Neurocognitive Functions Related to Parietal Lobe in Patients with Schizophrenia and Methamphetamine Induced Psychotic Disorder and Healthy Individuals: A Comparative Study

Background: There are some inconsistent findings about neurocognitive functions in schizophrenia and methamphetamine induced psychosis (MIP). This study aimed to compare these two disorders in terms of neurocognitive functions related to parietal lobe.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 30 patients with schizophrenia, 30 patients with MIP, and 32 healthy individuals were compared. The two groups of patients were selected through convenience sampling from among patients hospitalized in Shahid Beheshti hospital in Kerman, Iran and healthy individuals were selected via convenience sampling from among the employees of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. The three groups were administered clock-drawing test (CDT), Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) copying test, and interlocking finger test (IFT) and their demographic and clinical data were collected. The one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate the differences between the groups. Multivariate analysis of covariance was also used to examine the effects of confounding factors. Besides, follow-up pairwise comparisons were performed after adjustment for multiple testing.Findings: The group with schizophrenia had significantly more impairment than the group with MIP with reference to the results of IFT and the ROCF test. However, the scores of patients with MIP on these two tests were not different from those of the normal controls. With regard to the CDT, the only significant difference was observed between the group with schizophrenia and controls.Conclusion: On the condition that the results are replicated in other studies, some parietal lobe neurocognitive tests might be used when it is difficult to differentially diagnose schizophrenia and MIP

Recombinant production of Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (sTRAIL) as a therapeutic protein

Abstract:  Successfully cancer therapies aim to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines. Recent advances in cancer therapy based on the use of some recombinant proteins such as tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). TRAIL is a new member of the TNF superfamily. In this paper, we report the expression, purification, and  preparation of a recombinant form of the extracelluar domain of the TRAIL (sTRAIL) in Escherichia coli rosetta gami under the control of T7 promoter; which  may selectively induce apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro. To obtain recombinant sTRAIL protein, the encoding region for sTRAIL was cloned between Xho1 and BamHI in pET28a expression vector. The results showed that the recombinant sTRAIL was efficiently produced in Ecoli rosetta gami strain.                               Introduction: Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved and essential for maintenance of  tissue homeostasis and removal of unwanted cells. TRAIL belongs to the group of therapeutic agents selectively targeting a wide variety of cancer cells without affecting the normal cells .The therapeutic potential of TRAIL is attributed to its receptor expression in a variety of tissues; which initiates apoptosis in cancer cells through interaction with the death receptors DR4 and DR5. Due to its selective nature, it is considered as a significant therapeutic agent in cancer therapy. The purpose of this study was to produce recombinant human sTRAIL in Rosetta Gami2 E.coli strain and its functions on cancerous cells in vitro. Methods and results:  we optimized the coding sequence of this protein. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into Rosetta Gami2 E.coli strain for expression. The transformed bacteria which contain recombinant plasmid were cultured in 37ºC with 250 rpm in LB and in 20ºC in TB medium for 18 hours. TRAIL was purified by Ni sepharose column, and the presence of the recombinant protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE. The concentration of purified protein was measured by Bradford assay. Our finding showed that the recombinant protein (34kD) has been successfully produced for next experiments, the purified protein was desalted and applied toward cancerous cells. Conclusions: In summary, TRAIL can be considered as a promising therapeutic agent for effective, targeted and less toxic agents for treatment of cancers

Immunological cross reaction between cancer cells and hydatid cyst

Background and aims: Hydatid cyst is the larval stage of the tape worm Echinococcu granulosus. Anticancer effects of some parasites have been shown. Moreover, existence of common antigens between some parasites especially hydatid cyst and cancers have been reported. So, immunological cross reaction between hydatid cyst and cancer cell antigens has been investigated in this study. Methods: In this laboratory descriptive study, different hydatid cyst antigens were prepared and antibody raised against them in rabbits. In dot immunoblotting, those antigens were probed with sera of patients with cancers (collected from Imam Hossein Hospital in Isfahan). Also, cross reaction among excretory secretory products of cancer cells and antisera raised against different hydatid cyst antigen was investigated. In order to remove carbohydrate bands of antigens, sodium periodate buffer was used. Results: Antisera raised against laminated & germinal layers of hydatid cyst reacted with excretory secretory products of cancer cells. Also, antigens of hydatid cysts reacted with cancer patients sera. Carbohydrate bands of antigens were involved in some immunological cross reactions. Conclusion: Results of this work emphasis existence of common antigens between hydatid cyst and cancers. Therefore, more study about these common antigens is recommende

Low titer of antibody against Toxoplasma gondii may be related to resistant to cancer

Context: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with a world-wide distribution. However, the majority of infected cases remain symptomless. There are raising scientific evidences indicating that parasitic infections induce antitumor activity against certain types of cancers. The inhibitory effect of T. gondii on cancer growth has also been shown in cell culture and mouse model. Aims: Considering the anti-tumor effect of this parasite, in this study the relationship between low titer of antibodies against T. gondii and resistant to cancers has been investigated. Subjects and Methods: In two separate experiments, anti T. gondii antibody was estimated in 150 patients with cancer and 120 normal people. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test was used for data analysis. Results: The frequency of low titer antibody against Toxoplasma gondii in cancer patients was significantly higher than the frequency of low-titer antibody against this parasite in normal people. Conclusions: Exposure to T. gondii may be related to resistance to cancer

Effect of sodium dialysate variation in combining with ultra filtration on intradialytic hypotension and intradialytic weight gain for patients on hemodialysis

(Received 24 December, 2009 ; Accepted 9 November, 2009)AbstractBackground and purpose: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is the most frequent complication in patients receiving haemodialysis (HD) that poses most problems for patient and treatment team. The use of sodium profile and ultra filtration (UF) profile is one of the preventive methods that have been recently introduced. However, increased intradialytic weight gain (IDWG) has been described as the side effect of this method. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of linear and stepwise sodium and UF profile on Intradialytic hypotension and IDWG.Materials and methods: This was a clinical trial study and crossover design. Twenty- six stable HD patients from two dialysis centers (Ali Asghar and Alzahra Hospitals) of Esfahan University underwent three treatments: (1) control, constant dialysate sodium concentration of 138 mmol/l with constant UF; (2) linear sodium profile + UF profile (type1), a linearly decrease dialysate sodium concentration (146–138mmol/l) combination with a linearly decrease UF rate. (3) Stepwise sodium profile + UF profile (type2), a stepwise decrease dialysate sodium concentration (146-138 mmol/l) combination with a stepwise decrease UF rate. Data were analyzed using χ2 and independent t-test in SPSS software.Results: In this study, a total of 26 patients (14 men, and 12 females) participated. The mean age was 46/819 years. In each group, 78 dialysis sessions and a total of 234 dialysis sessions were analyzed. The incidence of intradialytic hypotension, while receiving an intervention, was significantly reduced during linear and stepwise profiles, as compared with control (P<0.05, respectively). However, there was no significant differences between profiles. IDWG did not show any changes during three group.Conclusion: Sodium profile and UF profile modulates the dialysate sodium concentration and ultra filtration rate and also, prevents the incidence of IDH while reducing nursing intervention, without increasing IDWG. Thus, using sodium profile and UF profile groups (linear and stepwise) is recommended for the prevention of hypotension, as compared to routine method.Key words: J Mazand Univ Med Sci 2009; 19(72): 19-26 (Persian)

Low titer of antibody against Toxoplasma gondii may be related to resistant to cancer

Context: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite with a world-wide distribution. However, the majority of infected cases remain symptomless. There are raising scientific evidences indicating that parasitic infections induce antitumor activity against certain types of cancers. The inhibitory effect of T. gondii on cancer growth has also been shown in cell culture and mouse model. Aims: Considering the anti-tumor effect of this parasite, in this study the relationship between low titer of antibodies against T. gondii and resistant to cancers has been investigated. Subjects and Methods: In two separate experiments, anti T. gondii antibody was estimated in 150 patients with cancer and 120 normal people. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square test was used for data analysis. Results: The frequency of low titer antibody against Toxoplasma gondii in cancer patients was significantly higher than the frequency of low-titer antibody against this parasite in normal people. Conclusions: Exposure to T. gondii may be related to resistance to cancer

The role of parathyroid hormone and cardiac output in pulmonary hypertension in hemodialysis patients

Introduction: High prevalence of pulmonary hypertension has been reported in patients with chronic renal failure, especially those undergoing hemodialysis. Objectives: Considering the high prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in hemodialysis patients and uncertainty about the causes, the present study planned to investigate the role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and cardiac ejection fraction (EF %) in development of pulmonary hypertension. Patients and Methods: By simple census sampling, all patients on hemodialysis in the hemodialysis center of Birjand University of Medical Sciences were enrolled. After obtaining written consent, the EF% and systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) were determined using echocardiography (MEDISON V10 model, Korea). The cut-point of less than 35 mm Hg was considered for normal sPAP. The blood sample was prepared to assay PTH using COBAS411 and ROCH kit. Independent t test or Man-Whitney test were used to compare means. P value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: A totsl of 114 patients were enrolled in the study. Finally 89 patients, including 49 (55.1%) male and 40 (44.9%) female completed the study. The mean age and mean sPAP of the studied patients were 55.14 ± 15.68 years and 30.65 ± 12.10 mm Hg respectively. Among the studied patients, normal and high sPAP were reported in 60 (67.4%) and 29 (32.6%) cases respectively. Cardiac EF% in patients with normal and high sPAP was 59.08 ± 2.83 versus 56.37 ± 4.79 respectively (P = 0.01). PTH was determined 275.12 ± 218.44 versus 395.67 ± 332.05(pg/mL) (P = 0.03), in patients with normal and high sPAP respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension in the studied patients was 32.6%. Patients in the pulmonary hypertension group had higher levels of PTH and lower cardiac EF%

Iron and Vitamin C Co-Supplementation Increased Serum Vitamin C Without Adverse Effect on Zinc Level in Iron Deficient Female Youth

Background: Iron supplementation can decrease the absorption of zinc and influence other antioxidants levels such as vitamin C. This study aimed to investigate the effect of iron supplements alone and in combination with vitamin C on zinc and vitamin C status in iron deficient female students. Methods: In a double-blind randomized clinical trail, 60 iron deficient students were selected from 289 volunteers residing in dormitory. After matching, subjects were randomly assigned into two groups: Group I (50 mg elemental iron supplements) and Group II (50 mg elemental iron + 500 mg ascorbic acid). Serum ferritin, iron, serum zinc, and plasma vitamin C concentrations were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, spectrophotometer, atomic absorption spectrometer, and colorimeter, respectively after 6 and 12 weeks supplementation. Student′s t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance were applied to analyze the data using SPSS software. Results: Serum zinc levels had no significant differences between 2 groups at the baseline; however, its concentration decreased from 80.9 ± 4.2-68.9 ± 2.7 μg/dl to 81.2 ± 4.5-66.1 ± 2.9 μg/dl (P < 0.001) in Groups I and II, respectively after 6 weeks of supplementation. Continuous supplementation increased serum zinc concentration to baseline levels (79.0 ± 2.9 μg/dl; P < 0.01) in Group I and 70.5 ± 3.1 μg/dl in Group II following 12 weeks of supplementation. Plasma vitamin C increased from 3 ± 0/1-3.3 ± 0.2 mg/dl to 2.7 ± 0. 1-4.2 ± 0.2 mg/dl (P < 0.01) in Groups I and II, respectively. At the end of study, plasma vitamin C significantly increased from 3.3 ± 0.3-4.7 ± 0.3 (P < 0.01) to 4.2 ± 0.2-7.1 ± 0.2 (P < 0.001) in Groups I and II, respectively. Conclusions: Iron supplementation with and without vitamin C led to reduction in serum Zn in iron-deficient female students after 6 weeks. However, the decreasing trend stops after repletion of iron stores and Zn levels returned to the approximately baseline values after 12 weeks