Diarrhoeagenic E. coli pathotypes in children with and without diarrhoea in an Iranian referral paediatrics centre

Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli can be considered as the most important etiologic agents of diarrhoea in the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly in children. This study determined the frequency of diarrhoeagenic E. coliisolates collected from children with acute diarrhoea [n= 50] and a control group [n= 50] at an Iranian referral paediatric centre during a 1-year period. Using multiplex PCR, diarrhoeagenic E. coli was identified in 90% of the case group and 20% of controls. Enterotoxigenic E. coli was the most frequently identified pathotype in both groups [26% in cases; 10% in controls]. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli was the second most isolated pathotype [17%], followed by enteroaggregative E. coli [12%]. No enteroinvasive E. coliand enteropathogenic E. colistrains were recovered. More than 80% of isolates harboured the fimHgene. This high proportion of diarrhoeagenic E. coli and diversity of E. coli types highlights the need for enhanced surveillance of gastroenteritis agents in children in this country

[ effect of aqueous crocus sativus l. extract on intracerebroventricular streptozotocin-induced cognitive deficits in male rat]

Alzheimer as a prevalent central nervous system disease has no definitive treatment yet. So, regarding to herbal medicine recommendation, an important candidate herb, Crocus sativus L. extract [CSE] was investigated on ICY STZ-induced learning, memory, and cognitive impairment in male rats. The Effect of aqueous crocus sativus L. extract on intracerebroventricular streptozotocin-induced cognitive deficits in male rat. We use STZ injection as a model for Alzheimer's disease. For this purpose due to an animal stereotaxic surgery, the rats were injected with STZ-icv bilaterally, on 1st and 3[rd] days [3 mg/kg]. The learning and memory performance was assessed using passive avoidance paradigm, and for spatial cognition evaluation, Y maze task was used. Sixty male rats were divided to following groups: 1- Control, 2- Sham [which received only ACSF], 3-Control + CSE, 4-STZ, 5-STZ+CSE. The STZ-injected rats received CSE [30 mg/kg;i.p.]. These rats were treatment one day before surgery for three weeks and then were subjected to learning and memory tests. In Y maze test the non repetitive percentage of arm entrance were considered as alternation behavior [intelligence quotient]. Data in Passive avoidance task was the latent period [s] for passing from light to dark room due to adaptation periods. However, for the passive avoidance test nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test was used, which if significant, was followed by Mann-Whitney U-test for pair-wise comparisons. Data for the Y maze task were evaluated by Wilcoxon's rank sum test It was found that CSE-treated STZ-injected rats showed higher correct choices and lower errors in Y maze than vehicle-treated STZ-injected rats. In addition, CSE administration significantly attenuated learning and memory impairment in treated STZ-injected group in passive avoidance test. These results demonstrated the effectiveness of CSE in preventing the cognitive deficits caused by STZ-icv in rats and its potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease

Effects of cisplatin on olfactory function in cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based chemotherapy

Although ototoxicity and neuropathy are common side effects of cisplatin, there is no evidence of altered olfactory function in cancer patients receiving cisplatin based chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of cisplatin on olfactory function. Fifty-eight patients [13 female, and 45 male with a mean age of 54 years] who needed to be treated with cisplatin based chemotherapy at our institution were enrolled in this study. Cisplatin with a dose of 70-100 mg/m2 was administered per cycle in different chemotherapy regimens. Olfactory function and audiometery were tested before beginning chemotherapy [as baseline]. Assessment of olfactory function also was carried out before each cycle of cisplatin and finally olfactory test and audiometery was performed at least 3 weeks after the last course of cisplatin based chemotherapy. of 58 patients enrolled in this study, seven patients died due to their cancer and 51 patients completed the planned chemotherapeutic treatment. The patients received cisplatin at a cumulative dose of 100-700 mg/m2 [mean cumulative dose: 380 mg/m2] during their chemotherapy treatment. Hearing impairment was documented in fourteen patients and four patients developed hyposmia and one patient anosmia that had no hearing loss. The test score changes were not statistically significant but there was a statistically significant correlation between drug dose and hearing loss [P=0.039]. The results of this study showed that cisplatin has no statistically significant effect on the sense of smell at doses which cause hearing impairment

[ comparison of ultrastructural development of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and normal invivo cardiomyocytes]

Stem cell biology has been the subject of much recent discussion. Embryonic stem [ES] cells, derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage of early mammalian embryos are expected to become a powerful tool in future regenerative medicine and developmental biology due to their capacity of selfrenewal and pluripotency. In the present study, the ultrastructural development of mouse ES cell derived cardiomyocytes was compared with invivo cardiomyocytes.. Cardiomyocytes were derived from mouse ES line [Royan B1] which developed spontaneously. The cultured cardiomyocytes were processed 3, 7, 14 and 21days after plating [day 7] for immuno histochemistry and transmission electron microscopy [TEM]. The in vivo cardiomyocytes were derived from16 days old fetuses and 2 and 8 days old pups. The beating cells expressed alpha-actinin. The maturation of the ultrastructure of cardiomyocytes depended on enhancement of development and expressed as myofibrillar bundle organization and exhibited intercalated discs, Z-disc, A, I, and H-bands, and M-line. While 7+21 days old cardiomyocytes showed all sarcomeric components such as A, I, and H-bands, Z-disc, and also M-line, T-tubule, sarcoplasmic reticulum and intercalated discs, early stage [7+3d, 7+7d and 7+14d] cardiomyocytes had few primary characteristics of subcellular structure. In fetal and 2-days old pups, the M-line was not visible. M-line was present in 8-days old pups frequently. Based on our data, mature cardiomyocytes can be produced from ES cells, and ES cell provide a good model for cardiomyocyte development. The cells can be used for cell therapy in future

[Evaluation of "Light" cigarette smoking and the knowledge and attitude of smokers about it in Tehran during 2005]

"Light" cigarettes [tar<15g, nicotine<1mg] have been in the market for more than four decades. In Iran as well as many other countries around the world, consumption of light cigarettes is on the rise because of persuading advertisements of tobacco companies about the fewer dangers and milder taste of these cigarettes. In fact, they encourage smokers to choose light cigarettes as an alternative to cessation of smoking. This was a cross-sectional study performed via questionnaires which were designed based on the WHO and IUATLD samples. Thirty volunteer health care workers were chosen from health centers of three educational universities in Tehran to carry out the study. Out of 3026 subjects who answered the questionnaires, 1321 persons [47.4%] smoked light cigarettes, 71.8% of females and 41.8% of males [P<0.001]. Among participants, 71% believed that health risks of light cigarettes were fewer than regular cigarettes. Also, 30.3% of smokers supposed that the chance of addiction to light cigarettes was lower than that to regular cigarettes. 42.9% of the smokers considered three light cigarettes as equal to one full flavored cigarette in terms of tar and nicotine content. The prevalence of light cigarette smoking is high in the studied population. Knowledge and attitude of smokers about the dangers and effects of light cigarettes are not right and need to be corrected

Effects of proper nutrition education on BMI reduction and changes on FBS, chol and TG rates of type 2 diabetic patients

In this study we have assessed the short-term effectiveness of diabetes education on BMI reduction, changes on [FBS, Chol, TG Rates] of type 2 diabetic patients in relation to proper nutrition. A sample of 125 diabetic patients was systematic randomly chosen. The method chosen for collecting the information [Data] was through questionnaires and laboratory tests [fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, TG] that was conducted before educational programmes and after constantly education, finally the FBS, Chol, TG and weight were compared. The study showed significant improvements in several aspects of research. This study has shown a high level of illiteracy amongst our patients, which is of course common in developing countries. Diabetics did not gain weight and their relatives lost weight after nutrition curriculum. The mean fasting blood glucose before education was 216.27 mg%, whereas it fell to a mean level of 178.39 mg% after education. The patients had significantly lower serum cholesterol after 7 month education [172 mg%], p = 0.005. The present study clearly demonstrate the great benefits of diabetes self-care education. Most of these studies and our own, have been short term. We conclude that diabetes education is appropriate achievable and worthwhile. The challenge remains as to how to continue benefit long term

Morphometrie study of GnRH analogue, HMG and HCG effects on infrastructure of human endometrial glandular epithelium in early luteal phase

GnRH analogue, HMG and HCG administration are common protocol for ovulation induction in assisted reproductive technology [ART]. Since implantation rate in stimulated ART cycles is lower than unstimulated cycles and as endometrium plays an important role in embryo receptivity, effect of this protocol on the ultrastructure of human endometrial glandular epithelium was studied at LH 4 [embryo transfer time]. In this research endometrial biopsies were obtained from fertile women as well as infertile women who had undergone this protocol at LH 4. Quantitative and qualitative studies on endometrial glandular epithelium was performed by transmission electron microscopy [TEM] and morphometry and the results were statistically compared between the two groups. Qualitative results revealed presence of nuclear channel system [NCS], sub vacuole of glycogen and giant mitochondria [GM] in both groups. Similarly, in quantitative analysis, the volume fractions [Vv] of glycogen, mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum to cell and also the Vv of euchromatin to nucleus were statistically not different [P> 0.05]. These results suggest that ovulation induction by GnRH analogue, HMG and HCG are not associated with advanced endometrial development and consequently, embryo transfer at this stage [before advanced endometrial development which occurs normally at LH 7 to LH 10] may cause a lower rate of implantation