Tissue fatty acid composition and secretory phospholipase-A2 activity in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a remarkable health problem worldwide, but its pathogenesis remains unknown. The aim of this study was to compare fat composition and secretory phospholipase-A2 (sPLA2) activity between the malignant and adjacent normal squamous tissues in patients with OSCC. METHODS: Paired samples of malignant squamous and adjacent normal-appearing tissues were collected from 27 patients with OSCC. The fatty acid composition in the obtained tissues was determined by gas liquid chromatography. Tissue enzyme activities of sPLA2 were measured using the standard assay with Diheptanoyl Thio-Phosphatidylcholine as substrate. RESULTS: In the OSCC tissue, the level of stearic acid (18:0) and activity of sPLA2 were higher (P < 0.001), and the levels of oleic acid (18:1n-9) and linoleic acid (18:2n-6) were lower than that in the adjacent normal-appearing squamous tissue (P < 0.001). The activity of sPLA2 in OSCC was strongly negatively correlated with the amount of 18:2n-6 (r = -0.41, P < 0.001). Negative significant associations were observed between the OSCC invasion and tissue levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHE). CONCLUSION: The changes in the fatty acid composition and sPLA2 activity may be regarded as indicators of altered lipid metabolism occurring in vivo during squamous cell carcinogenesis.

Comparison of environmental health status in primary schools in different districts of Isfahan city in 2008-2009.

INTRODUCTION: Students spend at least 20% of their time in schools. Training, educating and the personality of these students depends on appropriate educational methods, proper physical space, and also favorable mental environment. Students are considered as a major human resources of any society and dealing with their health and promoting educational environment health is in fact a kind of investment for future. In this study we examined the status of environmental health status in primary school of different districts of Isfahan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a descriptive-analytical study. The number of studied samples was 77 schools in Isfahan which were selected by regular randomized method The tool used to gather data was a environmental health inquiry form for school environments, and consisted of two parts: the first part included common school specifications and the second part involved items dealing with desirability of various parts of schools.The above forms were filled out in 3 months by specialists in public health, evaluating the schools and interviewing the principals. Then, they were analyzed and a comparison was made between the results from various districts. RESULTS: 76.6% of schools complied with the standards and 80.5% of classrooms were in desired conditions. Regarding the standards for building and classrooms, there was no significant difference between various districts. Hygiene services (water closets and basin) and drinking water were at desired level and there was no significant difference between various districts in this regard, however the district 1 was in undesired condition. Regarding collecting and disposing of rubbishes and trashes, 79% of schools were in desired condition and 49% of them had hygienic tuck-shops according to standards, but there was no significant difference between various districts. CONCLUSION: The study showed that the status of environment health is at desired level in primary schools in Isfahan, but the health of tuck-shops should improve in schools and it needs more attention and interest from authorities of Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and dedicating proper budgets to solve their health problems.

Early regional response of apoptotic activity in newborn piglet brain following hypoxia and ischemia.

Responses of selected neuroregulatory proteins that promote (Caspase 3 and Bax) or inhibit (Bcl-2, high Bcl-2/Bax ratio) apoptotic cell death were measured in the brain of piglets subjected to precisely controlled hypoxic and ischemic insults: 1 h hypoxia (decreasing FiO2 from 21 to 6%) or ischemia (ligation of carotid arteries and hemorrhage), followed by 0, 2 and 4 h recovery with 21% FiO2. Protein expression was measured in cortex, hippocampus and striatum by Western blot. There were no significant differences in expression of Caspase-3 between sham operated, hypoxic and ischemic groups. There were significant regional differences in expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in response to hypoxia and ischemia. The changes in Bcl-2/Bax ratio were similar for hypoxia and ischemia except for striatum at zero time recovery, with ischemia giving lower ratios than hypoxia. The Bcl-2/Bax ratio was also lower for the striatum than for the other regions of the brain, suggesting this region is the more susceptible to apoptotic injury.