Journal of Arak University of Medical Sciences

Cytotoxic Effects of Extracts of Mentha Pulegium Plants Before Flowering on Human Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia K562 Cancer Category

Elahe Aslani

Background: Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant clonal disorder of hematopoietic stem cells which results in increase of myeloid cells, erythroid cells and platelets in the peripheral blood and hyperplasia in bone marrow. The research evaluates the cytotoxic effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of M.polegium before flowering aerial organs on K562 cell line as a model of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental trial, Leaves and stems of M. pulegium before flowering collected from Afoos city and extraction using maceration method. K562 cells were cultured and treated with concentrations of extract (12.5-100 &mug/ml) and different times (24,48,72 hour). Cytotoxicity of M. pulegium before flowering extract against K562 leukemia cells was estimated by the MTT test method. The absorbance was measured using an ELISA plate reader at 540 nm. Survey on data accomplished with the use of SPSS15 software and one-way ANOVA test analysis and Tukey test and p<0.001 was considered significant.

Results: Hydro-alcoholic extract of Mentha pulegium before flowering showed the highest cytotoxic effect (IC50=50 &mug/ml) and 72 hour after treatment on K562 cell line .in other words, hydro-alcoholic extract of Mentha pulegium before flowering extracts a dose and time dependent cytotoxic effect on K562 cell line.

Conclusion: Considering the cytotoxic effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of M.polegium before flowering aerial organs on K562 cells, the plant can be considered as a potential candidate for further studies on CML treatment.

Improvement in Sperm Parameters with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Analogue in Busulfan Treated Prepubertal Mice

Maryam Baazm

Background: One of the side effects of chemotherapy agents is gonadal suppression leading to infertility. The present study examined the feasibility of using a gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-A) in the prevention of busulfan induced azoospermia in prepubertal mice.

Materials and Methods: In this case and control research, Leuprolide (3.8 mg/kg) was given to prepubertal male mice 2 weeks after or prior to busulfan (40 mg/kg) administration. The animals received one or two doses of leuprolide after busulfan administration with 4 weeks apart. Six weeks after the last leuprolide treatment, the sperm parameters were analyzed icluded sperm count and motility according to the World Health Organization criteria.

Results: At the time of scarifies, testicular weight were increased in animals receiving leuprolide. In animals receiving leuprolide pretreatment, the percentage of progressive and immotile sperm was significantly (p&le0.05) increased and decreased respectively. But the percentage of non progressive sperm did not change. The sperm motility in busulfan treated animals with post treatment didn't change. The sperm count also increased in pretreatment animals but it was not significant (p&ge0.05).

Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that leuprolide pretreatment resulted in improvement in sperm motility in prepubertal male mice.

Evaluation of Calcium as a Tumor-Marker in Prostate Cancer

Mahmood Reza Baghinia

Background: Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent type of cancer and the second cause of death among American men. Its prevalence has a direct relationship with increasing age. The present study was carried out to determine the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) and calcium level in blood in men with prostate cancer and BPH in Arak.

Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, out of 400 Arak males, were selected from different inner-city areas through cluster sampling during a period of two years (august 2011-august 2012). After the population was approved to have the necessary criteria to be included in the study, their PSA and calcium level was measured and its mean in over 40 years. In order to determine mean difference among the seven groups T-test analysis and to determine "PSA", PSA Assay and Tandem-R kits were utilized and for measurement of serum calcium, pars azmoon kit was used.

Results: In this study, there was a markedly relationship between age and serum calcium and serum PSA in both groups.in this way that there was a negative relationship between age and serum calcium and a positive relationship between age and serum PSA.

Conclusion: With respect to the findings of the study, it could be confirmed that was a markedly relationship between serum PSA and serum calcium only in prostatic cancer patients,according to this study in future maybe we used serum calcium as a tumor-marker for screening for prostate cancer.

Effect of Gold Nanoparticles on Giardia Lamblia Cyst Stage in In vitro

Shirzad Gholami

Background: Giardiasis is the most common infectious diseases of medical parasitology and public health in our country and in many countries is important. Accourding the importance of treating the disease, particularly parasite resistance to drugs. Thus, the aim of present study was investigated the effect of gold nanoparticles on Giardia lamblia cyst stage of the in vitro.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, Giardia cysts from contaminated fresh feces were collected and concentrated with use 0.85 M sucrose methods for isolation of cysts. Samples after counting with Noubar slide were stored at 4°C. The gold nanoparticles at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 0.3 mg/ml prepared and verified, the particle size was determined. The effect of different concentrations of the nanoparticles at 5, 15, 30, 60 and 180 minutes was evaluated and compared to control groups (metronidazole). Data from the study were recorded and analyzed with T-test and Chi-square by used SPSS software.

Results: The results of the cytotoxic effect of nanoparticles on the different concentration and time of Giardia lamblia cysts in vitro compared with the positive control (Metronidazole) shows mean percent of effect gold nanoparticles increased with increasing concentration and exposure time, so that the concentration of 0.3 mg/ml from 62% at 5 min to 96% at 180 min increased (p<0.05). Also, the survey results show Giardia cysts with increasing exposure time , killing effect of gold nanoparticles at a concentration of 78% in 0.05 mg/ml to 96% at a concentration of 0.3 mg/ml greatest increased (p<0.05). As a result, the concentration of gold nanoparticles in comparison with Metronidazole has the most effect gold nanoparticles at a concentration of 0.3 mg/mL, almost the same effect of Metronidazole as the drug of choice in the treatment of Giardia lamblia.

Conclusion: Therefore, the results of this study, gold nanoparticles at a concentration of 0.3 mg/ml as an effective combination for killing Giardia lamblia cysts in vitro can be used. Thus, future studies on laboratory animals (In vivo) are recommended.

Evaluation of Prevalence of MTHFR (C677T) Gene Polymorphism in Preeclamptic in Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari Province

Sepideh Miraj

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious problem of pregnancy and its etiology is still unknown. The inheritance of preeclampsia is one of the theories regarding to the etiology of preeclampsia. Methylenetetrahydrofolatereductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme in folate metabolism and the C677T polymorphism of the MTHFR gene is associated with decrease MTHFR activity, and therefore cause higher blood levels of homocysteine and leads to vascular disease that can be the reason of preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism with PE development in south-west of Iran.

Materials and Methods: This case-control study was performed in 129 preeclamptic pregnant women and 125 control individuals.The C677T polymorphism of the MTHFR gene was determined by PCR-RFLP method.

Results: The CC, CT and TT genotypes frequency of C677T polymorphism of MTHFR gene were 57.4, 38.8 and 3.9 percent in preeclamptic women and 53.6, 40 and 6.4 percent in control group. They were not significantly different (p=0.614). However, the frequency of TT genotype was higher in control group (p=0.36). There was not any significant difference in T allele distribution between preeclamptic women (23.3%) and control group (26.4%).

Conclusion: Our results showed that there was not any correlation between the C677T polymorphism and PE but the TT genotype of C677T polymorphism seems to be a protective factor for preeclampsia.

Evaluation of Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Gram-Negative Bacteria Isolated from Inpatients of an Academic and Non-Academic Hospitals in the Arak, Iran 2011-2012

Mojtaba Sharafkhah

Background: According to the studies, Iran’s per capita antibiotic consumption is remarkable. Since the emergence of Antibiotic Resistant Organisms (AROs) is considered a global problem in the community and hospitals, this study aimed to investigate the pattern of antibiotic resistance in Gram-negative bacteria isolated from patients in an academic and a non-academic hospital in Arak, Iran.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included all specimens referred to the microbiology laboratory at Amir Al-Momenin Hospital (academic hospital) and Imam Khomeini Hospital (non-academic hospital) in a one-year period from June 2012 to June 2013. The susceptibility of the isolated Gram-negative bacteria against the important antibiotics used in clinical practice was determined using the disk diffusion method.

Results: A total of 846 specimens were collected from patients in the two hospitals where 520 (61.5%) were Gram-negative bacteria, of which 63.3% were E. coli. The prevalence of Gram-negative organisms in the academic and the non-academic hospital was measured 79.8% and 20.2%, respectively (p=0.097). It was also determined that there is a significant difference between the two hospitals in the prevalence of ESBL (Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase) Gram-negative bacteria (p=0.003).

Conclusion: There was a significant difference between the two hospitals in the prevalence of ESBL Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, conducting regional surveillance programs to examine the patterns of antibiotic resistance is recommended.

Fathersʼ Participation in the Care of Hospitalized Child in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit on Fathersʼ Stress and Coping Strategies

Somaye Ghaderi

Background: Hospitalization of a child in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a very stressful experience for parents. High stress in father can product decline in psychological adaptation and associated problems. The present study aimed to determine effect of fathersʼ participation in the care of hospitalized child in PICU on fathersʼ stress and coping strategies.

Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial with 60 fathers with children admitted to the PICU in intervention and control groups. Fathers in intervention group, participated in the care of the child in 5 times, during a 5-days course. Fathersʼ stress and coping strategies were surveyed in intervention group before and after participation course and in control group before and after a 5-days course.

Results: Fathersʼ stress in intervention group decreased significantly after participation (p˂0.001) but in control group difference was not significant after time course. Fathers in both groups applied similar coping strategies that majority were emotion focused.

Conclusion: Fathers having children in PICU would experience a lot of stress. Their participation in the care of the children would be very effective to decline their stress and reach most adaptation with disease, cure and cares in children.

The Effect of Vitamin D Deficiency on Coronary Artery Stenosis Severity in Angioplasty Patients in Baqiatallah Hospital in 2013

Omid Assar

Background: Cardiac accidents due to Coronary Artery Disease are the most common cause of mortality in the world. On the other hand, vitamin D deficiency is known as an emerging risk factor of this disease. Considering the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iran we investigated the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in angioplasty patients, effect of gender and its relationship with Coronary Artery Disease severity.

Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study serum level of 25(OH) D3 in was measured in 149 patients undergoing PCI between May and September 2013 in Baqiatallah hospital. Patients with renal failure (Cr>2mg/dl), liver disease, and those treated with glucocorticoids or anti-epileptic drugs were excluded. Data were analyzed with SPSS 21 software. Chi-square and T-Test were used and P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients was 77.2% (men 86% and women 62.5%) (p=0.0005). Vitamin D deficiency severity was related to the number of involved vessels in men (p=0.046). Vitamin D deficiency was related with stent length in patients with right coronary angioplasty (p=0.041).

Conclusion: The effect of vitamin D deficiency on coronary artery disease seems to be different in men and women. Complementary studies are needed to elucidate this issue further.

Investigation of C1236T Polymorphism in MDR1 Gene of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Neda Mokhberian

Background: Multidrug resistance is the main reason for unsuccessful chemotherapy. The important reason of drug resistance is ATP dependent pumps shus as MDR1 that extrude drugs from the cell. MDR1 is high polymorphic. It seems that polymorphisms influent on gene expression and response to treatment. The aim of this study was investigation of C1236T polymorphism MDR1 gene and it’s association with response of treatment in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, C1236T polymorphism of MDR1 was investigated in 44 acute lymphoblastic leukemia childhood and 40 healthy individual by ARMS-PCR technique. Association of this polymorphism with response to treatment was also investigated. Data were analyzed using Chi-squre test and SPSS software. P values <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

Results: There was no significant difference in frequencies of C1236T polymorphism between patients and healthy group (p=0.876). Frequency of C1236T polymorphism of MDR1 between responder and non responder was not significant (p=0.304).

Conclusion: It seems that there is no correlation between C1236T polymorphism of MDR1 gene and response to treatment. So the role of C1236T polymorphism in gene expression MDR1 in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and response to treatment is still controversial.

The Effect of Endurance Training and High-Fat Diet in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the Male Adult Rat Hippocampus

Elham Vosadi

Introduction: This study was to examine the effects of endurance training and high-fat diet in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the male adult rat hippocampus.

Materials and Methods: Twenty eight Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1) Regular diet-sedentary (RD-Sed), (2) Regular diet-Exercise (RD-Exe), (3) HF-sedentary (HF-Sed), and (4) HF- Exercise (HF- Exe) RD-Sed group was regarded as control. Animals in exercise groups received 8-wk endurance training and animals in HF groups were exposed to the HF diet for 8-wk. Hippocampal BDNF protein was assessed using commercial ELISA kits and the data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Statistical differences were considered significant at p<0.05.

Results: The results showed that the endurance training had no significant increase in BDNF protein level comparison with the RD-Sd and HF-Sed groups moreover the high-fat diet had no significant effect in BDNF protein level.

Conclusion: According to results of present study, looks applications of endurance training can increase amount of hippocampus BDNF protein level.