High Prevalence of Multidrug Resistance and Biofilm-Formation Ability Among Avian Escherichia coli Isolated from Broilers in Iran.

The present study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern and biofilm-formation ability in 100 Avian-Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolated from colibacillosis-suspected broilers and 100 Avian Fecal E. coli (AFEC) isolates from healthy broilers in Hamedan, Iran. All isolates were screened by polymerase chain reaction for antimicrobial resistance genes, class 1 and 2 integrons, and biofilm-associated genes. Besides, we assessed the possible relationship between biofilm-formation ability antibiotic resistance patterns, genetic background, and the pathogenicity of APEC strains. 81% of APEC and 73% of AFEC isolates showed multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype; in addition, 45% of the APEC and 21% of the AFEC strains showed biofilm-formation ability. This is the first report of the biofilm formation ability in E. coli isolated from broilers in Iran. The most prevalent antibiotic resistance gene in APEC strains was tetA (68%), followed by sul1 (63%), dfrA1-like (51%), and blaTEM (30%), whereas in AFEC strains, the frequencies of the antibiotic resistance genes were tetA (63%), sul1 (58%), dfrA1-like (49%), and blaTEM (22%). Out of 81 MDR APEC isolates, 53 (65.4%) and 38 (46.91%) isolates were positive for intI1 and intI2 genes, respectively. In the AFEC strains intI1 and intI2 genes were presented in 57 and 33 isolates, respectively. All APEC isolates belonging to phylogenetic groups B1, B2, and C were MDR. The results of the present study indicate that isolates with biofilm-forming ability show more MDR properties and probably have more pathogenicity to broilers.

Barcoding Chrysomelidae: a resource for taxonomy and biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean Region.

The Mediterranean Region is one of the world's biodiversity hot-spots, which is also characterized by high level of endemism. Approximately 2100 species of leaf beetle (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae) are known from this area, a number that increases year after year and represents 5/6% of the known species. These features, associated with the urgent need to develop a DNA-based species identification approach for a broad spectrum of leaf beetle species, prompted us to develop a database of nucleotide sequences, with a solid taxonomic background, for all the Chrysomelidae Latreille, 1802 sensu latu inhabiting the Mediterranean region. The Mediterranean Chrysomelidae Barcoding project, which has started in 2009, involves more than fifty entomologists and molecular biologists from different European countries. Numerous collecting campaigns have been organized during the first seven years of the project, which led to the collection of more than 5000 leaf beetle specimens. In addition, during these collecting campaigns two new allochthonous species for Europe, namely Ophraella communa LeSage, 1986 and Colasposoma dauricum Mannerheim, 1849, were intercepted and some species new to science were discovered (e.g., Pachybrachis sassii Montagna, 2011 and Pachybrachis holerorum Montagna et al., 2013). DNA was extracted from 1006 specimens (~13% of the species inhabiting the Mediterranean region) and a total of 910 cox1 gene sequences were obtained (PCR amplification efficiency of 93.8%). Here we report the list of the barcoded subfamilies, genera and the number of species for which cox1 gene sequences were obtained; the metadata associated with each specimen and a list of problematic species for which marker amplification failed. In addition, the nucleotide divergence within and between species and genera was estimated and values of intraspecific nucleotide divergence greater than the average have been discussed. Cryptocephalus quadripunctatus G. A. Olivier, 1808, Cryptocephalus rugicollis G. A. Olivier, 1791 and Exosoma lusitanicum Linnaeus, 1767) are representatives of these cases.

Free vibration of functionally graded carbon-nanotube-reinforced composite plates with cutout.

During the past five years, it has been shown that carbon nanotubes act as an exceptional reinforcement for composites. For this reason, a large number of investigations have been devoted to analysis of fundamental, structural behavior of solid structures made of carbon-nanotube-reinforced composites (CNTRC). The present research, as an extension of the available works on the vibration analysis of CNTRC structures, examines the free vibration characteristics of plates containing a cutout that are reinforced with uniform or nonuniform distribution of carbon nanotubes. The first-order shear deformation plate theory is used to estimate the kinematics of the plate. The solution method is based on the Ritz method with Chebyshev basis polynomials. Such a solution method is suitable for arbitrary in-plane and out-of-plane boundary conditions of the plate. It is shown that through a functionally graded distribution of carbon nanotubes across the thickness of the plate, the fundamental frequency of a rectangular plate with or without a cutout may be enhanced. Furthermore, the frequencies are highly dependent on the volume fraction of carbon nanotubes and may be increased upon using more carbon nanotubes as reinforcement.

Relationship among plasma adipokines, insulin and androgens level as well as biochemical glycemic and lipidemic markers with incidence of PCOS in women with normal BMI.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder in women. Omentin-1 and vaspin are secretary adipokines that are produced by the visceral adipose tissue. These levels change in obese women with PCOS. The aim of this study is to investigate whether omentin and vaspin levels change in nonobese PCOS subjects. This study is a cross-sectional case control study in which 39 women with PCOS were picked out for this study. The inclusion criteria were based on the Rotterdam 2003 diagnostic criteria. The control group consisted of 39 women with normal pelvic sonographic reports having regular menstruation and showing no signs of infertility. The fasting plasma glucose (FPG), triglyceride (TG), Chol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), insulin, testosterone, omentin and vaspin were measured by the enzymatic methods. The differences within these groups were calculated by the un-paired t-test and the Mann-Whitney test. The results from this study show a significant increase in the amount of insulin, testosterone, homeostasis model assessments for insulin resistance, TG and lower HDL in the patient group. No significant differences were seen in omentin, vaspin, FPG, Cho, low-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood urea nitrogen, Cr and homeostasis model assessments for B cell function levels between groups. Results show that PCOS is not a determinant of decreased omentin and vaspin plasma levels and those high androgen level and insulin resistances are warning signs of PCOS.

Comparison of the clinical competence of nurses working in two university hospitals in Iran.

Hospitals are integrated with medical universities in Iran and are categorized into three types with respect to educational and health services quality. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine and compare the level of clinical competence of nurses who were working in type 1 and type 2 university hospitals. The clinical competence of all 266 nurses in the two hospitals was assessed by using the self-assessment method. The Nurse Competence Scale, a questionnaire consisting of 73 items, was used to assess the level of clinical competence and the frequency of using skills. The nurses who were working in the type 1 university hospital viewed themselves as more competent than those who were working in the type 2 university hospital. Also, only 70% of the clinical skills were used frequently by the nurses who were working in the type 2 university hospital, in comparison to > 83% for the nurses who were working in the type 1 university hospital. The results can be used for the educational needs assessment of nurses and for modifying the quality of care in hospitals.

Comparison of head nurses and practicing nurses in nurse competence assessment.

BACKGROUND: Nurses play a crucial role in patient-care. Therefore, assessing nurses' clinical competence is essential to achieve qualified and safe care. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the competence assessments made by head nurses and practicing nurses in a university hospital in Iran in 2009. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to make comparisons of both self-assessment of nurse competence as well as assessment made by their respective head nurses working in a university hospital setting in Iran. The instrument employed for data collection was Nurse Competence Scale (NCS), whose reliability and validity have been previously confirmed. The clinical competence of the nurses in 73 skills under 7 categories was determined based on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (0 to 100). They were also asked to indicate the extent to which their competence was actually used in clinical practice on a four-point scale of Likert. The data was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Comparison of self-assessment (87.03 ± 10.03) and the assessment done by head nurses (80.15 ± 15.54) showed a significant difference but no precise differences were found between the assessment methods for the frequency of using these competencies. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated no consensus between the nurses owns assessment and their head nurse assessment. Therefore, it is necessary to use a combination of nurses' competence assessment methods in order to reach a more valid and precise conclusion.