Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori and its cagA gene in patients with gastric cancer or peptic ulcer at an Iranian medical center

Background: Iran has a high incidence rate for gastric cancer among the Middle East countries. In addition to gastric cancer, peptic ulcer is also life-threatening; thus, investigating the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and other risk factors are essential. The present study was aimed to assess the frequency of H. pylori and the cagA-positive strains in patients with gastric cancer or peptic ulcer at a teaching hospital in Qom, one of the most populated cities of Iran. Materials and Methods: The presence of H. pylori was investigated in gastric cancer and peptic ulcer biopsy specimens using the standard culture method. PCR analysis was performed to detect the presence of the cagA gene. Results: The frequency of H. pylori isolates among 86 investigated biopsies was 20 (23.2%). Likewise, the rate of H. pylori was the highest when samples were examined from patients with gastric cancer (25.8%), while it was 21.8% when obtained from peptic ulcer patients. The frequency of the cagA gene in H. pylori isolates was 9 (56.2%), as confirmed by PCR. Conclusion: Our results indicated that H. Pylori infection and its virulent strains are frequent and widely spread in Qom city. The cagA gene was present in almost half of H. pylori isolates from peptic ulcer or gastric cancer patients. Therefore, it is necessary to screen it in all cases with H. pylori infection for early detection of gastric cancer

In vivo identification of novel TGIF2LX target genes in colorectal adenocarcinoma using the cDNA-AFLP method

Background and study aims: Homeobox-containing genes are composed of a group of regulatory genes encoding transcription factors involved in the control of developmental processes. The homeodomain proteins could activate or repress the expression of downstream target genes. This study was conducted to in vivo identify the potential target gene(s) of TGIF2LX in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Methods: A human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line, SW48, was transfected with the recombinant pEGFPN1-TGIF2LX. The cells were injected subcutaneously into the flank of the three groups of 6-week-old female athymic C56BL/6 nude mice (n = 6 per group). The transcript profiles in the developed tumours were investigated using the cDNA amplified fragment length polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) technique. Results: The real-time RT-PCR and DNA sequencing data for the identified genes indicated that the N-terminal domain-interacting receptor 1 (Nir1) gene was suppressed whereas Nir2 and fragile histidine triad (FHIT) genes were upregulated followed by the overexpression of TGIF2LX gene. Conclusion: Downregulation of Nir1 and upregulation of Nir2 and FHIT genes due to the overexpression of TGIF2LX suggests that the gene plays an important role as a suppressor in colorectal adenocarcinoma. � 2018 Pan-Arab Association of Gastroenterology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Antifungal Effects of Gold Nanoparticles Conjugated Fluconazole against Fluconazole Resistant Strains of Candida albicans Isolated From Patients with Chronic Vulvovaginitis

Background and Objectives: A number of women with volvuvaginal candidiasis suffer from certain chronic and recurrent types of this infection that affect their quality of life. Meanwhile, increased use of antifungal drugs, especially azoles, for treatment of chronic candidiasis is an important factor for incidence of drug resistance in Candida isolates from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis. The aim of this study was to investigate anticandidal effects of gold nanoparticles conjugated fluconazole to develop better drugs for treatment of patients with candidal vaginitis, especially its chronic type. Methods: After collection of 300 vaginal swab specimens and culture and isolation of primary colonies and determination of Candida species, fluconazole resistant strains of Candida albicans were detected using disc diffusion. Finally, antifungal effects of gold nanoparticles conjugated fluconazole and fluconazole were compared by broth microdilution. Results: Only one fluconazole resistant strain of C. albicans was isolated from patients (MIC=64µg/ml). The results obtained from drug susceptibility test showed that this strain was sensitive to gold nanoparticles conjugated fluconazole (MIC=2µg/ml). Conclusion: Given the optimal anticandidal effects of gold nanoparticles conjugated fluconazole on resistant strains of C. albicans, a suitable compound with great anticandidal properties may be achieved in the future

Investigation of Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Patients Referring to Some Treatment Centers of Qom City, Iran

Background and Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the important causes of nosocomial infections. Resistance to various antibiotics, such as beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, and macrolides is one of the major problems in treatment and prevention of infections caused by this bacterium. Therefore, accurate determination of antibiotic susceptibility pattern of organisms isolated from patients can be beneficial in treatment and prevention of dangerous infections. The objective of this study was to isolate S. aureus bacterium and to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolated strains in patients referred to some treatment centers of Qom city. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 340 clinical samples, were collected from September 2016 to July 2017. After isolation and primary identification of S. aureus isolates (using standard bacteriology methods), the isolated strains were confirmed by PCR technique and amplification of femA gene as a molecular diagnostic marker of S. aureus. Finally, antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the strains, was determined by disk diffusion method according to CLSI guideline. Results: Out of 340 clinical samples, 86 S. aureus strains were isolated and identified based on phenotypic characteristics. The femA gene was observed only in 45 strains (52.32%) based on molecular analysis. The results of the antibiotic susceptibility test showed that the highest resistance was to penicillin (86.04%) and the lowest resistance was to chloramphenicol (0%). Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that femA gene cannot by itself identify all the S. aureus strains. Also, with regard to the results of antibiogram test, it seems that antibiotic susceptibility test is necessary for S. aureus strains isolated from patients

Molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility profile of Candida species isolated from patients with vulvovaginitis in Tehran, Iran

Background: Rapid and accurate identification and evaluation of antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida isolates are crucial to determine suitable antifungal drugs for the treatment of patients with vulvovaginitis candidiasis. Materials and Methods: Vaginal samples were collected from 150 women with suspicious vaginal candidiasis, and then cultured on Sabouraoud's Dextrose Agar with chloramphenicol to isolate Candida species. After identification of Candida isolates using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, antifungal susceptibility testing of four azolic antifungal drugs was carried out using broth microdilution method according to the CLSI M27-A3. Results: Candida species were isolated from eighty suspected patients (61.79%). The most common pathogen was Candida albicans (63.75%). Resistance to fluconazole and ketoconazole was observed in 27.5% and 23.75% of Candida isolates, respectively, and only 2% of Candida isolates were resistant to miconazole. Interestingly, resistance to fluconazole in C. albicans was more than other Candida species. Conclusion: The results indicated that therapy should be selected according to the antifungal susceptibility tests for the prevention of treatment failure and miconazole therapy can be considered as the best therapeutic choice in the management of vulvovaginitis

Evaluation Eucalyptus camaldulensis Contaminations with Cryptococcus gattii in Tehran

Background and Aims: Cryptococcosis is an infection caused by Cryptococcus species. Cryptococcus gattii is mostly isolated from Eucalyptus trees and is acquired via inhalation of basidiospores. The present study was performed to isolate Cryptococcus sp. from Eucalyptus trees and evaluate C. gatti contamination of the Eucalyptus camaldulensis trees in some parks of Tehran and Varamin. Materials and Methods: 88 trees (leaves, stalk, fruit and soil) were collected from different areas of Tehran, Varamin and Shahr Ray in 2014-2015 during spring and fall. Identification of Cryptococcus sp. were performed based on colony color on niger seed agar medium, urease production, india ink test and pseudohyphae formation on corn meal agar with tween 80. Specific differentiation of Cryptococcus sp. were performed using sugar assimilation by API 20C AUX, disk approaches, colony color on Canavanine Glycine Bromothymol Blue and Cycloheximide-Phenol Red Agar medium. Results and Conclusions: 6 out of 88 samples of Eucalyptus trees were identified as Cryptococcus sp. Accordingly, four species were identified as Cryptococcus albidus while species of two other isolates were not detectable by used methods. Although Cryptococcus gattii was not isolated from the collected samples, this does not mean that Eucalyptus trees of Tehran are not contaminated

Construction of metronidazole capped in gold nanoparticles against Helicobacter pylori: antimicrobial activity improvement

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori is considered a major agent causing gastritis and peptic ulcer disease. Unfortunately, the occurrence of increasing drug resistance to this bacterium would result in some difficulties in its treatment. Therefore, the application of nanotechnology has been suggested to resolve such problems. Nanoparticles usage in medical research has been expanded in recent years. Among nanometals, gold nanoparticles have exclusive features that can be used in such applications. Using nanotechnology in medical science could help mankind to solve this problem in the future.Aim: Our aim in this research was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of gold nanoparticles on H. pylori strains.Materials and methods: Gold nanoparticles were synthesized by the Turkevich method. Then, their size and dispersion were investigated using spectrophotometry, DLS, and TEM microscopy. Subsequently, the combination of metronidazole and gold nanoparticles was obtained by mixing method, and then the anti-helicobacter effects of the two were evaluated according to CLSI.Results: The highest size of gold nanoparticles was between 12 and 9 nm, and the maximum absorbance was 522 nm; however, in conjugated state, the maximum absorbance was 540 nm, which indicated the accumulation of drug-conjugated nanoparticles in the conjugate state. Some changes indicated the binding of metronidazole to gold nanoparticles. Antimicrobial testing of gold nanoparticles and metronidazole did not affect the Helicobacter pylori. Therefore, the combination of gold nanoparticles and metronidazole had a 17-mm growth inhibition zone.Conclusions: The anti-helicobacter effects of metronidazole significantly increased in conjugation with gold nanoparticles