Contamination of Chicken Meat With Salmonella spp Distributed in Mahabad City, Iran

Background: Foodborne diseases are one of the fundamental problems in the world. Salmonella is one of the most important foodborne bacteria, which is responsible for the prevalence of foodborne diseases in humans. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Salmonella in distributed chicken meat in Mahabad city, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this study, 100 samples of chicken meat were selected from Mahabad city and investigated for the presence of Salmonella. Each sample was cultured in selenite cystine medium and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. Then the obtained colonies were cultured in MacConkey agar and Salmonella-Shigella agar. Finally, biochemical and antibiogram tests were performed on isolated Salmonella samples. Results: Totally, 7 chicken samples (7%) were found to be contaminated with Salmonella. All of the isolated Salmonella samples were identified as Salmonella enteritidis. All of S. enteritidis isolates (100%) showed the highest resistance to erythromycin and ampicillin antibiotics. All of the tested isolates (100%) showed sensitivity to gentamicin. Conclusion: Our study showed high prevalence of Salmonella in distributed chicken meat in Mahabad city. Therefore, the improvement of health conditions in food preparation centers is highly recommended

The effects of cholesterol lowering drugs on vitamin D status in familial hypercholesterolemia patients

Background: Familial high blood cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) is a common disease that involves many complications for patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs (Gemfibrozil and Atorvastatin) on the level of serum Vitamin D.Materials and methods: In this study, the 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels were evaluated in 65 women between 30-55 years of age. After receiving drug information of patients, cholesterol-lowering medication; Gemfibrozil and Atorvastatin were prescribed by a specialist, then vitamin D and cholesterol levels were measured following 9 month treatment. Also 30 patients consumed vitamin D supplements plus medicine regularly.Results: In the first stage, vitamin D levels in subjects are quite normal but their cholesterol levels were higher than normal. In the second stage, vitamin D levels were measured after 9 months use of Gemfibrozil and Atorvastatin. Accordingly, cholesterol levels decreased significantly due to the use of blood cholesterol-lowering drugs (p=0.021). Also, in this stage the level of vitamin D showed a severe and significant reduction (p=0.041). However, there were no significant reductions in vitamin D in 30 women who consumed vitamin D supplements plus medicine (p=0.073).Conclusion: It seems that taking cholesterol-lowering medicines have reduced the amount of vitamin D. With long-term use of medications, bone diseases such as osteoporosis can be predicted in these individuals. Therefore, taking supplements and food rich in vitamin D during the use of these drugs is recommended

Anti-Cancer Effects of Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus for Colorectal Cancer Cell Line Caco-2 through Apoptosis Induction

Background: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Probiotics are useful and non-pathogenic microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, which can show anticancer activity through the induction of apoptosis. This study aimed to evaluate the antiproliferative effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic on the Caco-2 colorectal cancer cell line. Methods: The supernatant (secreted metabolites) and bacterial extract of L. acidophilus probiotics were prepared and used as an anti-proliferative agent on the colorectal cancer cell line, Caco-2 in vitro. The effects of supernatant and extract of L. acidophilus were evaluated on the viability and proliferation of cancer cells using MTT assay. Moreover, morphological alterations of cancer cells treated with supernatant and extract of L. acidophilus were evaluated by an inverted phase contrast microscope. The mRNA expression levels of apoptosis-related genes (SURVIVIN and SMAC) in treated cancer cells and untreated controls were evaluated using the Real-Time PCR method. Results: The results showed that the supernatant and extract of L. acidophilus inhibited the viability and proliferation of cancer cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. Moreover, various morphological alterations were observed in the treated cancer cells, which are indicators of apoptosis induction. The mRNA expression of SURVIVIN and SMAC genes were significantly up-regulated and downregulated in the treated cancer cells, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggested that the supernatant and extract of L.acidophilus could inhibit the viability and proliferation of colorectal cancer cell line, Caco-2through induction of apoptosis, increase the survival rate of colon cancer patients

CRISPR Technology in Gene-Editing-Based Detection and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2

Outbreak and rapid spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by coronavirus acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) that started in Wuhan, and has become a global problem because of the high rate of human-to-human transmission and severe respiratory infections. Because of high prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, which threatens many people worldwide, rapid diagnosis and simple treatment are needed. Genome editing is a nucleic acid-based approach to altering the genome by artificially changes in genetic information and induce irreversible changes in the function of target gene. Clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas) could be a practical and straightforward approach to this disease. CRISPR/Cas system contains Cas protein, which is controlled by a small RNA molecule to create a double-stranded DNA gap. Evidence suggested that CRISPR/Cas was also usable for diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this review study, we discoursed on application of CRISPR technology in detection and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Another aspect of this study was to introduce potential future problems in use of CRISPR/Cas technology

Resistance mechanisms to immune checkpoints blockade by monoclonal antibody drugs in cancer immunotherapy: Focus on myeloma

Baradaran, Behzad/0000-0002-8642-6795; Hajiasgharzadeh, Khalil/0000-0003-4593-4803; baghbanzadeh, amir/0000-0002-1261-3213WOS: 000543385400001PubMed: 32592235Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal B-cell malignancy characterized by the accumulation of neoplastic proliferation of a plasma cell in the bone marrow that produces a monoclonal immunoglobulin. the immune checkpoint inhibitors against programmed death-1/programmed death-1 ligand and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 axis have demonstrated appropriate anticancer activity in several solid tumors and liquid cancers, and are rapidly transforming the practice of medical oncology. However, in a high percentage of patients, the efficacy of immune checkpoints blockade remains limited due to innate or primary resistance. Moreover, the malignancies progress in many patients due to acquired or secondary resistance, even after the clinical response to immune checkpoints' blockade. the evidence shows that multiple tumor-intrinsic and tumor-extrinsic factors and alterations in signaling pathways are involved in primary and secondary resistance to immune checkpoints blockade. Improved identification of intrinsic and extrinsic factors and mechanisms of resistance or response to immune checkpoints blockade may not only provide novel prognostic or predictive biomarkers but also guide the optimal combination/sequencing of immune checkpoint blockade therapy in the clinic. Here, we review the underlying biology and role of immune checkpoints blockade in patients with MM. Furthermore, we review the host and tumor-related factor effects on immune checkpoints blockade in MM immunotherapy.Tabriz University of Medical SciencesTabriz University of Medical Science

A Novel Homozygous MYO7A Mutation: Case Report

MYO7A is an unconventional myosin that is essential for ordinary hearing and vision; mutations in the MYO7A gene result in Usher syndrome type 1B and other disorders. In this manuscript, we reported a mutation (c.4705delA) in exon 35, causing the alteration of a Ser amino acid to Ala at codon 1569 (p.H2027del) located within the first FERMdomain of the human protein myosin VIIA. This mutation involved in the pathogenesis of hearing loss, congenital night blindness, muscular weakness, skin problem, and difficulty in keeping balance in the 13-year-old female. After checkup the patient’s DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and amplification was performed by PCR. Sequencing method was performed for identification of the mutation. The c.4705delA mutation in exon 35 was found in the patient in heterozygosis form; this means that her mother and father were carriers. This mutation is located on the tail of the myosinVIIA protein and is associated with several disorders