The effects of low-level laser irradiation on cellular viability and proliferation of human skin fibroblasts cultured in high glucose mediums

Delayed wound healing is one of the most challenging complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) in clinical medicine. This study has aimed to evaluate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) cultured in a high glucose concentration. HSFs were cultured either in a concentration of physiologic glucose (5.5 mM/l) or high glucose media (11.1 and15?mM/l) for either 1 or 2 weeks after which they were subsequently cultured in either the physiologic glucose or high concentration glucose media during laser irradiation. LLLT was carried out with a helium–neon (He–Ne) laser unit at energy densities of 0.5, 1, and 2 J/cm², and power density of 0.66 mW/cm² on 3 consecutive days. HSFs’ viability and proliferation rate were evaluated with the dimethylthiazol-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The LLLT at densities of 0.5 and 1 J/cm² had stimulatory effects on the viability and proliferation rate of HSFs cultured in physiologic glucose (5.5 mM/l) medium compared to their control cultures (p?=?0.002 and p?=?0.046, respectively). All three doses of 0.5, 1, and 2 J/cm² had stimulatory effects on the proliferation rate of HSFs cultured in high glucose concentrations when compared to their control cultures (p?=?0.042, p?=?0.000, and p?=?0.000, respectively). This study showed that HSFs originally cultured for 2 weeks in high glucose concentration followed by culture in physiologic glucose during laser irradiation showed enhanced cell viability and proliferation. Thus, LLLT had a stimulatory effect on these HSFs.     

The Effect and Side Effect of Hydroxyurea Therapy on Patients With β-Thalassemia: A Systematic Review to December 2012

Hydroxyurea (HU) is being used for patients with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major (β-TM) as well as non transfusion-dependent β-TM. As controversy exists regarding efficacy and safety of HU, we searched the published literature on efficacy, effectiveness and toxicity of HU in patients with β-TM. The research sources we used were: Medline, SID, PubMed, Scopus, Request, Web of Knowledge, Springer, Ovid, Cochrane searched up to October 2012. Using search terms sensitive to studies of clinical trials combined with searches on terms related to thalassemia and HU. We selected studies on randomized trials, quasi experimental trials (before and after design), case reports (with 1–5 cases), side effect studies in patients with β-TM, studies related to the mechanism of action and toxicity when used in patients with other hemoglobinopathies. We researched studies in English and Persian. Eligible articles were reviewed by two independent reviewers. Patient’s characteristics, duration of trial, outcome and side effects were extracted. The main outcomes were synthesized under a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Q statistic, Tau² and I². Subgroup analyses were performed and the statistics data (STATA) software used. More than 500 articles were reviewed. No randomized clinical trial was found. Seventeen trials with before and after designs were found, 16 case reports (1–5 cases), 19 articles for mechanism of action and 16 studies for side effects were published from 1969 to October 2012. Hemoglobin levels after treatment showed modest but significant increase in non transfusion-dependent β-TM (p?p?相似文献   

The effect of regular exercise on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation levels in both hippocampi after occluding one carotid in rat

Regular exercise has beneficial effects on cerebrovascular diseases; however, its biochemical mechanisms are not fully known. The purpose of this study was to determine antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation of both hippocampi after applying exercise followed by occluding one common carotid. Wistar rats were divided into four groups of control, exercise, hypoperfusion and exercise–hypoperfusion (exe-hypo). In the exercise and exe-hypo groups, the rats were forced to run on a treadmill for 1 h a day for 2 months. The right common carotid of the animals in the (exe-hypo) group was occluded after the cessation of exercise. Surgery without occlusion of the carotid was applied on the control (without exercise) and exercise groups. All animals were sacrificed 1 and 24 h after surgery. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzyme activities in the hippocampi were measured. A significant interaction was observed between the exercise and hypoperfusion in both hippocampi (p < 0.05). In comparison with the control group, there was significant elevation of catalase activity in the right and left hippocampus of the hypo group at 24 h (p < 0.0001). Regarding the differences between the hemispheres, there was a significant increase in MDA and decrease in catalase activity in the left hippocampus in hypoperfusion group, but the exercise in the exe-hypo group succeeded in abolishing these alterations which were caused by hypoperfusion, This study shows that exercise pre-conditioning prevents some alterations in brain oxidant–antioxidant status which are induced by cerebral hypoperfusion. Further studies are needed in order to clarify the mechanism of exercise.     

Report on Patients with Non Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia Major Being Treated with Hydroxyurea Attending the Thalassemia Research Center,Sari, Mazandaran Province,Islamic Republic of Iran in 2013

Hydroxyurea (HU) has been used to treat patients with non transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia major (β-TM) at the Thalassemia Research Center, Sari, Mazandaran Province, Islamic Republic of Iran since 1996. This study was performed to summarize and to share our experience. Medical records of all patients with β-thalassemia (β-thal) attending our center were reviewed in January 2013. Definition of β-TM was based on complete blood count (CBC), hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis, and for some patients, by the amplification refractory mutation system-restriction fragment length polymorphism (ARMS-RFLP) method. Patients who had not been transfused before, or had only occasionally had blood transfusions, were selected. Age at first blood transfusion, initial HU therapy and time of study was extracted from the records. The lowest Hb level before using HU and the last Hb value when on the HU regimen as well as the difference, were reported. Number of saved packed red cells was calculated according to duration of HU use and the usual needs of the patients. Hydroxyurea was discontinued before a planned pregnancy and during gestation and lactation periods. Hydroxyurea was discontinued for male patients willing to reproduce. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. It was consistent with 1856 patients/year, and 3542 units of blood were saved. We found HU to be effective and safe in treating patients with non transfusion-dependent β-TM. We strongly recommend HU therapy.     

Rheumatoid Arthritis,Disease Modifying Agents,and Periprosthetic Joint Infection: What Does a Joint Surgeon Need to Know?

The incidence of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is 1.6× greater than in patients undergoing the same procedure for osteoarthritis. This higher risk “may” be due to the immunosuppressive therapies for RA patients including corticosteroids, such as prednisone, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), such as methotrexate. There is a debate about the role of DMARDs in increasing the incidence of subsequent PJI. Studies show conflicting results, with some demonstrating no significant increase in the rates of PJI and some finding otherwise. The International Consensus Meeting on PJI recommended that DMARDs should be halted prior to an elective total joint arthroplasty based on their half-life. Moreover, the International Consensus Meeting stated that cessation of immunosuppressant medications should be performed in consultation with and under the direction of the treating physician. In this review, we aimed to provide an introduction to the available treatment options and cover the recommendations on the treatment protocols for RA patients who undergo elective total joint arthroplasty.     

Genetic analysis of rDNA-ITS2 and RAPD loci in field populations of the malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae): implications for the control program in Iran

Anopheles stephensi is one of the most important malaria vectors in the Middle-East, the Indian subcontinent, the Far-East and is the main malaria vector in south of Iran. This vector is thought to be a single but polytypic species, despite its enormous geographical range. To examine this hypothesis, we analyzed the rDNA-ITS2 and RAPD loci in different populations of An. stephensi from Iran. rDNA-ITS2 region in all sequenced specimens of An. stephensi contained a (CA)7 microsatellite sequence. Construction of phylogenetic tree based on rDNA-ITS2 sequences revealed that there only is a minor polymorphism between the different populations, despite their vast geographical distances. RAPD-PCR could differentiate rural and urban populations of An. stephensi, but it is unclear whether these two samples represent mysorensis and the type form. Further characterization of interested RAPD fragments by cloning; have shown the nature of inverted repeats and the presence of microsatellite region (GT) in both ends near to inverted repeat sequences of primers. These results showed that An. stephensi in Iran could be considered a single species with different biological and ecological forms in different zoogeographical zones. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the relation between RAPD and microsatellite sequences and the differences seen in the field for this species. This data will serve as first report on the sequence of rDNA-ITS2 and a microsatellite-containing RAPD region, which could be used for species-specific diagnosis and differentiation of urban and rural populations in An. stephensi.     

Iron‐chelating effect of silymarin in patients with β‐thalassemia major: A crossover randomised control trial

This study aimed to determine the potential iron‐chelating effects of silymarin in patients with β‐thalassemia major receiving standard iron‐chelation therapy. We evaluated whether addition of silymarin to standard iron‐chelation therapy could improve iron burden markers and liver and cardiac function in these patients, via a placebo‐controlled, crossover clinical study. Silymarin (140 mg) or placebo were administered thrice daily to all patients (n = 82) for 12 weeks, and after a 2‐week washout period, patients were crossed over to the other groups. Silymarin efficacy was assessed by measuring serum iron level, ferritin level, total iron‐binding capacity and liver and cardiac function on magnetic resonance imaging. Silymarin treatment resulted in a negative change in the serum iron and ferritin levels and a positive change in the total iron‐binding capacity levels (treatment effect, p < .001, p = .06, and p = .05, respectively). Silymarin treatment led to positive changes in cardiac and liver function in both treatment sequences of study; however, this was not statistically significant. There was a negative change in liver iron concentration in both treatment sequences (treatment effect, p = .02). In conclusion, combined iron‐chelation and silymarin therapy was effective for improving the iron‐burden status in patients with β‐thalassemia major.