Electronic equipment and appliances in special wards of hospitals as a source of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus: a multi-centre study from Iran.

BACKGROUND: Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus (ARAf), reported as a global public health concern, has been unexpectedly observed in different countries. AIM: To identify ARAf and detect azole resistance related to the CYP51A mutation in different hospital environmental samples. METHODS: In this multi-centre study from Iran, surfaces of electronic equipment and appliances from different hospitals in Iran were sampled using cotton swabs. All samples were cultured using azole-containing agar plates (ACAPs). Recovered Aspergillus isolates were identified at the species level using partial DNA sequencing of the ß-tubulin gene. The azole susceptibility testing of A. fumigatus isolates was performed using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute M38-A3 guideline. The sequencing of the CYP51A gene was also performed to detect mutations related to resistance. FINDINGS: Out of the 693 collected samples, 89 (12.8%) Aspergillus species were recovered from ACAPs. Aspergillus fumigatus (41.6%) was the most prevalent, followed by A. tubingensis (23.6%) and A. niger (15.6%). Among 37 isolates of A. fumigatus, 19 (51.3%) showed high minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values to at least one of the three azoles, voriconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole. CYP51A polymorphisms were detected in all 19 isolates, of which 52.6% showed the TR34/L98H mutation. Other detected mutations were G432C, G448S, G54E/G138C, F46Y, and Y121F/M220I/D255E. T289F and G432C were the first reported mutations in ARAf. CONCLUSION: There was a considerable level of azole resistance in hospital environmental samples, a serious warning for patients vulnerable to aspergillosis. Our findings have also revealed a different mutation pattern in the CYP51A gene.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the epidemiology, casual agents and demographic characteristics of onychomycosis in Iran.

Onychomycosis or fungal nail infection is one of the most common fungal infections. Nearly 50% of all nail disorders are caused by fungi. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the prevalence of onychomycosis across Iran. We searched English and Persian databases for studies reporting the epidemiologic features of onychomycosis in Iranian people from January 2000 to December 2018. Literature search revealed 307 studies, of which 24 studies met the eligibility criteria. In order to identifying the existence of publication bias among studies, funnel plots were used. The results of the meta-analysis were visualized as a forest plot representing the prevalence estimates of each study. Heterogeneity was also analyzed using the I2, Chi2, and Tau2 statistics. A high level of I2 and Chi2 was obtained among studies, which provides evidence of notable heterogeneity between studies. The results of current study revealed that the highest prevalence of onychomycosis was related to Mazandaran and Tehran provinces, respectively. As in the literature hypothesized shift in etiologic agents from yeasts to dermatophytes or molds could not be confirmed. Females were affected more frequently than males and in both sexes the highest incidence of infection occurrence was at the ages of >50 years. It seems the highest prevalence of onychomycosis in Mazandaran and Tehran provinces is due to the concentration of specialist doctors and research centers in these two provinces compared with others which leads to more detection and more care of the disease. Therefore, further educational strategies in order to accurate diagnosis in other provinces is necessary to reduce the risk of onychomycosis in Iran.

The effect of spinach supplementation on exercise-induced oxidative stress.

AIM: Nutritional supplements have been very popular among athletes and individuals. Spinach is an important dietary vegetable rich in antioxidants which is commonly consumed. This study was conducted to assess the effects of chronic daily spinach supplementation on known markers of oxidative stress and muscle damage following half-marathon in well-trained healthy young men. METHODS: Twenty well-trained men volunteered for this study. Participants were randomized in an open study placebo-controlled fashion into two groups: Spinach (S) (N.=10) and placebo (P) (N.=10). The participants took spinach supplementation or placebo daily for 14 days before running. Participants ran 21.1 km. The spinach supplementation was prepared at 1 g/kg body weight. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was determined as marker of plasma antioxidant capacity. Creatine kinase (CK) was measured as marker of muscle damage and malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) and uric acid were measured as markers of oxidative stress. RESULTS: TAC significantly elevated after supplementation in S group (P<0.05). Acute exercise led to elevated levels of serum MDA, PC and CK (P<0.05). Spinach supplementation maintained PC, MDA, uric acid and CK at lower levels after exercise than the placebo (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that chronic daily oral supplementation of spinach has alleviating effects on known markers of oxidative stress and muscle damage following a half-marathon in well trained healthy young men.

Influence of a low-dose cox-2 inhibitor drug on exercise-induced inflammation, muscle damage and lipid peroxidation.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of acute low-dose celecoxib administration on exercise-induced inflammation, muscle damage and lipid peroxidation. Twenty healthy untrained males (age: 25.5±4.5 yrs, weight: 72.7±7.9 kg, height: 177.3±7.2 cm) were randomly assigned to treatment (T) or placebo (P) groups. Blood samples were obtained before, immediately after, 3 h after and 24 h after exercise. Subjects ran for 30 min at 75% [Formula: see text]O2 max on a treadmill. Participants consumed 100 mg celecoxib or a placebo immediately after and 12 h after the immediately post-exercise blood sample. Total leukocytes, neutrophils, creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed at each time point. Significant increases in total leukocytes and neutrophils were observed 3 h after exercise in both groups (P < 0.05). CK and CRP levels were significantly increased immediately, 3 h and 24 h after exercise in both groups (P < 0.05). A significant increase in MDA was observed immediately after exercise in both groups (P < 0.05); however, no significant group differences were observed for MDA or CK. These findings suggest that inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase activity with low-dose celecoxib does not affect exercise-induced inflammation, muscle damage, or lipid peroxidation.

Cardiorespiratory fitness, activity level, health-related anthropometric variables, sedentary behaviour and socioeconomic status in a sample of Iranian 7-11 year old boys.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), activity level, some health-related anthropometric variables, sedentary behaviour and socioeconomic status (SES) of 7-11 year old boys in the city of Ardabil, Iran. Of 21 253 school boys aged 7-11 years, 766 participated in this study using the cluster sampling method. Subjects underwent standard anthropometry. One-mile test was used to evaluate [Formula: see text]O2 max. BMI cut-off points were used to identify weight status. Child's TV watching and video playing daily time (TVVPT) was taken for sedentary behaviour evaluation. SES and activity level were measured by standard questionnaires. Of all participants, 8.9% (N=68) of students had CRF lower than normal and 58.6% (N=449) of them had inadequate physical activity. There was a significant adverse relationship between [Formula: see text]O2 max and body mass index (BMI), waist to height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference (WC), and fat mass (FM) (p<0.05). A significant direct association between SES and both FM and TVVPT was observed (p<0.05). Significantly lower physical activity and [Formula: see text]O2 max, and higher TVVPT were observed in the obese boys than their counterparts (p<0.05). The results of this study indicated a significant relationship between CRF and physical activity, and health-related anthropometric variables in a selected sample of 7-11 year boys. Moreover, the obese subjects had not only lower physical activity but also longer sedentary behaviour time than their counterparts.

Effect of methylsulfonylmethane supplementation on exercise - Induced muscle damage and total antioxidant capacity.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of 10-day methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) supplementation on exercise-induced muscle damage. METHODS: Eighteen healthy, non-smoking, active young men were recruited to participate in this study. Participants were randomized in a double-blind placebo-controlled fashion into two groups: MSM (M) (N.=9) and placebo (P) (N.=9). Subjects consumed daily either placebo (200 mL water) or MSM supplement (50 mg/kg MSM in 200 mL water) for 10 days. Afterward, participants ran 14 km. Blood samples were taken before supplementation, before exercise, immediately, 30 min, 2, 24 and 48 h after exercise. RESULTS: CK and bilirubin significantly increased in P group 24 h after exercise compared to M group (P=0.041 and P=0.002, respectively). TAC increased immediately post, 30 min, 2 and 24 h after exercise just in M group (P<0.05). TAC showed significant increase in M group 2 and 24 h after exercise compared to P group (P=0.014 and P=0.033, respectively). CONCLUSION: It seems that 10-day supplementation with MSM has allowed to decrease muscle damage via effect on antioxidant capacity.

Influence of aerobic exercise at high and moderate intensities on lipid peroxidation in untrained men.

AIM: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the oxidative stress response to aerobic exercise at high and moderate intensities. METHODS: Twenty healthy untrained men were randomly allocated into two groups: moderate intensity (MI) and high intensity (HI). Subjects of group MI and HI ran on the treadmill for 30-minutes at a running speed corresponding to 60% and 75% VO(2max) respectively. Blood lactate (LA) was measured before and immediately after the exercise. The subjective rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was obtained at the end of the trail. Venous blood samples were obtained before the exercise, immediately, 2 h, and 24 h after exercise. Blood samples were analyzed for malondialdehyde (MDA), as a biomarker of lipid peroxidation; uric acid (UA) as an intrinsic antioxidant; creatinin kinase (CK) activity, as a biomarker of muscle damage as well as total and differential leucocytes, as biomarkers of inflammation. The pattern of RPE was not significantly influenced by intensity of exercise. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in LA, CK, MDA, UA, and total and differential leukocytes between two groups (P>0.05). MDA was increased 2 h after exercise only in group HI (P<0.05). Plasma UA concentrations and CK activities were significantly greater than pre-exercise in immediately and 2 h after exercise in both groups (p<0.05). Exercise resulted in significant leukocytosis immediately after exercise in both groups and 2 h after exercise only in group HI (P<0.05), returning to pre-exercise levels after 24 h just in group MI. Neutrophil counts were increased 2 h after exercise in both groups and 24 h after exercise only in group HI (P<0.05). Monocyte counts were increased 2 h after exercise only in group HI (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that exercise with moderate intensity causes less lipid peroxidation and inflammation in comparison with high intensity exercise.

BMI, fat percentage and VO2max in college female staff.

AIM: Low levels of physical activity and cardio respiratory fitness are both associated with higher risk of all-cause and disease-specific mortality. The purpose of this study is to examine obesity and fitness of the female staff of Ardebil Azad University in the northwest of Iran. METHODS: Thirty seven staff (medium age: 32.97+/-5.81 year, height: 158.21+/-5.88 cm, Body Mass Index [BMI]: 26.59+/-4.02 kg/m(2)) of Ardebil Azad University participated in this study voluntarily. Primary measurements of interest in the present study were height, BMI, subcutaneous skin folds, and cardio respiratory fitness determined by 1 609 meter (one mile) walk test. RESULTS: The subjects of the present study are more obese than some other population (fat percentage: 28.68+/-5.33) and cardio respiratory fitness of them is rather low (VO(2max): 33.43+/-6.90 mL/kg/min). CONCLUSION: Social/lifestyle factors such as the level of education, marital status, exercise, dietary and smoking habits may be related to overweight/obesity and cardio respiratory fitness in female staff of Ardebil Azad University.

Effect of vitamin C supplementation on lipid peroxidation, muscle damage and inflammation after 30-min exercise at 75% VO2max.

AIM: Hypothetically, supplementation with the antioxidant vitamins C could alleviate exercise-induced lipid peroxidation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin C supplementation on exercise-induced lipid peroxidation, muscle damage and inflammation. METHODS: Sixteen healthy untrained male volunteers participated in a 30-min exercise at 75% Vo2max. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) placebo and 2) vitamin C (VC: 1 000 mg vitamin C). Blood samples were obtained prior to supplementation (baseline), 2 h after supplementation (immediately pre-exercise), post-exercise, 2 and 24 h after exercise. Plasma levels of VC, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), creatine kinase (CK), malondealdehyde (MDA), total leukocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cortisol were measured. RESULTS: Plasma vitamin C concentrations increased significantly in the VC in response to supplementation and exercise (P<0.05). TAC decreased significantly in Placebo group 24 h after exercise compared to pre-exercise (P<0.05). Although MDA levels were similar between groups at baseline, it increased significantly 2 h after exercise only in the Placebo group (P<0.05). CK increased immediately and 2 h after exercise in both groups and 24 h after exercise only in placebo group compared to pre-exercise (P<0.05). Markers of inflammation (total leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts and IL-6) were increased significantly in response to the exercise (P<0.05). In VC group, there was significant increase in lymphocyte counts immediately after exercise compared with pre-exercise (P<0.05). Serum cortisol concentrations significantly declined after supplementation compared with baseline (P<0.05) as well as declined 2 and 24 h after exercise compared with immediately after exercise in VC group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: VC supplementation prevented endurance exercise-induced lipid peroxidation and muscle damage but had no effect on inflammatory markers.