Diagnosis of trichomonas vaginalis by PCR method

عفونت تریکوموناس واژینالیس یکی از شایع ترین عوامل ایجاد کننده بیماریهای منتقل شونده غیر ویروسی جنسی است. مهم ترین روش برای تشخیص تریکوموناس واژینالیس در حال حاضر تشخیص میکروسکوپی انگل با استفاده از تست لام مرطوب می باشد که حساسیت این روش تقریبا 60 است. مطالعه میکروسکوپی کشت های اختصاصی حاوی انگل، حساسیت را تا حدودی افزایش داده اما یکی از مشکلات استفاده از محیط های کشت، عدم امکان آنالیز سریع و دقیق آن می باشد. در این مطالعه با استفاده از روش مولکولی (PCR= Polymerase Chain Reaction) بر آن شدیم تا عفونت تریکوموناس واژینالیس را در بیماران مراجعه کننده به درمانگاه زنان بیمارستان شهید بهشتی اصفهان مورد بررسی قرار داده و نتایج آن را با تست های لام مرطوب و مشاهده کلینکی مقایسه کنیم. سوآپ واژینالی از 24 زن مراجعه کننده به درمانگاه زنان بیمارستان شهید بهشتی وابسته به دانشگاه علوم پزشکی اصفهان گرفته شد. هر یک از نمونه های گرفته شده به دو قسمت تقسیم گردید. یک قسمت آن فوراً با تست لام مرطوب و در زیر میکروسکوپ مورد مطالعه قرار گرفت و قسمت دیگر در محلول (Phosphate Buffered Saline=PBS) به صورت سوسپانسیون تهیه شده و به آزمایشگاه بیوتکنولوژی دانشکده داروسازی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی اصفهان منتقل گردید. سوسپانسیون PBS حاصله جهت انجام واکنش PCR اختصاصی برای تریکوموناس واژینالیس مورد استفاده قرار گرفت. در این مطالعه 24 نمونه اخذ شده به دو دسته 8 و 16 تایی تقسیم شدند. دسته اول با دو تست لام مرطوب و PCR و دسته دوم با تشخیص کلینیکی (توسط پزشک متخصص زنان) و تست PCR مورد بررسی قرار گرفتند. نمونه های اخذ شده در گروه اول با هر دو تست لام مرطوب و PCR مثبت تشخیص داده شدند. در گروه دوم، 9 نمونه از 16 نمونه با تست PCR مثبت تشخیص داده شدند که از میان این تعداد نمونه، 8 عدد در طی بررسی و تشخیص کلینیکی مثبت تشخیص داده شده بودند. در مورد گروه اول حساسیت تست PCR برابر 100 (8 عدد از 8 نمونه) و اختصاصی بودن آن نیز 100 بود (8 عدد از 8 نمونه). در این گروه حساسیت تست لام مرطوب 100 (8 عدد از 8 نمونه) و اختصاصی بودن آن نیز 100 (8 عدد از 8 نمونه) بود. در مورد گروه دوم حساسیت تست PCR برابر 100 (9 عدد از 9 نمونه) و اختصاصی بودن آن نیز 100 (9 عدد از 9 نمونه) بود. در این گروه حساسیت تشخیص کلینیکی9/88 (8 عدد از 9 نمونه) و اختصاصی بودن آن 50 (8 عدد از16 نمونه) بود

Evaluation of anti epileptic effect of conjugated form of valproic acid and phenytoin in mice

زمینه و هدف: اساس کنترل صرع امروزه دارو درمانی است و در این ارتباط داروهای زیادی ساخته شده اند که هر یک دارای عوارض جانبی بعضاً شدید می باشند. افزایش چربی دوستی داروهای ضد صرع باعث افزایش نفوذپذیری آنها به مغز و اثر بخشی بهتر آنها می گردد. در این مطالعه اثرات ضد صرع و سداتیوداروی سنتز شده که کونژوگه فنی توئین و والپروئیک اسید می باشد مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. روش مطالعه: اثرات دوزهای مختلف فنی توئین، والپروئات سدیم و کمپلکس فنی توئین - والپروئیک اسید بر حملات ایجاد شده در مدل MES (Maximum Electroshock) و کاینیک اسید مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. برای بررسی اثرات سداتیو این دارو از دستگاه اندازه گیری حرکت استفاده شد. نتایج: در مدل صرع کاینیک اسید، فنی توئین به تنهایی یا کونژوگه فنی توئین-والپروئیک اسید تاثیری بر حملات صرعی نداشته در حالی که والپروئیک اسید به تنهایی به طور معنی داری بروز اینگونه حملات صرعی را کاهش داد. هیچکدام از داروهای مورد بررسی قرار گرفته تغییر معنی داری در میزان حرکت حیوانات در مقایسه با کنترل ایجاد نکردند. ED50 محاسبه شده برای فنی توئین، والپروئات سدیم و کمپلکس فنی توئین - والپروئیک اسید به ترتیب معادل kg/ mg2/15، kg/ mg8/293 و kg/mg 5/13 بود. نتیجه گیری: در بررسی نتایج حاصل از آزمایشات انجام شده بر روی داروی کونژوگه و مقایسه آن با فنی توئین و والپروئیک اسید به نظر می رسد که داروی کونژوگه از لحاظ اثر بخشی تفاوت قابل توجه ای با داروی فنی توئین نداشت، یکی از علل آن می تواند شکسته شدن پیوند استری در این ترکیب و تبدیل آن به فنی توئین و والپروئیک اسید توسط استرازها در بدن باشد

Caregivers knowledge, practices about childhood diarrhea and pneumonia and their perceptions of lady health worker program; findings from NIGRAAN implementation research project

Background: Despite 60% coverage by Lady Health Worker (LHW) Program, 30% of child deaths in Pakistan are still due to diarrhea and pneumonia. Caregivers are an important stakeholder yet there is little information on their case management practices and utilization of LHW Program. This study explored caregivers’ knowledge and practices about childhood diarrhea and pneumonia and utility of LHW services before and after a supportive supervision intervention.Methods: Cross sectional surveys were conducted with caregivers’ (mothers) pre and post intervention in project NIGRAAN. The intervention aimed to improve LHSs clinical and supervisory skills of lady health supervisors in order to improve LHW performance and ultimately impact caregiver practices. 4250 households were surveyed. Questionnaire was adapted from PDHS 2012-13. Differences between intervention and control groups were assessed using chi square test. P-value of Results: Comparing baseline to end line, there were significant overall improvements in caregivers’knowledge of loose motion (62 to 84%) and dehydration (12 to 18%) as signs and symptoms of childhood diarrhea. There was also a significant overall increase in caregivers’ knowledge of presenting features of pneumonia- i.e. fever (58 to 86%), cough (51 to 61%) and breathing problems (25 to 57%). The proportion of caregivers seeking advice for diarrhea from public sector significantly improved in intervention arm from 20% to 29%. Private sector however remained overall preferred choice for care seeking. There was significant overall improvement in awareness about LHWs functioning (93 to 99%) and household visits (91 to 98%). Actual care seeking from LHWs however stayed low (≤ 0.3%) Conclusion: In order to improve utility and expand coverage of LHW Program interventions aimed at providing supportive supervision have the potential to improve caregiver practices and utilization of available services and decrease childhood deaths due to preventable illnesses

Ragging: A Harmless Tradition or Menace? Perspective of Newly Admitted Medical Students of Karachi, Pakistan

Ragging is a disruptive behavior mostly observed among senior students of many institutes towards their junior sub-ordinates. The following study evaluated the perception of newly admitted students about ragging in one of the public medical college of Karachi, Pakistan i.e., Karachi Medical and Dental College. Out of 140 newly admitted students of first year MBBS, 102 participants were enrolled in this study. The data was collected in two steps, i.e., Questionnaire A was distributed among the students on the orientation day whereas, Questionnaire B was distributed one week after the orientation to the same students who had filled the Questionnaire A. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Majority of participants were aware about ragging. Data of Questionnaire B revealed that about half of participants 52 (50.9%) got ragged on the orientation day, while most of the students faced mild to moderate intensity ragging. Males were found to be more frequent victim of ragging as compared to females. The present study indicates that ragging may have a negative impact on the morale and self-confidence of many students; moreover, the study suggested that serious actions shall be taken against ragging. Formation of an anti-ragging committee can provide great aid to the newly admitted students on their first day, promoting an anti-ragging environment within the institute and ensuring prevalence of such environment in order to prevent negative impacts of ragging

Effect of maternal yeast feeding on dam performance and serum health biomarkers of Beetal goat kids

Supplementation with dietary yeast has improved digestibility and productive performance in ruminants. In this research the primary objective was to appraise the effects of dietary yeast supplementation of female goats during the transition period on milk composition and yield and on production and serum health biomarkers of their kids. Twenty-four Beetal goats (4 ± 1.2 years) were randomly assigned to three groups, which received 0, 5, and 10 grams/animal/day of live dried yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 60 days (30 days pre- and post-partum). All goats were fed 500 grams of concentrate with water and green fodder ad libitum. Milk samples were collected at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post kidding. Kids were weighed on days 0, 7, 15, 22, and 30, and blood samples were collected on days 15 and 30 for serum metabolites (glucose, urea, cholesterol, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), serum total proteins, albumin, globulin, albumin to globulin ratio, serum oxidant and antioxidant activity (malondialdehyde) (MDA) and catalase), and liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) assessment. Milk yield was significantly (P =0.02) higher during the post-partum period in yeast-fed goats. Yeast-fed goats also produced milk containing more fat (P <0.001) and protein (P <0.001) compared with control goats. Birth weight, average daily gain, and serum health biomarkers of the kids were not influenced by the treatments. In conclusion, dietary yeast supplementation resulted in increased production performance of the dams without significant impact on their offspring.Keywords: average daily gain, catalase activity, hepatic enzymes, milk production, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, transition perio

Rhino-orbital Mucormycosis in an Immunocompetent Pediatric Patient, Resembling an Orbital Mass- A Case Report

Rhino-orbital mucormycosis in an immunocompetent pediatric patient can present as an orbital mass. We report a 9-year-old male that presented with periorbital swelling and limitation of left eye movement from one month ago. The patient was treated at another center with a diagnosis of mucormycosis but was referred due to worsening symptoms. Orbital and paranasal sinus CT scan revealed opacities in the left paranasal sinus and soft tissue density in the medial and inferior orbital wall. The patient underwent orbitotomy and mass debulking surgery on suspicion of a possible neoplastic mass. Pathologic evaluations revealed mucormycosis. After receiving intravenous liposomal amphotericin-B that was followed by oral posaconazole syrup for two months and sinus debridement, the symptoms regressed. In immunocompromised pediatric patients, mucormycosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an orbital mass

Studies of glyoxalase 1-linked multidrug resistance reveal glycolysis-derived reactive metabolite, methylglyoxal, is a common contributor in cancer chemotherapy targeting the spliceosome

Background: Tumor glycolysis is a target for cancer chemotherapy. Methylglyoxal (MG) is a reactive metabolite formed mainly as a by-product in anaerobic glycolysis, metabolized by glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) of the glyoxalase system. We investigated the role of MG and Glo1 in cancer chemotherapy related in multidrug resistance (MDR). Methods: Human Glo1 was overexpressed in HEK293 cells and the effect on anticancer drug potency, drug-induced increase in MG and mechanism of cytotoxicity characterized. Drug-induced increased MG and the mechanisms driving it were investigated and the proteomic response to MG-induced cytotoxicity explored by high mass resolution proteomics of cytoplasmic and other subcellular protein extracts. Glo1 expression data of 1,040 human tumor cell lines and 7,489 tumors were examined for functional correlates and impact of cancer patient survival. Results: Overexpression of Glo1 decreased cytotoxicity of antitumor drugs, impairing antiproliferative activity of alkylating agents, topoisomerase inhibitors, antitubulins, and antimetabolites. Antitumor drugs increased MG to cytotoxic levels which contributed to the cytotoxic, antiproliferative mechanism of action, consistent with Glo1-mediated MDR. This was linked to off-target effects of drugs on glycolysis and was potentiated in hypoxia. MG activated the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, with decrease of mitochondrial and spliceosomal proteins. Spliceosomal proteins were targets of MG modification. Spliceosomal gene expression correlated positively with Glo1 in human tumor cell lines and tumors. In clinical chemotherapy of breast cancer, increased expression of Glo1 was associated with decreased patient survival, with hazard ratio (HR) = 1.82 (logrank p < 0.001, n = 683) where upper quartile survival of patients was decreased by 64% with high Glo1 expression. Conclusions: We conclude that MG-mediated cytotoxicity contributes to the cancer chemotherapeutic response and targets the spliceosome. High expression of Glo1 contributes to multidrug resistance by shielding the spliceosome from MG modification and decreasing survival in the chemotherapy of breast cancer. Adjunct chemotherapy with Glo1 inhibitor may improve treatment outcomes

Vulnerabilities of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus to Proteotoxicity—Opportunity for Repurposed Chemotherapy of COVID-19 Infection

The global pandemic of COVID-19 disease caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, has produced an urgent requirement and search for improved treatments while effective vaccines are developed. A strategy for improved drug therapy is to increase levels of endogenous reactive metabolites for selective toxicity to SARS-CoV-2 by preferential damage to the viral proteome. Key reactive metabolites producing major quantitative damage to the proteome in physiological systems are: reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the reactive glycating agent methylglyoxal (MG); cysteine residues and arginine residues are their most susceptible targets, respectively. From sequenced-based prediction of the SARS-CoV-2 proteome, we found 0.8-fold enrichment or depletion of cysteine residues in functional domains of the viral proteome; whereas there was a 4.6-fold enrichment of arginine residues, suggesting SARS-CoV-2 is resistant to oxidative agents and sensitive to MG. For arginine residues of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus predicted to be in functional domains, we examined which are activated toward modification by MG – residues with predicted or expected low pKa by neighboring group in interactions. We found 25 such arginine residues, including 2 in the spike protein and 10 in the nucleoprotein. These sites were partially conserved in related coronaviridae: SARS-CoV and MERS. Finally, we identified drugs which increase cellular MG concentration to virucidal levels: antitumor drugs with historical antiviral activity, doxorubicin and paclitaxel. Our findings provide evidence of potential vulnerability of SARS-CoV-2 to inactivation by MG and a scientific rationale for repurposing of doxorubicin and paclitaxel for treatment of COVID-19 disease, providing efficacy and adequate therapeutic index may be established.- Qatar Foundation - PhD studentship. - Qatar Foundation - (project code QB-14). - Qatar University - COVID-19 research (project code QU ERG-CMED-2020-1)

Schools of Public Health in Low and Middle-Income Countries: An Imperative Investment for Improving the Health of Populations?

BACKGROUND: Public health has multicultural origins. By the close of the nineteenth century, Schools of Public Health (SPHs) began to emerge in western countries in response to major contemporary public health challenges. The Flexner Report (1910) emphasized the centrality of preventive medicine, sanitation, and public health measures in health professional education. The Alma Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care (PHC) in 1978 was a critical milestone, especially for low and middle-income countries (LMICs), conceptualizing a close working relationship between PHC and public health measures. The Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2005-2008) strengthened the case for SPHs in LMICs as key stakeholders in efforts to reduce global health inequities. This scoping review groups text into public health challenges faced by LMICs and the role of SPHs in addressing these challenges. MAIN TEXT: The challenges faced by LMICs include rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, unfair terms of global trade, limited capacity for equitable growth, mass displacements associated with conflicts and natural disasters, and universal health coverage. Poor governance and externally imposed donor policies and agendas, further strain the fragile health systems of LMICs faced with epidemiological transition. Moreover barriers to education and research imposed by limited resources, political and economic instability, and unbalanced partnerships additionally aggravate the crisis. To address these contextual challenges effectively, SPHs are offering broad based health professional education, conducting multidisciplinary population based research and fostering collaborative partnerships. SPHs are also looked upon as the key drivers to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). CONCLUSION: SPHs in LMICs can contribute to overcoming several public health challenges being faced by LMICs, including achieving SDGs. Most importantly they can develop cadres of competent and well-motivated public health professionals: educators, practitioners and researchers who ask questions that address fundamental health determinants, seek solutions as agents of change within their mandates, provide specific services and serve as advocates for multilevel partnerships. Funding support, human resources, and agency are unfortunately often limited or curtailed in LMICs, and this requires constructive collaboration between LMICs and counterpart institutions from high income countries

Schools of public health in low and middle-income countries: an imperative investment for improving the health of populations?

BACKGROUND: Public health has multicultural origins. By the close of the nineteenth century, Schools of Public Health (SPHs) began to emerge in western countries in response to major contemporary public health challenges. The Flexner Report (1910) emphasized the centrality of preventive medicine, sanitation, and public health measures in health professional education. The Alma Ata Declaration on Primary Health Care (PHC) in 1978 was a critical milestone, especially for low and middle-income countries (LMICs), conceptualizing a close working relationship between PHC and public health measures. The Commission on Social Determinants of Health (2005-2008) strengthened the case for SPHs in LMICs as key stakeholders in efforts to reduce global health inequities. This scoping review groups text into public health challenges faced by LMICs and the role of SPHs in addressing these challenges. MAIN TEXT: The challenges faced by LMICs include rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, unfair terms of global trade, limited capacity for equitable growth, mass displacements associated with conflicts and natural disasters, and universal health coverage. Poor governance and externally imposed donor policies and agendas, further strain the fragile health systems of LMICs faced with epidemiological transition. Moreover barriers to education and research imposed by limited resources, political and economic instability, and unbalanced partnerships additionally aggravate the crisis. To address these contextual challenges effectively, SPHs are offering broad based health professional education, conducting multidisciplinary population based research and fostering collaborative partnerships. SPHs are also looked upon as the key drivers to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). CONCLUSION: SPHs in LMICs can contribute to overcoming several public health challenges being faced by LMICs, including achieving SDGs. Most importantly they can develop cadres of competent and well-motivated public health professionals: educators, practitioners and researchers who ask questions that address fundamental health determinants, seek solutions as agents of change within their mandates, provide specific services and serve as advocates for multilevel partnerships. Funding support, human resources, and agency are unfortunately often limited or curtailed in LMICs, and this requires constructive collaboration between LMICs and counterpart institutions from high income countries