Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is characterized by hyperplasia of the pars intermedia (PI) melanotrophs of the pituitary gland (PG), and increased production of proopiomelanocortin (POMC). POMC is cleaved by prohormone convertase 1 (PC1) to produce adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and further processing of ACTH by PC2 to produce alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and corticotropin-like intermediate peptide (CLIP). High plasma ACTH concentrations in horses with PPID might be related to reduced conversion of ACTH to α-MSH by PCs. The hypothesis of this study was that PC1 and PC2 expression in the pituitary gland are altered in PPID, resulting in an abnormal relative abundance of POMC derived proteins. The objectives of this study were to identify the partial sequences of equine POMC, PC1, and PC2 mRNAs; and to determine whether the expression of POMC, PC1, and PC2 mRNAs in whole pituitary extracts, and POMC-protein in the cavernous sinus blood of horses are altered in PPID. We confirmed (RT-PCR and sequencing) that the partial sequences obtained match the corresponding regions of predicted equine POMC, PC1 and PC2 sequences. The expression (quantification by RT-qPCR) of POMC, PC1 and PC2 mRNAs were found upregulated in the pituitary of horses with PPID. Plasma (measured using RIA/ELISA) ACTH and α-MSH were elevated in PPID horses. These results indicate distinct differences in gene and protein expression of POMC and its intermediates, and processing enzymes in PPID. It provides evidence to support the notion that local, pituitary-specific inadequacies in prohormone processing likely contribute to equine PPID.
Skeletal metastasis is one of the most important disabling complications of the malignant diseases. As in general, the survival of patients with osteometastatic lesions is relatively long, an early diagnosis can lead to improve the patient’s life, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and prevent exacerbation of the disease and disabling complications. In this study, 22 patients with established diagnosis of malignant disease and clinical manifestations of skeletal metastasis were evaluated both with 99mTc-MIBI and 99mTc-MDP whole body scans, in two separate phases. Patients’ diagnoses were as following: Small Round Cell Tumor, Breast carcinoma, Nasopharynx carcinoma and Multiple Myeloma. In the first phase of the study a whole body bone scan was performed by IV injection of 740MBq 99mTc-MDP. After a period of 1 week a whole body scan was carried out by 99mTc-MIBI for all the patients. No treatment such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy was done in this 1 week interval. The number and intensity of the scan findings were compared visually, according to the three-phase staging, subsequently. Whole body survey with 99mTc-MIBI in 14 out of 22 patients were positive, demonstrating only 44.4% of bony lesions established on whole body bone scan with 99mTc-MDP. The mean value of intensity of radiotracer uptake, was around 1.5+ (Mild to moderate). On the other hand in 7 patients with positive 99mTc-MIBI scan some hidden soft tissue lesions (Mostly lymph nodes) were detected with intensity of 2+. So this study shows that whole body bone scan is preferable for detection of widespread metastasis comparing with 99mTc-MIBI whole body scan. The singnificance of 99mTc-MIBI scan is mainly limited to some equivocal of soft tissue lesions.
To minimize renal radiation in abdomical radiotherapy, shielding of the kidneys is essential. IVP-simulator is used as an standard method. In this study, we used 99mTc-DMSA to localize and shield the Kidneys and we compared this method with IVP-simulator. The size of the kidneys was proven to be larger as compared with IVP method. The mean of the overlap percentage was 81.88 in right and 82.89 in left kidney. The confidence interval between two methods ranged from 20 to 80 percent. It is concluded that this is a useful method and can be recommended for localization and shielding of the kidneys in patients with abdominal radiotherapy.
Nesfatin-1 is secreted, meal-responsive anorexigenic peptide encoded in the precursor nucleobindin-2 [NUCB2]. Circulating nesfatin-1 increases post-prandially, but the dietary components that modulate NUCB2/nesfatin-1 remain unknown. We hypothesized that carbohydrate, fat and protein differentially regulate tissue specific expression of nesfatin-1. NUCB2, prohormone convertases and nesfatin-1 were detected in mouse stomach ghrelinoma [MGN3-1] cells. NUCB2 mRNA and protein were also detected in mouse liver, and small and large intestines. MGN3-1 cells were treated with glucose, fatty acids or amino acids. Male C57BL/6 mice were chronically fed high fat, high carbohydrate and high protein diets for 17 weeks. Quantitative PCR and nesfatin-1 assays were used to determine nesfatin-1 at mRNA and protein levels. Glucose stimulated NUCB2 mRNA expression in MGN3-1 cells. L-Tryptophan also increased NUCB2 mRNA expression and ghrelin mRNA expression, and nesfatin-1 secretion. Oleic acid inhibited NUCB2 mRNA expression, while ghrelin mRNA expression and secretion was enhanced. NUCB2 mRNA expression was significantly lower in the liver of mice fed a high protein diet compared to mice fed other diets. Chronic intake of high fat diet caused a significant reduction in NUCB2 mRNA in the stomach, while high protein and high fat diet caused similar suppression of NUCB2 mRNA in the large intestine. No differences in serum nesfatin-1 levels were found in mice at 7 a.m, at the commencement of the light phase. High carbohydrate diet fed mice showed significantly elevated nesfatin-1 levels at 1 p.m. Serum nesfatin-1 was significantly lower in mice fed high fat, protein or carbohydrate compared to the controls at 7 p.m, just prior to the dark phase. Mice that received a bolus of high fat had significantly elevated nesfatin-1/NUCB2 at all time points tested post-gavage, compared to control mice and mice fed other diets. Our results for the first time indicate that nesfatin-1 is modulated by nutrients.
Iron supplementation can decrease the absorption of zinc and influence other antioxidants levels such as vitamin C. This study aimed to investigate the effect of iron supplements alone and in combination with vitamin C on zinc and vitamin C status in iron deficient female students.In a double-blind randomized clinical trail, 60 iron deficient students were selected from 289 volunteers residing in dormitory. After matching, subjects were randomly assigned into two groups: Group I (50 mg elemental iron supplements) and Group II (50 mg elemental iron + 500 mg ascorbic acid). Serum ferritin, iron, serum zinc, and plasma vitamin C concentrations were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, spectrophotometer, atomic absorption spectrometer, and colorimeter, respectively after 6 and 12 weeks supplementation. Student's t-test and repeated measures analysis of variance were applied to analyze the data using SPSS software.Serum zinc levels had no significant differences between 2 groups at the baseline; however, its concentration decreased from 80.9 ± 4.2-68.9 ± 2.7 μg/dl to 81.2 ± 4.5-66.1 ± 2.9 μg/dl (P < 0.001) in Groups I and II, respectively after 6 weeks of supplementation. Continuous supplementation increased serum zinc concentration to baseline levels (79.0 ± 2.9 μg/dl; P < 0.01) in Group I and 70.5 ± 3.1 μg/dl in Group II following 12 weeks of supplementation. Plasma vitamin C increased from 3 ± 0/1-3.3 ± 0.2 mg/dl to 2.7 ± 0. 1-4.2 ± 0.2 mg/dl (P < 0.01) in Groups I and II, respectively. At the end of study, plasma vitamin C significantly increased from 3.3 ± 0.3-4.7 ± 0.3 (P < 0.01) to 4.2 ± 0.2-7.1 ± 0.2 (P < 0.001) in Groups I and II, respectively.Iron supplementation with and without vitamin C led to reduction in serum Zn in iron-deficient female students after 6 weeks. However, the decreasing trend stops after repletion of iron stores and Zn levels returned to the approximately baseline values after 12 weeks.
Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to investigate the result of couples' relationship enhancement training on sexual desire and emotional self-regulation of women suffered by negligence and misbehavior. Method: This descriptive-correlational study was performed on women under the supervision of Imam Khomeini committee in Quchan city; thirty of them were selected through convenient method and were randomly divided into an experimental group (15 persons) and a control group (15 persons). The instruments for Data gathering was three questionnaires: Hurlbert's questionnaire of sexual desire, Hofmann and Kashdan's questionnaire of emotional self-regulation, and questionnaire of domestic violence against women in Tabriz city. These questionnaires were answered by the above mentioned groups during the pre-test. After that, the relationship enhancement program was performed on the experimental group. The experimental group was trained by social stories during 24 sessions. At the end of the training, the post-test was performed on the two groups. The data were analyzed by using single-variable covariance analysis (ANCOVA) and single-variable covariance analysis (MANCOVA). Results: The results showed that teaching the relationship enhancement has positive and significant effects on increasing sexual desire and emotional self-regulation of abused women. Conclusion: It can be concluded that teaching the enhancement relationship to couples can be effective on increasing sexual desire and emotional self-regulation of married women. Thus, practitioners in the field of treatment and education can use the educational program of relationship enhancement to significantly reduce the psychological and social problems of couples.
Reviewing cine display of planar projections just after data acquisition of myocardial perfusion imaging is helpful not only for checking quality of the study but also for better interpretation of incidental findings by acquiring more helpful images. We present a patient with significant skeletal 99mTc-MIBI uptake accompanied by a large photopenic area in abdominal cavity in myocardial perfusion imaging raw images that were further confirmed as multiple myeloma and thrombotic abdominal aortic aneurysm, respectively.
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