Showing 13 results for Noruzi
Volume 1, Issue 1 (4-2014)
Abstract
Background:Estrogens play a substantial role in the proliferation, progression and treatment of breast cancer by binding with two estrogen receptors, alpha and beta (ERα and ERβ). Resistance to endocrine therapy is a major problem in the treatment of breast cancers and, in some cases, may be related to loss of ER gene expression. We have already showed that ERα methylation occurs in high frequency and may be one of the important mechanisms for ERα gene silencing in a subset of Iranian primary sporadic breast cancers. In the other hand, the CpG Island methylation status of ERβ and the relationship between clinicopathological features and the pattern of ERβ methylation in sporadic breast cancer are still unknown, especially in Iranian women. Methods: In this study, we examined the exact role of DNA methylation in the estrogen receptors, alpha and beta genes using Combined Bisulfite Restriction enzyme Analysis (COBRA) and Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) methods in 34 tissue and 40 peripheral white blood cells in the breast cancers. Results and Conclusions: ERα promoter methylation was identified in 29(72.5%) tissue samples and 35(87.5%) peripheral blood. Among these ERα-methylated cases, the co-occurrentmethylation of ER promoter in peripheral blood and tissue samples was evident in 25 (71.4%) patient (P=0.56). Furthermore, ERβ promoter methylation was detected in 13(32.5%) tissue samples and 4(10.0%) peripheral blood specimens. Of these ERα-methylated cases, the co-ocurrent methylation of ERβ promoter in the peripheral blood and tissue samples was evident in 1(7.7%) patient (P= 0.11). Based on COBRA analysis the percentage of DNA methylation at methylation-sensitive BstUI restriction site of the ERα promoter A ranged from 1% to 91%. The percentages at promoters A region showed a borderline associations with lymph node involvement (P=0.079, r=0.55) and a significant correlation with the grade of tumors (p= 0.27, r=0.65). No significant relation was found between ERα promoter and ERβ promoter methylation (Odds ratio =2.82, 95%, CI =0.28–28.5, P=0.36). The methylation of promoter ON was observed in only a subset of tumors without ER by IHC. In addition, we did not find any significant correlationbetween the prognostic factors such as grade, tumor size, lymph node involvement, and methylation status of this promoter. Our results indicate that methylation of ERβ promoter ON is not responsible for the loss of gene expression in of all breast tumors.
Volume 10, Issue 0 (تابستان 86- 2008)
Abstract
Objective: 22q11.2 chromosomal region is a hot spot for many cytogenetic rearrangements especially microdeletions which are responsible for DiGeorge and VeloCardioFacial syndromes. The most characteristic sign in these patients is congenital cardiac conotruncal anomalies. The gold standard diagnostic test for these microdeletions is FISH (Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization). However this diagnostic technique has some drawbacks such as high final cost and low sensitivity in smaller and uncommon microdeletions found in this region. The aim of this study was to introduce a less expensive and a priori more sensitive molecular method to help small and peripheral laboratories to find genetic causes of congenital heart diseases and DiGeorge syndrome.
Materials and Methods: 10 patients with congenital conotruncal anomalies and symptoms of DiGeorge syndrome were included in this study. These patients had been analyzed by FISH probe TUPLE1 before the inclusion. 3 normal persons were included as normal controls for microdeletion region. Semi Quantitative Multiplex PCRs were designed based on known markers in and out of the region of intrest. Results were analyzed by TotalLab software.
Results: 4 patients showed a decrease in gene dosage more than 60% compared to normal persons. FISH analysis found only one patient with microdeletion.
Conclusion: The designed method based on semi quantitative PCR was able to find 4 patients (40%) with microdeletion in a population of 10 patients with congenital cardiac anomalies. This technique was also able to find microdeletions in three FISH negative patients. Molecular diagnosis of microdeletions is supposed to be more sensitive than FISH in small microdeletions. This study confirms the presence of atypical deletions in Iranian patients and shows that the applied technique can detect some FISH negative patients. However further studies are needed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the mentioned molecular diagnosis. It seems that this can be used at least for the patients with typical phenotypic features of 22q11DS and negative FISH results.
Volume 10, Issue 19 (9-2023)
Abstract
In some of the ancient translations and exegesis of the Quran in the Herat region, a specific word, "Ḥin," has been used whose meaning is unclear. In most ancient Persian cultures, the word "Ḥin" is considered specific to the ancient Shirazi dialect and means "Is"; however, examining this word in the ancient translations of the Quran in the Herat region indicates differences in its usage and meaning compared to Shirazi texts. In this descriptive-analytical article, all instances of this word in the translations of the Quran in the Herat region have been collected in the first stage. Then, by referring to the Quranic text and equivalents of this word in Arabic on one side, and tracing the roots and explaining the ancient applications and meanings of this word in Middle Persian texts and early Islamic periods on the other side, an effort has been made to clarify and analyze the meanings and applications of this rare word in Quranic translations. The crucial results obtained from this research are as follows: In most cases, "Ḥin" is mechanically used without considering the grammatical structure of the Persian language in the translation of phrases such as "Hādhā," "Hātayni," "Hāʼulāʼ," "Yawmaʼidhin," "Kadhālika," "Hunālika," "Alʼān," and "Ka" and therefore, it is not considered a verb in Arabic nor as an auxiliary verb in Persian translation. "Hunna" is used in translating terms from words like "Hādhā, Hātayni, Hāʼulāʼ, etc." which signify warning, attention, and emphasis. In cases where "Hunna" seems to have no clear equivalent in the Arabic verse and is used as an auxiliary verb/agent, it carries the same emphasis and warning meaning mentioned earlier. Therefore, as conclusion, in the Heravi genre of Persian language, "Hunna" as a form of the third-person singular verb h- "Is" has preserved one of the semantic components of this verb from the Middle Persian period, namely certainty, definiteness, and emphasis on the timeless nature of documents, and transferred it to the new era of the Persian language.
Volume 11, Issue 49 (April and May 2023)
Abstract
One of the unknown types of Persian language and literature are translations of the Old Testament. Usually, the language of these texts is Persian and their script is Hebrew. One of the characteristics of this type of texts is the strong influence of Persian literature and vernacular language. In this article, based on sociolinguistics criteria, the spoken and written elements of some of these texts (translations of the Old Testament) have been examined. According to this study, the language of the aforementioned texts has been affected by the vernacular language in two aspects: first, phonetic transformations, which include the following: transformation of âm / ân > um / un, phonetic homogeneity, phonetic reduction, phonetic increase, different types of mutation and metathesis inversion. Second are dialectal words. The dialectal elements of any language have a close relationship with its vernacular language and literature. Informal written elements have also influenced these texts in two aspects: a. use of Hebrew script, b. spelling mistakes based on the present research. It can be concluded that this type of translation of the Old Testament is linguistically closer to the vernacular or at least informal type of language.
Volume 12, Issue 3 (Summer 2024)
Abstract
Aims: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome/veno-occlusive disease is a severe complication that can develop in up to 15% of adults following hematopoietic cell transplantation, resulting in congestion and damage due to the occlusion of small veins in the liver. This study aimed to identify novel blood biomarkers associated with veno-occlusive disease through bioinformatics analysis to improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
Materials & Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed GSE164635 using R packages, specifically employing the affy package for data normalization before applying the Limma package for differential expression analysis in 2024. To identify significant miRNAs, a log fold change filter was set at greater than +1 or less than -1, with an adjusted p-value of less than 0.05. The multiMiR package was used to predict gene targets for the identified miRNAs, with data sourced from the mirTarBase and Tarbase databases. Pathway enrichment and gene ontology analyses of the common genes were performed using Funrich 3.1.3, and Cytoscape software was used to construct networks of commonly shared genes. Target gene prediction for these miRNAs was conducted using the multiMiR package in R, with data sourced from the mirTarBase and Tarbase databases.
Findings: Two upregulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-194-5p and hsa-miR-148a-3p) and two downregulated miRNAs (hsa-miR-342-3p and hsa-miR-150-5p) were identified. For the upregulated miRNAs, the network analysis revealed interactions with key genes, such as AGO2, CDKN1A, HSP90AA1, HSPA4, EP300, IGF1R, MYC, SMAD2, DICER1, and IL10. For the downregulated miRNAs, the interaction network identified significant genes, including EEF2, IGF1R, EP300, CCN2, DNMT1, SREBF1, CANX, ZEB1, SP1, and JUN.
Conclusion: The pathophysiology of VOD is greatly influenced by microRNAs, which play a crucial role in regulating inflammation, fibrosis, endothelial function, and cellular survival.
Volume 14, Issue 1 (1-2011)
Abstract
Objective: In this study quantitative expression of MDR1 and hOCT1 genes in CML patients and normal people were measured using Real-Time PCR.
Materials and Methods: To study quantitative expression of these genes by real-time PCR, master-mix with syber green was used. Peripheral blood samples from 30 CML patients and 27 normal persons were harvested. Real-time PCR results were analyzed with relative quantification method.
Result: This study showed that in the patients group who were under treatment with Imatib, MDR1 gene expression was increased which was statistically significant. This increase has a direct relation with disease progress. Gene expression in AP and BP patients was also higher than CP patients. In contrast, hOCT1 expression in patients group in comparison with normal group was not statistically significant.
Conclusion: MDR1 increase in leukemic cell membrane results in the reduction of intra-cellular drug concentration. Thus, optimal concentration of drug for inhibition of BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase is not achieved which culminated in disease progression to AP and BP phases. Moreover changes in hOCT1 gene expression as an influx transporter of Imatib could affect intracellular concentration of drug and finally determine therapy outcome. However, in this study hOCT1 gene expression was variable and was not statistically significant.
Volume 14, Issue 1 (1-2011)
Abstract
Objective: Zoledronic acid as a main treatment for osteoporosis has an important role in differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. However, mechanism of osteoblastic differentiation induction by zoledronic acid is not well understood until now. In this research we evaluate zoledronic acid effect on methylation status of RUNX2 and DLX5 promoters.
Materials and Methods: After isolation and expansion of hMSCs from BM, they were pulse treated with 5μM ZA for 3h, and incubated in osteogenic differentiation medium for 3 weeks. DNA was extracted after first, second and third weeks of culture and also from undifferentiated MSCs. After SBS treatment, gene specific methylation analysis for RUNX2 and DLX5 were carried out by MSP using methylated and unmethylated primers.
Results: In the genes RUNX2 and DLX5, M and U primers of MSP amplified promoter regions of undifferentiated and osteoblastic differentiated MSCs. Therefore, methylation status in RUNX2 and DLX5 promoters present incomplete methylation.
Conclusion: Methyltion patterns of RUNX2 and DLX5 don’t change during zoledronic acid osteoblastic differentiation of MSCs. Our findings show that zoledronic acid does not induce osteoblastic differentiation via epigenetic mechanisms. Therefore, zoledronic acid can induce osteoblastic differentiation in a manner independent from DNA epigenetic changes.
Volume 14, Issue 3 (9-2011)
Abstract
Objective: Estrogen receptor alpha protein status is determined by routine immunohistochemistry analysis in all malignant breast tumors. This assay has its limitations. RNA based techniques are potential complements for immunohistochemistry but it must be noticed that gene silencing may occur at different levels from RNA to protein. The aim of this study was the comparison of the results from these two assays and characterizing the tumors subgroup in which gene expression occurs at RNA level but the target protein is absent.
Materials and Methods: 92 primary breast tumors including their clinical and IHC results were collected before treatment. Estrogen receptor gene expression of tumors was studied by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR). In this assay, GAPDH was used as a reference gene.
Results: 36.6 % of tumors with negative estrogen receptor protein showed gene expression at mRNA level. In this subgroup most of the patient were older than 50 years and in stages 3 or 4 of breast cancer and had poor prognosis according to Nottingham prognostic index. Most cases of the perineural invasion have been seen in this subgroup.
Conclusion: It seems that RT-PCR assay would enable us to recognize a subgroup of breast tumors with poor prognosis which expresses RNA but not protein.
Volume 14, Issue 3 (9-2011)
Abstract
Objective: Low density Lipo-protein Receptor- related Protein (LRP) is the most important cholesterol receptor in neurons. It serves as a receptor for APOE protein which is the most important risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease. LRP also contributes to the ligation of lipoproteins with APOE in neurons. Association between LRP C766T and Alzheimer’s disease in Iranian patients with late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) was investigated in this research.
Materials and Methods: 100 patients with LOAD were selected based on DSM-IV-TR and NINCDS-ADRDA diagnostic criteria and 100 normal controls without any personal and family history of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia were included in this case- control study. AD patients and control subjects were matched for age and sex. PCR-RFLP was set up to detect LRP C766T polymorphism.
Results: LRP C/C genotype and C allele distribution were more frequent in AD patients than in control subjects. However, this difference was not statistically significant. When association between LRP C/C genotype and AD was categorized by the gender, in both genders, there was not any significant correlation.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that 766C allele of LRP gene could not significantly alter the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease in Iranian patients. Analysis of other genetic factors and environmental factors are promoted in Iranian population.
Volume 15, Issue 1 (4-2012)
Abstract
Objective: Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide disease, for which different detection methods have been used. The nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA) method is shown to be highly efficient for diagnosis of live microorganisms. The present research evaluates the molecular isothermal method of NASBA to identify live Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in rat.
Methods: Tachyzoites of T. gondii were inoculated in the peritoneal cavities of mice (Mus musculus) and their RNA was extracted. The NASBA method was then used to amplify the tachyzoite B1 rRNA gene. Next, we examined blood samples from 30 experimentally infected case and control rats (Rattus norvegicus) by NASBA. Finally, the resultant band was investigated on an agarose gel.
Results: The B1 genes extracted from both the tachyzoites and blood samples were successfully amplified by the NASBA method. This amplified gene yielded an amplicon of approximately 116 bp on gel agarose.
Conclusion: NASBA is highly efficient for the identification of live T. gondii. This method can be applied for early diagnosis of active toxoplasmosis in both newborns and immunocompromised individuals.
Volume 16, Issue 4 (2-2014)
Abstract
Objective: A recent field of research in epigenetics is DNA methylation which involves the CpG island in the genome that subsequently controls transcription and translation of targeted genes. In the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome, there are three CpG islands which tend to be methylated. The aim of the current study is to determine the methylation pattern of the HBV X gene in chronically infected HBV patients.
Methods: Study participants comprised 45 chronically infected HBV patients. According to the presence of the HBeAg, patients were divided into two groups, HBeAg positive (n=24) and HBeAg negative (n=21). Initially, viral DNA was treated with natrium bisulfate. Then, analysis was performed with two sets of methylated and non-methylated primers by the MSP method.
Results: The overall methylation rate in serum samples of hepatitis B infected patients was 35.5%; the rate in the HBeAg positive patients was 20.8%, whereas it was 52.3% in HBeAg negative patients. There was a significantly higher rate of methylation in serum samples of HBeAg negative patients compared to HBeAg positive patients (student's t-test; P=0.02).
Conclusion: Methylation of HBV can be used as a new mechanism to control the progression of viral infection. This methodology can be useful for determining the characteristics of clinical stages of this infection.
Volume 17, Issue 2 (6-2014)
Abstract
Objective: Bipolar I disorder is a common disorder with a complex etiology. A genetic approach is gaining increasing importance in this disorder. The dysbindin gene, located at 6p22.3 is considered a susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Certain genotypes of dysbindin are thought to be associated with other psychoses such as bipolar disorders. This study intends to assess the association in previously implicated dysbindin genotypes and haplotypes with bipolar I disorder in an Iranian population. Methods: We genotyped four previously reported SNPs: rs2619522, rs1018381, 2743852 and rs2619538. Their haplotypes were analyzed in a population of 124 patients that consisted of 44 confirmed bipolar I disorder patients and 80 control subjects. We used multiple allele-specific PCR method for genotyping, which was verified by direct sequencing. Results: In concordance with previous reports in other populations our findings showed no association between the single SNPs and bipolar I disorder. Furthermore, none of the alleles showed a significant association with the disorder. In contrast to previous reports, haplotype analysis did not reveal any statistically significant associations with bipolar I disorder. Conclusion: Considering reports of previous studies regarding the implication of these dysbindin genotypes in bipolar I disorder, it is probable that allelic heterogeneity along with lack of an established causal variant in the dysbindin gene can be main factors for this discordance. With regards to ethnicities in other studies, population variation can also be considered an important factor in the observed variation.
Volume 22, Issue 1 (6-2018)
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to provide a paradigmatic and systematic model for developing Iran’s science diplomacy, based on capabilities of the Imam Sadiq University and prioritizing its strategies. This study is based on data-driven management strategy and according to systematic approach of Strauss and Corbin wants in order to obtain paradigmatic model of the Science Diplomacy development and by using IPA methodology, has prioritized its strategies. For this purpose, 18 professors, experts and professionals of science diplomacy at the Imam Sadiq(AS) University have been identified and interviewed. At the next stage, by processing data and concepts, Level 1 and Level 2 concepts of the paradigmatic model have been obtained. At the next step, the strategies were prioritized using the opinions of 15 persons priorly selected as the sample. According to taken steps, it has become clear that moving towards the development of science diplomacy at the Imam Sadiq(AS) University due to its dynamic capabilities needs special qualifications and factors and special delicacies in its designs and plans. Some of results of implementing the science diplomacy at the Human Sciences Universities are as follows: enhancing the capabilities of the university, strengthening the international position of the Islamic Republic of Iran, dealing with the dysfunctions of the science diplomacy at the Human Sciences Universities and fulfilling the mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran towards the poor people of Muslim world. The "university internationalization" strategy also has the highest priority among the proposed strategies.