International Journal of Medical Laboratory
Volume:2 Issue: 3, Nov 2015

Aspergillus fumigatus is a sporadic fungus that causes different infections and allergies in immunocompromised patients. The allergic disease caused by this fungus is called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). ABPA is considred important in atopic and immunocompromised individuals, which can result in inflammation and epithelial damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the T helper (Th)2 responses in a ABPA murine model by measuring the main cytokines involved in Th2. Twenty male BALB/c mice were divided into two groups of 10 mice each: control and ABPA group. ABPA was induced by inhalation of A. fumigatus conidia intranasally. Total and specific IgE were measured in the mice sera. Levels of cytokines in broncho alveolar lavage (BAL) of under studied groups were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay three weeks after the treatment. The obtained results indicated that total and specific IgE increased in the ABPA group (p<0.05). The levels of Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in brocho alveolar lavage of ABPA group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05), whereas interferon-gamma levels did not reveal any significant differences between the studied groups. The findings of the present study confirmed the role of Th2 cytokines in the ABPA reactions. However, more comprehensive studies are necessitated to determine the exact mechanisms of immune responses to ABPA as well as the role of Th1/Th2 responses in control of ABPA reactions. Regulation of Th2 responses could be regarded as a potential therapy for ABPA as well.

In neurodegenerative disorders,oxidative stress mediated by reactive oxygen species is strongly associated with increased neuronal damages which can lead to apoptosis. Pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic gene expressions are changed during the cell differentiation that affect cell viability and differentiation. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effects of hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress on the apoptotic cell death in the differentiated rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells.Semi-differentiated PC12 cells were treated with 400 µM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Characteristic morphological changes as apoptotic index were evaluated by DAPI staining. MTT assay were applied in order to evaluate the cells survival as well as cell activity.Pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic gene expressions were estimated by real time-PCR.The obtained data indicated that PC12 cell survival rate decreased H2O2 treated condition during the differentiation. Moreover, H2O2 was proved to increase apoptotic genes expressions including caspase-6 as well as PIN1 and to decrease anti-apoptotic genes including SIRT1 as well as SIRT7. The findings of the present study revealed that H2O2-induced oxidative stress can retard the differentiation of PC12 cell in the form of neural-like cells through the apoptotic gene expression. On the other hand, although the PIN1 acts as an apoptotic gene, this study illustrated that this gene expression can get increased during the differentiation under oxidative stress conditions.

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance in the treatment of infections caused by bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The presence of integrons in Pseudomonas is clearly associated with multidrug resistances. Therefore, this study aimed at tracking class I, II and III integrons of antibiotic-resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that were isolated from nosocomial infection. In this study, 51 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from different wards of Imam Khomeini hospital of Ahvaz since October of 2014 until March of 2015. After identification test and antibigram, coding genes of antibiotic resistance and class I, II and III integrons were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Tetracycline revealed the most resistance with 84% frequency in discreted isolates. In the encoding antibiotic resistance genes with a frequency of 94% was the most common blaTEM. Class I integron had 92% prevalence, class II Integron showed 52% prevalence and class III Integron demonstrated 17% prevalence. In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, class I integron was more prevalent than other integrons and the integrase gene was probably one of the causes of multiple antibiotic resistance in this bacteria. Moreover, frequency of integron III was reported 17%.

Although metal and metal oxide nanoparticles are used in different medical applications, they may have considerable toxicity on various cells, such as myocytes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of the naked and serum-treated silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) on the cardiomyocytes. Cardiomyocytes were separately exposed to different concentrations of the naked and serum-treated nanoparticles for 24 hours at 37ºC. Then, MTT assay, cell metabolism assay and LDH assay were performed. Naked Ag NPs and MgO NPs had more toxicity than serum-treated nanoparticles. The highest cardiomyocyte toxicity was observed for naked Ag NPs, whereas the minimum toxicity was seen for the serum-treated MgO NPs. Coating of nanoparticles with serum components leads to decrease in toxicity for cardiomyocytes, and MgO NPs have less toxicity on the myocytes than Ag NPs.

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and beta thalassemia minor (BTM) are the most common hypochromic microcytic anemias, and it is regarded important to differentiate between them. several formulae can be taken into consideration based on red blood cell (RBC) parameters in order to distinguish between these two disorders. Hence, the present study intended to evaluate the sensitivity as well as specificity of some of these formulae. In this cross-sectional study, IDA was diagnosed in 200 patients based on hypochromic and microcytic RBC appearance, reduced mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin and ferritin as well as increased total iron binding capacity. Furthermore, BTM was diagnosed via hypochromic microcytic appearance of RBC and increased hemoglobin A2 level. Then, IDA and BTM diagnosis were confirmed using the formulae of King-Green, Mentzer index, England and Fraser, Shine and Lal, Srivastava and Sirdah. The sensitivity and specificity of these formulae were calculated as well. The study findings demonstrated that based on the study criteria, out of 200 patients with hypochromic microcytic RBC appearance, 120 were afflicted with IDA and 80 suffered from BTM. The formulae-based diagnosis demonstrated that King-Green formula was the most reliable one. Although King-Green formula had the highest sensitivity and specificity and was the most reliable formula, none of the formulae revealed 100% sensitivity and specificity. As a result, making definitive distinction between IDA and BTM is not possible using these formulae.

Giardia lamblia infection is a common cause of food and water-borne diarrhea in non-sanitary communities. Infections are common in children, particularly in child-care centers, backpackers, travelers, and homosexuals. Zinc is necessary for the immune system functions. Zinc deficiency is associated with acute diarrhea. Copper is essential for the production of red blood cells, hemoglobin formation and absorption of iron, and for the activity of various enzymes. However, the association between trace elements and Giardiasis has rarely been investigated. The aim of this experiment was comparison of trace elements of zinc and copper between children with Giardiasis and healthy. The study was carried out between 30 children with Giardiasis and 30 children of control group. It was undertaken in both children aged 3 to 10 years without any history of Giardiasis and children with symptomatic Giardiasis. The hematological examination was performed. Serum zinc and copper levels were measured. Finally, the data was analyzed using SPSS version 19 statistical software. Zinc levels in the study group was remarkably lower than the control group (68.94 vs. 153.99 µg/dl, p=0.001). In addition, there was a significant difference in serum copper levels between case (309.27 µg/dl) and control (253.19 µg/dl) groups (p=0.003). Giardiasis elevated the serum copper levels, while it decreased the serum zinc.

Quantum dots (QDs), as colloidal nanocrystalline semiconductors, present QD wavelengths in terms of biomedical assays and imaging, though the high toxicity of their core demands to be taken into consideration. Investigating this subject is taken into account as an important concept concerning use of these nanoparticles in the medical applications. 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg doses of mentioned QDs were injected into some male mice. 10 days after CdSe/ZnS, and the serum sample of mice were measured in regard with FSH, LH and testosterone assays. The testis and body weight of various groups were determined. Within 10 days after injection of 40 mg/kg CdSe:ZnS, the serum LH concentration increased from 0.64 to 0.79 ng/ml and the serum testosterone concentration declined from 1.33 to 0.58 mIu/ml. Mean concentration of LH and testosterone CdSe:ZnS in 40 mg/kg dose showed high toxicity of CdSe:ZnS in 40 mg/kg dose. The FSH concentration did not reveal any significant differences compared to the control group. The body weight in all groups and the testicular weight in the treated mice with 10, 20 mg/kg CdSe QDs were similar to the control group. No significant changes were observed in regard with relative testis weights, whereas the testis weight decreased significantly from 0.093 to 0.055 gr (p< 0.01) in the mice receiving 40 mg/kg CdSe:ZnS. Quantum dots were demonstrated to be capable of inducing detrimental effects on the reproductive systems of male mice. Since no study has been conducted in this realm, the present study can serve as an introduction to more studies regarding the effects of quantum dots toxicity on the development of male sexual system.

There has been scant information concerning antihypertrophic effects of vitamin D specifically on its cellular and molecular mechanisms. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is regarded as a key deacetylase enzyme in cardiomyocytes which applies potential cardioprotective effects by functional regulation of different proteins. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D on the hypertrophic markers and cardiac level of SIRT1 mRNA in rats following the aortic banding. In this study, male Wistar rats (170-220g) were used, which were divided into 4 groups: rats subjected to hypertrophy without treatment (H), rats pretreated with 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (H+VD), rats received propyleneglycol as a vitamin solvent (H+P), and intact animals which were elected as the control group. Arterial blood pressure was directly measured by the carotid cannulation. Transcription level of target genes was measured by real time polymerase chain reaction technique. In H+VD group, systolic blood pressure as well as heart weight-to-body weight ratio decreased significantly compared to the group H (P<0.01). Moreover, regarding hypertrophy marker genes in H+VD group, both atrial natriuretic peptide mRNA (H+VD:64.8±14% vs. H:127±26%; P<0.05) and brain natriuretic peptide mRNA (H+VD:25.6±6% vs. H:84.2±12%; P<0.01) levels decreased significantly. SIRT1 mRNA level was increased by 56.8±14% in group H and by 42.6±12% in group H+VD which were significant in comparison to the control group (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). No significant difference was noted between H+VD and H groups. The results of the present study revealed that administration of 1, 25- dihydroxyvitamin D decreases myocardial hypertrophy markers in rats following the abdominal aortic banding. The pressure overload-induced hypertrophy accompanies with SIRT1 mRNA upregulation, though antihypertrophic effects of vitamin didnot participate in SIRT1 transcription level.