Journal of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences
Year:2024 | Volume:24 | Issue:1|Papers Count:8

2Enzymes have been used experimentally in the preparation of fermented, food, and medicinal products since mankind started a regular life in the form of early civilizations, without any information about their nature being available. It has been more than a century since scientists have obtained information about the enzymatic reactions and the enzyme structure, and a newer and more practical attitude towards them is obtained day by day. Today, these proteins play roles as biomarkers in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of diseases. Enzymes roles as receptor for some hormones and their qualitative and quantitative changes interfering in the onset of some diseases such as diabetes have been known. In addition, they are used as accurate and specific tools in the assay of some biochemical analytes, phenotypic identification of bacteria and biosensor design. The basis of the mechanism of some drugs is enzyme inhibition. Meanwhile, some enzymes are directly used as drugs. The enzymes are applied in some immunoassay techniques, genetics and proteomics laboratory methods. In modern biotechnology, enzymes are used to produce plenty of products. This review article aimed to take a new, updated and comprehensive approach to several roles that enzymes play in various fields from diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of diseases to their application in medical, genetics and proteomics laboratory methods.

2Background: Oral mucositis as a complication of chemotherapy has posed significant challenges to the quality of life in cancer patients. Tricyclic antidepressants, including nortriptyline can control the pain caused by mucositis by inhibiting sodium channels. Since patient compliance and rapid drug effect are the goals of the proposed formulation, it was decided to prepare and evaluate a nortriptyline mouthwash according to the United States Pharmacopeia. Methods: Based on the pharmacopeia, the necessary excipients in the nortriptyline mouthwash were determined, and the amount of each was specified. After validating the UV spectrophotometric technique, drug interaction with the mouthwash container was investigated. In addition to measuring the aqueous activity, necessary microbiological tests were also performed. Results: The UV spectroscopy method validation for nortriptyline was performed at the obtained maximum absorption wavelength (238.5 nm). The findings of the investigation of the interaction of polyethylene terephthalate container with nortriptyline indicate almost no drug adsorption into the internal part of the mouthwash container over 28 days. The results of antibacterial and antifungal/antimycotic tests were within the standard range of the United States Pharmacopeia. The mouthwash's aqueous activity was also found to be 0.81, indicating an unfavorable environment for microbial growth. Conclusion: This study has shown that the prepared nortriptyline mouthwash meets microbiological resistance standards and there is no interaction between the active drug ingredient and the proposed container. Therefore, this formulation can be suggested as a promising candidate for clinical exploration.

2Background: Ginkgo biloba is a plant with many therapeutic characteristics because it’s rich in polyphenolic contents. This study was done to evaluate the antibacterial activities of Ginkgo and to compare the antibacterial potential of ethanolic, methanolic and aqueous leaf extracts of Ginkgo biloba. Methods: The antibacterial activity of Ginkgo extracts was evaluated using a disc diffusion method against four strains of bacteria: Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts were assessed. Results: The results indicated that all extracts of Ginkgo possess distinguished antibacterial activity. Among them the methanolic extract exhibited maximum antibacterial activity and the aqueous extract showed minimum antibacterial activity. The highest MIC and MBC were determined at 3.13 and 6.25 µg/mL of aqueous extract against Bacillus subtilis, respectively. Conclusion: Regarding the acquired results from this study, the leaves of Ginkgo biloba possess a considerable amount of antibacterial activity that can make them one of the most valuable antibacterial resources that could be used in food and therapeutic industries. Therefore, more studies should be conducted on this plant.

2Background: Antibiotic resistance represents a critical global concern within the medical community, posing significant challenges in the treatment of infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Over the years, broad-spectrum fluoroquinolones have been extensively used to treat infections caused by both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In this study, we decided to assess the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance mechanisms among clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa in Ardabil hospitals. Methods: We analyzed a total of 200 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, collected between June 2019 and May 2023. The antibiotic resistance profiles of these strains against various fluoroquinolone antibiotics were determined using the disk diffusion method. Additionally, we investigated the presence of qnrA, qnrB, qnrC, qnrD, and qnrS genes through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Furthermore, we assessed the expression levels of efflux pump genes and outer membrane porin genes using the quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) in fluoroquinolone-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. Results: Our findings revealed that 69% of P. aeruginosa strains were resistant to fluoroquinolones. The resistance rates for different fluoroquinolones were as follows: ciprofloxacin 55.5%, ofloxacin 62%, norfloxacin 53.5%, lomefloxacin 55.3%, and levofloxacin 55.5%. Notably, 78.9% of these strains exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR). Among the qnr genes, qnrB was the most prevalent (2.9%). No other qnr genes were identified. Interestingly, 75% of P. aeruginosa strains carrying the qnrB gene showed overexpression of efflux pump genes, while 100% exhibited down-regulation of the oprD gene. Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of fluoroquinolone-resistant P. aeruginosa clinical isolates in Ardabil hospitals and the multifactorial nature of resistance, continuous monitoring of antibiotic resistance trends and understanding the underlying resistance mechanisms are crucial for selecting appropriate treatment strategies.

2Background: Weight gain and obesity are the global health problem. Time-restricted feeding is a relatively new method of weight loss with many metabolic and anthropometric benefits. Low-intensity aerobic exercise also has beneficial effects on weight loss and metabolic factors; However, the combined effect of TRF and low-intensity aerobic exercise on metabolic and anthropometric factors in healthy overweight middle-aged men has rarely been investigated. The present research has investigated this purpose. Methods: Among 55 volunteers, 27 healthy middle-aged men in the age (35 to 55) with overweight (25 The groups included: 1-TRF18:6 & EX 2-TRF 16:8 & EX 2-TRF 14:10 & EX. Three groups performed TRF protocols with different feeding times (6, 8 and 10 hours of free feeding) and fasting in the remaining 24 hours, and the same low -intensity aerobic exercise (55-65% of maximum heart rate). The interventions continued for 12 weeks. Blood and body composition tests were measured before and after the intervention. Daily food intake was measured before the intervention and during 12 weeks. Finally, all the data were analyzed.Analysis of variance with repeated measures was used for analysis. P values ​​less than 0.05 were considered as a significant criterion in all statistical tests. Results: The combination of TRF and exercise decreased glucose and insulin resistance in all groups. Cholesterol and LDL decreased in the 6-h and 8-h TRF groups. HDL reduction was significant only in the 8-h TRF group. Weight and BMI were reduced in the 6-h and 8-h TRF groups. The percentage of fat reduced in the 6-h group.  There was no significant difference between the groups for any of the variables. The average energy received in 12 weeks was not significantly different in any group; however the 6-h model caused a greater decrease in the average energy received during 12 weeks than in the other two groups. Conclusion: The 6-h TRF model along with light aerobic exercise is suggested as the most reliable method to improve the metabolic and anthropometric profile in overweight middle-aged men.

2Background: Early childhood caries is a disease that affects the quality of life of a child and his overall health; it can interfere with the child's daily activities and growth process. This disease is affected by various factors such as diet, oral hygiene, social health factors and psychological issues. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between early childhood caries in children and the parents’ quality of life. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 552 children aged 12 to 71 months in Ardabil city. The convenient sampling method was used and participants were patients who referred to Ardabil Dental Health Center. Dmft index (decayed, missing, and filled teeth) was assessed after examining the children. The World Health Organization questionnaire was used to evaluate the quality of life of the parents. The demographic information of children and parents was also determined. Statistical analysis included, kruskal-wallis, t-test and linear regression. Results: The average score of the quality-of-life questionnaire was 66.42±17.91. No significant correlation was found between the mean quality of life of parents and dmft index. (p=0.916, r=0.008) A significant difference was observed between the child's dental caries and the father's age and education. (p<0.05) There was no significant difference in the mean dmft index, 5.32±0.5 in boys and 5.85±4.7 in girls. (p=0.459) Conclusion: This study showed that the general quality of life of parents and its sub-branches such as the place where the child lives, the social and physical health of the parents are not directly related to early dental caries in children.

2Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that gradually destroys the synovial joints and leads to chronic inflammation. This autoimmune disorder is associated with an increase in stress-related symptoms, including anxiety and depression, and a decrease in social behaviors, which severely reduces the patient's quality of life. Previous studies show that higher physical activity during adolescence may lead to a decrease in neurobehavioral disorders in adulthood. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the increase of physical activity from early adolescence on stress-related behaviors and inflammation in mice with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: Male mice were randomly exposed to a running wheel from early adolescence to adulthood, and then rheumatoid arthritis was induced. Stress-related behaviors, including anxiety, depression and social behavior were investigated in animals. The level of interleukin 17 (IL-17) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) were also measured as important inflammatory markers in the serum. Results: The results showed that physical activity from early adolescence significantly resulted in decreased stress in mice with rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, the running wheel led to a decrease in the levels of (IL-17) and (IFN-γ) in rheumatoid arthritis-induced mice as two important indicators of inflammation. Conclusion: This study shows that increased physical activity during adolescence to adulthood may make mice resistant to increased stress and inflammation caused by rheumatic arthritis.

2Background: Nosocomial infections are considered as the important parts of the treatment challenges in hospitals. The genus Artemisia is widely distributed in Iran. Their species produce antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal compounds belonging to different groups including phenols, terpenoids, sterols and polyacetylenes. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the in vitro effects of different hydroethanolic extracts of Artemisia species against bacterial strains in nosocomial infection. Methods: 12 different extracts, including 50% and 70% hydroethanolic extracts were prepared from the aerial parts of Artemisia ciniformis, A. turanica, A. kopetdaghensis, A. khorasanica, A. vulgaris, and A. sieberi. The winterization of the extracts produced corresponding defatted extracts. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the extracts against the bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Acinetobacter sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococus epidermidis, Micrococcus luteus, Klebsiella  pneumoniae and Escherichia coli were measured using the microdilution broth method. Total phenolic contents were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Results: Among the extracts analyzed in this experiment, the lowest MIC value was observed for the 50% hydroethanolic extract of A. turanica (0. 25 mg/ml) against S. epidermidis. The largest range of bacterial sensitivity (6 strains) was related to the 50% hydroethanolic extracts of A. turanica (defatted and non-defatted) and A. kopetdaghensis (defatted). The growth of S. epidermidis was inhibited by all of the extracts. The highest total phenolic content and yield of extraction were recorded for 70% hydroethanolic extract of A. sieberi and 50% hydroethanolic extract of A. ciniformis, respectively. Conclusion: The 50% hydroethanolic extract of A. turanica was superior to the other extracts in terms of the in vitro antibacterial spectrum and selective potency. A. turanica and A. kopetdaghensis are probably suitable choices for further phytochemical and antibacterial investigations