Zahedan Journal of Research in Medical Sciences
Volume:20 Issue: 6, Jun 2018

There are many strategies to cure cancer, therefore, many drugs have been evaluated in this field. Albendazole (ABZ), derivative of benzimidazole, has a wide range of anti human and animal worm effects. The anti tumor effect of ABZ in both animal and human clinical trials has been reported.
In the present study, the cytotoxic effect of ABZ on breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF7, and on the melanoma cell line, B16F10, were evaluated with MTT assay for the first time.
Different doses of ABZ for two breast cancer cell lines and the melanoma cell line were investigated. ANOVA was employed to analyze the data. Mean comparisons were carried out by Dunnett’s test in SPSS (version 18.0) statistical software.
The results showed that ABZ (0.1, 1, 10, 100µM) significantly reduced the viability of MCF7, the percent of declines to different concentrations of ABZ, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µM, were 15, 32, 38, and 44 accordingly, indicating enhancement ABZ toxicity effect towards its rising concentration (P value ≤ 0.001). However, significant toxicity effect of ABZ on the MDA-MB-231 was only apparent at concentration of 100 µM with approximately 27% reduction in viability (P value ≤ 0.05). In addition, this effect on B16F10 in all ABZ concentration levels was significant, resulting in 34%, 18%, and 27% reduction in cell viability for ABZ concentrations 100, 10, and 1µM accordingly, indicating the higher impact at the first and third concentrations than second concentration (P value ≤ 0.001).
According to the cytotoxic effects of ABZ on breast cancer and melanoma cells, it can be used as a promising adjuvant along with other chemotherapy drugs.

In this study, the mycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles was investigated using the endophytic fungi isolated from Taxus baccata L. (Iranian Yew).
Endophytic fungi were isolated from Taxus baccata L. (Iranian Yew) and were subjected to mycosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), extracellularly. The characterization of produced AgNPs was done using UV-V spectroscopy, TEM, and FTIR. Further antimicrobial activity of synthesized AgNPs was tested against Bacillus subtillis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., and Salmonella typhi, using the agar well diffusion assay method. To identify the fungal isolate, the ITS region was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using universal primers ITS1 and ITS4. For obtaining closely related phylogenetic sequences, sequence analysis of ITS- rDNA was run using the BLAST algorithm of the NCBI database.
The endophytic fungus, Nemania sp., was found to be a good producer of AgNPs. The surface plasmon resonance band in UV-Vis spectroscopy was at 460 nm, which confirmed the formation of AgNPs. The size range of the synthesized AgNPs was 5 to 70 nm, according to the TEM analysis. The FTIR study of AgNPs showed major peaks around 1035, 1392, 1514, 1644, 2922, and 3443 cm-1, which were responsible for different functional groups possibly involved in the synthesis and stabilization of AgNPs. Antibacterial activity showed maximum zone of inhibition of 17 mm against B. subtilis.
Nemania sp. can be a fungal system for extracellular mycosynthesis of AgNPs, which is a simple and ecofriendly method for nanoparticle synthesis.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is prevalent in pregnancy and has unpleasant side effects such as hypertension, preeclampsia, Intra uterine growth restriction, preterm labor, low birth weight, postpartum endometritis, pyelonephritis, septicemia, and maternal death. Urinary tract infections are a common health problem among women as compared to men due to a short urethra in women, the proximity of the anus to the vagina, and the easier access of pathogens to sexual activity. Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy is a risk factor for early delivery.
In this study, the frequency asymptomatic bacteriuria was compared in women with preterm labor and women with term delivery who referred to the maternity ward of Ali Ebn Abitaleb Hospital in 2015 to 2016. In this case-control study, 112 patients with preterm labor and 112 patients in the control group were term. The participants were selected through inclusion and exclusion criteria. The urine specimen was sent to the lab for bacteriuria examination and was analyzed. Finally, the results of the two case and control groups were analyzed.
The frequency of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 33 in the preterm labor group and 6 in the term of delivery. There was a statistically significant relationship between asymptomatic bacteriuria and preterm labor (P-value Asymptomatic bacteriuria is a common infection in pregnancy that can lead to an increased risk of adverse maternal and fetal complications. Therefore, pregnant women should be screened for bacteriuria and treated appropriate antibiotics. It is suggested that pregnant mothers are screened at the beginning of their pregnancy owing to treatment for positive bacteriuria can lead to reduce maternal and fetal complications.

Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is a crucial procedure for preventing Atherosclerosis, and ATP-binding cassette 1 (ABCA1) is a key factor in it.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of two months of a cardiac rehabilitation program on ABCA1 gene expression and other indices of RCT in Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients.
In this quasi-experimental study, 24 CABG patients were assigned to the cardiac rehabilitation (n = 12) and control (n = 12) groups. The CR group performed two months of cardiac rehabilitation program while the CON group was asked to stay sedentary at home. 48 hours before and after starting the program, 10 cc of blood was sampled for q-RT PCR and biochemical analysis.
ABCA1 expression and plasma HDL-C concentration elevated in the CR group following two months of rehabilitation program compared to the CON group (F = 23.66, P = 0.0002 and F = 5.52, P = 0.034, respectively). In addition, in the CR group, there was no significant change in plasma LDL-C and triglyceride (F = 1.89, P = 0.191 and F = 1.61, P = 0.213, respectively).
Based on our findings, it can be concluded that two months of CR program elevate lymphocyte ABCA1 mRNA expression coinciding with increased levels of plasma HDL-C. The present results also indicated that the CR program must be seriously considered for CABG patients to improve reverse cholesterol transport and hence, attain the cardiovascular benefits.

The production of novel antibiotics inhibiting virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria has emerged as a promising approach to combat the emergence of resistant strains. Acknowledging the harmful effect and considerable spread of pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli, this research aimed at investigating the inhibitory effects of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles on the growth of E. coli and its negative impact on capsule formation as the virulence factor of the pathogen. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized by the addition of silver nitrate to a fresh culture of Shewanella oneidensis. The inhibitory effect of the nanoparticles on E. coli growth was investigated by serial microdilution method. The expression of alpha-hemolysin (hly) under nanoparticle treatment was quantitatively evaluated using a real-time PCR. The growth rate of E. coli under nanoparticles treatment was monitored at a 12-hour interval. It was revealed that monodisperse spherical silver nanoparticles were produced to significantly inhibit the bacterial growth at a concentration of 50 μg/mL (MIC = 50 μg/mL). Furthermore, the expression of alpha-hemolysin (hly) was downregulated by the nanoparticles even at concentrations below the MIC value. In general, the research findings revealed that silver nanoparticles produced by green approach could be used as appropriate candidates for the development of new antibacterial medicines.