Influence of GSTO2 (N142D) genetic polymorphism on acute renal rejection

Acute renal allograft rejection remains an important problem following kidney transplantation. Several immunological and non-immunological factors intervene in renal graft rejection. Glutathione S-transferase super family is one of the important enzymes for biotransformation of both exogenous and endogenous xenobiotic compounds such as immunosuppressive drugs. The new class of this family is omega that includes two subunits GSTO1 and GSTO2. In this study 282 samples were collected from renal recipients of Namazi hospital in Shiraz-Iran during 2007–2010 years. Also 300 healthy samples as control group were collected from Shiraz population, included in our study. The primary outcome of this study was defined as biopsy-proven acute rejection during 1 year of renal transplantation. We applied polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism method for determination of GSTO2 N142D polymorphism. Our result showed no significant association between GSTO2 polymorphism and acute rejection. Also this genetic variant has no significant effect with the risk of end stage renal disease. Cadaveric donor type for acute rejection significantly differed between acute rejection and non acute rejection patients (P = 0.004). The combination effect of donor type and GSTO2 polymorphism indicates DD genotype with cadaver donor type increase risk of acute rejection (OR = 3.82, 95 % CI 1.80–12.37, P = 0.02).     

Oncogenic human papillomavirus genital infection in southern Iranian women: population-based study versus clinic-based data

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies on genital human papilloma viruses infection (HPVs) in general population are crucial for the implementation of health policy guidelines for developing the strategies to prevent the primary and secondary cervical cancer. In different parts of Iran, there is a lack of population-based studies to determine the prevalence of HPV in the general population. The aim of this population-based study is to compare the prevalence rate of genital HPV infection among reproductive women with our previous clinic-based data, which showed a prevalence rate of 5% in women in southern Iran. RESULTS: Using general primers for all genotypes of HPV, of 799 randomly selected women, five (0.63%, 95% CI 0.23-1.55%) tested positive for HPV DNA. Overall, seven different HPV genotypes were detected: six types (16, 18, 31, 33, 51 and 56) were carcinogenic, or "high risk genotypes" and one genotype (HPV-66) was "probably carcinogenic." CONCLUSIONS: In a population-based study, the prevalence of HPV infection among southern Iranian women was lower than that observed worldwide. However, our gynaecological clinic-based study on the prevalence of HPV infection showed results comparable with other studies in the Middle East and Persian Gulf countries. Since gynaecological clinic-based data may generally overestimate HPV prevalence, estimates of prevalence according to clinic-based data should be adjusted downward by the population-based survey estimates.     

Sulfonamide-1,2,4-triazole derivatives as antifungal and antibacterial agents: synthesis, biological evaluation, lipophilicity, and conformational studies

A series of 10 new 5-[2-(substituted sulfamoyl)-4,5-dimethoxy-benzyl]-4aryl-s-triazole-3-thiones were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activity. All compounds tested showed significant antifungal activity against all the micromycetes, compared to the commercial fungicide bifonazole. Differences in their activity depend on the substitution of different reactive groups. More specifically, best antifungal activity among synthetic analogues was shown with N-dimethylsulfamoyl group. All the compounds tested against bacteria showed the same activity as the commercial agent streptomycin, except for Enterobacter cloacce and Salmonella species. Chloramphenicol showed lower bactericidal effect than the synthetic compounds. Furthermore, it is apparent that different compounds reacted in different ways against bacteria. Gram (-) bacteria seem to be more sensitive to these compounds than Gram (+) species. An effort was made to correlate the above-mentioned differences in activity with lipophilicity studies. Furthermore, molecular modeling was used to obtain the main conformational features of this class of molecules for future structure-activity relationship studies.     

The effects of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation on A1 neurotoxic reactive astrocyte and demyelination in the cuprizone model

Journal of Molecular Histology - Multiple sclerosis (MS), which is an autoimmune disease, is characterized by symptoms such as demyelination, axonal damage, and astrogliosis. As the most abundant...     

High Bone Mass in Mice Lacking Cx37 Because of Defective Osteoclast Differentiation

Connexin (Cx) proteins are essential for cell differentiation, function, and survival in all tissues with Cx43 being the most studied in bone. We now report that Cx37, another member of the connexin family of proteins, is expressed in osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and osteocytes. Mice with global deletion of Cx37 (Cx37^−/−) exhibit higher bone mineral density, cancellous bone volume, and mechanical strength compared with wild type littermates. Osteoclast number and surface are significantly lower in bone of Cx37^−/− mice. In contrast, osteoblast number and surface and bone formation rate in bones from Cx37^−/− mice are unchanged. Moreover, markers of osteoblast activity ex vivo and in vivo are similar to those of Cx37^+/+ littermates. sRANKL/M-CSF treatment of nonadherent Cx37^−/− bone marrow cells rendered a 5-fold lower level of osteoclast differentiation compared with Cx37^+/+ cell cultures. Further, Cx37^−/− osteoclasts are smaller and have fewer nuclei per cell. Expression of RANK, TRAP, cathepsin K, calcitonin receptor, matrix metalloproteinase 9, NFATc1, DC-STAMP, ATP6v0d1, and CD44, markers of osteoclast number, fusion, or activity, is lower in Cx37^−/− osteoclasts compared with controls. In addition, nonadherent bone marrow cells from Cx37^−/− mice exhibit higher levels of markers for osteoclast precursors, suggesting altered osteoclast differentiation. The reduction of osteoclast differentiation is associated with activation of Notch signaling. We conclude that Cx37 is required for osteoclast differentiation and fusion, and its absence leads to arrested osteoclast maturation and high bone mass in mice. These findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized role of Cx37 in bone homeostasis that is not compensated for by Cx43 in vivo.     

Mild and efficient oxidation of alcohols with sodium periodate catalyzed by polystyrene-bound Mn(III)porphyrin

Mild and efficient oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols with sodium periodate catalyzed by Mn(TPyP), [manganese(III)tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrin], supported on chloromethylated polystyrene, [Mn(TPyP)-CMP], at room temperature were reported. This catalyst can be reused consecutively four times in the oxidation of 4-chlorobenzyl alcohol in 97% yield without significant loss of its activity.     

Nebkhas of Salvadora persica and their effect on the growth and survival of Prosopis cineraria,Tamarix aphylla,and Capparis decidua trees and shrubs

Few studies were published on the effect of nebkhas (phytogenic mounds) on species diversity and soil resources, but no detailed study has been conducted yet on possible specific influence of nebkhas on growth and survival of the plants associated with them. We studied the nebkhas of Salvadora persica and their effect on growth and survival of three woody species (Prosopis cineraria, Tamarix aphylla, and Capparis decidua) in the Ommanian coast of Hormozgan Province in the south of Iran. The results showed that mean height and mean canopy diameter of P. cineraria and T. aphylla trees and shrubs inhabiting nebkhas of Salvadora persica were considerably higher than those of plants of these species growing outside nebkhas. The reverse occurred in the case of C. decidua. Generally, the percentages of stems with dead parts were significantly lower in plants inhabiting the nebkha sites in comparison to comparable ones growing outside the nebkhas. Salvadora persica nebkhas are enriched with more soil nutrients in comparison to inter-nebkha sites. Soil accumulated per each hectare in the nebkhas of the study area dominated by trees of Salvadora persica amounted to 237.6 m³. This indicates the great importance of nebkhas in the protection of soil and the associating species.     

Crataegus grossidentata sp. nov. (Rosaceae–Pyreae), a new hawthorn from northern Iran

Crataegus grossidentata Sharifnia & K. I. Chr., found in northern Iran, is described and illustrated as a species new to science. Its ecology, distribution and taxonomic relationships are discussed. A key to C. grossidentata and other one‐styled taxa of Crataegus occurring in Iran is provided.