Molecular miR-19a in Acute Myocardial Infarction: Novel Potential Indicators of Prognosis and Early Diagnosis

Objective: Due to the increasing annual incidence rate of disability and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the need for an appropriate diagnostic tool has become a crucial urgent issue. An increase in biomarkers and protein levels in response to AMI can be used as a predictive biomarker with different sensitivities and specificities. This study aimed at investigating the role of miR-19a as a biomarker with acceptable sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis of AMI. Methods: We studied 175 patients with AMI admitted within 12 h of symptom onset and 90 healthy subjects as control group. Patients were divided into two groups, including group I (normal vessels and no significant artery stenosis) and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) group II (patients with more than 50% stenosis in vessels and severe atherosclerosis) diagnosed by angiography. The expression level of miR-19a was evaluated by the real-time polymerase chain reaction and other serum chemistries were also analyzed. Results: The results demonstrated that circulating miR-19a levels were significantly increased in patient groups compared to the control group (2.88 ± 1.06 vs. 5.93 ± 1.28, P<0.0001). We also found that miR-19a levels were higher in group II (134.62-fold) than group I (15.42-fold). The upper levels of miR-19a were significantly correlated with the increased serum levels of CK-MB (ρ=0.29, P<0.0001), CTn I (ρ=0.4, P<0.0001) and creatinine (ρ=0.27, P<0.0001). In addition, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that circulating miR-19a had considerable diagnostic accuracy for the patients with normal vessel with an AUC of 0.930 (95% CI: 0.697-0.765) and for PCI patients with an AUC of 0.966 (95% CI: 0.748-0.784). Conclusion: Circulating miR-19a possibly has prognostic value to be used as a promising molecular target for early diagnosis and prognosis of AMI.     

Chemical composition and mechanisms underlying the spasmolytic and bronchodilatory properties of the essential oil of Nepeta cataria L.

Aim of the study

The study was aimed to investigate the chemical composition and pharmacological basis for traditional use of essential oil of Nepeta cataria L. (Limiaceae) (Nc.Oil) in gastrointestinal and respiratory disorders.

Materials and methods

Chemical analysis was carried out through GC-EIMS, ¹³C NMR and Kovats Retention Indices while pharmacological study was carried out in isolated tissues preparations.

Results

Four major components; 1,8-cineol (21.00%), α-humulene (14.44%), α-pinene (10.43%) and geranyl acetate (8.21%) were identified among the 27 compounds in Nc.Oil. In isolated rabbit jejunum, Nc.Oil, papaverine and verapamil inhibited spontaneous and high K⁺(80 mM) precontractions, as well as shifted the Ca⁺⁺ concentration–response curves (CRCs) to right, indicating calcium channel blocking activity. In isolated guinea-pig trachea, Nc.Oil and papaverine inhibited carbachol (1 μM) and K⁺ precontractions with similar potency, while verapamil was more potent against K⁺. Nc.Oil also potentiated isoprenaline inhibitory CRCs, similar to papaverine, indicating papaverine-like PDE inhibitor activity. In isolated guinea-pig atria, Nc.Oil caused cardiodepression at around 25–80 times higher concentrations, similar to papaverine.

Conclusions

These data indicate that Nepeta cataria possesses spasmolytic and myorelaxant activities mediated possibly through dual inhibition of calcium channels and PDE, which may explain its traditional use in colic, diarrhea, cough and asthma.     

Evaluation of therapeutic laser influences on the healing of third-degree burns in rats according to different wavelengths

Introduction: One of the most important innovative methods for tissue repair promotion is therapeutic lasers with photobiomodulution effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of four different wavelengths of therapeutic laser (405, 532, 660 and 810 nm) on healing of third-degree burns from both clinical and pathological standpoints in rats. Materials and methods: 60 male Wistar rats were used. Animals were anesthetized and dorsal hairs were shaved and third-degree skin burns were created by use of a 95°C copper stamp. Lesions were irradiated with 1.5 J/cm² energy densities and 200 mW/cm² power densities. Results: Statistical analyses of the “wound contraction” changes between five groups during the study showed more reduction in wound size in all laser groups in comparison with the control group; but these differences were not statistically significant except between red and blue lasers on the last day of experiment. Discussion: Results of our study showed that using therapeutic lasers with green, blue, red, and infrared wavelengths may accelerate healing process. This trend is more obvious in red and infrared groups especially after acute phase, however, this effect was neither statistically nor clinically significant.     

Energy Transport along α-Helix Protein Chains: External Drives and Multifractal Analysis

Energy transport within biological systems is critical for biological functions in living cells and for technological applications in molecular motors. Biological systems have very complex dynamics supporting a large number of biochemical and biophysical processes. In the current work, we study the energy transport along protein chains. We examine the influence of different factors such as temperature, salt concentration, and external mechanical drive on the energy flux through protein chains. We obtain that energy fluctuations around the average value for short chains are greater than for longer chains. In addition, the external mechanical load is the most effective agent on bioenergy transport along the studied protein systems. Our results can help design a functional nano-scaled molecular motor based on energy transport along protein chains.     

Assessment of the response to chemotherapy in gestational trophoblastic neoplasia with vaginal metastases

Background and goals  This study is designed to survey gestational trophoblastic neoplasia with vaginal metastases (GTN + VM) manifestations, prognosis and chemotherapy response in order to consider appropriate chemotherapy regimen for these patients. There have been just a few studies about treatment of GTN + VM. Materials and methods  Patients with Stage III GTN with or without vaginal metastases who had referred to Vali-e-Asr Hospital during 1996–2006 have been selected to take part in this study and the size of metastases was measured. Then response and resistance to single and combination chemotherapy regimens have been compared in these two groups. The data were processed using SPSS system (release 10). Statistical analysis was done with X² to determine factors associated with complete clinical response. The level of significance was assigned at P < .05. Results  Forty-eight patients with stage III (with pulmonary metastases) GTN patients have been selected, 13 with vaginal metastases and 35 without vaginal metastases. Incidence of vaginal metastases in stage III was 26%. Metastases were mainly in distal part of vagina and suburethra. Chief complaint was severe hemorrhage in 25% of patients and was controlled by vaginal packing with just one exception. Group of vaginal metastases showed 66.6% resistance to first-line chemotherapy, compared to 28.6% in patients with no vaginal metastases (P-value = 0.010). Median of chemotherapy courses in low-risk vaginal metastatic patients was 5 (mean = 5.2), compared to three courses in the group without vaginal metastases. Resistance to single chemotherapy was significantly higher in GTN + VM versus GTN without VM patients and resistance was higher especially in patients with metastases with more than 3 cm (in diameter). Conclusions  Vaginal metastasis with more than 3 cm in diameter is an important prognostic factor in GTN patients. There have higher risks for severe hemorrhage and resistance to single agent chemotherapy, so in these patients combination chemotherapy, with no regard to staging and scoring, would be a better choice. An erratum to this article can be found at     

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) gel modified by a carbodiimide crosslinker for tissue regeneration

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) as a rich source of effective growth factors has been used as a scaffold in tissue regeneration. It is known that PRF exhibits rapid degradability against enzymes, which should be decreased using crosslinking agents to reduce the release rate of growth factors and increase the effectiveness of tissue regeneration. In this study, a carbodiimide crosslinker with different concentrations (0.01%, 0.05%, 1%, and 2%) was used to modify and improve the properties of PRF gel. The crosslinked gels were evaluated with analyses such as SEM, swelling, degradability, mechanical strength, release test, cytotoxicity, and cell adhesion. The results showed that with increasing crosslinker concentration, the morphology of the fiber structure changes drastically, the swelling rate decreases from 300% (control) to 160% for the crosslinked gel, the degradation time for the control sample increases from 8 days to more than two weeks for the crosslinked gel, and the Young''s modulus increases from 0.15 MPa (control) to 0.61 MPa for the crosslinked samples. Growth factors also showed lower release with increasing crosslinking ratio. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that by increasing the crosslinker concentration to 1% w/v, no cytotoxicity was observed. Cellular studies with DAPI staining showed that the cells penetrated well into the gels and were well distributed, especially in gels with lower crosslinker concentrations. In addition, the modified PRF gel can be used as a scaffold for tissue regeneration.

1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) as a crosslinker can improve the physical and mechanical properties of PRF gel by forming covalent bonds.