Synthesis and evaluation of a glutamic acid-modified hPAMAM complex as a promising versatile gene carrier

Hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) (HPAMAM), structurally analogous to polyamidoamine dendrimer (PAMAM) dendrimers, has been suggested to be an effective carrier for gene delivery. In the present study, glutamic acid-modified hPAMAM was developed as a novel non-viral gene carrier for the first time. The hPAMAM was synthesized by using a modified one-pot method. DNA was found to be bound to hPAMAM at different weight ratios (W_hPAMAM/W_DNA). The resulting HPAMAM–Glu20 was able to efficiently protect the encapsulated-DNA against degradation for over 2?h. In addition to low cytotoxicity, the transfection efficiency of hPAMAM–Glu20 represented much higher (p?<?0.05) than that of Lipofectamine 2000 in both MCF7 and MDA-MB231 cells. Cellular uptake of the hPAMAM–Glu20 in MDA-MB231 cells, 173.56?±?1.37%, was significantly higher than that of MCF7 cells, 65.00?±?1.73% (p?<?0.05). The results indicated that hPAMAM–Glu20-mediated gene delivery to breast cancer cells is a feasible and effective strategy that may provide a new therapeutic avenue as a non-viral gene delivery carrier. In addition, it was found that hPAMAM–glutamic amino acid (Glu)-based gene delivery is an economical, effective and biocompatible method.     

Hydroalcoholic extract of Myrtus communis can alter anxiety and sleep parameters: a behavioural and EEG sleep pattern study in mice and rats

Context: Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae), myrtle, is an evergreen shrub with strong antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activities. Also, it is used as a sedative-hypnotic plant in Iranian traditional medicine.

Objective: This study evaluates the effect of 80% ethanolic extract of M. communis leaves on sleep and anxiety in mice and rats.

Materials and methods: Male NMRI mice were subjected to open field, righting reflex, grip strength and pentylentetrazole-induced seizure tests. Male Wistar rats were used to evaluate the alterations in rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. They were treated with 25–400?mg/kg doses of the extract intraperitoneally.

Results: The applied doses (50–200?mg/kg) of M. communis extract increased vertical (ED_50?=_?40.2?±?6.6?mg/kg) and vertical and horizontal activity (ED_50?=_?251?±?55?mg/kg), while treatment with 200 and 400?mg/kg attenuated muscle tone significantly compared to vehicle treated animals (p?<?0.001 for all) in a dose-independent manner. Also, a significant hypnotic and not anticonvulsant effect was observed when animals were treated with 200?mg/kg of the extract (p?<?0.01). In this regard, electroencephalography results showed that REM sleep time was decreased (2.4?±?0.5%), while total and NREM sleep times were increased significantly compared to the control group of mice (82.5?±?7.6%).

Discussion and conclusion: The data show the anxiolytic and muscle relaxant effect of the extract without anticonvulsant activities. The anxiolytic, myorelaxant and hypnotic effects without effect on seizure threshold are in line with the effect of a alpha 2 GABA receptor agonist.     

The effect of Crocus sativus extract on human lymphocytes' cytokines and T helper 2/T helper 1 balance

The effects of macerated extracts of Crocus sativus (Family Iridaceae) (saffron) on cell viability and cytokine release of stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells by phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and nonstimulated cells were examined. The effects of three concentrations of macerated extract, dexamethasone, and saline on cell viability and production of cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were evaluated. In cells stimulated with PHA, different concentrations of the extract significantly inhibited cell viability of lymphocytes (P<.001 for all concentrations). High concentrations of the extract (500 μg/mL) also inhibited secretion of IFN-γ in stimulated cells and IL-10 secretion in both stimulated and nonstimulated cells (P<.05 for all cases). The effects of high and low concentrations of the extract (500 and 50 μg/mL, respectively) on IL-4 secretion were lower than that of dexamethasone (P<.05 to P<.001). The extract showed a stimulatory effect on IFN-γ and IL-4 secretion in nonstimulated cells. The ratios of IFN-γ to IL-4 in the presence of all concentrations of saffron on stimulated cells were significantly higher than for the control group (P<.05 to P<.01). These results indicated that the extract of saffron leads to increased ratio of IFN-γ to IL-4.     

The value of ultrasound in diagnosing vesicoureteral reflux in young children with urinary tract infection

Urinary tract infection is a common pediatric problem and vesicoureteral reflux is its most common complication. Detection of this reflux has classically been achieved by voiding cystouretrography (VCUG). Ultrasonography for evaluation of vesicoureteral reflux is shown to be feasible but is not widely accepted. Our aim was to assess the value of routine sonography in detecting vesicoureteral reflux is young children with urinary tract infection. This study was carried out in 105 patients suffering from urinary tract infection admitted to Shahid Sadughi Hospital in Yazd, Iran. These patients were evaluated by two methods (sonography and VCUG). Overall sensitivity and specificity value of sonography in suggesting vesicoureteral reflux were 63% and 95% respectively. The most accurate results were obtained with high grades reflux (75% and 955). The results reconfirmed that sonography is reliable in the exclusion or verification of high grade reflux and it has a low sensitivity in low grade vesicoureteral reflux.     

Excision of osteoid osteoma with intramedullary reaming: a new method

Osteoid osteoma is a small benign bone tumor usually affects adolescents and young adults. Although this tumor mainly affects the shafts of long bones there have been several reports of subperiosteal and intramedullary involvement .Complete surgical excision is the classic treatment of choice for patients with osteoid osteoma. Despite the small size of the tumor, the operative procedure for its removal can be extensive .The surgeon may have to excise a significant piece of bone to be sure the lesion is removed. There is a risk of fracture if a large amount of bone is removed and therefore internal fixation, bone grafting, or both may be required. In recent years several techniques of minimally invasive treatment of osteoid osteoma have been proposed. We introduce intramedullary reaming as a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of intramedullary osteoid osteoma in long bones.     

Sex differences in the impact of a community-based program for non-communicable disease prevention: The Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP)

Aims  To study the feasibility and impact of a comprehensive, integrated, community-based program directed towards reducing modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. In this study, we reported the differences in the impacts of IHHP on physical activity, smoking and nutritional behaviors of a study population based on sex. Subjects and methods  Using multi-stage cluster sampling on people aged ≥19 years of both intervention and reference areas, 12,514 individuals in 2001, 5,891 in 2002, 4,793 in 2003 and 6,097 in 2004 as well as a sample of 3,011 participants from the intervention area in 2005 were enrolled. Women made up 50.8 percent of participants, with similar proportions from 2001 to 2005 and comparable distribution between intervention and reference areas. Eight distinct component interventional projects were designed separately for both sexes to improve modifiable risk factors in the intervention area. The WHO STEPwise risk factor surveillance questionnaires were used to conduct the annual cross-sectional surveys for behavioral changes. Estimates of intervention effect ratio were conducted based on annual changes in the behavioral modifiable risk factors for both men and women. Results  Intervention activities positively affected the total and leisure-time physical activities in men, but not women. Dietary choice of both sexes showed modest degrees of improvement. Smoking status of men improved in the study period (except 2004), while the effect on women was not significant. Conclusions  Further interventions to improve physical activity in women should be regarded as a health priority in Iran. Sex differences should be considered in implementing any health promotion activity. Grant no. HQ/03/873531, WHO Department of Chronic Disease and Health Promotion     

Adaptation and validation of the Iranian version of Angina Pectoris characteristics questionnaire

Research aimed at evaluating Angina Pectoris (AP) symptoms in patients with Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) requires a comprehensive assessment tool applicable to this population. Because no single existing measure assessed the full range of symptom characteristics important to our study, we combined two measures (the modified Rose Questionnaire (MRQ), and the Short Form‐McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF‐MPQ) and added one item to examine specific aspects of AP symptoms (Accompanying Symptom Checklist). The purposes of this study are: (i) to describe the process of translating the SF‐MPQ, MRQ and accompanying symptom checklist from English to the Farsi language; and (ii) to evaluate substantial psychometric works (content and construct validity) for the entire instrument and each part of it (SF‐MPQ, MRQ and accompanying symptom checklist). A cross‐cultural adaptation of the instrument was carried out before developing the final version of it. To these ends, one hundred and 10 CHD patients with AP were assessed by this hybrid measure in an initial study. An analysis of the results indicated that a content valid instrument had been developed. There was a significantly high correlation between scores in the SF‐MPQ and there were associations between items in the MRQ. The Iranian version of AP characteristics questionnaire is valid; it is capable of describing characteristics of AP symptoms. However, the reliability of the instrument needs to be assessed through further research.     

Trend of Changes in Serum Albumin and Its Relation with Sex,Age, and BMI Following Laparoscopic Mini-gastric Bypass Surgery in Morbid Obese Cases

Background

The aim of this study is to investigate the pattern of changes in serum albumin level after mini-gastric bypass (MGB) and its association with gender, age, and body mass index (BMI) of the patients.

Methods

This cohort study was conducted on 196 morbidly obese patients undergoing MGB followed for 1 year. The data on BMI, serum albumin level, demographic, anthropometric, biochemical variables and comorbidities were gathered before and after (3, 6, and 12 months) surgery. The trend of changes in BMI and serum albumin of the patients was investigated by repeated measures tests using general linear model (GLM) and generalized estimating equations (GEE) approaches.

Results

The mean age, baseline median BMI, and albumin of the patients were 41.34 ± 11.03 years, 44.54 kg/m², and 4.00 g/dl, respectively. There was a chronologically significant trend of decline in BMI (P < 0.001). GEE demonstrated no chronologically significant trend in serum albumin (P = 0.278). The trend of changes in albumin was significantly associated only with age grouping and baseline serum albumin level (P = 0.017 and 0.001, respectively). This trend had fluctuations in patients older than 40 years with baseline serum albumin level of 3.50–3.90 g/dl. For patients with any age and baseline serum albumin level of 4.00–4.90 g/dl, this trend was stable in all periods of follow-up.

Conclusion

MGB is an effective technique to lose weight. The trend of changes in serum albumin level was affected by its baseline levels and age.

     

The effect of isolated soy protein adjunctive with flaxseed oil on markers of inflammation,oxidative stress,acute phase proteins,and wound healing of burn patients; a randomized clinical trial

Introduction

The objective was to determine the effect of isolated soy protein (ISP) and flaxseed oil (FO) on inflammatory and oxidative stress indices, acute phase proteins, and wound healing of burn patients.