A proton NMR study of the effect of Mucuna pruriens on seminal plasma metabolites of infertile males

The objective of this study was to employ proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) spectroscopy to evaluate the impact of Mucuna pruriens seeds on the metabolic profile of seminal plasma of infertile patients. A total of 180 infertile patients were administered M. pruriens seed powder for a period of three months. Age-matched healthy men comprised the control (n=50) group in the study. Lactate, alanine, choline, citrate, glycerophosphocholine (GPC), glutamine, tyrosine, histidine, phenylalanine, and uridine were measured in seminal plasma by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. To evaluate the degree of infertility and extent of hormonal imbalance induced by this milieu, separate sperm concentration, motility, lipid peroxide in seminal plasma and LH, FSH, T, and PRL hormone concentration in serum were measured using standard laboratory methods and RIA, respectively, in the same subjects. M. pruriens therapy rectifies the perturbed alanine, citrate, GPC, histidine and phenylalanine content in seminal plasma and improves the semen quality of post-treated infertile men with compared to pre-treated. Concomitantly, clinical variables in seminal plasma and blood serum were also improved over post therapy in infertile men. On the basis of these observations, it may be proposed that M. pruriens seed powder not only reactivates the enzymatic activity of metabolic pathways and energy metabolism but also rejuvenates the harmonic balance of male reproductive hormones in infertile men. These findings open more opportunities for infertility treatment and management by improving semen quality.     

Delayed toxic effects of sulfur mustard on respiratory tract of Iranian veterans

To investigate late toxic effects of sulfur mustard (SM) on the upper and lower respiratory tracts of Iranian veterans, 43 male veterans with more than 25% disability due to SM poisoning in 20-25 years after exposure, were studied. Direct laryngoscopy, pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gasses and pH, computed tomography of sinuses and lungs were investigated. The patients were aged 50.6 (8.9 SD) years with body mass index (BMI) of 26.6 (4.0) and disability of 53.2 (17.0%). The common findings of the upper respiratory tract were dysphonia (79.1%), post-nasal discharge (PND; 41.9%), lower larynx position (30.2%), limitation of vocal cords (25.6%) and mucosal inflammation of larynx (14.8%). The common lower respiratory diseases were diagnosed as chronic obstructive respiratory disease (84%), bronchiectasis (44.1%) and lung fibrosis (7.7%). Severity of disability was negatively correlated with BMI (p = 0.032), spirometric parameters (p < 0.001) and oxygen saturation (p < 0.001), but positively correlated with low-density lipoproteins (LDL <0.010), blood pressure (p = 0.008), diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), wheezing (p = 0.0043) and bronchiectasis (p < 0.001). Delayed toxic effects of SM in upper and lower respiratory tracts were mostly inflammatory and infectious complications, SM-induced disabilities were significantly correlated with risk factors such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, LDL and lower-respiratory complications.     

Study of programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1) gene polymorphims in Iranian patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by axial arthritis in which the genetic-environmental factors seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. This study was performed to investigate the role of polymorphisms of the programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1) gene on susceptibility to AS. In this study, 161 Iranian patients with AS and 208 normal controls were enrolled; two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PDCD1 gene PD-1.3 (G, A) in nucleotide position +7146 of intron 4 and PD-1.9 (C, T) in nucleotide +7625 of exon 5 were studied. Analysis of PD-1.3 revealed that 82% of patients and 79% of controls had GG genotype, while GA and AA genotypes were detected in 17% and 0.6% of patients, respectively, and 20% and 1.4% of controls, respectively. Moreover, the genotype CC (PD-1.9) was present in 92% of patients and 97% of controls. Although these differences were not statistically significant between patients and controls, comparisons of genotypes frequencies in the AS patients, based on human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27, revealed that all patients who had CT genotype (PD-1.9) were HLA-B27 positive, whereas 30% of patients with CC genotype were HLA-B27 negative. There was no evidence of association for PDCD1 SNPs with AS in our study, but CT genotype (PD-1.9) seems to be associated with HLA-B27 positivity in the patients with AS.     

Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: prognostic factors in 70 patients

Thymectomy has become increasingly accepted as an efficacious procedure for myasthenia gravis, with high rates of complete clinical remission. Predictors of the response to thymectomy for myasthenia gravis vary in the literature. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 70 patients (63% female; mean age, 38 years) diagnosed with myasthenia gravis from August 1993 to August 2004, to determine the factors predicting outcome. Complications occurred in 20%, but there was no hospital mortality. Complete clinical remission was obtained postoperatively in 47%. Our results indicate that patients with less than 1 year's duration of disease have a better prognosis, and Osserman stages I, IIa, and IIb are also associated with higher clinical remission rates. Female patients have a better prognosis than males, and the younger the patient the better the outcome. Thymectomy is indicated for myasthenia gravis as early as possible in the course of the disease.     

Systemic and local reactions of bee venom immunotherapy in Iran

Severe allergic reactions during specific immunotherapy may occur in the treatment of hymenoptera sting allergy. The objective of the present study was to examine the characteristics of allergic reactions during specific immunotherapy in patients with allergy towards hymenoptera venom in the Iranian population. A prospective study was performed using the clinical reports of 27 patients with anaphylaxis to bee venom (Apis melifera, Geupes vespula and Geupes Polites). Ten patients treated with Cluster protocol during 2002 and 2006 After diagnosis of hymenoptera sting allergy according to history and intradermal tests, the patient were treated with Cluster protocol immunotherapy. The protocol lasted 6 weeks with an increase in the concentration of venom from 0.01 microg/ml to 100 microg/ml. None of the patient received premedication. All patients with hymenoptera venom allergy received 120 injections. Anaphylactic reactions were classified according to the Mueller-classification. The frequencies of systemic reactions during Cluster protocol were 8.33% and 5% for yellow jacket and honey bee venom respectively. No patient experienced severe systemic reaction. Cluster protocol for hymenoptera immunotherapy is a reliable method for the treatment of anaphylactic reactions to bee venom. It is safe with low cost and do not need hospitalization.