Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids in health and disease: Part 1--cardiovascular disease and cancer

The omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids have a wide range of beneficial effects in several human health conditions. Animal and in vitro studies have indicated that omega-3 fatty acids affect blood lipid profiles, cardiovascular health, membrane lipid composition, eicosanoid biosynthesis, cell signaling cascades, and gene expression. Findings from epidemiological studies suggest that intake of omega-3 fatty acids from natural sources or supplements may influence the onset and progression of several disease states, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. This review highlights some recent research findings that help advance our understanding of how omega-3 fatty acids influence cardiovascular disease and cancer.     

Immunosuppressive activity of a molecule isolated from Artemisia annua on DTH responses compared with cyclosporin A

Artemisia belongs to the family of Compositea; there are different Artemisias in Iran, of which Artemisia annua L. is grown in the north of Iran. In this study, Artemisinin was extracted and purified from the whole plants. The purification of Artemisinin was performed using column chromatography in different polarities of solvents and the results were evaluated by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). (1)H-NMR (NMR-500) spectroscopy was used to characterize the purified Artemisinin. The immunosuppressive activity of Artemisinin was investigated on Balb/c mice by DTH response in comparison to cyclosporin A (CsA). The data indicated that Artemisinin could suppress the delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) against sheep blood capsule in Balb/c mice. Also its inhibitory effect on calmodulin (CaM) structure was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy. The data indicated an inhibitory effect of that on the activity of calmodulin by increasing the fluorescence emission of calmodulin. Both in vivo (DTH response) and in vitro (spectrofluorometry) studies indicated the activity of Artemisinin as an immunosuppressive agent and that the fluorescence emission of calmodulin is more than cyclosporin A.     

Spasticity in a child with myelomeningocele treated with continuous intrathecal baclofen

Patients with myelomeningocele may often suffer from severe spasticity. Surgical treatment of the underlying pathology such as hydromyelia and tethered cord may be successful, but failures are not uncommon. Those cases may offer a surgical challenge since further therapeutic options are limited. We present the case of a 7-year-old boy with myelomeningocele and related conditions suffering from severe spasticity and pain in his lower limbs. Surgical efforts with untethering and posterior fossa decompression failed to improve the symptoms. A test with 25 microg intrathecally delivered baclofen showed a total relief of spasticity and pain so that a pump for continuous baclofen delivery was implanted. During 32 months of follow-up, his spasticity has been under excellent control on 55-157 microg baclofen per day. Continuous delivery of intrathecal baclofen may be a surgical option to consider in patients with myelomeningocele and severe spasticity.     

Evaluation of the expanded newborn screening program in New York City

Since September 1974, New York State public health law has mandated that all newborn infants be tested for phenylketonuria, maple syrup urine disease, homocystinuria, histidinemia, galactosemia, adenosine deaminase deficiency, and sickle cell anemia in accordance with regulations of the state commissioner of health. During the period from May 1, 1975, to April 30, 1976, a total of 110,180 babies born in New York City were tested for these seven conditions. One year's experience with the screening program demonstrated a paucity of technological problems, low observed rate of both false-negatives and -positives, and the expected incidence of the conditions of highest prevalence, incidentally found during screening: i.e., sickle cell traits, AS and AC. What is equally apparent in reviewing this first year's experience is the extent to which the New York State law, its structure, and implementation have fallen short of the ultimate objective. The major reason for this failure is lack of funds and facilities in the areas of education, case retrieval, continuing medical care, and counseling. This report is presented with the hope that it will benefit all involved in genetic screening and especially those concerned with establishing similar programs.     

Sperm DNA damage and its relation with leukocyte DNA damage

DNA fragmentation in human sperm has been related to endogenous and exogenous factors. Exogenous factors can also affect leukocyte DNA integrity. This study evaluated the relation between sperm DNA damage and leukocyte DNA integrity, as a predictor of exogenous factors. DNA damage in the sperm and leukocytes of 41 individuals undergoing ICSI were measured by Comet assay. In addition, sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) was carried out on semen samples. A positive correlation was observed between the DNA integrity of sperm with leukocytes. When patients were divided into low and high DNA exposure groups, sperm DNA fragmentation was significantly different between the two groups. Cleavage rate and embryo quality showed significant correlation with leukocyte DNA integrity. The results showed that leukocyte DNA integrity could be used to identify individuals at high risk in order to reduce the extent of DNA damage in patients before ICSI in order to improve the subsequent outcome of this procedure.     

Inhibition of human lymphocyte reactivity by plasma fibronectin in vitro

The effect of purified human plasma fibronectin (FN) on the reactivity of human lymphocyte-rich mononuclear cells to mitogens and allogeneic cell interactions was studied. Concentrations of FN from 25 to 100 micrograms per 250 microL of culture consistently depressed phytohemagglutinin (PHA) responses. To exert an inhibitory effect, FN must be present within 20 hours after the addition of PHA to cells, and, therefore, it appears to interfere with early events in the transformation process. Increasing the concentration of PHA failed to reduce the inhibitory effect of FN, which suggests that the depressed response was not the result of FN-PHA complex formation, which would reduce the amount of mitogen available for stimulation. This possibility was supported by the finding that FN also inhibited the mixed lymphocyte response (MLR), in a reaction that was not dependent on the activity of soluble antigen or mitogen. In contrast, the stimulation of lymphocytes to undergo transformation that is induced by the nonlectin mitogen, sodium periodate, was unaffected by FN. Periodate-treated cells are, however, already stimulated to undergo transformation, prior to their exposure to FN. FN did not interfere with the activity of interleukin-2, nor did it indirectly regulate lymphocyte responses by modifying the production and/or effect of humoral regulatory factors released from the adherent accessory cells (macrophages). These studies show that FN is a potent immunosuppressive agent in vitro.     

Influence of fibronectin-containing blood products on lymphocyte reactivity

Two fibronectin (FN)-containing blood products, human peripheral blood plasma and cryoprecipitate, were examined for their effect on mitogen-induced lymphocyte transformation in vitro. Responses of human peripheral blood lymphocytes to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) were depressed in the presence of a plasma concentration above that required for maximum DNA synthesis, and this concentration must be present in cultures prior to lymphocyte activation. The removal from the plasma of heparin-induced cryoprecipitate, a complex consisting of FN, heparin, and fibrinogen, resulted in a significant reduction in the inhibitory effect of the plasma on the PHA response. Plasma specifically depleted of FN by affinity chromatography on gelatin-agarose beads was 32 percent less inhibitory to the PHA-induced stimulation of cells than untreated plasma; the remaining inhibitory activity in the FN-depleted plasma samples was attributed to the presence of other normal immunosuppressive factors. The inhibitory capacity of FN in plasma was similar to that obtained with purified FN alone, which indicates that, unlike that of other known plasma inhibitors, the immunosuppressive activity of FN was not altered by the presence of other components of plasma. Cryoprecipitate used in the treatment of hemophilia contains high levels of FN, and, as anticipated, PHA-induced lymphocyte transformation was markedly depressed in the presence of solubilized cryoprecipitate. The contribution of FN to the T-cell abnormalities in patients chronically receiving cryoprecipitate and/or factor VIII concentrates derived from cryoprecipitate warrants further investigation.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients in Shiraz, Southern Iran

AIM: To improve our understanding of Iranian regional variation in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori ) antibiotic resistance rates to find the best antibiotic therapy for eradication of H. pylori infections.METHODS: A total of 266 patients undergoing endoscopy in Shiraz, Southern Iran, were included in this study. H. pylori strains were isolated from antral biopsies by culture and confirmed by the rapid urease-test and gram staining. Antibiotic susceptibility of H. pylori isolates was determined by E-test.RESULTS: A total of 121 H. pylori strains were isolated, 50 from male and 71 from female patients. Data showed that 44% (n = 53), 20% (n = 24), 5% (n = 6), and 3% (n = 4) of all strains were resistant to the antibiotics metronidazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, and tetracycline, respectively. When the antibiotics were considered together we found 11 sensitivity patterns for the strains. Resistance to metronidazole was significantly higher in female than in male patients (P < 0.05). In about 71% of the metronidazole-resistant isolates, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) exceeded 256 μg/mL.CONCLUSION: We found a moderate rate of primary resistance to metronidazole. However, a high MIC (> 256 mg/L) which was found in 71% of the isolates is considerable. In the case of amoxicillin, an increased resistance rate of 20% is worrying. Resistance to clarithromycin and tetracycline is also emerging among the H. pylori strains in our region.     

Changes in gram negative microorganisms’ resistance pattern during 4?years period in a referral teaching hospital; a surveillance study

Background and purpose

Surveillance studies evaluating antimicrobial susceptibilities are of great value in preventing the spread of resistant pathogens by elucidating the trend of resistance in commonly used antibiotics and as a consequence providing information for prescribing the most appropriate agent. This study is a longitudinal antimicrobial resistance surveillance study designed to evaluate the trend in antimicrobial resistance to gram negative microorganisms from 2007 to 2010.

Method

During a four-year period (2007–2010) isolates derived from all patients admitted to infectious diseases ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital, the major referral center for infectious disease in Iran with the highest admission rates, were evaluated. Based on disk diffusion method and zone of inhibition size, the microorganism was regarded as to be sensitive, resistant or has intermediate susceptibility to the antimicrobial agents.

Results

The widest spread Gram-negative microorganism in all of isolates taken together in our study was E.coli (30%) followed by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in 28.6% and Enterobacter spp. in 11.9%, respectively. The susceptibility to amikacin, imipenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, and nitrofurantoin was equal or above 50% for all microorganisms over four years. However, the susceptibility to ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, cefotaxim, and ceftriaxone was less than 50% in derived isolates during the study period.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the finding of the present study revealed that resistance rate to common antimicrobial agents in Iran is growing and isolates were susceptible mostly to broad-spectrum antibiotics including imipenem and piperacillin/tazobactam.