molecular investigation of widespread Salmonella serovars, S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis, involved in salmonellosis of cattle and sheep in farms around Tehran, Iran

Salmonellosis as an important zoonotic disease that causes food born poisoning in human through animal products and is considered as a worldwide public health hazard. Widespread studies have been conducted on different aspects of incidence, treatment and control of salmonelosis all over the world

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of widespread Salmonella serovars, S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis, isolated from an outbreak of salmonelosis in cattle herds and sheep flocks around Tehran, in summer 2009, using molecular [PCR and multiplex PCR] and conventional [bacterial culture, serology and antibiogram] tests

Tissue and faecal samples were collected from 8 calves, 5 lambs and 2 aborted cattle embryos. All involved cases were animals less than 2-month-old and the presence of Salmonella serovars were confirmed in all isolates. The infection of S. enteritidis was much more prevalent in comparison to the S. typhimurium, which was statistically meaningfull [P<0.05]

Virulence gene [spv gene] of S. enteritidis was shown on 250 bp fragments in most of the organ isolates. Specifically the virulence gene was shown in all isolates of aborted fetus tissue cultures, through the molecular survey. In two calves, both S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis were detected and S. typhimurium was isolated from liver in both cases

All isolates were sensitive to streptomycin, lincospectin, enrofloxacine and trimetoprim and were resistant to doxycycline and erythromycin?

[Assessing the quality of work life, productivity of nurses and their relationship]

High quality of work life is known as basic prerequisite of empowering human resources in healthcare system. Nurses' productivity plays an important role in organizations' success. Knowing the correlation between quality of work life and productivity, managers can improve staffs' productivity by promoting nurses' quality of work life. This study aimed at assessing relationships between quality of work life and productivity of nurses. This cross-sectional correlation study was conducted with a random sample of 360 nurses drawn from hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data were gathered through self-administered questionnaires containing work quality of life questionnaire [45 questions on a likert rating scale] and productivity questionnaire [25 questions on a likert rating scale]. Both questionnaires were developed by the researchers. All statistics were computed using the SPSS software [version 13] with pearson and K square tests. Findings revealed that 31.9% of the nurses considered their productivity level, moderate. 41.9% of them reported their work quality of life at moderate level. Only 10% of them believed that their work quality of life is good. The results demonstrated statistically significant correlation between work quality of life and productivity level of nurses [r=0.357, P<0.001]. Since just 0.1 of nurses reported their productivity and quality of work life good, managers should apply the appropriate strategies to promote nurses' quality of work life and provide the ground for improving the quality of care and productivity of nurses

[Management by objective approach in nursing performance appraisal and its impact on quality of nursing care]

Performance appraisal is one of the most important duties for nursing managers. This will improve the quality of nursing care, and it needs suitable approaches and effective strategies in nursing services. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of performance appraisal using management by objective approach on nursing care quality. This was a quasi-experimental and single-blind study that was carried out in two surgical units of an affiliated hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. 80 patients were selected using a randomized sampling. The quality of nursing care were controlled in both experiment and control units before and after the performance appraisal procedure. The procedure was programmed on the basis of management by objective approach for six months in the experiment unit. In the intervention unit, nursing performance appraisal was done three times and in every time head nurse and supervisors participated in giving feedbacks and recommendations for the nurses. At the end of the intervention, quality of nursing care was assessed in both groups blindly. The results were compared and statistically analyzed. Significant difference was found between quality of nursing care in the experiment and control units [P<0.001]. Quality of nursing care was significantly different before and after intervention in the experiment unit [P=0.009]. Performance appraisal using management by objective approach could increase the quality of nursing care. As a result, using nursing performance appraisal plans according to the basis of MBO could be an effective evaluation way to access the quality of nursing care

relationship between early complications of acute MI with serum CRP level

The role of CRP as a predictor of acute coronary syndrome [ACS] and its complication is controversy. This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between serum c- reactive protein [CRP] levels with complication of Acute MI. This study was performed on 100 patients with Acute MI who were admitted in heart department of Babol Shahid Beheshti hospital. The level of CRP measured on third day of admission. Prevalence of CRP level in patients group with complication included electrical, mechanical and hemodynamical compared with uncomplicated group. CRP was increased in 85% of patients. Complications of AMI were observed in 64% of patients. The mean level of CRP in complicated group was significantly higher than uncomplicated group [110.8 +/- 61.2 and 32.2 +/- 38.3 respectively, p<0.001]. The mean CRP levels in patients with electrical, mechanical and hemodynamical complications were 80, 139.6 and 137.4 micg/ml respectively, which was significantly higher than uncomplicated group [p<0.001]. The results of this study show that there was an association between serum CRP levels and cardiac complication in early phase of AMI. CRP can predict the complication of AMI at early phase

[The measurement of Digoxin serum level (DSL) in patients with heart disease and its relation with age]

With regard to the extensive use of digoxin in patients with heart disease and its high prevalence of toxicity, this study was done to measure the digoxin serum level [DSL] in patients with or without symptoms of poisoning and determine its relation with age. This study was performed on 441 patients who used digoxin in Babol Shahid Beheshti hospital in 1999-2003. Digoxin has been used for a long time by these patients and the cause of hospitalization was symptoms related to digoxin and primary disease. DSL was measured after history taking and information about the presence of poisoning symptoms. From 441 patients, 63 cases were toxic and 378 cases were non-toxic. Among 63 toxic cases, DSL in 27 cases was more than 2 ng/dl in serum that 82% of them were under 70 years old and DSL in 36 cases was less than 2 ng/dl in serum that 95% of them were over 70 years. From 378 non-toxic cases, 42 cases [11%] were over 70 years that DSL in all of them was less than 2 ng/dl and 336 [89%] were under 70 years that DSL in 3 [4%] and 323 [96%] was more and less than 2 ng/dl, respectively. Although, the most DSL in non-toxic patients was more than 2 ng/dl but DSL less than 2 ng/dl can also cause digoxin toxicity [Especially in patients more than 70 years]

[Report of five cases of ventricular septal defect [VSD] after acute myocardial infarction in Shahid Beheshti Hospital [Babol; 1994-2004]]

Ventricular septal defect [VSD] is one of the mechanical complications after acute myocardial infarction [AMI]. VSD was recognized by color Doppler echocardiography. The aim of this report was early diagnosis of this complication after AMI with echocardiography and its relation with thrombolytic therapy. The first patient was a 54 year old man who presented to emergency ward with chest pain and he was admitted to CCU with diagnosis of acute anterior AMI and received streptokinase therapy [SK], he had a systolic murmur with thrill in LSB [Left sternal border] and had moderate size muscular VSD with echocardiography. Second patient was 66 year old women who presented which chest pain and she was admitted to CCU with diagnosis of inferior MI and anterior ischemia at distance. She had pansystolic murmur with thrill at LSB and had muscular type VSD with echocardiography. 3rd and 4th and 5th patients who were 75, 80 and 52 years old, respectively were referred with chest pain and with diagnosis of AMI, they had systolic murmur with thrill at LSB, diagnosis of VSD after AMI was confirmed with echocardiography and 5th patient received SK. Selective coronary angiography, cardiac catheterization and oxymetry were done. VSD is one of important complication of AMI. They were recognized with physical examination and echocardiography. Thrombolytic therapy accelerates the time from AMI to VSD formation

[ study on the presence of Escherichia coli, Coccidia and Cryptosporidium in stool samples of under one month age diarrheic calves in Ghaernshahr and Babol and antibiotic sensitivity of isolates]

Objective: study on the presence of Escherichia coli, Coccidia and Cryptosporidium in stool samples of neonatal diarrheic calves in Ghaemshahr and Babol, simultaneous shedding of Coccidia and Cvyptosporidium with Escherichia coli in these calves, serotyping of Escherichia coli, comparison of antibiotic sensitivity of K99+ and other serotypes of Escherichia coli

Animals: ninety three diarrheic neonatal calves [under one month]

Procedure: taking stool sample from rectum of the diarrheic calves, using standard methods for detection of Coccidia and Cryptosporidium, isolation of Escherichia coli canied out by using standard bacteriological methods and serotyping and antibiotic sensitivity test of isolates

Statistical analysis: results were reported by descriptive scales

Results: Escherichia coli were isolated from 40.8% of diarrheic calves from which only one isolate were K99+ [1.07%]. In 12 samples two pathogens have been diagnosed simultaneously which in 6 samples E. coli and Coccidia [6.4%] and 6 samples E. coli and Cryptosporidium [6.4%] have been isolated. Isolated Escherichia coli were resistant to many antibiotics which routinely used in treatment of diarrhea and there was no significant difference between K99+ and other isolates of Escherichia coli in antibiotic sensitivity test

Clinical implications: from the results of this study it seems that K99+ Escherichia coli is not a common isolate in neonatal diarrheic calves in Ghaemshahr and Babol

[Comparision of total and cytoplasmic protein pattern in Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar abortusovis strains isolated from Iran]

Objectives: the comparison of total and cytoplamic protein patterns between Salmonella abortusovis strains isolated from Iran

Design: electrophoretic study of protiens

Samples: salmonella abortusovis strains isolated from Iran

Procedure: total proteins were prepared by sonication with a microbrobe. Cytoplasmic proteins were percipitated by the addition of 3 volumes of acetone. Total and cytoplasmic extracted proteins were analysed by SDS-PAGE and silver staining

Results: the results showed that there were considerable differences between total protein profile of S. abortusovis strains. The cytoplasmic protein patterns were similar among the strains

Conclusion: the protein profile differences and number of protein bands are showed in figure and tables. Infact this variations indicating a certain genotypic distance between bacterial strains that isolated from different geographical area of Iran and may be usful for describing the epidemiology or at least genetic relatedness of Salmonella abortusovis wild types

[Evaluation of the immunogenecity of endemic Escherichia coli serotypes isolated from poultry in Iran]

Objective: evaluation of the efficacy of inactivated monovalent and polyvalent vaccines prepared from E. coli serotypes in poultry in Iran

Design: randomized completely Design

Animals: three hundred sixty Arian broiler chicks

Procedure: in this study monovalent vaccines 078:K80 and polyvalent vaccine were prepared, using native and virulent E.coli serotypes of O78:K80, O128: K67, O2:K1, O124:K82, O119:B14 and appropriate adjuvant ALK [SO4]2.12H2O and KOH. Three hundred sixty day old broiler chicks were randomly divided into four treatment and one control groups. Birds in each group were injected with 0.5 ml [1.5 x 10[9]] of one of four prepared vaccines by subcutaneous administration in second week and intramuscular administration in third and fourth weeks of age. Before challenge serum antibody titers were measured by the tube and slide agglutination test. Ten days after the last vaccination chicks were challenged with virulent strain of O78:K80, O2:K1 and O128:K67 E. coli serotypes

Statistical analysis: analysis of variance and Scheffe's test

Results: more than 95 percent of chickens in control group showed colibacillosis and 70% of them were died after challenge with O78:K80, while in vaccinated groups just 3.7 % mortality was observed. Live and dead challenged chicks of control group had typical lesions of colibacillosis. No adverse effects were noted on growth rate that were vaccinated with monovalent vaccines

Conclusion: the results of this study revealed that inactivated monovalent and polyvalent vaccines prepared from endemic E. coli serotypes are immunogenic and protective in broiler chicks against virulent E. coli. No cross protection was shown among heterologous serotypes. The vaccines do not have any effects on growth rate or carcasse quality in vaccinated chicks. Thus we suggest using the endemic E. coli vaccine to protect broiler chicks against colibacillosis