ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Hepatitis C Virus and Vaccine Development The prevalence of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is approximately 3% around the world. This virus causes chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The effectiveness of interferon-α and ribavirin therapy is about 50% and is associated with significant toxicity and cost. Hence, generating new vaccines or drugs is an obligation. However, there is no vaccine available for clinical use. DNA vaccines have some advantages such as producing feasibility and generating intensive cellular and humoral immune responses. Activation and improvement of natural immune defense mechanisms is a necessity for the development of an effective HCV vaccine. This article discusses the current status of therapies for hepatitis C, the promising new therapies and the experimental strategies to develop an HCV vaccine. http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-173-en.pdf 2014-09-10 207 215 HCV DNA vaccine IFN- α cellular immune response Malihe Naderi rezamotalleb@gmail.com 1 Department of Microbiology, Qom branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran. AUTHOR Naghmeh Gholipour 2 National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular Genetics, Tehran, Iran. AUTHOR Mohammad Reza Zolfaghari 3 Department of Microbiology, Qom branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran. AUTHOR Binabaj Maryam Moradi 4 Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran. AUTHOR Ahmad Yegane Moghadam 5 Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Department of Otolaryngology, Kashan, Iran. AUTHOR Motalleb Gholamreza 6 Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran. AUTHOR
OTHERS_CITABLE Heterogeneity of the Level of Activity of Lgr5+ Intestinal Stem Cells Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are a group of rare cells located in the intestinal crypts which are responsible for the maintenance of the intestinal homeostasis and intestinal regeneration following injury or inflammation. Lineage tracing experiments in mice have proven that ISCs can repopulate the entire intestinal crypt. It is noteworthy that in such experiments, only a subset of intestinal crypts is marked by the specific marker. This is suggestive of different levels of activity of stem cells in different crypts i.e. intracryptal variation. Niche succession i.e. dominating the entire crypt by the progenies of one stem cell is also suggestive of the intercryptal stem cell heterogeneity. Regional differences in crypt size, proliferative index, and distribution of proliferative cells along the crypt axis have been reported. It is conceivable that ISCs are heterogeneous in terms of their levels of activity. Appreciation of such heterogeneity will significantly challenge the way in which ISCs are investigated. A better understanding of ISC biology will in turn improve our mechanistic understanding of major intestinal disease including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-204-en.pdf 2014-09-22 216 224 Intestinal stem cells heterogeneity dormancy Shirin Moossavi shirin.moossavi@gmail.com 1 Digestive Oncology Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Adult Stem Cells Properties in Terms of Commitment, Aging and Biological Safety of Grit-Blasted and Acid-Etched Ti Dental Implants Surfaces Titanium (Ti) is one of the most widely used biomaterials for manufacturing dental implants. The implant surface properties strongly influence osseointegration. The aim of the present study was to in vitro investigate the characteristics of Ti dental implants in terms of mutagenicity, hemocompatibility, biocompatibility, osteoinductivity and biological safety. The Ames test was used to test the mutagenicity of the Ti dental implants, and the hemolysis assay for evaluating their hemocompatibility. Human adipose - derived stem cells (ADSCs) were then seeded onto these implants in order to evaluate their cytotoxicity. Gene expression analyzing with real-time PCR was carried out to investigate the osteoinductivity of the biomaterials. Finally, the genetic stability of the cells cultured onto dental implants was determined by karyotyping. Our results demonstrated that Ti dental implants are not mutagenic, do not cause hemolysis, and are biocompatible. The MTT assay revealed that ADSCs, seeded on Ti dental implants, proliferate up to 30 days in culture. Moreover, ADSCs loaded on Ti dental implants show a substantial expression of some osteoblast specific markers, such as COL1A1, OPN, ALPL, and RUNX2, as well as chromosomal stability after 30 days of culture in a medium without osteogenic factors. In conclusion, the grit-blasted and acid-etched treatment seems to favor the adhesion and proliferation of ADSCs and improve the osteoinductivity of Ti dental implant surfaces. http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-220-en.pdf 2014-11-02 225 236 Titanium dental implants surface properties adipose-derived stem cells biocompatibility osteogenic differentiation Chiara Gardin gardin@unipd.it 1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. AUTHOR Letizia Ferroni ferroni@unipd.it 2 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. AUTHOR Eriberto Bressan bressane@unipd.it 3 Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. AUTHOR Jose Luis Guiraldo guirardo@unimurcia.es 4 Department of General Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. AUTHOR Marco Degidi Degidi@unife.it 5 Private Practice, Bologna, Italy. AUTHOR Adriano Piattelli piatt@unichi.it 6 Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti, Italy. AUTHOR Barbara Zavan barbara.zavan@unipd.it 7 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE A highly pure sub-fraction of shallot extract with potent in vitro anti-angiogenic activity Abstract Our previous studies showed that various extracts of Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium) have anti-angiogenic effects. This study has been undertaken to isolate and identify the major effective anti-angiogeneic sub-fraction of shallot. After preparation of the 50% hydroalcoholic extract of shallot bulbs, the extract was successively fractionated into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous fractions. Anti-angiogenesis activity of fractions was examined by in vitro angiogenesis assay. The ethyl acetate fraction which had the most anti-angiogenesis activity was further fractionated to four sub-fractions by thin layer chromatography (TLC), silica gel column chromatography and then analyzed by High Performance TLC (HPTLC) with ethyl acetate-methanol-water as the solvent system. Our results showed that one of the four sub-fractions, as the major band in HPTLC, had the most anti-angiogenic activity. Purification and characterization of the major anti-angiogenic compound/compounds of shallot's extract may constitute one means by which diets rich in shallot confer protection against cancer and finally introduce new agents with pharmacological activities in shallot as a potential candidate in cancer therapy. http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-198-en.pdf 2014-09-03 237 245 Allium hirtifolium Angiogenesis Phytochemicals Cancer High performance thin layer chromatography Shima Famil Samavati sh.famil.s@gmail.com 1 Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran. AUTHOR Hamid-Reza Mohammadi-Motlagh mohammadimotlagh@gmail.com 2 Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. AUTHOR Ali Mostafaie amostafaie@kums.ac.ir 3 Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran. AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Cytotoxic Activity of Bioactive Compound 1, 2- Benzene Dicarboxylic Acid, Mono 2- Ethylhexyl Ester Extracted from a Marine Derived Streptomyces sp. VITSJK8 Marine Streptomyces are prolific producers of majority of bioactive secondary metabolites which are used in pharmaceutical industry as effective drugs against life threatening diseases. The cytotoxic activity of the pure compound 1, 2- benzene dicarboxylic acid, mono 2- ethylhexyl ester (DMEHE) from marine derived actinomycete Streptomyces sp. VITSJK8 was investigated against mouse embryonic fibroblast (NIH 3T3) and human keratinocyte (HaCaT) normal cell lines, human hepatocellular liver carcinoma (HepG 2) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell lines by using MTT assay. The compound DMEHE exhibited IC 50 values of 42, 100, 250 and 500 µg/ ml against HepG2, MCF-7, HaCaT and NIH 3T3 cell lines, respectively. The effect of DMEHE on the growth of cancer cell lines was expressed as the % of viability. Cell viability was recorded as 67.7%, 78.14%, 82.23% and 96. 11% in HepG2, MCF-7, HaCaT and NIH 3T3 cells, respectively. The results of the study conclude that the bioactive compound isolated from the potential isolate Streptomyces sp. VITSJK8 exhibited cytotoxic activity against HepG2 and MCF- 7 cancer cell lines and low toxicity against normal HaCaT and NIH 3T3 cell lines. http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-218-en.pdf 2014-11-23 246 254 Streptomyces sp. VITSJK8 1 2- benzene dicarboxylic acid mono 2- ethylhexyl ester cytotoxicity MTT assay Kannabiran Krishnan kkb@vit.ac.in 1 School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Tamilnadu, India. AUTHOR Abirami Mani abi.biotechnology@gmail.com 2 School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Tamilnadu, India. AUTHOR Subashini Jasmine subajes@gmail.com 3 School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Tamilnadu, India. AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Achillea Millefolium L. Hydro- Alcoholic Extract Protects Pancreatic Cells by Down Regulating IL- 1β and iNOS Gene Expression in Diabetic Rats Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) has a role in β- cell destruction in autoimmune diabetes by stimulating the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) that generates the free radical nitric oxide. We aimed to investigate the effect of Achillea millefolium L, as a traditional hypoglycemic agent, on IL-1β and iNOS gene expression of pancreatic tissue in the STZ- induced diabetic rats. Forty adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: 1. diabetic control 2. diabetic rats treated with Achillea millefolium L. extract 3. normal rats received only extract and 4. negative control (n= 10 each). Diabetes was induced by single i.p. injection of 45 mg/ kg streptozotocin (STZ). Rats in groups 2 and 3 were treated with i.p. injection of Achillea millefolium L. extract (100 mg/ kg/ day) for 14 days. Body weight, serum glucose and insulin levels were assayed at baseline and on days 3, 7, 10 and 14 of the experiment. Finally, the quantity of pancreatic IL-1β and iNOS mRNA was determined by real- time PCR. The mRNA expression level of IL-1β and iNOS genes, was significantly (p<0.001) increased in diabetic rats of group 1. Treatment with Achillea millefolium L. caused a significant (p<0.01) reduction in both IL-1β and iNOS genes expression. Moreover, rats in group 2 had higher insulin level associated with lower glucose level and higher body weight compared to control diabetic group. It seems that beneficial effect of Achillea millefolium L. on STZ- induced diabetes is at least partly due to amelioration of IL-1β and iNOS gene over expression which can have a β-cell protective effect. http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-221-en.pdf 2014-11-10 255 262 Achillea millefolium L. IL-1 iNOS diabetes gene expression Yalda Zolghadri yalda.zolghadri@gmail.com 1 Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. AUTHOR Mehdi Fazeli mfazeli@shirazu.ac.ir 2 Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. AUTHOR Marzieh Kooshki kooshki@yahoo.com 3 Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. AUTHOR Tahoora Shomali tshomali@shirazu.ac.ir 4 Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. AUTHOR Negar Karimaghayee saina_k110@yahoo.com 5 Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. AUTHOR Maryam Dehghani dehghanimaryam17@yahoo.com 6 Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department of Basic Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran. AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Histopathologic Responses of the Dental Pulp to Calcium-Enriched Mixture (CEM) and Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA) in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Rats Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease which affects the healing ability of the pulp and periodontium. The aim of the present study was to assess the histopathologic response of dental pulp to pulp capping using MTA or CEM cement in diabetic rats. Thirty two Wistar male rats aged between 8 and 10 weeks (weight: 200-250g) were divided into two groups of diabetic (n=16) and healthy (n=16) animals and then subdivided into MTA and CEM subgroups. In each group, 10 MTA treated, 10 CEM treated and 12 intact (without any intervention) teeth were analyzed. Intact teeth were considered as a baseline inflammation control. Then, class I cavity was made in the maxillary first molars teeth with pinpoint pulpal exposure. Either MTA or CEM cement was then placed over exposed pulp as pulp capping agent and the cavities were restored using resin- modified glass ionomer cement. Both teeth of rats in subgroups remained intact without any intervention. After four weeks, the rats were sacrificed and the teeth were subjected to histological evaluation in terms of inflammation intensity, dentin bridge formation and dentin bridge continuity. The CEM cement treated diabetic rats exhibited a significant higher inflammatory response when compared to healthy control group (P=0.004) whereas, MTA treated diabetic rats did not exhibit a significant higher inflammatory response in comparison to healthy controls. There was no significant difference between MTA and CEM cement in the induction of dentin bridge formation in diabetic and healthy controls. This preliminary study suggests that MTA is a superior dental material than CEM cement for pulp therapy in subjects with diabetes. http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-175-en.pdf 2014-10-01 263 271 Diabetes direct pulp capping CEM cement MTA Zahra Sadat Madani Madani_z@yahoo.com 1 Dental Materials Research Center Dental School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. AUTHOR Azam Haddadi ddadi_azam@yahoo.com 2 Dental School, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. AUTHOR Abbas Mesgarani A_mesgarani@yahoo.com 3 Dental School, Babol University of Medical Sciences Babol, Iran. AUTHOR Maryam Seyedmajidi Ms_majidi79@yahoo.com 4 Dental Materials Research Center Dental School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. AUTHOR Amrollah Mostafazadeh amrolah65@yahoo.com 5 Cellular& Molecular Biology Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. AUTHOR Ali Bijani alibijani@yahoo.com 6 Non–Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. AUTHOR Manouchehr Ashraphpour mnr_ashraphpour@yahoo.com 7 Department of pharmacology and Neurosciences, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Glycyrrhetinic Acid Induces Apoptosis in Leukemic HL60 Cells Through Upregulating of CD95/ CD178 Acute leukemia is characterized by the accumulation of neoplastic cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. Currently, chemotherapy and differentiating agents have been used for the treatment of leukemia. Recently, plant extracts, either alone or in combination with chemo agents, have been proposed to be used for the treatment of cancers. The aim of the present research was to study the cytotoxicity and apoptosis effects of an active licorice-derived compound, glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), on human leukemic HL60 cells. HL60 cells were cultured in RPMI1640 containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were treated with different doses of GA and their viability and proliferation were detected by dye exclusion and 3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) assays. Apoptosis induction and expression of CD95 and CD178 were analyzed by flow cytometry. We observed that GA decreases cell viability and suppresses cells proliferation in a dose- dependent manner. In addition, our flow cytometry data show that GA not only induces apoptosis in HL60 cells, but also upregulates both CD95 and CD178 expression on the cell surface of these cells in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of GA with cytotoxic drugs and differentiation agents requires further investigation. http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-172-en.pdf 2014-10-04 272 278 Acute leukemia glycyrrhetinic acid cytotoxicity apoptosis Sara Peirzadeh sara.pirzadeh6@gmail.com 1 Department of Biochemistry, Research & Development, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran. AUTHOR Shohreh Fakhari shohre.fakhari@yahoo.com 2 Kurdistan Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. AUTHOR Ali Jalili ali130@gmail.com 3 Kurdistan Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. AUTHOR Sako Mirzai sako.biochem@gmail.com 4 Department of Biochemistry, Research & Development, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran. AUTHOR Bayazeed Ghaderi ghaderibayazid@yahoo.com 5 Kurdistan Cellular & Molecular Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran. AUTHOR Venous Haghshenas venus_haghshenas@yahoo.com 6 Department of Biochemistry, Research & Development, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran. AUTHOR
ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Cancer Stem Cell Markers CD44, CD133 in Primary Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are unique subpopulations that have the capacity to drive malignant progression with renewal abilities. Recently the role of some of CSCs in gastric adenocarcinoma has been studied. This study was performed in order to evaluate CD44 and CD133 expressions by immunohistochemistry in 95 primary gastric adenocarcinoma and their relation to clinical and pathological parameters of these tumors. There was a significant correlation between CD44 expression and cancer subtype (intestinal), tumor size (4-8 cm), depth of invasion, no lymphatic/vascular invasion and moderate differentiation. There was a significant correlation between CD133 expression and patient's age (> 65 years), cancer subtype (intestinal), tumor size (4-8 cm), depth of invasion and moderate differentiation. CSC markers like CD 44 and CD133 had high expression in primary gastric adenocarcinoma and had some relations to clinical and pathological parameters of tumors. http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-187-en.pdf 2014-10-12 279 286 Primary gastric adenocarcinoma cancer stem cell CD44 CD133 immunohistochemistry Anahita Nosrati 1 Department of Pathology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. AUTHOR Farshad Naghshvar Farshad.Naghshvar@yahoo.com 2 Department of Pathology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. AUTHOR Somaieh Khanari 3 Department of Pathology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. AUTHOR
CASE_STUDY Ring Chromosome 18: A Case Report Ring chromosomes are rare chromosomal disorders that usually appear to occur de novo. A ring chromosome forms when due to deletion both ends of chromosome fuse with each other. Depending on the amount of chromosomal deletion, the clinical manifestations may be different. So, ring 18 syndrome is characterized by severe mental growth retardation as well as microcephaly, brain and ocular malformations, hypotonia and other skeletal abnormalities. Here we report a 2.5 years old patient with a cleft lip, club foot, mental retardation and cryptorchidism. Chromosomal analysis on the basis of G-banding technique was performed following patient referral to the cytogenetic laboratory. Chromosomal investigation appeared as 46, XY, r(18) (p11.32 q21.32). According to the clinical features of such patients, chromosome investigation is strongly recommended. http://ijmcmed.org/article-1-215-en.pdf 2014-09-17 287 289 Ring chromosome 18 karyotyping mental retardation Shermineh Heydari heydarish911@mums.ac.ir 1 Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. AUTHOR fahimeh Hassanzadeh Nazarabadif@mums.ac.ir 2 Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. AUTHOR Mohammad Hassanzadeh Nazarabadi NazarabadiM@mums.ac.ir 3 Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. AUTHOR