Background:Diabetes is associated with an increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which plays an important role in the development of oxidative stress and anemia.Objectives:The main purpose of this study was to investigate whether patients with diabetes undergoing hemodialysis (HD) were susceptible to oxidative stress and whether resulting damages affect the structure of hemoglobin (Hb) and plasma proteins.Patients and Methods:Twenty patients with diabetes undergoing HD, 20 patients with diabetes and normal renal function, and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were included in this study. Methaemoglobin (Met-Hb), hemichrome and conformational changes of Hb were analyzed as oxidative markers in erythrocytes. Ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and protein carbonyl content (PCO) were determined as plasma oxidative biomarkers. Also triglyceride, cholesterol, albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, glucose and uric acid were assayed as biochemical parameters of plasma.Results:Patients with diabetes undergoing hemodialysis had significantly lower levels of PCO and albumin (P < 0.05), but significantly higher levels of FRAP, BUN, creatinine and uric acid (P < 0.05) as compared to patients with diabetes and normal renal function. Linear regression analysis showed significant negative correlations between PCO and FRAP (r = -0.53), oxy-Hb (r = -0.88) and Hb absorbance at 340 nm (r = -0.79), 420 nm (r = -0.85) and 577 nm (r = -0.68) in patients with diabetes undergoing hemodialysis. Also PCO was significantly and positively correlated with Hb absorbance at 275 nm (r = 0.63) and 560 nm (r = 0.61) which confirmed the oxidative damage to erythrocytes in control subjects.Conclusions:Hemodialysis exacerbates oxidative stress and conformational changes of Hb in patients with diabetes on hemodialysis. The FRAP value can be used as a positive determinant, while PCO and Hb derivatives can be used as negative determinants of oxidative stress in patients with diabetes.

Doxorubicin is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents; however, it has various side effects, such as cardiotoxicity. Therefore, novel methods are needed to reduce its adverse effects. Quercetin is a natural flavonoid with many biological activities. Liposomes are lipid-based carriers widely used in medicine for drug delivery. In this study, liposomal doxorubicin with favorable characteristics was designed and synthesized by the thin-film method, and its physicochemical properties were investigated by different laboratory techniques. Then, the impact of the carrier, empty liposomes, free doxorubicin, liposomal doxorubicin, and quercetin were analyzed in animal models. To evaluate the interventions, measurements of cardiac enzymes, oxidative stress and antioxidant markers, and protein expression were performed, as well as histopathological studies. Additionally, cytotoxicity assay and cellular uptake were carried out on H9c2 cells. The mean size of the designed liposomes was 98.8 nm, and the encapsulation efficiency (EE%) was about 85%. The designed liposomes were anionic and pH-sensitive and had a controlled release pattern with excellent stability. Co-administration of liposomal doxorubicin with free quercetin to rats led to decreased weight loss, creatine kinase (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malondialdehyde (MDA), while it increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes in their left ventricles. Additionally, it changed the expression of NOX1, Rac1, Rac1-GTP, SIRT3, and Bcl-2 proteins, and caused tissue injury and cell cytotoxicity. Our data showed that interventions can increase antioxidant capacity, reduce oxidative stress and apoptosis in heart tissue, and lead to fewer complications. Overall, the use of liposomal doxorubicin alone or the co-administration of free doxorubicin with free quercetin showed promising results.

Background: Influenza A H1N1 virus had became a world pandemic during June 2009 to July 2010. Children are the most susceptible group to acquire influenza infection and almost half of hospitalized patients are under 18 years of age. On May 10 th 2009, The Iranian Ministry of Health launched a system to monitor and report the presence of this new virus throughout the country. Objectives: In this report we summarized the results of surveillance activity in children aged 2-17 years in a southwestern province of Iran, Khuzestan, in response to the emergence of influenza A H1N1 virus during July 2009-April 2010. Patients and Methods: A total of 232 suspected children who fulfilled the case definition criteria were included in this study. Physicians obtained nasopharyngeal swab specimens, and human influenza A H1N1 was detected, using Real time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test according to the CDC protocol.Results: Among the 232 enrolled cases, 126 patients (54.31%) were male and 106 patients (45.89%) were female. Real time Reverse RT-PCR test revealed that 18.1% of suspected children were positive for the influenza A H1N1 virus. The most frequent symptoms among the confirmed patients were cough (34, 81%), fever (30, 71%), and myalgia (24, 57%) and five cases (12%) reported diarrhea. Conclusions: Clinical signs and symptoms presented by patients infected with the influenza A H1N1 virus were similar to those described for seasonal influenza, although with more gastrointestinal disorders.