RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The Wnt/ß- The Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway is involved in many developmental processes in both fetal and adult life; its abnormalities can lead to disorders including several types of cancers and malfunction of specific cells and tissues in both animals and humans. Its role in reproductive processes has been proven. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the expression of the key regulator of this signaling pathway GSK3-ß and its presumed role in azoospermia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: WNT3a protein concentration and GSK3-ß gene expression levels were measured and compared between two groups of infertile men. The test groups consisted of 10 patients with obstructive and 10 non-obstructive azoospermia. The control group was selected among healthy men after vasectomies that were willing to conceive a child using a testicular biopsy technique. Samples were obtained by testicular biopsy and screened for the most common mutations (84, 86 and 255) in the SRY region before analyzing. GSK3-ß gene expression was assessed quantitatively by real time-PCR. RESULTS: The WNT3a protein concentration had no significant difference between the two test groups and controls. Expression of GSK3-ß was down-regulated in non-obstructive azoospermia (3.10±0.19) compared with normal (7.12±0.39) and obstructive azoospermia (6.32±0.42) groups (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of GSK-3ß may cause to non-obstructive azoospermia. Regulation and modification of GSK-3ß gene expression by drugs could be used as a therapeutic solution.

RESUMEN

Tendon healing is impaired in individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM). According to research, there is considerable improvement in the healing of surgically tenotomized Achilles tendons following low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in non-diabetic, healthy animals. This study uses light microscopic (LM) and semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) analyses to evaluate the ability of LLLT in healing Achilles tendons from streptozotocin-induced diabetic (STZ-D) rats. A total of 88 rats were randomly divided into two groups, non-diabetic and diabetic. DM was induced in the rats by injections of STZ. The right Achilles tendons of all rats were tenotomized 1 month after administration of STZ. Laser-treated rats were treated with a helium-neon (He-Ne) laser that had a 632.8-nm wavelength and 7.2-mW average power. Experimental group rats received a daily dose of 0.014 J (energy density, 2.9 J/cm(2)). Control rats did not receive LLLT. Animals were sacrificed on days 5, 10, and 15 post-operatively for semi-quantitative LM and semi-quantitative RT-PCR examinations of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-ß1) gene expression. The chi-square test showed that LLLT significantly reduced inflammation in non-diabetic rats compared with their non-diabetic controls (p = 0.02). LLLT significantly decreased inflammation in diabetic rats on days 5 (p = 0.03) and 10 (p = 0.02) compared to the corresponding control diabetic rats. According to the student's t test, LLLT significantly increased TGF-ß1 gene expression in healthy (p = 0.000) and diabetic (p = 0.000) rats compared to their relevant controls. The He-Ne laser was effective in altering the inflammatory reaction and increasing TGF-ß1 gene production.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: Currently panoramic radiography is used for diagnosis of dental and bone lesions, but anatomical structures also can be seen and may be useful in dental managements. This study aimed to investigate the visibility of some important mandibular features relating to neurovascular structures in Iranian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Panoramic radiographs were taken by Planmeca machine from 412 patients using standard exposure. The position of patient was in compliance with standard protocol. Then mandibular incisive canal was evaluated and data were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: Mental foramen, anterior loop of mental nerve and incisive canal could be observed in 84.2, 66 and 51.7% of the cases. Respectively, lingual foramen was observed in only 6.1% of the radiographs. Gender doesn't affect on the visibility of these structures. There was a relationship between mandibular foramen and canal with age. CONCLUSION: Mandibular incisive canal was considered in 51.7% of cases, it was observed that the result obtained was more than those of other researches.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

In the present investigation position of mandibular foramen of the mandible in relation to other landmarks were studied. Panoramic x-ray of 103 females and 94 males who come to above mentioned clinic selected by available sampling. All samples were Iranian with the age above 18 years old. X-ray machine and method were same for all samples. Special landmarks in right side of mandible were identified and their distance from mandibular foramen were recorded by millimetric ruler. The measured landmarks were as follow: Mandibular angle, Coronoid process, Mandibular notch, Head of mandible, Posterior border of ramus of mandible, Anterior border of the ramus, External oblique line, Mylohyoid line, Occlusal plane: mandibular angle were measured by protractor. Results between male and female were compared by Mann Whitney U test. The average of both sexes ages were 34.7 years. Difference between distance of mandibular foramen from following landmarks between male and females were significant: (1) Mandibular angle, (2) Head of mandible, (3) Posterior border of ramus, (4) Mylohyoid and (5) Occlusal plane. Present investigation revealed position variation of M.F. in relation to other landmarks and differences between male and female, we suggest kind of investigation individual under 18 years old.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Mast cells have been shown to participate in the wound healing process. We investigated the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on mast cell number in the inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling phases of the wound healing process of experimental burns. Sixty rats subjected to third-degree burns were divided into four groups: two laser-treated, one control, and one nitrofurazone-treated group. In the two laser-treated groups, burned areas received LLLT with a helium-neon laser at energy densities of 38.2 J/cm(2) and 76.4 J/cm(2), respectively. The effects on mast cell number and degranulation were assessed 7, 16, and 30 days postburn (inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling phases of wound healing, respectively). Intact and degranulated mast cells were counted. Five rats with no burns were used for baseline studies. On day 7 in the first laser group, the total number of mast cells was significantly higher than in the other groups. On day 16 in the nitrofurazone-treated group, the total number of mast cells was significantly higher than in the control, first laser, and normal groups. LLLT on the experimental third-degree burns significantly increased the total number of mast cells during the inflammation phase of wound healing; also, topical application of 0.2% nitrofurazone ointment on the same burns significantly increased the total number of mast cells during the proliferation phase of burn healing.

Asunto(s)