Role and Function of KPC and MBL Enzymes in Increasing the Pathogenicity of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolated from Burn Wounds

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the main causes of hospital infections. Pathogenic factors in this bacterium may play a role in the resistance to carbapenem and beta-lactam. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role and function of KPC and MBL enzymes in increasing the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn wounds. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 63 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from burn wounds of different patients were isolated using biochemical tests such as fermentation of sugars in the OF medium, oxidase test, and so on. Determination of resistance pattern and strains with metallobetalactamase and carbapenema was done by disc diffusion method. The oprD gene was used for molecular confirmation of isolates. PCR method was used to detect pathogenicity genes. FINDINGS: Out of 63 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn patients, 10 isolates (15.83%) had KPC enzyme and 13 isolates (20.63%) had MBL enzymes. Doripenem, Ertapenem and meropenem were the most frequent. Also, the lasB gene was observed in 43 isolates (68.25%), plcN gene in 41 isolates (65.07%), lasA gene in 20 isolates (31.74%), apr in 60 isolates (95.23%), phzI gene in 53 isolates (84.12%), the phzII gene in 38 isolates (60.31%), phzH gene in 30 isolates (47.61%) and plcH gene in 56 isolates (88.88%). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the production of Carbapnemase and MBL enzymes increased the pathogenicity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn wounds

Relationship of chemotherapeutic agents with menstrual disorders in nursing staff

BackgroundOccupational contact with chemotherapeutic drugs is considered as a potential threat for health. These agents may cause menstrual disorders according to many studies regarding the effects of long-term contact of the agents with health personnel. Oncology nurses involved in the preparation and administration of these drugs may be prone to many threats and complications. PurposeThis retrospective study was conducted to detect menstrual disorders in nursing staff with or without contact with chemotherapeutic agents at Namazi Hospital in Shiraz. MethodsNurses from chemotherapy, hematology, pediatrics, Eastern 3 as well as bone marrow transplantation wards in case group and from internal general, internal women, internal men as well as Western 3 in control group (totally 94 subjects) was selected. A questionnaire in 4 parts including demographic, past medical history, menstrual disorders and contact with the agents was used for data collection. Pelvic sonography and hormonal tests were also checked. Results61.1% of nurses in the case group suffered from menstrual disorders in comparison with 53.3% of subjects in the control group. TSH, FSH, and LH levels were higher and prolactin level was lower in the case group. Most nurses in the case group experienced the disorders in the last 6 months. No significant relationship was found between menstrual disorders and application of protective devices. ConclusionBecause of potential effects of contact with chemotherapeutic agents on reproductive system, involved staff should use available protective devices to prevent infertility and menstrual disorders. Keywords: Menstrual disorders, Occupational contact, Chemotherapeutic agents.           

Gold nanoparticles and electroporation impose both separate and synergistic radiosensitizing effects in HT-29 tumor cells: an in vitro study

Zohre Rezaee,1,2 Ali Yadollahpour,1,2 Vahid Bayati,1 Fereshteh Negad Dehbashi1 1Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Avhaz, Iran; 2Department of Medical Physics, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Background and objective: Radiation therapy (RT) is the gold standard treatment for more than half of known tumors. Despite recent improvements in RT efficiency, the side effects of ionizing radiation (IR) in normal tissues are a dose-limiting factor that restricts higher doses in tumor treatment. One approach to enhance the efficiency of RT is the application of radiosensitizers to selectively increase the dose at the tumor site. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and electroporation (EP) have shown good potential as radiosensitizers for RT. This study aims to investigate the sensitizing effects of EP, GNPs, and combined GNPs-EP on the dose enhancement factor (DEF) for 6 MV photon energy. Methods: Radiosensitizing effects of EP, GNPs, and combinations of GNPs-EP were comparatively investigated in vitro for intestinal colon cancer (HT-29) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines by MTT assay and colony formation assay at 6 MV photon energy in six groups: IR (control group), GNPs+IR, GNPs (24 h)+IR, EP+IR, GNPs+EP+IR, and GNPs (24 h)+EP+IR. Results: Treatment of both cell lines with EP, GNPs, and combined GNPs-EP significantly enhanced the response of cells to irradiation. However, the HT-29 showed higher DEF values for all groups. In addition, the DEF value for HT-29 cells for GNPs+IR, GNPs (24 h)+IR, EP+IR, GNPs+EP+IR, and GNPs (24 h)+EP+IR was, respectively, 1.17, 1.47, 1.36, 2.61, and 2.89, indicating synergistic radiosensitizing effect for the GNPs (24 h)+EP+IR group. Furthermore, the synergistic effect was observed just for HT-29 tumor cell lines. Conclusion: Combined GNPs-EP protocols induced synergistic radiosensitizing effect in HT-29 cells, and the effect is also tumor specific. This combined therapy can be beneficially used for the treatment of intrinsically less radiosensitive tumors. Keywords: gold nanoparticles, radiosensitizer, electroporation, dose enhancement factor, synergistic effec

The perception of the foreign language faculties about applying information technology in their teaching

: آشنایی مدرسان زبان خارجی با کاربرد فناوری اطلاعات در آموزش زبان می­تواند نقش بزرگی در بهبود آموزش زبان خارجی در سطح دانشگاه­های کشور ایفا کند. در مقاله حاضر میزان شناخت مدرسان آموزش زبان خارجی، در استفاده از فناوری اطلاعات در رشته آموزشی خود، دیدگاه آنها نسبت به امکانات موجود در محل خدمتشان و میزان آمادگی ذهنی استادان زبان برای شرکت در دوره­های آموزش الکترونیکی  با در نظر گرفتن متغیرهایی مانند سن، جنسیت، مرتبه علمی و نوع تدریس: (الکترونیکی (برخط) و سنتی) با استفاده از روش تحقیق توصیفی و پیمایشی مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. 68 نفر از مدرسان آموزش زبان­های انگلیسی، فرانسه، آلمانی و فارسی به غیر فارسی زبانان از 7 دانشگاه سنتی و مجازی در این پژوهش شرکت نمودند. پس از پردازش اطلاعات حاصل از پرسش­نامه­ها؛ مشخص شد که اگرچه با افزایش سطح مرتبه علمی و ارتقای مقطع تدریس مدرسان زبان، میزان آمادگی آنها برای گذار از آموزش سنتی به آموزش الکترونیکی بیشتر بود؛ ولی اکثریت مدرسان زبان خارجی نه تنها شناخت مناسبی از کاربرد ابزارها و راهبردهای مبتنی بر فناوری رشته خود نداشتند؛ بلکه باید تقریباً در تمام زمینه­های وابسته به تدریس مبتنی بر آموزش الکترونیکی، تعلیم می­دیدند. با توجه به اهمیت آشنایی مدرسان زبان با ابزارها و راهبردهای الکترونیکی در تدریس مؤثر زبان خارجی، برنامه­ریزی در زمینه تدوین الگویی مناسب برای تربیت مدرس آموزش زبان به شیوه الکترونیکی، در سطح کلان در کشور ضروری به نظر می­رسد

Propranolol decreases the post-operative pain and analgesic administration following abdominal hysterectomy

Post-operative pain results in many complications. Studies suggest beta blockers to be effective in decreasing postoperative pain and analgesic requirements. This study evaluated the influence of perioperative administration of 40mg orally propranolol on patients' post-operative pain score and analgesic consumption following abdominal hysterectomy. In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 73 women who had referred for elective abdominal hysterectomy surgery during years 2010-2011 were reviewed. Patients were randomly divided into case (receiving 40 mg orally propranolol tablet 30 min before surgery) and control (receiving orally placebo 30 min before surgery). General anesthesia was done the same for both groups. Postoperative time of first need to morphine, total morphine consumption dose and pain severity during the first 24 hours after surgery was measured among both groups. age and hysterectomy indication was not statistically different between two groups (p>0.05). Total morphine consumption in the propranolol group (2.85±2.5 mg) was lower than control group (10.35±2.2 mg) (p<0.001). The Initial morphine administration time (min) in the propranolol group was significantly longer than the control group (998.7 ± 49 vs. 261.7 ± 139.1) (p<0.001). The Pain Score (VAS scoring) (Mean±SD) in propranolol group was lower than the control group (1.03±0.58 vs. 2.76 ±0.8) (p< 0.001). administration of 40mg orally propranolol 30 minutes before abdominal hysterectomy is effective in decreasing patients' post-operative pain and morphine administration dosage. It also elongates the Initial morphine administration time in the first 24 hours following abdominal hysterectomy