Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver is the most chronic liver disease that eventually can become cirrhosis. One of the underlying assumptions for the fatty liver created by inflammation of the hepatocytes. We aimed to assess the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and sub-clinical inflammation. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which was conducted on 55 patients over 30 years, with NAFLD. Fatty liver grade was assessed using liver ultrasound. Liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase), anthropometric characteristics and inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Qualitative variables (sex and fatty liver grade) and quantitative variables such as were compared with independent t-test and Chi-square test. Relationship between fatty liver grade and inflammatory index was assessed with SPSS software (version 20; SPSS, Inc. Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Non-alcoholic fatty liver grades were associated with CRP level and this relationship remains in statistically significant level even after adjusting the effects of confounding variables such as age, sex and body mass index of participants (P = 0.016). Conclusion: In this cross-sectional study, presentation of NAFLD showed a significant correlation with sub-clinical systemic inflammation and CRP level.

Background: Variations in the hepatic lipase (HL) gene are the potential candidate for coronary artery disease (CAD) especially in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in diverse populations. We assessed the association of -514C/T and -250G/A polymorphisms in HL (LIPC) gene with CAD risk in Iranian population with type 2 diabetes. Materials and methods: We evaluated 322 type 2 diabetic patients, 166 patients with normal angiograms as controls and 156 patients those identified with CAD undergoing their first coronary angiography as CAD cases. Genotyping of -514C/T and -250G/A polymorphisms in the promoter of the LIPC gene were studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Results: Genotype distributions in CAD cases (73.7%, 20.5%, and 5.8% for −250G/A) and (62.2%, 32.7%, and 5.1% for -514C/T) were significantly different from those in controls (60.8%, 37.4%, and 1.8% for -250G/A) and (51.2%, 48.2%, and 0.6% for -514C/T). CAD cases had lower A-allele frequency than controls (0.131 vs. 0.196, P = 0.028). The odds ratio for the presence of -250 (GG + GA) genotype and A allele in CAD cases were 2.206 (95% confidence interval [CI] =1.33-3.65, P = 0.002) and 1.609 (95% CI = 1.051 −2.463, P = 0.029) respectively. Haplotype analysis demonstrated a significant association between especially LIPC double mutant (−250 A/-514 T) haplotype and presence of CAD. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that -250 G/A polymorphism rather than -514 C/T polymorphism of LIPC gene is more associated with the increased risk of CAD particularly in women with T2DM.

Background: Association between C677T polymorphism of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a key enzyme involved in folate metabolism and DNA methylation, and breast cancer risk are inconsistent. We investigated in a case-control study, possible effect of the common MTHFR C677T polymorphism on breast cancer risk in a sample of Iranian patients. Materials and Methods: The study subjects comprised of 123 breast cancer cases and 110 cancer-free control, who were matched for age and body mass index (BMI). C677T genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. Lipid profile was measured in all subjects by standard method. Results: The genotypes distributions (CC, CT, and TT) were 55.3, 39, and 5.7% in breast cancer cases and 51.8, 44.5, and 3.6% in controls. Chi square analysis revealed that there was no significant association between breast cancer risk and MTHFR genotypes and alleles. Additionally, no significant association was observed between C677T genotypes and biochemistry parameters. A multinomial logistic regression model with MTHFR genotypes, lipid profiles, BMI and age as covariates revealed that there is no significant association between MTHFR genotypes and risk of breast cancer, but higher values of LDL and HDL significantly increase risk of breast cancer. Conclusions: Our findings do not support the hypothesis that genetic variation in the MTHFR C677T polymorphism is implicated in the breast cancer risk in a sample of Iranian patients.

Background: Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. is a monotypic endemic plant of Apiaceae growing wild in Iran. The aerial parts of this plant are used for treatment of hypertension, ulcer, and inflammatory conditions in folk medicine. In this study, the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of K. odoratissima were evaluated in dexamethasone (Dex)-induced hypertension in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: For induction of hypertension, Dex (30 μg/kg/day) was administered subcutaneously for 14 days. In a prevention study, rats received oral K. odoratissima extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) from 4 days before Dex administration and during the test period (days 1-18). In a reversal study, K. odoratissima extract was administered orally from day 8 to 14. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was evaluated using tail-cuff method. The hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) concentration and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were measured in plasma samples. Results: Administrations of Dex significantly induced an increase in SBP and in plasma H ₂ O ₂ and a decrease in body and thymus weights, and in FRAP value (P < 0.001). K. odoratissima extract dose-dependently prevented and reversed hypertension (P < 0.001). It also prevented and reduced the plasma H ₂ O ₂ concentration and prevented the body weight loss upon Dex administration at all doses (100-400 mg/kg, P < 0.001) but failed to improve FRAP value. Conclusions: These results suggest antihypertensive and antioxidant effects of K. odoratissima extract in Dex-induced hypertension. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism of the antihypertensive effect of this herbal medicine.

Background: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a specific indicator of and a sensitive marker for the atherosclerotic disease process. However, calcium scoring may miss noncalcified plaques with clinical importance. The present study aimed to identify the presence and extent of coronary plaques in computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) in patients with a zero CAC score and the secondary endpoint was to evaluate the association between coronary risk factors and the presence of noncalcified plaques. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective descriptive-analytic study, a total of 2000 consecutive patients who undergone CTCA between September 2012 and September 2014 at Alzahra Hospital in Isfahan, Iran were analyzed. Three hundred and eighty-five patients with a zero calcium score were included in the study. The demographic information and coronary artery disease (CAD), risk factors including diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and family history of CAD, were obtained from the questionnaire. Furthermore, the presence of plaques and extent of stenosis were evaluated in patients with zero CAC score. Results: Of the 385 patients with a zero calcium score, 16 (4.2%) had atherosclerotic plaques. Among them, 6 (1.6%) had significant (>50%) coronary stenosis, and 10 (2.6%) had no significant (<50%) coronary stenosis. Hyperlipidemia, DM, and smoking were significantly associated with obstructive CAD. Furthermore, in patients with zero calcium score, DM, hyperlipidemia, and smoking had odds ratios of 5.9, 14, and 32.5 for the development of coronary artery plaques, respectively. Conclusion: Although, CAC scoring is a noninvasive and valuable method to evaluate CAD; but zero CAC score does not absolutely exclude the CAD, especially in the presence of risk factors such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking.

Background: It has been recognized a close relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions and the cerebral vasculature. In this study, we observed cerebrovascular vasomotor reactivity difference between the MS patients and the non-MS migraine individuals. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 40 patients with MS referring to Neurology Clinic of Isfahan Al-Zahra Hospital in 2012. The patients were compared with the same number of non-MS migraine individuals. Both groups had white matter lesions in brain magnetic resonance imaging. To evaluate the rate of cerebral artery vasomotor reactivity, transcranial Doppler device was used, and breath-holding index (BHI) was separately calculated for each middle cerebral artery. Main flow velocity (MFV) was determined by continuously recording of a period of 5 min of breathing the air in the room. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS software version 18 and t-test, Chi-square and analysis of variance tests. Results: The mean values of MFV at rest was not significantly different between cases and control groups (46.21 ± 4.20 vs. 44.69 ± 4.34, P = 0.115) but difference between cases and control groups in MFV apnea was significant (59.11 ± 5.10 vs. 55.35 ± 6.03, P = 0.004). BHI in the control group was 0.79 ± 0.26 and in the case group was 0.93 ± 0.20 and these differences was found to be significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The mean of BHI and cerebral vasomotor reactivity in MS patients was more than the non-MS migraine individuals, although the mechanism of this process still remains unknown.

Background: Tissue engineering is a new approach to reconstruction and/or regeneration of lost or damaged tissue. The purpose of this study was to fabricate the polycaprolactone (PCL) random nanofiber scaffold as well as evaluation of the cell viability, adhesion, and proliferation of rat nestin-positive hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) in the graft material using electrospun PCL nanofiber scaffold in regeneration medicine. Materials and Methods: The bulge HFSCs was isolated from rat whiskers and cultivated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/F12. To evaluate the biological nature of the bulge stem cells, flow cytometry using nestin, CD34 and K15 antibodies was performed. Electrospinning was used for the production of PCL nanofiber scaffolds. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for HFSCs attachment, infiltration, and morphology, 3-(4, 5-di-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for cell viability and cytotoxicity, tensile strength of the scaffolds mesh, and histology analysis were used. Results: Flow cytometry showed that HFSCs were nestin and CD34 positive but K15 negative. The results of the MTT assay showed cell viability and cell proliferation of the HFSCs on PCL nanofiber scaffolds. SEM microscopy photographs indicated that HFSCs are attached and spread on PCL nanofiber scaffolds. Furthermore, tensile strength of the scaffolds mesh was measured. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that modified PCL nanofiber scaffolds are suitable for HFSCs seeding, attachment, and proliferation. Furthermore, HFSCs are attached and proliferated on PCL nanofiber scaffolds.

Background: Morphine is related to dysregulation of serum hormone levels. In addition, addict subjects interest to sugar intake. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of co-administration of glucose with Mo on the glucoregulatory hormones and causing of diabetes mellitus in rats. Materials and Methods: Male rats were randomly divided into four groups including, control, morphine, Morphine-Glucose and diabetes groups. Morphine was undergone through doses of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 mg/kg, respectively on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Then, dose of 60 mg/kg was used repeated for 20 extra days. The Morphine-Glucose group received the same doses of morphine plus 1 g/kg glucose per day. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg streptozotocin. At the end of experiment, the serum insulin, glucagon, growth hormone (GH), cortisol, and glucose levels were measured. The homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) indexes concluding the HOMA-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and HOMA-β were evaluated. Results: Morphine insignificantly induced a hyperglycemia condition and insulin resistance. Whereas, the beta-cell functions significantly (P < 0.05) decreased only in morphine group. The co-administration of glucose slightly increased the GH, and increased insulin and cortisol levels significantly (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01; respectively) in the Morphine-Glucose group. Furthermore, the co-administration of glucose with morphine could nearly modulate the morphine effects on body weight, glucose, and glucagon levels. Conclusion: It is probable that the co-administration of glucose with morphine modulate the serum glucose levels by stimulating the beta-cell functions and to increase insulin secretion.

Background: The forced treadmill running can influence the opioid contents of the brain, through both effects of exercise and the effects of stress caused by coercion. Since opioids can cause negative effects on brain functions, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of forced treadmill exercise and blocking of opioid receptors with naloxone on memory in male rats. Materials and Methods: Experimental groups were the control, the exercise, the naloxone, and the naloxone exercise. The exercise program was treadmill running at 22 m/min at 0° inclination for 50 min/day, 6 days/week, for 4 weeks. Naloxone (1 mg/kg) was injected 5 min before the treadmill running. Morris water maze and passive avoidance learning tests were used for evaluation of memory. Acquisition phase of both tests was performed before interventions, and memory was evaluated 1-day and 1-week after the last session of exercise and treatments. Results: Our data showed that forced exercise impaired performance in passive avoidance learning test (P < 0.05 and P <0.01, 1-day, and 1-week after the last session of exercise and treatments, respectively). Spatial memory was only impaired after 1-week in the exercise group. Naloxone had no significant effect on memory in the control group. However, it improved memory in the exercise group, as there was no significant difference between the control and the naloxone exercise in both tests. Conclusion: The data correspond to the possibility that opioidergic system may have mediatory roles in exercise-induced responses in forced exercise. These roles are likely harmful for memory.

Background: Cholecystectomy is considered as the most important and relatively common postoperative pain control often begins in recovery room by using systemic narcotics that may have some side effects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of premedication with oral tizanidine on pain relief after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Materials and Methods: In this double-blinded clinical trial, 70 adults of American Society of Anesthesiologist physiologic state 1 and 2 scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy under general anesthesia were studied and randomly divided in two study and control groups. Ninety minutes before the induction of anesthesia, patients received either 4 mg tizanidine (study group) orally in 50cc or the same volume of plain water as a placebo (control group). Then, the vital signs, pain intensity, duration of stay in recovery, and the analgesic consumption were measured and then compared in both groups during 24 h postoperatively. Results: There was no significant difference in patient characteristics, with respect to age, weight, gender, and duration of anesthesia and surgery between the groups (P > 0.05). The pain intensity, need for analgesic drugs (34.57 ± 8.88 mg vs. 101.86 ± 5.08 mg), and the duration of stay in recovery room (67.43 ± 1.59 min vs. 79.57 ± 5.48 min) were significantly lower in tizanidine group than that of the control group. Conclusion: Oral administration of 4 mg tizanidine before laparoscopic cholecystectomy reduces postoperative pain, opioid consumption, and consequence of the duration of stay in recovery room without any complication.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that mostly affects older adults. The etiology of T2DM includes both genetic and environmental factors. rs1800795 (−174 G/C) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) linked with autoimmune disorders predispositions, identified by Genome-Wide Association Study among genes, which immunologically related is considerably over signified. The goal of this study was to evaluate the association between rs1800795 (−174 G/C) polymorphisms in the promoter of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene with susceptibility to T2DM in a subset of the Iranian population. Materials and Methods: In this case–control study, 120 healthy subjects and 120 patients with T2DM were included. Genomic DNA obtained from whole blood samples and the polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify the fragment of interest contain rs1800795 SNP, restriction fragment length polymorphism method was applied for genotyping of the DNA samples with NlaIII as a restriction enzyme. SPSS for Windows software (version 18.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) was performed for statistical analysis. Results: No significant differences were found between healthy controls and T2DM patients with respect to the frequency distribution of the cytokine gene polymorphism investigated. Odds ratio, adjusted for sex, age, and smoking status has displayed similar outcomes. Conclusion: These results indicated that the rs1800795 SNP is not a susceptibility gene variant for the development of T2DM in the Isfahan population. Further studies using new data on complex transcriptional interactions between IL-6 polymorphic sites are necessary to determine IL-6 haplotype influence on susceptibility to T2DM.

Background: Preterm birth, defined as birth occurring before 37 weeks of gestation, is a common complication of pregnancy and may lead to death or long-term disability in newborns. Accurate diagnosis is, therefore, crucial for identifying those women undergoing preterm labor who are at greatest risk of preterm delivery. This may allow transport to a regional obstetrical center and permit time for corticosteroid therapy. Recent study recommends several markers such as CRP (C-reactive protein) and ALK-P (alkaline phosphatase) to predict preterm delivery. Materials and Methods: We select a total of 300 pregnant women that had symptoms of premature birth. All of them were under treatment with tocolytic and serum sample were taken to assess the level of CRP-ALKp. Cervix length and the time of response to tocolytic were measured. 110 pregnant of them had preterm labor. 110 patient that had a term labor selected as a control group. Results: Qualitative evaluation of efficacy CRP level on preterm delivery showed a significant relationship with 27 as a cut of point of CRP (P < 0.00001 –OR = 7.5). Investigate of effect of ALK-P level on preterm delivery refers to a significant relationship with 399 as a cut of point of ALKP (P < 0.00001 –OR = 5). Inquire of efficacy of CRP level and ALK-P level on preterm delivery demonstrate a significant relationship (P < 0.0001 1OR = 9). Conclusions: Maternal concentrations of CRP and ALKP and cervix length can be used as appropriate biomarker for predicting preterm labor and response to tocolytic therapy in pregnant women.

Background: The Study aimed to compare the effectiveness of two commonly used conservative treatments, splinting and local steroid injection in improving clinical and nerve conduction findings of the patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Materials and Methods: In this randomized control clinical trial, the patients with severe CTS selected and randomized in two interventional groups. Group A was prescribed to use full time neutral wrist splint and group B was injected with 40 mg Depo-Medrol and prescribed to use the full time neutral wrist splint for 12 weeks. Clinical and nerve conduction findings of the patients was evaluated at baseline, 4 and 12 weeks after interventions. Results: Twenty-two and 21 patients were allocated in group A and B, respectively. Mean of clinical symptoms and functional status scores, nerve conduction variables and patients' satisfaction score were not significant between group at baseline and 4 and 12 weeks after intervention. Within the group comparison, there was significant improvement in the patients' satisfaction, clinical and nerve conduction items between the baseline level and 4 weeks after intervention and between the baseline and 12 weeks after intervention (P < 0.01). The difference was significant for functional status score between 4 and 12 weeks after intervention in group B (P = 0.02). Conclusion: considering some findings regarding the superior effect of splinting plus local steroid injection on functional status scale and median nerve distal motor latency, it seems that using combination therapy could be more effective for long-term period specially in the field of functional improvement of CTS.

Background: Bacille Calmette–Guerin (BCG) vaccine is the only vaccine that is used against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but its efficacy is limited in mycobacterium-endemic regions. One of the major antigens present on the cell envelope of the vaccine that suppresses the immune system is mannosylated lipoarabinomannan (ManLAM). Materials and Methods: In this study, we immunized 4-week-old mice with sonicated BCG vaccine injected intraperitoneally two times at an interval of 2 weeks and with ManLAM antigen injected intravenously and then extracted the spleen cells of the immunized mice. They were fused with SP2/0 myeloma cells. Results: Five cell line clones producing antibody against ManLAM antigens were prepared and each clone was tested for immunoreactivity against sonicated BCG and purified ManLAM by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting. The clones designated H13F33E11 and H23D91G4 reacted strongly with ManLAM. Immunoblotting using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) H13F33E11 and H23D91G4 showed that these MAbs bind to ManLAM with a molecular weight of 35 kDa. Conclusions: In this study, we produced a monoclonal antibody of immunoglobulin G3 (IgG3) subclass. This MAb can be used for purification of ManLAM in culture media and detection of the antigen in patient's urine and for increasing the efficacy of BCG vaccine.