فهرست مطالب

Advanced Biomedical Research
Volume:8 Issue: 1, Jan 2018

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1397/01/21
  • تعداد عناوین: 20
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  • Ali Kachouei, Hassan Rezvanian, Masoud Amini, AshrafAminorroaya, Eshagh Moradi* Page 1
    Background

    Due to the prevalence of autoimmune hypothyroidism and its effects on physical and mental health it is necessary to provide a treatment which is also effective in preventing the progression of sub‑clinical hypothyroidism in these patients. This study aims to investigate the effect of selenium supplementation on of anti‑thyroid hormone antibodies in these patients.

    Materials and Methods

    In a randomized clinical trial, 70 patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism randomly divided into two groups of 35 each, the first group was treated with oral selenium treatment with levothyroxine (LT4) and to the second group along with LT4, placebo was also prescribed. Serum selenium level, thyroid hormones and anti‑thyroid hormone antibodies before and after 3 months of treatment in both groups, were determined, and the results were analyzed using SPSS software.

    Results

    The mean of the serum anti-thyroid peroxidase serum level in the intervention group before and after treatment was 682.18 ± 87.25 and 522.96 ± 47.21 and the difference before and after treatment was statistically significant (P = 0.021). The level of this antibody before and after treatment in the control group was 441 ± 53.54 and 501.18 ± 77.68, and no significant differences between two groups were observed before and after treatment (P = 0.42).

    Conclusion

    Selenium supplementation may help to reduce the levels of antibodies in patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism.

    Keywords: Anti‑thyroid hormone antibodies, autoimmune hypothyroidism, selenium
  • Majid Rezvani, Saeid Abrishamkar, Homayoun Tabesh, Ali Namazi*, Amir Mahabadi, Masoud Aeinfar, Niloufar Nourian Page 2
    Background

    As marcaine is administered to a great extent due to minor complications and reasonable expenses and as discectomy is prevalently used in Iran, this study makes a comparison between effect of marcaine alone, lidocaine alone, and marcaine plus lidocaine on pain relief of patients undergoing lumbar disc open surgery.

    Materials and Methods

    In a clinical trial study, 192 patients were selected and randomly divided into four groups. Patients in Groups 1–4 received 0.5 ml marcaine during surgery, 5 ml lidocaine 2% before incision, 5 ml lidocaine 2% before incision plus 5 ml marcaine during surgey and normal saline, respectively. After patients gained knowledge of visual analog scale (VAS) criteria, their severity of pain was measured and was recorded in their profiles, along with demographic details and history of diseases. After surgery and their transfer to their rooms, their severity of pain was measured and recorded again by using VAS criteria. Finally, difference between the four groups was compared by SPSS software.

    Results

    The mean (±standard deviation) of postoperative pain in marcaine + lidocaine, marcaine, lidocaine, and normal saline was 3.5 ± 1.3, 3.5 ± 1.6, 36.1.9, and 4.2 ± 1.8, respectively, and we did not observe any significant difference in severity of pain after surgery in these groups (P = 0.15). The highest and lowest degree of satisfaction occurred in marcaine-lidocaine group and control group, respectively, (40 patients [83.3%] vs. 25 patients [52.1%]).

    Conclusion

    Lidocaine-marcaine treatment reduces the need to opiates in cases of postoperative pain relief of discectomy and provides patients with great satisfaction.

    Keywords: Disc herination, lidocaine, marcaine, postoperative pain
  • MohammadhadiNouraei, Mehdi Motififar*, Morteza Barazandeh Page 3
    Background

    In this study, functional state of patients with Type C distal humerus fractures undergone surgical plating was evaluated 6 and 12 months after the surgery in order to record postsurgical factors such as pain level and job/performance satisfaction.

    Materials and Methods

    In this cross‑sectional study, 46 patients with humerus fractures were recruited and their ability to do daily tasks, presence of degenerative changes, stability of elbow joint, and range of motion was evaluated. For assessment of response to surgery, Mayo score was used.

    Results

    Among 46 patients, 45 (97.8%) of them had joint stability. Evaluation of postsurgical complications showed that six subjects (13%) had no complications, but superficial infection was observed in 12 (26.1%) subjects. Neuromuscular disorders in ulnar nerve were present in 11 subjects (23.9%), recurrent articular bursitis of elbow joint in 6 subjects (13%), stiffness of elbow joint in 29 subjects (63%), nonunion of fracture in 3 subjects (6.5%), and myositis ossification in 4 (8.7%) subjects. Furthermore, 18 (39.1%) patients presented with more than one (2–4) complications.

    Conclusion

    Open reduction and internal fixation surgery with dual plating is the method of choice for treatment of Type C distal humeral fractures. Evaluation of long‑term outcomes of this surgery could be done via several different questionnaires as many studies suggest. This study demonstrated that the outcomes of this surgery in Isfahan, Iran, have been noticeably inferior compared to results of the studies in other parts of the world.

    Keywords: Distal humeral fracture, Mayo elbow performance index, outcomes, visual analog scale
  • Shervin Assari* Page 4
    Background

    Although the role of self‑rated health (SRH) on all‑cause mortality is known, we still do not know whether SRH predicts death due to specific causes (e.g., kidney disease). The current study aimed to compare  Blacks and Whites on the association between SRH and mortality due to kidney diseases. A nationally representative sample of adults in the United States was used to provide generalizable results to the United States population.

    Materials and Methods

    The Americans’ Changing Lives study is a nationally representative cohort, conducted from 1986–2011. The study followed 3361 Blacks (n = 1156) and Whites (n = 2205) for up to 25 years. The outcome was time to death due to kidney diseases, derived from death certificates and the National Death Index. Cox proportional hazards models were used to test whether race and baseline SRH interact on mortality due to kidney diseases.

    Results

    In the pooled sample, poor SRH (odds ratio [OR] = 2.29, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.24–4.24) was associated with an increased risk of death due to kidney diseases over the follow‑up period. Baseline SRH also showed a significant interaction with race on the outcome (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.25–0.96), suggesting a stronger effect of SRH on deaths due to kidney diseases for Whites compared to Blacks. In race‑specific models, poor SRH at baseline increased risk of death due to kidney diseases among Whites (OR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.14–4.34) but not Blacks (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.54–2.41).

    Conclusions

    Blacks and Whites differ regarding the predictive role of baseline SRH on death due to kidney diseases over time. Factors such as SRH better predict risk of mortality for Whites than for Blacks.

    Keywords: African Americans, death, ethnic groups, kidney diseases, population groups, self‑ratedhealth
  • Mohsen Meidani, Seyed Alireza Mirmohammad Sadeghi* Page 5
    Background

    Respiratory infections are a frequent cause of fever in neutropenic patients, whereas respiratory viral infections are not frequently considered as a diagnosis, which causes high morbidity and mortality in these patients.

    Materials and Methods

    This prospective study was performed on 36 patients with neutropenia who admitted to hospital were eligible for inclusion with fever (single temperature of >38.3°C or a sustained temperature of >38°C for more than 1 h), upper and lower respiratory symptoms. Sampling was performed from the throat of the patient by the sterile swab. All materials were analyzed by quantitative real‑time multiplex polymerase chain reaction covering the following viruses; influenza, parainfluenza virus (PIV), rhinovirus (RV), human metapneumovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

    Results

    RV was the most frequently detected virus and then RSV was the most. PIV was not present in any of the tested samples. Furthermore, no substantial differences in the distribution of specific viral species were observed based on age, sex, neutropenia duration, hematological disorder, and respiratory tract symptoms and signs (P > 0.05).

    Conclusion

    Our prospective study supports the hypothesis that respiratory viruses play an important role in the development of neutropenic fever, and thus has the potential to individualize infection treatment and to reduce the extensive use of antibiotics in immunocompromised patients with neutropenia.

    Keywords: Fever, neutropenic patients, respiratory viruses
  • Masih Sabouri, Amir Mahabadi*, Homayoun Tabesh, Majeed Rezvani, Masih Kouchekzadeh, Ali Namazi Page 6
    Background

    Cerebral aneurysms are a kind of cardiovascular diseases which are accompanied with high morbidity and mortality due to rupturing and causing subarachnoid hemorrhages. The current study aimed to determine epidemiologic and demographic features and prognosis of patients with cerebral aneurysms.

    Materials and Methods

    In this cross‑sectional study, 465 patients with cerebral aneurysms hospitalized in Al‑Zahra Hospital were studied. The required information including demographic, epidemiologic, and clinical features of the disease were extracted from their records. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software and the factors associated with the prognosis of the disease were determined.

    Results

    Four hundred and sixty‑five cases with cerebral aneurysm undergoing surgery were investigated. The mean age of the patients was 48 ± 14 years whereas 216 cases (46.5%) were male and 249 (53.5%) were female. Two hundred and thirty‑seven patients (51%) remitted completely while the disease caused moderate disability in 84 cases (18.1%), severe disability in 24 ones (5.2%) and vegetative state in 9 cases (1.9%) and mortality in 57 ones while it was unknown in 54 cases (11.6%). In terms of the age of patient, WFNS index, anatomical position of aneurysm, type of aneurysm lesion, the incidence season of the disease, type of postoperative complications, family history and operative approach, the disease outcome had a significant difference while gender, ethnicity, and risk factors had no significant effect on the disease outcome.

    Conclusions

    According to the type of aneurysm, the incidence position of the aneurysm and other epidemiologic, demographic, and clinical features, providing the prevention and treatment strategies is necessary

    Keywords: Aneurysm, disease outcome, subarachnoid hemorrhage
  • Reza Najafi, Neda Mostofi zadeh*, Mahin Hashemipour Page 7

    Tyrosinemia type III is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the defi ciency of 4- hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (4-HPPD). It is characterized by elevated levels of blood tyrosine and massive excretion of its derivatives into the urine. Clinical fi ndings of tyrosinemia type III include neurological symptoms and mental retardation. Only a few patients presenting with this disease have been described, and the clinical phenotype remains variable and unclear. We present a case, who was admitted to the hospital at the age of 4 months for recurrent seizures. Two months later, she was admitted again with status epilepticus. Laboratory data showed increased level of tyrosine in the blood. She was treated with a diet low in tyrosine and phenylalanine and anamix formula that leading to catch-up growth and improvement of her symptoms. Plasma tyrosine level dropped to normal values. In any child who presents with the neurologic symptom, some rare diagnosis like tyrosinemia type III should be considered.

    Keywords: Mental retardation, status epilepticus, tyrosinemia type III
  • Rezvan Enteshari Najafabadi, Nasrin Kazemipour, Abolghasem Esmaeili*, Siamak Beheshti, Saeed Nazifi Page 8
    Background

    Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) have been largely considered for numerous applications in biomedicine such as magnetic resonance imaging, hyperthermia, cell tracking, anticancer treatment, and targeted delivery of drugs or genes. However, they may have side effects such body weight loss. Quercetin (QT), a strong antioxidant and free radical scavenger and a natural flavonoid, has a wide range of biological and therapeutic effects. In this study, the effect of QT on prevention of weight loss due to the using of SPION has been investigated.

    Materials and Methods

    SPION and QT‑SPION were administered orally at 50 and 100 mg/kg for 7 days. Then, the body weight was measured at the beginning and the end of the study.

    Results

    Rats fed with 50 and 100 mg/kg SPION showed a significant weight loss, whereas those that fed with 50 mg/kg QT‑SPION did not. A weight loss was observed in rats treated with 100 mg/kg of QT‑SPION.

    Conclusions

    The results of this study showed that quercetin could prevent weight loss due to the SPION.

    Keywords: Nanoparticles, quercetin, superparamagnetic iron oxide, weight loss
  • Mehdi Motififard, Khalilollah Nazem, Aida Zarfeshani, Kaveh Zarfeshani* Page 9
    Background

    Anterior knee pain is a major problem in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It is accepted that anterior knee pain (AKP) often contributes to a patellofemoral etiology; however, its etiology or treatment is not understood completely. Disabling pain receptors by electrocautery could theoretically lead to anterior knee area denervation. The present study aimed to evaluate the pain post‑patellar denervation (PD) with electrocautery in TKA.

    Materials and Methods

    Clinical results for 92 patients who underwent TKA (58 women, 34 men; mean age 67.5 years) were analyzed. In addition to removal of all osteophytes, PD by electrocautery was performed on patella of treatment group (n = 46) and debridement alone including removing of all osteophytes was performed on the control group (n = 46). Knee Society System (KSS) score, patella score (PS), and visual analog scale (VAS) were used to determine pre‑ and post‑operative AKP.

    Results

    The follow‑up duration was 10 months. No revision or reoperations were performed. There were no patellar fractures. On all parameters (KSS score, PS, and VAS), there was a statistically significant pre‑ to post‑operative difference in favor of the denervation group only 3 weeks after operation; however, there was no statistically difference postoperation on other follow‑ups (3, 6, and 10 months).

    Conclusions

    PD with electrocautery could reduce AKP in TKA without patellar resurfacing only in a short‑term period postoperation.

    Keywords: Denervation, patella, total knee arthroplasty
  • Nafiseh Maleki, Zahra Tahanasab, SinaMobasherizadeh, Aliakbar Rezaei, Jamshid Faghri* Page 10
    Background

    Extended‑spectrum β‑lactamase (ESBL)‑producing is a significant resistant mechanism to β‑lactams in Enterobacteriaceae, especially in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The main objectives of this study were to genetically characterize urinary clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae through the investigating of blaTEM, blaCTX‑M and using molecular typing by Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC‑PCR) method. We also determined the frequency of antibiotic resistance of K. pneumoniae strains to characterize the β‑lactamases included.

    Materials and Methods

    A cross‑sectional study was carried out to evaluate 98 strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from urine culture of outpatients referred to Al‑Zahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using Kirby–Bauer’s method. Screening of ESBLs was carried out using double‑disk screening test. PCR technique was performed to detect TEM and CTX‑M genes. The total DNA of each strain was tested by ERIC‑PCR.

    Results

    In 98 K. pneumoniae studied clinical isolates, 25.5% were ESBL producing and 44.9% multidrug‑resistant (MDR). From 25 ESBL isolates, 23 (92%) cases showed MDR phenotype. In ESBL producing isolates, 23 (92%) were blaCTX‑M and 19 (76%) blaTEM positive. The antimicrobial drug susceptibilities of ESBL isolates indicated high resistant rates for cefotaxime and ceftazidime. All 25 ESBL producing isolates were resistant to cefotaxime. Complex patterns of fingerprints isolates showed that 36% of the isolates were belonged to the cluster no 5.

    Conclusion

    This study revealed high antimicrobial resistance rates among ESBL isolates which can lead to various health difficulties. Epidemiological data collection from patients is recommended to develop the strategies to manage antibiotic resistance.

    Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, blaCTX‑M, blaTEM, Klebsiella pneumoniae, multidrug‑resistant
  • Hajar Khazraei, AlimohammadBananzadeh, Seyed Vahid Hosseini* Page 11
    Background

    Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic inflammatory disorder. Currently, the final treatment is colectomy. The aim of this study was to investigate the outcomes of proctocolectomy in patients that used a high dose of prednisolone.

    Materials and Methods

    Seventy‑five patients presenting for surgical management of histopathologically proven UC. All patients were offered total proctocolectomy (TPC) with ileal pouch‑anal anastomosis (IPAA). Patients were divided into two groups: low dose of steroids (Group A) and high dose of steroid (Group B) consumers. Data from these patients after 2 years were reviewed and analyzed.

    Results

    From total patients, 34 of them were male and 34 ones were female and seven patients underwent laparatomy. Overall incontinence rate was 8.8%; dysplasia was 22%, pouchitis was 18.9% while mortality was nil. The length of hospital stay was 6.76 days in Group A and 9.21 days in Group B (P = 0.399). Leakage was observed in nine of the patients after surgery (P = 0.589). Fecal incontinence between two groups was not statistically different (P = 0.063).

    Conclusions

    Laparoscopic TPC‑IPAA is feasible in patients needing surgical management of UC. Preoperative treatment with high‑dose corticosteroids is associated with an increased risk of complications and reoperations.

    Keywords: Early outcome, ileal pouch‑anal anastomosis, ileorectal anastomosis, proctocolectomy, ulcerative colitis
  • Jalal Hassanshahi, Mehdi Nematbakhsh* Page 12
    Background

    Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) alters the expression of renin‑angiotensin system (RAS) components and angiotensin 1‑7 (Ang 1‑7) as a main arm of RAS is affected by UUO. The role of Mas receptor antagonist (A779) was examined in renal hemodynamic responses to Ang 1‑7 in 3‑day UUO and UUO removal (RUUO) in rats.

    Materials and Methods

    Forty‑five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups of sham operated, UUO, and RUUO, while each group was divided into two subgroups treated with vehicle or A779. Renal blood flow (RBF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) responses to graded Ang 1‑7 infusion were measured at controlled renal perfusion pressure.

    Results

    Mean arterial pressure response to Ang 1‑7 was increased in vehicle‑treated subgroup significantly (P < 0.05) when compared with A779‑treated subgroup. However, such observation was not seen in UUO and RUUO rats. The graded Ang 1‑7 infusion increased RBF and decreased RVR significantly in vehicle‑treated rats (P < 0.005). Furthermore, a significant difference was found between vehicle and A779‑treated subgroups in sham, UUO, and RUUO groups (P < 0.005).

    Conclusion

    Ang 1‑7 could alter the kidney hemodynamics responses in ureteral obstruction models.

    Keywords: A779, Angiotensin 1‑7, Mas receptor, renal blood flow, renal vascular resistance, unilateral ureteral obstruction
  • Afsaneh Karbasi, Azadeh Haratian* Page 13
    Background

    The prevalence of anxiety disorders among children and adolescents are found to be approximately between 8–12 and 5–10, respectively, and the long‑lasting effects of such disorders can expose the sufferers to impairment and dysfunction in several areas of life the examples of which are poor educational performance, low self‑esteem, and depression. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of internet‑based, cognitive‑behavioral therapy (ICBT) in treating the anxiety disorders among adolescent females.

    Materials and Methods

    The sample included thirty girls aged between 10 and 18 years suffering from a variety of anxiety disorders, under pharmaceutical therapy and referred to clinics of child and adolescent psychiatry specialists in Isfahan. The sample was selected through diagnostic interviews by psychiatrists based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, Text Revision; afterward, they were randomly assigned to either the experimental or the control groups. To evaluate the efficacy of an ICBT in reducing anxiety disorder symptoms, Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders questionnaire was administered among the patients both before and 4 weeks after the treatment.

    Results

    The covariance analysis results aimed to compare the anxiety disorder score variations between the two groups which demonstrate the fact that anxiety disorder scores in these two groups differ from one another (P < 0.001).

    Conclusions

    This study is comprised of two Conclusions.the significant reduction in the mean of anxiety disorders scores in the experimental group compared to those in control group can be indicative of the efficacy of ICBT. In addition the significant reduction in the average of anxiety disorders symptoms’ scores according to the type of anxiety disorders in the experimental group, compared to those in control group, can be indicative of the efficacy of ICBT

    Keywords: Anxiety disorders, internet‑based cognitive behavioral therapy, internet therapy
  • Miganoosh Simonian, Mohammadreza Sharifi, Reza Nedaeinia, Meysam Mosallaie, Sharifeh Khosravi, Amir Avan, Majid Ghayour Mobarhan, Hadi Bagheri, Rasoul Salehi* Page 14
    Background

    Both microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to have a critical role in the regulation of cellular processes such as cell growth and apoptosis, as well as cancer progression and metastasis. lncRNAs are aberrantly expressed in many diseases including cancer. Although it is well known that miRNAs can target a large number of protein‑coding genes, little is known whether miRNAs can also target lncRNAs. In the present study, we determine whether miR‑21 can regulate lncRNA cancer susceptibility candidate 2 (CASC2) in colorectal cancer.

    Materials and Methods

    LS174T cells were transfected with locked nucleic acid (LNA)‑anti‑miR‑21 and scrambled LNA for 24, 48 and 72 h. The expression of miR‑21 and lncCASC2 was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

    Results

    However, contrary to what we expected and reported by others, lncCASC2 quantity was significantly reduced in LNA treated LS174T cells compared to the scrambled treated and normal untreated cells (P < 0.05).

    Conclusion

    The interaction of miRNA and lncRNA are not as simple as suggested by other reports. Moreover, it could be complex molecular mechanisms underlying the communication of various noncoding RNA elements.

    Keywords: Cancer susceptibility candidate 2 gene, colorectal cancer, long noncoding RNAs, microRNA
  • Maryam Mahmoudabady, Milad Haghshenas, Saeed Niazmand* Page 15
    Background

    The deleterious effect of oxidative stress on myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) has already been shown in previous studies. Since Teucrium polium has anti‑oxidative and cardio‑protective properties, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of this plant on I/R injuries in the isolated rat heart.

    Materials and Methods

    The myocardial I/R injury of rat was created by Langendorff retrograde perfusion technology. The heart was preperfused with Krebs–Henseleit (K‑H) solution containing T. polium extract for 20 min before 20 min global ischemia, and then the reperfusion with K‑H bicarbonate buffer was conducted for 40 min. The left ventricular developed pressure and the maximum up/down rate of the left ventricular pressure (±dp/dtmax) were recorded by physiological recorder as the myocardial function. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) activities in the effluent were measured to determine the myocardial injury degree. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total thiol groups (−SH), superoxide anion dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) in myocardial tissue were detected to determine the oxidative stress degree.

    Results

    The results showed that the pretreatment with T. polium significantly enhanced cardiac parameters and the coronary artery flow, decreased the LDH, CK activities, and TBARS level, whereas it increased − SH groups, SOD and CAT activities.

    Conclusions

    Our findings indicated that T. polium could provide protection for heart against the I/R injury which may be related to the improvement of myocardial oxidative stress states.

    Keywords: Cardiac function, ischemia–reperfusion, oxidative stress, rat, Teucrium polium
  • Ali Hosseini*, Sima Akhavan, Maziar Menshaei, Awat Feizi Page 16
    Background

    Intra‑abdominal adhesions after surgery are usually in the form of bands and can annoy the patient throughout life causing repeated surgical procedures. Therefore, any action to prevent adhesions after surgery can increase longevity and quality of life. For this aim, this study investigates the effect of streptokinase and normal saline on the 7th day and 1 month after laparotomy.

    Materials and Methods

    Experimental study was conducted on thirty healthy male Wistar rats weighing 200–250 g with age of 3 months divided into three groups of 10. Group I: No treatment, Group II: Received normal saline, and Group III: Received normal saline and streptokinase at the same time. One week and 1 month after laparotomy, the frequency of the presence or absence of adhesion bands was performed by a person who was unaware of the sample grouping. The collected information was analyzed with the SPSS software (version 16; SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).

    Results

    Adhesion frequency was found to be 20% on the 7th day (early) and 1 month after laparotomy (late) for Group 1, and it was 40% on early and late for Group II, while 0% on the early and late for Group III. Hence, in the group receiving streptokinase, no early or late adhesion was observed; therefore, it had a significant role in the prevention of intra‑abdominal adhesions (P < 0.05). However, adhesions in the group receiving normal saline had no remarkable difference with the group receiving no drug (P > 0.05).

    Conclusion

    According to the results of our study, we believe that streptokinase could be a good antiadhesive agent considering its effectiveness.

    Keywords: Intra‑abdominal adhesion, normal saline, streptokinase
  • Mohammad Reza Bagherinejad, HamidMir‑Mohammad Sadeghi, Daryoush Abedi, Fateme Moazen, Mohammad Rabbani* Page 17
    Background

    Twine‑arginine translocation (TAT) system is one of the exporting systems in Escherichia coli which could transport fully/semi‑correctly folded proteins outside the reductive cytoplasmic space. In combination with co‑expression with a chaperone system, the correctly folded proteins could be transported to oxidative periplasmic space and culture media to pass the main limitations in E. coli expression system such as misfolding and inclusion body formation.

    Materials and Methods

    To study the effectiveness of signaling sequences and chaperone co‑expression on the translocation of expressed protein, somatropin was selected as the target. Two common signal sequences in TAT system (TorA and SufI) were added at the N‑terminal of somatropin and the cassettes were co‑expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) by a chaperone team including DnaK/J‑GrpeE.

    Results

    The expression pattern studies including Western blotting and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis confirmed that somatropin is expressed in two cassettes. However, the pattern was different for two signaling sequences.

    Conclusion

    The results confirmed that the approach of using TAT‑signaling sequences and co‑expression with the chaperone team could enhance translocation of protein to periplasmic space and culture media compared to control groups. Western blotting results showed that the signal sequence TorA could transport more expressed proteins to the periplasmic space and culture media in comparison with SufI. However, there was a considerable amount of human growth hormone in the cytoplasm which could not be transported outside the cytoplasmic space.

    Keywords: Co‑expression, DnaK, J‑GrpE, growth hormone, signal sequence, SufI, TorA, twine‑arginine translocation
  • Mohammad Reza Salahshoor, Mojdeh Haghjoo, Shiva Roshankhah, Fatemeh Makalani, Cyrus Jalili* Page 18
    Background

    Thymoquinone as the main active component of Nigella sativa might have a various pharmacological effects such as antiapoptotic and antioxidant. Morphine is commonly used for the treatment of severe pain that can increase the generation of free radicals and affects the spermatogenesis. This study was designed to evaluate protective effects of thymoquinone against morphine‑induced damages, sperm viability, count, motility, morphology and testis histology, and nitric oxide and testosterone hormone of the mice.

    Materials and Methods

    In this experimental study, we divided 48 mice into eight groups (n = 6); various doses of thymoquinone (2, 10, and 20 mg/kg) and morphine (20 mg/kg) plus thymoquinone (2, 10, and 20 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally to 48 male mice for 30 consequent days. Male reproductive parameters including testis weight, testosterone hormone, serum nitric oxide, germinal thickness, sperm morphology, count, viability, and motility were analyzed and compared.

    Results

    The results indicated that morphine administration significantly decreased germinal thickness, testis weight, testosterone level, viability, morphology, count, and motility of sperm and increased nitric oxide as compared to saline group (P < 0.05). However, increasing the dose of thymoquinone in the thymoquinone and thymoquinone plus morphine groups significantly decreases nitric oxide level (P < 0.05) while significantly boosted motility, morphology, count, viability of sperm cells, germinal thickness, and testosterone hormone in all groups as compared to morphine group (P < 0.05).

    Conclusion

    It seems that thymoquinone administration could increase the quality some of spermatozoa and improves morphine‑induced adverse effects on reproductive parameters in male mice.

    Keywords: Morphine, reproductive, thymoquinone
  • Reza Azizkhani, Azadeh Bahadori, Mohammadreza Shariati*, Keyhan Golshani, Omid Ahmadi, Babak Masoumi Page 19
    Background

    The present study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4 ) in procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) when combined with ketamine in patients with fractures in emergency departments and required short and painful emergency procedures.

    Materials and Methods

    In this study, 100 patients with fractures and dislocations who were presented to the emergency departments and required PSA for short and painful emergency procedures were randomly allocated to groups of ketamine plus MgSO4 or ketamine alone. Train of four (TOF) stimulation pattern was assessed using nerve stimulator machine and compared between groups.

    Results

    The mean age of studied patients was 46.9 ± 9.3 years old. 48% were male and 52% were female. No significant differences were noted between groups in demographic variables. The status of TOF, 2 min after the injection of ketamine (1.5 mg/kg), in both groups was similar. After the injection of the second dose of ketamine (1 mg/kg) the status of TOF in four patients in ketamine plus MgSO4 (0.45 mg/kg) group changed, it was three quarters but in ketamine group, the status of TOF in all patients was four quarters. The difference between groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.12).

    Conclusion

    The findings revealed that for muscle relaxation during medical procedures in the emergency department, ketamine in combination with MgSO4 with this dose was not effective for muscle relaxation during procedures.

    Keywords: Emergency room, ketamine, magnesium sulfate, procedural sedation, analgesia
  • Hossein Molavi Vardanjani, AliAkbar Haghdoost, Kamran Bagheri-Lankarani, Maryam Hadipour* Page 20
    Background

    Population aging and more prevalent westernized lifestyle would be expected to result in a markedly rising burden of colorectal cancer (CRC) in the future years. The aim of this study is to estimate the limited-time prevalence of CRC in Iran between 2015 and 2020.

    Materials and Methods

    Aggregated CRC incidence data were extracted from the Iranian national cancer registry (IR.NCR) reports for 2003–2009 and from GLOBOCAN-2012 database for 2012. Incidence trends were analyzed by age groups, genders, histopathologic, and topographic subtypes to estimate annual percentage changes. Incidence was projected for 2020. The prevalence was estimated applying an adopted version of a previously introduced equation to estimate limited–time prevalence based on the incidence and survival data. Monte Carlo sensitivity analyses were applied to estimate 95% uncertainty levels (ULs). In each scenario, incidence, survival, annual percentage changes, and completeness of case ascertainment at IR.NCR were replaced under pre-assumed distributions.

    Results

    Number of estimated within 1, 2-3 and 4-5-year CRC patients in 2015 were 13676 (95% UL: 10051–18807), 20964 (15835–28268), and 14485 (11188–19293), respectively. Estimated 5-year prevalence for 2020 (99463; 75150–134744) was 2.03 times of that for 2015. Highest 5-year prevalence was estimated in ages 55–59 for females and 75 + for males. Adenocarcinoma (41376; 31227 55898) was the most prevalent histologic subtype. The most prevalent tumor location was colon (30822, 23262–41638).

    Conclusion

    A substantial growth in the prevalence of CRC survivors is highly expected for future years in Iran. Establishment of specialized institutes is highly recommended to provide medical and especially social supports for Iranian CRC survivors.

    Keywords: Cancer, colorectal, Iran, modeling, prevalence, projection