Iranian

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The activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in human serum has been widely determined as a diagnostic aid in liver disease. In this study, the effect of aluminium on AST isoenzymes in relation to aluminium intoxified patients has been investigated. Using gel filtration chromatography technique with Sephacryl S-300, mitochondrial aminotransferase (m-AST) and cytosolic aminotransferase (c-AST) fractions were separated from rat serum and liver homogenate. The c-AST fraction was eluted with higher mobility than m-AST iso-enzyme. Daily administration of aluminium (1 and 5 mg/kg body weight) for 30 days increased total serum activity of AST by 19% and 72%, respectively. Daily administration of aluminium (10 and 20 mg/kg body weight) for 30 days was also studied. The percentage of elevations was 114% and 86% in comparison to the controls. Following aluminium administration for 45 days, the enzyme activity was elevated to 20% and 60% in comparison to the controls, and administration for 60 days resulted elevation of 35% and 79%. The serum enzyme activity was mostly due to the mitochondrial fraction of AST that was a time and dose dependent

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Background: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) have been associated with antioxidant property and have been shown to improve the circulating antioxidant status on daily dosing in different inflammatory conditions. The present study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant role of meloxicam in aluminum induced oxidative stress in rat brain. Methods: In the in vivo experiments, Sprague-Dawley rats where randomized into 4 groups receiving daily treatment for 4 weeks: 1) double distilled water i.p., 2) 4.2 mg/kg aluminum i.p. 3) meloxicam (5.0 mg/kg, i.m.) 4) 5.0 mg/kg, meloxicam i.m. + 4.2 mg/kg aluminum i.p. brain homogenates from the above animals were assayed for lipid peroxidation levels as well as superoxide dismutase activity. In the in vitro experiments, brain homogenates from Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either, aluminum, meloxicam or their combinations and were then assayed as per the in vivo samples. Results: In vivo data showed elevated lipid peroxidation levels in brain homogenate in aluminium-treated group as compared to aluminium + meloxicam treatment which showed a significant decrease in the malonaldehyde levels. Similar results were observed in the in vitro experiments when brain homogenates were treated with either, aluminum, meloxicam or their combinations. Furthermore, no change was observed in superoxide dismutase activity in any treatment group as compared to the control in either experiment. Conclusion: These results indicate that NSAID can be used in Alzheimer management. Iran. Biomed. J. 10 (3): 151-155, 2006

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Background: Pasteur Institute of Iran was established in 1919 with the aim to produce vaccines and prevent communicable diseases in Iran. Over time, their activities extended into areas of research, education and services. Naturally, such a vast development begs establishment of a comprehensive management and monitoring system. With this outlook, the present study was carried out with the aim to design a performance assessment model for Pasteur Institute of Iran that, in addition to determining evaluation indicators, it could prepare the necessary grounds for providing a unified assessment model for the global network of the Pasteur Institutes. Method: This study was designed and performed in 4 stages: first design of indicators and determining their scores. Second editing indicators according to the outcome of discussions and debates held with members of Research Council of Pasteur Institute of Iran. Third implementation of a pilot model based on the Institute’s activities in 2011. Fourth providing the pilot model feedback to the stakeholders and finalizing the model according to an opinion survey. Results: Based on the results obtained, the developed indicators for Pasteur Institute of Iran evaluation were designed in 10 axes and 18 sub-axes, which included 101 major and 58 minor indicators. The axes included governance and leadership, resources and facilities, capacity building, knowledge production and collaborations, reference services, economic value of products and services, participation in industrial exhibitions, status of the institute, satisfaction and institute’s role in health promotion. Conclusion: The indicators presented in this article have been prepared based on the balance in the Institute’s four missions, to provide the basis for assessment of the Institute’s activities in consecutive years, and possibility of comparison with other institutes worldwide.

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Background: Hypercoagulability and hypofibrinolysis are among the symptoms exhibited by diabetic patients. Our study aimed to address the polymorphic nature of Alu DNA fragment in the human tissue plasminogen activator gene within diabetes mellitus (DM) Jordanian patients. Methods: Genomic DNA was isolated from 76 DM patients and 60 non-diabetic Jordanian individuals, and the Alu fragment was amplified using PCR. Results: The results showed that 80% of the non-diabetic Jordanian subjects were homozygotes for the deletion of the Alu fragment (Alu^-/-), 16.7% were homozygotes for its insertion (Alu^+/+), and 3.3% were heterozygotes (Alu^+/-). Besides, 36.8% of the diabetic patients exhibited the Alu^-/- or Alu^+/- genotype, and 26.3% were Alu^+/+. The Alu^-/- genotype occurred less frequently in the diabetic individuals. Conclusion: The high frequency of the Alu^-/- genotype constitutes a protective deletion with respect to DM within the normal subjects. 

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Background: Hyaluronic acid (HA), a natural polymer with wide applications in biomedicine and cosmetics, is mainly produced by Streptococcal fermentation at industrial scale. In the present study, chemical random mutagenesis was used for development of Streptococcus equisimilis group G mutant strains with high HA productivity.
Methods: The optimum of the pH of culture condition and cultivation time for HA production by wild strain group G were assessed. At first, two rounds of mutation at different concentrations of NTG was used for mutagenesis. Then, the nonhemolytic and hyaluronidase-negative mutants were screened on the blood and HA agar. HA productivity and molecular weight were determined by carbazole assay, agarose gel electrophoresis and specific staining. Moreover, stability of the high producer mutants was evaluated within 10 generations.
Results: The results showed that the wild-type strain produced 1241 ± 2.1 µg/ml of HA at pH 5.5 and 4 hours of cultivation, while the screened mutants showed a 16.1-45.5% increase in HA production. Two mutant strains, named Gm2-120-21-3 (2470 ± 8.1 µg/ml) and Gm2-120-21-4 (2856 ± 4.2 µg/ml), indicated the highest titer and a consistent production. The molecular weight (Mw) of HA for the mutants was less than 160 kDa, considering as a low Mw HA.
Conclusion: The mutant strains producing a low polydisperse, as well as low Mw of HA with high titer might be regarded as potential industrial strains for HA production after further safety investigations.

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Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the myelin sheaths of nerve cells are damaged in the brain and spinal cord. Cognitive changes, including memory impairment, are common in MS patients, and there is still no definitive treatment available. Plants of the genus Astragalus from the legume family contain more than 900 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants in Iran, most of which are endemic to the region. Recent studies have shown that the Astragalus has antioxidant, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsant effects. Anzerut is a species on which limited studies have been conducted. Considering the various biological effects of the Astragalus genus, we aimed to investigate the impact of Anzerut on spatial memory impairment in a rat model of MS.
Methods and Materials: In the present study, 42 male rats weighing between 230-280 g were randomly divided into six groups of seven rats each. Ethidium bromide was used to induce MS. Then, doses of 150, 450, and 800 mg/kg of Anzerut extract were administered intraperitoneally for 14 days. Behavioral testing using the Morris water maze, hippocampal malondialdehyde (MDA) level measurement, and total antioxidant capacity were evaluated. Finally, one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test will be used to compare the data.
Results: The injection of ethidium bromide caused a significant decrease in the time spent (p = 0.01) and distance traveled (p = 0.001) in the target quadrant on the test day compared to the control group. Treatment with Anzerut at a dose of 150 mg/kg for 14 days significantly increased the time spent and distance traveled (p = 0.05) in the target quadrant on the test day compared to the MS group. Additionally, the injection of ethidium bromide resulted in a significant increase in hippocampal MDA level and a decrease in the total antioxidant capacity of the hippocampus. 
Conclusion and Discussion: The injection of ethidium bromide into the CA1 region of the hippocampus induces MS, while the administration of Anzerut extract improves learning and memory in the experimental MS model. This effect appears to be mediated through antioxidant pathways in the brain.