International Journal of Medical Laboratory

6

Authors: Kave Tari, Amir Atashi *, Farshid Karami, Fatemeh Kiani nodeh, Mohammad Shahjahani

Background and Aims: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and beta thalassemia minor (BTM) are the most common hypochromic microcytic anemias, and it is regarded important to differentiate between them. several formulae can be taken into consideration based on red blood cell (RBC) parameters in order to distinguish between these two disorders. Hence, the present study intended to evaluate the sensitivity as well as specificity of some of these formulae. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, IDA was diagnosed in 200 patients based on hypochromic and microcytic RBC appearance, reduced mean cell volume, mean cell hemoglobin and ferritin as well as increased total iron binding capacity. Furthermore, BTM was diagnosed via hypochromic microcytic appearance of RBC and increased hemoglobin A2 level. Then, IDA and BTM diagnosis were confirmed using the formulae of King-Green, Mentzer index, England and Fraser, Shine and Lal, Srivastava and Sirdah. The sensitivity and specificity of these formulae were calculated as well. Results: The study findings demonstrated that based on the study criteria, out of 200 patients with hypochromic microcytic RBC appearance, 120 were afflicted with IDA and 80 suffered from BTM. The formulae-based diagnosis demonstrated that King-Green formula was the most reliable one. Conclusions: Although King-Green formula had the highest sensitivity and specificity and was the most reliable formula, none of the formulae revealed 100% sensitivity and specificity. As a result, making definitive distinction between IDA and BTM is not possible using these formulae.

7

Authors: Donya Nikaein, Alireza Khosravi, Seyyed Shamsadin Athari, Abdolghaffar Ownagh, Mehdi Taghavi *

Background and Aims: Aspergillus fumigatus is a sporadic fungus that causes different infections and allergies in immunocompromised patients. The allergic disease caused by this fungus is called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). ABPA is considred important in atopic and immunocompromised individuals, which can result in inflammation and epithelial damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the T helper (Th)2 responses in a ABPA murine model by measuring the main cytokines involved in Th2. Materials and Methods: Twenty male BALB/c mice were divided into two groups of 10 mice each: control and ABPA group. ABPA was induced by inhalation of A. fumigatus conidia intranasally. Total and specific IgE were measured in the mice sera. Levels of cytokines in broncho alveolar lavage (BAL) of under studied groups were measured by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay three weeks after the treatment. Results: The obtained results indicated that total and specific IgE increased in the ABPA group (p<0.05). The levels of Interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in brocho alveolar lavage of ABPA group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05), whereas interferon-gamma levels did not reveal any significant differences between the studied groups. Conclusions: The findings of the present study confirmed the role of Th2 cytokines in the ABPA reactions. However, more comprehensive studies are necessitated to determine the exact mechanisms of immune responses to ABPA as well as the role of Th1/Th2 responses in control of ABPA reactions. Regulation of Th2 responses could be regarded as a potential therapy for ABPA as well.

9

Authors: Parvin Hosseini Pour, Hassan Momtaz *, Amir Arsalan Serajyan, Elahe Tajbakhsh

Background and Aims: The indiscriminate use of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance in the treatment of infections caused by bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The presence of integrons in Pseudomonas is clearly associated with multidrug resistances. Therefore, this study aimed at tracking class I, II and III integrons of antibiotic-resistant isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that were isolated from nosocomial infection. Materials and Methods: In this study, 51 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from different wards of Imam Khomeini hospital of Ahvaz since October of 2014 until March of 2015. After identification test and antibigram, coding genes of antibiotic resistance and class I, II and III integrons were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results: Tetracycline revealed the most resistance with 84% frequency in discreted isolates. In the encoding antibiotic resistance genes with a frequency of 94% was the most common blaTEM. Class I integron had 92% prevalence, class II Integron showed 52% prevalence and class III Integron demonstrated 17% prevalence. Conclusions: In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, class I integron was more prevalent than other integrons and the integrase gene was probably one of the causes of multiple antibiotic resistance in this bacteria. Moreover, frequency of integron III was reported 17%.

10

Authors: Fereshteh Safari, Mehdi Fazeli, Meysam Dehghani, Arian Naghedi, Fatemeh Jahanifar, Fatemeh Safari *

Background and Aims: There has been scant information concerning antihypertrophic effects of vitamin D specifically on its cellular and molecular mechanisms. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) is regarded as a key deacetylase enzyme in cardiomyocytes which applies potential cardioprotective effects by functional regulation of different proteins. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D on the hypertrophic markers and cardiac level of SIRT1 mRNA in rats following the aortic banding. Material and Methods: In this study, male Wistar rats (170-220g) were used, which were divided into 4 groups: rats subjected to hypertrophy without treatment (H), rats pretreated with 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 (H+VD), rats received propyleneglycol as a vitamin solvent (H+P), and intact animals which were elected as the control group. Arterial blood pressure was directly measured by the carotid cannulation. Transcription level of target genes was measured by real time polymerase chain reaction technique. Results: In H+VD group, systolic blood pressure as well as heart weight-to-body weight ratio decreased significantly compared to the group H (P<0.01). Moreover, regarding hypertrophy marker genes in H+VD group, both atrial natriuretic peptide mRNA (H+VD:64.8±14% vs. H:127±26% P<0.05) and brain natriuretic peptide mRNA (H+VD:25.6±6% vs. H:84.2±12% P<0.01) levels decreased significantly. SIRT1 mRNA level was increased by 56.8±14% in group H and by 42.6±12% in group H+VD which were significant in comparison to the control group (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). No significant difference was noted between H+VD and H groups. Conclusions: The results of the present study revealed that administration of 1, 25- dihydroxyvitamin D decreases myocardial hypertrophy markers in rats following the abdominal aortic banding. The pressure overload-induced hypertrophy accompanies with SIRT1 mRNA upregulation, though antihypertrophic effects of vitamin didnot participate in SIRT1 transcription level.