Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by a triplex polymerase chain reaction assay based on lasl/R and gyrB genes

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a nosocomial pathogen, which, due to its inherent and acquired resistance to a wide range of antibiotics, causes high mortality rates. Therefore, rapid detection of the bacterium with high specificity and sensitivity plays a critical role in the control of the pathogenic bacterium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and specificity of a prompt detection of the bacterium based on a triplex polymerase chain reaction that amplifies the last, lasR and gyrB genes. For this purpose, 30 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa and 30 wound biopsy samples were retrieved from clinical diagnostic laboratories. After the extraction of the chromosomal DNA, the desired genes were amplified using uniplex and triplex PCR with appropriate primers. The specificity of the primers was evaluated by a comparison of the PCR results for P. aeruginosa clinical samples and non-Pseudomonas species control samples. The sensitivity of the primers was determined using a serial dilution of the genomic DNA template [100ng to 100fg] and by a comparison of the PCR and bacterial culture results. The results showed that the triplex PCR assay was positive for all of the samples [100%], while the PCR identifications were negative for non-Pseudomonas species. Additionally, at 10[-4] and 10[-5] diluted genomic DMA from P. aeruginosa [10 pg and 1 pg], the triplex PCR test was positive for the Las and gyrB genes in all of the samples, respectively. Based on these results, the designed primers can be used for the rapid, specific and sensitive diagnosis of P. aeruginosa in a triplex PCR assay

Preparation of decellularized three dimentional scaffolds as the model for tissue engineering and their functional assessments in vitro application of blastema tissue

Tissue engineering is based on three main factors including scaffolds, cells and growth factors. Natural scaffolds derived from decellularized tissues and organs have been successfully used in tissue engineering. Decellularization studies have shown that natural scaffolds which maintain their main structure and properties could be a suitable tool for studying cellular behaviors and preparation of such scaffolds is an important part of future research in biology that may have extensive applications in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Blastema tissue which is produced after injuries in some organisms has embryonic cell characteristics, and can be a suitable model for evaluation of cell behaviors in various tissues. In this review, the process of decellularization, process involved in preparation of 3D scaffolds derived from extracellular matrix of various tissues including cartilage, bone, gingiva, aorta and bladder, and assessment of their interactions with blastema tissue under in vitro conditions are discussed

[Relationship between obesity and food habits among female adolescents]

Obesity which is produced due to excessive accumulation of fat in body compartments could result from imbalance between intake and consumption of energy and is related to the food habits of each person. The aim of this study was to assess obesity and its relationship with female adolescents food habits in Tehran. It was a predictive correlational study. The sample consisted of 385, 14-18 year old female students in west of Tehran. The students were recruited by multistage random sampling. Data was collected by Food Frequency Questionnaire, caliper, tape measure and measurement scale and analyzed by ANOVA. Pierson correlation and multiple regression tests using SPSS-PC [v.14]. According to the findings, %18 of the students were overweight and obese based on Triceps skin fold thickness and %15 were overweight and obese based on body mass index. Frequency of daily consumption of bread and cereals, rice, fat, soft drinks and egg among overweight and obese students were significantly higher than other groups [p<0.05]. Due to the high consumption of unhealthy food among overweight and obese girls the prevalence of chronic diseases associated with obesity in the future is disturbing. Therefore, promotion of healthy nutrition and health education in schools and families by those involved in the health sector particularly community health nurses seem to be necessary

Association of metabolic syndrome factors and percent body fat and it's with maximal oxygen consumption among patients with coronary artery disease

Metabolic syndrome is a physiologic syndrome, characterized by increasing coronary heart disease risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemias and obesity. The aim of this study was to determine some metabolic syndrome factors and percent age of body fat and its relationship with maximal oxygen consumption among patients with Coronary Artery Disease hospitalized in the Coronary Care Unit. This was descriptive correlative study that 90 coronary patients 40-80 years old participated by available sampling. We used Non-Exercise Test formulas for maximal oxygen consumption Predicting. Fasting blood sample used for TG, FBS, HDL-C. Percent body fat was estimated by measuring 4 skin fold thicknesses and blood pressure was measured. The means of the factors of Metabolic syndrome and percent body fat were higher among females, compared to males. Decrease in HDL and increased blood pressure were the most prevalent among risk factors. There was a significant negative relationship between maximal oxygen consumption and body fat, FBS, SBP. According to our findings, the prevalence of risk factors of metabolic syndrome and percentage of body fat were high. With increase of body fat, FBS and SBP, all results of unhealthy lifestyles, maximal oxygen consumption is decreased

[ evaluation of melatonin effect on in-vitro development of mouse preimplantation embryos]

Melatonin promotes in-vitro embryo development in different species. This study studied the effects of melatonm on in-vitro mouse preimplantation embryo development. Two-cell embryos were obtained from oviduct of 6-8 weeks female NMRI mice 48 hours after administration of an intra-pentoneal injection of 5 lU/ml pregnant mares serum gonadotrophin and subsequent 5 ILJ/ml human chononic gonadotrophin [ip]. Embryos were cultured in T6 culture medium supplemented with different dosages of melatonin [0 [control group], 100x10[-6]M, 10 x10[-6]M, 1x10[-6], 100x10[-9]M and 10 x10[-9]M [1-5 treatment groups]]. With due attention to percent of embryos in different stages, the rate of development of embryos was assessed using of invert microscope. It is also compared to control group. The results showed that the rate of cleavage and development of mouse the embryos to blastocyst stage increased significantly in the development culture medium supplemented with 10 and 100 nM/mg of melatonin in comparison to control group [p< 0.001]. The results of this study demonstrate that, enriching the culture medium with melatonin, improve mouse preimplantation development

[Validity and reliability of the aggression scale for preschoolers and assessment of aggression in preschool children in Uromia]

The present study examined the factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity of the aggression scale for preschoolers. The aggression scale for preschoolers [ASFP] was a 27-item Likert rating scale questionnaire designed to assess different subtypes of aggression [relational, physical and verbal aggression]. Subjects were 489-6year-old pre-school children [313boys and 176 girls] selected randomly from kindergartens in Uromia, Iran. Factor analysis using principal components methods was used to identify the factor structure of ASFP. Results of the study indicated that the coefficient of cronbach's alpha was 0.98 for total scores. Factor analysis produced four factors that included dimensions of physical assault, verbal assault, relational and impulsive aggression. Sex differences were significant in two factors; Mean scores for boys were significantly more than girls in physical assault and verbal assault aggression. But there was no significant difference in the relational and impulsive aggression. Due to high reliability of the aggression scale for preschoolers, this scale could be used as reliable and valid scale in educational, clinical and other research areas

efficacy of inactivated oil-emulsion H9N2 avian influenza vaccine

An experimental inactivated oil-emulsion H9N2 avian influenza vaccine was formulated with 3 parts of inactivated avian influenza antigen A/Chicken/lran/101/1998[H9N2] emulsified in 7 parts of oil adjuvant. Twelve week-old specific pathogen-free [SPF] chickens were divided into seven groups of 10 birds. Six groups were vaccinated with 1, 1/10th, 1/50th, 1/100th, 1/200th and 1/400th field dose of the experimental avian influenza vaccine [EAIV]. The last group, was injected with saline and served as the control group. The mean titer in haemagglutination inhibition [HI] test [log 2] on the vaccinated groups, 21 days post-vaccination were 6.0, 4.4, 3.83, 3.3, 3.0 and 2, respectively. Prevention of virus shedding through cloaca was used as the potency test which revealed that the protective doses 50% [PD50] of full, 1/10th and 1/50th of the field dose of the experimental vaccine were 100, 100 and 96.25%, respectively. Those groups that received <1/50th dose could not prevent virus shedding. So it can be concluded that EAI vaccine could even be entirely protective and efficient in 1/10th dose and got a desirable immunity in experimental SPF chickens

Evaluation of effect of environment contitions on yield and chemical compostion of tagetes minuta L. essential oil

Tagetes minuta L. is an annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. This species is not native to Iran. Tagetes minuta is an important medicinal plant with applications in perfume, flavour and food industry. Essential oil of this plant has more extensive use in these industries. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the effect of environmental conditions on yield and chemical composition of the plant essential oil. The seeds were sown in two location at same time. Aerial parts of plant were harvested at full flowering stage and after air drying, their essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation method. Samples of oils were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Results showed that yield and chemical composition of Tagetes minuta were different between two regions. The essential oil content of plants cultivated at East and North of Tehran were 1.44% and 0.8%, respectively. Twenty and nineteen compounds identified from oil of plants cultivated in East and North of Tehran, respectively. The main compounds of oil from East of Tehran were dihydrotageton [21.4%], alpha-terpineol [15.6%], [Z]-tagetone [13.1%], [E]-ocimenone [11.8%], [Z]-beta-ocimene [8.3%], spathulenol [4.8%], [Z]-ocimenone [4.5%], limonene [4%] and from North of Tehran were alpha-terpineol [20.8%], [Z]-beta-ocimene [17.7%], dihydrotageton [13.7%], [E]-ocimenone [13.3%], [Z]-tagetone [8.4%], [Z]-ocimenone [6.1%] and cis-dihydrocarvone [5%]. Environment condition had significant effect on yield and chemical composition of Tagetes minuta essential oil

MEFV gene mutations in iranian patients with familial mediterranean fever [FMF]

Familial Mediterranean fever [FMF] is an autosomal recessive disease, which is characterized by recurrent short episodes of inflammation in serous membranes. It is most prevalent in Western Mediterranean population. MEFV is the only gene currently known to be associated with this disease. Previous studies revealed that 6% of Iranian Jewish residents in Israel were carriers of MEFV mutation. The present study was undertaken to analyze the three known mutations of this gene in Iranian patients. Thirty patients met full inclusion criteria and 30 healthy controls enrolled in the study. To detect M694V, M680I and V726I mutations, genomic DNA, extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes, was examined using amplification refractory mutation system [ARMS-PCR] and common, normal and mutant specific primers. Fever and intermittent episodic abdominal pain were the most common manifestations among the cases. Of the 30 cases, 9[30%] were positive for M694V mutation [2 homozygote, 6 simple heterozygote, and one compound heterozygote], 4 [13.3%] for M680I mutation [one homozygote, 2 simple heterozygote, and one compound heterozygote] and one [3.3%] for V726I mutation. All controls were negative for these three mutations. As in other ethnic groups, M694V mutation is the most common MEFV mutation in Iranian FMF patients but it exists in lower frequency. Consequently we recommend full mutation analysis of MEFV gene in all of our samples especially in those we could not find any of the three mutations mentioned above

[Determination of frequency rate of chlamydia pneumonia infection in two groups of patients with and without AMI]

Background: þToday, coronary artery disease is a leading cause of death and morbidity in the world and recognition of all aspects of this problem appears to be necessary and important. In recent years in addition to traditional coronary risk factors, other new risk factors are presented that can affect coronary arteries and accelerate atherosclerosis process. One of the most important of these, are infections, specially with Chlamydia pneumonia. We aimed to study this possibility that is whether correlation between infection with Chlamydia pneumonia and Acute Myocardial Infarction. [AMI]

Materials and Methods: This research is a descriptive case-control study which evaluates frequency of infection with Chlamydia pneumonia in the 100 patients with AMI and 105 patients without any history or evidence of CAD admitted in sections of CCU and surgery, in Dr. SHARIATI and SINA hospitals in 2001. For this purpose we took 5ml blood sample from all of the patients, and tested for specific anti Chlamydia pneumonia antibodies [IgG and IgM] by ELISA method

Results: Our study showed that 38 percent of control group patients and 54 percent of patients with AMI had positive titer of anti Chlamydia pneumonia antibody and so they were infected with Chlamydia pneumonia [OR= 1.9 [95% CI: 1.34 to 2.46]] [P< 0/001]

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that, there is significant correlation between infection with Chlamydia pneumonia and occurrence of AMI so treatment of this infection could be of profit

[Attitude of key academic persons about integration of medical education into health services]

Background: The idea of integration of medical education into health care system with the goal of comprehensive self sufficiency and complete response to public health needs were initiated in 1985. There were many prose and cones in this procedure which raised many controversies. The dilemma about strengths and weaknesses increased in 2002 during which Iran parliament tried to change the situation. In this study we tried to conclude and exit the dilemma

Materials and Methods: We studied the attitude of key academic person regarding the integration. In a cross-sectional study using a pretested questionnaire, we assessed the attitude of 556 academic staffs and managers from eight randomly selected medical universities

Results: Most of respondents agreed the positive out come of integration like establishment of disease surveillance and improving in health indicators, but they believed that the quality of medical education has decreased. Most of respondents suppose that dissociation of medical education may cause a lot of problems

Conclusion: There are a lot of controversies regarding the strengths and weaknesses of integration. External factors were causes of decreasing the quality of education so it is important to decide about the future by considering external factors

[Biological activity of leaf extract and phenolglycoside arbutin of Pyrus boissieriana Buhse]

Telka tree [Pyrus boissieriana Buhse] is growing in north forest of Iran, from beach to mountain. Peduncle, leaf and bark of some genus of Pyrus contain arbutin as phenolglycoside. High quantities of arbutin is found in some plant family such as Saxiferagaceae, Ericaceae, Rosaceae and Compositae. Arbutin is used in treatment of the urinary tract infection and also antioxidant and sunscreen. Arbutin is diuretic and emmenagoge. In this study, antibacterial [Bacillus subtilis], antifungal [Candida albicans and Cladasporium cucumericum], antilarvae [Aedes aegypti], antioxidant and anticholinestrase activities of methanolic and dichloromethane extract of the plant and arbutin performed. Also, arbutin in Telka leaves is determined by HPLC and TLC and quantity has been determined by HPLC and spectrophotometry. Results have been shown that dried extract obtained 4.42% from dichloromethane and 22.04% from methanol, respectively. methanolic extract had antifungal, antioxidant, antilarvae, dichloromethane extract had antibacterial, antioxidant, anticholinestrase, and arbutin had antifungal and antioxidant activities. Arbutin has herbal origin and can be found in leaves of some plants such as Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 4-15%, Vaccinium vitis 5.5-7% and Vaccinium myrtillus 0.4-1.5%. In this study quantity of arbutin in telka was 7.01% and arbutin retention time, relative arbutin retention time in compare with hydroquinone was 5.457, 0.688 respectively. Since there is not A. uva-ursi in Iran, therefore Telka, which contains high quantity of arbutin, also high frequency of this plant is distributed in north of Iran, can be used as good natural source of arbutin