THE ENZYMATIC ACTIVITIES OF FRACTIONS SEPARATED FROM IRANIAN VIPERA LEBETINA VENOM
Snake venom is a complex mixture of components, many of which are known to be proteins with enzyme activities. Vipera lebetina, which is called Afiee in Persian, is abundantly found in our country. It’s venom was separated into five fractions using gel filtration chromatography on sephadex G-100 and then equilibrated with 20 mmol ammonium acetate buffer pH=4.6 at 4șC. These fractions were labeled PI-PV on their order of dilution. From 187mg protein of the crude venom applied to the column, only 115.57mg (59.6%) was recovered. From the recovered proteins, 41.9% was present in PI, 24.6% in PII, 24.8% in PIII, 3.5% in PIV and 4.9% in PV. The crude venom and each fraction was tested for L-amino acid oxidase, alkaline phosphatase, arginine ester hydrolase, and phospholipase A2 activity. L-amino acid oxidase and alkaline phosphatase were present in crude venom, and PI. Endopeptidase activity was present in crude venom as well as in all fractions except PV. Arginine ester hydrolase activity was present in crude venom, PI, and PII. Phospholipase A2 (indirect hemolytic) activity was detected in crude venom and in PI-PIII via indirect hemolysis activity.
Authors: Amoozgari Z, Farzami B, Latifi M, Maleknia N.
Source: Scientific Medical Journal of Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences 2000; 27: 1-14
A FOUR-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THE NON-MELANOCYTIC SKIN CANCERS IN SOUTHWESTERN IRAN
Non-melanocytic skin cancers (NMSC) including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are mostly induced by long-term ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Although many etiological factors are known in skin cancer, the role of sunlight is most prominent. Khuzestan is a southwestern province of Iran, with tropical climate and long summers. It is therefore presumed that skin cancers are common in Khuzestan. To study the prevalence of non-melanocytic skin cancers in the city of Ahwaz, capital of Khuzestan, the pathology reports of Imam Hospital, Ahwaz, confirming this diagnosis were investigated in a 4-year period. A total of 636 patients had been diagnosed, 40% female and 60% male. In female patients the prevalence of BCC and SCC were 83% and 17% respectively, and in male patients 71.5% and 26.5%. The ratio of BCC to SCC in male and female patients were 2.7 and 5, respectively, (3.4 in all patients). In both sexes, the disease was most common in the seventh decade of life. Most of the patients had outdoor occupations. The results of this study indicate that NMSC is more common in males who have outdoor occupations. Proper education and preventive measures must be considered for the high risk group.
Authors: Darvishizadeh N.
Source: Iranian Journal of Dermatology 2000; 3 (2): 4
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OPIUM ABUSE AND CIGARETTE SMOKING WITH PEPTIC ULCER COMPLICATIONS IN KERMAN, SOUTHEASTERN IRAN
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is one of the most common digestive disorders capable of producing bleeding, perforation, and partial or complete obstruction of the pylorus. Tobacco smoking is a well-known risk factor for the development of PUD, but no such link has been established for opium. This case-control study was conducted to investigate the association between cigarette smoking and opium abuse with the complications of PUD. Patients presenting with PUD to Kerman University hospitals in a 4-year period were included in the study. Their PUD was confirmed by endoscopy or at surgery. Surgical complications included obstruction, perforation, and intractable bleeding, while medical complications were considered to be scarring and bleeding. Those with a chronic disease, history of alcohol consumption or ingestion of NSAIDs during the past 14 days were excluded. "Cigarette Smoker" was defined as one who smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day for the last year. Opium abuse (smoking or ingestion) was documented by direct interview and laboratory methods. One hundred and twenty eight patients (105 male and 23 female) aged 16-85 years (mean 40.8±11.5) were enrolled. Fifty-one patients had no history of addiction; 6 were opium addicts; 29 were cigarette smokers, and 42 abused both cigarette and opium. Complications of PUD were noted in 66 (85.7%) of the addict group and in 29 (56.9%) of the non-addict group. In other words, of 95 patients with PUD complication, 66 (69.5%) were in the addict group. Statistical analysis showed that the prevalence of PUD complications were not significantly higher in patients who smoked cigarette or abused opium alone (p<0.01). Smoking cigarettes and/or opium was found to be more common in PUD patients with complications compared to those without any complications (69.5% vs 33.3%, p<0.01). These results indicate that the complications of PUD should be more carefully monitored in patients using tobacco and/or opium. Further studies are needed to clarify the reasons of increased complications of PUD in these patients.
Authors: Vahedian-Ardakani J, Darvishmoghaddam S, Yasami MT, Sotoudehnejad AR.
Source: Scientific Medical Journal of Ahwaz University of Medical Sciences 2000; 27: 29-36
ASSOCIATION OF HLA AND SCHIZOPHRENIA IN IRANIAN PATIENTS
Schizophrenia is one of the severest chronic mental illnesses ever known. According to a report from WHO, the overall prevalence of schizophrenia is 0.7-1% in general population. Therefore, many studies are being conducted in this field. Recently, it has been found that the severity of this illness might be influenced by some genetic factors. Despite many reports about the association of HLA antigens and schizophrenia in other countries, no data was available in Iran. In this study, the frequencies of 52 antigens of HLA class I and II were determined in 45 schizophrenic patients and were compared with those of a control group. Of these 45 patients, 20 cases were female, with a mean age of 29, and 25 cases were male, with a mean age of 35. To determine the frequencies of the aforementioned antigens, microlymphocytotoxicity method was employed. Results show that the frequencies of A9, AW19, B5, B15, B51, BW6, CW3, DR5, DR11 and DQ1 antigens in the cases are significantly different from the control groups (P<0.05). Of these antigens, the relative risk (RR) was higher than 1 for BW6 and CW3 antigens and lower than 1 for others. It can be concluded that the antigens BW6 (RR=4.6 and etiologic factor [EF]=0.72) and CW3 (RR=2.67 and EF=0.13) are positively associated with schizophrenia, while other antigens might have a protective effect.
Authors: Salek-Moghaddam A, Mostafavi H, Kamgooyan M, Imani M, Shekarabi M.
Source: Journal of Iran University of Medical Sciences 1999; 6: 257
TEN YEARS WITH MALARIA IN ISFAHAN PROVINCE, CENTRAL IRAN
Malaria is a widespread tropical and semitropical disease in the world, including Iran and its incidence varies in different areas of our country. From the beginning of the control programs in 1950, Isfahan province was covered by these activities and successful achievements were gained in this regard and the current situation of disease is stable. Blood smears were taken from all the suspicious individuals, and positive cases were identified and received medical cares during a period from 1986 to 1996. Most of the patients were between 21 to 30 years and 91% of positive cases were Afghan immigrants, while other infected cases were travelers. Among these, 87.4% of individuals were infected by Plasmodium vivax, 9.2% by Plasmodium falciparum and 8.4% by both parasites. Four types of Anopheline mosquitoes have been identified in Isfahan province, two of which are the Anophel superpictus and Anophel maculipenis. The latter is recognized as the vector for malaria and the former as the main vector in the region with an activity from April to November. Considering the presence of the vectors’ life cycle and the appropriate reservoir in the province, any carelessness in our surveillance could produce an active center in the region. Fortunately, due to successful implementation of control programs, the local transmission of the disease has not been observed in Isfahan.
Authors: Ataei B, Labbafghasemi R, Sadri GH, Ramezanpoor A, Saeedi A.
Source: Kowsar Medical Journal 2000; 5 (1): 63-7
EFFECTS OF IONIZING RADIATION ON THE FORMATION OF ROBERTSONIAN TRANSLOCATIONS IN SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENT AND CB17 CELLS: A STUDY USING FLOUROSCENCE IN SITU HYBRIDIZATION TECHNIQUE
Chromosome rearrangements involving centric fusion of two telocentric or acrocentric chromsomes in which a single metacentric chromosome is formed are termed Robertsonian (Rb) fusion, which is of major importance in mammalian karyotype evolution. In order to investigate radiosensitivity and the effect of g-radiation on the frequency of Rb induction, SCID (Severe combined immunodeficient) cell with high radiosensitivity and its normal parental line, CB17, were studied using two color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques. In vivo studies show that all chromosomes of these two cell lines are acrocentric, thus observation of metacentric chromosomes indicate Rb formation. CB17 and SCID cells were cultured in Waymouth medium and kept in exponential growth conditions and then irradiated at 4 Gy using a Cs-137 g-irradiator. Irradiated and control samples were fixed at 24 h up to weeks after irradiation. After metaphase preparation and making slides using standard procedures, hybridization was performed using whole chromosome probes. Results obtained indicate that the frequency of Rb in SCID cells are more than CB17 in unirradiated samples (P<0.001). After irradiation no changes in Rb formation were seen in SCID cells but an increase in Rb formation was seen in CB17 cells (P<0.001). Since telomeres (specialized structures at chromosome ends) are required for maintaining chromosome stability and integrity, a prerequisite for the formation of Rb fusions should be either elimination or inactivation of telomeres. Therefore, it might indicate that radiation may be involved in these processes.
Authors: Mozdarani H.
Source: Kowsar Medical Journal 2000; 5 (1): 41-54
PROPHYLACTIC VITAMIN K INJECTION IN NEWBORNS: A STUDY OF COAGULATION FACTORS IN NEONATAL UMBILICALCORD BLOOD
To investigate the necessity for prophylactic vitamin K injection after childbirth, we compared the umbilical cord blood of 60 healthy full-term newborns with 30 healthy adults for the following results: PT, aPTT, VitK-dependent clotting factors (factor II, VII, IX, X), fibrinogen, and platelet count. Results showed that PT and aPTT were significantly more prolonged than our control group (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). All VitK-dependent factors had a lower serum level in our case group (P<0.001), but fibrinogen and platelet count was not significantly different in the two groups. It is therefore recommended that the lowest prophylactic dose of VitK should be injected to all newborns until a practical and proper method for screening the babies at risk of VitK deficiency bleeding would be applied.
Authors: Etedalizadeh M, Poorfatholah AA, Hadji-Fathali A, Izadyar M
Source: Teb & Tazkieh 1999; 35-42
FREQUENCY OF HBS-AG POSITIVE CASES IN LICHEN PLANUS PATIENTS ATTENDING THE SKIN CLINIC OF KHATAM-OL-ANBIA HOSPITAL,
ZAHEDAN, SOUTHEASTERN IRAN
In several reports, a close relationship between lichen planus and chronic viral hepatitis has been demonstrated. According to the high prevalence of hepatitis B in communities like Iran and especially in its southern provinces, a prospective study was performed for screening HBV markers in patients suffering lichen planus to detect the prevalence of HBsAg in such cases in comparison to the general population (i.e. 4%). On the other hand, we decided to detect some groups of lichen planus patients in whom this ratio might be more. On this basis, 80 patients were studied during a 9-month period. Eight cases (10%) were HBsAg positive, showing significant increase comparing to the prevalence in general population (4%). The prevalence of HBsAg positive cases was much higher in patients who had oral mucosal membrane involvement (41.2% of all lichen planus patients).
Author: Banihashemi M
Source: Iranian Journal of Dermatology 1999; 2( 3)