Evaluation of Bremsstrahlung radiation dose in stereotactically radiocolloid therapy of cystic craniopharyngioma tumors with <Superscript>32</Superscript>P radio-colloid

Over 90% of craniopharyngeal brain tumors are cystic, which enables the injection of beta emitters such as phosphorus-32 (³²P) radio-colloid into cysts for their treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and theoretical modelling of Bremsstrahlung radiation dose resulting from stereotactic radio-colloid therapy of cystic craniopharyngioma tumors with ³²P. ³²P radio-colloid with appropriate activity concentration was injected to a head phantom, and then the Bremsstrahlung radiation spectrum and planar images were obtained using a gamma camera. Both phantom and gamma camera were simulated using MCNPX code, and the results were compared with practical results. Bremsstrahlung radiation spectrum was measured using a handheld gamma spectrometer for two patients treated with stereotactic radio-colloid therapy with ³²P in different positions and compared to Monte Carlo simulation. Results of counting and determining sensitivity coefficients in the air and the attenuating environment were obtained. Also, comparing the counting sensitivity from practical and simulation methods indicated the agreement of the data between the two methods. Comparison of the spectra from different positions around patient’s head indicated the ability to use this detector to quantify the activity in the operating room. Selection of the spectrum is important in Bremsstrahlung radiation imaging. We can take advantage of spectrometry measurement using gamma camera, handheld gamma spectrometer for patient, and theoretical modeling with Monte Carlo code to evaluate radiopharmaceutical distribution, leakage, as well as estimate activity and predict therapeutic effects in other adjacent structures and ultimately optimize radio-colloid therapy in cystic craniopharyngeal patients.     

Kaempferol attenuates cognitive deficit via regulating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in an ovariectomized rat model of sporadic dementia

Alzheimer's disease(AD) is associated with oxidative stress, and ultimately results in cognitive deficit. Despite existing literature on the pathophysiology of AD, there is currently no cure for AD. The present study investigated the effects of kaempferol(Kmp) isolated from the extract of Mespilus germanica L.(medlar) leaves on cognitive impairment, hippocampal antioxidants, apoptosis, lipid peroxidation and neuro-inflammation markers in ovariectomized(OVX) rat models of sporadic AD. Kaempferol, as the main flavonoid of medlar extract has been previously known for anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-neurotoxic effects. Thirty-two female Wistar rats were ovariectomized, and randomly divided into four groups: sham, OVX + saline, OVX + streptozotocin(STZ) + saline, OVX + STZ + Kmp. Animals received intracerebroventricular injection of STZ(3 mg/kg, twice with one day interval) to establish models of sporadic AD. Intraperitoneal injection of Kmp(10 mg/kg) for 21 days was performed in the OVX + STZ + Kmp group. Spatial learning and memory of rats were evaluated using a Morris water maze. Finally, brain homogenates were used for biochemical analysis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed a significant improvement in spatial learning and memory as evidenced by shortened escape latency and searching distance in Morris water maze in the OVX + STZ + Kmp group compared with the OVX + STZ group. Kmp also exhibited significant elevations in brain levels of antioxidant enzymes of superoxide dismutase and glutathione, while reduction in tumor necrosis factor-α and malondialdehyde. Our results demonstrate that Kmp is capable of alleviating STZ-induced memory impairment in OVX rats, probably by elevating endogenous hippocampal antioxidants of superoxide dismutase and glutathione, and reducing neuroinflammation. This study suggests that Kmp may be a potential neuroprotective agent against cognitive deficit in AD.     

Caprine cauda epididymal sperm motility pattern in the capacitation medium supplemented with leptin

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone with a role in the reproductive system through metabolic signals. Studies have suggested that binding of leptin to its receptors which have been found in human and boar sperm activates biochemical pathways leading to sperm capacitation. The present study was designed to explore the effects of leptin on sperm kinetic pattern during capacitation in vitro. Epididymal spermatozoa were obtained from 30 adult goat testes in six replicates and incubated in capacitation medium (Ca²⁺-free Tyrode’s medium, Sperm-TALP) supplemented with 0 (Con, control group), 10 and 100 ng/mL (L10 and L100 groups, respectively). Motion parameters were assessed using computer-assisted sperm analysis system at 10, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min after sperm incubation at 37°C and 6 % CO₂. Exposure of spermatozoa to two different doses of leptin caused a significant increase (p?<?0.05) in total and progressive sperm motility, curvilinear and straight line velocity, linearity (Lin), mean angular displacement, amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and beat cross-frequency (BCF) compared to the control group specially up to 60 min. There was not any significant difference between L10 and L100 groups in the evaluated parameters except for the first 10 min that L100 had better result in increasing Lin, ALH and BCF (p?<?0.05) and at the time of 240 min in which L10 showed a significant increase in all motion parameters. In conclusion, this study showed that leptin supplementation had significant effects on sperm motility patterns and so could enhance the sperm capacitation process.     

Role of CXCR2/CXCR2 ligands in vascular remodeling during bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome

Angiogenesis and vascular remodeling support fibroproliferative processes; however, no study has addressed the importance of angiogenesis during fibro-obliteration of the allograft airway during bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) that occurs after lung transplantation. The ELR(+) CXC chemokines both mediate neutrophil recruitment and promote angiogenesis. Their shared endothelial cell receptor is the G-coupled protein receptor CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2). We found that elevated levels of multiple ELR(+) CXC chemokines correlated with the presence of BOS. Proof-of-concept studies using a murine model of BOS not only demonstrated an early neutrophil infiltration but also marked vascular remodeling in the tracheal allografts. In addition, tracheal allograft ELR(+) CXC chemokines were persistently expressed even in the absence of significant neutrophil infiltration and were temporally associated with vascular remodeling during fibro-obliteration of the tracheal allograft. Furthermore, in neutralizing studies, treatment with anti-CXCR2 Abs inhibited early neutrophil infiltration and later vascular remodeling, which resulted in the attenuation of murine BOS. A more profound attenuation of fibro-obliteration was seen when CXCR2(-/-) mice received cyclosporin A. This supports the notion that the CXCR2/CXCR2 ligand biological axis has a bimodal function during the course of BOS: early, it is important for neutrophil recruitment and later, during fibro-obliteration, it is important for vascular remodeling independent of neutrophil recruitment.     

Assessment of Trace-Metal Concentrations in Western Reef Heron (Egretta gularis) and Siberian Gull (Larus heuglini) From Southern Iran

The objective of the present study was to investigate the levels of heavy metals, namely, chromium, copper, cobalt, nickel, and iron, in Western Reef heron (Egretta gularis) (n = 15) and Siberian gull (Larus heuglini) (n = 15) to (1) compare metal concentrations between two bird species with different trophic level, molting pattern, and life strategy; (2) examine species- and sex-related variations in trace-metal accumulation; and (3) determine the significance between heavy-metal concentrations in kidney, liver, and pectoral muscle. Bird samples were collected from November to December 2010 throughout the Hara Biosphere Reserve, and heavy metals were assayed by using a Shimadzu AA 680 flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer; the results were given as μg/g dry weight. Metal concentrations were different between the bird species as well as among bird tissues, but there was no difference (except chromium and iron in kidney) between sex (male vs. female). Mean levels in kidney of Western Reef heron and Siberian gull were chromium (0.96, 2.32 μg/g), copper (6.31, 10.55 μg/g), cobalt (0.12, 0.14 μg/g), nickel (1.13, 1.32 μg/g), and iron (37.92, 39.64 μg/g), respectively, whereas in liver they were chromium (1.05, 2.75 μg/g), copper (8.93, 12.63 μg/g), cobalt (0.09, 0.17 μg/g), nickel (1.1, 2.27 μg/g), and iron (34.03, 44.21 μg/g), respectively. Results showed that heavy-metal concentrations in Western Reef heron were decreased in the sequence iron > copper > nickel > chromium > cobalt, whereas in Siberian gull they were decreased in the sequence iron > copper > chromium > nickel > cobalt. Results also showed that in both species, the highest chromium and nickel concentrations were measured in female birds and the lowest in male birds, whereas the highest copper, cobalt, and iron (except iron in liver) concentrations were measured in male birds and the lowest in female birds.