JOURNAL OF ARDABIL UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES (JAUMS)
Year:2013 | Volume:13 | Issue:1 (47)|Papers Count:11

Background & objectives: Diabetes mellitus is one of the prevalent metabolic disorders in the world and mostly it is related to Obesity. Central obesity results in higher risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia is the main reason of central obesity disorders. Studies have been shown that the fruits, vegetables and drinks are rich in phenolic and antioxidants components may alleviate diabetes diseases. One of these fruits is pomegranate that is rich in flavonoids. Therefore, this study was designed to determine the effect of unsweetened pomegranate juice consumption on insulin resistance, inflammatory factor and anthropometric measures in diabetic patients.Methods: In this clinical trial, 50 patients with type 2 diabetes aged 30-50 years were recruited into the study and randomly assigned into two groups: (1) intervention group (n=25) who drank 240 ml unsweetened pomegranate juice daily and (2) control group (n=25) who drank 240 ml water daily for two months. Fasting blood glucose, inflammatory factors including hs-CRP, anthropometric measures including weight, height, waist and hip circumference, BMI were determined at the baseline and after 8 weeks. Nutritionist IV program, Independent sample t-test, Paired sample t-test were used for data analyses.Results: Comparison of fasting blood glucose, HbA1C, body mass index, hs-CRP between the two groups before intervention did not reveal a significant difference. The result of the study showed a significant decrease in insulin resistance, body weight, hip circumstance, waist circumstance in intervention group (p<0.05 p<0.01 p<0.05 p<0.05 respectively) whereas no significant changes were found for serum glucose, HbA1C, hs-CRP in this group.Conclusion: These findings indicate the beneficial effect of the daily consumption of unsweetened pomegranate juice on insulin resistance, body weight, waist and hip circumstances.

Background & Objectives: Polymers as drug carriers are recent advances in drug delivery and led to the new advent field that called polymer treatment. In the present study, the toxic and teratogenic effects of BDP18 were evaluated against chicken embryos as a model.Methods: The BDP18 tri-block copolymer (PLA-PEG2000-PLA) was synthesized. The compound solution was injected in triplicate examination, in the air sac of the eggs, at third day of incubation, and survived fraction of the embryos and Morphological and skeletal changes were recorded.Results: The survived fraction of the embryos depends on the compound concentration. In concentration of 20 mg/ml, 33.3% of the embryos were survived and the LD50 was 10.87 mg/egg. Morphological study of the treated embryos showed no abnormalities in embryos, and skeletal staining showed the deletion of caudal vertebrate in high concentration.Conclusion: The BDP18 copolymer had low toxic and teratogenic effects against the embryos, but it caused the deletion of caudal vertebrate at concentrations above the threshold (10 mg/ml). This polymer can be used as an effective drug-release system in low concentrations.

Background & Objectives: Staphylococci are among common causes of community acquired and nosocomial infections around the world. Over the last decade, the resistance of these bacteria in hospital environments is increasing to various antibiotics such as vancomycin. The aim of present study was to determine the antimicrobial resistance pattern and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values among a clinical collection of staphylococci isolated from hospitalized children in Tabriz.Methods: In this prospective and descriptive study, 88 staphylococcal isolates including 53 S.aureus and 35 coagulase-negative staphylococcus species were recovered from various clinical specimens referred to microbiology laboratory of Children Hospital during study period (April 2011 to March 2012). Susceptibility of the isolates against 15 different antimicrobial agents and MIC values of vancomycin was tested using standard disk diffusion and E-test methods respectively.Results: According to the results of drug susceptibility testing, vancomycin and rifampin were the most effective but clindamycin and penicillin were the least effective drugs against tested isolates. Accordingly, the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains was determined more than 80%. According to MIC values, 13.2% of S. aureusand 3.3% of coagulase-negative staphylococcus isolates showed intermediate resistance to vancomycin. None of the isolates was fully resistant to vancomycin isolates in this study.Conclusion: Although fully vancomycin resistant staphylococci was not found among tested isolates in this study, there was VISA strains. Since there are reports on the emergence of VRSA strains from Iran and other countries, it is necessary for the clinician to care in prescription of vancomycin as a selective drug against staphylococcal infections. Moreover, the necessity of MIC measurement in determining of vancomycin susceptibility is more apparent.

Background & Objectives: Stem cells are fundamental supporter of multicellular tissue. They allow blood, bone, gametes, epithelia, nervous system, muscle, and other tissues to be replaced by fresh cells throughout life. In recent years human Wharton's jelly stem cells (WJSCs) have gained attention. They express a number of surface markers characteristic of mesenchymal stem cells. In this study, human Wharton's jelly stem cells were isolated using explant method. To show the stemness property of these cells, three CD markers including CD105, CD44 and CD34 were tested.Methods: The umbilical cord samples were collected by Caesarian section at Arta Hospital in Ardabil. Cords were transferred in sterile conditions and stem cells were isolated using explant method. After log phase, cells were passaged then growth characteristics and CD105, CD44 and CD34 markers investigated by RT-PCR.Results: Separation of human Wharton's jelly stem cells were started after 7 days. WJSCs in culture revealed two distinct cell population named Type 1 and Type 2. RT-PCR results showed that WJSCs were CD105+, CD44+ and CD34-.Conclusion: Human umbilical cord stem cells could be an alternative source instead bone marrow stem cells for cell therapy and tissue engineering. These cells have a fibroblastic appearance. Following the lag phase and into log phase respectively, cells grow easily in culture and retain stemness properties in higher passages.

Background & Objectives: Food consumption for its hedonic properties can result in caloric intake exceeding requirements and is considered as a major culprit in the rapidly increasing rate of obesity. We compared the dietary patterns and the hedonic questionnaire score in obese and non-obese women. We also investigated the relation between the score of this questionnaire and variety of food items.Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 140 women aged 17-44 years that had referred to obesity club at district 4 of Tehran in 2011. Food intake and hedonic score were determined using validated semi-quantitative 168-item food frequency questionnaire and 21-item hedonic questionnaire, respectively. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between obesity and the dietary patterns identified by factor analysis and hedonic hunger score.Results: Two dietary patterns were identified as healthy and unhealthy patterns. The adjusted odds ratio of obesity didn't show any significant trend in none of the dietary patterns. The mean hedonic questionnaire score was higher in case than control group, significantly (p<0.05). The adjusted odds ratio of obesity, for the second and the third tertiles of this questionnaire versus the first tertile of this, was 2.8 and 10.8, respectively (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study shows that there is no difference between the dietary patterns of obese and nonobese women, while there is a positive association between hedonic hunger and obesity. It seems that hedonic hunger may lead the obese women to consume unhealthy food choices.

Background & Objectives: Macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin B (MLSB) antimicrobial agents are used in the treatment of staphylococcal infections. They prevent the microbial protein synthesis system through binding to 23SrRNA. The aim of this study was to apply molecular methods to detect inducible clindamycin resistance genes among staphylococcal strains isolated from clinical specimens.Methods: Two hundred staphylococcus strains were isolated from nose and throat swabs of patients in Toohid and Besat hospitals in Sanandaj. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of isolates were determined using disc diffusion method, agar screen test and D-Test. A multiplex PCR was performed using primers specific for erm (A, B, C, TR) genes.Results: Out of 200 isolates, 18.5 % were MRSA and 32% were MRCNS (methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci). Of 80 erythromycin resistant isolates, 48 were coagulase negative and 32 were S. aureus. Among the 48 coagulase negative staphylococci (CONS) isolates, 11.63% expressed the MLSB-inducible phenotypes. Using PCR, the frequency of different genes in the collection of isolates were as follows: erm A, 5.41 %, erm B, 5.41 %, and erm C, 3.13%. The ermTR gene was negative in all isolates. Among the 32 S. aureus isolates, 9.38% expressed the MLSB-nducible phenotype. Using PCR, these isolates harbored erm A (2.22%), ermB (2.22%), ermC (2.22%) and ermTR (2.22%).Conclusion: This is the first study to show the rate of inducible clindamycin clinical isolates of staphylococci harboring erm genes in Sananadaj. It also demonstrated the frequency of erm genes was higher among CONS isolates than S. aureus. This data suggested the transfer of resistance gene from nonpathogenic to pathogenic strains is likely to happen. Therefore, screening and control of these resistance genes is recommended at clinical laboratories.

Background & Objectives: Recent studies have shown that aquatic actinomycetes can be a source of new biological products such as antibiotics and industrial products. This study was designed to examine the aquatic actinomycetes isolated from mangrove forests in South of Iran and their antibacterial activities against some human pathogens.Methods: In this study 115 samples were randomly taken from different places of a mangrove forests in South of Iran. Isolation was based on serial dilution of the samples and plating them on starch casein agar medium. Agar well diffusion and disc diffusion assays were used to examine the antibacterial activity of the isolated purified aquatic actinomycetes.Results: The aquatic actinomycetes were isolated from 83 samples (70%). Of them, 66 (80 percent) showed antibacterial activity and 17 (20%) could not inhibit the human pathogenic bacteria. The diameter of the inhibitory zones (ZOI) ranged from 4 to 11 mm and the biggest zone belonged to Bacillus cereus (p£0.05).Conclusion: The findings showed that the various and useful aquatic actinomycetes for production of new antibiotic compounds are isolated easily from the mangrove forests in South of Iran. Considering the vast spreading of mangrove forests in South of Iran and the economic and simplicity of isolation of actinomycetes for industrial usage, these source can be an important and new place for research and industry.

Background: Crocus sativus L., commonly known as saffron is used for different purposes such as an antispasmodic and expectorant. Recent studies have demonstrated that saffron extracts have antitumor, radical scavenger, hypolipidemic, anticonvulsant effects and it improves activity on learning and memory. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of aqueous saffron extract on weight, length, macroscopic and microscopic skeletal malformation in fetuses of rats.Methods: Study was carried on 3 groups of female Wistar rats. Group1 was kept as control and received normal saline with equal volume of extract, Group 2 received saffron extract with 80mg/kg-IP on 10th and 11th day of gestation, Group 3 received saffron extract with 200mg/kg-IP on 10th and 11th day of gestation. Rats were dissected on day 20 of gestation, embryos harvested by cesarean section. The living status and weight and length of fetuses were detected. After examination for determination of gross malformations, fetuses were placed in alcohol and stained by Alizarin red-Alcian blue method, then evaluation was carried by stereomicroscope.Results: Saffron extract at dose of 80 mg/kg significantly increased the weights and body-lengths of fetuses in compare with saline and extract at dose 200 mg/kg. Macroscopic and Microscopic studies did not show any skeletal abnormalities by two above doses of saffron.Conclusion: The results show short time administration of saffron aqueous extract does not cause malformation on skeletal system.

Background & Objectives: Prostatitis is relatively one of the common diseases in elderly men. Treatment of this disease is difficult and because of frequent relapses, it provides complicated problems for patients and the physicians. Detection of reservoirs and determination of prevalence of involved microbes in prostatitis are important in the epidemiology and control of the disease. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in patients with prostatitis by sequencing and PCRRFLP techniques.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 paraffin-embedded prostate samples from patients with prostatitis during 2008-2011 were checked for M. gentialium. After cutting the tissues and homogenization, the genomic DNA was extracted and used as template in PCR. Primers targeting a 465 bp regions of 16S rRNA of M. genitalium were used in the assay. PCR products were sequenced and Cac8I, Bbs I, EcoRI, AluI, TaqI endonucleases were used in RFLP analysis.Results: Of 200 samples, 4 were positive in PCR. The results of DNA sequencing and RFLP confirmed the amplified genes corresponded to M. genitalium G37.Conclusion: The Mycoplasma genome present in tissue samples of prostate showed this bacterium could be one of the risk factors for prostatitis in men. However large studies and control groups are needed to prove this finding.

Background & Objectives: Hemophilia A is an X-linked recessive bleeding disorder, which is caused by several different abnormalities in Factor 8 gene. Intron 22 inversion is the main causative mutation in 45-50% of severe hemophilia A patients. Moreover intron 1 inversion is responsible for>5% of severe hemophilia A cases. The goal of this study was to precisely analyse intron 1 inversion of Factor 8 gene in severe Hemophilia A patients who were negative for intron 22 inversion by Inverse Shifting-PCR (IS-PCR) method.Methods: In this experimental study, severe hemophilia A patients with less than 1% of normal FVIII activity level referred from Isfahan Seyedolshohada hospital were analyzed.After obtaining the consent from patients, genomic DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes was extracted. Then, Inverse-Shifting PCR method was exploited for detection of inversion of intron 1 of Factor 8 gene in patients who were negative for inversion intron 22.Results: In 18 out of 32 patients who were negative for inversion intron 22, 2 (6.2%) had intron 1 inversion.Conclusion: The allele frequency of inversion of intron 1 at Factor 8 gene is in agreement with related studies. IS-PCR is a rapid, robust and cost effective method that can improve the molecular detection of inversion and is useful for analysis of hemophilia A patients, carrier testing and prenatal diagnosis.

Background & Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is recognized with severe metabolic complications. Many herbal medicines have been recommended for treatment of diabetes. In this study, the antidiabetic and analgesic effect of hexanic and alcohlic extract Trigonella foenum graecum was investigated in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.Methods: Present study was carried out in 2011 at Guilan University of Medical Sciences, 48 male Sprague Dawley rats (230-300 gr) were divided into six groups: control, type 1 diabetic, and 4 treated groups that received intraperitonealy hexanic and alcoholic extract of fenugreek (100, 200 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days. Two experimental models were used (acetic acid, and hot-plate tests) in order to characterize the analgesic effect. Blood glucose was measured with glucometer. Data analyzed with spss software 16 and one way ANOVA and Tukey tests. P<0.05 was statistically significant.Results: Compared to control rats, both of the aqueous - alcoholic and Hexanic extract significantly reduced blood glucose level in all diabetics groups. This effect was stronger in groups that received Hexanic extract (p<0.05). All groups received the aqueous - alcoholic and Hexanic extract showed analgesic effect but this effect was more clear in the Hexanic 200 mg/kg group (p<0.05).Conclusion: Fenugreek extract possesses hypoglycemic, and analgesic effects.