Polymorphisms of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, angiotensin converting enzyme and coagulation factor XIII genes in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortion

We investigated polymorphisms of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE ) and coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) genes and their association with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in Iranian patients and normal healthy controls. Ten (18.5%) patients were homozygote (4G/4G) for PAI-1 polymorphism, in contrast with two (2%) controls (p = 0.001). Patients with homozygote 4G mutation were significantly more prone to RSA in contrast to others (odds ratio: 11.0, 95% CI: 2.3-52.4). Nineteen (30.2%) patients and 25 (26.6%) controls were homozygote (DD) for ACE polymorphism. We observed only two patients and one control with homozygosity (34leu) for FXIII polymorphism. 4G/4G polymorphism for PAI-1 gene could be a thrombophilic mutation leading to abortion in Iranian population

TSGA10, as a cancer/testis gene: Review article

Cancer/Testis antigens (CTAs) as a group of tumor antigens are the novel subjects for developing cancer vaccine and immunotherapy approaches. They aberrantly express in tumors with highest normal expression in testis, and limited or no expression in normal tissues. There are important similarities between the processes of germ-cell and cancer cell development Spermatogenesis begins at puberty when expression of novel cell-surface antigens occurs when the immune system has been refined the ability to distinguish self from non-self. Whereas macrophage and lymphocytes are commonly found within interstitial spaces of the testis, these antigen-presenting cells are rarely seen within the seminiferous tubules. These observations have led to the concept of the immune privileged site for testis. Localized normal expression of the CT genes in testis that makes them immunogenic for immune system, in one side, and their abnormal expression in different kinds of cancer cells, in the other side, has make them as promising target for developing cancer vaccines and new cancer therapeutics approaches. In malignancies, gene regulation is disrupted which results aberrant expression of CT antigen in a proportion of tumors of various types. For some CTAs, data support their fundamental role in tumorigenesis. Several authors believe it is not clear whether they have an essential role in tumorigenesis or they are by-products of chromatin variations in cancer. There is a growing list of CTAs within them advanced clinical trials are running by using some of them in cancers like lung cancer, malignant melanoma and neuroblastoma. In this review we discuss the gene TSGA10 as an example of CT genes. TSGA10 expresses in its highest levels in elongating spermatids and localized in the fibrous sheath of mature sperm. This gene is proposed as a serological biomarker in cutaneous lymphoma. Its abnormal expression has been reported in different cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, breast, brain, gastrointestinal and a range of other cancers either in mRNA or protein levels. It has an important role in angiogenesis in cancer tumors because of its effects in the gene hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF1). Absence or lack of TSGA10 expression has been reported in ascosporic infertile men

Effects of Indigenous Spore-Forming Probiotic as Feed Supplement on Performance and Safety in Broilers

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗProbiotics colonize the intestine of animals and birds and provide useful effects on their performance and immune status. This study describes a high throughput screening and characterization of spore-forming bacteria from Iranian poultry farms with the aim to identify potential probiotic native Bacillus spp. and determine its effects on growth performance, hemato-biochemical parameters, immunity, intestinal microflora, morphology and MUC2 gene expression of broiler chickens. A total of 300 one-day-old female Ross 308 broilers (42.6 ± 0.6 g) were used in a 6-wk study. Broilers were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 dietary treatments consisting of 4 replicate cages with 25 broilers each: 1- Control (Corn-soy-based diet: C), 2- C + 200 g/ton of the GalliPro® (Bacillus subtilis DSM 17299, 4×109 CFU/g, as positive control group: PC), 3- C + 200 g/ton of the native probiotic (B. tequilensis K03, 4×109 CFU/g: NP) identified in this study. During the experiment parameters were measured weekly. The results revealed that birds of the NP and PC groups exhibited improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and increased body weight (BW), carcass and breast meat yield compared with the birds of the C group (P<0.05). Also, lymphocytes level, antibody titers against Newcastle diseases virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) of vaccinated birds were increased, while serum triglycerides, total cholesterol levels and abdominal fat of birds fed NP and PC were decreased compared to birds of the C group (P<0.05). The villus height, the relative expression of MUC2 gene and Bacillus spp. populations were increased, while E. coli was significantly decreased in the ileum content of treated groups (P<0.05). These results indicate that the identified native B.tequilensis K03 strain can improve immunity and broiler performance by modifying intestinal microflora and morphology. Studied native probiotic Bacillus tequilensis K03 has useful effects on health status and it can be used as poultry feed supplement

A Novel De Bruijn Based Mesh Topology for Networks-on-Chip

Non

Long-Term Follow-Up of Cadaveric Breast Augmentation: What Can We Learn?

Breast augmentation with cadaveric fat graft has long been available to patients in Eastern European countries, primarily in the Soviet Union and Eastern Germany. Most such procedures were performed from the 1970s to the 1990s. Although only a few case reports have been published, all of which involved complications that appeared several years after the procedure, it appears that, surprisingly, this nonvascularized and incompatible immunologic tissue is relatively well tolerated. We present the case of a 45-year-old Russian woman who underwent breast explantation, due to breast hardness and pain, 15 years after breast augmentation with cadaveric fat grafting. Through genetic studies, we confirmed that the host and the graft were HLA incompatible. Moreover, results of analyses excluded the possibility of an acute or chronic immunologic rejection by the host. We suppose that the early complications that often occur in such cases might result from a nonspecific, inflammatory reaction induced by acute tissue ischemia and necrosis, and the late local complications that occur years later may relate more to chronic inflammation, due to nonvascularized tissue, than to immunologic rejection. Therefore, we propose that different mechanisms may explain how this allogenic fat tissue could have been tolerated by the patient's immune system. We particularly underline the immunomodulatory effect of mesenchymal stem cells, which are abundant in adipose tissues. This characteristic of fat tissue should be investigated further to assess its potential in treating autoimmune diseases or reducing the likelihood of allograft rejections. Level of Evidence 5 Ris

Plastic Surgery After Gastric Bypass Improves Long-Term Quality of Life

Background: Excess skin after massive weight loss impairs patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Therefore, body-contouring surgeries can be proposed. However, few data exist concerning the effect of body contouring after bariatric surgery on HRQoL, including control group with a long-term follow-up. Methods: In a prospective study, 98 consecutive patients who had body contouring after gastric bypass for obesity (BMI > 40) were included (group A). A matched control-group containing 102 patients who had only gastric bypass was selected (group B). HRQoL was measured by Moorehead-Ardelt questionnaire before (group A1) and after (A2) body contouring, and at different time points for group B until 8years post-gastric bypass. To evaluate the effect of body contouring by two parallel methods, HRQoL was compared between groups A1 and A2, and between A2 and B. Results: We found that body contouring procedures improved significantly patients' HRQoL, in comparison to those who had only gastric bypass. Of the patients who had body contouring (group A2), 57% evaluated their HRQoL "much better” in comparison to only 22% of patients before body contouring (group A1) or those who never had body contouring (group B) (p < 0.001). The improvement was significant in all sub-domains of HRQoL: self-esteem, social life, work ability, sexual activity and physical activity (p < 0.001), and remained stable over time. Conclusions: Our study confirms the important role of plastic surgery in treatment of patients after massive weight loss. We demonstrated that body contouring, despite important scars, significantly improves satisfaction and HRQoL of patients after gastric bypass. Therefore, the treatment of morbid obesity should not be deemed achieved unless plastic surgery has been considere

Liver Trauma During Combined Liposuction and Abdominoplasty: A Rare but Potentially Lethal Complication

Liposuction is a well-established procedure that is generally safe. However, rare complications can occur. The authors report on a 38-year-old woman who underwent combined abdominoplasty and liposuction at a private clinic. Four hours after the procedure, severe hypovolemic shock developed and required emergency transfer to a tertiary-care center. After primary fluid resuscitation, abdominal ultrasonography and computerized tomography revealed severe right-sided liver trauma, with active bleeding and free intra-abdominal fluid. Two attempts at right hepatic artery embolization failed to fully control the bleeding, and surgical hemostasis was required. After a 2-week hospitalization, the patient was discharged, and she returned to work 3 months later. Although it appears that this is the first reported case of liver trauma during liposuction, this potential complication should be kept in mind and identified early to permit efficient and effective management. Level of Evidence 5 Ris