International Journal of Medical Laboratory

272-278

Authors: Farnoosh Naseri , Masoumeh Masoumi , Navid Rezaei , Abbas Shakoori Farahani *

Introduction: The mammalian Y chromosome is a vital sex-determining factor in mammals by encoding gonadal genes. However, there are some discordant conditions with the XY female chromosome, which can lead to their inclusion in the disorders of sex development group. Case Report: The person under study is a 22-year-old woman for whom written consent was obtained, and all ethical procedures were followed. Herein, we report an extraordinarily fertile adolescent phenotypic mother with congenital XY abnormality who reared as female, spontaneous puberty with regular menstruation and two gestations. This condition was initially diagnosed using the karyotype technique and finally confirmed with the specialized Fluorescence in-situ hybridization technique. Finally, the quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction technique was used for more certainty. Usually, the male genotype cannot be fertile; since this case is unique, various reasons are involved in its occurrence. One of these cases can be a bone marrow or blood transplant, but according to the study, the possible development of this disorder can be caused by the fetal period. Conclusion: As the prior clinical history of the case report revealed that her twin brother died during her mother’s expectancies, it can be assumed that the blood supply between the two fetuses has been shared unevenly or that feto-fetal transfusion has occurred. This incident has caused her to become a chimera with XY karyotype.

306-313

Authors: Niloofar Soleymani , Mohammad Reza Rezvany * , Mahmood Shams , Akbar Dorgalaleh , Shadi Tabibian , Farhad Zaker

Background and Aims: Protein S (PS) is a vitamin K-dependent glycoprotein synthesized by endothelial and somatic cells that acts as an anticoagulant in its free form and an inhibitor of the complement system in its bound form. Deficiency of PS is a congenital thrombophilia that can have significant clinical consequences. This study aimed to report the clinical and genetic characterization of four Iranian patients with PS deficiency. Materials and Methods: In this study, we investigated the genetic basis of PS deficiency in four Iranian patients from three unrelated families, including two females and two males with a mean age of 32.5(± 25.73) years. Whole blood was collected to measure PS total antigen levels and isolated genomic DNA, which was then amplified using polymerase chain reaction to direct sequencing of the PROS1 gene with the Sanger method. Each novel variation was subjected to in silico analysis. Results: Two novel variants in the PROS1 gene were identified: c.-196 C > G in exon 1 and c.198A > C in exon 2. In this setting, both variants were present in a heterozygous state in patient C1 and a homozygous state in patient C2. In addition, a silico analysis was conducted to assess the impact of the identified variants, showing that the c.198A > C variant was likely detrimental and the c.198A > C variant was likely pathogenic. Conclusion: The results highlight the heterogeneity of PS deficiency and the need for further investigation to identify additional mutations and understand the genetic basis of this condition in the Iranian population.

322-333

Authors: Fahimeh Eshraghi Samani , Soleiman Kheiri , Ebrahim Saedi Dezak , Farhad Seif , Kobra Mokhtarian *

Background and Aims: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is one of the most dangerous parasitic infections in immunocompromised patients. It may pass through the bloodstream to various organs, such as the reproductive organs of intermediate hosts, which may lead to male infertility. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between T. gondii infection and infertility in infertile men referred to the infertility center of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study,129 men, including 67 infertile and 62 fertile men, participated, and specific anti-Toxoplasma antibodies of IgG and IgM were detected in the serum of all cases using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. Also, the presence of T.gondii DNA in the seminal fluid samples of these people was detected using the polymerase chain reaction method. Sperm analyses, including sperm count, morphology, motility, and viscosity, were also performed on the seminal fluid. Results: Based on the result of the IgG antibody, a significant difference was found in toxoplasmosis in two fertile and infertile groups. Its frequency was 16.1% in the fertile group and 40.3% in the infertile group. Also, Toxoplasma infection showed a relationship with sperm count and sperm morphology, so its frequency was 72.7% in the low sperm group and 24.6% in the high sperm group. The results of IgM and polymerase chain reaction showed, there was no significant relationship between the fertile and infertile groups with toxoplasmosis. Conclusion: The serum prevalence of the anti-Toxoplasma antibodies and molecular detection in infertile men is higher than the control group, and it seems that Toxoplasma may be an effective risk factor for causing male infertility and disruption of sperm parameters.

340-346

Authors: Mohadeseh Kamali , Mehdi Taheri Sarvtin *

Background and Aims: Fungal spores constitute a significant portion of primary biological aerosol particles, and large amounts have been identified in the air. They are present in the atmosphere throughout the year, and their concentration varies due to meteorological factors such as temperature, relative humidity, location, construction conditions, and vegetation. Exposure to airborne fungi has been linked with diseases such as allergic respiratory symptoms, rhinitis, asthma, and various infections. This study investigates the diversity and distribution of airborne fungal spores in Jiroft City, located in the southern region of Iran. Materials and Methods: Airborne fungal composition was sampled from indoor, outdoor, and hospital air using the sedimentation plate method. Grown fungi were identified using standard mycological techniques, including determining macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Results: A total of 230 colonies belonging to 11 genera of fungi were isolated from all culture media. Fungi were isolated from 53 (80.3%) samples. The highest and lowest percent of positive samples were found in outdoor (100%) and hospital (64.3%) air samples, respectively. Cladosporium (43.9%) and Aspergillus (36.4%) were the most common fungi isolated from the samples. Rhodotorula, Syncephalastrum, Paecilomyces, Mucor, and Acremonium were the least isolated fungi (1.5%). Conclusion: This study showed the difference in the diversity and distribution of fungi in different environments. Cladosporium and Aspergillus were the most common fungi isolated, which need to be considered due to their ability to cause various diseases.

187-195

Authors: Mehdi Taheri Sarvtin , Mohadeseh Kamali *

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease causing raised, scaly patches on the skin, especially the elbows, knees, and scalp due to systemic inflammation. The disease affects more than 125 million people worldwide. Psoriasis is associated with problems such as depression, reduced quality of life, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, lymphoma, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Psoriasis has a complex pathogenesis that is not yet fully understood. Many studies have shown the importance of the microbiome for the exacerbation of psoriasis. On the other hand, psoriasis and some other treatments can increase the colonization of some microbial agents in the body. Candida is commensal yeast that forms part of the natural microflora of the skin and mucous membranes. It has been shown that people with psoriasis are susceptible to candidiasis. In this review article, the causes of candidiasis, its diagnosis, and treatment in patients with psoriasis, as well as psoriasis aggravation methods by Candida species have also been investigated. To this end, keywords such as "psoriasis", "candida", " oral candidiasis", "cutaneous candidiasis", "vulvovaginal candidiasis", "epidemiology of Candida" and "balanitis" were searched. Articles published in national and international scientific databases, namely Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, Elsevier databases, Scopus, Science Direct, IranMedex, and SID from 2001 to 2023 were used. Oral candidiasis, cutaneous candidiasis, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and balanitis are diseases that affect people with psoriasis. On the other. This fungus may aggravate psoriasis through toxin production and activation of T lymphocytes independent of antigen presentation.

208-216

Authors: Mohammad Panji , Vahideh Behmard , Mehri Fallah Raoufi , Elnaz Sadat Mousavi Sadr Jadidi , Elham Rostami , Rahil Norbakhsh , Vajiheh Najafi , Tohid Moradi Gardeshi , Fahimeh Safizadeh , Haleh Barmaki *

Background and Aims: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood biomarkers are widely evaluated as diagnostic tools to distinguish between bacterial meningitis and viral meningitis in emergency laboratory tests. So, this aimed to examine the levels of diagnostic parameters in blood and CSF to discriminate between bacterial and viral meningitis in young children referred to Khoy Hospital. Materials and Methods: A total of 101 young children with meningitis were enrolled in this prospective study. The diagnosis of bacterial and viral meningitis was based on clinical features and laboratory findings. Results: Of the 101 patients with meningitis, 18 (17.82%) were bacterial, and 83 (82.17%) were viral meningitis. The levels of CSF glucose and CSF/blood glucose ratio were significantly lower in the bacterial meningitis group than in the viral meningitis group (p < 0.01). In contrast, white blood cells count, CSF protein, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and ferritin levels were significantly higher in patients with bacterial meningitis compared to viral meningitis (p < 0.01). However, there was no difference between viral and bacterial meningitis groups concerning mean serum glucose. Conclusion: This study suggests that decreased CSF glucose and CSF/blood glucose ratio and increased white blood cells count, CSF protein, ferritin, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein combined with clinical symptoms can help better diagnosis of bacterial meningitis, especially in comparison with viral meningitis.

229-237

Authors: Zahra Safaie , Saied Ghorbani , Zahra Salavatiha , Ahmad Tavakoli , Seyed Jalal Kiani , Seyed Hamidreza Monavari *

Background and Aims: Human herpes virus types 6 and 7 (HHV-6, HHV-7) can remain latent in the urogenital tract epithelial cells. Varicella-Zoster virus (VZV) is among the Alphaherpesviruses infecting most people during childhood. This virus can remain latent in the ganglionic neurons. The latent infection can reactivate through weakness, suppression of the immune system, and aging. Therefore, this study investigated the molecular prevalence of HHV-6, HHV-7, and Varicella-Zoster virus in sperm samples from infertile men. Materials and Methods: Sperm samples from 82 infertile patients were collected from infertility centers in Tehran. Chromatin health levels and sperm DNA examinations were carried out using sperm DNA fragmentation index kits. Viral nucleic acids were extracted from the samples. The presence of VZV, HHV-6, and HHV-7 genomes was examined through the conventional polymerase chain reaction assay. Results: The average age was 37.3 ± 6.1 years. The mean sperm motility percentage was 33.6 ± 2%. Infertile men's mean DNA fragmentation index was 27.2 ± 1.2. This study shows a 7.3% and 4.9% prevalence for HHV-6 and VZV, respectively, and the absence of HHV-7 in sperm specimens. Conclusion: Although the infection rates of these herpesviruses seem relatively low, more comprehensive and multi-center studies are required to obtain more accurate results.

247-253

Authors: Ali Gholami , Parastoo Yousefi , Alireza Tabibzadeh *

Background and Aims: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began in 2020. A major problem during COVID-19 was determining the clinical severity. There are a variety of markers for assessing the COVID-19 severity and outcome. So, this study aims to introduce a new approach for determining the disease severity based on the laboratory data obtained by machine learning algorithms. Materials and Methods: In this study, we used 100 patients for modeling. We used demographical, background disease, and laboratory data of COVID-19 patients as parameters for training the convolutional neural network model to evaluate disease severity and tried to create a predictive algorithm for future data. The sequential neural network from the Keras library by TensorFlow was used for prediction. The clinical validation of prediction by model was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: The mean F1 score for our current model was 0.62 (in the range of 0-1). The F1 scores for the severe group and the mild group were 0.8 and 0.45, respectively. The ROC curve for clinical validity revealed an acceptable Area Under Curve (0.085) for both severe and mild categories. Conclusion: The current study introduces a simple machine learning algorithm as tool for determining COVID-19 severity of by acceptable ROC. This study can lead us to use such algorithms more often in laboratory medicine and clinical decision-making. Furthermore, the present study is just a preliminary study and highlights the need for further research to validate and refine the proposed model.

91-106

Authors: Mohadeseh Kamali, Mehdi Taheri Sarvtin

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is a polymorphic fungus that exists as a natural flora in the skin and mucosal surfaces of the body. However, under certain conditions, such as immunodeficiency, mucosal damage, antibiotic use, and cancer, this fungus can cause superficial and systemic infections. C. albicans is the most common opportunistic pathogenic fungus in humans and causes 60% of mucosal infections and 40% of candidemia cases. Several pathogenic factors have been identified that contribute to the pathogenic potential of this fungus. Among these factors, we can mention: hypha production, attachment, and biofilm formation, secretion of hydrolase enzymes, acquisition of micronutrients, adaptation to oxygen and nitrogen deficiency conditions, and growth at temperatures above 37 °C. This review article will investigate the pathogenic factors of C. albicans and their regulatory factors. For this purpose, articles published in national and international scientific databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Elsevier databases, IranMedex, Scopus, SID, and Science Direct, were used. Keywords such as: “Candida,” “Fungi,” “Pathogenesis,” and “Virulence” were used to find the articles.

120-126

Authors: Mohsen Nabi-Afjadi , Hadis Karami , Kaveh Goudarzi , Zahra Abasian , Nafiseh Heidari-Kalvani , Fereshte Barjasteh , Elham Bahreini *

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), an epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), has spread worldwide since it was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, leading to outbreaks of epidemics. Due to the increasing spread of this disease, definitive treatment and approved vaccines have not been found for it. In this study, we reviewed recent articles on the effect of vitamins (including vitamins A, B, and E) for treating coronavirus. This result suggests that some dietary supplements such as vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, etc.) have antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Dietary supplements consisting of vitamins and individual dietary habits can therefore be used as adjunctive therapy along with antiviral drugs in the treatment of COVID-19 disease.

144-156

Authors: Farnoosh Naseri , Fatemeh Safari , Hoda Khoshnevis , Maryam Pilechian , Sara Hesami , Nazanin Taheri , Abbas Shakoori Farahani *

Background and Aims: Diagnosing hematologic malignancies requires implementing several tests. This study aims to evaluate the chromosomal changes in patients with myeloid disorders and compare the results of flow cytometry and cytogenetics with the initial diagnosis performed by the oncologist. Materials and Methods: 115 patients with myeloid disorders, 57.2% males and 42.8% females with a mean age of 50.3 years, previously diagnosed by an oncologist based on the clinical features, complete blood count, and peripheral blood smear interpretations, were considered. Moreover, flow cytometry and cytogenetic analysis were implemented on the bone marrow samples. Results: Cytogenetic results showed that 30% of patients with myeloid disorders had abnormal karyotypes. 77% of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, 65% of acute myeloid leukemia, and 30.7% of chronic myeloid leukaemia indices showed normal karyotypes, and the others resulted in common and uncommon abnormalities, including the translocation (13;17), 92, XXYY, and del (4q). Considering the flow cytometry and karyotype results, the improved diagnoses were made for 41 patients who had not been diagnosed initially. Conclusion: This study showed that, in some cases, an initial diagnosis is inconsistent with the flow cytometry and karyotype analysis results. Also, the flow cytometry results may differ from the karyotype depending on the case. Therefore, combining the results obtained by the cytogenetic investigation, flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and molecular testing is preferable to provide a comprehensive report for the appropriate disease diagnosis and prognosis.

166-172

Authors: Tahereh Mikaeili Galeh , Maryam Nakhaei , Ahmad Daryani , Shahabeddin Sarvi , Seyed Abdollah Hosseini , Shirzad Gholami *

Background and Aims: The genus Gongylonema infects the upper digestive tract of birds, mammals, and humans. Livestock parasites, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, have caused irreparable damage, including death, reduced products, and economic losses. The present study aimed to reveal the prevalence and morphological and morphometric study of Gongylonema spp. isolated from the esophagus of slaughtered sheep in Sari, northern Iran. Materials and Methods: Esophagi of 340 sheep were collected from Sari's industrial slaughterhouse during the summer and autumn of 2021 (summer=115, autumn= 225). After longitudinal cutting, the surfaces of the esophageal mucosa were carefully checked under the light. The prevalence of infection was estimated, and the morphometric and morphological characteristics of the isolated worms were investigated using a calibrated light microscope and camera lucida. Results: The prevalence of infection was 7.6% (26 isolates), which was estimated for summer and autumn 12 out of 115 (10.4%) and 14 out of 225 (6.2%), respectively. A comparison of morphological features of nematodes in this study with Gongylonema morphological criteria showed that all of them were Gongylonema pulchrum. Conclusions: In the present study, a moderate gongylonemiasis infection was estimated in the sheep from Sari's industrial slaughterhouse. Morphological examination of the retrieved worms showed characteristic morphologies of Gongylonema pulchrum. To clarify the status of the infection, several morphological and molecular studies should be performed on different types of intermediate and final hosts of the parasite in different parts of the country.

1-6

Authors: Homayoon Bashiri 1,2 M.D., Mahsa Madani 3 M.D., Lotfollah Asgari 2,3 M.D., Arezoo Bozorgomid 1* Ph.D.

Background and Aims: Limited information is available on the frequency of advanced adenomas in diminutive colon polyps. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the pathological characteristics and the frequency of high-grade dysplasia in diminutive colorectal polyps in individuals referred to colonoscopy examination in Kermanshah, Iran. Materials and Methods: Demographics characteristics, location and diameter of the polyp, histological assessment of the polyps, grade, and others were retrieved from colonoscopy reports. Results and Conclusions: During the study period, 250 diminutive colorectal polyps were detected. The histological assessment showed that 36.4% were adenomatous, 32.8% were hyperplastic, and 30.8% were inflammatory polyps. Only two diminutive polyps (0.8%) had high-grade dysplasia, and the frequency of adenocarcinoma in our study was 0.4%. Besides, the frequency of adenomatous polyps was higher in the proximal versus the distal colon. These findings emphasize the urgent need for a colorectal cancer screening plan in the Iranian population to improve therapeutic outcomes.

23-34

Authors: Yasaman Issazadeh 1 M.Sc., Mohadeseh Farnaghizad 1 M.Sc., Sarvenaz Falsafi 2 Ph.D., Hoora Mazaheri 1 Ph.D., Shokoofeh Ghazi 1 Ph.D., Ava Behrouzi 1* Ph.D.

Background and Aims: Hospital infections and their antibiotic resistance have become a global concern recently. One of the most prominent factors in hospital infections is Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), which can become resistant to many antibiotics due to its ability to form biofilms. Recently, scientists have tried to replace antibiotic therapy with alternative therapies such as probiotics which can reduce or eliminate the pathogenic bacteria's ability to form biofilms. Therefore, the present study revealed that some genes, such as algD and PpyR, were involved in biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of the supernatant of lactobacillus agilis on the biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa was evaluated in the current study. Materials and Methods: In this study, the effect of the supernatant of probiotic Lactobacillus agilis on the biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa and also the expression of two genes effective in biofilm formation (algD and PpyR) were investigated. Antibiograms were performed to detect the most resistant bacteria since there is a link between biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Further, the effects of probiotics on the expression of PpyR and algD genes were discussed. Results: Results showed that the biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa was significantly reduced in the presence of lactobacillus agilis. Conclusions: According to the current study, it could be concluded that because of antibiotics resistance and their associated mechanisms, probiotics could be used as a replacement for antibiotics in many treatments.

46-56

Authors: Mohammad Shokouhian 1 M.Sc., Hossein Mozdarani 2 Ph.D., Masoud Soleimani 3 Ph.D., Majid Safa 1 Ph.D., Mohammad Reza Rezvany 1, 4, 5* Ph.D.

Background and Aims: The occurrence of single and double-strand breaks of DNA damage is the major obstacle for proliferation under various environmental factors and, if not repaired, can result in many consequences, including mutation, cell death, and others. So, the present study was conducted to evaluate the damage of DNA and the expression status of DNA repair system genes before and after stem cell proliferation. Materials and Methods: The MACS method isolated the umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells (UCB-HSCs). In order to investigate cell death, the study of Annexin V/PI was done by flow cytometry. Comet assay made observation and identification of DNA breaks, and the expression of genes normally involved in the repair of DNA breaks was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The average number of stem cells increased by 1.9-fold after three days of proliferation. The apoptotic percentage of cells was negligible (less than 0.2%), and the purity of the CD34+ cells was reduced by about one-third in three days (67%). By examining the expression of DNA repair genes, including KU70, KU80, RAD51, and XRCC1, their increased fold change was not significant. In a microscopic examination of stem cells in the comet assay, there was no significant difference between DNA damage before (1.33% ± 0.31) and after (2.08% ± 0.92) replication. Conclusion: In our investigation, neither DNA damage nor changes in the DNA break repair were observed. However, further studies are required to clarify the DNA break repair by recruiting more UCB-HSCs samples.

67-74

Authors: Erfan Zaker 1, 2 M.Sc., Fateme Zare 3,4 Ph.D., Seyed Hossein Hejazi 5 Ph.D., Hossein Khanahmad 2 MD., Ph.D., Seyed Mehdi Kalantar 1* Ph.D.

Background and Aims: A monoclonal antibody (mAb) can unambiguously identify, quantify, and purify an antigen or particular epitope at a large scale. The superiority of these antibodies lies in their specificity for the antigenic determinant. So, this study aims to prepare mouse mAb-secreting hybridoma against human gamma interferon (IFN-γ) and determine the produced antibody's characters. Materials and Methods: Mouse splenic B lymphocytes immunized with recombinant human IFN-γ were fused with mouse SP2/0 cells. The hybridized cells were selected by hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine and hypoxanthine-thymidine media to obtain monoclonal antibody-producing hybridoma cells. Finally, indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and western blot were used to confirm the creation of antibody-secreting hybridoma cells. Results: mAb against IFN-γ were produced by fusing SP2/0 mouse non-secretory myeloma cell line with the spleen cells of immunized mice. This antibody's indirect ELISA optical density was 2.055 on average, and the desired antibody bands were confirmed in SDS-PAGE compared to Septicol® (commercial antibody). Also, in the western blot, the desired antibody could bind to the antigen. IFN-γ transferred on nitrocellulose membrane. In ELISA and western blot tests, anti-mouse IgG conjugated antibodies were used; therefore, the mAb IgG isotype was taken into consideration. Conclusion: In this study, a mouse mAb was obtained by immunization of Balb/C mice and fusion of spleen cells of these mice with the SP2/0 cells, which can specifically bind to recombinant human IFN-γ and can be used to detect IFN-γ secretion in all types of intracellular infections, including latent tuberculosis.

81-84

Authors: Mohadeseh Kamali 1 M.D., Akbar Mehralizadeh 2 Ph.D., Mehdi Taheri Sarvtin 3* Ph.D.

Background and Aims: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a global problem and the most common cause of jaundice in neonates. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in Jiroft city in southern Kerman. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from 2016 to 2019. Blood samples were taken from all patients referred to Imam Hospital in Jiroft city in southern Iran. The G6PD enzyme activity was evaluated by a fluorescent spot test. Results and Conclusions: In the present study, a total of 7791 newborns were included. Abnormal activity of G6PD was seen in 779 (10%) subjects. Out of 779 patients, 728 (9.4%) were found to be G6PD deficient, and 49 (0.6%) exhibited partial deficiency. A relatively high percentage of G6PD deficiency was seen in newborns of Jirof city. We strongly recommend screening for G6PD enzyme activity in all newborns in this city.

100-109

Authors: A Brief Review of the Association between Genetic Polymorphisms of the Paraoxonase Family and Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is known as an inflammatory disease that can affect any vessel in the body. The occurrence of atherosclerosis in heart vessels is called coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in developed countries. Different genetic and environmental factors can cause cardiovascular diseases, such as age, weight, sex, and low high-density lipoproteins (HDL) levels. Antioxidant and anti-atherogenic effects of HDL are related to proteins attached, such as Paraoxonase (PON). The Paraoxonase gene family has three members, PON-I, PON-II, and PON-III, located next to each other, on the long arm of chromosome 7, in humans. It seems polymorphisms and genetic variation resulting in several different phenotypes can affect the PON function. Due to its role in the human antioxidant system, changes in paraoxonase activity can increase or even reduce the risk of CAD. In this investigation, we reviewed different studies that showed, in some populations, specific polymorphisms with an effect on enzymatic activity ultimately increase or decrease the risk of disease in individuals. In contrast, no association has been found between disease and polymorphism in some populations. Therefore, further studies and metaanalyses in this field seem to be useful.

122-130

Authors: Ali Volkan Ozdemir 1* M.D., Soycan Mizrak 2 M.D., Arzu Etem Akaağaç 1 M.D.

Background and Aims: As a method for the diagnosis and management of sepsis, the serum procalcitonin assay is routinely used, especially in the emergency department (ED) and intensive care units (ICU). Procalcitonin has reasonable diagnostic accuracy for bacteremia in hospitalized patients of all age groups with suspected infection or sepsis. This study aimed to compare the Getein Biotech procalcitonin point of care method with the ADVIA Centaur® BRAHMS serum procalcitonin method. Materials and Methods: Linearity,recovery, accuracy, and imprecision studies were carried out to evaluate the analytical performance. Bland-Altman plots and Passing-Bablok regression analysis were used to compare patient results. The Kappa test assessed the concordance between the results at cut-off levels of 0.5ng/mL and 2.0ng/mL. Results: In the linearity study performed by obtaining serial dilutions from high and low-level serum pools, the regression equations were "y=-0.03(-0.07 to 0.05)+1.01(0.7 to 1.08)x" and "y=0.463(-1.16 to 2.01)+0.912(0.72 to 1.04)x" respectively. There is no deviation from linearity with the Cusum test (p=0.99 and 0.57). Average recovery value:86%. The CV% values of Control Level-1,2 were 3.75% and 4.2%. 0.1-50.0ng/ml range shows deviation from linearity determined by Cusum test (p=0.01). There was no deviation from linearity in the range of 0.1-2.0ng/ml (p=0.42). Kappa values were calculated as 0.864 and 0.800 (p<0.001). Conclusions: Getein1600 Procalcitonin test should be used for triage or screening purposes. However, a high constant error and deviation from linearity detected at high concentrations indicate that this test should not be used to initiate an antibiotic therapy or alter the current therapy course.

141-149

Authors: Zahra Gholamzadeh Virany 1 M.Sc., Parisa Bagheri 2 M.Sc., Saeedeh Hajebi Khaniki 3 Ph.D., Zahra Chehreghani 2 M.Sc., Hamid Reza Rahimi 4* MD., Ph.D. 1

Background and Aims: Detection of overexpression in tumor-inhibiting genes provides valuable information for leukemia diagnosis and prognosis. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a stem cell disorder determined by a well-defined genetic anomaly involving BCR-ABL translocation in the Philadelphia chromosome. Curcumin is a chemo-preventive agent for the primary cancer targets, such as the breast, prostate, lung, stomach, duodenum, colon cancers, and leukemias. Imatinib (Gleevec®, Glivec®) is a synthetic tyrosine kinase inhibitor that treats CML. This study aimed to investigate Curcumin and Imatinib's effect on K562, a human CML cell line that expresses p210 BCR-ABL. Materials and Methods: In this study, Curcumin nanomicelles and Imatinib's apoptotic effects on the K562 cells and the expression of BCRABL were studied. BCR-ABL gene expression was evaluated using realtime polymerase chain reaction. Results: The findings indicated a decrease in the desired gene expression, but the BCR-ABL gene expression of the samples treated with Curcumin nanomicelles did not differ significantly from Imatinib (group control). The amount fold change of the BCR-ABL gene for Imatinib and Curcumin nanomicelle was 0.497 and 0.540, respectively. Conclusions: The present study showed that treating cellular category k562 with Curcumin nanomicelle and Imatinib reduces the BCR-ABL gene expression. Also, data showed that the Curcumin nanomicelle and Imatinib induced the apoptotic process.