Prevalence of intestinal parasites in bakery workers in Khorramabad, Lorestan Iran

Food contamination may occur through production, processing, distribution and preparation. In Iran especially in Khorramabad, 33[degree sign] 29' 16" North, 48[degree sign] 21' 21" East, due to kind of nutrition, culture and economic status of people, bread is a part of the main meal and the consumption of bread is high. In this study, the bakery workers were studied for determining of intestinal parasites prevalence. The study was carried out during September to November 2010 in Khorramabad. All the 278 bakeries and the bakery workers including 816 people were studied in a census method and their feces were examined for the presence of parasites by direct wet-mount, Lugol's iodine solution, and formaldehyde- ether sedimentation, trichrome staining, and single round PCR [For discrimination of Entamoeba spp]. Ninety-six [11.9%] stool specimens were positive for different intestinal parasites. Intestinal parasites included Giardia lamblia 3.7%, Entamoeba coli 5.5%, Blastocystis sp. 2.1%, Entamoeba dispar 0.4%, Hymenolepis nana 0.1%, and Blastocystis sp. 0.1%. In order to reduce the contamination in these persons, some cases such as stool exam every three months with concentration methods, supervision and application of accurate health rules by health experts, training in transmission of parasites are recommended

[Comparison of cytokine growth factors in platelet supernatant, platelet lysate and activated platelet-rich plasma for therapeutic applications]

Platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP] is a concentration of human platelets in a small volume of plasma. It has been shown that effects of this product on various cell types is due to synergistic effects of some proteins of platelet alpha granules as platelet growth factors. The purpose of this study is definition of the more efficient platelet product, with higher protein and growth factor concentration for using in various applications. In this study, platelet-rich plasma was isolated by apheresis method. Activated Platelet-rich Plasma [AP] was prepared by platelet activation by thrombin and calcium chloride. Platelet Supernatant [PS] and Platelet Lysate [PL] preparation was performed by high speed centrifugation [900 g], and freezing and thawing of platelet rich plasma, respectively. The growth factors and protein concentrations in these platelet products were measured by ELISA and Bradford methods, respectively. Platelet concentration of Platelet-rich Plasma was 1.066x10[9] +/- 0.15x10[9] /ml [Mean +/- SD]. According to the results, concentrations of PDGF, TGF-beta, FGF, EGF and protein were few in Platelet Supernatant [0.24 +/- 0.03 ng/ml, 4.5 +/- 0.4 ng/ml, 0.8 +/- 0.06 pg/ml, 2.6 +/- 0.3 pg/ml and 460 +/- 6 mg/ml, respectively] and significantly increased by platelet activation [23.0 +/- 2.1 ng/ml,19 +/- 3.0 ng/ml,7.4 +/- 1.0 pg/ml,23.3 +/- 3.0 pg/ml and 480 +/- 4 mg/ml, respectively] or freezing and thawing of PRP [18.1 +/- 1.9 ng/ml, 16.0 +/- 3.0ng/ml,10.2 +/- 1.3pg/ml,31.0 +/- 4.0 pg/ml and 490 +/- 5 mg/ml, respectively], [P<0.05]. We showed that concentration of PDGF and TGF- beta as two major platelet growth factors is significantly higher than FGF and EGF in all of three platelet products [P<0.05]. We also found that FGF and EGF concentrations are significantly higher in Platelet Lysate [10.2 +/- 1.3 and 31.0 +/- 4.0] than Activated Platelet-rich Plasma [7.4 +/- 1.0 and 23.3 +/- 3.0] [P<0.05], and TGF-beta in Platelet Supernatant [4.5 +/- 0.4], in contrast to two other platelet products, is significantly higher than PDGF [0.24 +/- 0.03] [P<0.05]. Preparation of Platelet-rich Plasma by apheresis method, gives a high platelet count. Protein extraction by PRP activation yields a higher concentration of two major factors [PDGF and TGF-beta], in spite of higher amounts of protein, FGF and EGF in Platelet Lysate. More studies are needed to define the relation between higher growth factor concentration or protein content and effects in various applications

[Comparison of cytokine growth factors in platelet supernatant, platelet lysate and activated platelet-rich plasma for therapeutic applications]

Background: platelet-Rich Plasma [PRP] is a concentration of human platelets in a small volume of plasma. It has been shown that effects of this product on various cell types is due to synergistic effects of some proteins of platelet alpha granules as platelet growth factors. The purpose of this study is definition of the more efficient platelet product, with higher protein and growth factor concentration for using in various applications

Materials and Methods: in this study, platelet-rich plasma was isolated by apheresis method. Activated Platelet-rich Plasma [AP] was prepared by platelet activation by thrombin and calcium chloride. Platelet Supernatant [PS] and Platelet Lysate [PL] preparation was performed by high speed centrifugation [900g], and freezing and thawing of platelet rich plasma, respectively. The growth factors and protein concentrations in these platelet products were measured by ELISA and Bradford methods, respectively

Results: platelet concentration of Platelet-rich Plasma was 1.066×10[9] +/- 0.15×10[9] /ml [Mean +/- SD]. According to the results, concentrations of PDGF, TGF-beta, FGF, EGF and protein were few in Platelet Supernatant [0.24 +/- 0.03 ng/ml, 4.5 +/- 0.4 ng/ml, 0.8 +/- 0.06 pg/ml, 2.6 +/- 0.3 pg/ml and 460 +/- 6 mg/ml, respectively] and significantly increased by platelet activation [23.0 +/- 2.1 ng/ml, 19 +/- 3.0 ng/ml, 7.4 +/- 1.0 pg/ml, 23.3 +/- 3.0 pg/ml and 480 +/- 4 mg/ml, respectively] or freezing and thawing of PRP [18.1 +/- 1.9 ng/ml, 16.0 +/- 3.0 ng/ml, 10.2 +/- 1.3 pg/ml, 31.0 +/- 4.0 pg/ml and 490 +/- 5 mg/ml, respectively] [P<0.05]. We showed that concentration of PDGF and TGF-beta as two major platelet growth factors is significantly higher than FGF and EGF in all of three platelet products [P<0.05]. We also found that FGF and EGF concentrations are significantly higher in Platelet Lysate [10.2 +/- 1.3 and 31.0 +/- 4.0] than Activated Platelet-rich Plasma [7.4 +/- 1.0 and 23.3 +/- 3.0] [P<0.05], and TGF-beta in Platelet Supernatant [4.5 +/- 0.4], in contrast to two other platelet products, is significantly higher than PDGF [0.24 +/- 0.03] [P<0.05]

Conclusions: preparation of Platelet-rich Plasma by apheresis method, gives a high platelet count. Protein extraction by PRP activation yields a higher concentration of two major factors [PDGF and TGF-beta], in spite of higher amounts of protein, FGF and EGF in Platelet Lysate. More studies are needed to define the relation between higher growth factor concentration or protein content and effects in various applications

Evaluation of Bax encoding plasmid for increasing efficacy of DNA vaccine plasmid encoding gB of Herpes Simplex virus type 1

Evaluation of Bax encoding plasmid for increasing efficacy of DNA vaccine plasmid encoding gB of Herpes Simplex Virus type 1. Materials and Methods: We compared three different dosages of Bax encoding plasmid [pcbax] including 10, 25 and 50 ?g of plasmid DNA. They were co-injected ineradermally with glycoprotein B [gB] of herpes simplex virus [HSV]-1 encoded plasmid [pcgB] in C57BL/6 mice to elicit immune responses to protect against lethal HSV-1 challenge. Immune responses to the antigen were assessed by lymphocyte proliferative responses and cytokine [INF-gamma and IL-4] release assays. The study demonstrates that the mice immunized with 25 micro g pcbax together with pcgB have more efficient protection than the mice immunized with 10 and 50 micro g of pcbax and pcgB. Analysing of cell-mediated responses show that the mice immunized with 25micro g pcbax and pcgB induce stronger lymphocyte proliferative responses and higher levels of INF-gamma and IL-4 compared to the mice are received 10 and 50 micro g of pcbax and pcgB. The data show that co-immunization with 25 micro g of pcbax and pcgB increase immune responses compared to 10 and 50 micro g of pcbax and pcgB. This can be considered a promising approach for development an efficient DNA vaccine against HSV-1 or other pathogens

cytotoxicity pathway of natural killer cells in cord blood compared to peripheral blood

The cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells is usually tested by radioactive assay [51Cr release assay], which detects the release of cytoplasmic contents after plasma membrane disintegration of dying cells. In contrast to this indirect evaluation of cytotoxicity, the assessment of cell damage by flow cytometry aims to provide a more exact characterization of the death pathway via detection of the percentage of apoptosis and necrotic cells. Annexin V-FITC [Axv -FITC] can be used to label cells in the early apoptopic state, while propidium iodide [PI] indicates late apoptosis or necrosis. The NK cytotoxicity of cord blood [CB] and peripheral blood [PB] was determined after 4 hours of incubation in the absence of cytokines. After 4 hours in vitro incubation, co-staining with Annexin V-FITC [Axv-FITC] and propidium iodide [PI] permitted discrimination between viable, early apoptotic and necrotic cells. As we would expect, the cytotoxicity pathway in PB mononuclear cells [MNCs] consists of both apoptosis and necrosis pathways but in CB MNCs it almost consists of early apoptosis; and necrosis is negligible. With escalating E: T [effector: target] ratio changes in the percentage of apoptotic cells in PB samples were significantly higher than CB samples. The mechanism [s] of the low cytotoxicity of resting cord NK cells is not well understood. Complementary research in this field is recognized to elucidate the phenotypical and functional properties of CB cells and how they relate to maturational stages. CB studies are important for transplantation research and may provide insight to the suppressive mechanism by which the host-recipient could evade GVHD and rejection