[Correlation between telomerase gene expression and different stages of breast cancer and obesity]

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Obesity is known as a risk factor for breast cancer acting directly on breast cancer by producing adipocytokines. On the other hand, it seems that telomerase activity and especially expression of its catalytic subunit [hTERT] are critical for cancer initiation and development

Objective: To determine the relationship between obesity grades and adipocytokines associated with expression of hTERT gene at different stages of breast cancer

Methods: This was an analytical study carried out on 65 breast cancer patients during 2009-2010. Blood sample and fresh tumour tissue were collected from all patients. Expression of hTERT gene in tumour tissue was evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and the plasma level of adipocytokines also tested

Findings: Expression of hTERT gene was detected in 53 samples with an expression level which significantly correlated with BMI, stage, and grade of cancer. Also, there was a positive significant correlation between hTERT expression level and leptin level [r=0.484, P=0.008] however, no correlation with other adipocytokines including IL-6 [r=-0.041, P=0.83] and TNF-alpha [r=-0.059, P=0.76] was observed

Conclusion: Considering the data, it could be concluded that obesity, as the source of leptin, may play a direct role in occurrence and development of breast cancer

[Quantification of 4-hydroxyisoleucine content in treated and untreated fenugreek seeds using GC]

There are some reports regarding antidiabetic activity of 4-hydroxyisoleucine, however its hypoglycemic property must be proven completely before presentating as a new drug. Preparing suitable amount of 4-hydroxyisoleucine is nesessary for supporting in vivo studies. The purpose of the present study was isolation of 4-hydroxyisoleucine, comparing 4-hydroxyisoleucine content in two samples of Fenugreek seeds collected form two distinct parts of Iran and finally the effect of germination and supplementation by isoleucine on 4-hydroxyisoleucine yield. 4-hydroxyisoleucine was successfully isolated passing seed amino acid extract through ion exchange and silica gel column and then crystallization on methanol. 4- hydroxyisoleucine content in various samples was assessed by GC. Seeds from Northwestern of Iran had higher amount of 4-hydroxyisoleucine in comparison to Central Iran. Furthermore yields from germinating seeds were 2 folds higher than the dried seeds, and could be increased 6 fold by inclusion of isoleucine supplement in the irrigation water. simple procedures can be engaged for improving yields of 4-hydroxyisoleucine isolated from fenugreek up to six-fold by using of germinated seeds supplemented with isoleucine

[Study of correlation of surface phospholipids fatty acid composition in high density lipoprotein with the severity of coronary artery disease after angiography]

Background and Objective: the phospholipids fatty acid content of high density lipoprotein [HDL] has recently been found to be related to several important biological functions which may serve as a risk factor for coronary artery disease [CAD]. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether fatty acid composition of HDL phospholipids correlates with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease

Materials and Methods: the study population included 117 patients with coronary artery disease which was approved by angiography. The severity of CAD was assessed by the number of arteries [1, 2 or 3] with more than 50% stenosis reported by angiography. The fatty acid composition of HDL phospholipids was determined by gas liquid chromatography. The independence of association between fatty acids and CAD were evaluated by multivariate analyses which included all of the variables associated with the severity of CAD in univariate analysis

Results: these analyses showed that the association of EPA [beta= 0.23, P<0.01] and DHA [beta= 0.17, P<0.05] with the severity of CAD was inversely and independently significant

Conclusion: some kinds of polyunsaturated HDL fatty acid contents such as EPA and DHA [omega-3 fatty acids] have adverse association with severity of CAD

[Investigation on two polymorphisms effective on HDL-C concentration in patients with coronary artery disease using restriction fragment length polymorphism]

High density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] is a known inverse predictor of coronary heart disease [CHD]. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein [CETP] and hepatic lipase [HL] are key proteins in HDL-C metabolism so that decreased CETP or HL activity is associated with high HDL-C. -629C/A polymorphism in promoter of CETP gene and-514C/T in promoter of HL gene were previously reported to reduce related protein level in plasma. In this study association of these polymorphisms with CHD related to HDL-C level were investigated. In this analytical-descriptive study 321 subjects underwent coronary angiography and divided in two groups base on angiogram [non CAD = 135 and CAD = 186]. Serum lipids profile was measured by standard procedure and genotype was detected using PCR-RFLP method. Overall the CETP genotype frequencies were in CAD patients: 58.8% [n=110], 28.9% [n=54] and 12.3% [n=23] and in non CAD patients: 45.2% [n=61], 41.5% [n=56] and 13.3% [n=18] for AA, CA and CC respectively. HL genotype frequencies were in CAD patients: 61.6% [n=114], 33.5% [n=62] and 4.9% [n=9] and in non CAD patients: 65.9% [n=89], 27.4% [n=37] and 6.7% [n=9] for CC, CT and TT respectively. In control group HDL-C concentration was higher for AA than CC genotype in -629C/A, and also for TT than CC genotype in -514C/T. Allele A in all subjects and T allele in woman were higher in CAD than non CAD group. A high increase in HDL-C level [10. mg/dl] was observed in individuals with CETP-AA/LIPC-TT and CETP-CA/LIPC-TT relative to CETP-CC/LIPC-CC across all subjects [P< 0.001] but there was no difference in CAD prevalence. Allele A from -629C/A, and T from -514C/T even with the increasing of HDL-C concentration had higher frequency in CAD than non CAD group. Therefore, it seems that HDL-C didn't protect coronary artery when CETP or HL activity was reduced by these polymorphisms

Myocardial ischemia serum markers in coronary artery bypass grafting by on-pump and off-pump techniques

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting [CABG] is usually performed with Cardio Pulmonary Bypass [CPB]. However CPB has been associated with several adverse effects. Recently off-pump CABG technique is offered as an alternative to the standard on-pump technique. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of the technique by estimating and comparing serum markers of myocardial ischemia; CK, CK-MB, LDH, AST, Cardiac Troponin 1 and some peri and postoperative complications after two types of surgical procedures. Seventy-three patients [58 males and 15 females] with angiographically defined CAD admitted to the hospital for CABG were selected. The off-pump technique was performed in 38 patients with mean age of 60 +/- 10.5 years. In 35 other patients with mean age of 55 +/- 10.4 years, the on-pump technique was applied. CK, CK-MB, LDH and AST activities and Cardiac Troponin 1 concentration were measured pre and postoperatively into first 24 hours. Characteristics of the patiaents and some pre and postoperative data regarding incidence of complications were also recorded. The activities of cardiac enzymes; CK, CK-MB, LDH and AST after on-pump CABG technique were higher than those of off-pump technique [P<0.05 in all cases]. The levels of Troponin I were significantly higher after on-pump CABG throughout the entire measurement period [P<0.01]. In other groups of the patients no preoperative myocardial infarction was observed. In the off-pump technique procedure time was shorter and transfusion of blood and blood products was less than those of on- pump technique, but no differences were noticed among the other recorded data. Significantly lower release of the enzymes and Troponin 1 during operation by off-pump technique suggests that the technique causes less myocardial injury. On the basis of little change in the activities of cardiac enzymes and Troponin 1 and presented data including a marked decrease in blood transfusion and shorter procedural time it is concluded that off-pump CABG is a safe and effective technique in selected patients with appropriate coronary lesions

[Sperm DNA oxidative damages in infertile men]

Sperm DNA oxidative damage due to free radicals is a major contributing factor in a variety of human diseases, including male infertility. The aim of the present study was to compare the levels of sperm DNA oxidative damage in infertile [according to WHO criteria] and fertile men. Semen samples were obtained after 3 to 7 days of abstinence from 25 infertile and 23 fertile men who referred to infertility Center of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. After semen analysis, sperm cells were separated from seminal fluid by percoll gradient centrifugation and kept at -20°C for next further analysis. Sperm DNA was extracted and its concentration and purity were determined by UV-spectrophotometer. DNA damage was studied by DNA Chromatography-mass spectrometry [GC/MS]. Analysis of 8 hydroxy Guanine [8-OHG] as a marker of DNA oxidative damage by GC/MS was shown that rate of basal DNA oxidative damage in infertile group was 100-fold greater than fertile group. There was also correlation between semen parameter [morphology, motility and sperm count] and DNA oxidative damage. Result of this study showed that elevation of sperm DNA oxidative damage could be one of possible reasons for male infertility

Lipoprotein A, APO A phenotypes and dyslipidemia in acute coronary syndromes

Although several retrospective studies have shown a strong correlation between lipoproteins and atherosclerotic heart disease, the correlation is unclear in cases with coronary vasospasm. This study sought to examine dyslipidemia including lipoprotein[a] [Lp[a]] and Apo[a] phenotypes in coronary artery disease. One hundred and fifteen patients with mean age of 58.7 +/- 13 years suffering from coronary artery disease were selected. They were divided into groups with stable angina pectoris [SA], unstable angina [USA], acute myocardial infarction [AMI]. Control group consisted of 40 age and sex matched apparently healthy individuals. The lipids and lipoproteins including Lp[a] were measured using standard methods. Apo[a] phenotypes were evaluated by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting. In patients with coronary artery disease, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] levels were significantly lower than those in control [p<0.01], but in SA its level was higher than those of USA and AMI [p<0.05]. The levels of triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [VLDL-C] were higher in SA and no significant differences were noticed in those of total cholesterol, but the concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] in USA and AMI were significantly higher than those of SA and control groups. The ApoB concentration was markedly higher in USA group [p<0.002]. The mean +/- SD levels of total Lp[a] in USA and AMI groups were higher than those of SA and control groups [p<0.001]. Comparing the frequencies of low molecular weight [LMW] and high molecular weight [HMW] Apo[a] phenotypes of patients with control group, high frequencies of LMW Apo[a] and high levels of Lp[a] were noticed in USA and AMI groups [p<0.01 in both cases]. Low serum HDL-C and high serum LDL-C and Lp[a] levels were characteristic in patients with USA and AMI. Comparing the frequencies of Apo[a] phenotypes in SA, USA and AMI with those of control it was concluded that Apo[a] phenotyping along with serum levels of Lp[a], HDL-C and LDL-C could be a useful risk predictors for the development of acute coronary syndromes and may be used in discrimination of different types of the coronary artery diseases