Curcumin ameliorates chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection-induced affective disorders through modulation of proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress.

Objectives: Long-term infection with Toxoplasma gondii is associated with affective disorders (i.e., anxiety and depression) in adults. We aimed to explore the effects of curcumin (CR) on anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in mice infected with T. gondii. Materials and Methods: Animals were studied in five groups: Control, Model, Model + CR20, 40, and 80 (with IP injection of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg CR). T. gondii infection was prolonged for four weeks. The animals were then treated with CR or vehicle for two weeks and evaluated by behavioral tests at the end of the study. Hippocampal levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (superoxide dismutase; SOD, glutathione; GSH, and malondialdehyde; MDA) and gene expression and protein levels of hippocampal proinflammatory mediators (interleukin-1ß; IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-18, and tumor necrosis factor- α; TNF-α) were determined. Results: Behavioral tests confirmed that long-term infection with T. gondii led to anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors. Antidepressant effects of CR were linked to modulation of oxidative stress and cytokine network in the hippocampal region of infected mice. These results showed that CR reduced anxiety and depression symptoms via regulation of oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus of T. gondii-infected mice. Conclusion: Therefore, CR can be used as a potential antidepressant agent against T. gondii-induced affective disorders.

Resveratrol attenuates chronic social isolation stress-induced affective disorders: Involvement of NF-κB/NLRP3 axis.

Social isolation stress (SIS) is associated with affective disorders (i.e., anxiety and depression) in adults. In a preclinical study, we aimed to investigate the effects of resveratrol (RV) on the mood swings of rats exposed to SIS. Animals were randomized into six different groups, including control: healthy animals received normal saline (NS) as a vehicle; SIS + NS: SIS animals received NS; SIS + FL: SIS animals received fluoxetine (10 mg/kg/i.p.); SIS + RV20, SIS + RV40, and SIS + RV80: SIS animals received RV (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg/i.p). SIS was induced for 4 weeks, then animals were treated with NS, FL, and RV for 4 weeks. Rats were evaluated by the behavioral tests, including the elevated plus-maze, tail suspension test, the open field test, and forced-swimming test, for mood alterations and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) levels, along with NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like (ASC), and proCaspase-1 were determined in the hippocampus. Behavioral tests confirmed that exposing the animals to SIS caused anxiety and depression. The highest concentrations of NLRP3, proCaspase-1, ASC, and NF-κB, were confirmed in the SIS + NS group. Compared to FL, RV showed antidepressant potential according to the behavioral tests. In particular, the administration of RV (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) revered the NF-κB/NLRP3 axis cascade in rats exposed to chronic SIS. Our findings revealed that RV attenuated anxiety and depression of SIS-exposed rats via regulation of NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathways. RV can be used as a potential anxiolytic agent and antidepressant.

Targeting neuroinflammation by intranasal delivery of nanoparticles in neurological diseases: a comprehensive review.

Neuroinflammation (NIF) plays an essential role in the pathology of neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. Despite progress in the drug discovery and development of new drugs, drug delivery to the central nervous system (CNS) still represents the challenge due to the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Targeting NIF may require an adequate amount of drug to cross the BBB. Recently, the intranasal (IN) drug administration has attracted increasing attention as a reliable method to cross the BBB and treat neurological disorders. On the other hand, using optimized nanoparticles may improve the IN delivery limitations, increase the mucoadhesive properties, and prevent drug degradation. NPs can carry and deliver drugs to the CNS by bypassing the BBB. In this review, we described briefly the NIF as a pathologic feature of CNS diseases. The potential treatment possibilities with IN transfer of NP-loaded drugs will enhance the establishment of more efficient nanoformulations and delivery systems.

Probiotics in the management of Giardia duodenalis: an update on potential mechanisms and outcomes.

Giardia duodenalis is a common cause of infection in children and travelers. The most frequent symptom is diarrhea in these patients. G. duodenalis trophozoites use a highly specialized adhesive disc to attach the host intestinal epithelium to induce intestinal damages. Pathological features of the small intestine following giardiasis include villous atrophy; infiltration of granulocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma cells into the lamina propria; and nodular lymphoid hyperplasia. The disturbed intestinal microbiota has been observed in patients with giardiasis. Therefore, a growing body of evidence has emphasized restoring the gut microbiome by probiotics in giardiasis. This study aimed to review the literature to find the pathologic features of giardiasis and its relationship with imbalanced microbiota. Then, benefits of probiotics in giardiasis and their potential molecular mechanisms were discussed. It has been illustrated that using probiotics (e.g., Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces) can reduce the time of gastrointestinal symptoms and repair the damages, particularly in giardiasis. Probiotics' capability in restoring the composition of commensal microbiota may lead to therapeutic outcomes. According to preclinical and clinical studies, probiotics can protect against parasite-induced mucosal damages via increasing the antioxidant capacity, suppressing oxidative products, and regulating the systemic and mucosal immune responses. In addition, they can reduce the proportion of G. duodenalis load by directly targeting the parasite. They can destroy the cellular architecture of parasites and suppress the proliferation and growth of trophozoites via the production of some factors with anti-giardial features. Further researches are required to find suitable probiotics for the prevention and treatment of giardiasis.

Ameliorative effect of virgin olive oil against nephrotoxicity following sub-chronic administration of ethephon in male rats.

BACKGROUND: Ethephon (EP) is the most famous plant growth regulator with different adverse effects on kidney function. Virgin Olive Oil (VOO) is considered as a natural source of antioxidant with beneficial effects. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of VOO on nephrotoxicity induced by EP in rats. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this study, 80 male rats (weighing 200-250 g) were divided into four groups including I: control group received normal saline as vehicle, II: received VOO, III: received EP (150 mg/kg/day) for 2 months, IV: received EP (150 mg/kg/day for 2 months, after 2-month pretreatment with VOO. VOO (2 mL/kg/day) and vehicle were administered by gastric gavage for 2 months. At the end, the animals were sacrificed, and their blood and kidneys were used for examinations. Isolated kidneys were used for histopathological and oxidative stress studies. RESULTS: Significant increases were recorded in blood (neutrophils, monocytes) and urinary parameters as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the group III compared to groups II and I (P˂0.05). Antioxidant enzymes significantly declined and histopathological alterations increased in the group III. In the group IV, significant decreases were recorded in blood and urinary parameters, MDA, and histopathological alterations and a significant increase were found in antioxidant enzymes compared to group III (P˂0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of the present study demonstrated protective effects of VOO in prevention of kidneys against EP -induced toxicity in albino rats.

Kopetdaghinanes, pro-apoptotic hemiacetialic cyclomyrsinanes from Euphorbia kopetdaghi.

Euphorbia kopetdaghi grows wild in the Northeast parts of Iran. Phytochemical study of its aerial parts led to the isolation of two undescribed cyclomyrsinol macrocyclic diterpenes with a new tetrahydrofuran oxidation pattern containing a hemiacetal group named: kopetdaghinane A and B. The structure of the isolated compounds was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods. Cytotoxic activity of kopetdaghinane A was evaluated using standard MTT assay against MCF-7 breast cancer and OVCAR-3 ovary cells. HUVEC cells were used as a normal cell line for calculation of the selectivity index. The MTT showed cyclomyrsinol diterpene has a significant cytotoxic effect with good selectivity indexes against both cell lines but with more selectivity against MCF-7 cells. Apoptosis induction by cyclomyrsinol treatment was confirmed by annexin V-FITC/PI staining, and caspase-6 activation. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of Bcl-2 was noticeably decreased in response to kopetdaghinane A treatment, while the expression of Bax protein was increased. Moreover, the apoptotic effect of cyclomyrsinol was shown to be related to ROS production, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Taken together, these results showed that kopetdaghinane A inhibits the growth of MCF-7 breast cancer cells through the activation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and may be considered as an investigational compound in breast cancer preclinical study.

Curcumin Combined with Thalidomide Reduces Expression of STAT3 and Bcl-xL, Leading to Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cell Lines.

INTRODUCTION: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of blood disorder that exhibits uncontrolled growth and reduced ability to undergo apoptosis. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a family member of transcription factors which promotes carcinogenesis in most human cancers. This effect on AML is accomplished through deregulation of several critical genes, such as B cell lymphoma-extra-large (BCL-XL) which is anti-apoptotic protein. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of curcumin (CUR) and thalidomide (THAL) on apoptosis induction and also the alteration of the mRNA expression level of STAT3 and BCL-XL mRNA on AML cell line compounds. METHODS: The growth inhibitory effects of CUR and THAL and their combination were measured by MTT assay in U937 and KG-1 cell lines. The rates of apoptosis induction and cell cycle analysis were measured by concurrent staining with Annexin V and PI. The mRNA expression level of STAT3 and BCL-XL was evaluated by Real-Time PCR. RESULTS: CUR inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in both KG-1 and U937 cells and this effect increased by combination with THAL. The expression level of STAT3 and BCL-XL was significantly down-regulated in KG-1 cells after treatment by CUR and THAL and their combination. CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings suggested that down-regulation of STAT3 and BCL-XL mRNA expression in response to CUR and THAL treatment lead to inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis.

The Prevalence of Trichomoniasis in Women Referred to Clinical Centers in South of Tehran, Iran during 2015-2016.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of trichomoniasis infection among females in Tehran, Iran. METHODS: This study was conducted on 482 women referred to the 6 obstetrics and gynecology centers of Tehran during 2015-2016. Some information including education, occupation, and number of sexual partners was obtained and clinical signs and symptoms of the genital tract were diagnosed by clinical examination. Two swabs were collected from the posterior fornix of patients. Two laboratory techniques, wet mount, and culture were carried out. Finally, statistical analysis test was performed using SPSS software version 16.0. RESULTS: Age distribution of patients was 15-60 yr. Trichomonas vaginalis was detected in 2 out of 482 participants (0.41%). All of the infected individuals were married (0.43%) and they had unique sexual partner and all of them had clinical symptoms. Significant association was observed between incidence of T. vaginalis infection and educational levels (P= 0.03), occupation (P=0.006), clinical symptoms (P=0.001), marriage (P=0.006) and bacterial infection (P=0.018). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of trichomoniasis was low and its incidence was associated with several risk factors.

Flaxseed Can Reduce Hypoxia-Induced Damages in Rat Testes.

BACHGROUND: Hypoxia causes detrimental effects on the structure and function of tissues through increased production of reactive oxygen species that are generated during the re-oxygenation phase of intermittent and continuous hypobaric hypoxia. This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of flaxseed (Fx) in reducing the incidence of hypoxia in rat testes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, 24 adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: i. Control group (Co) that received normal levels of oxygen and food, ii. Sham group (Sh) that were placed in hypoxia chamber but received normal oxygen and food, iii. Hypoxia induction group (Hx) that were placed in hypoxia chamber and treated with normal food, iv. Hypoxia induction group (Hx+Fx) that were placed in hypoxia chamber and treated with 10% flaxseed food. Both the Hx and Hx+Fx groups were kept in a hypoxic chamber for 30 days; during this period rats were exposed to reduced pressure (oxygen 8% and nitrogen 92%) for 4 hours/day. Then, all animal were sacrificed and their testes were removed. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels were evaluated in the testis tissue. Tubular damages were examined using histological studies. Blood samples and sperm were collected to assess IL-18 level and measure sperms parameters, respectively. All data were analyzed using SPPSS-22 software. One way-ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A significant difference was recorded in the testicular mass/body weight ratio in Hx and Hx+Fx groups in comparison to the control (P=0.003 and 0.027, respectively) and Sh (P=0.001 and 0.009, respectively) groups. The sperm count and motility in Hx+Fx group were significantly different from those of the Hx group (P=0.0001 and 0.028, respectively) .Also sperm viability (P=0.0001) and abnormality (P=0.0001) in Hx+Fx group were significantly different from Hx group. CONCLUSION: This study therefore suggests that the oral administration of flaxseed can be useful for prevention from the detrimental effects of hypoxia on rat testes structure and sperm parameters.

Estimation of Diagnostic Markers in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

BACKGROUND: Laboratory examination is a great value to confirm a diagnosis and estimate disease activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS). Since little research related to the diagnosis of RA and AS has been done in Iran, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnosis markers in patients with RA and AS. METHODS: This study was conducted among 104 patients with RA and 42 patients with AS in Iran during 2016. Inclusion criteria were according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) criteria. Five mL blood samples were collected from all patients. Laboratory studies consisted of ESR and anti-CCP tests and also determination of the presence of RF and CRP in these patients. Finally, the statistical analysis test was conducted using SPSS version 16.0. RESULTS: The study patients with RA included 23 males (22.1%) and 81 females (77.9%) with the average age of 50.25 ± 14.34. In RA patients, 82.7% were RF positive and 17.3% were negative. Also, 49% were CRP positive and 51% were negative. The mean ESR in RA patients was 27.76 ± 20.17 mm/hour. The mean levels of anti-CCP were 109.15 ± 90.55 IU/mL. The mean ages of 42 patients with AS, including 30 male (71.4%) and 12 females (28.6%), were 38.69 ± 11.82 years. Among them, 24 patients (57.1%) were positive for CRP and 18 patients (42.9%) were negative. Only 2 patients (4.8%) were RF positive. 24 patients (57.1%) were positive for HLA-B27 and 18 patients (42.9%) were negative. The mean levels of ESR in AS patients were 30.30 ± 26.98 mm/hour. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis of the Rheumatoid arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis can help to prevent complications and its progression and help patients to recover more quickly.

Significance of Nitric Oxide Level in Giardiasis.

BACKGROUND: Giardiasis is one of the most prevalent intestinal protozoa infections in humans. Nowadays, nitric oxide (NO) is known to be involved in the immune system against Giardia intestinalis. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the level of NO in individuals with giardiasis in comparison to normal subjects. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted among 49 Giadia positive and 39 age and gender matched healthy volunteers. Examination of stool samples was done by wet mount technique and formol-ether concentration method. Serum samples were obtained for laboratory examination. NO production was quantified by measuring nitrite, a stable end product of NO, using the Griess reaction based on ELISA method. By using the standard curve in Excel program, the concentration of NO2- in samples was obtained. Finally, all data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. RESULTS: Values obtained from NO assays were placed into 4 groups: ≤ 10 (decline), 10.01 - 15 (normal), 15.01 - 25 (increase), and more than 25 µM (sharp increase). The mean level of NO in patients with G. intestinalis was 32.19 ± 2.15 µM and in people without G. intestinalis was 17.1 ± 1.33 µM. Eight point two percent of patients with Giardiasis were in normal range, but 2%, 20.4%, and 69.4% were in decline, increase, and sharp increase ranges, respectively. In group 2 (without infection), 17.9% were in normal range, and 20.5%, 51.3%, and 10.3% were in decline, increase, and sharp increase ranges, respectively. There was a statistical difference in nitric oxide levels between positive and negative groups with a 95% confidence interval. (p-value = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the number of people who showed a sharp increase in NO levels was significantly higher in individuals with giardiasis as compared to the control group, and patients infected with giardiasis showed significant increase in NO levels. Therefore, we suggest that further studies are required to understand the exact function of NO in the immune system against giardiasis in humans. It will be important to offer a new therapeutic target for eliminating G. intestinalis.

Effect of Estrogen Therapy on TNF-α and iNOS Gene Expression in Spinal Cord Injury Model.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a crucial complication that results in neurons degeneration. The SCI lead to triggering of secondary complications such as inflammation that in turn has a key role in neurodegeneration development. The previous studies showed that TNF-α and iNOS genes expression increased significantly after SCI. As a consequence, these genes overexpression intensify the inflammation and neuron degeneration process. In the present study, 32 male Wistar rats were chased and divided into four groups of eight. The SCI were induced in three groups and another group used as a sham. The estrogen hormone used as a therapeutic agent in rats with SCI. The results showed that injection of 10 µg/kg/12h estrogen hormone reduced the TNF-α and iNOS genes expression significantly and confirmed the role of progesterone in the reduction of inflammation reduce the inflammation. The numbers of intact neurons in Estrogen group were higher than other groups and showed that progesterone has protective effects on neuron death. The BBB test was performed and demonstrated that estrogen is an effective factor in the improvement of locomotor response. Our results suggested that estrogen hormone with anti-inflammatory activity can be an efficient agent for SCI complications therapy.

Effect of Progesterone Therapy on TNF-α and iNOS Gene Expression in Spinal Cord Injury Model.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) as a destructive crash result in neurons degeneration. The SCI lead to the onset of biochemical and molecular cascades such as inflammation that in turn has a key role in neurodegeneration development. The previous studies demonstrated the role of TNF-α and iNOS genes in intensifying the process after SCI. As a consequence, these genes overexpression intensify the inflammation and neuron degeneration process. In the present study, 32 male Wistar rats were chased and divided into four groups of eight. The SCI were induced in three groups and another group used as a sham. The progesterone hormone used as a therapeutic agent in rats with SCI. The results showed that injection of 10 µg/kg/12h progesterone hormone reduced the TNF-α and iNOS gene expression significantly and confirmed the role of progesterone in the reduction of inflammation. Also, the numbers of intact neurons in progesterone group were higher than other groups that demonstrated the protective effects of progesterone on neuron death. The BBB test was performed and demonstrated that progesterone is an effective factor to the improvement of locomotor response. These results of the study confirmed the anti-inflammatory activity of progesterone hormone and suggested that it can be used as a therapeutic factor for SCI.

Evidence for Alteration in Serum Concentrations of Leptin in Infertile Men Categorized Based on BMI.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to compare serum and seminal level of leptin in the context of infertility in men according to BMI. We also investigated the possible correlation of circulating level of leptin with fertility indices. METHODS: This case-control study was conducted on 193 men who consecutively attended a referral outpatient infertility clinic of Shariati Hospital. The leptin level in serum and seminal plasma were quantified by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in fertile men (n = 95) and infertile men (n = 98). All participant were ageand BMI-matched. Semen was also analyzed in terms of volume, sperm concentration (106/mL), motility (%), and morphology in all subjects prior to study. Based on body mass index (BMI) value, all participants were divided into three groups; lean, body mass index (BMI) 19 - 24.99kg/m2, overweight, BMI 25 - 29.99 kg/m2, and obese BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2. RESULTS: Fertile and infertile men were significantly compatible regarding sperm concentration; however, we found no significant difference in case of the leptin level in serum and semen between the two studied groups (p-value = 0.5 and p-value = 0.1, respectively). In the infertile group, serum leptin level was significantly correlated with BMI (r = -0.291; p = 0.004 for the fertile group). Moreover, there was an inverse correlation between serum leptin level and sperm motility (r = -0.241; p = 0.014) in infertile men. Interestingly, among the infertile group, we observed an augmented serum level of leptin in obese men in comparison with lean (p = 0.009) and overweight (p = 0.07) individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings along with other studies support this concept that increased BMI is of clinical relevance in the context of infertility in men since our data revealed an inverse correlation between seminal leptin level and BMI in infertile men. Specifically, alteration in serum level of leptin was obviously different in infertile men in terms of overweight and obesity. However, more studies are required to unravel obscure issues in this regard.

Evaluation of plasma concentrations of homocysteine, IL-6, TNF-alpha, hs-CRP, and total antioxidant capacity in patients with end-stage renal failure.

It has been proved that hyperhomocysteinemia has a high prevalence in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which may contribute to the high cardiovascular risk in these patients. Cardiovascular disease is the first cause of high mortality rate in ESRD patients. The aim of the present study was to assess five important factors in patients with ESRD (the amount of homocysteine, IL-6, TNF-alpha, hs-CRP, and Total Antioxidant Capacity). These factors were surveyed in ESRD patients to compare with healthy subjects. In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled 80 patients on maintenance hemodialysis and measured the inflammatory and oxidative stress indicators. The plasma samples were assayed for five above mentioned variables using standard protocols. Two-hour post hemodialysis plasma samples were also assayed for TAC. Plasma levels of inflammation markers, IL-6 and hs-CRP, homocysteine were significantly increased in ESRD group versus control group. This increase was also found in TNF-α levels as compared to the controls, but the differences were not statistically significant. Also, the post dialysis samples had significantly lower levels of TAC as compared to predialysis ones.

Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on the expression of ABCG1 gene in the human monocyte THP-1 cells.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. Atherosclerosis is the major cause of CVD, accounting for about half of the attributed deaths. Cholesterol homeostasis is one of the most important factors in atherosclerosis. ATP-Binding cassette transporters cholesterol. Omega (ω) 3 fatty acids are important ligands for regulation of ABC transporters such as ABCG1. Concern has been raised that the low absolute intakes of EPA and high ratios of ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-6 PUFA) to EPA may predispose some individuals to CVD. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is the most abundant ω3 fatty acid in the diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of EPA on the expression of ABCG1 gene in the human monocyte THP-1 cells. In this study, THP-1 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium, THP-1 monocytes were then differentiated to macrophages with PMA (phorbol myristic acid) and stimulated with 50, 75 and 100 µM of EPA for 24 h at 37°C. We examined the effects of EPA treatment on the expression of ABCG1 gene using Quantitative Real time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Our results, indicate that ABCG1 mRNA expression was significantly reduced by 50, 75 and 100 µM EPA fatty acid treatments as compared to the control cells (р = 0.009, р < 0.001 and р = 0.002, respectively). These results suggest that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as EPA have an effect on the cholesterol homeostasis in macrophages, and they can change the expression of ABCG1 gene. It seems that EPA has different effects on gene expression and lipid metabolism.

Survey of serum procalcitonin in cirrhotic patients.

Procalcitonin (PCT) is a prohormone that has been used as a marker for the diagnosis of bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to survey PCT levels in patients with cirrhosis. Sixty-four patients with hepatic cirrhosis and 32 healthy blood donors were enrolled in this study. Serum PCT levels was detected using immunoluminometric assay. The rate of positive PCT was higher in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis (92.8%) than the other groups. Among other cirrhotic patients, positive PCT levels were 77% for hepatitis B, 70% for cancer and 53.3% for unknown groups respectively. Serum procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients with bacterial infection (2.65±1.11 ng/ml) than those without infection (0.59±0.16 ng/ml, P=0.0001). PCT assay in cirrhotic patients may help diagnosis of sepsis and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.

Significance of albumin and C-reactive protein variations in 300 end stage renal disease patients in Tehran University of Medical Sciences Hospitals during year 2010.

Protein- energy malnutrition, wasting and inflammation are frequent complication among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Malnutrition is associated with cardiac co-morbidity, inflammation and poor survival in ESRD patients. Serum albumin is a well-known marker of nutrition in ESRD patients. Serum albumin is still the most commonly used nutritional marker in ESRD patients. C-reactive protein (CRP), the major acute phase response (APR) protein is elevated in these patients. High CRP levels are linked to the degree of atherosclerosis in coronary, peripheral, and extracranial brain arteries. The aim of the present study was to investigate nutritional factor (albumin) and CRP levels in ESRD patients. In this cross- sectional study a total of 300 patients who had ESRD and had been on hemodialysis treatment for at least 6 months were selected. The laboratory tests consisted of measurement of CRP and albumin using high sensitive ELISA kits. The study patients included 157 males (52.3%) and 143 females (47.7%) with average age of 41.5 ± 14.3 years. Mean CRP level was 7.96 mg/ dl (±1.52), mean serum albumin was 4.07 g/dl (±0.19).Of 300 patients, 21 died (7%). These were patients with serum albumin <4 g/dl and CRP>9.5 mg/dl. This study showed that low albumin and high CRP levels are the main predictors for death. There was a significant difference between CRP and albumin levels in ESRD patients (P<0.0001). Measuring CRP as a marker of inflammation can be helpful in managing these patients.

Color blindness defect and medical laboratory technologists: unnoticed problems and the care for screening.

Color-blindness is the inability to perceive differences between some color that other people can distinguish. Using a literature search, the results indicate the prevalence of color vision deficiency in the medical profession and its on medical skills. Medical laboratory technicians and technologists employees should also screen for color blindness. This research aimed to study color blindness prevalence among Hospitals' Clinical Laboratories' Employees and Students in Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). A cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study was conducted among 633 TUMS Clinical Laboratory Sciences' Students and Hospitals' Clinical Laboratories' Employees to detect color-blindness problems by Ishihara Test. The tests were first screened with certain pictures, then compared to the Ishihara criteria to be possible color defective were tested further with other plates to determine color - blindness defects. The data was saved using with SPSS software and analyzed by statistical methods. This is the first study to determine the prevalence of color - blindness in Clinical Laboratory Sciences' Students and Employees. 2.4% of TUMS Medical Laboratory Sciences Students and Hospitals' Clinical Laboratories' Employees are color-blind. There is significant correlation between color-blindness and sex and age. But the results showed that there is not significant correlation between color-blindness defect and exposure to chemical agents, type of job, trauma and surgery history, history of familial defect and race. It would be a wide range of difficulties by color blinded students and employees in their practice of laboratory diagnosis and techniques with a potentially of errors. We suggest color blindness as a medical conditions should restrict employment choices for medical laboratory technicians and technologists job in Iran.

Serum leptin concentrations during the menstrual cycle in Iranian healthy women.

Leptin, a circulating 16-kd polypeptide consisting of 167 amino acids, appears to be involved in the body weight homeostasis. Moreover leptin plays an important role for the reproductive system, early embryogenesis, and fat metabolism during pregnancy and puberty. Significant correlations have been found between leptin and sexual hormones, which is a cytokine and has hormonal properties. The aim of this study was to determine serum leptin levels during the menstrual cycle, and the association between serum leptin and reproductive hormones in young, healthy Iranian women. 42 healthy women volunteered for the study. They all had regular menstrual cycles, with cycle length varying between 26 and 32 days. None of them used oral contraceptives. All were of normal weight, with body mass index ( BMI) < 25 Kg/m2. Fasting blood samples were collected during the follicular phase, mid cycle and luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. FSH and LH were measured with coated tube immunoradiometric assay. Estrogen and progesterone were measured using antibody -coated tubes. Serum Leptin concentration were measured by Leptin (sandwich) ELISA. In menstruating women, serum leptin increased from 13.15+/-1.60 ng/ml in the early follicular phase to 16.57+/-1.68 ng/ml (P<0.01) at the luteal phase. Serum leptin concentration negatively correlated with LH and progesterone (P<0.05). Mean serum leptin levels correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r =0.78, P<0.001).