Journal of Arak University of Medical Sciences

Studying the Antibacterial Effect of Polyamidoamine-G4 Dendrimer on Some of the Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Bacteria

Gharib Majidi

Background: This study aimed to examine the antibacterial effect of Polyamidoamine-G4 dendrimer on Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, the antibacterial effects of Polyamidoamine-G4 dendrimer were studied by disc diffusion and micro-dilution method. Different concentrations of Polyamidoamine-G4 inoculated onto blank disks and were placed in Mueller-Hinton agar media. Zone of inhibition was investigated by bacterial inoculation according to the McFarland standard 0.5. Minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of Polyamidoamine-G4 dendrimer were determined by micro-dilution method in nutrient broth culture.

Results: Zone of inhibition in concentration 500 &mug/ml of Polyamidoamine-G4 dendrimers for Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus were 14, 0, 35 and 29mm, respectively. Concerning the Zone of inhibition in gram negative bacteria with gram positive ones was p<0.05 and had significant difference. The minimum inhibitory concentration of Polyamidoamine-G4 dendrimer for Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus were 1250, 2.5, and 1 &mug/ml, respectively. The minimum bactericidal concentration of Polyamidoamine-G4 dendrimer belonged to Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus were 2500, 5 and 5 &mug/ml, respectively. Polyamidoamine-G4 dendrimer had not bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects on Enterobacter cloacae.

Conclusion: According to the results, Polyamidoamine-G4 dendrimer can eliminate Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis effectively. It is suggested in the rest of this study that the probable toxicity of nanostructured compounds examined in drinking water and, economic studies is done for synthesis and their applications in case of prevention of using.

The Association of PON1 Q192R Polymorphism and Idiopathic Male Infertility in Guilan Population

Farhad Mashayekhi

Background: Infertility is a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Male infertility affecting 15% of couples. Environmental and genetic factors are involved in male infertility. Paraoxonase (PON) is an antioxidant enzyme which plays an important role in various diseases and is associated with oxidative stress and lipid metabolism. The PON gene family consists of 3 genes, PON1, PON2, and PON3, that located on the long arm of chromosome 7. In this study, the association of PON1 gene polymorphism at position 192 Q/R with idiopathic male infertility were investigated.

Materials and Methods: Blood Samples were collected from 120 patients diagnosed with idiopathic male infertility and 124 control subjects, and genotyped by PCR-RFLP method. To estimate the association between genotype and allele frequencies in cases and controls, P-values were assessed by Chi-square (&chi2) analysis.

Results: We observed a significant difference in genotype distributions of PON1 192 Q/R polymorphism between patients and controls (P= 0.0001). Our findings revealed individuals with the variant QR and RR had a significant decrease risk of idiopathic male infertility (RR: OR= 0.057, 95%CI=0.003-1.08, P= 0.05. QR: OR= 0.288, 95%CI= 0.132-0.394, P= 0.0001).

Conclusion: Our data indicate that the PON1 192 Q/R polymorphism maybe associated with decreased risk of idiopathic male infertility. Although more studies should be considered with larger number of patient and control subjects to confirm our results.

The Role of Intestinal Microbiota in the Health and a Short Review on the Probiotic and Prebiotic Supplements in Obesity Prevention

Behjat Shokrvash

Background: Obesity, the most common health problem, can result in the incidence of many chronic diseases. genetic and environmental factors can affect its incidence. Differences in the population of gut microbiota in lean and obese subjects and interaction between them, has led to a field of investigation about the effects of intestinal microbiota in the obesity occurrence. In the other hand, the use of functional foods has been shown positive effects in the prevention of obesity. This study was aimed to assess the differences between gut microbiota in obese and normal people, their roles in energy homeostasis and the mechanisms of probiotics and prebiotics in the management of obesity.

Materials and Methods: All articles indexed in the valid scientific data bases published between 2000 And 2014 were Searched and reviewed using probiotics, prebiotics, obesity and gut microbiota as key words and results were examined.

Results: A group of gut microbiota facilitates energy extraction from the diet that results in fat storage in adipose tissues. bacteroidetes as a residing bacterial in the gut is in fewer amount, inversely, firmicutes as another residing bacterial is in higher amount in obese people, and it changed in lean individuals, inversely. Differences in the extraction of energy in subjects were attributed to differences in the composition in gut microbiota. archaea species that resident in the gut involved in energy homeostasis through increasing the ability of fermentation, electron production and removing the energy. In addition to, the probiotic and prebiotic supplements have roles in the prevention of obesity via stimulating the growth of beneficial bacteria, production of short chain fatty acids, modulating the secretion of hormones involved in energy homeostasis.

Conclusion: Further studies are needed to identify the specific probiotic bacteria and other effective functional foods in management of obesity.

The Association Study of rs17173608 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism in the Chemerin Gene with Gestational Diabetes

Abdorrahim Sadeghi

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance with first dignosis during pregnancy. There is some evidence indicating that chemerin play a role in the development of GDM. In this study, for the first time, a possible association of rs17173608 polymorphism in the chemerin gene with the risk of GDM in Arak population was investigated.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 120 GDM and 150 pregnant women with normal glucose tolerance were selected. GDM was confirmed by oral glucose tolerance according to the new IADPSG criteria. Genomic DNA was extracted from EDTA treated whole blood. The polymorphism of chemerin gene was determined using tetra-amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR).

Results: The genotype frequencies of TT, GT and GG at rs17173608 were respectively 81.7%, 17.5% and 0.8% in the GDM group and 73.3%, 25.3% and 1.3% in the control group. There were no statistical differences in genotype frequencies between case group and the control group. Also, allele frequencies in the GDM group (T 90.4% , G 9.6%), did not differ significantly from the control group ( T 96% ,G 14%). No association was found between genotype frequencies and FBS, 1h, 2 h and BMI.

Conclusion: The present study show that the rs17173608 polymorphism in the chemerin gene is not associated with the development of glucose intolerance and GDM in the studied population.

The Effect of 8 weeks of Intense Aerobic Exercise on Plasma Levels of Obestatin, Leptin, Insulin and Growth Hormones in Male Obese Sprague‌ Dawley Rats

Maryam Mehboodi

Background: Obestatin and leptin are two important hormones in energy homeostasis that have been discovered in recent years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of intense aerobic exercise on plasma levels of obestatin, leptin, insulin and growth hormones in male obese Sprague Dawley Rats.

Materials and Methods: In this exprimontal study 50 male rats, with the weight range of 20±320 were taken from the Animal Laboratory of Medical Sciences in Shiraz University, and were divided into two training groups: experimental and control. The exercise program consisted of 8 weeks of intense aerobic exercise, 5 sessions per week. The exercise started at a speed of 5 meters per minute and with a slope of zero degree for 15 minutes and the intensity progressively reached up to the speed of 25 m/m and the slope of 15 degrees for 75 minutes in the last week and ended. Blood samples were taken 24 hours after the last training session and were sent to the laboratory to measure the levels of obestatin, leptin, insulin and growth hormones. SPSS software and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to assess the results.

Results: There was a significant reduction in plasma levels of obestatin (p=0.02), leptin (p=0.02), and insulin (p=0.03), while the results showed that no meaningful difference was observed in the amount of growth hormone between the control group and intense training group (p=0.07).

Conclusion: The results of the present study have shown that after sports activities leading to weight loss, the reduction of anti-hunger hormones (obestatin and leptin) is expected.

Immunogenicity Evaluation of Targeted Multi-Epitopic HIV-I Candidate Vaccine in Balb/c Mice

Massoumeh Ebtekar

Background: Delivery of antigens directly to dendritic cells enhances the immune responses to the antigen and is an attractive approach for eliciting cellular immune responses against mutagenic pathogens like HIV virus. So the aim of this study is evaluation of immune responses elicited by delivered multi-epitopic HIV-1 tat/pol/gag/env recombinant protein to dendritic cells in sito using &alphaDEC-205 mAb.

Materials and Methods: In this study, recombinant protein expressed by pET23a-HIVtop4 plasmid including HIVtop4 sequence (Gag158-186, Pol150-190, ENV296-323, ENV577-610, Tat1-20 and Tat44-61) in BL21 E. coli cells was used as vaccine model. To exploiting dendritic cells, properties for immunization purposes, we conjugated this recombinant protein chemically to anti body against DEC-205 receptor on these cells. Balb/c mice immunized subcutaneously (s.c.) with conjugated multi-epitopic protein or un-conjugated one (as control) simultaneously with Poly I: C as dendritic cell maturation factor. Lymphocyte proliferation was measured by bromo di uridine assay, Cytotoxicity by Grenzyme B production activity, IL-4, IL-17, IFN- cytokines production and total antibody by direct and indirect ELISA methods in order.

Results: Immunization by anti DEC-205 conjugated peptide led to a significant increase in the proliferative responses of lymphocytes, production of Gr-B, IFN-&gamma, IL-4 and IL-17 cytokines and total antibody titer in comparison with the none targeted groups.

Conclusion: It is concluded that targeting of protein antigens to DEC-205+dendritic cells significantly enhances immune responses in compare to non-targeting strategies.

Effects of 8 Weeks Pilates Training on Anti-Mullerian Hormone Level and Cardiometabolic Parameters in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Women

Abbas Saremi

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex hormonal disorder affecting the reproductive and metabolic systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8-week pilates training on anti-mullerian hormone level and cardiometabolic parameters in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Materials and Methods: In this semi-experimental study with pretest–posttest design, twenty PCOS patients (aged 28.16±4.29 y) were randomly assigned to pilates training or non-exercising control groups. The training group took part in an eight-week progressive pilates exercise program, three times weekly while the control group were instructed to maintain their normal daily activities throughout the eight-week experimental period. Serum levels of anti-mullerian hormone, body composition and metabolic parameters were assessed before and after the training period.

Results: After an 8 week pilates training, insulin resistance index, total cholesterol, LDL- cholesterol, triglycerides and abdominal fat were significantly decreased (p<0.05). Furthermore, anti-mullerian hormone concentrations decreased significantly in response to pilates training (p<0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggest that pilates training can have beneficial effects on metabolic indices and ovarian reserve in women with polycystic ovary syndrome over a two-month period.

Genetic Variation of GSTP1 in Diabetic Retinopathy

Zivar Salehi

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a severe complication of diabetes and the leading cause of blindness among working adults worldwide. Chronic extra cellular hyperglycemia in diabetes stimulates reaction oxygen species (ROS) production and increase oxidative stress. Glutathion S- transferases (GSTs) enzymes have been shown to protect human from reactive oxygen compounds damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the genetic polymorphism of GSTP1 is associated with DR.

Materials and Methods: This case–control study, included 70 patients with DR and 70 healthy volunteers. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Statistical analysis was performed using the MedCalc program for Windows version 12.

Results: The prevalence of genotype frequencies of the GSTP1 Ile/Ile and Ile/Val were 71.42% and 28.57% respectively, in DR subject, whiles in healthy volunteers were 78.58% and 21.42%, respectively. Statistical analysis has not emerged significant difference from the comparison of either genotype (&Rho>0.05).

Conclusion: There was no evidence that GSTP1 variants were associated with DR in studied population. Further research is required to clarify role of GSTP1 in DR.

Time Dependent Hippocampal Glutamate and GABA Change Following Pentylenetetrazol Induced Convulsions in Rat

Mahmoud Elahdadi Salmani

Background: Seizure is an abnormal electrical activity probably due to an imbalance between excitation and inhibition in the brain. Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) is a chemical convulsive agent abundantly used in laboratory animals. PTZ induces a change in glutamate and GABA in the brain which this study investigates the persistence of this change.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 18 male Wistar rats divided into 3 groups. Three i.v doses of PTZ 20, 25 and 30 mg/ml were used to determine the effective PTZ dose. Convulsive behaviors were monitored as tonic clonic and myoclonic twitches. Hippocampal glutamate and GABA contents were measured using a biochemical method.

Results: Dose of 20 was resulted in long latency to and short lasting TC convulsions with a high volume of injected PTZ solution. On the other hand, dose of 25 and 30 led to short latency and long lasting convulsions with low volume of injecting solution. However there was high rate of mortality (100%) in dose of 30 mg/ml. Hippocampal glutamate content was decreased in zero and 20 min groups while GABA content was decreased only in 20 min group.

Conclusion: It is concluded that dose of 25 is the appropriate i.v dose to induce TC convulsions in rats which decreases glutamate and GABA while increases the ratio of glutamate to GABA. Therefore, alteration of glutamate and GABA may be the basis for subsequent seizure induced changes.

Radiographic Manifestation of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Recent Decade in Qom

Abolfazl Mozafari

Background: Despite control, prevention and the availability of drugs to cure tuberculosis, TB remains an important cause of death from an infectious agent in Iran. Pulmonary tuberculosis is more than 80% of tuberculosis cases. Chest x-ray is sensitive, cheap and accessible instrument for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to determine the radiological changes in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, after consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria, finally 477 radiographic patients referred to rural and urban clinics in recent decade were enrolled. The affected lobe or lobes of the left or right lung were recorded. The types of involvement were categorized based on patchy consolidation, cavitation, fibrosis, bronchiectasis, gohn lesion, bronchogenic spread and bronchopneumonia. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to measure the strength of association between continuous variables. For analysis of qualitative parameters, we use from Chi-square test. Data analysis was done in SPSS18 and p value below than 0.05 was significant.

Results: Out of 477 patients, mean age was 48.24±22 years old, male including 33.3%, Iranian and urban cases were 44% and 91.3% respectively. The most frequent involved site was the left upper lobe followed by the right upper lobe. The most frequent radiographic finding was patchy consolidation and then bronchogenic spread and pneumonic consolidation respectively. There was significant correlation between lung cavities in patients with nationality.

Conclusion: This study could help to early diagnosis and treatment of suspect patients to pulmonary tuberculosis.