A combined panel of circulating microRNA as a diagnostic tool for detection of the non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Recently, much attention has been paid to use circulating microRNAs (miRs) as a non-invasive tumor marker. The present study for the first time was designed to evaluate concurrent use of miR-21, miR-638, miR148 and miR-152 as putative diagnostic tool for detection of non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

METHODS

Forty-three patients diagnosed as primary NSCLC was included in this study. The level of selected miRs was measured in whole blood specimens of patients and controls. The corresponding values were also obtained in stages I-IV. We also assessed possible correlation between selected miRs and the clinicopathological findings of studied individuals.

RESULTS

miR-21 was increased in patients compared to controls (P = 0.004). In contrast, circulating miR-638, miR-148 and miR-152 was observed to be down-regulated in NSCLC patients than controls (P = 0.001, 0.003, 0.053, respectively). Rise in miR-21-5p expression and decreased blood level of miR-148a-3p was associated with higher stage of NSCLC. The highest sensitivity (90%) was observed for miR-21 while miR-148 had the highest specificity (71%). The corresponding sensitivity and specificity for combined-miRs-panel was 96.4% and 86.67%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our data suggested the diagnostic importance of combined-miR-panel including miR-21, miR-638, miR148 and miR-152 for effective discrimination of NSCLC from non-cancerous subjects.

Evaluation the FLAIR Sensitivity and DWI Post-inject in Comparison with Delayed Enhancement T1w for Better Detection of Active MS Lesions

BACKGROUND

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, typically progressive and most common autoimmune disease which damaged the central nervous system. According to the reports in 2008, this disorder has affected 2 and 2.5 million people globally. While the reason is not clear, proposed causes for this include immunologic, environmental, infectious and genetic factors, and sexuality. MS can cause many symptoms, including blurred vision, loss of balance, poor coordination, slurred speech, tremors, numbness, extreme fatigue, problems with memory and concentration, paralysis, blindness, and more. There are four distinguished illness fields in MS: relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary-progressive MS (PPMS), secondary-progressive MS (SPMS), and progressive-relapsing. MRI is a great tool to identify the asymptomatic distribution of lesions in space and time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

32 patients with MS plaques were evaluated by FLAIR and DWI pre- and post-Gadolinium injection compared with 15minutes delay T1w SE.

RESULTS

FLAIR post-inject had significantly better detection of the number and signal intensity of active MS lesions. DWI and ADC images detected active plaques different from non-active lesions without contrast.

CONCLUSION

The result of this study showed that FLAIR post-inject had the highest sensitivity in detection of active MS lesions due to the CSF signal suppression in FLAIR, thus offering enough TR time recovery in active enhanced plaques.

A survey on the frequency of foot-and-mouth disease virus carriers in cattle in north-east of Iran by RT-PCR: implications for revising disease control strategy

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Iran. It is essential to timely evaluate the current disease control programme in Iran. Here, we report the frequency of FMD virus (FMDV) carrier state in cattle slaughtered in Mashhad abattoir, Mashhad, Khorasan Razavi, north-east of Iran, which contains long common borders with Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Soft palate samples were collected immediately after slaughter for the detection of FMDV by RT-PCR. The results show that 37.7% of cattle (96 of 255) were carriers of the virus. Among positive samples (96), 58 (60.4%) belonged to serotype O. No evidence was detected for the presence of Asia 1 and A serotypes. Nucleotide sequencing and phylogenic dendogram showed close similarity and common lineage between our samples and viruses isolated in Pakistan. With an approximate more than 80% of cattle population vaccination coverage such a high rate of carrier state may show an extensive FMDV exposure. Therefore, limiting control programmes to timely prophylactic vaccination may be insufficient. This is also true when meat market instabilities act as a temptation to import livestock, legally or illegally, through the eastern frontiers. It is recommended to change the current prophylactic vaccination strategy to a well-developed regional control programme, with close monitoring of animal movement through eastern frontiers, supported by government commitment and educational programmes. Timely estimation of the frequency of carrier state both in cattle and small ruminants is also advocated as a gauge to monitor the virus status in the region.

Nitric oxide induction as a novel immunoepidemiological target in malaria‐infected patients from endemic areas of the Islamic Republic of Iran

OBJECTIVE

Malaria has been prevalent for a long time in Iran and continues to be a health problem despite substantial control programs. In addition to numerous cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) is thought to be a key molecule and a novel target of malaria immunopathology.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The objective of this research was to measure reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNI) as stable metabolites of NO induction in plasma of malaria-infected patients in Iran. In this study, 235 blood samples from malaria patients and 80 blood samples from healthy controls were randomly collected from different malarial endemic provinces of Iran, located in southeastern (Sistan & Balouchestan, Hormozgan, Kerman) and northwestern (Ardabil) areas. The involvement of NO in malaria patients has been investigated by statistical analysis of RNI values. Griess micro assay (GMA) was used during Plasmodium vivax, P. falciparum and mixed infections, in order to evaluate whether RNI changes are related to the provincial areas, parasite strains, clinical symptoms and age and gender parameters.

RESULTS

The results showed a significant increase of RNI level in malaria patients compared with the control groups of Ardabil (p<0.01), Sistan & Balouchestan, Hormozgan and Kerman (p<0.001) provinces. The level of RNI was higher in mixed plasmodial infection than in single infection.

CONCLUSIONS

The high level of RNI was dependent on the type of infection, the plasmodia strain, the clinical symptoms, the age groups and the endemic provinces. Although, this study did not clarify the pathogenic and/or protective role of NO in malaria, our findings provide a novel immunoepidemiological aspect of basal NO production in patients with malaria in endemic areas in Iran.

The relationship between blood indicators of phosphorus status in cattle

BACKGROUND

Determining accurate body phosphorus status and requirements is important in ruminants because of environmental concerns of surface water pollution by overzealous phosphorus consumption in developed countries, and extensive regions of phosphorus deficiency in developing ones. Current indicators, such as concentrations of bone, plasma, fecal, and rumen inorganic phosphorus (Pi), fall short of this goal. In addition, plasma Pi (PPi) concentrations may be falsely increased by hemolysis during storage of blood samples.

OBJECTIVES

The goals of this study were to: 1) compare whole blood Pi (WBPi), red blood cell Pi (RBCPi), and PPi concentrations in different groups of dairy calves and cows; 2) evaluate relationships among the concentrations of these indicators of phosphorus status; and 3) investigate the possibility of predicting RBCPi and PPi concentrations according to WBPi concentration.

METHODS

Heparinized whole blood samples were obtained from 53 suckling calves, 29 weaned calves, 14 heifers, 20 dry pregnant cows, and 19 high-producing lactating dairy cows. Pi concentration was measured in plasma and in lysates of whole blood and packed RBCs using an automated phosphomolybdate method. PCV was determined using the microhematocrit method. Results were analyzed using 1-way ANOVA and regression analysis.

RESULTS

Heifers and dry cows had significantly higher RBCPi concentrations, and weaned calves and dry cows had significantly higher WBPi concentrations, compared with other groups. In all groups, WBPi was significantly associated with other variables, including PCV. Regression models for each group were calculated to predict RBCPi and PPi concentrations according to WBPi concentration.

CONCLUSION

Results of different blood phosphorus indicators vary according to age and stage of lactation. The models that predict PPi and RBCPi according to WBPi may have some value in estimating total body phosphorus status in cattle.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) toxicosis in a sheep flock

This paper describes clinical, laboratory and pathological findings of sheep, which is intoxicated with castor bean. The source of intoxication was a miscellaneous garden waste. Forty-five animals showed clinical toxicosis and 17 died. The clinical signs included weakness, salivation, profuse watery diarrhoea, dehydration, mydriasis, teeth grinding, hypothermia and recumbency. The most significant haematological and biochemical findings were a high haematocrit, high concentration of serum BUN, creatinine and phosphorus and high activity of serum CK and AST. Pathology revealed severe gastroenteritis, cardiac haemorrhage and necrosis, hepatic necrosis and acute tubular necrosis in kidneys. Treatment included symptomatic and supportive care with fluid therapy and cathartic administration.

Ischaemia/reperfusion injury in experimentally induced abomasal volvulus in sheep

The purpose of the study was to evaluate ischaemia/reperfusion injury in simulated abomasal volvulus in sheep. Sixteen ewes were randomly allocated to three groups. The control group (n=4) served as sham-operated controls. The animals of the ischaemia group and reperfusion group (n=6, each) underwent a simulated 'abomasal volvulus'. The abomasum was exteriorized under general inhalation anesthesia and forced into a 180( composite function) anticlockwise rotation around its longitudinal axis, followed by another 270( composite function) anticlockwise rotation around its transectional axis. All ewes were monitored for 4 h. In the reperfusion group, volvulus was released after 3 h (i.e., 1 h of reperfusion). In the ischaemia group, the volvulus remained for 4 h (no reperfusion). Vital signs were monitored and some haematological and biochemical parameters were measured, without any significant differences. Full-section biopsy specimens were taken at the 3rd and 4th hours from the greater curvature of the abomasum. Histopathological lesions were scored according to the severity of mucosal oedema, submucosal oedema, haemorrhage submucosal and submuscularis layers, and polymorphonuclear infiltration on a scale of 0 to 4 (nil, mild, moderate, severe, and extreme). Another biopsy specimen was taken at the 4th hour for transmission electron microscopic examination. The scored lesions in light-microscopic examination were significantly different at the 3rd and 4th hours between the control and the experimental groups (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the reperfusion and ischaemia groups (p>0.1). Within-group comparisons (3rd hour with 4th hour) revealed no significant differences. In transmission electron microscopic examination there were no remarkable changes in the control group, but in the ischaemia and reperfusion groups there were remarkable cellular (epithelial and goblet cells), mitochondrial and microvillous changes that strongly implied the occurrence of ischaemia (p<0.05). In transmission electron-microscopic examination of abomasal samples the lesions were more remarkable in reperfusion group than in the ischaemia group. It is concluded that ischaemia/reperfusion injury occurred in this model of simulated abomasal volvulus in sheep and that ischaemia/reperfusion injury should be considered as a potential determining factor in the outcome of cattle with abomasal volvulus.

Hematology and serum biochemistry of Holstein dairy calves: age related changes and comparison with blood composition in adults

Specific reference intervals are needed for each animal species for appropriate interpretation of hematological and serum biochemical results. The aim of the present study was to investigate the blood composition of growing calves in order to evaluate the need for defining reference values for different age groups. Thirty two Holstein calves (18 male and 14 female) were blood sampled. A blood sample was taken within 24-48 h following birth and at 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days of age. CBC determination and the measurements of some blood serum metabolites, enzymes, electrolytes and minerals were performed. There were significant age related changes for most hematological and biochemical parameters (p < 0.05) except for the numbers of band neutrophils and monocytes and the amounts of sodium, potassium, chloride and BUN. The results of the present study showed that for some hematological and biochemical parameters such as hemoglobin, MCV, MCH, MCHC, inorganic phosphorus, serum total protein, globulin, AST and ALP at the first three months of life and also, neutrophil numbers and glucose levels at the 24-48 h of life, the age specific reference values must be considered for precise interpretation of laboratory results.

Mass cyanide intoxication in sheep

An outbreak of cyanide poisoning that killed 56 ewes and 2 goats is reported. Fluid released into a ditch contained 1 g cyanide/L and produced toxicity in 3 ewes experimentally dosed with the liquid waste.