Effect of ADORA2A Gene Polymorphism and Acute Caffeine Supplementation on Hormonal Response to Resistance Exercise: A Double-Blind, Crossover, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Previous studies have reported that TT genotype carriers of the adenosine A2a receptor (ADORA2A) gene rs5751876 polymorphism have better ergogenic and anti-inflammatory responses to caffeine intake compared to C allele carriers. The aim of the present study was twofold: (1) to investigate the association of the ADORA2A rs5751876 polymorphism with acute caffeine supplementation on hormonal (growth hormone and testosterone) response to resistance exercise (RE); (2) to examine the relationship between the rs5751876 polymorphism and the resting levels of growth hormone and testosterone in athletes who are light caffeine consumers. A double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study involving 30 resistance-trained men (age 21.7 ± 4.1) was conducted to assess the impact of caffeine supplementation on serum growth hormone (GH) and testosterone (TS) levels before, immediately after, and 15 min post-RE. One hour before engaging in resistance exercise, subjects were randomly administered 6 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass or a placebo (maltodextrin). After a 7-day washout period, the same protocol was repeated. Resting testosterone and growth hormone levels were examined in the sera of 94 elite athletes (31 females, age 21.4 ± 2.8; 63 males, age 22.9 ± 3.8). Caffeine consumption led to significantly greater increases in GH and TS in men with the TT genotype compared to C allele carriers. Furthermore, in the group of athletes, carriers of the TT genotype had significantly higher testosterone (p = 0.0125) and growth hormone (p = 0.0365) levels compared to C allele carriers. In conclusion, the ADORA2A gene rs5751876 polymorphism may modify the effect of caffeine intake on the hormonal response to exercise.

Expression of epithelial growth factor receptor as a protein marker in oral reticular and erosive lichen planus.

BACKGROUND: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory mucosal disease that is classified as a premalignant condition. Epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) is associated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression and is overexpressed in several oral malignant disorders. Despite the association of EGFR overexpression with oral potentially malignant lesions, few studies have analyzed its expression in OLP, showing controversial results. This study aimed to compare the expression of EGFR as a protein marker in Reticular and Erosive OLP. METHODS: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional was conducted on 15 paraffin blocks of reticular lichen planus lesions, 16 paraffin blocks of erosive OLP lesions, and 8 paraffin blocks of inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia lesions as the control group (39 in total). After immunohistochemical staining for EGFR, samples were simultaneously observed by two maxillofacial pathologist, and the percentage of stained cells, intensity of staining, pattern of staining, and the location of stained cells were obtained. RESULTS: The Mann-Whitney-U test showed that there was no significant difference in the mean percentage of stained cells between erosive OLP and reticular OLP (P-value = 0.213) and between reticular OLP and control group (P-value = 0.137), but there was a significant difference between erosive OLP and control group (P-value = 0.035). Fisher's exact test showed that there was no significant difference between the frequency distribution of staining patterns in three types of lesions (P-value = 0.90). Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there was no significant difference between the intensity of staining in the three groups (P-value = 0.19) and also there was no significant difference between the location of stained cells in different layers of the epithelium in the three groups (P-value = 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study showed that in comparison of reticular OLP, erosive OLP, and the control group there was a significant difference just between erosive OLP and control group in the percentage of stained cells.

The possible role of bacteria, viruses, and parasites in initiation and exacerbation of irritable bowel syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prolonged and disabling functional gastrointestinal disorder with the incidence rate of 18% in the world. IBS could seriously affect lifetime of patients and cause high economic burden on the community. The pathophysiology of the IBS is hardly understood, whereas several possible mechanisms, such as visceral hypersensitivity, irregular gut motility, abnormal brain-gut relations, and the role of infectious agents, are implicated in initiation and development of this syndrome. Different studies demonstrated an alteration in B-lymphocytes, mast cells (MC), T-lymphocytes, and cytokine concentrations in intestinal mucosa or systemic circulation that are likely to contribute to the formation of the IBS. Therefore, IBS could be developed in those with genetic predisposition. Infections' role in initiation and exacerbation of IBS has been investigated by quite several clinical studies; moreover, the possible role of some pathogens in development and exacerbation of this disease has been described. It appears that the main obligatory pathogens correspond with the IBS disease, Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, Campylobacter concisus, Campylobacter jejuni, Chlamydia trachomatis, Helicobacter pylori, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp, and viruses, particularly noroviruses. A number of pathogenic parasites (Blastocystis, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Giardia lamblia) may also be involved in the progression and exacerbation of the disease. Based on the current knowledge, the current study concludes that the most common bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens may be involved in the development and progression of IBS.

Evaluation of Methylobacterium radiotolerance and Sphyngomonas yanoikoaie in Sentinel Lymph Nodes of Breast Cancer Cases.

It has been established that different kinds of bacteria agents are involved in various cancers. Although the mechanism of tumorigenesis is not clearly understood, there is evidence for the presence of bacteria within tumors, with at least a progression effect for some bacteria that prepare suitable microenvironments for tumor cell growth. The aim of current study was to evaluate bacterial dysbiosis in sentinel lymph nodes of breast cancer patients. One hundred and twenty three fresh-frozen sentinel lymph nodes and a corresponding number of normal adjacent breast tissue specimens and five normal mastectomy samples were investigated employing RT-PCR. In addition using genus-specific primers were applied. There was a significant differences as presence of Methylobacterium radiotolerance DNA recorded between patients and normal control group (p= 0.0). Based on our research work, further studies into the role of microbes in breast cancer would be of great interest.

Aetiology of upper respiratory tract infections in children in Arak city: a community based study.

Viruses are frequent causes of upper respiratory tract infections in children. We investigated the viral aetiology of community-acquired upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) in young children treated as outpatients in community settings. During November 2008, nasal swab specimens were taken from children with recent onset of upper respiratory tract infections. The patients attended day care or primary schools; the specimens were randomly obtained by pediatricians from schools and childcare institutions and sent for identification by PCR method. A total of 300 specimens were collected. From all samples, 40.67% were positive for at least 1 virus, viz. adenovirus 11.76%, rhinovirus 9.8%, respiratory syncytial virus 6.08%, influenza virus 5.56%, parainfluenza virus 4.9%, enterovirus 2.94% and a combination of 2 viruses 2%. Clinical manifestations of the respiratory infections were as follows: 70.7% of the patients had coryza, 69.3% cough, 26% sneezing, 19.7% sore throat, 2.7% headache, 7.7% fever, 2.3% conjunctivitis, 1.3% abdominal pain and 1% hoarseness. The results of this study demonstrate that adenoviruses and rhinoviruses are the two most common viral agents isolated from pediatric outpatients with acute URIs in autumn in Arak City. Coryza and cough were the most common symptoms in children. Sore throat and hoarseness were more prevalent in infections caused by influenza virus, conjunctivitis in parainfluenza, and coryza in rhinovirus infections.

Totally implantable subpectoral vs. subcutaneous port systems in children with malignant diseases.

BACKGROUND: For many years, subcutaneous therapeutic port system was known as a major route to access central veins. However, significant complications have been reported through recent years. One of the most important complications of subcutaneous port implantation is skin necrosis. In order to decrease this complication, we would like to introduce subpectoral fascia port implantation through this study. METHODS: Five hundred and twenty four patients with a variety of neoplastic diseases underwent port implantation, from March 2003 to March 2008 (60 months). All suitable size catheters were put in the superior vena cava through the internal jugular vein under general anesthesia. The ports were placed in the subcutaneous pocket (SCP group) in 342 patients and in the subpectoral fascia pocket (SPFP group) in 182 patients. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and survival analysis for time (Kaplan-Meier). RESULTS: A total of 538 devices were placed for 524 patients in two groups (14 patients received a second device after removal of the first one, due to failure of the first implantation). Mean follow-up period was 508 days (8 - 2025 days).Common complications observed in the SPFP group were as follows: wound infection (7 cases, 3.8%), catheter obstruction (7 cases, 3.8%), catheter displacement (6 cases, 3.2%), port related infection (5 cases, 2.7%), and pocket hematoma (2 cases, 1.1%).Common complications observed in the SCP group were as follows: catheter displacement (12 cases, 3.5%), skin necrosis (11 cases, 3.21%), port exposure (9 cases, 2.6%), port related infection (8 cases, 2.3%), catheter obstruction (8 cases, 2.3%), and port rotation (3 cases, 0.9%). CONCLUSION: The results showed that port implantation in the subpectoral fascia pocket had a lower rate of skin complications than the subcutaneous pocket implantation. According to this study, this procedure was not complicated by skin necrosis over the port, port exposure or port rotation.