The aim of study was to assay serum copper, zinc and lipid peroxidation levels in pregnant women with and without preeclampsia. There were significant differences between systolic, diastolic blood pressures and copper, Cu/Zn ratio and malondialdehyde among two groups. There were significant differences in weight, pre-pregnancy body mass index, systolic, diastolic blood pressures and copper, Cu/Zn ratio and malondialdehyde levels when compared to healthy pregnant women with mild and severe preeclampsia patients. A positive correlation was observed between systolic and diastolic blood pressure and copper, malondialdehyde and Cu/Zn ratio. Copper and malondialdehyde may play a role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a cytokine protein expressed by cardiomyocyte in myocardial damage-associated inflammation. Although several methods are currently available for treatment of heart diseases none of them are completely successful. Recently, stem cells have gained enormous attention and are expected to play a significant role for treating heart diseases. 5-Azacytidine (5-aza) has recently been found to cause stimulation of stem cells to differentiate into cardiomyocytes. Here we present the determination of whether IL-1β can induce the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to cardiomyocytes. MSCs were derived from bone marrow, propagated and then cultured in differentiation medium supplemented with 5-aza and IL-1β (at two levels, 5 and 10 ng/ml). After 21 days, total RNA was extracted and cDNA synthesis was carried out. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) was performed for detecting cardiac-specific markers. Besides, to investigate the expression of cardiac markers in protein levels, immunocytochemistry was done by specific antibodies. Ultimately, cardiac markers expression suggested that IL-1β and 5-aza synergistically induces the cardiomyocyte differentiation.

Background:Some studies have indicated that human paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity shows a polymorphic distribution. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of PON1 polymorphism in patients with Alzheimer’s disease in Gorgan and compare it with a healthy control group.Method:The study included 100 healthy individuals and 50 patients. Enzyme activity and genetic polymorphism of PON1 were determined.Result:There were significant differences in distribution of genotypes and alleles among patients and control group. The most common genotype was CT in patients and control group, while the most frequent alleles were T and C in patients and controls, respectively. There was a statistically significant variation between serum PON1 activity and –108C> T polymorphism. The highest PON1 enzyme activities in the patients and controls were found in CC, while lower enzyme activities were seen in CT and TT genotypes in both genders and age groups.Conclusion:Onset of Alzheimer’s disease may depend on different polymorphisms of the PON1 enzyme. Late or early-onset of Alzheimer’s disease may also depend on age and gender distribution, especially for arylesterase enzyme. Further studies on polymorphism of the enzyme are necessary for interpretation of possible polymorphic effects of enzyme on PON1 activity in humans.