Health impact assessment of short-term exposure to NO[2] in Kermanshah, Iran using AirQ model

Background: Epidemiological studies have illustrated that exposure to atmospheric nitrogen oxides [NO[2]/NO[X]] is responsible for an increased risk of acute or chronic diseases such as cancer. In this study the health risks associated with nitrogen dioxide [NO[2]] were assessed in the city of Kermanshah, the capital of Kermanshah province, Iran

Methods: Data on hourly NO[2] levels that had been measured with the Environ tech model M200 was taken from the Kermanshah Environmental Protection Agency [KEPA]. The AirQ2.2.3 model was used to quantify data based on baseline incidence [BI], relative risk [RR], and attributable proportion [AP]. The number of cases of cardiovascular mortality [CM], acute myocardial infarction [MI], and hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases [HACOPD] was estimated

Results: The results of the current study show that there were 33, 16, and 13 cases of CM, acute MI, and HACOPD, respectively, attributable to NO[2] exposure. Furthermore, 26.85% of health impacts occurred on days when NO[2] levels did not exceed 40 micro g/m[3]. For every 10 micro g/m3 increase in the NO[2] level, the risk of CM, MI, and HACOPD rose about 0.2%, 0.36%, and 0.38%, respectively

Conclusion: In order to reduce the number of cases of mortality and morbidity caused by exposure to NO[2], several immediate steps should be taken by the government to control emissions from various sources, particularly car exhaust, to reduce the levels of NO[2] in the atmosphere

[Estimation of health effects attributed to PM10 exposure in Tabriz, Iran]

Background and Objectives: Air pollution from particulate matters and dust storms is considered one of the most challenging of health problems in our country, nowadays. Most of the epidemiological studies have shown a relationship between health outcomes and airborne particles. The main aim of this study was the assessment of health impacts of PM10 in Tabriz

Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study, PM10 levels were monitored in fixed stations of air monitoring and its adverse health effects were estimated for one year. We applied the approach proposed by the World Health Organization [WHO] using the AirQ2.2.3 software developed by the WHO European Center for Environment and Health on air pollutants in Tabriz

Results: The results showed that 5.94% [CI 95% 5.02%; 6.83%] of natural death, 6.39%[CI 95% 4.09%; 13.31%] of cardiovascular death, 9.28% [CI 95% 6.39%; 23.98%] of respiratory death, 7.13% [CI 95% 4.87%; 9.98%] of hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease and 6.39%[CI 95% 3.93%; 8.72%] of hospital admissions for respiratory disease can be attributed to PM10 concentrations over 10 microg/m3

Conclusion: Based on the output of this model, air pollution due to airborne particles is a serious problem that necessitates attention and preventive measures by authorities and decision-makers

Study of flagellin profiling in multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa [MDRPA] isolated from burn wound infections, Tehran, Iran

Nosocomial infections of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa [MDRPA] are a growing concern in hospitalized patients in burn centers. The aim of this study was to investigate the flagellin profiling and antibiotic susceptibility of P. aeruginosa isolated from burn wound infections. During 8 month study, 73 clinically P. aeruginosa isolates collected from patients hospitalized in burn ward. P. aeruginosa isolates were identified using standard laboratory procedures. In vitro susceptibility of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa to 6 antimicrobial agents were investigated by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute [CLSI 2012] Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay. The frequency of different type of flagellin was investigated by using specific primers and by PCR method. The resistance rates of our isolates to 6 tested antimicrobial agents were relatively high. Imipenem has good activity while tobramycin and ciprofloxacin do not have any effect on P. aeruginosa isolates. Of 73 isolates 59 [80.8%] were multidrug resistant. Twenty eight of 73 isolates were resistant to all antibiotics. Agarose gel electrophoresis of chromosomal DNA exhibited that 59 isolates [80.8%] of P. aeruginosa had type A flagellin while only 14 isolates [19.2%] had type b flagellin. Given the antibiotic failure treatment, it appears that alternative ways such as immunity to prevent of these infections could be informative. Our survey of flagellin profiling of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates exhibited high frequency of type a flagellin as a major virulence factor has important role of immunity against infections caused by MDRPA. Functional surveillance of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa in order to prevention of resistance dissemination is necessary

new approach for designing a potentially vaccine candidate against urinary tract infection by using protein display on lactobacillus surface

The prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection [UTI] is really high in the world. Escherichia coli is a major agent of UTI. One of the strategies for decreasing UTI infections is vaccine development. As the attachment is a really important stage in colonization and infection, attachment inhibition has an applied strategy. FimH protein is a major factor during bacterial colonization in urinary tract and could be used as a vaccine. Thus, it was considered in this research as a candidate antigen. The sequences of fimH and acmA genes were used for designing a synthetic gene. It was cloned to pET23a expression vector and transformed to E. coli [DE3] Origami. To confirm the expression of recombinant protein, SDS-PAGE and western blotting methods were used. Subsequently, recombinant protein was purified. On the other hand, Lactobacillus reuteri was cultured and mixed with FimH / AcmA recombinant protein. The rate of protein localization on lactobacillus surface was assessed using ELISA method. It was showed that the recombinant protein was expressed in E. coli [DE3] Origami and purified by affinity chromatography. Moreover, this protein could be localized on lactobacillus surface by 5 days. In current study, a fusion recombinant protein was prepared and displayed on L. reuteri surface. This strain could be used for animal experiment as a competitor against Uropathogenic E. coli [UPEC]. Using manipulated probiotics strains instead of antibiotic therapy could decrease the antibiotic consumption and reduce multi-drug resistant strains

Evaluation of relation between styles of conflict management and creativity of staff in teaching hospitals of Kerman city in 2008

The world is changing continually and organizations as the subsystems of the world should be adapted with these changes by helping to develope of creativity and innovation.This study to evaluate the relationships between conflict management styles and creativity of staff in training hospitals in Kerman province. This is a cross-sectional study from aspect of descriptive -analytical. For gathering data, the standard questionnaires of conflict management for managers and creativity for staff applied. The participants in the study were all disciplinary managers from selected hospitals in one group and all disciplinary staff of selected hospitals in another group.Data analysis used in SPSS software. The results showed that there is a significant and opposite assosiation between enforcing styles and negotiating styles between managers [P<0/05, r= -0/187] and creativity of staff [P<0/05, r= -0/155]. Meanwhile, there is a significant relation between marital status and educated staff and their creativity. This research reveales that avoiding styles applied among men is less than women. To develop creativity of staff and managers should decrease using of enforcing and negotiating styles to solve the conflicts in hospitals

Cloning, expression, purification and characterization of recorabinant UreB[229-561] from Helicobacter pylori

Helicobacter pylori is a widely distributed gram negative bacterium that infects the human stomach and duodenum. Some antibiotic regimens are subjected to cure the infection but the cost of drugs, poor patient compliance and emerging of antibiotic-resistant strains are limiting the usefulness of these antibiotic therapies. Therefore, interest in a H. pylori vaccine is growing up rapidly. We selected a fragment of B subunit of H. pylori urease enzyme consist of four important epitopes, involving in elevating host immune responses. This 1070bp fragment was amplified by PCR from genomic DNA isolated from H. pylori 22596 and then cloned into the pET28a expression vector. UreB229-561 was expressed and then affinity-purified by Ni2+-Sepharose resin. The recombinant UreB229-561 was reacted with the serum of/. pylori-infected human and rabbit anti-H. pylori polyclonal antibody in western-blot analysis. Having transformed competent E.coli DH5 alpha with ligation product of digested ureB fragment and pET28a, plasmid extraction from single colonies appeared in LB-agar plate after 18-24 h incubation at 37°C, using plasmid extraction kit [Bioneer, Korea]. Applying both infected human serum and rabbit anti-H. pylori polyclonal antibody, brown strip corresponding to the location of the recombinant protein appeared on PVDF membrane after adding DAB solution, hence confirming the antigenicity of the protein. This recombinant fragment showed urease activity. Our findings confirmed that a prokaryotic expression system of rUreB[229-561] was successfully constructed. The results of SDS-PAGE showed that our constructed prokaryotic expression system pET28 alpha- ureB[229-561]-BL21DE3 efficiently produces target recombinant protein in the form of dissoluble inclusion body. Therefore we can suggest that these epitopes can effectively be a vaccine candidate

[Prevalence of ant[4]-Ia gene among clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using Multiplex-PCR method]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Aminoglycosides are potent bactericidal agents that are often used in combination with either a beta -lactam or a glycopeptide, especially in the treatment of staphylococcal endocarditis. The main mechanism of aminoglycoside resistance in staphylococci is drug inactivation by cellular aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes. The main aim of the present study is determining the prevalence of ant[4]-Ia gene encoding one of the most important aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes and simultaneous detection of mecA gene responsible for methicillin resistance in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus by Multiplex-PCR method. A total of 100 clinical S. aureus isolates were collected from Shariati and Baqiatollah hospitals in Tehran, then antibiotic susceptibility pattern of strains were determined by disk diffusion method using penicillin, oxacillin, vancomycin, tetracycline, erythromycin, gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, netilmicin and kanamycin disks, considering CLSI principles. Using agar dilution method the MIC for oxacillin, gentamicin, tobramycin and amikacin were also determined. In order to detect resistance genes, ant[4]-Ia and mecA, two pairs of specific primers were used and their prevalence was determined by using a Multiplex-PCR method. All strains were resistant to penicillin [100%] and after that the highest rate of resistance was observed against kanamycin [68%], tetracycline [61%], erythromycin [56%], tobramycin [53%], gentamicin [52%], amikacin and oxacillin [48%] and netilmicin [22%], respectively. All of the strains were also susceptible to vancomycin. In agar dilution method 50% of strains were oxacillin resistant and 49%, 45% and 51% of the strains showed resistance toward gentamicin, amikacin and tobramycin, respectively. Thirty-seven percent of the strains also showed high-level gentamicin resistance with MIC of >/= 128 micro g/ml. In Multiplex-PCR method 53% of the strains possessed mecA gene and 58% of the strains were ant[4?]-Ia positive. Results obtained by phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic susceptibility determination tests show that there is a statistically meaningful relationship between methicillin resistance and aminoglycoside resistance in MRSA strains [P<0.05]