Molecular epidemiology of high-risk types of Human Papillomaviruses (16, 18) in pap-smear, the North East of Iran

Background: Cervical Cancer is one of the most important and commonly diagnosed types of cancer in females. There are different causes of cervical cancer, amongst which recurrent and persistent infection with HPV types 16 and 18 are the most renowned ones. These genotypes are the main factors in 99% of cases in developed countries and 70% in developing ones. Due to the importance of these viruses in cervical cancer, molecular detection of HPV and its high risk genotypes in Gorgan was designed. Methods: Pap smears and swabs specimens were taken from 308 women. Papanicola staining method and cytology were used. Nucleic acid was extracted by proteinase K phenol-chloroform standard method and then assessed by using beta-globin primer. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was then performed for papilomaviruses on all patients and positive cases from both types, including HPV 16 and 18 genotypes, were detected. Results: Three hundred and eight women (15-75 years old) with mean age of 37.54±10.6 were recruited. Seventy six cases (20.1%) of whom were infected with HPV and 48.6% with HPV16 or 18 positive. Normal cytology was seen in 226 cases and 41 patients (18.1%) were HPV positive. Amongst those 152 cases with inflammation or abnormal cytology, 35 cases (23%) were HPV positive. No significant relation was reported between different variables and HPV infections. Conclusions: Due to high rate of HPV infection, as well as its high risk genotypes in different studies, more careful screening of women by Pap smear is recommended

Maternal serum copper concentration in premature rupture of membrane: A case-control study

Copper is an integrated parts of metal-protein required far varieties of oxide-reductive metabolic pathways in human. Copper deficiency is considered as risk factors in some pregnancies. Premature rupture of membrane is a pregnancy complication with major adverse effects and is believed maternal Copper deficiency can also be considered as interventional factors. This study was done to evaluate if there is a correlation between maternal serum Copper concentration and premature rupture of membrane in pregnancy. In this case-control study 60 pregnant women with Premature Rupture of Membrane (PROM) were selected as case group including term and pre term the control group consist of 60 pregnant women with normal delivery of term and pre term states. Both group were matched for maternal and pregnancy age. In case and control group the pregnancy at term and pre-term were grouped independently as well. In general the maternal mean serum Copper concentration were 192.4±78.2 and 201.08±82.06 in case and control groups, respectively but this differences statistically was not significant. Data in this study revealed that the absolute value of maternal serum Copper concentration of term or pre term in case groups was slightly lower than related controls. Drop in maternal Copper concentration in some disturbed pregnancies such as premature rupture of membrane is previously demonstrated and based on our data the absolute Copper serum concentration of women with premature rupture of membrane was also slightly lower compared to healthy pregnancy but it was not statistically significant. © Asian Network for Scientific Information

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity from essential oil of Artemisia sieberi Besser subsp. Sieberi in North of Iran

The chemical composition and antibacterial effect of Artemisia siberi essential oil were studied in this research. The composition of essential oil from aerial parts was analyzed by GC/MS and its antibacterial effect were determined by disc diffusion method. Artemisia ketone (48.5%), 1, 8-cineole (19.7%), selin-11-en-4-a-ol (4.6%) and lavandulon (2.8%) were the major constituents of this herbal medicine. Inhibitory zone against Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli around discs contained 100 mg mL-1 of Artemisia siberi essential oil were 18, 13 and 12 mm, respectively. Further studies for the determination of and Pseudomonas infection in animal model are suggested. © 2007 Asian Network for Scientific Information

The children reference range of thyroid hormones in Northern Iran

Hypothyroidism is associated with mental and growth abnormality in children. The aim of this study was to determine the reference range of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Thyroxin (T4) and triodothyronine (T3) of children in Northern Iran. The sample population for this study consists of subjects of 4 age groups up to 21 years. The subjects were selected randomly from people referred to Danesh Medical Diagnostic Laboratory in Gorgan Northern Iran. Thyroid hormone level were investigated with Radio immunoassay. The mean concentration for T4, T3, TSH for the sample population of 4 groups were as follow (113.5, 107.4, 102.9, 99.2 nmolL-1), (1.9,1.7,1.9,1.6 nmolL-1) and (2.1, 3.5,2.9, 2.7 mluL-1). The mean value of T3, TSH were higher for females but the mean value of T4 was slightly higher in males. The findings of this investigation indicated that there is an inverse age correlation in particular for T4 in all age groups. On the bases of the results from this study, we conclude that reference range, in all age groups and lower, upper limits of our reference range are not universally similar; therefore determination of reference range in each region is a critical need for clinical practice. © 2010 Asian Network for Scientific Information

Elevation of serum Thyroxine level during early stage of first trimester of pregnancy

The aim of this study was to assess, the requirement of serum thyroxin level during early stage of first trimester of pregnancy. Serum thyroxin of 120 apparently healthy women was measured in Gorgan northern Iran during 2007- 08 using Enzyme,linked Immunossorbant assay(ELISA). According to the reference intervals of our standard kit, 48% of pregnant women in this study shown to have elevated thyroxin level. The findings of this study can be misleading because it was based on the laboratory standard kit, normal range for women, as general. Pregnant women require higher level of thyroxin. Therefore specific first trimester of normal range for pregnancy should be established in each particular region

Kisspeptin levels in relation to sex hormone profile among PCOS patients

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disease among women in the reproductive age that is associated with consequences such as insulin resistance and hyperandrogenemia. This study was aimed to assess the association of sex hormone profile and kisspeptin levels in PCOS women in Gorgan, Iran. Methods: In this case-control study, 43 women with diagnosed PCOS between the ages of 15 and 37 years and 40 healthy demographically matched controls were recruited. Sex hormone profile and kisspeptin levels were measured in these subjects using ELISA assay kits. Results: Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and kisspeptin levels were significantly lower in cases than in controls. Luteinizing hormone (LH), free-testosterone (FT), 17-OH-progesterone (17-OH-P), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), estradiol (E2), and free androgen index (FAI) were higher in PCOS significantly. There was a significant positive correlation between kisspeptin levels and LH and E2 in cases (p = 0.037 and p = 0.024, respectively). The results of the regression analysis have shown a significant association between the LH and kisspeptin concentrations in PCOS group (r = 0.275, p = 0.037). Conclusion: PCOS patients had lower plasma kisspeptin level that was positively correlated with LH and estradiol levels. Also, higher levels of free androgens were demonstrated in these patients. It is suggested that kisspeptin may be involved in complex interactions of the sex hormone endocrine system of PCOS. © 2021, Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland