Green chemistry and coronavirus

The novel coronavirus pandemic has rapidly spread around the world since December 2019. Various techniques have been applied in identification of SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 infection including computed tomography imaging, whole genome sequencing, and molecular methods such as reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). This review article discusses the diagnostic methods currently being deployed for the SARS-CoV-2 identification including optical biosensors and point-of-care diagnostics that are on the horizon. These innovative technologies may provide a more accurate, sensitive and rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 to manage the present novel coronavirus outbreak, and could be beneficial in preventing any future epidemics. Furthermore, the use of green synthesized nanomaterials in the optical biosensor devices could leads to sustainable and environmentally-friendly approaches for addressing this crisis. © 202

The effectiveness of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on ruminative thoughts, perceived stress and difficulties in emotion regulation of women with type 2 diabetes

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on ruminative thoughts, perceived stress and difficulties in emotion regulation of women with type 2 diabetes. Methods This quasi-experimental study was carried out using pre-test and post-test design with a control group and a one-step follow-up. Out of all patients with type 2 diabetes and members of the Public Sports Organization of North Khorasan Province, Iran in 2016, 30 individuals were selected via convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Patients of the experimental group participated in eight 120-minute sessions once per week of MBCT. The study data were obtained by using ruminative responses scale, perceived stress scale and difficulties in emotion regulation scale. Results Results of analysis of variance with repeated measures indicated that MBCT leads to significant decrease in ruminative thoughts (P�0.01) and difficulties in emotion regulation expect for the knowledge subscale (P�0.01) in the follow up and in perceived stress (P�0.01) in post-test. Conclusion Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy decreases the ruminative thoughts, difficulties in emotion regulation and perceived stress in women with type 2 diabetes. © 2019, Iran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Antimicrobial resistance patterns and phylogenetic analysis of shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli strains from goats using both clermont phylogenetic schemes

Foodborne transmission of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) poses a threat to public health. The Clermont typing schemes (previous and revised) have been used widely to phylotype E. coli. The present study was conducted to compare the relationship of the Clermont phylogenetic schemes in STEC strains isolated from goats and antibiotic resistance patterns in the southeast of Iran. Overall 52 strains carrying the stx gene were used for subsequent analysis. All strains were deter-mined by analysing the genomic DNA with a PCR-based method using the two Clermont et al. (2000, 2013) schemes. Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing strains were confirmed by the double disk-diffusion method. STEC strains were also tested for susceptibility to 20 antimicrobials agents. In the original Clermont method, the prevalent phylogroups were B1 (69.2) and A (28.8). The significant phylogenetic groups of strains according to the revised Clermont method were B1 (82.7), A (13.5) and unknown (3.8). However, STEC strains underwent changes as noted from A to B1 (17.3), B1 to unknown (3.8), B1 to A (1.9) and D to B1 (1.9) groupings. Of the 52 stx-positive strains, two ESBL producing strains were detected. Susceptibility data showed that the most frequent resistance phenotype was related to cefazolin (90.4), streptomycin (88.5), ampicillin (86.5) and oxytetracycline (82.7) respectively. Although the overall frequency of the reassigned phylotypes was not significant, most changes occurred within the A phylotype. Therefore, implementation of the new method on isolates belonging to the A phylotype in the old method seems to be necessary to obtain accurate results. © 2021, Trakia University. All rights reserved

Variation of accommodative and vergence responses with viewing at near addition lenses in three near viewing distances

Background and Objective: It is well accepted that accommodation system is characterized by steady state error in focus. Usually near addition lenses are prescribed to prepresbyopic individual for treatment of binocular motor problems such as convergence excess and accommodative disorder. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the near addition lenses in accommodative and vergence responses at three viewing distances. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was done on 42 students of 17-25 years old in Zahedan, South-Eastern Iran during 2009. After correction of refractive error, phoria states with APCT and binocular and monocular lag of accommodation by MEM method with and without +2.00 lenses in three difference distances (30, 40, 50 cm) was measured. Data analyzed by ANOVA, t-student and paired t-tests. Results: There was significant difference between average of lag of accommodation and phoria at various distances, with and without lens (P<0.05). Also, there was significant difference between mean of lag in 3 fixation distance (P<0.017). There was no significant difference between average of lag of accommodation and phoria at various distances in three group of refractive error. Conclusion: Our results showed that, near addition lens reduce the lag of accommodation. It is proposed, therefore, according to near emmetropization theory addition lenses may be effective in reducing of the myopia progression

Detection of zoonotic diarrheagenic pathotypes of escherichia coli in healthy household dogs

Background and Objectives: Intestinal pathotypes of Escherichia coli belong to the companion animals may poses potential risk to public health following zoonotic transmission. Therefore, this study was proposed to determine the virulence genes associated to diarrheagenic E. coli strains isolated from healthy pet dogs and their owners in the southeast of Iran, Kerman province. Materials and Methods: Totally 168 E. coli isolates were collected from 49 healthy household dogs and their owners. Seventy isolates were obtained from non-pet owners as control group. Presence or absence of the virulence genes including eae, stx1, stx2, st1, lt1, ipaH, cnf1 and cnf2 were screened by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and dissemination pattern of the genes were studied among the various hosts. Results: PCR examinations showed that the most frequent virulence gene was ipaH (6.1) in dogs followed by eae in dog owners (6.1) and in controls (8.6). The most frequent pathotypes in dogs, their owners and controls were EIEC (6.1), EHEC (4.08) and EPEC (8.5), respectively. In one of studied houses, both of dog and its owner harbored E. coli strains with same virulence profile (stx1/eae) and pathotype (EHEC). Conclusion: These results collectively indicate that healthy household dogs probably are the mild reservoir of potential virulent E. coli strains with possible active transmission to their contact owner. However, even non-pet owners seemed to be a notable source of intestinal pathotypes, especially EPEC, for their environment. Transmission of E. coli pathotypes may occurs by direct contact with the reservoirs or ingestion of contaminated food. These pathotypes are potentially virulent and creates public health hazards. Further studies are needed for better understanding of dissemination mechanisms of E. coli pathotypes among humans and their pets. © 2020, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Domestic and game pigeons as reservoirs for Escherichia coli harbouring antimicrobial resistance genes

Objectives: In Iran, pigeons are kept and bred on the roofs of houses, which indicates the potential significance of pigeons in the dispersal of antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli strains. Here we characterized antimicrobial resistance genotypes in relation to phenotypic presentations and phylogenetic backgrounds of the E. coli isolates from household pigeons in Kerman in southeast Iran. Methods: Totally, 152 faecal E. coli isolates from domestic and household pigeons were screened for 13 antimicrobial resistance genes, blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, sulI, sulII, dhfrI, dhfrV, aadA, aac(3)-I, tetA, tetB, floR and qnrA, by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Clermont phylogenetic background of E. coli strains was studied and antibiotic resistance of all strains was assessed for seven antibiotics. Results: The antimicrobial resistance genes blaTEM, tetA, tetB and aadA were detected in 52.6, 6.5, 6.5 and 5.9 of the isolates, respectively. PCR phylotyping revealed that a significant number of isolates within A0 (54), A1 (70), B1 (57.6), B22 (75) and D1 (87.5) phylogroups were positive for the studied resistance genes. One phenotypic resistance pattern (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) was associated with the presence of the corresponding gene sul2. Conclusions: An alarming rate of phenotypic resistance was observed in this study. Many isolates were positive for the screened resistance genes. According to the phylogenetic background, most resistant isolates belonged to the commensal phylotypes, representing significant role of commensal strains as a source of resistance genes. These findings highlight the role of the pigeon as disseminator of resistant E. coli strains. © 202