ABSTRACT
Background: Diarrhea is a well-recognized side effect associated with pelvic radiation; however, there is not any effective common treatment for radiation-induced diarrhea. A popular alternative is probiotics, which have been used in several gastrointestinal disorders. Probiotics are live microbial food supplements. Furthermore, honey is a putative nutritional with a variety of health effects, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and prebiotic. The present study evaluated the effects of probiotic with or without honey on radiation-induced diarrhea. Materials and Methods: Sixty-seven adult patients with pelvic cancer underwent radiotherapy for four weeks. They randomized to receive probiotic [n = 22], probiotic plus honey [n = 21] or placebo [n = 24] from one week before radiotherapy for five weeks. Diarrhea grade and stool consistency score were recorded weekly according to the Common Toxicity Criteria system and the Bristol scales, respectively. Results: The results showed a decrease in the daily number of bowel movements [p = 0.003 and 0.006], diarrhea grade [p = 0.001 and 0.001] and the need for antidiarrheal medication [p = 0.021 and 0.041] also an increase in the stool consistency [p = 0.004 and 0.005] in patients who either used probiotic or probiotic plus honey [respectively], these were significant in weeks 4 and 5 of treatment. Conclusion: Probiotics with or without honey can reduce the incidence of radiation-induced diarrhea and the need for antidiarrheal medication
ABSTRACT
Background: Biosurfactants are unique amphipathic molecules with extensive application in removing organic and metal contaminants. The purpose of this study was to isolate the biosurfactant-producing bacteria and characterize the surface-active properties of the metabolites produced
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in three Caspian Sea coastal regions in Babolsar during 2007-8. In primary screening, hemolytic and emulsifying activities were performed on blood agar plates and in culture medium, respectively and then the reduction in the surface tension, as a biosurfactant-producing index, was determined quantitatively by captive drop cell instrument. The isolated strain was also investigated for its ability to use different hydrocarbon pollutants using the surface tension measurement
Results: One out of 10 different strains exhibited high ability to produce biosurfactant. This strain called Caspian petroleum A1 [CPA1]. Biochemical tests showed that CPA1 classified in aerobic gram-negative cocci, neisseriaceae family and acinetobacter genus. CPA1 utilized crude oil and gasoline, as carbon and energy sources, to reduce the surface tension of culture medium from 71 to 42 and 39 mN/m
Conclusion: CPA1, as a biosurfactant-producer, was isolated and identified based on potential for biodegradation of hydrocarbon pollutants [e.g. crude oil, gasoline, anthracen and naphthalene]
ABSTRACT
To compare the cosmetic results of whole breast radiotherapy between cobalt 60 and photon 9MegaVolt in patients underwent breast conserving surgery. The patients with breast saving surgery who were treated by whole breast radiotherapy with either cobalt 60 or photon 9MV between 2001-2006 in Sayed-al-Shohada hospital entered the study. The cosmetic results were evaluated by an expert radiation oncologist with definite criteria. Frothy patients in cobalt 60 group and 43 patients in photon group were compared, with median follow up of 40.5 months. The patients in photon group had less telangectasia and discoloration [p=0.018 and p=0.01, respectively]. The consistency of breast in photon group was better [p=0.019], but for fibrosis the difference was not statistically significant [p=0.055].Overall cosmetic results in photon group was much better rather than cobalt 60 group [p=0.005]. No recurrences were observed in both groups. Cosmetic results in group with photon 9MV were superior to cobalt group, but the effect of these two beam energy on disease free survival [DFS] and/or overall survival [OS] should be in more consideration
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Breast Neoplasms/surgery , Cobalt , Photons , Treatment Outcome , Retrospective StudiesABSTRACT
VP2 gene coding region of a vaccinal strain [D78] of infectious bursal disease virus [IBDV] was cloned in a eukaryotic expression vector, pSec Tag2A. The gene was placed downstream of Ig kappa chain leader sequence, under the control of human cytomegalovirus [hCMV] immediate early enhancer and promoter. The construct pSec Tag2A-VP2 was transferred in COS-7 cell line and the expression and secretion of VP2 was assessed by dot blotting and antigen capture ELISA. The antibody used in the immunological assays was a neutralizing monoclonal antibody [1A6] against VP2. Positive reaction with the antibody indicated the construct was functional with respect to expression and secretion of a native VP2
ABSTRACT
Wolbachia is an obligatory, intracellular alpha-proteobacterium which infect the reproductive and somatic tissues of some arthropod and nematode populations. Because there are not any available data on the presence of this bacterium in Iran, the present study was done to determine the presence of this bacterium among 30 species of arthropods and nematodes. After DNA extraction from samples, we screened Wolbachia spp. with specific primers using PCR method. A total of 770 arthropods [of 22 genera] and 41 nematodes [of 6 genera] were screened for Wolbachia. Overall 167 arthropod samples [18 colonies] from 7 genera and 1 nematode sample were found positive. Positive PCR products of 16S rDNA gene were digested with RsaI restriction enzyme and the types of Wolbachia were recognized as A supergroup of Wolbachia