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Masoumeh Falah,1 Mohammad Farhadi,1 Seyed Kamran Kamrava,1 Saeid Mahmoudian,1 Ahmad Daneshi,1 Maryam Balali,1 Alimohamad Asghari,2 Massoud Houshmand1,3 1ENT and Head & Neck Research Center and Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Skull Base Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran Background: The prominent role of mitochondria in the generation of reactive oxygen species, cell death, and energy production contributes to the importance of this organelle in the intracellular mechanism underlying the progression of the common sensory disorder of the elderly, presbycusis. Reduced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) gene expression and coding region variation have frequently been reported as being associated with the development of presbycusis. The mtDNA control region regulates gene expression and replication of the genome of this organelle. To comprehensively understand of the role of mitochondria in the progression of presbycusis, we compared variations in the mtDNA control region between subjects with presbycusis and controls.Methods: A total of 58 presbycusis patients and 220 control subjects were enrolled in the study after examination by the otolaryngologist and audiology tests. Variations in the mtDNA control region were investigated by polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing.Results: A total of 113 sequence variants were observed in mtDNA, and variants were detected in 100% of patients, with 84% located in hypervariable regions. The frequencies of the variants, 16,223 C>T, 16,311 T>C, 16,249 T>C, and 15,954 A>C, were significantly different between presbycusis and control subjects.Conclusion: The statistically significant difference in the frequencies of four nucleotide variants in the mtDNA control region of presbycusis patients and controls is in agreement with previous experimental evidence and supports the role of mitochondria in the intracellular mechanism underlying presbycusis development. Moreover, these variants have potential as diagnostic markers for individuals at a high risk of developing presbycusis. The data also suggest the possible presence of changes in the mtDNA control region in presbycusis, which could alter regulatory factor binding sites and influence mtDNA gene expression and copy number. Keywords: age-related hearing impairment, presbycusis, mtDNA control region, audiology

Masoumeh Falah,1,2 Massoud Houshmand,3 Mohammad Najafi,2 Maryam Balali,1 Saeid Mahmoudian,1 Alimohamad Asghari,4 Hessamaldin Emamdjomeh,1 Mohammad Farhadi1 1ENT and Head & Neck Research Center and Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Biochemistry Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran; 4Skull base research center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Objectives: Age-related hearing impairment, or presbycusis, is the most common communication disorder and neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. Its prevalence is expected to increase, due to the trend of growth of the elderly population. The current diagnostic test for detection of presbycusis is implemented after there has been a change in hearing sensitivity. Identification of a pre-diagnostic biomarker would raise the possibility of preserving hearing sensitivity before damage occurs. Mitochondrial dysfunction, including the production of reactive oxygen species and induction of expression of apoptotic genes, participates in the progression of presbycusis. Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation has a critical role in presbycusis. However, the nature of the relationship between mitochondrial DNA copy number, an important biomarker in many other diseases, and presbycusis is undetermined.Methods: Fifty-four subjects with presbycusis and 29 healthy controls were selected after ear, nose, throat examination and pure-tone audiometry. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. The copy number of mitochondrial DNA relative to the nuclear genome was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results: Subjects with presbycusis had a lower median mitochondrial DNA copy number than healthy subjects and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.007). Mitochondrial DNA copy number was also significantly associated with degree of hearing impairment (P=0.025) and audiogram configuration (P=0.022).Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that lower mitochondrial DNA copy number is responsible for presbycusis through alteration of mitochondrial function. Moreover, the significant association of mitochondrial DNA copy number in peripheral blood samples with the degree of hearing impairment and audiogram configuration has potential for use as a standard test for presbycusis, providing the possibility of the development of an easy-to-use biomarker for the early detection of this condition. Keywords: age-related hearing impairment, presbycusis, biomarker, mtDNA

Masoumeh Falah,1,2 Mohammad Najafi,2 Massoud Houshmand,3 Mohammad Farhadi1 1ENT and Head & Neck Research Center and Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Biochemistry Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Medical Genetics, National Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran Abstract: Age-related hearing impairment (ARHI) is a progressive and a common sensory disorder in the elderly and will become an increasingly important clinical problem given the growing elderly population. Apoptosis of cochlear cells is an important factor in animal models of ARHI. As these cells cannot regenerate, their loss leads to irreversible hearing impairment. Identification of molecular mechanisms can facilitate disease prevention and effective treatment. In this study, we compared the expression of the genes BAK1 and BCL2 as two arms of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway between patients with ARHI and healthy subjects. ARHI and healthy subjects were selected after an ear nose throat examination, otoscopic investigation, and pure tone audiometry. RNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples, and relative gene expression levels were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. BAK1 and the BAK1/BCL2 ratio were statistically significantly upregulated in the ARHI subjects. The BAK1/BCL2 ratio was positively correlated with the results of the audiometric tests. Our results indicate that BAK-mediated apoptosis may be a core mechanism in the progression of ARHI in humans, similar to finding in animal models. Moreover, the gene expression changes in peripheral blood samples could be used as a rapid and simple biomarker for early detection of ARHI. Keywords: age-related hearing impairment (ARHI), presbycusis, biomarker, treatment

Maryam Balali,1,2 Behnam Kamalidehghan,3 Mohammad Farhadi,2 Fatemeh Ahmadipour,4 Mahmoud Dehghani Ashkezari,1 Mohsen Rezaei Hemami,2 Hossein Arabzadeh,2 Masoumeh Falah,2 Goh Yong Meng,5 Massoud Houshmand3 1Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Ashkezar Branch, Ashkezar, 2Department and Research Centre of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Medical Genetics Department, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Tehran, Iran; 4Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 5Department of Veterinary Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia Abstract: Mitochondrial DNA mutations play an important role in causing sensorineural hearing loss. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of the mitochondrial genes RNR1, MT-TL1, and ND1 as well as the nuclear genes GJB2 and GJB6 with audiological examinations in nonfamilial Iranians with cochlear implants, using polymerase chain reaction, DNA sequencing, and RNA secondary structure analysis. We found that there were no novel mutations in the mitochondrial gene 12S rRNA (MT-RNR1) in patients with and without GJB2 mutation (GJB2+ and GJB2-, respectively), but a total of six polymorphisms were found. No mutations were observed in tRNALeu(UUR) (MT-TL1). Furthermore, eight polymorphisms were found in the mitochondrial ND1 gene. Additionally, no mutations were observed in the nuclear GJB6 gene in patients in the GJB2- and GJB2+ groups. The speech intelligibility rating and category of auditory perception tests were statistically assessed in patients in the GJB2- and GJB2+ groups. The results indicated that there was a significant difference (P

Background: Tonsils and adenoid hypertrophy is a major respiratory symptom in children which is partly due to recruitment of inflammatory cells in upper airway lymph nodes as a result of the effects of synthesis and release of different inflammatory cytokines. It seems that infections play role in concert with these cytokines leading to tonsilar hypertrophy and other pathologic consequences. It is proposed that cellular infiltrate of tonsils and adenoids may secrete different quantities of these cytokines compared with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultures.Methods: Among patients who were admitted for adenotonsillectomy to the ENT ward, 37 patients, under 1-12 years old patients with fulfill criteria selected to include the study. Excised adenoid and tonsils cultured and inflammatory cytokines Interferon-γ (INF-γ), Interlukine-1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) measured in cellular culture supernatant. The same cytokines measured in PBMC cultures.Results: The data shows that there is a significant difference between IFN-γ and IL-8 amounts in adenoid tissue culture supernatant and PBMC culture of our patients. Furth-ermore, the amounts of IFN-γ, IL-1 and IL-8 showed considerable difference between tonsilar tissue culture supernatant and PBMC culture of these patients. Although there is a significant correlation between IL-6 amounts in tissue culture supernatant and PBMC culture (P=0.02), the respective data for TNF is only almost significant.Conclusion: Inflammatory cytokines may have significant role in the early provoke of inflammation occurred in hypertrophied tonsils and adenoid. The majority of these cyt-okines increase the expression of adhesion molecules on epithelial cells and influence the recruitment of leucocytes and inflamed tonsils. On the other hand lack of sufficient cytokine release may lead to persistent infections and may cause chronic inflammation and hypertrophied tissue.

Background: Staphylococcal superantigens (SAg's) may have some role in otitis media with effusion (OME). The aim of this study was the search of staphylococcal SAg's in middle ear effusion of children with OME. Methods: This cross sectional-analytic study was done in ENT & pediatric wards upon 64 children with otitis media with effusion (OME) between 1-15 years, (mean age=7.42+4 years) of Rasoul Akram University Hospital, Tehran, Iran in 2009-2011. Fifty six percent (36) of cases were male, 43.8% (28) were female. Staphylococcal SAg's; Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1 (TSST-1), Staphylococcal enterotoxin A, B, C, D (Enzyme immune assay, AB Cam, USA) were detected in middle ear effusion samples after conventional culture.Results: None type of SAg's found in 39% of OME cases, enterotoxin B found in: 22%; enterotoxin A: 17%, enterotoxin C: 15.6%, enterotoxin D: 12.5%, Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-1 (TSST-1): 7.8% Mean age of cases with positive TSST-1, enterotoxin A, B, C, and D was: 1, 5, 8.6, 9.6 and 9.6 years respectively. Positive TSST had no agreement with positive enterotoxin A and C but had weak agreement with type B and D. Mean age of cases with positive TSST was one years which had significant difference with (7.9 years) in cases with negative TSST test (P

Background: Staphylococcus aureus secretes numerous superantigenes which trigger the inflammatory mechanisms of sinus mucosa and cause chronic rhino-sinusitis. This study was designed to evaluate the role of staphylococcus aureus superantigens in polyp tissues of patients with chronic rhino-sinusitis in comparison with a control group.Methods: Polyp tissue samples of 28 patients and mucosal specimens of 19 healthy individuals were evaluated for staphylococcus aureus bacterium superantigens, exotoxins A, B, C and D and TSST-1 with RT-PCR and ELISA methods Rasoul Akram Hospital during 2 years.Results: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results revealed that 88.2% of the patients and 45.5% of the controls had at least one type of superantigen (P=0.03). Evaluation of superantigens using ELISA method showed presence of at least one type of superantigen in the nasal samples of all patients and in 35.3% of the controls (P

Background: Too many studies are in the process of determining the probable role of immune system in the etiopathogenesis of nasal polyposis. This study was designed to identify the probable participation of Th1, Th2 lymphocytes in the induction and progression of nasal polyposis.Methods: Seventy-five patients, 42 male and 33 female, with nasal polyposis were examined for total serum IgE, specific serum IgE and reaction to skin test for differentiating allergic from non-allergic participants in Rasoul Akram Hospital during 2010. To determine the possible correlation of allergic reactions in the upper respiratory tract and nasal polyposis, cytokine gene expression was evaluated on the extracted RNA by RT-PCR. The data were analyzed by using c2, independent t-test, correlation and Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.Results: The mean age of participants was 38 years (18-81 years). IFN-γ and IL-4 gene expressions were more prevalent in allergic than non-allergic individuals (IFN-γ: 39.5% vs. 14.2%, P=0.3 and IL-4: 44.7% vs. 18.9%, P=0.02, respectively). IL-10 and IL-12 (P35 and P40 fractions) genes were not significantly different between the two groups. IL-10 and IL-12 (P35, P40) genes did not differ significantly either.Conclusion: This research suggests that overproduction of cytokines and an imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cell production may play an important role in the pathophysiology of allergic or non-allergic nasal polyp formation. Thus, although nasal polyposis is a multifactorial disease with several different etiological factors, chronic persistent inflammation is undoubtedly a major factor irrespective of the etiology.

"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory infection. Pneumococcal upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) in children is seldom bacteremic. Determination the prevalence of S.pneumoniae infections in children with URTI using rapid urinary antigen test (BINAX now) and titration of serum pneumolysin antibody (added to conventional culture) was the object of this study."n"n Methods: A cross sectional, case-control study done in ENT & pediatric departments of Rasoul Hospital in Tehran, Iran, (2008 -2010) upon 133 cases with upper respiratory tract infection (otitis media, sinusitis and tracheitis). The nosocomial infection omitted in first step. 60 remaining cases followed for S.pneumoniae infection by culture and rapid urinary antigen test (Binax Now). Serum pneumolysin antibody titers compared between 45 cases and 66 controls. "n"n Results: Positive culture (S.pneumoniae, H.influenza) obtained in 4/60 URTI cases. Positive urinary S.pneumoniae antigen detected in 50% (30/60) of cases and 6% (4/66) of controls (p=0.01). The pneumolysin antibody level with cut-off level 525pg/ml was higher in URTI cases than controls (982±441 Vs. 525±42, p

Lymphocyte CD4+count, a standard laboratory test for staging of HIV infection, is expensive and unavailable in resource-restricted countries. Total lymphocyte count (TLC) and hemoglobin (Hb) are recommended as simple & inexpensive surrogates. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation, sensitivity and predictive power of these parameters as substitutes for CD4 count. One hundred HIV patients enrolled in this analytic descriptive study in Ahvaz, a city in the South of Iran, from 2005 to 2006. They were tested for CD4 count, TLC, Hb, and hematocrit (Hct). The cutoffs were determined as: 200 cells/µL, 1200 cells/µL, 12 g/dl and 30%, respectively. We used Sys Max SE 9500 for CBC and Flow cytometry for CD4 count. The correlation coefficient established correlation between values. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values were calculated. 2 females (%2) and 98 males (%98) of the mean age of 32±5 years were studied. 87 cases (%87) were IV drug users, the majority having a history of imprisonment. The mean CD4 count, TLC, Hb and Hct were 279±225, 2102±1250, 10.7±2.4 and 30.4±9.0, respectively. A strong correlation was observed between CD4 count and TLC (R = 0.645, P = 0.001), but no correlation was seen between CD4 count and Hb or Hct (R= 0.451, P=0.056 and R= 0.375, P=0.816 respectively). This study shows that TLC is a suitable surrogate marker for CD4 count. Hb and Hct are of limited value in predicting CD4 counts and should not be substituted for CD4counts.

This is a report of 30 cases of pediatric functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). 28 of these children had chronic sinusitis and 2 had acute sinusitis the most common chief complaints were: 1) Chronic Rhinorea 2) Nasal obstruction 3) Chronic cough. Systemic predisposing conditions were allergy in 7 pts and immotile cilliasyndrome in 2 pts, all of the procedures were performed under general anesthesia. The most common procedures were: 1) Resection of lateral part of the middle turbinate. 2) Antrostomy of the maxillary sinus. 3) Turbinoplasty of the inf turbinate. 4) Anterior erhnoidectomy, (Messerklinger, Approach). There were no kajor complication and only 3 cases of minor complication (2=regeneration of polipoid tissues, 1 synechia) occurred. The duration of follow up was from 6-18 mths recovery occurred in 26 pts. Two of the pts didn't respond because of severe allergy and were referred to immunologist for further therapy 2 others didn't respond appropriately because of immotile cilliasyndrome

Photovoltaic panels' performance is degraded when their temperature rises above 25 °C. Various cooling methods are proposed to deal with this issue. In this study pin fin cooling is introduced as a simple and cost-effective passive cooling technique to cool a 10 (W) monocrystalline photovoltaic module. Indoor experimental tests have been conducted to investigate the module's thermal and electrical performance. Based on the radiation intensity, module's tilt angle, pin fin numbers, and pin fin arrangements, four categories are defined and extensively studied. The obtained results reveal that adding pin fins can reduce the module's temperature up to nearly 10 °C. More interestingly, by inclining the bare photovoltaic module from a horizontal state to a 45-degree inclination angle the module's average temperature is reduced by 6 °C. This temperature reduction is about 15 °C if the PV module is inclined by 45 degrees and also attached by 100 pin fins. Based on the experimental findings, the change in the pin fins' arrangement did not show a sensible change in either thermal or electrical performance of the photovoltaic device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel double network (DN) hydrogel nanocomposite with good compressive strength has been prepared by using Carboxymethyl Cellulose-g-Acrylic acid-Iron Oxides Nanoparticles (CMC-g-AA-IONs) as the primary network and polyacrylamide as the secondary network. The structure of the synthesized DN hydrogel nanocomposite was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and mechanical strength measurement. The synthesized DN hydrogel showed high mechanical strength (σ of 0.238 MPa), despite the water content of 90%. Its biocompatibility effect on sensitive nerve cells was evaluated by the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test. The results showed that the DN hydrogel nanocomposite has no cytotoxicity on these cells and did not cause any disturbance or inhibit their growth and proliferation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]