Pars Journal of Medical Sciences
Year:2016 | Volume:14 | Issue:3 |Papers Count:8

Introduction: Lead is one of the toxic heavy metals. This study investigated the antioxidant effect of cinnamon on lead poisoning in reproductive system in order to find a solution for the people exposed to lead.Materials and Methods: Forty-tow Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups of 6 each: one control group which received no treatment, sham group 1 (distilled water with alcohol for 14 days), sham group 2 (0.6 g/l lead acetate daily for 14 days), control group 3 (0.4 g/kg cinnamon extract daily for 14 days), experimental group 1, 2, 3 (0.6 g/l lead acetate in addition to respectively 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 g/kg cinnamon extract for 14 days).At the end of the study, estrogen and progesterone concentrations were measured by ELISA.Results: The results showed that the concentration of estrogen decreased in sham group 2 and increased in sham group 3 significantly compared to the control group (p<0.05). The concentration of progesterone decreased in sham group 2 and increased in sham group 3 significantly compared to the control group (p<0.05).Comparing experimental groups of 1, 2 and 3 with one another revealed that group 3 experienced a higher increase in estrogen and progesterone compared with groups 1 and 2.Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that cinnamon extract with its antioxidant properties reduces the side effects of lead on mean concentrations of sex hormones in female Wistar rats in a dose-dependent manner.

Introduction: Epidemiology of Enterococcus infections has attracted much attention. Precise identification of pathogenic strains can be effective in the control process of microorganism antibiotic resistance. This study aimed to identify the Enterococcus species isolated from hospitals in Tehran and examine their antibiotic resistance pattern by phenotypic and genotypic methods.Methods & Materials: This study was performed on 400 clinical samples from different hospitals in Tehran during 2015-2016. Specific cultures and biochemical tests were used to identify Enterococcus, distinguish E.faecalis and E. faeacium species and PCR method was used to identify Enterococcus species.Antibiotic susceptibility was examined using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion, and CLSI and vancomycin MIC were measured using broth dilution.Results: Of the 400 samples, 278 Enterococcus species were recognized. Phenotypic methods recognized 70.86% E. faecalis, 15.46% E. faeacium and 13.68% other species. PCR identified 72.3% E. faecalis, 10.43% E. faeacium and 17.27% other Enterococcus species. Results of the antibiograms showed the highest resistance (83.34%) to quinupristin/dalfopristin, and the lowest (1.41%) to linezolid. Also, resistance to vancomycin was observed in 5.95% with MIC³ 512 mg/ml in 9 cases.Conclusion: Rapid diagnosis can prevent massive outbreaks of Enterococcus. Given the prevalence of vancomycin resistance in Enterococcus, preventive measures are imperative. The right antibiotics should be prescribed according to the resistance patterns after susceptibility test is performed for each patient.

Introduction: Increasing use of disinfectants biocide cause to appearance of resistant strains of coagulase negative Staphylococcus. Some research confirmed this gene responsible for resistance to methicillin and association with these agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of resistance genes of biocides such as qac A/B and smr in coagulase negative staphylococci.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 samples of Staphylococcus epidermidis and 49 samples of Staphylococcus saprophyticus were collected over 9 months from clinical samples. After the initial biochemical tests and confirmation of genus and species of isolates, specific primers were used to study aqcA/B and smr genes through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Data were analyzed using chi-square test.Results: Of 60 isolates of Staphylococcus saprophyticus, 36 isolates (60%) had mecA. Among these, 19 isolates (52.77%) had qacA and 21 isolates (58.33%) had smr. Furthermore, of 49 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates, 27 isolates (55.1%) had mecA and among those isolates, 11 isolates (22.44%) had qac A/B and 8 isolate (16.32%) had smr.Conclusions: The results of our study showed the widespread presence of qac A/B and smr in clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. Given the low frequency of qacA/B and smr in the isolates sensitive to the antibiotics, it is necessary to evaluate antibiotic resistance for treatment of microbial infections.

Introduction: Recently, antihistamines have been considered as analgesic agents. The present study aimed to investigate the analgesic function of chlorpheniramine combined with acepromazine-ketamine during anesthesia and surgery in rats.Methods & Materials: Twenty adult rats were randomly assigned to two groups. The first group received chlorpheniramine and 30 minutes later acepromazine–ketamine. The second group received normal saline initially and 30 minutes later acepromazine-ketamine. Pain reflexes were assessed by toe pinch test, tail pinch test and rats’ reflex to laparotomy during anesthesia. Induction time, light anesthesia duration, surgical anesthesia time, walking time, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured.Results: Duration of light anesthesia was shorter in group 2 than in group 1 (P<0.05). Laparotomy pain score was significantly less in group 1. Toe pinch and tail pinch tests were not significantly different between the two groups. Heart rate was not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusion: As a pre-anesthesia medication, chlorpheniramine induces appropriate anesthesia in rats in combination with acepromazine-ketamine. Thus, chlorpheniramine can be used in rats as a preanesthesia medication for surgical operations in combination with acepromazine-ketamine.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is the most prevalent metabolic bone disease with multiple factors involved in its pathogenesis, including low body mass index and lack of physical activity. Changes in lifestyle represents a successful strategy to prevent osteoporosis. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the interactive effects of resistance training and Medicago sativa extracts on serum level of osteoprotegerin and nuclear factor kappa B in thin girls.Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 28 female students (16 to 19 years) were divided randomly into four groups of supplement, training, training-supplement and control. Resistance training program comprised 10 exercise movements at 60%-80% of one repeated maximal in 8-12 repetition (in 3 circuits), 60 min per day and 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks. Medicago sativa supplement was taken as 1 ml/kg body weight for 3 times a day. Data were analyzed with paired t and ANOVA tests.Results: Four weeks of resistance training, supplementation and the combined intervention were associated with a significant increase in osteoprotegerin and decrease in nuclear factor kappa B levels (P<0.05) in thin girls. Furthermore, combined intervention was associated with greater changes in these inducators in comparison with training and supplement groups (p<0.05).Conclusion: Regular resistance training with consumption of Medicago sativa extracts as a non-medical therapy can increase bone formation markers and also reduce the activity of the absorbency pathway in thin adolescent girls. Of course the combination of exercise and supplement are more effective than the separate affects of eachs them.

Introduction: Fibroblasts are an important component of connective tissue found almost everywhere in the body.Fibroblasts have different functions and morphologies based on their location. This project aimed to simplify isolating newborn mouse skin fibroblasts for use in future studies.Methods & Materials: First, Balb/c neonate mice of one to two days old were slaughtered under laminar hood using sterilized tools. Then, skin fibroblasts were isolated using trypsin 1% and cultured. Finally, the cells were transferred to a new growth medium for the first passage.Results: Fibroblasts were evaluated in different days in terms of growth and morphology by a fluorescent microscope. Cells with clear oval or spindle-shaped nucleus with one or two nuclei were observed, which correspond with fibroblast morphology. The culture media were clear and showed no opacity or microbial or fungal contamination.Conclusion: Based on the results, it is logical to use this method because it is simple, inexpensive and sterile, so it does not require antibiotics and antifungal treatment.