Inactivation of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli Biofilms by Air-Based Atmospheric-Pressure DBD Plasma.

Air-based atmospheric-pressure plasma is an effective non-thermal method in deactivating various kinds of microbial biofilms with several advantages, including high bactericidal efficiency and low treatment costs. Bacterial biofilm formation is a major determinant in establishment of bacterial infection and also resistance to antibacterial chemotherapy. This study aims to assess the anti-biofilm potential of air-based atmospheric-pressure DBD plasma against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli biofilms. The biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were exposed to air-based atmospheric-pressure DBD plasma for up to 4 min (control, 30 s, 90 s, 3 min, and 4 min) and their biofilm formation level, viability, and membrane integrity were determined. Based on the results, plasma exposure caused disruption up to 70% and 85% for S. aureus and E. coli biofilms, respectively. The biofilm disruption potential of air-based atmospheric-pressure DBD plasma was confirmed using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Besides, based on confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), plasma exposure caused a significant bacterial inactivation and E. coli was found as more susceptible strain than S. aureus. In conclusion, atmospheric-pressure DBD plasma could be considered an efficient non-thermal approach against bacterial pathogenicity by biofilm disruption and thus prevention of infection establishment.

The benefits and risks of beetroot juice consumption: a systematic review.

Beetroot juice (BRJ) has become increasingly popular amongst athletes aiming to improve sport performances. BRJ contains high concentrations of nitrate, which can be converted into nitric oxide (NO) after consumption. NO has various functions in the human body, including a vasodilatory effect, which reduces blood pressure and increases oxygen- and nutrient delivery to various organs. These effects indicate that BRJ may have relevant applications in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the consumption of BRJ also has an impact on oxygen delivery to skeletal muscles, muscle efficiency, tolerance and endurance and may thus have a positive impact on sports performances. Aside from the beneficial aspects of BRJ consumption, there may also be potential health risks. Drinking BRJ may easily increase nitrate intake above the acceptable daily intake, which is known to stimulate the endogenous formation of N-nitroso compounds (NOC's), a class of compounds that is known to be carcinogenic and that may also induce several other adverse effects. Compared to studies on the beneficial effects, the amount of data and literature on the negative effects of BRJ is rather limited, and should be increased in order to perform a balanced risk assessment.

Oral Tadalafil in Children with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Tadalafil is a selective Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor that has been reported to have vasodilatory and antiproliferative effects on the pulmonary artery. In this study we evaluated the safety and efficacy of oral tadalafil in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). METHODS: This open label study, prospective and interventional was carried out in 25 known patients aged 2 month-5 years in 3 medical centers in Iran, between March 2013-Jun 2014. Tadalafil suspension was administrated at 1 mg/kg daily for all patients. Hemodynamic and safety parameters were assessed at baseline and then monthly for a total of 4 visits. RESULTS: 19 patients received tadalafil as initial therapy, in all visits significant improvements in mean pulmonary arterial pressure were observed (p<0.01). Of the 25 patients, 6 (24%) had been on sildenafil for longer than 6 months. After transition from sildenafil to tadalafil clinical improvement was noted (p<0.05). Administration of tadalafil suspension was generally safe and well tolerated. Nausea was the most frequently reported adverse events which occurred in 3 patients during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Oral tadalafil was administered easily and tolerated well and improved mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) in children with PAH, which suggests that oral tadalafil may be more effective and safer than sildenafil in the treatment of PAH.

The involvement of the HLA-DQB1 alleles in the risk and the severity of Iranian coeliac disease patients.

Coeliac disease (CD) is a highly prevalent autoimmune disorder that is triggered by the ingestion of wheat gluten and related proteins in genetically susceptible individuals. The CD is associated with human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes particularly with HLA-DQ alleles encoding HLA-DQ2 and DQ8 proteins. To define risk and severity alleles for CD, a total of 120 definite CD patients and 100 healthy controls were genotyped for HLA-DQB1 gene. HLA-DQB1 genotyping was performed in all patients and controls using PCR-SSP technique, and to evaluate the clinical relevance of testing for HLA-DQB1 and determining absolute risk of disease, prevalence-corrected positive predictive value and prevalence-corrected negative predictive value (PcPPV and PcNPV) were calculated. Our results for a first time show that DQB1*02:00 and DQB1*03:02 alleles and DQB1*02:01/03:02 genotype very significantly associated with increased risk of patients with CD, and DQB1*03:01,4 allele provides protection against CD in Iranian patients. Furthermore, the PcPPV for DQB*02:01 and 03:02 alleles in CD were 0.014 and 0.012, respectively, and the highest absolute risk presented by DQB*0201/0302 genotype (PcPPV = 0.079) and 98% of patients with CD carried DQB1*02:01/x or DQB1*03:02/x genotype. The results also clearly demonstrated that the DQB1*02:01 allele significantly associated with severity of CD, while DQB1*03:02 allele associated with mild form of CD. These results suggest that clinically suspected individuals for CD and first-degree relatives of patients with CD to be screened for HLA-DQB*0201 and DQB*0302 alleles for possible early diagnosis and treatments.

Caspian White Fish (Rutilus frisii kutum) as a host for Spring Viraemia of Carp Virus.

Rutilus frisii kutum is a fish of the Cyprinidae Family which is native in Caspian Sea and commercially cultured in Iran. This study was conducted to investigate susceptibility of Caspian White Fish to Spring Viraemia of Carp Virus (SVCV) infection and to evaluate influence of different challenge routes on virulence of the virus. Fingerlings were infected by immersion, intra-peritoneal (i.p.) injection, cohabitation and orally. Dead and surviving fish were collected for histological examination as well as for virus re-isolation by cell culture, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerization Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) analysis. The results indicated that immersion was the best infectious route of transmission with the highest mortality, whereas oral transmission showed the lowest mortality. The virus was also re-isolated from dead fish and identified by IFAT. In addition, histopathological changes including branchial, hepatic and splenic necrosis as well as glomerulonephritis and necrosis in kidney were observed in diseased fish tissues but not in the survivors. RT-PCR on samples obtained from surviving fish tissues detected viral genome in the fish surviving from immersion, i.p. injection and cohabitation challenges but not in the fish infected orally. In conclusion, Caspian White Fish are susceptible to infection by SVCV and virulence of the virus could be influenced by route of transmission. In addition, SVCV could persist in surviving fish, which may serve as reservoirs of the virus, transmitting infection to healthy fish population.

Experimental susceptibility of Caspian white fish, Rutilus frisii kutum to Spring viraemia of carp virus.

Caspian white fish (Rutilus frisii kutum) is a fish of the family Cyprinidae, which is commercially harvested from the Caspian Sea. Experimental infection with Spring viraemia of carp virus (SVCV) was conducted in order to examine susceptibility of caspian White Fish and clinical impacts of infection. Fingerling fish were injected intra-peritoneally or waterborne-exposed with SVCV and were monitored daily for 7 weeks. Dead fish and those survived at the end of experimental period were collected for virus isolation and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. Epithelioma papulosum cyprini cell line was used to re-isolate the virus and indirect fluorescent antibody test was conducted to identify the isolated virus. Infection trials showed that SVCV was highly pathogenic for the Caspian White Fish with mortality rate ranging from 75 to 85 %, depending on the viral challenge model. SVCV genome was detected from dead and apparently healthy fish tissues of both virus exposure models, which showed Caspian White Fish not only can be regarded as a susceptible host, but also serve as a vector of the virus.