[Review on the laboratory diagnosis of Q-fever]

Coxiella burnetii is the etiologic agent of a zoonotic disease which named Q-fever in humans and coxiellosis in animals. This bacterium can survive in the environment out of the specific host. Accordingly, it categorized by the CDC in bioterrorism agents 'category B. Consequently, rapid detection of the bacterium administrates the treatment of disease. A review study on the different researches on laboratory diagnosis field in the world and Iran scientific databases was conducted. This paper includes biological safety, cultivation and detection assays. Detection of Coxiella burnetii can be done by classical methods [isolation, cultivation in the appropriate cell line such as P388D1, J774, and L929], serologic tests [immunofluorescence, micro immunofluorescence, complement fixation test and ELISA] and molecular biology methods [PCR, Nested PCR and Real Time PCR]. While have existed kinds of detection methods for this agent, costly, need to specific laboratory and time consuming are the limitation of the mentioned techniques. Molecular methods due to accuracy and high rapidity in detection can be effective

Occupational risk of bladder cancer among Iranian male workers

Approximately 5-10% of human cancers are thought to be caused by occupational exposure to carcinogens. Compare to other cancers, bladder cancer is most strongly linked to occupational exposure to chemical toxins. This study has been performed to understand which occupations and exposures are related to bladder cancer in Iran. This study is a case-control study which is conducted on cases with bladder cancer [160 cases] diagnosed in Baharlou hospital in 2007-2009. One hundred sixty cases without any occupational exposure were considered as controls matched for demographic characteristics. Demographic data and characteristics of occupation were compared. Mean age of cases and controls were 63.7 and 64 years, respectively [P = 0.841]. History of urinary tract stone had significantly difference in two groups [P = 0.039]. Occupations such as bus and truck driving, road and asphalt making, mechanics, working in refinery and Petrochemical, plastic, metal manufactory, welding, and pipeline founded a higher risk for bladder cancer rather than controls. Our findings on Iranian workers are concurrent and compatible with findings of previous reports about occupational and environmental risk factors of bladder cancer. Although our study population was not little, further studies are needed to declare the risk of working in some occupations such as drivers and metal factories for bladder cancer

[Design of an improved polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay for molecular detection of Streptococcus pneumonia]

Streptococcus pneumoniae accounts for bacterial meningitis and is an important cause of morbidity among children and elderly. Control of this disease depends on rapid detection of the causative bacteria. The methods for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae are gram staining, culture, and serological tests. These tests are time consuming and are limited by antimicrobial agents leading to false negative results. Currently, molecular methods such as PCR are used routinely for detection of infectious organisms. This study was performed with the aim of designing an improved PCR assay for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The specific diagnostic primers were designed based on ply gene of the bacterium. After amplifying the target gene on the genomic DNA, the PCR product was cloned in pTZ57R/T plasmid and the confirmed pTZ-ply plasmid was used as positive control in next experiments. Sensitivity of the assay was determined by performing the PCR on 10-fold serial dilutions of pTZ-ply. Specificity of the assay was determined using the genomic DNA of other related or unrelated bacterial species. The PCR, as expected, generated a 727bp amplicon. No PCR amplification was observed on the genome of negative controls. These findings indicate high specificity of the PCR. The lowest limit of detection of the assay in the detection of the ply gene was 250 copies in a 25micro l reaction. The high sensitivity, specificity, and rapidity of the designed assay suggested the assay as an appropriate test for use in clinical laboratories. The further evaluation of the assay using clinical samples or artificially contaminated materials will confirm the application of this assay in clinical settings

[Epidemiological pattern of job stress among managers of car manufacture companies in Iran]

Introduction: Management is one of high stress occupations but little attention has been paid to occupational stresses among manufacturing managers

Objective: The goal of this study is to determine the epidemiological pattern of occupational stress among 70 SIPA industrial companies

Materials and Methods: Stress was assessed according to different criteria's with a self- completed questionnaire in-group meetings

Results: Mean age of samples [440 managers] was 43.6 years [SD= 7.3] and their mean job experience was 12.1 years [SD=7.7] the level of occupational stress was 49.5%. The top four stressors were stress due to decision making at work [99.1%], time pressure [97.3%], and time- table and scheduling [73.5%]. There was a significant difference between overall occupational stress of managers and age [P=0.001] and younger managers were more at risk of occupational stresses

Conclusion: Occupational stresses have undesirable effect on people and it is necessary to control and prevent stress among young managers by proper interventional programs on personal and institutional level