مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 203 (هفته اول آبان 1391)

Type IV collagenase gene is capable of degrading type IV collagen which is the major structural component of basement membrane. It also increased the bioavailability of pro-angiogenic factors including vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor-β. A cytosine (C) thymine (T) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 1562 of the type IV collagenase promoter has been reported to affect gene expression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the C(-1562)T polymorphism and risk of lung cancer in different age groups in Iran population. Genotyping of C(-1562)T polymorphism in type IV collagenase gene was performed by taking out genomic DNA from blood samples of 120 patients with lung cancer and 100 age-matched controls by restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR). Chi-square test was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). All analyses were performed in SPSS. Distribution of C(-1562)T genotype in type IV collagenase promoter was significantly associated with the risk of lung cancer in the age group of < 60 years (OR = 19.89; 95% CI = 3.21-120.60). Our results indicated that C(-1562)T polymorphism in type IV collagenase gene affects the risk of lung cancer in different age groups, i.e. aging less than 60 years was significantly related with initiation of lung cancer.

Glutaraldehyde (G) is used in cross-linking. Silica clays, like montmorillonite (MMT), enhance the mechanical strength of polymeric nano-composites. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of G and MMT content on physicochemical properties of alendronate loaded agar/MMT/xanthan nano-composite scaffolds which are useful in regenerating bones in osteoporosis and other defects caused by trauma. Thirteen different formulations were designed by a three-level factorial design. The effects of two variables, i.e. G and MMT content, on drug loading, release efficiency percentage, swelling, and biodegradation of nano-composites were studied. The morphology of the optimized scaffold and its capability to grow the mesenchymal cells were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, respectively. Changing the concentration of G and MMT had no significant effects on drug loading in scaffolds. Unlike MMT, increasing the concentration of G increased drug release. Increasing the concentration of both studied variables decreased the swelling and biodegradation of the nano-composites. The scaffolds significantly enhanced the growth of mesenchymal cells. The optimum concentrations of MMT and G for preparing three dimensional scaffolds of agar/MMT/xanthan were 3% and 1%, respectively. These concentrations caused significant growth of mesenchymal cells.

This study aimed to compare postoperative outcomes in patients having primary total knee arthroplasty receiving general or regional anesthesia. This randomized prospective trial study was performed in Kashani Hospital (Isfahan, Iran). Sixty patients undergoing primary total knee replacement were randomized to either general anesthesia followed by postoperative intravenous patient-controlled analgesia with morphine, or combined spinal-epidural anesthesia. Pain intensity was evaluated using a verbal rating scale (VRS) at the 30th and 60th minutes in the recovery room, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after surgery, at discharge, and two and four weeks after the operation. Pain was also measured at discharge and two and four weeks after the operation. The amount of morphine was also determined during the first 48 postoperative hours. Range of motion was assessed according to the Knee Society Score at discharge and two and four weeks after surgery. All information was recorded in a questionnaire and analyzed by t-test and Mann-Whitney test. Median pain scores in patients who had received regional anesthesia were consistently lower at 1 (P < 0.001), 6 (P = 0.080), 12 (P = 0.003), 24 (P = 0.140), and 48 hours (P = 0.007) after the operation. Although there was a trend towards fewer complications in the mentioned group, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with respect to the incidence of postoperative blood loss, hemodynamic instability, pruritus, nausea, vomiting, urinary retention, or other surgical/medical complications. Patients who had been under regional anesthesia resumed meals earlier (P < 0.001) and showed a trend towards earlier ambulation and hospital discharge. Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty with regional anesthesia enjoyed better postoperative pain relief and resumed meals earlier than those who received general anesthesia with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia. The former also showed trends towards less adverse effects and postoperative complications.

Silymarin is a complex flavonolignan from milk thistle (Silybum marianum) plant. It exhibits cytoprotective, anticarcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Although its hepatoprotective effect has been well documented, its effects on T cells have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, the effects of silymarin on phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway of human activated T lymphocytes were investigated in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers were isolated and activated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and 2 µg/ml of monoclonal antibody [anti-cluster of differentiation 28 (CD28)]. Cells were incubated for 72 hours in a Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI-1640) complete medium with 100 mM silymarin and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as control. Then, cell lysate was prepared with lysis buffer and cell signaling was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PathScan® Cell Growth Multi-Target Sandwich ELISA Kit, Cell Signaling Technology, USA). Treatment with 100 μM silymarin for 72 hours could partially decrease the cellular levels of phosphorylated-AKT (Ser473/Thr308) and AKT. In addition, silymarin significantly decreased the cellular expression of phosphorylated-S6 (Ser235/236). Silymarin significantly decreased the cellular level of Ser235/236 but had no significant effects on cellular levels of other molecules such as AKT and Ser473/Thr308. Therefore, the inhibitory effects of silymarin on T lymphocytes proliferation, that have been observed in previous studies, might have been the result of inhibition of some molecules in the PI3K/AKT pathway which are necessary for cell cycle entrance.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of mortality worldwide. The fact that men are more affected than women supports the hypothesis that testosterone is a risk factor of CVD. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) have an important role in vascular repair and angiogenesis. However, the effects of androgens on these cells are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of testosterone on the number of circulating EPCs. In this experimental study, 24 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four groups of six. The first group underwent sham operation and received 0.1 ml of subcutaneous sesame oil (as placebo) every day for three weeks. The other three groups underwent orchidectomy and received different concentrations of subcutaneous testosterone for three weeks. Finally, the number of EPCs was measured by flow cytometry. The number of circulating EPCs in the sham group decreased significantly. The number of EPCs in castrated groups that received 5 mg/kg/day testosterone increased significantly in comparison with castrated groups that received vehicle and 1 mg/kg/day testosterone (P < 0.05). Our findings suggest endogenous and exogenous testosterone to affect the number of circulating EPCs.