International Journal of Medical Laboratory

8

Authors: Mahmood Vakili *, Zahra Rostami, Mohsen Mirzaei

Background and Aims: Since the epidemiological, clinical and experimental characteristics of meningitis are different for various locations, this study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of meningitis patients admitted to hospitals of Yazd in the 2009 to 2013. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional and descriptive study, all 261 patients with meningitis were considered in Yazd hospitals in the years 2009 to 2013. The type of sampling method was census. The data were collected from patients’ files using special forms that were designed for this purpose. Results: In this study, 158 men (60.5%) and 103 women (39.5%) were considered. Among the patients, 53 people (20.30%) were under one-year-old, 63 people (24.14%) were between one to seven-year-old, and 85 people (32.57%) were adult. Among 261 patients, 126 ones (48.28%) and 135 ones (51.72%) were hospitalized with a diagnosis of non-bacterial meningitis and bacterial meningitis respectively. Generally, the cultivations of just 4 people (1.5%) were positive. The percentage of neutrophils and lymphocytes, the amount of glucose and the protein of cerebrospinal fluid in bacterial and aseptic meningitis was significantly different (p<0.001), but the total number of white blood cells, red blood cells and lactate dehydrogenase levels were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions: Since there is no significant difference between epidemiological characteristics and clinical symptoms in bacterial and no-bacterial meningitis, it seems that doing laboratory tests, despite aggressive, is the best practice for differentiating between types of meningitis and the fast performance of it could somewhat prevent the improper antibiotic therapy.

8

Authors: Hamed Hajipour, Hamed Hamishehkar, Sina Raeisi, Siamak Barghi, Akbar Hasani *

Background and Aims: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a polyphenolic compound from green tea, which its anticancer effects on many types of cancers have been confirmed, but the molecular mechanism by which EGCG induces apoptosis remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate anti-proliferative properties and apoptotic signaling pathway of EGCG on PC3 human prostate cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Cytotoxic effect of EGCG on prostate cancer cell line (PC3) was evaluated by MTT assay. DAPI staining was carried out to determine the morphological appearance of cells. Finally, the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 (apoptosis-regulating genes) were evaluated by quantitative Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Cytotoxicity evaluations demonstrated that EGCG prevented prostate cancer cells growth in a time and dose depended manner, but the effect of treatment duration is more significant than effect of concentration. Cell growth inhibition was found to be accompanied by nucleus condensation or chromatin fragmentations which are signs of apoptosis, as assessed by DAPI staining. Quantitative Real-time PCR results demonstrated that EGCG causes up-regulation of Bax as a pro-apoptotic protein, and down-regulation of Bcl-2 as an anti-apoptotic protein, thus shifting the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in favor of apoptosis. Conclusions: It is tempting to suggest that consumption of EGCG could be an effective strategy to inhibit prostate cancer. Our results demonstrated that increase in the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, is the probable molecular mechanisms through which EGCG induces apoptosis in PC3 cells.

12

Authors: Bahareh Rahmatizadeh, Farzaneh Tafvizi *, Masoud Salehipoure

Background and Aims: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide in men. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) has a role in the invasion and destruction of the basement membrane and the extra-cellular matrix and facilitating the process of tumor cell invasion. The present study was conducted to compare the expression of MMP2 gene in prostate cancer (PCa) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Materials and Methods: 48 samples of PCa and 48 samples of BPH (as controls) were examined. RNA was extracted from paraffin tissue blocks and then used for cDNA synthesize. The real time polymerase chain reaction method was used to quantify the expression of MMP2 gene. The level of gene expression was assessed using participants’ clinicopathological characteristics. Results: The expression of MMP2 gene increased in the PCa samples compared with the BPH samples (p=0.003). MMP2 gene increased in all the grades of this group compared with the controls. The highest expression, however, was observed in the moderately differentiated grade. No significant correlations or relationships were observed in the PCa samples between prostate specific antigen and the other study variables such as age, MMP2 expression, disease grade and the Gleason score; however a positive correlation was observed between prostate specific antigen and the samples' pathological stage. Conclusions: The expression of MMP2 increased in the PCa samples compared with the BPH samples, with the highest expression occurring in the samples with a Gleason score of 6. Further tests and studies conducted with larger sample sizes may help to use this marker in differentiating malignant from benign samples.

13

Authors: Hamidreza Famitafreshi, Morteza Karimian *

Background and Aims: Alcohol abuse is an important concern of many societies. Hippocampal neurogenesis regulates abusing drugs in a positive manner. The aim of this study was to identify factors that regulate neurogenesis in isolation period that increase preference for alcohol and salt. Materials and Methods: In this study sixteen rats were randomly divided into two groups: Pair (social) and isolation. Rats in the isolation group were isolated for 14 days plus one week for acclimatization. Rats in pair group also were kept in the same condition for 14 days. In this period BrdU (50 mg/kg/day/i.p.) was injected. At the end of the experiment, rats examined for copper, zinc, malondialdehyde (MDA), neurogenesis, salt consumption and alcohol preference. Results: Zinc in serum reduced in isolated rats, but copper in serum paradoxically increased in isolated rats. Neurogenesis reduced in isolated rats. Also, MDA in serum, salt consumption, and alcohol consumption increased in the isolated group. Conclusions: Social isolation with reduction of neurogenesis predisposes rats to consume more alcohol and also salt. The reduction in neurogenesis is associated with paradoxical balance of zinc and copper and increase in MDA in serum. So, regulation of copper and zinc may have beneficial effects on neurogenesis, sensitization and alcohol preference.