[Effect of dibenzo-18-crown-6 on haematopoitic cells colony formation of mouse bone marrow]

Known biological effects of crown ethers influence us to investigate its effect in human body and use in drug production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Dibenzo-18-crown-6 on colony formation of bone marrow cells of mouse in culture medium and to find the probable mechanisms of the process. In this experimental study, red bone marrow cells of mouse [Balb/C] were used as source of haemapoietic stem cells. Culture of red bone marrow cells was done in the form of semi solid in the presence of different concentrations of crown ether, cAMP, PHO4H2K and PO4H2Na. Different concentrations of crown ether have significant inhibitory effects on colonizing of red bone marrow cells. The maximum inhibitory effect was observed in concentration of 80 mg/ml crown ether and no colony was found. The inhibitory effects of crown ether was diminished in the presence of cAMP with concentration of 10 X 10[-6] mol, PO4H2Na with concentration of 10 X 10[-6] mol and PO4H2K with concentration of 5 X 10[6] mol, but it couldn't achieve the level of control group without presence of crown ether. HPLC method demonstrated that remaining level of crown ether reached to zero after sixth hour. The inhibitory effects of crown ether in control of colonizing the red bone marrow cells occur via decreasing of cations value and changing the physiological function of membrane resulting disorder in the cAMP signaling pathway

[Liver steatosis and chronic hepatitis-B infection: viral and host risk factors]

Liver steatosis and chronic hepatitis B infection are the most common causes of chronic liver diseases in Iran. There have been a limited number of studies throughout the world, evaluating the association of hepatitis B infection and steatosis. We studied the association between some of viral and host factors and the presence of steatosis among patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. In this analytical cross-sectional study, 71 patients with chronic hepatitis B infection were preliminarily assessed by liver biopsy. The patients were divided into two groups based on either presence or absence of steatosis in liver tissue. These two groups were compared in terms of different host and viral factors along with their stage of fibrosis. Of 71 patients, 30 [42.3%] had significant steatosis [in >5% of hepatocytes, according to Brunt classification]. Sex and gender were not significantly different in 2 groups. The mean BMI, serum levels of FBS, cholesterol, TG, GGT, were significantly higher in steatosis group compared to those of non-steatosis one [P<0.05]. In contrast, the mean levels of AST, ALT, ALK-P were not significantly different in these groups. The frequency of HBeAg positivity and the mean level of viral load of two groups had no significant difference. There was also no significant difference in the mean stages of fibrosis between two groups. It seems that certain metabolic hosts factors such as BMI, FBS, cholesterol, TG, GGT are associated with steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection while such an association was not found with the evaluated viral factors. We suggest further investigations to evaluate the role of other factors [such as HBV genotype] in the future