Phenotypic amikacin resistance may not indicate poor response to amikacin in Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease.

When using amikacin to treat Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD), a minimum inhibitory concentration resistance breakpoint of ≥64 mcg/mL is recommended. We explored whether amikacin resistance characterized by phenotypic drug susceptibility testing was associated with clinical outcomes or mutational resistance in a retrospective cohort of patients with MAC-PD. Despite little aminoglycoside exposure, amikacin resistance was common in our MAC-PD patients but was not associated with worse outcomes or rrs gene mutations.

Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy of Pd nanoparticles decorated on multi-walled carbon nanotubes during successive cycles of He/H2 exposure.

The MWCNTs are decorated by Pd nanoparticles via various techniques including laser ablation in liquid, chemical reduction, and simultaneously both of them. To study the hydrogen adsorption mechanism, Pd K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is carried out via heating/cooling processes under He/H2 exposure. The Fourier transform X-ray absorption fine structure (FT-EXAFS) simulation indicates the presence of the Pd-Pd and Pd-C(O) bonds. Furthermore, during the successive cycles of He/H2 exposure, bond restructuring takes place. Moreover, the heating process under He/H2 exposure induces a destructive effect on the Pd-C(O) links. Furthermore, the Pd-Pd bond distance enlarges due to the hydrogen adsorption for all samples, however, in the case of PLAL, the change in the bond distances becomes dominant. XRD and XPS are applied to support the findings.

Fluorescence emission quenching of RdB fluorophores in attendance of various blood type RBCs based on Stern-Volmer formalism.

In this work, the optical properties of Rhodamine B (RdB) are investigated in the attendance of various red blood cells (RBCs). RdB fluorophores, as biological markers, is excited using SHG-CW Nd:YAG laser at 532 nm. In fact, the addition of biomolecules of interest to the reference fluorophore notably changes the fluorescence properties of the suspension. Here, laser induced fluorescence (LIF) spectrophotometry based on Stern-Volmer quenching formalism and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) are employed here. According to the given fluorescence spectra, the spectral shift of emissions as well as quenching coefficients are assessed subsequently. The Stern-Volmer formalism is used to determine the quenching coefficients. In fact, RdB + RBCs suspensions contain a plenty of bioconjugates leading to the signal reduction and notable red shift in RdB fluorescence emissions. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the positive blood type RBCs exhibit the higher quenching coefficients and the larger red shifts against those of negative blood types. This mainly arises from the nature of specific sugar antigens available on the RBC membranes as to N-acetylgalactosamine and galactose attached to the O-antigen terminal would enhance further quenching of the species. Moreover, a significant correlation appears between Stern-Volmer coefficients and the corresponding RBCs. In fact, distinct discrepancy takes place in quenching coefficients in terms various positive/negative blood types to envisage a facile method of blood typing.

Evaluating the antibiotic resistance and frequency of adhesion markers among Escherichia coli isolated from type 2 diabetes patients with urinary tract infection and its association with common polymorphism of mannose-binding lectin gene.

The present paper aims to determine the frequency and antibiotic resistance patterns of pathogenic bacteria, the virulence factor profile of Escherichia coli and mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene polymorphism in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) and urinary tract infection (UTI). The population under study was 130 individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and UTI. The patients' clinical characteristics and urine and blood samples (5 mL) were collected. Antibiotic resistance was determined using a disc diffusion method, and the results were interpreted according to CLSI. The presence of virulence genes was detected by multiplex PCR. To detect the MBL gene polymorphism, PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods were applied. The predominant Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria included E. coli and Streptococcus spp.viridans group, respectively. Women were more susceptible to the incidence of UTI than men. The E. coli isolates showed a high level of resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (87.35%), and nitrofurantoin and ceftizoxime were the most effective antimicrobial agents for E. coli. Cefotaxime and ceftizoxime were the most effective antimicrobial agents for Enterobacter spp., norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin were the most effective antimicrobial agents for Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. papGII (52.87%) and papEF (1.14%) had the highest and lowest frequency among examined genes in E. coli isolates, respectively. The GG genotype had the highest frequency among patients with T2DM and UTI. Results showed that the detection of E. coli in individuals with an AA genotype, codon 54 of the MBL gene, can play an important role in the molecular diagnosis and timely treatment of bacterial infections in individuals with diabetes.

Chitosan-based Nanoparticles in Mucosal Vaccine Delivery.

Most infectious diseases are caused by pathogenic infiltrations from the mucosal tract. Nowadays, the use of vaccines has been widely investigated for the prevention of different infectious diseases, infertility, immune disorders, malignancies, and allergies. Broad-spectrum adjuvant substances have been studied for immune system stimulation with a greater efficiency against specific antigens. Various adjuvants have been developed such as inorganic, oil-based, and emulsion adjuvants, bacterial products and their derivatives, cytokines, cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) motifs, and particulate systems. Mucosal vaccine delivery is an alternative route to induce both humoral and cellular immune responses. Applying nanoparticles in vaccine formulations allows not only improved antigen stability and immunogenicity, but also targeted delivery, and consequently, more specific release of the agent of interest. Chitosan nanoparticles have immunological activity and mucoadhesive properties. They have been used as a mucosal vaccine delivery system for many antigens. This review provides an overview of the recent advances in chitosan nanoparticles as a novel mucosal vaccine delivery system.

Modeling of a viscoelastic damper and its application in structural control.

Conventional seismic rehabilitation methods may not be suitable for some buildings owing to their high cost and time-consuming foundation work. In recent years, viscoelastic dampers (VEDs) have been widely used in many mid- and high-rise buildings. This study introduces a viscoelastic passive control system called rotary rubber braced damper (RRBD). The RRBD is an economical, lightweight, and easy-to-assemble device. A finite element model considering nonlinearity, large deformation, and material damage is developed to conduct a parametric study on different damper sizes under pushover cyclic loading. The fundamental characteristics of this VED system are clarified by analyzing building structures under cyclic loading. The result show excellent energy absorption and stable hysteresis loops in all specimens. Additionally, by using a sinusoidal shaking table test, the effectiveness of the RRBD to manage the response displacement and acceleration of steel frames is considered. The RRBD functioned at early stages of lateral displacement, indicating that the system is effective for all levels of vibration. Moreover, the proposed damper shows significantly better performance in terms of the column compression force resulting from the brace action compared to chevron bracing (CB).

Investigation of the Effect of Folic Acid Based Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Human Leukemic CCRF-CEM Cell Line.

BACKGROUND: Nanoparticulate drug delivery systems have attracted significant attention in the field of cancer nanotechnology. This study determines the effect of folate-based Fe2O3 nanoparticles. This study aimed to decorate nanoparticles with folate (FA), a molecular ligand for 'active' targeting of cancerous cells and the application of modified-nanoparticles in cancer treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The nanoparticles were prepared by a solvent evaporation and emulsification cross-linking method and anticancer activity of agent was evaluated on CCRF CEM cells, derived from human blood cancer samples. RESULTS: The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were characterized by various techniques, and uniform nanoparticles with an average particle size of 110±15 nm were obtained. Cytotoxicity tests showed that the SPIO-FA had higher cell toxicity, and confocal microscopy analysis confirmed excellent cellular uptake efficiency. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that FA based SPIO-NPs have potential uses as anticancer drug carriers and also have an enhanced anticancer effect.

Fatigue, depression, and health-related quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis in Isfahan, Iran.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Quality of life (QoL) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is worse than that of other chronic diseases. There is a need to examine the impact of fatigue and depression on the QoL independent of level of physical disability in MS. The aim of this study is to explore physical, psychological, and social aspects of health-related QoL (HRQoL) of MS patients in association with physical disability, fatigue, and depression. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 281 (63.4% women, 36.6% men) patients with MS participated in the study. The HRQoL was assessed by the Persian version of the multiple sclerosis quality of life (MSQoL-54) questionnaires. Other covariates included in the study were disease type, physical disability, fatigue, disease impact, and depression. RESULTS: In univariate analysis disease type, physical disability, fatigue, disease impact, and depression were significantly associated with both physical and mental health composite summaries of MSQoL-54. In multivariate regression analysis, patients' physical disability remained significantly associated with both components of MSQoL-54, whilst fatigue and depression were associated with physical and mental composite summaries, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that MS-related physical disability, fatigue, and depression affect the HRQoL of MS patients, independently of each other and other potential confounding factors. Effective interventions that target fatigue and depression may help improve the QoL of patients, regardless of their disease type and level of disability.

Validation of the harmless acute pancreatitis score in predicting nonsevere course of acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: The Harmless Acute Pancreatitis Score (HAPS) is a scoring algorithm to identify patients with nonsevere acute pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of HAPS outside its original study setting. METHOD: Baseline information of all hospitalized patients with acute pancreatitis at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, between 2004 and 2009 was collected. The parameters constituting HAPS were signs of peritonitis, hematocrit and serum creatinine levels. Since hematocrit was not available in all patients, complete sample analysis was performed by replacing hematocrit with hemoglobin (strongly correlated with hematocrit; r = 0.86). RESULTS: In total, 531 patients with a first-time or a recurrent attack of acute pancreatitis were included. Among 353 patients with complete information on parameters constituting HAPS, 79 patients were predicted to have a nonsevere course, of whom 1 patient developed severe acute pancreatitis. The specificity of HAPS in predicting a nonsevere course of acute pancreatitis was 96.3% (95% CI: 81.0-99.9) with a corresponding positive predictive value of 98.7% (95% CI: 93.1-100). Complete sample analysis replacing hematocrit with hemoglobin level predicted a nonsevere course in 182 patients, of whom 2 patients had severe acute pancreatitis (94.3% specificity and 98.9% positive predictive value). CONCLUSION: HAPS is a highly specific scoring algorithm that predicts a nonsevere course of acute pancreatitis. Therefore, HAPS might be an additional tool in the clinical assessment of acute pancreatitis where early screening is important to treat the patients at an optimal level of care.

Immunosuppressive proteins isolated from spiral and coccoid cytoplasmic solutions of Helicobacter pylori.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antiproliferative proteins that probably have a role in Helicobacter pylori evade of immune response and cause chronic infection disease and also to see if coccoid form had a role in its chronicity. H. pylori strain VacA s2/m2 positive and CagA negative, from a gastric biopsy of a patient with peptic ulcer disease, was isolated and cultured in brucella agar. Both spiral and coccoid forms were harvested and ruptured by sonication. The cytoplasmic solutions of both forms were collected and their fractions obtained by gel chromatography and preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The fractions were analyzed by MTT assay for their antiproliferative activity. We isolated two proteins with a significant dose dependent antiproliferative activity that analyzed with sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, one of them that was urease positive showed two bands with 61 and 27 kDa, which is resumed to urease of H. pylori, another consist of 57 and 63 kDa. Helicobacterpylori secret some proteins like urease that inhibit immune cells proliferation response against its antigens.

Study of nano-fiber cellulose production by Glucanacetobacter xylinum ATCC 10245.

Bacterial Celluloses (BC) are gaining importance in research and commerce due to numerous factors affecting the bacterial cellulose characteristics and application in different industries. The aim of the present study was to produce bacterial cellulose in different media using different cultivation vessels. Bacterial cellulose was produced by static cultivation of Glucanacetobacter xylinum ATCC 10245 in different culture media such as Brain Heart Agar, Luria Bertani Agar /Broth, Brain Heart Infusion, Hestrin-Schramm and medium no. 125. Cultivation of bacterium was conducted in various culture vessels with different surface area. The cellulose membrane was treated and purified with a 0.1 M NaOH solution at 90 degreesC for 30 min and dried by a freeze- drier at -40 degreesC to obtain BC. The prepared bacterial cellulose was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The amount of produced BC was related directly to the surface area of culture vessels.

Optimization of culture medium to increase the production of desferrioxamine B (Desferal) in Streptomyces pilosus.

The aim of this study was optimization of culture medium in direction of increasing the production rate of desferrioxamine B. Streptomycetes are the most widely studied and well known genus of the actinomycete family. Streptomycetes usually inhabit soil and are important decomposers. The genus Streptomyces are Gram-positive and GC rich bacteria that are important for production of many antibiotics and secondary metabolites. These metabolites are important in industrial and medical fields. Deferoxamines (also known as desferrioxamine B, desferoxamine B, DFO-B, DFOA, DFB or desferal) are low-molecular-weight, iron-chelating compounds (siderophores) produced and secreted by many actinomycetes, including species of Streptomyces, Nocardia and Micromonospora. Streptomyces pilosus synthesizes the siderofore desferrioxamine B. Desferrioxamine B is used clinically to treat disorders related to iron overload and pathological iron deposition in human. Our results revealed that the use of soybean as a base medium plus additives such as Na2HPO4.12H2O, NaH2PO4, MgSO4.7H2O, ZnSO4.7H2O, FeSO4.7H2O, CaCl2.2H2O, NaCl, MnSO4, NH4Cl, KH2PO4, K2HPO4, some of the amino acids and vitamins increased the production of desferrioxamine B about 8 times in comparison with the control.

Safety of human therapeutic morphine vaccine employing Lohmann specific pathogen free eggs.

One of the sensitive and standard tests to control the safety of a vaccine is the inoculation of such vaccine to the air pocket of Lohmann specific pathogen free eggs. The aim of this study is to control the safety of morphine vaccine. This study reveals the safety of morphine vaccine by employing Lohmann specific pathogen free embryo eggs. The changeable parameters in this test were: weight of eggs, safety of eggs embryo, vaccine concentration, normal saline and temperature of the incubator. To study, the safety of morphine vaccine, we used 30 eggs (after controlling the safety of eggs and their embryos) which were divided into two groups of control (15 eggs) and test (15 eggs). After weighing the eggs, the eggs under experiment were inoculated with morphine vaccine and the control group was inoculated with physiological solution. Both groups were incubated and weight of the eggs and chickens were determined accordingly. The eggs of each group were controlled by their weights showing healthy, normal growth and evolution. The comparison between the weights of control and experimental groups did not show any significant changes. Exactly growth and evolution of each group were found equally to be balancing for three weeks after injection. Finally all eggs were observed to be safe, alive and in evolutionary form. By comparing the growth and evolution amongst each egg in the group under experiment, after injection, the eggs did not show any adverse reaction after inoculation with therapeutic human morphine vaccine.

Production of desferrioxamine B (Desferal) using corn steep liquor in Streptomyces pilosus.

The aim of this study was evaluation of corn steep liquor as an alternative or substitution medium for production of desferrioxamine B in streptomyces pilosus. Desferrioxamine B is the major siderophore of Streptomyces pilosus. The genus Streptomyces are Gram positive and GC (Guanine/Cytosine) rich bacteria that are important for production of many antibiotics and secondary metabolites. These metabolites get more attention in industrial and medical fields. Desferrioxamine B is used clinically to treat disorders related to iron overload and pathological iron deposition in human. Corn Steep Liquor (CSL) is a by-product of corn wet-milling. It is an excellent source of organic nitrogen and important constituent of some culture media. Nowadays CSL was mainly used for feeding of livestock. In this study we substitute the conventional media with CSL and surveyed its effect on production of desferrioxamine B. The CSL is cheaper than other media and its availability is so easy. In this research, for the first time we used a cheap material for production of a valuable product. Our results showed that the use of CSL solely, increased the production of Desferal more than three times in comparison with conventional media such as soybean.

Improved production of L-lysine by over-expression of Meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase enzyme of Corynebacterium glutamicum in Escherichia coli.

The aim of this study is over-expression of Meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase enzyme (EC 4.1.1.20) and enhancement of L-lysine production rate. The C. glutamicum LysA gene which encodes a Meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase was cloned in E. coli. The cloned gene was sequenced; it encodes a 445 amino acids protein with molecular weight of 47 kD. Expression of the LysA gene in E. coli resulted in an increase in Meso-diaminopimelate decarboxylase activity, correlated with the presence in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamid gels of a clear protein band that corresponds to this enzyme. The induction of cloned gene by IPTG has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on cell growth due to over-expression of the cloned gene. A two fold increase in lysine production rate was observed after introduction of the cloned gene into E. coli.

The effect of iron deficiency anemia on intelligence quotient (IQ) in under 17 years old students.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of iron deficiency on intelligence of 11-17 years students. This study conducted on the 540 students (11-17 years) that educated at guidance and high school of Boroujerd city. Laboratory investigations were included serum iron, TIBC (total iron binding capacity) and ferretin. Riven matrix was used in order to determine intelligence quotient. Data were analyzed using SPSS 13 and chi2 and t-tests. Results showed that 78 (14.4%) students had iron deficiency and 14 (25.9%) had iron deficiency anemia. There was no significant difference between different sexes for iron deficiency distribution (p > 0.05), while iron deficiency anemia was significantly higher in girls as compared with boys (p > 0.05). Mean quotient was 115 +/- 12.1 in iron deficiency students, while it was 113.7 +/- 13.9 in patients without iron deficiency. There was also no significant difference between normal and iron deficient students for intelligence quotient (p > 0.05).

Mutation of Streptomyces griseoflavus in order to obtain high yield desferrioxamine producing fused cells.

Streptomyces griseoflavus PTCC 1130 was mutated by UV irradiation. Two mutants were obtained (C7031 and S7011). These two mutants were able to produce desferioxamine. Desferrioxamine was extracted from the culture broth of the two mutated strains and the thin layer chromatogram of the products showed the R(F) values of 0.461, 0.463 and 0.456 for S7011, C7031 and the standard, respectively. The protoplasts of mutated Streptomyces griseoflavus were isolated and fused together. Total numbers of 58 fusions were obtained and only 17 fusions showed significant resistance to sodium azide and crystal violet. In terms of production of desferrioxamine only fusion PF9 and PF10 increased 68.3 and 81.8% desferrioxamine production as compared to parent strain (PTCC 1130), respectively.

Treatment of streptozotocin induced diabetes in male rats by immunoisolated transplantation of islet cells.

Insulin injection is the main way to combat against insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus effects. Today in some laboratories in the world, the investigators are trying to find some treatments for this disease with insulin-secreting pancreatic islet cells transplantation. Donor tissue in each step of work was prepared from 36 adult male wistar Rats weighted 250-300 grams (75-90 days). Transplantation was done in rats after 2-4 weeks induction of diabetes with 60mg/kg of streptozotocin injection by intravenous method. Encapsulation of pancreatic islet cells allows for transplantation in the absence of immunosuppression. This technique that is called "immunoisolation" is based on the principle that transplanted tissue is protected for the host immune system by an artificial or natural membrane. In this study, the levels of insulin, C-peptide and glucose in diabetic rats have been reached to normal range as compared to un-diabetic rats in 20 days after transplantation of islet cells, so that testis is immunoisolated place for islet cells transplantation. Inside the testis subcutaneously and intrapretoneally implantation of pure islet cells graft, that is a natural immunoisolation method, rapidly and permanently normalized the diabetic state of streptozocin-administered animals.

Induction of diabetes by Streptozotocin in rats.

The objective of this study is to induce experimental diabetes mellitus by Streptozotocin in normal adult Wistar rats via comparison of changes in body weight, consumption of food and water, volume of urine and levels of glucose, insulin and C-peptide in serum, between normal and diabetic rats. Intra-venous injection of 60mg/kg dose of Streptozotocin in adult wistar rats, makes pancreas swell and at last causes degeneration in Langerhans islet beta cells and induces experimental diabetes mellitus in the 2-4 days. Induction of experimental diabetes mellitus is indeed the first step in the plan of purification of pancreatic Langerhans islet cells of normal rats for transplanting under the testis subcutaneous of experimentally induced diabetic rats. Streptozotocin induces one type of diabetes which is similar to diabetes mellitus with non-ketosis hyperglycemia in some animal species. For induction of experimental diabetes in male adult rats weighted 250-300 grams (75-90 days), 60mg/kg of Streptozotocin was injected intravenously. Three days after degeneration of beta cells, diabetes was induced in all animals. The diabetic and normal animals were kept in the metabolic cages separately and their body weight, consumption of food and water, urine volume, the levels of serum glucose, insulin and C-peptide quantities in all animals were measured and then these quantities were compared. For a microscopic study of degeneration of Langerhans islet beta cells of diabetic rats, sampling from pancreas tissue of diabetic and normal rats, staining and comparison between them, were done. Induction of diabetes with Streptozotocin decreases Nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in pancreas islet beta cells and causes histopathological effects in beta cells which probably intermediates induction of diabetes. In this study, we used Streptozotocin for our experiments in induction of experimental diabetes mellitus. After Induction of diabetes, consumption of food and water, volume of urine and glucose increased in the diabetic animals in comparison with normal animals, but the weight of body and the volume of insulin and C-peptide decreased in the diabetic animals. Sampling and staining of pancreas tissue of diabetic and normal rats showed that the Langerhans islet beta cells of diabetic rats have been clearly degenerated. In three days, Streptozotocin makes pancreas swell and at last causes degeneration in Langerhans islet beta cells and induces experimental diabetes. It also changes normal metabolism in diabetic rats in comparison with normal rats. Consumption of water and food, volume of urine, serum glucose increases in diabetic animals in comparison with normal rats but the levels of serum insulin, C-peptide and body weight decreases.

[Immunohistochemical detection of enhanced deposition of isoprostane 8-epi-PGF2alpha in vascular lesions of temporal arteritis]. / Immunhistochemischer Nachweis einer verstärkten Anreicherung von Isoprostan 8-epi-PGF2alpha in den Gefässläsionen bei Arteriitis temporalis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Oxidative injury caused by lipid oxidation is considered a major factor in the development of several ocular disorders including temporal arteritis. This study investigates the role of 8-epi-PGF2alpha as a marker of oxidative stress in vivo. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sections from isolated human temporal arteries, obtained from patients suspected of having giant cell arteritis ( n=22), were analyzed by semiquantitative immunohistochemistry and planimetry. RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for 8-epi-PGF2alpha was significantly higher in patients with temporal arteritis (AT) compared to healthy temporal arteries (Co). The percentage of the areas stained positive in immunohistochemistry was higher in the AT group compared to the control group (Co). The enrichment values in the intimal layer containing the endothelium of the same temporal arteries were also significantly higher ( p<0.01) in temporal arteries of the AT group. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings of an enhanced accumulation of 8-epi-PGF2alpha in areas of the arterial wall subjected to extensive vascular tissue destruction suggest that lipid peroxidation products may also play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease.