Effects of human chorionic gonadotropin-producing peripheral blood mononuclear cells on the endometrial receptivity and implantation sites of the mouse uterus / 대한생식의학회지

Objective@#This research investigated the effects of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-producing peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on the implantation rate and embryo attachment in mice. @*Methods@#In this experimental study, a DNA fragment of the HCG gene was cloned into an expression vector, which was transfected into PBMCs. The concentration of the produced HCG was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Embryo attachment was investigated on the co-cultured endometrial cells and PBMCs in vitro. As an in vivo experiment, intrauterine administration of PBMCs was done in plaque-positive female mice. Studied mice were distributed into five groups: control, embryo implantation dysfunction (EID), EID with produced HCG, EID with PBMCs, and EID with HCG-producing PBMCs. Uterine horns were excised to characterize the number of implantation sites and pregnancy rate on day 7.5 post-coitum. During an implantation window, the mRNA expression of genes was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. @*Results@#DNA fragments were cloned between the BamHI and EcoRI sites in the vector. About 465 pg/mL of HCG was produced in the transfected PBMCs. The attachment rate, pregnancy rate, and the number of implantation sites were substantially higher in the HCG-producing PBMCs group than in the other groups. Significantly elevated expression of the target genes was observed in the EID with HCG-producing PBMCs group. @*Conclusion@#Alterations in gene expression following the intrauterine injection of HCG-producing PBMCs, could be considered a possible cause of increased embryo attachment rate, pregnancy rate, and the number of implantation sites.

Melatonin modifies histone acetylation during in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes

Objective: We evaluated the effect of melatonin, as a potent antioxidant agent, on glutathione [GSH] and reactive oxygen species [ROS] levels, as well as histone H3 lysine 9 [H3K9], and H4 lysine 12 [H4K12] acetylation when added to oocytes culture medium

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, two in vitro and in vivo groups were used. In the in vitro group, cumulus oocyte complexes [COCs] from the ovaries of B6D2F1 mice were cultured in maturation medium containing two doses of melatonin [10-9 and 10-6 M] and without melatonin [control group treated with dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO]] for 22-24 hour. The cumulus expansion and nuclear status were monitored by an inverted microscope. Next, COCs were isolated from the oviducts of superovulated mice and studied as the in vivo group. In in vitro and in vivo matured oocytes, GSH and ROS levels were assessed by monochlorobimane [MCB] and 2-7-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate [H2DCFDA] staining, respectively. Changes in histone acetylation were examined by immunofluorescent staining with specific antibodies against acetylated H3K9 and H4K12

Results: The H4K12 acetylation and ROS levels were significantly higher in the oocytes matured in the in vitro group compared to the in vivo group [P<0.05]. Furthermore, glutathione levels in the in vitro group were considerably lower than that of the in vivo group [P<0.05]. Melatonin at the concentration of 10-6 M had the most substantial effect on nuclear maturation and histone acetylation as well as glutathione and ROS levels in the in vitro group [P<0.05]

Conclusion: Exogenous melatonin improves the competence of mouse oocytes during in vitro maturation [IVM]

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery presenting with atypical chest pain in an adult: a case report

The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery [ALCAPA] is a rare congenital anomaly. The usual clinical course is severe left-sided heart failure and mitral valve insufficiency presenting during the first months of life. However, in some cases, the collateral blood supply from the right coronary artery is sufficient and symptoms may be subtle or even absent. We describe a 49-year-old woman presenting with atypical chest pain during physical exertion. The exercise tolerance test and then coronary angiography by indication revealed an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery. The patient underwent surgical treatment, whereby a pulmonary artery tube graft from the aorta to the left coronary artery was created and the main pulmonary artery was reconstructed with a bovine pericardial patch. The patient was discharged from the hospital without any chest pain and dyspnea and was symptom free during a follow-up period of 18 months. Clinicians should consider ALCAPA as a differential diagnosis in adults with presentations similar to exercise-related asthma

Effectiveness of spiritual group therapy on quality of life and spiritual well-being among patients with breast cancer

Cancer is deemed the century's major health problem, and its increasing growth during the last decades has made experts concerned more than ever. Of all types of cancer, breast cancer is regarded as the second most common disease among women. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of spiritual group therapy on quality of life and spiritual well-being among patients suffering from breast cancer. The present research was carried out between March and June 2011. The sample consisted of 24 participants randomly assigned to 2 groups: an experimental group [n, 12] and a control group [n, 12]. All the subjects completed questionnaires on quality of life and spiritual well-being in pretest and posttest. The experimental group received 12 sessions of spiritual group therapy. The results demonstrated improvement in quality of life and spiritual well-being in the experimental group. In conclusion, spiritual group therapy can be used to improve quality of life and spiritual well-being [religious health and existential health] among patients with breast cancer

role of Ischemia reperfusion damage on renal transplant, what are the new treatments?

Ischemia reperfusion damage usually occurs after renal transplantation. These injuries can stimulate the innate immune system, trigger an inflammatory response and ultimately activate the adaptive immune system. These events may result in rejection, graft fibrosis and chronicallograft nephropathy. Different mechanisms contribute to innate immune system activation following ischemia reperfusion injury in renal transplants. Some of these mechanisms are known and described by investigators while the remaining are still unknown. To clarify the precise mechanisms underlying the innate immune system activation and rejection progression helps us to plan therapeutic protocols to reduce immunologic responses to ischemic events and to improve the graft function and outcome. In this review, we will discuss how innate and adaptive immune systems are activated during an ischemic insult and thereafter discuss related therapeutic interventions to block the activating pathways

[Evaluation of dobutamin stress echocardiography complications in 500 patients referred to Ghaem hospital]

Coronary artery disease is the first etiology of mortality in Western countries and it was predicted, that up to the year 2010 it would be the main cause of human morbidity. With respect to the increasing frequency of coronary artery disease, proper diagnosis, treatment and prevention of complications have a great importance. Many patients with chest pain could not perform diagnostic ETT, so in this group dobutamin stress echocardiography was a suitable low cost, safe, accessible and exercise independent modality of stress. Regarding the recent usage of dobutamine stress echocardiography in our country and especially in khorasan province, the aim of this descriptive study was to present 500 patients whom referred to Ghaem hospital echocardiography laboratory for ischemic diagnosis or viability assessment or both. This study consisted of 500 patients, 273 males [54.6%], and 227 Females [45.4%], 20-80 years old and also were symptomatic for ischemia. These cases were referred to Ghaem echo lab for ischemia/ viability detection between 1385-1386. Our study Patients had: systemic hypertension [46.8%], hypercholesterolemia [39.8%], diabetes [29.5%], smoking [12.6%], previous MI [11.1%] positive family history 8% CRF [8%] and obesity [5%]. Among patients 345 [69%] were referred for ischemia detection, 132 [26.4%] referred for viability assessment, 23 [4.6%] for both of them, the left ventricular systolic function was normal in 168 [26.8%], mildly abnormal in 25.3%, moderate dysfunction in consideration, 402 patients [80.5%] had no complication and in the other patients [19.5%] test complication were occurred as arrhythmia, PVC, palpitation, vomiting, nausea, rigor and the other mild complications. Dobutamine stress echocardiography is an exercise independent stress modality with good safety and low level of complications

Association of the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 genes, IL-4 and IgE serum levels with allergic asthma

Immune and inflammatory responses mediated by cytokines, play important roles in the pathophysiology of asthma. These responses are associated with overexpression of Th2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13. These two cytokines use common receptors for signaling that lead to identical immunological effects and regulation of the Th1/Th2 balance. The aim of this study was to determine whether patients with allergic asthma display overexpression of IL-4 and IL-13 genes. Using RT-PCR, we examined the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 genes in twenty asthmatic cases and twenty normal individuals. Total levels of serum IgE and IL-4 were also determined by ELISA method. Expression of IL-13 gene in 70% of patients with allergic asthma was higher than controls [P=0.01]. There was no correlation between the expression of IL-13 gene and total level of serum IgE [P=0.07]. Expression of IL-4 gene was detected in 30% of the patients and none of the normal individuals as determined by RT-PCR [P=0.01]. Mean of serum IgE levels in patients and controls were 84.9 IU/ml and 62.2 IU/ml, respectively. Level of serum IgE was more than 100 IU/ml in 30% of patients [P=0.03]. Mean of serum IL-4 levels in patients and controls were 15.73 pg/ml and 13.07 pg/ml, respectively. There was a relation between levels of serum IgE and IL-4 in 73% of cases. The results showed that there was a correlation between the expression of IL-4 gene and the level of serum IL-4. Levels of serum IgE and IL-4 were considerably higher in asthmatics than nonasthmatic controls

Association between the polymorphisms of IL-4 gene promoter [-590C>T], IL-13 coding region [R130Q] and IL-16 gene promoter [-295T>C] and allergic asthma

Allergic asthma is a multifactorial disease, influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Recent family-based studies have revealed evidence for linkage of human chromosomes 5q31-33, 12ql5-24, Ilql3 and 15q23.6 as regions likely to contain genes related to asthma. Among the candidate genes in these regions are the genes encoding for human interleukin-4, interleukin-13 and interleukin-16. To evaluate this linkage, we examined an Iranian population of patients with asthma. A total of 30 patients with allergic asthma and 50 normal subjects were studied. Allergic asthma was confirmed using skin prick test and spirometry. DNA was extracted from blood cells and IL-4 [-590C>T], IL-13 [R130Q] and IL-16 [-295T>C] polymorphisms were determined by PCR-RFLP method. Out of 30 patients with allergic asthma, the following genotypes for IL-4, IL-13 and IL-16 cytokines were found: IL-4 genotypes consisted of 17 [56.7%] CC, 8 [26.7%] CT and 5 [16.7%] TT; IL-13 genotypes consisted of 11 [36.7%] GG, 13 [43.3%] GA and 6 [20%] AA; IL-16 genotypes consisted of 23 [76.7%] TT and 7 [23.3%] CT. No patient showed CC genotype for IL-16. A higher proportion of case subjects with the C allele for the IL-4, G allele for the IL-13 and T allele for the IL-16 polymorphisms was found compared with the T, A and C alleles, respectively. These results suggest an influence of genetic variability at the promoter of IL-4 gene [-590C>T] and a coding region of IL-13 gene [R130Q] on the occurrence of allergic asthma and no relationship between IL-16 promoter polymorphism [-295T>C] and this disease

Association between the polymorphism of TGF- beta 1 gene promoter [-509C>T] and idiopathic chronic Urticaria

Idiopathic Chronic Urticaria [ICU], the most common form [70-80%] of chronic urticaria is supposed to have immune basis causes. It is speculated that the promoter polymorphism of TGF- beta 1 gene may be involved in ICU. This condition is thought to affect at least 0.1% of the population and often can be severe and difficult to treat. A total of 40 patients with ICU and 41 normal subjects were studied. DNA was extracted from whole blood and TGF- beta 1 promoter -509C>T polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP method. Out of the 40 patients with ICU, 11 [27.5%] had CC, 26 [65%] had CT and 3 [7.5%] had TT genotypes. A higher proportion of case subjects with the C allele [CT type or CC type] was found compared with the T allele. These results do suggest an influence of genetic variability at the promoter of TGF- beta 1 gene [-509C>T] on the occurrence of ICU. This polymorphism has been shown as a useful genetic change in our study. Further work is required to confirm this result