The Effect of Different Hormones and Antibiotics on Activity of AST Enzyme and its Isozymes in Wistar Rats

Background: One of the valuable tests for diagnosis of cardiovascular and liver diseases is measuring of AST activity. One of the main enzymes of transaminases group is aspartate aminotransferase. Previous Studies have shown that some alteration may occur in mitochondria function as the result of different disease or taking different medication; these changes in mitochondrial and cytosolic AST isozymes can be the sign of disorders. According to the role of steroid hormone in induction of its effects on protein synthesis genes, this study is conducted to shed some light on mechanisms and the interference of steroid hormones and antibiotics.Materials, Methods & Results: In this study, male Wistar rats were injected intramuscularly with Testosterone, progesterone and estradiol; while tetracycline and streptomycin injections were intraperitoneal. Testosterone, progesterone and estradiol injections were carried out in a short-term (15 days) and long-term (45 days) periods. Steroid hormones were dissolved in sesame in a way that by each injection, 0.2 mL sesame oil (containing specific amount of hormone) was injected to the rat. Control group was kept in the same condition except that their sesame oil injection contained no hormone. Tetracycline and Streptomycin injection was carried out for 5 days at 7 am and pm, at 50 mg/kg dosage intraperitoneally. In short- and long-term periods, rats were divided into four groups of 6-member. The concentrations were the same in the periods and 0.2 mL sesame oil was injected intramuscularly. 1 mg testosterone, 12 mg progesterone and 0.2 mg estradiol were intramuscularly injected to rats in group 2, 3 and 4, respectively [10]. Rats were divided into 9 six-member groups as follows: Group 1: intraperitoneal injection of 0.2 mL physiological serum; group 2: injection of 1 mg testosterone; group 3: injection of 1 mg testosterone + 50 mg/kg streptomycin; group 4: injection of 1 mg testosterone + 50 mg/kg tetracycline; group 5: injection of 0.2 mg estradiol; group 6: injection of 0.2 mg estradiol + 50 mg/kg streptomycin; group 7: injection of 0.2 mg estradiol + 50 mg/kg tetracycline; group 8: injection 50 mg/kg streptomycin; and group 9: injection of 50 mg/kg tetracycline. Serum concentration of AST enzyme was measured at the end of each period and the data were compared by SPSS software. all three steroid hormones had no significant impact on AST activity in short term. However, a significant effect was observed in long term in mean AST activities of the 4 groups. The group injected by testosterone exhibited 9% increases in comparison with the control group. Antibiotic-administrated groups showed lower activities as compared with hormone-injected groups. Steroid hormones and testosterone can enhance AST activity, in short-term and long-term, respectively by induction of protein enzyme. The second test confirmed this theory as the antibiotics decreased the AST activity enhancement by testosterone.Discussion: Based on the present study, steroid hormones can enhance the aspartate aminotransferase activity; and antibiotics can decrease the level of this liver enzyme by inhibition of polypeptide synthesis on related genes. This reaction could be due to interference of hormones and antibiotics effect which hinders the hormone effect along with the drug to activate the protein synthesis process

Existance of Microbial Species in Vermicomposts Derived from Mixed Sesame Crust and Cow Manure Treatments

Introduction: The presence of pathogenic microbial agents and pathogens in organic fertilizers causes health problems and disease transmission.Therefore , the aim of this study was to identify bacterial and fungal species present in vermicompost production. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted in pilot scale in the laboratory of Public Health School in Shahid Sadoughi Univerity of Yazd. Sesame crust obtained from sesame pudding factory and cow manure mixed in three reactors with the dimension of 50 × 30 × 15 cm were used and went under the vermicompost process. Another reactor was also provided from cow manure as the control variable. Treatments were studied simultaneously during 60 days. Experiments were conducted to detect bacterial and fungal species. Results: Totally 18 species of negative-gram bacterial species, i.e., Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella Paratayfi A, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Providencia alkali Fasyns, Klebsiella oxy-Toka, Ponomonya Klebsiella, Citrobacter frondii, Citrobacter Diorsus, Serratia Marsns, Hafnya Olovia, pseudomalle Burkholderia, Enterobacter Peinous, Enterobacter Anrogenious, Enterobacter de Solonos, as well as Neisseria polysakarya, and 3 positive-gram bacterial species, i.e., Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Isteria monocytogenes grew. Overally, a total of five fungi species; Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium, Penicillium, yeasts, and Unknown fungal species grew. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that presence of the organism in vermicompost depends on various factors, such as the action of enzymes of gut earthworms, coelomic fluid secretion, as well as competition between different groups of microorganisms

Use of immunoinformatics and the simulation approach to identify Helicobacter pylori epitopes to design a multi-epitope subunit vaccine for B- and T-cells

Abstract Background Helicobacter pylori cause a variety of gastric malignancies, gastric ulcers, and cause erosive diseases. The extreme nature of the bacterium and the implantation of this bacterium protects it against designing a potent drug against it. Therefore, employing a precise and effective design for a more safe and stable antigenic vaccine against this pathogen can effectively control its associated infections. This study, aimed at improving the design of multiple subunit vaccines against H. pylori, adopts multiple immunoinformatics approaches in combination with other computational approaches. Results In this regard, 10 HTL, and 11 CTL epitopes were employed based on appropriate adopted MHC binding scores and c-terminal cut-off scores of 4 main selected proteins (APO, LeoA, IceA1, and IceA2). An adjuvant was added to the N end of the vaccine to achieve higher stability. For validation, immunogenicity and sensitization of physicochemical analyses were performed. The vaccine could be antigenic with significantly strong interactions with TOLK-2, 4, 5, and 9 receptors. The designed vaccine was subjected to Gromacs simulation and immune response prediction modelling that confirmed expression and immune-stimulating response efficiency. Besides, the designed vaccine showed better interactions with TLK-9. Conclusions Based on our analyses, although the suggested vaccine could induce a clear response against H. pylori, precise laboratory validation is required to confirm its immunogenicity and safety status

Optimization of exopectinase activity of the fungus Monilia isolated from tangerine in submerged fermentation

Introduction: Diverse groups of microscopic fungi are able to degrade polymeric plant tissues such as pectin. Biodegradation of these materials are mostly applicable in food industries.Materials and Methods: In the present study, the exopectinase producing fungus was isolated from decaying tangerine and its exopectinase activity was studied in submerged fermenting condition. Also, the enzyme production of the isolated fungus was compared to the industrial fungus, Aspergillus niger PTCC 5013. The exopectinase production and activity of the extracted enzyme solution with respect to pH, temperature, activity timing and substrate concentration were scrutinized.Results: According to the morphological macroscopic and microscopic features, the isolated fungus was identified as the genus Monilia in the Moniliaceae family. The best exopectinase production was in pH 7 and the best enzyme activity achieved at 50°C, in 30 to 40 minute, 1.5% substrate and the 1:1 of the enzyme solution to the substrate solution ratio. The isolated fungus, Monilia, was fast growing and produced highly active exopectinase enzyme. In optimum condition, its exopectinase activity was 20 units higher than the fungus Aspergillus niger PTCC 5013. Discussion and Conclusion: The exopectinase enzyme was active in a wide ranges of pH and temperatures. As Monilia does not produce toxic compounds, it is proposed for pectinase production, especially in the food industries

Effect of Curcumin on the Hypothalamus Levels of the Potent Inhibitory Neurotransmitter ,Gamma aminobutyric acid

Background: There are some reports in the literature showing that hypothalamus synthesizes and secretes amino acid neurotransmitters. According to several studies, elevated serum levels of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), a potent inhibitory neurotransmitter, have recently been implicated in the pathogenesis of neural diseases. The purpose of this research was to estimate the effects of curcumin on GABA’s level in rat's hypothalamus. Materials and Methods: We used a standard animal model of rats (n=18) with mean weight 190-210 g, to determine the effects of administration of curcumin at the end of the experimental period, one week, two weeks, four weeks and eight weeks ,at doses of 250 mg/kg and 625 mg/kg on GABA level in hypothalamus. On the day of experiment, hypothalamus was extracted and homogenized through a 10 -µm filter, rinsed with PBS, re-filtered, and centrifuged at 1200 rpm for 15 min. Then rat hypothalamus was weighed, and homogenized (10% w/v) in 0.1 M PBS with poltroon homogenizer at pH 7.4. Homogenates were used immediately for determination of GABA level. Quantifications of GABA in all samples were performed by enzymatic method. Results: Our results indicate that curcumin has a potential to increase GABA content in the rats' hypothalamus. These results suggest that curcumin holds promise as a natural agent to control or decrease the signs of lack of GABA level. Conclusion: Curcumin may be used clinically as a neuro-protective drug for treatment of patients suffering from neuron damage