Journal of Pathobiology Reaearch
Volume:17 Issue: 2, 2014

The majority of cancer treatments are invasive. Gonadal injuries cause reductions in fertility which results in lack of hope for conception in cancer patients and frustration for their partners. Fortunately، current advancements in cryopreservation and transplantation sciences regarding fertility preservation lead to cryostorage of gonads and preservation prior to the onset of chemo- and radiotherapy treatments. Accordingly in women، the main goal of ovarian cryopreservation is establishment of fertility and hormonal cycle restoration after auto-transplantation. Although the history of ovarian transplantation dates back to the 19th century، there are reports of live human births following ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation since the past 100 years. Despite this success and additional research in the field of ovarian cryopreservation and transplantation، numerous questions remain unanswered. Among these questions، growth factors and hormonal changes because of their effects on follicular function appear to be more important during ovarian tissue transplantation. This review attempts to address hormones and growth factor functions with the specifics of ovarian cryopreservation and auto-transplantation.

Bipolar I disorder is a common disorder with a complex etiology. A genetic approach is gaining increasing importance in this disorder. The dysbindin gene، located at 6p22. 3 is considered a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Certain genotypes of dysbindin are thought to be associated with other psychoses such as bipolar disorders. This study intends to assess the association in previously implicated dysbindin genotypes and haplotypes with bipolar I disorder in an Iranian population. We genotyped four previously reported SNPs: rs2619522، rs1018381، 2743852 and rs2619538. Their haplotypes were analyzed in a population of 124 patients that consisted of 44 confirmed bipolar I disorder patients and 80 control subjects. We used multiple allele-specific PCR method for genotyping، which was verified by direct sequencing. In concordance with previous reports in other populations our findings showed no association between the single SNPs and bipolar I disorder. Furthermore، none of the alleles showed a significant association with the disorder. In contrast to previous reports، haplotype analysis did not reveal any statistically significant associations with bipolar I disorder. Considering reports of previous studies regarding the implication of these dysbindin genotypes in bipolar I disorder، it is probable that allelic heterogeneity along with lack of an established causal variant in the dysbindin gene can be main factors for this discordance. With regards to ethnicities in other studies، population variation can also be considered an important factor in the observed variation.

Recent evidences suggest that tumors arise from a small subpopulation of cells، the cancer stem cells (CSCs) or tumor initiating cells. CSCs are able to resist the conventional methods of cancer therapy due to existence of ABC transporters on their surface. This leads to CSC resistance and maintenance resulting in post-treatment relapse and metastasis. Therefore، precise identification and characterization of these cells as a target for new therapeutic regimens is the goal of numerous studies. This study، with the intent to design a new method of immunotherapy for targeting cancer stem cells in mouse malignant melanoma، initially characterized the cancer stem cells in this malignancy. In order to identify the CSCs we induced a melanoma tumor using the B16F10 cell line in C57BL/6 mice. The tumor bulk was dissociated by an enzymatic method and homogeneous tumor cells were sorted using anti-CD44 and anti-CD24 antibodies. The sorted tumor cell subpopulations were compared according to their ability to form cell spheres in serum free medium (SFM). We determined the tumor formation ability of all cell subpopulations by transplanting serial dilutions of B16-F10 and all sorted cells sub-populations into C57/BL6 mice. The results showed that although all separated cell subpopulations and B16-F10 cells formed non-adherent spheroids in SFM in the presence of B-27، but the CD24+ cells presents a significantly higher ability to produce spheroids. The B16F10 cell line، CD44+CD24- and CD44-CD24- cells showed equal potencies in tumor induction (1 in 21730 cells). The CD44-CD24+ cells tumor induction potency was 1 in 17426 and this ability for the double positive cells (CD44+CD24+) was 1 in 11295. Collectively،the double positive (CD24+CD44+) cells were more potent in both spheroid formation and tumorogenicity. Hence they might be the CSC population of mouse melanoma.

Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most important parasitic infections in Iran which causes diarrhea in humans and animals. The identification of the Cryptosporidium species among humans is necessary. This study aims to identify species of Cryptosporidium isolated from patients that referred to three hospitals in Tehran based on the 18s rRNA gene by nested PCR-RFLP assay. In the first step of the present descriptive cross-sectional study، 1128 human fecal samples were collected from patients that referred to three hospitals (Ali Asgar، Mofid and Imam Khomeini) in Tehran. The samples were examined for Cryptosporidium by modified acid fast staining. In the second step، DNA of the positive samples were extracted، then gene of 18s rRNA was amplified by nested PCR in order to differentiate between species. The PCR products were subsequently digested by Vsp1 restriction enzyme and their sequences determined. The modified acid fast method detected 12 (1. 06%) positive samples which was confirmed by a molecular technique. The 845bp fragment of 18s rRNA was digested by restriction enzymes. There were 10 samples identified as Cryptosporidium parvum that showed similar patterns on 2. 5% agarose gel; 2 other samples were identified as Cryptosporidium homonis and Cryptosporidium andersoni based on the different patterns and sequence results. Although Cryptosporidium parvum is introduced as the major agent for cryptosporidiosis in humans، Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium andersoni may also infect humans.

Infectious microorganisms are major sources of illness and death worldwide، and the leading cause of death in neonates. Effective vaccination of this age group is of particular importance. The lack of a response and greater susceptibility to tolerance are two major features that limit the effectiveness of vaccines in neonates. In this study we compare the cellular immune response generated following antigen injections at different times of life in newborn mice to that of adult mice. Adult and different age neonate mice were vaccinated with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). One week after the last injection، cellular immunity was assayed on spleen cells that targeted EL4 infected cells using lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay. Antigen injection induced a decreased immune response in newborn mice compared with mice that had been immunized with subsequent injections. In the adult group، due to the evolution of the immune system، we observed a stronger immune response. Immunization of newborn mice may induce a reduced response when compared to adult vaccinations. However this can be corrected by the administration of additional booster doses.

In the present study، we examined the effects of memantine administration within the nucleus accumbens on the alterations in brain and adrenal volumes and weight ratios induced by stress from electric foot shock.

A group of mice received various doses of memantine (0. 1، 0. 5 and 1 mg/kg) prior to induction of stress. Another group underwent intra-accumbal cannulation after anesthesia. One week later، memantine (0. 1، 0. 5 and 1 µg/mouse) was injected within the nucleus accumbens prior to induction of stress. Subsequently all animals were killed. Their brains and adrenal glands were removed and fixed in 4% formalin. The volume and weight was determined by mercury immersion and method respectively.

The stress group showed evidence of reduction in brain volume and weight ratio to volume، and weight of the adrenal gland. Memantine increased the ratio of the brain volume and weight to the volume and weight of the adrenal gland. Memantine administration within the nucleus accumbens also could alter this ratio. Hence، all three doses of memantine that were injected on the right side and bilateral to the nucleus inhibited the effects of stress.

Inhibition of NMDA receptors in the nucleus accumbens can inhibit the destructive effects of chronic stress on brain volume and weight. In addition، memantine can inhibit the influence of stress on adrenal volume and weight. We have shown that this effect was both dose and injection site dependent. In this regard، the left side of the nucleus was weaker.

Erythrasma is a chronic superficial infection of the intertriginous areas. Most laboratories use methylene blue stain and 10% KOH smear to identify Corynebacterium minutissimum (C. minutissimum) by direct observation of filamentous bacilli. Occasionally atypical forms can be seen that create problems in diagnosis. This study aims to use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in order to definitively identify C. minutissimum as an agent of erythrasma. This research was performed during 2013 on 100 skin scrapings suspicious for erythrasmawhich were obtained from various medical mycology laboratories in Tehran. Samples were tested by three methods - direct examination، culture and PCR. DNA was extracted by the modified phenol-chloroform method after which PCR was performed using designed primers. We sequenced some of the PCR products. The sensitivity and specificity of the PCR method was compared to the direct and culture examinations. Of the 100 samples، there were 25 positive samples according to PCR analysis، 13 positive by direct examination and 23 that cultured positive. DNA sequencing results showed the presence of C. minutissimum. The PCR method in comparison with direct examination had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 86. 2%. The study also showed that the PCR method in comparison with culture had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97. 4%. This study showed that the PCR method in comparison with the direct method and culture had a higher sensitivity in the detection of C. minutissimum. The present PCR method confirmed all typical and some of the atypical forms of C. minutissimum which indicated the importance of this method in the definitive diagnosis of erythrasma.