International Journal of Medical Laboratory

1-9

Authors: Majid Pourentezari, Morteza Anvari, Maryam Yadegari., Abolghasem Abbasi, Hengameh Dortaj

Suitable alternatives are made for damaged or diseased organs and tissues in tissue engineering by combining cellular and molecular biology with materials and mechanical engineering. Fibrin is a critical blood component responsible for homeostasis, used extensively as a biopolymer scaffold in tissue engineering. This study summarizes the latest developments in organ and tissue regeneration using fibrin as a scaffold material. The combination of active peptides and growth factors through a heparin-bound delivery system improves fibrin function as a scaffold. Besides, the development of fibrin precursors as recombinant proteins solves multiple or single donor fibrin adhesives. Its composite allows biomolecules to be combined with fibrin and can significantly enhance fibrin efficacy in cartilage tissue engineering applications.

17-26

Authors: Hassan Boskabadi, Elahe Heidari, Fatemeh Bagheri, Maryam Zakerihamidi

Background and Aims: Neonatal sepsis is considered a clinical syndrome characterized by signs and symptoms of infection associated with positive blood culture. The present study investigates the rate of sensitivity and resistance to antibiotics in neonates with definite sepsis. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 268 neonates with definitive sepsis (positive blood culture with clinical signs of infection) hospitalized in the NICU of Ghaem Hospital of Mashhad, from 2008 to 2018. To investigate the antibiotic susceptibility pattern, identifying microorganism and antibiogram tests was performed according to the standard microbiological method. The data were collected through a questionnaire designed by the researchers. It included neonates’ characteristics, types of microorganisms in neonatal unite, and sensitivity and resistance to neonatal sepsis’s common microorganism. Results: Based on the results, Klebsiella showed sensitivity to norfloxacin (100%), ciprofloxacin (100%), meropenem (100%), imipenem (94%), co-trimoxazole (73%), and vancomycin (67%). Similarly, Enterobacter showed 100% sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, meropenem, norfloxacin, and high sensitivity to imipenem (94%) and co-trimoxazole (83%). Acinetobacter turned out to be sensitive to co-trimoxazole and norfloxacin (both of them were 67%) and to amikacin in 33% of the cases. E. coli was sensitive to imipenem (83.33%), ciprofloxacin (80%), and ceftazidime (71.43%). Finally, staphylococcus coagulase negative was sensitive to piperacillin in 100%, vancomycin in 96.67%, and imipenem in 71.43% of the cases. Conclusions: The findings of the present study suggest that high-sensitivity drugs for the treatment of definite neonatal sepsis are Meropenem(Klebsiella and E. coli), Enterobacter (Ampicilin), Acinetobacter (Imipenem) and Staphylococcus coagulase negative (vancomycin).

35-43

Authors: Elahe Fathi, Abbas Shahedi , Mohammad Hosseini Sharifabad, Mahmood Vakili

Background and Aims: Formaldehyde (FA) exposure is an important cause of cellular injury and oxidative damage in testis, leading to infertility. This study aimed to assess the protective effects of curcumin on sperm and stereological parameters in testes from formaldehyde-exposed NMRI mice. Materials and Methods: At 6-8 weeks of age, 24 adult male NMRI mice weighing 30-35 g were categorized into four groups (n=6) based on the treatment they received: Group І (control) received no treatment, group ΙΙ received FA (10 mg/kg), group ΙΙΙ received FA (10 mg/kg) and curcumin (100 mg/kg), and group IV (Solvent) received dimethyl sulfoxide (0.2 ml/day). Materials were administered intraperitoneally for 35 days. After excision, epididymis tissues were placed in 1 mL aliquots of Ham’s F10 medium at 37˚C for 20 min and were then used in analyses of sperm parameters. Testes were fixed and stained with Hematoxylin & Eosin to investigate stereological indices. We also determined lipid peroxidation levels using malondialdehyde assays. Results: Mean sperm parameters (count, motility, viability, and morphology) differed significantly between groups ΙΙ and ΙΙΙ (p≤0.001). Stereological indices, including Leydig and spermatogonia cell numbers and surface-to-volume ratios of seminiferous tubules were significantly higher in group ΙΙΙ than in group ΙΙ (p≤0.001) . Finally, malondialdehyde levels in group III were significantly lower than in group II (p=0.001). Conclusions: The data showed that the curcumin, as an antioxidant, reduced FA-induced damage in sperm parameters and stereological indices in mice testes.

55-61

Authors: Maryam Moradi, Somayeh Sadat Moochani, Nazila Yamini, Davod Javanmard, Arezoo Marjani, Alireza Tabibzadeh, Ahmad Tavakoli, Seyed Hamidreza Monavari

Background and Aims: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can induce latency and evade the immune system. The latent virus can reactive later in older ages and due to immunosuppressive conditions. Sexually transmitted diseases and viruses can influence the male reproductive system, and members of the Herpesviridae family are one of these important viruses. Regarding the importance of herpesviruses, specially HCMV, this research aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HCMV in semen samples of infertile men. Materials and Methods: Semen samples were collected from infertility centers affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences. The chromatin state was assessed by DNA fragmentation index. Nucleic acids were extracted from the semen specimens, and a real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was performed to detect HCMV DNA. Results: Enrolled patients were 82 infertile men. The mean age of participants was 37.3 ± 6.1 years, and the mean motility and DNA fragmentation index of the samples were 33.6 ± 2 % and 27.2 ± 1.2, respectively. The prevalence of HCMV was 11%, and there was no statistically significant difference between HCMV and sperm parameters except the motility. Conclusions: HCMV infection could be important in sperm motility, and HCMV prevalence in infertile patients was 11%. Further investigations in this field can be helpful for a clear result in the future.