Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2019 | Volume:30 | Issue:7|Papers Count:9

Background & Aims: Acinetobacter baumannii is a gram-negative pathogen that causes a wide range of hospital-acquired infections. Due to its intrinsic traits and its remarkable abilities to quickly acquire resistance genes, it has become resistant to most antimicrobial agents and a major problem for hospitals. In recent years, application of lytic bacteriophages has been considered to eradicate multidrug resistant (MDR) A. baumannii from the clinical setting. The purpose of this research was to isolate a lytic bacteriophage against MDR A. baumannii isolate obtained from an infected burn site. Materials & Methods: Different samples including lake, river and seawater, soil and municipal wastewater were tested for phage isolation by spot test and agar overlay method. Results: Lytic bacteriophage Ab72p against MDR A. baumannii isolate was isolated from municipal wastewater sample and classified as a member of Myoviridae family. The plaques formed by lytic phage Ab72p were completely clear plaque and had a diameter of 1-2 mm without halo. Phage Ab72p had an about 11 nm (in diameter) icosahedral head and a 17-22 nm (in length) contractile tail. The genome of phage Ab72p was double-stranded DNA with about 46 kb. Phage Ab72p was a very stable lytic phage in the high temperatures (up to 70 º C) and wide range of pH (3 to 11), with an appropriate adsorption rate (99% adsorbed within 10 minutes), and large burst size (200 PFU per infected cell). Conclusion: Phage Ab72p could be appropriate choice to prepare phage cocktail against A. baumannii isolates.

Background & Aims: Recently, results of studies have shown that serum levels of vitamin D are considered as a risk factor for the cardiovascular system as well as important markers of skeletal muscle and body mass index (BMI). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between echocardiography indices, muscular strength, and BMI with vitamin D in sedentary postmenopausal women. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, 54 postmenopausal women (54. 57± 6. 16 yrs) participated. General and anthropometric characteristics of height, weight, and BMI in subjects were measured by wall-meter, a digital scale, and DXA machines, respectively. Cardiac indices were measured using an echocardiography Doppler machine. Upper and lower body strength were measured via one-repetition maximum (1-RM) on the chest press and Squat Smith machines, respectively. Handgrip (HG) strength was assessed using an HG dynamometer at the angle of 90 degrees from the elbow. Vitamin D levels were measured using ELISA kit vitamin D from blood samples brachial vein. Data analysis was done using SPSS-23 software with descriptive and inferential (Pearson-Correlation Coefficient) statistical methods at a significance level of P<0. 05. Results: The results showed that there was a significant negative relationship between vitamin D and cross-section of the aorta and aortic velocity time integral (AOVTI) (P<0. 05). While there is no significant relationship between serum levels of vitamin D and cardiac index, muscle strength of upper & lower limbs, and BMI (P>0. 05). Conclusion: The results suggest that cardiac index, muscle strength, and BMI in postmenopausal women are not affected by serum levels of vitamin D while vascular indices such as a cross-section of the aorta and AOVTI are affected by serum levels of vitamin D.

Osteoid osteoma is the third most common benign bone tumor. It is often seen in metaphysis and diaphysis of long bones especially femur and tibia. Osteoid osteoma is very rare in hand, thumb, and distal phalanx. In this report we present a 14-year-old patient suffering from painful swelling in the distal phalanx of thumb and clubbing. Radiography showed lucent's lesion with sclerotic margin. Laboratory findings were normal. There was no evidence confirming infection. After excision of the lesion, osteoid osteoma was confirmed based on pathological findings. One month after excision, the patient`s pain was completely resolved. Based on this report, osteoid osteoma is one of the reasons for local painful swelling and finger clubbing. This is one of the main differential diagnoses of painful finger swelling which should always be considered. Surgical excision and lesion curettage are efficient methods in the treatment of phalangeal osteoid osteoma.

Background & Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction effect of endurance training and stanozolol (high dose) on gene expression and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in liver tissue of healthy male Wistar rats. Materials & Methods: Forty male Wistar rats (12-weeks old weighing 289 ± 16 gr) were randomly divided into 4-groups: control (n=10), endurance training (n=10), endurance training+ stanozolol (n=10), and stanozolol (n=10). Endurance training+ stanozolol and stanozolol groups received a weekly intramuscular injection (5mg/kg of body weight) of stanozolol. Endurance training+ stanozolol and endurance training groups were submitted to a progressive running program on a treadmill, for 6 weeks and 5 days per week with 70-75% of VO2max. The content protein of SOD and GPX in liver tissue were measured by ELISA and SOD and GPX mRNA were measured by RT-PCR method. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA test and statistical significance was defined as P<0. 05. Results: The results showed that SOD mRNA expression in stanozolol group increased significantly Compared to control, endurance training (P<0. 001), and endurance training+ stanozolol (P<0. 01). In addition, SOD mRNA expression in endurance training+ stanozolol increased significantly compared to the control and endurance training (P<0. 01). GPX mRNA expression and activity enzyme of GPX in endurance training+ stanozolol increased significantly compared to stanozolol group (P<0. 05). The activity enzyme of SOD in stanozolol, endurance training, and endurance training+ stanozolol increased significantly compared to the control group (P<0. 001). The content of liver tissue malondialdehyde in stanozolol group also increased significantly compared to other groups (P<0. 001). Conclusion: It seems that injection of stanozolol increased both of SOD, GPX, and malondialdehyde. Whereas endurance training decreased oxidant effects of stanozolol.

Background & Aims: Cardiovascular risk is reduced by both sports training and losing weight, but the independent value of these two plans is unclear. This study examined the influence of physical exercise and weight loss on cardiac risk profiles (CRP) in overweight inactive middle-aged women. Materials & Methods: Seventy-six individuals in a quasi-experimental design with a control group were classified for 12-week into four groups: a sports group (S, n = 20), a group with energy-restricted diet (E-rD, n = 19), a sports group with boosted diet (S-bD, n=20), and a control group (C, n = 17). The rate of energy reduction was equal (approximately 15% of the daily need for calories) to physical exercise in S and energy restriction in E-rD. The S-bD group performed the same amount of exercise but remained in energy balance due to the 15% increase in calorie intake during training. The components of CRP were measured at baseline and post-study. Results: Body weight was similarly diminished between S (-5. 9 ± 2. 8 kg) and E-rD (-5. 4 ± 2. 9 kg), whereas it stayed stable in S-bD (-0. 9 ± 2. 9 kg), and C (-0. 2 ± 5. 6 kg). Levels of TC and LDL-C were lowered in S compared to C (P <0. 001 for both), but not found in E-rD (P > 0. 05). Changes in TC and LDL-C were associated with changes in body weight (P < 0. 05). In S-bD, a rise in HDL-C was observed (P < 0. 001). Conclusion: Weight loss due to exercise reduces pro-atherogenic lipoproteins, whereas physical activity compensated by energy consumption raises the HDL-C level.

Background & Aims: Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an important hospital opportunistic pathogen, due to its intrinsic and acquired resistance to several antibiotics found in clinical laboratories for identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The aim of this study was to isolate ESBL beta-lactamase genes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from clinical specimens using multiplex PCR. Materials & Methods: In total, human isolates from different infections that were collected after isolation of bacteria and extraction of DNA of vim, gim-1, sim-1, imp, spm-1 genes were studied by multiplex PCR. Results: Of 70 isolates of human specimens from different infections and of all age groups, sim-1, imp, vim,-1 spm, and gim-1 genes were used to detect drug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa from the total clinical samples studied, 61 samples (87. 14%) were positive from all strains and VIM, gim-1, and sim-1 genes were observed in samples. The percentage of vim, gim-1, and sim-1 genes in samples were 21. 22, 27. 28 and 24. 92, respectively. In this regard, imp and spm genes were not observed in the samples. Conclusion: Metalobetalactamas is very important due to its resistance to a wide range of antibiotics used against pseudomonas infections, and the rapid detection of these enzymes in epidemiological and carbapenem resistant bacteria. In summary, Choosing an effective antibiotic and preventing the spread of such infections in hospitals is necessary and valuable.

Background & Aim: Congenital heart disease is one of the most common congenital anomalies in infants and is the leading cause of death from congenital diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of congenital heart disease (CHD) and its outcome in infants admitted to NICU. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional retrospective study, all infants who were admitted to the NICU of Besat Hospital from 2012 to 2017 with diagnosis congenital heart disease were studied. Demographic data of mothers and infants were collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Results: Of 2800 hospitalized infants, 97 (96. 3%) infants suffered from congenital heart disease that 60 of them (61. 9%) were males. The mean birth weight of infants was 2568. 81± 524. 30 g and the mean gestational age of newborns was 36. 66± 2. 62 weeks. 22 percent of the parents were relatives, in 20% of infants there was a family history of congenital heart disease and 50% of mothers had an underlying disease. The most common congenital heart diseases were ventricular septal defect (VSD) (37. 1%), an atrial septal defect(ASD)(28. 8%), and patent ductus atreiousus (PDA) (8. 28%). 15 (15. 5%) of the infant died. Conclusion: Ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect were the most common congenital heart disease in newborns which may be related to maternal use of antihypertensive drugs during pregnancy.

Background & Aims: The use of cold hemodialysis began in 1980 as an attempt to control hypotension during hemodialysis and after these years the researchers realized that Cold hemodialysis not only reduces the periods of hypotension during hemodialysis, but also has other beneficial effects on the adequacy of dialysis, overall health, and quality of life. Materials & Methods: This randomized, double-blind, cross-sectional clinical study was carried out at Zanjan University of Medical Sciences. A total of 42 hemodialysis patients were divided into two groups: 20 (first group) and 22 (the second group). Then, the first group received standard hemodialysis (hemodialysis temperature 37 ° C for 4 weeks) and simultaneously the second group received cold hemodialysis (hemodialysis temperature 35 ° C) for 4 weeks, then the type of group hemodialysis was changed. The degree of adequacy of dialysis patients was performed on a monthly basis for three times (before the start of the study, after the first and second 4 weeks) and the data which was available in the hemodialysis computer system of Vali-e-Asr Hospital in Zanjan was calculated using the Ministry of Health's proposed software. Results: The results showed that mean KTV in cold and standard stage was 1. 71 and 1. 46, respectively and after the second four weeks the mean KTV in cold and standard stage was 1. 69 and 1. 32, respectively. Cold Hemodialysis significantly improved KTV level (P <0. 001). After the first four weeks, the mean URR in the cold and standard phase was 76. 30 and 66. 14, respectively, and after the second four weeks, mean URR in the cold and standard phase was 79. 91 and 69. 20, respectively. Hemodialysis significantly improved URR levels (P <0. 001). Conclusion: Cold hemodialysis significantly improves the adequacy of hemodialysis.

Background & Aims: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the common mental disorder in childhood which affects 3-7 percent of children all over the world. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to this disorder. Among the genes involved in the incidence of ADHD, dopaminergic pathway genes can be mentioned. Dopamine is the most important neurotransmitter that plays an important role in modulating the cognition, mood, and motor function of the brain. DAT1 or SLC6A3 gene (dopamine transporter gene) is involved in the dopaminergic pathway and harbors several polymorphisms, among them the rs27072 is located in the 3'-UTR region of the gene. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between DAT1 3'UTR-rs27072 polymorphism and ADHD susceptibility among children from Northwest of Iran. Materials & Methods: This case-control study involved 196 ADHD children and 140 controls. DNA was extracted from blood samples of children. Then, we investigated the DAT1 rs27072 polymorphism among patients and control children using PCR-RFLP method and evaluated the results by statistical methods. Results: Frequencies of genotypes GG, TT, and GT was 112 (57. 73%), 8 (4. 12%) and 74 (38. 14%) inpatient group and 74 (52. 86%), 7 (5%) and 59 (42. 14%) in control group, respectively. According to the results, there was no significant association between case and control groups (p>0. 05). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that there is no significant association between DAT1 rs27072 polymorphism and ADHD in children from Northwest of Iran.