Archives of Medical Laboratory Sciences

Background: Natural products might be applicable as remedial agents with their roles in oxidative stress regulation and as natural antioxidants.  In this regard, Nepeta ispahanica bioss has been utilized in traditional medicine for several functions. Despite numerous properties of the Nepeta species including their antioxidant properties, Nepeta ispahanica boiss effects against hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) have not been studied. This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Nepeta ispahanica boiss on CCL4 induced acute hepatic injury in an animal model. 

Materials and Methods: The experiment used a total of 36 male Wistar rats, that were divided into six groups. Except for the intact control groups, all groups received a single intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 after pre‐treatment period with distilled water, Nepeta ispahanica boiss extracts, or legalon. After 24 hours, rats were anesthetized, sacrificed and blood samples were obtained. Serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), urea and plasma levels of total protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) were evaluated. Besides, SOD and CAT enzyme activities and GSH levels were determined.  Histopathological studies also were done in liver tissue samples.

Results: After the CCl4 injection, oxidative stress‐mediated necrotic acute liver injuries were observed. Also, serum ALP, AST, and ALT elevated. Hepatic lipid peroxidation and related decrease of endogenous antioxidants and antioxidative enzymes; lipid peroxidation markers, and oxidative stress markers were presented. Nevertheless, histological and biochemical markers of liver injury were reserved by the pre‐treatment with Nepeta ispahanica boiss extracts.

Conclusion: The present study confirmed that the administration of Nepeta ispahanica boiss extracts before exposure to CCl4, induced significant hepatoprotective effects. These findings verified that Nepeta ispahanica boiss has favorable properties as an antioxidant and hepatoprotective agent.

Background: The use of herbal remedies, either in combination with conventional drugs or as an alternative, is accepted worldwide. Silymarin derived from Milk thistle has evidence-based therapeutic potency for wide spectrum of liver diseases. The current work aimed to study the immune-modulating activity of Silymarin in HCV-infected patients by measuring the effect of pure Silymarin solution on the production of IL-17 and IL-10. Materials and Methods: Nine HCV-1a infected patients and three healthy controls were entered in this study. The mean age of patients and healthy controls were 45.53 (± 10.21) and 39.9 (±10.88), respectively. The PBMCs were isolated, cultured in 96-well plate and incubated with Silymarin solution (5µg/ml) for 24 hours. The cells and cell culture supernatant of three groups including patients treated with Silymarin, non-treated patients, and healthy controls were then subjected to Real Time PCR and ELISA to measure the levels of inflammatory and non-inflammatory cytokines including IL-17 and IL-10, respectively. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 20.0. Results: According to Real Time PCR and ELISA results, the level of IL-17 was significantly reduced in patients treated with Silymarin while the expression of IL-10 was remarkably increased in these patients. Conclusion: The results of this study approved the immunomodulatory properties of Silymarin in HCV-infected patients. Hepatoprotective, antiviral, as well as immunomodulatory properties of the Silymarin make it a potential therapeutic option in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: Asthma as the variable degrees of airway obstruction is reversible and allergic asthma is a common form of asthma. Yogurt is coagulated milk and fenugreek as a plant is used in traditional medicine. Oral administration of yogurt (as food) can provide probiotic agents that have the main effects on immune responses. In this study, the effect of yogurt and fenugreek on asthma was studied.  Materials and Methods: After producing of asthma model in BALB/c mice in 4 groups, groups were treated with yogurt, yogurt-probiotics, and yogurt-fenugreek. At least, total IgE in serum, IL-4, 5, 13 in BAL (Broncho-Alveolar lavage) fluid was measured. Histopathological sections were prepared and eosinophilic infiltration and mucus-secreting were investigated. Results: Eosinophilic infiltration and mucus hyper-secretion were decreased in treated groups. Total IgE in serum was decreased in asthma-yogurt-probiotic and asthma-yogurt-fenugreek groups in comparison with asthmatic and asthma-yogurt groups. The amount of IL-4 in BAL of the asthma-yogurt-fenugreek group was decreased. The amount of IL-5 in BAL of the asthma-yogurt-probiotic and asthma-yogurt-fenugreek groups was decreased. The amount of IL-13 was decreased significantly in three treated groups. Conclusion: This study showed that yogurt with fenugreek and probiotic has a strong effect on suppression of progression of airway inflammation and asthma pathophysiology.  

Background:  Premature infants are at more risk for meningitis, and lumbar puncture is therefore a necessary part of the sepsis workup. The normal cerebrospinal fluid markers of premature infants have not been well established. This study was conducted to define the normal values of cerebrospinal fluid in these infants. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional research, we compared the CSF analysis of premature and term neonates admitted to Mahdieh and Mofid children's hospitals from 2014 to 2017. Results: Of 248 neonates, 44.4% were females and 55.6% were males. Fifty-five percent were term and 45% were preterm. The mean birth weight and gestational age of term and preterm babies were 3409 ± 65 and 1373 ±376 gram (P value<0.001) and 38.46 and 31.66 weeks respectively (P value<0.001). The mean age of preterm and term patients at the time of lumbar puncture was 25.96 and 9.66 days respectively (P value<0.001). Overall, analysis of the CSF, protein, glucose, WBC, PMN, and RBC revealed the normal values of 92.7%, 79.4%, 89.9%, 91.5%, and 35.5% respectively. By comparing CSF parameters of term and premature babies, it was exhibited that protein was the only CSF parameter that was significantly different between two given groups (10.23mg/dl vs. 71.47 mg/dl, P-value<0.001). The percentages of abnormal CSF parameters in the two groups was not significantly different. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the CSF markers of term and preterm neonates are similar; the exception was the protein level so that it was significantly high even in the preterm neonates without meningitis or intraventricular hemorrhage.

Background: Congenital infections are the most important threat to human fetal health caused by bacterial, viral, and fungal agents. In this study, PCR diagnostic method has been used on umbilical cord samples to diagnose bacterial agents such as Mycoplasmas, especially Mycoplasma genitalium. Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 100 cord blood samples from cesarean section patients. Limit of detection (LOD) and specificity tests of both PCR was performed. DNA samples were extracted by the DNG plus method and amplified by the PCR technique. The optimized PCR product of 715 bp for Mycoplasma spp. and 427 bp for M. genitalium was amplified and observed on 1.5% gel electrophoresis. DNA specificity testing of seven other organisms revealed a 100% specificity of these primers. The detection limit was set at 100 copy / reaction for Mycoplasma.spp and 1000 copy / reaction for M. genitalium. Results: Of the 100 samples examined, 5 samples were positive for Mycoplasma spp, and no positive cases were observed for M. genitalium. Maternal infections can have important consequences on the fetus. Conclusion: Molecular methods such as PCR could be used for rapid identification of important factors in congenital infections, such as mycoplasma, and provide a good prognosis.

Background: To evaluate the birth weight and post-natal non-coagulation problems of infants of mothers with coagulopathies versus normal mothers. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, 100 women with coagulation problems attended the Iranian Haemophilia Comprehensive Care Center, and 200 normal women attending two health centers in Tehran and Karaj, with a history of at least one pregnancy were studied. A questionnaire about mothers’ and neonates’ condition was filled out by an interview, and the data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 16. Results: Using linear regression, the maternal coagulation problem had a negative effect on birth weight (p<0.001, β= -0.31). The prevalence of early and prolonged jaundice in newborns of mothers with coagulopathy was higher than that in newborns of normal mothers (12% vs. 2%, and 7% vs. 3%, respectively), the difference between the two groups in terms of incidence of early jaundice was statistically significant (chi square-p<0.001). The frequency of using phototherapy and blood exchange for treating neonatal jaundice, in neonates of mothers with coagulopathy was higher than in neonates of normal mothers (31% vs. 21% and 8% vs. 21%, respectively) (p<0.001). Furthermore, the duration of hospitalization, hospitalization in NICU, and re-hospitalization during the first month of life in neonates of mothers with coagulation problems was higher than in neonates of normal mothers (p<0.001). Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of neonatal problems in newborns of mothers with coagulation problems and their lower birth weight, further care measures should be provided for them.

Backgrounds: Cholera is an acute diarrheal intestinal infection caused by infection of intestine with vibrio cholera. Cholera is defined as endemic in Iran, thus rapid detection in the early stage of infection is crucial, especially during the disease outbreaks.

Materials and Methods: We collected 172 rectal swab samples from patients with diarrheal infections, and sterile beakers were used to collect water samples from some regions of Pol-e Dokhtar city. The collected specimens were transported to the laboratory using Cary-Blair transport medium and were then grown and incubated on alkaline peptone water (APW) and thiosulfate citrate bile salts sucrose (TCBS) agar. Then, all colonies that grew in Kligler Iron Agar (KIA) were cultured.  

Results: In this study, colonies were grown on APW and TCBS media, and were then transferred to the KIA. None of the colonies were shown to be belonged to V. cholerae strains. Thus, all collected samples were negative for V. cholerae in all patients as well as the drinking water in most regions of the city.

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that V. cholerae was not the major cause of severe diarrheal infections in a flood-hit population of Pol-e Dokhtar city, and therefore other bacterial and viral agents should be responsible for severe diarrheal illnesses in this population.