Relationship between the Presence of the nalC Mutation and Multidrug Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Objectives. The current study was conducted to determine the relationship between the presences of significant multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) having intact mexR genes (nalC) to different antibiotics. Methods. In order to identify nalC, fifty strains of P. aeruginosa were obtained. All isolates were found in urinary tract infections. They were evaluated against different antibiotics. The nalC mutant was identified by PCR. Results. The 50 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa originated from two hospitals in Iran, in which 32 isolates were found in Milad hospital, and 18 isolates were collected in the Ilam Hospital. The results in Milad hospital of nalC revealed that all P. aeruginosa resistant to oxacillin showed the presence of nalC. In Ilam hospital only three (16.6%) isolates were resistant to oxacilin and aztreonam, and among these three isolates only one isolate revealed resistance to ceftazidime and amikacin. The resistant isolates showed the presence of both OXA-10 and nalC. Conclusion. Our results showed that the presence of nalC was observed among P. aeruginosa resistance to oxacilin. Thus, the finding suggested relationship between oxacilin resistance and presence of nalC and consequently overproduction of the MexABOprM efflux system

A New Proposal for Live Load Distribution Factors of Bridges with Transverse Beams

Many bridge superstructures use transverse beams as load carrying components. In these systems, usually the transverse beams are connected to the main longitudinal girders or trusses on the two sides of the bridge. Such systems are commonly used in plate girder, box girder, cable-stayed and truss bridges.  The live load distribution factor (LLDF) for bridge superstructures with transverse beams in AASHTO-LRFD bridge design specification has remained unchanged for decades and is prescribed as a function of the distance between the transverse beams. However, for slab-beam superstructures in which longitudinal beams at close spacing carry the loads to the substructure, the LLDFs have gone through many changes throughout the years and in their current forms depend on many parameters such as concrete slab thickness, beam span, longitudinal beam stiffness as well as the distance between the longitudinal beams. This study investigates the factors affecting the LLDF for transverse beams and intends to obtain new equations similar to AASHTO’s longitudinal beam equations. For this purpose, 3D finite element models of different sample bridges were developed and critical parameters affecting the LLDF were identified and varied. Accordingly, the LLDFs for moment and shear forces of transverse beams were obtained through regression analyses. The proposed equations have less than 3.1% of average error for the cases considered

Effect of Nd:YAG Laser Irradiation on the Number of Open Dentinal Tubules and Their Diameter with and without Smear of Graphite: An in Vitro Study

Introduction: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is characterized by tooth pain arising from exposure of dental roots. In this study the efficiency of neodymium yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser in association with graphite on dentinal surface changes as the alternative to the treatment of DH was evaluated.Methods: Sixteen noncarious human third molars were collected and sectioned into 5 parts from cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to the furcation area. The prepared samples were randomly assigned into five groups (Gs) of each 16: Control (G1), treated by Nd:YAG laser at 0.5 W (G2), irradiation of Nd:YAG with a 0.25 W output power(G3), smeared with graphite and then using Nd:YAG laser at output powers of 0.5 W (G4) and 0.25 W (G5). For all groups the parameters were 15 Hz, 60 s, at two stages and with a right angle irradiation. The number and diameter of dentinal tubules (DT) were compared and analyzed by SPSS software, One way ANOVA and Post hoc LSD tests.Results: The number of open dentinal tubules varied significantly between all groups except among G1 with G3 and G2 with G5. Multiple comparison tests also exhibited significant differences regarding the diameter of tubules between the groups two by two except among G2 with G5.Conclusion: Nd:YAG laser used at 0.25 W and 0.5 W with application of graphite smear was able to reduce the number and diameter of dentinal tubules

The Clinical Efficacy of Infrared Photocoagulation Versus Closed Hemorrhoidectomy in Treatment of Hemorrhoid

Introduction: Infrared photocoagulation (IRC) was introduced as a mainstay procedure for treatment of hemorrhoids. The present study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of IRC compared to closed hemorrhoidectomy.Methods: Forty patients suffering grade-3 hemorrhoid that referred to the surgery clinic at Imam Hossein hospital in Tehran in 2013 were randomly assigned to groups treated with the IRC modality or Ferguson’s closed hemorrhoidectomy method. The patients in the 2 groups were followed-up for the first 24 hours after surgery and 8 weeks later. Postoperative pain was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) at three time points of 24 hours, 2 weeks and 8 weeks after operation.Results: Regarding bleeding, its overall prevalence was 5.0% in the IRC group and 30.0% in the hemorrhoidectomy group, which was significantly less prevalent in the IRC group. Notably, the IRC group had a lower mean postoperative pain score compared to the hemorrhoidectomy group. Time of return to work was significantly shorter in the IRC group; no difference was found in the mean duration of hospital stay, and recurrence rate across 2 groups.Conclusion: IRC procedure is safer than closed hemorrhoidectomy with lower postoperative pain severity, less secondary bleeding, and leads to earlier return to work in patients with hemorrhoid

Application of Neuroscience on Architecture: The Emergence of New Trend of Neuroarchitecture

Understanding and knowing neuroscience and its sub-branches applications as well as their interconnections has a significant effect on science development. Simoltaneous application of neurology, psychology and architecture gain a new trend named “neuroarchitecture” or “basic nerve architecture”. This paper tries to consider this new trend through qualitative research and descriptive analysis method based on library information analysis. In this way current paper firstly deals with this subject background and neuroscience definition and then refers to entry areas of this subject to other sciences. Then basic information related to human brain and measurement instruments of neurology science will be presented. This paper deals with neuroscience on economy, education, aesthetics, and environment psychology in architecture areas. At the end concluding discussion will be presented through analytic method of neuroscience influence on architecture (neuroarchitecture) and its application method

Identification of Tourism Scenarios in Turkey Based on Futures Study Approach

This study aims to identify the plausible scenarios of tourism in Antalya, Turkey. For this purpose, the drivers and key factors of the research were first identified by reviewing the literature and interviewing Turkish tourism experts. Then these factors were screened using binomial nonparametric test and eight factors were eliminated from the 19 key factors. Two key factors of government policy in the tourism field and value of country currency were selected using cross impact analysis technique in order to write plausible scenarios. Based on these two uncertainties, four scenarios of luxury tourism, cheap tourism, tourism deterioration and unplanned tourism were identified

Simultaneous doxorubicin encapsulation and in-situ microfluidic micellization of bio-targeted polymeric nanohybrids using dichalcogenide monolayers : A molecular in-silico study

The rate of Riboflavin (RF) consumption in cancerous cells is interestingly high and this might imply the use of RF ligand in nanocarriers in order to target anticancer drugs into cancer cells. This study aimed to develop a hybrid drug carrier of Doxorubicin (DOX) loaded on RF targeted micelles composed of hydrophobic polylacticglycolic acid (PLGA) and hydrophilic polyethylene glycol (PEG). In this regard, a simultaneous encapsulation of DOX and in-situ micellization as well as the self-assembly of PLGA-PEG-RF molecules were investigated. Moreover, the effects of microfluidic environment and transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) nanolayers on the micellization properties (e.g., stability, size, and self-assembly interaction energies) of nanocarriers were simulated for the first time. To this purpose, the simulations were performed using two non-microfluidic methods as well as a novel microfluidic one. The molecular simulations revealed that all of the selected TMDs, especially MoSe2, had a great impact on the stability and size of nanocarriers. MoSe2 significantly enhanced the loading capacity as well as the stability of RF-targeted micelles and reduced the size of nanocarriers. Likewise, the results of various analyses demonstrated that the microfluidic method is the most effective way to synthesize nano carriers with higher stability and smaller particle size. Hence, the use of MoSe2 monolayer, micelle containing RF, and microfluidic method were believed to be the best approach in order to improve the quality of micelles. The present work sheds new light on the use of TMDs in the synthesis of smart carriers for cancer treatment.Peer reviewe

Engineering the pH-Sensitivity of the Graphene and Carbon Nanotube Based Nanomedicines in Smart Cancer Therapy by Grafting Trimetyl Chitosan

Purpose The aim of this study was to introduce a smart and responsive drug carrier for Doxorubicin (DOX) and Paclitaxel (PAX) for desirable therapeutic application. Method Loading and releasing of DOX and PAX from smart and pH-sensitive functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNTs) and graphene carriers have been simulated by molecular dynamics. The influences of chitosan polymer on proposed carriers have been studied, and both carriers were functionalized with carboxyl groups to improve the loading and releasing properties of the drugs. Results The results showed that DOX could be well adsorbed on both functionalized SWCNTs and graphene. In contrast, there was a weak electrostatic and Van der Waals interaction between both these drugs and carriers at cancerous tissues, which is highly favorable for cancer therapy. Adding trimethyl chitosan (TMC) polymer to carriers facilitated DOX release at acidic tissues. Furthermore, at blood pH, the PAX loaded on the functionalized SWCNTs carrier represented the highest dispersion of the drug while the DOX-graphene showed the highest concentration of the drug at a point. In addition, the mean-square displacement (MSD) results of PAX-graphene indicated that the PAX could be adsorbed quickly and be released slowly. Finally, functionalized graphene-TMC-PAX is a smart drug system with responsive behavior and controllable drug release, which are essential in cancer therapy. Conclusion Simultaneous application of the carboxyl group and TMC can optimize the pH sensitivity of the SWCNTs and graphene to prepare a novel and smart drug carrier for cancer therapy.Peer reviewe