[Effects of essential oil and extract of thymus vulgaris, zataria multiflora and eugenia caryophilata on Vero, Hela, HepII cell lines by MTT assay]

Natural flavors essential oils are almost present in various food stuffs, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. Safety assessment of these food additives should be seriously considered as long as their due wide applications are favorable. Natural flavors essential oils are widely used in various foods, cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. These kinds of additives are applied as colors, preservatives, aroma, antioxidant agents and tasting agents. In some cases, it may happen that the large use of some of these additives may accompany with some concerns and unwanted toxic disturbs. In this study, Concentrations of 24, 12, 6, 3, 1.5, 0.75, 0.375, 0.1875ppm [micro g/ml] of three essential oils, Eugenia caryophyllata, Thymus vulgaris and Zataria multiflora, were tested in MTT assay with three cell line Vero, Hep2, Hela. All three Essential oils and extracts were shown cytopathological effects on three cell lines in MTT assay in at least 0.04 micro g/ml to maximum 3.0 micro g/ml concentrations. Based on obtained results, all studied essential oils and extracts may have cytopathologic effect in specific concentrations so suggested using of this compound should be performed with considering their proper concentration and more safety studies on them

Correlation of HER2/neu over expression, p53 protein accumulation and steroid receptor status with tumor characteristics: an Iranian study of breast cancer patients

Molecular biomarkers are valuable in evaluation the course of malignancies. In this study, the relationship between HER2/neu, p53, steroid receptors and clinicopathological features of patients with breast cancer has been assessed. Three hundred thirty nine women with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer from 2001 to 2006 were included. They were evaluated for tumor features. The content of the steroid hormone receptors and expression of HER2/neu and p53 was also examined by immunohistochemistry assay. From patients arrived at this study, 52%, 36%, 46.5% and 44% were positive for HER2/neu, p53, ER and PR respectively. No association was found between most of pairs. HER2/neu expression significantly related with grade [P= 0.016]. P53 had considerable reverse relation with axillary lymph node involvement and primary distant metastasis [P= 0.010 and P= 0.023, respectively]. A significant association was found between PR and lymph node involvement [P= 0.038]. This study present the pattern of prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer for the first time in northeast of Iran and suggests to conduct larger studies regarding other effective variables include demographic ones

Knowledge of and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in Mashhad, Islamic Republic of Iran

To assess knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS in Mashhad, 960 people aged 13-58 years who were approached in the street and agreed to participate completed an anonymous questionnaire. The mean of knowledge and attitudes scores were 9.8 [SD 3.0] and 6.1 [SD 3.0] of a total 14 and 10 respectively. People with greater knowledge of HIV/AIDS had more positive attitudes to individuals with HIV/AIDS [P < 0.01]. There were important misconceptions about HIV transmission such as through hugging, food, clothing, public places and insect bites. Regression analysis indicted that women had more tolerant attitudes than men [P < 0.01] and the more educated respondents had higher knowledge and attitudes scores [P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001 respectively]