SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM Analysis in Patients Who Attended a University Hospital During the COVID-19 Epidemic in Iran

Background: The world is facing a new coronavirus that causes a respiratory infection called COVID-19.Therefore, there is an increasing request for antibody tests in recovered individuals since they want to evaluatetheir immunity against SARS-CoV-2 reinfection.Materials and Methods: In our study, we had 1000 blood samples from patients admitted to the Ghiassi Hospital,Tehran, Iran, or were asked to perform serological SARS-COV-2 IgM and IgG tests by their physicians werecollected. The antibody levels were assessed via the ELISA assay method using S and N antigens during variouswaves of the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran.Results: The highest IgG level (2.77) compared to the average (with 95% confidence) is observed in patientsinfected in the third wave, which is confirmed by the ANOVA test. The mean IgM concentration in the secondwave was equal to 0.77 and more than the IgM level in the third wave and the beginning of the fourth wave,which was confirmed by the ANOVA test.Conclusion: Detection of SARS-COV-2 IgG, IgM has significant potential for evaluating the severity andprognosis of COVID-19. In addition, all seroepidemiology data in each community can help HealthCommissions for controlling this pandemic. These data also can be used for epidemiological modeling andassessing the prevalence of COVID-19 immunity in society

Bacterial Infection of Pacemaker in Patients with Endocarditis

Background: The advancement of technology in recent decades has been lead to use the electrophysiology cardiac devices. Although these devices are used increasingly, but the frequency of subclinical infection is unknown. We investigate bacterial infections due to implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICDs) in patients with endocarditis.Materials and Methods: Population of the study was considered among all adult patients in whom the cardiac electrophysiology device was removed. Associated infection endocarditis defined by the Duke criteria. 35 pacemakers (PM) were aseptically removed from these patients during January 2012 to November 2014. Intraoperative swabs from the different part of devices were collected, cultured in BHI (Brain Heart Infusion Broth) and then bacterial classical cultures were done under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Biochemical and differential media were used to detect the bacteria species. Data analysis was performed by using SPSS version 16 software.Results: 13 cases of 35 patients with endocarditis diagnosed by modified Duke Criteria and removed pacemaker had positive culture. Of the 13 cases with infection 43% were identified as gram positive and 57% had gram negative bacteria.Conclusion: Based on our study and similar studies, bacteria can colonize in electrophysiology devices which can lead to bacterial infections.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial effects of MTAD, NaOCl against selected endodontic pathogens

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the antimicrobial effects of MTAD, sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and their combination on endodontic micro-organisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Zone of Inhibition (ZI) and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) were the techniques used. In ZI technique blood agar plates were inoculated with organisms, paper discs were soaked with irrigants and maximum zones of bacterial inhibition were recorded. In the MIC technique the irrigants were serially diluted in TSB tubes and 0.1 mL of the tested microbe solutions were added. Results were obtained on the basis of turbidity and growth on agar plates. Statistical analyses were carried out using ANOVA and Tukey tests. RESULTS: In ZI technique, we investigated 120 specimens including 5 microbial species, 3 irrigants and their control groups, each with 6 repetitions. The results demonstrated MTAD greater antimicrobial efficacy compared to NaOCl, and their mixture (M+N) against Staphylococcus (S) aureus, Enteric (E) bacteria and Enterococcus (E) faecalis (P<0.001). NaOCl was more effective in eradicating Candida (C) albicans than the others (P<0.01). MIC method (155 tubes) showed MTAD to be more effective against E. bacteria and S. aureus. MTAD and NaOCl were equally effective against E. faecalis; however, NaOCl was more effective against C. albicans. CONCLUSION: Bacterial species were more susceptible to MTAD than NaOCl, C. albicans, however, was more susceptible to NaOCl. The advantage of NaOCl is that it has broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. The joint solution (M+N) did not prove to be more effective than their individual use