Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences
Year:2010 | Volume:8 | Issue:4 (33)|Papers Count:12

Background and Objectives: Because resistance to antimicrobial drugs is widespread, recognition of new antimicrobial and understanding of their mechanisms are vital. The quinolones have a broad antibacterial spectrum of activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative and mycobacterial pathogens such as anaerobes. In the present study, the synthesis and antibacterial activity of a new series of N-piperazinyl quinolones containing 5-(nitroaryl)-1, 3, 4-thiadiazole-2-yl moiety have been studied. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, the reaction of 1-cyclopropyl-6 fluoro-8 methoxy-4-oxo-7- (piperazin-1-yl)-1, 4- dihydroquinoline-3- carboxylic acid (compound 3), with 2-chloro-5-(nitroaryl)-1,3,4-thiadiazol (compounds 9a-f), in DMF in the presence of NaHCO3 at 85-90oC, gave final compounds 1- cyclopropyl- 6fluoro-7-[4-[5-(nitroaryl)-1,3, 4-thiadiazol-2yl], piperazin-1-yl] -8- methoxy-4-oxo-quinoline-3- carboxylic acid (8a-f). compounds 8a-f, were tested in vitro by the conventional agar dilution method against a panel of microorganisms including stophylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, salmonella typhi, shigella flexneri, klebsiella pneumonia, serratia marcescens and pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results: Among synthesized compound, nitrofuran analog 8b exhibited more potent inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria including B. subtilis, S. epidermidis, E. feacalis, M. luteus, in respect to other synthesized compounds and reference drug gatifloxacin. Conclusion: Introduction of the bulky group of [5-(5-nitroaryl)-1, 3, 4-thiadiazol-2-yl] could dramatically impact the antibacterial activity of the parent quinolone, and among the nitroaryl groups, 5-nitrofuryl analogue showed the most potent antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms .

Background and Objectives: It has been reported that the increase of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) availability increases fat oxidation and decreases carbohydrate use in the skeletal muscles. This study was performed to determine the effect of L-carnitine supplementation plus heparin infusion on carbohydrate metabolism during aerobic exercise. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trail study, 30 healthy untrained male students from Islamic Azad University of Saveh, in two groups of experimental and control, cycled according to Astrand protocol on two separate occasions in a week in two steps: 1) Exercise protocol without heparin infusion or L-carnitine ingestion for the experimental group and without lactose (placebo) for the control group. Step 2) Exercise protocol after heparin infusion and L-carnitine ingestion among the experimental group and infusion and ingestion of lactose (placebo) among the control group. Blood samples were drawn immediately following the two step exercises for the purpose of plasma glucose and L-carnitine concentration calculations. The data was analysed using T-test. Results: The findings showed that heparin infusion and L-carnitine ingestion had no influence on plasma glucose concentrations (91±6 versus 91±7 mg/dL) in the experimental group. In addition, Lactate concentration did not change significantly in the experimental group (5.1±0.61 versus 4.47±0.59 mg/dL). Also the lactose use did not change the dependant variables in the control group. Conclusion: Results indicated that increased FFA availability does not affect carbohydrate metabolism or endurance performance. Further studies are necessary to determine the effect of these supplementations on fat-carbohydrate metabolism or endurance exercise.

Background and Objectives: Prevalence of hypertension has increased with the onset of epidemic of obesity in childhood. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and its association with the anthropometric indices in adolescent girls in Rafsanjan. Material s and Methods: In this cross sectional study, 1221 adolescent girls were, randomly, selected using two stage sampling method in 2007. The individual questionnaire was completed, and blood pressure and anthropometric indice s were measured. Hypertension and overweightness were detected using the fourth report on the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of high blood pressure in children and adolescents (National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute) and CDC charts criteria, respectively. Student's t test, X2 Pierson correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Results: Results of this study demonstrated that prevalence of high systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the girls was 10. 2% % and 9.2%, respectively. Mean±standard deviation of SBP between normal and abnormal weight respondents was significantly different (109.12±10.36 versus 115.66±9.23 mmHg, (p=0.001). Mean ± standard deviation of DBP between the normal and over weight respondents had also significant differences (60.54±11.2 versus 67.14±9.85 mmHg p=0.001). There was a significant association between both SBP (p=0.001, r=0.409) and DBP (p=0.001, r=0.42) with BMI. One point two percent of the girls had abdominal obesity. Conclusion: Findings showed that hypertension and overweightness are common health problems among adolescent girls in Rafsanjan. Interventional programs are recommended.

Background and Objectives: Motor deficit in the shape of muscle flaccidity after Cerebro-vascular Accident (CVA) is a common disorder. As the duration of the flaccidity period extends, the motor recovery is delayed proportionally. In this study, the correlated factors to the length of flaccidity period and the final prognosis of the patients with CVA have been investigated. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, in a 6 months time (Apr-Oct, 2007), all the patients (110) with cerebral vascular disease who were admitted to the neurological ward of Loghman hospital entered in the study. An information form regarding the standard motor evaluation charts of Adams and Oxfordish was completed for each patient. The patients with total flaccidity were reassessed for their motor recovery at 72 hours, 1, 2 and 4 weeks after their cerebro-vascular accident. Results: Out of 110 investigated cases, 29 patients (26.4%) had total flaccidity at the onset of the study. Twelve patients out of this group (41.4%) had partial anterior infarction, however the majority of the patients with normal muscular tonus (34 cases) had lacuner lesion [23 patients (67.64%). The patients with total flaccidity had shorter flaccidity period compared to the patients with partial anterior infarction. Conclusions: The results showed that the occlusive lesions of anterior circulation and lacuner are the most common lesions, and it seems that the patients with partial anterior infarction have poorer prognosis regarding their motor recovery than that of others.

Background and Objectives: Thalassemic patients are at risk of blood transmitted infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C, due to continued receiving of blood and its components. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of occult Hepatits B Virus infection (OBI) and HBV markers in thalassemic patients with Hepatitis C infection. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 thalassemic patients were examined for HCV infection by Reverse Transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) during Apr-Sep 2007 in the Kerman province of Iran. Hepatitis B virus infection was evaluated in the HCV positive thalassemic patients by PCR. Anti-HBc, anti-HBs and HBsAg were detected using ELISA. Results: Results indicated that although 27 (45%) of the cases, out of 60, were infected by HCV, but HBV-DNA was not detected in the HCV infected patients. The findings also showed that 9 (33%) out of 27 HCV-RNA positive patients were anti-HBc positive and 11 (40.7%) out of 27 patients were positive for anti-HBs. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that the prevalence of OBI was very low in thalassemic patients (in contrast to HCV infection). However, this value is probably due to the inhibitory effects of HCV on host cell translation system which affects HBV protein translation.

Background and Objectives: Thermotolerant a-amylases have had extensive commercial applications in starch processing, brewing and sugar production, and have almost completely replaced chemical hydrolysis of starch in the starch processing industry. The aim of this study was to determine the characterization of thermotolerant a-amylase producing natural variant of bacillus species.Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study, the isolated bacillus species known as Bacillus licheniformis Shahed-07 was identified by biochemical methods. The bacillus was cultured in liquid media to produce a-amylase. The enzyme production media were assessed controled and optimized for enzyme productivity using various carbon and nitrogen sources. The stability of the enzyme against temperature, pH, metal ions and chelating agents was then determined. Results: Maximum enzyme production was achieved after 26 h cultivation at pH 7.0 and 50oC. Supplementation of medium with 0.5% Tryptophan enhanced the enzyme productivity to 202%, whereas Peptone and Lysin at 0.5% level showed a strong repression. In comparison with the crude α-amylase, the partially purified enzyme had 3.77 fold purity with 32.64 fold increased activity. This enzyme showed amylolytic activity with a single band of 6000 daltons on electrophoresis gel with 0.2% starch. The optimum activity was at pH 7.5 and 70oC. The crude enzyme was stable for 24 h at pH range of 6-7 at 70oC. Hg2+ was completely inhibitory to the enzyme activity, and Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+ and Ca2+ increased the enzyme activity. Conclusion: The B. licheniformis Shahed-07 strain produced high levels of thermotolerant α-amylase with characteristics suitable for application in starch processing and other food industries. The production process can be commercialized after further optimization for enhancing enzyme production.

Background and Objectives: Sperm viability is one of the semen parameters that should be noted in male infertility approaches. Depending on the laboratory’s facilities and especially the purpose of the experiment, i.e. diagnostic or therapeutic, one or more of the diagnostic techniques are employed. In the present study, three methods; Hypo-Osmotic Swelling Test (HOST), Viability/Cytotoxicity Assay (VCA), and Eosin-Nigrosin Technique (ENT) have been compared in terms of cost, required equipments, diagnostic value, and rapidity. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study semen samples from six healthy volunteers referred to the Andrology laboratory, Hallamshire hospital, Sheffield, UK were investigated in 2002. In 4 ependorfs, 180µl of 5×106 sperm/ml of prepared sperm using percoll gradient method were decanted. Three of the ependorfs were treated with 20ml of Chlamydia LPS at final concentration of 0.1mg/ml for 6 h at 37oC in 5% CO2 for 6 h and the last ependorf was treated with 20ml of 1×EBSS as control. After 6h incubation the sperm viability was measured using HOST, VCA, and ENT methods. The data was then analysed using t-test and One-way ANOVA. Results: The findings of HOST, VCA, and ENT indicated that sperm mortality rate enhanced markedly in the presence of lipopolysaccharide from Chlamydia trachomatis at 0.1μg/ml; [35.5±4.1% (HOST) , 33.8±3.3% (VCA), 34.4±3.9% (ENT), p<0.05). However, the differences between the test groups were not statistically significant in the inter-group comparison. Conclusion: If sperm viability assessment is required only for diagnostic purposes, ENT is suggested as a preferred method, because it is cheap, easy, fast, handy, and needs no specific facilities.

Background and Objectives: Solid Pseudo-Papillary Tumor (SPPT) is a benign and rare neoplasm which transforms to malignant from in fewer than 1 to 2 percent of cases. In more than 90% of the cases, it appears in young women ages 20 to 40 years old. Although SPPT is a benign tumor, it has special potential for mild malignancy. Case Report: The patient was an 18-year old woman with abdominal mass, headache, fever, chill, decreased appetite, pallor and dysuria who referred to Shahid Sadooghi hospital of Yazd, Iran in July 2007. In examination, a firm inflated, mobile, and painless mass with distinct borders was palpated in the left upper abdominal quadrant. This mass was 16 cm in diameter. In CT scan a large hypodense mass with thick wall and crossing the center line on the right side of spine was prominent. Microscopic evaluations after the surgery showed tumoral cells of small polyhedral core elliptical, pseudopapillary processes trabeculs with diffused fibrosis, atrophy acinar and mild infiltration of chronic inflammatory cells in the tumors margins. Conclusion: The final diagnosis in this patient was SPPT, a primary neoplasm of the pancreas. Its etiology is unknown and has low potential to turn into malignant form. It should be considered, especially in young women. Complete removal of the mass is the preferred treatment of the patients. Patients with local recurrence or metastasis can have long term survival after complete removal of the mass.