Quantitative evaluation of abscopal effect based on biological effective dose in breast cancer tumors in mice

Background: Due to abscopal effect, cell damage may occur outside of the radiation field and the quantification of this effect is one of the most challenging debates in radiation therapy. The aim of this study was to estimate the abscopal effect induced in non-irradiated tumors quantitatively by means of biological effective dose [BED]

Materials and Methods: Breast tumors using 4T1 and MC4-L2 cells, were induced into the flank region of Balb/c mice. When palpable, the tumor on one side of the body was irradiated with dose of 28Gy in 14 fractions and 2 Gy per fraction, 5 fractions per week. The tumor on the other side of the body was shielded with a lead plate. BED was estimated based on tumor volume. H and E staining and TUNEL assay were performed to assess histological changes and apoptosis in irradiated and non-irradiated tumors

Results: The effect of radiation on non-irradiated tumors was more than that on irradiated ones. The BED was 4.49 and 6.74 in 4T1 and MC4-L2 tumors, respectively. The ratio of the tumor volume in the last fraction to that in the first fraction for irradiated 4T1 tumors was 2.32 and in non-irradiated was 1.50. This ratio in irradiated and non- irradiated MC4-L2 tumors was 2.64 and 1.98, respectively. The number of apoptotic cells was higher in non-irradiated tissues

Conclusion: Results indicate that the occurrence of abscopal effect is highly depends on the type of tumor. By means of the abscopal effect, more radiation dose can be delivered to the tumor and metastatic sites

Comparative study of chemo-sensitivity expressed as micronuclei in lymphocytes of breast cancer patients, their unaffected first degree relatives and normal controls as a possible prognostic marker

Background: Genomic instability is one of primary causes for malignant cell transformation. In this study induced genomic instability expressed as micronuclei in breast cancer [BC] patients with different stages of the disease compared with their unaffected first degree relatives [FDR] and normal unrelated controls was investigated

Materials and Methods: The background and net micronucleus frequency as well as other cellular damages induced after in vitro treatment with 25 microg/ml of bleomycin were evaluated using cytokinesis block micronucleus-cytome assay in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 120 Iranian individuals comprised of 40 BC patients, 40 FDRs and 40 normal control groups. Considering the protocol for each person total of 1,000 binucleated cells with well-preserved cytoplasm were blind scored on coded slides

Results: The net frequency of micronuclei was dramatically higher in breast cancer patients compared with controls. Also the net micronucleus [MN] frequency was significantly higher in FDRs compared with normal unrelated control. Considering cancer stages and clinical parameters, our results showed that the higher net frequency of MN was observed in higher stages and distant metastasis

Conclusion: This higher MN frequency both background and bleomycin induced in FDR compared with control group, clearly demonstrates that MN frequencies are determined by genetic factors to a major part and MN frequencies represent an intermediate phenotype between molecular DNA repair mechanisms and the cancer phenotype and affirms the approaches that are made to utilize them as predictors' cancer risk . Also the association between MN frequency and metastasis proposes it as a possible prognostic marker

Light and scanning electron microscopic study of the lingual structure in the budgerigar [Melopsittacus undulatus]

Background: the tongue, which plays a very important role in food intake by vertebrates, exhibits significant morphological variations that appear to represent adaptation to the current environmental conditions of each respective habitat

Objectives: the aim of the present investigation was to investigate lingual structure in adult budgerigar

Methods: tongues of 12 adult budgerigars were used in this investigation. Samples of the apex, body and root of the tongues were studied using light and electron microscopy

Results: the tongue in budgerigar is about 5 mm in length. The deep concave rostral portion of the lingual apex is devoid of any glandular structure and is continuous with a semicircular caudal portion. The caudal portion of the lingual apex is divided into two symmetrical halves by a median longitudinal fissure. The rostral part of the lingual corpus is distinctly divided by fissures of varying depth into many irregular raised areas with different sizes. Several large caudally directed conical papillae are situated on the posterior end of the lingual corpus and along the thick border region between the lingual body and root. There are also some giant conical papillae on the laryngeal mound. According to their positions, the PAS-positive compound tubuloalveolar salivary glands can be classified as dorsal and dorsolateral salivary glands. The dorsal lingual salivary glands are situated beneath the dorsal lingual epithelium. They extended from the caudal end of the fissure on the caudal lingual apex to the front of the laryngeal cleft. The dorsolateral salivary glands on each side extend from the beginning of the body of the tongue to the level of the laryngeal cleft. The ventral side of the tongue is devoid of any glandular structure. Neither the morphology nor the dimensions of the tongue show sex-specific differences

Conclusions: lingual structure shows considerable differences in budgerigars in comparison to other birds studied so far

Inherent radio sensitivity and its impact on breast cancer chemo-radiotherapy

About 10% of apparently normal individuals are sensitive to clastogenic effects of physico-chemical agents. More than 45% of breast cancer patients' exhibit elevated radiosensitivity. Although the nature of inherent radiosensitivity is not fully understood, but insufficiency and impaired DNA repair mechanism might be prime cause of radiosensitivity. This is evident from genetically affected individuals such as ataxia telangiectasia, severe combined immunodeficiency, Xeroderma pigmentasum, Fanconi anemia who show sensitivity to ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light and alkylating agents. All these genetic diseases are caused due to impaired DNA damage repair mechanism. Radiation therapy [RT] is a common and effective way of treatment in several types of malignant tumors. Some cancer patients suffer from side effects of RT such as radiation induced early or late adverse responses in normal tissues within weeks, months, or even years post irradiation, due to intrinsic radiosensitivity. The RT efficiency limitation raises from ionizing radiation toxicity reactions in normal tissues. An appropriate protocol to prevent or treat these side effects, has not been developed yet. Molecular pathways involved in adverse responses to cancer treatment agents have not been well defined. Identification of molecular mechanisms may be promising to enhance the output of treatment technologies and overall survival of cancer patients. Several techniques such as microarray technology has been used to clarify molecular mechanisms involved in radiosensitivity by finding genes related to RT normal tissue responses. DNA repair, apoptosis, cell cycle, and growth factor associated genes are the most important candidates in this field?

gamma-H2AX as a protein biomarker for radiation exposure response in ductal carcinoma breast tumors: experimental evidence and literature review

H2AX is a histone variant that is systematically found and ubiquitously distributed throughout the genome. DNA double-strand breaks [DSBs] induce phosphorylation of H2AX at serine 139 [gammaH2AX], an immunocytochemical assay with antibodies recognizing gammaH2AX has become the gold standard for the detection of DSBs. The importance of this assay to investigate different individual responses to gamma irradiation was reviewed and an example of different radiation responses of ductal carcinoma tumors with different expression levels of ATM and HER-2 was discussed. The ductal carcinoma breast tissues were exposed to 4 Gy gamma rays and after 24 hours incubation in modified RPMI 1640 medium in 37°C with CO2, the frequency of residual induced DSB was assessed using gammaH2AX assay compared to pair normal adjacent and control breast tissues. Results showed that the frequency of DSB dramatically increased in both tumor and normal irradiated tissues, compared to sham non-irradiated controls. Tumors with HER-2 over expression showed significantly lower residual DSB frequencies after 24 hours post irradiation incubation time, whereas this frequency dramatically increased in ATM under expressed tissues. Our data showed that different tissues may have different radio-sensitivity and ATM under- and HER-2 over-expression may lead to higher and lower sensitivity to ionizing radiation, respectively. This may be due to the role of ATM in DSB repair and HER-2 in EGFR downstream signaling pathway that with the use of cell survival mechanisms ends to resistance against radiation effects and activation of PI3K/ACT that leads to DSB repair

[ correlation between organizational citizenship behavior and job involvement of staff at educational and private hospital]

Introduction: In recent studies related to organization, the concept of organizational citizenship behavior has attracted the attention of many researchers and managers. Job Involvement is also an important variable that helps to increase the effectiveness of organization. This study aimed to determine correlation between organizational citizenship behavior and job involvement of staff at two educational and private hospitals

Materials and Methods: This study is a descriptive-correlational study that has taken place among 300 staffs that were selected randomly, in two public and private hospitals in Tehran. The Data gathering instrument was a valid and reliable questionnaire that was consists of three parts: demographic information, [Organizational Citizenship Behavior] questionnaire, in five dimensions: conscience, altruism, virtue-orienting, magnanimity and courtesy and [Job Involvement] questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed by using SPSS/18

Findings: Pearson test showed significant correlation [P<0.000] between citizenship behavior and job involvement of employees of two hospitals. Also in private hospital, there was a significant correlation between all dimensions of citizenship behavior and job involvement, except the item of courtesy. In public hospital, only between job involvement and altruism were not found significant correlations

Conclusion: According to the results and importance of citizenship behavior in increasing Job involvement of hospitals staff, the most critical institution, it is suggested that managers try to improve organizations citizenship behavior by setting appropriate policies and strategies in their organization staff

Identification of ptototheca zopfii from bovine mastitis

The aim of this study was identification of the epidemiology of Prototbeca zopfu species from the milk samples of dairy cattle in Isfahan, central Iran. Milk samples were obtained from 230 daily cattle, 130 with and 100 without mastitis, in Isfahan. The samples were cultured in Prototbeca Isolation Medium [PIM] and Sabouraud's dextrose agar. All P. zopfu isolates were identified by morphological and biochemical methods. Then, as a confirmatory test they wrere examined by genotype-specific PCR. Four P. zopfu strains [3.07° o] were isolated from the 130 samples of dairy cattle with clinical mastitis and there was no isolation from totally 100 samples of healthy bovines without mastitis. Specific PCR product [about 946 bp] was detected in four isolates. It seems that P. zopfu genotype II plays a key role in affecting bovine mastitis that confirmed other previous studies. Our study was the first, which identified the Prototheca species by traditional and molecular methods in Iran and Middle East as well

[Evaluating the immunogenicity for plasmid encoding GRA5 antigen of Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice]

Severe or lethal damages of toxoplasmosis clearly indicate the need for the development of a more effective vaccine. Immunization with recombinant plasmid encoding protective proteins is a promising vaccination technique. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the immunization with plasmid encoding GRA5 antigen of Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice. In this experimental study, three groups of BALB/c mice [n=10 in each group] were selected using simple random sampling. GRA5 gene was cloned into pcDNA3 plasmid and purified by plasmid purification kits and then the product was injected [IM]. To determine the status of cellular and hurnoral immunity, the 11-4, IFN- gamma and IgG; IgG2a, IgG subtypes were evaluated respectively using the ELISA-based assay. The group immunized with pcGRA5 indicated a significant augmented response in humoral and cellular immunity [P

Ultrasonography study of tendons and ligaments of metacarpal region in the camel [Camelus dromedarius]

Twelve left camel forelimbs were collected, and Ultrasonography was performed at five different levels around the metacarpal region. Limbs were then cut in the transverse plane at levels corresponding to the ultrasound images. Transverse and sagittal plane images were taken at each of the five levels, keeping all ultrasound imaging factors constant. Echogenicity, diameter, width and cross sectional area of the superficial digital flexor tendon [SDFT], deep digital flexor tendon [DDFT] and suspensory ligament [SL] were evaluated. Characteristics of echogenicity and different tendon and ligament sizes were measured and discussed

Human urogenital myiasis caused by lucilia sericata [diptera: calliphoridae] and wohlfahrtia magnifica [diptera: sarcophagidae] in Markazi Province of Iran

We report a case of human urogenital myiasis in an 86-year-old rural man with a penil ulcer and numerous alive and motile larvae from urethra and glans penis. Entomological studies on adult flies showed the larvae were Lucilia sericata and Wohlfahrtia magnifica. The clinical presentation and treatment strategies are discussed

First report of human nasal myiasis caused by eristalis tenax in Iran [diptera: syrphidae]

We report a case of human nasal myiasis caused by flower fly larva in a 14-year-old rural girl in Central Province of Iran. Entomological studies on larva showed the larva as Eristalis tenax which is a rarely cause of nasal myiasis. This is the first reported case of E. tenax larva causing human nasal myiasis in Iran

[Criteria assessment of a expert teacher for effective teaching]

Identifying criteria of expert teacher and efforts to strengthen and use them in teaching by teachers will enhance the learning process. In this way, one of the important methods is taking the views of students. This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of an expert teacher for effective teaching from the viewpoints of allied medical students at Tehran University of Medical Science. In this cross-sectional study, 200 BSc of allied medical students at were included employing simple random sampling method. Data collection was done employing a self administrated questionnaire. Validity and reliability of questionnaire was calculated. Data analysis was carried out by t-test and SPSS software. Some criterias like dominance in the scientific subjects [86.8%], power of expression and transmission the training materials [86.2%], respect for students[85.6%], good mood[85%] and work with ethic and sense of responsibility [84.4%] are important criteria for expert teacher. Furthermore, no significant relationship was found between gender and field of study and the above-mentioned four domains [p> 0/05]. Teaching ability was the most important factor for teaching process from he view of the students which could be paid attention in teachers' assessment program

Effect of vitamin E on preovulatory stage irradiated female mouse expressed as chromosomal abnormalities in generated embryos

The present study has been carried out to investigate the effects of preovulatory stage gamma-irradiation of female mice in the absence or presence of vitamin E on numerical chromosome abnormalities in 8-cell embryos after mating with nonirradiated males. The 8-11 weeks adult female NMRI mice were whole body irradiated at preovulatory stage [post PMSG injection and about 12-18 hours before injecting HCG] with 4 Gy gamma-rays generated from a cobalt-60 source alone or in combination with 200 IU/kg vitamin E, intraperitoneally administered one hour prior to irradiation. Soon after HCG injection super ovulated irradiated females were mated with non-irradiated males. About 68-h post coitus [p.c], 8-cell embryos were flushed from the oviducts of pregnant mice and were fixed on slides using standard methods in order to screen for metaphase spreads and numerical chromosome abnormalities. In control embryos, 8% of metaphase plates were aneuploid, whereas in preovulatory stage irradiated female mice, about 50% of metaphase plates of embryos showed numerical chromosome aberrations [P<0.001]. Administration of vitamin E one hour before the irradiation reduced chromosomal aberrations significantly [P=0.005]. Results show that the effects of gamma-irradiation on preovulatory stage oocytes led to chromosomal abnormalities in subsequent embryos generated by these oocytes. Increase the frequency of numerical chromosome abnormalities -mostly aneuploidy- may be due to abnormal chromosomal non disjunctions during 2[nd] meiotic division. Reduction of the frequency of chromosome aberrations in the presence of vitamin E is probably due to antioxidant effects of this vitamin, and scavenging free radicals induced by gamma-rays in mice oocytes' environment

Association of obesity with food habits and body image in school children of Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand

In order to assess the relationship between obesity with food habit and body image, this case control study was conducted among 85 urban primary school children male and female aged 10-12 years old, attending Anuban School in Nakhon Pathom Province, in Thailand. Two different questionnaires were used for data collection for caregivers and students. The standard used for definition of overweight and obesity was body mass index [BMI]. Obesity was defined as percentile 4 times per week] ate blanched /steamed foods as well as spicy foods. While sugar consumption was the same between the two groups, oil consumption was higher among the obese group. Compared with control children, obese children had more snacks before breakfast as well as during lunch and dinner on weekdays and weekends. Normal students had more foods- except for leafy vegetable and fried BBQ snacks. Two-thirds of the children knew about the food groups, but only one-third of them could classify foods into the food groups. Obese children knew about the food groups and could classify foods better than the way normal children could. Children gained information about foods from their parents, teachers, sisters, books, and television. Most of obese children knew they were obese, and they were not happy with their status. In conclusion, Programs must be designed to improve nutrition and in this way, parents and /or caregivers must be involved

Chemotherapy of lymphoma complicating immunoproliferative small intestinal disease [IPSID], the comparison of soxorubicin [DOX] -based protocols with non-dox regimens

The purpose of the present study is to compare the clinical results of different protocols in the treatment of IPSID-related lymphoma in Iran. Forty-one Iranian patients with IPSID-related lymphoma were studied retrospectively. Twenty-one patients had received a Dox-based protocol and 20 patients were treated with other regimens lacking Dox. The following results were shown in this study: The survival rate is 71.4% in the Dox group compared with 35% in the other [P<0.05 Chi-square]. The disease-free interval is 16.3 months in the Dox group compared with 11.2 in the non-Dox group [P< 0.001 unpaired student t-test]. The incidence of non-fatal complications in the two groups is slightly different but not statistically significant [0.25