Correlation of serum prolactin levels and disease activity in systematic lupus erythematosus

To assess the frequency of hyperprolactinaemia and its possible clinical significance in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this cross-sectional study, we determined serum prolactin (PRL) levels in 60 SLE female patients (age range 15–60 years). Disease activity was defined according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Serum PRL concentrations were determined by immunoradiometric assay. Elevated serum concentrations of PRL (>20 ng/ml) were found in 5 of 60 (8.4%) patients. No direct correlation between PRL levels with disease activity of SLE was found (r = 0.062, P = 0.39). SLE was active in 23 patients (SLEDAI ≥ 6) and inactive in 37 (SLEDAI < 6). In those with active disease, median PRL levels were lower (11.0 ng/ml) than normoprolactinaemic group (12.1 ng/ml). There was no significant difference in serum PRL levels between active and non-active patients (P = 0.07). There was a significant difference in the frequency of several clinical manifestations and serological parameters between SLE patients with normal and high prolactin (renal involvement, haematological manifestation and anti-ds DNA). This study has shown that hyperprolactinaemia is prevalent in random SLE patients. The elevated PRL levels seem not to be associated with disease activity. The mechanism and pathoaetiological and clinical significance of hyperprolactinaemia in a small subset of SLE patients remain unclear and a longer follow-up is necessary.     

The enhancement of vincristine cytotoxicity by combination with feselol

Urinary bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Human transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) cells are epithelial-like adherent cells originally established from a primary bladder carcinoma. Studies have shown that TCC cells are resistant to some chemotherapeutic agents such as vincristine (VCR). In the present study, the effect of feselol, a sesquiterpene coumarin isolated from the fruits of Ferula badrakema, was investigated on VCR effectiveness. Our results demonstrated that feselol itself did not have any cytotoxic effect on TCC cells. In order to check its combinatorial effects, TCC cells were exposed to various combined concentrations of feselol and VCR. Then, morphological changes were monitored and cytotoxicity was analyzed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay for three consequent days. Results showed that the combination of 40 μg/ml VCR with 16 μg/ml feselol increased the cytotoxicity of VCR by 28.32% after 48 h. This effect might be due to inhibition of P-glycoprotein in TCC cells by feselol.     

Assessment and control design for steam vent noise in an oil refinery

Background: Noise is one of the most important harmful agents in work environment. Noise pollution in oil refinery industries is related to workers' health. This study aimed to determine the overall noise pollution of an oil refinery operation and its frequency analysis to determine the control plan for a vent noise in these industries. Methods: This experimental study performed in control unit of Tehran Oil Refinery in 2008. To determine the noise distributions, environmental noise measurements were carried out by lattice method according to basic information and technical process. The sound pressure level and frequency distribution was measured for each study sources subject separately was performed individually. According to the vent's specification, the measured steam noise characteristics reviewed and compared to the theoretical results of steam noise estimation. Eventually, a double expansion muffler was designed. Data analysis and graphical design were carried out using Excel software. Results: The results of environmental noise measurements indicated that the level of sound pressure was above the national permitted level (85 dB (A)). The Mean level of sound pressure of the studied steam jet was 90.3 dB (L). The results of noise frequency analysis for the steam vents showed that the dominant frequency was 4000 Hz. To obtain 17 dB noise reductions, a double chamber aluminum muffler with 500 mm length and 200 mm diameter consisting pipe drilled was designed. Conclusion: The characteristics of steam vent noise were separated from other sources, a double expansion muffler was designed using a new method based on the level of steam noise, and principle sound frequency, a double expansion muffler was designed.     

How effective is Swedish massage on blood glucose level in children with diabetes mellitus?

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Swedish massage on blood glucose level in children with diabetes mellitus (DM). It was prospective randomized controlled trial study that conducted on 36 children, 6-12 years old with DM, recruited from a hospital in Qom City, Iran. The children were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. Swedish massage was performed 15 minutes, 3 times a week, for 3 months in intervention group. The blood glucose levels were evaluated immediately after every session of massage in two groups. The mean ages of children in the intervention (n=18) and control (n=18) groups were 9.05 ± 1.55 and 9.83 ±2.03 years respectively. There was statistically no significant difference in blood glucose levels before intervention between two groups (P=0.586), but the blood glucose levels were lower significantly in intervention group in comparison with control group after intervention (P<0.0001). Addition of Swedish massage to daily routines; exercise, diet and medication regimens, is an effective intervention to reduce blood glucose level in diabetic children.     

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells express a functional chemokine receptor CCR3: implications for myelination

Myelination in the central nervous system requires an accurate interplay between oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC) and axons. By as yet not fully understood mechanisms, OPC proliferate, migrate to the axon to be myelinated and finally differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes. The recent finding that OPC express CXC chemokine receptors led us to the investigation of the expression and functional importance of CC chemokine receptors. Using RT-PCR, we show that primary OPC from neonatal rats express CCR3, while CCR1, CCR2, CCR4, CCR5, and CCR7 are not expressed. Immunofluorescence staining of OPC could further demonstrate protein expression of CCR3. A rise of intracellular Ca2+ upon stimulation with the appropriate ligand CCL11 showed that this receptor is functional. Moreover, CCL11 led to a concentration specific increase in proliferation, inhibition of migration, and augmentation of differentiation in primary OPC. Thus, CCR3 may influence the process of myelination. This is of general importance for both developmental tissue patterning and for repair processes in demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis.     

The Spectrum of β-Thalassemia Mutations in Hamadan Province,West Iran

β-Thalassemia (β-thal) is one of the most common hemoglobinopathies worldwide and is caused by mutations on the β-globin (HBB) gene. The aim of the present study was to determine the mutation spectrum of the β-globin gene in β-thal carriers who were originally from Hamadan Province, Western Iran. Two hundred and eighty-two β-thal carriers participated in the study. Amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) and direct sequencing were used for detection of different mutations. A total of 25 different mutations, including 21 β-thal mutations and four other hemoglobin (Hb) variants, in 280 β-thal carriers (99.3%) were detected in the present study. Three types of mutations including IVS-II-1 (G>A) (HBB: c.315+1G>A) (26.24%), codons 8/9 (+G) (HBB: c.27_28insG) (14.54%) and codons 36/37 (–T) (HBB: c.112delT) (12.76%) accounted for more than 50.0% of the identified mutations. Moreover, IVS-I-110 (G>A) (HBB: c.93-21G>A), codon 44 (–C) (HBB: c.135delC) and IVS-I (25?bp deletion) (HBB: c.93-21_del), had frequencies of 7.09, 7.09 and 5.67%, respectively. Allele frequencies of the remaining 19 mutations were less than 5.0%. This study is the first comprehensive study on a large sample size in Hamadan Province, Iran. In conclusion, the present study significantly increased the spectrum of HBB gene mutations in Hamadan Province compared with previous studies. Therefore, these results can be helpful in identifying β-thal carriers and at-risk fetuses through prenatal diagnosis (PND).     

A pharmacological study on Berberis vulgaris fruit extract

Berberis vulgaris fruit (barberry) is known for its antiarrhythmic and sedative effects in Iranian traditional medicine. The effects of crude aqueous extract of barberry on rat arterial blood pressure and the contractile responses of isolated rat aortic rings and mesenteric bed to phenylephrine were investigated. We also examined effect of the extract on potassium currents recorded from cells in parabrachial nucleus and cerebellum rejoins of rat brain. Administration of the extract (0.05-1 mg/100 g body weight of rat) significantly reduced the mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate in anaesthetized normotensive and desoxycorticosteron acetate-induced hypertensive rats in a dose-dependent manner. Concentration-response curves for phenylephrine effects on isolated rat aortic rings and the isolated mesenteric beds in the presence of the extract were significantly shifted to the right. Application of the extract (1-50 microg/ml) shifted the activation threshold voltage to more negative potentials, leading to an enhancement in magnitude of the outward potassium current recorded from cells present in rat brain slices of parabrachial nucleus and cerebellum. This effect on potassium current may explain the sedative and neuroprotective effects of barberry. The present data support the hypothesis that the aqueous extract of barberry has beneficial effects on both cardiovascular and neural system suggesting a potential use for treatment of hypertension, tachycardia and some neuronal disorders, such as epilepsy and convulsion.     

Phage Immunoprecipitation Sequencing of Autoantigens in Autoimmune Retinopathy

Purpose: To identify autoantigens in autoimmune retinopathy patients by phage immunoprecipitation sequencing (PhIP-Seq), a new technique for autoantigen discovery.

Methods: PhIP-Seq was used to sequence putative autoantibodies in plasma from 11 patients with autoimmune retinopathy and eight controls. We compared the autoantibodies’ molecular weights with those of proteins detected by Western blot.

Results: Several autoantigens were found in cases and not detected in the controls. Autoantigens RTN3, PRPF6, TRPC6, and B3GNT8, four proteins expressed in the retina, were detected in plasma as autoantibodies from one patient each and no controls. Only one patient had an autoantibody, B3GNT8 (43.4 kDa), within a similar weight range as that detected by antiretinal antibody Western blot (42 kDa). Autoantibody POLR3A, which has a well-characterized role in scleroderma, was detected in two cases and no controls.

Conclusion: PhIP-Seq detected autoantigens that are expressed in the retina as well as scleroderma-related autoantigens in autoimmune retinopathy patients.