Comparison of Blood Transfusion Plus Chelation Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplantation in Patients with β-Thalassemia : Application of SF-36, EQ-5D, and Visual Analogue Scale Measures

Date of Acceptance: 08/06/2015 © 2015 by Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Acknowledgments The present article was extracted from the thesis written by Hassan Karami and was financially supported by Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran (grant No. 6292). The authors would like to thank all participants in the study IJHPM supports the Open Access initiative. Abstracts and full texts (PDF format) of all articles published by IJHPM are freely accessible to everyone immediately upon publication. IJHPM also does not charge any submission or publication fees.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Carboxymethylcellulose/MOF-5/Graphene oxide bio-nanocomposite as antibacterial drug nanocarrier agent

Introduction: In recent years, more attention was dedicated to developing new methods for designing of drug delivery systems. The aim of present work is to improve the efficiency of the antibacterial drug delivery process, and to realize and to control accurately the release. Methods: First, graphene oxide (GO) was prepared according to the modified Hummers method then the GO was modified with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and Zn-based metal-organic framework (MOF-5) through the solvothermal technique. Results: Performing the various analysis methods including scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), EDX, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and Zeta potentials on the obtained bio-nanocomposite showed that the new modified GO has been prepared. With using common analysis methods the structure of synthesized materials was determined and confirmed and finally, their antibacterial behavior was examined based on the broth microdilution methods. Conclusion: Carboxymethylcellulose/MOF-5/GO bio-nanocomposite (CMC/MOF-5/GO) was successfully synthesized through the solvothermal technique. Tetracycline (TC) was encapsulated in the GO and CMC/MOF-5/GO. The drug release tests showed that the TC-loaded CMC/MOF5/GO has an effective protection against stomach pH. With controlling the TC release in the gastrointestinal tract conditions, the long-time stability of drug dosing was enhanced. Furthermore, antibacterial activity tests showed that the TC-loaded CMC/MOF-5/GO has an antibacterial activity to negatively charge E. coli bacteria in contrast to TC-loaded GO

The ability of multimerized cyclophilin A to restrict retrovirus infection

AbstractIn owl monkeys, the typical retroviral restriction factor of primates, TRIM5α, is replaced by TRIMCyp. TRIMCyp consists of the TRIM5 RING, B-box 2 and coiled-coil domains, as well as the intervening linker regions, fused with cyclophilin A. TRIMCyp restricts infection of retroviruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), with capsids that can bind cyclophilin A. The TRIM5 coiled coil promotes the trimerization of TRIMCyp. Here we show that cyclophilin A that is oligomeric as a result of fusion with a heterologous multimer exhibits substantial antiretroviral activity. The addition of the TRIM5 RING, B-box 2 and Linker 2 to oligomeric cyclophilin A generated a protein with antiretroviral activity approaching that of wild-type TRIMCyp. Multimerization increased the binding of cyclophilin A to the HIV-1 capsid, promoting accelerated uncoating of the capsid and restriction of infection

Online TeleHealth of Mind-body Interventions Versus Face-to-Face Counseling and the Health-related Quality of Life in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background & aim: Limited studies have been conducted on the effectiveness, applicability, and satisfaction of mind-body interventions as short-term methods that affect body conditions like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Therefore, this study aimed to compare the efficacy of online mind-body interventions versus face-to-face counseling on the quality of life (QOL) of women with PCOS.Methods: This parallel randomized clinical trial was implemented in Yazd in 2020.  Sixty eligible women with PCOS were randomly allocated to the online group (n=30) and face-to-face counseling (n=30) groups. Eight 120-minute sessions of mind-body interventions were held for both groups, either as online or face-to face. Data was collected using the PCOS Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) questionnaire (at baseline, week 8 and 12), counseling satisfaction scale (at week 8 and 12), and FBS (at baseline and week 8) in both groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS (version22) using T-test, and repeated measures ANOVA.Results:  HRQOL was 94.87±11.75 in online and 90.50±9.76 in face-to-face group at baseline, which increased significantly to 108.53±4.5 in the online and face-to-face groups at week 12, with a greater increase in the online group (P<0.001). Satisfaction with counseling increased at week 12 compared to week 8 in both groups, which was not significantly different (P=0.31). FBS decreased at week 8 compared to baseline in both groups without a significant difference (P=0.26).Conclusion: The greater effectiveness of online mind-body interventions on HRQOL in women with PCOS highlights their potential value as telehealth interventions

Evaluation of histopathological on maedi disease with serological confirmation in North-East of Iran

BACKGROUND: The described pulmonary lesions are compatible with lesions previously described for maedi. In this study, one of the most important ovine slow viral infections is "Maedi disease" which was evaluated in Mashhad province. METHODS: During the study, ovine lung samples from 170 sheep (>1 year old) with their serum samples were collected in the Mashhad industrial abattoir. Initially, histopathological study for lung samples was carried out by providing H&E staining, serological test and an indirect ELISA on the serum samples. Histopathological study indicated all three lesions of Maedi disease in ovine lung which included smooth muscle hyperplasia (SMH) of alveolar walls, lymphofollicular hyperplasia (LFH) and interstitial pneumonia (IP). Furthermore, some involvement of each lung sample was estimated from mild-moderate and severe. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Results of histopathological study demonstrated 45 cases (26.5%) and 15 cases (8.8%) with moderate degree and severe degree of involvement respectively. Liked-maedi disease included 60 cases (35.3%) of the whole ovine lung samples. Results of serological study showed 34 positive serums (20.0%). In addition, 15 cases (8.8%) of pulmonary lesions which were observed in histopathological study were equal and similar to the lesions previously described for maedi disease, and serological results confirmed them as well. However, there are some pathogens that can cause nearly pathological lesions like maedi in ovine lung. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the pathogen causing maedi disease (maedi-visna virus) can be one of the pathogens causing chronic to subacute lymphoid interstitial pneumonia in Iran. Thus, study on histopathological and serological results correlation was performed.Farhang Sasani, Javad Javanbakht, Farhid Hemmatzadeh, Mehdi R. Moghadam and Mehdi A. Mohammad Hassa

Effect of Genistein and L-Carnitine and Their Combination on Gene Expression of Hepatocyte HMG-COA Reductase and LDL Receptor in Experimental Nephrotic Syndrome

Background: Nephrotic syndrome is a disorder that leads to hyperlipidemia. L-carnitine and genistein can effect on lipid metabolism and the syndrome. In the present study, we have delved into the separate and the twin-effects of L-carnitine and genistein on the gene expressions of HMG-COA reductase and LDL receptor in experimental nephrotic syndrome. Methods: In this controlled experimental study, 50 male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: NC (normal-control), PC (patient-control), LC (L-carnitine), G (genistein), LCG (L-carnitine-genistein). Adri-amycin was used for inducing nephrotic syndrome and the spot urine samples and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio were measured. Hepatocytic RNA was extracted and real-time PCR was used for HMG-COA Reductase and LDL receptor gene Expression measurement. Results: The final weight of the patients groups were lower than the NC group (P=0.001), and weight gain of the NC group was higher than the other groups (P<0.001). The proteinuria and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio showed sig-nificant differences between PC group and LC, G and LCG groups at week 7 (P<0.001). The expression of HMG-COA Reductase mRNA down regulated in LC, G and LCG groups in comparison with PC group (P<0.001). ΔCT of LDLr mRNA showed significant differences between the PC group and the other patient groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: This study shows a significant decreasing (P<0.001) and non-significant increasing trend in HMG-COA Reductase and LDLr gene expression, respectively, and synergistic effect of L-carnitine and genistein on these genes in experimental nephrotic syndrome

Comparison of Blood Transfusion Plus Chelation Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplantation in Patients with β-Thalassemia: Application of SF-36, EQ-5D, and Visual Analogue Scale Measures

Background: β-Thalassemia is a prevalent genetic disease in Mediterranean countries. The most common treatments for this disease are blood transfusion plus iron chelation (BTIC) therapy and bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Patients using these procedures experience different health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The purpose of the present study was to measure HRQoL in these patients using 2 different multiattribute quality of life (QoL) scales. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were gathered using 3 instruments: a socio-demographic questionnaire, EQ-5D, and SF-36. A total of 196 patients with β-thalassemia were randomly selected from 2 hospitals in Shiraz (Southern Iran). Data were analyzed using logistic regression and multiple regression models to identify factors that affect the patients’ HRQoL. Results: The average EQ-5D index and EQ visual analog scale (VAS) scores were 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83–0.89) and 71.85 (95% CI: 69.13–74.58), respectively. Patients with BMT reported significantly higher EQ VAS scores (83.27 vs 68.55, respectively). The results showed that patients who lived in rural area and patients with BMT reported higher EQ VAS scores (rural; β = 10.25, P = .006 and BMT; β = 11.88, P = .000). As well, SF-36 between 2 groups of patients were statistically significant in physical component scale (PCS). Conclusion: Patients in the BMT group experienced higher HRQoL in both physical and mental aspects compared to those in the BTIC group. More studies are needed to assess the relative cost-effectiveness of these methods in developing countrie

Effects of administration of omega-3 fatty acids with or without vitamin E supplementation on adiponectin gene expression in PBMCs and serum adiponectin and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein levels in male patients with CAD

Objective: Adiponectin is a unique anti-atherogenic adipocytokine. Regulation of adiponectin secretion is dysfunctional in cardiovascular diseases. The current trial study assessed the effects of omega-3 fatty acids with or without vitamin E on adiponectin gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum adiponectin and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP; also called ap2 and FABP4) levels in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 67 male patients with CAD. First of the four group of participants received 4 g/day omega-3 fatty acids plus 400 IU/day vitamin E (OE), second group 4 g/day omega-3 fatty acids plus vitamin E placebo (OP), or both omega-3 fatty acid and vitamin E placebos (PP) for 8 weeks. Adiponectin gene expression and serum adiponectin and FABP4 levels were evaluated. Results: The combination of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E in patients with CAD affected their serum adiponectin and FABP4 levels and the adiponectin/FABP4 ratio significantly. In the OP group, serum adiponectin levels did not change significantly. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids with and without vitamin E had no significant effect on adiponectin gene expression. Conclusion: Omega-3 fatty acids with or without vitamin E improve adiponectin levels in patients, without any significant changes in adiponectin gene expression. This nutritional intervention may prevent complications in patients with CAD because of increased adiponectin levels. (Anatol J Cardiol 2015; 15: 981-9

Unique features of TRIM5α among closely related human TRIM family members

AbstractThe tripartite motif (TRIM) protein, TRIM5α, restricts some retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), from infecting the cells of particular species. TRIM proteins contain RING, B-box, coiled-coil and, in some cases, B30.2(SPRY) domains. We investigated the properties of human TRIM family members closely related to TRIM5. These TRIM proteins, like TRIM5α, assembled into homotrimers and co-localized in the cytoplasm with TRIM5α. TRIM5α turned over more rapidly than related TRIM proteins. TRIM5α, TRIM34 and TRIM6 associated with HIV-1 capsid–nucleocapsid complexes assembled in vitro; the TRIM5α and TRIM34 interactions with these complexes were dependent on their B30.2(SPRY) domains. Only TRIM5α potently restricted infection by the retroviruses studied; overexpression of TRIM34 resulted in modest inhibition of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIVmac) infection. In contrast to the other TRIM genes examined, TRIM5 exhibited evidence of positive selection. The unique features of TRIM5α among its TRIM relatives underscore its special status as an antiviral factor

Effects of human TRIM5α polymorphisms on antiretroviral function and susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus infection

AbstractTRIM5α acts on several retroviruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1), to restrict cross-species transmission. Using natural history cohorts and tissue culture systems, we examined the effect of polymorphism in human TRIM5α on HIV-1 infection. In African Americans, the frequencies of two non-coding SNP variant alleles in exon 1 and intron 1 of TRIM5 were elevated in HIV-1-infected persons compared with uninfected subjects. By contrast, the frequency of the variant allele encoding TRIM5α 136Q was relatively elevated in uninfected individuals, suggesting a possible protective effect. TRIM5α 136Q protein exhibited slightly better anti-HIV-1 activity in tissue culture than the TRIM5α R136 protein. The 43Y variant of TRIM5α was less efficient than the H43 variant at restricting HIV-1 and murine leukemia virus infections in cultured cells. The ancestral TRIM5 haplotype specifying no observed variant alleles appeared to be protective against infection, and the corresponding wild-type protein partially restricted HIV-1 replication in vitro. A single logistic regression model with a permutation test indicated the global corrected P value of <0.05 for both SNPs and haplotypes. Thus, polymorphism in human TRIM5 may influence susceptibility to HIV-1 infection, a possibility that merits additional evaluation in independent cohorts