Journal of Arak University Medical Sciences
Year:2014 | Volume:16 | Issue:12 (81)|Papers Count:12

Background: Biosurfactants are amphiphilic biological compounds produced extracellularly by a variety of microorganisms. Because their use in various industries is of a particular importance, the aim of this study was to identify a strain of bacteria of the genus Bacillus Cereus biosurfactant producers and investigate the antibacterial effects of their biosurfactants.Material & Methods: To do the study, different samples of oil, water, and soil (contaminated with oil) were obtained. Measures of hemolytic activities, emulsification and surface tension were used and selected strains were identified by biochemical tests. The nature and antibacterial effect of biosurfactants produced by selected strains were assessed.Results: In this study, 88 bacterial strains were isolated of which 24 strains had hemolytic activities, 14 strains had above 70% emulsification activities, and four strains were able to change the surface tension to less than 40 mN/m. According to biochemical tests, a strain called B. cereus 43 was identified. Investigation of its biosurfactant nature showed that the strain was a lipopeptide type. Also, the produced biosurfactant had antibacterial activity against six infectious bacteria. The most sensitive and the most resistant bacteria to the biosurfactant were S. Aureus PTCC1112 and Proteus Mirabilis ATCC 2601 respectively. Also, the results of MIC and MBC showed that in a dilution of 63 mg /ml MIC extract were mostly effective on S. Aureus PTCC1112 and S.Epidermidis ATCC2405, and in a dilution of 125mg/ml the MBC extract had the greatest effects on S. Aureus, S. Epidermidis, and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa PTCC1074.Conclusion: As findings showed, Bacillus Cereus 43 is of high potential in reducing the surface tension and its extracted biosurfactant had high antibacterial effects. Therefore, this strain is of useful applications in biotechnology and the environmental sciences.

Background: Untreated toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis can lead to loss of central vision, corneal opacity, tearing, and photophobia. Therefore, early treatment of such a condition is very important. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of intravitreal injection of clindamycin in toxoplasmic retinochoroditis in comparison with conventional therapy.Materials and Methods: In a clinical trial, the target population was all patients with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis referred to ophthalmology clinics in Arak city. Subjects were randomly divided into two groups, intervention group “A” received intravitreal clindamycin injection and control group “B” received standard oral treatment (Pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine and clindamycin). Tools for data gathering were as follows: a demographic questionnaire, a visual acuity test using Snellene Chart, and a retinal thickness test using Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT). Results were recorded by a retina specialist before and after intervention (on a weekly and monthly basis till complete resolution of lesions in retina). The data then were entered into the SPSS 16 software and after matching for age and sex of patients, final analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential tests such as t-test.Results: Of 26 patients entered into trial, 61.5% were residing in urban areas. The mean of time for healing of lesions and improvement of visual acuity was different between two groups of (A) and (B) (P=0.001). The improvement of visual acuity before and after treatment was significantly different in both groups (P=0.005). Also, the central macular thickness before and after treatment was significantly different within each group (P=0.001), but there was no such a difference between two groups in this regard (P=0.452).Conclusions: Although two methods of treatment are effective, but due to shorter time of lesions healing and provision of higher visual acuity, intravitreal injection of clindamycin seems better than the alternative conventional therapy.

Introduction: Motivation is one of the most important tools to pursuade faculty members to perform more effectively and efficiently in their workplace. Based on Herzberg's theory, this study tried to reveal the needs and motivations of faculty members of Arak University of Medical Sciences at doing their jobs.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, of 168 faculty members at Arak University of Medical Sciences, 102 members filled out the researcher-tailored questionnaire. The questionnaire included 40 questions emenating from Herzberg's two-factor theory. Gathered data was analyzed using t and Mann-Whitney U tests.Results: Response rate was about 60.7%.24.5% of the faculty members were working at the basic science departments and 74.5% at the clinical ones. Factors of "communication" and "progress and development" had the greatest impact on faculty members' motivation. On the contrary, factors of "physical condition" and "salary" had the least effects. There was a significant relationship between the age of faculty members and motivational factors of "nature of job", "responsibility and career", and "supervision and monitoring". The relationship between working experience and factors of "salary" and "job security" was also significant.Conclusion: Communication is one of the most important factors in increasing the motivation of faculty members whereas the physical conditions of work and wages are of minimal impact in this regard. As faculty members get older, salary, supervision and monitoring, and job security play more important roles as motivational factors. In other words, with the increase of age and working experience, academic members' expectations of the management changes and if university policy makers do not have a proper evaluation of their activities and neglect their due participation and a applaude, no meaningful change in faculty members' motivation happens.

Background: Having no effective vaccine, Shigella dysenteriae is of the main causes of diarrhea. IpaD protein is of the most important factors in high virulence of pathogenic shigella.Cloning of N-terminal ipaD genes along with ctB genes that possess adjuvant and carrier roles, as a recombinant vaccine, can enhance mucosal immune response.Materials and Methods: In an experimental study, primers of ctB and ipaD genes were designed based on gene cassette construction. PCR reactions were performed to propagate the fragments. Propagated fragments, then, were cloned into pGEM-Teasy vectors. Both vectors, then, were cut by restriction enzymes of HindIII and XhoI, and finally ipaD and ctB were fused together. In the next step, the ctB-ipaD gene cassette and expression vector of pET28a (+) were cut by SalI and HindIII restriction enzymes. Then, ctB-ipaD cassette was expresses in the expression vector.Results: In prest study, the N terminal of ipaD as a vaccine candidate antigen was genetically linked to the C terminal of ctB which possesses carrier and adjuvant potency. Fusion of ctB-ipaD in the expression vector pET28a (+) was confirmed by PCR and restriction enzymes digestion. The recombinant proteins produced then was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot.Conclusion: According to previous studies, production of ctB-ipaD cassette and its expression was the aim of this study. In hop for a vaccine against Shigella, protein expression of this gene cassette and production of an appropriate should be followed in future studies.

Backround & aims: Intraocular pressure (IOP) rise is the most common complication of Nd YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. This study aimed to compare the effect of oral acetazolamide versus topical Co-biosopt in preventing IOP rise following Nd YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.Material and methods: The clinical trial was done on 200 patients who underwent laser Nd: YAG capsulotomy. First group received oral acetazolamide 250 mg q 6h and placebo drops q 8h and second group received Co-biosopt (timolol 0/5% and dorzolamide 2%) drops q 8h and oral placebo capsule q 6h. IOP was measured before and 24 hours after laser capsulotomy.Results: Comparing to hours before intervention, mean of IOP of right and left eyes 24 hours after capsulotomy was significantly decreased in both acetazolamide and Co-Biosopt groups (p=0.001).Conclusion: Considering oral acetazolamide little side effects and desirable IOP reduction of Co-Biosopt that has recently entered into Iran’s market with a domestic identical, this medication can be a relevant option for prevention of IOP rise after laser capsulotomy in patients with posterior capsular opacification.

Background: Thymus gland plays an essential role in generation of some of diseases and disorders. Treatment of these disorders is only possible, sometimes, with complete removal of the gland. Present study aimed to provide useful information on epidemiology, indications and results of thymectomy in order to help for effective diagnosis and treatment of thymic disorders.Material and Methods: In a retrospective study spanning for a decade, all cases of thymectomy performed at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of shahid Beheshti University during the last decade were investigated. Variables of interest were as follows; age, sex, primary diagnosis, surgical technique, complications, and results of surgery.Results: Total number of cases was 50 persons (46% male and 54% female), with a mean age of 85.14±46.41 years old. Primary diagnosis was myasthenia gravis and thymoma in 40% and 42% of the cases respectively. Myasthenic symptoms were the most common presentations.Radical thymectomy surgery was performed in 64% of patients. Fever, atelectasis (10%), and respiratory failure (12%) were the most common post-operative complications and mortality rate due to operation was about 4%. Thymoma (64%) and thymus hyperplasia (20%) were the most common pathologies. In 90% of patients with myasthenia gravis, clinical symptoms were gone or greatly reduced.50% of patients have been followed up and the mean follow-up time in these patients was about 32.20±36.41 months.Conclusion: Thymectomy surgery performed at the department has been effective in treatment of myasthenia gravis and thymoma cases, with low rates of morbidity and mortality.However, the program needs better follow-up to get more effective.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an important pathogenic protozoan. This parasite can cause severe infection and may lead to abortion. Abnormal levels of cholesterol and other lipids in blood samples of infected persons have raised some questions on the role of these factors in the pathogenesis of Toxoplasma. This study aimed to measure and compare lipid and testosterone levels and the relationship between them among a selected group of men with and without Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibody.Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on a group of 20 to 29 years old men referred to the pre-marital clinics in Arak city in 2012. After completing a questionnaire, a blood sample (5 ml) was taken from each subject. Then, required diagnostic tests for toxoplasmosis was conducted. According to diagnostic results, 100 men with Toxoplasma antibodies were defined as cases and another group with equal number but without antibodies was defined as controls. Then, levels of testosterone and lipids in serum of these two groups were measured and compared.Results: Findings showed that testosterone levels were in normal range in both cases and controls, but the hormone level was significantly lower among cases. There was no significant difference in terms of serum lipid levels.Conclusion: Examination of relationship between blood testosterone and lipids levels among cases and controls showed that there was a significant negative correlation between testosterone and triglyceride levels. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between testosterone and HDL levels.

Background: Some studies have shown that central cholinergic system may have an effect on animals' memory of object positioning. However, there are no sufficient information about the effects of consumption of substances that affect the system during pregnancy including effects like novel objects recognition comparing to old ones and even the effect on the fetus. This study aimed to investigate lecithin (as a source of choline) consumption effects, during pregnancy and lactation, on object recognition behavior, as a marker of cognitive memory, among male and female rat offspring.Material and Methods: In an experimental study, female pregnant rats with an average weight of 160±10 grams were gavaged by lecithin or its carriers. For each female rat, this was going on from the very conception to 21 days after offspring birth. There were three groups of rats: controls (without receiving any medication), and two groups of cases receiving 120 and 240mg/kg lecithin or its carriers respectively. On the 36th day of birth and after sex-based segregation, offspring were trained in order to evaluate their recognition memory. The number of offspring in each group and for each sex was 7.Results: Results showed that among female offspring and comparing to controls, consumption of lecithin 240mg/kg by the mother led to increase in percentage of time spent near novel objects (p<0.05).Conclusion: Lecithin consumption during pregnancy and lactating can lead to change in precognitive memory of offspring and it seems that sex may have a role to play here.

Background: Cotonary artery is the most common disease among heart diseases. Although, effective treatment methods are used today, many patients may need to coronary artery bypass graft.Anxiety is a common consequence of all surgical operations. Anxiety in coronary artery bypass graft causes increases metabolic rate and activity in cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal system and lower immunity in body. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of foot reflexology massage on the amout of state anxiety of patients after coronary artery bypass graft in Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah.Materials and Methods: This study is clinical trial one, which included 88 patients who were selected randomly and divided in two groups: intervening group and control group. The intervening group received a ten minute massage on the right foot on the third and fourth days after coronary artery bypass graft. Conrol group didn’t receive massage at all, just at that time anxiety score was measured with standard questionnaire spielberger.Finding: The amount of anxiety in intervening group reduced cosnsiderably in the first day in comparison to control group, but no change was observed in control group. Moreeveer, on the second day, there was no considerable change in mean of anxiety among two groups, though the score was reduced.Conclusion: The finding of the study represent that foot reflexology is a simple and effective intervening which has a little side effect and damage, that can be used as a tool to lower the amount of anxiety in treatment health centers.

Background & aims: Remains of crude oil in storage tanks usually lead to accumulation of oily sludge which should be treated and disposed in a suitable manner. Present study aimed to investigate the feasibility of chemical oxidation of composted sludge of crude oil remains using H2O2 and Fenton’s reagent in order to remove total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) off the sludge.Material & methods: The sludge was mixed with immature compost at various ratios including 1: 2, 1: 4, 1: 6, 1: 8, and 1: 10 sludge-to-compost portions and then it remained for 82 days. After that, hydrogen peroxide and Fenton’s reagent were added to the composted mixture in six concentrations including 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% ww-1 for a period of 24 and 48 hr.Results: TPH removal in composting reactors with the ratios of 1: 2, 1: 4, 1: 6, 1: 8 and 1: 10 were 66.59, 73.19, 74.81, 80.20 and 79.91 percent, respectively. The mean TPH removal of 1: 8 composted mixtures with 2%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% of oxidant concentrations were 1, 5.09, 19.37, 28.16, 34.37 and 38.05 percent, respectively. The highest removal efficiency was achieved in stepwise add-up to the sludge. Also, broadening oxidation time from 24 to 48 hr had a little effect on TPH removal improvement and the removal efficiencies of H2O2 and Fenton were nearly similar.Conclusions: Chemical oxidation with hydrogen peroxide and Fenton as a post-treatment step is an acceptable process in TPH removal from bottom sludge of oil storage tanks.