Specific PCR assay for rapid and direct detection of Neisseria meningitidis in cerebrospinal fluid specimens

Neisseria meninigitidis is one of the most frequently encountered microorganisms associated with central nervous system infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate a PCR-based assay for specific and rapid detection of N. meninigitidis in CSF specimens. Since April 2002 to July 2006, 130 CSF specimens were collected from patients suspected of having baterial meningitis. Bacterial isolation and identification was carried out according to the standard bacteriological methods. The PCR was used to amplify a 101bp fragment of capsular transport gene A [ctr A] of N. meningitidis. PCR yielded an amplified product with the expected size of 101 base pair fragment. Sensitivity test proved 500 mg of N. meningitidis DNA as the final detection limit and specificity test revealed no cross-reaction for a wide range of respiratory pathogenic organisms. The PCR assay was more sensitive than the bacterial culturing. It might be possible to apply this procedure for rapid diagnosis of meningococci in clinical samples

Multiplex reverse transcription-PCR assay for detection of type A influenza virus plus differentiation of avian H7 and H9 hemagglutinin subtypes in Iran

Avian influenza virus [AIV] infection is a major cause of bird and human morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate a specific and sensitive multiplex RT-PCR that can simultaneously detect influenza type A viruses and differentiate the two most important subtypes of avian influenza viruses H7 and H9 subtypes. A multiplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction [mRT-PCR] was developed and optimized for the detection of type A influenza virus. Simultaneously avian H7 and H9 hemagglutinin subtypes was differentiated. Three sets of specific oligonucleotide primers were used in this test for type A influenza virus, H7 and H9 heamagglutinin subtypes. The mRT-PCR DNA products were visualized by gel electrophoresis and consisted of fragments of 313 bp for H7 and 428 bp for H9 hemagglutinin subtypes, and 101 bp for type A influenza virus. The common set of primers for type A influenza virus were able to amplify a 101 bp DNA band for any of the other subtypes of influenza A virus The mRT-PCR assay developed in this study was found to be sensitive and specific. No specific amplification bands of the same sizes [313 and 428 bp] could be amplified for RNA of other influenza hemagglutinin subtypes, nor specific amplification bands of type A influenza [101 bp] for Influenza B, C, or other viral or bacterial pathogens tested in this study

Prevalence of sacroiliac dysfunction among patients with Low back pain referring to hospitals in Isfahan [a pilot study]

Low back pain [LBP] is one of the most common causes of disability that leads to discomfort and imposes heavy expenses on individuals and the society. Sacroiliac joint [SIJ] dysfunction is one of the courses of low back pain and difficult to diagnose. Therefore, it is usually neglected in evaluation and treatment of patients with low back pain. This epidemiological study carried out to determine the prevalence of SIJ dysfunction among LBP clients referred to the based hospitals in Isfahan [June to August 2007]. According to the previous studies, 114 patients with LBP were selected by simple randomized sampling. The results showed that more than 30 percent of LBP patients suffer from SIJ dysfunction simultaneously. According to this study, it is very important to pay attention to the signs and symptoms of SIJ dysfunction in LBP patients; because any pain relieving factors will satisfy patients from their physiotherapy treatment

[Anxiety, depression and some of their demographic correlates in students of Isfahan Medical University]

Anxiety and depression are two common psychiatric disorders which put heavy burdens on the societies. This study is aimed to assess anxiety, depression and some of their demographic correlates in Isfahan medical university students. This was a descriptive-analytic correlation study.The sample consisted of 200 students who had been randomly selected among all Isfahan medical university students in the 2006-2007 academic year. Kettles' anxiety questionnaire and Beck's depression inventory were used to assess anxiety and depression. Data were analysed using multiple regression analysis method. Academic achievement was found to be the only demographic variable which had a significant correlation with depression. The mean of academic average score, the medical course of study and the female gender were found to be positively and significantly correlated with the rate of anxiety, while the socio-economic status was shown to be negatively so. Studying medicine inevitably requires a constant engagement with the people's pain and suffering, as well as a hard work, along term duration of study in the university and taking part in several hard standard examinations. Medial students are potentially vulnerable to anxiety as a result of their apprehension about their academic achievement and also to depression as a result of the potential academic failures. Attention should be paid toward the mental health in this talented and vulnerable student group.