Microbiological qualification of air, water and dialysate in a haemodialysis centre; a new focus on Legionella spp.

Background and Objectives: The microbiological monitoring of the water used for haemodialysis is important especially for Legionella and non-fermentative bacteria since patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) are suffering from deteriorated function of immune system. Materials and Methods: A total 50 water and dialysate samples were weekly collected over a period of 10 weeks from 5 sites. Total and faecal coliforms were determined by utilizing the most probable number (MPN) method. For isolation of Legionella, water samples were inoculated on a BCYE medium. DNA extraction was performed and was used to amplify 16S rRNA gene of Legionella species. Airborne bacteria were sampled using a single stage Andersen air sampler. Results: Out of total 50 water samples, 24 samples had bacterial contamination. The highest rate of Legionella contamination was observed in the storage tank (67 cfu/ml). Legionella was not isolated from the dialysate effluent samples. The highest rate of total bacterial count was related to the dialysate effluent and the maximum total count of coliforms was related to the reverse osmosis. The isolated bacteria were Gram-negative bacilli (mostly Pseudomonas isolates), Gram-positive cocci (mostly Micrococcus spp.) and Gram-positive bacilli (mostly Bacillus spp.). Six samples were contaminated with coliforms. No faecal coliform was isolated from the samples. Conclusion: These results indicated that dialysis machine is an important source of contaminations such as Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas and Legionella. Therefore an efficient prevention program is needed to eliminate bacterial contamination of dialysis water system. Moreover, in haemodialysis centres, periodic surveillance programs for microbiological qualification can lead to a better planning for disinfection of haemodialysis water systems. © 2016, Tehran University of Medical Science. All rights reserved

Sulfur dioxide reduces hippocampal cells death and improves learning and memory deficits in rat model of transient global ischemia/reperfusion

Objective(s): According to recent the findings, sulfur dioxide (SO2) is produced by the cardiovascular system, influencing some major biological processes. Based on previous research, SO2 exhibits antioxidant effects and inhibits apoptosis following cardiac ischemia/reperfusion. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to examine the neuroprotective impact of SO2 following global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Materials and Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats that weighed 260�300 g, were randomly allocated into 4 groups: sham group (n=12), I/R group (n=12), and I/R+SO2 groups (NaHSO3 and Na2SO3; 1:3 ratio; 5 and 10 μg/kg, respectively; for 3 days, n=12). Cerebral ischemia model was prepared by occlusion of both common carotid arteries for 20 min. Saline as a vehicle and SO2 donor at doses 5 μg/kg (intraperitoneally) were injected for 3 days after reperfusion. Four days after ischemia, the passive avoidance memory test was carried out in four groups, and after behavioral assessment, necrosis, apoptosis, and antioxidant enzyme analysis were carried out. Results: SO2 treatment could significantly improve memory impairments in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) (P<0.05). An increase in both superoxide dismutase and glutathione and a reduction in malondialdehyde were reported in the SO2 group versus the ischemic group (P<0.05). Moreover, SO2 could significantly decrease necrotic and apoptotic cells in the CA1 region (P<0.01). Conclusion: According to the findings, SO2 exerts significant neuroprotective effects on cerebral I/R due to its antioxidant activity. © 2018, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Chances of Employment in a Population of Women and Men after Surgery of Congenital Heart Disease: Gender-Specific Comparisons between Patients and the General Population

It was examined whether women and men (17-45 years) with operated congenital heart disease (CHD) differ with respect to chances of employment. Patients were compared with the general population. Patients (N=314) were classified by type of surgery (curative, reparative, palliative) as indicator of initial severity of disease. The second classification was performed according to a system proposed by the New York Heart Association in order to take subjectively reported impairments into account. Controls (N=1165) consisted of a 10% random sample drawn from the German Socio-Economic Panel. Chances of full- time employment decreased as disease severity increased. Chances of part- time and minor employment were higher in patients than among controls. These general effects were due to male patients, while the employment patterns of women did not differ from the control group. Independently of patient status women were more likely to have lower rates of full- time employment, and the rates of part- time and minor employment were higher. Long- term adaptation to impairments due to congenital heart disease differs between women and men with respect to employment status. While female patients do not differ from the general population, males may lower their engagement in paid work

Medium-Term Complications Associated With Coronary Artery Aneurysms After Kawasaki Disease: A Study From the International Kawasaki Disease Registry.

Background Coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) may occur after Kawasaki disease (KD) and lead to important morbidity and mortality. As CAA in patients with KD are rare and heterogeneous lesions, prognostication and risk stratification are difficult. We sought to derive the cumulative risk and associated factors for cardiovascular complications in patients with CAAs after KD. Methods and Results A 34-institution international registry of 1651 patients with KD who had CAAs (maximum CA

Study of Todebin dam reservoir in Zanjan province in order to aquaculture possibility

The Todebin dam reservoir has been constructed in central part of Abhar in the Zanjan province which has been studied with aquaculture purpose. This study was conducted on biotic and abiotic factors. The plankton, benthos and fishes were identified and the parasitology and bacteriology studies were performed on the lake fishes. Then the fisheries potential of the lake was calculated in respect of final fish farming amount and the fish releasing. The results showed the Bacillariophyta was dominated ِduring the study. the highest abundance of phytoplankton was between 2.1 and 12.5 million cells.l^-1 in the upper layer of lake as compared with the lower layer. The genus Cyclotella and Dinobryon belong to phytoplankton and Keratella and Polyathera belong to zooplankton were dominanted abundance. The mean biomass of benthos was varied from 5.5 to 29.5 g.m -2 and the Chironomidae had the most abundance. The ichtiology survey showed the presence of four cultured species and the Goldfish. The hydro-chemical results indicated no restriction for aquaculture activity. The oxygen average was more than 8 mg/l. The average of phosphate, nitrogen and hardness were measured 0.09±0.04, 2±0.8 and 237±94.5 mg/l., respectively. For the most hydrochemical factores, the values were significantly different between upper and bottom layers of the lake. The oxygen production and Chl-a amount were measured about 0.73 mg/l. and 7/03 µg/l., respectively. According to climatic restrictions, the cold fish culture is preferred than to culture of warm fishes. While the natural capacity of the lake was about 5 tones to warm fish culture, the fish production of trout was estimated about 40 tones. This volume will be available during four months periods and twice a year

Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius) broodstock supply in south western of the Caspian Sea (Guilan province)

Caspian trout (Salmo trutta caspius ) is one of the migratory fish species which lives and feeds in the Caspian Sea .This species distributed in south and western of the Caspian Sea . In order to rehabilitation of the Caspian trout in western area, the operation of the project started from the beginning of the fishing season of the 20112012. Specimens of the Caspian trout obtained from beach seine cooperatives and have been transferred to the fish farm in Asalem region .Totally, 44 specimens of the Caspian trout has been caught in two month period .Most of the fishes was from Kargan roud river . The mean length and weight of the brood fishes were 67.7 cm and 3122.7 g respectively .As at present Shilat uses just the broods of the Tonekaboon region for restocking of this species ,we recommend to use the broods of the western region separately for rehabilitation of the stocks of this region

A molecular beacon-based real time PCR assay for quantitative detection of Toxoplasma gondii in rat

Background: Application of quantitative real time PCR has evolved as a sensitive, specific, and rapid method for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of real time PCR method, using B1 gene, for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in the experimentally infected rats. Materials and Methods: Parasites were cultured in peritoneal cavity of mice and then the DNA was extracted in tachyzoite stage. The B1 gene of T. gondii was amplified by PCR and detected by real time PCR method based on the molecular beacon probe. Finally, real time PCR was evaluated for the quantization of T. gondii in the blood of the experimentally infected rats. Results: The B1 gene of T. gondii which was successfully amplified by PCR yielded an amplicon with an approximate length of 116 bp. Using this gene was evaluated highly appropriate for the quantization of T. gondii by real time PCR method. Conclusion: Application of real time PCR method is shown to be highly efficient in terms of sensitivity and rapidity for the detection of B1 gene as well as the quantization of T. gondii in blood of rat