Assessment of gamma background radiation in different seasons in
Zanjan
F. Saghatchi, A. Eslami, M. Salouti
Paramedical and Health Faculty, Zanjan, Islamic Republic of Iran
E-mail address of main author:hfaranak@yahoo.com
1.
Introduction
The measurement of natural environmental radiations is one of the most important
subjects in health physics. The main sources of background radiation are cosmic,
terrestrial and cosmogenic radiation produced by reactions with cosmic rays and
atmospheric nuclei. Terrestrial radiation varies in different regions in the world.
Generally the background dose rate from cosmic rays depends on the latitude and
altitude. In resent years many different studies were performed about background
radiation all around the world as well as in Iran. This study was carried out to provide a
map of ambient gamma background radiation in Zanjan concidering to existence of lead
and zinc minerals and granites sands in this region.
2.
Material and Methods
To determine the dose rate from background radiation, 8 centers were selected in Zanjan.
Measurements were accomplished using of Geiger-Muller detector (RDS-110) calibrated
by Cs-137. For each selected point, 4 measurements in 4 seasons have been done. All the
measurements were in the second month of each season in 8-12 AM since August-2005
to June-2006. Each measurements last approximately 30 minutes. 10 values were
recorded in each time. The mean value was defined as dose rate in each season.
Measurements were accomplished in flat areas, at least 5 meter far from every building
and one meter above the ground.
3.
Results
The mean value of equivalent dose rate were 120, 134, 127 and 125nSv/h in spring,
summer, autumn and winter respectively. The mean value of equivalent dose rate in
zanjan was determind as 126nSv/h or 180nGy/h.
4.
Conclusion
The average dose rate in zanjan was lower than Baneh (in Kordestan province) and was
higher than Mashad, Tabriz, Urmie, Esfahan and Yazd. The overall population-weighted
mean outdoor dose rate was found 36nGy/h which was lower than world-wide average
dose rate reported by UNSCEAR-2000 by 59nGy/h. The annual effective dose for
outdoors was 0.04 mSv. The results showed that spring has the lowest and the summer
has the highest equivalent dose rate in zanjan. The results of this study showed that the
altitude and granite rocks may have a significant role in the level of background radiation
in this region.
Assessment of Gamma Background Radiation in Zanjan
Faranak Saghatchi1, Akbar Eslami 2, Mojtaba Salouti3
1
2
Dept. of Radiology, Medical Sciences University of Zanjan
Dept. of Environmental Health, Medical Sciences University of Zanjan
3
Dept. of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University of Zanjan
Introduction
Exposure to ionizing radiation from natural sources is a continuous and unavoidable
feature of life on earth. According to the United Nations Scientific Committee on Effects
of Atomic Radiation report (UNSCEAR, 2000), the greatest contribution to mankind’s
exposure comes from natural background radiation, and the worldwide average annual
effective dose per capita is 2.4 mSv. Investigations and measurements of natural
environmental radiation are one of the most interesting subjects in health physics. The
main sources of background radiation are cosmic, terrestrial and cosmogenic radiation.
Cosmic radiation including secondary highly energetic particles produced by spallation
reactions with primary cosmic rays and atmospheric nuclei.Terrestrial radiation originates
mostly from radiations of thorium 232Th and uranium 238U series radionuclides and
potassium 40k. Cosmogenic radionuclides contribute only little to external exposure. The
major production of cosmogenic radionuclides results from the interaction of cosmic rays
with atmospheric gases. Some of the natural radionuclides decay to from different
radioisotopes which increase the total radiation of the earth. Natural background radiation
varies over a range of concentrations and exposure rates due to a variety of causes.
Generally, the background does rates from comic rays depend slightly on the latitude
and strongly on the altitude. The variability in external terrestrial radiation is typically
larger than that of cosmic sources. External terrestrial is due to concentration of
radionuclies in rocks. There are considerable variations of background radiation in
different regions for example Kerala in India and Ramsar in Iran are among those regions
with the highest levels of background radiation in the world.
Exposure to ionizing radiation from natural sources is a continuous and unavoidable
feature of life on earth. According to the United Nations Scientific Committee on Effects
of Atomic Radiation report (UNSCEAR, 2000), the greatest contribution to mankind’s
exposure comes from natural background radiation, and the worldwide average annual
effective dose per capita is 2.4 mSv. However, much higher levels of exposure are usual
for inhabitants of natural high background radiation areas (HBRAs).
Healtheffectsoflowdoseionizingradiationarethesubjectoflong-term debate and aproblem
of public concern.To elucidat ethese effects, the epidemiological works an
dradiobiological studies are needed. The great interest expressed world wide for the study
of naturally occurring radiation and environmental radioactivity has led to the
performance of extensive investigations in many countries (Mohantyetal.,2004). Such
investigations can be useful for the assessment of public dose rates, keeping reference
data records and ascertaining possible changes in the environmental radioactivity due to
nuclear ,industrial and other human activities.
Aims and objectives
The measurement of natural environmental radiation is one of the most important
subjects in health physics. In recent years many different studies were performed about
background radiation all around the world as well as in Iran. Zanjan is one of the 30
provinces of Iran in the north-west of the country with the area of 22,164 square
kilometres. This study was carried out to provide a map of ambient gamma background
radiation in Zanjan considering to existence of lead and zinc mines and granites sands in
this region.
Material and Methods
The environmental dose rate is determined by two methods, one of them is count rate
measurement of terrestrial (232Th, 238U, 40k) by gamma ray spectrometry and calculating
its dose rate, and the other one is direct measurment. In this study, the later method was
used. To determine the dose rate due to gamma background radiation in Zanjan,
measurements were performed in outdoor and indoor places using of Geiger-Muller
detector (RDS-110) calibrated by Cs-137. For outdoor measurements 8 centers were
selected in Zanjan. Four areas in north, south, west and east and four areas randomly in
other centers were choosed. For each selected point, 4 measurements have been done in 4
seasons. All the measurements were in the second month of each season in 8-12 AM
from August 2005 to August 2006. Each measurement prolonged approximately 30
minutes. 30 values were recorded in each time. The mean value was defined as dose rate
in each season. Measurements were accomplished in flat areas, at least 5 meter far from
every building and one meter above the ground. For indoor measurements 6 buildings
were selected in different areas of the city. Four areas in north, south, west and east and
tow areas randomly in other centers were choosed. All the buildings were one floor. All
the measurements were in 14-18 PM in August 2006. The measurements were
accomplished one meter from each wall and one meter from the ground. Each
measurement prolonged 30 minutes. 30 values were recorded each time. The mean value
was defined as dose rate of indoor radiation.
Results
The dose rates measurements due to the outdoor gamma background radiation were
134,127,125 and 120 nSv/h in summer, autumn, winter and spring respectively with
mean value of 126 (table1). The result of indoor background gamma radiation was 150
nSv/h. So the components of the annual effective dose were determined as follows:
Indoors:
150 nSvh-1 × 8760 h × 0.8 × 0.7 Sv Gy -1 = 0.74 mSv
Outdoors: 126 nSvh-1 × 8760 h × 0.2 × 0.7 Sv Gy -1 = 0.15 mSv
Thus:
The annual effective dose of the city was calculated as: 0.89 mSv
Discussion
The mean value of equivalent dose rate in Zanjan in comparison with the same value in
Banne (199 nGy/h) was lower and in comparison with the same value in Mashad ,Tabriz ,
Urmieh, Esfahan and Yazd with mean dose rate values 91, 114, 154, 137 and 101 nGy/h
respectively was higher (figure1). The average dose rate in zanjan was higher than the
resulting worldwide average of the annual effective dose which is 0.48 mSv with the
range of 0.3-0.6mSv. The results showed that spring has the lowest and the summer have
the highest equivalent dose rate in zanjan (figure 2).
There are a few regions in the world known to be HBRAs due to local geology and
geochemical effects that cause enhanced levels of terrestrial radiation (Bennett, 1997;
UNSCEAR, 1993, 2000). Very high background radiation areas are found at Guarapari,
the coastal region of Espirito Santo and the Morro Do Forro in Minas Gerais in Brazil
(Paschoa, 2000); Yangjiang, in China (Wei and Sugahara, 2000); the southwest coast of
India (Paul et al., 1998); Ramsar and Mahallat in Iran (Sohrabi, 1993; Ghiassi-nejad et
al., 2002); in the United States and Canada (NCRP, 1987), and in some other counties
(UNSCEAR, 2000). The sources of these high background radiations are monazite sand
deposits in the first three cases, while radium in soil/ water and radon in the air are
responsible for the radiation at Ramsar in Iran. In India, there are quite a few monazite
sand-bearing placer deposits causing high background radiation along its long coastline.
Ullal in Karnataka (Radhakrishna et al., 1993), Kalpakkam (Kannan et al., 2002) in Tamil
Nadu, coastal parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala state and the southwestern coast of India
are known high background radiation areas (Mishra, 1993;). Some of these areas have
been under study for many years in order to determine the risks and effects of long-term,
low-level and natural radiation exposure (Sohrabi, 1998).
The presence of natural background radiation and environmental radioactivity is due to
distribution of radionuclides in Earth. The contents of natural radioucliedes as well the
thin layer of atmosphere in the higher altitude regions are reasons why they have high
level of dose rate. Since altitude and the kind of rocks are important factors relevant to
the measured dose rate, the results of this study showed that these factors may had
significant role on the level of background radiation in this region.
Acknowledgment
The authors gratefully acknowledge in infrastructure facility and financial support
rendered by Deputy of Research of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. We wish to
specially thank Eng. Peyda M. head of environmental health department and Ghadimi M.
for their help in the development of our work.
References
1- United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, "Sources
Effects and Risks of Ionizing Radiation", 1998.
2- Vandecateel, C., M., "Environmental Monitoring and Radioecology" J. of
environmental Radioactivity vol. 72, pp: 17-23, 2004
3- ICRU, "Radiation Quantities and Units Report" 33 Issued 15 April Washington D.c
USA, 1980.
4- Bouzarjomeheri, F. Ehrampoush, M.H." Gamma background radiation in Yazd
Province a Preliminary report" Iran. J.Radiation. Resarch. 2005 3(1), pp : 7-20.
5- Shahbazi, D., "Natural background radiation Dosimetry in the Highest Altitude
Region of Iran," J. Radiation Res., 2003, vol. 44, pp: 265-285
6- United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation, Annex B.
Exposures from Natural Radiation Sources, 2000
7- Bennett, B.G., 1997. Exposure to natural radiation worldwide. In: Proceedings of the
Fourth International Conference on High Levels of Natural Radiation: Radiation Doses
and Health Effects, Beijing, China, 1996, Elsevier, Tokyo, pp. 15–23.
8- UNSCEAR, 1993. Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. United Nations
Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation, United Nations, New York.
9- UNSCEAR, 2000. Sources and Effects of Ionizing Radiation. United Nations
Scientific Committee on the Effect of Atomic Radiation, United Nations, New York.
10- Paschoa, A.S., 2000. More than forty years of studies of natural radioactivity in
Brazil. Technology 7, 193–212.
11- Wei, L., Sugahara, T., 2000. An introductory overview of the epidemiological study
on the population at the high background radiation areas in Yangjiang, China. Journal of
Radiation Research 41 (Suppl.), 1–7.
12- Paul, A.C., Pillai, P.M.B., Haridasan, P., Radhakrishnan, S., Krishnamony, S., 1998.
Population exposure to airborne thorium at the high natural radiation areas in India.
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity 40, 251–259.
13- Sohrabi, M., 1993. Recent radiological studies of high level natural radiation areas of
Ramsar. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on High Levels of Natural
Radiation Areas, Ramsar, Iran, 1990. IAEA Publication Series, IAEA, Vienna.
14- Ghiassi-nejad, M., Mortazavi, S.M.J., Cameron, J.R., Niroomand-rad, A., Karam,
P.A., 2002. Very high background radiation areas of Ramsar, Iran: preliminary biological
studies. Health Physics 82, 87–93.
15- Radhakrishna, A.P., Somasekarapa, H.M., Narayana, Y., Siddappa, K., 1993. A new
natural background radiation area on the southwest coast of India. Health Physics 65,
390–395.
16- Kannan, V., Rajan, M.P., Iyengar, M.A.R., Ramesh, R., 2002. Distribution of natural
and anthropogenic radionuclides in soil and beach sand samples of Kalpakkam (India)
using hyper pure germanium (HPGe) gamma ray spectrometry. Applied Radiation and
Isotopes 57, 109–119.
17- Mishra, U.C., 1993. Exposure due to the high natural radiation background and
radioactive springs around the world. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on
High Level Natural Radiation Areas, Ramsar, Iran, 1990, IAEA Publication Series,
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Isotopes 49, 169–188.
Table1: Average dose rate in different measuring places in Zanjan in terms of nSv/h
Place of measuring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Spring
Average
Mellat recreational complex
177±23
134±16
111±17
90±9
128±16
Emamzade Ebrahim
133±13
103±19
156±30
130±15
130±19
Esteghlal square
109±13
154±19
113±14
160±43
134±22
Farhang district
105±13
104±16
112±12
130±27
113±17
Rajaii park
115±15
115±13
116±11
100±12
111±12
Gavazang street
167±31
155±18
119±21
100±22
135±23
Aftab complex
167±34
153±23
129±29
100±9
137±23
Safa street
100±6
104±13
145±16
110±15
115±12
Average
134±18
127±17
125±18
120±21
Average dose rate of city
126±18
134
135
130
127
nSv/h
125
125
120
120
115
110
summer
fall
winter
spring
Figure2: The average dose rates of outdoor background radiation in different seasons in
Zanjan
1400
1300
1200
nSv/h
1000
800
600
400
200
199
132
120
91
154
114
101
126
Zan
ja n
Yaz
d
Tab
riz
Ra
ms
ar
O ro
m ie
h
Ma
s hh
ad
Go
nba
d
Es f
aha
n
Ban
e
0
Figure1: The average dose rates of outdoor background radiation for some Iranian cities
in compare to Zanjan
Figure : Location map of measuring place of amma backgroun radiation in Zanjan, Iran
POS-FRI-254
ARE THE GATING PROPERTY OF CA1 AND THE PHASE
PRECESSION OF PLACE CELLS TWO SIDES OF THE
SAME COIN?
Ganjkhani M.1, Moradi K.1 and Gharibzadeh S.H.21Dept. of Physiology, Zanjan
University of Medical Sciences, Iran. 2Biomedical engineering Faculty, Amirkabir
University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
During rhythmic activities of the brain, information could be coded in rate or time of
spiking of neurons. Phase precession of hippocampal place cells is an example of such
time coding. However, there is no global agreement on its exact mechanism. CA1
pyramidal cells receive rhythmic excitatory inputs from temporoammonic pathway and
Schaffer collaterals, which have opposite phases relative to the field theta, with 40 to 200
milliseconds time difference. It has been suggested that the rhythmic interaction of these
inputs on CA1 network, combined with presynaptic disinhibition, and specific properties
of NMDA channels, produce a temporally specific “AND” gate. This means,
temporoammonic pathway would not have excitatory effect on soma before presence of
Schaffer collateral inputs. Consequently, we hypothesize that, firing phase of most
pyramidal neurons obey the Schaffer collaterals; however, firing phase of neurons which
receive gating inputs obey the temporoammonic pathway and accordingly phase
precession occurs. In this study, investigation has done in hippocampal phase precession
by using of a modeling approach.
TOPIC: MONITORING
Little increase in water drinking water could decrease the rate of salt intake
Authors: Heydarpour.F, Moradi.B
Address: Dept.of Physiology, ZUMS, ZANJAN, IRAN
Introduction: As to new recommendation, the rate of salt intake should be decreased from 9-12 gr to 3-2 gr
daily. Hypovolemia, Hypotension, Angiotensin II … are the most known of thirst sensation stimuli. Some of
stimuli for thirst sensation and salt appetite are common; hence, following stimulation of thirst sensation, an
increase in salt appetite occurred. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of water deprivation in
Ramadan on the rate of salt consumption in fasting people and comparison with the rate of salt consumption in
the same people in Shaban.
Method: 30 male fasting students during Ramadan were chosen for the experiment. We informed them about
the correct way of collecting a 24 hours urine specimen. Increase and decrease in sodium excretion more than
15% was considered as significant changes in 24 hour urine sodium.
Results: As the 24 hour urine specimen in 5 students was not collected correctly; we deleted the result of this
group from the study. The rate of changes in 24 hours urine sodium during Ramadan in comparison to Shaban
in 7 students was not significant. We observed a significant decrease in 8 students and a significant increase
was observed in 10 students.
Conclusion: The effect of fasting on salt consumption has a double effect like the effect of fasting on weight,
blood pressure, appetite. Since other parameters interacted with the effect of thirst in fasting, so we could not
show the pure effect of thirst on salt appetite .But some of the animals studies proposed that an increase in
thirst lead to an increase in salt intake .Hence water drinking with a short period of time could decrease the
rate of salt intake.
Introduction:
The real sodium required per day is about 200 mg (0.5 g salt) whereas the daily consumed of salt is Farley
higher than minimum amount needed to maintain the sodium balance in the body (5-15 g/day). The natural
tendencies of higher salt consumption have been detected by humane and different specious of animals. The
amount of consumed salt depends on habit and culture and to some extent on the amount of fast food
consumption. The exact amount of daily needed salt is on an average 1-2 mg/kg/day. Kidney is capable of
functioning in the salt rate fluctuation ranges from 0.25 to 6 mg /kg/day in order to maintain the sodium
balance. Reduction rate of daily consumed salt from 9-12 g to 5-6 g imposed a positive impact on reduction of
cardiovascular diseases, but its reduction to 3 g/day is definitely the most ideal and the future schedules and
planning should be seethed up in the same direction. On the other hand, the daily salt consumption in the
western countries are about 10-12 g/day which this amount of salt come from three route (1) 3 g from daily
routine consumed diet (2) 3 g added during food processing method and (3) 4 g is added to meal while it is
been served on the table . As a result any plan for reduction of salt consumption should be focused on
balancing these three above mentioned objects. In many countries about 75-80 % of salt intake is achieved via
ready made and fast food, so one of the main strategies is the gradual reduction in salt content of these food
products. At the same time, the reduction should be gradual (10-20%) in order to make it an undetectable
change by the consumer for prevention of cardiovascular diseases, reduced salt intake is the most easiest way
to the proposed since the appetite and any related phenomena like tendency for salt intake is a physiologic
process, it is a great task of the physiologist to find a natural way for reducing salt appetite. The objective of
this study is to determine the effect of water deprivation in Ramadan on the rate of salt consumption in fasting
people and comparison with the rate of salt consumption in the same people in Shaban.
Method:
In this study, 30 male college student with age ranges of 18-30 years old, who were been fasting during holly
Ramadan were selected among all of the ZUMS students. In order to avoid of any bias during this study, the
individuals were not informed about the consistency of the project. A month before Ramadan (Shaban 1384,
15 shahrivar to 13 meher) each volunteers was provided with a urine container for sample collection and
subsequent dispatch to the lab for measuring of sodium, creatinine and 24 hours urine volume. Same sampling
and tests were repeated in a day between 20- 29 days of holly Ramadan. The obtained results from these
consequent tests with exact weight measurement of each individual before each sampling were recorded. In
order to confidence of correct 24 hours urine collection, the amount of daily creatinine excretion in 24 hours
urine was used as an ascertainment parameter. The volunteers who their creatinine excretion rates in 24 hours
urine was less than 70% of minimum expected creatinine excretion( 10 mg/kg /day) in 24 hours urine volume
were eradicated from the study . With attention to this fact, fat individual consume more salt and as a result,
they have higher amount of sodium excretion in 24 hours urine, natural logarithm of excreted salt and
creatinine proportion in 24 hours was employed to demolish any physical status interference in obtained
results. The collected data were statistically analyzed by SPSS soft ware and “paired –test”
Result:
Out of 30 eligible volunteer, 5 of them were eradicated due to low expected creatinine excretion as mentioned
above, and the rest of 25 volunteers were included in the study. The mean age of volunteers was 26.44 + 1.36
years with minimum of 24 and maximum of 29 years. The mean weight of volunteers was 75.24 + 11.35 Kg
with minimum of 59 and maximum of 102 Kg. The mean amount of 24 hours urine sodium rate was 171.64 +
50.55 mmol in Shaban ( 10 g salt) and 158.44 + 33.87 mmol in Ramadan (9.2 g salt) respectively. Minimum
24 hours urine sodium excretion was 80 mmol (4.5 g salt) in Shaban and 95 mmol (5.5 g salt) in Ramadan.
The maximum amount of 24 hours urine sodium excretion was 300 mmol (17.5 g salt) in Shaban and 220
mmol (12.9 g salt) in Ramadan respectively. The mean amount of 24 hours creatinine excretion rate was
924.56 + 249.26 mg in Shaban and 968.2 + 245.20 mg in Ramadan with its maximum value of 1448 mg in
Shaban and 1613 mg in Ramadan. The mean difference of creatinine excretion rate in Ramadan was 43.64 mg
higher than Shaban. The mean 24 hours urine volume was 1260.8 + 581.93 ml in Shaban and 1075.6 + 391.50
ml in Ramadan with maximum and minimum of 2850 and 560 ml in Shaban and 2110 and 510 in Ramadan.
Analysis of the results shows that mean value of ln (salt 24 hours/ Cr 24 hours) during holly Ramadan (2.26)
was lower than Shaban (2.37) which the rate of difference was 0.11 + 0.38. Inspide of the eradication of
physical factor, the difference was statistically was non-significant (P=0.173). In 40% of cases (10 individual),
the amount of 24 hours sodium excretion during Ramadan in comparison with Shaban reduced more than
15%, More than 15 % reduction were showed in 32 % of cases (8 individual) , and the rate of increase and
decrease lower than 15% were observed in 28 % of cases (7 individual).
Discussion:
The present study produced several key finding in relation with the effect of water deprivation in Ramadan on
the rate of salt consumption in fasting people and comparison with the rate of salt consumption in the same
people in Shaban. First, In 40% of cases (10 individual), the amount of 24 hours sodium excretion during
Ramadan in comparison with Shaban reduced more than 15%, More than 15 % reduction were showed in 32
% of cases (8 individual) , and the rate of increase and decrease lower than 15% were observed in 28 % of
cases (7 individual). Second, fasting for about 12-16 hours during Ramadan could affect most body system
deeply, the effect of fasting on Blood pressure, Weight and appetite in all of the people is not similar, and
these effects are binary. For example, the effect of fasting on appetite is binary, In some people, fasting
stimulates appetite and in the evening individual could consume food more than usual, but in some other
people fasting suppress appetite and individual consume less than usual. The rate of food consuming could
affect the rate of salt consumption and sodium load. Third, similar to the effect of fasting on appetite, the
effect of fasting on salt appetite is binary, as this matter previously discussed. Blood volume decrease, Blood
pressure decrease and thirst should be considered as the main stimuli for salt appetite, that is why after each
stimulation of thirst sensation and subsequent quenching the individual shows great interest for consuming
salty food. In this study, the effect of fasting on salt appetite was evaluated, however, we could not show the
net effect of thirst on salt appetite, but we emphasized that an increase in water consumption decreases salt
appetite, because the thirst stimulation and salt appetite are common. Water consumption in short duration of
time prevents salt appetite stimulation and decrease the rate of salt intake.
Zanjan University
Of Medical Sciences
Nail disorders in primary school students of Zanjan city since
2006
Ramezanpour A; 1 Babaei H; 2 S. Kavandi 3
1- Dermatology Department, Vali Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences,
Zanjan- IRAN
2- Pediatrics Ward, Vali Asr Hospital, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, ZanjanIRAN
3- Faculty of Humanity, Zanjan University, Zanjan- IRAN
Background and aims: Many factors can cause changes in the nail plate, resulting in lowered
levels of strength and flexibility. These changes are earlier signs of different systemic disorder
in some ways, with evaluation and diagnosis them on time we can start suitable treatment as
soon as possible. This prospective study tries to determine the nail disorders in primary school
students of Zanjan city since 2006.
Methods: This prospective and descriptive study was performed on 810 students from all area
of city. We have used Cohort sampling method in our research and also the sample number
p=0.1, d=0.2 for the measuring purpose were used. The selected cases were examined for nail
disorders or otherwise; then data recorded on a checklist and collected data was analyzed by
SPSS.
Results: From 810 students 411(50.7%) and 399(49.3%) were male and female respectively.
Nail presentations were observed in 323 (39.9%) cases which consisted of 140 cases (17.3%)
leukonychia, 64 persons (7.9%) riding. Nail traumatic presentation included hematoma, nail
fracture 61(7.5%) patients, 48(5.9%) pitting, 16 cases dystrophy, 10 patients with pronychia,
10 students had nail discoloration and there were 7 cases of koilonychias.
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
dy
st
ro
di
ph
sc
y
ol
or
at
io
pr
on n
yc
ko
hi
ilo
ny a
ch
ia
s
ng
ur
e
pi
tti
ng
fr
ac
t
rid
i
na
il
le
u
ko
n
yc
h
ia
50.7
49.3
Female
Male
Conclusions: Some nail finding can related with systemic conditions for example:
Koilonychias can associated with Iron deficiency anemia, hemochromatosis, Raynaud's
disease, SLE, trauma, nail-patella syndrome. Thus it is necessary to educate school hygiene
instructors in order to diagnose and refer the patients promptly for physician examination and
follow up
35. Kongress der DGRh und 21. Jahrestagung der ARO
Hamburg, 19. - 22. September 2007
T04.35
In-vitro effects of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-lysate
and BCGderived
heat shock proteins on cytokines secretion by peripheral
blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of rheumatoid arthritis
patients in
comparison with healthy controls
Sheikhi A. 1, Yahaqqi N. 2, Sheikhi R. 3
(1) Dept. of Immunology, Faculty od Medicine, Zanjan Univ. of Medical
Sciences, Iran ,
(2) Payam Nour University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran , (3) Faculty of health,
Tehran
University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Background: Several studies have shown that heat shock protein (HSP)-reactive T cells have
an immunoregulatory
phenotype indicating that HSPs are able to trigger immunoregulatory pathways, which can
suppress immune responses
that occur in human inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Bacillus
Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is rich of
HSPs which could be good resources of these regulatory proteins for modulation of immune
response of RA patients.
Purposes: To study the effects of BCG-lysate and BCG-derived HSPs on secretion of T
regulatory cytokines by PBMCs of
RA patients in comparison with normal persons.
Methods: BCG was heat killed and sonicated to have BCG-lysate. BCG derived HSP-65 and
HSP-70 were detected by
immunoblotting and purified by preparative sds-page. PBMCs of 18 RA patients/16 controls
collected by Ficoll-paque
were stimulated with BCG-lysate/BCG-derived HSP-65 and HSP-70. Supernatant of
stimulated PBMCs was aspirated for
measuring TGF-β, IL-10, IL-4 and IFN-γ with sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
(ELISA).
Results: BCG-lysate proteins were shown on sds-page gel and immunoblotting. BCG-derived
HSP-65 and HSP-70
proteins were purified by preparative sds-page. BCG lysate augmented the amounts of all the
mentioned cytokines as
dose dependent significantly. The level of TGF- β in controls was higher than patients (
P<0.05). HSP-65 and HSP-70
increased TGF-β, IL-10 as dose-dependent significantly. HSP-65 had stronger effect than
HSP-70. HSP-65, but not HSP70, increased IL-4. HSP-65 did not increase IFN-γ but HSP-70 augmented IFN-γ
significantly. BCG-lysate increased IFNγ and IL-4 in RA patients more than healthy controls (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Although BCG is able to provoke T helper 1 cell mediated immunity, it has a lot
of different proteins like HSPs
which are able to trigger T regulatory cytokines. So it could be a good resource for
immunotherapy of autoimmune
diseases like RA.
.
The hTSH measurement by solid-phase fluoroimmunoassay and using
FITC as probe
A.A. Mellati a, A. Nazarian a, G.R. Ahmadi b, M. Moradi c
a
Department of Biochemistry , Zanjan Medical School, Zanjan, Iran
a
Department of Biochemistry , Zanjan Medical School, Zanjan, Iran
b
Nuclear medicine , Valiasr Hospital, Zanjan, Iran
c
Department of Biology, Zanjan University, Zanjan, Iran
E-mail: mellati3000@yahoo.com
Different fluoroimmunoassay methods for thyrotropin (hTSH) measurement have been
discussed previously. We describe here fluoroimmunoassay method based on solid-phase
system and using antigen-binding FITC to measure hTSH.
The monoclonal antibody immobilized on polystyrene tube were used for competitive
binding of serum sample hTSH and F-TSH. The fluorescein-labeled TSH (F-TSH) were
prepared by overnight incubation of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and commercial pure
TSH, followed by gel filtration(G-25) purification to obtain pure F-TSH.
The constracted standard curve (from F-TSH) was linear from 0.05 to 15 mIU/L. The lower
limits of quantification was 0.02 mIU/L.The interassay coefficient of variation was 7.3% ,
11.2% , 6.3% , at 0.015 , 0.5 and 15 mIU/L TSH, and intraassay CV was 10.2% , 6.0% and
7.7% at mentioned TSH concentration, respectively. A good correlation was found with RIA (
y = .097±0.046 , r = 0.91 , P< 0.005 , n = 43).
Our approach assay method has advantages of suitable sensiotivity that alow the
identification of primary hyperthyroidism, independent of serum effect, fast, technically
simple and low cost , which is ideally suited to use in routine and normal clinical laboratories.
Key Words: hTSH, FITC, fluoroimmunoassay , antigen binding