Coronary artery disease risk factors in an urban and peri-urban setting, Kerman, Southeastern Iran [KERCADR study]: methodology and preliminary report

This article was to present the sampling and measurements methods and the main preliminary findings of the KERCADR cohort study [first round] in an urban and peri-urban setting, Kerman, southeastern Iran2009-11. 5900 [3238 female] people aged between 15 to 75 years were recruited in the household survey by non-proportional to size one-stage cluster sampling. Trained internal specialists, general practitioners, clinical psychologists and dentists have assessed the study subjects by person-assisted questionnaires regarding different NCD risk factors including cigarette and opium smoking, physical activity, nutrition habits, anxiety, depression, obesity, hypertension and oral health. Blood samples were also collected for determining FBS, HbA1c, cholesterol and triglyceride. Weighted standardized prevalence estimates were calculated by STATA 10 survey analysis package. The participation rate was more than 95% in all subgroups. Cigarette smoking [18.4% vs. 1.2%], opium use [17.8% vs. 3.0%] and triglyceridemia [16.1% vs. 12.0%] were significantly higher among men than women. In contrast, women were presented with higher level of sever anxiety [29.1% vs. 16.7%], obesity [16.8% vs. 9.2%], low-physical activity [45.1% vs. 39.2%] and uncontrolled diabetes [60.2% vs. 31.0%]. More than 68% of all subjects have presented with moderate to severe gingival index scores. The first round of the KERCADR cohort with sufficient sample size and response rate provided precise estimates for the main clinical and para-clinical NCD risk factors. These evidences need to be translated into public health interventions and monitored in the next rounds of the cohort

Isolation of enterotoxigenic and enteroaggregative straines of Escherichia coli from chicken carcasses by PCR

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of enterotoxigenic and enteroaggregative strains of Escherichia coli in chicken carcasses by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. In this study 63 strains of E. coli were isolated from 110 samples of chicken carcasses during processing after chilling in the poultry slaughter house of Shahrekord. Polymerase chain reaction assays were used to detect the presence of the genes encoding heat-stable enterotoxin a [STa], heat-stable enterotoxin b [STb], heat labile toxin [LT] and Enteroaggregative heat-stable toxin 1 [EAST1]. Sixty three out of 110 [57.27%] carcasses were contaminated with E. coli. Six out of 63 [9.52%] harbored the gene for LT, 1 [1.58%] STb, 21 [33.3%] EAST1 and 8 [12.69%] contain both LT and EAST1 genes. None of the strains contain the STa gene. The results indicated that contamination of the chicken carcasses with E. coli in such a level could be a potential hazard for consumers

[ effects of excess iodine on immune system; an in-vitro study]

While iodine is an essential element for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, epidemiological studies have showed that excessive iodine intake leads to autoimmune thyroid diseases, with an unknown mechanism. Previous studies have showed disturbance in the circulating cytokines could lead to autoimmune diseases. To determine the role of iodine in cytokine production and development of thyroid autoimmune diseases, whole blood was stimulated with NaI [10 mm] and I2 [0.5 mm]. After evaluation of laboratory results of 25 healthy females [aged 40-45 years], 10 subjects with matched results were selected. Ten ml of sterile heparinized peripheral blood was taken from each subject and immediately were divided into 6 groups [control, NaI stimulated, I2 stimulated and matching groups in presence of standard stimulators [LPS 1 micro g/ml and PHA 10 micro g/ml]. Three identical sets were setup to investigate cytokine production at 24, 48, and 72 hours. All samples were incubated in-cell culture incubator [95% O2 and 5% CO2] and after elapse of appropriate time, plasma was separated from each well and kept at-70°C till the time of cytokines [IL-4, IL-10, INF-g and TGF-beta 1] analysis NaI could significantly decrease the production of TGF-beta 1 at all time points [P<0.02], while it did not affect the level of other cytokines. On the other hand, I2 significantly decreased the level of IL-4 and IL-10 [P<0.01]. In the presence of LPS/PHA, NaI also reduced the production of IL-10 [P<0.02], while I2 decreased the level of IL-4 as well as IL-10 [P<0.01]. For the first time, the results of this study indicated that high levels of NaI and I2 may reduce the level of protective cytokines in circulation Finally, since neither thyroid hormones nor thyroid gland had role in this process, it may be concluded that thyroid autoimmunity is initiated from high consumption of iodine leading to the imbalance in cytokine production

effects of some herb's essential oils on S. aureus in feta cheese

This study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of some plant essential oils for control of growth and survival of S. aureus in pasteurized cheese. Essential oils from Thyme [Thymus vulgaris], Tarragon [Artemisia dracunculus], caraway seed [Carum carvi], Penney royal [Mentha pulgium] and Peppermint [Mentha piperita] were extracted by Steam Distillation Method. Two concentration close to the level of MIC for each essential oils [Thyme 0.1 and 0.2%, and the others 0.3 and 0.4%] were induced in samples and 10[6] CFU/g bacteria [S. aureus] was inoculated into the samples and controls. All the samples and controls were kept at 12°C [The optimum temperature for ripening of cheese] for 168 h. Samples and controls were checked for the number of inoculated bacteria on 0,24,48,72 and 168 h. The results of this study showed that the essential oils of these plants have antimicrobial activity on S. aureus, essential oils of the Thyme showed the most and for Tarragon the least antimicrobial activity on tested bacterium. The Thyme oils caused 2 and 4 Log reduction of 5. aureus to control at 0.1 and 0.2% in cheese after 168 h. The essential oils of the Caraway seed, Penney royal and Peppermint had moderate effect on S. aureus and caused 1.5 and 2 Log reduction in the number of bacteria in the samples to controls. The Tarragon oils caused 0.8 and 1.2 Log reduction to control at 0.3 and 0.4% after 168 h. From the results of this study it is concluded that essential oils of some plants may use as a natural preservative in some foods