Investigation of Aneusomy of Chromosome 21 in the Micronuclei of 13 Patients with Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease Using Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative and dementia disorders in people between the ages of 30 and 65. When symptoms appear in this age group, the disease is referred to as early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EOAD). Unfortunately, the symptoms are progressive and no current treatments are effective. METHODS: In this research, 13 patients, aged 37 to 65 years with symptoms of early-onset Alzheimer's disease, were studied. First, patient lymphocytes were isolated and cultured in RPMI 1640 medium using a special micronucleus (MN) culture method. Next, the lymphocytes were harvested and prepared on slides. The slides were then examined by fluorescent microscopy using a unique FISH protocol specific for MNs. The patients were divided into groups aged 30-39, 40-49, and 50-65. RESULTS: We found that 19.76% of the MNs from our EOAD patients originated in chromosome 21. Micronuclei originated in chromosome 21 in 21.20 and 16.52% of patients without and with family histories of Alzheimer's, respectively. This difference was not significant. Also, the percentage of micronuclei originating in chromosome 21 was not dependent on the patient age at the time of the study, or symptom onset age or duration. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the rate of micronuclei with the origin of chromosome 21 is high in these patients. However, the micronucleus increased has no significant relationship with age and duration of disease or family history of it.

The Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Effects of Bisphenol-A (BPA) in MCF-7 Cell Line and Amniocytes.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an industrial xenoestrogen used widely in our living environment. Recently, several studies suggested that BPA has destructive effects on DNA and chromosomes in normal body cells via estrogen receptors (ER). Therefore, BPA could be considered as an important mediator in many diseases such as cancer. However, there are still many controversial issues which need clarification. In this study, we investigated the BPA-induced chromosomal damages in MCF-7 cell line, ER-positive and negative amniocyte cells. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effects of BPA were also compared between these three cell groups. Expression of estrogen receptors was determined using immunocytochemistry technique. The cell cytotoxicity of BPA was measured by MTT assay. Classic cytogenetic technique was carried out for the investigation of chromosome damage. BPA, in addition to cytotoxicity, had remarkable genotoxicity at concentrations close to the traceable levels in tissues or biological fluids. Although some differences were observed in the amount of damages between ER-positive and negative fetal cells, interestingly, these differences were not significant. The present study showed that BPA could lead to chromosomal aberrations in both ER-dependent and independent pathways at some concentrations or in cell types yet not reported. Also, BPA could probably be considered as a facilitator for some predisposed cells to be cancerous by raising the chromosome instability levels. Finally, estrogen receptor seems to have a different role in cytotoxicity and genotoxicity effects.

C - reactive protein levels in patients with periodontal disease and normal subjects.

Although periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease but some factors of acute inflammation phase are involved in this disease among which is the C-Reactive protein (CRP). To minimize its effects, anti-inflammatory drugs or non-pharmacological approaches such as oral hygiene is recommended. CRP can also be used for the prediction and early detection of periodontal disease. The aim of the present study was the comparison of the amount of salivary C-Reactive protein (CRP) in healthy subjects and patients with periodontal disease. This case-control study was done on 90 patients referred to the Department of Periodontology of Babol Dentistry School. These subjects were divided into three groups of healthy (n = 30), gingivitis (n = 30), and chronic periodontitis (n = 30), based on Gingival Index (GI) and Clinical Attachment Loss (CAL) indices. 2ml saliva samples were collected from these people and clinical indicators including GI, CAL, Periodontal Pocket Depth (PPD), and Bleeding Index (BI) were assessed. ELISA method was used to evaluate the salivary CRP levels. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software by non-Parametric Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test and Spearman correlation coefficient and P<0.05 was considered significant. The mean salivary CRP levels were 5332.62±5051.63pg/ml in periodontitis patients, 3545.41±3061.38pg/ml in gingivitis group and 3108.51±3574.47pg/ml in healthy subjects. The statistic analysis showed a significant difference in salivary CRP concentrations between the periodontitis patients and healthy subjects (P=0.045). The results indicate that there is a significant association between periodontitis and salivary CRP concentrations.

Effects of Teucrium Polium Aerial Parts extract on oral glucose tolerance tests and pancreas histopathology in Streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

Teucrium polium can reduce serum glucose. There are few reports in the literature related to this subject and the resolution of this mechanism requires further experiments. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Teucrium polium aerial parts extracts on oral glucose tolerance tests and pancreas histology in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. In order to prepare the aqueous concentrate, aerial parts extract was dissolved in distilled water and was boiled for 30 minutes. For the preparation of ethanolic solution, powder was dissolved in ethanol and mixed by a shaker. Diabetic rats were induced with single IP injection of streptozotocin (STZ) at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight dissolved in normal saline just before use to the 16 hr fast rats. Both groups, diabetic and normal were sacrificed by ether anesthesia. The tissue samples were formalin fixed and paraffin embedded for microscopic examination in accordance with routine laboratory procedures. Blood was collected from the tail vein of the rats. Serum glucose levels were then measured by commercial kits by using a glucose oxidized method. There were no biochemical abnormalities or histological changes in the pancreas of control rats. Post treatment of Teucrium polium aerial parts extract reduced the severity of streptozotocin diabetic pancreases. Our histopathological investigation along with the biochemical evaluations showed a significant effect on histological changes in the pancreas of induced diabetic rats upon Teucrium polium aerial parts extract treatment (P<0.05).