@article{ author = {Ziolkowski, Piotr and J.Osiecka, Beata and Symonowicz1, Krzysztof and Chmielewski, Piotr and Latos-Grazynski, Leszek and Bronowicz, Andrzej}, title = {Determination of Vascular Endothelial- and Fibroblast-Growth Factor Receptors in a Mouse Fibrosarcoma Tumor Model Following Photodynamic Therapy}, abstract ={The role of angiogenic molecules, like vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) in tumor angiogenesis was well confirmed. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) action is, to very high degree, based on tumor vasculature damage. Therefore, it seemed to be important to evaluate growth factor receptors after PDT. The extent of receptor expression was studied by immuno-histochemical method. In this study, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFR) receptor and fibroblast growth factor (FGFR-1) receptor have been evaluated at different time points after PDT of tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. Two sensitizers: hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) and 21, 23-dithiaporphyrin (DTP) were given intraperitoneally in doses: 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg followed by light irradiation at total doses: 50 and 100 J/sq.cm 24 hours later. The number of VEGFR and FGFR-1 in control samples did not exceed 40 per one vessel, whereas after PDT, a significant decrease in number of both receptors was observed. No differences between HpD- and DTP-PDT in anti-receptor activities were observed (p<0.001 for VEGFR and p<0.002 for FGFR-1). The observed decrease in VEGFR and FGFR-1 amount confirms that after PDT, some proteins are inactivated and such a decrease may influence PDT effectiveness}, Keywords = {Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR-1), Angiogenesis, Fibrosarcoma, Photodynamic therapy, Immunohistochemistry}, volume = {8}, Number = {3}, pages = {113-119}, publisher = {Pasteur Institute of Iran}, url = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-496-en.html}, eprint = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-496-en.pdf}, journal = {Iranian Biomedical Journal}, issn = {1028-852X}, eissn = {2008-823X}, year = {2004} } @article{ author = {Emadi, Sayed Mehdi and Salehnia, Mojdeh}, title = {Localization and Activity of Mouse Endometrial Alkaline Phosphatase after Hyperstimulation and Progesterone Injection at the Implantation Time}, abstract ={The activity of mouse endometrial alkaline phosphatase after hyperstimulation and progesterone injection at the implantation time Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of endometrium may play a critical function in the development and implantation of embryo. The aim of this study was to determine the localization of endometrial ALP activity after hyperstimulation and progesterone injection. Thirty adult female NMRI mice were hyperstimulated using human menopasual gonadotropic hormone and human chorionic gonadotropic hormones (hCG). Then, daily injections of progesterone (1 mg/mouse) were performed in one hyperstimulated group. Animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation 4.5 day after hCG injection. Tissues were obtained from 1/3 middle part of uterine horns and used for enzyme histochemistry and morphological studies. The samples were cryosectioned at -30°C and the enzyme histochemistry was carried out by azo-coupling technique using alpha naphtol phosphate as substrate. In the control groups, the ALP activity was localized on the apical and basal border. Cytoplasm of glandular and surface epithelium was stronger than the other hyperstimulated groups on the day four of pseudoprgnancy. Our results showed that the ALP activity was decreased after ovarian hyperstimulation and progesterone injection and the defect of implantation of embryo after hyperstimulation and embryo transfer in animals may be due to the reduction of enzyme activity}, Keywords = {Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Mouse endometrium, Hyperstimulation, Progesterone}, volume = {8}, Number = {3}, pages = {121-126}, publisher = {Pasteur Institute of Iran}, url = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-497-en.html}, eprint = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-497-en.pdf}, journal = {Iranian Biomedical Journal}, issn = {1028-852X}, eissn = {2008-823X}, year = {2004} } @article{ author = {Sinha, Rakesh Kumar and Ray, Amit Kumar}, title = {An Assessment of Changes in Open-Field and Elevated Plus-Maze Behavior Following Heat Stress in Rats}, abstract ={This paper presents the effect of high environmental heat on behavior of the male Charles Foster rats. Eighty rats were divided into three groups, subjected to (i) acute heat stress (ii) chronic heat stress and (iii) handling control group. Animals were exposed to the hot environment in a biological oxygen demand incubator at 38 ± 1ºC (relative humidity 45-50%) for four hours of continuous single exposure for acute heat stress and one hour daily for 21 days for chronic stress. The assessment of behavior was performed just after the stress for acute stress group and for chronic stress group, on 1st, 7th, 14th and 21st day of stress in open-field (OF) and Elevated plus-maze (EPM) apparatus. Following acute heat exposure, a significant increase in immobilization with decrease in rearing, grooming, and ambulation behavior was seen in OF. While in EPM, a highly significant increase in transfer latency with decrease in percentage time on open arms and number of arms crossed were recorded. During chronic heat stress, in OF, decrease in immobilization (1st, 7th and 14th day) and ambulation (1st and 7th day) was observed with significant increase in rearing (1st day) and grooming behavior (1st and 7th day). On the other hand, in EPM, significant decreases in number of arms crossed (1st, 7th and 14th day) and transfer latency (1st day) were recorded with increase in percentage time on open arms (1st and 7th day). However, no behavioral changes were observed on 21st day that show the adaptations of animals to the chronic exposure to the hot environmental conditions}, Keywords = {Heat stress, Behavior, Open-field (OF), Elevated plus-maze (EPM)}, volume = {8}, Number = {3}, pages = {127-133}, publisher = {Pasteur Institute of Iran}, url = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-498-en.html}, eprint = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-498-en.pdf}, journal = {Iranian Biomedical Journal}, issn = {1028-852X}, eissn = {2008-823X}, year = {2004} } @article{ author = {ShamsGhahfarokhi, Masoomeh and RazzaghiAbyaneh, Mehdi and RanjbarBahadori, Shahrokh and Eslami, Ali and Zare, Rasoul and Ebrahimi, Maji}, title = {Screening of Soil and Sheep Faecal Samples for Predacious Fungi: Isolation and Characterization of the Nematode-Trapping Fungus Arthrobotrys oligospora}, abstract ={Over one-year period, 150 pasture soil samples and 138 sheep faecal samples, collected from different parts of Iran were screened for the presence of nematophagous fungi. The samples were cultured at 25ºC on chloramphenicol-2% water agar (CHF-WA) plates in the presence of Haemonchus contortus third stage larvae (L3) and checked over a two-month period for characteristic conidia, conidiophores and hyphal traps of nematophagous fungi. Suspected nematophagous fungi were isolated by periodic transfer of the fungi on CHF-WA plates using the agar block method. Overall, 11 soil samples were found to harbour the nematode-trapping fungus Arthrobotrys from which 3 pure isolates were made and consequently identified as Arthrobotrys oligospora IRAN 877 C, IRAN 878 C and IRAN 879 C. Nematophagous fungi were not found in any tested sheep faecal samples. The predatory capacity of the isolates was tested against H. contortus infective larvae and then compared to reference strains A. oligospora CBS 111.37, A. oligospora CBS 251.82 and Duddingtonia flagrans CBS 583.91. The local strains of A. oligospora reduced the development of H. contortus L3 by 75-85%, whereas, the predatory capacity of reference A. oligospora and D. flagrans strains was measured in the range of 51-85% compared to the fungus free controls. Study of the effect of temperature on predatory activity of A. oligospora strains IRAN 877 C and CBS 111.37 revealed a reduction of more than 95% in infective larvae of H. contortus at temperature levels between 15 to 25ºC. This reduction was significantly decreased to 30% and 50% at 10ºC and 30ºC, respectively. The nematode-trapping fungus A. oligospora is reported from soil of Iran for the first time and its potential role in biocontrol of gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants is discussed}, Keywords = {Screening, Soil, Predacious fungi, Arthrobotrys oligospora, Nematophagous activity}, volume = {8}, Number = {3}, pages = {135-142}, publisher = {Pasteur Institute of Iran}, url = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-499-en.html}, eprint = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-499-en.pdf}, journal = {Iranian Biomedical Journal}, issn = {1028-852X}, eissn = {2008-823X}, year = {2004} } @article{ author = {Mianabadi, Manijeh and Yazdanparast, Razieh}, title = {The Effect of Gnidilatimonoein from Daphne mucronata, on the Adhesive Property of Human Platelets}, abstract ={The adhesive interaction between tumor cells and the host cells or the extracellular matrix plays a crucial role in tumor metastasis. To evaluate the mediation of cell adhesion by Daphne mucronata, an anti-cancer medicinal plant in Iranian folk medicine, the adhesion of thrombin activated human platelets to the cultured monocytes or HL-60 cells was investigated under the effect of the plant extract (0.54 mg/ml) or one of its purified components (gnidilatimonoein, 0.94 µM). Treatment of the platelets with the plant extract or the active component, for various time intervals, followed by their activation by thrombin resulted in 80-90% reduction in the number of monocytes with more than 10 attached platelets. Similarly, under almost all identical conditions, the adhesion of the activated platelets to HL-60 cells was decreased by 90%. The adhesion of thrombin activated human platelets to the plant treated HL-60 cells was also reduced significantly (by 95%). These data clearly indicate that Daphne mucronata is capable of mediating tumor metastasis through effecting cell adhesion properties of the cells}, Keywords = {Cell adhesion, D. mucronata, Cancer, Metastasis}, volume = {8}, Number = {3}, pages = {143-147}, publisher = {Pasteur Institute of Iran}, url = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-500-en.html}, eprint = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-500-en.pdf}, journal = {Iranian Biomedical Journal}, issn = {1028-852X}, eissn = {2008-823X}, year = {2004} } @article{ author = {Boskabady, Mohammad Hossein and Moghaddas, Akram}, title = {Antihistaminic Effect of Bunium persicum on Guinea Pig Tracheal Chains}, abstract ={In a previous study, the relaxant and anticholinergic (functional antagonism) effects of Bunium persicum (B. persicum ) have been demonstrated on guinea pig tracheal chains. To elucidate the other mechanisms responsible for this relaxant effect, the inhibitory effect of this plant on histamine H1 receptors was examined in this study. The antihistaminic effects of aqueous and macerated extracts, essential oil, 20 nM chlorpheniramine, and saline were tested by performing the cumulative log concentration-response curves of histamine induced contraction of isolated guinea pig tracheal chains incubated with three different conditions including: 1) 1.4 µM indomethacin, 2) 1.4 µM indomethacin, 1 µM propranolol, and 10 nM atropine, and 3) 1.4 µM indomethacin and 1 µM propranolol (for each group n = 8). The results showed clear parallel rightward shifts in histamine-response curves obtained in the presence of macerated extract in group 2, aqueous extract in group 3, and essential oil in group 2 and 3 experiments compared with the curves obtained in the presence of saline. The EC50 (effective concentration of histamine causing 50% of maximum response) obtained in the presence of essential oil, extracts, and chlorpheniramine in all three sets of experiments were significantly higher than that of saline (p<0.05 to p<0.001), but maximum response to histamine obtained in the presence of essential oil and extracts were lower (p<0.01 to p<0.001). However, the maximum response obtained in the presence of aqueous extract in group 3 compared to group 1 and that of macerated extract in group 2 compared to the other two sets of experiments were improved. These results indicated a competitive antagonistic effect of B. persicum at histamine H1 receptors}, Keywords = {Bunium persicum, Antihistaminic effect, Trachea, Guinea pig}, volume = {8}, Number = {3}, pages = {149-155}, publisher = {Pasteur Institute of Iran}, url = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-501-en.html}, eprint = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-501-en.pdf}, journal = {Iranian Biomedical Journal}, issn = {1028-852X}, eissn = {2008-823X}, year = {2004} } @article{ author = {Zeinoddini, Mehdi and HosseiniAmini, Seyyed Mohammad and Maghsoudi, Nader}, title = {Effect of Activation and Inhibition of Cellular PKR on Coxsackievirus B3 Replication}, abstract ={The ds-RNA activated protein kinase (PKR) is a serine-threonine kinase with MW of 68 KDa. It belongs to a family of kinases that control one of the translational initiation factors, eIF2. PKR is produced at high level in response to viral infection. This protein by phosphorylating eIF2 inhibits cellular protein synthesis. In this study, the effect of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), an activator, and 2-aminopurine (2AP), an inhibitor of PKR production on coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) replication were studied. After addition of IFN-γ and 2AP to Vero and HeLa cultures, cells were infected with CVB3. After 48 h and appearance of cytopathic effect (CPE), cells were collected and viral replication was assessed by standard method. For molecular detection of PKR, RT-PCR technique was used. The data show that interferon inhibited (or lowered) and 2AP promoted viral replication, though in all samples presence of PKR-mRNA could be detected. It seems that PKR plays a key role in CVB3 replication. Therefore, PKR can be considered as a promising and considerable target for designing small molecules and drugs against CVB3}, Keywords = {ds-RNA activated protein kinase (PKR), Cytopathic effect (CPE), Coxsackievirus, Interferon-g}, volume = {8}, Number = {3}, pages = {157-160}, publisher = {Pasteur Institute of Iran}, url = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-502-en.html}, eprint = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-502-en.pdf}, journal = {Iranian Biomedical Journal}, issn = {1028-852X}, eissn = {2008-823X}, year = {2004} } @article{ author = {Japoni, Aziz and Alborzi, Abdolvahhab and Rasouli, Manoochehr and Pourabbas, Bahm}, title = {Modified DNA Extraction for Rapid PCR Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci}, abstract ={Nosocomial infection caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococci poses a serious problem in many countries. The aim of this study was to rapidly and reliably detect methicillin-resistant-staphylococci in order to suggest appropriate therapy. The presence or absence of the methicillin-resistance gene in 115 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and 50 isolates of Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS) was examined by normal PCR. DNA extraction for PCR performance was then modified by omission of achromopeptadiase and proteinase K digestion, phenol/chloroform extraction and ethanol precipitation. All isolates with MIC>8 mg/ml showed positive PCR. No differences in PCR detection have been observed when normal and modified DNA extractions have been performed. Our modified DNA extraction can quickly detect methicillin-resistant staphylococci by PCR. The advantage of rapid DNA extraction extends to both reduction of time and cost of PCR performance. This modified DNA extraction is suitable for different PCR detection, when staphylococci are the subject of DNA analysis}, Keywords = {Methicillin-resistant staphylococci, PCR, DNA extraction}, volume = {8}, Number = {3}, pages = {161-165}, publisher = {Pasteur Institute of Iran}, url = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-503-en.html}, eprint = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-503-en.pdf}, journal = {Iranian Biomedical Journal}, issn = {1028-852X}, eissn = {2008-823X}, year = {2004} }