Mitochondrial mutation in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis, correlation between haplogroups H, A and clinical manifestations

As multiple sclerosis (MS) has long been known to be associated with Leber, hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a disease caused by mitochondrial (mtDNA) mutations, in this study we assessed possible involvement of mtDNA point mutation in MS patients. Fifty-two MS patients whose disease was confirmed with revised McDonald criteria and referred to Iranian Center of Neurological Research of Imam Khomeini hospital during 2006–2007 entered the study. Secondary mtDNA mutations, age, gender, clinical disability according to expanded disability status scale (EDSS), course of the disease, and presenting symptoms were the variables investigated in this study. DNA purification was performed by Diatom DNA Extraction Kit. Analysis of data was done by SPSS V11.5. The prevalent mutations with frequency of 19.2% were J, L, and T haplogroups. Haplotype A was more prevalent in patients with younger age of onset (P-value = 0.012) and high proportion of haplogroup H was associated with optic nerve involvement (P-value = 0.015). No motor symptoms were seen in haplogroup H patients. There is no significant relationship between duration of the disease and EDSS in different mutation of mtDNA

Evaluation of repetitive stimulation test (RST) in 30 patients with Myasthenia Gravis, who were previously confirmed by clinical sign and tensilon test 1996-99

est (RST) is the most commonly used electrodiagnostic test to asses the defect of neuromuscular transmission, which is reported to be positive in the diffuse and restricted ocular forms 60-95% and 14-50%, respectively. In a cross-sectional study, to determine the efficacy of repetitive stimulation test in myasthenia gravis, we evaluated the results in 30 cases who were hospitalized in Imam Khomeini Hospital during 1996-1999. Patients were first selected clinically and then confirmed by Tensilon test.Various clinical types including generalized and restricted ocular forms with different severity and duration were entered in this study. Considering the fact that the positiveness of the test is enhanced by assessment of more muscle groups, we evaluated decremental response in the facial, proximal and distal muscles of limbs. 90% of patients had the generalized form of the disease, whereas ocular myasthenia gravis was seen only in 10% of the cases. 74% of females and 73% of males showed positive response (overall: 73.3%). No significant association was found between the positive response, and age and sex. Peaks of incidences of the disease for the males were in fourth and sixth decades and for the females in thired decade

Altered expression of miR-326 in T cell-derived exosomes of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Invasion of auto-reactive CD4+ T cells especially Th17 into central nervous system (CNS) is an underlying pathogenic mechanism in multiple sclerosis (MS). CD4+ T cells release exosomes which are enriched in microRNAs, reflective of cell�s physiological or pathological condition. Thus exosomes could be potent agents to provide quantitative and qualitative information about involved cells in MS. We investigated the expression of pathogenic microRNAs in T cells-derived exosomes of MS patients or healthy controls. Conventional T cells (Tconv) derived from relapsing-remitting (RR) MS patients (n=10) and healthy controls (n=10) were purified and cultured for 3 days by soluble anti-CD3/CD28. Exosomes were purified from cultured-T cells supernatants. The expression levels of exosomal miR-146a, miR-29a, miR-155, and miR-326 were quantified by real-time PCR. A statistically significant increased expression of miR-326 in Tconv-derived exosomes was observed in RRMS patients as compared with controls (7.5±1.88vs 2.51±0.9 p=0.03), On the contrary, no differences were found in the expression levels of miR-155, miR-146a, and miR-29a, in Tconv-derived exosomes of patients as compared with controls (p>0.05). Our results point to altered expression in exosome-derived microRNAs. MiR-326 was previously shown to play a role in the immunopathogenesis of MS by inducing TH17 differentiation and maturation. Therefore, miR-326 containing exosomes might also be a potential clinical target in course of MS. Moreover, the deregulation of this miRNA in exosomes may serve as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Copyright© February 2019, Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol. All rights reserved

Correlation of liver enzymes and sonographic findings with pulsatile index of middle cerebral and basilar arteries in nonalcoholic fatty liver

Background: Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is one of the most wide-spread human diseases that can impair liver function and sometimes progresses to cir-rhosis. Recently NAFLD has been identified as an independent risk factor for cardio-vascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of fatty liver disease and its sonographic severity on the resistance of the intracranial arteries. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study of 55 patients referred from Gastroen-trology clinic with diagnosis of NAFLD to Sonodoppler department of Iranian Center of Neurological Research. Pulsaltile index as a Hemodynamic parameter of Middle Cerebral (MCA) and basilar Arteries of NAFLD Patients was measured by Trans Cra-nial Doppler (TCD) sonography and the measurements were compared with normal values. Also the association of these indices with serum liver enzymes and sonographic grading of liver involvement was assessed. The analysis was done by SPSS 16. Fre-quency distribution, mean and standard deviation were used in descriptive analysis and statistical test 2 to compare qualitative variables. Results: Pulsatile Index (PI) were normal (MCA, P= 0.166, Basilar, P= 0.053) and there was no significant difference with relation to severity of fatty liver based on so-nography findings (P= 0.789), but serum liver enzyme levels were inversely correlated with basilar artery PI (P= 0.014). Conclusion: Considering the increase of cerebral arteries PI in advanced liver disease, absence of increase in vascular PI of patients in the present study could be attributed to the short duration of disease from diagnosis to perform TCD, lack of advanced liver involvement (absence of liver dysfunction) and the response effect to treatment before the TCD. Therefore, to assess vascular changes over time, repeating the TCD with assess other parameters such as Fibroscan and K18 factor that has more compatibility of liver function, could help to understand the pathophysiology of liver diseases and its effect on vascular resistance

The effect of action observation on weight distribution and dynamic balance index improvement in hemiparetic patients based on mirror neuron theory

Background and Objective: Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a severe debilitating neurological condition in adults. This study sought to assess the effect of observation and mimicking functional activities on weight distribution and dynamic balance index improvement in lower limbs of hemiparetic patients based on mirror neuron theory. Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was performed on 36 males and females aged 45-60 years who suffered ischemic CVA for the first time. Subjects were randomly divided into 3 groups as follows: viewers of functional film, viewers of non-functional (symbol) film and the control group (not watching any film). The physiotherapy treatments in all groups were similar. Results: Weight percentage distribution was not significant. The values prior to and after dynamic balance index were statistically significant in all 3 groups. Significant differences were found between group 1 and the other 2 groups in terms of balance index percentage change (level 6). Conclusion: Observation and imitation of action along with rehabilitation exercises and functional activities had a positive effect on the improvement of balance Index in post-stroke patients. © 2015, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services. All Rights Reserved

Evaluating the Changes in Alpha-1 Band Due to Exposure to Magnetic Field

Introduction Increase in alpha band is observed when blood perfusion in frontal area of head decreases. The present study evaluated some changes in the alpha band particularly, alpha-1 of frontal and central areas of the head, when several areas were exposed simultaneously to magnetic field. Materials and Methods Five points of head (F3, F4, Cz, T3, and T4) of twenty healthy male participants were exposed to magnetic fields simultaneously by five separate coils at different frequencies of 45, 17, 10, 5, and 3 Hz, in five separate sessions. The magnetic field intensity was 100 µT at 1.5 cm distance from the coil. At the end, relative powers over these areas in common frequency and alpha-1 bands were evaluated by paired t-test. Results Significant reduction (

EEG changes during exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field on a small area of brain

Introduction: Effects of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MF) with different intensities and frequencies has been investigated by several researchers. In most of these studies, the applied magnetic field has uniformly encountered whole brain and it has shown that changing intensity and frequency causes anomaly changes in electroencephalograms. The aim of current study was to investigate the effect of local exposure to ELF-MF with different intensities on EEG signals. Material and methods: Magnetic field with frequency of 10 Hz and intensity of 100, 120, 160, 200, 240, 280, 320 and 360 µT was applied to F3 zone in 10-20 system of 3 men locally. Finally, relative power spectrum in 5 points of head in conventional frequency bands was assessed. Results: An increase in alpha band in regions under exposure such as F3 and O1 in intensities of 100 and 360 µT was observed. No changes in other bands such as theta band were found. It should be noted that none of the above effects was observed in closed-eye position. Conclusion: Regular effects due to increasing intensity of magnetic field was not observed and changing potential of EEG signals from magnetic field with intensity of 100 and 360 µT is more than other intensities. Changing pattern of alpha band in F4, Cz, O2 and O1 was similar to exposed F3 zone and no resonance effect was observed at 10 Hz magnetic field

Administration of zinc against arsenic-induced nephrotoxicity during gestation and lactation in rat model

Background: Free radicals production by toxicity of arsenic (Ar) is most important in the nephrotoxicity. There is accumulating evidence that zinc (Zn), has anti-oxidant properties. Objectives: The aim of present study was to evaluate protective and ameliorative effects of Zn against Ar-induced nephrotoxicity in rat pups during gestation and lactation. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult pregnant wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6). Group one was given vehicle only. Group two received Zn (ZnSO4) at 20 mg/kg/d. Group three received Ar at 5 mg/kg/d as sodium meta-arsenite. Group four received Ar + Zn at the same dose that mentioned in groups of two and three. At the end of the study, 24 hours after the last treatment, samples were killed with overdose of sodium pentobarbital and kidneys were harvested for measuring malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and histopathological assessment. Results: The MDA level in kidney was increased in the Ar group, which was decreased after Zn administration in the Ar + Zn group. The GSH level in kidney was decreased in the Ar group, which were increased after Zn administration in the Ar + Zn group. Also, the histopathological changes which were detected in the Ar group attenuated after Zn consumption. Conclusions: Our findings suggested that administration of Zn during gestation and lactation could have protective and prevent effect in Ar-induced oxidative stress in kidney tissue