ABSTRACT
Background: n-Butanol is a four-carbon alcohol used widely in foods, cosmetics industries, biology and chemistry research laboratories, and other fields. Long time-effects of inhalation or consumption of small amounts of Butanol on human health are still unknown. On the other hand, numerous reports about the development of n-Butanol toxicity are available. The main objective of the study was to investigate the effects of inhaled and oral administration of n-Butanol as a long-term in vivo investigation
Materials and Methods: small white laboratory, male mice [20-30 g] were used in 11 groups [n=4] including experimental 1 to 6, 1 to 4 control "A" and positive control groups. Experimental groups 1-3, for 10, 20, and 40 days; 5 hours a day were inside a box with ventilation facilities exposed to air saturated with n-Butanol vapor. Experimental groups 4 to 6, received water containing n-Butanol 0.2%, 1% and 5% for 10 days. Control groups B, 1 to 3 was placed for 10, 20, and 40 days inside a similar box exposed to normal air, respectively. Control group B 4 received water without any particular substance for 10 days. The positive control group received 30[micro]l subcutaneous vinblastine. Bone marrow cells were extracted 24 hours after treatments and stained by May-Grünwald-Giemsa staining and the number of micronucleus was counted. Vinblastine, as a positive control, increased an average of micronucleus numbers significantly compared to control group [P<0.001]
Results: n-Butanol inhalation caused no significant difference in 1-3 experimental groups in the average numbers of micronucleus compared to control group, even in the 40 days treatment group, average numbers of micronucleus was decreased comparing to control group [P<0.05]. Also, oral administration of 0.2% and 1% n-Butanol had no effect on the average micronucleus numbers compared to the control group, while oral administration of 5% n-Butanol caused even decrease in average numbers of micronucleus compared to control group [P<0.05]
Conclusion: n-Butanol inhalation may not cause chromosome damages in rat bone marrow cells that probably is due to its very fast metabolism and decomposition in the body. Therefore, the amount of n-Butanol in the systemic circulation and tissues is very low and, probably, the damaging potential is decreased
ABSTRACT
The advancement of technology in recent decades has been lead to use the electrophysiology cardiac devices. Although these devices are used increasingly, but the frequency of subclinical infection is unknown. We investigate bacterial infections due to implantable cardioverter defibrillator [ICDs] in patients with endocarditis. Population of the study was considered among all adult patients in whom the cardiac electrophysiology device was removed. Associated infection endocarditis defined by the Duke criteria. 35 pacemakers [PM] were aseptically removed from these patients during January 2012 to November 2014. Intraoperative swabs from the different part of devices were collected, cultured in BHI [Brain Heart Infusion Broth] and then bacterial classical cultures were done under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Biochemical and differential media were used to detect the bacteria species. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS version 16 software. 13 cases of 35 patients with endocarditis diagnosed by modified Duke Criteria and removed pacemaker had positive culture. Of the 13 cases with infection 43% were identified as gram positive and 57% had gram negative bacteria. Based on our study and similar studies, bacteria can colonize in electrophysiology devices which can lead to bacterial infections
ABSTRACT
The plant materials play a major role in primary health care as therapeutic regimen in many developing countries. In the present study, the ethanol extracts of mentha spicata or spearmint [M. spicata] and mentha piperita or peppermint [M. piperita] have been used to inactive mycobacterium bovis [M. bovis] in comparison to isoniazid. After collecting and identifying the herbs, their ethanolic extract was prepared using percolation method. The extracts of M. spicata and M. piperita with different dilutions; 0.39,0.78,1.56,3.12,6.25,12.5,25,50,100,200,400 mg/ml were provided. M. bovis strain 1173 P2 was used in this study. This microorganism was confirmed by acid-fast staining [Ziehl-Neelsen]. The bacteria were incubated at 37 [degree sign] C for a long time by inoculation into Middle Brook broth [Difco]. Biochemical tests such as niacin, nitrate and urease were performed to confirm the organism [e.g. Feingold][1] Agar diffusion and MIC methods [McFarland standard method and diffusion disk] were used to determine the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extracts and the inhibition zones formed on the media were measured with a transparent ruler in millimeters. The in vitro antibacterial activities of ethanolic extracts showed 0.39 mg/ ml consistency of M. spicata and 100 mg/ml consistency of M. piperita as the least concentrations which inhibit growth of M. bovis in comparison with isoniazid. According to our findings, extracts of M. spicata and M. piperita could be used as raw materials for phytotherapy because of their antibacterial activities against M. bovis as TB etiology