Polymorphism of LRP4 Gene (rs9667108) among Post Menopause Women with Osteoporosis.

Background: Many studies have been done to identify the factors that influence the development and progression of osteoporosis. One genetic factor is polymorphisms of LRP4 gene. Regarding the lack of comprehensive study on polymorphisms of LRP4 gene in the north of Iran, mainly Mazandaran Province, we decided to investigate the polymorphism of this gene in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Methods: This case-control study has been conducted at GhaemShahr Valiasr Hospital on 100 female patients with osteoporosis (average age of 58.1) and 90 healthy females without osteoporosis (average age of 55.2). After sampling and extraction of genomic DNA via of the salt deposition method, the genotype and SNP (rs9667108) polymorphism of LRP4 gene were evaluated with the PCR-RFLP method. Restriction enzymes cut the PCR products. In order to identify patients, their bone mineral density was tested by the DEXA method. The results of digestion (digestion enzyme) were analyzed by MedCalc, SPSS software, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and Chi2. Results: The statistical analysis has shown the significant relationship between SNP (rs9667108) polymorphism and the risk of osteoporosis disease in patients and control groups (P<0.05). In SNP (rs9667108), the GC genotype, compared to GG, increased the risk of disease significantly (1.556 time). Similarly, CC genotype, compared to GG genotype, increased the risk of this disease by 2.091 time. Conclusion: The existence of mutation in the LRP4 gene could increase susceptibility to osteoporosis disease. Moreover, determining this patient's genotype in SNP (rs9667108) can be used to identify individuals who are in endanger osteoporosis.

Comparison of Rabies Cases Received by the Shomal Pasteur Institute in Northern Iran: A 2-Year Study.

The rabies virus, which belongs to the genus Lyssavirus, the family Rhabdoviridae, is the causative agent of rabies, a contagious, deadly, and progressive neurological infection. This illness is commonly distributed worldwide and affects all warm-blooded animals. Regarding the zoonotic aspects of rabies, the prevalence of rabies was investigated in this study. Over 2 years, 188 samples were examined via the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) and mouse inoculation test (MIT) techniques by using brain tissue samples. Our findings showed that 73.94% of samples were rabies positive. The highest number of samples belonged to cows and dogs, respectively. The positivity rate in cows was 71.88%, followed by dogs with a 57.78% infection rate. These findings suggested that despite the heavy monitoring protocols in Iran, rabies is still a prevalent disease, and it is advised that vaccinations and screening programs should be carried out more frequently with heavier observation.

Purified sulforaphane from broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) leads to alterations of CDX1 and CDX2 expression and changes in miR-9 and miR-326 levels in human gastric cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Genetic alterations and epigenetic modifications are two main factors involved in gastric carcinogenesis, progression, and metastasis. Several miRNAs such as miRNA-9 and miRNA-326 may play important role in gastric cancer by targeting the 3'UTR of the caudal type homeobox (CDX) 1 and 2 mRNA respectively. The use of herbal medicines has been widely considered in the treatment of cancers such as gastric cancer. Sulforaphane extracted from broccoli may indirectly prevent cancer through affecting different signaling pathways. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of sulforaphane extracted from broccoli sprout (SEBS) on viability, death pattern, and expression alterations of CDX1/2 as well as miRNA-9 and miRNA-326 in normal (HF2FF) and gastric cancer cell lines. METHODS: Two gastric cancer cell lines (AGS and MKN45) and HF2FF normal cell line were cultured and treated with different concentrations (31.25, 62.5, 125, and 250 µg/ml) of the purified sulforaphane. Expression levels of CDX1 and CDX2 as well as miRNA-9 and miRNA-326, and mechanisms leading to cell death were assessed by Taqman real time PCR assay and flow cytometry, respectively. RESULTS: Significant dose-dependent and anti-proliferative effects of the SEBS were observed on AGS and MKN45 cells after 48 h with an IC50 value of about 112 and 125 µg/ml, respectively (P < 0.001). Apoptotic cells were observed in AGS and MKN45 cells but not HF2FF after 48 h of treatment with SEBS. Furthermore, significant changes in expression of CDX1, CDX2, miR-9 and miR-326 in the gastric cancer lines (AGS and MKN45), were observed under different concentrations of SEBS. CONCLUSION: Our present study suggests that the SEBS may influence gastric cancer cell lines at specific doses and change their proliferation rate by altering the expression of CDX1, CDX2, miR-9, and miR-326.

Ultrasensitive electrochemical aptasensor based on sandwich architecture for selective label-free detection of colorectal cancer (CT26) cells.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and has no effective treatment. Therefore, development of new methods for early diagnosis is instantly required. Biological recognition probes such as synthetic receptor and aptamer is one of the candidate recognition layers to detect important biomolecules. In this work, an electrochemical aptasensor was developed by fabricating an aptamer-cell-aptamer sandwich architecture on an SBA-15-3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (SBA-15-pr-NH2) and Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified graphite screen printed electrode (GSPE) surface for the selective, label-free detection of CT26 cancer cells. Based on the incubation of the thiolated aptamer with CT26 cells, the electron-transfer resistance of Fe (CN)63-/4- redox couple increased considerably on the aptasensor surface. The results obtained from cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies showed that the fabricated aptasensor can specifically identify CT26 cells in the concentration ranges of 10-1.0×105cells/mL and 1.0×105-6.0×106 cells/mL, respectively, with a detection limit of 2cells/mL. Applying the thiol terminated aptamer (5TR1) as a recognition layer led to a sensor with high affinity for CT26 cancer cells, compared to control cancer cells of AGS cells, VERO Cells, PC3 cells and SKOV-3 cells. Therefore a simple, rapid, label free, inexpensive, excellent, sensitive and selective electrochemical aptasensor based on sandwich architecture was developed for detection of CT26 Cells.