[Association between lipoprotein lipase hind III polymorphism and serum levels of lipids in Semnan City]

Lipoprotein lipase [LPL] is one of the key enzymes regulating the metabolism of triglycerides [TG] and HDL cholesterol. The lipoprotein lipase [LPL] gene polymorphisms are possibly involved in the pathophysiology of dyslipidemia. Hind III polymorphism is one of the most common polymorphisms in LPL gene. In some studies, association of Hind III polymorphism with dyslipidemia has been reported. Due to the high incidence of dyslipidemia in Iranian adults, this study was designed to investigate the frequency of rare allele [H-] LPL gene Hind III polymorphism and its association with serum lipids levels in an Iranian population, Total genomic DNA was prepared from 76 Iranian patients with hyperlipidemia [Total cholesterol [TC]>200 mg/dl, Triglyceride [TG]>150 mg/dl] and 75 healthy subjects [TC<200 mg/dl, TG<150]. The Hind III polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The frequencies of the Hind III polymorphism minor allele [H-] were 17 and 30 in the case and control groups respectively [P<0.01]. In the case group, patients with H+H+genotype had significantly higher mean total cholesterol [TC] and low density lipoprotein [LDL], compared to those with H+H-and H-H-genotypes [P<0.05]. The presence of rare H+allele was associated with increased TC and LDL-c levels in the studied population. The association between the LPL gene Hind III polymorphism and dyslipidemia is quite complicated and genotyping of LPL Hind III polymorphism in a larger-scale screening and with other polymorphisms is necessary and justifiable

[ effect of isotretinoin on plasma homocysteine concentration of patients with acne vulgaris]

Isotretinoin [ISO] revolutionized the treatment of acne since 1980s and there after, severe forms of acne have been treated more effectively, with less residual cosmetic or psychological damage. The use of Isotretinoin is associated with significant side-effects such as mucocutaneous involvement, dyslipidemia and increased liver enzymes. The aim of study was the evaluation of homocysteine [Hey] levels and the responsible vitamins for its metabolism in patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris undergone ISO treatment. Forty-seven [n=47] patients with acne, prepared with liver function tests, folate, vitamin B12, homocysteine and serum lipids evaluations. Hey was evaluated before [Value 1] and on the 2[nd] month [value 2] of treatment with Isotretinoin [0.5 mg/kg/day], by HPLC methods. Hey levels [value 1: 11.8 +/- 5.3 micro mol/L vs. value 2: 13.6 +/- 7.4 micro mol/L; P<0.001] were statically significantly increased in patients treated with ISO. In addition, lipids and liver enzymes increased in mentioned group. However, there was no significant correlation between Hey levels, vitamins and liver enzymes. Elevated Hey levels in patients after 2 months on ISO treatment might be resulted from liver function disturbances. Folate supplementation along with frequent evaluations of Hey serum levels are strongly reconnnened for the prevention of a premature occlusive disease

[Isolation and cloning of the beta subunit of human follicle stimulating hormone [hFSH beta] with its native gene's signal sequence in methylotroph yeast Pichia pastoris pPIC9 shuttle vector]

Follicle Stimulating Hormone [FSH] is one of the pituitary glycoproteines that it consists of two subunits; alpha and beta. The beta subunit is responsible for the biological activity of FSH. The aim of present study was isolation of the beta subunit coding sequence containing its signal sequence from human genome and then cloning of the isolated sequence in pPIC9 shuttle vector under the control of AOX1 promoter and ? factor signal sequence. the gene sequence of interest was isolated as a 2kb DNA fragment and cloned in pTZ57R vector resulting to pTV-2019 plasmid. The construct was used as template for modification of 5? region of gene upstream to ATG codon using PCR. Finally, amplicon was cloned in pPIC9 and the new construct named pPIC9F1. The sequence of FSH beta gene in pTV-2019 was confirmed by restriction analysis and DNA sequencing. In addition, restriction analysis and AOX1 primer-mediated PCR showed that pPIC9F1 has correct construction. The new construct, pPIC9F1, contains the coding sequence of FSH beta gene and its signal sequence [E2-IVS2-E3]. Therefore, this construct can be used for integration of FSH beta gene into yeast genome exactly downstream to AOX1 promoter. Under this condition, a fusion protein is produced that it contains two signal peptides, ? factor and FSH signal peptides. Yeast expression system is able to cleavage ? factor. It seems this is the first attempt for cloning of human FSH beta in yeast expression system

Antimicrobial effectiveness of furazolidone against metronidazole-resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori

The occurrence of strains resistant to metronidazole is causing failure of the 4-drug regimen for eradication of Helicobacter pylori in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This study compared the in vitro efficacy of furazolidone with metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxicillin and tetracycline in 70 H. pylori isolates from dyspeptic patients. Of the isolates, 33% were resistant to metronidazole but all were susceptible to furazolidone. Furazolidone could be considered as an appropriate substitute for metronidazole for H. pylori infections

[Familial risks of esophageal cancer in the caspian littoral of Iran]

In northeastern Iran there is an area of high incidence of esophageal cancer which is populated by residents of Turkmen ancestry. Several environmental risk factors for esophageal cancer have been proposed, but the roles of familial and genetic factors have not been studied extensively in the Turkmen population. We evaluated the importance of familial risk factors for esophageal cancer by performing a case-control study of 167 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 200 controls of Turkmen ethnicity. Detailed family pedigrees of the cases and controls were constructed, which documented all cancers in first- and second degree relatives. The actuarial risk of cancer was then estimated in 2097 first-degree relatives of cases and 2783 first-degree relatives of the controls. A hazard ratio was constructed, based on a comparison of the two cumulative incidence curves. The risk to age 75 of esophageal cancer in the first-degree relatives of Turkmen patients with esophageal cancer was 34%, versus 14% for the first-degree relatives of the controls [hazard ratio = 2.3; p = 3 x 10[-8]]. 9.6% of the cases reported that their parents were related, versus 2.5% of the controls [odds ratio = 4.1; p -value = 0.006]. Familial factors are important in the etiology of esophageal cancer among the Turkmen residents of Iran. The hazard ratio of 2.3 for cancer among first-degree relatives is consistent with an important contribution of heritable factors. It will be of interest to perform marker studies to establish which genes are responsible

[Familial risks of esophageal cancer in the Caspian Littoral of Iran]

In northeastern Iran there is an area of high incidence of esophageal cancer which is populated by residents of Turkmen ancestry. Several environmental risk factors for esophageal cancer have been proposed, but the roles of familial and genetic factors have not been studied extensively in the Turkmen population. We evaluated the importance of familial risk factors for esophageal cancer by performing a case-control study of 167 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 200 controls of Turkmen ethnicity. Detailed family pedigrees of the cases and controls were constructed, which documented all cancers in first- and seconddegree relatives. The actuarial risk of cancer was then estimated in 2097 first-degree relatives of cases and 2783 first-degree relatives of the controls. A hazard ratio was constructed, based on a comparison of the two cumulative incidence curves. The risk to age 75 of esophageal cancer in the first-degree relatives of Turkmen patients with esophageal cancer was 34%, versus 14% for the first-degree relatives of the controls [hazard ratio = 2.3; p = 3 x 10[-8]]. 9.6% of the cases reported that their parents were related, versus 2.5% of the controls [odds ratio = 4.1; p -value = 0.006]. Familial factors are important in the etiology of esophageal cancer among the Turkmen residents of Iran. The hazard ratio of 2.3 for cancer among first-degree relatives is consistent with an important contribution of heritable factors. It will be of interest to perform marker studies to establish which genes are responsible

Cloning of glucose oxidase gene in PKK233-3

Glucose oxidase [GO] has found a variety of industrial applications such as food, chemical and personal care industries. However one of the most important application of GO is used as diagnostic kits. The aim of study was isolation of GO gene from a recombinant vector [PET21aGO] and sub cloning and expression in PKK233-3 vector. Recombinant PET21a GO was extracted from E.coli DH5alpha and was digested with Restriction Enzymes; BamHI, Hindlll then isolated GO gene [1.8kb] and cloned in PKK233-3. PKK233-3GO was transformed in to E.coli DH5alpha. Our data demonstrated that the GO gene has expected size in agarose gel electrophoresis and also the cloned Go has a correct size after restriction analysis. The GO gene was cloned in prokaryotic host. This is a report of cloning of GO gene in Iran that can be used for further cloning of that gene in expression vectors for production of recombinant Enzyme

[Ecologic study of serum selenium and upper gastrointestinal cancers in Iran]

Both observational and experimental studies have shown that higher selenium status reduces the risk of upper gastrointestinal cancers in selenium deficient populations. Recent cancer registry data have shown very different rates of esophageal cancer [EC] and gastric cancer [GC] in four provinces of Iran, namely Ardabil, Mazandaran, Golestan, and Kerman. The aim of this study was to have a preliminary assessment of the hypothesis that high rates of EC in Golestan and high rates of GC in Ardabil may be partly attributable to selenium deficiency. We measured serum selenium in 300 healthy adults from Ardabil [n=100], Mazandaran [n=50], Golestan [n=100], and Kerman [n=50], using inductively coupled plasma, with dynamic reaction cell, mass spectrometry [ICP-DRC-MS] at the US Centers for Disease Control [Atlanta, Georgia]. The median serum selenium concentrations were very different in the four provinces. The medians [IQR] for selenium in Ardabil, Mazandaran, Golestan, and Kerman were 82 [75-94], 123 [111-132], 155 [141-173], and 119 [110 -128] micro g/L, respectively [p<0.001]. The results of linear regression showed that the province variable, by itself, explained 76% of the variance in log selenium [r2=0.76]. The proportion of the populations with a serum selenium more than 90 micro g/L [the concentration at which serum selenoproteins are saturated] was 100% in Golestan, Kerman, and Mazandaran but only 29% in Ardabil. Our findings suggest that selenium deficiency is not a major contributor to the high incidence of EC seen in northeastern Iran, but it may play a role in the high incidence of GC in Ardabil province

Evaluation of cryptosporidiosis in diarrheic children referred to Amir al Moemenin hospital, Semnan

Cryptosporidium parvum, a coccidian parasite, has been shown to cause diarrhea in animals and human especially children and immunocompromised patients. This parasite has gained increasing attention since infection in human was first identified in 1976. However there are a few published evidences about Cryptosporidium infection in human and domestic animals in Iran, but there is no data in many parts of the country, because in routinely ova and parasite testing this parasite don't consider. To address the existence or lack of human cryptosporidiosis and probable prevalence of that in diarrheic children was evaluated. The stool samples from 153 diarrheic children under 12 years were formalin-ether concentrated and tested by both modified Ziehl- Neelson [acid-fast] and rodamine staining. Cryptosporidum parvum was detected in 5 [3.26%] cases [Confidence Interval 0.005-6.1%, P=0.05]. four boys [1, 3, 5 and 6 years old] and one girl [12 years old] were positive when tested with both staining methods. The only significant associated factor with cryptosporidiosis was contact with domestic animals [P=0.0026] and the infection was not associated with age, sex and breast-feeding in babies. This study show Cryptosporidium infection in 3.26% of diarrheic children referred to hospital in Semnan. There was no statistically significant difference between this study and most reports from other parts of the country. Hence, it seems necessary to detect other microbial agents such as Cryptosporidium in routine examination of diarrheic patient's stool at least in children's hospital or reference labs

Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin B subunit: Construction and evaluation of plasmids providing controlled high level production of the protein

With the plasmid DNA from a clinical isolate of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli [ETEC] H10407 as template, PCR -mediated cloning of the sequence encoding the heat-labile toxin B subunit [L T -B] has been carried out Then this sequence was recloned into the pTrc 99A and pET23a expression vectors to give the plasmids pTRCLTB and pETLTB, respectively. After induction, the former plasmid provides for the production of rL T -Bin a yield of up to 15 mg per liter of bacterial culture. The recombinant protein was shown to be structurally and immunologically identical with the native L TB. High titer antibodies capable of neutralizing the native toxin were raised in mice by oral administration of the rL T - B. Hence the constructed plasmids provide the basis for an oral ETEC vaccine, as well as for genetic fusion of foreign antigens with the aim of developing polyvalent vaccines