared to the slide presentation group which was 13.18+/-2.18. Data analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups [P>0.05]

Conclusion: Findings of this study demonstrated that using two different educational methods of slide presentation or microscope monitoring may not have significant effect on student's scores in their final exam

Molecular pathology of 6 novel GJB2 allelic variants detected in familial and sporadic Iranian non syndromic hearing loss cases

Mutations of GJB2 gene encoding connexion 26 are the most common cause of hearing loss in many populations. A very wide spectrum of GJB2 gene mutations associated with hearing loss have been detected but pathogenic role has been tested only for a part of them. In this study, we have provided genetic evidence on the pathogenicity of our previously reported novel GJB2 allelic variants. The pathogenic role of GJB2 allelic variants were assessed using co segregation of each allelic variant with hearing loss in family members, absence of the allelic variants in control populations, coexistence with a second GJB2 mutation, nature of the amino acid substitution and evolutionary conservation of the appropriate amino acid. The GJB2 allelic variants including 363delC, 327delGGinsA, H16R and G200R have been co segregated with autosomal recessive non syndromic hearing loss in five families and are not found in control subjects. The G130V and K102Q were found in heterozygous state in two deaf individuals. G130V results in an exchange a residue highly conserved among all the connexins but was found with a rate of 1% in control subjects and K102Q results in an exchange a residue not conserved among all the connexins and not identified in control subjects. We conclude that, 363delC, 327delGGinsA, H16R and G200R may be pathogenic. However, the pathogenicity and inheritance of K102Q and G130V can not be assessed clearly and remains to be identified