[Evaluation of anthropometric measurements with consumption of portulaca oleracea seeds in patients with asthma]

Background: Today, the relationship between asthma and obesity in many studies is reviewed and weight control is used as a way for control of symptoms and severity of asthma along with other treatment protocol. Portulaca oleracea is consumed for weight loss in some countries

Objective: The experiment is designed to study the effect of Portulaca oleracea seeds on anthropometric measurements in asthmatic patients

Methods: In a randomized clinical trial, 59 patients with asthma disease divided to intervention [n=31] and control [n=28] groups. First group received asthma treatment and consisting 10g/day P. oleracea seeds in two doses in the morning [fasting] and before dinner with a glass of water for 8 weeks. Participants in second group received only asthma treatment. At the beginning and end of the study, anthropometric measurements were measured on each subject

Results: The anthropometric measurements including weight, body mass index and waist circumference indicated any significant differences between two groups after completion of the study [P?0.05] but hip circumference and waist-to-hip ratio had significant decrease [P= 0.003] and increase in intervention group [P= 0.04], respectively

Conclusion: Consumption of Portulaca oleracea seeds influence on some anthropometric measurements likes hip circumference and waist-to-hip ratio in asthmatic patients. However, the effects of them on other anthropometric measurements need further investigations.Keywords: Anthropometric Measurements, Asthma, Obesity, Portulaca oleracea seed

[Correlation between population characteristics and safety attitude to work of women workers in food factories]

Due to increase of accident work in Iranian women workers, safety attitude is an important factor at work and it should be considered. The aim of this study was to determine correlation between demographic characteristics and safety attitude of women workers in food factories. In this descriptive-correlation study, 171 woman workers were selected by multiphase sampling. Data was collected by 2-part questionnaire of demographic characteristics and "Safety Attitude to Work Questionnaire". Validity of the questionnaires was evaluated by CVI [92.10] and CVR [91.11]. In addition, face and reliability were determined by internal consistency [alpha=0.86] and test-retest [r=0.94]]. Result showed that most of the samples had positive safety attitude [81.3%]. In addition, results showed they also indicated that there is a significant correlation between marriage and number of children with safety attitude to work [P>0.01]. Contrary, there was a negative correlation between salary and work experiences with safety attitude [P>0.05]. Other demographic characteristics did not have a significant relationship with safety attitude [P<0.05]. Due to correlation between some demographic characteristics and safety attitude of women workers, further study is suggested for future research

Rapid detection of causative agents of Malta fever using polymerase chain reaction

Malta fever is a zoonosis that it's causative agent is Brucella species. Although the disease is rarely fatal, but in natural epidemics or probable biologic wars, it's rapid and proper indiscrimination will scathe medical supplies drastically. Drawbacks of traditional diagnostic methods are time consuming, less accurate, less sensitive and contain false positive results. So the aim of this study is to design the PCR method for rapid detection of the organism. Genus specific bcsp target gene was selected for primer designing using Primer express v3.0 software. Specificity of the PCR tests was determined using reactions containing various bacterial negative control genomes. For evaluation of sensitivity and limit of detection, the PCR products were cloned in pTZ57R/T plasmid and used from their serial dilutions. Electrophoresis of bcsp gene PCR product showed a single 150 bp band for B.abortus and B.melitensis. PCR tests using negative control bacterial genomes were not showed detectable bands after gel agarose electrophoresis. The cloning processes were confirmed by PCR and sequencing. This method can be used for genus detection of the pathogen Brucella. and, it reduces time and cost needed for the organisms detection

[Seroprevalence of HIV infection among high-risk groups in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province in 2009]

According to WHO report, there are more than 40.3 million people infected with HIV worldwide. Detection of HIV-infected people in each community helps to control and prevent the infection. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HIV infection among high-risk groups in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province in Iran. This was a cross-sectional study which was conducted in 2009 in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province in Iran. High-risk groups for HIV were the subjects of this study. Blood samples were taken from 2009 from 2009 people from Boyerahmad Gachsaran, and Dehdasht and tested by ELISA for anti-HIV 1/2 antibodies. Demographic features of participants were recorded using a questionnaire during sample collecting. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 13 software. From 2009 subjects, HIV antibody was detected in 36 [1.8%] of cases. High prevalence of infection [3.2%] was seen in 31-40 years age group. The rate of infection was higher in males compared to females. Unemployed people were found to be the main victim of the disease. The highest rate of infection was seen in Gachsaran in comparison to other townships. Findings of the study demonstrated that HIV infection is prevalent in high-risk groups in Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad province and control measurements should be implemented to prevent the distribution of the infection

[Comparison of PCR and culture tests for diagnosis of mycoplasma pneumoniae respiratory tract infections]

Mycoplasmas pneumoniae is responsible for more than 20% of community acquired pneumonia cases and also implicated in acute respiratory infections, such as sore throat, pharyngitis, rhinitis, and tracheobronchitis. Conventional assays for the detection of M. pneumoniae have their limitations, resulting in the need for more accurate diagnostic methods. Molecular methods, for example Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR], have the potential to produce rapid, sensitive, and specific results, allowing early appropriate antibiotic therapy. In this study, we aimed to compare PCR and culture results and to develop a rapid and more practical PCR technique for detection of M. pneumoniae. Clinical samples from 100 patients with respiratory complaints were subjected to culture and PCR. A highly sensitive, PCR protocol using P4A and P4B primers targeting the P1 cytadhesin gene was designed and applied to nasopharyngeal swab samples collected from patients. Amplicon [345 bp] cloned by PCR-cloning and then sequenced by dideoxy chain termination. The results of positive cultures [10 out of 100] well correlated with the results of PCR. Samples from 33 additional patients which showed a negative result in culture were positive by PCR. The detection limit for this assay was found to be 10 M. pneumoniae organisms in clinical samples. There was no amplification of DNA from 11 other species of human and animal mycoplasmas and 17 other bacterial species. This study indicates that PCR is a sensitive, specific and reliable method for rapid diagnosis of M pneumoniae in respiratory tract samples

Purification and characterization of protein antigens isolated from mycobacterium tuberculosis [H37 Rv strain] and their effects on cell-mediated immune responses in guinea pigs

Mycobacterium tuberculosis [H37Rv strain] was used in this study. The bacterial cells were disintegrated by sonication. The separation and characterization of the soluble molecules were attempted by various techniques including gel filtration, ion exchange chromatographies and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, using SDS and 2ME. Eight protein molecules with molecular weights ranging from 6.3 up to 204 kD were identified. Following reduction of the 204 kD molecule with 2ME, six smaller molecules with 12a, 12b, 21,29,45 and 81.5 kD molecular weights were obtained- All isolated protein molecules were able to induce delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction in sensitized guinea pigs and proliferation of T-cells in vitro.Regarding the fact that an effective protective immunity in tuberculosis is dependent mainly on T-cell response, it is suggested that the molecules isolated in this study may be useful in conceiving a vaccine and/or diagnostic tests for tuberculosis