Abstract

Background and Objective:  With regard to high prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and its being significantly affected by nutritional factors, we aimed  to determine the relationship between  zinc serum level and  ADHD.

Material and Methods:  This ex-post- facto (causal comparative research) design study was conducted on 60 children, selected via convenience sampling. Thirty of them were ADHD children diagnosed by a psychiatrist using DSM IV checklist, as a case group, and the rest were healthy ones located in control group. Having their family informed consent, their Zinc level was measured via Colorimetric method.

Results: The results show that Zinc serum level of ADHD children are lower than that of healthy ones.  Using t- test, it was indicated that the difference is not significant. Besides, the result of Pearson correlation coefficient showed that there is no significant relation between Zinc and ADHD.

Conclusion: given that the zinc level was lower in ADHD children, the difference was not significant. Therefore, we recommend conducting further research with a larger sample size.

Key words: Zinc; ADHD; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity.

Abstract

        Background and Objective: Hirudin is an anticoagulant polypeptide secreted from the salivary glands of leeches. Recombinant hirudin is a strong anticoagulant agent in arterial and venous thrombosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of inserting protein A signal peptide sequence of pEZZ18 plasmid on expression and secretion of the recombinant hirudin in E.coli.

       Methods: the synthetic hirudin gene was amplified by PCR using specific primers. First, the gene was purified and cloned into PTG19-T cloning vector, and then it was subcloned into pEZZ18 expression vector by SalI / SacI enzymatic digestion and finally transformed into E.coli JM107. After the expression of recombinant hirudin protein, different cellular fractions were isolated and analyzed on SDS-PAGE and further confirmed by Western blotting.

         Results: PCR product (522 bp) was first subcloned into the T-Vector (replicating vector) and then successfully subcloned into the pEZZ18 (expression vector). Cloning and subclonig were confirmed by enzymatic digestion and Colony PCR. After the expression and isolation of fractions, the presence of hirudin (about 29 kDa) in different cell fractions due to the effects of signal peptide was observed in SDS-PAGE and finally confirmed by Western blotting.

       Conclusion: The gene of anticoagulant hirudin protein (desirudin) was cloned into the pEZZ18 vector containing Protein A signal peptide sequence and later transformed into E.coli JM107. The recombinant hirudin protein expression in the extracellular space was approved.

        Keywords: Hirudin; Desirudin; Protein Sorting Signals.

Abstract

      Background and Objective: Agr is the most important regulatory system for the expression of Staphylococcus aureus virulence factors in different conditions. Agr acts as a quorum sensing system in this bacterium which is activated by increased cell concentration during the transition from logarithmic growth phase to stationary phase. Its role is to upregulate the secretory virulence factors such as alpha-hemolysin and inhibit the transcription of surface proteins including protein A-encoding gene. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the agr system expression and some virulence factors of Staphylococcus aureus in Brain-heart infusion (BHI) culture medium.

     Methods: The expression level of agrA and RNAIII genes from the agr locus along with the expression of hla, spa and mecA genes in BHI broth were assessed in different growth phases using Real time-PCR. Also, gyrB was used as an internal control in this study.

     Results: The growth curve of the five tested isolates in BHI broth at 24 hours showed that all the isolates had relatively similar growth patterns. AgrA gene expression in the stationary phase was decreased by 0.89-fold compared with the logarithmic phase. Although the expression of RNAIII gene increased by 3-fold, hla expression decreased by 0.47-fold.

     Conclusion: An inactive agr system is observed in the BHI broth medium. BHI broth medium contains high amounts of suitable nutrients for the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, thus the bacteria do not require the activity of the agr system for the regulation of the virulence genes in these conditions.

Abstract

      Background and Objective: High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a recently proposed exercise protocol, which is time-effective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of HIIT for 8 weeks on the lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), fasting blood sugar (FBS) and anthropometric parameters of young women who do not exercise.

     Methods: In this study, 20 young physically inactive women performed HIIT workouts for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. The training protocol consisted of 10-times treadmill running for 15 seconds at maximum effort and then 30 seconds of resting. Blood samples were taken while fasting, a day before and after the training and then the considered parameters were measured. Wilcoxon test was used to compare the obtained data.

      Results: HIIT significantly reduced FBS, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein /cholesterol ratio and CRP while increasing the HDL levels. There was a significant difference in the weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference, abdominal circumference and chest circumference of the subjects before and after the training (p <0.05).

      Conclusion: HIIT can improve lipid, inflammatory and anthropometric parameters, thus it can be considered as a suitable alternative to time-consuming exercises, especially for physically inactive women who like to spend less time to achieve optimal physical wellness and body fitness.

ABSTRACT

      Background and Objective: Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common causes of genital infection in men and women. Genital chlamydial infections in women are clinically asymptomatic in 70-80% of the cases; therefore, the lack of timely diagnosis and treatment leads to complications such as infertility and ectopic pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of chlamydial infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic women in the Golestan province.

      Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 cervical swab samples obtained from 150 women referred to the clinic, after obtaining written consent and completion of questionnaires. The swab samples were transferred to laboratory in phosphate-buffered saline solution and DNA extraction was carried out using phenol-chloroform and boiling methods. The frequency of chlamydial infection was evaluated by PCR.

       Results: None of the tested samples were found as Chlamydia-positive.

      Conclusion: The findings require that some more extensive research with larger sample sizes and dispersed population be performed to determine the true prevalence.  Considering the serious complications of chlamydial infections and its asymptomatic nature, a highly sensitive and specific method such as PCR should be used to detect Chlamydia. It is suggested that this method be used along with a complementary test to obtain the results that are more accurate. Furthermore, conducting simultaneous studies on other populations at risk will be very helpful in obtaining representable national data.

ABSTRACT

       Background and Objective: Measurement of amino acids is an important tool for metabolic studies and evaluation of patients’ clinical condition. The aim of this study was to analyze the plasma amino acids using reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography techniques (RP-HPLC) with pre-column derivatization by o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) in combination with 3- mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA).

       Methods: Overall, 107 neonates and babies suspected of having metabolic disorder were enrolled in this study. The level of amino acids in plasma samples was analyzed within 65 minutes by HPLC with pre-column derivatization by OPA/3-MPA. This was a gradient RP-HPLC method that was performed using two solvents with a ratio of methanol and sodium acetate. L-norvaline internal standard was used as the reference peak for amino acids. Standard mixture of amino acids was used to determine the concentrations of amino acids.

        Results: According to the values of coefficient of variation obtained for each amino acid, the results indicated a good chromatographic separation of amino acids by this method. The use of OPA/3-MPA derivative reagent increased the efficiency and resolution of amino acids chromatographic separation.

      Conclusion: Due to simple preparation and accurate assessment, determination of plasma amino acids using OPA/3-MPA derivatives and RP-HPLC is a suitable method in many clinical samples.