The environmental influences on the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meat stored in fridges

Objective To investigate the environmental influences on the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meats on fridges. Methods The environmental health status was determined by reliable and valid researcher-made checklist. Then 264 samples were gathered in two phases (at the entrance and three months later) and examined for total bacteria count, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. Results The result revealed that the mean of total bacteria count, E. coli and S. aureus densities had significant differences in two steps on chicken and the red meat samples (P < 0.05). Among the environmental factors, sanitary status, temperature and personal hygiene had significant effects on total bacteria count and S. aureus densities in chicken samples (P < 0.05), and between wastewater and solid waste disposal with E. coli density in red meat samples (P < 0.05). Conclusions The results implied that the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meat fluctuates with environmental status (especially temperature, sanitary status and personal hygiene). Regular control, improving of sanitary health, and staff training are necessary for elimination of bacterial contamination.

Effect of dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid on bone mineral density, bone metabolism markers and inflammatory markers in healthy post-menopausal women: a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial

Conjugated linoleic acid [CLA] has been shown to positively influence calcium and bone metabolism in experimental animals and cell culture, but there are limited human data available. The study consisted of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which 76 healthy post-menopausal women [aged 55.1] were randomly assigned to receive daily either four capsules CLA G80 containing 3.2 g isomer blend [50:50% cis-9, trans-11: trans-10, cis-12 isomers] or four capsules containing high oleic sunflower oil as placebo for 12 weeks. Urine and blood samples were collected at weeks 0 and 12 and were analyzed for biomarkers of calcium and bone metabolism and inflammatory markers [TNF-alpha and IL-6]. Subjects completed 3-days dietary records during the trial, in weeks 0 [baseline], 6 and 12. Supplementation with 3.2 g CLA isomer blend [50:50% cis-9,trans-l l:trans-10,cis-12 isomers] for 12 weeks had no significant effects on markers of bone formation [serum osteocalcin, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase] or bone resorption [urine C-telopeptide-related fraction of type 1 collagen degradation products], PTH, urinary calcium, urinary creatinine and CTP to creatinine ratio. And serum interIeukine-6 did not change significantly over 12 weeks in postmenopausal women. Under the conditions tested in this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in postmenopausal women, 3.2 g CLA isomer blend [50:50% cis-9, trans-11: trans-10, cis-12 isomers] did not affect markers of bone metabolism and calcium

Poly [lactide-co-glycolide] nanofibers coated with collagen and nano-hydroxyapatite for bone tissue engineering

A combination of polymeric nanofibrous scaffold and bioactive materials is potentially useful in bone regeneration applications. In the present study, Poly [lactide-co-glycolide] [PLGA] nanofibrous scaffolds, fabricated via electrospinning, were initially coated with Type I collagen and then with nano-hydroxyapatite. The prepared scaffolds were then characterized using SEM and their ability for bone regeneration was investigated in a rat critical size bone defect using digital mammography, multislice spiral-computed tomography [MSCT] imaging, and histological analysis. Electrospun scaffolds had nanofibrous structure with homogenous distribution of n-HA on collagen-grafted PLGA. After 8 weeks of implantation, no sign of inflammation or complication was observed at the site of surgery. According to digital mammography and MSCT, PLGA nanofibers coated simultaneously with collagen and HA showed the highest regeneration in rat calvarium. In addition, no significant difference was observed in bone repair in the group which received PLGA and the untreated control. This amount was lower than that observed in the group implanted with collagen-coated PLGA. Histological studies confirmed these data and showed osteointegration to the surrounding tissue. Taking all together, it was demonstrated that nanofibrous structures can be used as appropriate support for tissue-engineered scaffolds, and coating them with bioactive materials will provide ideal synthetic grafts. Fabricated PLGA coated with Type I collagen and HA can be used as new bone graft substitutes in orthopaedic surgery and is capable of enhancing bone regeneration via characteristics such as osteoconductivity and osteointegration

[Comparing the efficacy and safety of diclofenac and piascledine in patients with knee osteoarthritis]

Osteoarthritis [OA] is the most common rheumatologic disorder and the knee is the most involved joint. There are several medications suggested to treat knee OA, each of them has some advantages and disadvantages. The goal of the current study was to compare the effect of piascledine and diclofenac on pain and function of the patients with knee OA. In this clinical trial, 60 patients with knee OA were randomly divided into two groups: piascledine [300 mg daily] and diclofenac [25 mg three times a day]. Patients were treated for 8 weeks. WOMAC score was completed for each patient, and pain was measured using VAS pre- and post-medication. Before the treatment the mean WOMAC score was 53.7 +/- 3.1 in piascledine group and 54.2 +/- 2.9 in diclofenac group; which increased to 64.3 +/- 4.1 and 62 +/- 4.4 after treatment, respectively. The mean WOMAC score was significantly higher in the piascledine group [P<0.05]. The mean of VAS in piascledine and diclofenac group was 6.5 +/- 2.2 and 7.1 +/- 2.1 pre-medication which decreased to 4.2 +/- 1.1 and 4.5 +/- 1.4 post-medication, respectively. There was not a statistically significant difference between the two groups after treatment in the means of VAS. No side effect seen in neither of the groups. Due to improvement in WOMAC score and better patient compliance because of once daily intake, piascledine can be an efficient substitute to NSAIDs in treatment of knee OA

[Physical activity and factors influencing it among the personnel of a military center in Iran]

Considering the importance of sufficient physical activity in military personnel, this study was designed to determine the levels of this activity and factors influencing it among personnel of a military center in Iran. This cross-sectional method on 191 individuals randomly selected from entire staff working in a military center. A self-report valid and reliable questionnaire was applied to collect the data. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS software, descriptive and analytical statistics. According to the findings of the study prevalence of low, moderate and high levels of physical activity by study population was 35.1%, 19.4% and 45.5% respectively. A significant positive association was seen between levels of physical activity with both knowledge [P=0.001] and gender [P=0.022]. However, the association between, physical activity, with other studied factors such as age, job, and level of formal education was not significant. The most important factor of physical inactivity among participants was lack of enough free-time. On the other hand, accessibility to facilitates, organizational exercise, providing physical equipment's in job settings, and having free-time were the most important factors to promote the levels of physical activity, mentioned by the subjects. On the basis of the findings, especially considering the prevalence of the low level activity, 35.1%, and other documents supported this finding, one may conclude that performing educational program about to physical activity among military personnel seems necessary. To develop and promote enough equipment's and facilitates to increase the chance of sufficient physical activity among personnel is very important.

[Surgical outcome and satisfaction in orthopaedics patients intramedullary nailing implant fixation remained in-situ for more than 2 years]

Guidelines on implant removal are not clear and the routine removal of orthopaedic fixation devices after fracture healing remains an issue of debate. Few studies have evaluated long-term outcomes of patients with orthopaedic implants left in-situ and this lake of data has made the orthopaedic surgeons decide on implant removal differently. In order to add new data in this field, we designed this study. In a follow up setting, patients with Tibial shaft fractures who had received orthopaedic implants in year 2008 and earlier were clinically examined for any surgical complications such as pain or limited range of motion. Quality of life of each patient was evaluated using short form 36. The total SF-36 score of the patients was not statistically different from the normal population [P >0.05]. 21 patients [31.2%] reported limited range of motion in ankle and 11 [14.9%] complained of weakness in the affected limb. Clinically, 68.9% of patients had full range of motion in ankle and 70.3% had no tenderness in the affected limb. As most patients were clinically normal and had quality of life scores comparable to the normal population, removal of implants is not advisable in all patients

case of concurrent proteus syndrome and hemophilia A

Proteus syndrome is a very rare condition with less than 100 confirmed cases reported worldwide. We report a case of Proteus syndrome in a two-year-old male who has hemophilia A comorbidity. A two-year-old male patient was admitted with the chief complaint of severe bleeding in mouth cavity after trauma for two weeks. At admission he was found to have petechiae on buccal mucosa and fecal discoloration due to GI bleeding. We noted multiple abnormalities in his musculoskeletal system and skin. He had lymph edema in left leg, hemihypertrophy, macrodactyly in both foots and macrocephaly. With the history of severe bleeding and recurrent blood product transfusion, we suspected a hemorrhagic disorder. The reduced level of Factor VIII activity confirmed the diagnosis of hemophilia A. Considering patient's various musculoskeletal abnormalities according to the diagnostic criteria and after ruling out similar disorders the diagnosis of Proteus syndrome was established. Because of the variability of clinical features, Proteus syndrome can be confused with other disorders of multiple tissue overgrowth. Our case of Proteus syndrome, who had hemophilia A comorbidity outlines the challenges in diagnosis of such rare combination of diseases

Microbial quality of cooked meat foods in Tehran University's restaurants

Evaluation of microbial load of cooked meat in university restaurants. Two hundred sixteen samples from four types of consumed foods in six clinical and educational centres were assessed for bacterial contamination by standard methods. There was no contamination with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Mean of total bacterial and coliform counts in grilled ground meat samples were 1.14 x 10[5] CFU/g and 1.98 x 10[2] CFU/g respectively. Twenty one [38.9%] out of 54 examined samples of grilled ground meat had E. coli contamination and S. aureus were found in 30 [55.6%] samples. Mean quantity of total bacterial contamination were 2.85 x 10[2] CFU /g for fish samples and there was no presence with coliforms or other pathogenic bacteria in this food. Some foods [especially grilled ground meat] had contamination loads which were higher than accepted standards. Omitting grilled ground meat from food schedule, especially in warm seasons, may reduce the hazard of food poisoning