Evaluation of Confounders in Toxoplasmosis Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Assay

Background: The IFA test is one of the most usual methods for detecting anti-Toxoplasma antibod­ies, although it has not any unique standardization. It seems that the microscopic judg­ment of results is an important confounder in IFA test. Therefore, we conducted the present study to clarify the role of microscopic observer, and other confounders on the test.Methods: Eighty sera were collected from patients suspicious to toxoplasmosis for detection IgG anti-T. gondii by this test. Samples were examined against different series of antigens, IgG anti-human conjugates, and observers.Results: There were no significant differences between the two series of antigens and conjugates. For the observers groups the kappa coefficient of the test results in the experts group (0.97, 0.94-1.00) were significantly higher than the less experienced observers (0.77, 0.68-0.87).Conclusion: We recommend the IFA test to be performed only in reference laboratories and by laboratory technicians that have enough experience for this test. Otherwise, we suggest the substitution of this test with other tests like ELISA for the diagnosis and epidemiological studies

Evaluation of Unstimulated Salivary Flow Rate and Oral Symptoms in Menopausal Women

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate unstimulated salivary flow rate and oral symptoms in menopausal women.Materials and Methods: A total of 200 individuals including 100 women in their meno-pause (case group) and 100 men in the same age range (control group) participated in this analytic descriptive investigation. None of the patients were being treated for any systemic disease or taking any medication. Unstimulated salivary flow rate was measured using the spitting method and the prevalence of oral symptoms was evaluated by filling out a ques-tionnaire. The results were analyzed with ANOVA, chi-square and Student’s t-test (P<0.05).Results: The average of unstimulated salivary flow rate was 0.127 ml/min (SD=0.057) inwomen and 0.214 ml/min (SD=0.105) in men. The prevalence of dry mouth was 50% ver-sus 32%, difficulty in eating dry foods 31% versus 8%, burning sensation in oral mucosa 3% versus 0%, taste reduction, 4% versus 2% and bitter or metallic taste 16% versus 8% in female and male subjects, respectively.Conclusion: A significant difference in salivary flow rate and prevalence of oral symp-toms was found between the two groups (P<0.05). Reduced salivary flow rate and a high prevalence of oral symptoms in menopausal women may be related to the hormonal altera-tions that occur during this period

Effect of Oral Consumption of Magnesium on Glucose Concentration and Formalin Test in Diabetic Rats

Introduction & Objective: Magnesium is an essential metal in carbohydrate metabolism that causes activation and release of insulin. Increasing of blood sugar in diabetic patients resulted in decreasing of magnesium in the serum and its low concentration in urine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral administration of magnesium on glucose concentration and formalin test in diabetic rats. Materials & Methods: This experimental study was done from April 2007 till July 2008 in medical school of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. In this study 80 NMRI rats (Razi Co. Iran) categorized in ten groups control, diabetic without treatment of magnesium, diabetic with treatment of magnesium in one (1), two (2), three (3) and four (4) week(s). The other 4 normal groups were treated with magnesium in same timescales. In the diabetic groups, diabetes was induced with i.p. injection of 60mg/kg of streptozotocin. Besides of weight measurements, glucose concentration of animals was measured with enzymaticcolorimetric method. Pain scores were measured in formalin test. Statistical analysis was carried out by ANOVA and Tukey test. Results: The results showed that the difference in animal weight and glucose concentrations between control and diabetic groups was significant (P<0.0001). Glucose concentrations of magnesium treated diabetic groups were significantly different between 1 and 2 (P<0.005) 1 and 3 or 4 groups (P<0.0001) 2 and 3 (P<0.001) and 2 and 4 (P<0.01). Statistical differences between control and magnesium treated diabetic groups were significant between control and 1 (P<0.0001) control and 2 (P<0.05). Considering the weight of rats, there was no significant difference between diabetic in one side and 1 and 2 groups in other side while differences between diabetic and the other 3 and 4 groups were significant (P<0.001 and P<0.0001, respectively). In this study results from flinching and licking responses have been evoked by formalin in biphasic model of formalin test. Conclusion: Magnesium consuming in diabetic rats resulted in time dependent increasing of animals weight and decreasing of glucose concentration. Results from formalin test show hyperalgesic effects in diabetic and diabetic treated with magnesium groups in comparison with control groups

Synthesis and Characterization of Nanobuilding Blocks [<i>o-</i>RStyrPhSiO_1.5]_10,12 (R = Me, MeO, NBoc, and CN). Unexpected Photophysical Properties Arising from Apparent Asymmetric Cage Functionalization as Supported by Modeling Studies

The photophysics of [<i>o</i>-4-RStyrPhSiO_1.5]₈ [R = Me, OMe, NBoc, and CN] was reported previously. Here we report studies on [<i>o</i>-4-RStyrPhSiO_1.5]_10,12, [<i>o</i>-4-RStyrPhSiO_1.5]_3–[PhSiO_1.5]₇, and [<i>o</i>-4-RStyrPhSiO_1.5]₆[PhSiO_1.5]₆ to explore cage size, geometry, and partial substitution effects on photophysical properties. All compounds were characterized by traditional methods including solution spectroscpy and two-photon absorption (TPA) cross sections and except R = NBoc offer <i>T</i>_d5% ≥ 400 °C/air. All exhibit absorption and emission spectra similar to the T₈ cages but with some important differences in TPA cross sections. The R-stilbenes appear to interact in the excited state through the cage, exhibiting emission spectra red-shifted from the parent stilbenes. TPA studies show novel behavior that is functional group, geometry, and substitution number dependent. Thus, NBoc TPA <i>cross sections/moiety increase</i>, <i>with decreasing numbers</i> of functional groups from 8 to 3 for PhT₁₀ and 10 to 6 for PhT₁₂ where [NBocStyrPhSiO_1.5]₈ <i>TPA/moiety ≈0</i>. In contrast, CN cages offer TPA/moiety values slightly greater on going from 3 to 8 (PhT₁₀) and 6 to 10 (PhT₁₂). NBoc TPA data are best explained if bromination occurs asymmetrically, leading to asymmetric functionalization and exceptional polarization in partially substituted cages as symmetrically substituted cages exhibit opposing polarizations. <i>In sum, all the individual induced transition dipoles on excitation mutually cancel</i>. In contrast, both the cage and CN are strongly electron withdrawing such that no significant polarization is observed/expected when asymmetrically functionalized. Both NBoC and CN substituents offer red shifts greater than Me and MeO T_10,12, suggesting extended conjugation without polarization. Asymmetric bromination is supported by DFT modeling studies where initial <i>o</i>-Br/<i>o-</i>H bonding stabilizes incoming Br₂ by 300 mEv