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Background: The basis of genetic fingerprinting and DNA profiling in forensic laboratories is the use of Short Tandem Repeats [STRs] according to local and ethnical genetics characteristics
Methods: Forensic parameters and allele frequencies for 15 autosomal STRs in 100 unrelated individuals from Khuzestan province, south Iran were determined. PCR was carried out for amplification of STRs and Gene Mapper ID software was used for genotyping and allelic analyzing
Results: The Power of Exclusion [PE] varied between 0.332 [TPOX] and 0.768 [FGA]. With exception of the THO1 [0.020], TPOX [0.014] and D18S51 [0.003], other STRs showed no deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium [p>0.05]
Conclusion: Out of 15 STRs, 12 repeats seemed to be more useful and more powerful tools in identity and paternity determination for our studied population. Variation in our data analysis revealed that effective use of these 15 STR loci in forensic cases needed to be localized by collection and analysis of population data from the general population
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Objective: To prioritize occupational hazards in a Pharmaceutical Company in Iran using the analytical hierarchy process [AHP]
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a Pharmaceutical Company in Iran in 2017. All employees working in the administrative, production, installations and facilities, and laboratory units were studied using the consensus method [N=n=130 employees]. A data collection form was designed for identifying the hazards using the Nominal Group Technique [NGT] method, as well as a pair-wise questionnaire was used for collecting required data in the quantitative phase. The collected data were analyzed using Expert Choice 10.0 and SPSS 23.0
Results: The results showed that among hazards detected in the studied units, the highest and lowest weights and priorities were, respectively, related to "inhalation of toxic gases" [W=0.253] and "being exposed to radiation" [W=0.022] in the laboratory unit, "skin injuries" [W=0.205] and "bending and straightening for a long time" [W= 0.032] in the production unit, "falling down" [W=0.271] and "standing and sitting for a long time " [W=0.037] in the installations and facilities unit, and "hand joint failure" [W=0.295] and "working in a low-light environment" [W=0.092] in the administrative unit
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that there were hazards in all of the studied units. These results indicated a high level of hazards in the pharmaceutical company's units. Due to the increased medication diversification and increased workload for these companies, paying attention to the preventive and corrective measures in order to reduce the risk of emerging hazards is essential
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Aim: To determine the distribution of important mutations of the "a" determinant region in the HBV genome among patients in different clinical phases of HBV infection
Background: Variations in Hepatitis B infection not only change the outcome of the disease but also the symptoms from which the chronic HBV patients are suffering
Methods: We have meticulously selected a total of 40 chronic HBV patients from four different subclasses of chronic HBV clinical phases including immune tolerant [IT], immune active [IA], inactive carrier [1C] and hepatitis B e antigen [HBeAg]-negative [ENEG]; 10 samples per each phase. Mutations of the [a] determinant region were identified using PCR-Direct sequencing method
Results: 17 amino-acid substitutions at 12 positions inside the [a] determinant were identified in all forty samples; 3 mutations in the IT group, 6 mutations in the IA phase, 3 mutations in the 1C patients and 5 mutations in the ENEG phase. Different substitutions were observed in all four clinical phases. The IA phase was the most variant group with the highest number of amino-acid substitutions
Conclusion: These results did not reveal a strong pattern to distinguish different clinical phases of Chronic HBV infection, but there are some obvious differences regarding the number and position of mutations between these four clinical phases
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Aim: In this study, we investigated the prevalence of PARV4 virus among the healthy population and four other groups of HBV infected, HCV infected, HIV infected and HIV/HCV co-infected individuals in Iran
Background: Parvovirus 4 [PARV4] was first discovered in 2005, in a hepatitis B virus-infected injecting drug user [IDU]. To date, the best evidence about PARV4 transmission is parenteral roots which comes from IDU individuals. It seems that the prevalence of the virus in the normal population is very low
Methods: A total of 613 patients, including chronic HCV [n=103], HBV [n=193], HIV [n=180] infected individuals, HIV/HCV [n=34] co-infected patients and 103 healthy controls, were studied by using nested-PCR and also real-time PCR techniques
Results: Of those 180 samples were positive for HIV RNA, co-infection of PARV4 was detected in 3 cases [1.66%]. All these three patients were male with the age of 28, 32 and 36 years [mean: 32]. No statistical differences were found between HIV positive group and the healthy individuals. [P>0.05] The result of PARV4 PCR was negative in all other samples and healthy controls as well
Conclusion: This study is the first to investigate the occurrence of PARV4 among these groups in Iran. The results show, that the virus is not significant in Iranian population, even in patients with blood born infections such as HCV, HBV or even HIV patients. Further studies in other areas and various groups are required
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Background: The majority of male patients with spinal cord injury [SCI] suffer from infertility. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors NOD-like receptors [NLRs] are a kind of receptors that corporate in the inflammasome complex. Recent studies have introduced the inflammasome as the responsible agent for secreting cytokines in semen. Reactive oxygen species [ROS] is one of the elements that trigger inflammasome activation. Genital infections in SCI can lead to ROS generation. We investigated the relation between lipid peroxidation and inflammasome complex activity in testicular tissue of SCI rats
Methods: Adult male rats [n=20], weighting 200- 250 g, were included and divided into four groups: three experimental groups, including SCI1, SCI3, and SCI7, i.e. the rats were subjected to SCI procedure and sacrificed after one, three, and seven days, respectively and a control group. We performed a moderate, midline spinal contusion injury at thoracic level 10. The animals were anesthetized, and testes were collected for measurement of gene expression by real-time PCR. Caudal parts of epididymis were collected for malondialdehyde [MDA] measurement
Results: No NLRP1a mRNA overexpression was seen in the testes of control and SCI groups. After seven days from SCI surgery, NLRP3 mRNA expression was significantly increased in SCI7 animals [p
Conclusion: NLRP3 overexpression occurs due to the increased ROS production in testis tissue of SCI rats
Subject(s)
Animals, Laboratory , Infertility , Lipid Peroxidation/genetics , NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein , Reactive Oxygen Species , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Gene Expression , Testis , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Background: Malathion is an organophosphorus pesticide that commonly used in many agricultural and non-agricultural processes. Previous studies have reported the effects of melatonin on the reproductive system. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles [CeNPs] due to their antioxidative properties are promising to impact on the development of male infertility
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CeNPs on oxidative stress and sperm parameters after malathion exposure of male rats
Materials and Methods: 36 adult male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups [n=6/each]: Control, CeNPs -treated control [15 and 30 mg/kg/day], malathion [100 mg/ kg/day], and CeNPs -treated malathion groups [15 and 30 mg/ kg/day]. At the end of the study [4 wk], the sperm counts, motility, and viability in the testis of rats were measured, also lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity, and total thiol groups in homogenate testis were investigated
Results: Malathion significantly reduced sperm count, viability, and motility than the control rats [p<0.001]. Co-treatment of malathion with CeNPs 30 mg/kg had a protective effect on sperm counts [p=0.03], motility [p=0.01], and viability [p<0.001] compare to malathion group. Also, the results showed that malathion reduced testis total anti-oxidant capacity, the total thiol group, and increased testis malondialdehyde than the control rats [p<0.001]. CeNPs 30 mg/kg are increased total antioxidant capacity [p<0.001] and total thiol group [p=0.03] compared to malathion group. CeNPs at both doses [15 and 30 mg/kg] improved malondialdehyde than the malathion group [p<0.001 and p=0.01 respectively]
Conclusion: CeNPs 30 mg/kg administered considerably restored testicular changes induced by malathion. The improvement of oxidative stress by CeNPs may be associated with increased sperm counts, motility and viability in the testis
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Background: The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of varicocelectomy on serum testosterone levels and semen quality in infertile men who suffer from varicocele
Materials and Methods: This prospective study enrolled 115 subjects with clinical varicocele grades II and III and 240 fertile men as the control group. Total volume of testosterone serum level [ng/dl] and semen quality were com- pared before and after microscopic varicocelectomy. We normalized testosterone serum levels for age, grade, and testis size basis. SPSS 20 software was used to analyze the data. All results of continuous variables were reported as mean +/- SD. Statistical significance was set at a P<0.05
Results: The mean ages of individuals who participated in the treatment [32.2 +/- 5.23] and control [32.8 +/- 5.27] groups were similar. There were similar mean values for adjusted testosterone levels between the varicocele [567 +/- 222 ng/ml] and control [583 +/- 263 ng/ml] groups. In the varicocele group, the adjusted testosterone levels insig- nificantly increased to 594 +/- 243 ng/ml. Among semen parameters, only mean sperm concentration significantly increased after varicocelectomy
Conclusion: Despite increases in sperm concentration, adjusted testosterone levels did not significantly improve after varicocelectomy
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Objective: To determine the incidence and predictive factors of the falls in elderly women in Northern Iran
Methods: A total of 717 elderly women aged 60 years and above in Amirkola, Northern of Iran participated in this study. Age, history of falls during the 12 months leading to the study, accompanying diseases, status of balance, cognitive status, orthostatic hypotension, state of depressive symptoms, strength of quadriceps muscles and serum vitamin D level were assessed as independent variables during baseline measurement. Incidence of fall [dependent variable] was recorded during a six-month follow-up period
Results: Of the participants, 7.8% had experience of fall, out of which 50.0% experienced it once, 25.0% twice, and the rest three times or more. With aging, the incidence of orthostatic hypotension also increased and symptomatic depression became aggravated. In the final model, the variables of the number of accompanying diseases [RR=1.78, 95% CI: 1.00-3.18], severe cognitive impairment [RR=12.70, 95% CI: 3.05-52.86], and depressive symptoms [RR=3.19, 95% CI: 1.48-6.86] remained as strong associated variables for incidence of fall
Conclusion: With increasing severity of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment along with the comorbidities, incidence of fall also increases in the elderly. Thus, psychological aspects of the elderly and comorbidities in this group should be taken care of seriously
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Objective: to identify and prioritize factors affecting the location of road emergency bases in Iran using Analytical Hierarchy Process [AHP]
Methods: this was a mixed method [quantitative-qualitative] study conducted in 2016. The participants in this study included the professionals and experts in the field of pre-hospital and road emergency services issues working in the Health Deputy of Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education, which were selected using purposive sampling method. In this study at first, the factors affecting the location of road emergency bases in Iran were identified using literature review and conducting interviews with the experts. Then, the identified factors were scored and prioritized using the studied professionals and experts' viewpoints through using the analytic hierarchy process [AHP] technique and its related pair-wise questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using MAXQDA 10.0 software to analyze the answers given to the open question and Expert Choice 10.0 software to determine the weights and priorities of the identified factors
Results: the results showed that eight factors were effective in locating the road emergency bases in Iran from the viewpoints of the studied professionals and experts in the field of pre-hospital and road emergency services issues, including respectively distance from the next base, region population, topography and geographical situation of the region, the volume of road traffic, the existence of amenities such as water, electricity, gas, etc. and proximity to the village, accident-prone sites, University ownership of the base site, and proximity to toll-house
Conclusion: among the eight factors which were effective in locating the road emergency bases from the studied professionals and experts' perspectives, "distance from the next base" and "region population" were respectively the most important ones which had great differences with other factors
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Aim: To evaluate the baseline expression of the immune genes in PBMCs of responder and non-responder patients with chronic Hepatitis C
Background: Although the contribution of peripheral blood mononuclear cell [PBMC] gene expression in treatment outcome of hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection is supposed, it has remained to be distinctly delineated. The baseline expression of the immune genes inside PBMCs may reflect the responsiveness status following IFN treatment
Methods: Totally, 22 chronic HCV encompasses 10 responders and 12 non-responsive cases enrolled randomly regarding medical records. The PBMCs from the peripheral blood samples were isolated and then incubated for 6 hours in the culture media. The baseline expression of TLR7, SOCS1 and ISG15 was measured by Real time PCR
Results: The gene expression pattern in PBMCs of both groups showed a similar trend. The expression of SOCS1 and TLR7 genes showed higher levels in non-responder group [P>0.05]. The result of ISG15 showed a higher but non-significant expression in the responder group [P>0.05]
Conclusion: The similar pattern of TLR7, SOCS1 and ISG15 expression in the responder and non-responder patients indicated their poor discriminating and predictive value in PBMCs sample
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Background: In recent years, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy [LSG] has become more acceptable for obese patients. Single-port sleeve gastrectomy [SPSG] is more popular since each abdominal incision carries the risk of bleeding, hernia, and internal organ injury as well as exponentially affecting cosmesis. This cross-sectional study aimed at comparing multi-port sleeve gastrectomy [MPSG] and SPSG in terms of their early results and complications
Methods: Out of129 obese patients candidated for LSG, 102 patients were assigned to 2 groups of SPSG and MPSG. Complications and demographic data such as body mass index [BMI], age, gender, operation time, and hospital stay were measured. All surgeries were carried out between2013 and 2015 in Shiraz, Iran. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, version 16 for Windows [SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL]. The continuous and categorical variables were compared using the Student t-test and the Chi-square test or the Fisher exact test, respectively
Results: The patients' data from both groups were similar in terms of age, intraoperative and postoperative bleeding volume, and length of hospital stay. Mean BMI was 42.8+/-0.7 in the SPSG group and 45.3+/-1.2 in the MPSG group. Duration of surgery was significantly lower in the SPSG group [P<0.001]. Only 1 patient from the SPSG group and 5 patients from the MPSG group had bleeding as an early complication
Conclusion: The differences in each complication between the groups were not statistically significant. SPSG seems to be safe and is the same as MPSG in terms of major postoperative complications
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The incidence and prevalence of obesity are fast increasing worldwide. Various indices have been used to measure and assess obesity. The body mass index [BMI] is the most common and practical of these indices. Overweight and obesity exert considerable adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. These effects are mediated through various neurohormonal and cytokine pathways, most of which are inflammatory mediators. Systolic and/ or diastolic heart failure is more prevalent among obese and overweight individuals than among normal weight people. The concept of the [ obesity paradox ] has been proposed by some previously published studies, in which the prognosis of obese patients with established cardiovascular diseases, especially heart failure, is better than that of their leaner counterparts. In this review, we discuss the obesity paradox and its possible pathophysiologic mechanisms
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Objective: We recently demonstrated spatial regionalization of maternal transcripts and proteins within unfertilized ovine oocyte. Here, we investigated the likelihood of oocyte polarity for the first time in bovine
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, in vitro matured bovine oocytes were used for manual bisection [into oocyte halve that were near-to [HNS] and far-from [FS] spindle] or trisection [into MII-spindle [S], the spindle-side half [NS], and the distal half unassociated with the spindle [FS]]. Prepared pools of oocyte substructures were used for comparative quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction [RT-qPCR]. To map the possible preferential sperm entry point [SEP], the spatial relationship between SEP and MII-spindle was measured 5 hours post-fertilization
Results: The proportional amount of maternal mRNA in S oocyte fragment was estimated to be 6 to 11-fold higher than NS and FS counterparts. The relative abundances of Nanog, Oct4, Fgf4 and Tead4 were significantly higher in HNS oocyte fragment compared t0 FS. The relative abundances of Ctnb, Carm1, Rex1, Sox2 and Cdx2 were comparable between HNS and NS oocyte fragments. FS oocyte fragment possessed significantly higher transcripts of Gata4 compared to HNS. The distribution of certain transcripts related to pluripotency and lineage commitment were different depending upon the region of the oocyte; either enriched at S [Tead4, Nanog, Ctnb and Sox2], NS [Oct4], or FS [Gata6]. The SEP in almost [90%] fertilized oocytes was located in MII-hemisphere
Conclusion: The observation of spatial restriction of mRNAs and SEP within MII-oocyte may indicate that the principal forces of oocyte polarity are evolutionary conserved. This may in turn highlight the need for refinements in the methodology of intracytoplasmic sperm injection [where a sperm is injected far from the MII-spindle] and somatic cell nuclear transfer [where a major amount of regulative mRNAs that are associated with MIIspindle is removed during enucleation]
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Objective: Spinal cord injury [SCI] causes inflammation, deformity and cell loss. It has been shown that Melissa officinalis [MO], as herbal medicine, and dexamethasone [DEX] are useful in the prevention of various neurological diseases. The present study evaluated combinational effects of DEX and MO on spinal cord injury
Materials and Methods: Thirty six adult male Wistar rats were used in this experimental study. The weight-drop contusion method was employed to induce spinal cord injury in rats. DEX and MO were administrated alone and together in different treatment groups. Intra-muscular injection of DEX [1 mg/kg] was started three hours after injury and continued once a day for seven days after injury. Intra-peritoneal [I.P] injection of MO [150 mg/ kg] was started one day after injury and continued once a day for 14 days
Results: Our results showed motor and sensory functions were improved significantly in the group received a combination of DEX and MO, compared to spinal cord injury group. Mean cavity area was decreased and loss of lower motor neurons and astrogliosis in the ventral horn of spinal cord was significantly prevented in the group received combination of DEX and Melissa officinalis, compared to spinal cord injury group. Furthermore, the findings showed a significant augmentation of electromyography [EMG] recruitment index, increase of myelin diameter, and up-regulation of myelin basic protein in the treated group with combination of DEX and MO
Conclusion: Results showed that combination of DEX and MO could be considered as a neuroprotective agent in spinal cord injury
Subject(s)
Adult , Animals, Laboratory , Male , Melissa , Dexamethasone/administration & dosage , Neuroprotective Agents , Drug Therapy, Combination , Rats, Wistar , Disease Models, AnimalABSTRACT
Background and Aim: Jujube [Ziziphus Jujuba Mill.] is one of the medicinal herbs with grows in dry and semi-dry areas in Iran; mainly in the South Khorasan province. The present study aimed at evaluating antioxidant and free radical scavenging capacity in different types of Jujuba
Materials and Methods: Four ecotypes of Jujubes were collected from different parts of the South Khorasan providence [Sarayan, Quaen, Arish, and Boshad]. The collected samples were air dried and then their aqueous extract was prepared in different dilutions. Anti-oxidant and free radical scavenging capacity of the samples were assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH] and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power [FRAP] methods. Their AAPH-induced hemolysis prevention was also analyzed. The total phenolic content of the samples was assessed using Folin-Ciocalteau method
Results: Maximum phenolic content was obtained from Quaen Jujube [1317+/-4.3 equal to mol Gallic acid]
The highest antioxidant capacity by FRAP [1390.1 +/- 65.5mol/L] also belonged to Quaen jujube. The ability of Arish Jujube extracts in scavenging and neutralizing free radical, tested by DPPH, was always higher compared to the other extracts. Results obtained from the effects of different dilutions of Jujube extracts [0- 25 - 5 mg/ml] on hemolysis showed a dose dependent relationship. All the extracts showed dose dependent reducing hemolysis in a specific range of concentrations, induced by 2,2'-azobis [2-amidinopropane] dihydrochloride [AAPH]. There was no significant statistical difference between jujube ecotypes in preventing hemolysis
Conclusion: According to total phenolic content of the Jujobe extracts, its significant antioxidant properties and radical scavenging activities, which was tested through different methods, it can be a potential booster for anti-oxidant capacities
Subject(s)
Antioxidants , Plant Extracts , Phytotherapy , Plants, Medicinal , Hemolysis , Free Radical Scavengers , AmidinesABSTRACT
Objective: To evaluate the role of physical examination in decision making for exploring patients with penetrating zone II neck injury
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study being performed in a level I trauma center between 2006 and 2010. The present study reviewed the records of 150 patients with penetrating neck injuries. Of 46 cases with zone II deep platysma neck injuries, 3 patients died before taking any significant medical measure
Results: Thirty of 43 patients [70%] presented with hard sings while 13 [30%] did not show these sings. All patients underwent neck exploration. Two patients [4.6%] without hard sings exhibited positive findings, whereas 29 cases [67%] with hard sings reported positive on exploration
Conclusion: Briefly, we hold the view that it seems reasonable to follow an algorithmic approach by using physical examination of the patients with zone II penetrating neck injuries. This prevents unnecessary exploration for management of such patients
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Background: cirrhosis, the end stage of progressive hepatic fibrosis, is characterized by distortion of the hepatic architecture and the formation of regenerative nodules. Liver transplantation is one of the few available therapies for such patients. However, due to a severe shortage of organ donors, surgical complications, transplant rejection and the high cost of this procedure much interest has focused on research to find new treatment modalities for this disease. There is accumulating evidence for the contribution of bone marrow stem cells to participate in liver regeneration
Methods: here we report on six patients with end stage liver disease who were subjected to intraportal administration of autologous bone marrow-derived CD133+ in comparison to mononuclear cells in short-term [6 months] and long-term [24 months] follow up
Results: there were no adverse effects in any of the patients during the short- and long-term follow up period. Moreover, there were no significant alterations of liver function parameters, liver enzymes, serum albumin, creatinine, serum bilirubin and/or liver volume after transplantation of both types of autologous cells in these patients
Conclusion: our study has shown both the safety and feasibility of this type of liver cell therapy and may be a bridge to liver transplantation. The trial was registered with NIH clinical trials [www.clinicaltrials.gov] as identifier: NCT00713934