Keratin production by decomposing feather waste using some local bacillus spp. isolated from poultry soil

Background: Feather waste is generated in large amounts as a by-product of commercial poultry processing. The main component of feather is keratin. The main purpose of this study was to identify Bacillus spp. [the keratinolytic bacteria] that are able to degrade the feather for producing keratin

Methods: Bacillus spp. Were isolated from the waste of poultries located in Miyaneh city. The bacteria were grown on basal medium containing 1% hen feather as the sole source of carbon ,nitrogen, sulfur and energy at 27 degree C for 7 days. Then,the isolates capable of feather degrading were identified. The Bradford method was used to assay the production of keratin in the feather samples. Different pH and temperatures were studied to determine the best conditions for production of keratinase enzyme

Results: Seven Bacillus spp. including: B. pumilis, B. subtilis, B. firmus, B. macerance, B. popilliae, B. lentimorbus and B. larvae were found to be able to degrade the feather with different abilities

Conclusion: B. subtilis was found to be most productive isolate for keratinase enzyme production

Malondialdehyde-modified LDL IgG antibody levels and indices of cardiac function in valvular heart and coronary artery disease patients

To compare the changes in anti-malondialde-hyde-modified low-density lipoprotein [MDA-LDL] IgG levels among patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] or valvuloplasty. A total of 38, 39 and 34 patients who underwent off-pump CABG, on-pump CABG and valvuloplasty, respectively, were enrolled in this study. Serum anti-MDA-LDL IgG values were measured 24 h before and after the operative procedures and at discharge. Echocardiogra-phy was also done before surgery and before discharge. The results were compared with values from 50 healthy controls. In all patients, a reduction in antibody titers was observed post-operatively. However, the decrease was significant only in the off-pump CABG - before surgery: 42.33 [25.83-58.51], after surgery: 30.86 [16.36-51.33] and at discharge: 10.96 [6.82-23.57; p = 0.027]. There was a significant positive association between anti-MDA-LDL IgG levels and ejection fraction [r = 0.248, p = 0.036] and a negative association with E/E', a marker of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, in the coronary patients [r = -0.345, p = 0.012], but no significant associations were found in patients with valvular heart disease. Serum anti-MDA-LDL IgG levels were associated with cardiac function indices in coronary patients undergoing CABG

[Evaluation of the risk factors of ectopic pregnancy and a comparison between two age groups: more and less than 20 years old]

Ectopic pregnancy [EP], is one of the most important complications of pregnancy and one of the most important factors of maternal mortality in developing countries. Evaluation of the risk factors might be helpful for patients in order to conduct a better management. The purpose of the present study, was to determine the risk factors of ectopic pregnancy and to compare them between the ago group of more and less than 20 years old. Also, these risk factors were compared between Iranian and Afghans. The study was conducted as a case- control study. In this evaluation 308 cases of EP [case group], were compared with 616 cases of normal pregnancy in Akbarabadi Teaching Hospital. All ectopic pregnancies have been confirmed by surgery and pathology. The evaluated factors were age, BMI, smoking, history of previous EP, history of STD, consanguinity, blood group and Rh, history of infertility and abortion, pelvic surgery, marital age, contraceptive methods, previous cesarean section, socioeconomic status, and nationality. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 16. Chi- square test and logistic regression were used for analysis. Smoking p<0.001, AOR=5.7 [CI 95%= 2.8-11.6]], previous EP p=0.000, AOR= 11.4 [CI 95%= 3-42.4]], previous STD p<0.001, AOR= 3.2 [CI 95%= 2.1-4.9]], previous use of IUD p<0.001, AOR=4.1 [CI 95%= 2.1-8]], history of infertility p=0.01, AOR= 1.8 [CI 95%= 1.1-3]], previous cesarean delivery p=0.03, AOR= 1.5 [CI 95%=1.1-2.3]], consanguinity, p=0.002, AOR=2.2 [CI 95%= 1.3-3.6]], were considered as risk factors for EP. Age, BMI, previous abortion, socioeconomic status, blood group and Rh, did not show significant relationship with EP. Smoking, previous EP, history of STD, IUD, infertility, previous cesarean delivery, and consanguinity were, risk factors for EP