Effects of aloe vera and chitosan nanoparticle thin-film membranes on wound healing in full thickness infected wounds with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Objective: To assess effect of Aleo vera with chitosan nanoparticle biofilm on wound healing in full thickness infected wounds with antibiotic resistant gram positive bacteria

Method: Thirty rats were randomized into five groups of six rats each. Group I: Animals with uninfected wounds treated with 0.9% saline solution. Group II: Animals with infected wounds treated with saline. Group III: Animals with infected wounds were dressed with chitosan nanoparticle thin-film membranes. Group IV: Animals with infected wounds were treated topically with Aloe vera and Group V: Animals with infected wounds were treated topically with Aloe vera and dressed with chitosan nanoparticle thin-film membranes. Wound size was measured on 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21days after surgery

Results: Microbiology, reduction in wound area and hydroxyproline contents indicated that there was significant difference [p<0.05] between group V and other groups. Quantitative histological studies and mean rank of the qualitative studies demonstrated that there was significant difference [p<0.05] between group V and other groups

Conclusion: The Aloe vera with chitosan nanoparticle thin-film membranes had a reproducible wound healing potential and hereby justified its use in practice

qualitative inquiry into the challenges and complexities of research supervision: viewpoints of postgraduate students and faculty members

Introduction: The supervision of academic theses at the Universities of Medical Sciences is one of the most important issues with several challenges. The aim of the present study is to discover the nature of problems and challenges of thesis supervision in Iranian universities of medical sciences

Methods: The study was conducted with a qualitative method using conventional content analysis approach. Nineteen faculty members, using purposive sampling, and 11 postgraduate medical sciences students [Ph.D students and residents] were selected on the basis of theoretical sampling. The data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and field observations in Shiraz and Isfahan universities of medical sciences from September 2012 to December 2014. The qualitative content analysis was used with a conventional approach to analyze the data

Results: While experiencing the nature of research supervision process, faculties and the students faced some complexities and challenges in the research supervision process. The obtained codes were categorized under 4 themes based on the characteristics; included [Conceptual problem], [Role ambiguity in thesis supervision], [Poor reflection in supervision] and [Ethical problems]

Conclusion: The result of this study revealed that there is a need for more attention to planning and defining the supervisory, and research supervision. Also, improvement of the quality of supervisor and students relationship must be considered behind the research context improvement in research supervisory area

Local effect of celecoxib on peripheral nerve repair combined with silicone tubulization in rat / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess local effect of celecoxib on nerve regeneration in a rat sciatic nerve transection model.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-five male healthy white Wistar rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups (n equal to 15 for each): sham-operation (SHAM), control (SIL) and celecoxib treated (SIL/CLX) groups. In SHAM group after anesthesia left sciatic nerve was exposed and after homeostasis muscle was sutured. In SIL group the left sciatic nerve was exposed in the same way and transected proximal to tibioperoneal bifurcation leaving a 10 mm gap. Proximal and distal stumps were each inserted into a silicone tube and filled with 10 microlitre phosphate buffered solution. In SIL/CLX group defect was bridged using a silicone tube filled with 10 microlitre celecoxib (0.1 g/L).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Functional study and gastrocnemius muscle mass confirmed faster and better recovery of regenerated axons in SIL/CLX than in SIL group (P less than 0.05). Morphometric indices of regenerated fibers showed number and diameter of the myelinated fibers in SIL/CLX were significantly greater than those in control group. In immunohistochemistry, location of reactions to S-100 in SIL/CLX was clearly more positive than that in SIL group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Response to local treatment of celecoxib demonstrates that it influences and improves functional recovery of peripheral nerve regeneration.</p>

Biotechnological production of cellulose by gluconacetobacter xylinus from agricultural waste

The purpose of this study was to utilize low quality date syrup, a rich and available source of nutrient in Iran, for the production of bacterial cellulose using Gluconacetobacter xylinus. Static batch fermentation for the purpose of cellulose production by G. xylinus [PTCC, 1734] was studied using low quality date syrup and sucrose solution [Bx. 10%] as fermentation media at 28°C. Results showed that maximum yields of bacterial cellulose after 336 h fermentation were 4.35 and 1.69 g/100 ml of date syrup and sucrose media, respectively. The FT-IR spectrum of commercial plant cellulose as a standard was similar to that of bacterial cellulose. To determine the physical structure of the bacterial cellulose and standard cellulose fibers, scanning electron microscopy [SEM] was carried out. The results revealed more delicacy in structure of bacterial cellulose. Determination of crystallinity of the samples using X-ray diffractometry demonstrated that the crystallinity level of standard cellulose [83.61%] was more than that of bacterial cellulose [60.73%]. This study obviously showed the ability of low quality date syrup, a suitable and cheap carbon source, to be used as a substrate in a fermentation medium for production of cellulose by Gluconacetobacter xylinus

[Cutaneous and pulmonary nocardiosis in a patient with pemphigus]

Pemphigus is a chronic blistering mucocutaneous disease, classified in immunobullous skin diseases. Infections, particularly septicemia due to Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeroginosa are the most common and dangerous disorders due to immunosuppressive therapy in this disease. Infection with nocardia is rare, so that only 6 cases have been reported yet. Herein, we report a 56-year-old man with one-year history of pemphigus treated with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide, who at the same time developed skin and pulmonary nocardiosis. He had a good response to treatment with cotrimoxazole