Iranian Biomedical Journal
Volume:5 Issue: 2, Jul-Apr 2001

The interaction of Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1) with human fetal foreskin fibroblast (HFFF) cell was studied using a recent isolate of HSV-1 which was propagated in Hep-2 cells. HFFF cells were challenged with HSV-1 with a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1 virus/cell for 24 hours. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that HSV-1 challenged HFFF cells expressed increased levels of a2b1, a3b1 (a collagen and laminin receptor) and LFA-1 (a b2 integrin, ligand for intercellular adhesion molecule-1, ICAM-1) integrins without a significant change in the expression of a5b1 (a fibronectin receptor) as compared to the mock-challenged cells. In addition, virus challenged HFFF cells showed increased expression of ICAM-1 and HLA class I antigen when compared to mock-infected cells. These results suggest that HSV-1 is capable of inducing functional changes in human foreskin fibroblast cells. The altered expression of cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion molecules resulting from HSV-1 infection could contribute to the immunopathological diseases associated with HSV-1 infection in vivo. Iran. Biomed. J. 5 (2 & 3): 55-59, 2001

The absence of a universally accepted mathematical model for assessment of the effectiveness of drugs in the process of wound healing is one of the problems the health professionals have been faced. In this study, an “empirical” mathematical model is presented to evaluate its reliability from an experimental viewpoint and from a comparative aspect with previous models used to study wound healing, namely the log and square root models. The excisional wounds inflicted were based on suggestion of Cross et al., 1995, using a variety of drugs. The drugs influence the wound healing process such as indomethacin, mepyramine, dexamethasone, acetylsalicylic acid and prednisolone. The proposed model is based on a quadratic equation having two constants: a and b. The -a/b ratio and the area-under the curve (AUC) are suggested as being valuable and reliable quantitative values. Also, having more precision in predicting and for expressing the effectiveness of drugs on the wound healing process than the two previous models. Iran. Biomed. J. 4 (4): x-x, 2000

The fruit essential oil of Ferula gummosa boiss., Umbelliferae, which has been used as an antiepileptic remedy in Iranian traditional medicine, was evaluated for anticonvulsant activity against experimental seizures. The essential oil had no effect against seizures induced by maximal electroshock. However, it protected mice against pentylenetetrazole-induced tonic seizures. The protective dose produced neurotoxicity. Moreover, this dose was too close to the LD50 of the essential oil. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analyses of the essential oil revealed the presence of b-pinene (50.1%), a-pinene (18.3%), 3-carene (6.7%), a-thujene (3.3%) and sabinene (3.1%) as the main components. The anticonvulsant and toxic effects of the essential oil may be related to the compounds pinene and a-thujene respectively that present in the essential oil. Iran. Biomed. J. 5 (2 & 3): 69-72, 2001

To evaluate the effects of local administration of the fetal brain extract (FBE) on the crushed peripheral nerve, 15 male Wistar rats were used. The right sciatic nerve of 10 rats was locally underwent the tense compression for 30 seconds and then randomly divided into experimental and control (sham) groups. The remained rats were considered as intact animals. Treatment was commenced weekly, by intramuscular injection of FBE around the injured site of experimental rats, started from the 1st week post-operation to the 5th week. The control (sham) rats were injected normal saline in the same manner. The delay time of the electromyographical records in different groups was measured from stimulation-response curves. This delay time was obtained by stimulating of the distal part of the sciatic nerve and recording the electrical response in the plantar muscles, using a computerized oscilloscope. The results indicating that the administration of FBE may improve dramatically the regeneration rate of the sciatic nerve in the early stage of the recovery period. Iran. Biomed. J. 5 (2 & 3): 73-77, 2001

There have been much speculation and debate concerning the effect of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on body systems. Various reports have implicated excessive exposure to EMF to certain forms of leukemia. It has also been reported that EMF may cause alteration in the levels of certain macro- and micro-nutrients such as copper, zinc, selenium, calcium and iron. We have undertaken this study to determine the status of these elements in workers exposed to EMF for more than 10 years and compare these levels with those of patients with leukemia and both groups to a set of matched controls. Statistical analysis revealed meaningful differences in the serum levels of the nutrients under study both in terms of comparison of workers and patients to controls and in comparison of workers to patients. Mean Zn levels in both patient (P< 0.0002) and worker (P< 0.006) groups were significantly higher than that of controls. However, statistical analysis of patients to workers revealed no meaningful variation. Selenium in both study groups also showed decreased levels when compared to controls. These results were statistically significant in comparison of patients to controls (P< 0.0001) and workers to controls (P<0.0001). Evaluation of patients to workers also resulted in a significant finding (P<0.05). While we do not claim these results to be definitive, they do reflect the possibility that regular evaluation of the status of these elements in workers consistently exposed to EMF may be beneficial in terms of determining the heightened risk of these workers to development of leukemia. Iran. Biomed. J. 5 (2 & 3): 79-85, 2001

Two new potential magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, Gd-hematoporphyrin (Gd-H) and Gd-tetra-carboranylmethoxyphenyl-porphyrin (Gd‑TCP), were synthesized and applied to nude mice with human melanoma (MM‑138) xenografts. These agents showed a high relaxivity because of their greater potential to coordinate water molecules. The reduction of T1 relaxation times of 16 and 21% was observed in human melanoma tumors grafted in the nude mice 24 h after injection of Gd-TCP and Gd-H, respectively. The percent of injected Gd, that localized to the tumor and measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), was approximately 21% for Gd-TCP and 28% for Gd-H. A higher concentration of Gd was achieved compared with control indicating selective delivery of Gd-porphyrins to the melanoma xenografts. The data indicate that Gd-TCP can be used as a dual probe for diagnosis in MR imaging and for therapy in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). Iran. Biomed. J. 5 (2): x-x, 2001

Recent studies have documented the importance of lipids and lipoproteins as determinants of serum total homocysteine concentrations in persons with myocardial infarction, and in healthy subjects. Associations between various biological systems and total homocysteine have also been reported. However, some of these associations are poorly understood. The purpose of our study was to measure serum total homocysteine concentrations in men and women who were selected for health and myocardial infarction to determine the relations of triglycerides, cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure. The study group consisted of 136 patients, 77 male and 59 females, aged 39-73 (mean 46.75 ± 3.91). The control group consisted of 145 normal volunteers, 81 males and 64 females, aged 31-63 (mean 41.72 ± 6.89). Serum total homocysteine was determined by gas chromatograph. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride were measured enzymatically on a spectrophotometer. Our results showed that serum total homocysteine concentrations were significantly positive correlated with cholesterol, triglyceride and diastolic blood pressure. Iran. Biomed. J. 5 (2 & 3): 97-101, 2001

Variations in phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (PAP) activity and triacylglycerol concentration were measured in pregnant and hormone-treated non-pregnant female rats. PAP activity in adipose tissue was elevated by 61% during pregnancy. The increase in the enzyme activity was paralleled with a rise in serum triacylglycerol concentration (44%). Estradiol injecting into non-pregnant rats increased PAP activity of both adipose tissue (19.8%) and the liver (26%). Progesterone also elevated the enzyme activities of adipose tissue and liver by 10% and 55%, respectively. Both hormones increased serum triacylglycerol concentration (20-29%). The data demonstrated that hypertriglyceridemia observed during pregnancy was mediated through the hormonal effects on PAP activity, a key enzyme in glycerolipid metabolism. Iran. Biomed. J. 5 (2 & 3): 103-106, 2001