Medical Laboratory Journal
Volume:15 Issue: 2, Mar-Apr 2021

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in the world. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have potential as diagnostic biomarkers for various diseases including cancer. This study was undertaken to investigate expression of miR-21 before and after surgery in patients with hereditary CRC.

After collecting blood samples from 39 patients and 39 healthy controls, total RNA was extracted by the TRIzol method. Following cDNA synthesis, expression of miR-21 in serum of subjects was evaluated using real-time PCR, along with two reference genes, let-7d and let-7g. The real-time expression results and Ct values were collected and analyzed based on the 2-∆∆ct method.

In spite of tumor removal, serum miR-21 expression levels was significantly higher in hereditary CRC patients compared with controls (P=0.022).

Our results confirmed that samples from hereditary cases of CRC must not be included in experiments on the diagnostic potential of miRNAs.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous malignancy caused by various pathological mechanisms. Chemokines are involved in the initiation, progression, migration, survival, treatment and complications of AML. CXCL1 has an indirect effect on the progression of cancer and CXCL10 produced by leukemia cells attracts natural killer cells toward tumor sites to eradicate cancer cells. The present study investigated effects of chemotherapy on serum levels of CXCL1 and CXCL10 in patients with AML.

Throughout this case-control study, blood samples were collected from AML patients with M4/M5 subtype (n=25) before and after the first stage of a chemotherapy regimen (7+3). Serum levels of the chemokines were determined using commercial ELISA kits. Data were analyzed using two-sample and paired T-test in SPSS 22 software.

The level of CXCL10 was high in patients but decreased following chemotherapy. After the chemotherapy the patients attained partial remission. However, the level of CXCL1 did not change in the patients.

Although chemotherapy could decrease CXCL10 levels and induce partial remission, CXCL1 levels does not change in AML patients with M4/M5 subtype. Based on the results, the employment of CXCL1 and CXCL10 inhibitors in the chemotherapy regimen could prevent relapse in the later stages or even reduce the duration of treatment.

HIV-1 Nef and Vpr antigens have been described as suitable candidates for therapeutic HIV vaccine development. The aim of this study was to generate Nef-Vpr fusion gene construct and to clone the construct into pET-23a (+), a prokaryotic expression vector.

HIV-1 Nef and Vpr genes were PCR-amplified from the pNL4-3 plasmid using specific primers and Pfu DNA polymerase. Results of PCR amplification were visualized by electrophoresis on 0.8% agarose gel. At first, the amplified Nef fragment was cloned into NheI and BamHI restriction sites of pET-23a expression vector. Next, cloning of Vpr gene was performed into BamHI and HindIII restriction sites of the pET-23a-Nef vector. Finally, purity of the recombinant pET-23-Nef-Vpr construct was determined by NanoDrop spectrophotometry.

PCR amplification of Nef and Vpr genes was confirmed by detection of ~ 620 bp and ~ 291 bp bands, respectively. Cloning of the Nef-Vpr construct into the vector was confirmed by detection of a ~ 911 bp fragment following enzymatic digestion with NheI and HindIII and sequencing.

The successful construction of recombinant fusion plasmid encoding a chimeric Nef-Vpr gene was performed in a prokaryotic expression vector for development of HIV-1 recombinant protein vaccine in near future.

Gouda Cheese is regarded as a high quality and one of the most popular cheeses in the world. The defining characteristics of Gouda cheese are its yellow color, great aroma and taste of caramel sweetness. The cheese should be well chilled before waxing, to get better seal. The seal is very important to prevent contamination with molds and putrefactive bacteria. Cheese wax is made from paraffin with additional microcrystalline to make pliable for better seal. The aim of this study was to investigate antibacterial effects of Gouda cheese wax.

Gouda cheese wax samples were collected from four different manufacturers in Iran. The total count of coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and mold and yeast on the samples was determined. The antimicrobial activities of Gouda cheese wax against E. coli, S. aureus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus brazilissis and Salmonella enterica were investigated by determining minimum bactericidal concentration and minimum inhibitory concentration.

The results indicated that all Gouda cheese wax samples were prepared in accordance with the national standards. In addition, the examined wax samples had no antimicrobial properties against the tested microorganisms.

The wax used in production of Gouda cheese in Iran has no antimicrobial properties.

Docetaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used for treatment of many cancers, including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Docetaxel induces G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and ultimately cell death. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of docetaxel on YM1 cells considering exposure time and dose.

After calculating the doubling time of YM1 cells, the anti-proliferative effect of different concentrations of docetaxel () [A1]  after 24, 48 and 72 hours was assessed by the standard colorimetric assay. In addition, the effect of docetaxel on cell cycle was evaluated by flow cytometry.

The results showed that docetaxel toxicity was not significant until 24 hours at the tested concentrations (P>0.05). In addition, the effect of docetaxel on the cells was time-dependent at all tested concentrations. Overall, the duration of exposure to docetaxel had more significant role in docetaxel toxicity in YM1 cells compared to concentration.

Our findings suggest that the cytotoxicity of docetaxel on YM1 cells is time-dependent.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the most important causes of mortality worldwide. The present study aimed to compare two different cardiac rehabilitation protocols on ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 1 (ABCG1) lymphocyte expression and blood lipid profile in middle-aged men undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Forty five middle-aged men who had previously undergone coronary artery bypass surgery were randomly divided into three groups of control (C; n=15), aerobic training (AT; n=15) and combined training (CT; n=15). Blood samples were taken before the first and after the last exercise sessions. After isolation of mononuclear cells using Ficoll and mRNA purification, gene expression changes were examined by real-time PCR. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests.

Eight weeks of training intervention resulted in a significant increase in ABCG1 expression as well as a significant decrease in plasma levels of LDL, triglyceride and total cholesterol in both training groups. However, there was no significant difference between the AT and CT groups. In addition, high-density lipoprotein was significantly increased in the AT and CT groups.

Both AT and CT can increase plasma LDL and increase ABCG1 expression and HDL concentrations, indicating the positive effects of both interventions on the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Osteoarthritis is the result of a defect in synovial membrane-covered joint tissues. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of glucosamine sulfate alone and combined with moderate intensity exercise on serum levels of CS 846 epitope and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) in a rat model of osteoarthritis.

In this study, after inducing osteoarthritis in 42 male Wistar rats (weighting 250±300 g, aged 8 to 12 weeks), the rats were randomly divided into five groups: control-healthy, control-patient, patient-exercise, patient-glucosamine and patient-glucosamine-exercise. The training program consisted of 30 minutes of running on a non-slip treadmill at speed of 16 m/min in the first week with progressive overload principle reaching 50 minutes by the eighth week. The glucosamine groups received oral glucosamine sulfate (250 mg/kg/day) once a day for eight consecutive weeks. The serum levels of CS 846 epitope and COMP were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukeychr('39')s post hoc test. All statistical analyses were performed in GraghPad prism 8 and at significance level of 0.05.

Combined exercise and glucosamine supplementation caused a significant decrease in the COMP and CS846 levels. This decrease was more profound compared to that of glucosamine and exercise alone.

Overall, the findings of the present study showed that osteoarthritis increases serum COMP and CS 846 levels. In addition, glucosamine supplementation combined with exercise can significantly improve knee osteoarthritis in rats.

Elevated blood lipids and physical inactivity are known risk factors of atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to compare effects of four weeks of high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT) and continuous walking on atherogenic indices of obese middle-aged men.

Study population consisted of 36 male teachers aged 35-50 years, with mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.7 ± 3.5 kg/m2 who were working in the city of Galikesh, northeastern Iran. The subjects were enrolled via purposeful sampling and were randomly divided into two experimental groups and a control group. Before and after the intervention, anthropometric characteristics (height, weight and BMI) and blood pressure of each subject were measured. Fasting blood samples were taken from the left brachial vein 12 hours before the first exercise session and 12 hours after the last exercise session to determine lipid profile. Data were analyzed using SPSS 18 at significance level of 0.05.

The four-week walking exercise significantly decreased serum levels of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (P=0.001) and triglyceride (P=0.001). In addition, the HIIT program significantly increased high-density lipoprotein level (HDL-C) (P=0.004) and significantly reduced LDL-C (P=0.049), LDL/HDL (P=0.002), triglyceride (p=0.01), BMI (P=0.027) and blood pressure (P=0.002). In addition, the results of ANOVA and (Scheffe test) showed a significant increase in HDL-C (P=0.042) values and a significant decrease in VLDL-C (P=0.032), LDL/HDL (P=0.041), triglyceride (P=0.024), BMI (P=0.048) and blood pressure (P=0.016) of HIIT group compared to the control group.

Our findings indicated that HIIT has beneficial effects on some risk factors of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.