ABSTRACT
Aim: Here, we use miR-122a that exhibits liver-specific expression for developing a post-transcriptional regulative system mediated by microRNAs
Background: Gene therapy with adenovirus [Ad] vectors that express herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase [HSVtk] and ganciclovir [GCV] have been suggested as a therapeutic strategy to cancer. However, Ad vectors injected into tumors are dispersed into the systemic circulation and transduce liver cells, resulting in severe hepatotoxicity. To be effective, the delivery and expression of suicide genes to cancer treatment ought to be specific to tumor cells, and avoid death of healthy cells. Researchers have demonstrated that expression of transgene could be suppressed in healthy cells with use of vectors that are reactive to microRNA regulation
Methods: We constructed an Ad vector carrying four tandem copies of target sequences of miR-122a that were incorporated into 3'- UTR of HSVtk gene. The expression level of miR-122a was quantified in HepG2 and Huh7 cell lines
Results: Quantitative RT- PCR analysis demonstrated that Huh7 cells express large amounts of miR-122a compared to HepG2 cells. The viability of Huh7 cells and HepG2 cells after infection by Ad-tk-122aT vector was 83% and 23.5%, respectively. The viability of Huh7 cells was not reduced in the presence of GCV after infection by Ad-tk-122a vector. In contrast, cytotoxicity of HSV-tk/GCV was similar in Huh7 cells and HepG2 cells by Ad-tk vector, with 35.3% and 27% viability, respectively
Conclusion: Inclusion of the miR-122a target sequences in the HSVtk expression cassette yielded a feasible strategy for reducing cytotoxicity of suicide gene in a liver cell line with high miR-122a expression
ABSTRACT
Background: Students encounter many stressful factors during their educational time. Stress can result in different physical and mental disorders such as depression. One intervention is using purposeful activity of gardening. The goal of this research is to investigate the effect of using purposeful activity [gardening] on depression of female resident in Golestan dormitory of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. This study was an experimental field research with pre and post tests in case controlled groups in the year of 2012-2013. Fifty depressed female students of Golestan dormitory in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences participated in the study. Students were randomly allocated to case and controlled groups. Both groups were taken Beck Depression Inventory. Then gardening sessions [seed and small tree planting] were carried on in dormitory yard for 3 days a week for two months. Each session took approximately one hour. Both groups were assessed with the same questionnaire again after intervention
Results: The results showed a significant recovery after intervention in case group based on the depression scores [P=0.0001]
Conclusion: According to this study, it seems that using purposeful activity of gardening has positive effects on decreasing depression in depressed female students
ABSTRACT
Background: University staff plays an important role in breeding a healthy and prosperous generation. Their right for attending to interests and selfactualization are noticeable. This qualitative research has been conducted in order to understand and explain the perspective and experience of staff working at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences [AJUMS] about Leisure time
Methods: A qualitative study using purposeful sampling was performed among staff working in all parts of AJUMS about leisure time in 2012. The tool used for gathering data was a deep, semi-structured interview. Data saturation was achieved with 18 interviews. Findings from the interviews were analyzed using conventional content analysis
Results: In this study, there were 5 themes for perspective and experience of staff, including meaningfulness and purposefulness of leisure time [physical, mental and social], leisure time activities [passing individual and in group], leisure time duration [more or less, and the same as the time of working], barriers for leisure time [personal, social, and environmental], and suggestions for how to spend leisure time [role of the person and community]. The findings from participants' views and experiences showed that they are not satisfied with their leisure pattern. With attention to working at university, they do not have efficient leisure time duration
Conclusion: Participants believed that leisure time is effective to improve their physical, psychological, and social performance. People spend their leisure time either individually or in groups. Personal, social, and environmental barriers highlight the role of an individual and society as a whole in increasing opportunities for better leisure