[Isolation and assessment of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of metallo-beta-lactamase genes in Pseudomonas aueroginosa strains isolated from clinical samples at Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Zanjan province]

Infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and dissemination of metallo-beta-lactamases [MBL] have been reported with increasing frequency through-out the world. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility and identification of blaVIM and blaIMP genes in P. aeruginosa isolates in Zanjan Province. A total of 70 P. aeruginosa isolates were identified from the patients at intensive care units [ICU] in Zanjan Province. The antimicrobial susceptibility was tested by disk diffusion [Kirby-Bauer] method and MBL producing strains were identified by double-disk synergy test [DDST]. From genotypical point of view the presence of blaVIM and blaIMP genes and class 1 integron was confirmed by PCR. Of 70 strains of P. aeruginosa detected by phenotypic method, the highest rate of resistance was found in the following order: meropenem, cefotaxime and ceftazidime, imepenem gentamicin, piperacillin, and ciprofloxacin.DDS test showed that of 44 resistant isolates to imepenem 36 [81.8%] were MBL producing. We found 33 MBL producing strains by PCR, 23 isolates had VIM gene [52.2%] and 10 isolates carried IMP gene [22.3%]. The IMP gene in 8 of the 10 isolates was IMP[1] [18.2%]. Of 44 resistant strains to imepenem only 31 isolates [70.5%] had class 1 integron gene. Our results showed that prevalence of antibiotic resistance due to MBL production in our province is on the rise and among the MBL producing strains the frequency of VIM genes is higher than IMP genes

Preparative sds-page electroelution for rapid purification of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase from helicobacterpylori

Alkyl hydroperoxide reductase [AhpC] of Helicobacter pylori is considered as a diagnostic antigen. Therefore, this antigen can be used to detect H, pylori infection by stool immunoassays such as ELISA. The aim of this study was to simplify the AhpC protein purification procedures. For whole cell protein extraction, the bacterial cells were ruptured by octly-beta-D glucopyranoside. The isolation and purification of AhpC protein were attempted by various techniques including ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE] and electroelution. A simple method was used for protein purification AhpC protein. One-dimensional preparative gel electrophoresis allows a single and short purification step; the high resolution capacity of this technique leads to a high level of purity of the protein. Moreover, it avoids contamination by other non-specific proteins which often appear during protein purification by column chromatography. The present method is simple, rapid and makes it possible to preparate AhpC from H. pylori

[Antiviral effects of different sterilization and disinfection methods on internal tubes of dental handpiece]

Dental handpieces are the most commonly used instruments in dentistry and their cross contamination is very high due to their direct contact with blood and saliva. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antiviral effects of formalin tablets and autoclave on internal lumens of dental handpieces. This experimental study was designed in order to evaluate the effect of different materials and methods of sterilization and disinfection on virus elimination from internal spaces and interior chambers of dental turbines. Four study groups were composed of: 1] Vacuum autoclave, 2] Non vacuum autoclave, 3] Ten Para Formaldehyde tablets, and 4] Twenty Para Formaldehyde tablets. Nine turbines were tested in each group after preliminary washing, drying and autoclaving. The internal tubes and spaces were then contaminated with Polio and Herpes Simplex virus type I. Antiviral agents and devices were used according to the manufacturers' instructions. Two cell culture samples were obtained from each handpiece, after washing them with sterile distilled water and MEM [Minimum Essential Medium]. In each group one handpiece was designated as control. The culture results were recorded after one week. Autoclaving was perfectly effective on both Polio and Herpes Simplex virus type I in all groups [vacuumed, non-vacuumed, with or without lubricant]. Formalin tablets were 100% effective only on polio virus, and in the 20 tablet group turbines without lubricant. These tablets killed the Herpes Simplex virus in all groups. According to the results of this study, autoclaving is the best method of virus elimination in dental handpiece

[Comparative effects of selected mouthwashes on halitosis using sulphide monitoring devise]

Halitosis is usually the result of vaporizing Sulfur Compounds [VSC] such as hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan. The common solution to oral malodor problem is frequent rinsing with mouthwashes. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of three locally produced and commonly used mouthwashes with a zinc chloride 0.1% solution on in-vivo production of VSC. The selected mouthwashes under investigation were: [1] IR: an anti-plaque and tartar control mouthwash containing sodium benzoate and benzoic acid as the active ingredients; [2] NS: this mouthwash containing H[2]O[2] stabilized with Ag+ ions; and [3] CI: a herbal mouthwash. The positive and negative controls were zinc chloride [Zn] solution and distilled water [DW] respectively. The seven participants in the study were instructed to first rinse their mouth with 5 ml of 6 mM cysteine solution. They kept their mouth closed for 90 seconds, followed by taking baseline mouth air samples in order to be measured by a sulphide monitoring [VSC] device [Halimeter]. Immediately after taking baseline measurements, subjects rinsed 10 ml of each test mouthwashes and solutions for 1 min on different days in a random crossover design. VSC measurements were repeated every 20 minutes up to three hours. Statistical data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, One-way ANOVA and Post-hoc LSD tests. Data revealed that, there were significant differences between the tested agents only at 20, 40, 60, and 80 minutes after rinsing. The order of VSC inhibitory effect in the first hour was according to the following order: ZN>NS>DW>IR>CI while in the next two hours the order changed to: NS>DW>IR>ZN>CI. The results of this study showed that hydrogen peroxide mouthwash has the best anti-halitosis effect compared to others over the three hours of testing period, although the highest clinical effect was observed over the first 80 minutes of mouthwash administration

[Facilitators of adherence to self-management in type 2 diabetic patients: a phenomenological study]

Diabetes is chronic disease affecting all aspects of daily life and hence is a priority health care strategy. Its treatment needs a bio-psychosocial approach. One of the major problems in its management is patient noncompliance to therapeutic regimens. This qualitative phenomenological study aimed at assessing to patient experiences of factors facilitating self-management. Patients were recruited from the "Glands and Metabolism Research Center" and "Alzahra hospital" in Isfahan in 2006. A purposive sample of 11 diabetic patients volunteered to participate in the study. Unstructured one-on-one interview were conducted and interview data were transcribed and analyzed for themes using the Collizi method. Themes, identified as facilitators to patient adherence to the therapeutic regimen are fear, satisfaction, support objective alarm, feedback. The research highlights that factors such as patient satisfaction of treatment, insight into nature of disease, patient anxiety, family involvement as a major source of support, feedback on test results and the self-management process should be considered in designing health care strategies to facilitate changes in behavior and enhance motivation

Association between the severity of angiographic coronary artery disease and paraoxonase-1 promoter gene polymorphism T[-107] C in Iranian population

The oxidation of low-density lipoproteins and cell membrane lipids is believed to play an integral role in the development of fatty streak lesions, an initial step in coronary artery disease [CAD]. Paraoxonase-1 [PON1] is an enzyme associated with the high-density lipoprotein [HDL] particle. PON1 protects LDL from oxidative modification by hydrolyzing lipid peroxides, suggestive of a role for PON1 in the development of CAD. The present study tested the hypothesis that Paraoxonase-1 promoter polymorphism T[-107]C could be a risk factor for severity of CAD in Iranian population. Paraoxonase-1 promoter genotypes were determined in 300 consecutive subjects [> 40 years old] who underwent coronary angiography [150 subjects with >50% stenosis served as cases [CAD+] and 150 subjects with < 20% stenosis served as controls [CAD-]]. PON1 promoter genotypes were determined by PCR and BSTU1 restriction enzyme digestion. CAD+ Subjects did not show any significant differences in the distribution of PON1 promoter genotypes as compared to CAD- Subjects [P = 0.075]. However the analysis of PON1 promoter genotypes distribution showed a higher percentage of [-107] TT among CAD+ compared with CAD- [P = 0.027]. After controlling for other risk factors, the T[- 107]C polymorphism had interaction with age [P = 0.012], but did not show any interaction with other risk factors such as BMI, gender, smoking, diabetes, level of HDL-C, LDL-C, triglyceride and Total cholesterol. These data suggest that the TT genotype may represent a genetic risk factor for Coronary artery disease in Iranian population

simple and cost-effective method for rapid purification of alkyl hydroperoxide reductase [AhpC] from helicobacterpylori and its antibody production

Helicobacter pylori express abundant amounts of AhpC enzyme that functions to reduce organic hydroperoxides [ROOH] into the corresponding non-toxic alcohols [ROH]. This conserved antigen has been earlier described as specific and unique for H. pylori and therefore, both H. pylori AhpC and Anti-AhpC could be useful in the development of serologic and stool antigen tests, to detecting and monitoring H. pylori infection. AhpC may also serves as a potential target for an antimicrobial agent or for vaccine development. The aim of this study was to simplify isolation and purification of the AhpC and production of a highly specific polyclonal antibody against it. In this paper a simple method was used for protein purification and antibody production which avoids both the long term AhpC protein purification procedure and the addition of Freund's adjuvant. One-dimensional preparative gel electrophoresis allows a single and short purification step and the high resolution capacity of this technique leads to a high level of purity of the protein and consequently to a very high specificity of the antibody. Moreover, it avoids contamination by other non-specific proteins which often appear during protein purification by column chromatographic techniques. The present method is simple, rapid and cost-effective and makes it possible to produce antibody for stool antigen enzyme immunoassay in short time and at low cost