Journal of Inflammatory Diseases
Volume:19 Issue: 4, 2015

Infection with Echinococcus granulosus causes hydatidosis in human and ruminants. With regards to the high prevalence of hydatidosis in Iran، dealing with this disease is important in terms of public health. The aim of this study was to construct pEGFP-ChEgTrp as DNA model for multi-epitope vaccine against Echinococcus granulosus This experimental study was conducted in the Razi Vaccine & Serum Research Institute، Karaj in 2013. Initially، epitopes stimulating the host immune response were predicted by IEDB Database and the coding sequences were made. The sequences were amplified by PCR. The PCR products were cloned into pEGFP-N1 vector after digestion with XhoI restriction enzyme. The bacteria containing recombinant plasmid were evaluated using Colony PCR، agarose gel electrophoresis and sequencing methods. Four peptides with 10 linear epitopes were predicted in EgTrp antigen. The nucleotide sequence coding ChEgTrp was amplified by PCR using specific primers and a 270 bp fragment was obtained. This fragment was cloned into pEGFP-N1 vector and the recombinant plasmid was confirmed by Colony PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis. For final confirmation، the recombinant plasmid was sequenced and the pEGFP-ChEgTrp was constructed. The ChEgTrp was successfully cloned into the pEGFP-N1 vector and this plasmid can be used to design DNA vaccines.

Many studies have shown that prenatal stress affects development of fetal brain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of prenatal exposure to combined stress on memory retention of passive avoidance learning in rats. This experimental study was performed on 16 male and 16 female Wistar rats in 2014. The rats were divided into four groups: male and female control groups, with natural pregnancy and two male and female treatment groups with exposure to combined stress (electromagnetic field, immobility and social stress) in the second and third weeks of embryonic development. The learning was evaluated using shuttle box setup. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey test. The prenatal combined stress caused decrease in the latency time to enter the dark chamber in male and female new born rats in post-training periods especially the second week compared to the control groups. With regards to the results, prenatal exposure to combined stress can reduce the memory retention of passive avoidance learning.

Advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with weight loss and muscular weakness. Low serum testosterone level (hypogonadism) may contribute to muscle wasting. The aim of this study was to determine the association of hypogonadism with the severity of COPD. This cross sectional study was conducted in 57 patients with COPD who had medical records in the lungs clinic of Qazvin during 2012 and 2013. The patients were divided into two groups of mild and sever disease. Total and free testosterone levels and FEV1 were measured. Smoking status and history of taking corticosteroids were assessed. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Based on free testosterone level, 26.7% of patients with mild disease and 22.2% of patients with severe disease had hypogonadism. Mean total and free serum testosterone levels were not significantly different between the two groups (3.2 ± 1.5 ng/ml and 3.9 ± 1.6 pg/ml in mild group and 3.3 ± 1.1ng/ml and 4.2 ± 1.7pg/ml in sever group). After adjusting for age, body mass index, history of taking corticosteroids and smoking status, the mean total and free testosterone levels were not significantly different between the two groups. With regards to the results, hypogonadism occurs frequently in patients with COPD. It seems that serum testosterone level is not clinically associated with severity of COPD.

Malnutrition is one of the serious complications in end stage lung disease that affects quality of life, mortality rate and lung transplantation outcome. The aim of this was to determine the cut-off point of body mass index (BMI) for malnutrition screening in end stage lung disease. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 86 patients referred to the lung transplant clinic of Masih Daneshvari Hospital from July 2012 to February 2013. Nutritional status was evaluated using anthropometric measurements including Mid-Arm Muscle Circumference (MAMC), Triceps Skinfold (TSF), BMI, and Fat-Free Mass Index (FFMI). With ROC curve analysis, the cut-off point of BMI for diagnosis of patients with MAMC and SFT<25% and FFMI<5% of normal range was determined. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test and T-test. Mean age was 36.7±13.73. Mean BMI was 21.1±5.12 kg/m2, mean TSF was 11.76±7.79 mm, mean MAMC was 21.41±3.93 cm2, and mean FFMI was 16.69±2.35 kg/m2. Twenty eight patients (32.6%) had FFMI<5% and MAMC and SFT<25% of normal range. In ROC curve analysis, the cut-off point of BMI for malnutrition was 19.4 kg/m2 with sensitivity of 0.844, specificity of 0.842, Youden Index of 0.686 and Shortest distance from the point (0, 1) of 0.0493. With regards to the results, it seems that the cut-off point of BMI for malnutrition screening is 19.4 kg/m2 in patients with end stage lung disease.

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Few studies have investigated the association between dietary patterns and depression in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the association between dietary patterns and depressive symptoms in adult women living in Tehran in 2013. This cross-sectional study was carried on 217 women aged 20-45 years attending health centers in the north and west of Tehran in 2013. The subjects were selected by systematic cluster sampling method. Data were collected through demographic, food frequency, and physical activity questionnaires and the beck depression inventory. Major dietary patterns were identified by factor analysis and their association with depressive symptoms was assessed by logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 63.2% in the studied women. Two major dietary patterns were identified (healthy and unhealthy). After adjusting for confounders, subjects with higher scores in the unhealthy dietary pattern had higher odds (OR=2.21, P=0.01) of depressive symptoms; but the healthy dietary pattern was not associated with depressive symptoms. With regards to the results, it seems that the unhealthy dietary pattern is associated with the risk of depression in women.

Presence of nitrites in meat products is important because they combine with secondary amines and produce nitrosamine carcinogen. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different cooking methods and temperatures on residual nitrite content in sausage. This experimental study was conducted in the Food and Drug Laboratory of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Sausage samples containing 90% meat that were produced under identical conditions in a factory in Qazvin were transferred to the laboratory under suitable conditions and their residual nitrite contents were measured. The residual nitrite content was remeasured three times after using different cooking methods (frying, grilling, and cooking in microwave oven) at different temperatures and durations in 39 experiments. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Before cooking, the residual nitrite content was 33.57 mg/kg in the sausage samples and reached to 26.46 mg/kg after frying at 120º C for 5 minutes. Mean residual nitrite content was significantly different at other temperatures and cooking durations. The mean residual nitrite content reached to 1.42 and 0 after frying at 220º C for 5 and 10 minutes, respectively. With regards to the results, the greater the temperature and the duration of cooking, the more the reduction in residual nitrite content of the final product.

Multiple Sclerosis is a disease of young age and is mostly diagnosed between 20 to 40 years old. The aim of this study was to compare the perceptions and beliefs about pain in patients with multiple sclerosis and healthy controls. This analytical study was conducted in Tabriz University, 2014. Thirty patients with multiple sclerosis and 30 healthy controls that were selected by convenience sampling method completed the pain beliefs and perception inventory. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Patients with multiple sclerosis had higher scores in pain as mystery, self –blame, pain as constant, and pain as permanent scales compared to the controls. With regards to the results, it is suggested to consider the pain beliefs and perception scales in medical centers and multiple sclerosis associations.

Sexual function can be affected by several factors. Menopause and its symptoms including somatic, psychological, and urogenital symptoms can be associated with sexual dysfunction during menopause. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the severity of menopausal symptoms on sexual function in postmenopausal women. This analytical study was conducted in 405 postmenopausal women -40 to 60 years old- in Nowshahr and Chaloos during 2013 and 2014. Subjects were selected by multi-stage random sampling method. Data were collected using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), and a researcher-made questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, Spearman correlation coefficient, T-test, multiple linear regression and logistic regression. Sixty one percent of the subjects had sexual dysfunction. The most severe menopausal symptoms were related to psychological domain and the lowest score was related to urogenital domain. All domains of MRS and the MRS total score had significantly negative correlation with the FSFI total score. The urogenital score (r=0.283, P<0.001) and the MRS total score (r=0.116, P=0.020) had significantly positive correlation with sexual dissatisfaction. Urogenital score and MRS total score were significantly higher in women with decreased sexuality and sexual relationship after menopause compared to others. The severity of menopausal symptoms was negative predictor of all domains of sexual function except for satisfaction and the FSFI total score. The MRS total score was a predictor of variation in sexuality and sexual relationship after menopause and satisfaction. The severity of menopausal symptoms could have a negative effect on sexual function. Controlling these symptoms should be noted to improve sexual function for women's health policy making.

Tooth transposition is a developmental anomaly and the canine is the most common involved tooth in the transposition. This anomaly occurs in the maxilla more than the mandible and has not been reported simultaneously in both jaws and in primary teeth. Functional and aesthetic disorders are of complications of the tooth transposition. Early diagnosis is important in order to prevent teeth irregularities and complexity of ideal treatment after the apex completion. In this report, a complete transposition of maxillary canine and premolar associated with a primary canine is presented in a 32 year old man. The proposed treatment plan was esthetic and restorative treatment.

Given the importance of stigma in life, behavior and social interaction of psychiatric patients, this cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the severity of stigma in 200 patients referred to Ibn-Sina Hospital in Mashhad during 2013. The results showed that 47.5% of the patients had moderate stigma and 52.5% had severe stigma. The association of age, marital status, education level and income with stigma was not significant. There was significant association between stigma and gender and women experienced greater stigma than men. Psychological training of families and the community can be effective to increase awareness and reduce stigma related to psychiatric disorders.