[Molecular study of partial deletions of AZFc region of the Y chromosome in infertile men]

The most significant cause of infertility in men is the genetic deletion in the azoospermia factor [AZF] region that is caused by the process of intra- and inter-chromosomal homologous recombination in amplicons. Homologous recombination could also result in partial deletions in AZF region. The aim of this research was to determine the association between the partial AZFc deletions and infertility. The blood samples were taken from 100 infertile men, who referred to the Infertility Center of Isfahan, Iran. 100 healthy matched people were also selected as the control group. The five markers of sY1201, sY1206, sY1161, sY1291, and sY1191 were applied in order to study partial deletions. Partial deletions were analyzed in AZF region using the Multiplex-STS-PCR technique. The chi-square test was conducted to check the difference between pretest and posttest. Differences were considered significant if P < 0.05. 9% of studied persons showed gr/gr deletion [in the patient group]. Only one case of gr/gr deletion was observed in the control group. Five patients showed b2/b3 deletion. One b2/b3 deletion was seen in the control group. The b2/b4 deletion was observed in 3 patients. In conclusion, partial deletions were observed in 14% of the patients. The statistical analysis of the gr/gr deletion in the study indicates a meaningful difference, but b2/b3 deletion does not represent a meaningful difference. Our results suggest that gr/gr deletions are associated with spermatogenic failure, and there is no association between b2/b3 deletion and infertility

[Changes in pulmonary function and peak oxygen consumption in response to interval aerobic training in sedentary girls]

There is a significant relationship between pulmonary function and general health and mortality. The matching between ventilation and perfusion is an effective factor in pulmonary function. This study investigated the effect of 24 sessions of interval aerobic training on pulmonary volumes and capacities and maximal oxygen consumption in sedentary girl students. In this experimental study with pre- and post-test design, 30 healthy sedentary girl students were selected and randomly allocated to experimental [N = 15] or control [N = 15] groups. The experimental group performed 24 sessions of 45 minute interval aerobic running while the control group had no training program. Before and after the training program, pulmonary volumes and capacities and peak oxygen consumption were evaluated via spirometry tests and Bruce treadmill protocol, respectively. Exercise training resulted in 62% increase in ERV [p = 0.004], 65% increase in PEV [p = 0.03], 35% increase in MVV [p = 0.03], and 23% increase in VO2max [p = 0.001]. Also, training had no significant effect on TV, IRV, FVC, PIV, and FEV1/FVC. In spite of increase in TV, IRV, and FEV1, FVC, PIV, MEF-25%FVC, FMEF-25%-75%FVC, and FEV1/FVC, training had no significant effect on these variables. However, the effect of training on the increase of ERV, PEF, MEF-50%FVC, MEF-75%FVC, MVV and VO2peak was significant [p < 0.05]. Aerobic training in young girls improves capability and coordination of respiratory muscles, especially expiratory muscles, and causes improvement in lung function via increasing some lung volumes and capacities

[Investigation of gelatinase- B enzyme role in invasion and metastasis of breast cancer]

Gelatinase B or collagenase type IV is a 92 kDa protein. In case of over-expression of the gene, because of its collagenase activity, it can be involved in metastasis activity of few cancers e.g. bladder, colorectal and gastric carcinoma. Single nucleotide substitution base polymorphism of C to T at -1562 of promotor region can increase gene expression by decreasing transcription inhibitor proteins binding at T alleles. The aim of this case-control study is to investigate the role of this polymorphism in development and invasion of breast cancer in Isfahan women population. At this study 90 breast cancer patients with metastasis and 100 healthy controls were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay [PCR-RFLP]. The mean of follow up period was 2 years. Patients were checked every 3-5 months Data analysis showed a close association between the presence of T allele and invasion of breast cancer [OR = 5.85, 95% CI: 2.64-12.93, p <0.0001]. According to our findings, the major role of this polymorphism is in cancer cell metastasis and invasion of these cells to adjacent tissues

Interaction of alpha[2]-adrenergic system and caffeine on passive avoidance learning in male Wistar rats

There are numerous studies on the effects of caffeine on memory and learning. The activation of alpha[2]-adrenoreceptors has been reported to impair memory functions in both rats and humans. In this study, interaction of alpha[2]-adrenergic system and caffeine on memory and learning was evaluated. In this experimental study, 90 wistar rats assigned into six groups of fifteen. Rats received yohimbine [4, 6, 8, 10 micro g]. The cannula was implanted into the right lateral ventricle of all rats with steriotaxi method. Then, they were trained in shuttlebox. Post-training intracerebroventricular [ICV] injection was carried out in all experiments and optimum doses were identified. Caffeine and yohimbine fostered memory and learning [p<0.001], while clonidine diminished these abilities compared to saline injection [p<0.05]. Co-administration of the optimum doses of clonidine and yohimbine showed statistically significant reduction in the time of step-through latency [p<0.05]. Instead, co-administration of clonidine and caffeine revealed no significant increase in the time of step-through latency [NS]. It is concluded that yohimbine and caffeine, unlike clonidine, increase memory

[Rapidisolation and molecular detection of streptomycin-producing streptomycetes]

Streptomyces species are mycelial, aerobic gram-positive bacteria that are isolated from soil and produce a diverse range of antibiotics. Streptomyces griseus produces the antibiotic, streptomycin and forms spores even in a liquid culture. The gene cluster for the production of Streptomycin antibiotic contains strR gene that encodes StrR, a pathway-specific regulator. Then, this pathway-specific regulator induces transcription of other streptomycin production genes in the gene cluster. The overall aim of this work was rapid isolation and molecular detection of streptomycin-producing Streptomycetes, especially S. griseus, from Iranian soils in order to manipulate them for increased production of streptomycin. This research used new initiative half-specific medium for isolation of Streptomycetes from natural environments, called FZmsn. The fifty colonies of Streptomyces strains grown on the surface of FZmsn medium isolated from environmental samples were defined on the basis of their morphological characteristics and light microscope studies. A set of primers was designed to detect strR by OLIGO software. In colony-PCR reactions followed by gel electrophoresis, 6 colonies from Streptomyces strains colonies were detected as S. griseus colonies. These native Streptomyces strains will be used for genetic manipulation of S. griseus in order to increase production levels of streptomycin