Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume:13 Issue: 4, 2007

Liver has important roles in body metabolic regulation and for this reason hepatocytes are used worldwide. Investigations showed that isolation of hepatocytes causes activation of stress related genes. The aim of this study was to study the stress related expression of BEST-5 following hepatocytes isolation and culture. The BEST-5 gene is cloned and analyzed for the first time from isolated and cultured rat hepatocytes. Very little is known about this gene and almost nothing is known about its function. RNA was isolated from hepatocytes after 3h culture and used for generation of PCR products corresponding to the BEST-5. cDNA generated was cloned into pCR®2.1 plasmid vector. Following transformation into TOPO10 oneshot® cells, the cells were grown in LB agar plates containing X-Gal and ampicillin, overnight at 37ºC. To confirm that the plasmids contained inserts of the correct size, the vectors obtained from mini-preparations were digested with the desired restriction enzymes. Sequencing was performed for the gene. RT-PCR and Northern blotting analysis showed that BEST-5 mRNA is expressed, 3h after isolation and culture of primary hepatocytes (3h) BEST-5 mRNA was observed until 5h of culture and then there was no detectable band of BEST-5 at further time points. Comparison of expression of the level of mRNA of BEST-5, when data statistically were analyzed, showed a significant difference between the expression of BEST-5 mRNA expression at 3h with 0h, 24h, 35h and 48h of culture (P<0.001). According to the results the stress induced by hepatocytes isolation and culture leads to the expression of Best-5 time-dependently.

Stroke is the 3rd cause of death and although it is a common disease, its incidence is not the same in different parts of the world and depends on various factors. Opium dependency apart from being a social and cultural problem has several effects on physiological, immune and coagulation systems and consequently the risk of stroke. This case-control study was designed to determine the associations between opium dependency and stroke. The study was done in Kerman Shafa Hospital during 2003-2004 on 105 patients with stroke (case group) and 105 patients with urologic problems (control group). Data were collected using patients history, physical examinations and diagnostic protocols and were analyzed using Chi-Square test. Both groups contained 55 females and 50 males. In the case group 31 ones (29.5%) and in the control group 18 ones (10.5%) were opium dependent that shows a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.001). The relation between cigarette smoking and stroke was also determined (P<0.0001) and since both factors showed significant relation with stroke, logistic regression analysis was done. Odds ratio was 2.207 (P<0.012) for cigarette smoking and 2.36 (P<0.04) for opium dependency respectively.

Preeclampsia has remained one of the important obstetrical problems for which different factors have been suggested. Decrease of serum levels of albumin, total protein and phosphorous have been suggested in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to determine serum levels of Albumin, total protein and phosphorous in normal pregnancy and preeclamptic women. In this case-control study, 100 pregnant women aged 20 to 30 years with the gestational age of 28 to 40 weeks were studied. Patients were divided into two groups: 50 women as case group (preeclamsia) and 50 women as control group (normal pregnancy). The serum levels of Albumin, total protein and phosphorous were measured in both groups. There were no significant difference between two groups in demographic factors and mean maternal age but duration of pregnancy was significantly different in the two groups (36.29±3.2 weeks in case group and 38.19±2.5 in control group) (P<0.0001). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressurse and body mass index were significantly different in both groups (P<0.0001). The mean systolic blood pressure in preeclamptic women was 149.8±13.39 and in normal group was 108.7±9.73 and the mean diastolic blood pressure in preeclamptic women was 95±8.57 and in normal group was 67.4±10.72. Body mass index was 22.84±2.07 in preeclamptic women and in normal pregnants was 21.21±2.09. There was no significant difference between the two groups in mean serum levels of albumin, total protein and phosphorous. Serum Albumin in preeclamptic women was 4.12±0.45 and in women with normal pregnancy was 4.26±0.57. Serum level of total protein was 5.95±1 and 6.03±0.92 and serum phosphorous was 3.53±0.68 and 3.35±0.82 in preeclamptics and normals respectively.. There was no significant relationship serum between levels of Albumin, total protein and phosphorous and preeclampsia.

Exercise and physical activity are important factors for human health. It has been reported that exercise can be considerably useful in the treatment of psychological diseases. In the present study the effect of running on Spontaneous electroencephalographic activity (EEG) of rats was investigated. Male wistar rats weighting 190-250 gr were selected and divided into control and exercise groups. The animals of exercise group were run on treadmill (I hour a day) for duration of two weeks. Then the animals in both groups were anesthetized with urethane and EEGs of them were recorded. In the exercise group alpha, beta and theta waves significantly increased and delta waves deceased in comparison to the control group. In the present study high frequency- low voltage waves increased and low frequency-high voltage waves decreased in the exercise group. This provides further support to the earlier supposition that increase in high frequency- low voltage waves represent promotion of consciousness. It seems that exercise could increase alertness.

Orthodontic treatment is associated with a risk of root resorption. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of moderate and sever root resorption in orthodontic patients treated with fixed orthodontic appliance. A case-control study was performed on 70 orthodontic treated patients with moderate and sever root resorption and 70 controls matched for age, sex, duration of treatment, ANB index and headgear application. Data were gathered via patients records, pretreatment lateral cephalometry, pre and post treatment panoramic radiography and analyzed by SPSS13, chi-square, Fischer exact and odds ratio tests. Seventy patients out of 140 have had root resorption. There was no difference in age, sex, headgear application, ANB difference and duration of treatment between case and control groups. In case group, 35 and 10 cases (50%-14.3%) and in control group 12 and 1 cases had respectively a history of asthma and allergy which was statistically significant.(P-value=0.000 and 0.005 respetively). The odds ratio for the association between moderate to sever root resorption and history of allergy was 4.83 (95% C.I 2.217 to10.526) and history of asthma was 11.494(95% C.I 1.430 to 1.956). This case- control study showed an association between the history of allergy and asthma and increased risk of moderate to sever root resorption. But, in order to confirm these findings, other studies including well controlled experimental studies are needed.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram negative non facultative bacterium and one of the members of normal flora in different sites of body in healthy humans. This bacterium can resist in fluids and hospital environments for a long time. Pseudomonas aeruginosa has two systems for glucose uptake: a low affinity oxidative pathway and a high affinity phosphorylative pathway. The orfBCD genes are located over two million base pair upstream of the genes involved in the high affinity uptake system. Although the role of these genes are unknown by now, they may have a role in regulation of glucose uptake. In the present study, the role of orfD gene in glucose uptake in P.aeruginosa has been investigated. orfD fragment were cloned in pUCP20 as vector and the recombinant plasmid transferred into WMA200 strain of P.aeruginosa, a mutant strain of P.aeruginosa with a chromosomal deletion of orfBCD. So we compared the rate of glucose uptake by P.aeruginosaWMA200, P.aeruginosaWMA200/pUCP20/orfD and P.aeruginosa H103 as wild type strain of P.aeruginosa by using labeled glucose under conditions at low substrate concentration and low cell density. Carbohydrate uptake patterns differed considerably among three strains. The wild type is able to uptake glucose at a faster rate than the mutant; however, the mutant complemented with orfD shows an intermediate uptake comparing to the wild type and the mutant. orfD gene has an important role in carbohydrate uptake in P.aeruginosa strains however further studies are required to determine the involved mechanism.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of bael (Aegle marmelos) on glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, creatinine levels and the activity of ALT and AST in the serum of diabetic rats. 45 Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were selected. The rats were divided into three groups. The first group was considered as negative control (non-diabetic rats) and diabetes mellitus was induced in the remained rats by I.V. injection of alloxan (50 mg/kg BW). Following induction of diabetes mellitus 15 diabetic rats were considered as positive control and 15 ones as treatment group. Treatment group was fed with homogenous mixture of ordinary rat food and Bael concentrate (2gr/kg food)for three weeks and the remaining groups were fed with ordinary rat food. Following induction of diabetes mellitus, concentration of serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and the activity of ALT increased significantly (P<0.01), but AST activity and creatinine concentration not varied. Food and water intake was increased and body weight of rats was decreased (p<0.01). Consumption of bael concentrate caused a significant decrease in serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and the activity of ALT (P<0.01), and also food and water intake was decreased (p<0.01). The results of this study show that Aegle marmelos concentrate exhibit hypoglycemic and hypolipidaemic effects in diabetic rats.

The infections resulting from opportunist invasive fungi, such as Aspergillus, are an increasingly developing problem in hospitalized patients especially those suffering from immunosuppressive deficiencies. In this study, air sampling from selected wards of three hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences was carried out 2 times/day over 7 months (May – October, 2003) by using 500 plates containing saborodextrose-agar. According to the results, 89% of the plates proved to be positive for fungal growth. Of this pool of fungi plates, 1034 fungal colonies containing 16 different fungi were sorted out which in regard to the frequency were Penicillium, Rhizopus, Aspergillus flavus, yeast, and Alternaria respectively. Higher rate of fungi colonies was observed in Bahonar hospital comparing to the two others. The most contaminated settings were ICU wards in Bahonar and Shafa hospitals, respectively. Comparison of the common wards of Bahonar and Afzalipour hospitals, revealed that the emergency room in Bahonar hospital had the highest rate of contamination. Finally, among the isolated Aspergillus and fungi, Aspergillus flavus and yeast species showed the highest frequencies. Considering the results of the present study, control of fungal contamination in hospital wards, especially those in which patients with immunosuppressive deficiency are hospitalized is highly necessary.