[Application of PCR method in specific identification of Fusarium solani in HIV positive patients]

Fusarium solani is the common etiological agent of fungemia and disseminated fusariosis, which is associated with high incidence of mortality in immune-compromised host. Due to high level of resistance of antifungals in Fusarium solani, rapid and specific identification of organism is essential. This study was done to evaluate the PCR method for rapid and specific diagnosis of Fusarium solani in serum samples of HIV positive patients. In this descriptive study, the PCR test based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene as the target gene with 330 bp product was optimized. PCR was applied on 45 serum samples of HIV positive patients after evaluation of sensitivity and specificity of the test. In the optimized PCR test, the 330 bp product was amplified. The sensitivity of the test was a copy of Fusarium solani genome, and its specificity was 100%. Among 45 serum samples, 9 cases [20%] were positive for Fusarium solani. The PCR method has functional capabilities for direct, rapid and specific clinical diagnosis of Fusarium solani in HIV positive patients

Isolation, molecular identification and evaluation of antifungal effects of the bacilli isolated from rhizospheric soil of gorgan region against tricopfifton mentegrqp aytes

Soil bacteria, particularly Bacillus genus have the potential of producing a range of bioactive substances with antimicrobial and antifungal properties. They have the ability to produce hundreds of active and effective biologic compound against microorganisms. Therefore, it seems to be a proper candidate in the biocontrol of fungal pathogenesis. In this study, soil samples were collected from different parts of Gorgan in order to isolate Bacillus and to determine their antifungal activity against T.mentagrophytes. The isolates that had the highest antifungal effects were analyzed by PCR and 16 srRNA sequencing. Of 54 strains, 14 have antifungal activity. The Isolates, S4 and SI2, identified as B.cereus and B.thuringiensis respectively show the highest antidermatofit effect. These isolates based on 16s rRNA sequence analysis show 97% honiology with Bacillus cereusstrain KU4 and Bacillus thurmgienslsstrain ucsc 27. According to the results, it seems that the soil Bacilli have biocontrol potential against dermatophytic agents such as T.mentagrophytes

Aflatoxin detoxification in rice using citric acid

Aflatoxins cause health hazards to human and animals and has also economical problems. Therefore, the detoxification effect of citric acid was investigated in rice as the main food of Iranian people. Initially 275 samples of rice were examined for aflatoxins by HPLC. The aflatoxins contaminated samples were later treated by aqueous citric acid and detoxification of aflatoxins were quantified using HPLC. Among the 275 samples analyzed, aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin B2 were detected in 211 [76.72% of total] samples. Aflatoxin B1 was detected in 203 [73.82% of total] samples with a mean and standard deviation of 2.3 +/- 10.21ppb. Aflatoxin B2 together with aflatoxin B1 were detected in only 8 [2.91% of total] samples with a mean and standard deviation of 1.38 +/- 2.7ppb of aflatoxin B2 and 2.99 +/- 1.56 of aflatoxin B1 respectively. Aflatoxin B1 level in 5 samples [1.82%] was above the maximum tolerated level of aflatoxin B1 in Iran [5ppb]. However considering the Iranian maximum tolerated level for aflatoxins in rice [30ppb], only 3 [1.09%] samples were above the 30ppb and also in regard to the European maximum tolerated level for aflatoxins in rice [4ppb], only 9 [3.27%] samples were considered as higher than 4ppb. The HPLC assay showed that although aflatoxins with a concentration of<30 and<4 ppb in the rice samples were completely degraded, but 97.22% degradation occurred in rice contaminated with 30 and 4ppb when treated with 1N citric acid. These results revealed the efficacy of 1N citric acid in reducing aflatoxins levels in rice

Inhibitory effect of farnesol on biofilm formation by Candida tropicalis

Candidiasis associated with indwelling medical devices is especially problematic since they can act as substrates for biofilm growth which are highly resistant to antifungal drugs. Farnesol is a quorum-sensing molecule that inhibits filamentation and biofilm formation in Candida albicans. Since in recent years Candida tropicalis have been reported as an important and common non-albicans Candida species with high drug resistance pattern, the inhibitory effect of farnesol on biofilm formation by Candida tropicalis was evaluated. Five Candida tropicalis strains were treated with different concentration of farnesol [0, 30 and 300 micro M] after 0, 1 and 4 hrs of adherence and then they were maintained under biofilm formation condition in polystyrene, 96-well microtiter plates at 37°C for 48 hrs. Biofilm formation was measured by a semiquantitative colorimetric technique based on reduction assay of 2,3- bis -2H-tetrazolium- 5- carboxanilide [XTT]. The results indicated that the initial adherence time had no effect on biofilm formation and low concentration of farnesol [30 micro M] could not inhibit biofilm formation. However the presence of non-adherent cells increased biofilm formation significantly and the high concentration of farnesol [300 micro M] could inhibit biofilm formation. Results of this study showed that the high concentration of farnesol could inhibit biofilm formation and may be used as an adjuvant in prevention and in therapeutic strategies with antifungal drugs

Photochemical oxidation of reactive blue 19 dye [RB19] in textile wastewater by UV/K[2]S[2]O[8] process

In textile industry, advanced oxidation processes are used for degrading and removing color from dye baths which allow wastewater reuse. In this study, photochemical oxidation processes [UV-A/K2S2O8, UV-C/K2S2O8] and chemical oxidation process [dark/K2S2O8], were investigated in a laboratory scale photoreactor for decolorization of the Reactive blue 19 [RB19] dye from synthetic textile wastewater. The effects of operating parameters such as potassium persulphate dosage, pH, reaction time and UV source, on decolorization have been evaluated. The results of direct chemical oxidation showed that 50% of the dye was been removed using K2S2O8 in dark condition after 5h reaction time and photochemical oxidation showed that UV-C irradiation is more effective than UV-A for RB19 dye removal. The RB19 solution was completely decolorized under optimal potassium persulphate dosage of 5mmol/L and low-pressure mercury UV-C lamps [15w] in less than 30min. UV/K2S2O8 experiments showed higher color removal performance under acidic conditions [pH=3], and in this condition with 5mmol/L of potassium persulphate, 78.5% COD has been removed after 3h irradiation time. The decolorization rate fitted to pseudo-first order kinetics with respect of dye concentration. The reaction rate constants for photochemical degradation of RB19 were 0.014 and 0.237 for UV-A/K2S2O8 and UV-C/K2S2O8 processes respectively

Effects of magnesium sulphate in delibrated hypotension for mastoidectomy surgery

Deliberated hypotension and administration of vasoconstrictive drugs such as epinephrine during ear microsurgery are of the most important aids for reducing blood loss and improving the surgical field. One of the important challenges in selecting the appropriate method of deliberated hypotension is to easily reach to desired blood pressure and to have the least interaction to anesthetic drugs and the function of vital organs. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of magnesium sulphate for deliberated hypotension during ear microsurgery. In this clinical trial, 55 patients candidate for mastoidectomy surgery, and aged 15-65 yrs, were randomly assigned to receive placebo [n=27] or magnesium sulphate [n=28] infuse 60 mg/Kg over 15 minute followed by a maintenance dose of 10 mg/Kg/h until 30 minutes prior to the end of surgery. Intra-operative bleeding, the surgery duration, surgeon satisfaction, serum magnesium level, recovery time, anesthetic drug requirements [atracurium-halothane], and vasodilator [TNG] were measured in both groups and then compared with independent t and Mann-Whitney statistical tests. Patients receiving magnesium sulphate had less blood loss than controls [59.46 +/- 27.19 vs. 97.57 +/- 31.41 ml, respectively, p<0.01]]. Serum magnesium levels were in the therapeutic range [3.1 +/- 0.78 meq/L]. Patients had no significant arrhythmia, received lower doses of T.N.G [101.71 +/- 56.69 vs. 1107 +/- 450.45 /g]], and muscle relaxant [45.89 +/- 14.08 vs. [60.17 +/- 9.76 mg, respectively,p<0.01] but not significant difference in Halothane [[3.1 +/- 0.64 MAC/hr] vs. [3.45 +/- 0.6 MAC/hr]]. Also surgeon satisfaction was better in magnesium group [p<0.001]. There were not statistically difference in surgical time [[155.71 +/- 27.27 min] vs. [157.50 +/- 33.62 min]] and recovery time [[44.64 +/- 7.92 min] vs. [45.71 +/- 8.99 min]] between two groups. Administration of intravenous magnesium sulphate as a hypotensive drug in mastoidectomy surgery may be effective in decreasing intraoperative bleeding, using atracurium and TNG drugs,however in spite of improvement of the surgeon satisfaction, it had no effect on reducing the duration of surgery and recovery time. Overall, its administration is recommended for deliberate hypotension is a feasible method in mastoidectomy surgery

[ study of relationship between post dural puncture headache and hemodynamic fluctuation in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia]

Most of researchers believe that post dural puncture headache [PDPH] is resulted of excessive leakage of cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] which leads to decrease intracranial pressure [ICP] or cerebral hypotension. Hemodynamic factors can alter ICP and CSF dynamics. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between PDPH and hemodynamic fluctuation in patients under spinal anesthesia for orthopedic surgery. This prospective observational study was performed on 95 patients, candidate for leg orthopedic surgery, under spinal anesthesia through 23-gauge Quince needle. Blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded at 0 [before anesthesia], 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 minutes after spinal anesthesia. Total intravenous fluid intake and ephedrine consumption during operation were assessed. Incidence, duration [day] and intensity [VAS] of PDPH were determined during 5 days after spinal anesthesia. Finally, correlation of hemodynamic fluctuation, fluid intake and ephedrine consumption with incidence, duration and intensity of PDPH were analyzed using Pierson and independent sample test. Results were considered meaningful if p<0.05. The overall incidence of PDPH was 33.3%. The mean severity and duration of PDPH were 5.83 +/- 2.11 [VAS] and 3.66 +/- 1.40 [day] respectively. There was no correlation between the occurrence and intensity of PDPH and presence of hemodynamic fluctuation, fluid intake and ephedrine consumption. The results demonstrate relatively high incidence of PDPH compared with other studies, which may be due to effect of many factors that alter this incidence. Although the hemodynamic parameters variation can effect on CSF dynamics and ICP, there is no correlation between hemodynamic fluctuations and PDPH. Also, the needle size and hole shape are the potent factors for producing the PDPH