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For a patient under any treatment it is very important to maintain a stable cardiovascular system (CVS) under anesthesia. The CVS can be disturbed due to many factors, and one of the factor which can later the hemodynamic system of the patient is laryngoscopy and intubation. Hence the assessment of the variations in the blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) of the patient during laryngoscopy and intubation is very important. Hypertension and Tachycardia as a great disorders causing great problems. Such as cerebral hemorrhagia and myocardial infection, which are occurred during general anesthesia. Laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation is necessary for airway management prevention of the aspiration of gastric contents. The amount of blood pressure and heart rate is measured in 1, 3, 5 after laryngoscopy and intubation. 70 patients ASA1 with the age of 16-55, undergone elective surgery and a general anesthesia were selected. Some drug pre-medication and induction were the same in rate about all patients. 35 patients are intubated orally and the rest of them nasally. The subjects were chosen among patients who did not have difficult intubation and cardiovascular disorders. Before laryngoscopy and 1, 3, 5 minutes blood pressure and HR measured. According to outcoming results, blood pressure and HR increasing after laryngoscopy in both group (Oral intubation and nasal intubation). The increase of nasotracheal intubation was more than oral one remarkably. The difference would be meaningful according to statistic point (P<0.05). According to research finding the most amount of increase in the blood pressure and HR was related to the laryngoscopy and intubation. These changes can make problems for some cardiovascular patients. So it is suggested that all anesthetists should lessen the probable complication of patients under laryngoscopy a tracheal intubation by monitoring BP and HR.

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Background & Objective: Gastric cancer is the 2nd cause of cancer mortality after lung cancer. Approximately 12% of all cancer death are due to gastric cancer. Tumorgenesis is thought to be a multistep process involving a series of genetic changes in oncogenes and suppressor genes. The most common cancer-related genetic change known in human tumors is P53 mutation, particularly in gastric cancer. This study was done to determine P53 gene mutations in gastric cancer. Materials & Methods: This study was performed on 44 biopsy from patients with gastric cancer during 2002 in 3 hospitals in Tehran. For determination of P53 gene mutations was performed PCR-SSCP methods. Results: The patients group comprised 31 males and 13 females (Average age, 60.8 years Ranging from 34 to 84 years). 36 cases (81.8%) intestinal type, 5 cases (11.4%) were diffuse type and 3 cases no defined. 44 gastric cancers of gastric tissues were screened for the mutations of P53 gene mutations in exons 5-8 using the PCR-SSCP analysis. After polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, 9 patients (20.5%) showed an apparent electrophoretic mobility shift between the cancer and other normal samples. One mutation in exon 5 (11.1%), 2 were detected in exon 6 (22.2%), 3 were found in exon 7 (33.3%) and 3 were detected in exon 8 (33.3%). The mutation rate was 7 of 36 (21.2%) in intestinal type and 2 of (40%) in diffuse type. No significant correlation between P53 gene mutations and age and genus was found. Conclusion: This investigation showed the rate P53 gene mutation (20.5%) in gastric cancer in our society.

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Background & Objective: Studies about the prevalence of Celiac disease (CD) in western Asian countries are scarce and there is only one study on the prevalence of CD in healthy blood donors in Iran. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of CD in general population of the city of Sari in north of Iran. Materials & Methods: This was a descriptive study and the blood samples were obtained from 1438 person from general population (686 males, 752 females: Mean age 35.5 range 18-66 year) of the Sari which were selected by stratified randomized sampling method during 2003. Total serum IgA was measured in all and IgA-deficient cases were excluded. From this study all cases were analyzed for IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody (Human recombinant tTG). All persons who had a positive serology for tTG-Ab underwent small intestinal biopsy. The biopsy samples were classified according to modified Marsh criteria. Results: All of the samples had normal total IgA. 13 cases showed positive IgA-tTG Ab (6 males and 7 females, mean age 37.5 yrs). All subjects with positive serology except one of them were found to have small bowel biopsies compatible with gluten sensitive enteropathy. One of 13 had Marsh 0, 8/13 Marsh I, 3/13 Marsh II and 1/13 showed Marsh IIIa lesion. Conclusion: The minimum prevalence of gluten-sensitivity among general population in north of Iran is 1/120. This data confirms our study on healthy blood donors, which has published previously and is like of prevalence of Celiac disease in western countries. So Celiac disease is not a rare disease as it thought before in this area.

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Background & Objective: Post-general anesthesia urinary retention is a common and bothering complication. In this study prediction value of IPSS for post-general anesthesia urinary retention was evaluated. Materials & Methods: This prospective study include 100 male patients over 50 years old who were candidated for nenurologic and non-nenurological elective surgery without any urology and neurologic past medial history. IPSS was calculated for each patient. The patients were followed in post operative period for urinary retention. Results: 1.8% of patients who had mild symptoms (IPSS=0-7) had urinary retention in 2nd 24 hours of post-operative period, 20% of patients who had IPSS=8-19 and 53.3% of patients with IPSS=20-53 had urinary retention at same period (P<0.05). Conclusion: IPSS can predict postoperative urinary retention in elderly male patients. If severe symptoms by IPSS was encountered the patients and health care personals must be cautioned about possibility of postoperative urinary retention and if required urologic consulation.

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Background & Objective: The cuff of the endotracheal tube is securing for mechanical ventilation during anesthesia. Diffusion of N2O in the cuff results in an increase in cuff pressure. The different method was used for the control of cuff pressure, but may have difficulty and side effect. This study was to determine whether inflating the ETT cuff with air, Lidocaine 1% or N2O with O2, prevent the increase in cuff pressure during N2O anesthesia. Materials & Methods: In this randomized control trial study after obtating ethics committee 224 patients went understudy, these patients divided in 2 blocks (Sufe, Roach) and the one of the each block were randomized into 3 groups. Group, air Lidocaine 1% N2O with O2 difficult intubation and the film anesthesia with less than 30-min were excluded. All patients were similarly anesthetized and performed tracheal intubation. The pilot balloon of the endotracheal tube cuff was connected to a Japanes pressure manometer. The first pressure was measured immediately and further reading at 10-minute intervals for 70 minutes. The results were readings analyzed using T-test, paired T-test, ANOVA and the Chi-square test. A P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: Cuff pressure increased gradually during anesthesia in-group air but remained stable in group’s Lidocaine and N2O with O2. The cuff pressure had significant differences between the Supa and Roach groups in all of the times during anesthesia (P<0.05). Conclusion: Inflating the ETT cuff with Lidocaine 1% or N2O/Oxygen mixtures are methods of keeping intracuff pressure stable during N2O anesthesia due to N2O diffusion the cuff tube causes increase the cuff pressure. We suggest that continuous monitoring of the UCP during anesthesia to be carried out.

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Background&Objective: Sellick’s maneuver is a routinely used technique for the prevention of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents during anesthesia. The rationale for the application of cricoid pressure necessitates that it is applied at the loss of consciousness during rapid sequence induction. Cricoid pressure therefore, may be fully applied at a level of anesthesia where awareness, and possibly recall, of the maneuver occurs. Materials&Methods: This study was setup to determine the frequency of awareness and recall Sellick's maneuver following 100 patients (ASA I, II) who candidates for lower extremity surgery were randomly enrolled in this prospective study. After induction of anesthesia and application of cricoid pressure, symptoms of awareness and recall were recorded. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and Spearman correlation. Results: The frequency of awareness and recall were 45% and 16% respectively. The frequency distribution of awareness severity based on grade 1, 2 and 3 were 16%, 6% and 1% respectively. The frequency distribution of recall severity based on mild, moderate and sever were 15%, zero and 1% respectively. The correlation between awareness severity and recall severity was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Due to high frequency of awareness and recall following Sellick's maneuver and its complications, it is advaiable to revise the procedure of this maneuver and inparticular the accurte time in its application.

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Background&Objective: The breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. The normal and malignant breast tissue are under the regulatory effects of esteroid hormones and growth factors including HER-2/neu. The purpose of this study, is to determine the expression of estrogene receptor (ER) progesterone receptor(PR) and HER-2/neu among Iranian women with invasive breast cancer. Materials&Methods: The study is descriptive and cross-sectional that was performed on 50 samples of patients with invasive breast cancer in Imam-Khomeini Hospital-Sari (2005-06). After preparing the samples four tissue sections from each sample was obtained then H&E and IHC staining were performed. Results: In our study, the patients were between 28-88 yrs, (mean:52/6). ER and PR and HER-2/neu were positive in 80%, 72% and 57.1% of cases, respectively. Concurrent positive ER and PR was 70%, meanwhile 62.9% of these patient were also positive for HER-2/neu. 20% of the cases showed negativity for both ER and PR and of these 83.4% were also negative for HER-2/neu. Conclusion: In our study ER expression by itself is equal to previous studies in textbooks but PR expression, HER-2/neu and concurrent expression of ER&PR are higher in our study. Interestingly HER-2/neu expression is near to what was previously proposed by Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization and Kerman University of Medical science. It seems that racial and geographic factors are contributed for these diffrences.

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Background & Objective: The pathogenesis of appendicitis remains poorly understood. However there is increasing evidence of involvement of the enteric nervous system in immune regulation and in inflammatory responses.This study was setup to characterize the status of the enteric nervous system and mast cells in acute appendicitis with normal and non inflamed appendix with clinical symptoms Materials & Methods: In this descriptive study, staining in surgically resected appendixes from 15 patients with histologically proven acute appendicitis (Histologically appendicitis, HA), 15 histologically normal appendix (Histologically normal, HN) from patients with a clinical diagnosis of appendicitis and normal histology,and15 normal appendixes from patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery were studied in Shaid Mostafa Khomeyni medical center, Iran during 2000-01. S100-Positive schwann cells and synaptophisin-positive nerve fibers were evaluated with immunohistochemical staining and mast cells were evaluated with histochemical staining with Toloiden –blue.The number of nerve fibres, schwann cells and mast cells in each tissue compartment was measured quantitively with light microscope in 20 microscopic high power fields. Then the mean number of cells was calculated in each field (×400). Results: Increased numbers of fibers and schwann cells widely distributed in the Muscularis and submucosa were seen in the all HA appendixes. Increased numbers of mast cells distributed in submucosa were seen in the all HA appendixes. A significantly increased number of individually stained nerve fibers, schwann cells and mast cells were present in HA appendixes compared with control appendixes (P<0.05). Conclusion: In this study showed that significant increase in neural components and mast cells in acute appendicitis indicates the interaction between the nervous system and mast cells in pathogenesis of acute appendicitis.

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Endoscopic sinus surgery can cause orbital and intracraniol complications. Anisocoria is one of sings of orbital complication. We report a case with anisocoria during endoscopic sinus surgery. Patient was a 42 years old female that was operated because extensive polyposis in right nose and sinuses and retention in otherwise under general ansthesia. A half on hour after the surgery was started, we found dilatation of pupil in left eye which unresponsed to light. Also, as far as the eye symptoms returned to normal after 8-10h after and there was not any veridence of orbital trauma. It seems difiusion of local injection of adrenalin in surgery nasal cavity can probably case of pupil dilatation.

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Background and Objective: A common complication after general anesthesia is nausea and vomiting followed by different problems such as spasm, hypoxia and pulmonary aspiration. This complication is more common in patients with full stomach, Eye injury, head trauma, cesarean and laparoscopy. Propofol and metoclopramide are two common drugs to prevent nausea and vomiting after operation. On the other hand adding dexamethasone to the above drug, has an important effect on decreasing nausea and vomiting. In this study, the effect propofol and metoclopramide associated with dexamethasone on nausea and vomiting after operation was investigated.

Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, 100 patients with ASA I, II classes, aged 16-60 years with selective orthopedic surgery randomly have divided into two groups. In group one, 48 patients received metoclopramide (10mg) with dexamethasone (8mg) and in group two, 52 patients received propofol (20mg) with dexamethasone (8mg), five minutes before the end of operation. Prevalence of nausea and vomiting in both groups was considered after 4 hours and results were analyzed by Chi-Square, t-student and Fisher exact tests.

Results: The rate of nausea in group 1 and 2 was 35.4% and 11.5% respectivly (P<0.05). The rate of vomiting was 27.7% and 7.7% in group 1 and 2 respectivly (P<0.05).

Conclusion: This study showed that the antiemetic effect of propofol with dexamethasone is more effective to prevent nausea and vomiting than metoclopromide with dexamethasone.

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Background and Objective: Several studies have reported high prevalence of severe lack of cobalamine and Folate in aged people. The most important causes are: malnutrition, atrophic gastritis and drug use. Age related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a primary degenerative disorder of central retinal area with loss of visual acuity. Recent studies have shown a significant relationship between age related macular degeneration and lack of plasma level of Folate, red blood cells and cobalamine. This study was caried out to investigate the relationship between age related macular degeneration and plasma Folate, Cobalamine and photostress recovery time, in elderly population. Materials and Methods: This case – control study was done on 124 elderly population. The participants were collected from by cluster sampling in mashhad located in the Noth – East of Iran during 2006. The patients underwent eye examination including indirect ophthalmoscopy. Slit lamp examination and photostress recovery time for age related macular degeneration by an ophthalmologist. After blood sampling, plasma Folate, serum Cobalamine, were determined by RIA method (DRG kit). Results:The Mean+-SD of cobalamin and folate in age related macular degeneration patients was 298.848+-288.66 pg/ml and 5.543+-3.58 ng/ml and in normal group was 310.775+-531.38 pg/ml and 5.365+-3.52 ng/ml. There was no significant difference between age related macular degeneration patients and control group. Photostress recovery time was significantly increased in patients with age related macular degeneration (P<0.05). There was no significant relationship between photostress recovery time and Cobalamine and folate level. Conclusion: This study showed that serum cobalamin and folate non significantly is decreased in age related maucular degeneration patients, with increasing photostress recovery time, we can use this screening test for the dignosis of age related macular degenertion.

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Background and Objective: Nightshift working has negative physical, psychological and social effects on personal life of nurses and in the long run, with subsequent health and complication. This survey was done to study the effect of sleeplessness on general health of nightshift nurses in hospitals of Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran, during 2008. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 124 subjects with suitable condition were selected through a census from among 615 nightshift working nurses in hospitals of Golestan university of medical sciences. Data were collected by delivering questionnaire and it included one questionnaire of personal information and two questionnaires about effects of sleeplessness and general health (GHQ-28). Results: Effect of sleeplessness, in the maximum percent of nurses (55.6%) were moderate and in the minimum percent (2.4%) were low. Mean±SD the sleepness rate was moderate (58±9). Also, the results of general health showed that most of them (60.6%) had favorable general health and 2.5% of subjects had unfavorable general health. There was a significant correlation between sleepness, effect and general health of nurses in addition. There was also a meningfull sleeplessness correlation between sleepness effect with age, employment history and nightschieft time table (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that sleepness, negatively, effect on general health of nightschieft nurses, it is suggested, there should a properly organized sleep time table for the nightchieft nurses.

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Background and Objective: Neurons are injured under physical, chemical and pathological conditions. The effects of injuries in peripheral nervous system returns as retrograde to the cell body of neurons in central nervous system and causes brain and spinal degeneration. This study was done to evaluate the effect of aquatic extract of Cannabis sativa leaves on degeneration of alpha motoneurons in spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in Rats.

Materials and Methods: This experimental study was carried out on thirty two male Wistar rats, weighing 300-350 grams. Animals were divided into four groups each consisting eight members A: control, B: compression, C: compression + treatment with 25 mg/kg aquatic extract, D: compression + treatment with 50 mg/kg aquatic extract. In order to induce compression in B, C and D, after cutting the right thigh muscle, Sciatic nerve of thigh was exposed to compression for 60 seconds using locker pincers. The first extract injection was done intraperitoneally immediately after compression and the second intera peritoneal injection was done 7 days later. 28 days after compression, the Lumbar spinal cord were dissected, fixed and stained with toluidine blue. The density of alpha motoneurons was measured using dissector and stereological methods. Data was analyzed with using Minitab-13 software, ANOVA and Tukey tests.

Results: Neuronal density was 611.5±34.2 and 1633.4±30.7 in compression and control groups respectively (P<0.001). There was a meaningful statistical increase in neuronal density of group C (1278.6±28.1) in comparing compression group (P<0.001). The neuronal density in group (D) (1549.8±87.7), significantly increased in comparison with group (B) (P<0.001).

Conclusion: This study showed that aquatic extract of Cannabis sativa leaves increases the density of alpha motoneurons in spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in Rats. The increase in neuronal density is relevant to the amount of extract used.

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Background and Objective: Memory is an especial ability of brain in which saves the information and reuptake it. The memory is depended on hippocampus and amigdal. The neuronal density of hippocampus and amigdal have direct effect on their physiological functions. Cannabis sativa is belongs to Cannabinaceae family that Tetrahidrocanabinol is important component of this plant. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa on CA1, CA2 and CA3 subfeilds of hippocampus neuronal density in male Rats.

Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on 18 male Rats with (250-320gr) weight and 3 month old in faculty of science, Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, Iran (2010-2011). At first the alcoholic extraction was provided by the soxhlet method of the seed of this plant with coded 2548. Eighteen male wistar Rats were allocated into 2 experimental groups (25,75mg/kg of alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa) and one control group. Alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa was injected intraperitonealy (I.P.) in experimental groups for two weeks (every week one injection). After four weeks animal was decapitated and their brain dissected, fixed in 10% formalin, sectioned in 7μm thickness and stained by toluidin blue. By applying stereological techniques and systematic random sampling scheme the neuronal density of hippocampus were estimated.

Results: Neuronal density in control and treated with alcoholic extract (25,75mgkg) CA1 was 17982, 26750 and 22801 respectively. Neuronal density in CA2 was 19171, 26750 and 22801 respectively and also in CA3 was 19391, 24043, 28571 respectively. Neuronal density in CA1, CA2 and CA3 of hippocampus in treated groups with alcoholic extract (25,75mgkg) was significantly increased in comparision with controls (P<0.01).

Conclusion: This study determined that the alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa can induce hippocampus neurogenesis which is not dose depended.

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Background and Objective: Several strains of the Echinococcus granulosus have been described based on morphological characters, intermediate host specificity and/or genetic analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. The aim of this study was to characterize different E.granulosus isolates by using sequences of mitochondrial atp6 gene.

Materials and Methods: In this study, Sixty infected liver and lungs of cattle, sheep and goats were collected from the abattoir of Varamin city-Iran during 2008. Protoscoleces were removed from each fertile cyst and DNA extracted. New and specific primers were designed for two existing genotypes (G1 and G6) of E. granulosus known to occur in Iran and applied in PCR reactions.

Results: The new primers selectively amplified the G1 and G6 genotypes of E. granulosus with specific bands of 708 and 705 bp respectively. The G1 genotype was identified in all fertile cyst samples.

Conclusion: This study showed that the new primer pairs which specifically amplify portions of the mitochondrial atp6 gene of the G1 and G6 strains of Echinococcus granulosus are proper molecular marker for investigating genetic variation in a number of isolates of E. granulosus from a range of hosts (sheep, goats, cattle) in Iran. The result of sequenced samples showed that our sequences were the same as those reported previously for these strains.

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Background and Objective: According to world health organization statistics, at least 5.2% of world population is carrier for a main hemoglobin disorder. Previous reports showed that more than 10% of people are carrier for beta-thalassemia Northern Iran. This study was done to determine the prevalance of hemoglobinopathies in premarriage individuals referred to Babolsar, Iran.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 8500 individuals  (4200 women and 4300 men) whome were attended the thalassemia counseling program in Babolsar, North of Iran during 2006-09. After performing the CBC test, for those MCV and MCH were less than 80 and 27 respectively, Hemoglobin A2 was evaluated. Subjects whome were volunteers for more comprehensive tests, basic and acidic electrophoresis and genetic tests were applied, subsequently.

Results: 1200 (14.11%) subjects had low hematological indexes. 474 (5.57%) subjects had high HbA2 and were classified as beta-thalassemia carriers and 726 (8.54%) had normal HbA2 level and were classified as alpha-thalassemia carriers. 6 (1.2%) subjects were identified with HbF level more than 10 and were identified as carriers for beta-gene cluster deletion carrier. Also, 16 (3.2%) individuals had HbE, 16 (3.2%) had HbS, 4 had HbD and 4 had HbH (0.33% in 1200 and 0.047% in 8500 subjects). Genetic study of 317 individuals for beta carriers and 145 subjects for alpha-carriers showed IVSII-1G>A (74.5%) in beta-globin and single gene deletion of 3.7 (47.5%) in alpha-globin genes were the most frequent mutations.

Conclusion: This study showed that carriers for alpha - thalassemia (8.5%) are more frequent compared with beta- thalassemia (5.57%). Also other hemoglobin variants included HbS, HbE, HbD or different beta-gene cluster deletions in the region are considerable and should be screened.

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Background and Objective: Ischemia-reperfusion invoke cell death in hippocampus. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) of dentyte jyrus neurons and pyramidal cells of CA1 subfiled of hippocampus following ischemia-reperfusion in rat models. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was done on 40 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300gr. Animals were divided in four groups: control (n=7), sham (n=7), ischemia (n=14) and treatment (n=14). Sham group was just under surgical stress. In ischemia and treatment groups after induction of ischemia-reperfiusion by obstruction of carotid arteries blocked for 30 minutes, reperfusion PBS (phosphate buffer salin) and subsequently TGF-alpha (50 ng) were injected stereotaxicaly in lateral ventricle, respectively. In 12 and 72 days after treatment the brains were fixated by transcardial perfusion and stained by immunohistochemestry and nissle methods. Furthermore, morris water maze was used to evaluate the learning memory. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16 and ANOVA test. Results: Injection of TGF-alpha increased the cell number in hippocampus of treatment group compared to ischemic group. TGF-alpha increased expression of neuron in dentyte jyrus of treatment group in comparison with ischemic group (P<0.05). Also spatial memory improved in treatment group in comparison with ischemia group. Conclusion: TGF-alpha improves ischemia-induced neurodegenration and memory impairment.

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Background and Objective: Continuous antigenic variation of Influenza a viruses causes a major concern to develop Influenza vaccine. Conserved antigens are suitable candidates for vaccine production due to its non-requirement to match the designed strains with circulating strains. The M2 gene is conserved among Influenza a viruses and has potential to be considered as a universal vaccine. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of aqueous Echinacea purpurea extract on immunogenicity of DNA vaccine encoding M2 gene of Influenza virus. Materials and Methods: This interventional study was carried out on female BALB/c mice with 3-4 week age (250-300 gr). Plasmid DNA encoding M2 gene (pcDNA-M2) of Influenza virus A/New Caledonia/20/99 (H1N1) was transformed into E.coli top10 f' and cultured in LB broth media. Large scale plasmid preparation was done and the concentration was measured by spectrophotometric method. Mice were divided into eight groups and immunized three times with fifteen days apart. Vaccine groups received inactivated Influenza virus or pcDNA-M2, alone or in combination with Echinacea extract. Control groups were injected pcDNA, Echinacea extract, and phosphate buffer. All animals were left to bleed before immunization and at 21 days after the last vaccination and specific anti-M2 antibodies were measured by indirect ELISA. Then the mice were intranasally challenged under an aesthesia with mouse-adapted PR8 Influenza virus and monitored for 3 weeks to evaluate the vaccine regimen efficacy in reduction of mortality rate compared to control groups. Data were analyzed using SPSS-16, One-way ANOVA and Kaplan–Meier tests. Results: The highest specific immune response was obtained in mice received inactivated virus plus extract (P<0.05). Immune responses in mice inoculated with pcDNA-M2 were significantly higher compared to all control groups mice (P<0.05). In addition the specific immune responses in group inoculated with pcDNA-M2 and aqueous extract was higher compared to the group receiving only pcDNA-M2 (P<0.001). The highest survival rate was observed in mice injected with inactivated virus or pcDNA-M2 plus extract. Conclusion: This study showed that pcDNA-M2 induced specific immunity and protected mice against lethal challenge with PR8 Influenza virus. Furthermore, application of Echinacea extract with M2 gene vaccine increased vaccine efficacy.

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Background and Objective: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been discovered as the most important receptors in innate immunity. One of the most important TLRs is TLR4, the key receptor for the LPS component of gram-negative bacteria. Two polymorphisms, D299G (rs4986790) and T399I (rs4986791), in TLR4 gene are associated with a decreased response to LPS. This study was done to estimate the expression of different polymorphisms of TLR4 gene in colorectal cancer cell line by flowcytometery. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, the HCT116 cells were transfected with plasmids containing different variants of TLR4 gene including Flag-tagged-TLR4 wild type, flag-tagged D299G and T399I Using TurboFect transfection reagent. Transfection efficiency was evaluated by GFP plasmid. Expression of different variants of TLR4 was assessed in transfected cells by flowcytometery. Data were analyzed using SPSS-11.5 and chi-square test. Results: TLR4 was detected on HT29 and CaCo2 cell lines at low levels. HCT116 cells did not express detectable amounts of TLR4 by flowcytometery prior to transfection. Gene transfer efficiency for GFP plasmid was about 80% in HCT116 cells by flowcytometery and microscopic analysis. TLR4 expression and LPS responsiveness significantly was higher in HCT116 cells which were transfected with wild type TLR4 gene compared to non-transfected and mutant transfected cells (P<0.05). Conclusion: Lower expression of TLR4 on cells with mutant TLR4 showed that these polymorphisms affect on expression patterns of TLR4 on colon cancer cells.

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Background and Objective: Hemoglobinopathies are among the most prevalent genetic disorders worldwide, and occur as a result of mutations in the gene involved in synthesizing hemoglobin chains. By now more than 1000 defects in hemoglobin chains are discovered. Hemoglobin D (Hb D) is one of these disorders, identified by a single nucleotide mutation on codon 121 of beta globin chain. This study was carried out to evaluate Hb D mutations through molecular methods in Mazandaran province of Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive laboratory study was done on 70 patients with an electrophoresis band in hemoglobin-S zone in Mazandaran province of Iran during 2010-11. Capillary zone electrophoresis was done to find out Hb D in 51 patients. Subsequently, PCR-RFLP was performed to evaluate the samples at molecular level. Results: Molecular investigation revealed all cases are carriers of hemoglobin D-Punjab. Two patients were shown to be homozygote carriers of the abnormal gene. Conclusion: This study showed all Hb D affected patients were carriers of Hb D Punjab.