MEDICAL LABORATORY JOURNAL
Year:2011 | Volume:4 | Issue:2|Papers Count:12

Bachground and objectives: Dientamoeba fragilis is a habitant protozoon in human colon causing clinical symptoms, such as local stomach pain, weight loss, lack of appetite and flatulence. It is important to diagnose this infection correctly and differentiate it from other Protozoa. In this study PCR and Iron Hematoxylin methods were used to detection of this protozoon in Chalous Medical centers refers in 2010.Material and Methods: The stool samples (n=302) of this cross-sectional study were selected via cluster random sampling. After wet mount study the samples were preserved in PVA (for staining) and Ethanol (for molecular(. The samples were studied both Staining and Molecular methods. Sensitivity and specificity were assessed.Results: Of 302 samples, six of them are positive via staining method (1.99%) and five by molecular method. All negative results with staining method are also negative with PCR. Contamination with E.coli in 2 samples and with Balstocystis homonis were seen in one sample. Sensitivity and specificity of PCR was 85% and 100% respectively.Conclusion: The discrepancy between two methods maybe caused by observer errors in staining method and unsynchronized molecular and microscopic studies.

Bachground and objectives: Streptomyces is the most important genus in Actinomycetes family. The Streptomycetes are widely used in industry and producing numerous chemical compounds including antibiotics, enzymes and anti- tumor agents. The aim of this study was to isolate soil-borne Streptomyces producing antimicrobial substances from soil of Golestan province of Iran and to survey anti-fungal metabolites produced by this organism.Material and Methods: In this study, various soil samples were obtained from the depth of 6-10 centimeter in forest areas of Naharkhoran in Gorgan and Kordkuy’s Derazno, Aghala’s deserts and farming lands of Aliabad. The samples were cultured on Actinomycet isolation agar and Starch casein agar and then identified and purified by morphology and biochemistry tests. The activity of isolated Streptomyses against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus, Candida albicansand Malasesia fur were studied by Agar Diffusion method. For two isolates having the best anti-fungal effect was performed PCR by using 16RNA primer.Results: of 120 samples, 24 are Streptomyces (20%).The frequency of Streptomyces is reported in Aghala (10, 41.6%), Derzno (8, 33.3%), Nahar khoran (4, 16.6%) and Aliabad (2, 8.3%). Of 24 isolated Sterptomyses, two isolates have strong anti-fungal and six of them have moderate effect. We also see Streptomyses, isolated from desert area, have higher anti-fungal activity.Conclusion: It is recommended two isolates of Streptomyses be identified and purified.

Background and objectives: Epidemiological studies have shown that using tobacco products is one of the main factors in forming malignancies in various tissues of the body. There is many nitric oxide radical (NO°) in gas phase in each cigarette. Hence, due to oxidation of nitrogen components in tobacco, more than 100 µgr of atmospheric NO° is produced by smoking, would be transferred to the body without any filtration. We studied nitric oxide levels in the gastric juice of smokers and non-smokers patients with active peptic ulcer.Material and Methods: In this study, 43 smoker patients with active peptic ulcer (14 female & 29 male) referred to gastroenterology clinic with mean age of 45.30±13.16 as case group. Forthy-three non-smokers without peptic ulcer (13 female & 30 male) aged 42.67±16.04, 43 smoker without peptic ulcer (16 female & 27 male) with mean age of 44.58±12.07 and 43 non-smoker with active peptic ulcer (20 female & 23 male) with mean age of 45.37±13.39 were selected as control groups of 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The level of Nitric oxide in gastric juice was measured by using Greiss colorimetric method.Results: Comparing with control group one and two, meaningful rise is noticed in mean level of nitric oxide case group (p<0.0001). Mean levels of NO in control group 1, 3 and case group are 4.21±1.13, 5.37±2.26, 7.90±2.12 µmol/L, respectively. Nitric oxide level in case group in comparison with control group 2 does not show Significant difference (p=0.656). Mean levels of NO in control 2 and case groups are 7.45±1.54 and 7.90±2.12 µmol/L, respectively.Conclusion: It can be concluded that cigarette smoking may be one of the cause of increased level of gastric juice nitric oxide. This increase may be due to component in cigarette smoke and tar. These components can cause DNA damage through oxidation-reduction cycle and consequently increase the risk of malignancies in gastric tissues.

Bachground and objectives: Higher than the needed blood orders not only adversely affect blood quality but also impose extra expenses on therapeutic center and patients. We aimed at determining the frequency of packed red blood cell transfusion in Besat hospital of Hamadan in 2009-2010.Material and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 926 blood order forms in Besat hospital. The data were collected, using blood order forms, in Hamedan teaching hospital (Besat) from March 2009 to march 2010.We assessed the amount of blood order, blood consumption, crossmatch/transfusion ratio (C/T) and transfusion index (TI) in different wards of hospital.Results: Out of 926 patients aged averagely 28, 37% were females and 63% are males. The overall ratio of C/T and TI is 2.44 and 0.63, respectively. They are considered to be optimal, in comparison with the standard figures of C/T<2.5 and TI≥0.5.The results show that the highest C/T is in surgery ward and the lowest in burn ward. But the highest TI is related to Hematology ward and the lowest to urology ward.Conclusion: Packed cell consumption, C/T Ratio and TI in Besat hospitals are normal but not ideal.It seems that absence of hospital blood transfusion committees and lack of active contribution of physicians, are the major obstacles in reforming blood utilization.

Bachground and objectives: The ability of adherence to the surface of host cell is very critical in the colonization of microbial pathogens. It has been revealed that E.coli strains that infect urinary tracts have different Fimbria such as I, S, P, FIC, Dr, and fimbrial adhesions.Material and Methods: In this study, 363 urine samples were obtained from patients with Urinary Tract Infections referred to clinical laboratories in Western areas of Tehran, 2008-2010. By using biochemical tests, 200 samples were confirmed to be E.coli. First, DNA was extracted by boiling method and then the presence of fimbria fim, sfa, pap, foc, and afa genes tested by PCR.Results: of 200 samples, the frequency of fimbria fim, sfa, pap, foc, and afa genes are 188 (%94), 34 (%17), 20 (%10), 61 (%31) and 71 (%35.5), respectively.Conclusion: The results show that fim and sfa are the most fimbrial genes of E.coliisolated from urine samples. This information can be valuable in etiology of urinary tract infection (UTI), UTI administration, and vaccine production.

Bachground and objectives: Probiotics are nonpathogenic and beneficial micro-organisms, usually made from strains of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. The probiotics are known as dietary supplements with beneficial effects on consumer health. In some countries, sufficient quantities and specific compoundof Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are used for therapeutic purposes and food industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of Lactobacillus and Lactococcus strains in food stuffs cities in Eastern Azerbaijan, Iran.Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study 100 Samples were obtained from dairy products, yogurt, grains, cheese, saffron flower, fresh pinto beans, red beans, and fresh green beans. All samples were incubated in MRS Agar cultures at 42, 37, and 25°c for two days, and then bacteria were isolated, concentrated, and lyophilized. Finally the differential recognition was performed in deferential cultures.Results: Of 100 food samples, the following Lactobacillus and Lactococcus are isolated. Lactobacillus delbrueki, L.bulgaris, L.salivarius, L.casei are 10, 10, 8, 5 and 3 cases respectively. Lactococcus themrophilus the most frequent Lactococcus where isolated in this study.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, many kinds of probiotics especially Lactobacillus strains are presented in foods. It is recommended that these probiotics be isolated and proliferated and used in industry and also for therapeutic purposes.

Bakground and objectives: "The comb antibiotic sensitivity test" is a quick, reliable and cost effective method to determine the susceptibility of bacteria to different antibiotics. The purpose of this study is to design a plate that is easy and quick to use, and enable to be interpreted easily without the need for measurement of the margins with a ruler.Material and Methods: First, Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute data about the maximum growth inhibitory haloes formed with antibiotics and various micro-organisms were statistically examined and determined that the most (99.7%) zone of inhibition growth is formed in the range of 42 mm. Accordingly, the obtained number (42 mm) and conventional plate size (100 mm) used for testing sensitivity were punched into Solid works software which was used to determine the best place of strip and shoulder plates. After that the efficacy this media were examined by determination of MIC Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumonia, non-graded and graded plate shoulders were searched and compared.Results: Has been placed two combs MIC in a plate in this method and didn’t create growth inhibitory haloes interferences. Obtained MIC for Nitrofurantoin (10 µg/ml), Amikacin (0.5 µg/ml), Gentamicin (1 µg/ml), and Amoxicillin (0.5 µg/ml) against S.aureus, MIC Nalidicsic Acid, Amikcin, Gentamicin and Nitrofurantoin against K.pneumonia was 0.1, 0.5, 0.5 and 10 µg/ml, respectively.Conclusion: The comparison between this new innovative method and standard methods (Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute-CLSI) shows that there a marked reduction in the interference of antibiotic therapy and will also reduce time of interpretation.

Background and objectives: Pathogens can be transferred via the hands of the personnel not only to themselves but also to their families or to the patient causing infection especially nosocomial infections. Microbial contamination of hand is caused by contact with patients and their environments or usual devices in the workplace. It seems that contamination of computer devices and handsets are more in hospital than official buildings. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the microbial contamination of computer keyboards, mouse and telephone receivers in a hospital department and an official building.Material and Methods: the sterile swab samples obtained from 32 keyboards, 31 computer mouse and 30 telephone receivers in the official building of Mashhad medical university and central laboratory of Imam Reza hospital were cultured on Blood agar and Mac Con key agar plates.Results: Out of 64 samples from the official building, we identify 83 microbial germs. The most common ones are gram-positive Bacilli (n=34, 40.95%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (n=32, 32.53%). Of 29 samples of central laboratory, there are 33 microbial germs. The most common of them are gram positive Bacilli (n=19, 57.57%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococci (n=7, 21.21%). Overall, microbial contamination of the computer equipment and handsets is not statistically meaningful (P<0.05). Some germs like diphtheroid are not existed in laboratory, but two cases of Aspergillus are found.Conclusion: The presence of most of the germs on these devices is due to dusting or normal flora transferred via staffs’ hands. Only two of them, coagulase-positive Staphylococci and Aspergillus, should be considered carefully because they may cause serious infections in staff, their families or patients.

Bachground and objectives: Hospital surfaces can serve as a reservoir of potential pathogen bacteria. Staff hands are the most important source of transmission in hospital. The prevalence of β–lactamase producer bacteria in staff hands and hospital surfaces, increase antibiotic resistance nosocomial infection. The aim of this study was to survey the spread of beta-lactam resistance Staphylococcus sp. in Al-zahar hospital in Isfahan.Material and Methods: The research was carried out during 2005-2007 years in Al-zahra hospital in Isfahan. Overall, 274 samples (194 strains from surface and 80 strains from staff hands) were assessed. The surface samples collected by using swab in Nutrient Broth (NB) and staff hand samples by Finger Print method. Bacterial identification was performed by Bacteriological methods, β–lactamase production by acidimetric method and antibiogram pattern by Kirby Bauer method.Results: Of 194 strains isolated from hospital surfaces, 105 (53.7%) strains are related to Staphylococcus sp while of 80 strains isolated from staff hands are 28 (35%). According to acidimetric test, 79.8% of S.aureus strains and 68.55% of S. epidermidis strains produce β-lactamase.Conclusion: Results show high frequency of antibiotic resistance and β–lactamase producer Staphylococcus sp. on staff hands and hospital surfaces.Reduction of bacteria in these sources is the most important manner to control transfer of virulence agents in bacteria and create of antibioticresistant strains.

Bachground and objectives: Improvement of the effectiveness of services is one of the most important strategies in many clinical and research laboratory centers. The increased client satisfaction (researchers or patients), resource development innovation, efficacy, continuity of services and income are also the important strategies of these centers. For achieving these strategies, we combined the qualitative and the quantitative approaches to evaluate the effective model based on frameworks of the Balance Scorecard (BSC) and the Laboratory Quality Management Systems (LQMS).Material and Methods: This paper describes the basic steps required for designing and developing of a model for performance measurement in laboratory centers. For model validation, the relationship between the criteria, the strategies and the strategic objectives was evaluated using both the AHP method and the evaluation by the experts.Results: Implementation of the above mentioned model, conducted in one of the largest Laboratory centers, has resulted in a remarkable enhancement in the efficiency (22%), profit (33%), level of quality of service (27%) and in the clients’ satisfaction (4%(.Conclusion: This research model is a valuable tool for effective evaluation and continuous improvement of the clinical and research laboratory centers.Applying this model leads to increased resource productivity as well as the clients and community satisfaction from the laboratories services.