Heavy metals content of canned tuna fish marketed in Tabriz, Iran

Some heavy metals are dangerous to health and there is rising concern about the quality of foodstuffs in some parts of the world. Fish, particularly Tuna fish, can concentrate huge quantities of several metals from water and they even play a significant role in human nourishment. In this study, the concentrations of mercury and four trace metals in five brands of canned tuna samples purchased within the Tabriz city [Iran] were determined after digestion via the Association of Official Analytical Chemists techniques. A total of 40 samples were collected. Lead and cadmium levels were determined via graphite tube atomic absorption spectrophoto-metry, whereas nickel and tin levels were determined via flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and mercury levels were determined via hydride generation atomic absorption spectro-photometry. The ranges obtained for the elements were Pb [0.01-0.242], Ca [0.0-1.05], Ni [0.113-0.589], Sn [0.05-0.9], and Hg [0.1-0.205] mg/kg wet weight. The results showed that tuna fabricated and marketed in Tabriz [Iran] had safe level of heavy metals that were lower than the averages of EC/FAO/WHO levels for these toxic metals

[ combined effect of lysozyme and zataria multiflora essential oil on vibrio parahaemolyticus]

Various studies have been conducted to show the effects of essences and enzymes on foodborne pathogens in culture media. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil and lysozyme alone and in combination on preventing growth of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in culture media. In this study, the MIC of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil and lysozyme, together and alone, on Vibrio parahaemolyticus, was determined by using macro and microdilution methods. The MIC of Zataria multiflora essential oil determined 0.01% and 0.02% by using macro and microdilution methods, respectively and lysozyme at 1000 mg/mL concentration could not inhibit the growth of V. parahaemolyticus. According to the results of current study, Zataria multiflora essential oil showed better results in comparison with lysozyme, moreover Applying lysozyme and essential oil together did not decrease MIC, but extended the latent phase of V. parahaemolyticus, which considered an important factor in microbiology

Antibiotic residues and aflatoxin M1 contamination in milk powder used in Tehran dairy factories, Iran

The presence of aflatoxin M1 [AFM1] and antibiotic residues in milk and milk products is a public health concern. Milk and milk powder have the potential for introducing AFM1 and antibiotic into human diet. In recent years, milk powder has been used on a large scale in dairy factories. Consequently, antibiotic residues and aflatoxin contamination control in these products has gained importance. The aim of this survey was to determine the level of beta-lactam and tetracycline antibiotic residues and also AFM1 contamination of milk powder used in Tehran dairy factories. During 12 months [September 2011 to September 2012], 240 samples of milk powder were collected from ten Tehran dairy factories. All samples were analyzed for the presence of AFM1 using ELISA technique. In addition, antibiotic residues were determined by BetaStar Combo test, a rapid assay for both beta-lactam and tetracycline antibiotics. The samples depicted positive results i.e. 30% and 17.5% for beta-lactam and tetracycline antibiotics, respectively. Also, AFM1 was found in 155 cases [64.6%] with an average concentration of 29.85 +/- 18.99 ng/ L. The results showed the milk powder used by dairy factories is safe in respect of AFM1 contamination and antibiotic residues in Tehran

[Effects of Zataria multiflora boiss. essential oil and acetic acid on thermostable direct haemolysin production of Vibrio parahaemolyticus]

Consumption of contaminated seafood with Vibrio parahaemolyticus results in gastroenteritis in consumer. Thermostabledirecthaemolysin is one of the major virulence factors of this emerging pathogen which has an important role in its pathogenicity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil and acetic acid on the production of TDH toxin of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in subinhibitory concentrations of these preservatives. The toxin production under specific condition including the combination of different concentrations of the essential oil [0, 0.005, 0.015, 0.03 and 0.045%], pH values [5.5, 6.5 and 7.5] modified with acetic acid and 3 incubation temperatures[8, 25 and 35[degree sign]C]in BHI broth medium was studied and the number of the bacteria have been counted and the toxin production has been evaluated after the growth of the organism and subsequent turbidity in the medium using the KAP-Rpla commercial kit. Toxin titerproduced in a broth with pH value of 7.5 and 35[degree sign]C and in the absence of essential oil was 1/256 while it was 1/32 in the same condition and with the presence of 0.015% essential oil. Also the titer of this toxin in 25[degree sign]C and pH of 6.5 equals 1/256 while with adding the 0.015% ofZataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil, It reduced to 1/3. According to the results the essential oil in combination with different pH values and incubation temperatures has a decreasing effect on the toxin production of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. It suggests that further studies with the same conditions as current study in a food model is needed to confirm the positive effect of these natural preservatives

[Effect of Zataria multiflora boiss. essential oil on growth curve and shigatoxin 2 production of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7]

Zataria multiflora Boiss. is one of the Iranian traditional spices and it has antimicrobial effect on the pathogenic bacteria which are agents for some current foodborne intoxications. The present study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Zataria multiflora Boiss. Essential oil on Escherichia coil 0157:H7. Minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] and minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC] of Zataria multiflora Boiss. Essential oil [EO] for Escherichia coil 0157:H7 at 35°C, the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of EO on growth curve of bacteria up to 24 hours at 25 and 35°C and also production of shigatoxin 2 [Stx2], at 35°C has been determined. MIC and MBC of EO which have been evaluated were 0.04 and 0.06%, respectively the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of EO on bacterial growth curve during 24 hours has been determined by spectrophotometer device at 25 and 35°C and also production of shigatoxin 2 [Stx2], at 35°C has been determined. Subihibitory concentrations of EO, significantly, decreased the production of Stx2 at 35°C in a dose dependent manner. The results showed that Zataria multiflora Boiss. Essential oil had inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli 0157:H7 and it can be used as a natural preservative in food industry

Effects of combined administration of lipoic acid and pyridoxine on albuminuria, oxidative stress, blood pressure, serum advanced glycated end products, nitric oxide and endothelin-1 in patients with diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of kidney failure. High serum concentrations of advanced glycated end products, oxidative stress, and hypertension are three important risk factors for diabetic nephropathy. As individual administration of lipoic acid or pyridoxine is not effective in improving diabetic nephropathy, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of combined administration of lipoic acid and pyridoxine on albuminuria, oxidative stress, blood pressure, serum advanced glycated end products, nitric oxide and endothelin-1 in patients with diabetic nephropathy. The study was a double-blind randomized clinical trial, in which 38 patients with diabetic nephropathy [23 females and 15 males] were randomly assigned to either a supplement-taking group or a placebo group. The patients in the supplement group received 800 mg lipoic acid and 80 mg pyridoxine daily for 12 weeks, while the placebo group received placebos. At baseline and at the end of week 12, a urine sample and 8 ml blood were collected from each patient after a 12- to 14-hour fast and serum pentosidine, carboxymethyl lysine, malondialdehyde, endothelin-1, nitric oxide, glucose, urinary albumin, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured. The serum concentrations of pentosidine and carboxymethyl lysine decreased significantly in the supplement-taking group at the end of week 12 as compared to the baseline values [P<0.05] The combined supplement also brought about significant reductions in the serum malondialdehyde [25%], systolic blood pressure [2 mmHg] and urinary albumin concentration [74 mg/g creatinine]; the reductions were significantly different from the placebo group values [P<0.05]. On the other hand, the serum nitric oxide concentration increased significantly in the supplement-taking group as compared to the placebo group [P<0.05]. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in the mean changes of serum endothelin-1, glucose or diastolic blood pressure. The results indicate that combined administration of lipoic acid and pyridoxine reduces significantly serum pentosidine, carboxymethyl lysine, malondialdehyde, systolic blood pressure and urinary albumin concentration, and increases serum nitric oxide. This treatment may, thus, have an effective role in retarding the progression of diabetic nephropathy

[Effects of combined administration of lipoic acid and pyridoxine on serum systemic and vascular inflammatory factors in patients with diabetic nephropathy]

Systemic and vascular inflammation are two risk factors for the development of diabetic nephropathy. In diabetic patients, serum systemic and vascular inflammatory factors have positive correlations with albuminuria. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of combined administration of lipoic acid and pyridoxine on the serum concentrations of these factors in patients with diabetic nephropathy. The study was a double-blind randomized clinical trial in which 38 patients with diabetic nephropathy [23 females and 15 males] were randomly assigned to either the supplement-taking or the placebo group. The patients in the supplement group received 800 mg lipoic acid and 80 mg pyridoxine daily for 12 weeks, while the placebo group received corresponding placebos. At baseline and the end of week 12, a urine sample and 10 ml blood was collected from each patient after a 12 to 14-hour fast and serum high sensitive C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], soluble intercellular adhesion molecule type 1 [sICAM-1], soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule type 1 [sVCAM-1], sE-selectin, Interleukine-6 [IL-6], glucose, percent of blood hemoglobin A1c and urinary albumin were measured. In the present study, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in mean changes of hs-CRP, IL-6, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin, glucose, percent of blood hemoglobin A1c. Mean urinary albumin concentration decreased significantly in the supplement-taking group at the end of week 12, compared to the baseline [P<0.05] and the reduction was significant in comparison with the placebo group [P<0.05]. The results of the present study indicate that combined administration of lipoic acid and pyridoxine has no effect on serum systemic and vascular inflammatory factors, but it reduces urinary albumin concentration significantly. Therefore, combined administration of lipoic acid and pyridoxine may have an effective role in retarding the progression of diabetic nephropathy with a mechanism different from the effects of these supplements on inflammation

[Bilateral twin ectopic pregnancy with simultaneous intra uterine pregnancy]

Unilateral Twin Ectopic Pregnancy is very rare and only 100 cases have been reported till now. Bilateral Twin Ectopic pregnancy is the rarest type of Dizigotic twin pregnancy. We have reported a case of Bilateral Twin ectopic pregnancy with live simultaneous Ilntra Uterine Pregnancy that its prevalence is unclear. We didn't find any similar cases in the literature. The patient was a 34-year-old woman with intermittent crampic pain in both abdominal owe' quadrants for 2 days. The patient had a history of abortion and also a secondary infertility and HMG Injection. The ultra-sonography showed a 12 week pregnancy uterus with bilateral ovarian cyst where one of them was ruptured and a large amount of fluid in pelvic cavity was seen. Therefore, a decision was made for surgery During operation, two much dilated non ruptured area in left falopian tube and two ectopic pregnancies in the right fallopian tube were seen which one of them was ruptured. Considering the ectopic pregnancy, when encountering women in reproductive age, is necessary and any pregnant woman with abdominal pain must be considered for

[ effect of active learning method on stability of information and satisfaction of physiopathology students in Yazd university of medical sciences]

Active Learning Method [ALM] is a model in which students are active in the class. This aim of this study is to compare stability of information and satisfaction of students in classic method of lecture and active learning method. This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 48 medical students [29 females and 19 males] selected through census sampling method and spending their physiopathology courses in Yazd Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Some sessions from the courses of "respiratory, digestive, and urinary diseases" were selected. Two forms for assessing students' satisfaction were used as pretest and post-test. The stability of information was assessed by 8 essay questions one month after teaching. SPSS software was used for data analysis using descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney and McNemar tests. Fifty six percent of students were generally satisfied with the project implementation. The median for stability assessment exam in classes held using ALM was 5 while it was 3.42 for classes using lecture method which had a significant difference [P=0.00]. Active learning method increases information stability in students' mind after the teaching session

[Effect of Zataria multiflora boiss. essential oil and storage temperature on the growth of E.coli O[157]:H[7] in hamburger using hurdle technology]

In this study, the effect of different concentrations of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil [0.00, 0.005, 0.015, 0.03%], temperatures [8 and 25°C] and storage time [up to 21 days] was evaluated in a food model system [Humburger]. The correlation coefficient of different concentrations of zataria multiflora Boiss.essential oil with logarithm of the numbers of E.coli O[157]:H[7] was [-o.528]. It was found that effect of different concentrations of essential oil on growth rate of E.coli O157:H7 was statistically significant [p<0.05]. The correlation coefficient of storage time and logarithm of the number of microorganism used in this study was [0.434], which indicated a decrease in the growth rate when the storage time was increased. The effect of storage time on growth rate was statistically significant [p<0.05]. In addition the correlation coefficient of storage temperature with logarithm of the number of bacterium was [0.500]. In other words, decreasing the storage temperature [from 25°C to 8°C] resulted in the decrease of the growth rate of the microorganism [p<0.05]

[Comparing effect of vitamin E and allopurinol in diabetic patients with renal dysfunction undergoing coronary bypass surgery]

Acute renal failure is a common complication of cardiac surgery and oxidants and diabetes play an important role in renal injury in this condition. In this study, we aimed to assess whether vitamin E as a supplemental antioxidant and allopurinol as an oxygen radical antagonist could prevent renal dysfunction after coronary artery bypass graft [CABG] surgery. Eighty diabetic patients with GFR less than 60 ml/min undergoing CABG surgery were randomized into two groups: treated with vitamin E and allopurinol [group A: n=40] and without treated [group B: n=40]. Diabetic patients were detected. Group A, drugs 3 to 5 days before surgery. Serum creatinine, potassium, creatinine clearance and urine output were measured preoperatively and daily until day 5 after surgery. The patients consisted of 41 males and 39 females with a mean age of 63 +/- 9 years. The mean serum creatinine and creatinine clearance were 1.3 +/- 0.5 mg/dl [0.8 +/- 3 mg/dl] and 48 +/- 10 ml/min [22-68 ml/min], respectively. There were no differences in baseline variables such as age, body mass index, sex, hypertension, diabetes, duration of operation and aorta cross clump, serum creatinine and potassium, and creatinine clearance between the groups. When comparing two groups, there were no significant differences in mean of variables before and after operation such as serum creatinine [1.2 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.2 +/- 0.3 mg/dl, p=0.4], serum potassium [4.3 +/- 0.3 vs. 4.4 +/- 0.3 meq/l, p=0.7]. Length of intensive care unite stay in control group was more than treated group [3.8 +/- 1.2 vs. 2.8 +/- 0.5 day, p=0.00]. Prophylactic treatment with vitamin E and allopurinol have no Reno protective effect in these patients but these two drugs can decrease hospitalization in ICU with intervention by two drugs

[Nutritional and anthropometrical predictors of the incidence of metabolic syndrome in adults]

While many studies have reported cross-sectional associations between metabolic syndrome components, few have prospectively examined the development of the metabolic syndrome and comprehensive set of risk factors in a cohort. The objective was to evaluate the role of nutritional and anthropometrical factors in the incidence of metabolic syndrome in adults. In this population-based cohort study a representative sample of 410 subjects [male and female], aged 18-74 years who were free of the metabolic syndrome at baseline, were categorized based on quartile cut-points of metabolic syndrome components and food consumption. Baseline blood pressure, waist circumference, serum glucose and lipids, physical activity and dietary intake were measured and tested for predictors of the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome developed in 71 subjects during the subsequent 3.5 years. The best predictors of incident metabolic syndrome were hypertension [odds ratio [OR] by quartile:1, 1.2, 1.6, 4.2, p for trend<0.05], waist circumference[1, 1.1, 2, 5.3, p for trend<0.05], triacylglycerol[1, 1, 2, 3, p for trend<0.05] and HDL cholesterol[1, 0.4, 0.4, 0.3 p for trend<0.05]. In multivariate analysis increased waist circumference was the optimum predictor [OR 8[4-12.2]]. A prominent dose'response relationship across the carbohydrate and fat intake categories and the odds of metabolic syndrome was observed. This report confirms the role of blood pressure, waist circumference and lipid measurements in risk stratification of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. Interventions that address obesity and reduce waist circumference and an appropriate diet may reduce the incidence of the metabolic syndrome in adults

[Dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in tehranian adults Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study [TLGS]]

Recent studies have shown that dairy consumption is inversely associated with the metabolic syndrome. Calcium and vitamin D, two major components of dairy products, have been postulated as being primarily responsible for the beneficial effect of dairy consumption. The objective was to examine whether and to what extent intakes of calcium and vitamin D are related to the metabolic syndrome in adults. In this population-based cross sectional study, a representative sample of 808 subjects [male and female] aged 18-74 y were randomly selected. Subjects were categorized based on quartile cut-points of dietary intakes of calcium and vitamin D. Multivariate logistic regression was used in 4 models to compare different dietary intake levels of calcium and vitamin D adjusted for lifestyle and nutritional confounders. Each model was additionally adjusted for more variables than the previous one. After adjusting for age, calories, smoking status, exercise, BMI and parental history of myocardial infarction before age 60 years, dietary calcium levels were significantly and inversely associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, and the ORs of having the metabolic syndrome for increasing quartiles of dietary calcium intake were 1.00 [reference], 0.90 [95% CI 0.61-1.04], 0.85 [0.78-0.99] and 0.74 [0.62-0.95]; P for trend <0.02, and was not appreciably altered by additional adjustment for dietary vitamin D intake. Dietary vitamin D was inversely associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome but was not independent of total calcium intake. Similar strong relations between intakes of dairy products and metabolic syndrome were also observed and the multivariable OR comparing highest with lowest intake quartiles was 0.81[0.64-0.98], P for trend <0.03. It is concluded that intakes of calcium and dairy products may be associated with a lower prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in adults

Effect of eradicating Helicobacter pylori on gastroesophageal reflux disease

The effect of helicobacter pylori either in provoking or protecting GERD is unclear and the results of studies are conflicting. We aimed to study the effect of H.pylori eradication on GERD by 24-hour ph monitoring. 14 patients with duodenal ulcer or erosive duodenitis without any endoscopic and clinical evidences of GERD were enrolled. 24-hour ph monitoring were performed before and 12 month after H-Pylori eradication. The score was based on DeMeester scoring system. H.Pylori was diagnosed by rapid urease test before eradication and by urea breath test [UBT] after eradication. The mean age was 41.6..10.2 years. The mean scores of 24-hour ph monitoring were 6.8..4.3 and 5.4..3.9 before and after eradication, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant [NS]. Epigastric pain changed significantly before and after the therapy [p<0.01]. H.pylori eradication did not have any effect on scores of 24-hour esophageal ph monitoring. Epigastric pain significantly decreased after eradication