RESUMO
Background and Objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of nosocomial and community acquired infections. Nanoparticles are considered as proper tools to overcome the therapeutic problem of antimicrobial-resistant infections because of the drug concentration increment at the desired location and protection from enzymatic degradation. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of zingerone and niosome containing zingerone against pre-formed biofilm of MRSA isolates. Materials and Methods: 62 MRSA isolates cultured from patients with diabetic ulcers were investigated. Niosomes were synthesized and characterized by X-ray diffraction, zeta potential and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The size of niosomal particles measured by SEM and zetasizer. Results: The surface charge of prepared niosomes was about -37 mV. The effect of the zingerone and noisome containing zingerone was evaluated against biofilms of MRSA isolates. Also, the antibiofilm activity of prepared niosomes on gene expression of MRSA biofilms was evaluated using Real Time PCR. Our results demonstrated that the niosome containing zingerone had a diameter of 196.1 nm and a -37.3-mV zeta potential. Zingerone removed one and three-day old biofilms of MRSA at the concentration of 1000 µg/ml, while the zingerone-laoded niosomes removed 1, 3- and 5-days old biofilms at the concentration of 250 µg/ml, 250 µg/ml, and 500 µg/ml. Conclusion: The results indicated that niosome containing zingerone eliminated MRSA and its biofilms faster compared with free zingerone and it suggested that zingerone-encapsulated niosomes could be considered as a promising treatment against MRSA and its biofilms.
RESUMO
Background: Gastroenteritis accounts for about 10% of the deaths among children, especially in immunocompromised children. Few studies on the prevalence of gastrointestinal infections caused by RNA viruses have been done in Iran. The aim of the study was to evaluate the detection of RNA viruses causing diarrhoea using a multiplex PCR. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 130 paediatric patients with diarrhoea who had acute lymphocytic leukaemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and retinoblastoma. After RNA extraction and synthesis of cDNA, multiplex PCR was done to evaluate the presence of rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, and enterovirus. Results: There were 9 (6.9%), 7 (5.4%), 3 (2.3%), and 6 (4.6%) cases of rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, and enterovirus detected, respectively. One case of co-infection with astrovirus and norovirus was observed. Conclusions: This is the first report from Iran which identified the presence of common RNA viruses causing diarrhoea in immunocompromised children. Increased awareness of these viruses will enable healthcare professionals to improve strategies and policies to control spread and infection caused by these viruses.
