Advanced Biomedical Research
Volume:6 Issue: 6, Jun 2016

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating and degenerating disease which involves central nervous system. Environmental risk factors have a key role in MS susceptibility. Here we aim to investigate different risk factors effect on MS susceptibility in a large population of MS patients in Isfahan, Iran.

This study is a cross‑sectional hospital‑based study, which was conducted on a large group of MS patients registered in Kashani hospital and a control group from normal healthy population. Demographic data, age at onset of the disease, history of viral infections, vaccination, history of trauma to head, recent stressful events, alimentation, familial history, method of delivery (caesarean section, normal vaginal delivery), disability score and history of smoking were gathered using a designed questionnaire.

Totally 536 MS patient with the mean age of 34.37 ± 9.22 and 399 individuals from healthy population with the mean age of 32.53 ± 9.91 were recruited. Significant difference in history of measles infection (control = 15.5%, case = 22.4%, P = 0.009), consumption of dairy products (case = 56.6%, control = 67.5%, P = 0.01) and major stressful life events (case = 62.2%, control = 52.7%, P < 0.05) between these two groups were demonstrated.

A significant relation between stress, history of infection and milk consumption was reached that highlights the importance of environmental risk factors in MS pathogenesis.

Although in the last two decades the World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced tuberculosis as “a threat to global”, the vaccination with the Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette‑Guerin (BCG) is the only way for the prevention of this fatal infectious disease. Despite of the efficacy of BCG vaccine especially against infants’ meningitis, it has still some limitations due to a variety of adverse effects. Many studies have evaluated the side effects of different strains of BCG vaccines in different countries. In Iran, some studies have been done so far to evaluate the adverse effects of 1173 P2 strain which is used for BCG vaccination. Each of these studies have used different standardization and sampling methods. This review will survey all studies that have been published about adverse effects of 1173 P2 strain of BCG vaccine in Iran using data mining methods.

Mathematical modeling of biological systems is an attractive way for studying complex biological systems and their behaviors. Petri Nets, due to their ability to model systems with various levels of qualitative information, have been wildly used in modeling biological systems in which enough qualitative data may not be at disposal. These nets have been used to answer questions regarding the dynamics of different cell behaviors including the translation process. In one stage of the translation process, the RNA sequence may be degraded. In the process of degradation of RNA sequence, small‑noncoding RNA molecules known as small interfering RNA (siRNA) match the target RNA sequence. As a result of this matching, the target RNA sequence is destroyed.

In this context, the process of matching and destruction is modeled using Colored Petri Nets (CPNs). The model is constructed using CPNs which allow tokens to have a value or type on them. Thus, CPN is a suitable tool to model string structures in which each element of the string has a different type. Using CPNs, long RNA, and siRNA strings are modeled with a finite set of colors. The model is simulated via CPN Tools.

A CPN model of the matching between RNA and siRNA strings is constructed in CPN Tools environment.

In previous studies, a network of stoichiometric equations was modeled. However, in this particular study, we modeled the mechanism behind the silencing process. Modeling this kind of mechanisms provides us with a tool to examine the effects of different factors such as mutation or drugs on the process.

The increasing number of mobile phones can physically cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) in medical environments; can also cause errors in immunoassays in laboratories. The ELISA readers are widely used as a useful diagnostic tool for Enzymun colorimetric assay in medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the ELISA reader could be interfered by the exposure to the 900 MHz cell phones in the laboratory.

Human serum samples were collected from 14 healthy donors (9 women and 5 men) and each sample was divided into four aliquots and was placed into four batches for the in‑vitro quantitative determination of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). During colorimetric reading of the first, second, and third batches, the ELISA reader (Stat Fax 2100, Awareness Technology, Inc., USA) was exposed to 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 W exposure of 900 MHz radiation, respectively. For the forth batch (control group), no radiation was applied. All experiments were performed comparing ELISA read out results of the I, II, and III batches with the control batch, using the Wilcoxon test with criterion level of P = 0.050.

The final scores in the exposed batches I, II, and III were not statistically significant relative to the control batch (P > 0.05). The results showed that 900 MHz radiation exposure did not alter the ELISA measured levels of hCG hormone in I (P = 0.219), II (P = 0.909), and III (P = 0.056) batches compared to the control batch.

This study showed that ELISA reader does not interfere by mobile phone RF radiation at a closed contact (less than 5 cm distance). However, we recommend that medical institutions discuss these issues in the context of their specific use of technologies and frame a policy that is clear and straightforward to guide staff, patients, and visitors.

The aim of this study was to investigate autonomic nervous system (ANS) function by using electrophysiological tests in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

This descriptive analytical study was done on 28 individuals with a history of lupus and ten age‑ and sex‑matched healthy objects were being selected randomly. The autonomy questionnaire has been used to determine clinical symptom of ANS involvement. The electrophysiological assessments of ANS function were performed by sympathetic skin response (SSR). The mean values of sympathetic (SSR latency and amplitude) parameters were compared to determine any correlations between SSR parameters and clinical characteristics of ANS.

28 SLE patients (3 males, 25 females) with a mean age of 34.6 ± 9.74 years and 10 control subjects (4 males, 6 females) with a mean age of 36.8 ± 6.43 years were included in the study. Among patients 17 (60.7%) exhibited autonomic symptoms. Headache was the most common issue with the highest percentage rate (41.17%). The mean latency and amplitude of SSR were increased (1.52 ± 0.16 vs. 1.39 ± 0.16 and 107 ± 15.6 vs. 110 ± 15.6, respectively), compared to control. A significant difference was observed between the SSR test results of patients with lupus compared to normal healthy objects (P < 0.05). R = 0.43 correlation was found between autonomy questionnaire scores and SSR (P < 0.05).

It could be concluded that latency measures in SSR test can be used as a valuable and accurate evaluation guideline for autonomic system assessment.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an enzyme, elevated in the atheroma and serum of a patient with atherosclerotic vessels. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the serum MPO level is related to the presence of plaque in patients without risk factors, such as, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidemia.

A serum sample was collected from patients who referred for angiography. The MPO level was measured in the serum samples of 40 patients without risk factors for atherosclerosis using the enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

The MPO level was 245.5 ± 13.8 (ng/ml) in patients with atherosclerosis and 213.9 ± 8.9 (ng/ml) in patients without atherosclerosis. There was a significant difference between the groups (P = 0.002). The odds ratio was 0.67 (0.95 CI, 0.17 – 2.5) for patients with and without coronary atherosclerosis.

Although the MPO concentration is higher in patients suffering from atherosclerosis, it is not a predictor of coronary artery disease in patients without diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and hyperlipidemia.

Cell culture techniques have many advantages for investigation of drug transport to target organ like liver. HepG2 and Huh‑7 are two cell lines available from hepatoma that can be used as a model for hepatic drug transport. The present study is aimed to analyze the expression level of several drug transporter genes in two hepatoma cell lines, HepG2 and Huh‑7 and their response to inhibitors.

This is an in vitro study using HepG2 and Huh‑7 cells. The expression level of the following drug transporter genes was quantified: P‑glycoprotein/multidrug resistance protein 1, Organic Anionic Transporter Protein 1B1 (OATP1B1) and Organic Cationic Transporter‑1 (OCT1). Ribonucleic acid was extracted from the cells using Tripure isolation reagent, then gene expression level of the transporters is quantified using Applied Biosystems quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Verapamil (P‑glycoprotein inhibitor), nelfinavir (OATP1B1 inhibitor), quinidine (OCT1 inhibitor) were used to differentiate the inhibitory properties of these agents to the transporter expressions in HepG2 and Huh‑7 cells.

Huh‑7 shows a higher level of P‑glycoprotein, OATP1B1 and OCT1 expressions compared with those of HepG2. Verapamil reduces the expressions of P‑glycoprotein in HepG2 and Huh‑7; nelfinavir reduces the expression of OATP1B1 in HepG2 and Huh‑7; while quinidine reduces the OCT1 gene expressions in HepG2, but not in Huh‑7 cells.

This study indicates that HepG2 might be a more suitable in vitro model than Huh‑7 to study drug transport in hepatocytes involving drug transporters

A cluster of genes are involved in the pathogenesis and adhesion of Candida albicans to mucosa and epithelial cells in the vagina, the important of which is agglutinin‑like sequence (ALS) genes. As well as vaginitis is a significant health problem among women, the antifungal resistance of Candida species is continually increasing. This cross‑sectional study investigates the expression of ALS1 and ALS3 genes and biofilm formation in C. albicans isolate isolated from vaginitis.

Fifty‑three recognized isolates of C. albicans were collected from women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis in Iran, cultured on sabouraud dextrose agar, and then examined for gene expression. Total messenger RNA (mRNA) extracted from C. albicans isolates and complementary DNA synthesized using reverse transcriptase enzyme. Reverse transcription‑polymerase chain reaction (RT‑PCR) using specific primer was used to evaluate the expression of ALS1and ALS3 through housekeeping (ACT1) genes. 3‑(4,5‑dimethyl‑2‑thiazyl)‑2,5‑diphenyl‑2H‑tetrazolium bromide assay was performed to assess adherence capacity and biofilm formation in the isolated.

Forty isolates (75.8%) expressed ALS1and 41 isolates (77.7%) expressed ALS3 gene. Moreover, 39 isolates (74%) were positive for both ALS1 and ALS3 mRNA by the RT‑PCR. Adherence capability in isolates with ALS1 or ALS3 genes expression was greater than the control group (with any gene expression), besides, it was significantly for the most in the isolates that expressed both ALS1 and ALS3 genes simultaneously.

The results attained indicated that there is an association between the expression of ALS1 and ALS3 genes and fluconazole resistance in C. albicans. A considerable percent of the isolates expressing the ALS1 and ALS3 genes may have contributed to their adherence to vagina and biofilm formation.

Overactivity of renin‑angiotensin system is involved in the pathophysiology of renal and cardiovascular diseases. It is suggested that endothelial cells can release nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species in response to angiotensin II (Ang II). Angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor of Ang II has been found in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BST). BST is involved in autonomic function. This study was performed to find the role of central Ang II in serum lipid peroxidation product and in releasing NO into circulation.

Twenty‑one catheterized rats were placed in stereotaxic instrument. A hole was drilled above BST. In the control group, saline 0.9% (100 nl) was microinjected into the BST. In the second group, Ang II (100 μM, 100–150 nl) was microinjected into the BST. In the third group losartan (an AT1 antagonist) was microinjected (100 μM, 200 nl) before Ang II into the BST. Systolic blood pressure was recorded. The NO metabolite (nitrite) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the rat’s serum.

The data indicated that microinjection of Ang II into the BST produced a pressor response (P < 0.0001). It also increased MDA and nitrite levels of the serum significantly (P < 0.001, P < 0.0001). Pretreatment with losartan before Ang II microinjection attenuated serum’s levels of MDA and nitrite (P < 0.001, P < 0.0001).

Our findings suggest that central effect of Ang II on blood pressure is accompanied with increased levels of MDA and nitrite in the circulation.

Stroke is an important cause of disability in children. Pediatric stroke may be due to significant permanent cognitive and motor handicap in children. In this study, we evaluated long‑term outcomes of stroke in pediatric patients who have been discharged with definite diagnosis of stroke in Tehran Mofid children’s Hospital and Imam Hossein children’s Hospital located in Isfahan, Iran, from 2005 to 2012.

A total of 53 children with stroke were included in the study. Stroke outcomes as motor disability, seizures, and cognitive dysfunctions were assessed.

After a median follow‑up of 4 years, 15 (29%) patients experienced full recovery. Thirty‑eight (71%) patients had some degree of neurological handicap.

Approximately 70% of children with arterial ischemic stroke suffer from long‑term neurological disabilities including motor deficits, cognitive impairment, and late seizures. Stroke recurrence is the most important risk factor responsible for severe adverse neurological outcomes in pediatric stroke.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) as an important infection in the setting of renal transplantation carries the high mortality and morbidity rate. Thus, the prevention of this infection should receive higher priority. However, bacterial resistance to antibiotics is on the rise, with limited data to guide prophylaxis. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of sulfamethoxazole‑trimethoprim (SMZ/TMP) and SMZ/TMP plus ciprofloxacin for prophylaxis of UTI in renal transplant recipients.

In a clinical trial study, 50 patients were included and divided into two groups of 25 using block randomization. Patients in Group I received prophylactic SMZ/TMP and those in Group II received ciprofloxacin plus SMZ/TMP. The incidence of UTI in the two groups at 1, 3, and 6 months after transplantation was evaluated. This study was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial (IRCT number: IRCT 2015120823743N1).

Of the 61 patients older than 18 years at the time of transplantation, 50 were included. UTI was documented in 8 patients (32%) in Group I and 3 (12%) in Group II (P = 0.026). The average time for the development of the first case of infection was the same for both groups (P = 0.241), and it was at its maximum in the 1st month. Urinary infections caused by Escherichia coli, the dominant strain, were the same in both groups (P = 0.673).

Our study shows that the addition of 1 month course of ciprofloxacin lowered the incidence of UTI. More studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of this approach.

Psoriasis is a chronic hyperproliferative inflammatory disease of the skin, genetic predisposition to which is well‑established. The late cornified envelope genes LCE3B and LCE3C are involved in maintaining the integrity of skin barrier especially following skin barrier disruption. The deletion of these genes would lead to an impaired epidermal response following damage to the skin barrier thus predisposing to psoriatic lesions. This study aimed to evaluate the common deletion of late cornified envelope genes (LCE 3B/3C) in psoriasis patients of Kashmiri ethnic population of North India.

It was a hospital‑based, case‑control study which included 100 psoriasis cases and an equal number of controls. Blood samples were obtained, and DNA was extracted from all the samples by a kit‑based method. To determine the LCE3C_LCE3B‑del genotype, a three‑primer polymerase chain reaction assay was performed.

The genotype for the common LCE3C_LCE3B deletion in 100 psoriasis patients and 100 controls was determined. Among the cases, 17 cases were homozygous for insertion genotype (I/I), 40 cases were heterozygous for insertion/deletion genotype (I/D) and 43 cases were homozygous for deletion genotype (D/D), compared to controls where 20 cases were homozygous for insertion genotype (I/I), 45 cases were heterozygous for insertion/deletion genotype (I/D), and 35 cases were homozygous for deletion genotype (D/D). The del/del frequency was higher among psoriatic patients compared to controls (43% vs. 35%) although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.507).

We hereby infer that LCE3C_LCE3B deletion does not appear to be associated with the risk of psoriasis in our population.

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) considers the most common compression neuropathy, which nerve conduction studies (NCSs) used for its detection routinely and universally. This study was performed to determine the value of the median TLI and other NCS variables and to investigate their sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of CTS.

The study was carried out among 100 hands of healthy volunteers and 50 hands of patients who had a positive history of paresthesia and numbness in upper extremities.Information including age, gender, and result of sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV), peak latency difference of median and ulnar nerves of fourth digit (M4‑U4 peak latency difference), and TLI were recorded for analysis. Sensitivity and specificity of electro diagnostic parameters in the diagnosis of CTS was investigated.

Normal range of the median nerve TLI was 0.43 ± 0.077. There was no significant difference between two groups for MNCV means (P = 0. 45). Distal sensory latency and distal motor latency (DML) of median nerve and fourth digit median‑ulnar peak latency differences (PM4‑PU4) for CTS group was significantly higher (P < 0.001) and mean for sensory nerve conduction velocity was significantly higher in control group (P < 0.001). The most sensitive electrophysiological finding in CTS patients was median TLI (82%), but the most specific one was DML (98%).

Although in early stages of CTS, we usually expect only abnormalities in the sensory studies, but TLI may better demonstrate the effect on median nerve motor fiber even in mild cases of CTS.

During the past years various drugs have been used for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) treatment including steroids that are shown to be beneficial. Directed delivery of high doses of steroids into the inner ear is suggested for its potential and known as intratympanic steroids therapy (IST). Despite the use of dexamethasone and methylprednisolone as the traditional treatments, there are still debates about the optimal dosage, preferred drug, and the route of administration.

We performed a randomized clinical trial study in which 50 patients suffering from SSNHL and resistant to standard therapy were employed. Each patient took 0.5 ml methylprednisolone (40 mg/mg) along with bicarbonate or dexamethasone (4 mg/mL) through direct intratympanic injection. This method was performed and scheduled once every 2 days for three times only for the dexamethasone receiving group. Hearing test was carried out and the results were analyzed according to a four-frequency (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 kHz) pure tone average (PTA) and Siegel’s criteria.

According to Siegel’s criteria, three out of 25 (12%) dexamethasone receiving patients were healed in 1 and 4 (16%), 9 (32%) were respectively recovered in Siegel’s criteria 2, 3, and 9 (32%) showed no recovery. In the group receiving methylprednisolone, recovery was found in 6 (24%), 8 (32%), 7 (28%) patients in the Siegel’s criteria 1, 2, 3, respectively, and in 4 (16%) patients no recovery was recorded. In methylprednisolone group, hearing was significantly improved compared to the dexamethasone group (P < 0.05). The general hearing improvement rate was 84% in methylprednisolone receiving patients showing a significantly higher improvement than 64% in the dexamethasone group.

Topical intratympanic treatment with methylprednisolone is safe and an effective treatment approach for those SSNHL cases that are refractory to the common therapies by Dexamethasone.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common male cancers. The prevalence of prostate cancer is different due to genetic and environmental factors. Diagnosis of prostate cancer is by biopsy due to prostate‑specific antigen (PSA) and Digital Rectal Examination (DRE). Controversy about decision making for prostate biopsy in PSA between 4 and 10 and normal DRE, is one of the problems in this time. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of prostate cancer in males with PSA between 4 and 10 and normal DRE. We also evaluated the PSA density and percent of free PSA in patients with prostate cancer.

A total of 121 males with PSA between 4 and 10 and normal DRE, were evaluated. Then, transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) andprostate biopsy from 12 points of peripheral zone, was done. These data were analyzed by Chi‑square, t‑test and ANOVA and Roc curve.

In this study, the prevalence of prostate cancer in PSA between 4 and 10 and normal DRE, was evaluated, 29.8%. With use of Roc curve, PSA density cutoff point was calculated 0.12 and percent of free PSA cutoff point, was calculated, 18%.

In males with PSA between 4 and 10 and normal DRE, PSA density smaller than 0.12‑0.15, and percent of free PSA greater than 18%, the prevalence of prostate cancer is very few and we can safely ignore the TRUS and prostate biopsy in these males and eliminate its costs and side effects.

The aim of the present study was to assess the qualitative indices and enhancement rate of computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism using Test bolus and Bolus-tracking techniques.

Fifty-two patients with suspected pulmonary embolism that passed informed consent were randomly divided in the two groups. In each group, demographic characteristics, qualitative indices, and enhancement rate of CTPA were recorded.

The diagnostic result obtained in majority of the participants in the two groups (88.5 % in Test bolus group vs. 73.1% in the Bolus tracking group). In the case of quantitative variables, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups (P > 0.05). The only statistically significant difference between the two groups is average of “X-ray dose”.

The results of our study show that there is no statistically significant difference between the Bolus Tracking and Test Bolus techniques for producing more homogeneous enhancement.

Therapeutic superiority of a combination of Paracetamol and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) over either drug alone remains controversial. We evaluated the efficiency of a combination of Paracetamol and Piroxicam versus each drug alone and also placebo in the management of postoperative pain, in patients who had undergone elective upper limb orthopedic surgery under general anesthesia.

A total of 100 patients were randomly divided into four groups to receive either intravenous (IV) infusion of Paracetamol, 15 mg/kg., intramuscular (IM) injection of Piroxicam 0.4 mg/kg., their combination or placebo. The pain scores were recorded at the first; second, fourth, sixth, twelfth, and 24 hours after Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) admission. After the operation 0.1 mg/kg of morphine was administered, if the patient needed.

The means of the pain scores were 5.26 ± 1.53, 4.09 ± 0.88, 4.36 ± 1.48, and 4.11 ± 1.29, in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively, (Group A: received placebo; Group B: received both Paracetamol and Piroxicam; Group C received Piroxicam; Group D received Paracetamol). Except for differences between the mean pain scores in Groups B and D, the other differences were statistically significant (P value < 0.05). No adverse effect was reported in the four groups.

IV infusion of 15 mg/kg Paracetamol used as a preventive may provide effective analgesia in comparison with IM 0.4 mg/kg Piroxicam or placebo. Addition of Piroxicam to Paracetamol has not much more benefit than Paracetamol alone, in reducing pain after upper limb orthopedic surgery.