International Journal of Medical Laboratory
Volume:9 Issue: 3, Aug 2022

Rhnull, with an estimated incidence of one per 6,000,000 individuals, is an extremely rare disorder with an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance that is more common in societies with a high rate of consanguinity.

In this study, we report the first case with Rhnull, a blood group phenotype in southeast Iran, which was diagnosed during pretransfusion testing.

A 21-year-old woman with a positive parents' consanguineous marriage was found to have an unusual reaction with all packed red blood cell units during routine pretransfusion cross-match testing in the hospital. The patient's serum was reacted with all screening and identification panel cells, suspected to have an alloantibody against a common antigen or multiple alloantibodies against her absence antigens. Further studies revealed negative results for C, c, E, and e, which are highly suspected of Rhnull phenotype. Confirmatory assessments were performed, including adsorption and elution studies and Rh phenotyping of patients, along with known positive and negative controls. Due to the blood requirement of the patient, we performed serological studies on the patient's family members and found that her sister also has a Rhnull phenotype. Blood transfusion from her sister's donated units was performed, and the pregnancy was ended without any complications. Finally, due to the rarity of the Rhnull phenotype, early identification of individuals and autologous or compatible allogeneic blood transfusion should be planned prior to selective or emergency surgeries.

Substantial damage to the kidney tissue and diabetic nephropathy (DN) can be caused by chronic hyperglycemic conditions and exposure to a high level of blood glucose. In the current study, we explored the capability of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) and Toll-like receptor-4-primed mesenchymal stem cells (TLR4-primed MSCs) on kidney regeneration, resolution of inflammation, and alleviation of diabetic nephropathy in DN in the rats.

STZ-induced diabetic rat models were divided into 5 subgroups, including 1) DN group, 2) DN group received insulin, 3) DN group received human foreskin fibroblast (DN-HFF), 4) DN group received single pulse of 1×106 cells of MSCs and 5) DN group received single pulse of TLR4-primed MScs. Thereafter, biochemical and histological analysis was performed on DN-model groups. Biochemical analysis exhibited a blood urea nitrogen level recovery in both MSCs and TLR4-primed MSCs-treated groups. Administration of MSCs also up-regulated mRNA expression of Bcl-xL, while the expression of Bax was significantly down-regulated.

Histological and molecular results showed that TLR4-primed MSCs have an anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effect on inflamed kidneys and effectively reduced DN indicators in the TLR4-primed MSCs group compared to the unprimed MSCs group.

Priming with LPS improves the therapeutic effects of MSCs in the rat model of DN, consequently lessening the symptoms of DN rats. This study proposes that primed MSCs can be served as a potential therapeutic approach in diabetes mellitus and DN management.

Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected individuals, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Human Herpesvirus (HHV)-8 could cause significant illness as opportunistic infections. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of EBV and HHV-8 in saliva specimens obtained from HIV-1 infected Iranian individuals under the Highly Active Antiviral Therapy (HAART) regimen compared with naïve patients.

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 103 HIV-1 positive patients who attended the hospitals affiliated with the Iran University of Medical Sciences, in Tehran, Iran, from 2018 to 2019. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test was performed to evaluate HHV-8 and EBV antibodies. A conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out on saliva samples to detect EBV infection and a nested-PCR assay for HHV-8 infection. SPSS (version 20) was used for statistical analysis.

Patients' mean age ± SD was 43.9 ± 16 (range 18-82 years), and from among 103 participants, 59 (57.3%) were male. The results of PCR showed that HHV-8 infection was found in 19 (18.4%), and EBV infection was found in 61 (59.2%) participants. Also, HHV-8 antibody was detected in 73 (70.9%), and EBV antibody in 97 (94.2%) patients. A significant association was observed between patients under treatment with HAART and HHV-8 DNA or EBV DNA infection in saliva.

HIV-infected patients demonstrated a remarkable rate of EBV and HHV-8 in saliva, which could have a great role in the shedding of viruses. Also, they may contribute to the establishment of further opportunistic infections and devastating complications.

Atorvastatin may alter glycemic traits and lipid profiles. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of atorvastatin on biochemical variables in patients with type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes (borderline diabetes).

This study included 80 individuals divided intofive groups. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and pre-diabetes used atorvastatin 20 mg/day for three months. After three months, variables such as serum fasting blood glucose (FBS), cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-C), and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were measured to assess the status of diabetes and pre-diabetes condition. Linear regression was applied to determine the association between atorvastatin uses and alters of biochemical variables levels.

The serum FBS and HbA1c levels in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes who use atorvastatin were significantly lower than in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes who did not use atorvastatin (p=0.001). Serum cholesterol and LDL-C levels decreased in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients who used atorvastatin in comparison with diabetic and pre-diabetic patients who did not use atorvastatin (p=0.001). In patients with pre-diabetes, the use of atorvastatin slightly increased serum HDL-C levels. However, in patients with diabetes, the use of atorvastatin slightly decreased serum HDL-C level (p= 0.001). Diabetic and pre-diabetic patients who use atorvastatin significantly decreased serum triglyceride levels (p=0.016), while in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients, using atorvastatin slightly increased the serum insulin level (p= 0.003).

Atorvastatin using alters fat and sugar indices in diabetic and pre-diabetic patients.

Blood collection tubes (BCT) with gel separators are diagnostic devices that can affect all laboratory processes. In this study, the aim was to compare the performance of a new brand of BCT with the sample tubes that are well-known and widely used in the market.

Blood samples were taken from 50 healthy volunteers to two brands of BCTs (KWS and BD Vacutainer SST II Advance) by providing standard conditions. The nine most requested test parameters were determined and analyzed simultaneously. The results were analyzed using the SPSS 21 software.

There was no significant difference in the results of most tests of the new brand tubes compared to the Becton-Dickinson brand tube, and the bias calculated for the tests except calcium and potassium was detected to be lower than the desirable bias.

It was determined that the test parameters analyzed in both tubes were in statistical agreement. The percentage of bias value of calcium and potassium tests in KWS branded tubes is higher than the desired value. In addition, constant and proportional errors were determined for the calcium test. These test parameters should be analyzed in larger patient groups. Therefore, KWS tubes can be accepted for routine laboratory operations.

One of the neurotransmitters in the brain is Histamine which acts as several biological mechanism regulators like inflammation, gastric acid secretion, and neuromodulation. Inactivation of Histamine occurs by histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT) enzyme. The HNMT transfers a methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine to Histamine and is the main process for the termination of neurotransmission actions of Histamine in the mammalian central nervous system.

In this case, a family was referred to the genetic clinic to diagnose the cause of their disorder. The clinical form, pedigree, and questionnaire were completed for the family, and the parents gave their written consent for all tests and photographs publication. Both siblings have moderate learning and intellectual disability. Whole exome sequencing was performed and Sanger sequencing for co-segregation was used.

Bioinformatics analysis revealed a homozygous missense variant in HNMT (c.623T>C p.Leu208Pro) which causes non-syndromic autosomal recessive intellectual disability in this consanguineous family. Analysis of segregation confirmed this mutation. P.Leu208Pro mutation reduces the stability of the protein, which reduces the inactivation of Histamine.

 HNMT should be considered an important gene in the genetic evaluation of consanguineous families with intellectual disability.

Natural compounds derived from animal, plant, and microbial sources participate in treating various types of cancers, including lung cancer. This survey attempted to explore the anticancer activity of two novel metabolites extracted from soil-derived actinomycetes in the human lung cancer A549 cells.

The crude extracts of UTMC 638 and UTMC 877 secondary metabolites were obtained from the University of Tehran Microorganisms Collection (UTMC). When doxorubicin was applied as a positive control, cell viability, apoptosis detection, and mRNA expression were assessed by MTT assay, flow cytometry, and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) technique.

The results of the MTT assay showed that UTMC 638, UTMC 877, and doxorubicin reduce A549 cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Cell treatment with UTMC 877, UTMC 638, and doxorubicin could promote apoptosis in the A549 cell line. However, the effect of UTMC 638 on apoptotic induction was more than doxorubicin or UTMC 877. The q-RT-PCR results highlighted that the gene expression associated with apoptosis was augmented in the treated group compared to the untreated group.

Our findings provide evidence that the crude extract of UTMC 676 could promote apoptosis in A549 cells and can be a very promising source for designing a potent antitumor agent against lung cancer cells.

Currently, there are antiviral chemicals used to treat viral infections accompanied by limitations such as high levels of toxicity and adverse effects in humans, the emergence of drug-resistant viral strains, low numbers, and limited diversity. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate new photochemical to obtain new therapeutic methods. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antiviral activity of Arnebia Euchroma (A. Euchroma) extract, amniotic membrane, a mixture of A. euchroma extract and amniotic membrane and its carrier (comprised of Sesam and ostrich oil) against three different viruses, including Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), influenza A, and rotavirus in-vitro.

A methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the above compounds on Vero, MDCK, and MA-104 cell lines. After the determination of non-toxic concentrations, Tissue culture infection dose 50 (TCID50) test was performed to determine antiviral activity.

Among all the above-mentioned compounds, the combination of A. euchroma extract and amniotic membrane at the highest non-toxic concentration for the cells had the highest antiviral activity against all three viruses, leading to 1 log10 TCID50 reduction in influenza A and HSV-1 titers and 0.6 log10 TCID50 reductions in rotavirus titer when compared to the virus control.

The combination of A. euchroma and amniotic membrane can be considered a new antiviral agent to treat viral infections.