Effects of co-supplementation of vitamins E and C on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity in rat

Gentamicin (GM) is an effective antibiotic against severe gram-negative infections. However it can produce nephrotoxicity in human. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been proposed as the causative factors of the renal side effects the drug. This study was performed to investigate the protective role of antioxidant vitamins against GM-mediated nephropathy in an in situ model of isolated rat kidney. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to one of the following groups of seven rats: group 1 (Control) was perfused with Tyrode solution; group 2 (GM), 200 microg ml(-1) GM was added to the perfusate; group 3 (GM + Vit C), as group 2 with vitamin C added to the drinking water for 3 days (200 mg l(-1)) and to the perfusate (100 mg l(-1)); group 4 (GM + Vit E), as group 2 with vitamin E (100 mg (100 g body weight)(-1), i.m.) injected 12 h before the start of the experiment; group 5 (GM + Vit C + Vit E) as group 2 with vitamin E and C co-administered (concentrations and conditions as in groups 3 and 4). To compare the groups, urinary lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), N-acetyle-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, inulin clearance (glomerular filtration rate, GFR) and renal tissue glutathione (GSH) content were measured. GM caused a significant nephrotoxicity demonstrated by an increase in urinary LDH, NAG and ALP activities. Reduction in GSH content and a marked decrease in GFR were observed compared to controls. Vitamin C inhibited the GM-induced increase in urinary enzyme activities but did not show a significant effect on the GSH content or GFR. Vitamin E prevented the GM-induced reduction in GSH level without a significant improvement in GFR. Co-administration of vitamins C and E significantly prevented the GM-induced nephrotoxicity demonstrating by preservation of GFR and GSH levels and prevention of increase in urinary enzyme activities. We conclude that co-administration of moderate doses of vitamins C and E has beneficial effects on renal preservation in GM-induced nephrotoxicity.     

Identification of different Theileria species (Theileria lestoquardi, Theileria ovis, and Theileria annulata) in naturally infected sheep using nested PCR-RFLP

Ovine theileriosis is an important hemoprotozoal disease of sheep and goats in tropical and subtropical regions that leads to economic losses in these animals. A nested PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was carried out to identification Theileria species in sheep in some area in western half of Iran (Sari, Rasht, Urmia, Ilam, and Ahvaz). Two hundred and fifty blood samples were taken from sheep during tick activating season (summer of 2008). Microscopic examination revealed that 9.2% (23/250) sheep were infected by Theileria spp. piroplasms. Parasitemia ranged from 0.011% to 0.015%. In nested PCR assessment of DNA samples, 32.8% (82/250) sheep were positive. The negative samples were confirmed by amplifying of ovine beta-actin gene as an internal control. The differentiation of Theileria species was based on RFLP patterns using three restriction enzymes: HpaII, Rsa1, and Bsh 1285I. Out of 82 positive samples, 54.8% (45/82) and 40.2% (33/82) were positive for Theileria lestoquardi and Theileria ovis respectively. Mixed infection was detected in 4.8% (4/82) cases. Based on their PCR product digestion pattern with HpaII (1178, 900, 278, and 106 bp), it seemed to be mixture of Theileria annulata and T. lestoquardi. The presence of T. annulata was supported by sequence analysis. This is the first report of naturally infected sheep with T. annulata in Iran. Geographical distribution of Theileria species in sheep is shown according to the result of microscopy and nested PCR and RFLP data.     

VP7 and VP4 genotypes of rotaviruses cocirculating in Iran, 2015 to 2017: Comparison with cogent sequences of Rotarix and RotaTeq vaccine strains before their use for universal mass vaccination

The present study was conducted to analyze the genotypic diversity of circulating species A rotavirus (RVA) strains in Iran and also to investigate comparative analysis between the genotypes of VP4 and VP7 of cocirculating RVA and vaccine strains before the vaccine is introduced in the national immunization program. The G3-lineage I was found in this study as the most common G genotype which was followed by G9-lineage III, G1-lineages I, II, G12-lineage III, G2-lineage IV, and G4-lineage I. Also, P[8]-lineages III, IV was found as the predominant P genotype which was followed by P[4]-lineage V, and P[6]-lineage I. Overally, G3P[8] was determined as the most common combination. Moreover, the analysis of the VP7 antigenic epitopes showed that several amino acid differences existed between circulating Iranian and the vaccine strains. The comparison of genotype G1 of Iranian and vaccine strains (RotaTeq and Rotarix), and genotypes G2, G3, and G4 of Iranian and RotaTeq vaccine strains revealed three to five amino acids differences on the VP7 antigenic epitopes. Furthermore, analyzing of the VP8* epitopes of Iranian P[8] strains indicated that they contained up to 11 and 14 amino acid differences with Rotarix and RotaTeq, respectively. Based on different patterns of amino acid substitutions in circulating and vaccine strains, the emergence of antibody escaping mutants and potentially the decrease of immune protection might ensue in vaccinated children. However, considering the broad cross-protective activity of RVA vaccines, their efficacy should be monitored after the introduction in Iran.     

Effects of Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB) on Weight Loss and Biomarker Parameters in Morbidly Obese Patients: A 12-Month Follow-Up

Background  

Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) is suggested as the gold standard of the surgical techniques for morbid obesity treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the weight loss and biomarker parameter changes over a 1-year period following LRYGB in Iranian morbidly obese patients.     

Clopidogrel Pharmacogenetics in Iranian Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Clopidogrel is used in patients with coronary syndromes and at risk of thrombotic events or receiving percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for reducing heart attack and stroke. Here we present genotype and phenotype study of Iranian patients undergoing PCI treated with clopidogrel during a 6-month period of follow-up; common variants of CYP2C19, CYP3A5, CYP3A4, and ABCB1 genes were determined as well as the patients’ cardiovascular outcomes to find out the effect of these variants individually and in combination. 388 individuals receiving PCI were enrolled in this study. Different pretreatment doses of clopidogrel were prescribed under the interventional cardiologists’ guidance. The patients were followed for a duration of 1 month, and 6 months. Six SNPs were selected for genotyping including CYP2C19*2 (c.681G?>?A), CYP2C19*3 (c.636G?>?A), CYP2C19*17 allele (c.?806C?>?T), ABCB1 (c.3435C?>?T), CYP3A5 (c.6986A?>?G), and CYP3A4 (c.1026?+?12G?>?A). The mean loading dose was 600 mg/day in 267 (68.8%) individuals, 300 mg/day in 121 (31.2%). 8 patients had cardiovascular events such as thrombosis, unstable angina, and non-STEMI. The studied alleles and genotypes were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. None of the SNPs individually were significantly associated with outcome events. Our results indicate that combinations of different alleles of genes are involved in pharmacokinetic variability and joint factors are important; this means that genotyping and analysis of an individual variant may not be as straightforward in risk assessment and pharmacogenetics. This highlights the importance of personalized medicine in risk assessment and treatment.     

Cochlear implant outcomes in children with motor developmental delay

Introduction

Multiple handicapped children and children with syndromes and conditions resulting additional disabilities such as cerebral palsy, global developmental delay and autistic spectrum disorder, are now not routinely precluded from receiving a cochlear implant. The primary focus of this study was to determine the effect of cochlear implants on the speech perception and intelligibility of deaf children with and without motor development delay.

Method

In a cohort study, we compared cochlear implant outcomes in two groups of deaf children with or without motor developmental delay (MDD). Among 262 children with pre-lingual profound hearing loss, 28 (10%) had a motor delay based on Gross Motor Function Classification (GMFC). Children with severe motor delays (classification scale levels 4 and 5) and cognitive delays were excluded. All children completed the Categories of Auditory Perception Scales (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) prior to surgery and 24 months after the device was activated.

Result

The mean age for the study population was 4.09 ± 1.86 years. In all 262 patients the mean CAP score after surgery (5.38 ± 0.043) had a marked difference in comparison with the mean score before surgery (0.482 ± 0.018) (P = 0.001). The mean CAP score after surgery for MDD children was 5.03, and was 5.77 for normal motor development children (NMD). The mean SIR score after surgery for MDD children was 2.53, and was 2.66 for NMD children. The final results of CAP and SIR did not have significant difference between NMD children versus MDD children (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Regarding to the result, we concluded that children with hearing loss and concomitant MDD as an additional disabilities can benefit from cochlear implantation similar to those of NMD.     

Trunk postural control during unstable sitting differs between patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome and healthy people: A cross-sectional study

Background

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common orthopedic problem with a high prevalence among young women. Patients with PFPS have altered trunk muscle activity, impaired postural control and greater displacement of the center of pressure (COP) while standing. Training in unstable sitting, by putting more emphasis on trunk sensory receptors, may improve trunk proprioception by minimizing the role of the lower extremities. The aim of this study was to compare trunk postural control in healthy persons and in patients with PFPS.