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Introduction: Radiotherapy after breast cancer surgery will increase local control of the disease and also increase overall survival. Radiation have some side effects on lung function. In different radiotherapy techniques, these side effects are different. Pulmonary function tests and oxygen saturation are methods for evaluation of these complications. In this study we decide to campare pulmonary complications in two radiotherapy methods. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study fifty one patients with breast cancer in stage II and III according to TNM staging system, which were under modified radical mastectomy in Imam Hosein hospital and refered for adjuvant radiotherapy, randomly divided in two groups. In one group patients were treated with three field technique and in others with four field technique. All patients received total dose of 48-50 Gy. For patients, pulmonary function test and pulse oxymetery were done once before initiation of radiotherapy and then one and three months after radiotherapy. Results: Measurement of FEV1 , FVC and show that no significant statistical difference was present between the two groups one month and three months after radiotherapy, also in each of the two groups the amount of FEV1 , FVC and one month after radiotherapy had no significant statistical difference in comparison to baseline tests but FEV1 and FVC after three months was decreased and had significant statistical difference respectively (p<0.001, p<0.006). SO2 had no significant defference between the two groups and also in each group after one and three month of radiotherapy. Conclusion: Locoregional radiotherapy of breast and lymph nodes areas causes a decrease in some parameter of pulmonary function tests but no difference was present between three field and four field techniques.

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Introduction: Studies have shown that there is a relationship between metabolic syndrome and coronary heart disease. Hypertension is a common risk factor of both cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome phenotypes in patients with hypertension in Isfahan and Markazi provinces in center areas of Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was implemented in Isfahan and Markazi provinces in year 2001. Sampling method was random-clustering. 12514 people from both sexes who were above 19 years old were considered which based on ATP III, 1936 person of them had metabolic syndrome. Based on the definition, these people were those who at least had three of the following factors abnormally: HTN, FBS, TG, HDL and WC. Also hypertension was considered for all groups. Data was analyzed using Chi square test and Odds ratio. Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 0.6% to 7.5% in central areas of Iran. The most prevalent of metabolic syndrome was in hypertensive women with high TG and WC and the least prevalent was in hypertensive men with these two phenotypes: 1-high FBS and WC, and 2-high FBS and low HDL (p<0.05). Overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome in hypertensive people in the most of urban population was more than rural population. Conclusion: Results showed that hypertension is associated with different metabolic syndromes, especially in women with central obesity and dyslipidemia which necessitates more attention in preventing and treatment of the disease in this high risk group.

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Introduction: Typhlitis is a complication in GI tract specially in ileum and cecum due to sever prolonged neutropenia. The syndrome usually occurs in patients with leukaemia who take aggressive chemotherapy or in solid tumor treated with taxane base regimen. The syndrome is accompanied with neutropenia, fever, generalized abdominal pain specially in right lower quadrant and probably a mass in this area. Case: The patient is a 44 year old man which was presented with enlargement of right testes since two months ago. In sonographic evaluation of testes a mass was defined and surgery was done for him, which pathologic result was seminoma. Staging workup was done and in CT Scan a lymph node with size of 35 mm was detected in paracaval area . According to this result the patient received chemotherapy with Cisplatin and Etoposide. One day after completion of chemotherapy he developed abdominal pain , fever and bloody diarrhea and referred to hospital and admitted with diagnosis of typhlitis. Conclusion: Typhlitis is not restricted to a complication of leukaemia treatment or taxane base chemotherapy and other cytotoxic drugs can induce this problem. On the other hand, neutropenia and typhlitis can occur immediately after chemotherapy in sensitive patient and so the time of nadir value of white blood cell is too short.

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Background: Radiotherapy is one of the cancer treatment methods. Prescribed dose for each fraction is considered based on radiosensitivity of tumoral and normal tissues. Viral agents are the effiectiv factors on tissue sensitivity. This research aimed to determine the effect of ionizing radiation of Cobal 60 on radiosensitivity of Hela cells infected with Measles virus. Methods and Materials: In this study, the radiosensitivity of Hela cells is investigated experimentally and qualitively. The cells have been cultivated in two groups (experimental and blank) and plating efficiency has been obtained. Then 100λ measles virus with serial dilution method was used to induce infection in different ratio for experimental group. After cell growth and passage, the two groups were irradiated with 2Gy gamma radiation of cobalt 60. Results: Results respectively indicated cell death increases up to 5-7%, 15-20% and 50-65%, after 2Gy irradiation by Co 60 for contaminating to Measles in low, moderate and high concentrations. Conclusion: Radiosensitivity of tumoral cells increases when they are infected by viral agent. The result in radiotherapy of cancers showed, in prescribing dose fraction non cancer disease should be considered.

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Background: HIV-1 and HCV are two of the most important blood-borne infectious agents. Hence, reliable, precise, and sensitive detection of these viruses in infected patients and donated blood units is highly important. Noticing the limitations of serological assays in detection of these infectious agents, this study was to use fast and sensitive molecular assays like real-time PCR. Materials and Methods: In this trial, a home-brewed SYBR green-based multiplex real time PCR, on the basis of melting curve analysis, was developed for the single or simultaneous detection of HCV and HIV-1 infections in plasma samples. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Results: The results obtained from different reactions on several clinical samples showed that the analytical sensitivities of the developed assay for HIV-1 and HCV were 200 and 100 copies/ml, respectively. It was also shown that the primers designed for each virus had no interaction with each other and other interfering agents. Conclusion: Noticing the good level of sensitivity and specificity, easy handling, relatively low cost, and rapid analysis of samples, this method can be a useful and rapid approach for simple and effective detection of HCV and HIV-1 in plasma samples.

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Background: Biochemical studies have shown that iron produces reactive oxygen species via Haber-Weiss and Fenton reactions. The goal of this study is to examine the role of iron in oxidation of human hemoglobin and its structural changes in erythrocytes. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, blood samples from healthy subjects were incubated aerobically with the iron containing metal catalyzed oxidation (MCO) system in the presence of 0.036, 0.7, 0.14, 0.28, 0.57, 1.14, 2.28, 4.55, 9.09, and 18.18 micromole of iron. Structural changes in Hb were followed by spectrophotometric analysis from 300 to 650 nm. In addition, carbonyl assay was performed for estimation of protein oxidation in globin chains. Results: Based on the results, oxy-Hb decreased up to 68% in iron-treated erythrocytes. Decrease in the absorbance ratio (A577, A542 wavelength) indicated the conversion of oxy-Hb to met-Hb. Also, met-Hb concentration was 4.7 fold of hemichrome. After 24 hours of incubation, oxyHb concentration decreased up to 50% and metHb concentration increased up to 85%. Moreover, increase in iron concentration resulted in significant carbonyl formation in hemoglobin. Conclusion: These findings indicate that Hb oxidation instead of its oxygenation leads to anemia and hypoxia. The findings of this study may be directly applicable to oxidation states during hemolytic diseases and iron treatment.

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Background: The aim of this study is to assess antioxidative and pro-oxidative efficacy of ascorbate on serum albumin during iron-induced oxidative stress. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, albumin was placed in the oxidative system containing iron ions and different concentrations of ascorbate. To monitor albumin degradation, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was performed according to Laemmli procedure. Oxidative modification of albumin was demonstrated using a method for determination of carbonyl groups by 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Results: By applying the carbonyl assay, ascorbate showed a dual effect: initial pro-oxidative effect on albumin changed to an antioxidant one in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings showed prooxidant effects for ascorbate in low concentrations (0-100 µM) and antioxidant effects in higher concentrations (100-300 µM). Also, electrophoretic pattern of plasma proteins showed significant protein aggregations in the range of 35 to 45 kDa of MW and protein degradations in the range of 115 to 180 kDa. Conclusion: Ascorbate can produce reactive oxygen species and can also inhibit the production of these oxidants in the presence of iron ions as well. These findings may be directly applicable to oxidative states during the administration of ascorbate and may be important in preventing oxidative modifications of proteins in blood circulation and other biological fluids.

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Background: Several different molecular methods have been developed that are capable of detecting HIV-1 in clinical specimens with different levels of sensitivity and specificity. This article describes the results of a reliability study on the development and application of a new real-time TMA method for isothermal detection of HIV-1. Materials and Methods: In this ex Primental study, the molecular beacon primer and probe set were designed for a 176-base-pair region of HIV-1 pol gene using a specialized software. Logarithmic serial dilutions from 10-107 copies of an in-vitro transcribed RNA were used for determination of the analytical sensitivity of the assay. Clinical specimens that had previously been evaluated positive or negative by a valid commercial assay were used for assessing the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Results: The analytical and clinical sensitivities of the assay were determined 500 copies/ml and 93.3%, respectively. The primers and the probe were HIV-1 specific and no cross-reaction was observed with other blood-borne viruses and human genome bioinformatically. The clinical specificity of the developed real-time TMA assay was examined experimentally using 20 negative samples and determined to be 100%. Conclusion: The developed real-time TMA assay can be used as an appropriate tool for the rapid and isothermal detection of HIV-1 in patients' blood and plasma samples.

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Background: The presence of oxidant agents yields higher levels of free radical reaction products in erythrocyte membrane proteins and serum proteins. The aim of this study is to investigate the oxidative modifications of recombinant human coagulation factor VIII (rHFVIII) by spectrophotometric analysis. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, rHFVIII was incubated aerobically with vitamin C and ferro ions in metal catalyzed oxidation (MCO) system for 4 to 28 hr. Carbonyl assay was used as an index of protein oxidation. For this purpose, 2,4dinitrophenyl hydrazine (DNPH) was used. Reaction of this reagent with carbonyl groups produces dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives that their concentration was estimated by spectrophotometry. Results: Carbonyl groups in rHFVIII changed in the presence of vitamin C and ferro ions. Dose-dependent effects of vitamin C showed a decrease in carbonyl groups of rHFVIII whileferro ions increased oxidation and carbonyl group formation in this protein. Conclusion: These findings indicate that changes in carbonyl groups in rHFVIII are related to the generation of reactive oxygen species. Also, antioxidant mechanisms are activated in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

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Background: Although miR-124 molecule has been known as an inducer of neurogenesis, few researches have been done on the targets of this molecule and its functional mechanisms in differentiation toward neurons and maintaining neuronal state. The microarray technique has been established as the reference method for studying the genes under the control of miRNAs. However, the high cost of this method has hampered its use in most research centers. On the other hand, the improvement of bioinformatical algorithms and computer modeling systems has led to the development of the bioinformatical softwares that can predict mRNA targets for miRNAs. Therefore, the aim of this theoretical study was to bioinformatically evaluate the effect of miR-124 on transcription factors that can be involved in neurogenesis and neuronal cell amplification, by using various specific softwares. Materials and Methods: Using different algorithms in TargetScan, DIANA and miRWalk databases, the potential transcription factors targets of miR-124 were identified. Then, a score table was prepared from the candidate genes, based on the affinity of the seed region of miR-124 and the number of targets in the 3`-UTR region of transcription factors. Finally, transcription factors with higher scores were chosen as candidates for practical analysis.

Results: The results of bioinformaical analysis showed that the LAMC1, ITGB1, PTBP1, SOX9, SP1, and EFNB1 molecules are the most potential factors that might be affected by miR-124 during neurogenesis.

Conclusion: It seems that transcription factor SP1 is under the control of the miR-124 and plays a crucial role in neurogenesis process. Therefore, this protein can be considered as a suitable new candidate for experimental evaluation.

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Background: Our Previous studics hane been shown that iron ions produce oxygen free radical reaction products in the erythrocytes. The present study is evaluating the oxidative effects of aluminum in erythrocytes and plasma proteins and decline of antioxidant power of plasma in operating room personnel.

Materials and Methods: Blood obtained from operating room personnel. Erythrocytes and plasma were incubated aerobically in aluminum containing metal catalyzed oxidation (MCO) system. Total antioxidant capacity of plasma was estimated by FRAP assay (ferric reducing ability of plasma), plasma protein oxidation by carbonyl assay and structural changes in Hb were followed by spectrophotometric analysis and assessment of oxy-Hb, met-Hb and hemichrome.

Results: There was a significant relationship between optical density of Hb in 340 and 420 nm and between oxy-Hb and optical density of Hb in 420 nm(p<0.05) On the other hand, 68 to 56% decrease in total antioxidant power of plasma in control group and operating room personnel, results oxidation in plasma protein and carbonyl concentration was increased three fold.

Conclusion: These findings may be helpful in evaluating the antioxidant status and structural changes in Hb and plasma proteins in people who are exposed to aluminum especially operating room personnel.

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Background: The Real-time PCR assay has been established as the standard method for Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) quantitation in immunocompromised patients. However, the question of which one of whole blood or plasma specimens is better for viral quantitation is still unresolved for many clinical laboratories. To answer this question, the current study compares HCMV DNA load in whole blood and plasma samples.

Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, the whole blood and plasma samples were obtained from 41 transplantated patients and the viral load was detected using a validated, in-house Real-time PCR assay.

Results: Of the total 193 examined specimens, 174 were negative and 19 samples, from 16 patients, were positive in at least one of whole blood or plasma samples. Based on the results of linear regression analysis, the cytomegalovirus viral load was correlated in whole blood and plasma samples (R2: 0.872). However, the regression equation shows that the HCMV load in whole blood samples is higher than load of this virus in plasma. The validity of the quantitative results was confirmed by repeating the tests and analyzing the results using the repeated measure analysis.

Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, HCMV quantitation in whole blood samples has a higher analytical sensitivity than in plasma samples.

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Background: There is a relationship between diabetes, dialysis and oxidative stress. The aim of this study was the comparison of structural changes in Hb, oxidative damages in plasma proteins, and antioxidant capacity in diabetic hemodialysis patients with those of control subjects.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, blood samples obtained from diabetic hemodialysis patients and control group. Oxidative damages in plasma proteins were determined by carbonyl assay and antioxidant power of plasma was performed by FRAP assay. Conformational changes in Hb were detected by spectrophotometric analysis. Blood glucose, urea, creatinine and uric acid in patients were determined usnig routine laboratory methods. Statistical analysis were performed by using regression analysis and t-test in SPSS20 software.

Results: This study showed a significant correlation between carbonyl content of plasma proteins and optical density of Hb at 630 and 275 nm which corresponds to structural changes in Hb. ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), as an index of total antioxidant capacity of plasma was found to be enhanced significantly in diabetic patients receiving hemodialysis (from 1019.62±129 to 1354.54±129 molare, p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results obtained in the present study showed that inducible factors in diabetic hemodialysis patients contribute to plasma antioxidant activity and probably responsible for prevention of carbonyl formation and oxidative damages in hemoglobin.

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Background: Adoption has a significant role for strengthening families without children and also resolution of psychological confilicts of unsupervised children. The goal of this study is to assess the psychological status of adoption applicant couples.

Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive- analytic study that is done with cooperation of welfare organization and Arak University of Medical Sciences in 2014. All adoption applicant couples referred to welfare organization for 1 year participated in the study. Data were gathered by using demographic questionnaire and MMPI-II. Data were showed by descriptive statistic and were analyzed by using mean, average and covariance analysis indices.

Results: Mean and standard deviation of all clinical scales and reliability of MMPI-II in all samples and also different subgroups of statistical population were under 65. All applicants had good mental health and psychologically were eligible for adoption. A group of applicants have pretended themselves better than what they are because of the fear of rejection that led to significant difference in k scale(p=0.019).

Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, applicants had good mental health and didn’t have any psychopathologic damage, but sometimes they have pretended themselves better than what they are. Investigation of other diagnostic tools in future studies is recommended.

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Background: Circulating microRNAs are promising biomarkers in diagnosis and assessment of cancerous patients. Quantitative Real-time PCR assay is a sensitive test for evaluating the levels of miRNAs expression. Nevertheless, there is no concurrence on selecting appropriate reference genes for qPCR analysis of miRNAs in circulation. Therefore, the current study aimed to select a suitable reference gene for normalizing the RT-qPCR assay results in plasma samples of patients with gastric cancer.

Materials and Methods: Based on previously published studies, three molecules SNORD47, U6 RNA, and miR-103 were selected as the candidate reference genes. After RNA extraction from plasma samples of 40 patients with gastric cancer and 40 healthy individuals, expression levels of these molecules were evaluated using Real-time PCR method.

Results: The results showed that the developed assays are able to diagnose their specified targets by a suitable linear range. By comparing patients and control groups, although the expression levels of miR-103 molecule were not equal between the two groups (p= 0.017), SNORD47 and U6 RNAs had similar expression levels. However, the variations of SNORD47 expression were lower that U6 RNA.

Conclusion: Based on the results of the current study, the SNORD47 molecule has a stable expression levels in plasma samples of patients with gastric cancer and normal individuals and can be used as an appropriate reference gene for normalizing the quantitative data of qPCR assay.

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Background: Breast cancer is both the prevailing malignancy and the most common cause of cancer death among women. Many factors may play a role in the susceptibility to the breast cancer and Oxygen Free Radicals may be one of these. There are various known antioxidant systems against oxidative stress, including ParaoxonaseI. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between rs854560 polymorphism in the PON1 gene in patients with breast cancer.

Materials and Methods: We performed genotyping analysis using polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay in a case–control study of 83 confirmed breast cancer patients and 100 cancer-free controls in Markazi Province.

Results: In our study of the PON1 gene L55M polymorphism, the LL genotype was found in 2 (2.40%) patients, whereas the LM genotype was found in 69 (83.13%) patients. The MM genotype was present in 12 (14.45%) patients. In the control group, LL, LM and MM genotypes were found in 4 (4%), 81 (81%), and 15 (15%) subjects, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between patient and control groups in terms of the PON1 gene L55M polymorphism (p= 0.825). Allele distributions were different but this difference did not reach statistical significance (p= 0.920).

Conclusion: We found no association between M55L polymorphism and breast cancer.

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Abstract

Background: Ureaplasma and M. genitalium species belong to a kind of bacteria that are sexually transmitted and are the possible cause of pelvic inflammatory disease and nongonococcal urethritis, and et al. The aim of this study was to determine the urea plasma and Mycoplasma genitalium species frequency in women with vaginal infection and various sexual partners who referred to women^, s health promotion and treatment center in Arak.

Materials and Methods: Endocervical swab samples from 110 women with vaginal infections referred to women^’s health promotion and treatment center in Arak, were prepared. Patients’ personal information and identities during reception process were registered. The samples were transferred to the laboratory in the transport environment and after DNA extraction, were evaluated according to Real-time PCR assay.

Results: Urea plasma and Mycoplasma genitalium bacteria existed in 96(87.27%) and 4(3.63%) of patients, respectively. Among them, 4 cases had both bacteria infections. The amount of isolation in young women between 30-39 years old was more than others.

Conclusion: The results show that the colonization of urea plasma species in adult women is 40-80% and in studied group is 87.27%. These results indicate that with due attention to the increasing number of sexual partners and the increase of sexual activity, the urea plasma colonization of women will increase. In view of the potential influence of mycoplasma species on side effects resulted from pregnancy infection of mothers and mortality, on-time diagnosis and treatment will be increasingly essential.

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Background: Biological and epidemiological data indicate that the levels of vitamin D maybe affect the breast cancer risk. Vitamin D plays an important role in cell proliferation, apoptosis and tumor growth suppression. Vitamin D receptor is a critical mediator for the cellular reactions of vitamin D. Some of the epidemiological studies, reviewed the relationship between VDR gene polymorphism ApaI and breast cancer, but the controversial findings have been achieved.

Materials and Methods: In this study, a population-based case-control study including 140 patients and 160 healthy individuals of women in Markazi Province were evaluated using PCR-RFLP approach. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples using the salting-out procedure. Polymorphism of interest was determined by PCR-RFLP method using ApaI enzyme and statistical analysis was performed by SPSS software.

Results: Based on the results of this study, distribution of AA genotype in cancer and control groups was, 38.6 and 26.87, for AC genotype 55.00 and 66.87, and finally for CC genotype 6.43 and 6.26 respectively. The results of this study showed no association between ApaI polymorphism of the VDR gene and breast cancer(OR=0.903,CI=95%, 0.29-2.95.)

Conclusion: In this study, we found no association between ApaI polymorphism and breast cancer, which are consistent with the findings of some other researchs. It is necessary to examine a larger population to achieve more definitive results.

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Abstract

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third major cause of cancer death worldwide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HBx gene play an important role in the development of HCC by influencing signaling pathways. Since there is no detectable symptom in the early phase of HCC, there is need to find new HCC-specific markers with high sensitivity for early detection and diagnosis of HCC. On the other hand, by the advent and development of bioinformatic sciences, it is now possible to predict miRNAs as biomarkers, and their targets. Therefore, in the present study, based on the results of the bioinformatic software applications with different algorithm, we selected the miRNA targeting HBx and NOTCH1 mRNAs according to higher score, suitable connection with target gene and confirming them in more softwares.

Materials and Methods: First, the sequences of NOTCH1 and HBx genes were retrieved from NCBI. Afterwards, several software applications such as TargetScan, mirWalk, miRBase, Miranda, PicTar, miRVir, and DIANA were applied to predict miRNAs.

Results: Based on the high scoring by bioinformatics softwares and suitable targeting, miR-34a were selected to target NOTCH1 and miR-6510, miR-5193 and miR-214 were chosen to targetHBX gene.

Conclusion: Because of tumor suppression roles of miR-214 and miR-34a, they probably could be used as therapeutic strategy in cancer researches. It is also seems that the miR-5193 could act as a specific marker in Hepatocellular carcinoma.

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