[ effect of variable CO[2] concentrations on HSP70 gene in Trichophyton rubrum and Microsporeum canis]

Trichophyton rubrum is considered as the most common causes of dermatophytosis in human skin and nail tissues. Microsporeum canis is a zoophile dermatophyte which can be transmited to human. HSP70 is a 70 KD heat shock protein in fungi. In this study, the effects of variable CO[2] concentrations were examined on HSP70 expression in T. rubrum and M. canis. Strains used in this study were obtained from skin scales and nails of the patients who were suffering from onychomycosis. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose broth [SDB] and incubated at 25°C for 2, 4 and 7 days under 3%, 5%, and 10% of CO[2] concentrations. Control cultures maintained for 7 days without CO[2] concentrations. Then, RNA was isolated from the harvested mycelia mass, and HSP70 gene expression was studied in T. rubrum and M. canis by RT-PCR. The obtained results were compared to the Beta actin as a house keeping gene. The results of this study revealed the maximum variations under 3%,5%, and 10% of CO[2] concentrations in maximum 7 days incubation period, and the expression of HSP70 gene showed different variations under different CO[2] concentrations. Our results showed a negative effect of CO[2] concentrations in the expression of HSP70 in T. Rubrum and a positive effect in M. canis comparing to the controls

L-carnitine level in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men

To determine any correlation between infertility and semen quality with concentrations of L-carnitine in human seminal plasma. This case-control study performed in Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan, Iran. Seminal plasma of 72 infertile men and 80 men with proved fertility as a control group was investigated and L-carnitine level was determined using UV enzymatic test at 340 nm. The concentration of L-carnitine was significantly lower in the infertile group compared with control group [80.59 +/- 56.43 mg/l versus 108.43 +/- 42.26 mg/l; P= 0.0009]. There was also a statistically significant positive correlation between seminal plasma L-carnitine concentration, total sperm count, and the percentage of motile sperm [P= 0.0009, and P= 0.0000, respectively]. These finding suggest that the determination of seminal plasma L-carnitine level may be a useful test in evaluation of male infertility

[Effects of fructose on plasma lipids in male rats]

Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in the most countries. Its development is determined by genetic and environmental factors. The major known risk factors are elevated LDL and reduced HDL. There is a direct correlation between these factors and dietary intake. Fructose intake has increased during the past years. The purpose of this study is to investigate the consequences of short-term fructose consumption on plasma lipids in male rats. This experimental study was performed in pharmacology department of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in 2005. Thirty male Wister rats weighing 250-300 g were recruited, divided into two groups of 15, and were fed either 10% fructose in drinking water for 2 weeks or drinking water. Serum triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL and HDL was measured on the first and fifteenth days. All the data were compared with T student test and analyzed with SPSS software. The concentration of serum triglycerides, cholesterol on the fifteenth day were not significantly different as compared with the first day; whereas the concentration of LDL and HDL were significantly different between day 15 and day 1 [p<0.05]. The ratio of LDL/HDL, Cholesterol/HDL and triglyceride/HDL on day 15 wee significantly different as compared with day 1 [p<0.05]. On the basis of these findings, it can be suggested that fructose intake for short period increases the CHD risk factors

Molecular characterization of subunit G of the vacuolar ATPase in pathogen dermatophyte trichophyton rubrum

Trichophyton rubrum is an anthropophilic fungus causing up to 90% of chronic cases of dermatophytosis. Several properties of this fungus have been investigated so far. However, a few studies were carried out in the field of molecular biology of this fungus. In the present study, we tried to identify the subunit G of its vacuolar ATPase [V-ATPase]. Pairs of 21 nt primers were designed from highly conserved regions of the V-ATPase subunit G genes in other fungi. Mentioned primers were utilized in PCR using isolated genomic DNA template as well as cytoplasmic RNA of T.rubrum and the PCR and RT-PCR fragments were then sequenced. About 469 nucleotides were sequenced which encoded a polypeptide with 119 amino acids. Nucleotide sequence comparison in gene data banks [NCBI, NIH] for both the DNA and its deduced amino acid sequence revealed significant homology with V-ATPase subunit G genes and proteins of other eukaryotic cells. The amino acid sequence of the encoded protein was about 84% identical to the sequence of V-ATPase subunit G from other fungi. In summary, we have cloned the first V-ATPase subunit G of dermatophytes and characterized it as a member of this gene family in other eukaryotic cells

Advanced glycation end products and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance in gingival tissues of diabetic and non-diabetic patients with chronic periodontitis

Production of advanced glycation end products [AGEs] is directly linked to the level and duration of hyperglycemia in diabetic patients. Oxidative stress plays a major role in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus. Free radicals are formed in diabetes by glucose oxidation, nonenzymaticglycation of proteins and subsequent oxidative degradation of glycated proteins. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance [TB ARs] is a factor evidence in the presence of oxidative stress as a potential mechanism under-lying periodontal disease associated with diabetes.11 subjects [mean age 38.9 years, 6M, 5F] with chronic periodontitis associated with diabetes [5 Type 1, 6 Type II] and 16 subjects [mean age 36.7 years, 7M, 6F] with chronic periodontitis as a matched control group participated in this study. Clinical attachment loss and bleeding on probing were determined in all subjects during clinical examination. FBS and HbAlc were measured in all subjects. Sections of gingival tissue of all patients were removed during periodontal surgery. AGEs and TEARS were measured in all removed gingival tissues. The statistical analysis was carried out using T-test, Mann-Whitney U-test and Spearman correlation coefficient.FBS in diabetic and non-diabetic patients was 155.0 +/- 82.0 and 87.4 +/- 10.6 mg/dL respectively and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant [p= 0.03]. There was also a significant difference in HbAlc between the two studied groups [5 +/- 0.04 and 9.1 +/- 1.03%] in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects respectively, [p= 0.000]. A higher level of TB ARs was observed in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetics [1.13 +/- 0.3 vs 0.05 +/- 0.01 mole/lit ;p= 0.001]. Clinical attachment loss also was higher in diabetic patients [p= 0.008].From the results of this study it can be concluded that oxidative stress plays a major role in the development of periodontitis in diabetic patients