Researcher Bulletin of Medical Sciences
Volume:18 Issue: 6, 2014

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to positively influence calcium and bone metabolism in experimental animals and cell culture, but there are limited human data available. The study consisted of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 76 healthy post-menopausal women (aged 55.1) were randomly assigned to receive daily either four capsules of CLA G80 containing 3.2 g isomer blend (50:50% cis-9, trans-11:trans-10, cis-12 isomers) or four capsules containing high oleic sunflower oil as placebo for 12 weeks. Urine and blood samples were collected at weeks 0 and 12 and were analyzed for biomarkers of calcium and bone metabolism and inflammatory markers (TNF-α and IL-6). Subjects completed 3-day dietary records during the trial in weeks 0 (baseline), 6, and 12. Supplementation with 3.2 g CLA isomer blend (50:50% cis-9, trans-11:trans-10, cis-12 isomers) for 12 weeks had no significant effects on markers of bone formation (serum osteocalcin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase) or bone resorption (urine C-telopeptide-related fraction of type 1 collagen degradation products), PTH, urinary calcium, urinary creatinine and CTP to creatinine ratio. Serum interlukine-6 did not change significantly over 12 weeks in postmenopausal women. ‍ Under the conditions tested in this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in postmenopausal women, 3.2 g CLA isomer blend (50:50% cis-9, trans-11:trans-10, cis-12 isomers) did not affect markers of bone metabolism and calcium.

Pain is one of the most important processes in the body and it is controlled by many pathways in CNS. Many supraspinal nuclei are involved in the modulation of nociception. Amygdala is a neural structure that in addition to being a key region involved in the modulation of emotional and defensive responses; it is also associated with pain modulation. The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) has been called the “nociceptive amygdala”. In this study 60 male wistar rats (280+30g) in six groups (3 test groups and 3 control groups) were used. In test groups, 0.5 microliter lidocaine was injected in the left, right or both amygdala to make local anesthesia. In control groups 0.5 microliter of normal saline were injected as test groups. After 15 minutes 50 microliter of 2.5% of formalin were injected subcutaneously to right hind paw of rats and nociceptive score were detected every 15 seconds for one hour. The results showed that after formalin induced pain in the right paw; the local anesthesia in left amygdala (ipsilateral) can increase nociceptive score more than right amygdala. ‍ The anesthetic effect of lidocaine injection in both amygdala increased the nociception, more than the left or right nucleus alone. It is also showed that ipsilateral amygdala has more control on pain, than the left one in the unilateral induced pain by formalin test.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) refers to the occurrence of two or more consecutive losses of clinically recognized pregnancies prior to the 20th week of gestation. Several factors play a role in recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) including thrombophilic conditions, which can be influenced by gene polymorphisms. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is involved in the fibrinolytic process, and several studies have reported the association between this gene polymorphism and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). We studied the PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism in women with recurrent abortion. 100 patients with recurrent abortions (at least two) were selected as cases and 100 healthy female with two or more normal term deliveries and without a history of abortion were selected as controls. Total genomic DNA was isolated from blood leukocytes. The status of the PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP. Amplifying the corresponding region of genomic DNA followed by treatment with restriction enzyme Bse RI. Homozygosity for PAI-1 4G polymorphism was seen in 17 cases (17%), in contrast to 5 persons in the control group (5%) (P=0.006) and patients with homozygote 4G mutation were significantly more prone to RPL in contrast to others (OR: 4.63, %95 CI: 1.55‒13.84). ‍ Considering these results, because 4G/4G polymorphism for PAI-1 gene could be a thrombophilic mutation leading to abortion, analysis of this mutation and other suspected factors such as MTHFR and FV Leiden is recommended in patients with RPL.

Nanotechnology is a manipulating matter on a near-atomic scale to provide new approach for combating infectious diseases. Silver nanoparticles are increasingly being used in medicine, pharmaceutical, and health sciences for its antimicrobial unique properties. Today, biological synthesis of nanoparticles is considered as an environmentally friendly and inexpensive method. Although the toxic effects of silver ions for most microorganisms have been reported, but several species of the microorganisms including the native screened yeast strain used in this project can overcome the toxicity of the metal ion by its reduction to the elemental form, to form nano-silver. The present study evaluates the potential use of novel yeast strains as a novel biocatalyst to reduce silver nitrate to silver nanoparticles in aqueous form. Eleven different strains of yeasts were isolated from collecting soil samples from near gold mines of Ghorveh in Iran's Kurdistan Province using conventional enrichment process and characterized initially based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics and preliminary biochemical tests. The supernatants of the isolated yeasts were incubated with AgNO3 solution (2.5 mM) in a shaker incubator for 48h; the strain that were able to synthesis of silver nanoparticle was identified. The silver nanoparticles formation was investigated through UV-visible spectroscopic techniques, XRD, SEM microscopic observations and size distribution of nanoparticles were determined by particle size analyzer Among the screened yeast strains, the strain GM5, showed the capability of promoting the extracellular formation of Ag nanoparticles. The strain was selected and identified as Rhodotorula (GenBank accession number KF543865) based on morphological and biochemical characteristics and its molecular phylogenetic analysis. Results obtained by visual observations, spectral data achieved from UV–vis, XRD spectrum, particle size analyzer and SEM micrographs confirmed the extracellular formation of spherical silver nanoparticles with spherical morphology and narrow size distribution with average particle size of 40 nm by using the culture supernatant of Rhodotorula sp. strain GM5. ‍ Extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles, without the need for complicated extraction steps, can be taken by using the culture supernatants of Rhodotorula sp. strain GM5. This biologic method has the potential to replace chemical and physical methods used for synthesis of silver nanoparticles and can be efficiently used as an eco-friendly biocatalyst for the preparative synthesis of Ag nanoparticles. The present study is the first report on the biological synthesis of Ag nanoparticles using genus of Rhodotorula.

Despite the progress made in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children, damage to their mental and social status of patients are not well discussed. This study is aimed to determine emotional and behavioral status of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment phase using the child behavioral checklist (CBCL), which has been designed and implemented. In this study, 100 children with ALL (mean age 1.7±8.9 years) who were referred to the oncology clinic of Mofid Children’s Hospital in Tehran were studied. With the awareness of the psychologist, the parents were asked to respond to CBCL questionnaire. CBCL is a well-known standard form for affective disorders, which mental cases are used. The survey results for the whole group and the disorder was identified. The results of this study showed that school performance deficit, lack of collective action and collective activity limitation in children with ALL is obvious. Also, physical symptoms (somatic) in the study group was significant. ‍ The findings suggest that the collective behavior and functional disorders of children with ALL is disrupted. Therefore, the detection and prevention of such cases is essential in children with malignancies.

More than 5% of patients’ referred to Emergency Department (ED) and were suffering from syncope, which is the cause of 1-6% of inpatients. This study aims to study the etiology and outcome of syncope in patent referred to ED. This study investigated all syncope patients refer to ED of Imam Hossein Hospital for five months and the outcome was assessed for one-month. Data was recorded in questionnaire with patent’s file or history taking. Follow up was done one month later. T-test and chi-square test was used to analyze relationship between outcome and etiology. One hundred patients (66 male) with a mean age and standard deviation 67.7±17 years were assessed. Etiology in 35 (35%) patients was cardiac, 60 (60%) unknown, 4 (4%) cerebral and 1 (1%) was anemia. During follow up, 4 patients (2 men and 2 women) died. Etiology of death in these patients was cardiac and all of them were higher than 79 years old. Electrographical changes were observed in expired patients. Prevalence of recurrence was 4% and 9% of patients had surgery, which they were alive. ‍ Age higher than 70 years old with a cardiac etiology are the most important predictive factors in prognosis of patient and outcome of syncope.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most common nosocomial infection, which is caused by colonization of uropathogenic Escherichia coli to host mucosal epithelium and damage host tissue. In this study 100 samples were collected from patients who suspected urinary tract infection. Antibiotic resistance of uropathogenic Escherichia coli was done by Kirby-Bauer method. Biofilm formation of this bacterium was performed by micro-titer plate method. To study the attachment of bacteria, cell surface hydrophobicity of uropathogenic Escherichia coli was done by hydrocarbon octane method. Among 100 examined samples using conventional biochemical methods, 70 samples were identified as uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Results showed that, this bacteria with 23% hydrophobicity was able to form biofilm. Among these, 60% showed strong potential to form biofilm and just 4% did not have such potential.

Psittacosis (Chlamydiosis), is a zoonotic disease in birds caused by Chlamydia psittaci, an obligatory intracellular bacterium and member of the family Chlamydiaceae. The clinical signs depend on the species and age of the avian as well as the pathogenicity of strain of C. psittaci. The infections can manifest as an acute, or chronic illness, but can also be asymptomatic. C. psittaci can persist in the host for long periods, often without causing obvious illness, and therefore poses a threat for public health. Thus, an outbreak may happen through direct contact or inhalation of infected aerosols and dried faces. The aim of this survey was molecular detection of C. psittaci in fecal samples from different species of parrots in Iran. A total of 32 fecal samples were collected from different species of parrots in Iran. DNA was extracted from fecal samples using DNPTM kit (CinnaClon Co., Iran) according to manufacturer’s instructions. Two parts of C. psittaci DNA was detected using two sets of primers, which target a 432 bp, and 127 bp fragments of bacterial DNA in the first- and second-rounds of PCR, respectively. After PCR amplification of extracted DNA from samples, 8 (25%) samples out of 32 fecal samples were found positive for presence of C. psittaci DNA. ‍ These results indicate the medium prevalence of sub-clinical psittacosis in Iranian psittacine populations, which consequently could pose a zoonotic hazard to public health. Since many people are in close contact with these birds more public education about the disease is necessary. More studies should be done to find more information like predominant genotypes of C. psittaci in the parrot population of Iran.