3790 research outputs found
Sort by
In vitro Eradication of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Persister Cell Producers by Peganum harmala
No full textBackground: Because of increasing antibiotic failure and recurrence of infections in patients with P. aeruginosa, the present study was designed to determine the antibiotic resistance status, presence of persister cells and investigate the antipersister effect of Peganum harmala in P. aeruginosa clinical isolates in vitro in Ilam, Iran. Methods: Thirty P. aeruginosa urinary clinical isolates were collected from hospitals in Ilam, Iran and identified by common microbiological and biochemical tests. Afterward, antibiotic susceptibility assay, persister cell assay, P. harmala extraction, cell culture, and cell viability assays were performed. Results: A high rate of antibiotic resistance was observed. All isolates were resistant to co-amoxiclav. Also, 83.3 (n = 25), 90 (n = 27), and 36.6 (n = 11) of isolates showed resistance to ceftazidime, kanamycin, and tobramycin, respectively. The MIC and MBC values for imipenem were = 2 and 2 mu g/mL for susceptible isolates, respectively. In addition, 6.66 (n = 2) of isolates were persister cells and were also sensitive to imipenem by MIC but did not show any MBC. IC50 for P. harmala was 35 mu g/mL. Eventually, MIC value of P. harmala against two P. aeruginosa persister cell producer isolates was 3 mu g/mL and 1 mu g/mL, and the value of MBC was 10 mu g/mL and 30 mu l/mL. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that P. harmala may be a suitable antipersister herbal medicine against P. aeruginosa clinical isolates. In this regard, comprehensive research is needed in the future to gain more information in this area
Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Effect of Essential Oil and Extract of Loranthus europaeus Jacq. on Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
No full textWith the increase in the use of antibiotics and resistance against them, attention has been paid to natural remedies with the possibility of lower resistance and side effects. In this study, the essential oil of Loranthus europeaus Jacq. was identified chemically and the antimicrobial effects of the essential oil and extract on bacterial agents such as Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated. L. europeaus leaves were collected from the Ilam mountains and after drying, essential oil and hydroalcoholic extract were prepared. The chemical compositions of the essential oil and extract of L. europeaus plant were measured by Headspace-solid phase microextraction (HSSPME), Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methods. The results showed that the main component of L. europeaus extract was Rutin (223 mu g/mL). The bacterial strains were isolated from clinical samples, and the microbroth dilution method by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) method were used to evaluate the Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). The MIC and MBC for the L. europeaus leaf extract were 6 mu g/mL and 196 mu g/mL on S. aureus, respectively. It had no significant effect on the strains of A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa. L. europeaus leaf essential oil also had no antimicrobial effect on bacterial sauces. The results showed that the plant extract of L. europaeus might be used to treat infections due to its very low MIC against S. aureus
The Challenges of Vision Zero Implementation in Iran: A Qualitative Study
No full textBackground: Road traffic crashes' (RTCs) multidimensional nature has piqued the interest of officials all around the world for many years. Vision Zero is one of the most innovative approaches to road safety. Vision Zero is a government initiative aimed at reducing RTC-related deaths and serious injuries. To effectively apply this approach in Iran, it is required to first identify the obstacles to execution. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the obstacles to Vision Zero implementation in Iran.Methods: The qualitative content analysis method was used in this investigation. The participants were chosen using purposive, snowball, and maximum variety sampling methods. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Graneheim and Lundman's method was used to analyze data using the content analysis method.Results: There were 16 interviews with 14 participants in this study. The data were organized into four main categories and 13 sub-categories to determine the obstacles to implementing Vision Zero. Managerial and administrative obstacles, as well as supportive, cultural, and social, and transportation design and development challenges, were the main categories.Conclusion: In Iran, implementing Vision Zero necessitates the establishment of a lead agency that considers administrative and managerial, supportive and logistic, socio-cultural, transportation design and development, and infrastructure components. In addition, Vision Zero implementation and road safety improvement would require political commitment and support from the government and society. Vision Zero implementation and road safety management must take into account the ethics and value of human life
COVID-19 in HIV-positive patients: A systematic review of case reports and case series
No full textIntroduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are two viral diseases for which there are currently no definitive treatments. Nowadays, because of the health system's focus on the COVID-19 epidemic, the control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has received less attention. In this review, we will discuss the characteristics of COVID-19 in HIV-positive patients. Material and Methods Using the PRISMA guideline, the databases of Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science were searched systematically from January 1, 2019 to February 24, 2021. The following keywords were used: "Human Immunodeficiency Virus," "acquired immune deficiency syndrome," "HIV," "AIDS," "COVID-19," "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2," "novel coronavirus," "SARS-CoV-2," "nCoV disease," "SARS2," and "2019-nCoV disease." Results Twenty-one percent of studies were conducted in the USA (n = 13), 16 in China (n = 10), and 13 in Italy (n = 8), respectively. The majority of the patients were men (74.3). Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was used in 47.4 of patients, emtricitabine in 58.4, and lamivudine in 34.8 to treat HIV. Symptoms of HIV patients with COVID-19 included coughing (81.3), fever (62.8), and dyspnea (60). Hydroxychloroquine (39.34) and azithromycin (36.58) were the common treatment options for COVID-19. The total death rate in HIV-positive patients with COVID-19 was about 9. Conclusion In the current systematic review, we demonstrated that HIV-positive patients co-infected with COVID-19 have high comorbidity of hypertension and diabetes mellitus. HIV/COVID-19 co-infection might have negatively influenced the HIV treatment and diagnosis, which indicates the need to regularly screen HIV patients in the COVID-19 pandemic
Beneficial effects of Achillea millefolium on skin injuries; a literature review
No full textVarious plants and natural compounds have been used traditionally to treat and prevent diseases, relieve pain, increase body strength, and heal skin injury. Achillea millefolium is a well-known plant of the Asteraceae family that has been extensively studied for its therapeutic properties in conditions, such as menstrual disorders, malaria, headache, cough, and skin injury. Several studies have shown that the topical application of different types of A. millefolium extracts (essential oil (EO), hydroalcoholic extract, etc.) improves the healing process of various skin injuries. Previous studies also highlighted the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and moisturizing effects of the A. millefolium extract on ameliorating skin injuries, caused by the presence of various potent constituents in the plant extract. This review aimed at overviewing the studies, focusing on A. millefolium's possible effects on the different wound injuries
Predicting the Future: Phage Therapy
No full textBACTERIAL pathogens have a major role in human disease and cause different symptoms in all human organs. In 21 century antibiotic resistance is widespread and causes mortal disease. Phages or bacteriophages are kinds of viruses that attack bacterial cells and are ordered into one phylum which is divided into three families: myoviridae, podoviridae, and siphoviridae. Phages have a triple role including (1) pseudovirion (bacterial gene in virus envelop that delivered pathogen gene), (2) virus that eliminates the bacterial cell, and (3) silent infection. Phage has three major sections: Head, neck, and tail. The attack begins with the attachment of the virus to the bacterial cell surface. The most phage receptor is presented in cell surface and has many roles in different bacteria. On the other hand, phage should be pure and removed all contamination to avoid an immune reaction. Phage can only affect bacterial cells and don't have collateral damage to eukaryotic cells. In addition, phage display is a hopeful method for treatment, detect and cure of many diseases. In this review, we try to show the role of phages in treating some diseases and detection by phage display method
Cerebral vein thrombosis in a woman using oral contraceptive pills for a short period of time: a case report
No full textBackground Cerebral vein thrombosis is increasing in young adults. Although oral contraceptive pills increase the risk of cerebral vein thrombosis, relatively high brain venous involvement is rare when oral contraceptive pills are consumed for a short duration. Case presentation A 31-year-old Asian woman was referred to Imam Reza Hospital with a headache complaint on 11 November 2020. The woman, who had a headache for the previous 11 days, went to the hospital. Owing to endometriosis involvement, she consumed Diane tablets. According to the imaging findings, three vein involvements were diagnosed. Anticoagulant therapy was started, and the symptoms disappeared. Conclusions All cerebral vein thrombosis symptoms are variable, but new presentation of headache could be an early symptom of cerebral vein thrombosis
Estimation of dust concentration by a novel machine vision system
No full textThe dust phenomenon is one of the main environmental problems that it reversely affects human health and economical and social activities. In the present research, a novel algorithm has been developed based on image processing to estimate dust concentration. An experimental setup was implemented to create airborne dust with different concentration values from 0 to 2750 mu g.m(-3). The images of the different dust concentration values were acquired and analyzed by image processing technique. Different color and texture features were extracted from various color spaces. The extracted features were used to develop single and multivariable models by regression method. Totally 285 single variable models were obtained and compared to select efficient features among them. The best single variable model had a predictive accuracy of 91. The features were used for multivariable modeling and the best model was selected with a predictive accuracy of 100 and a mean squared error of 1.44 x 10(-23). The results showed the high ability of the developed machine vision system for estimating dust concentration with high speed and accuracy
Mechanism of action, resistance, synergism, and clinical implications of azithromycin
No full textBackground Azithromycin (AZM), sold under the name Zithromax, is classified as a macrolide. It has many benefits due to its immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. This review aims to study different clinical and biochemisterial aspects and properties of this drug which has a priority based on literature published worldwide. Methods Several databases including Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus were searched to obtain the relevant studies. Results AZM mechanism of action including the inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine production, inhibition of neutrophil infestation, and macrophage polarization alteration, gives it the ability to act against a wide range of microorganisms. Resistant organisms are spreading and being developed because of the irrational use of the drug in the case of dose and duration. AZM shows synergistic effects with other drugs against a variety of organisms. This macrolide is considered a valuable antimicrobial agent because of its use as a treatment for a vast range of diseases such as asthma, bronchiolitis, COPD, cystic fibrosis, enteric infections, STIs, and periodontal infections. Conclusions Our study shows an increasing global prevalence of AZM resistance. Thus, synergistic combinations are recommended to treat different pathogens. Moreover, continuous monitoring of AZM resistance by registry centers and the development of more rapid diagnostic assays are urgently needed
The Effect of bisphenol A and Photobiomodulation Therapy on Autophagy-Related Genes Induction in Tissue-Derived Stem Cells
No full textIntroduction: As adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) can divide rapidly and be prepared non-invasively, they have extensively been used in regenerative medicine. On the other hand, a new method of therapy, known as photobiomodulation (PHT), has been used to treat many diseases, such as inflammatory conditions, wound healing and pain. Besides, exposure to chemical substances such as bisphenol A (BPA), at low levels, can lead to autophagy. This study investigated the effects of BPA and PHT on the expression of autophagy-related genes, including LC3, NRF2, P62, in rat ADSCs as a model. Methods: ADSCs isolation and purification were confirmed by immunocytochemistry (ICC). The cells were then treated with different concentrations of BPA and also subjected to PHT. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for the evaluation of LC3, NRF2 and P62 gene expressions. Oil red O staining was used for adipogenic vacuole formation. Result: ICC showed that the isolated cells were CD 49-positive but CD 31 and CD 34-negative. The viability test indicated that the number of live cells after 24 hours in the BPA groups at concentrations of 0, 1, 50, 100 and 200 mu M was 100, 93, 81, 72, and 43 respectively. The difference in cell viability between groups 50, 100 and 200 mu M was significant as compared with the control groups (P < 0.05). Moreover, in the group with 1 mu M concentration of BPA, the expressions of LC3, NRF2 and P62 genes were upregulated. However, in the treatment group at the concentration of 200 mu M of BPA, the LC3 gene was expressed, but NRF2 and P62 genes were downregulated. Conclusion: BPA and PHT induce autophagy and adiposeness in ADSCs in a dose-dependent manner