Serum levels of zinc, copper, vitamin B12, folate and immunoglobulins in individuals with giardiasis

Giardia lamblia is one of the most important intestinal parasites. The aim of this study was to measure serum levels of IgA, IgE, zinc, copper, vitamin B12 and folate in individuals with giardiasis in comparison to normal subjects. The study was carried out among 49 Giardia positive and 39 age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Examination of stool samples was done by direct wet smear and formol-ether concentration method. Serum samples were obtained for further laboratory examination. IgA levels were measured by Single Radial Immune Diffusion [SRID]. IgE levels were measured by ELISA kit. Zinc and copper levels was measured by Ziestchem Diagnostics Kit and colorimetric endpoint-method respectively. Vitamin B12 and folate levels were measured by DRG Diagnostics Kit and Enzyme Immunoassay method respectively. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. There was a statistically significant difference in IgA, IgE, copper and zinc levels between positive and negative groups [P<0.05]. There was no significant difference between vitamin B12 and folate levels between the two groups. Mean values of Giardia positive and negative groups for IgA were 309.26 and 216.89 mg/dl, IgE 167.34 and 35.49 IU/ml, copper 309.74 and 253.61 micro g/dl and zinc 69.41 and 144.75 micro g/dl respectively. The results showed levels of IgA may correlate more closely with giardiasis than IgE. Regarding trace elements, giardiasis elevated serum copper levels, while it decreased serum zinc. Finally, there was no significant difference in serum levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid between the two groups

effect of DETA NONOate, a nitric oxide donor, on the rate of collagen synthesis in rat as an animal model of diabetes

Exogenous nitric oxide donors such as DETA NONOate, spontaneously release nitric oxide. This study aimed to investigate the effect of DETA NONOate as a nitric oxide releasing drug on the rate of collagen synthesis during the impaired wound healing in a rat model of diabetes. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were transferred into separate metabolic cages. Nine days before wounding, the rats were injected intraperitoneally with streptozotocin [STZ; 55 mg/kg body weight in citrate buffer 0.1 mol/L, pH 4.5] to induce diabetes. The dorsal surface of each rat was properly shaved and a full thickness dermal wound was made. The test group [n=6] was treated with 100 microM DETA NONOate in phosphate buffer while the control wounds [n=6] received sterile saline [PBS] only on the same day as wounding and every three days for one week. After the skin incision, polyvinyl alcohol [PVA] sponges were implanted subcutaneously on the dorsal of each animal under sterile conditions for the collection of wound fluid. Electrophoresis [current: 20 mA] was performed on the wound fluid. The gel was stained with Coomassie blue G-250, destained, and photographed. DETA NONOate treatment increased the rate of collagen synthesis in the diabetic test group compared to the control group. The nitric oxide donor, DETA NONOate, may represent a potential treatment for impaired wound healing in diabetes by increasing the collagen synthesis at the wound site

Study of giardia infection in cats

Giardiasis caused by the intestinal flagellate Giardia duodenalis. It is postulated that animals may be a reservoir for human infection and vice versa, thus, giardiasis classified as a zooanthroponotic disease. Therefore, accurate information about the Giardia infection in animals can help the control and prevention of disease in human. With respect to considerable population of cats in Iran and close relation to human, in the current study we tried to determine the infection rate of Giardia in stray, semi-stray and domestic cats. One hundred eighty one cat fecal specimens were collected and after formol-ether concentration, Giardia cysts were detected using light microscope. Twenty one samples [11.6%] out of 166 samples were Giardia cyst positive. The highest levels of infection with Giardia were in domestic cats [75%]. The findings prominence the necessity for cat owners to have knowledge about zoonotic transmission of Giardia