فصلنامه علوم پزشکی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی
سال بیست و دوم شماره 4 (پیاپی 70، زمستان 1391)

In this research, the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract seed of Coriander was studied on pituitary–ovary hormones and its possible role in infertility and reproductive activity in the immature female rats. In this experimental study, 64 immature female rats of the Wistar were divided to four groups of control, sham and experimental groups that received 150 and 300 mg/kg extract of hydro-alcoholic Coriander seeds. Half of each group was tested on day 28 and others on day 56, randomly. The extracts were orally administered. At the end of 28 and 56 days, blood samples from the heart were taken and serum hormones LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone were measured using RIA. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey tests. Level of significance was considered at <0.05. The mean concentrations of LH and estrogen in the experimental group which received 300 mg/kg of the extract for 28 days and the experimental group which received 150 and 300 mg/kg of extracts for 56 days decreased significantly compared to control group. Concentrations of FSH in the experimental group which received 300 mg/kg of extract for 28 and 56 days decreased significantly compared to control group. Mean concentrations of progesterone in the experimental group which received 150 and 300 mg/kg of extract for 28 and 56 days showed significantly reduction compared to control group. According to the other studies, Coriander seed contains flavonoid and coumarin compounds. Probably, these components decrease gonadotropins and the enzymes involved in the steroidogenesis and reduce the secretion of estrogen and progesterone.

Complementary medicine uses bee venom (BV) to treat several diseases, including arthritis and skin diseases. BV contains mellitin, phospholipase A2, apamin and several other bioactive substances. According to the venom compounds, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of BV on differentiation of K562cell line. In this experimental study, K562cells were treated with different doses of BV in different durations. BV toxicity was evaluated by MTT assay. Benzidine staining was used to investigate the effects of BV on K562 cell differentiation toward the erythroid line. In order to determine the type of cell death, annexin-V gene expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. Colony assay was used to measure BV ability in inhibiting colony formation. Morphological changes in the cells undergone treatment with BV were evaluated by wright-giemsa staining. MTT assay showed that bee venom with concentrations of 5.5-6 μg/ml and 3.5-4.5μg/ml result in 505 cell death in 24h and 48h, respectively. Morphological examination and benzidine staining showed that lower doses in longer period induce differentiation in these cells. Flow cytometry data showed significantly increased in annexin-V gene expression in cells which were treated with bee venom for 24 h. Colony assay demonstrated that the concentration of 1 μg/ml of BV results in 50% reduction in colony formation.

The ability to reducing death due to apoptosis and maintaining extensive levels on cell viability under serum free media in cell culture are important subjects in production of recombinant proteins. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), is the growth factor of choice for mammalian cell proliferation in serum-free culture. In addition to its mitogenic activity, it has antiapoptotic activity protecting cultures from diverse death inducing stimuli. In this study, the effect of different concentrations of IGF-I examined on CHO–K1 (Chinese hamster ovary K1 cells) cell line for 24 and 48 hours.

In this experimental study, the cell line was cultivated in DMEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Apoptosis process was induced in cells by methotrexate, serum was removed and then 10-50 ng/ml concentrations of IGF-I were added. Apoptosis was assessed by caspase 3 detection kit and cell proliferation and viability determined by MTT assay.

Caspase 3 activity decreased significantly by increasing concentrations of IGF-I. In the highest concentration of IGF-I (50 ng/ml), 1.7 and 1.4 equal decreases of caspase 3 activities, compared with negative control group, were noted after 24 and 48 hours, respectively. It confirmed antiapoptotic activity of growth factor to maintain viability and protect cultures from apoptotic inducing stimuli (methotrexate).

IGF-I, as antiapoptotic factor, decreased programmed death of CHO-K1 cells in apoptotic induced conditions.

Presumably, stem cells derived from mouse adipose tissue differentiate into lens fiber cells under induction by vitreous humor factors. Cataract is one of the most common ocular diseases that is highly treatable by replacing the ocular lens with artificial ones. The objective of this study was to find the natural lens replacements instead of the artificial ones. In this experimental study, stem cells from adipose tissue were obtained from inguinal fat pads from NMRI mouse. To demonstrate stemness potential of these cells, we used anti-OCT4, as stromal stemness markers with immunocytochemistry methods. This experiment took place for 14 days with different dosages of bovine vitreous humor. Express of ocular lens fiber cells markers (alpha crystalline) were detected by immunocytochemistry in experimental and control groups. All murine stem cells were positive to OCT4 marker which is used for stromal cells. Morphological studies showed that cells induced with 40% vitreous humor in culture media were locally longer and more aligned in parallel compared to control group cells. Also, the fiber like cells had large nuclei with multiple nucleoli that showed increase in production of proteins in those cells. The proof of the induction of these stem cells to lens fiber like-cells is the positive response of induced cells for crystalline markers in media with 40% vitreous humor by ANOVA test. Based on morphological appearance and positive response of experimental group to specific markers of lens fiber cells, it can be concluded that stem cells derived from mouse adipose tissue differentiate into lens fiber cells by treating them with vitreous humor.

Liver is one of the most important body´s organs which metabolize many of substances such as phenol. This study was done to investigate the probable effects of phenol administration on the histo-anatomical structure and also biochemical functions of the liver. In this experimental study, eighty male Balb/C mice were selected and randomly divided into one control group and three experimental groups. Distilled water was administered through gavage method on the control group and experimental groups received 80, 180 and 320 mg/kg/day of phenol, respectively, for one month. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized by chloroform and the liver was removed from body. Then, absolute and relative weights of liver were recorded. Hepatic tissue samples were taken and histological changes were examined using optical microscopy. Blood samples were also collected and after separating the sera, liver enzyme activities were analyses. Administrating phenol caused significant elevation in absolute and relative liver weights. Also, phenol treatment induced significant increase of hepatocyte diameter, hepatocyte's nuclear diameter and hepatic sinusoid size (P<0.05). Furthermore, phenol treated animals had leukocyte infiltration, necrosis, congestion and bile duct hyperplasia in comparison with the control group. Phenol treatment caused significant elevation in the serum levels of AST, ALT and ALP (P<0.05). The present study showed that exposing to the different concentrations of phenol can cause severe damages in the mice's liver.

Salmonella, as a common cause of gastrointestinal disease, that transmitted through contaminated food and products causes many cases of illness death annually. Molecular diagnosis of Salmonella by PCR is used for many animal products, but it is employed as a detector (tracer) for the basic agricultural products in some cases. Tomatoes as one of the crops that are used as raw consumption have been known as one of the sources of Salmonella infection. In this experimental study, we used a PCR on specific primers for hilA gene of Salmonella to detect this gene at the surface and within the inoculated tomatoes, in an synthetic method and in a direct way after enrichment. The results indicate the effective power of Salmonella on the surface and within the inoculated tomatoes with doses of 101 and 102 bacteria per gram of tomato after 6 hours enrichment in BHI medium, respectively. This study indicates that PCR with primers specific for the hilA is a sensitive and acceptable method for the detection of Salmonella.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common hospital-acquired bacterium which has ability to produce fluorescent pigment like pyorubin and nonfluorescent pigment like pyocyanine. The aim of this study was exciting of production of pyoverdin pigments as biomarker for quick detection of this bacterium in foods and hygienic products. In this research, different concentrations of cadmium sulfate were used for showing the exciting of pyoverdin pigments. Pigment type was evaluated according to the maximum absorbance and its solubility in water, acetic acid and chloroform. Also, bacterium growth pattern was determined according to pigment production in optimal conditions of agitation, temperature, cultivate media, sources of carbon and nitrogen. Relation between pigment production and number of bacteria was calculated by absorbance and cell accumulation. Bacteria tracking was investigated using pigment production as biomarker in foods (spaghetti and apple juice) and hygienic products (hand and dish washing liquids) and compared to standard method. This study showed maximum absorbance of extracted pigment at 403 nm and its solubility in water and acetic acid. Production of fluorescent pigment in bacterium was observed at concentrations 0.3-0.5 mM of cadmium sulfate. Maximum production of florescent pigments based on cell accumulation was established by agitation in 150 rpm, temperature of 35oC, 0.5 mM solution of cadmium and concentration of 330 mgml-1of 1% sucrose and potassium nitrate. Monitoring of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in contaminated foods and hygienic products based on fluorescent pigments production was reduced from 72 to 20 hours.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by gluten sensitivity in genetically susceptible individuals. There is no previous report on CD and Toxoplasma gondii infection and no previous assessments with regard to the association of these conditions on pregnancy. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed CD and T.gondii in the pregnant women. In this descriptive study, during the period of January-July 2007, 496 pregnant women with mean age of 26±5 years (SD 4.11) and mean pregnancy duration 5.2 months were referred to reproduction section of rural and urban health care centers in Lorestan province. They underwent a total IgA test and antihuman IgA class antitissue transglutaminase (tTGA) antibodies for detection of CD. Those with IgA deficiency were tested with IgG tTG. Also IgG and IgM-Toxoplasma level were measured for detection of total antibody against T.gondii. Of 496 pregnant women, 13 (2.6%) had a positive CD serology for tTGA (95% CI: 1.2%-4.3%). 154/496 patients had IgG positive test and 35/154 patients had IgM positive for T.gondii indicating acute stage of T.gondii infection. It is well established that CD and T.gondii infection are both associated with a high incidence of unfavorable outcomes in pregnancy. Our data suggest that CD may predispose to the development of T.gondii infection.

The aim of this study was to examine the association between physical activity and selected non-lipid CVD risk factors such as testosterone, free testosterone, Vitamin D, homocysteine, folic acid, and the inflammatory cytokines including hsCRP, TNF- Alpha and interleukin -6 in healthy military recruits. A group of active personnel (n=50) engaging in a continuous and regular physical activity program, three days a week for a period of three months; and a group of inactive personnel (n=50) were randomly recruited. Blood sample was collected from all participants and plasma was separated. Physically active subjects had significant lower measures of homocysteine and interleukin -6, known as CVD risk factors and tended to have nearly significant free testosterone level (p= 0.08), as a protective factor. By reducing the risk factors of developing CVD events, such as homocysteine and interleukin -6 and increasing free testosterone and preventing its progression significantly, it clearly serves to underscore the beneficial properties of physical activity and to promote its effectiveness as a non- drug and non-invasive therapy in CVD events.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal system, which is defined as gastrointestinal symptoms without organic causes. Etiology of this disease is unknown exactly, but most people have reported symptoms consistent with psychopathology disorders, abnormal personality and psychological stress. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the efficacy of group cognitive- behavior therapy (CBT) in decreasing anxiety and improving quality of life in patients suffering from IBS. In a semi– experimental study, 15 IBS patients (diagnosed by a gastroenterologist applying the RomeІІ criteria) referred to the gastro intestinal and liver diseases research center between March 2010 and September 2010 were selected. Patients underwent group therapy in a 2–hour session each week for 8 weeks. Data collection tools were beck anxiety scale (BAI, 1988) and quality of life (SF –36, 1992). Data were analyzed by ANOVA using SPSS software. Consecutive measurement showed significantly lower mean scores in anxiety and higher in quality of life among IBS patients underwent group cognitive- behavior therapy. Our findings support the efficacy of CBT in improving quality of life and decreasing anxiety on the IBS patients.

Anxiety is the most common mental disorder. Reduction of risk factors related to anxiety reduces the costs and problems. The present study was conducted to determine correlation between attachment styles (secure, ambivalent and avoidant) and anxiety dimensions (State, Trait). This is a correlation descriptive study, in which 400 students (217 male, 183 female) from Mahabad Islamic Azad University were selected by stratified random sampling. Adult Attachment Questionnaire (AAQ Shaver and Hazan) was applied for measuring attachment styles. Anxiety Inventory (Spiel Berger State-Trait) was used to measure anxiety dimensions. Data were analyzed by software SPSS (version 14) and involved both descriptive and inferential statistics including means, standard deviations and Pearson`s correlation coefficients. There were significant correlation between secure attachment style and anxiety trait among male students, not significant correlation between avoidant attachment style and anxiety trait among male students, and significant correlation between ambivalent attachment style with anxiety trait among male students. Also, significant correlation was found between attachment style and anxiety and state among male students. The correlation between attachment styles and anxiety trait- state was not significant among female students. Attachment security is a protective factor against anxiety.

Several devices have been used in cervical cytology taking (swab, spatula, broom, and brushes), with the aim of reducing false negative results and exfoliating more epithelial cells from squamous columnar line and endocervix. In our study, the cytology of cervicovaginal smears obtained by broom was compared with those obtained by cotton-tipped swab and wooden spatula. In this comparative study, combined cervicovaginal smear was collected from 270 women by cotton-tipped swab+ wooden spatula or broom, randomly. In group 1 (n= 131), cervical cytology was taken by cotton-tipped swab+ wooden spatula, while in group 2 (n= 138), it was taken by broom. Smears were evaluated using standard parameters for an optimal smear: evenly dispersed, well-preserved, adequate cells from the transformation zone. The number of satisfactory but limited samples due to absence of endocervical cell in the broom group was significantly lower than another group (p<0.05). Obtaining abnormal cells, bleeding and inflammation was similar in the cotton-tipped swab+wooden spatula and broom. A properly prepared wooden spatula is an inexpensive, readily available, nontraumatic collection device that yields smear of optimal quality. The cotton-tipped swab performs poorly. However, this study showed the number of satisfactory but limited samples due to absence of endocervical cell is significantly reduced with the broom.