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Rapid Identification of Enterococcus Faecalis Isolates by Polymerase Chain Reaction
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Rapid detection of Enterococcus faecalis as a frequent cause of nosocomial infections in immunocompromised patients is an important issue. Herein, the current study developed a PCR assay based on the ef0737 gene to detect E. faecalis isolates.
METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 150 clinical isolates including E. faecalis, E. faecium and Staphylococcus aureus were collected. A set of pair primers was designed using the sequence of ef0737. All isolates were examined for the presence of ef0737 gene by PCR assay. The sensitivity of PCR assay was evaluated according to 50 clinical isolates of E. faecalis. The specificity of PCR primers was also determined using non-E. faecalis species including 50 E. faecium and 50 S. aureus isolates.
FINDINGS: In this study, from 150 clinical isolates that were collected; all the 50 E. faecalis isolates showed positive results for the ef0737 gene which showed 100% sensitivity. No amplification were observed in other isolates include E. faecium and S. aureus.
CONCLUSION: PCR assay is a more efficient and sensitive tool for detection and characterization of E. faecalis especially in patients with the critical condition. Identification of the preserved ef0737 gene in clinical samples may be able to determine infections caused by E. faecalis
Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Multifocal Gastric Adenocarcinoma
Get PDFBACKGROUNDANDOBJECTIVE: Gastric cancer is the fifth prevalent cancer in worldwide. Among of this, adenocarcinoma is more than 95% of all case and most prevalent. According to gastric adenocarcinoma is resistant to adjuvant therapy, surgical resection is the cardinal strategies of treatment. One of the problems with treating adenocarcinoma of the stomach is that its main causes are malignant or pre-malignant changes in the residual gastric tissue that may be neglected during resection. By recognizing these lesions and resection, they can be expected to reduce the malignancy. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the characteristics of non-tumoral gastric tissue in terms of malignant or pre-malignant changes.
METHODS: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 112 patients who had undergone total gastrectomy in the hospitals affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences during the period of 2013-2017 were examined and analyzed for age, sex, type and location of tumor.
FINDINGS: Of 112 cases that studied,72 cases (64.3%) were male and 40 cases (35.7%) were female. The mean of ages was 64.7±8.6 year. Poorly differentiated pathology in 60.7% and well differentiated pathology in 39.3% of patients were seen. In 64 patients (57%), there was synchronous lesions in addition to primary pathology. These synchronous lesions were related statistically significant to pathology, cancer stage and gender.
CONCLUSION: Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that resection should be accompanied by considering simultaneous lesions in addition to primary pathology, which can be a reason for total gastrectomy as a standard treatment for gastric cancer
Evaluation of Physical Parameters of Skin by Consecutive Ultrasonic Image Processing During Ultraviolet Radiation in an Animal Model of Wrinkled Skin
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Skin aging is divided into two categories of intrinsic and extrinsic aging. Skin aging due to repeated exposure to ultraviolet radiation (extrinsic aging) is different from aging caused by time (intrinsic aging). The appearance of wrinkles caused by sunlight is due to subcutaneous fat atrophy and reduced production of collagen and elastin, thereby altering the biomechanical properties of the skin tissue. This study was conducted to investigate the skin damage caused by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation by consecutive ultrasonic image processing with high resolution.
METHODS: In this experimental study, we evaluated the skin injury process among 25 C57BL/6 mice in healthy group (zero dose), and case group exposed to UVB radiation at 0.03 milliwatts per square centimeter (5 times a week for 5 weeks) due to differences in skin characteristics. Physical parameters of dermal and epidermal layers were measured and evaluated weekly from day 7 to day 35 using ultrasonic image processing.
FINDINGS: The thickness of the dermal and epidermal layers obtained by ultrasonic processing during the process of ultraviolet radiation injury in the mouse model significantly increased during the 5 – week study (p < 0.05). In addition, the percentage of changes in the thickness of the epidermis layer (from 0.22±0.01 mm on day zero to 0.37 ± 0.02 mm on the thirty-fifth day) and the dermal layer (from 0.57 ± 0.05 on day zero to 0.90 ± 0.08 mm on the thirty-fifth day) showed 68% and 57% increase, respectively.
CONCLUSION: The results showed that UVB radiation increased the thickness of the skin layers
Detection of qacEΔ1, qacG, qacE, qacF resistance genes in Escherichia coli producing broad-spectrum beta-lactamases to benzalkonium chloride
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The resistance genes of quaternary ammonium compounds(qac) play an important role in the resistance of gram-negative bacteria producing broad-spectrum beta-lactamases to disinfectants. The aim of this study was detection of qacEΔ1, qacG, qacE, qacF resistance genes in Escherichia coli producing broad-spectrum beta-lactamases to benzalkonium chloride.
METHODS: This study cross sectional-descriptive was conducted on 150 clinical samples of selected hospitals in Arak. ESBL strains were identified by using phenotypic methods of disc diffusion and combinatory disc method and evaluating the SHV, TEM, CTXM1 genes by genotyping method. The PCR was performed to determine the resistance genes qacEΔ1, qacG, qacE and qacF.The electrophoresis of PCR products and the MIC of benzalkonium chloride were relative to E. coli producing ESBL. Antibiotic pattern of Escherichia coli (ESBL), quadruple ammonium resistance genes and benzalkonium chloride MIC were also investigated.
FINDINGS: This study showed that 60% of Escherichia coli were ESBL producer. The qacEΔ1 genes were observed in all of them and qacE, qacF, qacG genes were not found in any of the strains. The strains had MIC range from 32 to 64 mg/l for benzalkonium chloride. Resistance to carbapenems (33.33%) was observed.
CONCLUSION: This study showed that qacEΔ1 resistance gene and resistance to disinfectant benzalkonium chloride increased. Also increased resistance to the antibiotics studied were observed in E. coli ESBL strains
Effect of Visceral Fat on the Amount of Hydroxyproline and Histopathological Changes on Surgical Wound Healing in Male Rat
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: expensive treatments and rehabilitation has increased the tendency to use natural and cheaper compounds. Animal visceral lipids contain a high percentage of different types of effective anti-inflammatory fatty acids, which till now have not been studied together. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects of sheep visceral lipids on surgical wound healing in rat rats.
METHODS: In this experimental study 50 Sprague-Dawley adult male rats with the average weight of 250-300 g were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups with 25 rats in each group. After providing visceral fat from the pre renal part of the young sheep and melting and sterilizing them, the treatment group which were wounded under surgical anesthesia by excisional wounds, were treated by 10 ml of it on the wound each day. The evaluation of the wound size was measured by using an accurate caliper and Image J software on days 5, 10, 12, 15. Tissue biopsies from both control and treatment groups were performed to compare the rate of epithelialization, collagen filament formation, inflammatory cells, vascularization, and fibroplasia in situ. Also a biopsy was performed at day 21th to check the amount of hydroxyproline in the tissue.
FINDINGS: Based on morphometric findings, on the 10th day of treatment, the mean ulcer size of the treatment group with visceral fat was 43.6±0.44 mm2 while the mean size of the ulcer in control group was 98.5±0.07 mm2, which has shown to have the least amount of wound contraction. Also on the 5th day, the wound contraction of the treatment group, was twice as high as the control group(p<0.05). The histological examination shows the mean 2.74±0.17 points of restoration parameters score in treatment group compared to the control group with a score of 1.42±0.16 points. Also, the difference between the Hydroxyproline concentration of the healthy skin and the scarring wounds in treatment group (3.69±0.23 mg/g) was less than the control group(6.08±0.32 mg/g) (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: According to the findings of this study, the usage of animal visceral lipid, with anti-inflammatory effects and as a stimulator of collagen production, increases the amount of hydroxyproline and affects the healing process of cutaneous ulcers. It also improves the blood perfusion and angiogenesis by increasing RBC membrane flexibility, which will also enhance the migration of cells that are effective in wound healing
Comparison of pathologic characteristics of breast cancer in younger and older women
Get PDFBackground: Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer with high mortality in women all around the world. The present evidence shows that younger patients have poor survival. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the pathologic characteristics of breast cancer in women younger than 40 years compared with older. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which contains 681 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of breast cancer, who referred to Babolsar Shahid Rajaei Hospital as a referral cancer therapeutic center in the North of Iran. The data included age, residence area, occupation, location, histopathologic characteristics of the tumor, TNM classification and staging. Results: The mean age (SD) of patients was 49.7 (11.9) years, of which 19.5 were under 40. Ductal carcinoma was the most common histopathologic type (90.0) but patients at a younger age had a higher incidence of lobular and other rare carcinoma compared to the older ones (P=0.04). The younger had a greater tumor size (P=0.01), lymphatic node involvement (P=0.04) and higher staging (P=0.004). The younger age was not associated with positive estrogen/progesterone receptors. Conclusion: These findings indicated more aggressive tumor characteristics and serious breast cancer in women less than 40 years compared with older ones
Epidemiology and Outcomes of Candidemia in a Referral Center in Tehran
Get PDFBackground: Bloodstream infection with Candida, or candidemia, is the most common Candida systemic infection. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of patients with candidemia to provide appropriate perspectives on these patients and reduce the associated mortality and morbidity. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all patients with at least one positive blood culture of Candida spp. were investigated from April 2015 to March 2016 in Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran, Iran. Results: A total of 74 patients (44 men and 30 women), with the mean age of 53.15±17.89 years, were enrolled in this study. Non-albicans Candida species was responsible for candidemia in 67.6 (50.74). The mean therapy intervals were 7 and 5.6±1.5 days in patients who died and were discharged, respectively. The differences in frequencies of urinary catheter and mechanical ventilation were statistically significant among patients who died and survived (P<0.001). Among the discharged patients, antifungal therapy was administered to 30.8 (12.39). The mortality rate was 54.3 (19.35) in the medical ward, 5.7 (2.35) in the surgical ward, and 40 (14.35) in the intensive care unit (P=0.041). The treatment was significantly associated with lower mortality than those with no treatment (OR=0.150 0.023-0.996, P=0.05). Conclusion: The number of candidemia cases caused by non-albicans Candida species is continuously increasing in our center. We demonstrated the epidemiologic characteristics of patients with candidemia and the significant effects of timely and appropriate treatment on their outcomes. Further studies are needed to illuminate more aspects of this healthcare proble
Hypocalcemia Revealing an Enteropathy-Associated T-cell Lymphoma
Get PDFBackground: Neurofollicular hamartoma (NFH) is characterized histopathologically by fascicles of spindle cells that laterally delimited by hyperplastic folliculosebaceous units. It usually appears on face, near the nose or nasolabial fold. It does not manifest true neural differentiation and recently the term spindle cell predominant trichodiscoma (SCPT) has been used instead. Case Presentation: We present a case of a 40-year-old male with co-incidence of NFH and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) that the mesenchymal components of NFH were similar to SCPT but these components highly expressed S-100 protein. We also discuss about the histological aspect of the neoplasia in this report and consider the findings of other reports in association with classification of NFH by means of cellular markers and morphological resemblance to other skin hamartomas. Conclusion: Neurofollicular hamartoma is a rare benign tumor that thought to represent the cellular end of a morphological spectrum with trichodiscoma. The morphological features and expression of S100 protein in neural element helped us to achieve the diagnosis of neurofollicular hamartoma. However, variable reports of S-100 protein expression in NFH are available and further studies are needed to determine the classification of this tumor. 
The role of Interleukin-10 and 13 in tuberculosis-associated pulmonary dysfunction
Get PDFBackground: Pulmonary dysfunctions are frequently encountered after tuberculosis treatment in clinical practice. In the present study, the role of interleukin-10 and 13 in a tuberculosis-associated pulmonary dysfunction was investigated. Methods: This is a semi-experimental study on 40 patients selected from referral tuberculosis care center in Birjand, Iran, during 2015-2017. The cases with major medical disorders including those with underlying lung disease were excluded from the study. Informed consent was prepared from each patient, and then blood sample was obtained, serum was extracted and refrigerated at -70 C° at the start (time 1), 2 months (time 2) and 6 months (time 3) after onset of treatment for tuberculosis. Spirometry was also performed at time 2. Finally, 24 patients completed the study. Results: Of the 24 patients with the mean age of 60.87±21.50 years in the study, 9 (37) were males and 15 (62.5) were females. Abnormal spirometry was observed in 20 (83.3) subjects at time 2, of whom 12 (60) were restrictive and 8 (40) obstructive. The mean changes of interleukin 10 from the start to end of the treatment were 89.00±89.47 (P=1.00), -29.36±40.21 (P=0.02) and 3.70±29.98 (P=0.1) in patients with normal, obstructive and restrictive spirometery, respectively (normal vs obstructive and restrictive; p<0.01). While in interleukin 10, changes for interleukin-13 were 77.90±145.97, 6.35±133.10 and -13.35±46.66 (P=0.4), respectively. Conclusion: Upregulation of IL-10 during tuberculosis treatment might be considered as a protective factor against lung dysfunction. In patients with obstructive form, there was a marked decrease in interleukin-10
Effect of Different Doses of Curcumin on Sperm Parameters and Oxidative Stress in Testis of D-Galactose Induced Aging Mice Model
Get PDFBACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Aging is accompanied with low concentration of testosterone hormone and apoptosis induction in the testis. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of different doses of curcumin as the active ingredient of Curcuma Longa Turmeric, on sperm quality and oxidative stress in mice D-galactose-induced aging model.
METHODS: 48 Balb/c mice (n=8) were randomly assigned to 6 groups: control, Sham, D-galactose and Curcumin 1 to 3 groups. 300 mg/kg of D-galactose was injected to D-galactose group. Curcumin 1 to 3 were injected D-galactose + 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg curcumin intraperitoneally. Then, the oxidative stress based on biochemical parameters and sperm analysis according to WHO guideline were evaluated on day 42 of the experiment.
FINDINGS: Mean sperm count in control group was (4.17±0.84) while it reduced after reception of 300 mg/kg
D-galactose (3.06±0.86). There was a significant increase in the sperm parameters in Curcumin group compared to the D-galactose group (p<0.05). A significant increase was observed in the level of thiol and superoxide dismutase enzyme in curcumin group 3, compared to the D-galactose group (p≤0.001). Significant decreases in catalase and malondialdehyde enzymes were observed in the D-galactose group, compared to the curcumin 1, curcumin 2 and curcumin 3 groups (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Administration of curcumin for 2 weeks improved sperm parameters and decreased oxidative stress in testis of mice D-galactose-induced aging model