Recombinant outer membrane secretin PilQ(406-770) as a vaccine candidate for serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis

Secretin PilQ is an antigenically conserved outer membrane protein which is present on most meningococci. This protein naturally expressed at high levels and is essential for meningococcal pilus expression at the cell surface. A 1095 bp fragment of C-terminal of secretin pilQ from serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis was cloned into prokaryotic expression vector pET-28a. Recombinant protein was overexpressed with IPTG and affinity-purified by Ni-NTA agarose. BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with purified rPilQ(406-770) mixed with Freund's adjuvant. Serum antibody responses to serogroups A and B N. meningitidis whole cells or purified rPilQ(406-770) and functional activity of antibodies were determined by ELISA and SBA, respectively. The output of rPilQ(406-770) was approximately 50% of the total bacterial proteins. Serum IgG responses were significantly increased in immunized group with PilQ(406-770) mixed with Freund's adjuvant in comparison with control groups. Antisera produced against rPilQ(406-770) demonstrated strong surface reactivity to serogroups A and B N. meningitidis tested by whole-cell ELISA. Surface reactivity to serogroup B N. meningitidis was higher than serogroup A. The sera from PilQ(406-770) immunized animals were strongly bactericidal against serogroups A and B. These results suggest that rPilQ(406-770) is a potential vaccine candidate for serogroup B N. meningitidis.     

The hard ticks (Ixodidae) fauna of livestock in Sari suburb, Northern Iran

Ticks are very important pests of wildlife, domestic animals, and humans in tropical and subtropical areas. Ticks transmit a number of pathogenic organisms to livestock and humans. This study was carried out to investigate the fauna of hard ticks in domestic animals in Sari suburb. Ticks were collected from 2,356 animals including cattle, goat, and sheep and then preserved in 70% alcohol. They were removed through different grades of ethanol, after dehydration, and fixed with Canada balsam and were examined under binocular for identification of ticks based on diagnostic keys. A total of 2,356 animals (cattle, goat, and sheep) were examined from September 2009 to August 2010 randomly to determine the prevalence of ticks. Among these animals, maximum infection was found in goats (46.16%) followed by cattle (32.49%) and sheep (21.35%). Totally, six species were identified. The most frequent species were Hyalomma marginatus (41.20%) followed by Hyalomma anatolicum (21.35%) and Ixodides ricinus (17.78%). Boophilus annulatus, Rhipicephalus bursa, and Hyalomma asiaticum were less frequent species. The result shows that the maximum number of ticks was collected from udder and testis (38.90%), followed by under the tail (21.33%). The minimum number of ticks was found on the chest (9.80%). The goat and sheep were infested with the maximum numbers of ticks under the tails. A total of 1,068 ticks including 578 males, 393 females, and 97 nymphs were collected from these infested animals. Our results showed that H. marginatus is the main tick species on the infested livestock in the Sari suburb. Consequently, further studies are needed to estimate what economic losses are caused by these species and to establish measures for their control of the ticks.     

Total Antioxidant Status in Patients with Major β-Thalassemia

Objective

Beta-thalassemia major is an autosomal recessive disease causing severe and hemolytic anemia, which begins about 2-6 months after birth. Iron overload, which arises from recurrent transfusion and ineffective erythropoiesis, can enhance oxidative stress in thalassemic patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum total antioxidant capacity of patients with ß-Thalassemia major.

Methods

Sixty six Iranian patients with β-thalassemia major and 66 age-gender matched controls were evaluated for serum total antioxidant status (TAS), uric acid (UA), bilirubin and albumin. In addition, serum ferritin and transaminases were recorded in these subjects.

Findings

Significant increases of TAS, UA, and bilirubin were observed in the patient group, compared with the control group (P<0.01). Mean TAS and bilirubin in male patients was higher than in females (P=0.005 and P=0.008, respectively). There was also direct correlation between TAS and albumin (P<0.001), bilirubin (P<0.001) and UA (P=0.002).

Conclusion

Endogenous antioxidants such as ferritin, UA and bilirubin can result in increased level of TAS in the patients with Beta-thalassemia major. Compensatory excess of TAS to oxidative stress could also be the reason for difference between our findings and previous studies.     

Molecular Diagnosis of Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia in Iran: Focusing on CYP21A2 Gene

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is characterized by impaired biosynthesis of cortisol. 21-hydroxylase deficiency is the most common cause of CAH affecting 1 in 10000-15000 live births over the world. The frequency of the disorder is very high in Iran due to frequent consanguineous marriages. Although biochemical tests are used to confirm the clinical diagnosis, molecular methods could help to define accurate diagnosis of the genetic defect. Recent molecular approaches such as polymerase chain reaction based methods could be used to detect carriers and identify different genotypes of the affected individuals in Iran which may cause variable degrees of clinical expression of the condition. Molecular tests are also applied for prenatal diagnosis, and genetic counseling of the affected families. Here, we are willing to delineate mechanisms underlying the disease, genetic causes of CAH, genetic approaches being used in the country and recommendations for health care improvement on the basis of the molecular and clinical genetics to control and diminish such a high prevalent disorder in Iran. Also, the previous studies on CAH in Iran are gathered and a diagnostic algorithm for the genetic causes is proposed.     

Expression of MT2 Receptor in Patients with Gastric Adenocarcinoma and its Relationship with Clinicopathological Features

Background

Gastric cancer accounts 8 % of the total cancer cases and 10 % of total cancer deaths worldwide. The indoleamine N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, better known as melatonin, is the principal hormone produced by the pineal gland. Recently, it has shown some anticancer role in some malignancies such as breast and colon cancer; also, some of its protective roles in the GI tract are as free radical scavenger and as antimitogenic and apoptotic agents. Based on the anticancer effects of melatonin and wide distribution of this neurohormone in the GI tract and some proposed physiologic and pharmacologic roles for this neurohormone, this study is initially scheduled to determine the expression of melatonin receptor MT2 in tissue samples of adenocarcinoma cancer patients.

Methods

For this aim, a total of 30 gastric adenocarcinoma patients and 30 normal individuals were selected and examined for MT2 gene expression by real-time PCR.

Results

Our results have shown interestingly high expression for MT2 receptor in cancer and marginal cancer tissues compared with normal people.

Conclusions

According to our results, it is concluded that for the first time, the expression of MT2 receptor in gastric adenocarcinoma tissues which was in parallel with breast and colon cancer studies and high expression of this receptor in the marginal tissues indicate refractory mechanism which shows the defending role of melatonin in the GI system. Our experiments has not shown any relationship between MT2 receptor expression and grade and clinicopathological features of gastric tumor, so we cannot conclude any relationship between this receptor expression and progression of the tumor, although this expression can be considered as an etiology.     

Chlamydia pneumoniae—ein neuer Risikofaktor bei kalzifizierender Aortenklappenstenose?

Hintergrund:  

Die nichtrheumatische, kalzifizierende Aortenklappenstenose ist die häufigste Herzklappenerkrankung und Hauptursache eines Herzklappenersatzes im Alter > 65 Jahre. Neuere Studien lassen vermuten, dass sie auf einem chronisch entzündlichen Prozess beruht, die genauen Pathomechanismen sind jedoch unklar.     

Coronary artery disease in takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Significant coronary artery disease (CAD) is generally considered as an exclusion criterion for the diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). However, this may not be justified in all cases, because TC and CAD may coincide. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 821 consecutive patients who underwent urgent left heart catheterization for suspected acute coronary syndrome between December 2004 and August 2006 those with a final diagnosis of TC who also had a stenotic lesion (diameter stenosis on quantitative coronary angiography >50% and <75%) of the left anterior descending artery were evaluated. Four patients met the inclusion criteria. Previous coronary angiograms were available for 2 of these patients and showed no change in the angiographic appearance of the lesions. Intravascular ultrasound study was performed in the other 2 patients and demonstrated negative remodeling and no signs of plaque rupture, thrombus, positive remodeling or intimal dissection. CONCLUSIONS: The present study supports the notion that TC and CAD are not mutually exclusive disease entities. Excluding the diagnosis of TC on the sole basis of an incidental finding of CAD may not be justified in all cases. Rather, a case-by-case decision process seems more appropriate.     

Percutaneous treatment of a coronary aneurysm by stent graft and drug-eluting stent implantation: a potential method to reduce stent graft restenosis

Coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) can occur congenitally or secondary to specific disorders such as Kawasaki disease or atherosclerosis. Apart from a surgical approach, CAA can be treated by coronary stent graft (CSG) implantation. However, restenosis is frequent after CSG placement, precluding a wider use of this technique. We hypothesized that implantation of a drug-eluting stent (DES) within a CSG could be of use to avoid CSG restenosis. We report the case of a patient with a large aneurysm of the right coronary artery who underwent CSG implantation followed by DES placement. The immediate angiographic result showed complete exclusion of the aneurysm. Intravascular ultrasound confirmed good apposition of both the CSG and DES. Follow-up angiography after 23 weeks demonstrated a good long-term result without restenosis. The patient has remained asymptomatic during 12 months of follow-up. In conclusion, the present case suggests that CSG placement followed by DES implantation is a safe and effective approach to treat coronary aneurysms interventionally.     

Application of CMAP scan for the evaluation of patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: a prospective study

AimsWe aimed to assess the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) scan in the follow-up of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) patients and investigate the correlation of CMAP scan parameters with functional and standard electrodiagnostic tests.MethodsWe evaluated four parameters of abductor pollicis brevis (APB) CMAP scan (i.e., step numbers, step percentage, S10, S90), functional measures (e.g., Medical Research Council Sum Scores), and electrodiagnostic tests, including nerve conduction study (NCS) and motor NCS of the median nerve in the baseline and after six months of treatment.ResultsTwenty patients completed baseline clinical and electrodiagnostic studies. However, sixteen patients completed the follow-up study. The median of step numbers at baseline was 3.5 (2–4.2), which decreased to 2.5 (0–3) (p = 0.005). After the treatment, step percentage reduced from 28.6 (23.9–38.7) to 13.4 (0–23.6) (p = 0.001). The scores obtained from the clinical scales showed significant recovery of most of the functions, while the alterations of NCSS and NCS of the median nerve were not significant.ConclusionsWe found a significant reduction in step number and step percentage after follow-up. This alteration was not reflected in standard electrodiagnostic values. The improvement of functional scales alongside the CMAP scan parameters suggests that the CMAP scan could be considered an appropriate outcome measurement in research and clinical fields.