It is crucial to know whether stem cells retain its stemnness properties after advance in vitro manipulation. The objective of this study was to investigate the stemness gene expression of human adipose tissue derived stem cells (ADSCs) in long-term culture using quantitative RT-PCR technique. Our data showed that the expression level of Sox-2, Rex-1, FGF-4, Nanog, Nestin, BST-1, FZD-9 and Oct-4 were decreased gradually in long-term culture. This could mean that the ability of ADSCs to differentiate into other cell lineages reduce after extensive culture.

The use of sulfadoxine and pyrimethamine (SP) for treatment of vivax malaria is uncommon in most malarious areas, but Plasmodium vivax isolates are exposed to SP because of mixed infections with other Plasmodium species. As P. vivax is the most prevalent species of human malaria parasites in Iran, monitoring of resistance of the parasite against the drug is necessary. In the present study, 50 blood samples of symptomatic patients were collected from 4 separated geographical regions of south-east Iran. Point mutations at residues 57, 58, 61, and 117 were detected by the PCR-RFLP method. Polymorphism at positions 58R, 117N, and 117T of P. vivax dihydrofolate reductase (Pvdhfr) gene has been found in 12%, 34%, and 2% of isolates, respectively. Mutation at residues F57 and T61 was not detected. Five distinct haplotypes of the Pvdhfr gene were demonstrated. The 2 most prevalent haplotypes were F57S58T61S117 (62%) and F57S58T61N117 (24%). Haplotypes with 3 and 4 point mutations were not found. The present study suggested that P. vivax in Iran is under the pressure of SP and the sensitivity level of the parasite to SP is diminishing and this fact must be considered in development of malaria control programs.
Amino Acid Substitution/genetics ; Antimalarials/*pharmacology ; Drug Combinations ; *Drug Resistance ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Iran ; Malaria, Vivax/*parasitology ; *Mutation, Missense ; Plasmodium vivax/*enzymology/genetics/isolation & purification ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pyrimethamine/*pharmacology ; Sulfadoxine/*pharmacology ; Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase/*genetics

Animals ; Apraxias ; congenital ; Cogan Syndrome ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Coma ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Malaria, Cerebral ; complications ; diagnosis ; parasitology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasmodium falciparum ; isolation & purification ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective: To determine hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes and explore the associated risk factors in chronic HCV patients. Methods:A total of 116 patients with chronic hepatitis C were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based detection out of which 112 chronic HCV patients [53 male (47.32%), 59 female (52.68%);mean age (43.76±16.40) years;mean BMI (23.8±3.9) kg] were enrolled in this study. The frequency of 6 HCV genotypes and associated risk factors were evaluated from five districts of North West Frontier Province (NWFP). Results:Genotype 3 was the most prevalent in 73 samples (65.17%) followed by genotype 1 in 24 (21.42%) and genotype 2 in 13 (11.60%) samples. Genotype 3 had significantly high prevalence (P=0.000 2). The results showed that 48 (42.85%) samples were infected with HCV 3a;25 (22.32%) with 3b;14 (12.50%) with 1a;10 (8.92%) with 1b; 11 (9.82%) with 2a; 2 (1.78%) with 2b;and 2 were untypable. The distribution of HCV genotypes in Mardan, Charsadda, Peshawar, Sawabi and Nowshehra districts was different. Use of unsterile equipment for medication, barbers and previous history of hospitalization were the main risk factors for HCV transmission. Conclusions:Genotype 3a and 3b, 1a, 1b and 2a are the common genotypes in NWFP. Genotype 4, 5, and 6 can not be found in a single sample. The level of awareness about various modes of transmission of HCV among the population is found to be very low.

Ortner syndrome or cardiovocal syndrome is a rare condition characterized by hoarseness of voice associated with cardiovascular pathology. Compression of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve by the pulmonary artery or left atrium is usually responsible. Recurrent aspiration pneumonia may cause significant morbidity and mortality. Early recognition and treatment along with removal of the underlying cause, if possible, may change an otherwise poor prognosis of the condition. The case presented here describes a 35-year old female with hoarseness of voice in association with mitral stenosis and bronchiectasis. Presence of dual pathology contributed to the overall pathophysiology of the disease, and made its management difficult.
Bronchiectasis ; Female ; Heart Atria ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Stenosis ; Pneumonia, Aspiration ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Artery ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Antidotes ; therapeutic use ; Antiparkinson Agents ; therapeutic use ; Benserazide ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; poisoning ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Levodopa ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Parkinson Disease ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Pralidoxime Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Trihexyphenidyl ; therapeutic use

The rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton has been shown to play a critical role in the development of transformation and malignant phenotype of cancer cells. Rho family GTPases regulate the arrangement of the actin cytoskeleton. By wound-healing assay, we have found that NIH 3T3 fibroblast cells move towards the wound- gaps by extending filopodial and lamellipdial structures at the leading edge of the moving cells. We have inactivated the function of Rho GTPases of v-Ras transformed NIH 3T3 cells by overexpressing Rho GTPase-activating (RhoGAP) domain of RhoGAP of p190. We have observed that inactivation of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 GTPases by overexpressing RHG causes inhibition of: (i) polymerization of actin to form filaments, (ii) formation of lamellipodia, filopodia and stress fibres, (iii) cell motility, (iv) cell spreading and (v) cell-to-cell adhesions. These results further strengthen the current knowledge on the role of Rho, Rac and Cdc42 GTPases in the regulation of the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton. Our results, for the first time, demonstrate that RhoGAP domain of RhoGAP could be used to study the molecular mechanism of Ras-mediated signalling in growth, differentiation and carcinogenesis.
Animals ; Biological Assay ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Cell Movement/*physiology ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/*ultrastructure ; Mice ; Microfilaments/metabolism/*ultrastructure ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Wound Healing ; rho GTP-Binding Proteins/genetics/*physiology

Coffee is a well-known beverage being processed from coffee beans of either Arabica and/or Robusta. Observational and experimental research on coffee shows positive health impact. Coffee often relates with dyspeptic condition (i.e. Gastric release) and manifest Gastro-esophageal Reflux (GERD) and peptic ulcer (PU) diseases. Despite much contradictive results, epidemiological studies were inclined towards debunking the possible relationship between coffee and gastrointestinal diseases. Putative compounds were experimentally found to be chlorogenic acid (CQA), caffeine (CAFF), βN-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamide (C5HT), N-methylpyridinium (NMP), chlorogenic acid lactones (CQL) and hydroxybenzenes in coffee that leads to gastric release. The type 2 bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs), were physiologically involve in the gastric acid secretion. These contrarily results need much considerations involving genetic, types of coffee used and the compounds in coffee that might interact causing gastrointestinal problem
Gastrointestinal health