The Role of Liposomal CpG ODN on the Course of L. major Infection in BALB/C Mice

"nBackground: Historically, leishmanization is the most effective protective measure against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), CL lesion induced by leishmanization sometimes takes a long time to heal. Ma­nipulation of leishmanization inoculums needed to induce a mild and acceptable CL lesion. The aim of this study was to explore if liposomal form of CpG ODN (Cytosin phosphate Guanin Oligodeoxynu­cleotides) mixed with Leishmania major   would induce a milder lesion size in Balb/c mice."nMethods: This study was performed in Biotechnology Research Center, Mashhad, and Center for Re­search and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran, Iran during 2008-2009.  mice were subcutaneously (SC) inoculated with L. major mixed with liposomal form of CpG ODN, or L. major plus free CpG ODN, or L. major mixed with empty liposomes or L. major in PBS. The lesion onset and the size of lesion were recorded; the death rate was also monitored. "nResult: Footpad thickness was significantly (P<0.01) smaller, death rate was also significantly (P<0.05) lower in the mice received L. major mixed with liposomal CpG ODN or free CpG ODN than control groups received L. major in PBS or L. major plus liposomes, also mice which received L. ma­jor mixed with CpG ODN in soluble form showed a significantly (P < 0.001) smaller lesion size than control groups."nConclusion: CpG ODN seems to be an appropriate immunopotentiator mixed with Leishmania stabi­late in leishmanization

A shape tailored gold-conductive polymer nanocomposite as a transparent electrode with extraordinary insensitivity to volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

In this study, the transparent conducting polymer of poly (3,4-ethylenendioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulphonate) (PEDOT:PSS) was nanohybridized via inclusion of gold nanofillers including nanospheres (NSs) and nanorods (NRs). Such nanocomposite thin films offer not only more optimum conductivity than the pristine polymer but also excellent resistivity against volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Interestingly, such amazing properties are achieved in the diluted regimes of the nanofillers and depend on the characteristics of the interfacial region of the polymer and nanofillers, i.e. the aspect ratio of the latter component. Accordingly, a shape dependent response is made that is more desirable in case of using the Au nanorods with a much larger aspect ratio than their nanosphere counterparts. This transparent nanocomposite thin film with an optimized conductivity and very low sensitivity to organic gases is undoubtedly a promising candidate material for the touch screen panel production industry. Considering PEDOT as a known material for integrated electrodes in energy saving applications, we believe that our strategy might be an important progress in the field.Peer reviewe

Iron Behaving Badly: Inappropriate Iron Chelation as a Major Contributor to the Aetiology of Vascular and Other Progressive Inflammatory and Degenerative Diseases

The production of peroxide and superoxide is an inevitable consequence of aerobic metabolism, and while these particular "reactive oxygen species" (ROSs) can exhibit a number of biological effects, they are not of themselves excessively reactive and thus they are not especially damaging at physiological concentrations. However, their reactions with poorly liganded iron species can lead to the catalytic production of the very reactive and dangerous hydroxyl radical, which is exceptionally damaging, and a major cause of chronic inflammation. We review the considerable and wide-ranging evidence for the involvement of this combination of (su)peroxide and poorly liganded iron in a large number of physiological and indeed pathological processes and inflammatory disorders, especially those involving the progressive degradation of cellular and organismal performance. These diseases share a great many similarities and thus might be considered to have a common cause (i.e. iron-catalysed free radical and especially hydroxyl radical generation). The studies reviewed include those focused on a series of cardiovascular, metabolic and neurological diseases, where iron can be found at the sites of plaques and lesions, as well as studies showing the significance of iron to aging and longevity. The effective chelation of iron by natural or synthetic ligands is thus of major physiological (and potentially therapeutic) importance. As systems properties, we need to recognise that physiological observables have multiple molecular causes, and studying them in isolation leads to inconsistent patterns of apparent causality when it is the simultaneous combination of multiple factors that is responsible. This explains, for instance, the decidedly mixed effects of antioxidants that have been observed, etc...Comment: 159 pages, including 9 Figs and 2184 reference

Protective Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Hypericum Perforatum Against Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic interstitial lung disease caused by parenchymal lung damage due to inflammatory factors and fibrosis. Hypericum perforatum contains various flavonoids with antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate protective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats.  METHODS: This empirical study was conducted on 30 Wistar rats weighing 150-180 grams. Animals were randomly divided into five groups of six. Group one received a single dose of normal saline intraperitoneally, and group two was administered with bleomycin (7.5 units per kg) intratracheally. Other groups received daily doses of Hypericum extract (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection one week before and two weeks after bleomycin administration. After 21 days, animals were sacrificed, and blood and lungs were collected for histopathological examinations, and measurement of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and lung hydroxyproline (HP).     FINDINGS: In this study, lung index, HP and plasma MDA in normal saline group were respectively 7.09±0.32 mg per kilogram of body weight, 1.80±0.23 mg per gram of lung tissue, and 1.32±0.27 micromoles per liter of plasma. In rats administered with bleomycin, these values were 9.75±0.90, 5.43±0.7 and 3.04±0.42, respectively. Treatment with Hypericum extract, especially at dosage of 200 mg/kg, resulted in a significant reduction in the aforementioned parameters compared to bleomycin group (p<0.05).   CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum perforatum could exert protective effects against bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosi

Scleral Buckling with and without Retinopexy and Laser Photocoagulation for Treatment of Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment

Introduction: There are different methods to repair retinal detachment. In this trial the retinopexy in repairmen of retinal regmatogenesis RD is compared with other methods in Qazvin Teaching Hospitals during 1993-2003. Methods: This out come study was conducted on 47 patients with S/B and retinal break cryopexy (group I) , 30 patients undergoing S/B with barrier laser photocoagulation around retinal breaks (group II) and 41 patients with S/B without retinopexy (group III). An encircling or segmental buckle was placed for all eyes. In some patients, subretinal fluid drainage (SRED) or anterior chamber paracentesis and intravitreal air dubble injection was performed. The patients were followed for 3 to 48 months. T. test, chi square and fisher exact test were used for data analysis. Results: The groups were similar with respect to age, sex, lens status, visual acuity, type, number and location of break. There were no differences in the surgical procedure performed. The reattachment rate in group I was 91.5% , in group II 86.7% and in group III was 97.6%, a difference that was not significant. Conclusions: With S/B procedure, retinal cryopexy does not seem to increase success rate of operation

Inflammatory cytokine detection in adenotonsill and peripheral blood mononuclear cells- culture in adenotonsillectomy patients: a comparative study

Background: Tonsils and adenoid hypertrophy is a major respiratory symptom in children which is partly due to recruitment of inflammatory cells in upper airway lymph nodes as a result of the effects of synthesis and release of different inflammatory cytokines. It seems that infections play role in concert with these cytokines leading to tonsilar hypertrophy and other pathologic consequences. It is proposed that cellular infiltrate of tonsils and adenoids may secrete different quantities of these cytokines compared with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultures.Methods: Among patients who were admitted for adenotonsillectomy to the ENT ward, 37 patients, under 1-12 years old patients with fulfill criteria selected to include the study. Excised adenoid and tonsils cultured and inflammatory cytokines Interferon-&gamma; (INF-&gamma;), Interlukine-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-&alpha; (TNF-&alpha;) measured in cellular culture supernatant. The same cytokines measured in PBMC cultures.Results: The data shows that there is a significant difference between IFN-&gamma; and IL-8 amounts in adenoid tissue culture supernatant and PBMC culture of our patients. Furth-ermore, the amounts of IFN-&gamma;, IL-1 and IL-8 showed considerable difference between tonsilar tissue culture supernatant and PBMC culture of these patients. Although there is a significant correlation between IL-6 amounts in tissue culture supernatant and PBMC culture (P=0.02), the respective data for TNF is only almost significant.Conclusion: Inflammatory cytokines may have significant role in the early provoke of inflammation occurred in hypertrophied tonsils and adenoid. The majority of these cyt-okines increase the expression of adhesion molecules on epithelial cells and influence the recruitment of leucocytes and inflamed tonsils. On the other hand lack of sufficient cytokine release may lead to persistent infections and may cause chronic inflammation and hypertrophied tissue

Adequate Serum Copper Concentration Could Improve Bone Density, Postpone Bone Loss and Protect Osteoporosis in Women

Background: To determine the protective impact of efficient serum copper concentration on BMD in women and to asses its impression on bone. Methods: six hundred healthy women through a national project in Iran, IMOS, were selected via a cluster random sam¬pling and enrolled the study. They were divided to pre menopausal (404/600, 67.7% of total) and post menopausal (190/600, 32%of total) groups. BMD was measured by biphotonic absorptimetry DEXA for hip and lumbar spine. Morning serum copper concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: Mean age was 40.92±14.8yr .Mean serum copper concentration= 105.85±40.15µg/dl and mean BMI= 27.13±4.81 kg/m2.Totaly 2.4% was smoking, 5% had regular physical activities three times a week and 17.5% was copper deficient. Prevalence of Osteoporosis in postmenopausal women was 12.9% in copper deficient persons vs.11.3% in normal serum copper ones. No significant difference found according to serum copper concentration associated with BMI, age and vita¬min D. Spine BMD revealed a significant correlation with serum copper content. (P= 0.001). This correlation also existed for Total hip (P&lt; 0.05). Premenopausal women with serum copper level above 105 µg/dl revealed a significant difference in hip BMD compared to whom with less copper concentration.1.02± 0.13kg/m2 vs. 0.97± 0.13kg/m2 (P = 0.001). Copper had an independent role on determining hip BMD in pre menopaused women (P= 0.001). Conclusion: copper has an independent role on bone density in all healthy women. It could have an adjourning factor for bone loss as well as a protective agent for osteoporosis

A community pharmacy-based cardiovascular risk screening service implemented in Iran

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major health concern around the world. Objective: To assess the outcomes and feasibility of a pharmacy-based cardiovascular screening in an urban referral community pharmacy in Iran. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a referral community pharmacy. Subjects aged between 30-75 years without previous diagnose of cardiovascular disease or diabetes were screened. Measurement of all major cardiovascular risk factors, exercise habits, medical conditions, medications, and family history were investigated. Framingham risk score was calculated and high risk individuals were given a clinical summary sheet signed by a clinical pharmacist and were encouraged to follow up with their physician. Subjects were contacted one month after the recruitment period and their adherence to the follow up recommendation was recorded. Results: Data from 287 participants were analyzed and 146 were referred due to at least one abnormal laboratory test. The results showed 26 patients with cardiovascular disease risk greater than 20%, 32 high systolic blood pressure, 22 high diastolic blood pressures, 50 high total cholesterol levels, 108 low HDL-C levels, and 22 abnormal blood glucose levels. Approximately half of the individuals who received a follow up recommendation had made an appointment with their physician. Overall, 15.9% of the individuals received medications and 15.9% received appropriate advice for risk factor modification. Moreover, 7.5% were under evaluation by a physician. Conclusion: A screening program in a community pharmacy has the potential to identify patients with elevated cardiovascular risk factor. A plan for increased patient adherence to follow up recommendations is required