hamid reza joshaghani

Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) are a common cause of dermal, oral, and genital infections worldwide. Rapid diagnosis of infected patients will prevent transmission to uninfected individuals. Therefore, this study aimed to detect HSV-1 and HSV-2 by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in patients from Golestan, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, 645 suspected HSV patients hospitalized in the health centers of Golestan Province were selected between 2015 and 2020. Demographic data were collected, and DNA was extracted from the samples. Detection of HSV-1 and HSV-2 was performed by RT-PCR.

Of the 645 samples tested by RT-PCR, 9 samples (1.39 %) were found to be positive for HSV-1/HSV-2, and the rest of the samples (98.6%) were negative. Of the 9 positive samples, 8 cases (88.8%) were HSV-1, of which 7 cases (77.7%) were from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and 1 case (12.5%) from the vagina. HSV-2 was seen only in 1 vaginal specimen (11.1%).

Early diagnosis of these viral infections is very important as it can lead to early treatment and avoid further symptoms and even death. Thus, molecular approaches can provide an option for quicker diagnosis.

Although public health interventions have slowed the spread of SARS CoV 2 infections, the worldwide pandemic of COVID 19 is progressing. Thus, effective and safe vaccination against SARS CoV 2 is an important tool for controlling the COVID 19 pandemic. Now in the early stages of COVID 19 vaccination, vaccinated individuals are interested in using antibody tests to confirm vaccination success and estimate the time of protection. Here, we assessed anti spike IgG responses in the general population 2 weeks after the second dose of the Sputnik V vaccine.

This study included blood samples of 67 individuals without a previous SARS CoV 2 infection taken 14 days after the second dose of the Sputnik V vaccine. Anti spike IgG responses were assessed with an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Anti spike IgG was detected in 55 (82.1%) of 67 samples 14 days after the second dose of the Sputnik V vaccine. Antibody levels were significantly lower in males than in females, and 9 (75%) of 12 seronegative individuals were males.

Vaccination resulted in detectable anti spike IgG in 82.1% of individuals, and gender may be an important factor in the humoral response.

 About one billion people have infected with the influenza A virus each year. The continued spread of SARS-CoV-2 especially in the winter season may increase the co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 with other respiratory viruses, which may worsen the severity of the disease and increase mortality. In respiratory infections, primary identification of the underlying source of infection is necessitated to find appropriate treatment and to improve individual patient management. Therefore, it is essential to accurately and immediately diagnose these two diseases. This study aimed to assess the frequency of influenza A, influenza B, and COVID-19 among individuals suspected of having a respiratory infection.

 In this study, 861 patients presenting from 19 November 2021 to 18 January 2022 in Kavosh medical laboratory (Golestan, Gorgan, Iran) with suspected viral respiratory tract infection who underwent RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2/influenza were included. Data analysis was performed using appropriate descriptive statistics.

A total of 184 patients were confirmed with COVID-19/influenza. 90 patients with COVID-19 (48.9%) and 94 patients (51.1%) with influenza (92 with influenza A and 2 with influenza B) were collected in the present study. The influenza/COVID-19 ratio was 1/0.95. Two cases of co-infection with COVID-19/influenza were observed. During the influenza season, the influenza/COVID-19 ratio in patients with suspected respiratory infection was 1/0.95. Patients with influenza were significantly younger than patients with COVID-19 and the proportion of males and females was not meaningfully different in the COVID-19 and influenza patients.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease, caused by abnormal innate and adaptive immune responses. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) are reliable biomarkers for diagnosing SLE. Here, we aimed to investigate the serum levels of anti-dsDNA and ANA antibodies, their diagnostic utilities, and their relationship with disease activity and clinical/laboratory manifestations in patients with suspected.

We evaluated the plasma levels of ANA and anti-dsDNA antibodies in all individuals with suspected SLE (n=668) who had been referred to rheumatology clinics in Gorgan, Iran. The level of antibodies as well as C3, C4, and CH50 were determined using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

The mean level of ANA and anti-dsDNA antibodies differed significantly between the ANA-positive and ANA-negative groups (p<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the mean values of C3 (p=0.233), C4 (p=0.415, and CH50 (p=0.482) between the two groups. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between ANA and anti-dsDNA levels (p<0.001, r=0.50).

Our findings indicate that anti-dsDNA levels are higher in ANA-positive individuals, and there may be a positive correlation between ANA and anti-dsDNA levels. It is recommended to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic values of ANA and anti-dsDNA antibodies in future studies.

Esophageal cancer is one of the main causes of cancer mortality in the world. Golestan province, in the northern part of Iran, has the highest esophageal cancer rate in the world. The north and south districts of Golestan province can be classified as low and high-risk areas for esophageal cancer. One of the potential risk factors for esophageal cancer in this population is a nutrientdeficient diet. Dietary antioxidant compounds such as selenium, vitamin E, vitamin A, and β-carotene are reactive oxygen species (ROC) scavengers that play a key role in cellular responses to oxidative stress and preventing DNA damage. This study aims to compare the serum levels of selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin A in healthy individuals in high and low-risk areas of esophageal cancer.

This study is a population of 242 healthy individuals. Serum selenium levels were assessed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Vitamin E and A were assessed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

Vitamin E levels of healthy individuals in high-risk areas were significantly lower than in low-risk areas, while there was no significant difference between the selenium and vitamin A levels of healthy individuals in high-risk areas and low-risk areas. Also, there was no significant difference between selenium, vitamin E, and vitamin A levels in urban and rural areas and men and women in Golestan province.

High levels of selenium with lower levels of vitamin E, along with other risk factors, may be associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in highrisk areas of Golestan province.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most toxic aflatoxin produced by a large number of Aspergillus species. Successful detoxification of this toxin is an important attempt to improve community health. The aim of this study was to evaluate reducing effects of yeasts isolates from kefir and traditional kefir-like fermented beverages on AFB1 in a broth medium.

Polymerase chain reaction-sequencing was carried out to identify the yeast isolates from kefir and kefir-like beverages. Effects of the isolates on AFB1 adsorption and biotransformation in peptone dexterose broth medium were evaluated by using high performance liquid chromatography.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus were isolated from kefir and kefir-like beverages and resulted in 46% and 53% AFB1 adsorption, respectively. The isolates 27Y and 2Y caused 7% toxin biotransformation, while 10% toxin biotransformation was achieved by the isolate 18Y. 

Our results indicate that the yeast isolates from kefir and traditional kefir-like products can bind to and detoxify AFB1, thereby reducing its harmful effects.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease caused by the accumulation of large amounts of fat in the hepatocytes. Given that atorvastatin is effective for treatment of NAFLD, the present study investigated effects of high-fat/fructose diet (HFFD) with atorvastatin on liver enzymes and lipid profile in a NAFLD rat model.

Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1) normal control, 2) HFFD control, 3) HFFD + atorvastatin, and 4) normal + atorvastatin. The groups received HFFD for 15 weeks to induce hepatosteatosis. Atorvastatin was administrated at the dose of 10 mg/kg/day. Lipid profile and liver enzymes were measured after eight weeks of intervention.

Triglyceride, cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and aspartate transaminase were significantly reduced in the HFFD + atorvastatin group compared with the HFFD control group. In addition, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase were significantly increased in the normal + atorvastatin group compared with the normal control group. Low-density lipoprotein increased significantly in the HFFD + atorvastatin group and the normal + atorvastatin group compared with other groups. There was a significant difference in the alanine transaminase levels between the groups taking atorvastatin. In fact, alanine transaminase level was lowest in the normal + atorvastatin group.

Atorvastatin improves the lipid profile and fatty liver and controls liver enzymes. Therefore, it can be used with caution to improve the lipid profile and reduce the complications of NAFLD.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fish size and seasonality on the epidermis structure and protein profile of the skin mucus of Rainbow trout. Skin mucus samples were collected over three consecutive season periods including late winter, mid spring and early autumn. In each season, sampling was performed separately from three different weight groups including 2-20 gr fish (W1), 100-200 gr fish (W2) and 400-600 gr fish (W3). The results of histological analysis showed that goblet cell density and epidermal thickness increased with increasing temperature from winter to autumn in all weight groups. In juvenile (W1 fish), the size of goblet cells was not affected by the season, while in larger fishes (W2 and W3), the size decreased with increasing temperature in the autumn. There was a positive and significant relationship between fish size and density of goblet cells. Biochemical analysis of skin mucus showed that protein concentration increased simultaneously with an increase in goblet cell density. The protein profiles of rainbow trout mucus showed seasonal variations in all three weight groups. In autumn, the small proteins with molecular weights less than 35 kDa were more prominent, while these proteins were not observed in the winter. There were no significant differences in the mucus protein profile among different weight groups

Accumulation of fat in the liver is one of the causes of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which affects about 30% of the world's population. Animal models have been useful tools for investigating the mechanisms involved in the etiology of NAFLD and developing new drugs.

This study aimed to present a new model for the detection of NAFLD in rats.

Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into six experimental groups: (1) control; (2) 45% fructose + 35% olive oil + carbon tetrachloride (FFC1); (3) carbon tetrachloride (1: 4 in olive oil) (C1); (4) carbon tetrachloride (1: 6 in olive oil) (C2); (5) 12.5% fructose + 12.5% olive oil (FF); and (6) 20% fructose + carbon tetrachloride (1: 4 in olive oil) (FC1). Blood samples were taken in three steps, and liver tissue was dissected at the end of the sixth week for histopathological assessments.

After six weeks, the alanine transaminase (131.63 ± 1.51), aspartate transaminase (275 ± 1.0), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (4.30 ± 0.1) levels increased significantly in the C1 group (P < 0.05). The serum lipid profile showed significant changes in all groups compared to the controls (P < 0.01). According to the histological results, all experimental groups, except the C2 group, showed symptoms of NAFLD; nevertheless, a higher NAFLD Activity Score (NAS) was found in the C1 group, followed by the FC1 group, compared to the other groups.

The present results revealed that injection of 0.1 mL/kg of carbon tetrachloride (C1 group), alone or along with a diet containing 20% fructose (FC1 group), provided useful animal models of NAFLD, although carbon tetrachloride injection alone is the most effective model in inducing NAFLD model that can be used as a new strategy in nutritional and pharmacological studies.
Keywords

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious public health problem and a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge worldwide. Molecular diagnostic techniques are crucial parts of the World Health Organization’s new tuberculosis control strategy. This study aims to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampin resistance in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary clinical specimens using the Gene Xpert MTB/RIF assay.

The study was carried out on 220 specimens from pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB patients that were sent to the Kavosh Laboratory in Gorgan (Iran) during 2018-20. The Gene Xpert MTB / RIF method was applied to detect M. tuberculosis and rifampin resistance.

Of 220 specimens, 15 (6.81%) were found to be positive, four (26.6%) of which were related to pulmonary and 11(73.3%) to extra-pulmonary specimens. None of the positive samples was resitant to rifampin according to assay.

Our findings demonstrate that the Gene Xpert MTB/RIF is able to accurately detect M. tuberculosis in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary specimens. The accurate and early diagnosis of TB infection allows timely therapeutic intervention, which is beneficial not only for the patient but also for possible contacts.

Selenium is an essential mineral found naturally in soil, water, and some foods. Today, selenium, as an antioxidant, is one of the vital elements in the human body. Although the human body needs a small amount of selenium daily, recent studies have shown that the same small amount of selenium is essential for maintaining healthy body function. It is challenging to choose the right dose of selenium. According to several studies in this present review, a daily supplement of 31.5-200 micrograms seems beneficial since the amount of selenium in various diseases is less than the amount in healthy people. The articles published in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and SCOPUS databases were screened and collected based on the keywords including selenium, oxidant, antioxidant, diabetes, cancer, toxicity, heart disease and liver disease. These keywords were chosen because of the antioxidant role of selenium as well as the prominent role of oxidation in the progression of these diseases. 150 articles published over a period of 20 years from 2000 to 2020 were used in this study. Articles about nano-seleniums, non-dietary supplements, and diseases caused by the underlying disease of metabolic syndrome were excluded and finally 121 articles were included in the study. A limited number of studies show that patients with multiple disorders may need to take higher doses of selenium (82.4 to 200 micrograms) than healthy people. In this study, seleniumchr('39')s antioxidant role in chronic metabolic disorders, including hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, and some cancers, were investigated. Also, the clinical significance of selenium deficiency in metabolic diseases, as well as clinical and experimental observations on the effect of selenium dietary supplements in the treatment of chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes and atherosclerosis, and cancers, are briefly mentioned. Besides, the recommended toxicity and dose of selenium have been discussed.

Studies have indicated that branched amino acids play a crucial role in gene expression, protein metabolism, apoptosis, and restoration of hepatocytes and insulin resistance. This study aimed to compare the plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids in patients with esophageal cancer and normal individuals.

Plasma levels of leucine and isoleucine of 37 patients with esophageal cancer and 37 healthy adults were investigated by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (version 16) software, and t test was used to compare the plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids in the two groups.

In the patients group, the mean age ± SD was 63 ± 13.64 years, and 21 (56.8%) individuals were male. In the control group, the mean age ± SD was 64.24 ± 13.08 years, and 21 (54.1%) individuals were male. Plasma levels of leucine (37.68 ± 105) and isoleucine (22.43 ± 59.1) in patients with esophageal cancer were significantly reduced (p value of isoleucine:0.007, and leucine: 0.0001).

In the present study, the plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids in patients with esophageal cancer had changed. Evidence suggests that branched-chain amino acids are essential nutrients for cancer growth and are used by tumors in various biosynthetic pathways as energy sources. Thus, studies in this field can be useful in providing appropriate therapeutic approaches.

Serine and glycine are connecting lines for biosynthesis and are essential resources for synthesis of proteins, nucleic acids and lipids that are necessary for cancer cell growth. The purpose of this study was to set a comparison of serine and glycine in patients with esophageal cancer and in healthy people.

37 plasma samples were collected from esophageal cancer patients and were referred to Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease Research Center, Firoozgar Hospital, affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids were measured by HPLC method. Statistics were calculated by SPSS v.16 software.

In the patients’ group the mean age ± SD was 63±13.64 and 21 (56.8%) were male; while in control group, the mean age ± SD was 64.24±13/08 and %54.1 were male. Glycine levels were significantly increased in esophageal cancer (P-value: 0.031) and age (P-value<0.05) but it didn’t have significant difference in association with sex (P-value>0.05). However, serine levels in patients with esophageal cancer compared to the healthy group didn’t show a significant difference (P-value: 0.610) and also it didn’t show a significant difference in association with age (P-value>0.05), sex (P-value>0.05).

High concentration of serine and reduced glycine levels in plasma of patients with esophageal cancer could act as a prognostic factor in cancer development

 Inflammatory bowel diseases are managed by different methods, which may not be well tolerated because of their side effects. Recently, pro-prebiotics are considered as a supplementary treatment in gastrointestinal diseases. In this study, the effect of Lactocare® (ZistTakhmir Company) was investigated on the disease severity in mild to moderate ulcerative colitis.

 In this randomized, double-blind clinical trial (Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials number: IRCT201407271264N5), 60 patients with mild to moderate ulcerative colitis were included. An 8-week trial was carried out comparing Lactocare® as a supplement with standard therapy against placebo. Simple Clinical Colitis Activity Index (SCCAI) was measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using paired ttest to assess the temporal changes (before and after the treatment) in the mean of SCCAI in each group. Chi-square test was used to compare the response rates. Odds ratios (OR) and the 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were also calculated. p values of less than 0.05 were considered significant.

 A significant decreased mean SCCAI was seen in the intervention group (4.56 ± 2.56) vs. placebo group (6.54 ± 2.47) (p < 0.05). Response to treatment was seen in 64.3% of the treatment group vs. 47% in the placebo group (p = 0.18). Response to treatment was observed in 90.9% of patients with ulcerative colitis for more than 5 years compared with 44.4% of the control group (p = 0.01).

 Regarding the effectiveness of pre-probiotics in mitigating symptoms in patients with ulcerative colitis, it could be suggested to try pre-probiotics in the standard treatment particularly in those with more than five years ofthe disease.

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common types of cancer, especially in Asia. Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is the most important histological subtype of EC, which accounts for 90% of all EC cases worldwide. ESCC is highly prevalent in Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan and northern and central parts of China. Selenium is an essential micronutrient that is required for cellular functioning and synthesis of several selenoproteins. It also modulates the antioxidant defense system, cell cycle and apoptosis. This article reviews the most important molecular mechanisms of EC and investigates the association between selenium level and incidence of EC in high-risk areas.

Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic infections worldwide. The clinical symptoms of brucellosis are similar to a wide range of diseases; hence, reliable diagnostic and laboratory methods are required to identify the causative agent. Iran is an endemic region of brucellosis, and many patients are misdiagnosed due to the nature of the infection. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the use of the conventional Wright test and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for the diagnosis of brucellosis.

Diagnosis of brucellosis was performed using serological tests and PCR amplification of a gene encoding 31-kDa immunogenic Brucella abortus protein (BCSP31). Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test.

Brucellosis was diagnosed in 45 (69.23%) and 22 (38.8%) patients using the Wright test and qRT-PCR, respectively. The results of Wright and qRT-PCR assays were consistent in patients with negative results (90%). Moreover, qRT-PCR detected brucellosis in 25% of patients with Wright test titers <1/160, while 55.2% of the patients were positive with titers ≥1/160. No significant association was detected between positive PCR results and age, gender, and clinical symptoms.

qRT-PCR showed a reliable diagnostic method capable of detecting the infection in suspected individuals with negative Wright results or with Wright test titers <1/160. Also, the positive qRT-PCR assays were in agreement with the Wright test titer. Regarding the financial and availability issues as well as technical problems, the agglutination test remains the preferred method in Iran.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a yeast infection and is one of the most common causes of women's referral to the physician. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between different Candida species and some risk factors affecting the incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis. This descriptive study was conducted during 2016-2018 on 404 samples of vaginal discharge with clinical symptoms of vulvovaginitis in Sayyad Shirazi Hospital as well as Medical and Obstetric Clinics in Gorgan for two years. Vaginal secretions were tested directly on CHROMagar Candida medium and 280 patients with Candidiasis were identified using RFLP-PCR. The demographic information and individual fertility data were collected using a questionnaire. Subsequently, the data were analyzed in SPSS software (version. 22) through the Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. According to the results, 62 (22%) patients had recurrent vulvovaginal; moreover, the incidence of the VVC correlated significantly with the age group of 26-35 years, the incidence of underlying diseases, pregnancy, and the use of contraceptive drugs, such as  LD, metronidazole, and fluconazole (P<0.05). However, no significant relationship was found between other symptoms (P>0.05). The most commonly identified species regarding the risk factors of vulvovaginal Candidiasis was Candida albicans. Awareness on the type of yeast, the type of effective antifungal drugs, and effective risk factors, such as broad and long-term use of antibiotics contraceptives, including LD, and some underlying factors can pave the way on the prevalence of the disease and the factors affecting the incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis for medical specialists and health authorities.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. It is well established that low level of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) is a strong and independent risk factor for CAD. Apolipoprotein M (apoM) is a component of HDL, which is involved in pre-β-HDL formation and cholesterol efflux to HDL. It is believed that resistance and aerobic exercise can significantly reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, especially by increasing serum levels of HDL-C. However, little is known about effects of these activities on HDL-apoM levels. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of circuit resistance training at different intensities on HDL-associated apoM levels in young untrained men.
           

Forty-five age- and weight-matched healthy untrained men were randomly assigned to a control group (n=10) and four training groups: 20% 1-repetition maximum (1RM) (n=9), 40% 1RM (n=8), 60% 1RM (n=7) and 80% 1RM (n=8). The subjects performed circuit resistance training consisting of barbell bench press, underarm flab, seated barbell curl, triceps exercise with chains, lying leg curl, squats, hyperextension, abs workout, sit-ups and quadriceps workouts (30 seconds each) in three bouts without rest between stations and with active rest (3 minutes) between sets or bouts. The training protocol was carried out for 45 minutes per session, three sessions a week, for five weeks. Venous blood samples were taken 48 hours before the first exercise session and 48 hours after the last training session. After separating plasma, HDL-associated apoM was measured using commercial ELISA kits. SPSS 16 was used for analysis of data using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test at significant level of 0.05.
           

After the training intervention, the exercise groups had higher apoM levels in total HDL and HDL-2 compared to the control group (P>0.05). However, no significant difference in HDL-associated apoM level was observed between the study groups.
           

The results of this study indicate that various intensities of circuit resistance training can alter HDL-associated apoM levels. The decreased HDL-3-associated apoM level could indicate increased rate of apoM transfer to HDL-2, which could potentially prevent development of atherosclerosis and CAD by enhancing the antioxidant effects of HDL.
       

Vitamin D is an essential secosteroid that plays a crucial role in the homeostasis of a few mineral elements, particularly calcium. Since vitamin D deficiency and thyroid diseases are two important global health problems, we aimed to investigate a possible relationship of vitamin D and calcium levels with hypothyroidism in an Iranian population.
           

This case-control study was conducted on 175 subjects with hypothyroidism (75 males and 100 females) and 175 euthyroid controls (85 males and 90 females) who were referred to a laboratory in Gorgan, Iran. Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, calcium, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (free T3) and thyroxine (total T4) were measured in all participants.
           

Vitamin D and calcium were significantly lower in patients with hypothyroidism (P<0.0001). Free T3 and calcium levels differed significantly among hypothyroid patients based on their vitamin D status (P<0.0001), but vitamin D levels were within sufficient range in all groups. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between free T3 with vitamin D (r= 0.337, P<0.0001) and calcium (r= 0.361, P<0.0001) levels.
            

Our results suggest that there may be a relationship between decreased vitamin D levels and thyroid function parameters.
        

Apolipoprotein O (apoO) is a 198 amino acids protein that exists predominantly in high-density lipoprotein (HDL). It may exert cardioprotective effects via decreasing fat accumulation and increasing removal of cholesterol from macrophages. Although the health benefits of exercise are well documented, no study has yet investigated the effects of various types of training, including resistance training on apoO level. Therefore, we aimed to determine effects of five weeks of circuit resistance training with different intensities on plasma levels of apoO, HDL, total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in young untrained men.            Forty-five age- and weight-matched healthy untrained men were randomly assigned to a control group (n=10) and four training groups: training at 20% intensity (n=9), training at 40% intensity (n=8), training at 60% intensity (n=7) and training at 80% intensity (n=8). The subjects performed circuit resistance training at 10 stations (30 seconds at each station) with three repetitions, without rest between stations and with 3-minute active rest between the repetitions. The training was carried out for 45 minutes per session, three sessions a week, for five weeks. Venous blood samples were taken 48 hours before the first exercise session and 48 hours after the last training session. Plasma levels of apoO, HDL, TC and TG were measured using commercial kits. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test at significance level of 0.05.            After the training intervention, mean plasma level of TC and TG did not differ significantly between the study groups (P>0.05). Training at 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) caused a slight decrease in the apoO concentrations. Moreover, apoO concentration was significantly higher in the 20% 1RM training group compared to other study groups (F=11.599, P<0.002).            Our results indicate that circuit resistance training at 80% of 1RM can decrease HDL-associated apoO level but does not significantly alter other parameters.        

  Apolipoprotein M (APOM) is a novel high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated protein involved in the production of pre-beta HDL and cholesterol efflux to HDL. The present study examined effect of 12 weeks of aerobic interval training on HDL-associated APOM levels.               Study population included 20 healthy men aged 20 to 24 years. The subjects were randomly and equally divided into a training group and a control group. Each training session included 10 minutes of warm-up, 35 minutes of aerobic training (5 combined cycles each including four minutes of running at intensity of 85-95% and an active resting period of treadmill running at 65-75% of maximum heart rate for 3 minutes) and 10 minutes of cool-down. Blood samples (10 mL) were taken every four weeks. Two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni's post hoc test were used to compare the groups. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.              At the end of the 12th week, HDL-associated APOM levels increased in the training group and decreased in the control group. However, these changes were not statistically significant (P>0.05).               This study demonstrated that the 12-week aerobic interval training does not significantly affect HDL-associated APOM levels. However, it is recommended to monitor subjects’ diet throughout the study period to reach a more comprehensive conclusion.       

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, which alone accounts for 30% of all new cancer cases in women. The development of cancer is a multistep process.  The complex series of cellular and molecular changes participating in cancer development are mediated by a diversity of stimuli such as Oxidative stress that is known to cause DNA damage and mutations of tumor suppressor genes which are critical initial events in carcinogenesis. The tumor suppressor p53 plays important roles in the senescence response to DNA damage. On the other hand, Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that consistent with the decreased DNA damage and increased apoptosis. The aim of our study was evaluating the Association of tissue selenium level and p53 expression in breast cancer. Our study population consists of 30 breast cancer patients. We had collected their tumor tissues. We examined expression of p53 by using immunohistochemistry and selenium level by atomic absorption in breast cancer patients, and divided patients into two groups with negative and positive P53. About 36.67% of the samples were positive for P53 expression. Mean level of tissue selenium in tumors for positive and negative P53 were 203.16 µg/l and 230.92 µg/l, respectively. So, there was no significant association between selenium level and P53 expression. (p>0.005) There is no Association of tissue selenium level and p53 expression in breast cancer. Keyword:Selenium, P53, breast cancer

  HER-2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is one such gene that can play a role in the development of breast cancer by making HER-2 proteins (receptorson breast cells). Normally, HER-2 receptors control breast cells grow and Division. HER-2 protein over expression is the cause of up to 20% of breast cancers. The phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) pathway is important in the oncogenic function of HER-2. It has been reported compounds including Se, such as selenite significantly attenuated oxidative-stress-induced activation of the PI3K signaling pathways and can exhibit antitumor activity by downregulating PI3K activation. In this study, we evaluated Association of tissue selenium level and Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression in breast cancer. Se contents and expression of HER-2 were determined in 30 tissue collected from 30 women diagnosed with breast cancer based on immunohistochemistry (HER-2) and atomic absorption (Se). About 30% of the samples were positive for HER-2 expression. Mean level of tissue selenium in tumors for positive and negative HER-2 was 268.15 µg/l and 206.43µg/l respectively. So, there was no significant association between selenium level and HER-2 expression. (p>0.005) There is no Association of tissue selenium level and HER-2 expression in breast cancer.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase, encoded by NOS3, produces an atheroprotective metabolite. The G894T, T-786C and 4a/4b variants of this gene associated with increased risk for coronary artery diseases (CAD) have been evaluated in different populations worldwide, and inconsistent results have been obtained. We investigated the association between these three polymorphisms and presence of CAD in Iranian individuals. Overall, 234 people including angiography-positive patients from Amir-Almomenin Hospital (Heart Center), Kordkoy City, Golestan Province, northern Iran in 2016, angiography-negative subjects and healthy individuals from north of Iran were genotyped for the G894T and T−786C variations by PCR-RFLP, and 4a/4b VNTR only by PCR. The genotype distribution and allelic frequencies for the three variants tested were not dramatically different between CAD and control subjects and also between CAD patients and people with pains and symptoms very similar to CAD but no stenosis (P>0.05). Moreover, the odds ratio for CAD related to the G894T (OR=1.09, 95% CI=(0.60-2.00), T-786C (OR=1.04, 95% CI=(0.57-1.89) and 4a/4b (OR=1.75, 95% CI=(0.92-3.32) variants did not show statistical significance. Similarly, the odds ratio for stenosis confirmed by angiography related to the 894T (OR=1.03, 95% CI= (0.61-1.74), -786C (OR=0.90, 95% CI=(0.54-1.50) and 4b (OR=1.64, 95% CI=(0.92 -2.93) alleles were not significant. G894T, T-786C and 4a/4b variants were not associated with risk for CAD and occurrence of angiography-assessed stenosis in Northern Iranian population (P>0.05). These alleles might be population-specific and not to be associated with their corresponding gene pool. However, further analysis is required to clarify other CAD-correlated markers in our community.

Diverse relationships were proposed between esophageal cancer (EC) and serum levels of vitamin D. We aimed to assess serum vitamin D levels in high and low-risk populations for EC in Northern Iran. : This cross sectional study was conducted in Golestan province, Northern Iran. Based on the incidence rates of EC, the province was divided into high-risk and low-risk populations. A stratified cluster sampling method was used. Serum vitamin D level was assessed by ELISA method. The proportions of vitamin D deficiency were compared between the two populations. Totally, 246 persons were studied with mean age of 50.7 years. 96 subjects were men (39%). 119 subjects (48.8%) were from high-risk and 127 (51.6%) were from low-risk area. Thirty-two of 244 (13.1%) persons had vitamin D deficiency. The proportions of vitamin D deficiency were 7.9% and 18.3% in high- and low-risk populations (p=0.02). We found a significant higher level of vitamin D deficiency in low-risk than high-risk population for EC. Regarding the ecological design of this study, causal inference could not be made from our results. So, it is recommended to investigate this issue in future individual-level studies in this area and other high-risk populations.