The comparison of Iron and Ferritin serum level in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients and healthy individuals

Background and aims: The rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease and a stable progressive inflammatory disorder in synovial tissue. It seems that both cell-mediate immune responses and humoral immunity play roles in causing this disease. Oxidative stress and changes in the amount of trace elements play an important role in the progress of the disease. The aim of the current study was to compare the Iron and Ferritin serum levels in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients and healthy individuals. Methods: This study was a case-control research in which 44 patients suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and 44 healthy individuals were investigated that they were all homogenous in terms of age and gender. The iron was estimated by photometric measurement and the development of ferrous-ferroin colored complex. The amount of ferritin in the serum was measured by architect autoanalyzer. The data were analyzed through covariance and Mann-Whitney tests using SPSS software at the significant level lower than P<0.5. Results: The results showed that the levels of iron and ferritin evaluated in patients (mean ± SD) were 59.97±6.65, 99.20±11.69, respectively, and in control group are 69.77±4.52, 44.79±7.14. This difference was not significant in iron (P>0.05), but it was not significant in serum ferritin (P<0.001). Also, There were significant differences between the proportion of iron to ferritin in both case and control groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: It seems that there is a correlation between the amounts of ferritin with rheumatoid arthritis. Iron is suspicious to be an effective factor in rheumatoid arthritis

Agar alternatives for micropropagation of African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha)

Agar is one of the most popular solidifying agents in plant tissue culture. High price of pure grade agar and fear of over exploitation of its resources caused searching for low cost alternatives. In this study,liquid medium with cotton substratum and different combinations of starch, semolina, potato powder and agar in two steps of micropropagation (shoot induction and proliferation) were investigated. The highest frequency of regeneration was found in media containing agar (0.8%), combination of starch: semolina: potato powder (2:1:1) in 9 and 12% and combination of starch (6%) plus agar (0.4%), butmaximum shoot numbers were produced in media containing agar (0.8%), combination of starch (6%) plus agar (0.4%) and liquid medium with cotton substratum. The best shoot proliferation take place in liquid medium with cotton substratum. The results show that the combination of starch: semolina: potato powder (2:1:1) in 9% and starch (6%) plus agar (0.4 %) can be suitable alternatives for agar in regeneration stage but the shoot number is lower than agar alone. These options are very cheaper than agar. The best shoot proliferation can be done in bioreactors or liquid medium with suitable substratum like cotton.Keywords: Gelling agent, low cost, micropropagation, liquid cultur

Effect of genotypes and culture medium on shoot regeneration and proliferation of Gerbera jamesonii

Gerbera jamesonii is one of the most popular cut flowers in the world and micropropagation is the commercial way for its propagation. This method allows for obtaining large amounts of healthy homogenous plants. Thus, it is necessary to establish efficient micropropagation protocols. The objective of this study was to evaluate the organogenic response of G. jamesonii, orange and pink cultivars, under in vitro culture. Different levels of N6-benzyladenine (BA) (2, 4 and 6 mg/l) and thidiazuron (TDZ) (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/l) in combination with Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (0 and 0.1 mg/l) in MS medium were evaluated for shoot induction. For proliferation, regenerated shoots in TDZ were subcultured in medium supplemented with 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/l TDZ, 2 mg/l BA or 2 mg/l Kin and regenerated shoots in BA were subcultured on the induction medium. In the second phase, mediums of MS, 1/2 MS, MS with 1/2 NH4NO3 and KNO3 concentration (MS-1/2N), MS with 1/2 micro and iron elements (MS-1/2MI), B5 and 1/2 B5 on shoot induction and proliferation of pink cultivar were evaluated. In order to induce rooting in the regenerated shoots, different levels of IAA (1, 2 and 3 mg/l) and 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (1, 2 and 3 mg/l) in combination with sucrose (30 and 40 g/l) were evaluated Maximum shoot induction, (88.8 % and 44.4 % for orange and pink cultivars, respectively) and multiplication rate (7.6 shoots/explant for orange cultivar and 1.33 shoots/explant for pink cultivar) were obtained in medium with 4 mg/l BA and 0.1 mg/l IAA. The most effective media for shoot induction and proliferation were MS-1/2N and MS, respectively. The best rate of shoot rooting in orange cultivar (4.6 roots/explants with 4.8 cm length) and pink cultivar (5.2 roots/explants with 6.2 cm length) was  obtained by using 3 mg/l IAA and 30 mg/l sucrose. The establishment of plantlets was done successfully with 92% of survival in the greenhouse.Key words: Micropropagation, organogenesis, in vitro culture, Gerbera, cut flower

Concurrent papillary thyroid cancer and parathyroid adenoma as a rare condition: A case report

Although the pathological relationship between parathyroid and thyroid diseases is common, an association between parathyroid adenoma and thyroid cancer is rare. Concomitant thyroid cancer in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) has been reported at varying frequencies. WE present here a 23-year-old man who had papillary thyroid carcinoma in the right thyroid lobe and a parathyroid adenoma in the left thyroid lobe, which were confirmed surgically. Copyright © 2012 Via Medica

Effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on glycaemia control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and comparison of two therapeutic regimens

Background and study aims: The eradication rate of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been reported as being lower in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) than in those without DM. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of the two H. pylori eradication regimens in patients without and with type 2 DM and to study the effect of H. pylori treatment on glycaemia control. Patients and Methods: A total of 93 consecutive type 2 DM (non-insulin users) and 98 non-diabetic age- and sex-matched patients were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment protocols all given twice daily: (a) a 14-day quadruple therapy comprising of omeprazole 20mg, metronidazole 500mg, amoxicillin 1g and bismuth subcitrate 240mg (OMAB) and (b) a 14-day triple regimen comprising of omeprazole 20mg plus clarithromycin 500mg and amoxicillin 1g (OCA). Cure was defined as a negative 13C-urea breath test at least 6weeks after treatment. Results: The H. pylori eradication rate with the OCA regimen was 63% in patients with type 2 DM (non-insulin users) and 87.7% in the control group (p=0.017). The H. pylori eradication rate with the OMAB regimen was 38.2% in patients with type 2 DM and 55.1% in the control group (p&lt;0.001). Mean decrease of fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c level shows no statistically significant difference after H. pylori eradication. Conclusion: This study suggests that the eradication rate of H. pylori with OCA or OMAB treatment is lower in patients with type 2 diabetes than in non-diabetics and H. pylori treatment in patients with type 2 DM has no role in the control of the glycaemia. The triple therapy (OCA) is superior to the quadruple protocol (OMAB) in H. pylori eradication of both DM and non-DM cases. © 2013 Arab Journal of Gastroenterology

Effects of salinity on physiological, biochemical and gene expression parameters of Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon): potential for farming in low-salinity environments

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic factors affecting growth, metabolism, immunity and survival of aquatic species in farming environments. As a euryhaline species, the black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) can tolerate a wide range of salinity levels and is farmed between brackish to marine water conditions. The current study tested the effects of six different salinity levels (0‰, 2.5‰, 5‰, 10‰, 20‰ and 30‰) on the selected physiological, biochemical and genetic markers (individual changes in the expression pattern of selected candidate genes) in the black tiger shrimp. Experimental salinity levels significantly affected growth and survival performance (p < 0.05); the highest levels of growth and survival performance were observed at the control (20‰) salinity. Salinity reductions significantly increased free fatty acid (FFA), but reduced free amino acid (FAA) levels. Lower salinity treatments (0–10‰) significantly reduced hemolymph osmolality levels while 30‰ significantly increased osmolality levels. The five different salinity treatments increased the expression of osmoregulatory and hemolymph regulatory genes by 1.2–8-fold. In contrast, 1.2–1.6-fold lower expression levels were observed at the five salinity treatments for growth (alpha amylase) and immunity (toll-like receptor) genes. O2 consumption, glucose and serotonin levels, and expression of osmoregulatory genes showed rapid increase initially with salinity change, followed by reducing trend and stable patterns from the 5th day to the end. Hemocyte counts, expression of growth and immunity related genes showed initial decreasing trends, followed by an increasing trend and finally stability from 20th day to the end. Results indicate the farming potential of P. monodon at low salinity environments (possibly at freshwater) by proper acclimation prior to stocking with minimal effects on production performance

An acceptance model for the adoption of smart glasses technology by healthcare professionals

In the recent years, there has been an increase in the interest from different industries in the adoption of smart wearable devices in the light of their inevitable ubiquity. One type of these devices is the Augmented Reality Smart Glasses (ARSGs), which can have great effect in different areas through providing timely information to users. One of the industries that can significantly reap the benefits of this technology is healthcare. However, as healthcare is a very multi-dimensional industry, there is a need for a multifaceted look into the adoption and acceptance of smart glasses by health professionals. This study tends to examine the acceptance of smart glasses by healthcare professionals based on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as there is an imperative for empirical studies on user perceptions, attitudes, and intentions. For this purpose, five external factors are extracted from the literature and field study, being integration with information systems, external effects, hands-free feature, technological compatibility, and documentation. The model is examined by using PLS-SEM methodology. This study found documentation to have the strongest impact on intention due to the substitution of paperwork by mobile devices and facilitation of continuous documentation

Comparison of Salivary Secretory IgA in Caries-free Children and Children with Severe Early Childhood Caries

Abstract: Background & Aims: Sever early childhood caries (SECC) is a multifactor common disease that unfortunately there have been a lot of unknown points about it. This study was performed to compare the levels of total S-IgA in children with and without SECC. Methods: In this cross-sectional study 44 children aged 6-24 months were divided into two groups of with SECC (n=20) and without SECC (n=24). The two groups were compared for the concentration of S-IgA assessed with Nephlometric method. The obtained data were analyzed by using t-test and through SPSS 15 software. Results: Mean saliva concentration of S-IgA in children with SECC (18.30 mg/dl) was higher than that in children without SECC (9.46 mg/dl) and this difference was statistically Significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to this study, the hypothesis of lower levels of S-IgA in children with SECC might be rejected. Keywords: Immunoglobulins, Saliva, Dental caries » XM

Protective effect of zinc on serum parameters related to thyroid and parathyroid glands in rats exposed to cadmium

Background: Cadmium is one of the toxic metals, which can enter the body through several routes due to its numerous applications and lead to some disorders. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of zinc on cadmium-induced damages in the serum parameters related to the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 male rats weighting 201±30g were divided into the four separated groups (consisting of 5 rats): the cadmium treatment, zinc treatment, combination of zinc and cadmium and control groups. The normal saline containing 1 mg cadmium was injected intrapritoneally to the rats as the first treatment. The second group was treated with 0.5 mg zinc, the third one received the combined doses of cadmium (1mg) and zinc (0.5mg) and the control group received only the normal saline injection. At the end of the experiment (30 and 60 d), all rats were decapitated and sera collected to measure the serum parameters related to the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Results: The obtained results showed that cadmium significantly (P<0.05) decreased the concentration of serum calcium, T3, T4 and calcitonin, but increased the Pi concentration and the activity of Paratormone and alkaline phosphatase. Zinc treatment in animals either maintained all the aforementioned serum parameters at their normal levels or at least showed a preventive-like role. Conclusion: Although a long-term injection of cadmium provides hypothyroidism as well as hyperparathyroidism, zinc can be able to reduce the toxic effects of cadmium