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Background&Objective: The breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. The normal and malignant breast tissue are under the regulatory effects of esteroid hormones and growth factors including HER-2/neu. The purpose of this study, is to determine the expression of estrogene receptor (ER) progesterone receptor(PR) and HER-2/neu among Iranian women with invasive breast cancer. Materials&Methods: The study is descriptive and cross-sectional that was performed on 50 samples of patients with invasive breast cancer in Imam-Khomeini Hospital-Sari (2005-06). After preparing the samples four tissue sections from each sample was obtained then H&E and IHC staining were performed. Results: In our study, the patients were between 28-88 yrs, (mean:52/6). ER and PR and HER-2/neu were positive in 80%, 72% and 57.1% of cases, respectively. Concurrent positive ER and PR was 70%, meanwhile 62.9% of these patient were also positive for HER-2/neu. 20% of the cases showed negativity for both ER and PR and of these 83.4% were also negative for HER-2/neu. Conclusion: In our study ER expression by itself is equal to previous studies in textbooks but PR expression, HER-2/neu and concurrent expression of ER&PR are higher in our study. Interestingly HER-2/neu expression is near to what was previously proposed by Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization and Kerman University of Medical science. It seems that racial and geographic factors are contributed for these diffrences.

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Background and Objective: Brain ischemia is one of the most important factor of morbidity and mortality and leaving many people with mental and physical disabilities. Until now there are no appropriate medications to prevent and cure ischemic injury. This study was done to evaluate the protective effect of Adenosine A1 receptor and ascorbic acid on hippocampal neuronal density and memory disorder in ischemia reperfusion induced Rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was performed on the hippocampus pyramidal neurons on 56 male BALB/c mice. Animals randmly allocated into 8 groups (N=7) including: 1) intact, 2) ischemic control group, 3) ischemic, plus agonist and adenosine of A1 receptor, 4) ascorbic acid (100 mg/daily), 5) ischemic plus agonist adenosine receptor (1 mg/1 kg) one week after ischemia, 6) ischemia, ascorbic acid befor and after ischemia and A1 receptor (1 mg/1 kg) agonist after ischemia, 7) A1 receptor, antagonist (2.25 / 1 kg), one weed after ischemia, 8) Ascorbic acid (100 mg/1kg) before and after ischemia plus A1 receptor antagonist (2.25 / 1 kg) after ischemia. Ischemia induced by clamping of common carotid artery and the drugs was injected subsequently into peritoneum after reduction of inflammation of ischemic zone. The Y-maze memory test performed after completing the treatment period, afterward brains fixed and prepared for microscopic nissl staining method. The counting of pyramidal cells were performed at 53500 square micrometer of CA1. Data were analyzed using SPSS-15 and ANOVA test. Results: The Y-maze test showed extensive deficit in short-term memory in ischemic group (PA=200) but in treatment groups this deficit significantly reduced (PA=243, 248 and 265). The normal neuronal cell in ischemic group was significantly lowered (n=87) than treatment groups (n=111, 105 and 125) including ascorbic acid group (125), adenosine receptor agonist (105) and ascorbic acid plus agonist adenosine receptor (111). The number of normal neuronal cell in ischemic groups significantly is reduced compared to treatment group (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that concurrent treatment of ascorbic acid and Adenosine A1 receptor agonist can significantly reduce the complications caused by brain ischemia in CA1 area of hippocampus.

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Background and Objective: Skeletal muscle expresses several neurotrophin and their receptors which providing the basis for neurotrophin signaling within the muscle compartments. This study was done to evaluate the effect of a session of resistance exercise on mRNA expression of NT-3 and TrkC proteins in soleus muscle of Wistar Rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 16 male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into exercise and control groups. The resistance training protocol consisted of climbing a 1-meter–long ladder, with a weight attached to a tail sleeve. Expressions of NT-4/5 and P75, quantitatively were measured using RT-PCR. Results: There was not any significant alteration in NT-3 mRNA in soleus muscle after resistance exercise. However, one session of resistance exercise significantly increased mRNA expression of TrkC (1.7 Folds) in soleus muscle (P<0.05). Conclusion: Resistance exercise increases TrkC expression in soleuse muscle of wistar rats.

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Background and Objective: Alkaline phosphatase, BMP, and GATA proteins are important factors in the process of spermatogenesis. This study aims to investigate the effect of alkaline phosphatase, GATA, and BMP expression on spermatogenic stem cells, embryonic cells, and embryonic stem-like cells (ES-like) in C57BL mice.
Methods: In this experimental study, spermatogonial stem cells were isolated from three heads of 4-week-old C57BL mice, and embryonic stem cells and ES-like cells were prepared. Alkaline phosphatase staining test was performed on spermatogenic stem cells, embryonic cells, and ES-like cells. The expression of BMP and GATA genes was analyzed using Fluidigm PCR. Protein-protein interaction networks were isolated and drawn using databases.
Results: Positive alkaline phosphatase expression in stem cells and negative expression in testicular Sertoli cells indicated the presence of this enzyme in pluripotent cells. The gene expression of BMP and GATA in spermatogonial stem cells (6.3 and 2.7, respectively), embryonic cells (3.2 and 4.4, respectively), and ES-like cells (8.5 and 2.5, respectively) was positive, but not statistically significant. Bioinformatics studies showed the regulatory role of these genes and their direct effect on alkaline phosphatase.
Conclusion: BMP and GATA genes, along with alkaline phosphatase enzymes, play a crucial role in controlling embryonic and spermatogonial stem cells, maintaining their pluripotency, and guiding them towards differentiated cells.
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Background and Objective: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) located in the fallopian tube epithelial cells play a crucial role in the immunological response to sperm and pathogens. The present study aimed to compare the function and response of TLR3, TLR4, and TLR5 receptors in the presence of sperm under both physiological and pathological conditions in vitro.
Methods: In this descriptive laboratory study, OE-E6/E7 cells were cultured with fresh sperm samples obtained from normozoospermic individuals (n=10) and specific ligands for TLR3, TLR4, and TLR5 receptors in three groups consisting of sperm, specific ligands, and sperm + specific ligands. A control group was also included without adding sperm or ligand. The concentrations of IL-6 and IL-8 secreted from OE-E6/E7 cells in all four groups were determined using the ELISA method.
Results: Exposure of sperm and specific ligands to TLR3, TLR4, and TLR5 receptors in fallopian tube epithelial cells led to a significant increase in the concentration of IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines. There was no significant difference in the secretion of these cytokines from OE-E6/E7 cells between the two groups of ligand and ligand + sperm.
Conclusion: The response of fallopian tube epithelial cells to sperm exposure through TLRs leads to an increase in cytokine secretion. However, simultaneous exposure of sperm and TLR-specific ligands does not result in a cumulative increase in cytokine secretion. Therefore, it is plausible that the TLR signaling pathway may be regulated negatively by some other factors. Further studies are required to investigate this issue.