[Detection of somatic antigens in Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis]

Johne's disease or Paratuberculosis as a chronic granulomatosis enteritis in ruminants will be caused by Mycobacerium avium subsp . Paratuberculosis . Detecting whole bacterial cell wall antigens would be helpful in potential applications for diagnosis, vaccine production, and elucidation of pathogenesis . To determine secreted somatic cell antigens of Mycobacterium avium subspecies Paratuberculosis . Standard strain [III-V] of Mycobacterium avium subspecies Paratuberculosis DNA was extracted from the cultured and gene analysis was done using PCR to confirm bacterial purity . On the other hand, protein concentrations in both media and cell entracts were determined . Furthermore, all proteins pattern were shown by SDS -PAGE . Electrophoretic findings showed some somatic antigens in the range of 19 - 100 KDa. These purified somatic antigens can be used for further study and potential application in vaccine production

[Prevalence and risk factors for gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women of Isfahan, Iran]

There are limited studies concerning the prevalence of gestational diabetes [GDM] in Iran. This study was performed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for GDM in Isfahan, and to compare the results of selective and universal GDM screening methods. In a cross - sectional study conducted between June 2003 and March 2005, GDM universal screening [based on the Carpenter and Coustan criteria] was done for pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, referred to the Isfahan Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center; 1112 pregnant women with no history of diabetes underwent 50 gr glucose challenge test [GCT]. Cases with blood sugar >/= 130 mg/dL were considered positive and underwent a 3-hour, 100 gr glucose tolerance test [OGTT]; this was also done randomly in some of negative GCT cases. OGTT was performed in 245 GCT - positive cases and 130 women with negative G.C.T, GDM was diagnosed in 67 and 6 women respectively, showing a total prevalence of 6.76% for GDM. Of all pregnant women, 23.2% were classified as a low-risk group, including only 2 diagnosed cases of GDM [2.7% of all GDM cases]. Among risk factors, only age, pre-pregnancy BMI and gravidity were significantly correlated with GDM. There is a moderate prevalence of GDM in Isfahan; a selective GDM screening method seems to be more appropriate for this community