Evaluation of biochemical parameters in operating room staff exposed to radiation and anesthetic gases.

Background: Exposure to ionizing radiations and other hazardous agents such as anesthetic gases pose serious risks to the health of healthcare workers. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in blood and biochemical parameters of the operating room staff exposed to ionizing radiations and remnants of anesthetic gas. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at (Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital). The control group was selected from different parts of the hospital that were not exposed to ionizing radiations and anesthetics, including the office, services, and treatment. The case group included all operating room personnel. Hematopoietic parameters such as complete blood count and WBC differential, and parameters of liver function such as serum activity of liver enzymes (ALT, AST, ALP, LDH) and serum bilirubin levels, fasting blood sugar, serum lipid profile, level of vitamin D and magnesium were measured for the exposed and referent subjects. Additionally, a checklist was used to gather data regarding the occupational variables and medical histories of the studied subjects. Results: The mean values of Hb, Hct, Vitamin D, and MCHC, as well as the RBC count, were significantly lower in the exposed individuals than in the referent subjects. In contrast, the proportion of smokers was significantly higher in the exposed group than in the referent group. No significant differences were noted between exposed and unexposed groups as far as other parameters were concerned. However, no significant differences were noted between the case and control groups as far as other measured parameters were concerned. Likewise, no significant differences were noted between exposed and referent groups as far as blood types, history of underlying diseases, work history, working hours per month, number of morning and evening shift hours, type of diet, consumption of a high-fat diet a day before blood sampling, X-ray in the recent year, history of radiotherapy, and therapeutic agents use was concerned. Conclusions: Exposure of operating room staff to ionizing radiations and waste anesthetics gases is associated with subtle, subclinical prepathologic decreases in some hematopoietic parameters such as hemoglobin, hematocrit and MCHC levels, RBC count as well as vitamin D levels.

Morphine may have a role in telomere shortening.

Morphine/heroin may increase oxidative stress in drug-dependent persons. The imbalance between oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanisms can accelerate the shortening of telomere length. This article reports two sets of data; comparison of relative telomere length between heroin-dependent patients and healthy control group, as well as, investigation of the effect of morphine on the relative telomere length of human SH-SY5Y cells treated by morphine. Study participants were composed of 163 heroin-dependent patients and 166 unrelated healthy controls. SH-SY5Y cells were treated with (5 µM) morphine hydrochloride and incubated for 40 and 60 days. The relative telomere length was calculated as the T/S (telomere/single-copy gene) ratio using 36B4 as a reference for each sample, using quantitative real-time PCR. The mean (± SE) value of relative telomere length was 4.81 ± 0.21 and 6.38 ± 0.23 in leukocytes of heroin-dependent and control groups, respectively. The telomere length was significantly decreased in heroin-dependent participants (t = 4.97; df = 327; P < 0.0001). The relative telomere length in cells treated with morphine for 60 days was 4.50 ± 0.14 and in untreated cells was 5.75 ± 0.08. The difference was highly significant (t = 7.68; df = 4; P = 0.002). Our present findings indicate that morphine and dependency on heroin are significantly associated with shorter telomeres. The present findings may help to explain some of the adverse effects of drug dependency on health such as accelerating biologic processes related to aging.

Morphine treatment is associated with diminished telomere length together with down-regulated TERT and TERF2 mRNA levels.

BACKGROUND: Drug dependence promotes accelerated aging and higher mortality compare with the general population. Telomere length is a biomarker of determination of cellular aging. Telomere attrition has been reported in heroin dependent patients. To investigate whether telomere length is affected by morphine or not, the expressions of hTERT and TERF2 in morphine treated human SH-SY5Y cells were determined and compared with untreated cells. METHODS: The SH-SY5Y cells were treated with 1 and 5 µM concentrations of morphine for different exposure times (1d, 2d, 3d, 7d and 60 days). The mRNA levels of hTERT and TERF2 were determined using quantitative real-time RCR. The relative telomere length was measured as the ratio of telomere/36B4. RESULTS: The hTERT and TERF2 mRNA levels were down regulated in morphine treated cells as a function of exposure duration. These alterations were reversible if morphine was removed from the culture medium. No reduction in the relative expression of hTERT and TERF2 in the cells exposed to N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) plus morphine was observed. In the SH-SY5Y cells treated by 5 µM morphine for 60 consecutive days, the hTERT and TERF2 mRNA levels and relative telomere lengths remarkably decreased. CONCLUSIONS: Reversible alteration of mRNA levels by removing morphine from culture medium, and effect of NAC in co-treatment of morphine plus NAC, emphasize the role of reactive oxygen species in down-regulation of the expression of hTERT and TERF2 by morphine. Telomere attrition in morphine treated cells is a consequence of down-regulation of the expression of hTERT and TERF2.

Identification of a novel MICU1 nonsense variant causes myopathy with extrapyramidal signs in an Iranian consanguineous family.

BACKGROUND: Ca2+ as a universal second messenger regulates basic biological functions including cell cycle, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and cell death. Lack of the protein mitochondrial calcium uptake1 (MICU1), which has been regarded as a gatekeeper of Ca ions, leads to the abnormal mitochondrial Ca2+ handling, excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and increased cell death. Mutations in MICU1 gene causes a very rare neuromuscular disease, myopathy with extrapyramidal signs (MPXPS), due to primary alterations in mitochondrial calcium signaling which demonstrates the key role of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. To date, 13 variants have been reported in MICU1 gene in 44 patients presented with the vast spectrum of symptoms. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report a 44-year-old Iranian patient presented with learning disability, muscle weakness, easy fatigability, reduced tendon reflexes, ataxia, gait disturbance, elevated hepatic transaminases, elevated serum creatine kinase (CK), and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). We identified a novel nonsense variant c.385C>T; p.(R129*) in MICU1 gene by whole exome sequencing (WES) and segregation analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding along with previous studies provides more evidence on the clinical presentation of the disease caused by pathogenic mutations in MICU1. Finding more variants and expanding the spectrum of the disease increases the diagnostic rate of molecular testing in screening of this kind of diseases and in turn improves the quality of counseling for at risk couples and helps them to minimize the risks of having affected children.

Fracture Resistance of over Flared Endodontically Treated Central Incisors Restored with Multiple Prefabricated and Custom-Made Glass Fiber Posts.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the fracture resistance of over flared endodontically treated bovine central incisors restored with prefabricated and custom-made glass fiber posts, using the multi-post approach. Materials and Methods: Sixty-eight crownless over flared endodontically treated incisors were used for this study. The depth of prepared post space was 10 mm, and the remaining dentin thickness of the roots was 1 mm. The samples were randomly divided into four groups (n=17): Group 1: two prefabricated glass fiber posts; group 2: prefabricated glass fiber post + braided glass fiber; group 3: braided glass fiber; group 4: no post. Static load was applied at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min at 135° angle relative to the root longitudinal axis until fracture. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test at a significance level of P<0.05. Results: Groups 3 and 4 exhibited the maximum (981 N) and minimum (461 N) fracture strength values, respectively. The differences between group 4 and other groups were significant (P<0.001), but the differences between groups 1, 2, and 3 were not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Multiple prefabricated and custom-made glass fiber posts significantly increased the fracture resistance of crownless endodontically treated central incisors with over flared root canals.

A new simple method for estimation of allelic frequencies using pooled samples.

Today several millions polymorphic sites in human genome are well described. Many investigators are studying the association between these polymorphisms and susceptibility to multifactorial traits. These polymorphisms are also used for studying the population's genetic structures. Here, we introduce a new simple one step method for estimating the allelic frequency of polymorphic sites in pooled samples. The method is based on measurement of the intensity of polymorphic bands on agarose gel electrophoresis. This method is very simple, rapid, inexpensive, and is more sensitive compared to the chip-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry method.

A novel biological role for nsLTP2 from Oriza sativa: Potential incorporation with anticancer agents, nucleosides and their analogues.

Development of a protein-based drug delivery system has major impact on the efficacy and bioavailability of unstable and water insoluble drugs. In the present study, the binding modes of a nonspecific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP2) from Oryza sativa with various nucleosides and analogous molecules were identified. The 3-D structure of the protein was designed and validated using modeler 9.13, Molegro virtual docker and procheck tool, respectively. The binding affinity and strength of interactions, key contributing residues and specificity toward the substrates were accomplished by computational docking and model prediction. The protein presented high affinity to acyclovir and vidarabine as purine-analogous drugs. Binding affinity is influenced by the core template and functional groups of the ligands which are structurally different cause the variation of interaction energies with nsLTP2. Nonetheless, all the evaluated analogous drugs occupy the proximity space at the nsLTP active site with high similarity in their binding modes. Our findings hold great promise for the future applications of nsLTPs in various aspects of pharmaceutical science and molecular biology.

SPO11-C631T Gene Polymorphism: Association With Male Infertility and an in Silico-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of C631T single nucleotide polymorphisms in SPO11 gene with male infertilityfollowed by an in silico approach. SPO11 is a gene involved in meiosis and spermatogenesis process, which in humans, this gene is located on chromosome 20 (20q13.2-13.3) with 13 exons. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a case-control study, 200 blood samples were collected from the IVF center (Kashan, Iran) including; 100 infertile and 100 healthy control men. SPO11-C631T were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.The effects of C631T transition on the structure of mRNA and protein of SPO11 was evaluated by bioinformatics tools. RESULTS: Our data revealed that all subjects were wild-type homozygous inC631T positionsand just a sample from fertile group was heterozygousin C631T (OR: 0.3300, 95% CI: 0.0133 to 8.1992, p = 0.4988).Our in silico-analysis revealed that C631T transition could make fundamental changes in the structure of the mRNA (Score: 0.1983) and protein (PROVEAN Score: -3.371; Reliability Index: 4; Expected Accuracy: 82%) of SPO11. Also, C631T substitution could change the aggregation prone regions of the SPO11 protein (dTANGO = 209.99). CONCLUSION: So even though the SPO11-C631T don't increase the risk of male infertility, it could be deleterious for themRNA and protein.