The effects of low-level laser irradiation on breast tumor in mice and the expression of Let-7a,miR-155, miR-21, miR125, and miR376b

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a form of photon therapy which can be a non-invasive therapeutic procedure in cancer therapy using low-intensity light in the range of 450–800 nm. One of the main functional features of laser therapy is the photobiostimulation effects of low-level lasers on various biological systems including altering DNA synthesis and modifying gene expression, and stopping cellular proliferation. This study investigated the effects of LLLT on mice mammary tumor and the expression of Let-7a, miR155, miR21, miR125, and miR376b in the plasma and tumor samples. Sixteen mice were equally divided into four groups including control, and blue, green, and red lasers at wavelengths of 405, 532, and 632 nm, respectively. Weber Medical Applied Laser irradiation was carried out with a low power of 1–3 mW and a series of 10 treatments at three times a week after tumor establishment. Tumor volume was weekly measured by a digital vernier caliper, and qRT-PCR assays were performed to accomplish the study. Depending on the number of groups and the p value of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test of normality, a t test, a one-way ANOVA, or a non-parametric test was used for data analyses, and p?<?0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The average tumor volume was significantly less in the treated blue group than the control group on at days 21, 28, and 35 after cancerous cell injection. Our data also showed an increase of Let-7a and miR125a expression and a decrease of miR155, miR21, and miR376b expression after LLLT with the blue laser both the plasma and tumor samples compared to other groups. It seems that the non-invasive nature of laser bio-stimulation can make LLLT an attractive alternative therapeutic tool.     

Gluteal muscle fibrosis with abduction contracture of the hip

Purpose

Gluteal muscle fibrosis with hip contracture is a rare condition and causes major disability; literature reports are sparse. The aim of this study is to present, for the first time in Iraq and the region, a case series of gluteal fibrosis and the results of surgical treatment.

Methods

Seven children—six boys and one girl—diagnosed as having gluteal muscle fibrosis with hip contracture, were investigated and treated by open surgical release of fibrotic bands and physiotherapy.

Results

All patients improved dramatically over the subsequent weeks, and were able to sit and squat in the normal position.

Conclusions

Gluteal muscle fibrosis with hip contracture is present in Iraq and more awareness is needed for early diagnosis. Surgical treatment provided excellent results. More studies are needed to delineate the aetiology of the condition.

     

Association between GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 variants and the risk of end stage renal disease

Introduction: There are some evidences indicating DNA damage by oxidant and mutant agents has an essential role in the chronic renal failure and end stage renal disease (ESRD). To investigate the possible association of GSTs variants with ESRD, we investigated the frequency of GST- T1, M1, and P1 genotypes, and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with ESRD.

Materials and methods: The present case-control study consisted of 136 ESRD patients treated with maintenance hemodialysis and 137 gender- and age-matched, unrelated healthy controls from the population of west of Iran. The GST- T1, M1, and P1 genotypes were determined in all individuals using multiplex-PCR and PCR-RFLP. The level of MDA was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Results: We found that GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes (GSTT1?/GSTM1?) increased the risk of ESRD by 1.8 times (p?<?0.001) and the increased risk of ESRD for GSTM-null (T1+-M1?) genotype was 3.04 times (p?=?0.002). ESRD patients carriers the GST (GSTM1-null?+?GSTT1-null?+?GST-null) genotypes compared to GST normal genotype increased the risk of ESRD by 3.3 (p?<?0.001) times. ESRD patients carriers of GST-null, GSTM1-null, and GSTT1-null genotypes had greater MDA concentration compared with the same genotypes of control subjects. Our results indicated that the GST-null allele (GSTT1-null/GSTM1-null) is a risk factor for ESRD and carriers of this allele have high levels of MDA.

Conclusion: Our findings indicate that oxidative stress, impairment of the antioxidant system and abnormal lipid metabolism may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of ESRD and its related complications. These data suggest that patients with ESRD are more susceptible to vascular diseases.     

Reliable and powerful laboratory markers of cobalamin deficiency in the newborn: plasma and urinary methylmalonic acid

Background: Diagnosing cobalamin deficiency is critical, given the high prevalence of cobalamin deficiency particularly in developing countries. Measuring serum cobalamin levels is of limited diagnostic sensitivity, in other words its specificity and sensitivity are low. The present study investigated the changes in the levels of metabolic markers – plasma homocysteine, plasma methylmalonic acid (MMA) and urinary MMA – of cobalamin metabolism.

Methods: Plasma cobalamin and serum folic acid were studied in 206 pregnant women over the last four prenatal weeks. Plasma cobalamin, folic acid, homocysteine, MMA from umbilical cord blood and urinary MMA in newborns were studied.

Results: Plasma cobalamin values were low in 66% of the mothers. There was a positive correlation between maternal and neonatal plasma cobalamin values (r?=?0.72, p?<?0.001). B12 was strongly inversely associated with plasma MMA, urine MMA and plasma homocysteine. To predict cobalamin deficiency, sensitivities of plasma MMA, urinary MMA and homocysteine were 96.4%, 95.6% and 88.2%, respectively. And positive predictive values (PPV) were 96.2%, 96.9% and 86% for plasma MMA, urinary MMA and plasma homocysteine levels, respectively.

Conclusion: Plasma MMA and urinary MMA B12 are the most robust markers of cobalamin deficiency. As a non-invasive method, urinary MMA is a sensitive method in demonstrating cobalamin deficiency in the newborn.     

Infections and neutrophils in the pathogenesis of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in children after allogeneic stem cell transplantation

It is plausible that infections post‐hematopoietic SCT play a role in the pathogenesis of BOS. A prospective study for children with history, questionnaire, examination, PFTs, and blood counts at one, three, six, nine, 12, 18, and 24 months post‐SCT was conducted. Between September 2009 and September 2011 (n = 39), six developed BOS at 200 days (range 94–282), three patients had probable clinical respiratory infection, and all six had higher neutrophil count compared to non‐BOS patients (4.7 vs. 2.4 at three months and 6.3 vs. 2.9 at six months ×10⁹/L, p = 0.03). Contribution of clinical and subclinical infection needs to be considered in the pathogenesis of BOS.