Prevalence and Characteristics of Precore Mutation in Iran and Its Correlation with Genotypes of Hepatitis B

Introduction: Mutation of the HBV precore gene prevents the production of HBeAg, which is an important target for immune responses. Distribution of this mutation varies along with frequency of HBV genotypes in accordance with geographic and ethnic variations. The general objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of precore mutation in Iran and its correlation with genotypes of hepatitis B. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, viral DNA of 182 Iranian hepatitis B surface antigen positive patients who were admitted to Bandar Abbas Blood Transfusion Organization in 2012 and 2013 was retrieved from their serum samples. HBeAg, anti-HBe, and anti-HBc IgM diagnostic tests were performed using ELISA kits. Precore and Pre-S regions were amplified using specific primers and PCR thereafter to determine the genotypes; precore mutation, PCR, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods also were applied. SPSS version 12 was used for data analysis by Mann–Whitney U test, Fisher’s exact probability test, and t-test. Results: A total of 62 patients (34.1%) had precore mutation (A1896G), and genotype D was the predominant genotype in these patients, which was followed by an unknown genotype that was suspected for genotype B. Interestingly, the relationships between precore mutation and HBeAg (p=0.037) and genotype D (p=0.005) were significant; however, no correlation was observed between this mutation and acute or chronic hepatitis and sex of patients. Conclusion: This study found high prevalence of precore mutations in southern Iran, which was significantly associated with HBeAg and genotype D

Incorporation of curcumin into collagen-multiwalled carbon nanotubes nanocomposite scaffold: an in vitro and in vivo study

Aim: Fabrication of biological substitutes to regenerate damaged tissues or organs is one of the main aims of tissue engineering (TE). In this context, the goal of this study was to fabricate a scaffold that mimicked the structure and functions of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the native tissues. Towards this aim, a novel biomimetic three-dimensional (3D) scaffold containing collagen (COL), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and curcumin (CUR) was created using the freeze-drying technique. Materials and methods: Scaffolds were prepared by adding 0.5–1.5% MWCNTs and 5–15% CUR to pure COL solutions, followed by freeze-drying. Physical and chemical characterizations of the scaffolds were evaluated by a universal testing machine, scanning electron microscope (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Biological studies were mainly focused on in-vitro bioactivity, biodegradability, CUR release, and in-vitro and in vivo biocompatibility using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and rat animal models. Results: FTIR and XRD confirmed the presence of MWCNTs and CUR in the COL scaffolds, while SEM revealed highly interconnected porous morphology. Moreover, the addition of up to 1% MWCNTs and 10% CUR enhanced tensile strength from 5 MPa to 19 MPa. The developed COL-MWCNTs 1%-CUR 10% composite scaffolds revealed excellent surface wettability, in vitro bioactivity, and in vitro biocompatibility using rat synovial-derived MSCs (SM-MSCs). Importantly, the in vivo study revealed reduced inflammatory response in the rat animal model after six weeks of implantation, which could be attributed to the promising in vitro biodegradability and release of CUR. Conclusion: The newly developed COL-MWCNTs 1%-CUR 10% freeze-dried scaffolds have demonstrated their high potential for TE applications

Evaluation of the Potential Antioxidant Role of High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-C) in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Background Ulcerative colitis is a common type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between lipid profile, especially high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in patients with ulcerative colitis. Methods In this study, 45 patients with ulcerative colitis were selected, 25 of whom were diagnosed with active disease and 20 were in clinical remission. Moreover, 45 healthy subjects were selected as the controls. The status of serum lipid profile and MDA level were measured via precise photometric methods. The obtained data were analyzed, using independent t-test and correlation coefficient test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The serum level of HDL-C decreased, while the serum level of MDA significantly increased in patients with ulcerative colitis in comparison with the healthy controls (P < 0.05). No significant correlation was observed between the MDA level and triglyceride, cholesterol, and LDL-C levels in patients with ulcerative colitis. However, a significant inverse correlation was observed between HDL-C and MDA levels (r, -0.306; P < 0.05). Conclusions The inverse correlation between HDL-C and MDA levels can be regarded as an indicator of the protective role of HDL-C against lipid peroxidation in ulcerative colitis. In patients with ulcerative colitis, the serum level of HDL-C decreased in comparison with healthy subjects. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the HDL-C level in patients with ulcerative colitis