Ardabil University of Medical Sciences
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Detection of pseudocyst forms of trichomonas muris in rodents from iran
Get PDFBackground: Trichomonas muris is one of the most common protozoa diagnosed in rodents. The trichomonads are generally described as presenting only trophozoite form while pseudocyst is another morphological form of trichomonads identified among gastrointestinal and genitourinary trichomonads. We identified and described different shapes of T. muris pseudocysts and trophozoite in stool samples were collected from rodents including Merinos persicus, Mus musculus and Cricetulus migratorius. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, stool samples from 204 trapped rodents were collected from Meshkin Shahr during Mar to Dec 2014. Samples were preserved in formalin 10% and PVA solution and transferred to Department of Medical Protozoology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Formalin-ether concentration method was used for the samples. The slides were stained with trichrome staining method and observed under light microscope. Results: The trophozoites were classified as T. muris based on size (18 to 24 µm), presence of three anterior flagella, recurrent flagellum, undulating membrane, and axostyle in direct examination and stained slides with trichrome staining method. Fifty-five out of 204 (27%) rodents were infected with T. muris in which 51(25%) samples pseudocysts form were observed. The spherical bodies of pseudocyst with almost 8 µm size, contained internalized flagella, an undulating membrane with recurrent flagellum, axostyle, and costa were seen. The pseudocysts were more prevalent than trophozoite form and pseudocysts were found with different shapes in this study. Conclusion: T. muris pseudocysts were found in stool samples of caught rodents for the first time in northwestern Iran
Spatial Analysis of Visceral Leishmaniasis in the Most Important Endemic Area of the Disease in Iran
No full textBackground: Visceral leishmaniasis is one of the most important vector borne diseases in the world, transmitted by sand flies. Despite efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, cases continue worldwide. In Iran, the disease usually occurs in children under 10 years. In the absence of timely diagnosis and treatment, the mortality rate is 95–100%. The main objective of this study was to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of visceral leishmaniasis as well as its correlation with climatic factors for determining high-risk areas in an endemic focus in northwestern Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data on VL cases were collected from local health centers in Ardabil Province, Iran during 2001–2015 to establish a geodatabase using ArcGIS10.3. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS23 and ArcMap Spatial Analyst. MaxEnt model was used to determine ecologically suitable nichesfor the disease.
Results: Two hotspots were found in Meshkinshahr and Germi counties with 59% and 23% of total cases, respec-tively. There was an increase in the incidence rate of VL in Ardabil County from 2.9 in 2009 to 9.2/100,000 popula-tion in 2015. There was no spatial autocorrelation between county and total number of cases (P> 0.05). Higher NDVI, lower altitude and southern aspects had positive effects on the presence probability of VL.
Conclusion: The number of cases of this disease have been rising since 2013 and doubled in 2015. According to the derived distribution maps, the disease is spreading to new locations such as Ardabil and Namin counties
The prevalence, comorbidity and socio-demographic factors of depressive disorder among Iranian children and adolescents: To identify the main predictors of depression
No full textBackground: Depressive disorders are a major public health problem in developed and developing countries.
Recently, several risk factors have been described for depressive disorders in children and adolescents. The aim
of the present study was to identify the main risk factors that can affect the incidence of depression in Iranian
children and adolescents.
Methods: A total of 30,546 children and adolescents (between 6 and 18 years of age) participated in a crosssectional study to identify the predictors of depressive disorders. Depressive disorders were assessed using the
Persian version of the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS-PL). In addition, a
demographic characteristics questionnaire was completed by parents of the participants. The data was analyzed
using the SPSS22 software via performing the descriptive analysis and the multiple logistic regression analysis
methods. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: Results showed that a higher age (15–18), being female, and the father's unemployment were associated
with an increased odds ratio for depressive disorders. The age of 10–14 (OR = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.57–2.81), the age
of 15–18 (OR = 4.44; 95% CI, 3.38–5.83), female gender (OR = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.2–1.73) and the father's unemployment (OR = 1.59; 95% CI, 1.01–2.5) were significant positive predictors, whereas, the mother's job (as a
housewife) (OR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.45–0.96) and a history of psychiatric hospitalization of the father and mother
(OR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.15–0.78 and OR = 0.34; 95% CI, 0.14–0.84) were negative predictors for depressive
symptoms.
Conclusion: Depressive symptoms are common in children and adolescents and are correlated with age and
gender. The assessment of the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, especially the depressive disorders and their
comorbidities, may help to prevent mood disorders in children and adolescents
Effects of Spirulina platensis microalgae on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory factors in diabetic rats
Get PDFObjectives
Lipid peroxidation and hyperglycemia are common signs for diabetes. Natural antioxidants such as Spirulina platensis microalgae (SPM) may prevent lipid peroxidation and hyperglycemia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of SPM on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in diabetic rats.
Materials and methods
Sixty-four rats were divided into eight groups (n=8) and orally treated with 0, 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg body weight of SPM extract. Experimental groups included diabetic rats fed with 0 (DC), 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg SPM. Healthy rats were treated with 0 mg/kg SPM (HC), 10 mg/kg SPM, 20 mg/kg SPM and 30 mg/kg SPM. At the end of the trial, blood samples were collected and the plasma concentrations of trace minerals (TMs), biochemical parameters, and antioxidant enzymes in liver were evaluated. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) and IL-6 (interleukin-6) were evaluated.
Results
Our findings showed that diabetes significantly lowered the plasma concentration of TMs and antioxidant enzymes in liver and also increased the levels of malondialdehyde, glucose, lipid profile, AST, ALT, TNF-α and IL-6 (DC vs HC). However, an oral supplement of SPM (20 and 30 mg/kg body weight) lowered levels of malondialdehyde level, glucose, lipid parameters, AST, ALT, TNF-α and IL-6. The same levels increased the plasma contents of zinc, iron, copper and selenium and activity of antioxidant enzymes (P<0.05).
Conclusion
It can be concluded that diabetes decreases TM concentration and antioxidant enzymes and also increases lipid profile, glucose, AST, ALT, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations. Inclusion of SPM supplementing (20 and 30 mg/kg body weight) increased some TMs and antioxidant enzymes. SPM may provide TMs for synthesis of antioxidant enzymes which subsequently reduce lipid profile, glucose concentration and anti-inflammatory responses
Comparison of Common Monogenic Defects in a Large Predominantly Antibody Deficiency Cohort
No full textPredominantly antibody deficiencies (PADs) are the most common primary immunodeficiencies, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia and inability to generate effective antibody responses.
Objective
We intended to report most common monogenic PADs and to investigate how patients with PAD who were primarily diagnosed as suffering from agammaglobulinemia, hyper-IgM (HIgM) syndrome, and common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) have different clinical and immunological findings.
Methods
Stepwise next-generation sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed for confirmation of the mutations in the patients clinically diagnosed as suffering from agammaglobulinemia, HIgM syndrome, and CVID.
Results
Among 550 registered patients, the predominant genetic defects associated with agammaglobulinemia (48 Bruton's tyrosine kinase [BTK] and 6 μ heavy chain deficiencies), HIgM syndrome (21 CD40 ligand and 7 activation-induced cytidine deaminase deficiencies), and CVID (17 lipopolysaccharides-responsive beige-like anchor deficiency and 12 atypical Immunodeficiency, Centromeric instability, and Facial dysmorphism syndromes) were identified. Clinical disease severity was significantly higher in patients with μ heavy chain and CD40 ligand mutations compared with patients with BTK (P = .003) and activation-induced cytidine deaminase (P = .009) mutations. Paralysis following live polio vaccination was considerably higher in patients with μ heavy chain deficiency compared with BTK deficiency (P < .001). We found a genotype-phenotype correlation among patients with BTK mutations regarding clinical manifestation of meningitis and chronic diarrhea. Surprisingly, we noticed that first presentations in most patients with Immunodeficiency, Centromeric instability, and Facial dysmorphism were respiratory complications (P = .008), whereas first presentations in patients with lipopolysaccharides-responsive beige-like anchor deficiency were nonrespiratory complications (P = .008).
Conclusions
This study highlights similarities and differences in the clinical and genetic spectrum of the most common PAD-associated gene defects. This comprehensive comparison will facilitate clinical decision making, and improve prognosis and targeted treatment
The effects of intravenous magnesium sulfate on hemodynamic status and pain control in patients after laparotomy surgery: A double blind clinical trial
No full textAims and background: A major surgery such as a laparotomy can induce severe pain in a patient. However
administration of pain control medications can have dramatic effects on the hemodynamic status of the patient.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate for pain control and
its’ effect on the hemodynamic status of the patient after laparotomy surgery.
Materials and methods:In this clinical trial , 80 patients undergoing laparotomy surgery were randomly classified
into intervention and control groups based on exclusion and inclusion criteria. The intervention group received
a bolus of magnesium sulfate 50 mg /kg half an hour before surgery, and then an infusion of 500 mg /hr. for 24
hours after surgery. P <0.05 was considered significant.
Findings: No significant difference wasseen before and aftersurgery between the intervention and control groups
regarding hemodynamic status or pain severity up to 6 hours after surgery. However by 6 hours after surgery, the
severity of pain in the intervention group was lower than in the control group. This difference was statistically
significant (P = 0.01).
Conclusion: Magnesium sulfate has little effect on the hemodynamics of the patients undergoing surgery, but
also was not effective for the control of pain in the first hours after surgery However six hours after surgery a
pain control effect was note
Seasonal Variation in Culturable Bioaerosols in a Wastewater Treatment Plant
Get PDFBioaerosols produced from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) can pose health risks to plant workers and nearby inhabitants. There is a gap in air quality data for WWTPs in developing countries. The present study aimed to measure airborne bacterial and fungal concentrations in a WWTP in southwestern Iran between September 2015 and May 2016. Active sampling was conducted around operational units, and a total of 600 bacterial and fungal samples were collected. Spatial and seasonal comparisons were made. The highest average concentrations of culturable bacterial aerosol at seasonally dependent locations were, in decreasing order, 2581 ± 401 and 1952 ± 390 CFU m–3 for the selector and aeration tanks, respectively, in autumn; 1363 ± 299 CFU m–3 for the aeration tank in winter; and 1738 ± 350 CFU m–3 for the screw pump in spring. Furthermore, the predominant genera of airborne fungi isolated from the air of the WWTP in all three seasons were Cephalotrichum spp., Alternaria spp., Penicillium spp., Monilia spp., and Aspergillus spp. The results of this work emphasize the necessity of controlling WWTP workers’ exposure to bioaerosols when bacteria and fungi become aerosolized during aeration
Knowledge and attitudes of general dentists in Ardabil about evidence based dentistry
Get PDFBackground
Evidence based dentistry is a method of integrating research knowledge into daily clinical practice. This study was done with the aim of analysis of general dentists’ knowledge and attitude in regard to evidence based dentistry in Ardabil city.
Methods
In this cross-sectional study, knowledge and attitude of general dentists were assessed by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The percentage of dentists’ answers to knowledge and attitude questions were reported and its correlations with age, sex, years of practice, place of practice and education were analyzed by -test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Analysis of variance, respectively.
Results
The average score of knowledge of Ardabil dentists was 9.17±4.36 and the average score of attitude was 23.53±4.8. There were no statistical correlations between the scores of knowledge and attitude with age (knowledge: p=0.13, attitude: p=0.06), sex (knowledge: p=0.25, attitude: p=0.31), place of practice (knowledge: p=0.25, attitude: p= 0.66), years of practice (knowledge: p=0.13, attitude: p=0.06) and the university of graduation (knowledge: p=0.15, attitude: p=0.69).
Conclusion
Overall knowledge of Ardabil’s general dentists in regard to evidence based dentistry was not satisfactory but there were no negative attitudes in this respect
Factors Affecting Reporting of Nursing Errors: A Qualitative Content Analysis Study
Get PDFBackground: Reporting errors has a key role in reducing the frequency of errors and improving patient safety. The present study was conducted to investigate factors affecting
reporting of nursing errors in military hospitals. Materials and Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted with the participation of eight military nurses. Data
were collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Sampling began purposively and continued until data saturation. Data were analyzed according to Elo and Kyngas
content analysis approach. Results: Analysis of data led to the extraction of 400 initial codes and two general categories, including barriers to reporting error (error causing harm, maintaining reputation, negative organizational encounter, nurse’s temporary position, and lack of accountability) and facilitators of reporting error (positive previous experience, being new, anonymity of reporting system, nurse’ personal values, positive supportive atmosphere). Discussion and Conclusion: Many factors affect reporting errors, some facilitate and some prohibit it. To obtain proper information about errors and improve patient safety, health systems should reinforce factors facilitating reporting errors in hospitals