[Effects of hydroethanolic extract of kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. leaf on total antioxidant capacity and BMP7 gene expression in rat white adipose tissue]

Background: Obesity is one of the problems of major concern to today's society. Weight loss has been reported for Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff

Objective: Aim of this research is to examine the effect of this plant extract on plasma total antioxidant capacity and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7 [BMP7] gene expressions in white adipose tissue [WAT]

Methods: Eighty male wistar rats were divided in two prevention [A] and treatment [B] groups and every group were divided to four subgroups. The A for prevention from obesity and B were used for reducing of obesity. WAT was obtained after the study for BMP7 gene expression [with using Real time PCR]. Liver sample for catalase activity, blood for measuring of total antioxidant capacity and paraoxonase 1 activity were prepared

Results: Weight loss and BMP7 gene expression was seen only in subgroup that receiving K. odoratissima hydroethanolic extract in the A group. Contrary to expectation, K. odoratissima extract was reduced the total antioxidant capacity in both groups, reduced level of serum paraoxonase 1 activity and increased liver catalase [p value = 0.002] in comparing to the subgroup that received high fat diet [p value = 0.011]

Conclusion: K. odoratissima hydroethanolic extract has an effective role in prevention of weight gain and enhanced liver catalase activity. Increasing in BMP7 gene expression probably causes alteration of WAT to brown adipose tissue [BAT]. According to this study, consumption of extract can reduce serum total antioxidant capacity and is likely to exacerbate oxidative stress

Fatal case of Plasmodium vivax malaria in a splenectomized patient

Malaria is a major problem in tropical and sub-tropical countries, with high morbidity and mortality. Splenectomy makes patients more susceptible to serious bacterial and parasitic infections. We report for the first time in Iran a fatal case of Plasmodium vivax malaria, confirmed by microscopic and molecular [Semi-nested multiplex PCR] tests in a patient who had undergone splenectomy due to hemolytic anemia

[ rare case of crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever]

Crimean- Congo Hemorrhagic fever [CCHF] is a viral disease that transmitted to human by the bite of mature tick vectors, contact with the infectious blood or viraemic tissues during slaughter and hospital contacts. Eighty percent of the cases are sub clinical and the rest of them are presenting with an acute febrile and occasionally hemorrhagic disease. The mortality rate of the fulminate form of this disease is equal to 20% to 50%. It is a Case Report. The patient was an Iranian 55 years-old housekeeper woman who was resident of Qom province. The obtained epidemiologic data showed that this patient had the close contact to fresh animal corpse and their secretions within five to six days before her death. Clinical history of this patient was as follows: sudden onset of symptoms, sever fever, myalgia, diarrhea, bleeding diathesis and anal hemorrhage during hospitalization. The first serum diagnostic test by RT-PCR was positive. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever diagnosis could be considered for the referred patients with acute symptoms suddenly such as high fever with muscle pain, diarrhea and bleeding diathesis

[ correlation between clinical signs and genotypes of giardia duodenalis isolated from patients with giardiasis in Kerman City]

Giardiasis is one of the human parasitic diseases caused by a flagellate protozoan named Giardia duodenalis [G.lamblia]. Giardia is one of the most common organisms causing diarrhea in human and also a common gastrointestinal parasite in vertebrates. A total of 352 stool samples were collected from patients infected with giardiasis referred to health centers in Kerman city. Samples were examined by formalin- ether concentration procedure. First, DNA extraction was performed on 30 stool samples containing adequate Giardia cysts and then PCR-RFLP was done on glultamate dehydrogenase [gdh] marker. Clinical signs of patients were recorded in a questionnaire and their relationships with molecular results were analyzed. The highest rate of infection was in the age group of 0-12 years with significant difference with other age groups [P<0.0001]. The most common clinical signs were abdominal pain [71.7%], diarrhea [69%], abdominal cramping [54.1%] and the least common signs were malaise [20.4%] and fever [16.1%]. Of all 30 isolates, 18 samples [60%] were found as genotype All, 5 ones [16.7%] belonged to Al assemblage and 7 samples [23.3%] were BIII assemblage. There was a significant difference between genotyping of Giardia and clinical signs of diarrhea, abdominal signs and nausea [P<0.05]. Higher prevalence of Giardiasis was found in the age group below 12 years, but clinical signs in different age groups and two sexes were identical. Assemblage A showed correlation with mild intermittent diarrhea and assemblage B had correlation with persistent diarrhea

Evaluation of producing extended spectrum p-lactamase among isolated escherchia coli from patients suffering from urinary tract infections: [short report]

Despite the widespread availability of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance in uropathogens is increasing. The most common mechanism in the antibiotic resistance is production of extended spectrum B-lactamase [ESBL]. In this study, the presence of producing ESBL among isolated Escherchia Coli from patients suffering from urinary tract infections in Ali-Ebne Abitaleb hospital [Rafsanjan, Iran] as well as their sensitivity to newer antibiotics were evaluated. In this descriptive study, 146 Escherchia Coli were collected from 1634 urine samples of suspected patients with urinary tract infection in a five month tim period. Isolated organisms were identified by standard biochemical and microbial tests. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done by disc diffusion method. Isolated E coli that were resistant to third generation cephalosporines were tested for ESBL phenotype by double disc synergy test method. Their susceptibility to imipenem, meropenem and cefepime were also determined. Totally, 19.86% of the isolated E coli showed resistance to third generation cephalosporines and 10.27% of them were ESBL producer. Also, ESBLs E Coli showed co-resistance to other antibiotics. Susceptibility to imipenem, meropenem were 100%, and cefepime 26.66%. ESBL producer isolated Escherchia Coli had resistance to many different antibiotics, but it showed high susceptibility to imipenem and meropenem. So in order to prevent any resistance, we should use these antibiotics correctly

frequency of coagulase negative staphylococci urinary infections with antimicrobial resistance pattern in Rafsanjan

Coagulase negative staphylococci are recognized as the important agents in the urinary infections of young women and elderly men. These agents are resistant to many of the antibiotics. The objective of this study was to find out the frequency and antimicrobial resistance pattern of this organism in urinary infections. This cross sectional study was performed on 1067 patients who were referred to Rafsanjan laboratory due to urinary symptoms. Urine analysis and cultures with [Blood agar, Eosin methylen blue, Hinton Agar], besides Catalase and coagulase assay were done. Coagulase negative staphylococci was isolated from 6% of cultures. Frequency of this infection had no difference between female and male and also between different groups. Based on antibiotic resistance pattern; resistance to Cefalotin was [72.5%], Cotrimoxazole [62.5%], Penicillin [60%], Nitrofurantoin and Gentamycin [55%], Nalidixic acid [52.5%], Oxacillin [47.5%, Cephalexin [45%], Clindamycin [35%], Vancomycin [30%] and Ciprofloxacin [2.5%]. Positive cultures are significant [6%] and recognition of urinary infection due to Coagulase negative staphylococci is very important because misdiagnosis leads to wrong treatment

Therapeutic effects of beta- interferons in patients with multiple sclerosis

beta-Interferons have been reported as effective medicine in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis [MS], but due to their cost and side effects, the duration of therapy is controversial. The current study aimed to reveal the rate of recurrence according to the duration of medication among the patients receiving beta-Interferons in a 2 year period in Rafsanjan city. In this cohort study, patients who had relapsing-remiting MS for at least 2 years and had been receiving B-Interferon for at least 3 months were followed. The patients were given a questionaire containing their demographic information, recurrence rate and duration of treatment with beta- Interferon. Sixty three point six percent had no exacerbation in the group receiving medication for 3-6 months, while 38.1% in the 6 months-1 year group, and 41.7% in the 1 year group had no exacerbation. There was no significant relationship between the duration of receiving medicaton and the number of recurrence rate. Recurrence rate in the first and second group [< 12 months therapy] was 0.46% and in the third group [> 12 months therapy] was 0.35%. The results showed no significant relationship between recurrence rate and the duration of beta-Interferon therapy. Longer period of treatment is recommended to assess the therapeutic effects of beta-interferon

Gene cloning of Iranian Leishmania major mannose-1-phosphate guanyltransferase

Leishmania is an obligatory intracellular protozoan parasite, which infects human beings when infected sand fly vector takes a blood meal. Most efforts are towards designing an effective vaccine to prevent leishmaniasis. In this way, development of candidate antigen for vaccine has special important. In this study, we cloned mannose-1-phosphate guanyltransferase gene of Iranian L .major in pET32a expression vector. Primers based on L. major mannose-1-phosphate guanyltransferase sequence gene was designed and synthesized. DNA of Leishmania promastigotes was extracted and PCR reaction was done. PCR product was cloned into pTZ57R and sub cloned into pET32a expression vector. Recombinant plasmid containing 1140 bp as L. major mannose-1-phosphate guanyltransferase gene was extracted and confirmed by restriction analysis. PCR product was sequenced and deposited to GenBank. There were some differences in amino acid sequences between Iranian L. major mannose-1-phosphate guanyltransferase and others previously accepted in GenBank. We amplified and cloned Iranian L. major mannose-1-phosphate guanyltransferase successfully

[Gene cloning and expression analysis of Gro/KC by primary hepatocytes]

It is now well established that several environmental stresses lead to activation of p38 MAP kinase and JNK in various cell systems which is followed by chemokine production. We investigated the expression of both CXC chemokines SDF- 1 alpha[ELR] and Gro/KC [ELR[+]] in rat H4 hepatoma cells in response to heat shock, hyper-osmolarity and oxidative stresses. The pattern of expression of these chemokines by hepatoma cells in response to stress conditions was also studied. Hepatoma cells were maintained in MEM medium. Cells were subjected to different stresses [H[2]O[2] 0.15% [w/v], manitol and NaC1 [160 mM] and heat shock [[42[degree sign] C for 20 minutes]]. At the indicated time points, cells were harvested and RNA was extracted, purified and expression of the chemokines were analysed by RT-PCR. cDNA was separated by gel electrophoresis on a 1% [w/v] agarose gel and visualized on a UV transilluminator. Results obtained in this report showed that there was detectable but low expression of chemokines in H4 hepatoma cells. Heat shock failed to induce expression of chemokines in H4 rat hepatoma cells. Hyper-osmolarity also has not stimulated Chemokines expression. In this study we have also shown that oxidative stress did not induce expression of chemokines. Overall, although detection is possible but regularly responses were not observed in H4 hepatoma cells. Several known injurious conditions cause recruitment of macrophages, neutrophils and other immune cells to the liver. Immune cells are recruited to the hepatic vasculature following local liver injury and consequent chemokine production. Our results demonstrated that failure in production of these chemokines by Hepatoma cells may be a way to escape from immune surveillance

Molecular characterization of toxoplasma gondii from Bird Hosts

The determination of Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in a variety of domestic birds is thought as a good indicator of distribution of T.gondii ooccyts in the environment. To verify the potential role of domestic birds in circulating toxoplasmosis in Iran, the present study was conducted in Mazandaran Provinces, northern Iran. Latex agglutination test [LA] antibodies were found in 25 of 58 free-ranging chickens [Gallus domesticus] and ducks [Anas sp.]. Also, viable T. gondii was isolated from 7 of 25 seropositive chickens and ducks by bioassay of their brains and hearts into mice. Most of the isolated strains were avirulant to mice. Genotyping of T.gondii isolates using Multiplex PCR for 5 microsatellite markers indicated that 7 isolates were type III. In this study type II and III isolates and mixed genotypes were not found. This study showed that domestic birds could have a potential role in transmitting toxoplasmosis to humans in Iran

Spectrum of liver injuries in abdominal trauma

A study of 42 cases of hepatic trauma over a period of three years is presented. Spectrum of liver injuries resulting both from blunt and penetrating trauma were analysed. Total of 88% [n=37] patients underwent exploratory laparotomy and 12%[n=5] patients were treated conservatively. 62% [n=26] patients had multiple associated injures whereas 38% [n=16] had isolated liver injury. On presentation 28.5% [n=12] patients had hypotension, systolic blood pressure< 80mm of Hg whereas 71.4% [n=30] were haemodynamically stable. It has been observed that majority of liver injuries do not require aggressive surgical treatment. Thirty three patients [78%] fell in grade I-III and 9 [12%] were in grade IV-V. A significant proportion of these patients could have been managed conservatively only if ICU, serial ultrasound and CT scan facilities were available. A high incidence of morbidity and mortality is noted in patients with multiple injuries. Effectiveness of different treatment modalities is discussed