Pulmonoprotective Action of Zataria multiflora Ethanolic Extract on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Oxidative Lung Toxicity in Mice / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the protective effect of Zataria multiflora extract, an antioxidative medicinal plant, against cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced oxidative lung damage in mice.@*METHODS@#Mice were intraperitoneally pre-treated with various doses of Zataria multiflora extract (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) once daily for 7 consecutive days. Animals were then injected with a single 200 mg/kg intraperitoneal dose of CP 1 h after the last administration of O. vulgare. Twenty-four hours later, mice were euthanized, the lungs were immediately removed, and biochemical and histological studies were conducted.@*RESULTS@#A single dose of CP markedly altered the levels of several biomarkers associated with oxidative stress in lung homogenates. Pretreatment with Zataria multiflora significantly inhibited the elevation of lipid peroxidation level and the depletion in glutathione content, and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities induced by CP in lung. In addition, Zataria multiflora effectively alleviated CP-induced histopathological abnormality and pulmonary damages in mice lung tissues.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The results reveal that Zataria multiflora protects lung tissues from CP-induced toxicity and suggest a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of lung toxicity produced by CP in mice. Because Zataria multiflora has been extensively used as an additive agent and is regarded as safe, it may be used concomitantly as a good supplement for reducing organ toxicity in patients undergoing chemotherapy, besides their consolidated ethnopharmacological uses.

Protective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Teucrium polium on diabetes-induced testicular damage and serum testosterone concentration

Background: diabetes has an adverse effect on spermatogenesis by rising oxidative stress

Objective: the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Teucrium Polium extract administration on spermatogenesis and testicular structure in diabetic rats induced with Streptozotocin

Materials and Methods: 32 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups [n=8/each]: control group, diabetic group received distilled water, and two experimental groups included diabetic rats treated with 50 and 100 mg/body weight of Teucrium Polium extract for 6 six weeks. After six weeks, the left testis had been removed and the morphometrical study was performed. Blood samples were collected from the ophthalmic veins of the rats and plasma levels of glucose and testosterone hormone were measured afterward

Results: the reduction in diameters of the seminiferous tubules and thickening of the wall of the seminiferous tubules [p=0.05] were seen in diabetic rats. Also, the degenerative changes in cells arrangement have been observed. Statistical analysis showed the use of Teucrium Polium significantly improved the above disorders in treatment group [100 mg/BW] in contrast to the non-treated diabetic group [p=0.05], but no significant difference was seen between the experimental group treated with 50 mg/BW of Teucrium polium and diabetic group [p=0.08]. These data also revealed that treatment of diabetic rats with 100 mg/BW of Teucrium Polium extract significantly improves the change in serum glucose [p=0.001] and testosterone [p=0.03]

Conclusion: the results of the present study indicate that diabetes produces degenerative changes in the testis of rats and administration of Teucrium polium reduces complications resulted from diabetes

Cancer stem cells CD133 and CD24 in colorectal cancers in Northern Iran

Aim: We aimed to study the expression of CD24 and CD133 in colorectal cancer and normal adjacent tissues to assess a relationship between these markers and clinic-pathological characteristics and patient's survival

Background: Cancer stem cells are a group of tumor cells that have regeneration and multi-order differentiation capabilities

Patients and methods: Expression of CD24 and CD133 was studied in a paraffin block of colorectal cancer and normal tissues near tumors with the immuneohistochemical method in patients who were referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari

Results: A total of 50 samples [25 males and 25 females] with a mean age of 67.57 +/- 13.9 years old with range 28-93 years, included 3 mucinous carcinoma and 47 adenocarcinoma. Expression of CD133 marker was negative in 29 cases and positive in 21 cases. Expression of CD24 in tissue near tumor cells was found in 30% of available samples. The relationship between expressing CD24 with treatment [surgery and chemotherapy] was significant and its relationship with patient's survival was insignificant statistically. However, there was a clear difference as mean survival age of patients based on CD24 expression was 26.64 +/- 18.15 for negative cases and 41.75 +/- 28.76 months for positive cases. CD24 and CD133 expressions and their co-expression with other clinic-pathological factors were not significant

Conclusion: During this study, the relationship between CD24 and treatment type was significant. To confirm this result, various studies with high sample numbers and other stem cell markers are recommended

Inhibitory effect of gold nanoparticles conjugated with interferon gamma and methionine on breast cancer cell line

Objective: To develop a gold nanoparticles complex conjugated with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and methionine along with application of hyperthermia using near-infrared laser beams for the treatment of cancer cells. Methods: Gold nanorods (10 nm) were conjugated with IFN-γ and methionine using carbodiimide family and characterized after purification by dialysis bags. Breast cancer cells were cultured and incubated with gold nanorods at different concentrations followed by irradiation with near-infrared laser beam. Samples were then evaluated for their viability in order to determine the effect of treatment and variables by MTT assy. Results: Zetasizer results confirmed the conjugation of gold nanorods with methionine and IFN-γ. The median percentage of cell viability in 0.30 μg/mL concentration of gold nanorods was 82%. The cell viability reached to 85% at the same concentration of gold nanorods, which existed in the assayed complex. The results of MTT assay showed that the 0.60 μg/mL concentration of gold nanoparticles complex was toxic on tumor cells (P < 0.05). After exposure to hyperthermia, the viability of cells at 6 min decreased to 77% in 0.30 μg/mL concentration of gold nanorods complex. Conclusions: The size and concentration of gold nanorods was not cytotoxic. However, their presence during irradiation near-infrared laser increased the number of dead cells during the treatment of cells.

[Correlation of colorectal cancer stem cell marker CD24 expression with clinicopathologic features and survival of patients with colorectal cancer from Sari, Iran]

Cancer stem cells are a subgroup of tumor cells that have the capability for self-renewal and differentiation and are characterized by multiple markers. Several studies have been conducted to identify these cells in colorectal cancer, including stem cell marker CD24. This study has evaluated the association of CD24 expression with clinicopathologic features and survival in an immunohistochemical [IHC] study that compared colorectal cancer tissues with adjacent normal tissues. The expression of CD24 in 50 paraffin embedded samples of colorectal cancer and adjacent normal tissue in patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital, Sari, Iran was examined by IHC. We studied the relationship between clinical and pathological features as well as the patient's condition in terms of metastasis, recurrence, type of treatment and death due to cancer treatment. The 50 cases studied included 25 males and 25 females with a mean age of 57.64 +/- 9.13 years range: 28-93 years] There were 3 mucinous carcinoma and 47 adenocarcinoma samples. CD24 was positive in 29 cases and negative in 21 cases. CD24 expression correlated with combined surgery and chemotherapytreatment p=0.04]. A correlation existed with patient survival but it was not statistically significant. The mean survival time of patients according to CD24 expression was 26.64 +/- 18.15 in cases that were CD24 negative and 41.75 +/- 28.67 months in cases that were CD24 positive. Correlation of CD24 expression with other clinicopathologic factors was not significant [p>0.05]. We have observed a relationship between the clinicopathologic feature of combined surgery and chemotherapy treatment to colorectal cancer stem cell marker expression. A nonsignificant correlation also existed with patient survival. To confirm these results, we recommend additional studies with larger sample sizes

Validation of Persian version of pedsQL[TM] 4.0[TM] generic core scales in toddlers and children

To evaluate the reliability, validity and feasibility of the Persian version of the Pediatric Quality of Life inventory PedsQL[TM] 4.0 [TM] 4.0 Generic Core Scales in Iranian healthy students ages 7-15 and chronically ill children ages 2-18. We followed the translation methodology proposed by developer to validate Persian version of PedsQL[TM] 4.0TM 4.0 Generic Core Scales for children. Six hundred and sixty children and adolescents and their parents were enrolled. Sample of 160 healthy students were chosen by random cluster method between 4 regions of Isfahan education offices and 60 chronically ill children were recruited from St. Alzahra hospital private clinics. The questionnaires were fulfilled by the participants. The Persian version of PedsQL[TM] 4.0TM 4.0 Generic Core Scales discriminated between healthy and chronically ill children [healthy students mean score was 12.3 better than chronically ill children, P<0.001]. Cronbachs' alpha internal consistency values exceeded 0.7 for children self reports and proxy reports of children 5-7 years old and 13-18 years old. Reliability of proxy reports for 2-4 years old was much lower than 0.7. Although, proxy reports for chronically ill children 8-12 years old was more than 0.7, these reports for healthy children with same age group was slightly lower than 0.7. Constructive, criterion face and content validity were acceptable. In addition, the Persian version of PedsQL[TM] 4.0TM 4.0 Generic Core Scales was feasible and easy to complete. Results showed that Persian version of PedsQL[TM] 4.0[TM] 4.0 Generic Core Scales is valid and acceptable for pediatric health researches. It is necessary to alternate scoring for 2-4 years old questionnaire and to find a way to increase reliability for healthy children aged 8-12 years especially, according to Iranian culture

Tuberculin skin test conversion among students during their educational course in medical and pharmacy schools: a multiple cohort study

Mycobacterium tuberculosis can be transmitted via aerosols in hospital wards and affect medical students as well as other hospital personnel. This study aimed to assess the changes of tuberculin skin test in medical students compared to pharmacy students during their education. This was a natural multiple cohort study performed in the medical education system to assess the rates of TST conversion among students. Tuberculin skin tests were performed on 212 students, including100 pharmacy students and 112 medical students before the initiation of their clinical rotations and repeated 36 months later after their exposure to hospital wards. Participants completed self-administered questionnaires. Tuberculin skin test [TST] conversion in medical and pharmacy students was 18.1% and 4.3%, respectively during the years 2003 and 2006. Although there was no significant difference between positive TST of the two groups at baseline, a significant difference [P=0.005] was observed after their exposure to hospital wards. There were no significant correlations between TST conversion and age or gender of students. Exposure of medical students to tuberculosis during their education is substantial in Iran and more attention should be paid to prevention strategies in medical students prior to and during their clinical training

novel human lipid binding protein coding gene: PERF15, sequence and cloning

PERF15 is a testicular germ-cell specific fatty-acid binding protein [FABP] isolated from mammals, originally from rats. It encodes one of the most abundant proteins of rat spermatozoa localized in the perinuclear theca. Northern blot analysis has demonstrated that rat PERF15 mRNA is exclusively transcribed during meiosis and post-meiosis. In this study, we cloned and sequenced human PERF15 gene. According to the open reading frame of automated computational analysis of Homo sapiens similar to testis fatty acid binding protein nine, two specific Primers were designed to amplify human PERF15 gene. To confirm the identity of the amplified gene, PCR products of PERF15 were cloned into appropriate plasmid vectors followed by sequencing of the inserts. A unique band of -3kb was obtained after PCR amplification. Restriction enzyme digestion using PvuII confirmed that the fragment was related to PERF15. Gene alignment, direct sequencing and application of specific primers to the gene showed 100% similarity between this gene and the computational data by gel extraction of the -3 kb band. The human PERF15 gene contained four exons and three introns. Exons one, two, three and four, respectively, coded for 24, 57, 34 and 17 amino acids. The existing three introns were composed of 2113, 461, and 168 nucleotides. In spite of the homology between exonic regions and exon-intron boundaries of human PERF15 gene and that of animals, human PERF15 gene is different in size and sequence from corresponding introns in rat and murine PERF15