Fatemeh Haghighi

Auraptene from Ferula szowitsiana protects human peripheral lymphocytes against oxidative stress.

The antigenotoxicity effects of auraptene on DNA damage in human peripheral lymphocytes were studied using alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis. Auraptene at concentrations of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 µM was tested under simultaneous treatment with 25 µM H2O2. The data are expressed as % tail DNA and compared with ascorbic acid at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 µM. Auraptene significantly reduced the genotoxicity of H2O2 at concentrations higher than 25 µM (p < 0.001). Interestingly, the antigenotoxicity activity of auraptene was higher than ascorbic acid (p < 0.01), however, at some concentrations (25, 50 and 200 µM) there was no significant difference between auraptene and ascorbic acid (p > 0.05). It seems that the significant antigenotoxicity effects of auraptene may be due to the prenyl moiety and also the suppression of superoxide anion (O2−) generation. This study suggests that the antigenotoxic property of auraptene is of great pharmacological importance and might be beneficial for cancer prevention. Copyright

Antigenotoxic Effects of the Disulfide Compound Persicasulfide A (PSA) on Rat Lymphocytes Exposed to Oxidative Stress

The antigenotoxic effect of persicasulfide A (PSA) from Ferula persica on DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was evaluated using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE). PSA was extracted from F. persica, characterized by NMR and its antioxidant/antigenotoxic effects were investigated. The antigenotoxic effect of solutions containing either PSA (1, 10, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 microM) or ascorbic acid (250, 500, 750 and 1000 microM) alone, or in the presence of H2O2 (25, 50, 100 and 200 microM) were tested on lymphocytes derived from the blood of healthy male Wistar rats (250-300 g) by using the comet assay. The degree of damage to DNA after exposure to different solutions was calculated based on the amount of DNA present in the tail compared to the total amounts of lymphocyte DNA. PSA did not show genotoxicity and caused a 50% reduction in DNA damage induced by H2O (EC50:476.47+/-67.46 microM). Compared to the EC50 for ascorbic acid (1399.23+/-205.21 microM), it was deduced that PSA was more effective than ascorbic acid in the prevention of oxidative damage to DNA.

Heterogenity of Echinococcus canadensis genotype 6 − the main causative agent of cystic echinococcosis in Birjand, Eastern Iran

Little is known about the genotypes of Echinococcus spp. and their life cycles in eastern Iran. We analysed the partial sequences of the nad1 and cox1 genes from 17 isolates from hydatid cyst-infected patients (n=9), camels (n=5) and sheep (n=3) in Birjand, eastern Iran. A new primer pair was also used to amplify the long fragment (1180bp) of the cox1 gene. All camel and eight human isolates were G6 strains of Echinococcus canadensis while one human isolate and the three sheep isolates were G1 genotypes (sheep strain) of E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.). Nad1 and cox1 sequence analyses showed high G6 genetic homogeneity, similar to previously reported G6 strains from southeast and central Iran, Sudan and Mauritania. Low nucleotide and haplotype diversity similar to G6 strains from Russia (Altai republic) and Kazakhstan was also found, consistent with a bottleneck effect. In this study, G6 was the most common Echinococcus genotype. Genetic homogeneity of east, southeast and central Iranian G6 and its low genetic diversity may be due limited mobility and contact between humans and camels from other regions because of large, inhospitable deserts.

Gestational throphoblastic diseases in North East of Iran: 10 years (2001-2010) prospective epidemiological and clinicopathological study

Background: Many aspects of epidemiological and clinicopathological features of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), one of the important subject in gynecology oncology, needs to be defined so as to recommend the best approach and management toward it. In the present study, we evaluated 10-years incidence of throphoblastic diseases in north east of Iran in prospective epidemiological and clinicopathological study. Materials and Methods:We reviewed the registered histopathology database archive (120 records) related to throphoblastic diseases of the Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from 2001 to 2010. Results:Evaluation of the pathological reports revealed 5 (4.2%) choriocarcinom and 115 (95.8%) of hydatidiform mole (HM), with complete and partial HM diagnosis in 29 (25.2%) and 86 (74.8%) patients, respectively. The pregnancy rate of HM patients (2.72 ± 1.86) and choriocarcinoma patients (3.56 ± 2.8) was not significantly different ( P = 0.61). There was no statistical significant difference between the number of pregnancies in HM (2.90 ± 3.13) and choriocarcinoma (3.84 ± 3.80) patients ( P = 0.46). The ratio of complete to partial mole increased with age, although this correlation was not significant. Most patients in both the groups had no history of abortion. O positive was the predominant blood group among the studied patients. Conclusion:Throphoblastic diseases occur during the fertility age mostly, and there is an increased risk with more previous pregnancies; ultrasound sonography is a useful method for primary diagnosis of this disease. Further pathological studies are needed to define the mole type.

Comparison of mammography and ultrasonography findings with pathology results in patients with breast cancer in Birjand, Iran

Background Early diagnosis of breast cancer, the incidence of which among Iranian women is about a decade earlier than in developed countries, is important. Objective To compare mammography and ultrasonography findings with those of pathology in patients with breast cancer. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed using medical records of 79 patients with breast malignancies, who were referred to Imam Reza Hospital and private laboratories of Birjand, Iran, from December 2012 to December 2014. The patients’ information was recorded using a checklist, which included name, code, age, ultrasonography, and mammography results and pathology reports. The results of ultrasonography and mammography were compared with pathology findings as the gold standard. SPSS Version 21 was used for data analysis. Results The mean age of the patients was 46.94 ± 11.76 years. The results showed that 74.7%, 16.5%, and 7.6% of the patients had ductal carcinoma, lobular carcinoma, and mixed carcinoma, respectively. About 72.5%, 24.6%, and 2.9% of the patients had stage 2, 3, and 1 breast cancer, respectively. In addition, both breasts were involved in 1.3% of the patients. The ultrasound findings were positive and false negative in 97.5% and 2.5% of the cases. Moreover, the mammography results were positive and false negative in 98.7% and 1.3% of the patients. Conclusion This study showed that mammography is the preferred modality in screening breast cancer patients; the use of complementary tests such as ultrasonography is recommended, especially in high-risk women.

A comparison of liquid-based cytology with conventional Papanicolaou smears in cervical dysplasia diagnosis

Background: Due to the high number of women affected by cervical cancer and the importance of an early diagnosis, combined with the frequent incidence of false-negative Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening results for this disease, several studies have been conducted in recent years in order to find better tests. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) tests, including the liquid-based thin layer method, have demonstrated the highest potential for reducing false-negative cases and improved sample quality. This study aimed to compare the strength of the Pap smear test with fluid cytology and conventional tests in detecting cervical dysplasia. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 366 women who attended private laboratories for a Pap smear. The Pap smear sampling was conducted simultaneously using two methods: conventional Pap (CP) smear and LBC), from the cervix. Results: The mean age of the participants was 32 ± 8.8 years. Diagnostic results of endocervical cells, epithelial cells, vaginitis cells, and metaplastia were consistent with both conventional and liquid cytology smears, and the kappa coefficient was determined to be significant (P < 0.001). In total, 40.5% of diagnostic cases indicated bacterial inflammation 80.3% of the diagnoses in both methods were P1 and 3.9% of cases diagnosed were P2, the overall diagnostic consistency was 83.9% between the two sampling methods. The inflammation diagnosis was 40.5% and this was consistent in both methods of LBC and CP. There was one case of a false-negative diagnosis in the LBC method and 14 cases in the CP method. Conclusion: Results showed that the LBC may improve the samples quality and reduce the number of unsatisfactory cases more than with the CP method.