ABSTRACT
Background/Aims@#Ulcerative colitis (UC), along with Crohn’s disease, is one of the main types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). On the other hand, deregulated autophagy is involved in many chronic diseases, including IBD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of Atg5 and microRNA-181a (miR-181a) in the pathophysiology of UC. @*Methods@#Colon biopsy, stool, and blood samples of 6 men and 9 women were confirmed for UC. Also, 13 men and 17 women were selected as healthy control (HC). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry were used to measure the Atg-5 content of the colon biopsies. Besides, the serum and stool levels of Atg5 were measured using ELISA. Moreover, the total RNA of blood cells was extracted and evaluated for the expression of miR-181a. @*Results@#We found 1.2 ng/mL versus 0.46 ng/mL, 0.34 ng/mL versus 0.24 ng/mL, and 0.082 ng/mL versus 0.062 ng/mL of Atg5 in stool, intestinal tissue, and serum of UC and HCs, respectively. There was no significant difference in the expression of miR-181a in the blood samples of UC and HCs. Immunohistochemistry showed high positivity without any significant difference between the 2 groups in the quantitative analysis. @*Conclusions@#The significant difference observed between the stool Atg5 content of the HCs and UC patients may provide new insight into using this protein as a diagnostic biomarker, however, considering the small size of our studied population further studies are needed.
ABSTRACT
This paper reports a case of super pregnancy in a BALB/c mouse pregnant with 30 pups following induction of superovulation using a PMSG-hCG protocol. Superovulation was induced in 10 mice by injecting 5 IU PMSG followed by 5 IU hCG 48 hours later. Immediately after injection of hCG, animals were placed with males at a ratio of 1 to 1 for 24 hours. On day 14 after mating, animals were killed by cervical dislocation and the uterus was examined for pregnancy and the number of fetuses. The mean (±SEM) number of fetuses observed in ten mice was 5.4±3.18 with an unexpectedly super pregnant mouse bearing 30 fetuses on day 14 of pregnancy.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Male , Mice , Pregnancy , Joint Dislocations , Fetus , Superovulation , UterusABSTRACT
Background: Some evidence, not in large study populations, suggests that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] and metabolic syndrome [MetS] share common interactions. We aimed to determine the prevalence of NAFLD and MetS in a large population registered to Kavar Cohort Study center. We also assessed the role of each component of MetS in NAFLD existence
Method: Data were obtained from 3415 volunteers who called and refereed to our center. Complete anthropometric and laboratory measurement and abdominal ultrasonography was done for these individuals to screen NAFLD and its grade. A questionnaire was also used to obtain information on demographical and medical history and alcohol consumption. MetS was defined in all participants based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III [2001] [NCEP/ATP-III] and criteria for clinical diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in Iranian adults [CCDMIA]
Results: Among the refereed individuals, 2980 peoples were aged ?18 years with male to women ratio of 1:2.45. NAFLD was diagnosed by ultrasound in 32.9% and 27.4% of men and women, respectively. MetS was detected in 65.9 and 64.6 of the patients with NAFLD [based on NCEP/ATP-III] and in 30.1% and 73.7% [based on CCDMIA] of men and women, respectively. There were no significant differences between two gender in none of the components [P>0.05]. Although, OR for hyperglycemia and abdominal obesity were approximately high in CCDMIA criteria [0.9613 and 1.2082, respectively], the differences were not statistically significant
Conclusion: NAFLD was associated with MetS. However, it was not possible to determine whether NAFLD predating the development of MetS
ABSTRACT
Aim: Our aim was to survey the rate and risk factors for Hepatitis C virus interfamilial transmission among families withone index case
Background: The role of intrafamilial transmission in Hepatitis C virus epidemiology is still debated
Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 34 families [236 members] of HCV infected patientsfrom Fars province, spring to summer 2013. All subjects were first evaluated for the risk factors of exposure and then theirserum was checked for the presence of HCV antibody and the genome, using ELISA and PCR. The genotype of all PCRpositive cases was also determined by a commercial assay. Two independent sample t test and Chi-Square test were used tocompare groups together
Results: In 18 out of 34 families, HCV antibody was detected [52.9%] in new members. Among them, HCV transmissionin 11 families [32%] was also confirmed by PCR. Having a history of intravenous drug abuse [P=0.006] and incarceration[P=0.01] showed to be important risk factors for interfamilial transmission. Hence, blade/needle sharing [P=0.016] justfollowing molecular assay and sex [P=036] only in the serologic analysis were also determined as significant risk factors.Furthermore, based on serologic results, medium socioeconomic state was further associated with this manner oftransmission [P=0.019 and P=0.328]. Interestingly, among relatives, 13 cases were brothers while just 5 cases werecouples. The genotypes 3a and 1a were more prevalent among the population
Conclusion: In conclusion, our finding highlighted a noticeable role of interfamilial transmission for HCV spread andsupports the significant role of close relatives, especially brother relationship in this spread. Hence, the socioeconomic statewas associated with the transmission rate of virus in the family
ABSTRACT
Statement of the Problem: Oral mucositis [OM] is a common side effect of anticancer drugs and needs significant attention for its prevention
Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the healing effects of olive leaf extract on 5-fluorouracil-induced OM in golden hamster
Materials and Method: OM was induced in 63 male golden hamsters by the combination of 5-fluorouracil injections [days 0, 5 and 10] and the abrasion of the cheek pouch [days 3 and 4]. On day 12, hamsters were received topical olive leaf extract ointment, base of ointment, or no treatment [control] for 5 days. Histopathology evaluations, blood examinations, and tissue malondialdehyde level measurement were performed 1, 3 and 5 days after treatments
Results: Histopathology score and tissue malondialdehyde level were significantly lower in olive leaf extract treated group in comparison with control and base groups [p= 0.000]. Significant decreases in white blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and mean corpuscular volume and an increase in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration were observed in olive leaf extract treated group in comparison with control and base groups [p< 0.05]
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that daily application of olive leaf extract ointment had healing effect on 5-fluorouracil induced OM in hamsters. Moreover, the beneficial effect of olive leaf extract on OM might be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
ABSTRACT
Background: Drug abusers are one of the most at risk populations for hepatitis C virus [HCV] transmission worldwide. The aims of this study were to measure the seroprevalence of HCV and to compare certain related risk factors in participants who were referred to drug rehabilitation centers affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Materials and Methods: Blood samples and interviews containing questions about age, sex, level of education, house status, jobs, history of imprisonment and psychiatric problems, age at the first drug and first intravenous [IV] drug uses, safe and unsafe sexual activity, and time and duration of IV drug use in the past 30 days were obtained from 1116 participants in rehabilitation centers. The sera were tested for anti-HCV antibody using enzyme immunoassay. The data were analyzed using independent samples t test and one way ANOVA for quantitative variables and Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests for qualitative variables
Results: Among the 844 participants who agreed to blood sampling, the prevalence of HCV infection was 14.2%. The significant positive associations were detected between anti-HCV antibody positivity and higher levels of education [p =0.008], no history of imprisonment [p<0.001], having a job [p =0.006], having a partner [p <0.001], and higher age at the first drug use [p<0.001]
Conclusion: The seroprevalence of HCV infection among drug abuser was very high in comparison with the general population of Iran. Making policies to prevent transmission of HCV infection among this high risk subpopulation is highly recommended