Molecular characterization of the human and sheep hydatid cyst strains in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province of Iran using restriction fragment length plolymorphism (PCR RFLP)

Background: Hydatidosis caused by larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus is a cosmopolitan zoonotic infection. In endemic area for this disease there is considerable genetic variation among different isolates of the parasite. These variations may affect the epidemiology, pathology and control of the disease. In this work strain identification of hydatid cysts isolated from human or sheep in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province of Iran has been investigated. Method: Fertile sheep hydatid cysts were collected from several abattoirs inChaharmahal vaBakhtiari province ofIran. Human isolates were obtained at surgery from Kashani hospital in the same area. DNA was extracted from preserved protoscoleces and Nested PCR was performed on the extracted DNA samples, the rDNA-ITS fragment was amplified subsequently. Using 4 restriction enzymes include Rsa², HpaII, Alu² and taq², PCR-RFLP procedure was performed on the PCR products. Results: The size of PCR product in this research was 1000bp in both human and sheep isolates. UsingAlu² enzyme; three fragments of 100, 180 and 720bp in human isolates and two fragments of 800bp and 200bp in sheep isolates were created. Rsa² also revealed three segments of 150, 180 and 670bp in human samples and two fragments of 655bp and 345bp in sheep samples. After using HpaII enzyme three segments with 120, 200 and 680bp length in human isolates and two fragments with 700bp and 300bp in sheep isolates were detected. Finally using Taq² enzyme no digestion was occurred on human or sheep samples. Conclusion: The result of this investigation showed that human hydatid cyst strain in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiati province of Iran is different from sheep ones, so it is recommended to recognize DNA sequence in this human samples in future studies

Evaluation of the effect of Chrysin and Caffeic acid phenethyl ester on eIF4E expression in AGS cell line

Introduction: The Ras/Akt/mTORC1 signal transduction pathways play a critical role in regulating translation and converge on initiation factor eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) which is overexpressed in various malignancies. In the current study we aimed to assess the effect of chrysin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on eIF4E expression level in human stomach cancer AGS cell line. Methods: AGS cells were treated with 15, 20, 30 and 40 &mu;M concentration of chrysin and CAPE separately, then eIF4E expression was evaluated in treated cells using real time-PCR method. Results: A significant decrease in eIF4E expression in the cells following 40 &mu;M chrysin treatment was observed (p&lt;0.05). There was a significant decrease in CAPE-treated cells in a dose dependent manner. Indeed the cells treated with 30 and 40 &mu;M concentrations of CAPE, showed a significant decline in eIF4E expression (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that CAPE and chrysin may be useful as a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of gastric cancers with an elevated eIF4E expression level.</p

Digenic inheritance in autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss cases carrying GJB2 heterozygote mutations: Assessment of GJB4, GJA1, and GJC3

Objective: Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) can be caused by many genes. However, mutations in the GJB2 gene, which encodes the gap-junction (GJ) protein connexin (Cx) 26, constitute a considerable proportion differing among population. Between 10 and 42 percent of patients with recessive GJB2 mutations carry only one mutant allele. Mutations in GJB4, GJA1, and GJC3 encoding Cx30.3, Cx43, and Cx29, respectively, can lead to HL Combination of different connexins in heteromeric and heterotypic GJ assemblies is possible. This study aims to determine whether variations in any of the genes GJB4, GJA1 or GJC3 can be the second mutant allele causing the disease in the digenic mode of inheritance in the studied GJB2 heterozygous cases. Methods: We examined 34 unrelated GJB2 heterozygous ARNSHL subjects from different geographic and ethnic areas in Iran, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct DNA sequencing to identify any sequence variations in these genes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assays were performed on 400 normal hearing individuals. Results: Sequence analysis of GJB4 showed five heterozygous variations including cA51C>A, c.219C>T, c.507C>G, c.155_158delTCTG and c.542C>T, with only the latter variation not being detected in any of control samples. There were three heterozygous variations including c.758C>T, c.717G>A and c.3*dupA in GJA1 in four cases. We found no variations in GJC3 gene sequence. Conclusion: Our data suggest that GJB4 c.542C>T variant and less likely some variations of GJB4 and GJA1, but not possibly GJC3, can be assigned to ARNSHL in GJB2 heterozygous mutation carriers providing clues of the digenic pattern. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Mutation screening of exons 7 and 13 of the TMC1 gene in autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) in Iran

Mutation screening of exons 7 and 13 of th

Investigation of mutations in exons 19-23 MYH7 gene in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients using PCR-SSCP/HA technique in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province

زمینه و هدف: کاردیومایوپاتی هایپرتروفی (HCM) رایج ترین نوع از بیماری های قلبی است که 2/0 درصد از جمعیت جهان را تحت تأثیر قرار داده و همچنین رایج ترین علت مرگ قلبی ناگهانی در جوانان زیر 35 سال است. حدود 35 درصد موارد بیماری مربوط به اگزون های 24- 8 از ژن MYH7 است. هدف این مطالعه بررسی احتمال حضور جهش های مربوط به ژن MYH7 در اگزون های 23-19 در بیماران HCM استان چهارمحال و بختیاری بود. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی 30 بیمار مبتلا به HCM به روش نمونه گیری آسان از بین مراجعین به کلینیک قلب دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهرکرد انتخاب شدند. در این بیماران DNAبه روش استاندارد فنل-کلروفرم استخراج شد. اگزون های مورد نظر با استفاده از روش PCR تکثیر و با روش SSCP به صورت تک رشته تبدیل شد و همراه نمونه های دو رشته ای روی ژل پلی آکریل آمید الکتروفورز گردید. سپس باندهای مشکوک تعیین توالی گردید و نتایج با استفاده از نرم افزار Chromas تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافته ها: در اگزون های 20، 21 و 23 تغییری مشاهده نشد، اما در اگزون های 19 و 22 دو جهش R719W و R870H یافت شد که به ترتیب در دو و یک نفر از بیماران وجود داشتند. نتیجه گیری: از آنجا که تغییرات در اگزون های 19 و 22 باعث تغییر اسید آمینه ای در میوزین بتا می شود، جهش‌های ژن MYH7 در این اگزون ها، احتمالاً سهم به سزایی در بیماران HCM این استان دارند. به هر صورت، لازم است برای نتیجه گیری بهتر، بیماران بیشتری مورد مطالعه قرار گیرند

Genetic linkage analysis of DFNB93 locus in a group of families with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss in Chahar Mahal & Bakhtiari and Kohkiluyeh & Boyer Ahmad provinces of Iran

زمینه و هدف: ناشنوایی یک اختلال حسی، عصبی است و بیشترین اختلال موجود در هنگام تولد است. بیش از 60 موارد ناشنوایی ارثی است. انواع ژنتیکی آن به دو نوع سندرومی و غیر سندرومی تقسیم می شود که نا شنوایی غیر سندرومی مغلوب اتوزومی (ARNSHL) با بیشترین درصد (70) رخ می دهد. این مطالعه با هدف تعیین پیوستگی ژنتیکی به لوکوس DFNB93 در خانواده های مبتلا به ARNSHL انجام شد. روش بررسی: این مطالعه توصیفی آزمایشگاهی بر روی 40 شجره بزرگ مبتلا به ARNSHL دارای حداقل دو بیمار، والدین سالم و عمدتاً دارای ازدواج خویشاوندی و منفی از نظر جهش های ژن GJB2، از استان های چهارمحال و بختیاری و کهگیلویه و بویراحمد انجام گردید. سپس خانواده ها برای پیوستگی ژنتیکی به لوکوس DFNB93 با استفاده از نشانگرهای STR و روش PCR و سپس ژل پلی اکریل آمید بررسی شدند. یافته ها: از تعداد 40 خانواده، 1 خانواده (5/2) به لوکوس DFNB93 پیوستگی نشان داد. ارزش SLINK این خانواده 67/2 و LOD بیشینه دو نقطه ای 05/2 و LOD بیشینه چند نقطه ای 05/2 محاسبه شد. نتیجه گیری: بر اساس نتیجه پژوهش حاضر، این لوکوس احتمالاً نقش کمی در ایجاد ناشنوایی در جمعیت مورد مطالعه (دو استان) دارد ولی برای تعیین نقش دقیق تر این لوکوس در ایجاد ناشنوایی در جمعیت ایرانی، مطالعات بیشتری ضروری می باشد

Investigation of LRTOMT gene (locus DFNB63) mutations in Iranian patients with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss.

Hearing loss (HL) is the most frequent sensory defect affecting 1 in 1000 neonates. This can occur due to genetic or environmental causes or both. The genetic causes are very heterogenous and over 100 loci have been identified to cause autosomal recessive non - syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL). The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of the LRTOMT gene mutations in causing ARNSHL. One hundred fifty seven pupils affected with ARNSHL from Azarbaijan Sharghi, Kordestan, Gilan and Golestan provinces, north and west of Iran, were ascertained. In this descriptive - laboratory study, the presence of LRTOMT mutations were initially checked using PCR - Single - strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and heteroduplex analysis (HA) strategy. Samples with shifted bands on the gel were confirmed by DNA sequencing method. The PCR-SSCP/HA and the subsequent direct DNA sequencing showed no mutation in the population studied. We conclude that LRTOMT mutations have no role in causing sporadic deafness in the studied population. Further studies on other populations and samples could clarify the exact role of LRTOMT mutations

Comparison between the cultures of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) on feeder- and serum-free system (Matrigel matrix), MEF and HDF feeder cell lines

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are a type of pluripotent stem cells artificially derived from an adult somatic cell (typically human fibroblast) by forced expression of specific genes. In recent years, different feeders like inactivated mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), and feeder free system have commonly been used for supporting the culture of stem cells in undifferentiated state. In the present work, the culture of hiPSCs and their characterizations on BD Matrigel (feeder- and serum-free system), MEF and HDF feeders using cell culture methods and molecular techniques were evaluated and compared. The isolated HDFs from foreskin samples were reprogrammed to hiPSCs using gene delivery system. Then, the pluripotency ability of hiPSCs cultured on each layer was determined by teratoma formation and immunohistochemical staining. After EBs generation the expression level of three germ layers genes were evaluated by Q-real-time PCR. Also, the cytogenetic stability of hiPSCs cultured on each condition was analyzed by karyotyping and comet assay. Then, the presence of pluripotency antigens were confirmed by Immunocytochemistry (ICC) test and alkaline phosphatase staining. This study were showed culturing of hiPSCs on BD Matrigel, MEF and HDF feeders had normal morphology and could maintain in undifferentiated state for prolonged expansion. The hiPSCs cultured in each system had normal karyotype without any chromosomal abnormalities and the DNA lesions were not observed by comet assay. Moreover, upregulation in three germ layers genes in cultured hiPSCs on each layer (same to ESCs) compare to normal HDFs were observed (p<0.05). The findings of the present work were showed in stem cells culturing especially hiPSCs both MEF and HDF feeders as well as feeder free system like Matrigel are proper despite benefits and disadvantages. Although, MEFs is suitable for supporting of stem cell culturing but it can animal pathogens transferring and inducing immune response. Furthermore, HDFs have homologous source with hiPSCs and can be used as feeder instead of MEF but in therapeutic approaches the cells contamination is a problem. So, this study were suggested feeder free culturing of hiPSCs on Matrigel in supplemented media (without using MEF conditioned medium) resolves these problems and could prepare easy applications of hiPSCs in therapeutic approaches of regenerative medicine such as stem-cell therapy and somatic cell nuclear in further researches

DFNB59 gene mutations screening in non syndromic deaf subjects in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province

زمینه و هدف: وقوع ناشنوایی پیش زبانی حدود 1 در 1000 تولد است که بیش از 60 موارد آن ارثی هستند. ناشنوایی اختلالی هتروژن محسوب می شود و ممکن است به علل محیطی، ژنتیکی یا هر دو رخ دهد. اخیراً جهش های ژن DFNB59 که رمز کننده پروتئین پژواکین است به عنوان عامل ناشنوایی نوع عصبی معرفی شده اند. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی نوع و فراوانی جهش های ژن DFNB59 در 100 ناشنوای غیرسندرومی، در استان چهارمحال و بختیاری انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی- آزمایشگاهی، فراوانی جهش های ژنDFNB59 در کل اگزون های کد کننده این ژن بررسی گردید. DNA از نمونه های خون محیطی به روش استاندارد فنل کلروفرم استخراج شد. وجود جهش های DFNB59 با روش غربالگری /Heteroduplex Analysis (HA) PCR- SSCP بررسی گردید. سپس جهش های مشاهده شده در اگزون های 2 و 4 با استفاده از روش PCR- RFlP اگزون شماره 6 با استفاده ار تکنیک Nested PCR و اگزون شماره 7 به کمک تعیین توالی تایید گردید. یافته ها: در این تحقیق 3 نوع پلی مورفیسم ژنی (793C>T 793C>G و 874G>A) و یک نوع جهش 988delG به ترتیب با فراوانی 7، 5، 2 و 1 شناسایی شد. نتیجه گیری: مطالعه حاضر و تحقیقات قبلی حاکی از نقش اندک جهش های ژن پژواکین در ایجاد ناشنوایی در استان چهارمحال و بختیاری است و نتیجه اینکه از نظر بالینی جهش های ژن DFNB59 اهمیت چندانی در این منطقه ندارند

A preliminary study of inherited thrombophilic risk factors in different clinical manifestations of venous thromboembolism in central Iran

Background & objectives: Inherited thrombophilia is known to be an important risk factor for developing venous thromboembolism. Whether such abnormalities may impact the development of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) differently is not well defined. This preliminary study was undertaken to compare thrombophilic polymorphism in patients with DVT and PE. Methods: A total of 35 DVT, 23 DVT/PE, and 37 PE patients admitted to the Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord, Iran, between October 2009 and February 2011 were included in the study and 306 healthy volunteers matched by age and sex from the same geographical area with no history of venous or arterial diseases were included as control group. Factor V Leiden (FV 1691G/A, rs6025), prothrombin (FII 20210G/A), methylene tetrahydrofulate reductase (MTHFR 677C/T, rs1801133), and PLA2 polymorphisms of platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GpIIIa 1565T/C, rs5918) were investigated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: The number of patients with the investigated polymorphisms and homozygous carriers was significantly different among the groups (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed in the presence of FV 1691G/A and FII 20210G/A between any of the patients groups and the control group. GpIIIa 1565T/C and homozygous MTHFR 677C/T polymorphisms were higher in DVT patients compared with the control group (OR=6.65, 95% CI=3.09-14.30 and OR=4.08, 95% CI=1.35-12.38, respectively). Interpretation & conclusions: As none of the investigated polymorphisms were associated with PE, other thrombophilia polymorphisms may have a role in the pathogenesis of PE in these patients and should be investigated. Because of different prognostic risk factors among different types of patients, the treatment approach could be different