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Introduction: Diabetes is the most important metabolic disease in human. The prevalence of both types of diabetes is rapidly increasing ocross the world. Diabetes causes many complications including End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Diabetes is responsible for 30% of ESRD. The prevalence of diabetic nephropathy in Iran is also high. Many of these patients are becoming dialysis dependent. Many studies have shown the changes of trace metals’ levels in diabetic patients including Copper, Zinc, Manganese and Chromium. This study evaluates the correlation between urinary Copper and diabetic nephropathy Materials and Methods: This is a case-control study. Samples were selected among type 2 diabetic patients attending to diabetes clinic in Vali-e-Asr hospital in Arak. Diabetic patients were divided in two groups based on microalbuminuria, 42 patients in case and 40 patients in control group. Then the patients were classified based on duration of diabetes into 4 groups and based on the HbA1c into two groups. Then urinary Copper was determined with atomic absorption spectophotometry and compared. Independent t-test was used to analyze data. Results: Patients were 28.1% male and 69.9% female in case group and 37.5% male and 62.5% female in control group. The mean Copper level was 36.14µg /L (14.54-57.74) in case group and 14.77% µg /L (10.17-19.37) in control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.003). Conclusion: The results show a positive relation between urinary Copper and diabetic nephropathy and confirmed the results of other studies that reported the elevation of Copper in microalbuminuria. This study also showed that age, gender, duration of diabetes and HbA1c level have no effect on urinary Copper.

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Introduction: Wilson disease is a hereditary disorder of Copper metabolism which can present with hepatic, neurologic or psychiatric symptoms and in rare cases as a hemolytic disturbance. Free Copper can result in red blood cell damage and hemolysis which is a rare feature of the disease affecting less than 10% of patients. In this condition the liver is usually involved and liver transplantation can be life saving. This article is a case report of acute hemolytic crisis as the initial manifestation of Wilson disease. Case: An 8 years old girl was admitted in pediatric ward of Golestan hospital because of abdominal pain, icterus, anemia and tea color urine. Hepatitis or Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase deficiency was the first diagnosis. Because of unresponsiveness to transfusion, Wilson disease was considered and the diagnosis was established with the presence of Kayser-Fleischer ring. Conclusion: Chronic or acute hemolytic anemia is a rare or unusually presentation of Wilson disease. In any child especially older than 5 years with liver disease or hemolytic anemia, Wilson disease should be considered and appropriate diagnostic tests performed

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Background: Birthweight less than 2500 grams is the major indicators of neonatal and infant health. The studies on animals show that copper and zinc deficiency in pregnancy is associated with fetal growth and congenital abnormalities. Therefore, our study was conducted to evaluate the role of these two elements on human embryos.

 Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, cord blood of all infants born in Nik-Nafs Maternity of Rafsanjan was Collected for 1 year. Then, serum was separated and saved. In total, 64 samples including 9 infants with congenital anomalies, 21 infants with a weight equal to or less than 2500 grams and 34 healthy infants were selected randomly as control group. The level of copper and zinc in cord boold was measured by the spectrophotometric method and data analysis was carried out by SPSS 17 software and statistical methods involving Chi-square, T-test and analysis of variance.

Results: No significant relation was shown between the levels of copper and zinc withbirth weight and congenital abnormalities. Also, there was not any significant correlation between these two teo elements and some pregnancy risk factors such as type of delivery, premature rupture of membrane, placental decolman, placental previa, preeclampsia, gravidity, height, head circumference and Apgar scores.

 Conclusion: The findings indicate that the levels of copper and zinc in cord blood are not associated with incidence of low birth weight, congenital malformations and pregnancy risk factors.

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Abstract

Background: Copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs) induced angiogenesis, has been adapted to respond the most important challenging in wound healing. But due to the toxicity of nanoparticles, the nontoxic concentrations is important. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration and size of copper nanoparticles for investigating the effect of its cytotoxicity on the endothelial cell.

Materials and Methods: In this study, we exposed Cu NPs (40nm) with concentrations of 1, 10, 100 μM and 1 ,10 mM to endothelial cells and evaluate its viability effect after 24, 48 and 72 hours, according to the MTS) Methy Thiazol Tetrazolium (assay. Its optical density was determined using an ELISA reader and then was recorded.

Results: The findings demonstrated that Cu NPs was significantly (p<0.05) cytotoxic in concentration higher than 100 μM and cell viability was significantly increased following 48 and 72 hours in all concentrations, so that, the most difference was seen in 100 µM concentration. The IC₅₀ values of Cu NPs at incubation time 24, 48 and 72 hours were 31.44, 36.67 and 29.38 μM.

Conclusion: The results showed that different concentration of Cu NPs in the 48 and 72 hours didn’t cause any cytotoxicity effect, but it stimulated endothelial cell proliferation. Therefore, Cu NPs with dose and time dependent effect has been increased endothelial cell proliferation.

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