مجله فیض
سال شانزدهم شماره 5 (پیاپی 65، آذر و دی 1391)

Diuretics can induce thiamine deficiency which develops cardiac failure. This study aimed to examine the effect of chronic administration of thiamine and furosemide, as a most commonly used diuretic, on the mechanical activity of heart in the isolated rat heart. In this experimental study, rats were divided into three groups (n=8 for each group): the control group (C) received no drug, the furosemide group (FUR) received furosemide (2 mg/Kg) daily for 53 days and the furosemide+thiamine group (FUR+THI) received furosemide (2 mg/Kg)+thiamine (70 mg/kg) daily for 53 days via drinking water. At the end of the experiment, using isolated heart, heart rate and mechanical activity were recorded during baseline and at 1 (EP1) and 5 (EP5) minutes after the addition of epinephrine to the bath. Heart contractility was increased in the FUR+THI group compared to the FUR and C groups at baseline and EP1. Moreover, contractility in the FUR+THI group was higher than the C group at Ep5. Contraction velocity and heart rate were increased at all three points in FUR+THI group compared to the C and FUR groups, while contraction velocity in FUR group only at EP1 and EP5 was significantly higher than the C group. Heart rate in FUR+THI group was higher than the C and FUR groups at all three points; heart rate in FUR group at baseline was significantly higher than the C group. Co-administration of thiamine and furosemide has positive inotropic and chronotropic effects on the isolated heart, but the possible mechanisms for these effects need further research.

Telomerase has been proposed as a novel and potentially selective target in cancer therapy. Many plant-derived products can induce apoptosis via telomerase inhibition. Lycopene (a carotenoid pigment) has been found to exhibit the various biological effects on different types of cancer cells, but its effect on telomerase activity has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the apoptosis-inducing effect of lycopene on human leukemia cell line K562, with particular emphasis on its effect on telomerase inhibition. Anti-proliferative effect of lycopene at different doses (0-20µm) and time intervals (24-72 h) on K562 cells was evaluated using the 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. To measure apoptosis, the Hoechst 33342 staining method and flow cytometry were used. The telomerase activity was determined using the telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) and ELISA assay. The treatment of the K562 cells with lycopene dose-dependently resulted in a significant inhibition of cell growth and telomerase activity compared to the untreated cells. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between telomerase inhibition and the induction of apoptosis in lycopene-treated K562 cells. The results of this study suggest a novel mechanism in the anti-cancer activity of lycopene in human leukemia K562 cells and may provide a basis for the future development of anti-telomerase agents.

Leishmaniasis is one of the major public health problems in many countries. Cantharidin, a type of terpenoid and a potent vesicant found in the Meloidae and Oedemeridae beetle families, has been used to treat wart in traditional medicine. This study was carried out to examine the cytotoxic effect of cantharidin on the survival of promastigote and macrophage infected with Leishmania major in vitro.

This experimental study was performed on promastigote and infected macrophages (106 and 105 parasites/mL, respectively). The effect of cantharidin (0.5 -50 µg/mL) on Leishmania major promastigote and amastigote survival in vitro was determined using the 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay after 24, 48 and 72h.

Results showed that the cytotoxicity rate of cantharidin with concentrations of 50µg/mL and 0.5µg/mL in the promastigote, infected and non-infected macrophages after 72h were 49.86% and 14.26%; 29.97% and 2.33%; 22.86% and 15.23%, respectively.

Cantharidin has a cytotoxic effect on the promastigote and macrophages infected with Leishmania major. However, further studies are recommended to investigate the efficacy of this compound in vivo.

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is one of the most frequent obstetric problems of unknown etiology and there is no definitive treatment for it. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of prednisolone and promethazine in the treatment of hyperemesis gravidarum.

This double-blind clinical trial study was conducted on 70 pregnant women, with a singleton pregnancy at less than 16 weeks of gestation, with hyperemesis gravidarum. Women were randomly divided into two groups to receive either prednisolone (5mg) or promethazine (25mg) three times daily; they received capsules with similar shapes but different codes. The dose of medication was tapered down after the first week and it was discontinued after two weeks. Finally, women were studied for relapse symptoms during the treatment and two weeks post-treatment.

There was a significant difference in the improvement of symptoms between the two groups during the course of treatment and also two weeks post-treatment (P=0.001). Moreover, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the frequency of nausea and vomiting during the first 4 days, in the 14th day of the treatment and 2 weeks post-treatment (P=0.07).

Results show that both prednisolone and promethazine are effective to control hyperemesis gravidarum.

Nature of heavy metals in chemical compounds and their solubility in soil is so important in the transition of these hazardous materials into plants and water resources and such compounds pose a serious threat to human health. This study was carried out to evaluate the stabilization and solubility of Pb, Cd and Zn in contaminated soil using different chemical compounds. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 36 soil samples were collected randomly from the industrial areas of Amol (Iran). Concentrations of Pb, Cd and Zn in samples were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Moreover, solubility and removal of the heavy metals were investigated using potassium chloride, ammonium phosphate, ammonium acetate and DTPA. Concentrations of Pb, Cd and Zn in soil samples were 206±59.8, 11.6±1.8 and 1148±465mg/kg, respectively. The mean solubility concentrations for Pb, Cd and Zn with ammonium phosphate, DTPA, ammonium acetate and distilled water (control) were 11, 1.5 114.5; 191, 7.1, 648.5; 115, 6.2, 476 and 17, 3.4, 193, respectively. Ammonium phosphate plays an important role in the stabilization and DTPA and ammonium acetate in the solubility and removal of heavy metals in soil. Therefore, ammonium phosphate application can be useful to prevent heavy metal contamination of the underground water resources.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is a worldwide problem nowadays. Considering H. pylori resistance to antibiotics, the need for complementary therapies or substances that reduce antibiotic resistance is completely obvious. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial properties of pomegranate seed and peel extract against H. pylori. Pomegranate seed and peel extract were prepared in different concentrations (10, 15 and 20 percent) separately using the DMSO. Mixtures of these concentrates with meteronidazol and claritromycin (each with 3 concentrates) as well as the discs for each concentrate were prepared. Finally, H. pylori resistance in stomach biopsies of candidates for esophagoscopy was evaluated for each disc during 2008-2009 in Kashan. Considering an inhibitory zones around each disc and comparing those to the tables of national committee for clinical laboratory standards (NCCLS), antibiotic sensitivity to clarithromycin and meteronidazol increased significantly with pomegranate peel extract and it was not significantly increased with the pomegranate seed extract compared to the antibiotic discs alone. Although the pomegranate seed and peel extract has no effect on inhibition zone of H. pylori, it can be used in reducing antibiotic resistance of meteronidazol and clarithromycin to eradicate H. pylori.

Membrane bioreactor systems are extensively used in biological treatment of the municipal and industrial wastewater. Despite the efficiency of these bioreactors in biological wastewater treatment, several problems, including bacterial biofilm formation, have limited their use. This study aimed to identify the dominant bacteria in the biofilm of such systems as well as to investigate the lethal effect of the silver nanoparticles in small size (4 nm) and higher dilutions in wastewater. This laboratory-scale experimental study was performed on 140 samples; the dominant isolates were identified using the differential biochemical tests. Using Broth micro dilution, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were calculated. Standard discs were prepared by different concentrations of nanosilver particles (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 ppm) and evaluated through the disc agar diffusion method on Muller-Hinton agar plates. Finally, the inhibition zone diameter was measured. The frequencies of isolates were Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Citrobacter and Bacillus anthracis, respectively. Moreover, The MIC of sliver nanoparticles (4nm) against the isolates were as follows: Escherichia coli, 2ppm; Citobacter, 1ppm; Bacillus cereus, 1ppm; Bacillus anthracis, 0.5 ppm; Bacillus subtilis, 1ppm; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 4ppm and Proteus, 2ppm. It can be concluded that silver nanoparticles, with a particle size of <10 nm, have a positive impact on the removal of dominant resistant isolates, especially gram-positive bacteria.

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a dangerous process that results in tissue damages and imposes heavy costs on societies. Therefore, finding a parameter for CVA prognosis and a way for its treatment is important. Considering some contradictory findings regarding the relationship between the highly sensitive – C reactive protein (hs-CRP) and ischemic CVA, this study aimed to evaluate the level of hs-CRP in patients with stroke.

This case-control study was carried out on 40 patients (case) with acute ischemia (age range, 45-80 years) referred to Kashan Shahid-Beheshti hospital during 2009-2012 and 40 healthy subjects (control). Two groups were matched for age and gender; they did not have the underlying diseases increasing the level of hs-CRP. The hs-CRP was measured in the patients and then compared. Moreover, the patient's clinical status was evaluated on admission using the Scandinavian Neurologic Stroke Scale.

Each group consisted of 22 women and 18 men. In both groups, the mean hs-CRP value in women was significantly higher than the men. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the mean hs-CRP value.

There is no direct relationship between hs-CRP level and ischemic cerebral stroke.

Drugs of abuse such as nicotine and morphine produce their effects through the stimulation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of pre-test injection of nicotine on morphine state-dependent learning as well as the effect of intra-nucleus accumbens (NAc) administration of D1 receptor antagonist on nicotine's effects in morphine state-dependent learning model.

This experimental study was performed on 200 male rats. Rats were anesthetized with intra-peritoneal injection of ketamine hydrochloride plus xylazine and then placed in a stereotaxic frame. Two stainless-steel cannuale were placed in the NAc shell. The behavioral testing was started using an inhibitory avoidance task and afterwards the step-through latency of entering into the dark compartment was measured as a criterion for the assessment of memory.

Post-training injection of morphine induced amnesia. The post-training morphine-induced amnesia was restored by pre-test administration of the same doses of morphine and also nicotine. Moreover, the pre-test intra-NAc injection of SCH23390 prevented the nicotine reversal of morphine effect on memory.

The results of this study suggest that the dopamine D1 receptor of the NAc may play an important role in improving the effect of nicotine on morphine-induced amnesia.

Cerebral ischemia is considered as one of the leading causes of death and involved in neuronal apoptosis. This study aimed to evaluate the Bax and Bcl-2 expression in the rat hippocampus after reperfusion following transient ischemia. In this experimental study, transient global cerebral ischemia (15 and 30 minutes) was induced in adult male Wistar rats (n=5 in each group) by the occlusion of bilateral common carotid artery followed by reperfusion for 24 and 72 hours. Five Sham-operated animals, without any intervention, considered as a control group. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes were detected by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR in all groups. Transcription and expression of both Bcl-2 and Bax genes were increased after global cerebral ischemia in all experimental groups; the two gene expression increment in the experimental groups (2, 3 and 4) was more detectable than the first group. According to the results, transient cerebral ischemia activates Bcl-2 and Bax apoptotic genes that play an important role in the protection and induction of cell death in the hippocampal neurons, respectively.

Iodine is one of the most important pollutants in nuclear installations and various absorbents have been proposed to remove it. The purpose of this study was to select the optimal airborne iodine absorbents according to the conditions in Iran. To implement the optimization model, at first, eight criteria were selected and their weights were determined using the SMART and Eigenevector methods. Then these weights were converted to one weight by the geometric mean. Finally, the indexes were prioritized using the two optimization methods of SAW and TOPSIS. Maximum weight of the criteria was related to the cost of providing the raw material and minimum to the storage time. Based on priority, the activated charcoal should be used as an optimum absorbent. TOPSIS and SAW methods were used to prioritize different absorbent beds; the results were equal in both methods. Furthermore, the results indicated that conventional activated charcoal, activated charcoal impregnated with TEDA, activated charcoal impregnated with HMTA and silver Zeolites are respectively the best absorbents in Iran. Although the activated charcoal impregnated with TEDA has the most optimum rate of absorption, considering the influence of other parameters on its selection, this absorbent assigns a secondary priority. By eliminating technological bottlenecks in industrial production of activated carbon impregnated with TEDA, the individual and collective protection systems will be upgraded.

Fibrinolytic therapy of myocardial infarction (MI) should be started as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms. Since efforts to reduce pre-hospital delay have shown limited success in treatment, substantial emphasis should be placed on reducing in-hospital delay. This study aimed to evaluate the in-hospital delay for fibrinolytic therapy in Kashan Shahid-Beheshti hospital during 2007-2010. This cross-sectional study was performed on 300 patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction. Exclusion criteria were the previous MIs, incomplete data regarding the time of hospital admission or fibrinolysis and patients who were referred to the hospital by physicians outside the hospital. Demographic data, the time of symptom onset, admission time and fibrinolysis were collected and then analyzed. Two hundred and twenty-five (75.3%) out of 300 patients were male. Most patients (63.7%) were in the age range of greater than 55 years. The mean of in-hospital delay was 57 minutes. Sixty-three percent of patients experienced an unacceptable delay of greater than 30 minutes and only 37% of the patients experienced an acceptable delay of equal or less than 30 minutes. The mean of pre-hospital delay was 136 minutes. Half (53.7%) of the patients had a total delay of less than 3 hours. There was no association between the in-hospital mortality and total or in-hospital delay. The majority of patients (63%) had an optimal in-hospital delay and the mean door-to-needle time was about two times more than the optimal. Furthermore, identifying and modifying of the contributing factors in triage and emergency wards seem to be effective for decreasing in-hospital delay in reperfusion therapy.

Acute and chronic cholecystitis and cholangitis are common cases in general surgical diseases. Considering the role of infections in pathogenesis of these diseases, prescribing appropriate antibiotics is important to control the biliary tract infections. The aim of this study was to recognize the biliary pathogens as well as evaluate their antibiotic susceptibility in cholecystectomized patients.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 288 cholecystectomized patients with acute and chronic cholecystitis and cholangitis. During the operation, a sterile bile sample was aspirated from the gallbladder which was sent to the laboratory for culture and antibiogram evaluation.

Sixty-two (21.5%) patients were positive for bile culture. There were more positive cultures in cholangitis cases (64.7%) than the acute and chronic cholecystitis (22.8%, 12.2%, respectively; P=0.001). Thirty-six isolated pathogens were E.coli (58%) and 8 Klebsiella (12.9%). Moreover, the most effective antibiotics against the gram-negative bacteria: imipenem (100%), amikacin (98.1%) and gentamicin (90.4%) and for gram-positive bacteria: imipenem, vancomycin, rifampcin and clindamycin.

The third-generation cephalosporins, as an empirical treatment for biliary tract infections, lack the effective antibiotic susceptibility. Considering the high susceptibility (more than 90%) and the reasonable price of amikacin and gentamicin, cephalosporins are recommended as the first line treatment for biliary tract infection. Imipenem, an expensive broad-spectrum antibiotic, is not recommended as the first line treatment to avoid drug resistance.