مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 504 (هفته چهارم دی 1397)

  Asthma is a reversible chronic inflammatory disease of airways that the effects of inflammatory cytokines in its severity has been proven. This study aimed to compare interleukin 17 (IL17) and interleukin 22 (IL22), two effective cytokines in asthma, children with and without asthma. In this case-control study, 15 children with asthma and 15 healthy children were included. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 5 cc of heparinized blood samples, and cultured under stimulation with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 for 72 hours. Percentage of CD4+IL17+ and CD4+IL22+T cells was assessed by flow cytometry method. Secretion of IL17 and IL22 cytokines was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELIZA) technique. There was no significant difference between cases and controls in levels of secreted IL17 and IL22 in supernatant of cultured cells. Moreover, there was no significant difference between patients and healthy group in terms of CD4+IL17+ (P = 0.30) and CD4+IL22+ (P = 0.41) T cells in PBMCs; although the median percentage of IL17+IL22+ T cells in CD4+ T-cell subset had an elevated level in patients group but the difference was not significant (P = 0.56). In studied community containing children with relative- and completely-controlled asthma, there were no significant differences with healthy children in IL17 and IL22 levels, as well as CD4+IL17+ and CD4+IL22+ T cells in PBMCs. Although the median percentage of CD4+IL17+IL22+* T cells had not a significant elevated level in patients group, more studies with larger sample sizes could be helpful.

  Drinking of arsenic-contaminated water is one the most important ways of exposing human to this element, considering that as a substantial risk factor for the occurrence of various types of cancers and diseases. Carcinogenesis of arsenic has been attributed to its genetic toxicity and DNA damage through production of reactive oxygen free radicals. Telmisartan, as an antihypertensive drug, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytoprotective, and genoprotective properties. In this study, we studied the probable genoprotective effect of telmisartan on DNA damage caused by arsenic in human umbilical cord vein cells. At first, the human umbilical vein endothelial cells pretreated with different concentrations of telmisartan (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 μM) for 24 hours. Then, the cells incubated with 1 μM sodium meta arsenite (NaAsO2) for 24 hours, and parameters of DNA damage were evaluated using comet assay method. The mixture of cells and agarose was put on slides, and after several steps of comet method, we stained them with ethidium bromide. The cells were examined under a fluorescent microscope. For each condition, 100 randomly selected cells on each slide could be scored, and DNA damage parameters were assessed. There was significant increase in tail length (22.33 ± 0.46 pixels), %DNA in tail (24.5 ± 0.78 percent), and tail moment (5.59 ± 0.24 pixels percent) in arsenic-incubated cells compared to the control group (2.11 ± 0.19 pixels, 4.38 ± 0.48 percent, and 0.10 ± 0.01 pixels percent, respectively) (P < 0.001 for all). Significant decrease of above parameters of genotoxicity (2.46 ± 0.15 pixels, 9.51 ± 0.95 percent, and 0.33 ± 0.04 pixels percent, respectively) were observed after the pretreatment of cells with telmisartan (10 μM) for 24 hours as compared to the exposed cells with arsenic (P < 0.001 for all). Telmisartan reduces DNA damage caused by arsenic in vitro, and potentially can reduces the risk of cancer due to arsenic exposure.

  Studies indicate that dopamine, particularly via D2 receptors (D2R), has an important role in energy homeostasis. Our previous study demonstrated that hypothalamic D2Rs, through dorsal vagus complex, are involved in the regulation of ghrelin secretion. In present study, we evaluated whether vagus cholinergic system could play a role in the regulation of leptin and glucose plasma levels by hypothalamic ventromedial nucleus (VMH) D2Rs? Canulation was performed into the VMH in Wistar rats (220-250 g). In experiment day, fasted rats (for 20-24 hours) received atropine (cholinergic antagonist, 5 mg⁄ kg subcutaneously) or saline. Thirty minutes later, D2R agonist (Quinpilroe, 0.5 µg) or antagonist (Sulpiride, 0.005 µg) and saline (0.5 µl) were injected into the VMH. Then, blood samples were collected 0, 30, and 60 minutes later, and plasma leptin and glucose levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and glucose oxidase method, respectively. Plasma leptin significantly decreased in a time-dependent manner in atropine-Quinpirole group compared to control group (P < 0.001); while increase in glucose levels was time-dependently stable in atropine-Quinpirole group (P < 0.001). No significant change was observed in leptin levels in atropine-Sulpiride group compared to control group. VMHD2Rs exert their effects on the regulation of leptin and glucose levels, at least partly, via vagus cholinergic pathway.

  This study aimed to evaluate the effect of intravenous midazolam and dexmedetomidine on prevention of cognitive dysfunction after cataract surgery in the elderly patients under general anesthesia compared with the control group. In this clinical trial study, 150 patients underwent phacoemulsification surgery were selected and randomly divided into three equal groups. The three groups received 0.1 mg/kg midazolam, 1 mg/kg dexmedetomidine, and similar volume of normal saline, respectively before the surgery. The cognitive dysfunction scores were measured and compared using Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) criteria before and after the surgery. The preoperative frequency of cognitive dysfunction was 6, 10, and 4 percent in midazolam, dexmedetomidine, and control groups, respectively (P = 0.47). 24 hours after the surgery, 14, 12, and 10 percent of the patients had cognitive dysfunction (P = 0.83); while one week after surgery, 8, 12, and 6 percent of patients had cognitive dysfunction in the three groups of midazolam, dexmedetomidine and control, respectively with no statistical difference between the three groups (P = 0.56). The effect of midazolam and dexmedetomidine was similar on prevention of the incidence of cognitive dysfunction, and it is possible to use the both drugs, if there is no contraception to use them.

Infertility is defined as failure in fertility after having sex for at least one year, if no contraceptive method is used, and 15% of the world's population is involved, of which 20-70 percent is related to men. Studies show that infertility is associated with a decrease in Q10 levels in the serum and seminal fluid, and its supplementation can reduce the symptoms of infertility, and improve it as well. The purpose of this study was to review the research done to investigate the relationship between Q10 and infertility. Clinical trial studies on the effect of supplementation of Q10 on male infertility from PubMed, Scopus, ISI, and Google Scholar databases between 2000 and 2017 were assessed using the keywords of coenzyme Q10, ubiquinol-10, infertility, male infertility, male fertility problems, semen parameters, sexual dysfunction. In most clinical trial studies, supplementation of Q10 had a positive effect on sperm parameters such as concentration, morphology, and movement. DNA fragmentation was also reduced; moreover, antioxidant enzymes of catalase and superoxide dismutase as well as total antioxidant capacity were significantly higher than before the intervention. However, some studies found no significant effect of Q10 on the sperm parameters. In most studies, the positive effects of Q10 supplement on sperm parameters, DNA damage, antioxidant capacity, and antioxidant enzymes have been proven, but due to the lack of studies, more clinical trial studies are needed in this area.