Jorjani Biomedicine Journal
Volume:6 Issue: 3, Autumn 2018

Due to low cost, ease of administration, and lack need for trained personnel, the oral route is the most convenient and accessible way to design different medicines that could be simply consumed by patients. Regardless of the great benefits of this route, the main challenge in the bioavailability of oral medications is gastrointestinal instability. Nanotechnology is used to improve the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. The self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system is an ideal method for improving the solubility and bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs. This system is a sustainable combination of drugs, oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants. The combination of these components causes the nanoemulsion of oil in water with the size of droplets in the range of nm, thereby increasing the bioavailability and oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs. This system is highly regarded for its benefits and the ability to improve the healing properties of oral medications.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex and systemic inflammatory disease in which the immune response is disturbed. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of regulatory cytokines including interleukin-10 (IL-10) may lead to exacerbated immune response and increased risk of RA. Here, we aimed to assess the association of IL-10 -1082 (G/A) (rs1800896) promoter polymorphism with the susceptibility to RA in a population in northeast of Iran. A total of 130 RA patients and 128 sex- and age- matched healthy donors were enrolled. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the polymorphic regions and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique was applied to detect rs1800896. SPSS 22.0 software was used to analyze data statistically. Our findings revealed that G allele was significantly associated with the increased risk of RA [OR = 1.88, 95% CI (1.32–2.66), P-value = 0.0001] in patients. Setting AA genotype as the reference, the AG [OR = 2.93, 95% CI (1.68–5.12), P-value = 0.0001] and GG [OR = 5.73, 95% CI (2.30–14.23), P-value = 0.0001] genotypes were significantly associated with RA susceptibility. The present study suggests that the IL-10 -1082 (G/A) genetic variants are associated with RA susceptibility, but not with the disease activity. While this is the first time to report such an association in a population in northeast of Iran, further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Production of fish protein hydrolysate is a method for converting the low-value economical underutilized fish species to value-added products. This study aimed to evaluate the different proportions of distilled water to the substrate on the functional characteristics, antioxidant and nutritional quality of fish protein hydrolysate of bigeye ilisha (Ilisha megaloptera) produced by enzymatic hydrolysis. After defatting of minced fish, the hydrolysis process was carried out using three different 4:1, 5:1 and 6:1 distilled water to substrate proportions by using alcalase enzyme in three replications. The protein hydrolysate samples were analyzed for approximate composition (soluble protein, moisture, fat and ash), functional characteristics (solubility, foam capacity, and foam stability), antioxidant properties (DPPH radical scavenging activity and reducing power) and mineral composition. In this study, the ratio of distilled water to the substrate affected the protein hydrolysate properties and the highest amounts of hydrolysis degree and DPPH radical scavenging activity were observed in samples with 5:1 ratio. Fish protein hydrolysate obtained from 4:1 ratio had the highest amount of soluble protein, and no significant difference was observed in term of solubility with samples obtained by 5:1 ratio. Moreover, there were no significant differences in terms of lightness and foam capacity of samples obtained from 4:1 and 6:1 proportions. According to the results of the study, using a 4:1 ratio of distilled water to substrate led to the production of fish protein hydrolysates from bigeye ilisha with higher functional properties and nutritional composition.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with a complex genetic background. The protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) is a lymphoid specific protein tyrosine phosphatase which is involved in negative regulation of T cell response. Several studies have assessed the association between PTPN22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with RA susceptibility. Here, we aimed to assess the association of PTPN22 (1858 C>T) variant with the susceptibility to RA in northeast of Iran. A total of 127 RA patients and 119 age- and sex- matched healthy donors were enrolled. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) technique (PCR-RFLP) was applied to detect PTPN22 (1858 C>T) SNP. SPSS 22.0 software was used to analyze data using relevant statistical tests. Comparison of allele and genotype frequencies of PTPN22 (1858 C>T) SNP in RA patients and healthy donors revealed no significant association with RA susceptibility. The present study suggests that the PTPN22 (1858 C>T) genetic variants are not associated with RA susceptibility and disease activity. While this is the first report from northeast of Iran, further studies are needed to confirm these findings

Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are medically considered as one of the most important species of insects in terms of disease transmission to human beings; hence, they can be vectors of remarkable diseases such as malaria, West Nile, dengue fever, yellow fever, and filariasis. This study aimed to determine the species diversity and larval habitat characteristics of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in Golestan Province in 2016. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, larval habitats of mosquitoes were investigated in 14 counties of Golestan Province. Samples were collected by a standard ladle used for entomology. The collected larvae in lactophenol solution were transferred to a medical entomology laboratory in Gonbad-e Qabus County, and then microscopic slides were prepared. Mosquitoes species were identified based on their morphologic attributes and authentic identification keys. Larval habitat characteristics were studied in terms of the habitat type (permanent or temporary), water conditions (clear or turbid, stagnant or running), vegetation (with or without vegetation), sunlight exposure (full or partial exposure), and others. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS software version 18. On the basis of analysis, 2891 third and fourth instars larvae, 4 genera (Anopheles, Culex, Culiseta, and Ochlerotatus), and 9 species (Anopheles superpictus, Culex mimiticus, Culex perexiguus, Culex pipiens, Culex pusillus, Culex theileri, Culex tritaeniohynchus, Culiseta longiareolata, Ochlerotatus caspius) of mosquitoes were detected, with the Culex pipiens being recognized as the dominant species of this family in Golestan Province. Due to the high species diversity of Culicidae in Golestan Province, further studies are of essence to investigate the ecology of medically important species such as Culex pipiens, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, and Anopheles superpicts, which are the vectors of many diseases in Golestan province.

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a painful ulcerative lesion and its incidence is 20% in the society. Myrtus communis (myrtex) has been effective in the treatment of RAS. In this study, two different concentrations (2.5% versus 5%) of myrtex extract were evaluated to discover the most effective concentration for the treatment of RAS. In this randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 60 patients with RAS were evaluated. Thirty patients used myrtex extract 5% and thirty patients used myrtex extract 2.5% (10 drops on lesion for 20 seconds 5 times per day). The severity of pain and burning sensation experienced by patients were measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) and the size of the lesion was estimated by transparent calibrated grid Data analysis was done by running t-test and repeated measures statistical test. The mean of the largest RAS diameter before treatment was decreased in both groups 1 day and 7 days after treatment (P-value=0.000); however, these differences were not significant in both groups (P-value =0.401). Furthermore, the severities of pain and burning sensation were decreased in both groups (p-value = 0.000). Nevertheless, this decrease was similar in both groups (P-value = 964). Treatment with different concentrations of myrtex extract is effective in decreasing RAS diameter, pain, and burning sensation. In addition, the therapeutic efficacy of two different concentrations of myrtex extract (2.5% and 5%) was similar in this regard.

Dear Editor,
I would like to point out some issues regarding the article entitled "Sayyed Ismael Jorjani, The famous Iranian physician and philosopher" by Seyyed Alireza Golshani that has been published in the journal of Jorjani Biomedicine Journal Volume 2, Issue 2 (Autumn 2014 & winter 2015 2014) and is about the great 11th-12th century physician, Ismael Jorjani.