JOURNAL OF ADVANCED BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
Year:2011 | Volume:1 | Issue:2|Papers Count:9

Background & Objectives: Isolation of vancomycin resistant Enterococcus from clinical samples is very important. The aim of this study was evaluation of phenotype and genotype of van genes in vancomycine resistant Enterococcus.Materials and Methods: 411 Enterococcus isolates were collected from selected Tehran’s hospitals between March 2004 and December 2007. The enterococcal isolates were identified by biochemical confirmation tests. Resistance of each isolate to vancomycin determined by disk diffusion and agar dilution test. The presence of the vanA, B, C, D, E resistance gene was assessed by PCR.Results: 185 (45%) and 23 (5.6%) with disc-diffusion method and agar-dilution method were resistant to vancomucin (VRE) and all of VREs were Enterococcus faecium.12 (52.2%), 7 (30.4%) of the VRE isolates had vanA, vanB and 3 (13%) had both of vanA and vanB gene.Conclusion: Most important mechanism for high level resistance to vancomycin is presence of van genes and these genes can transfer between Enterococci. Significance of investigation in molecular level of resistance to vancomycin was due to relation between phenotypic resistant and presence of van genes.

Background & Objectives: CVA (cerebrovascular accident) is the most common debilitating disease.Studies show that magnesium and potassium have significant neuroprotective effects. The aim of this study is evaluation of serum levels of potassium and magnesium in stroke patients.Materials & Methods: In this case study, 70 stroke patients were entered in following manner. For a patient, a questionnaire include: age, sex, and kind of stroke was provided and then, in which the serum levels of magnesium and potassium were entered. These levels were compared with those of control group (70 people) whose individuals were sexual and age wise identical and results from these were analyzed with statistical test, t-test.Results: From 70 patients who were entered in this study, 39 (55.7%) individuals were male and 31 (44.3%) female. The mean age of case group was 72.1110.76. The mean serum level of magnesium and potassium in case group was 1.89 (0.25meq/L and 3.810.26 meq/L respectively and in control group was 1.95) 0.46 meq/L and 3.90.41 meq/L that showed the mean serum level of magnesium and potassium in CVA patients was lower than control group, and only about serum level K is significant (Pv=0.004) Conclusion: The serum level of magnesium and potassium in stroke patients is lower than control group.

Background and objectives: anesthetic equipment’s could be one of the factors transmitting in a surgical operation. We could be prevent infection transmission to a great extend, by providing efficient meth-ods of disinfection of anesthetic equipments. The purpose of the present research is to analyze the bacterial contamination in anesthetic equipment in operation rooms of Vali-e-Asr hospital in Fasa city, Fars province, and evaluate the efficiency of the applied disinfection methods.Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional & analytical study, sampling from anesthetic equipment was done by sterile swap and culture on nutrient media, irregularly and randomly, before and after using and wash-ing tools. Used anesthetic equipment in such operation rooms have been washed with Betadine 7.5% by experts and technicians of anesthetic section and were prepared for the next operation.Results: Total contamination was 2.3% in 210 samples taken.5 culture items indicated the existence of bacterial contamination, among which 2 contamination cases were observed in nasal airway (coagulase negative Staphylococcus, non-pathogen Neisseria), 2 contamination cases in red rubber endotracheal tube (nonpathogen Neisseria and Klebsiella pneumonia) and 1 contamination case in oxygen mask (Escherichia coli).Conclusion: The very low level of contamination (20-85% contamination in anesthetic equipment’s) in our research is probably due to application of a appropriate disinfection method used by educated personnel in operation rooms. This could have a significant role in decreasing the infection rate in one hand and decreasing expenses and time on the other hand.

Background & Objective: Brucellosis is an important zoonotic disease of economic significance. Brucella species are gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacteria, and are capable of replicating in the phagosomes of macrophages. They cause infection in several animal species and humans. Prevention of new diseases and diagnosis of cases infected with the organism are both essential for eradication of the disease. Characterization and evaluation of different antigens of Brucella cells has a key role in progression of prevention and diagnosis programs. Here, we report the production and purification of recombinant 31kDa outer membrane protein Brucella abortus (Omp2b).Materials & Methods: Brucella abortus 36kDa outer membrane protein gene was amplified with PrimeSTAR® HS DNA polymerase, cloned in pJET 1.2. The target gene was subcloned in pET28a (+).Recombinant pET28a vectors were transformed into E coli BL21 (DE3). Expression of recombinant protein was induced with 1mM IPTG. Proteins were absorbed to Ni-NTA agarose resins and Recombinant proteins were eluted with 250mM imidazol. Imidazol removed by dialysis. Proteins were assayed by Western-blotting and rOmp2b was probed by Brucella rabbit anti serum.Result: Appearance of a golden brown band at the site of reaction, in Western blotting confirmed successfully clone and expression. We purified Omp2b by affinity chromatography and this method prepared refolds proteins on the column.Conclusion: Omp2b were successfully cloned, expressed and purified. The recombinant proteins were recognized by polyclonal antiserum which suggests the accuracy of procedure.

Background and objectives: Methyl mercury can carry out harmful effects on the reproductive, respiratory, and nervous system of human. Moreover, mercury is known as the most toxic heavy metal in nature. Fish and seafood consumption is the major MeHg exposure route for human. The present study tries to cover researches which have been conducted on mercury levels in 21 species of fish from Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea and Anzali Wetland during the past 6 years, and in addition to stating mercury level, it provides recommendations about the restriction of monthly fish consumption for each species separately.Material and methods: Fish samples were transferred to the laboratory and stored in refrigerator under-20oC until they were dissected. Afterwards, the muscle tissues were separated and dried. The dried samples were ground and changed into a homogenous powder and then the mercury concentration rate has been determined by advanced mercury analyzer, model 254.Results: In general, mercury contamination in fishes caught from Anzali Wetland was much more than fishes from Caspian Sea. Also, from among all studied fishes, oriental sole (Euryglossa orientalis), caught from Persian Gulf, allocated the most mercury level to itself with the rate of 5.61ml per kg., therefore, it exercises a severe consumption restriction for pregnant women and vulnerable groups.Conclusion: Based on the calculations, about 50% of fishes, mostly with short food chain, can be easily consumed during the year. However, with regard to Oriental sole (Euryglossa orientalis) and shark (Carcharhinus dussumieri), caught from Persian Gulf, special consideration should be taken in their consumption.On the other hand, careful planning should be made for the high rate of fish consumption among fishing community.

Background & Objectives: There are limited number of studies conducted on the correlation between Glycemic index and Glycemic load of a food program and metabolic factors such as blood lipids in Asian countries including Iran. Therefore, this study aimed at analyzing the correlation between Glycemic index and Glycemic load of Iranian food program and blood lipids.Materials & Methods: The subjects were 95 women working in Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences in the range of 20 to 55 years old. Glycemic index and Glycemic load of the food program was analyzed with 24-hour food recall questionnaires (4-6 recall). For calculating GI and GL, Iranian food GI tables, and also, international GI and GL table were used.The levels of blood lipids including HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and triglycerides of the blood were measured and the level of LDL Cholesterol was calculated using Friedewald formula. Also, Anthropometric measurements were done using standard methods.Results: The mean age of subjects in this study was 36±7.7 years. GI mean was 72.1 and GL mean was 153.2. In this study, there was no significant relation between HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol and Blood TG with Glycemic index and Glycemic load of food program.Conclusion: Unlike findings of west and Asian countries, both dietary GI and GL were not correlated with metabolic factors including blood lipid levels in this study, underreporting of individuals may influence the results of the study.

Background & Objectives: Keratoconjunctivitis is considered as the most prevalent ocular disease which is caused by multiple microorganisms. Considering the fact that identifying etiologic agents of Keratoconjuncti-vitis in a specific geographical area, and determining their antibiotic resistance pattern could be very important in specifying treatment strategy of such patients, the present research has been conducted to discriminate and evaluate etiologic microbial agents of this disease in patients referred to ophthalmology ward of Feiz health center in Isfahan.Materials & Methods: This descriptive study has been conducted in an 18-month period on 196 patients, referred to ophthalmology ward of Feiz hospital with positive symptoms of Keratoconjunctivitis. Ocular secretions were sampled with sterile swap and from conjuctival sac. Then the related samples were transferred and cultured in the medium for bacteria. Antibiogram of isolated strains was performed by method of disc diffusion. One of the samples related to patients was transferred to virus transport media and was used for direct immunofluorescence test. The possible content of IgM anti-adenovirus was investigated by ELISA method and on serum samples of patients.Results: From among the total 196 evaluated samples, 75 cases were infected with bacterial agents, 37 cases with adenovirus, and 58 cases with both bacterial and adenovirus agents. The isolated bacterial agents were as follows with respect to their prevalence, Staphylococcus aureus (28.1%), Coagulase negative Staphylococci (16.8%), Bacillus spp (6.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.1 %), Enterobacter (4.2%), Klebsiella (3.6%) and Streptococcus group D (3.6%). From among antibiotic drugs, the highest rate of sensitivity for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was observed in Ciprofloxacin and Tobramycin respectively.Conclusion: The results of the study could be applied in specifying treatment strategies for patients suffering from Keratoconjunctivitis in Isfahan city.

Background & Objective: Nitrate is one of the contaminants of groundwater resources that has had a grow-ing trend in recent decades as the result of human activities such as agriculture, irregular utilization of ground-water aquifers, and non-systematic disposal of urban and industrial sewage …... The increase of nitrate higher than the limit causes several health problems such as Methemoglobinemia, formation of Nitrosamine compounds and potential risks in pregnant women …... Now, from among 400 wells of drinking water in Tehran, only 2 percent, that is 8 wells, have Nitrate above the limit (50mg/lit). The purpose of this study is to measure the rate of Nitrate in drinking water in rural areas of Fasa city during the years 2007 to 2008 and finding its relation with the rate of rainfall. Considering the lack of surface waters in Fasa city, almost all water requirements of the people are supplied from underground wells.Materials & Methods: This research has been conducted during the years 2007-2008. In this period, 288 samples from among 38 wells (including 24 deep well, 14 hand-made well) were selected and the rate of nitrate was measured using Espectrophotometer.Results: The obtained results indicate that in the years 2007, 2008, the maximum rate of rainfall was in winter, respectively with 94.3 and 36.6mm. and its minimum rate was in summer, respectively with 1.2 and 0.1mm, while the maximum rate of Nitrate during these years was in summer, respectively with 27.13, 27.88mg/lit and its minimum rate was in winter, respectively with 22.89 and 25.35 mg/lit. Also, the rate of rainfall in year 2007 was 168mm, which has been decreased to 57.7mm in 2008, during this period the average rate of Nitrate has been increased from 25.39 to 26.64 that this increase was more evident in hand-made wells, so that it has been increased from 37.7 in 2007 to 40.40mg/lit in 2008.Conclusion: The purpose of this study is to determine if there is any relationship between the rate of rainfall and Nitrate level in groundwater. The results of this study have shown that by the decrease of rainfall, the rate of Nitrate in the groundwater is increased in the studied region. Considering the recent drought and the decrease of atmospheric precipitations, the control of factors such as agriculture, urban and industrial sewage around wells and irregular utilization of groundwater aquifers …., should be considered more.