Background: Gene therapy is a recent promising treatment that effective gene transfer is considered as its most important step. Furthermore noninvasive method of transfer will be important to, when gene therapy is supposed to be applied. Administration of drugs in oral rout is more appreciated by patients. Loading and release rates are very important in targeting and effectiveness of transfer in all different methods that have been used for oral drug transfer. Here, we have studied packing of gene particles into two different enteric coats and compared these two coats in loading of entrapped materials and there release rate in vitro.

Materials and Methods: First, DNA was mixed with chitosan by coacervation technique and resulted polyplexes were coated using solvent evaporation technique. FTIR and two different pHs, less and more but near eudragit pKa, were used to evaluate formation of particles and their behavior.

Results: Formed particles have similar stability in low pH and their differences are trivial. Eudragit L100 release rate is really slower than L100-55 and gradual. Eudragit L100 shows better ability in loading rate.

Conclusion: According to two formed particles' behavior, eudragit L100-55 might be used in oral gene transfer targeting of initial part of small intestine and eudragit L100 might be used for wider surface of small intestine, from the initial to the end part, and colon.

Background: Some children have abrupt onset of severe urinary frequency, voiding as often as every 10-15 min during the day, without dysuria, UTI, daytime incontinence, or nocturia. The most common age for these symptoms to occur is 4-6 yr, after the child is toilet trained, and the vast majority are boys. This condition is termed the daytime frequency syndrome of childhood or Pollakiuria. The condition is functional no anatomic problem is detected. The symptoms occur often just before a child starts kindergarten or if the child is having emotional family stress-related problems. OCD is a chronically disabling illness characterized by repetitive, ritualistic behaviors over which the patient has little or no control. OCD has a lifetime prevalence of 1-3% worldwide, and as many as 80% of all cases have their onset in childhood and adolescence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between OCD and Pollakiuria.

Materials and Methods:In this case-control study, we evaluated (152) children aged 6-18 years old who were visited in the pediatric clinics of Amir-Kabir Hospital, Arak, Iran. The control group considered of (76) healthy children and the case group included (76) age and sex matched children with Pollakiuria. Then, the children’s behavioral status was evaluated using the children’s Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (C-YBOCS). The C-YBOCS is helpful in identifying children with OCD. The data was analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS-16.

Results: OCD was detected in (5) case (6.6%) with Pollakiuria and (8) controls (10.5%). The difference in OCD was not significant (p-value 0.282) between the two groups.

Conclusion: OCD isn’t more common in Pollakiuria versus non-Pollakiuria children. It is recommended to conduct a study with higher sample volume in order to detect the relationship between OCD and Pollakiuria.

Background: Nitric oxide is synthesized in endothelial cells by eNOS and acts as a pleiotropic regulator involved in carcinogenesis. Most gastric cancers develop from stomach epithelial cells therefore, NO may play a role in their development. Polymorphisms of eNOS have been shown to be associated with cancer susceptibility. In the present study, we investigated the association of the eNOS genotypes with gastric cancer risk in Guilan Population.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, we analyzed the Glu298Asp polymorphism of eNOS in 87 patients with gastric cancer and 90 healthy controls. The genotyping of eNOS polymorphism was performed using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. All statistical analyses were conducted by the MedCalc statistical software.

Results: No association between the eNOS genotypes and gastric cancer risk was found. Among the 87 patients, 45 had Glu/Glu, 38 were Glu/Asp, and 4 were Asp/Asp. In the control group, 44 had Glu/Glu, 40 were Glu/Asp, and 6 were Asp/Asp. We found no significant differences in allele and genotype frequencies between control and patient specimens.

Conclusion: We found that there was no association between this polymorphism and gastric cancer risk. Results suggest that eNOS polymorphism may play a role in inhibition of gastric cancer. However, larger population-based studies are needed for clarifying the role of eNOS polymorphism in gastric cancer.

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.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disorder that mainly affects the peripheral joints and surrounding tissue. Genetic and environmental factors have important roles in pathogenesis. The role of oxidative stress and the enzymes involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis have been studied in these years. A predominant role in counteracting reactive oxygen spieces is played by endogenous antioxidant enzymes, and glutathion peroxidase (GPx). An alteration of CTC codon to CCC codon which results in substitution of leucine instead of proline in 198th amino acid location is one of the important polymorphisms of this gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of GPx1 gene polymorphism in patients with rheumatoid artheritis.

Materials and Methods: The case-control study included 130 patients with rheumatoid artheritis and 126 healthy individuals. Genomic DNA was extracted from white blood cells and the genotypes were identified using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR - RFLP). Statistical analysis was carried using the MedCalc (version 12.1).

Results: The frequencies of CC, CT and TT genotypes of GPx1gene were 32.31%, 43.08% and 24.61% respectively, in rheumatoid arthritis patients, whiles in healthy volunteers were 42.62%, 54.10% and 3.28%. Statistical results showed significant relationship between TT genotype of GPx1 gene and Rheumatoid arthritis (p=0.002, &chi2 =11.715, OR: 9.90 95% CI (2.04 to 48.01)).

Conclusion: In conclusion, these results indicate that TT genotype of GPx1 gene may be associated with the risk of rheumatoid artheritis in the studied population. However, further research is required to clarify the role of gene polymorphism in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Cancer is one of the most common causes of deaths in the world. Cancer incidence and prevalence is increasing in the world. There is no clear trend is available on incidence of these cancers in Iran, therefore, this study aimed to determine the incidence of 10 common cancers among Iranian women from 2003 to 2009.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by analyzing existing data. Data from a national registry of cancer cases were received. Data included the records from the cancer registry system in Iranian women during 2003 to 2009. The incidence rates were then standardized using direct method. We used Cochrane Armitage Test for linear trend by Winpepi software to determine the variation in the incidence of cancers.

Results: The results show that the proportion of all cancers is rising in women as compared to all population. Breast, skin, colorectal, gastric, esophageal, thyroid, leukemia, ovary, brain and uterus were the most common cancer among Iranian women. During the years of the survey, these cancers are significantly increased.

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the incidence of cancer in women is increased. screening programs can be useful in reducing the cancers.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and one of the main causes of cancer-related death all over the world that has become a major public health concern. Human apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (ApE1) is a multifunctional protein that has an important role in the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Single- nucleotide polymorphism T>G found in exon 5 led to substitution of Asp>Glu at codon 148 (Asp148Glu). In this case-control study, we aimed to evaluate the association of this polymorphism on the risk of breast cancer in Guilan population.

Materials and Methods: To study gene polymorphism APE1 (Case- Control), blood samples were collected from 75 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 75 control subjects, and genotyped by allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR). To estimate the association between genotype and allele frequencies in cases and controls, Chi-Square analysis was used.

Results: Analysis revealed no significant differences were found in genotype and allele distributions of ApE1 Asp148Glu polymorphism between breast cancer patients and controls (p=0.1, p=0.6 respectively) in this population.

Conclusion: Data from this study indicated no significant association between the Asp148Glu polymorphism and breast cancer risk (p=0.1). Further study is needed to clarify the impact of Asp148Glu polymorphism on the breast cancer.

Background: Cancer in the elderly is rising increasingly. According to the population structure in Iran, it is necessary to conduct a study to examine the epidemiology and trends in cancer incidence in the elderly in Iran. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and trends in cancer incidence in Iranian elderly from 2003 to 2009.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by analyzing existing data obtained from the National Cancer Registry System in Iran. In this stucly, all records of elderly cancer cases in Iran during 2003 to 2009 were investigated. The age- specific incidence rates of reported cases were estimated by using direct standardization method and the world standard population. We used Cochrane Armitage Test for linear trend by Winpepi software to study the trends in cancer incidence.

Results: stuolying statistics of Cancer Registry center shows that the incidence of cancer increases with age and most cases of cancer occur commonly in elderly people (aged over 60), so that, the highest number of cancer cases diagnosed in people aged 80-84, but it decreases after the age of 85. The most common cancer among the elders, in this period (2003-2009), was the skin cancer. Also, according to the statistics, cancers are more prevalent among older men than older women.

Conclusion: with due attention to the results, the trend of incidence of cancer and its various types in the elders is increasing with age. The implementation of screening programs and necessary trainings in the field of early detection and the avoidance of exposure to risk factors to reduce the risk of cancer in Iranian elderly can be useful.

Background:  Ferula assa-foetida is one of the common medicines that was used as antiseptic with a view to traditional uses, it can be used as a safe and effective drug to treat diseases particularly resistant bacterial infections. This study aims to product gelatin nano- capsules containing Ferula assa-foetida essential oil and investigate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities.

Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on gelatin nano-capsules containing Ferula assa-foetida essential oil (FAO) (2, 4, 6 and 8% w/w), glycerol (25% w/w) as plasticizer and glutaraldehyde as cross-linker. The morphology, antioxidant and antibacterial activities and operation of the nano-capsules were assessed according to American Standards by Scanning Electron Microscopy, ABTS, and microbiological tests.

Results: Gelatin nano-capsules exhibited low antioxidant and antibacterial activities while gelatin nano-capsules incorporated with FAO exhibited excellent antioxidant and antibacterial. The highest rates of these effects were seen merged with 8% of FAO.

Conclusion: Gelatin nano-capsules merged with FAO have excellent physical form, as well as they are an appropriate antioxidant and antibacterial that have been considered to produce antoxidant and antibacterial drugs.

  Background: Approximately, 50% of male infertility causes have remained unknown. It seems that genetic disorders may lead to many cases of idiopathic infertility. XRCC1 ( X-ray Repair Cross Complementing group 1) acts as a scaffolding protein in the base excision repair (BER) and single strand break repair (SSBR). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of XRCC1 may influence DNA repair capacity. Thus, they had been considered as a risk factor for infertility. XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism was located on p rotected domain , BRCT1 . The aim of this study was to explore the p ossibility of association between XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and susceptibility to idiopathic male infertility.

  Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, the genotype and allele frequencies of Arg399Gln polymorphism were examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) on a Guilanian population consisting of 144 men with idiopathic infertility and 166 healthy men. Statistical analysis was performed using the MedCalc 12 software.

  Results: According to our results, compared with Arg/Arg genotype, the Arg/Gln , Gln/Gln and Arg/Gln + Gln/Gln genotypes showed a significant association with an increased risk of idiopathic male infertility ( OR=4.19 95%CI 2.37-7.41, p<0.0001 ), (OR=3.42 95%CI 1.50-7.81, p<0.0034), (OR=4.06 95%CI 2.32-7.09, P<0.0001) , respectively. In addition, the Gln allele frequency in patients was significantly higher than that in controls(p=0.0004).

  Conclusion: In total, Arg399Gln polymorphism of XRCC1 gene can be associated with male infertility and Gln allele might be a risk factor of idiopathic male infertility in in this sample population. Larger population and different ethnicities should be studied to achieve a definitive conclusion.

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the complication of diabetes mellitus (DM) and causes blindness among adults. Chronic extra cellular hyperglycemia in diabetes stimulates reaction oxygen species ROS production and increases oxidative stress. GPX-1 that was coded by GPX-1 gene is a key enzyme in protecting vessels against oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of GPX-1 gene Pro 198 Leu polymorphism in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 160 blood samples of participants including 80 patients with diabetic retinopathy and 80 healthy individual were tested. Genotyping of GPX-1 gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) by ApaI enzyme. Data analysis was performed using MedCalc (12.1) program.

Results: The genotype frequencies of the GPX-1 in DR patients for Leu/Leu, Leu/Pro, Pro/Pro were 10%, 62.5% and 27.5%, respectively, while for the control groups were 10%, 70% and 20%, respectively.In ohter words, Ile/Pro heterozygote was the most frequent genotype in patients and controls. According to the results of this study, there was not significant difference between patients with diabetic retinopathy and controls(p=0.52).

Conclusion: It is concluded that GPX-1 gene Pro 198 Leu polymorphism is not associated with DR. Further research is required to clarify the role of GPX-1 gene in DR in Rasht population along higher sample size.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a member of hepadenaviridae family, which is infectious for humans and a few animal species. Successful clearance and elimination of infection from the body or development of HBV infection to chronic disease depend on the host genetic background in immune system genes. Interleukin-12 (IL12) and also Interleukin-12 Receptor B1 (IL 12 RB1) are the key factors in the spontaneous clearance of viral infections, especially HBV. The aim of the present research is to investigate the association between Interleukin-12 receptor B1 gene polymorphism (rs11575934 A/G) and susceptibility to chronic Hepatitis B virus infection.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, genomic DNA of 150 chronic HBV infected patients and 150 healthy controls were extracted from peripheral blood cells. Single nucleotide polymorphism (rs11575934 A/G) was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Results: The frequency of GG, AG, AA genotypes was 6.7%, 40.7%, and 52.7% in chronic patients and 12.7%, 41.3%, and 46% in control group, respectively. No statistically significant difference between case and control groups has been observed (p=0.176).

Conclusion: In the present study, no significant correlation between rs11575934 A/G single nucleotide polymorphism of the IL12RB1 gene and susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B virus infection has been observed. According to the study, this polymorphism does not affect the susceptibility to chronic HBV infection.

Background: Boredom is a psychological phenomenon that was defined as an aversive state or incompatibility with every repetitive experience while the release of stability is not allowed. Boredom has several complications. So, the goal of this study is to compare the predictors of boredom in students of Arak University of medical sciences and Islamic Azad University.

Materials and Methods: The current descriptive-comparative study has been done on966 students (from Arak University of medical sciences and Islamic Azad University). The scale of current study was a checklist list of demographic information, predictors of boredom assess questionnaire, Farmer and Sundberg’boredom proneness scale. Data were analyzed by using chi-square, Pearson correlation, multivariate regression, and Fisher'sz.

Results: The greatest number of students from both universities have normal boredom without a statistically significant difference between male and female students (p=0.06). University factor had the highest average between students. Totally, boredom had a significant correlation with each of the home (p=0.000) and society (p=0.001) factors. All three factors including home (p=0.033), university (p=0.033) and society (p=0.031) can explain and predict boredom in male and female students.

Conclusion: The results showed that university factor was the most important factor for predicting boredom between college students. Thus, in order to avoid adverse effects of boredom on students educational activities, this phenomenon and its causes should be considered.

Abstract

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic disease that specifically affects the mucosa of the rectum and colon. The pathogenesis of UC is not well defined, but it is proposed that genetic and environmental factors result in an aberrant immune response to a subset of commensal enteric bacteria.The aim of this study was to investigate whether miR-34b/c rs4938723 T/C polymorphism is associated with UC risk.

Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 50 patients diagnosed with UC and 100 healthy control subjects. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. Genetic variation of miR34b/c was determined by tetra-primers ARMS-PCR (amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction). All statistical analyses were conducted using the MedCalc version 12.1.

Results: There was a significant difference in genotype and allele distributions between cases and controls. It was observed that the CT heterozygotes had a 2.29-fold increase in risk of UC (OR=2.29, 95%CI=1.08-4.82, p=0.02).

Conclusion: It is suggested that the miR34b/c (rs4938723 T>C) polymorphism may be associated with the risk of UC. However, larger studies with more patients and controls are needed to confirm this result.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on quality of life of patients with cardiovascalar diseases.

Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was done based on a pretest -posttest design with control group. Statistical population included all of the patients with cardiovascular diseases referred to Amir-Kabir educational and medical center of Arak, and sample included 30 persons who selected by screening and simple random sampling and assigned into two control and experimental groups. Research instrument included Mcnew quality of life scales which participants answered it during two pre-test and post-test steps; also, experimental group participated in 9 cognitive-behavioral therapy meetings.

Results: There was a significant difference between mean quality of life and its components in both experimental and control groups.

Conclusion: Results analysis showed that group-based cognition- behavior theray has an influence on life quality (emotional, physical and social domains)(p>0.05).