This study investigated the therapeutic effect of crocetin, a carotenoid derived from saffron, on gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells and 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric cancer in rats. An MTT assay showed a significant dose- and time-dependent inhibition of AGS cell proliferation as a result of crocetin administration. Flow cytometry and caspases activity assays revealed apoptosis had been induced in these cells; RT-PCR and Western blot analyses revealed the suppression of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bax expression in AGS cells treated with crocetin. These changes were not observed in normal human fibroblast (HFSF-PI3) cells. Pathological study of the tumor tissue in MNNG-induced gastric cancer in rats indicated the dose-dependent inhibition of tumor progression. In addition, crocetin reversed some changed biochemical parameters, including serum antioxidant activity and lactate dehydrogenase in rat serum. The present study demonstrates the antioxidant, anti-proliferative, and apoptotic activities of crocetin against gastric cancer that may benefit human stomach cancer treatment.

Background:Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) with its virulence factors is the most prevalent cause of urinary tract infection (UTI).Objectives;This study aimed to determine the occurrence of fim, pap, sfa, and afa genes among 100 UPEC isolates collected from patients diagnosed with UTI.Materials and MethodsA total of 100 UPEC isolates were obtained from urine samples of patients with UTI. The prevalence of 5 virulence genes encoding type 1 fimbriae (fimH), pili associated with pyelonephritis (pap), S and F1C fimbriae (sfa and foc) and afimbrial adhesins (afa) were determined through PCR method. We also investigated the phylogenetic background of all isolates. In addition, the distribution of adhesin-encoding operons between the phylogroups was assessed.Results:The prevalence of genes encoding for fimbrial adhesive systems was 95% for fim, 57% for pap, 16% for foc, and 81% for sfa. The operons encoding for afa afimbrial adhesins were identified in 12% of isolates. The various combinations of detected genes were designated as virulence patterns. The fim gene, which occurred in strains from all phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2, and D) was evaluated and no significant differences were found among these groups. Conversely, significant differences were observed in relation to pap, afa, foc, and sfa operons.Conclusions:These results indicate that the PCR method is a powerful genotypic assay for the detection of adhesin-encoding operons. Thus, this assay can be recommended for clinical use to detect virulent urinary E. coli strains, as well as epidemiological studies.

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None of the evaluated SNPs in our study showed significant association with HU response. Further larger studies and evaluation of other genes are suggested.

Objectives: Hepatitis B viral infection is among the most common causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and a frequent viral indication for liver transplant. Cytokine-mediated immunity plays a critical role in introducing and promoting hepatitis B virus outcomes and in graft microenvironment. Interleukin 27 is a heterodimeric cytokine and a member of interleukin-6/interleukin-12 family. Interleukin-27 shows a broad range of pro-and antiinflammatory properties and plays a determining role during immune responses in combating hepatitis B virus. Therefore, in this study, the possible association between expressions of interleukin-27 gene with hepatitis B virus infection was evaluated in liver transplant patients. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study from liver transplant patients with the risk of hepatitis B virus infection who admitted to Namazi Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, 50 patients were selected and subgrouped to 25 hepatitis B virus-infected and 25 noninfected ones between years 2011 and 2013. The 25 healthy controls also were enrolled in this study. The presence of hepatitis B virus infection was assessed using polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocols in liver transplant patients. In addition, the interleukin-27 gene expression level was analyzed using an in-house-SYBER Green real time polymerase chain reaction method. The rate of interleukin-27 gene expression level was statistically analyzed in studied patient groups and controls using the Livak (2-ΔΔCT ) method. Results:The expression level of interleukin-27 gene was increased 10.27-and 2.36-fold in hepatitis B virusinfected and uninfected liver transplanted patients compared with healthy controls. Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus infection can lead to overexpression of interleukin-27 gene in liver transplant patients compared with uninfected ones and controls. However, further studies are needed to characterize the effective antihepatitis B virus effects of interleukin-27 in liver transplant patients.

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Background & objectives: Diabetes is a common endocrine disorder that can lead to hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. Nowadays, herbal plants are utilized as inexpensive medicines with low adverse effects for treatment of diabetic disorders. In this study, the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of prosopis fracta leaves was investigated on liver tissue and serum level of malondialdehyde in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats. Materials & Methods: Male rats (n = 45) were randomly divided into 3 groups(normal control, diabetic control and diabetic treated with Prosopis farcta extract). Type 1 diabetes was induced in male wistar rats by injection of 42 mg/kg of streptozotocin. 300 mg/kg of Prosopis farcta leaves extract was administered after induction of diabetes for 30 days. The group of normal control and diabetic control received normal saline. After tissue processing, histopathological changes of liver were examined under light microscopy. The serum and liver concentration of MDA were determined as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Finally, the obtained data were statistically analyzed using Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney rank sum test. Results: Induction of diabetes with streptozotocin caused a statistically significant increases of MDA in serum and liver tissues (p<0.05). Administration of Prosopis fracta leaves extract significantly decreased concentration of malondialdehyde content in liver tissue and serum of diabetic rats (p<0.05).Histopathological findings confirmed the effective role of this extract in treatment of diabetic disorders. Conclusion: Hydro-alcoholic extract of Prosopis fracta could reduce level of malondialdehyde content in liver and prevent lipid peroxidation of cellular membranes associated with diabetes.