Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infections in symptomatic women by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) immunofluorescence and Giemsa stain

Chlamydia trachomatis is a ubiquitous human pathogen that is responsible for the most prevalent bacterial sexually transmitted disease worldwide. Studies show that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is more sensitive than cellular culture for detection of C. trachomatis infections. The aim of this study is to compare different laboratory methods, including Giemsa staining, direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) and PCR for detection of C. trachomatis in women with urethral symptoms. In this study, 130 women with urethral symptoms admitted in the gynecology clinic, were used and specimens were obtained with endocervical swab for Giemsa staining, DFA and PCR. All the cases underwent these three techniques. Demographic data and the medical history of patients were obtained by direct interview; however, the mean age of cases was 33.8±9.06. Clinical symptoms included abnormal vaginal discharge in 101 cases (77.7%), spotting in 14 cases (10.8%), dysmenorrheal in 7 cases (5.4%), irritation in 6 cases (4.6%) and dysuria in 2 cases (1.5%). In DFA technique, 5 cases (3.8%) were positive and 3 (2.3%) were suspicious, while in the PCR technique, 6 cases (4.6%) were positive for C. trachomatis. However, 3 suspicious cases with DFA were negative in PCR. There was no positive case for C. trachomatis in Giemsa staining. In conclusion, C. trachomatis was not frequent in this study and it can be concluded that this infection was not a major hygienic problem in the same populations that were previously studied. Consequently, the causes that necessitate monogamy could be related to religious causes. Frequency of Chlamydia detection of DFA and PCR was same in the two groups. Nonetheless, Giemsa staining is not a reliable method for evaluating C. trachomatis.Key words: Chlamydia trachomatis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA)

Screening of von willebrand disease in iranian women with menorrhagia

Results: Mean age of our patients was 32.5 ± 10.6 years. The level of von Willebrand factor in 22.5 and von Willebrand activity in 19.6 of patients was abnormal. The prevalence of vWD among patients with menorrhagia was 24. Conclusions: The high prevalence of vWD among our patients was the same as other previous reports, suggesting low awareness about this disease and under diagnosis of mild cases. Background: Menorrhagia is a common health problem in women, particularly those with bleeding disorders. Little is known about the course of menorrhagia or other bleeding symptoms in women with the most common congenital bleeding disorder, von Willebrand disease (vWD). Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of vWD in women with diagnosed menorrhagia. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 460 consecutive patients, presenting menorrhagia, were analyzed. The initial screening and confirmation tests for the diagnosis of vWD included determination of prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), bleeding time (BT), fibrinogen, factor VIII, vWF antigen, and vWF activity. A questionnaire was filled for every patient. The data were then analyzed using the SPSS software. © 2015, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Protective effect of25mg-porphyrin-fullerene nanoparticles on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury in PC12 cells

We investigated the effects of25Mg-Porphyrin-Fullerene nanoparticles, (25MgPMC16) smart ferroporphyrin nanoparticles, on PC12 cells exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion. In order to explore its effect on cells under oxygen-glucose deprivation conditions, the cultures were pretreated with25MgPMC16 24 hours prior to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion. To initiate the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion, the cell culture medium was replaced with a glucose-free medium and the cells were transferred to a humidified incubation chamber in a mixture of 95 N2 and 5 CO2 at 37° C for 30, 60 and 120 min. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Exposure of PC12 cells to 30, 60 and 120 min oxygen-glucose deprivation significantly decreased the cell viability. Pretreatment of the cultures with25MgPMC16 significantly increased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment, the cultures with MK-801 (10 µM), a non-competitive NMDA antagonist, has attenuated the cell death after 30 min oxygen-glucose deprivation. We concluded that25MgPMC16 could protect PC12 cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion-induced cell injury in a concentration-dependent manner. That could be due to the effect of25MgPMC16 on ATP synthesis and the antioxidant effects of its components. © 2016 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

The effect of cations on sperm motility performance and fertilizing ability of silver carp Hypophtalmychtis molitrix

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of saline solution containing cations (Na+, K+, Ca+2, Mg+2) on sperm motility performance (duration of sperm motility and percentage of motile spermatozoa) and fertilizing capacity of sperm (fertilization rate, hatching rate, larvae length during hatching, larvae length during active feeding and survival rate) in silver carp. The results suggested that solutions containing ions did not improve the duration of sperm motility. The same was observed for the percentage of motile spermatozoa. Fertilization rate influenced by solutions containing Ca+2, and other ions could not affect this parameter. The results showed that hatching rate was higher in solutions containing 99 mEq/L NaCl, 2 mEq/L MgCl2 and 2, 4 mEq/L CaCl2 respectively. Also, survival rate was higher in the solution containing 2 mEq/L MgCl2 and 36 mg/dL KCl respectively.With regard to the obtained results, it was concluded that using appropriate activation medium can improve quality of fish sperm and subsequently increases artificial reproduction performance

Nimodipine protects PC12 cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation

The protective effect of an L-type calcium channel blocker, nimodipine, on cell injury induced by oxygenglucose deprivation (OGD) in PC12 cells was investigated. PC12 cells were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (30 minutes and 60 minutes respectively) in the presence or absence of nimodipine (10μM/L) in three different time schedules (pre-24h, pre-3h and concurrently). Cellular viability was assessed by MTT assay. OGD-induced cell injury was significantly attenuated by nimodipine in all three treatment schedules. Application of MK801 (10μM/L), an antagonist of NMDA glutamate receptors also inhibited PC12 cell death induced by OGD. Our study suggests that nimodipine has protective effects against OGD-induced neurotoxicity. Copyright © 2006 by Razi Institute for Drug Research (RIDR)

Noscapine protects OLN-93 oligodendrocytes from ischemia-reperfusion damage: Calcium and nitric oxide involvement

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of noscapine, a benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from opium poppy, on oligodendrocyte during ischemia/reperfusion-induced excitotoxic injury. Changes in intracellular calcium levels due to chemical ischemia and nitric oxide (NO) production during ischemia/reperfusion were evaluated as the hallmarks of ischemia-derived excitotoxic event. OLN-93 cell line (a permanent immature rat oligodendrocyte) was used as a model of oligodendrocyte. 30- or 60-minute-oxygen—glucose deprivation/24 hours reperfusion were used to induce excitotoxicity. MTT (3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assay was used to evaluate cell viability. Ratiometric fluorescence microscopy using Ca2+-sensitive indicator Fura-2/AM was utilized to assess intracellular calcium levels. NO production was evaluated by Griess method. Noscapine (4 μM) significantly attenuated intracellular Ca2+ elevation (P 2+ was greater than ionotropic glutamate receptors antagonists. Noscapine is protective against ischemia/reperfusion-induced excitotoxic injury in OLN-93 oligodendrocyte. This protective effect seems to be related to attenuation of intracellular Ca2+ overload and NO production

Noscapine modulates neuronal response to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion injury via activation of sigma-1 receptor in primary cortical cultures

In the present study, we investigated the effects of noscapine (0.5-2 μM), an alkaloid from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), on primary murine cortical neurons exposed to 60 min oxygen�glucose deprivation (OGD) in the presence of 5 μM BD-1047, a selective sigma-1 receptor antagonist. The experiments were performed on cortical neurons after 11�16 days of culture. To initiate oxygen�glucose deprivation, the culture medium was transferred to glucosefree DMEM, and placed in a humidified incubation chamber containing a mixture of 95 N2 and 5 CO2 at 37 °C for 60 min. In order to explore the effect on neurons under oxygen�glucose deprivation in this condition, some cultures were pretreated with noscapine and BD1047 together, 24 h prior to OGD followed by 24 h recovery. Cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) production and intracellular calcium concentration (Ca2+i) levels were evaluated by MTT assay, the modified Griess method, and Fura-2, respectively. Pretreatment of the cultures with noscapine in the presence of BD1047 significantly increased cell viability and decreased NO generation in a dosedependent manner compared to BD1047 alone. Pretreatment with 2 μM noscapine and BD-1047 was shown to decrease the rise in Ca2+i induced by sodium azide (NaN3) and glucose deprivation. We concluded that noscapine in the presence of BD1047 could protect primary cortical neurons after oxygen�glucose deprivation-induced cell injury but this effect was not complete. Our results indicate that neuroprotective effects of noscapine could be mediated partially through activation of sigma-1 receptor and by decreasing NO production and Ca2+i levels. © 2020, Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research. All rights reserved

Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis: a 2 year experience at a university hospital in Pakistan

In this study we report our two years experience of methotrexate (MTX) in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi. We studied the clinical course of 124 RA patients. The mean age was 44 +/- 11 years (range 19-72) and mean duration of RA was 5 +/- 4 years (range 0.3-25). Female to male ratio was 10:2.4 (100F:24M). All of them were diagnosed according to the criteria set by American Rheumatism Association. The mean value of ESR was 60 +/- 30 (Range 3-128). Fifty one percent had severe disease (\u3e 10 joints involved and evidence of erosions and deformities). Twenty-one patients had extra-articular manifestations. None of them had received MTX previously. Their kidney and liver functions were assessed to be normal. Patients were divided into two groups. One group (n = 92) received MTX (7.5-10 mg/week) as initial treatment, while the other group (n = 32) was given other disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (penicillamine, salazopyrin, gold, or chloroquine) followed by MTX. Assessment of the treatment outcome and development of any adverse reactions was carried out at 3-month interval over an average period of 1 year. Assessment of the treatment outcome in the group which received MTX as initial drug revealed the response to be excellent in 13%, good in 70%, fair in 11% and variable in 4%. In the group which received MTX as second-line of therapy, 59% of the patients had the response from good to excellent, while 25% of the patients exhibited poor to fair response. Regarding side-effects of MTX treatment, 57% exhibited none, while 35% had nausea and vomiting. Alopecia was the next common toxicity in these patients. Two individuals had abnormal liver function tests (value twice more than normal), while one developed lung fibrosis. MTX despite its adverse effects in some of the patients is still an effective, well tolerated and inexpensive disease modifying drug in RA