[Medical importance of free living amoebas]

Free living amoebas are abiquitous in environmental sources. Some species of these organisms are causative agent of fetal diseases in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Member of four genera including: Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegleria fowleri and Sappinia diploidea causes infection of the central nervous system, lungs, sinuses, eyes and skin in human being. Due to progresses of human knowledge about these protozoa, it is possible that other free living amoeba may be found as potential agents of human and animals infections and death. Because of prevalence of Acanthamoeba keratitis in Iran, Familiarity with these species is important

Antineoplastic effect of Fenugreek [Trigonella Foenum Graecum] seed extract against acute myeloblastic leukemia cell line [KG-1]

Treatment of cancer patients using conventional chemotherapy causes serious side effects and, at best, merely extends the patient's lifespan by a few years. The potential of alternative therapies may therefore be of great benefit in cancer control. The effect of Trigonella Foenum Graecum seed extract has been previously reported on some neoplastic cells. Here, its effect is evaluated on human acute myeloblastic leukemia cell lines. The cell line KG-1 was treated with various concentrations of Fenugreek seeds extract with various durations. Cellular enumeration, viability test, staining and light microscopy, and apoptosis induction were evaluated. Results showed significant cytotoxic effect of Fenugreek seeds extract against this cell line which resulted in growth inhibition, cell death and morphological changes. Apoptosis induction was not considerable. Fenugreek seeds extract did not change the count and morphology of normal lymphocytes. Applying herbal medicines could be an effective and safe treatment for leukemia. To our knowledge, this is the first study that suggests significant chemotherapeutic effects of Fenugreek seeds against these cell lines

Distribution and differential diagnosis of entamoeba histolytica from entamoeba dispar by the PCR-RFLP method in central Iran

Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar are two morphologically indistinguishable human protozoan parasites that are genetically distinct species. The potential invasive pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica and non-invasive parasite Entamoeba dispar can be differentiated by molecular and other methods. We used polymerase chain reaction [PCR] to determine the ratio of the two species in a population in Tehran and Karaj in central Iran. Materials and Human stool samples [n=12 148] were randomly collected in Tehran and Karaj and examined for E. histolytica/E. dispar cysts with direct and formalin-ether methods. Eighty-seven [0.7%] cases were positive, of which 49 [62.8%] isolates were successfully cultured in Robinson