Synthesis and molecular structure of the all-trans- and the trans-cis-isomers of dichlorodimethyltin complexes of phosphoric triamides

Four new phosphoramidates with formula 4-RC₆H₄C(O)NHP(O)(NH(CH(CH₃)₂)₂, R = H (1), OCH₃ (2), CH₃ (3), Cl (4) and their diorganotin(IV) complexes with formula SnCl₂(CH₃)₂(X)₂, X = 1 (5), 2 (6), 3 (7) and 4 (8) were synthesized and characterized by NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The spectroscopic properties of complexes were compared with those corresponding ligands. The molecular structures for 5, 5·CH₃CN, 6·CH₃CN, 7 and 8 were established by X-ray diffraction analysis and shown that the tin atoms have a distorted octahedral coordination with trans-methyl groups. Two different all-trans and cis-trans isomers were obtained by changing the crystallization solvent system. The existence of CH₃CN in molecular packing of trans-cis isomers might be a packing factor governing the orientation of the ligands. Due to the presence of several hydrogen bond donors and acceptors on compounds, extended hydrogen-bonded networks were observed. The structure of 2 was also determined and possesses two crystallographically independent molecules in asymmetric unit. On forming complex 6·CH₃CN, the ligand 2 shows shortening of CO and P-N bond distances and increasing of PO bond length. Pseudopolymorphism of diorganotins in 5 and 5·CH₃CN is reported for the first time.     

The effect of aflibercept and arsenic trioxide on the proliferation,migration and apoptosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro

Molecular Biology Reports - Aflibercept and arsenic trioxide drugs apply a cytotoxic effect on some human cancer cell lines. However, no more study has followed the effects of both drugs,...     

Status of Haemaphysalis tick infestation in domestic ruminants in Iran

The geographical distribution and ecological preferences of Haemaphysalis in domestic animals in Iran were studied 4 times a year from April 2003 to March 2005. A total of 1,622 ixodid tick specimens were collected from 3 different zones. Among them, 108 (6.7%) Haemaphysalis ticks, consisting of 6 species, were identified; H. punctata (3.4%), H. parva (0.5%), H. sulcata (0.6%), H. choldokovskyi (1.7%), H. concinna (0.06%) and Haemaphysalis sp. (0.6%). H. punctata was the most abundant species, whereas H. concinna was the rarest species collected in humid and sub-humid zones on cattle, sheep and goats. H. choldokovskyi was principally collected from sheep and goats grazed in cold mountainous areas. The infested areas consisted of Caspian Sea (Guilan, Mazandaran, Golestan, and central provinces), mountainous (Azarbaiejan, Ardebil, Kohgilouyeh, and Kordestan) and semi-dessert (Khorasan, Semnan, Kerman, Sistan, and Baluchestan) zones. The Caspian Sea zone (23.6%) was the most highly infested region. The results show that various species of Haemaphysalis ticks infest domestic ruminants in Iran and each tick species show characteristic geographical distributions.     

Interaction between hydrogen peroxide and sodium nitroprusside following chemical priming of Ocimum basilicum L. against salt stress

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)_, as priming agents, have the well-recorded property to increase plant tolerance against a range of different abiotic stresses such as salinity. In this regard, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of SNP (100 and 200 µM) and H₂O₂ (2.5 and 5 mM) as well as their combinations under salt stress (0 and 50 mM NaCl) on key physiological and biochemical attributes of the economically important aromatic plant basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown under hydroponic culture. Results revealed that morphological parameters such as plant height, root length, leaf fresh and dry weights (FW and DW) were significantly decreased by salinity stress, while SNP and H₂O₂ treatments, alone or combined, increased FW and DW thus enhancing plant tolerance to salt stress. Furthermore, 200 µM SNP + 2.5 mM H₂O₂ appeared to be the most effective treatment by causing significant increase in chlorophyll a and b, anthocyanin content and guaiacol peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase enzymes activities under saline condition. In addition, analytical measurements showed that essential oil profile (concentration of main components) under salt stress was mostly affected by SNP and H₂O₂ treatments. The highest increase was observed for methyl chavicol (43.09–69.91%), linalool (4.8–17.9%), cadinol (1.5–3.2%) and epi-α-cadinol (0.18–10.75%) compounds. In conclusion, current findings demonstrated a positive crosstalk between SNP and H₂O₂ toward improved basil plant tolerance to salt stress, linked with regulation of essential oil composition.     

Association between vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and type 1 diabetes mellitus in Iranian population

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the T-cell mediated autoimmune diseases and vitamin D suppresses activation of T-cell and has immunomodulatory effects. In this study the association between four vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms, at positions FokI, BsmI, ApaI and TaqI, and susceptibility to T1DM was investigated. We assessed 87 Iranian patients with T1DM and one hundred healthy controls with no history of diabetes or other autoimmune diseases. Our results demonstrated that genotypes frequency of the TaqI VDR polymorphism differed significantly between T1DM patients and controls, TT genotype and T allele was more frequent in healthy controls compared with TIDM patients (P = 0.003; OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.31–0.84). Therefore, allele t is the risk-allele for developing TIDM in this study. No significant association was observed between others VDR SNPs and disease susceptibility. In conclusion, our case-control study indicated that the VDR TaqI polymorphism is associated with TIDM in Iranian population.     

Recurrence of primary extramedullary plasmacytoma in breast both simulating primary breast carcinoma

Background  

Extramedullary myelomas (plasmacytoma) are malignant proliferations of plasma cells in the absence of bone involvement. When they occur in the soft tissue they usually involve the upper respiratory tract and oral cavity. Extramedullary plasmacytomas of breast are uncommon.     

Comparison of Acyclovir and Multistrain <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus brevis</Emphasis> in Women with Recurrent Genital Herpes Infections: a Double-Blind,Randomized, Controlled Study

We performed a randomized double-blind controlled trial to compare the efficacy and safety of multistrain probiotic and acyclovir in women patients with recurrent genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections. Eighty-one patients enrolled in the study were being treated with multistrain Lactobacillus brevis one vaginal capsule every 12 h and oral acyclovir 400 mg twice daily for 6 months. Of 53 patients who completed both treatment courses, no important differences were identified between acyclovir and probiotic for the primary and secondary efficacy endpoint, resolution of episode (hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.3429 to 1.0663; P = 0.08), lesion healing time (hazard ratio, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.3034 to 1.0717, P = 0.08), viral shedding (hazard ratio, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.3027 to 0.9750, P = 0.04), and percentage of pain (hazard ratio, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.2708 to 0.8545, P = 0.01). The median time to first and second recurrence after treatment were 43 and 121 days in patients receiving acyclovir and 33 and 118 days in patients receiving probiotic (HR 2.61; 95% CI, 1.4427 to 4.7546, P = 0.001, and HR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.3500 to 1.1133, P = 0.1, respectively). No clinically important effects happened during the probiotic treatment but some of adverse events reported in patients taking acyclovir. Easy availability, low cost, and no side effect of L. brevis are valuable properties of probiotic therapy compared with acyclovir. Therefore, we concluded that multistrain L. brevis could play an important role in suppression of recurrent genital herpes simplex virus infection.     

Species delimitation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epilobium</Emphasis> (sec. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epilobium</Emphasis>, Onagraceae): morphological,molecular and palynological data

The genus Epilobium L. (Family Onagraceae) with about 200 species is taxonomically complicated due to wide inter-specific gene flow. There is no report on biosystematics of Epilobium species in Iran, therefore we studied 5 species of this genus using a combination of morphological, molecular (ISSR) and palynological data to delimit these species. All data revealed high degree of morphological and genetic overlap among the studied species. However, they could be separated when all studied features were used together. Morphological characters could delimit 3 species while genetic data separated them in two major groups. However, palynological data could delimit all five species studied. The species relationship was highly compatible in all three data sources used.     

Irisin Peptide Protects Brain Against Ischemic Injury Through Reducing Apoptosis and Enhancing BDNF in a Rodent Model of Stroke

Evidence has shown therapeutic potential of irisin in cerebral stroke. The present study aimed to assess the effects of recombinant irisin on the infarct size, neurological outcomes, blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability, apoptosis and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in a mouse model of stroke. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 45 min and followed reperfusion for 23 h in mice. Recombinant irisin was administrated at doses of 0.1, 0.5, 2.5, 7.5, and 15 µg/kg, intracerebroventricularly (ICV), on the MCAO beginning. Neurological outcomes, infarct size, brain edema and BBB permeability were evaluated by modified neurological severity score (mNSS), 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and Evans blue (EB) extravasation methods, respectively, at 24 h after ischemia. Apoptotic cells and BDNF protein were detected by TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry techniques. The levels of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3 proteins were measured by immunoblotting technique. ICV irisin administration at doses of 0.5, 2.5, 7.5 and 15 µg/kg, significantly reduced infarct size, whereas only in 7.5 and 15 µg/kg improved neurological outcome (P?<?0.001). Treatment with irisin (7.5 µg/kg) reduced brain edema (P?<?0.001) without changing BBB permeability (P?>?0.05). Additionally, irisin (7.5 µg/kg) significantly diminished apoptotic cells and increased BDNF immunoreactivity in the ischemic brain cortex (P?<?0.004). Irisin administration significantly downregulated the Bax and caspase-3 expression and upregulated the Bcl-2 protein. The present study indicated that irisin attenuates brain damage via reducing apoptosis and increasing BDNF protein of brain cortex in the experimental model of stroke in mice.