Iranian South Medical Journal
Year:2011 | Volume:4 | Issue:2|Papers Count:12

Background: Shiga toxin Producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a common pathogen in cattle, which occasional causes some human disease. This bacterium can potentially contaminate meat and clinical cases of E.coli O157:H7 infections are often associated with consumption of undercooked ground beef.Methods: In this cross-sectional study 122 samples of ground meat were collected and after enrichment in specific culture media and evaluation sorbitol fermentation and their β-glucoronidase activity, the isolation of E.coli O157:H7 strains have been confirmed with specific antisera. Then virulence genes verotoxin, intimin and hemolysin with multiplex PCR and antibiotic resistance strains with disk diffusion method have been tested.Results: Out of specimens that have been supplied, 119 sorbitol negative colonies isolated which 3 strains O157:H7 (2.45%) with specific antisera confirmed. Out of considered virulence genes, in two cases of these samples (1.64%) the stx1 and eaeA genes were seen and also 2 isolated bacteria had resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, ampicillin, penicillin, clindamicin, cefixime, novobiocin, and gentamicin antibiotics.Conclusion: As this organism lives in intestines of healthy cattle, preventive measures on cattle farms and during meat processing are necessary.

Background: The potential of acute and chronic viral hepatitis infections in blood leukocytes is one of the possible risk factors of leukemia. Between hepatitis viruses, HGV is important for unknown mechanism of pathogenesis in affecting the outcome of leukemia. In this research the prevalence of HGV infection was studied for evaluation of the possible role of this viral infection in the pathophysiology of leukemia.Methods: In this study, 100 EDTA treated blood samples were collected for 2 and half a year from different types of leukemia and also healthy control group, respectively. The plasma of these blood samples were harvested and stored at -80°C till laboratory tests were performed. Serological and antigenic markers of HBV, HCV and HGV were analyzed by ELISA methods. The HGV viremia was also studied by an in-house nested-RT-PCR method in plasma samples of patients with leukemia and control population.Results: Anti-E2-Ab was detected in 1 (1%) of leukemia patients who has not the history of HBV and HCV infections. HGV-RNA was diagnosed in 4 (4%) of patients with leukemia and 1 (1%) of control group. Simultaneous infection of HGV-RNA and HBsAg was detected in one of patients with leukemia. Significant difference was seen between the prevalence of HBV infection in leukemia patients and control group (P=0.02). Also significant correlation was detected between sex and the prevalence of HBV infection in leukemia patients (P=0.02). None of studied risk factors of leukemia were not significantly correlated with HGV infection.Conclusion: In this study the low prevalence of active and persistent HGV infections in leukemia patients in comparing with control population was confirmed. Also detection of HGV and HBV co-infection in these patients, announced the need of completed studies in different populations with different hematological malignancies and/or abnormalities, for better therapeutic and laboratory management of these cancers.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the leading causes of hospital infections in patients hospitalized for a 10 day period or over. It is also considered to be the most important cause of the burn wound infection. Approximately 75% of deaths in burned patients are due to wound infection and the subsequent septicemia. Clinical use of antibiotics has increasingly led to the global distribution of P. aeruginosa isolates with multi-drug resistance. The study was launched to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and the presence of the extended-spectrum-beta lactamase (ESBL) in P.aeruginosa strains isolated from clinical specimens.Methods: Totally, 175 P. aeruginosa strains were isolated from clinical samples and identified by standard methods. The pattern of antimicrobial resistance was then performed on the isolates using Disk Agar Diffusion (DAD) according to CLSI Guideline. Primary screening test for ESBL producing strains was performed by ceftazidim antibiotic disk using disk diffusion method. Combined disk method was used to confirm ESBL producing bacteria.Results: The rate of antimicrobial resistance of P.aeruginosa isolates were 64% to ticarcillin, 52.2% to cefepime, 68.6% to ticarcillin/clavolanic acid, 68.6% to ceftazidime, 67.4% to amikacin, 68.6% to gentamicin, 48% to imipenem, 77.7% to ciprofloxacin and 5.1% to polymixcine B. In the primary screening test, 120 isolates of P.aeruginosa strains were resistant to ceftazidime. In the combined disk method, 66 isolates (55%) were positive for ESBLs.Conclusion: Polymixcine B was found to be the most effective antimicrobial agent in this study. Bacteria carrying ESBL genes may increase mortality and morbidity. Thus, their accurate diagnosis is of extreme importance to prevent from the treatment failure resulted from improper antibiotic administration.

Background: The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is one of the three important fruit crops in the palm family. Kabkub is the main cultivated species in southern part of Iran, Bushehr. Every part of this tree has its own uses. The tree's terminal buds (heart of palm or palmitos) are believed to have many nutritional values. As a folk medicine, it has been used for the improvement of stamina and treatment of sexual weakness. In order to evaluate the nutritional values of this product of date palm, we analyzed the total carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, and fats in the sample.Methods: The palm hearts were obtained from local trees, minced, dried, and ground to powder. Fats were extracted and analyzed using Bligh-Dyer method and gas chromatography. Total proteins and carbohydrates were determined by Kjeldahl and Lane-Eynon methods, respectively. The minerals were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy.Results: The total fat content of the sample was 0.27g/28g. The unsaturated fatty acids present in the sample were mainly linoleic, linolenic and oleic acids, all together comprised 27.2% of the fats. Palmitic acid was the main saturated fat. The total protein estimated was 0.3g/28g. The carbohydrate content of the palm heart was 2.29 g and the minerals present in the sample were mainly Zn, Fe, Mg, P, Mn, Ca, Cu, Na, K, and Se.Conclusion: Date palm contains many essential fatty acids and known anti-inflammatory nutrients including zinc. The amount of crude fiber present in the heart of palm makes it as a valuable dietary product to be used as a tasty cholesterol free nutrient.

Background: Occupational respiratory exposure with the hazardous lead to the onset of various complications in man. Screening of the labors in the manufacturing companies is the main procedure of controlling the incidence of such problems. In this study we aimed to evaluate the spirometry indices in the labors at the school equipments manufacturing factory in Sari, Iran and investigate the frequency of abnormal spirometry parameters, and an early identification of labors at risk of pulmonary diseases.Methods: In this descriptive study, all of the 133 male workers at risk of pulmonary exposure to hazardous air dusts were taken for the study by census method. After clinical examination and filling the provided questionnaire, the pulmonary function tests by spirometry based on the American Thoracic Association (ATA) in the subjects under study were performed. The Forced Expiratory Volume in First Second, Forced Vital Capacity (FEV1, FVC) and the FEV1/ FVC ratio were recorded.Results: The clinical symptoms indicating the pulmonary conditions were not observed in any of the subjects under study; but the data of spirometry of the subject separately indicated reduced of FVC criteria in five cases, and in two of them reduction of both FEV1 and FVC indices, compared to the standard levels was observed. Insignificant difference between the criteria of spirometry and body mass index (BMI), smoking, the workplace and working experience was observed.Conclusion: Though no relation was observed between spirometry criteria disorders and smoking, work experience and workplace, but in seven cases spirometry indices disorder without clinical symptoms was observed. These subjects identified as the risk individuals.

Background: Cancer diseases especially gastric cancer is one of the most important problems in Iran and many other countries. Whereas, determination of epidemiological characteristics of gastric cancer is very important, this study carried out with the aim of epidemiologic survey of gastric cancer in Fars province.Methods: This study was performed on total gastric cancer cases that registered in Tumor Registry Center of Fars province between 2001-2006. Necessary information was gathered from cancer registry forms and hospital files. All statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS (V.13) software.Results: Of 442 gastric cancer patients 68.6% were males and 31.4% were females. Mean age at diagnosis was 58.4 years (SD=14.46), for men 60.72 years (SD=13.82) and for women 53.29 years (SD=14.48). In total, 91.5% of patients were married, most of men were farmer and greatest parts of women were housewife. History of smoking reported by 52.8% of cases. Most prevalent clinical finding in patients were epigastric pain, loss weight and loss appetite, respectively. In 74% of patients, time interval between beginnings of first symptoms until diagnosis of disease was more than one month and in 40.7% of cases, grade of tumor at diagnosis time was poorly differentiated.Conclusion: According to these results, deduction of risk factors and early detection in at risk subjects such as smokers, high risk occupations and individuals with family history of cancer, is important for prevention and control of gastric cancer.

Background: I-131 Metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is a radiopharmaceutical which is proved effective in treatment of tumors with neuroendocrine origin, especially the neuroectodermal (sympathoadrenal) type, including pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma and neuroblastoma. It is also of some value in other neuroendocrine tumors (mainly carcinoid and medullary carcinoma of thyroid).Methods: The method employed in this research was a systematic bibliographic review, in which only valid studies or the clinically detailed enough open-labeled studies using validated scales were used.Results: I-131 MIBG is the best nonsurgical method for treatment of pheochromocytoma. It not only increases survival, but also significantly improves patients’ symptoms (75-90%). Although the efficacy of this method for refractory or relapsing neuroblastoma has been 30%, adding other treatment modalities increases the impact of this treatment. For other neuroendocrine tumors including carcinoid tumor and medullary carcinoma of thyroid, MIBG therapy has been effective in reducing patients’ symptoms. The most important complication of this method is myelosuppression which needs follow-up and if necessary relevant treatment.Conclusion: I-131 MIBG has an important role in treatment of chromafin tumors. For pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma it is the best nonsurgical treatment. It is effective in neuroblastoma especially if it is used in conjunction with other treatment modalities. I-131 MIBG can also diminish symptoms of carcinoid tumor and medullary thyroid carcinoma efficiently.

The assistance of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and appendiceal carcinoid tumor is so rare and has not been reported before .we present here in a 11 year old boy that is the known case of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (with the platelet count of 20000 when admitted). He reffered due to anorexia, pain and tenderness of right lower quadrant of abdomen and vomiting. He also had leukocytosis and abdominal free fluid in sonographic report. These findings suggested the diagnosis of acute appendicitis and the patient underwent appendectomy, after the operation, the platelet count became normal. The pathologic report of the specimen of the appendix was carcinoid tumor. Now the question is whether the appendiceal carcinoid tumor can be the reason of symptoms of chronic idiopathic.