Association Between Neuregulin-1 Gene Variant (rs2439272) and Schizophrenia and Its Negative Symptoms in an Iranian Population.

Objective: Although the etiology of schizophrenia is unknown, it has a significant genetic component. A number of studies have indicated that neuregulin-1 (NRG1) gene may play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. In this study, we examined whether the rs2439272 of NRG1 is associated with schizophrenia and its negative symptoms in an Iranian population. Method: Rs2439272 was genotyped in 469 participants including 276 unrelated patients with schizophrenia and 193 healthy controls. The association of genetic risk with negative symptoms (by using panss) was examined in the total, male and female samples. COCAPHASE and CLUMP22 programs were used to compare the allele and genotype frequencies, and general linear regression was used to analyze the quantitative dependent variables by the selected variant. Results: In this study, it was revealed that the G allele of rs2439272 might be an allele with the increased risk of developing schizophrenia, especially in the male participants. In addition, significant differences were found between the G allele and GG genotype frequencies, and negative symptoms in the total and male participants. Conclusion: Our results supported the association between rs2439272 in NRG1 gene and risk of schizophrenia and its negative symptoms in an Iranian population. .

Prenatal sex determination in suspicious cases of X-linked recessive diseases by the amelogenin gene.

OBJECTIVE(S): To determine the fetal discernment in suspected cases of sex linked recessive disease in the first trimester of pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After collection of 100 Chorionic Villi samples, the DNAs were extracted and baby gender was determined. Meanwhile, after increasing the sensitivity, the system was able to detect the sex of each cell which was obtained by biopsy. RESULTS: Early fetal gender of 100 Chorionic Villi samples were assessed by PCR. After increasing sensitivity of the assay, the sexes in 13 fetuses that were in different cellular stages were detected. Morover, sexes were detected in two unfertilized and one fertilized ovum but without any division. CONCLUSION: Sex detection of fetus before delivery in the first trimester of pregnancy, will prevent babies with abnormalities being born. It can also be used in detection of recessive sex related diseases in In Vitro Fertilization cases for sex detection and to transfer female fetus to the mother. Our optimized molecular detection system was designed on the basis of amelogenin gene, which can determine the sex in blood, chorionic villi, and single cell in vitro fertilization with high sensitivity and specificity.

The effect of ultrasound on the expression of CNTF gene, a possible cause of ultrasound influence on the rate of injured peripheral nerve regeneration.

In this article we evaluate the effects of ultrasound radiation and its causes on the rate of injured peripheral nerve regeneration by crushing the sciatic nerve of rats with hemostatic forceps. The rats were divided into three test and one control groups. The test groups were radiated using three different types of ultrasound parameters while the control group just received sham expose. The amount of nerve regeneration was measured via functional test by extracting sciatic functional index from rats paw prints. The results showed that one of the test group parameters had the best functional results compared to other groups. Obtaining this outcome, the investigations continued by 50 rats with crushed sciatic nerve. These rats again divided into two test and control groups while for the test group the best parameters were assigned. In different time intervals compound muscle action potential wave was recorded from five rats of each group. Then their sciatic nerves were extracted to measure the amount of ciliary neurotropic factor gene expression by real time polymerase chain reaction. Crush injury sets the sciatic functional index to about -90 and compound muscle action potential to 6.8 mV in both control and test groups. After the period of treatment with ultrasound, the sciatic functional index reached the value of -25 in control group and -10 in test group and compound muscle action potential value reached 11 in control and 18 in test group. The results of electrophysiological tests confirmed the results of functional tests. At the end of the second, third and fourth weeks, the outcomes of real time polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression of ciliary neurotropic factor gene in test group was higher than control group as well as the amount in test group was approximately 11, 2 and 6 times higher than test group in corresponding weeks. Hence we can conclude that increase in the expression of ciliary neurotropic factor gene, as a nerve growth factor, following ultrasound radiation, can be considered as the reason of the effect of ultrasound on the rate of injured nerve regeneration.

The effects of altered ultrasound parameters on the recovery of sciatic nerve injury.

BACKGROUND: Initial studies have shown that low-energy ultrasound stimulates living tissue cells to reduce regeneration or speed up their recovery. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of various ultrasound parameters on the speed of recovery in injured sciatic nerves. METHODS: NMRI mice (n = 200) with injured left paw, caused by crushing their sciatic nerves, were randomly selected. The animals were exposed to ultrasound radiation with various frequencies, intensities, and exposure time. They were allocated into 20 groups (19 treatment and 1 control groups). Sciatic functional index (SFI) test was used to evaluate the difference between the groups with respect to functional efficiency of the sciatic nerve and its recovery. RESULTS: The results of SFI test obtained from the 14th day showed a significant difference among the groups (P<0.05). On the 14th day after treatment, one of the groups (US11) recovered up to 90%. CONCLUSION: Altered ultrasound exposure parameters had more favorable outcomes compared with our previous work.

Stability studies of chitosan-DNA-FAP-B nanoparticles for gene delivery to lung epithelial cells.

A successful gene delivery system requires efficiency and stability during storage. Stability studies are imperative for nanomedicines containing biotechnological products such as plasmids and targeting peptides. Chitosan-DNA-FAP-B nanoparticles are novel non-viral vectors for specific gene delivery to the lung epithelial cells. In this study, the storage stability of chitosan-DNA-FAP-B nanoparticles at -20, 5 and 24 °C was examined. Size, zeta potential and transfection efficiency of these nano-particles in storage were also evaluated. Stability studies showed that chitosan-DNA-FAP-B nanoparticles were stable after 1 month when stored at -20 °C and retained their initial size, zeta potential and transfection efficiency. However, their stability was not desirable at 5 and 24 °C. Based on these results, it can be concluded that chitosan-DNA-FAP-B nanoparticles can be a promising candidate for gene delivery to lung epithelial cells with good storage stability at -20 °C during 1 month.

Loading hydrophilic drug in solid lipid media as nanoparticles: statistical modeling of entrapment efficiency and particle size.

Solid lipid nanoparticle (SLN) is a very well tolerated carrier systems for dermal application due to the employment physiological and/or biodegradable lipids. The effects of five factors, two categorical and three quantitative factors, were studied on the mean diameter and entrapment efficiency of the produced SLNs using response surface method (RSM), D-optimal design. Two methods of microemulsion and solvent diffusion and two types of lipid, cetyl palmitate and stearic acid, were examined comparatively. The quantitative variables were studied in three levels; amount of original Paromomycin (60, 90 and 120 mg), fraction of surfactant (0.5, 0.75 and 1 w/v %) and drug to lipid ratio (2, 4 and 6). Mean particle size and entrapment efficiency of the loaded Paromomycin were modeled statistically and the optimal condition was determined to approach to the maximum entrapment efficiency. The drug release profile of the optimal formulated material was examined in aqueous media and 64% of the Paromomycin loaded in SLNs was gradually released during 24h, which reveals efficient prolonged release of the drug.

Interaction of histamine and calcitonin gene-related peptide in the formalin induced pain perception in rats.

Histamine and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) contribute to the pain perception. The aim of the present study is to clarify the interaction of histamine and CGRP in the perception of inflammatory pain. The effects of a histamine H1 receptor antagonist (pyrilamine, i.p.), an H2 receptor antagonist (ranitidine, i.p.) and a CGRP antagonist (CGRP 8-37, i.t.) on the formalininduced pain was studied in rats. Pyrilamine and ranitidine produced a dose-dependent antinociceptive response in the first and the second phases of the formalin test. A single administration of pyrilamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.), ranitidine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or CGRP 8-37 (10 µg/µL, i.t.) had no significant effects on the pain perception in the second phase. A combination of CGRP 8-37 and pyrilamine or ranitidine at these sub-effective doses, however, showed nociceptive response in the second phase. Moreover, a histamine (i.t.)-induced hyperalgesia was completely prevented by treatment with GGRP 8-37 at this dose. Our findings have raised the possibility that the CGRP system has interaction with histamine in the perception of inflammatory pain.