Scientific Journal of

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Embryonic stem cells are potential pluripotent stem cells derived from inner cell mass of embryonic blastocyst stage. So far, differentiation of embryonic stem cells to megakaryocyte lineage has resulted from coculture with bone marrow stromal cells with disadvantages such as possibility of stem cell contamination from feeder layer and secretion of unknown factors from this layer ending in unwanted differentiation and genetic changes in embryonic stem cells. In this study, while excluding feeder layer, we differentiated murine bone marrow cells to megakaryocyte lineage.

 Materials and Methods

 In this experimental study, embryoid bodies resulted from R1 murine embryonic stem cells. The embryoid bodies were then cultured in two groups of test (containing IMDM with FBS, L-glutamin, non-essential aminoacids, beta mercaptoethanol, and TPO and IL-3 as growth factors) and control (the same culture medium used in test group without growth factors). After four days the colony assay test was performed, and after eight days immunohistochemistry staining for CD41 molecule, and finaly transcription test for PF4 gene using RT-PCR to demonstrate differentiation to megakaryocyte lineage.

 Results

 Results of the colony assay test indicated that the cells considered had the capacity to give rise to colonies. The total number of colonies and banzidine positive colonies were 57 ± 6.1 and 18 ± 3.6 respectively. On the other hand, immunocytochemistry analysis and PCR showed that the CD41 molecule and PF4 gene are expressed in differentiated cells.

 Conclusions

 Our results indicated that murine embryonic stem cells differentiate into megakaryocyte lineage cells without utilizing feeder layer, and embryonic stem cells can be used as an immortal new source for producing megakaryocyte lineage cells on which basic biological research can be conducted.

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 Key words : Embryonic stem cells, Megakaryocytic, Cell differentiation

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. The relationship between ABO blood groups and main risk factors of CVD is unknown. So this study was designed to investigate whether there is an association between ABO blood groups and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy population.

 Materials and Methods

 In this cross-sectional study, risk factors screening for CVD on 2920 healthy individuals of Golestan province in 2005 were estimated by a questionnaire that aimed to extract information about age, sex, physical activity, smoking, blood group type, weight, height, blood pressure and family history of CVD. Data were analyzed with SPSS13 and by using Chi Square and ANOVA tests.

 Results

 Out of the total number of 2920, 57.4% were male, 70% inactive, 14% smoker, 25% hypertensive, 23% obese, and 21% had family history of CVD with the mean age of 41.52 ± 12.317. Blood groups O (32.9%), A (30.1%), B (23.3%) and AB (13.7%) were the most frequent ones, respectively. Amongst cardiac risk factors, it was only the frequency of family history of CVD that varies across different blood groups, and individuals with A blood group reported to have a more frequent family history of CVD as compared with other blood groups.

 Conclusions

 These findings illustrate amongst cardiovascular risk factors only family history of CVD as having a significant correlation with ABO.

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Nurses play an important role in safe use of blood and blood products. Blood safety and effectiveness of transfusion somehow pertain to the knowledge and skills of the nurses who are responsible for. The purpose of this study was to evaluate nurses' knowledge and practice of blood transfusion in hospitals of Arak in 2010.

 Materials and Methods

 In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all nurses in hospitals of Arak participated. Information was collected through questionnaires. Scores of knowledge and practice were arranged to three levels of weak, average and good after recoded in terms of accepted scores. Data were analyzed by statistics-descriptive analysis using SPSS16, Chi Square correlation test and Spearman correlation coefficient.

 Results

 Most people were women (92.9%) and had bachelor degree (99.3%). Average and standard deviation of age and work history were 29.79 ± 5.14 and 6.15 ± 4.76, respectively. Knowledge measurement showed that 50.9% of participants are at good level, 33.5% at the intermediate and 15.6% at the weak level. Self-evaluation of nurses about their practice showed that the majority of subjects (63.9%) have good practice and the rest are at average. There was a significant correlation between knowledge and practice of the nurses (p< 0.001).

 Conclusions

 In this study the majority of nurses' knowledge and performance is satisfactory but there is still the need for more learning about the complications of blood transfusion and care improvement. Therefore, holding educational programs and monitoring managers seem to be necessary.

  Abstract

 Background and Objectives

 Alloimmunization with the prevalence rate of 60% is a common problem in chronically transfused patients. This problem has been reported to be less common in transfused hospital-based patients, amounting to 1-2 percent. Alloimmunization can lead to some difficulty varying from delay in the provision of similar blood types to delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions. The aim of this study was to analyze alloimmunization against RBCs among non-chronically transfused patients in Namazi Hospital in Shiraz.

 Materials and Methods

 Retrospective analysis of 3487 non-chronically transfused patients was conducted with antibody screening test and identification of patients' alloantibodies with the panel cell test. For patients with alloantibody, the data for sex, age, and history of transfusion and surgery were collected. Finally, the data were analyzed by SPSS software v. 15 using chi-square (CI= 95%).

 Results

 Twenty-eight out of 3487 patients had alloantibody (prevalence rate of 0.8%). The most common clinically significant alloantibodies found were anti-K (23%), anti- E (15%) and anti-C (11%). The most common clinically significant alloantibodies identified in males and females were anti-K and anti-C, respectively.

 Conclusions

 Alloantibody prevalence rate did not show any correlation with age and sex and was more common in patients with surgery history and transfusion record. Important factors contributing to the higher prevalence of the above alloantibodies are the higher prevalence of the related antigens in the population, higher antigenicity power, and the lack of crossmatch and grouping for the antigens before blood transfusion.

Abstract

Background and Objectives

The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to compare the effects of 8 weeks of supplementation with omega-3 and L-carnitine with the combination exercise on hematology parameters of type 2 diabetic women.

Materials and Methods

In this semi-experimental study, 58 patients with type 2 diabetes having referred to Diabetes Association of Shahrood with the mean age of 52.7 ± 6.17 years were randomy divided into six groups: (1) exercise + placebo [10 patients], (2) exercise + omega-3 [10 patients], (3) exercise + L carnitine [10 patients], (4) exercise+omega 3 + L carnitine [10 patients], (5) omega-3 + Lcarnitine [10 patients], and (6) the control group [8 patients]. The patients underwent endurance-resistance exercises.

Results

The number of WBCs in groups 1, 3, and 4  and that of HCT in the groups 3 and 4 compared to the control showed a significant decrease. However for RBCs, a significant increase in the groups 2, 3, and 4  compared to the control group was observed.

Conclusions 

It seems that 8 weeks of supplementation with omega-3 and L-carnitine combined with the combination exercises place an impact on the amount of WBCs and RBCs improving the oxygen carrying capacity in the patients with type 2 diabetes.