Iranian South Medical Journal
Year:2012 | Volume:15 | Issue:1|Papers Count:11

Background: Recently it is shown that Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype are associated with drug resistance. Thus a simple and rapid method is required for identification and differentiation of Beijing family isolates. Therefore the aim of this study is to evaluate discriminatory power of different loci in both 12 MIRU-VNTR and 15 MIRU-VNTR Methods for Beijing genotype.Methods: In total 105 Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were identified by spoligotyping, then genomic analysis was carried out by using 12 and 15 MIRU-VNTR methods. Allelic diversity for each locus was calculated using Hunter Gaston Discriminatory Index (HGI).Results: With spoligotyping 20 out of 105 isolates (19.05%) belonged to the Beijing family. Investigating all strains with 12 and 15 MIRU-VNTR showed that 11 loci were highly discriminative (HGI ³0.6) and QUB26 had the highest discriminatory power (HGI=0.84). Number of repeats in QUB11b was specific for Beijing genotype, and only MIRU16 was highly discriminator for this genotype. QUB26, Mtub21, MIRU39, MIRU27, MIRU23 and MIRU26 were moderately discriminator (0.4£HGI<0.6) and other loci were poorly discriminator for Beijing strains (HGI<0.4).Conclusion: 12 and 15 locus MIRU-VNTR are simple and rapid methods and suitable for differentiation of Beijing genotype from other MTB strains, however these two methods are not suitable for discriminating Beijing family among themselves. In overall discriminatory power of 15 locus MIRU-VNTR method was higher than 12 locus MIRU-VNTR.

Background: Different mediators are involved in pain and edema induction during different stages of inflammation. Then, treatment of them encounters some difficulties. Medicinal plants are an important source of substances which are claimed to induce anti-inflammatory effects. This study was aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of Olea europaea L.methanolic extract on male NMRI mouse.Methods: Methanolic extraction was done for leaf of Olea europaea L. and different doses (200, 300 and 400 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally (i.p.) adminstered to male NMRI mice. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of extract was measured during both phases of Formalin test, Acetic acid induced visceral pain and xylene inflammation tests. A standard analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug such as indomethacin, dexamethasone and morphine were administered in positive control groups where appropriates.Results: Results indicated significant dose-dependent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of methanolic extract of Olea europaea L. leaf on pain which induced by formalin (both phase) and acetic acid, and inflammation caused by xylene.Conclusion: Our findings Showed that administration of methanolic extract of Olea europaea L.leaf can suppress pain and inflammation dose dependently which, may mediate via different components of extract. However, more investigations need to be done.

Background: Aquatic leech invade mucosal membrane and causes anemia.Until now, there is not any commercial effective drug for controlling of this parasite. In this experimental study, investigated the effect of some chemical and herbal drugs against leech (Limnatis nilotica).Methods: Methanolic extract of Artemisia kermanensis and Artemisia spp and hydroalcoholic extracts of Scrophularia deserti, Quercus brantii and Achillea spp was prepared. Each drugs was tested in one group with 9 replicates. Each leech preserve in one separated jar and drugs were added to each jar. Albendazole used as commercial anti-parasite and distilled water was used as negative control. The movement and respond of each Leech was recorded for 720 minutes. Also, the leeches were monitored for paralysis and death in this duration.Results: In this study, leeches receiving albendazol (600 mg) died at 138 min after exposure with albendazol. But exposure with methanolic extracts of Artemisia kermanensis (600 mg), Artemisia spp (600 mg) and hydroalcoholic extracts of Quercus brantii (600 mg), Achillea spp (600 mg) and Scrophularia deserti (600 mg) have no effect on liviability of leeches. Methanolic extract of Artemisia kermanensis with doses of 1800 and 2400 mg, caused death in leeches after 720, 635 and 188 minutes, respectively. Also, methanolic extracts of Arthemisia spp with doses of 1200, 1800 and 2400 mg, caused death in leeches after 720, 600 and 601 minutes, respectively.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the herbal drugs that used in this study with compare to albendazole have no considering effect on Limniatis nilotica.

Background: Genome – wide analysis of genetic predisposition to type 2 diabetes mellitus in different populations have yielded variable results. Calpain10, a gene that encodes a non-lysosomal cysteine protease, has been recently proposed as a type 2 diabetes susceptibility genes in the non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus NIDDM1 region. Aim of the study is to evaluate the relation between SNP43 and type2 diabetes.Methods: A total of 102 diabetic subjects and 100 undiabetic controls enrolled in a case-control study in Eastern Azerbaijan Azerbaijan Province. The polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR–RFLP) was applied. We use X2 test and logistic regression to analysis of data.Results: Genotypes distribution of calpain10 gene in control group were 11 (11%), 86 (86%) and 3 (3%) with respected to A/G, G/G and A/A genotypes, respectively. In diabetic group genotypes distribution were 7 (6.9%), 95 (93.1%) and zero, respectively. The G allele frequency was significant difference in case and control groups.Conclusion: Since G allele is a risk factor to affect type 2 diabetes diseases; hence SNP43 of calpain10 gene had significant association with type 2 diabetes in Eastern Azerbaijan.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is a new risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is a sensitive marker of the vitamin B12 and folate insufficiency. Folate and vitamin B12 may be a protective effect on cardiovascular disease. According to limited data about role of vitamin B12 and folate in coronary artery disease (CAD), we conducted this study to measure these factors in patients with coronary artery disease and in control subjects.Methods: This case-control study was performed on 139 subjects who underwent coronary angiography in Shiraz. Plasma vitamin B12 and folate level were measured and compared between patients with CAD and control subjects.Results: 139 individuals with a mean age 56.99±11.93 were enrolled in this study. 31.2% of them had a normal coronary angiography. Mean plasma level of folate in patients with CAD was lower than control subjects (4.46±1.28 ng/ml versus 5.00±1.81 ng/ml, P=0.04). Also mean plasma level of vitamin B12 in patients CAD and control subjects were 451.43±138.90 and 503.60±199.35 pg/ml respectively. Although mean level of vitamin B12 in patients with CAD was lower than control group, but it was not statistically significant (P=0.07).Conclusion: Mean plasma level of vitamin B12 and folate were lower in patients with CAD than control group. It seems that supplementation with this vitamins may be useful in patients with CAD.

Background: Hepatitis C is one of the main causes of mortality and disability of liver diseases worldwide. Main transmission rout is blood transfusion and its epidemiology is changing due to increasing injecting drug users. It is also important because of co-transfer with HIV. In order to finding common HCV genotyping and transmission risk factors, we conducted this study on HCV positive patients who was referred from Bushehr Blood Transfusion Organization.Methods: A total of 69 patients who were detected as positive for HCV antibody (by using ELISA method and RIBA test) referred to virology laboratory between 2007-8 in order to collecting demographic and epidemiologic data, molecular diagnosis and furthermore virus genotyping. After detection of HCV, RNA genotyping of virus was done by using genotype specific primers (By PCR-RFLP).Results: From 69 HCV positive patients 60 had positive RT PCR. Male/Female ratio was 11. Genotype of 38.3% & 36.7% of them was 3a & 1a respectively. The most important transmission risk factor was intravenous drug using (IVDU), the second rout was iatrogenic (dentistry, blood transfusion & medical intervention). There was an association between genotypes & risk factors. Genotype 3a was associated with IVDU & 1a with iatrogenic routs (p<0.05). Co-infection with HBV & HIV was found in 8.3% of patients who all were IV drug users.Conclusion: The dominant genotype of HCV in Bushehr was 3a & 1awith similar dispersion in European countries. The dominant route of transmission is injection of drugs and it shows the necessity of intervention and education in this group of patients.

Background: Streptococcus Pyogenes (group A streptococcus, GAS) is the most important cause of bacterial pharyngitis in children and adolescents. Acute pharyngitis is one of the most common conditions in all ages but it is most common in children. Over diagnosis of acute pharyngitis represents one of the major causes of antibiotic abuse. The goal of this study is to make an estimate of the frequency of group A streptococcus in sore throat patients in Farshchian hospital emergency department and clinic in Hamadan.Methods: For estimation of the clinical features role in diagnosis of streptococcal sore throat, we took samples of 100 patients with average age of 32.96±29.86 years with sore throat. We took samples from pharynx and used standard methods of bacteriology in order to detect streptococcus.Results: Group A Streptococcus (GAS) accounts for 3 percent of all cases of pharyngitis. Clinically, all of the patients had sore throat. The percent breakdowns are as follows: 30% had exudate, 78% had fever, 8% had lymphadenopathy and 7.7 percent of exudative pharyngitis was streptococcal. The cost for unnecessary antibiotic therapy for every single patient who had negative pharynx culture was approximately 32160 Rails.Conclusion: The low frequency of streptococcus pharyngitis in treated patients reveal that diagnosis based on clinical features is not reliable. We recommend use of other diagnostic methods such as Rapid Antigen Detection Tests (RATs). Only reliable and scientific protocols for antibiotic to therapy.

Background: Molecular imaging is a novel method to evaluate cellular function at molecular level without any cell disturbance. Among the molecular imaging modalities, positron emission tomography (PET), especially when fused with computed tomography (CT), has brought an additional dimension to management of patients with can.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: Molecular imaging by PET/CT provides valuable means to assess functional disorders along with anatomical abnormalities in malignant tumors. Increased metabolism induced by malignant cells results in increased uptake in PET images, localization of which is accurately done by using CT scan. This method has been particularly of value in chest lesions (including pulmonary nodules), colorectal cancer, head and neck tumors and lymphoma. The major role of PET/CT appears to be in the preoperative disease staging, response to treatment assessment, and post-treatment disease. PET-CT shows better results than conventional anatomical imaging alone and thereby can assist in better patient management. Disease prognosis and radiotherapy planning are evolving areas where this modality has demonstrated significant promise.Conclusion: Combination of PET and CT in a single system (PET/CT) to form fused anatomical and functional information has provided an imaging modality which could be used as the major tool in detection, staging and restating of tumors. It is also of great value for accurate preparation of radiotherapy treatment plans.

Marine sponges with about 107 genuses and more than 15000 species constitute one of the most wonderful marine invertebrates. These creatures with wide variety of biologic compounds has offered unique source of marine bioproducts towards marine researchers and chemists. Persian Gulf is habitant of various marine organisms including different species of marine sponges. The book “Medicinal sponges of the Persian Gulf” offers comprehensive review of marine bioproducts of Persian Gulf sponges. Due to limited information regarding various species of Persian gulf sponges, list of identified marine sponges of Persian gulf and Red sea that is presented in the book was collected in collaboration with Dr. Helmut Lehnert from Germany, Dr. Rob Van Soest from Amsterdam university and Dr. Jochen Gugel from Stuttgart university. Derivatives of about 55 genuses and 28 species of Persian Gulf sponges were found to be bioactive through searching medical databases and are reviewed in different chapters of the book. Cytotoxic and antitumor compounds constitute the most products derived from Persian Gulf sponges. The review explores Persian gulf sponges as a natural pharmacy with potential pharmaceutical derivatives in near future and indicates further need for investigation of Persian gulf marine organisms’ for bioactive products.