Helicobacter pylori infection and iron deficiency in patients with coronary artery disease.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether impact of the seropositivity to Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection on ferritin and iron levels is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with cardiovascular disease. The anti H pylori IgG, IgA levels, serum ferritin and iron concentration of 86 patients with cardiovascular disease and 64 participants free of cardiovascular disease as control subjects were determined by ELISA assay. The results of present study showed that seropositivity to H pylori IgG and IgA levels of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients was higher than controls and CAD patients with negative anti H pylori IgG and IgA significantly. A significant negative correlation was found between seropositivity to H pylori IgG and IgA, ferritin and iron levels of CAD patients with seronegativity and seronegativity to H pylori IgG and IgA in comparison with controls. The achieved results from present study suggest that the involvement of H pylori infection in atherosclerosis process is based on the chronic inflammation which might facilitate the CAD-related pathologies. Moreover, impact of the presence of H pylori infection on reduction of the ferritin and iron levels of CAD patients as a risk factor independent of other classic factors including lipid profiles and inflammatory factors was remarkable.

Human colon cancer HT-29 cell death responses to doxorubicin and Morus Alba leaves flavonoid extract.

The mechanistic basis for the biological properties of Morus alba flavonoid extract (MFE) and chemotherapy drug of doxorubicin on human colon cancer HT-29 cell line death are unknown. The effect of doxorubicin and flavonoid extract on colon cancer HT-29 cell line death and identification of APC gene expression and PARP concentration of HT-29 cell line were investigated. The results showed that flavonoid extract and doxorubicin induce a dose dependent cell death in HT-29 cell line. MFE and doxorubicin exert a cytotoxic effect on human colon cancer HT-29 cell line by probably promoting or induction of apoptosis.

The mRNA Expression and Circulating Levels of Visfatin and Their Correlation with Coronary Artery Disease Severity and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D.

It is evident that coronary artery disease (CAD) is closely associated with abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism. Notably, dysregulation of inflammatory pathways and immune system also contribute to CAD development. Recently, it has been suggested that visfatin, a proinflammatory adipocytokine, may be involved in several inflammatory and metabolic diseases. In this study, we evaluated the serum visfatin levels and its mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from CAD patients compared with control subjects. We also studied the correlation between visfatin gene expression and serum levels with clinical and metabolic parameters. This study was conducted on 56 male patients with CAD confirmed by angiography and 30 healthy men as controls. CAD severity was determined based on the number of vessels. Study of gene expression in PBMCs was performed using real time-PCR, and serum levels of visfatin and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured by ELISA. We found that serum visfatin levels and its gene expression in PBMCs were increased in patients with CAD compared with the control group (p=0.027 and p=0.016, respectively). Also, visfatin gene expression was positively correlated with visfatin levels and both these variables had a strong positive correlation with the severity of CAD. It appears that elevated mRNA expression and circulating level of visfatin might be of relevance to the pathogenesis and severity of CAD. However, further studies are necessary to better clarify the associations between visfatin and CAD.

Field evaluation of phostoxin and zinc phosphide for the control of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in a hyperendemic area, central Iran.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: ZCL is a growing threat in many rural areas of Iran which involves 17 out of 31 provinces. This study was conducted from April to November 2011 for evaluation of the efficacy of phostoxin and zinc phosphide against rodents. METHODS: Rodent control operations were carried out using phostoxin and zinc phosphide. To evaluate the effect of rodent control operation on the main vector density, an entomological survey was carried out. The effects of the operation on the disease incidence were also evaluated. RESULTS: After intervention, the reduction rate of rodent burrows was 32.68% in the village treated with phostoxin and 58.14% in the village treated with zinc phosphide. The number of rodent holes in the control area showed 6.66-fold increase at the end of the study. The incidence of the disease decreased to 19.23 and 11.40 in areas treated with phostoxin and zinc phosphide, respectively. A total of 4243 adult sandflies were collected and identified. The most common and dominant species was Phlebotomus papatasi. In the village treated with phostoxin, the density of P. papatasi in outdoors was lower than indoors. Nevertheless, the density of P. papatasi in the village treated with zinc phosphide was higher in outdoors. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: It is concluded that phostoxin is less effective and has low safety in comparison with zinc phosphide, so that this rodenticide can be used only in special situations such as lack or ineffective rodenticides and only in the colonies far from human and animal dwelling places in small scales.

Comparative study on the effectiveness of coumavec® and zinc phosphide in controlling zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in a hyperendemic focus in central iran.

BACKGROUND: Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) is an increasing health problems in many rural areas of Iran. The aim of this study was to introduce a new alternative rodenticide to control the reservoirs of ZCL, its effect on the vector density and the incidence of the disease in hyperendemic focus of Esfahan County, central Iran. METHODS: The study was carried out from January 2011 to January 2012. In intervention areas, rodent control operation was conducted using zinc phosphide or Coumavec®. Active case findings were done by house-to-house visits once every season during 2011-2012. To evaluate the effect of rodent control operation on the vector density, sand flies were collected twice a month using sticky traps. RESULTS: The reduction rate of rodent holes in intervention areas with Coumavec® and zinc phosphide were 48.46% and 58.15% respectively, whereas in control area results showed 6.66 folds intensification. The Incidence of ZCL significantly reduced in the treated areas. Totally, 3200 adult sand flies were collected and identified in the intervention and control areas. In the treated area with zinc phosphide, the density of Phlebotomus papatasi was higher in outdoors in contrast with the treated area by Coumavec® which the density of the sand fly was higher in indoors. CONCLUSION: Both rodenticides were effective on the incidence of ZCL and the population of the reservoirs as well. Coumavec® seems to be effective on the outdoor density of the vector. This combination of rodenticide-insecticide could be a suitable alternative for zinc phosphide while bait shyness or behavioral resistance is occurred.