نشریه پژوهش در پزشکی
سال سی و هشتم شماره 4 (پیاپی 152، زمستان 1393)

In respect to leishmaniasis prevalence in different regions of Iran and world and also several side effects of pentavalent antimony for treatment of the disease, using of medicinal plants have been recently taken into attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of garlic plant extract on L. major amastigotes in vivo and in vitro by means of colorimetric assay. L.major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) were transferred to RPMI-1640 medium, supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) and antibiotics then grown at 25±2°C. In plateau phase of parasite growth, effect of different concentrations of garlic plant extract in comparison to control drug, tartar emetic, on L.major amastigotes were assessed by means of MTT assay in vivo and in vitro. The optical density (OD) due to reduction of the tetrazolium salt MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) to a colored product formazan by the parasite was measured by ELISA reader and the IC50 values (50% inhibitory concentrations) were further measured. All experiments were repeated in triplicate. Gained data from OD and IC50 showed that concentrations of 4.6 µg/ml and 11.4 µg/ml of garlic extract in comparison to control drug after incubation of 48 hours in vivo and in vitro respectively have inhibitory effect on amastigotes of L.major. In respect to profound anti-leishmania effect of garlic medicinal plant on L.major, further experiments are required to evaluate the effect of this extract on Leishmania parasite in animal models and voluntary individuals.

The control of parenchymal hemorrhage especially in liver parenchyma, despite surgical science progresses is still one of the challenges surgeons face saving the patients’ lives and there is a research challenge between the researchers in this field to introduce a more effective method. This study aimed to determine the hemostatic effect of calcium sulfate on controlling the bleeding from liver parenchymal tissue. In this animal model study 60 male Wistar rats were used. A length of two cm and a depth of half a cm incision were made on each mouse’s liver and the hemostasis time was measured using calcium sulfate different concentrations (5%, 10%, 15%, 25%, and 50%) and the control method (i.e. control of bleeding by suturing). Finally, the obtained data were entered into SPSS software and analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney, Kolmogorov-Smirnov. The hemostasis time of calcium sulfate concentration groups was significantly less than that of the control group (p<0.01). Calcium sulfate is an effective hemostatic agent in controlling liver parenchymal tissue hemorrhage in an animal model.

Uncontrolled use of chemical drugs increases microbial strains resistant to antibiotics. There is an urgent need for discovery of new anti microbial compounds. Nowadays, many researchers have been done to introduce antibacterial compounds with natural origin. Aim of this study was in vitro assessment of antimicrobial effects of methanolic extract from dried fruits of Silybum marianum. Hungarian seeds of Silybum marianum were defatted by ethyl acetate. The flavonolignans were extracted with methanol. Antimicrobial effects of methanolic extract (pure extract, 2000, 1000, 500, 250 125, 62.5 and 0 mg/ml) were examined on six species of microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus antheracis) with three methods such as disk diffusion, well diffusion, porpelite and spread-plate methods. The experiment was performed three times with three replicates. According to results of this investigation, there was no growth inhibition zone in disk diffusion method for all dilutions of plant extract. The highest growth inhibition zone (19 mm) was observed in Strep. pyogenes in well diffusion method. In porpelite method, the growth inhibition zone was indicated in all of dilutions plant extract for B. cereus culture, in 2000 and 1000 mg/ml for B. antheracis and in 2000 mg/ml for Strep. pyogenes. Our results showed that, the extract had antibacterial effect on B. Cereus, B. anthracis and Strep. pyogenes in spread-plate method but had less effect on S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli. With attention to our finding, it could be concluded that methanolic extract of Silybum marianum has antibacterial effects on current clinical pathogen microorganisms. Therefore, it must be evaluated in vivo and clinically.

Hyperlipidemia is one of risk factor in cardiovascular diseases, with regard to possible effect of Elaegnus angustifolia this study aimed at evaluating the effect of E. angustifolia leaf extract on lipid profiles in normal and fed with hyperlipidemic diet rats which was conducted in 2014 in the laboratory of the Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University of Hamedan. 30 male rats (150 g) were divided in five groups control, treated with lovastatin (10 mg/kg, p.o, for one week) and treated with E. angustifolia extract (300 mg/kg, p.o, for one week) randomly. All groups (except control group) fed with hyperlipidemic diet (20% sheep oil) for 5 weeks. At the end of experiment and after 12 h fasting, the blood samples were collected from heart directly and plasma lipid concentrations were measured using the ELISA method. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance test using SPSS software and difference between data with p<0.05 considered significant. The data showed that the feeding animals with hypelipidemic diet was increased weight animals and was caused hyperlipidemia in serum (p<0.01). E. angustifolia leaf extract significantly decrease plasma triglyceride (57.5±4.7) and LDL (37.5±2.9) and increase HDL (18.8±1.2) in obese rat (p<0.01), but it did not show significant effect on decreasing serum cholesterol level. It seems that consumption of E. angustifolia leaf extract could have significant favorable effects on the lipid and weight profiles of obese rats.

Chemerin is a new adipokine, which is involved in inflammation and resistance insulin development. Thus, recent study examined changes of chemerin plasma levels and insulin resistance in two groups of healthy and insulin resistance male rats after 8 weeks resistance training. 32 male Wister rats with a weight, 161 ± 23 g were randomly divided into four groups included healthy control, healthy training, insulin resistance control and insulin resistance training. The rats in insulin resistance training group were subjected to a resistance-training program for 3 days/week, for 8 weeks that consisted of climbing a ladder carrying a load suspended from the tail. Following eight week resistance training plasma chemerin, insulin, glucose concentrations and insulin resistance were measured. Calculation and analysis of the data was performed using SPSS 19 software and testing the significance level P>0/05 was considered. The findings showed that resistance training was lead to a significant reduction in plasma chemerin (p= 0.02), glucose (p= 0. 0001), insulin (p= 0.0001) and insulin resistance (0.0001) in insulin resistance male rats whereas, significant reduction was not observed. In plasma chemerin (p=1), glucose (p= 0. 31), insulin (p= 0.07) and insulin resistance (0.24) in healthy male rats. It seems that resistance training can be focused as a prevention approach in insulin resistance and reduction of plasma chemerin.

Free-living amoebae, which are called as amphizoic amoebae, could live in various environmental sources such as water, soil, dust and also human and animal tissues. According to possible contamination of hot springs to free living amoebae and developing related disease such as keratitis and encephalitis in people at risk and the lack of knowledge regarding their distribution in hot springs of Mazandaran province, the preset study was conducted in 2014. In this discretional study, samples were taken from 22 hot springs in Mazandaran province. Three samples with 500 ml volume were taken in sterile bottles and transferred to laboratory of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Based on culture and morphological criteria, hot springs contamination to free living amoebae was surveyed. Out of 22 hot springs in Mazandaran province, 17 (77.27%) springs were contaminated to free living amoebae. The most prevalent amoebae were Vermamoebae (50%) following with Vahlkampfiids (45.45%), Acanthamoeba (40.9%), Vannella (9.09%) and platyamoebae (4.54%). It seems hot springs contamination to free living amoebae is relevant and this could be a health hazard for endemic people, tourists and travelers who use these hot springs. To this end, researches with purpose of decreasing the diseases due to free living amoebae in hot springs of Mazandaran province and other hot springs in the region are important priorities and also posting of alarming signs along the hot spring are recommended for awareness of people at risk.

Kelussia Odoratissima (Apiaceae family) is an herbaceous plant which traditionally used in Iran as antiache, anti inflammation and anticoughagents. This plant has potent antioxidant and anticancer effects. The present investigation was carried out to study cytotoxic activity of leaves, shoots, seeds, flowers and roots extracts of K.odoratissima collected from two different regions against MCF7 cell line and peripheral blood monolayer cell (PBMC). The cells used in this research, MCF7 a breast cancer cell lines and normal lymphocytes were cultured in PRMI-1640 supplemented with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), 100 U/ml penicillin and 100 μg/ml streptomycin and 5mM/L glutamine. The cytotoxic effect of the crude methanol extract of this plant at different concentrations (10, 100, 500 and 1000 μg/ml) were performed by using MTT assay. The crude methanol extracts of different organs of K. odoratissima grown in korhang didn’t have any cytotoxic effect, but the flower, leave and seed extracts of K. odoratissima grown in fereydonshahr showed potent cytotoxic effect on the MCF7 cells. However these extracts at different concentrations were not cytotoxic on normal cells. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that different extracts K. odoratissima grown in fereydonshahr could be evaluated as an anticancer agent.

Beta thalassemia is one of the autosomal recessive diseases that related to synthesis disorder of beta globin chain. It is caused by any of the more than 200 mutations in the β-globin gene. DNA sequencing and genotyping of numerous mutations at beta globin gene is timely and expensive. Therefore, the best method for screening is linkage using polymorph markers at beta globin region and it is usually applied at carrier screening and pre-diagnosis. Aim of the present study is frequency determination of AvaII marker at second Intron and BamHI marker at 3´ region of beta globin gene and its association with beta thalassemia disease in Esfahan population. In the present study, 150 beta-thalassemia patients including 50 individuals without disease as a control group were investigated. After genomic DNA extraction from blood cells, polymorphism genotype of AvaII and BamHI were determined using RFLP-PCR technique. Obtained results were statistically analyzed using Power Marker software package and SISA. G allele frequency of AvaII polymorphism was observed 65.32% at patient groups and 70.59% at control groups; this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.29). Genotype distribution of this polymorphism was not statistically significant (p=0.1). T allele frequency of BamHI polymorphism was observed 40.57% at patient groups and 35.63% at control groups, but this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.40). Genotype frequency of this polymorphism was not statistically significant (p=0.6). Linkage disequilibrium results between two markers showed D´ (p=0.064). The best state for two markers ++ and its frequency is 54.33% at control groups and 42.33% at patient groups. No statistically association between AvaII in second Intron and BamHI at 3´ region of beta globin with beta thalassemia disease is expressed that mutant alleles could not to be a risk factor for the disease. However, simultaneous investigation of two markers could be useful.

Escherichia coli, the most frequent cause of bacterial infectious diarrhea, is responsible for an enormous burden of morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Paradoxically, as the predominant facultative member of the normal human colonic flora, E.coli is present in most individuals as a harmless commensal. Cloning techniques are very laborious and expensive. Therefore, today in developing countries, including Iran, old and simple stereotyping by latex agglutination kit and various PCR methods are preferred. According to the results of previous studies and the importance of proper knowledge about the epidemiology of diarrheal pathogens, especially E. coli in most developing countries, the aim of this study was to identify Escherishia coli pathotypes using polyclonal antisera and evaluation of their antibiotic resistance in cases of diarrhea in selected hospitals of Tabriz city. A total of 150 E.coli strains were collected from cases of diarrhea in selected hospitals of Tabriz city. After confirmatory tests, E.coli pathotypes were identified using polyvalent antisera. The antibiogram profiles were performed by Kirby-Bauer method according to CLSI standards. With the latex agglutination kit three serogroups were identified among E.coli isolates from cases of diarrhea. The most antibiotic sensitivity rates of E.coli serotypes were to Nitrofurantoin and Imipenem. A high frequency of E.coli resistance to Ampicillin and Co-trimoxazol was observed. Reports on prevalence of diarrheagenic E.coli in Iran are rare and little is known about the epidemiology of E.coli pathotypes. Studies in Iran showed that diarreagenic E.coli are among the most prevalent causative agents in acute diarrhea. Therefore, knowledge of the status of the E.coli pathotypes in Iran is important for planning of appropriate public health programs for control of the disease. Also in much of developing world without access to good quality medicines, infections continue to be the major killers, and in all countries, infections with resistant microorganisms are major cause of death.

Electrodiagnostic studies give valuable diagnostic and follow up information about neuromuscular diseases to physician with various fields. The goals of this study were to evaluate demographic description of patients referred to EDX services and referring patients to determinate the tendency between the patient’s types of payment and referring necessity. All EDX data were done in 3 separate centers in Tehran, which consist of a private center, a non-academic governmental clinic (Milad hospital) and an academic governmental clinic (Shohadaye Tajrish hospital) in 2012. Data of demographic characteristics, etiology and origin of referral, and final diagnose and payment methods were gathered. During 1 year period, 9567 patients were evaluated by EDX tests. The most common diagnosis was CTS, lumbosacral radiculopathy and cervical radiculopathy, respectively 28%, 24% and 12%. The EDX result, in about one third (31%) of cases was normal. The most common roots involved in lumbosacral and cervical radiculopathies were L5 (49.5%) and C6 (42%), respectively. Interestingly, the percent of normal reports among group of patients paid fewer or no charge (third party payment) were less than groups of patients paid more charge. Despite the extensive application of imaging studies, such as MRI, there is increasing tendency to electrodiagnostic studies referrals from neuromuskuloskeletal physicians. This could be attributed to complementary role of electrodiagnostic studies to imaging studies, where electrodiagnosis as a physiologic evaluation completed imaging studies as structural evaluation. Also, this study shows the most prevalent diagnoses were spinal roots lesion and peripheral nerves entrapment syndromes.