[ prevalence of frontal sinus aplasia in Mashhad, northeast of Iran]

There are various reports of the prevalence of frontal sinus aplasia in different geographical areas and ethnic origins. The size and shape of frontal sinus is different among various populations. This study used CT scan images to investigate the frequency of absence of frontal sinuses in adults of northeastern Iran. The present study was performed retrospectively on the axial and coronal CT scans of the paranasal sinuses from a series of 588 patients who had referred to CT scan ward of Mashhad Imam Reza hospital without any other sinus pathology. The mean age of patients was 44.39 +/- 19.44 years. Unilateral and bilateral aplasia of frontal sinuses was seen in 36 and 51 patients, respectively. The dominant sinus was in the left side in 68.24% of cases. The lower incidence of frontal sinus aplasia in this particular ethnic and geographical area relative to other populations emphasizes the effect of environmental and genetic factors on the development of frontal sinuses

case of pneumoscrotum following chest tube placement

Pneumoscrotum is a rare condition that occurs following a variety of procedural and pathological causes. We report a case of multiple trauma, pneumothorax and surgical emphysema, who presented with a swollen scrotum

[Evaluation of matrix metaloproteinase 2 [MMP2] activity in contact nickel dermatitis using zymoanalysis in comparison to normal individuals]

Matrix Metaloproteinases [MMPs], produced mainly by fibroblasts, play a major role in wound healing processes. This study aimed to investigate the MMP2 activity in dermal fibroblasts found in chronic contact nickel dermatitis lesions. In order to study the role of MMP2 in contact nickel dermatitis, fibroblast from patients and healthy individuals were cultured based on ex-plantation of skin. MMP2 activity was measured in fibroblast culture media using zymoanalysis. Zymograms were then analyzed by quantitative densitometry. MTT assay was also used to evaluate and compare proliferation capacity of fibroblasts in both cell cultures. The mean MMP2 activity 6-8 days after ex-plantation was significantly higher in patients fibroblasts than in normal individuals [170 +/- 9.2 and 134.3 +/- 5.9 in patients and normals, respectively [p < 0.05]. The proliferation capacity of patients' fibroblasts was significantly higher than that of normal cases [385938 +/- 2816 and 270261 +/- 6527 respectively, p < 0.05] in the same days. Our study shows a significant increase in degenerative activity of fibroblasts in nickel dermatitis lesions. It was also seen that the MMP2 activity per cell was significantly higher in patients' fibroblasts compared to healthy individuals and that gelatinolytic activity of MMP2 is independent of cell number. Therefore, intra-and inter-cellular signals may be altered in fibroblasts of nickel dermatitis lesions which lead to promotion of fibroblast response to mitogenic and fibrogenic stimulations

Arsenic trioxide compound modulates multiple myeloma phenotypes: Assessment on cell line models

Recent evidences suggest that multiple myeloma phenotypes [MMPs] are involved in the infiltration of multiple myeloma-affected marrow foci. In this study, the effects of arsenic trioxide on the invasive and angiogenic phenotypes of multiple myeloma [MM] cell line were assessed on a dose-response and time-course basis. Multiple myeloma cell line, Karpas 707, was treated with step-wise elevated concentrations of arsenic trioxide compound at 24, 48, and 72 h intervals. Cytotoxicity was assessed with a colorimetric assay. Potential antiinvasive phenotype was analyzed with MMP-2 zymography. To verify directly the anti angiogenic effect, F1 endothelial cell line was also treated with arsenic and the dose-dependent cytotoxicity was assessed with a colorimetric assay. Apoptotic properties of arsenic trioxide compound were investigated using TUNEL assay. The significant dose-dependent inhibitory effects of arsenic trioxide on MMP-2 were seen at given concentrations. Cytotoxicity analysis revealed much higher cell death than untreated cells [P< 0.01], both in Karpas 707 and F1 endothelial cell lines. Colectively, this study showed that arsenic trioxide might potentially elicit anti-invasive anti-angiogenesis properties in the treatment of myeloma dissemination process. In addition, the concurrent inhibition of MMPs activity and endothelial cell proliferation could compose the scenario of neoangiogenesis inhibition in the marrow-infiltrated foci

[Evaluation of variability of acute phase proteins in hemodialysis patients]

The prognosis of chronic dialysis patients is poor, in part due to the high incidence of cardiovascular disease and malnutrition. It has been recognized that 30-50% of hemodialysis patients have serological evidence of an activated inflammatory response. Chronic inflammation may cause malnutrition and progressive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. It would be obvious interest to study prevalence of inflammatory factors particularly CRP as prominent components of inflammatory syndrome in dialysis patients. We studied 125 dialysis patients in a cross sectional study during summer of 2001 in two university hospitals. Serum CRP [agglutination method], albumin [bromocresol green method] and ferritin [ELISA] were measured in all patients. One hundred and twenty five patients including 53 [44.1%] men and 72 [55.9%] women were enrolled in this study. Fourteen patients [11.2%] had hypoalbuminemia, 81 [64.8%] had high serum ferritin, and 57 subjects [45.6%] were CRP positive. According to high prevalence of inflammatory factors especially C-reactive protein in dialysis patients, CRP and other inflammatory factors should be screened in this group of patients routinely because of their prognostic importance

Effect of tindurin on immunopathogenesis mechanism of collagen-induced arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the sequestration of various leukocyte subpopulations within both the developing pannus and synovial space. This study was undertaken to examine the therapeutic potency of tindurin in experimental rheumatoid arthritis. Collagen-induced arthritis [CIA] was induced by intradermally immunization of Lewis rats at the base of the tail. The paws and knees were then removed for histopathology and radiography analysis. Using fibrosarcoma cell line the apoptosis process was measured by Terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling [TUNEL] method. Our data showed that the i.p. injection of tindurin to arthritic rats induced a significant reduction in paw edema. Histopathological assessment showed reduced inflammatory cells infiltrate, tissue edema and bone erosion in joints of treated rats. Moreover, our results in radiography were in line with histological findings as well as tindurin was found to induce apoptosis of treated cells in comparison with positive, negative and non-treated ones. Our findings revealed the therapeutic effect of tindurin in experimental model of rheumatoid arthritis in comparison with methotrexate as a choice drug

Anti-Cryptococcal-Globulin-Latex production for rapid detection of cryptococcus neoformans polysaccharide antigen in cryptococcosis

Cryptococcosis has become the fourth leading life-threatening opportunistic infection in patients with AIDS, but also occurs in non-AIDS patients. In view of the increasing numbers of infection during last decade in Iran, use of rapid, sensitive and specific test for diagnosis of cryptococcal disease has become important than ever. We aimed to produce the reagents for latex cryptococcal antigen test. The antigen was prepared from NCPF 3168 strain of Cryptococcus neoformans. Anticapsular antiserum of C. neoformans raised in rabbits and latex carboxylate- modified beads were coated with antiserum. The maximally- reactive globulin dilution was obtained at dilution of 1:400. For evaluation of efficacy of reagents, challenged 38 BALB/C mice and other 38 mice were used as controls. The mice were bled and autopsied. Brain, heart and lung were checked by direct, histopathological and cultural examination for cryptococcosis. The sera from case and control mice were tested with Immunomycologic [Immy] kit and also our produced reagents [OPR] for detection of cryptococcal antigen. Moreover, 15 cerebrospinal fluid and 15 serum samples from patients with cryptococcal meningitis, 30 with aspergillosis, 30 with suspected other fungal infections, and 30 from healthy individuals were tested as well. The results showed that the sensitivity [97.3%] and specificity [100%] of OPR was quite comparable with those of Immy kit. Therefore, it could be regarded as a substitute for commercial kits

[Comparitive study of matrix metalloproteinase [I and II] function on different fibroblast culture models]

Introduction: The process of wound healing sets in motion a complex and dynamic series of events, which includes the remodeling of the extracellular matrix degradation of matrix proteins, predominantly collagen fibers, mediated by matrix metalloproteinase [MMPs]. Our aim was to demonstrate whether fibroblasts derived from various strains of human fetal foreskin [FS] and adult skin [AS], when cultivated in a 3-D tissue model, exhibit different matrix metalloproteinase activities as compared to plastic environment

Material and Methods: A total of 13 cell strains, 8 and 5 strains of fetal foreskin and adult dermal fibroblasts, respectively, were grown under sterile conditions. Synchronized cultures up to 80-90% confluency of either study groups were used for further analyses. The rates of collagenase activity and gelatinase zymography of conditioned medium derived from adult cells relative to fetal fibroblasts in plastic vs. 3-D gel were determined and compared

Results: Adult fibroblasts showed higher collagenase I activity vs. FS strains both in plastic and in 3-D substrate [14.38 +/- 1.33. vs. 9.79 +/- 2.27 in plastic, and, 27.05 +/- 1.28 vs. 25.2 +/- 2.97. +/- in 3-D gel, [p<0.05]. FS strains produced nearly three times more collagenase I in 3-Dgel than in plastic; this increased activity rate was less than two times for AS strains. This finding was further added by enhanced gelatinase activities seen in both strains in 3-D gel. However, FS strains expressed more gelatinolytic activities in 3-Dgel, indicating different cellular functions derived from varied morphologies

Conclusions: These findings showed physiological differences in matrix components and could be due to phenotypic variations adopted by cells in response to local milieu, e.g. aging process. However, more studies are needed to address the question whether these phenotypic discrepancies could be further modified by the action of either growth modulators or cytokines