International Journal of Medical Laboratory

8

Authors: Sahar Farzaneh , Masoud Salehipour

Background and Aims: Atherosclerosis is currently a chronic disease in which cholesterols accumulate in large arteries. Many genes such as liver X receptor α (LXRα) are involved in the cholesterol homeostasis. Curcumin, the main active polyphenol component derived from Curcuma longa, contribute to anti-inflammation and antioxidant in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Thus, this study intended to determine the role of curcumin in the cholesterol biosynthesis and LXRα gene expression in mice. Materials and Methods: This study examined the effects of curcumin on the gene expression via LXRα in monocytes of hypercholesterolemia mice, which were treated with the curcumin oral gavage at the dose of 15 mg/kg for 4 weeks, measured using real time polymerase chain reaction. To further investigate the effects of curcumin in hypercholesterolemia as well as non- hypercholesterolemia mice, the total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein in plasma have been also measured. Results: The average has been calculated by SigmaPlot software, showing that LXRα gene expression causes no significant difference between the control group and the experimental groups (p<0.05). Although, treatment with the curcumin decreases cholesterol, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein of plasma level and significantly increases high density lipoprotein cholesterol of plasma level. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that curcumin has a special effect on lipid metabolism by increasing the reverse cholesterol transport mechanisms and decreasing low density lipoprotein in the blood. In conclusion, curcumin seems to have potentials to be used as a supplement.

9

Authors: Hasan Afzali , Mansooreh Momen-Heravi , Maryam Shamaee Zavareh

Background and Aims: Legionnaires’ disease is seen in sporadic and epidemic form. The most prevalent cause is Legionella pnuemophilia (L.pneumophila), which produces a severe disease in vulnerable individuals with a high fatality rate. This study was conducted due to the wide and universal distribution of the Legionnaires’ disease, lack of conventional and accessible diagnostic method, unresponsiveness to conventional antibiotic therapy in some pneumonia patients and the lack of any report about it in Kashan city, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 117 pneumonia patients hospitalized in Kashan Shahid Beheshti hospital. After obtaining the consent form, urine specimens of the patients for isolating and detecting of L.pneumophila were examined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. A questionnaire containing information about demographic, clinical and para-clinical findings was filled out by the researcher. Results: From a total of 117 cases, 11 (9.4%) urinary antigens of L.pnuemophilia were detected. 48 cases (41%) were males and 69 (59%) were females. The most cases were in ≥60 age group. There was no significant association between sex, age, job with number of L.pneumophila cases, but there was a significant correlation between smoking, disturbance of consciousness, increase of aspartate aminotransferase and the prevalence of Legionella. Conclusion: The prevalence of L.pnuemophilia among the pneumonia patients was 9.4%. Considering that there is a significant association between smoking and disturbance of consciousness, education about avoiding of smoking and considering L.pnuemophilia as a cause of pneumonia in patients with disturbance of consciousness is recommended.

13

Authors: Zahra Hatami , Ahmad Zavaran Hosseini , Fatemeh Yari , Mohammad Reza Deyhim

Background and Aims: The human leukocyte antigen-E (HLA-E) is a member of non-classical HLA class-I genes which is highly conserved through evolution. In general, so far 25 alleles of HLA-E have been described. However, the existence of only two allelic group; HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03 have been demonstrated in all the populations. HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03 differ only at codon 107 of exon 3. The aim of this study was to survey on the frequency of HLA-E alleles; HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03 in healthy and high blood sugar subjects. Materials and Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood of 137 randomly selected healthy individuals and 86 patients with high blood sugar by using salting-out method. HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03 alleles were determined by polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers. To overcome the ambiguity of some results, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method saw used. Finally, the nucleotide sequence of a limited number of polymerase chain reaction products was determined. Results: In healthy subjects, the allelic frequency of HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03 were 48.9% and 51.1%, respectively. In high blood sugar subjects, the allelic frequency of HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03 were 50.6% and 49.4%, respectively. The dominant allele in the healthy subjects was HLA-E*01:03 and in high blood sugar group was HLA-E*01:01 without significant differences for HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03 frequencies in high blood sugar group. Conclusions: Our results about the frequencies of HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03 alleles in Iranian population showed similarities with French and Korean populations.

15

Authors: Aminu Umar Kaoje, Umar Mohammed, Yahaya Mohammed, Umar Ibrahim, Samira Alhassan, Augustine Obi, Mansur Olayinka Raji, Umar Mohammed Ango

Background and Aims: The issue of the quality in healthcare cannot be ignored anymore. Laboratories play vital roles in control and prevention of diseases by providing timely and accurate result for patient management including disease surveillance. The aim of the study is to assess the quality of laboratory services in a Tertiary Health Institution in Sokoto. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was used and a two-stage sampling technique applied to select the 96 laboratory respondents and 60 clinicians from a tertiary hospital in Sokoto Nigeria. Close-ended, self-administered questionnaires and a checklist were used to collect data, which were analyzed using SPSS. Results: More than two-thirds of laboratory respondents have not received in-service trainings and among the few that received trainings, only three had training on laboratory quality management. Nearly all the laboratories have the basic infrastructure to ensure quality services. More than two-thirds of laboratory respondents had committed errors on the bench while 83% reported observing other laboratory staff commit errors. Three-quarters of the errors committed were at the pre-analytical and analytical phases, the most prevalent being mislabeling or failing to label the sample and complete loss of results, respectively. Length of time to obtain results and opportunity to discuss the findings with the laboratory personnel were laboratory services rated poor by clinicians. Conclusions: Few laboratory respondents received in-service training on laboratory quality assurance and most prevalent errors committed were at pre-analytical and analytical phases. Staff trainings and enforcement of quality standards in medical laboratories is recommended.