Effects of probiotics with or without honey on radiation-induced diarrhea

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

Antibiotic resistance to third generation cephalosporins due to CTX-M-type extended-spectrum beta-lactamases in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli

Organisms producing CTX-M-beta-lactamase are emerging around the world as a source of resistance to oxyiminocephalosporins such as cefotaxime. However, the laboratory detection of these strains is not well defined. The aim of this study was to determine the presence and prevalence of known CTX-M-beta-lactamases genes in clinical isolates of Escherichia coli from hospitals of Tehran. During six months [September to February, 2006], 160 clinical isolates of Escherichia coli collected from three university hospitals of Tehran. Phenotypic screening and confirmation tests for ESBL detection was according to CLSI advised. All of the ESBL-producing isolates were examined by PCR for presence of bla CTX-M genes. Primary phenptypic tests revealed that 56.69% [n=89] of E. coli isolates produced ESBLs. In confirmatory tests by use of clavulanic acid, ESBL production were confirmed [P+C+] in 96.7% [n=86] of isolates with primary positive test. The presence of an ESBL was not confirmed [P+C-] in 3.3% [n=3] of the screen positive. Of all screen positive isolates, 34 [35.78%] were positive for bla CTX-M genes from the CTX-M-I group, indicating CTX-M-1-like beta-lactamases and Two [2.1%] were positive for bla CTX-M genes from the CTX-M-III group, indicating CTX-M-3-like beta-lactamases. The remainder 59 [62.2%] were negative for bla CTX-M genes. The levels of resistance to ceftazidim were remarkably varible among CTX-M producers. This study provides futher evidence of the global dissemination of CTX-M type ESBLs and emphasize the need for their epidemiological monitoring

Stereological study of prostate structural changes following electromagnetic field exposure in adult male rats

Stereology is a branch of applied mathematics that by using the two dimensional observations of different tissue parts in the microscopical and macroscopical level quantitatively and in three-dimensional have been studied. As the electromagnetic field like ionization radiants have high energy, using of these fields because of producing free radical can cause destructive effects. In recent years, the effects of this field have been studied on the different parts of body. In this study, 12 male Wistar rats were selected randomly and divided into two groups. The experimental group was exposed to 0.1 m Tesla [6 hour daily for 30 days] magnetic field. After treatment, all animals were anesthesized by diethyl ether and the prostate was removed and immersed in fixative solution and embedded in agar solution. After that other steps necessary for this study performed. Then Cavalieri principle was used to determine the allocated volumes. The total volume of the prostate in the control and test groups was 140.6300 and 160.7567 mm[3], respectively. The volume of glandular portion in control and test groups was 102.5700 and 119.0417 mm[3], while the volume of nonglandular portions was 37.7400 and 41.8250 mm[3], respectively. On the other hand the total weight of the prostate in the control and test groups were 0.3200 mg and 0.3917 mg, respectively. This study showed that electromagnetic field as prescribed in this study had no effect on prostatic volumes of rats

[ vitro anti-staphylococcus aureus activity of Nigella sativa L., seed oil extract, compared with CXM, CEC, MAN and CAZ antibiotics]

The anti-microbial effect of plants has been suggested from old years. New researches in this field confirm such property of applications. In this study, anti-microbial effects of Nigella sativa seed oil cold extract against two strains of Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated, and the minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] of Nigella sativa L. [NS] was compared with relevant antibiotics. Detection of mic in ns oil cold extract was performed using broth dilution method. The original extract was prepared in 0.5%, 0.25%, 0.06% and 0.03% concentrations by serial dilution. S. Aureus strains [ATCC 1112 and 2572] were grown in TSB media to 0.5 mc farland standard concentrations and each 0.01 dilution of microorganism suspension above was transferred to the drug dilution. Tubes were incubated overnight at 35 °C. The sensitivity of the bacteria was defined by disk diffusion [kirby-bauer] Method and Antibiogram disks made by Difco Inc. The obtained values were compared with the effects of the extract. MIC for S. Aureus ATCC-2572 and S. aureus ATCC-1112 were found 1/16 and 1/10, respectively. It was revealed by performing in vitro sensitivity tests for the two strains that NS oil can affect the bacterial pure form in 0.125% and 0.26% concentrations. It is suggested that the anti-microbial effect of NS oil extract is comparable with antibiotics such as CXM, CEC, MAN, CAZ. We recommend experimental use of Nigella sativa L. to control some of bacterial infections

Results and complications of endoscopic ultrasound guided-FNA in patients with pancreatic and gastrointestinal submucosal lesions

Linear endoscopic ultrasonography [EUS] is a proven modality for the diagnosis and treatment of different gastrointestinal lesions. The aim of this study was to describe the role of EUS-FNA in the evaluation of pancreatic and submucosal lesions. Over a 1-year period, in a prospective descriptive study, patients referred to Naft Hospital, underwent linear EUS. Of the 40 linear EUS performed, 32 [80%] patients had pancreatic lesions which 26 [81%] of these cases were referred for pancreatic tumor biopsy. The most of these tumors [73%] were in the head of pancreas. EUS-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed in all 26 patients successfully without complications, which in 16 [61.5%] of them the diagnosis of pancreatic malignancy confirmed cytopathologically. Sensitivity and specificity of this method in pancreatic lesions were 84% and 100%, respectively. Eight patients [20%] were referred because of submucosal upper gastrointestinal lesions which in 7 [87.5%] of them GIST were diagnosed. Sensitivity and specificity of EUSFNA in submucosal lesions was 100%. No adverse effect of EUS-FNA was observed. EUS-FNA is a safe method with an acceptable accuracy in the evaluation and diagnosis of pancreatic and submucosal lesions. The results of this study are similar to that reported previously from other countries. Performing this new method requires more gastroenterologists and pathologists experience as well as more support from different societies [such as gastroenterology and surgery]

[Study of anatomical position of termination of the spinal cord in different ages of male cat]

Objective: study of anatomical position of termination of the spinal cord in male cat

Animals: fifteen male cat in 2 prenatal groups of mid stage fetus [37d] and late stage fetus and 3 postnatal groups of newbom, sexually adult [6 m] and adult age [>ly/o] and 3 animals in each group

Procedure: fixation of spinal cord with injection of and suspension in 10% formalin, laminectomy of vertebral column and definition of spinal cone on related to vertebral column by pin

Results: the results indicated that, as in the mid and late stage fetuses, the spinal cord terminated at anterior one third of Co, and posterior one thud of S,, respectively but in newbom, sexually adult stage and adult age at posterior, middle and anterior one third of S2, respectively

Discution: thus with increase of age the terminal portion of spinal cord were more anterior and this showed that the vertebral column had been grown faster than that the spinal cord

Antibacterial resistance pattern and frequency of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus isolated from different sources in southeastern Iran

The frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] was determined in 526 bacteria isolates from the infected sites of patients with staphylococcal infection, and from the nose or throat of healthy carriers among hospitalized patients, hospital personnel and the control group not in contact with hospitalized patients. Total number of the resistant isolates [or with immediate response] to 1micro g oxacillin was 9.9% and considered as MRSA. Vancomycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were the most active antibacterial agents against all the bacterial isolates [p<0.001], followed by erythromycin [93.5%], and gentamicin [93.3%]. Sensitivity to penicillin, ampicillin and amoxicillin was very low [less than 4%]. The rate of MRSA and antibacterial resistance was higher in the S. aureus isolated from clinical infection [25%], compared with those from carriers [7.9%] p<0.001. Among the bacteria isolated from carriers, throat samples showed a higher rate of resistance to antimicrobial agents and a higher rate of MRSA [13.3%] compared to those isolated from the nose [5.2%], p<0.002