ABSTRACT
Background: Discriminating latent tuberculosis infection [LTBI] from active TBI may be challenging. The objective of this study was to produce the recombinant L-alanine dehydrogenase [AlaDH] antigen and evaluate individuals with LTBI, those with active TBI, and uninfected individuals by enzyme-linked immunospot assay [ELISPOT] in order to distinguish LTBI from active TBI
Methods: This exploratory study was performed in the Iranian city of Shiraz from 2014 to 2015. The study population [N=99] was divided into 3 groups: individuals with newly diagnosed active TBI [n=33], their household contacts [n=33], and controls [n=33]. AlaDH was produced through PCR and cloning methods. The diagnostic characteristics of AlaDH vs. ESAT-6/ CFP-10 were evaluated in responses to interferon-gamma [IFN-gamma] and interleukin-2 [IL-2] with ELISPOT. Differences between the groups were assessed with the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann- Whitney tests for nonparametric data analysis. The statistical analyses were performed with SPSS, version 16
Results: IFN-gamma responses to both ESAT-6/CFP-10 [P=0.81] and AlaDH [P=0.18] revealed that there were no significant differences between the individuals with LTBI and those with active TBI. The same results were determined for IL-2 responses to ESAT-6/CFP-10 between the 2 groups, while significantly higher IL-2 responses to AlaDH were observed in LTBI than in active TBI. According to the ROC curve analysis, a cutoff value of 275 SFC showed sensitivity of 75.8% and specificity of 78.8% for distinguishing LTBI from active TBI by IL-2 responses to AlaDH
Conclusion: The current study suggests that it may be possible to discriminate LTBI from active TBI by IL-2 responses to AlaDH
ABSTRACT
Objective: Although much is known about estrogen and progesterone, their toxicity or protective effects on hepatocytes are yet to be fully understood. This study investigated the probable oxidant or antioxidant effects of estrogen and progesterone on HepG2 cell line in the presence or absence of H2O2
Methods: HepG2 cells were cultured with two concentrations of estrogen and progesterone [10PM and 1microM] and H2O2 [50 and 200 microM] separately, and in combination, for 24 hours. The effects of selected doses after MTT assay on: 1] cellular integrity, 2] GR and GPx activity, 3] cellular levels of GSH and 4] ALT and AST activities were assessed
Results: MTT assay showed toxic effect of 200 microM H2O2 on the cells. According to MTT results, 10nM and 1 microM doses of estrogen and progesterone and 1microM of each in combination, in the presence of 50 microM H2O2 were selected for the rest of the experiments. Incubation of the cells with H2O2 caused a remarkable decrease in GPx and GR activities as well as GSH level, and an increase in ALT and AST levels. However, treatment with estrogen attenuated further changes and estrogen in combination with progesterone led to a more pronounced amelioration of H2O2-induced toxicity
Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that while high level of oxidative stress is severely cytotoxic, estrogen and progesterone might significantly improve the antioxidant defense within hepatocytes which undergo a low-intensity oxidative exposure
ABSTRACT
Background: It has been proposed that oxidative stress may contribute to the development of testicular abnormalities in diabetes. Morus alba leaf extract [MAE] has hypoglycemic and antioxidant properties. We, therefore, explored the impact of the administration of MAE on steroidogenesis in diabetic rats
Methods: To address this hypothesis, we measured the serum level of glucose, insulin, and free testosterone [Ts] as well as oxidative stress parameters [including glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde] in the testis of control, untreated and MAE-treated [1 g/day/kg] diabetic rats. In order to determine the likely mechanism of MAE action on Ts levels, we analyzed the quantitative mRNA expression level of the two key steroidogenic proteins, namely steroid acute regulatory protein [StAR] and P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme [P450scc], by real-time PCR
Results: The MAE-treated diabetic rats had significantly decreased glucose levels and on the other hand increased insulin and free Ts levels than the untreated diabetic rats. In addition, the administration of MAE to the diabetic rats restored the oxidative stress parameters toward control. Induction of diabetes decreased testicular StAR mRNA expression by 66% and MAE treatment enhanced mRNA expression to the same level of the control group. However, the expression of P540scc was not significantly decreased in the diabetic group as compared to the control group
Conclusion: Our findings indicated t hat M AE significantly increased Ts production in the diabetic rats, probably through the induction of StAR mRNA expression levels. Administration of MAE to experimental models of diabetes can effectively attenuate oxidative stress-mediated testosterone depletion
ABSTRACT
Background: Hyperthyroidism is associated with liver oxidative stress causing liver dysfunction in many hyperthyroid patients. The hepatoprotective effect of Satureja Khuzestanica Essential Oil [SKEO], as herbal origin antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent on the hyperthyroidism induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress is investigated
Methods: Adult male sprague dawley rats were divided into categories of; control [group C], hyperthyroid [group H], hyperthyroid with olive oil [group H+O], hyperthyroid with vitamin E [group H+E], hyperthyroid with SKEO [group H+S], combination of hyperthyroid with vitamin E and SKEO [group H+S+E]. Hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of SKEO with or without vitamin E in hyperthyroid rats were then investigated
Results: Serum Aspartate Transaminase [AST] and Alanine Transaminase [ALT] activities reduced significantly in H+O, H+E, H+S and H+S+E groups in comparison with hyperthyroid rats. Enzymes activities returned to normal in H+S+E group. Hepatic Malondialdehyde [MDA] was reduced in H+E, H+S and H+S+E groups in comparison with hyperthyroid rats. The most significant MDA reduction was in the H+S+E group. Glutathione Peroxidase [GPx] and Glutathione Reductase [GR] activities increased in H+E, H+S and H+S+E groups in comparison with group H. The largest increment in GPx and GR activities were in the H+S+E group. Glutathione level did not change in any group in comparison with the control group
Conclusion: Administration of SKEO has hepatoprotective effect in hyperthyroid rats and is more effective when used in combination with vitamin E
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have some adverse effects on the serum lipid profile. Because hyperlipidemia is one of the risk factors in cardiovascular diseases, lipid abnormalities should be evaluated in women consuming COCs. Vitamins E and C are known to have beneficial effects on serum lipid profiles. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effects of vitamins E and C on serum lipids in women using COCs. METHODS: The study compared changes in lipid parameters with and without vitamin therapy in women consuming COCs compared to those of a control group (40 non-contraceptive users or NCU) for 4 weeks. Total cholesterol and triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels along with HDL/LDL ratios were measured for all participants. RESULTS: COC users experienced significantly higher increases in the levels of triglycerides and LDL than non-users (p<0.05). However, no significant differences were noted in the total cholesterol and HDL levels. In the treated COC group receiving vitamins E and C, the HDL level and the HDL/LDL ratio increased and the LDL and triglycerides levels decreased significantly compared with those of the other groups. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that supplementation with antioxidant vitamins E and C restores a normal lipid profile in COC users.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Cardiovascular Diseases , Cholesterol , Contraceptives, Oral , Contraceptives, Oral, Combined , Hyperlipidemias , Lipoproteins , Risk Factors , Triglycerides , VitaminsABSTRACT
Epigenetic reprogramming of differentiated cells can modify somatic cells into pluripotential state. Pluripotency can be induced in somatic cells by several approaches. One of the easy ways to induce pluripotency is the exposure of the somatic cells to the embryonic stem cell [ESC] extract. The objective of this study was to increase the efficiency of reprogramming of granulosa cell as a differentiated cell into pluripotential state by using epigenetic modifier agents and extract. The human granulosa cells were cultured in the medium containing 5-Aza-Deoxycytidine and trichostatin A. Then, the cells were exposed to mouse ESCs extract and co-cultured with mouse embryonic fibroblast in the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor [LIF]. Alkaline phosphatase test and also immunohistochemistery staining for Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog were performed after 24 and 72 hours and 1 week. The granulosa cells showed the alkaline phosphatase activity after 24 hours and the enzyme activity maintained for 72 hours. They also expressed Oct4 after 24 hours. The cells also expressed Sox2 and Nanog, 72 hours after exposure to the ESCs extract. The expression of the pluripotency markers decreased after 1 week. It seems that the extract can induce dedifferentiation in granulosa cells and they can express the stem cell markers. It seems that the inhibitors of the methyl transferase [5-Aza-Deoxycytidine] and histone deacetylase [trichostatin A] could delete the epigenetic markers and prepare the cells for reprogramming by administration of the extract
Subject(s)
Humans , Granulosa Cells , Cellular Reprogramming , Azacitidine/analogs & derivatives , Hydroxamic Acids , Epigenesis, GeneticABSTRACT
Prostate specific antigen [PSA] has been used as a screening test for the early detection of prostate cancer [PC] for many years. Although the introduction of PSA test led to a considerable increase in reported prostate cancer cases, there is still some controversy over the sensitivity and specificity of this marker in distinguishing PC patients from those with benign prostate hyperplasia [BPH], the most common benign prostate condition. An attempt is made to elucidate if the plasma level of Interleukin 8 [IL-8] could be used effectively as a marker for the detection of prostate cancer. Plasma levels of IL-8 and PSA were measured in two groups of 40 BPH and PC patients using enzyme-linked immunosorbent [ELISA] and radioimmunoassay [RIA] techniques, respectively. In addition IL-8 levels in PC3 and DU145 cell line supernatants were measured by ELISA technique. The concentration of IL-8 in the plasma of PC patients was not significantly higher than the BPH subjects. Although, a correlation between plasma IL-8 concentration and the Gleason score of PC patients was found, no indicated correlation was detected between the concentration of IL-8 or PSA and age of the patients in both groups. DU145 and PC3 cell lines produced and secreted IL-8 in the media. Data of this investigation collectively conclude no correlation between IL-8 concentration in PC and BPH patients