Antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of Mentha longifolia L. and hydroalcoholic extract of Zataria multiflora Boiss. plants against important human pathogens

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the potential antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts from Mentha longifolia L. (M. longifolia) and hydroalcoholic extract of Zataria multiflora Boiss. (Z. multiflora) against important human pathogens.MethodsPseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumonia), Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus aureus were kinds of pathogenic bacteria to determine the antibacterial effect of aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of M. longifolia and hydroalcoholic extract of Z. multiflora using broth microdiluation method.ResultsThe lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values for K. pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL) were observed by the hydroalcoholic extract of Z. multiflora and the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values for K. pneumonia and Serratia marcescens (2.5 and 5 mg/mL) were observed by the aqueous extracts of M. longifolia.ConclusionsIn conclusion, it seems that Z. multiflora and M. longifolia extracts could inhibit the growth of all of the mentioned bacteria

Investigation of caspase-1 activity and interleukin-1β production in murine macrophage cell lines infected with Leishmania major

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the caspase-1 dependent inflammatory pathway activity and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion in murine macrophage cell lines J774G8 infected with Leishmania major (L. major) using caspase-1 activity assay and ELISA.MethodsNovy-MacNeal-Nicolle biphasic medium was applied to produce promastigote form of L. major. Metacyclic promastigotes in the stationary phase were applied to infect macrophage. Caspase-1 activity and IL-1β secretion were assessed by the CPP32/caspase-1 fluorometric protease assay and ELISA IL-1β kits, respectively, with time intervals of 6, 18 and 30 h.ResultsOur study showed an increase in caspase-1 activity and IL-1β secretion in infected samples compared to non-infected macrophages. The highest increase in IL-1β production was observed after 6 h of infection.ConclusionsThese results arise that the activation of inflammasome pathway could be one of the innate immunity pathways against L. major

Changes in the Epidemiology of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Northeastern Iran.

The province of Khorasan-Razavi in the North East of Iran is an endemic area for anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL caused mainly by Leishmania tropica) and zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL caused mainly by Leishmania major). Based on clinical signs, some cities were considered as ACL foci while others were considered to be endemic for ZCL. This paper reviews studies performed on patients diagnosed with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) via the use of direct slide examination, ELISA, electrophoresis isoenzyme, RAPD PCR and PCR in Mashhad; the study also includes cases of CL in other cities of the Khorasan-Razavi province where only PCR used as a diagnostic tool. The data show that both Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major caused CL in most of the cities investigated. Our review shows that Leishmania major was found in areas where ACL is prevalent and Leishmania tropica was observed in areas with high incidence of ZCL. This distribution represents a major change in the epidemiological pattern of Leishmania in the Khorasan-Razavi province

Epidemiological characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in IRAN: A single center study.

BackgroundAn outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran has spread throughout the country. Identifying the epidemiological characteristics of this disease will help to make appropriate decisions and thus control the epidemic. The aim of this study was characterization of the epidemiological features of COVID-19 in Iran.MethodsIn this retrospective study, data related to the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 19 February 2020 to 15 April 2020 have been analyzed and reported. Patient characteristics including age, gender and underlying diseases were investigated. Data were collected through patient records. Sex ratio, Case Fatality Rate (CFR) and daily trend of cases were also determined. A multiple logistic regression analysis was also performed to assess affecting factors on mortality.ResultsFrom February 19, 2020 to April 15, 2020, 12870 patients referred to the hospital emergency department, of which 2968 were hospitalized with COVID-19 diagnosis. The majority of cases were in the age group of 50 to 60 years of old. The male-to-female ratio was 1.93:1. A total of 239 deaths occurred among all cases for an overall CFR of 1.85% based on the total number of patients (both outpatient and inpatient) and 8.06% among hospitalized patients. Out of all patients 10.89% had comorbidity. Diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, chronic Kidney diseases and cancer were the most common comorbidities with 3.81, 2.02 , 1.99 , 1.25, 0.60 and 0.57 %, respectively. Male gender (OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.08-1.96), older age (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.04-1.06) and having underlying diseases (OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.04-2.24) were significantly associated with mortality.ConclusionsThe results of this study showed that Male gender, older age and having comorbidities were significantly associated with the risk of death among COVID-19 patients. It is important to pay special attention to male elderly patients with underlying diseases

A Case Based-Shared Teaching Approach in Undergraduate Medical Curriculum: A Way for Integration in Basic and Clinical Sciences

To present a multiple-instructor, active-learning strategy in the undergraduate medical curriculum. This educational research is a descriptive one. Shared teaching sessions, were designed for undergraduate medical students in six organ-system based courses. Sessions that involved in-class discussions of integrated clinical cases were designed implemented and moderated by at least 3 faculties (clinicians and basic scientists). The participants in this study include the basic sciences medical students of The Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Students’ reactions were assessed using an immediate post-session evaluation form on a 5-point Likert scale. Six two-hour sessions for 2 cohorts of students, 2013 and 2014 medical students during their two first years of study were implemented from April 2014 to March 2015. 17 faculty members participated in the program, 21 cases were designed, and participation average was 60 % at 6 sessions. Students were highly appreciative of this strategy. The majority of students in each course strongly agreed that this learning practice positively contributed to their learning (78%) and provided better understanding and application of the material learned in an integrated classroom course (74%). They believed that the sessions affected their view about medicine (73%), and should be continued in future courses (80%). The percentage demonstrates the average of all courses. The program helped the students learn how to apply basic sciences concepts to clinical medicine. Evaluation of the program indicated that students found the sessions beneficial to their learning

Evaluating the Prevalence of Clinical and Paraclinical Findings in Hospitalized Children with The Disseminated Infection Caused by BCG Vaccine in The Pediatric Ward of Ali Ibn Abi Talib Hospital

Introduction and objective: Tuberculosis is an infectious disease with global spread and BCG vaccine is the only vaccine available against this disease. The disseminated infection caused by the BCG vaccine is a rare, but dangerous complication of this vaccine. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the prevalence of clinical and paraclinical findings in hospitalized children with the disseminated infection caused by BCG vaccine in the pediatric ward of Ali ibn Abi Talib Hospital in 2015. Materials and methods: In this descriptive study, the files of all children who were hospitalized in the pediatric ward of Ali ibn Abi Talib Hospital in Zahedan with the diagnosis of the disseminated infection caused by the BCG vaccine during the years 2011-2015 were selected as census and they were examined. Six files were excluded from the study due to a lack of information. Information about the clinical and laboratory findings of the patients was extracted from the files. Descriptive information was displayed using SPSS ver.21 software. Findings: The files of 27 children were studied in this study; 16 children (59.3%) were boys and 11 children (40.7%) were girls. The most common clinical findings included fever in 23 patients (85.2%), lymphadenopathy in 20 patients (74.1%), weight loss in 15 patients (55.6%), hepatomegaly in 4 patients (14.8%), and splenomegaly in 4 patients (14.8%). The most common hematological findings were anemia and leukocytosis. Discussion and Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the diagnosis of the disseminated infection caused by BCG vaccine should be considered in all newborns and children with fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, any abnormal hematologic or radiological findings, and the history of BCG vaccine inoculation

Assessment of Third Generation Cephalosporin (Ceftazidime and Ceftriaxone) Resistant Escherichia Coli Strains Isolated from Zahedan Hospitals by Tracing the TEM Gene

Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped bacte- rium and member of the Enterobacteriaceae family. E. coli is common in various infections, including hospital-acquired urinary tract infections. Ceftriaxone and ceftazidime are most commonly-used antibiotics to treat infections caused by Ente- robacteriaceae. The purpose of this study was to determine the antimicrobial resis- tance pattern of E. coli strains isolated from patients referred to the selected hospit- als in Zahedan by tracing the blaTEM beta-lactamase gene. Over a 12 month period, 200 clinical samples were examined. Antibiotic susceptibility was deter- mined by disk diffusion test and microdilution method and the presence of bla TEM gene was evaluated by PCR. 130 isolates were potentially extended-spectrum beta- lactamase-producing and 72 isolates contained the TEM gene. The results of the present study indicate a high rate of antibiotic resistance among E. coli isolates to ceftriaxone and ceftazidime. Therefore, it is recommended to perform antibiogram tests before prescribing antibiotic therapy. Keywords: Ecsherichia coli, Disk Diffusion Test, Extended Spectrum Beta- lactamases (ESBLs

Temporomandibular joint ankylosis: Case-series of two different surgical procedures

Introducation: The long-term outcome and clinical results of gaparthroplasty used for the treatment of condylar ankylosis of the mandible in children with application of postoperative activator appliances and costochondral rib graft are evaluated and compared. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of gap arthroplasty and costochondral graft methods on reankylosis, a mount of mouth opening and growth. Materials and Methods: A non-randomized, retrospective clinical study of l0 cases (5-12 years old) of condylar ankylosis of the mandible, surgically treated during a 10 year period from 2002 to 2012 was performed. Four patients were treated by condylectomy and interpositional flap, whereas six were treated by condylectomy and immediate costachondral rib grafts. The first group underwent long-term postoperative therapy using removable activator appliances. Casts, radiographs, photographs, and computed tomography (CT) were used post surgically to evaluate rib graft, condylar growth and function, occlusion, facial, and condylar symmetry. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 statistical software using Mann-Whitney, Paired T-test and Chi-square tests. Results: Children with long-standing condylar ankylosis of the mandible treated by condylectomy and interpositional flap showed more favorably when activators were used post-surgically. Conclusions: Gaparthroplasty with functional activator post-operatively can be considering for TMJ ankylosis

CRISPR genome editing and its medical applications

Genome editing has always been a challenging area as a means to provide more efficient ways to create a meaningful change in the genome. Today, the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) restoration system is considered as one of the suitable and promising options for genome editing. This system has many advantages compared to the previous gene-editing methods developed in this area. Compared to the previous systems, CRISPR can deactivate or eliminate a gene without interfering with intracellular mechanisms. The system can be used in the treatment of diseases and in related research with identifying the performance of defective genes in these diseases. CRISPR has more potentials and applications compared to previous systems. Among these applications, we can note the use of CRISPR in understanding genetic and epigenetic diseases such as cancer. Study of cancer by the CRISPR system is done by two approaches: turning off the oncogenes and turning on the tumour suppressor genes. According to the exact capability of CRISPR, this system can also be used to create exact mutations in different cell lines to model the cancers. This type of modeling can lead to a better understanding of cancer and the ability to develop effective drugs

The Cytoplasmic and Periplasmic Expression Levels and Folding of Organophosphorus Hydrolase Enzyme in Escherichia coli

This is an queer theoretical intersectional feminist study about sex workers experiences and the prejudices they face in the Netherlands. Dutch sex workers do no get the same chances and opportunities as other workers in society. So, the overarching research problem of this study is the consequences of certain discourses that confine Dutch sex workers in their lives. The thesis aims that people will critically reflect upon this study and that they will take into account the different discourses and the non-uniformity of sex workers and sex work, in other words, to create awareness and a better understanding of the complex, diverse and various groups of sex workers and the sex industry. This study consists of two research methods: literature review and interview study. The literature review consists of the previous research and the theoretical framework. The theoretical framework presents discourse and stigma as part of respectability. Discourse as systems of thinking, which effects and affects. Also this study presents respectability, in relation to the so-called non-respectable bodies of sex workers and the missing respect and dignity towards sex workers, as well as stigma as part of respectability, as the experience deviant from the normative discourse. The interview study consists of four semi-structured interviews, conducted both online and face-to-face with four Dutch participants. The method thematic content analysis was applied to code the interview transcripts and divide the content into themes and sub-themes. The three main themes are: the discourses around sex work, the consequences of the discourses around sex work and sex work as a form of labour. Under these main themes I present related sub-themes. In the analysis the participants share their stories about the negative attitude from people towards their profession, this negative attitude manifested itself in different ways. According to the participants, this negative attitude, or so-called stigma, confines sex workers in their personal and professional lives