Comparison of Salivary Bacterial Flora in Iranian Patients with Hiatal Hernia and Healthy Subjects

Objective: To evaluate salivary microbial flora of patients with hiatal hernia and compare it with that of healthy subjects. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 50 patients with hiatal hernia measuring >1 cm and 50 healthy subjects (as the controls) were selected using simple random technique. One mL of salivary sample was taken from each patient, transferred into 50-mL Falcon tubes and immediately carried to the microbiology Laboratory of Tabriz Faculty of Medicine. The salivary samples were cultured on specific Streptococcus viridans (S. mitis, S. mutans, S. salivarius and S. sanguis), Enterococcus spp. and Lactobacillus culture media. Then the samples were incubated at 37°C for 7 days, followed by evaluation of the bacterial colonies. Statistical significance was defined at p<0.05. Results: A total of 34% of subjects with hiatal hernia and 26% healthy subjects exhibited Lactobacillus gasseri in their salivary samples; 16% of subjects with hernia and 6% of healthy subjects exhibited Enterococci spp. in their salivary samples. In addition, 82% of subjects with hernia and 72% of healthy subjects exhibited S. mutans in their salivary samples; 74% and 4% of subjects with hernia and 76% and 4% of healthy subjects exhibited gram-positive and gram-negative bacilli in their salivary samples, respectively. Furthermore, 98% of subjects with hernia and 86% of healthy subjects exhibited gram-positive cocci in their salivary samples, however without significant difference between the groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: No significant differences in the counts of Lactobacillus spp., Enterococcus spp., Streptococcus viridans and gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial species between healthy controls and subjects with hiatal hernia.

Gene Expression Analyses of HER-2/neu and ESR1 in Patients with Breast Cancer

ABSTRACT Background: Her-2 and ESR1 genes, that interact in the cell signaling pathway, are the most important molecular markers of breast cancer, which have been amplified or overexpressed in 30% and 70%, respectively. This study was performed to evaluate the gene expression levels of Her-2 and ESR1 genes in tumor cells and its adjacent normal tissue of breast cancer patients and compared them whit clinical-pathological features. Methods: In total, 80 tissue specimens from 40 patients, with an average age of 48.47 years, were examined by Real-time PCR technique, and ultimately evaluated the expression level of Her-2 and ESR1genes. The data were analyzed by REST 2009 V2.0.13 statistical software. Results: HER2 and ESR1 overexpression was identified in 19 (48%) and 12 (30%) of 40 patients respectively, which was higher and lower than that recorded in international statistics, respectively. ESR1 overexpression was associated with Stage 3A and lymph node involvement 2 (N2) (P = 0.04 and P = 0.047, respectively). No significant correlation was observed between the expression of HER2 and ESR1 and other clinical-pathological features, however, the relative differences were identified in the expression levels of genes between main group and groups that were classified according to the clinical-pathological features and age. Conclusions: Overexpression of Her-2 and ESR1 genes in the patients of our study are higher and lower than international statistics, respectively, indicating the differences in genetic, environmental and ethnic factors that involved in the developing of breast cancer.

Gene Expression Analyses of HER-2/neu and ESR1 in Patients with Breast Cancer

ABSTRACT Background: Her-2 and ESR1 genes, that interact in the cell signaling pathway, are the most important molecular markers of breast cancer, which have been amplified or overexpressed in 30% and 70%, respectively. This study was performed to evaluate the gene expression levels of Her-2 and ESR1 genes in tumor cells and its adjacent normal tissue of breast cancer patients and compared them whit clinical-pathological features. Methods: In total, 80 tissue specimens from 40 patients, with an average age of 48.47 years, were examined by Real-time PCR technique, and ultimately evaluated the expression level of Her-2 and ESR1genes. The data were analyzed by REST 2009 V2.0.13 statistical software. Results: HER2 and ESR1 overexpression was identified in 19 (48%) and 12 (30%) of 40 patients respectively, which was higher and lower than that recorded in international statistics, respectively. ESR1 overexpression was associated with Stage 3A and lymph node involvement 2 (N2) (P = 0.04 and P = 0.047, respectively). No significant correlation was observed between the expression of HER2 and ESR1 and other clinical-pathological features, however, the relative differences were identified in the expression levels of genes between main group and groups that were classified according to the clinical-pathological features and age. Conclusions: Overexpression of Her-2 and ESR1 genes in the patients of our study are higher and lower than international statistics, respectively, indicating the differences in genetic, environmental and ethnic factors that involved in the developing of breast cancer.

CTX-M extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Klebsiella spp, Salmonella spp, Shigella spp and Escherichia coli isolates in Iranian hospitals

Abstract This study was conducted in Iran in order to assess the distribution of CTX-M type ESBLs producing Enterobacteriaceae. From January 2012 to December 2013, totally 198 E. coli, 139 Klebsiella spp, 54 Salmonella spp and 52 Shigella spp from seven hospitals of six provinces in Iran were screened for resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins. After identification and susceptibility testing, isolates presenting multiple-drug resistance (MDR) were evaluated for ESBL production by the disk combination method and by Etest using (cefotaxime and cefotaxime plus clavulanic acid). All isolates were also screened for bla CTX-M using conventional PCR. A total of 42.92%, 33.81%, 14.81% and 7.69% of the E. coli, Klebsiella spp, Salmonella spp and Shigella spp isolates were MDR, respectively. The presence of CTX-M enzyme among ESBL-producing isolates was 85.18%, 77.7%, 50%, and 66.7%, in E. coli, Klebsiella spp, Salmonella spp and Shigella spp respectively. The overall presence of CTX-M genes in Enterobacteriaceae was 15.4% and among the resistant isolates was 47.6%. This study indicated that resistance to β-lactams mediated by CTX-M enzymes in Iran had similar pattern as in other parts of the world. In order to control the spread of resistance, comprehensive studies and programs are needed.

Personalized Gene Expression Analyses of SMAD7 and KLF10 In Breast Cancer

Many cancer researchers use gene expression analysis for differentiation between tumor and normal cells for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic purposes. Most of studies compare either tumor cell lines by normal cell lines or tumor tissue of affected individuals by normal healthy control tissue. But expression of each special gene is unique in different individuals and also in different tissue of same individual. For this reason, here we compare the gene expression levels of SMAD7 and KLF10 in tumor cells and its adjacent normal tissue of breast cancer patients and compared them. For this purpose, a total of 40 tumor and matched tumor-free margin samples were obtained during surgery. The SMAD7 and KLF10 mRNA expression levels in tumor and marginal samples were examined by real-time quantitative PCR. Results are not concordant with previous studies and comparison of only SMAD7 or KLF10 is not useful for differentiating between tumor and margin cells, but ratio analysis of these two genes, SMAD7/ KLF10, can be indicative than study of one gene alone. We concluded that gene expression analysis of tumor cells with adjacent normal tissue are essential for precise identification and interpretation of cancer alterations and have important implications for the diagnostic and therapeutic management of cancer patients.

Adhesion and virulence factor properties of Enterococci isolated from clinical samples in Iran.

Introduction: Enterococci rank among leading causes of nosocomial bacteremia, urinary tract infections and community acquired endocarditis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of virulence factors in Enterococci strains isolated from clinical samples in Iranian Educational hospitals. Methodology: Presence of aggregation substance (asa), extracellular surface protein (esp), Enterococcus faecalis antigen A (efaA), adhesin of collagen from E. faecalis (ace), endocarditis and biofi lm-associated pilli (ebp) as colonization factors and cytolysin (cyl), gelatinase (gel) and hyaloronidase (hyl) as secretary factors were investigated in isolates. A total of 201 clinical isolates of Enterococci were collected in 2009-2010 from eight educational hospitals. After deoxyribonucleic acid extraction, they were examined for presence of virulence factors by polymerase chain reaction. Results: E. faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were isolated from 56.9% to 43.1%, respectively. Resistance to vancomycin and gentamicin were 33.8% and 83.9% in E. faecium isolates and 16.3% and 88.1% in E. faecalis isolates respectively. Colonization factors were found to be more prevalent in E. faecalis isolates and almost all isolates of E. faecalis had ace, ebp and efaA genes. Esp gene had a higher rate of distribution in Enterococci isolates (75.1%) in this study compared with previous studies. One of E. faecalis isolates contained hyl gene, but 38.8% of E. faecium isolates had it. Mutual exclusive were present between hyl and efaA in all E. faecium isolates and 69.7% of E. faecium hyl - positive isolates were esp positive. Conclusion: According to these results, virulence genes were more prevalent in E. faecalis isolates and E. faecalis had more potential pathogenesis for initiating an infection; however because of E. faeciums higher antibiotic resistance, we have been facing higher E. faecium infections in hospitalized patients.