Sleep Disturbances in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

BACKGROUND: Sleep problems are frequent in chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present study was conducted to determine frequency of sleep disturbances and their relations with disease severity.METHODS: The present case-control study was performed on 100  rheumatoid patients who were referred to the rheumatology clinic at the Avicenna hospital. A hundred age- and sex- matched healthy individuals were recruited in the study as a control group. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality questionnaire, Insomnia Severity Index questionnaire and EpworthSleepiness Scale were used. The disease activity was calculated with the disease activity score 28. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 19.RESULTS: Mean scores of the sleep quality were 6.2±4.3 in patients and 4.6±2.5 in control group. 28% of the patients had good sleep quality whereas 72% had poor sleep quality. Daytime sleepiness was present in24.8% of the patients and 15% of the control group. Multiple logistic regressions showed that insomnia, pain and disease intensity were the most important factors that determine patients' sleep quality.CONCLUSION: The present study showed that sleep disturbances are frequent in patients with RA and may contribute to disease severity. It is recommended that rheumatoid patients be evaluated for sleep  disturbances during routine examinations.KEY WORDS: Rheumatoid arthritis, Sleep quality, Insomnia, Daytime sleepines

Short communication: Occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in a platy fish (Xiphophorus maculatus): A case report

According to prior reports, similar to mammals, fish are frequently affected by neoplastic proliferations. These neoplasms are classified according to the mammalian tumor classification System (Rahmati-Holasoo et al., 2010). Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is one of the most common forms of skin neoplasm in which cells in the epithelial layer of the skin develop into a malignant tumor. SCC has been reported in both fresh and marine water fish (Mawdesley-Thomas and Bucke, 1967). Squamous cell carcinoma has been reported in a number of species, for example, Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. (Roberts, 1972); oscar, Astronotus ocellatus (Rahmati-Holasoo et al., 2010); rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus (Hanjavanit and Mulcahy, 2004); gudgeon, Gobio gobio (Mawdesley-Thomas and Bucke, 1967); gulf menhaden, Brevoortia patronus Goode (Fournie et al., 1987); and the hybrid sunfish (Fitzgerald et al., 1991). In spite of the fact that reports have been previously published on SCC in various species of fish, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first report on SCC in platy fish (Xiphophorus maculatus) in the world

Molecular Identification and Sequencing of Mannose Binding Protein (MBP) Gene of Acanthamoeba palestinensis

"nBackground: Acanthamoeba keratitis develops by pathogenic Acanthamoeba such as A. pal­es­tinen­sis. Indeed this species is one of the known causative agents of amoebic keratitis in Iran. Mannose Binding Protein (MBP) is the main pathogenicity factors for developing this sight threatening disease. We aimed to characterize MBP gene in pathogenic Acanthamoeba isolates such as A. palestinensis."nMethods: This experimental research was performed in the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran during 2007-2008.  A. palestinensis was grown on 2% non-nutrient agar overlaid with Escherichia coli. DNA extraction was performed using phenol-chloroform method. PCR reaction and amplification were done using specific primer pairs of MBP. The amplified fragment were purified and sequenced. Finally, the obtained fragment was deposited in the gene data bank."nResults: A 900 bp PCR-product was recovered after PCR reaction. Sequence analysis of the purified PCR product revealed a gene with 943 nucleotides. Homology analysis of the ob­tained sequence showed 81% similarity with the available MBP gene in the gene data bank. The fragment was deposited in the gene data bank under accession number EU678895"nConclusion: MBP is known as the most important factor in Acanthamoeba pathogenesis cas­cade. Therefore, characterization of this gene can aid in developing better therapeutic agents and even immunization of high-risk people

Migranalytics: Entity-based analytics of migration tweets

This poster focuses on a visual analysis of the tweets related to European migration crisis. It uses TweetsKB as a starting point and then formulates a search criteria for extracting tweets by enriching semantic entities and hashtags starting from the seed word \Refugee". It combines European migration statistics with the information obtained by the tweets and provides visual analysis from different perspectives

Macroscopic and microscopical investigations of the effects of alcoholic extract of henna (Lawsonia inermis) on skin healing of experimentally induced tissue damage in macro fish (Labidochromis caeruleus)

One of the well-known herbal drugs is henna (Lawsonia inermis). According to the components in henna, several beneficial properties (i.e., antimicrobial, anti-inflammation, wound healing, trypsin inhibitory and antioxidant) have been reported. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of two natural substances (sodium chloride and henna extract) on experimental skin lesion due to pulling out scales and trypsin injection (0/02 ml, beneath dorsal fin). For this purpose, 54 fish in weight 5/5±0/55 of were divided to 3 groups, with eighteen fish in each group. Fishes were placed in laboratory condition in 22-25 ˚C. Two, four and six days after induction of skin injury, fishes were treated with different agents for 10 minutes. First group was treated in salt water 1%, second group in henna extract 0.5% and the control group without any additives. The fish were sampled weekly, 3 times by sampling from the wound. Macroscopic examination showed that color changes of wound place decreased in henna group in comparison with that other groups. In third week of healing, normal appearance of skin were seen in most of fishes in henna and salt groups. Microscopic study revealed a decrease in inflammatory cells infiltration in henna group second week after induction of skin injury. It seems that henna by decreasing inflammatory process, can also prevent skin damage and secondary infections that can help faster and more effective on wound healing than salt bath in fish

Combination therapy with pulse cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroids improves renal outcome in patients with lupus nephritis

Background: The prognosis of SLE is influenced by the onset of glomerulonephritis. Clinical trials in lupus nephritis have demonstrated that cyclophosphamide therapy is the superior regimen in the management of lupus nephritis for preserving renal function. Objective: The purpose of this study is to define the outcome of renal function with bolus pulses of cyclophosphamide and steroid according to our protocol and also to determine an appropriate pattern of treatment of lupus nephritis. Methods: In this open-label clinical trial, to evaluate the results, the short-term prognosis and the rate of complications of an immunosuppressive regimen with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide, twenty-five patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis were studied. Treatment was structured in 4 phases: 1) Induction with bolus methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide. 2) Maintenance with oral prednisolone for 4 weeks and monthly cyclophosphamide pulses for 6 months. 3) Tapering with reduction of prednisolone by 10 each month and continuing cyclophosphamide every other month till one year and for the second year every 3 months. 4) Discontinuation with oral prednisolone slowly tapered to the least effective daily dose and cyclophosphamide discontinued after 2 yr of therapy. We defined primary outcome measures according to these criteria: renal function return to normal limits or become stable, regression of systemic and local inflammatory symptoms, urine protein excretion falling below 0.3 gr/dL or by at least 50, RBC cast disappearance, C3, C4, Hb, and ESR return to normal limits. Results: Twenty-three patients with lupus nephritis completed our therapeutic protocol. Renal biopsy was performed in 22 cases and indicated type IV in 20 patients (95.2), and type V in 2 patients. After an average of 4+1.95 months 22 patients achieved remission (95.65) and only one case remained non-responsive. She became pregnant in her fourth month of therapy. Significant statistical differences were achieved between creatinine, proteinuria, hematuria, leukocyturia, urinary cast, C3, C4, ESR, and Hb before and after therapy (p<0.05). Plasma creatinine fell from 1.44+0.95 mg/dL to 0.97+0.78 (p<0.004). Proteinuria fell from 1879.78+1854.46 to 408.34+572.92 mg/24h (p<0.001). Thirteen episode of relapses were treated again with repeated cycles of cyclophosphamide and all remitted again. Conclusion: Intensive immunosuppression with steroid and cyclophosphamide provides excellent results with an acceptable rate of complications in the treatment of lupus nephritis

The first report on epicardial cavernous hemangioma in farmed sturgeon, Acipenser baerii, a microscopic survey

Haemangioma is a benign tumor of vascular endothelial cells or their progenitors. This tumor is common in dogs and rare in cats, horses and other domestic animals (Goldschmidt and Hendrick, 2002). In dogs, hemangiomas are typically benign and solitary those are often formed in the dermis of the skin, while hemangiosarcomas are regularly present as disseminated tumors that involve the spleen, heart, lung, liver, soft tissues of the trunk and extremities (Brown, 1985)

A Sensitive and Specific PCR Based Method for Identification of Cryptosporidium Sp. Using New Primers from 18S Ribosomal RNA

Background: The main goal of the present study was to develop a new sensitive and specific PCR based method for Identification of Cryptosporidium sp. using novel primers from 18S ribosomal RNA. Cryptosporidi­osis in high-risk host groups particularly in neonates and immuno-compromised individuals may result in death. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study regarding develop a new PCR based method to diagnose the cryptosporidiosis in Iran.Methods: A total of 850 human fecal samples from patients clinically suspected to cryptosporidiosis and 100 healthy and diarrheic cattle stool specimens were collected. The simplified formol-ether concentration method was carried out for all samples. They were then examined microscopically by modified Ziehl-Neel­sen staining method. Total DNA was extracted by QIA amp DNA stool mini kit was carried out by using designed prim­ers.Results: Twenty nine cases of cryptosporidiosis infection in human and 30 samples from cattle microscopi­cally were posi­tive. The described primary and nested PCR method could detect all Cryptospori­dium positive samples from human and cattle. Regards to suspected negative samples in pri­mary PCR examination, the Nested PCR could ap­prove two more positive results. Furthermore, Nested PCR analysis was able to detect one more case which was nega­tive in both microscopically examination and primary PCR. Specificity of the test was 100%. Sensitivity of Nested PCR in comparison to our gold standard; microscopy after Ridley concentration modified ziehl-Neelsen, was 100 %.Conclusion: Our developed PCR based method by using new primers devised from 18S ribosomal RNA revealed the ability for identification of the Cryptosporidium species such as C. parvum and C. huminis with high specificity and sensitivity

Experimental wound healing using microamperage electrical stimulation in rabbits

We investigated the effects of microamperage electrical stimulation (MES) on the healing of skin incision in rabbits. Thirty male adult rabbits were randomly divided into sham-treated and experimental groups. Each group was divided into three subgroups, based on the duration of experiment (4, 7, and 15 days). A full-thickness incision was made on the skin of each rabbit. The experimental group received an MES of 200 microamperes current intensity for 2 h/day. Morphometrical and biomechanical evaluations were carried out. The mean number of fibroblasts at day 7 and the mean of tensile strength at day 15 were found to be significantly higher for the experimental group than for those in the sham-treated group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). Daily application of MES significantly accelerated the wound-healing process of full-thickness incision in the rabbits' skin

Molecular characterization of the Iranian isolates of Giardia lamblia: Application of the glutamate dehydrogenase gene

Background: This study was conducted to determine of molecular epidemiology of the Giardia lamblia by PCR-RFLP method in Tehran, capital of Iran. Methods: Thirty eight stool samples were randomly selected from 125 patients diagnosed with giardiasis using microscopy in Tehran. DNA extraction of some samples were performed by phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol method and to raise the sensitivity of the PCR assay, the genomic DNA of the others were extracted using glass beads and the QIAamp Stool Mini Kit in order to effectively remove the PCR inhibitors. A single step PCR-RFLP assay, targeting the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) locus, was used to differentiate within and between assemblages A and B that have been found in humans. Results: Of the 38 isolates, 33 samples (87) were found as G. lamblia (genotype AII), 3 (7.8) belonged to assemblage B, genotype BIII, the mixed of genotype AII and B were detected only in two samples (5.2). Conclusions: PCR-RFLP is a sensitive and powerful analytical tool that allows effective genotype discrimination within and between assemblages at targeting gdh gene, and makes it possible to identify the presence of mixed genotypes. Our data suggest that there is an anthroponotic origin of the infection route, assemblage A group II, in Tehran so it seems that the main reservoir of Giardia infection is humans in the area studies