Medical Genetics
Hybert keshishian; Shadi Habibnia; Mohamad Reza Fallahian; Saeed Zaker Bostanabad
Volume 1, Issue 3 , March 2021, , Pages 33-39
Abstract
Introduction and aim: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) was discovered in 1965. Approximately 350 million people are infected with HBV. The virus has a worldwide spread and one of the most important complications of infection is chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis can be detected ...
Read More
Introduction and aim: The hepatitis B virus (HBV) was discovered in 1965. Approximately 350 million people are infected with HBV. The virus has a worldwide spread and one of the most important complications of infection is chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatitis can be detected by biochemical tests that determine liver function. Methods: This study was qualitative and 30 patients with suspected hepatitis B referring to Massoud Lab in 2019 were selected. Blood samples were tested for HBsAg positive by multiplex RT-PCR with specific probes and primers as well as β-Actin gene as quality control. Then the obtained results were compared with the results of commercial tests. Results: From 30 samples, 19 samples were HBsAg positive and 11 samples were HBsAg negative. Positive samples were re-examined to confirm the positive results. To compare and evaluate the quality of the results of the designed test, all of these 30 samples were analyzed using another common laboratory kit. Conclusion: The high sensitivity, good reproducibility, and low cost make this innovative quantitative HBV real-time PCR assay especially well-suited for application to large clinical surveys.
Medical Genetics
Ani Dejakam; Ani Dejakam; Azadeh Hekmat
Volume 1, Issue 1 , September 2020, , Pages 16-25
Abstract
Introduction and Aim: Opium addiction is one of the most prevalent addiction in Iranian society. Throughout the last two decades, congress 60; a nongovernmental organization; has been operated a taper off treatment of opium associated with a package of psychological treatment group classes. Although ...
Read More
Introduction and Aim: Opium addiction is one of the most prevalent addiction in Iranian society. Throughout the last two decades, congress 60; a nongovernmental organization; has been operated a taper off treatment of opium associated with a package of psychological treatment group classes. Although the effectiveness of the taper off method in opium addiction has been verified, molecular mechanisms involved in this treatment have not explained. BDNF gene is a brain-derived neurotrophic factor that is associated with numerous molecular mechanisms of the brain including memory. Methods: In this research, peripheral blood samples from 21 patients were collected from Congress 60. RNA was extracted from each sample, reverse transcribed and amplified via RT-PCR technique, utilizing specific primers for BDNF. The production of BDNF protein was also analyzed employing the western blotting technique. Results: Our results exhibited considerable down expression of BDNF in addict persons vs. non-psychiatric persons (p < /em><0.01). Furthermore, BDNF expression levels in addicts increased significantly after the therapy period. Findings showed the effect of opium abuse and taper off treatment on the expression of BDNF. Conclusion: The present study could help to a better understanding of molecular and neurological mechanisms of opium and taper off treatment. Additionally, BDNF level detection could be a potential marker for screening the effectiveness of various types of addiction treatment.
