Publication Date: 2004
Burns (03054179)30(8)pp. 829-832
Masjid-i-Sulaiman (MIS) is located in the southwest of Iran. Unfortunately, some parts of MIS are contaminated by subsurface leakage of natural gas containing H 2S. In order to investigate the possible effect(s) of chronic exposure to sulfur compounds on suicidal behavior, the present study was done. In the 2-year period, 561 individuals attempted suicide (260 men and 301 women). Completed suicide comprised of 19 men and 32 women. The rate per 100,000 person-years was 19.9 for men and 34.8 for women aged over 15 years. Forty-two (13 men and 29 women) of 561 patients were self-immolators by fire with a male:female ratio 0.45. This represents 22.4 burns per 100,000 person-years and is equivalent to 7.4% of all suicide attempts. Thirty-three of 42 patients died (78.6%) who were 9 men and 24 women with male:female ratio 0.37. There is statistically significant differences between sex groups (P (2) = 0.0091). The self-inflicted burn was the most frequent method for lethal suicide. Winter was the most common season for self-burning followed by spring. Statistical analysis showed significant difference between seasons for self-inflicted burn (P (2) = 0.00001). Analysis of correlation showed statistically positive correlation coefficient between mean values of all reactive sulfur compounds and seasonal frequency of suicide (r = 0.923, P (1) = 0.038). © 2004 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2004
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (0006291X)316(3)pp. 749-752
In order to find the effect of genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 on blood pressure of individuals chronically exposed to sulfur compounds, the present study was done. Study subjects (38 males, 38 females) were residents of contaminated areas of Masjid-i-Sulaiman (southwest of Iran). The GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method. The non-parametric Sign test was applied in order to detect differences between the GSTs genotypes of study subjects and the normal mean values according to the sex and age of subjects. From four combination of genotypes, systolic blood pressure significantly decreased in combination of null-GSTM1 and present-GSTT1 (Z=-2.41; P=0.016), and diastolic blood pressure significantly increased in combination of present-GSTM1 and null-GSTT1 (Z=+2. 14; P=0.032). It is speculated about polymorphisms of GSTs in individuals chronically exposed to natural sour gas, which contains H2S, fulfilling a physiological role(s) in regulating blood pressure. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2004
Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior (00913057)77(4)pp. 793-795
To identify whether the polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and GSTT1 genes predict a high-tended risk of using tobacco, the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes of 369 Iranian males (254 nonsmokers and 115 smokers) and 314 Iranian females (245 nonsmokers and 69 smokers) were determined. The frequencies of GSTM1 (males: OR=0.98, 95% CI=0.62-1.57, P=.974; females: OR=1.34, 95% CI=0.75-2.39, P=.358) and GSTT1 (males: OR=1.25, 95% CI=0.76-2.04, P=.412; females: OR=0.84, 95% CI=0.46-1.51, P=.626) null genotypes were similar in nonsmokers and smokers. The risk of being a smoker was to be equally frequent in each combination of the genotypes. The present results revealed that there was no difference between smokers and nonsmokers for these two genetic polymorphisms. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2004
Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research (0100879X)37(5)pp. 675-681
We describe the impact of subtype differences on the seroreactivity of linear antigenic epitopes in envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 isolates from different geographical locations. By computer analysis, we predicted potential antigenic sites of envelope glycoprotein (gp120 and gp41) of this virus. For this purpose, after fetching sequences of proteins of interest from data banks, values of hydrophilicity, flexibility, accessibility, inverted hydrophobicity, and secondary structure were considered. We identified several potential antigenic epitopes in a B subtype strain of envelope glycoprotein of HIV-1 (IIIB). Solid-phase peptide synthesis methods of Merrifield and Fmoc chemistry were used for synthesizing peptides. These synthetic peptides corresponded mainly to the C2, V3 and CD4 binding sites of gp120 and some parts of the ectodomain of gp41. The reactivity of these peptides was tested by ELISA against different HIV-1-positive sera from different locations in India. For two of these predicted epitopes, the corresponding Indian consensus sequences (LAIERYLKQQLLGWG and DIIGDIRQAHCNISEDKWNET) (subtype C) were also synthesized and their reactivity was tested by ELISA. These peptides also distinguished HIV-1-positive sera of Indians with C subtype infections from sera from HIV-negative subjects.
Khalafi-nezhad, A.,
Rad, M.N.S.,
Mohabatkar, H.,
Asrari z., ,
Hemmateenejad b., Publication Date: 2005
Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry (14643391)13(6)pp. 1931-1938
In view of obtaining some potential antibacterial compounds, we have described synthesis of some chloroaryloxyalkyl imidazole and benzimidazole derivatives. The relevant step in the synthetic sequence was the initial condensation of 4-chloro or 2,4-dichlorophenol with 1, n-dibromoalkanes (n = 2, 4, 5) to provide compounds 3a-f in sufficient yields. The subsequent condensation of 3a-f with some imidazole derivatives and benzimidazole afforded products 4a-l and 5a-e in good yields. Some of compounds 4a-l as well as 5a-e were tested in vitro against Salmonella typhi O-901 and Staphylococcus aureus A 15091. Compounds 4a and 4c showed considerable bactericidal activities against tested bacteria. Compound 4b showed significant activity against S. aureus A 15091 but was inactive against S. typhi O-901. Other compounds showed intermediate activities against S. aureus A 15091 but most of them were inactive against S. typhi O-901. Semiempirical AM1 calculations showed that negative electrostatic potentials around oxygen of the phenoxy and nitrogen of the imidazole moieties have direct effect on the antibacterial activity towards S. aureus A 15091. In QSAR analysis, different electronic, topologic, functional groups and physicochemical descriptors were calculated for each molecule and a three parametric equation was found between the log MIC and HOMO energy, hydration energy and number of primary carbon atoms of the molecules. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2005
Iranian Biomedical Journal (2008823X)9(1)pp. 37-40
This study was conducted to determine the location of DNA segment with homology to the rat conserved genomic DNA in human chromosomes. The labeled rat genomic DNA was hybridized with normal human (male) metaphases. The study of 74 metaphases after fluorescence in situ hybridization showed 371 twin-spot signals on human chromosomes. Statistical analysis indicated that the specific accumulation of signals on 1q22-qter, 2p2, 3p21-p23, 4q3, 6q2, 8p12-pter, 11p12-pter, 11q12-qter, 12q2, 13p, 15p, 16q2, 21q12-qter, Yq1-qter, and Xq2 was not random. Results of stepwise multiple linear regressions indicated that number of mapped oncogenes (Beta = 1.092; t = 7.552; P<0.001) and density of mapped oncogenes on chromosomes (Beta = -0.832; t = -5.751; P<0.001) have significant effects on number of double-spots on human chromosomes. These data reflects the evolutionary conservation between rat DNA and human DNA at the above-mentioned bands.
