Inhibitory effect of bunium persicum hydroalcoholic extract on glucose-induced albumin glycation, oxidation, and aggregation in vitro

Background: Glucose-induced protein glycation has been implicated in the progression of diabetic complications and agerelated diseases. The anti-glycation potential of polyphenol-rich plant extracts has been shown previously. Bunium Persicum has been demonstrated to possess a high level of polyphenols. The aim of current in vitro study was to determine the possible inhibitory effect of Bunium Persicum hydroalcoholic extract [BPE] on glucose-induced bovine serum albumin [BSA] glycation, oxidation, and aggregation

Methods:Folin-Ciocalteu assay was used to measure the content of total phenolic compounds of BPE. To test the in vitro effect of BPE on the formation of glycated BSA, thiol group oxidation, and protein aggregation of BSA, various concentrations of BPE were incubated with BSA and glucose at 37 [degree sign]C for 72 hr. Glycation, thiol group oxidation, and aggregation of BSA were then measured using thiobarbituric acid, 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, and Congo red colorimetric methods, respectively. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software [version 16.0]. One-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test was used to compare group means. P<0.05 was accepted as the statistically significant difference between groups

Results: The results demonstrated that the content of total phenolics of BPE was 122.41 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram dried extract. BPE [10, 15, and 30 micro g/ml] significantly inhibited the formation of GA in a concentration-dependent manner. BPE also significantly decreased the levels of thiol group oxidation and BSA aggregation

Conclusion: The results showed that BPE has anti-glycation and antioxidant properties and might have therapeutic potentials in the prevention of glycation-mediated diabetic complications

Multiplex PCR based screening for micro/partial deletions in the AZF region of Y-chromosome in severe oligozoospermic and azoospermic infertile men in Iran

Infertility is a health problem which affects about 10-20% of married couples. Male factor infertility is involved approximately 50% of infertile couples. Most of male infertility is regarding to deletions in the male-specific region of the Y chromosome. In this study, the occurrence of deletions in the AZF region and association between infertility and paternal age were investigated in Iranian men population. To assess the occurrence of Y chromosomal microdeletions and partial deletions of the AZF region, 100 infertile men and 100 controls with normal spermatogenesis were analyzed. AZFa, AZFb, AZFc and partial deletions within the AZFc region were analyzed using multiplex PCR method. Finally, the association between paternal age and male infertility was evaluated. No AZFa, AZFb or AZFc deletions were found in the control group. Seven infertile men had deletions as the following: one AZFb, five AZFc, and one AZFab. Partial deletions of AZFc [gr/gr] in 9 of the 100 infertile men [9/100, 9%] and 1 partial AZFc deletions [gr/gr] in the control group [1/100, 1%] were observed. In addition, five b2/b3 deletions in five azoospermic subjects [5/100, 5%] and 2 partial AZFc deletions [b2/b3] in the control group [2/100, 2%] were identified. Moreover, the risk of male infertility was influenced by the paternal age. The results of this study suggested that the frequency of Y chromosome AZF microdeletions increased in subjects with severe spermatogenic failure and gr/gr deletion associated with spermatogenic failure

Synthesis and biological evaluation of metronidazole derivatives as anti-giardia agents

Nitroimidazole derivatives such as Metronidazole [MTZ] have been used as anti- protozoa and anti-anaerobic bacteria. In this study several compounds of MTZ derivatives were synthesized and evaluated against Giardia lamblia cyst. Firs MTZ were reacted with several alkyl halide to obtain O-alkyl MTZ derivatives, then products were purified and their chemical structures were confirmed by elemental and spectral analysis [1HNMR and Mass]. In order to biological evaluation all compounds were investigated against 25 Giardia samples isolated from giarfdiasis patients. Results showed compound 2a had the most activity on cyst of Giardia in comparison with MTZ

rapid and convenient method for synthesis of anilinoquinazoline: an improved synthesis of erlotinib derivatives

4-Anilinoquinazolines have been widely studied as anticancer agents. Despite the widespread use of this class of compounds, the reported syntheses of 4-anilinoquinazolines require multistep and lowyielding reaction pathways. In this study, a novel strategy to prepare 4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives based on the cyclization of anthranilic acid is described. By using dichloroanthranilic acid, the quinazoline ring was etherified in order to mimic the erlotinib structure as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The new compounds contain different substitutions at the meta-positions of the quinazoline ring instead of the ortho-positions of erlotinib. Ten new 4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives were sysnthesized [21-30] in only 4 steps with desirable yield

[Association study of dysbindin genotypes with bipolar I disorder by multiple allele-specific PCR]

Bipolar I disorder is a common disorder with a complex etiology. A genetic approach is gaining increasing importance in this disorder. The dysbindin gene, located at 6p22.3 is considered a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Certain genotypes of dysbindin are thought to be associated with other psychoses such as bipolar disorders. This study intends to assess the association in previously implicated dysbindin genotypes and haplotypes with bipolar I disorder in an Iranian population. We genotyped four previously reported SNPs: rs2619522, rs1018381, 2743852 and rs2619538. Their haplotypes were analyzed in a population of 124 patients that consisted of 44 confirmed bipolar I disorder patients and 80 control subjects. We used multiple allele-specific PCR method for genotyping, which was verified by direct sequencing. In concordance with previous reports in other populations our findings showed no association between the single SNPs and bipolar I disorder. Furthermore, none of the alleles showed a significant association with the disorder. In contrast to previous reports, haplotype analysis did not reveal any statistically significant associations with bipolar I disorder. Considering reports of previous studies regarding the implication of these dysbindin genotypes in bipolar I disorder, it is probable that allelic heterogeneity along with lack of an established causal variant in the dysbindin gene can be main factors for this discordance. With regards to ethnicities in other studies, population variation can also be considered an important factor in the observed variation

[Ovarian steroid cell tumor in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a case report]

Steroid cell tumor is one of the rare ovarian tumors and forms 0.1% of all ovarian tumors, divided to three subgroups. Steroid cell tumor that are not otherwise specified [NOS] are the most common type and represent 60% of steroid cell tumors. One of the most known signs of this tumor is hormonal function, especially androgenic effects of it. Primary treatment consists of eradication of tumor via surgery. The patient is a 29 years old female with history of poly cystic ovarian syndrome since 10 years ago, who attended to the clinic of General Women Hospital of Tehran in January 2011. In pelvic ultrasonography, there was a 64x49 mm mass in the right adnexa consisting of homogeneous component. She underwent laparotomy and unilateral salpingoophorectomy was done. Pathological report was steroid cell tumor of ovary. The aim of this study is reporting one of the rare tumors of ovary and assessment of the correct way of diagnosis and treatment of it

Comparison of the efficacy of nifedipine and hydralazine in hypertensive crisis in pregnancy

Intravenous hydralazine is a commonly administered arteriolar vasodilator that is effective for hypertensive emergencies associated with pregnancy. Oral nifedipine is an alternative in management of these patients. In this study the efficacy of nifedipine and hydralazine in pregnancy was compared in a group of Iranian patients. Fifty hypertensive pregnant women were enrolled in the study. A randomized clinical trial was performed, in which patients in two groups received intravenus hydralazine or oral nifedipine to achieve target blood pressure reduction. The primary outcomes measured were the time and doses required for desired blood pressure achievement. Secondary measures included urinary output and maternal and neonatal side effects. The time required for reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was shorter for oral nifedipine group [24.0 +/- 10.0 min] than intravenus Hydralazine group [34.8 +/- 18.8 min] [P