[Contamination of dental scaler water lines with legionella pneumophila, pseudomonas aeruginosa and gram positive cocci]

Dental staff are exposed to aerosols. Water supply of dental units has insignificant bacterial count but the existing water in the waterlines has over 100,000 microorganisms per milliliter. Various types of microorganisms exist in the waterline of dental units. Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive cocci are among the most important ones. Scaling and root planning is a dental procedure carrying a high risk of bacterial contamination. This study aimed to assess water contamination in private dental offices in Isfahan. In this descriptive study, sampling was done in 50 private offices; 10 ml samples of dental unit water were collected from each scaler and a sample from the city tap water as control. We used 3-step PCR for Legionella detection. The extracted DNA was evaluated for the presence of mip gene sequence using spectrophotometry. For detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, samples were cultured in Brilliant Green Bile broth. To confirm P. aeruginosa, the grown colonies were cultured in Cetrimide agar medium and presence of P. aeruginosa was re-confirmed with oxidase test. For evaluation of Gram-positive cocci, multiple smeares were prepared and after Gram staining, Gram-positive specimens were cultured in blood agar medium. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 and reported in tables and diagrams as number and percentage. None of the control samples were positive for any bacterium. Thirty-two test samples were also negative for the understudy bacteria; but 18 offices tested positive for these bacteria. Our results shows that hazardous bacteria may be present in dental unit biofilm. Special attention must be paid to the cleanliness of water used in dental procedures

relationship between alexithymia, irrational beliefs, positive and negative emotions with mental disorders

University students, as the future manpower resources, are of high importance for communities. One of the aspects to focus on is their mental health. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between alexithymia, irrational beliefs, positive and negative emotions with mental disorders in students. There were 400 students, selected randomly through stratified sampling from different disciplines at Razi University [Kermanshah, Iran]. The design of the study was descriptive-correlational. The questionnaires used for collecting data were: Mental Disorders Symptoms [SCL_90], Alexithymia [FTAS-20], Jones Irrational Beliefs tests, and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale [PANAS-X]. Collected data were analyzed using statistical indices including correlation, regression and fundamental correlation. Data analysis indicated that there was a significant relationship between alexithymia, irrational beliefs and negative emotions with mental disorders. There was a negative significant relationship between positive emotions and mental disorders. Alexithymia, irrational beliefs and negative emotions were capable of predicting mental disorders while positive emotions did not have this capacity. Although about 73% of mental disorders were predicted by irrational beliefs, alexithymia, negative and positive emotions, but negative emotions and alexithymia contributed more than other variables. Alexithymia and irrational beliefs play major roles in mental disorders. These variables explain a high variability rate of mental disorders. They are the predisposing factors for mental disorders. They need more attention in clinical studies

[ effect of endurance exercise on alpha amylase, PH and cortisol level of saliva]

Exercise is one of the activities to achieve fitness; therefore it should be performed in an appropriate way and its side effects should be minimized. It has been mentioned in the literature that in physiologic activities, there are important factors in the serum and saliva which have a significant role in dental and oral health, especially on dental caries. In this study, we decided to figure out how these oral health related factors are altered in endurance exercise. In this study, the samples included nineteen 18 to 25-yearold beginner male athletes. Two samples of saliva were taken, one before running for control and one after 1000 meters for test. Salivary pH was digitally measured immediately after collecting the samples. Cortisol and alpha amylase of the saliva in both control and test samples were evaluated by ELISA method. Data were analyzed with SPSS software and evaluated with descriptive statistical methods. Endurance exercise in beginner athletes increased the mean alpha amylase level in their saliva from 59.57 to 107.52 IU/mL and the salivary cortisol from 2.73 to 3.60 Ng/mL. The mean salivary pH showed a 0.56 decrease [p<.001]. There was an increase in the salivary cortisol and alpha amylase level and a decrease in salivary pH after endurance exercise.

Molecular detection and antimicrobial resistance of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheal cases

To identify and classify Iranian isolates of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli E. coli on the basis of presence of virulence genes and to determine antibiotic susceptibility of isolated strains. The current cross-sectional study was conducted in 2005 at the Pasteur Institute, Tehran, Iran. One hundred and ninety-three diarrheagenic E. coli isolated from diarrheal patients in different regions of Iran were included in current study. Virulence factor genes for diarrheagenic E. coli were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Of the 193 diarrheagenic E. coli detected by PCR, 86 44.5% were Shiga toxin-producing E. coli STEC, 74 38.4% enteropathogenic E. coli EPEC, 19 9.8% enteroaggregative E. coli, and 14 7.3% enterotoxigenic E. coli isolates. Susceptibility to 12 clinically important antimicrobial agents was determined for 193 strains of diarrheagenic E. coli. A high incidence of resistance to tetracycline 63%, ampicillin 62%, streptomycin 56%, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 44.5%, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 39.5%, and cephalothin 37% was observed. The STEC and EPEC strains with high resistance to tetracycline and ampicillin, but highly susceptible to quinolones are among the most important causative agent of diarrhea in Iran. This study suggests that antimicrobial resistance is widespread among E. coli strains colonizing Iranian patients. Guidelines for appropriate use of antibiotics in developing countries require updating

Short term outcomes of gamma knife radiosurgery for skull base meningiomas in Iran

Skull base meningiomas constitute a large proportion of the meningiomas, which are the most common benign brain tumors. The treatment of skull base meningiomas is specially challenging and controversial due to the proximity of these tumors to the vital brain structures. Radiosurgery is now emerging as an efficient alternative treatment modality which involves the ablation of tumor and the supplying blood vessels by a conformal dose of colliding gamma rays from 201 cobalt-60 sources. We here report the first 100 meningioma cases treated in Iran using Leksell Gamma knife model C system. Gamma knife treatment was performed by means of 18 grays at 50% isodose. Seventy percent of the total patients referred to the Gamma knife center were skull base men-ingiomas, 40% of patients were new cases of meningioma and the remainder had undergone one or more microsurgery procdeures. There was no mortrality associated with treatment. The most common complications were severe headache [10 patients] and peritumoral brain edema [9 patients]. There was 95% tumor control rate as indicated by stable or reduced tumor volume. There was better clinical improvement in new cases relative to those with previous micro-surgery. Our study shows that gamma knife could be considered as primary or adjuvant therapy in all cases of meningioma specially the skull base meningiomas

[Preventive effect of hydroalcoholic extract of matricaria chamomilla on nicotine induced convulsions in mice]

Background and Objective: Convulsions are the most important symptom of generalized epileptic attacks, a neurological disorder in which many people of different societies are suffering from it. Because of the side effects and toxicity of the synthetic drugs, nowadays herbal medicines are used in the treatment of convulsions. This study was performed to survey the anti convulsion effect of the hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria Chamomilla on Nicotine induced convulsions in mice

Methods: In dose-response study, different doses for the extracts [500, 600, 800 and 1000 mg/kg] were injected to test groups [Each group 8 animals] intraperitoneally, and control group received normal saline [1ml/100g IP]. After 30 minutes, nicotine [5 mg/kg] was given to all groups [IP] and the time for onset, duration and intensity of the convulsions were recorded. In time-response study, the most effective dose of extract [1000 mg/kg] and normal saline were administered 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes before nicotine injection, respectively and time for onset, duration and intensity of convulsions were recorded

Findings: Results of dose-response showed that 600, 800 and 1000 mg/kg of extract increasing time for onset and decrease duration of convulsions. The results of time-response showed that, the time for onset, duration and intensity of convulsions, increased, decreased and decreased for 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes, respectively

Conclusion: Results obtained from this study showed hydroalcoholic extracts of Matricaria Chamomilla has anti convulsions effect. In order to know the mechanism of action of extracts, it needs more study on different animals models