مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 263 (هفته اول بهمن 1392)

Decrease in Heme Oxygenase-1 gene expression is associated with fewer amounts of reoccurrence and better final response to treatment in some cancers. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of Zinc Protoporphyrin (Znpp), as Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inhibitor, and radiotherapy on melanoma cells in mice.

In this experimental study, 24 mice were randomly divided to 4 groups. On the first day of the study, melanoma cells were injected and the mice were treated for 16 days. First and second groups received 2000 mg/kg of Znpp every other day. Third and forth groups were injected diluted liquid of Znpp. The first and third groups received 12 gray of radiotherapy on 8th day. The mice were examined each day for any palpable tumors and size was measured. The tumors were extracted on the 16th day. The effect of HO-1 on growth of cancer cells was studied using mitotic index and the size of tumors were measured on 8th and 16th days.

Size of tumor and mitotic index in mice treated with Znpp and radiotherapy was significantly smaller than in control groups (P < 0.05). Size of tumor in mice treated by radiotherapy and Znpp was less than group only treated with radiotherapy (P < 0.05).

The HO-1 inhibitor with radiotherapy may have therapeutic effects and it may be more effective in reducing the tumor’s growth than using radiotherapy alone.

Major applications of nanotechnology in industry, agriculture, biology and medicine are growing. Given the broad range of nanoscience in medical sciences, evaluation of the cytotoxicity of iron oxide nanorods through comparing viability and apoptosis formed the objectives of this study. In this study, the nanorods were synthesized by coprecipitation method and transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy was used for determination of the size and shape of nanoparticles. 200 and 800 μg/ml urea and polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated nanorods, in forms of modified and non-modified, were assessed for toxicity using MTT assay 48 and 72 hours later. The length and diameter of the urea- and PEG-coated nanorods were 150 and 15 nm and 150 and 23 nm, respectively. Viability of cells exposed to non-modified iron oxide nanorods was less than modified form. This toxicity showed uptrend with increasing dose. Viability of the cells exposed to PEG-coated iron oxide nanorods was lower than urea-coated once. It appears that the increase in apoptosis affected by non-modified iron oxide nanorods might be resulted from formation of protein rings called Hard Corona around the nanorods. In addition, more increase of cell death by PEG-coated nanorods compared to urea-coated nanorods is indicator of the effect of type of coverage and type of cells on their cytotoxicity.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium that plays a major role in development of opportunistic and severe infections in burn patients. Occurrence of enzymes capable of inactivating all beta-lactams including carbapenems is new problem in treatment of patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Metallo-Beta-Lactamases (MBL) enzymes blaVIM, blaIPM and blaNDM in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from burn wounds in Yazd city, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 180 burn wound-specimens were collected from burn-hospital belonged to Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd during one year and were cultured at microbiology laboratory of School of Medicine of this university. Suspected colonies were identified by conventional biochemical methods such as utilization of sugars, motility, and oxidase production. Sugar utilization in the Oxidation-Fermentation medium (OF), growth at 42°C and pigment production tests were performed for oxidase positive and non-fermentative colonies on Triple Sugar Iron (TSI) test. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by Kirby-Bauer methods according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standards. Etest metallo-beta-lactamase (Etest MBL) method was used for phenotypic detection of MBL and blaVIM, blaIPM and blaNDM were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method using specific primers. Out of 180 burn wound specimens, 54 (30%) was identified as Pseudomonas aeroginosa. Out of 54 isolates, 70%, 66% and 74% were resistance to ertapenem, meropenem and imipenem respectively; 64% and 74% of isolates were resistant to meropenem and imipenem respectively. MBL enzymes were detected in 29.5% of isolates. Nine isolates (16.6%) and 5 isolates (9.2%) had blaVIM and blaIPM respectively and 2(3.7%) isolates had blaVIM and blaIPM simultaneously. None of the isolates had blaNDM. The results of this study show that the prevalence of MBL enzymes and antibiotic resistance in burn patients is high and it is necessary to determine susceptibility testing before treatment.

Factor XIII deficiency is a rare bleeding disorder (RBD) with a high incidence in Sistan and Baluchistan province, Iran. Central nervous system (CNS) bleeding is a common but life-threatening clinical presentation of severe factor XIII deficiency. This study aimed to assess the role of PAI-14G/5G polymorphism in occurrence of intra and extracranial hemorrhage in factor 13 deficiency. In this study, 64 patient with factor XIII deficiency were enrolled. Initially, according to the history of occurrence of CNS bleeding, patients were divided in two groups of case and control. At the baseline, both groups were evaluated for the Trp187Arg polymorphism in order to confirm their disorder. Then, all patients were assessed for PAI-14G/5G polymorphism. All study patients were homozygote for factor XIII polymorphism. We also found that the equal numbers of patients (4 individuals) in case and control groups were heterozygote for PAI-14G/5G polymorphism and none of patients were homozygote for this polymorphism. All heterozygote patients had intracranial hemorrhage and patients with extracranial hemorrhage had no mutation of PAI-14G/5G. PAI-14G/5G polymorphism did not any effect on occurrence of intra and extracranial hemorrhage in patients with factor 13 deficiency.

Constipation is one of the most common complains in each society، especially، in children and old populations. In this study، we hypothesized that the stimulation of gum epithelium by traditional wooden toothbrush would have a trigger effect on gastro-colic reflex، and thus، the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of traditional wooden toothbrush usage on improvement of constipation symptoms in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Traditional wooden toothbrush is a special toothbrush taken from a plant called Salvadora Persica with antimicrobial and anti-germ effects. It is commonly known as “the brush of Mecca”. In a clinical trial work، 61 patients with spinal cord injury were selected who had injuries in different spinal levels (cervical، thoracic and lumbar). They were recommended to use traditional wooden toothbrush for 5 minutes twice a day، after breakfast and dinner، over a 6-week period. Regarding to changes in their gastrointestinal habits during the period of using the wooden toothbrush، they were advised to complete a questionnaire. All symptoms of bowel problems improved significantly after the 6-weeks intervention. For example، after this intervention، a patient who had one defection every 3 weeks، obtained 3 defecations every week.