A survey on the possibility of utilizing γH2AX as a biodosimeter in radiation workers

Introduction DNA damage is among the main consequences of radiation. Of many different classes of DNA damage, double-strand breaks are the most deleterious. Development of a sensitive biodosimetry method, which utilizes a detection material with a similar construction to the body, seems essential for monitoring radiation workers. In this study, histone H2AX protein was examined as a potential biodosimeter in radiation workers. Moreover, the presence of this protein after in vitro irradiation of blood samples was assessed simultaneously. Materials and Methods Blood samples from 46 radiation workers were analyzed in Golestan province, Iran. Meanwhile, two groups of blood samples (five blood samples in each group) were irradiated in vitro by doses of 1 to 0.2 Gy and 0.09 to 0.01 Gy from a 60Co source, respectively. γH2AX level in lymphocytes was measured, using Western blot technique. ANOVA and Tukey's tests were performed, using SPSS version 16. The significance level was considered to be 0.05. Results The results of Western blotting for the identification of γH2AX protein in radiation workers were negative. However, γH2AX level in lymphocytes of two in vitro irradiated groups showed a significant correlation with the radiation dose (P<0.0001). Conclusion The results showed that γH2AX was a good indicator for acute or local exposure to ionizing radiation, while in chronically exposed individuals, including radiation workers, this protein was useless at least in autoradiography detection method. Regarding the presence of γH2AX protein in blood samples, which were irradiated in vitro at low doses, it can be concluded that this protein has powerful repair mechanisms

Downregulation of plasma MiR-142-3p and MiR-26a-5p in patients with colorectal carcinoma

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and cancer- related death worldwide. Identification of new specific biomarkers could be helpful to detection of this malignancy. Altered plasma microRNA expression has been identified in many cancers, including colorectal cancer. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to identify the circulating microRNAs with the most expression changes in colorectal cancer patients compared with neoplasm free healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: MicroRNA expression profiling was performed on plasma samples of 37 colorectal cancer patients and 8 normal subjects using microRNA microarray. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to validate the two selected altered microR NAs. Plasma samples from 61 colorectal cancer patients and 24 normal subjects were used in our validation study. Results: In profiling study we found a panel of six plasma microRNAs with significant downregulation. MicroRNA-142-3p and microRNA-26a-5p were selected and validated by polymerase chain reaction. Our results demonstrated that expression levels of plasma microRNA-142-3p and microRNA-26a-5p were significantly downregulated in patients with colorectal cancer when compared to control group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that downregulation of plasma microRNA-142-3p and microRNA-26a-5p might serve as novel noninvasive biomarkers in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer, although more studies are needed to highlight the theoretical strengths. © 2015, Iranian Journal of Cancer Prevention

Influence of different levels of n-3 supplemented (fish oil) diet on performance, carcass quality and fat status in broilers

An experiment was conducted to evaluate fish oil as n-3 fatty acids source on some performance, carcass and serum parameters in broilers. One-day old Ross strain male broiler chickens (n = 120) were randomly arranged in four dietary treatments (0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5 percent fish oil), with three replicates for each treatment. Mean live weight and feed intake at the end of starting, growing and finishing periods in fourth treatment was lower than other treatments. All treatments containing fish oil significantlydecreased feed conversion ratio compared to control treatment. There were no significant differences on percent of carcass to live weight and abdominal fat percentage to carcass weight in T2, T3 and T4, but there were significant differences between control diet and the others. Serum triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-c and VLDL-c concentrations were significantly reduced by fish oil treatments than the control diet, but serum HDL-c concentrations were significantly increased by using of diets containingfish oil. The results of this experiment indicated that dietary&#160; supplementation of fish oil improved feed conversion ratio, carcass quality and HDL-c concentration in serum, but it decreased serum triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL-c and VLDL-c concentrations in serum of broiler chickens

Design and manufacture a new solar unit for distillation and water heating in Basrah City

In this paper a new solar unit for water heating and distillation has been designed and manufactured. It was operated for a period of 6 month from December 2013 to May 2014 in Basrah city which lies on longitude (47o45 ) and latitude (30o33 ). The average daily productivity of distilled water at the operated month was ranged between (8.4 -14.56) liter/m2 and a hot water at a temperature of 43-70 Co at a normal flow of 65 ml/min. Keywords: solar collector , solar energy , solar distillation , solar water heating , solar still.

Effects of light regimes on growth and survival of Penaeus semisuleatus

We investigated the possible effects of light regimes on growth and survival rate of juvenile shrimp Penaeus semisuicants cultured in Bushehr Province, southern Iran. Five light regimes each with three replications were applied for 30 days. The treatments were 24 1 0, 18 / 6, 12 1 12, 6 1 18 and 0 124 hours of light and darkness. We found that the treatment 12 7 12 hours of light and darkness was better than 18 1 6 and significantly superior to other treatments (P<0.05). The lowest growth rate was seen in the treatment 24 / 0 (P<0.001 ). We did not find a significant difference in the survival rate of the shrimps cultured in the light and darkness treatments (P<0.05)

Improvement of tissue survival of skin flaps by 5α-reductase inhibitors: Possible involvement of nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase

Background: Skin flap grafting is a popular approach for reconstruction of critical skin and underlying soft tissue injuries. In a previous study, we demonstrated the beneficial effects of two 5α-reductase inhibitors, azelaic acid and finasteride, on tissue survival in a rat model of skin flap grafting. In the current study, we investigated the involvement of nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in graft survival mediated by these agents. Methods: A number of 42 male rats were randomly allocated into six groups: 1, normal saline topical application; 2, azelaic acid (100 mg/flap); 3, finasteride (1 mg/flap); 4, injection of L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (i.p., 20 mg/kg); 5, L-NAME (20 mg/kg, i.p.) + azelaic acid (100 mg/flap, topical); 6, L-NAME (20 mg/kg, i.p.) + finasteride (1 mg/flap, topical). Tissue survival, level of nitric oxide, and iNOS expression in groups were measured. Results: Our data revealed that azelaic acid and finasteride significantly increased the expression of iNOS protein and nitric oxide (NO) levels in graft tissue (P &lt; 0.05). These increases in iNOS expression and NO level were associated with higher survival of the graft tissue. Conclusion: It appears that alterations of the NO metabolism are implicated in the azelaic acid- and finasteride-mediated survival of the skin flaps. © 2015, Pasteur Institute of Iran. All rights reserved

Emergence of a new focus of visceral leishmaniasis due to Leishmania infantum in Golestan Province, north-eastern of Iran

Over the last decade, a few cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been reported in some districts of the province of Golestan, in north-eastern Iran. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of Leishmania infantum infection among humans and domestic dogs by using direct agglutination test (DAT) and PCR assays in the eastern zone of the province. Between 2011 and 2012, blood samples were randomly collected from 450 humans and 50 domestic dogs, in the eastern zone of Golestan Province including 7 villages from Marave-tappeh district where new cases of human VL had been recorded there. Each of these samples was tested for anti-Leishmania antibodies, in DAT, and for L. infantum kinetoplast DNA on whole blood, in PCR-based assays. A total of 450 human samples, 6 (1.33 %) were found seropositive and 13 (2.8 %) was found PCR-positive. Of the 50 dog samples, 16 (32 %) were found seropositive and 15 (30 %) were PCR-positive. All PCR-positive dogs were found seropositive except one as well as 6 (46.2 %) PCR-positive humans were also found seropositive. Moreover, the species of L. infantum was detected in all PCR-positive samples. The high prevalence of VL in the study areas offer it has emerged as an endemic focus in the province. Further investigations on the vectors, reservoirs and human population are recommended. © 2013 Indian Society for Parasitology

Serum level of homocysteine, folate and vitamin-B12 in epileptic patients under carbamazepine and sodium valproate treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Numerous studies have shown that long term treatment with anticonvulsants may be an important risk factor for the onset of atherosclerosis, or worsening of its symptoms. There are many contradictory reports regarding these effects. Objectives: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published studies in order to see whether the atherogenic outcomes could be related to any serum biochemical abnormalities. Materials and Methods: Published articles indexed in PubMed, ISI web of science, Science Direct and Scopus databases from 1990 to 2011 were retrieved using a comprehensive search strategy. After omitting the unrelated articles and duplicates, articles met the eligibility criteria for critical appraisal were included in the analysis. Data were summarized in standard data abstraction forms and subjected to analysis by STATA software. Results: Finally, ten published studies were included in the meta-analysis. Results showed that carbamazepine and sodium valproate consumption are associated with a significant elevation of the serum homocysteine levels. On the other hand, medication with carbamazepine is associated with a reduction of the level of folate in the serum and that of sodium valproate is associated with a reduction of serum level of vitamin B12. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, as carbamazepine and valproate sodium consumption can result in elevated serum levels of homocysteine and decreased levels of folate and vitamin B12, and the atherogenic effect of increased serum homocysteine level is well established, the patients under these medications should be monitored for possible atherogenic effects. © 2013, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal; Published by Kowsar Corp