Primary upper small-intestinal lymphoma and alpha-chain disease. Report of 10 cases emphasizing pathological aspects.

Ten cases of primary upper small-intestinal lymphoma associated with alpha-chain protein in serum were discovered in a prospective study of the sera of patients with immunoproliferative small-intestinal disease (IPSID). Patients were mostly young males presenting with abdominal pain, weight loss, and diarrhea and showing laboratory evidence of carbohydrate, fat, and vitamin B12 malabsorption and hypoalbuminemia. The more frequently encountered pathologic abnormality was a diffusely nodular jejunal mucosa produced by a plasmacytic infiltrate of variable cell maturity involving a varible depth of small bowel wall with or without involvement of the mesenteric or para-aortic-lymph node complex and, in one instance, the liver. A less frequent picture included circumferential ulcerative and constrictive transmural tumors of the upper small intestine produced by a malignant lymphoma with involvement of abdominal lymph nodes. Small-intestinal surface epithelial abnormalities, a dense mantle of mature plasma cells overlying the lymphoma, a pronounced follicular lymphoid hyperplasia adjacent to and at distances from the lymphoma were other features of note in our IPSID cases associated with alpha-chain protein.     

Developmental and cytogenetic assessments of preimplantation embryos derived from in-vivo or in-vitro matured human oocytes

Aneuploidy is of great relevance to embryo selection, as it represents one of the important causes of implantation failure. Furthermore, immature oocytes, retrieved during gonadotrophin-stimulated IVF cycles, are generally discarded in clinics; whereas, there was no detectable comprehensive evidence on higher rates of aneuploidy based on maturity status on the day of oocyte retrieval. As well, the correlation between embryo morphology on aneuploidy remains unclear. The aim was to evaluate the developmental and genetic integrity of human preimplantation embryos from rescue in-vitro matured MII stage oocytes as well as in vivo matured oocytes. 541 rescue in-vitro matured oocytes as case as well as 659 in-vivo matured oocytes as control were used for the developmental assay. Finally, 121 cleaved embryos with good quality were analyzed by FISH technique for the detection of chromosomes X, Y, 13, 15, 16, 18, 21 and 22. The fertilization rates were 61.62% and 61.76% in case and control groups, respectively. Also, embryo formation rates of 89.1% vs. 92.2% were recorded for case and control groups, respectively. Good quality embryos on day 3 were 62.54% in case and 68.36% in control groups. There were insignificant differences in fertilization, embryo formation and quality between the groups. Total abnormality in 35 of the 60 embryos was 58.5% in case and 62.3% in control (p < 0.05). There were significant differences between aneuploidy rates of embryos using only sex chromosome preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and sex chromosome in combination with autosomal chromosomes PGS in case (58.5% vs 28.3%, p = 0.000) and control groups (62.3% vs 21.3%; p = 0.000). The results demonstrated that a high proportion of good quality embryos were aneuploid in both patient groups with no obvious increase in aneuploidies as a result of rescue IVM application. Furthermore, the morphological characteristics of embryos do not completely consistent with chromosomal content. Despite the Rescue IVM is currently not a routine procedure in association with IVF, our finding suggested a viable option for young infertile women facing cancellation of their IVF treatment due to ovarian over-response or resistance factors as well as patients with low functional ovarian reserve considering good quality of embryos from rescue IVM-MII oocytes.     

Radical scavenging abilities and hepatoprotective effect of [N,N′-Bis (salicylidene) ethane-1, 2-diaminato] oxovanadium (IV) complex in CCl4-treated rats

The antioxidant activity of [N, N′-Bis (salicylidene) ethane-1, 2-diaminato] oxovanadium (IV) complex (VO-salen complex) was evaluated using different in vitro evaluating systems including superoxide anion (O₂^?) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging activities. In addition, the inhibitory effects of this compound on protein oxidation and inhibition of Fe²⁺/ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation were studied using rat liver homogenate. In vitro results revealed that the VO-salen complex has strong inhibitory effects on protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation of the liver homogenate along with a concentration-dependent quenching of H₂O₂ and O₂^? radicals. In an in vivo approach, hepatoprotective potential of the VO-salen complex against liver damages induced by CCl₄ treatment was also investigated. After intraperitoneal injection of CCl₄ to rats, various biochemical changes associated with liver injury and/or oxidative stress were measured. The results showed that the sera levels of ALT, AST, ALP and the content of hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were all increased and the glutathione (GSH) content and the hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were decreased in CCl₄-treated rats. However, simultaneous treatment of rats with VO-salen (0.6 mg/kg) and CCl₄ significantly attenuated the sera levels of ALT, AST, ALP and the hepatic TBARS content. In addition, by VO-salen therapy, the hepatic SOD and CAT activities and the GSH content were all restored back almost to their normal levels. The liver damages were also significantly ameliorated as compared to the CCl₄-treated rats. Based on these results, the VO-salen complex might be considered as an effective antioxidant and hepatoprotective agent suitable for further biological evaluation.     

The association between second-trimester maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein in 14-22 weeks and adverse pregnancy outcome

Aim of this study is to determine the risk of adverse pregnancy outcome by maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) level. We followed 295 pregnant women from MSAFP screening in the 14th to 22th week of gestation until the end of pregnancy and information on pregnancy outcome have been recorded in questionnaires. Of 295 pregnant women, 270 had term labor and 25 had preterm labor. The frequencies of pregnancy outcomes were as following: 3 (1.01%) stillbirths, 25 (8.47%) preterm labor, and 10 (3.4%) preterm rupture of membranous (PROM), 15 (5.1%) pre-eclampsia, 23 (7.8%) oligohydramnious, and 1 (0.33%) miscarriage. The mean of preterm labor was significantly associated with the higher level of MSAFP (P = 0.021). The mean was 55.1 ng/cc in preterm labor and 41.1 ng/cc in term labor. Also, second trimester MSAFP levels were higher in women with pre-eclampsia (P < 0.001). The significant association was found between higher level of MSAFP with oligohydramnious (P < 0.001) and low birth weight (P < 0.001). Pregnancies with an elevated MSAFP level are associated with adverse obstetric outcomes and need more prenatal care.     

Genistein modulation of seizure: involvement of estrogen and serotonin receptors

Genistein, a major source of phytoestrogen exposure for humans and animals, has been shown to mediate neuroprotection in Alzheimer’s disease and status epilepticus. In the present study, we investigated the effect of genistein on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in ovariectomized mice and the possible involvement of estrogenic and serotonergic pathways in the probable effects of genistein. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of genistein (10 mg/kg) significantly increased the seizure threshold 30 min prior to induction of seizures 14 days after ovariectomy surgery. Administration of fulvestrant (1 mg/kg, i.p.), an estrogen receptor antagonist, completely reversed the anticonvulsant effect of genistein (10 mg/kg) in ovariectomized mice. Administration of the antagonist of serotonin receptor (5-HT3), tropisetron (10 mg/kg, i.p.), eliminated the anticonvulsant effect of genistein, whereas co-administration of m-chlorophenylbiguanide (5-HT3 receptor agonist; 1 mg/kg) and a non-effective dose of genistein (5 mg/kg) increased the seizure threshold. To conclude, it seems that estrogenic/serotonergic systems might be involved in the anticonvulsant properties of genistein.     

How Do Women at Risk of HIV/AIDS in Iran Perceive Gender Norms and Gendered Power Relations in the Context of Safe Sex Negotiations?

Sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS among women is growing in the Middle East region. Despite the fact that there are numerous gender-related sociocultural factors influencing HIV/AIDS protective behaviors, little gender-specificity is carried out in HIV prevention in Iran. In order to close this gap, we aimed to provide preliminary work that explored the perceptions that women at risk of HIV had about gender norms and gendered power and their ability to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS. Twenty-five semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with women at risk of HIV/AIDS, aged 21–49 years, at Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers or Drop in Centers in Tehran, Iran. Results showed that perceived gender norms were essential barriers of protective behavior through sexual socialization, male control over condom use and sexual decision-making, male pleasure predominating in sexual encounters and sexual double standards, and economic dependencies. In the conclusions, we consider how HIV/AIDS preventive programs can be structured to be gender-sensitive and empowering in Iran.     

Synthesis of novel N-substituted imidazolecarboxylic acid hydrazides as monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Novel 2-alkylsulfanyl-1-benzyl-5-imidazolecarboxylic acid hydrazides (15a,b) were synthesized as analogues of isocarboxazide, which is a known nonselective irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor and tested for monoamine oxidase A and B inhibitory activity. Neither of the compounds showed any inhibition of MAO B activity up to a high concentration of 100 microM. An MAO A activity was only slowly inhibited at this high concentration after prolonged incubation with either compound. This suggests any observed inhibition is not very specific.