Archives of Advances in Biosciences

     Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), are considered as an important source for HSCT transplantation. There are several regulators for stem cells migration and homing, among which the nervous system is an important one. This study is going to investigate the   role of nervous system in homing of hematopoietic stem cells.

In an experimental study, mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood and treated by a beta adrenergic receptors blocker (Sotalol). After treating the cells with different concentrations 0.5- 500 (mM/ml) for 1- 24 hours, RNA was extracted and the expression of VLA4, VLA5 and CXCR4 genes were determinated through RT-PCR method.The results of this study demonstrated high expression in genes associated with homing of the cells after being treated with drug for 1 hour: CXCR4 gene expression increases in 10 and 50 mM/ml, VLA4 gene expression in 50mM/ml and VLA5 gene expression in 10 mM/ml concentration of Sotalol.Using beta adrenergic receptors blockers in appropriate time and dose of drug can affect the expression of genes which involved in HSCs homing and will lead to high success rate of transplantation of these cells.

     Serotonin exerts an inhibitory effect on food intakes. D-Lys3 -GHRP-6 is a ghrelin receptor antagonist which inhibits fasting or ghrelin- induced food intake. In the present study, the effects of serotonin on food intakes were investigated in D-Lys³- GHRP-6- treated food-deprived male rats. Twenty food-deprived male rats in four groups (5 in each) received third cerebral ventricular injection of saline, 10µg serotonin, 20nmol D-Lys³ -GHRP-6 or combination of D-Lys³-GHRP-6 and serotonin respectively.  Mean of one hour food intakes were measured. Data was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc Tukey’s test.  In all cases, P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Serotonin, D-Lys³- GHRP-6 or combination of serotonin/D-Lys³- GHRP-6 decreased the mean food intakes significantly when compared to saline. A significant decrease was observed on mean food intakes between combination of D-Lys³-GHRP-6 and serotonin group and serotonin or D-Lys³- GHRP-6 groups. A significant decrease was not observed on food intakes between serotonin and D-Lys³- GHRP-6 groups. Serotonin and D-Lys³-GHRP-6 may exert synergistic inhibitory effects on food intake in rats. Decrease of the ghrelin pathway activity may have a role in mediating the inhibitory effects of serotonin on food intakes.

The present work was designed to determine alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity level in Fasciola hepatica parasite and Fasciola infected livers to evaluate the effects of liver infection on enzyme activity and to compare enzyme activity in liver and parasite. The sheep livers were collected and adult Fasciola hepatica parasites were isolated and washed with PBS buffer. Collected healthy and infected livers and parasite were homogenized and extract solutions were centrifuged and stored at -20°C. ALP enzymes activity was measured in the extract solution of samples. Proteins of the samples were measured and protein bands were detected through using Bradford and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) methods respectively. Independent two samples t-test was performed to determine significant difference between different groups. The mean values of the assayed ALP specific activities of infected and healthy livers and Fasciola hepatica parasite were estimated 0.163,0.133,0.048 U/mg protein/ml correspondingly. Gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of Fasciola hepatica and liver extract solution samples displayed different protein bands, including ALP enzyme. Statistical analysis did not show significant difference between enzyme’s activity in infected and healthy livers (P>0.05). However, the liver demonstrated more than ALP activity level to parasite (P<0.05). The findings show that ALP enzymes activity in Fasciola hepatica infected livers could not be concerned as a specific pathological biomarker in fascioliasis, but meanwhile this enzyme displays interest activity in parasite.

Exposure rate constant (G) relates activity of a point source to exposure rate at certain distance. It’s an important parameter in radiation protection, medical uses and radiological assessments. In this study, exposure rate constant for three radionuclides include ⁶⁰Co, ²²Na and ¹¹¹In were calculated with FLUKA Monte Carlo method. Each source was simulated and exposure rate at different distances of 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 150, 200 and 300cm from the sources were measured. For dose measurements,   a farmer ionization chamber was simulated with active volume of 0.6cm³, inner electrode of aluminium with diameter of1mm and wall of pure graphite with thickness of 0.75mm. Calculated exposure rate constants for ⁶⁰Co, ²²Na and ¹¹¹In at 20 to 300cm from the source ranged from 33.45 to 0.16 mR/(mCi.h), 29.12 to 0.10 mR/(mCi.h) and 8.73 to 0.03 mR/(mCi.h) respectively which show a decreasing trend. Comparison of our results with other studies show that there are good agreement for ⁶⁰Co and ²²Na; the present values for exposure rate constant for ¹¹¹In was higher than previous reports.

The most important problem with radiotherapy is the limitation of whole body irradiation of a metastatic patient. There are evidence showing that similar effect will occur in non-irradiated tumors similar to the irradiated ones. This effect is called abscopal effect. In the present study, the abscopal effect on local induced mice breast cancers has been investigated. One million of 4T1 mice breast cancer cell line was injected to balb/c mice subcutaneously while being under anesthesia. After the growth of tumors till becoming palpable, one of two induced tumors were exposed to total 28 Gy, with gamma rays emitted from a cobalt -60 tele-therapy machine in 14 fractions with 2 Gy daily doses. Tumor volumes were measured, using the caliper. The data was analyzed by the use of non-parametrical and ANOVA tests. Similar growth in non-irradiated control tumors was seen. After 10 or 11 fractions of one- side irradiation and total dose of 20 to 22 Gy, however, non-irradiated tumors, similar to irradiated ones, showed similar effect, reduction of size and volume different from control groups (P<0.05).The reduction of non-irradiated tumors relative to irradiation of another tumor in the same mouse is the emblem of occurrence of the abscopal effect. The mechanism of the abscopal effect is unknown but it could be related to the release of cytokines from irradiated tumors with their receptors existing on the surface of non-irradiated tumors. By induction of this effect, the remission probability of small metastases after local irradiation could be possible.

Production of antibodies in chickens (IgY) has significantly attracted attention of scientists. Numerous publications have reported use of IgY in diagnosis, therapy and prophylaxis. Production of antigen-specific antibodies in chicken can help treat and prevent infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the safety  of IgY( anti  E. coli O157:H7)  on the antioxidant system in mice .Therefore in  this study, three different  doses of IgY against E. coli O157:H7 (0.9375, 1.875 and  3.75 g / kg)  were administrated through oral route to 18 mice (treated groups) and PBS to the control group  and 14 days after administration, blood samples were collected from the mice. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) level and catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity were measured using commercial kits. Oral administration of IgY against E. coli O157:H7 in  doses  of 0.9375, 1.875 and 3.75 g / kg  caused no  deaths and showed no toxic effects on mice. In this study, after 14 days of  IgY administration there were no significant changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) and  MDA  serum level   compared to the control group. Our findings revealed that oral administration of IgY against E. coli O157:H7 does not show any toxic effects and does not   disturb the antioxidant system in mice . These findings could be indicative of safety of oral administration  of  IgY in mice.

Low birth weight (neonate weighing less than 2500 g) is associated with several maternal and fetal factors, all interrelated with each other [1]. This study is aimed to survey maternal risk factors associated with low birth weight neonates using data mining (Random Forest) to account for interactions between them. We also intended to compare Random Forest with traditional Logistic regression. The dataset used in the present study consisted of 600 volunteer pregnant women.  This cross-sectional study was carried out in Milad hospital, Tehran, during 2005-2009. Ten potential risk factors that are commonly associated with low birth weight were selected by using Random Forest technique. Several criteria such as the area under ROC curve were considered in comparing Random Forest with Logistic Regression.According to both criteria, four top rank variables identified by Random Forest were pregnancy age, body mass index during the third three months of pregnancy, mother’s age and body mass index during the first three months of pregnancy, respectively. In addition, in terms of different criteria the Random Forest technique outperformed the Logistic regression (area under ROC curve: 93% ; Total Accuracy:95% ; Kappa Coefficient: 66%).The results of the present study showed that using Random Forest improved the prediction of low birth weight compared with Logistic Regression. This is because of the fact that the former accounts for all interactions between covariates. Therefore, this approach is a promising classifier for predicting low birth weight.

Most studies have found that changes in concentration of intracellular ions can change cell activation.   Calcium ion is one of the most vital one of these ions which is the most vital second messenger within cells. Ca2+ is necessary for a wide range of cellular processes such as cell proliferation, muscle contraction and exocytosis and apoptosis. Different kinds of TRPCs (transient receptor potential cation channels) have a wide range of activity in cell but are known as Ca2+ blocker channel.  On the other hand, cannabinoids are a class of different chemical compounds that act on cannabinoid receptors in cells that suppress neurotransmitter release in the brain. Ligands for these receptor proteins consist of  endocannabinoids (produced naturally in the body of humans and animals), the phytocannabinoids (exist in cannabis and some other plants), and synthetic cannabinoids (artificially made). The most important cannabinoid is the phytocannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound of cannabis. Cannabidiol (CBD) is another major part of the plant. It is showed that endocannabinoid biosynthesis is a calcium-dependent process, though the physiological source of calcium is not identified. Many of biochemical experiments have been investigating the contributions of extracellular and intracellular calcium in the biosynthetic process. Some studies found that extracellular calcium is a vital factor for the endogenous cannabinoids biosynthesis, while a simply releasing intracellular calcium store such as endoplasmic reticulum does not have an effect on endocannabinoid biosynthesis. In addition to introduction of cannabinoid, blocker of Ca2+ channel (TRPC) and investigating interaction among them in this review, the possible role of cannabinoid and TRPC3, TRPC6 and TRPV2 in behavioral process are induced in conclusion.

Ataxia-telangiectasia is a rare disorder with neurological manifestations and caused by mutations in ATM gene. This gene produce a serine/threonine protein kinase, an activator of the DNA damage response in the face of DNA DSBs, which phosphorylates downstream substrates integrating with DNA repair procedure. Most ATM mutations are private mutations and, there is no mutational hotspots in the ATM gene. We unveiled a new mutation in this gene in an 8 years old A-T patient. This mutation led to fundamental alterations in ATM protein structure and representation of AT lastly.