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OBJECTIVE@#To determine the potential antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts from Mentha longifolia L. (M. longifolia) and hydroalcoholic extract of Zataria multiflora Boiss. (Z. multiflora) against important human pathogens.@*METHODS@#Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumonia), Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus aureus were kinds of pathogenic bacteria to determine the antibacterial effect of aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of M. longifolia and hydroalcoholic extract of Z. multiflora using broth microdiluation method.@*RESULTS@#The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values for K. pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL) were observed by the hydroalcoholic extract of Z. multiflora and the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values for K. pneumonia and Serratia marcescens (2.5 and 5 mg/mL) were observed by the aqueous extracts of M. longifolia.@*CONCLUSIONS@#In conclusion, it seems that Z. multiflora and M. longifolia extracts could inhibit the growth of all of the mentioned bacteria.
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OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the caspase-1 dependent inflammatory pathway activity and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion in murine macrophage cell lines J774G8 infected with Leishmania major (L. major) using caspase-1 activity assay and ELISA.@*METHODS@#Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle biphasic medium was applied to produce promastigote form of L. major. Metacyclic promastigotes in the stationary phase were applied to infect macrophage. Caspase-1 activity and IL-1β secretion were assessed by the CPP32/caspase-1 fluorometric protease assay and ELISA IL-1β kits, respectively, with time intervals of 6, 18 and 30 h.@*RESULTS@#Our study showed an increase in caspase-1 activity and IL-1β secretion in infected samples compared to non-infected macrophages. The highest increase in IL-1β production was observed after 6 h of infection.@*CONCLUSIONS@#These results arise that the activation of inflammasome pathway could be one of the innate immunity pathways against L. major.
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Objective: To determine the potential antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts from Mentha longifolia L. (M. longifolia) and hydroalcoholic extract of Zataria multiflora Boiss. (Z. multiflora) against important human pathogens. Methods: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumonia). Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus aureus were kinds of pathogenic bacteria to determine the antibacterial effect of aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of M. longifolia and hydroalcoholic extract of Z. multiflora using broth microdiluation method. Results: The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values for K. pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL) were observed by the hydroalcoholic extract of Z. multiflora and the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values for K. pneumonia and Serratia marcescens (2.5 and 5 mg/mL) were observed by the aqueous extracts of M. longifolia. Conclusions: In conclusion, it seems that Z. multiflora and M. longifolia extracts could inhibit the growth of all of the mentioned bacteria.
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Objective: To investigate the caspase-1 dependent inflammatory pathway activity and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion in murine macrophage cell lines J774G8 infected with Leishmania major (L. major) using caspase-1 activity assay and ELISA. Methods: Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle biphasic medium was applied to produce promastigote form of L. major. Metacyclic promastigotes in the stationary phase were applied to infect macrophage. Caspase-1 activity and IL-1β secretion were assessed by the CPP32/caspase-1 fluorometric protease assay and ELISA IL-1β kits, respectively, with time intervals of 6, 18 and 30 h. Results: Our study showed an increase in caspase-1 activity and IL-1β secretion in infected samples compared to non-infected macrophages. The highest increase in IL-1β production was observed after 6 h of infection. Conclusions: These results arise that the activation of inflammasome pathway could be one of the innate immunity pathways against L. major.
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Accurate Diagnosis of Breast Cancer is of prime importance. Fine Needle Aspiration test or "FNA", which has been used for several years in Europe, is a simple, inexpensive, noninvasive and accurate technique for detecting breast cancer. Expending the suitable features of the Fine Needle Aspiration results is the most important diagnostic problem in early stages of breast cancer. In this study, we introduced a new algorithm that can detect breast cancer based on combining artificial intelligent system and Fine Needle Aspiration [FNA]. We studied the Features of Wisconsin Data Base Cancer which contained about 569 FNA test samples [212 patient samples [malignant] and 357 healthy samples [benign]]. In this research, we combined Artificial Intelligence Approaches, such as Evolutionary Algorithm [EA] with Genetic Algorithm [GA], and also used Exact Classifier Systems [here by Fuzzy C-Means [FCM]] to separate malignant from benign samples. Furthermore, we examined artificial Neural Networks [NN] to identify the model and structure. This research proposed a new algorithm for an accurate diagnosis of breast cancer. According to Wisconsin Data Base Cancer [WDBC] data base, 62.75% of samples were benign, and 37.25% were malignant. After applying the proposed algorithm, we achieved high detection accuracy of about "96.579%" on 205 patients who were diagnosed as having breast cancer. It was found that the method had 93% sensitivity, 73% specialty, 65% positive predictive value, and 95% negative predictive value, respectively. If done by experts, Fine Needle Aspiration [FNA] can be a reliable replacement for open biopsy in palpable breast masses. Evaluation of FNA samples during aspiration can decrease insufficient samples. FNA can be the first line of diagnosis in women with breast masses, at least in deprived regions, and may increase health standards and clinical supervision of patients. Such a smart, economical, non-invasive, rapid and accurate system can be introduced as a useful diagnostic system for comprehensive treatment of breast cancer. Another advantage of this method is the possibility of diagnosing breast abnormalities. If done by experts, FNA can be a reliable replacement for open biopsy in palpable breast masses. Evaluation of FNA samples during aspiration can decrease insufficient samples.
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Background: Diabetes is one of the most important metabolic disorders. Health education and behavioral improvement methods are effective ways for preventing and controlling diabetes. The present study investigated the effect of behavioral modification education on knowledge, attitude, self-care, and life quality in patients with type II diabetes
Materials and methods: This experimental study was conducted using a pretest-posttest control group design. From patients with type II diabetes presenting to Bojnurd Health Center, 40 patients were selected according to the eligibility criteria and were assigned randomly to two groups, the treatment group [20 patients] and the control group [20 patients]. A 5-section questionnaire was run in two stages to determine the demographic information and to measure knowledge [reliability 0.84], attitude [reliability 0.81], self-care [reliability 0.91], and quality of life [SF-20; reliability 0.79]. Validity of the questionnaire was approved by experts. The educational program for modification of habits and nutrition was conducted in five 30- minute sessions. Data was analyzed using SPSS 18 software
Results: The mean age of the patients was 52.17 +/- 7.58 years
The results showed that educational intervention had no significant effect on knowledge. However, this program had significant effects on attitude toward the illness [p=0.001], selfcare [p=0.001], and quality of life [p=0.001]
Conclusion: Implementing health care and changing inappropriate behaviors, type II diabetic patients would be able to change their attitude toward life and lifestyle. Such programs should be continuous and it is advisable to supplement the clinical and psychological methods with pharmacological ones