Comparison of Nested-PCR technique and culture method in detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from patients suspected to genitourinary tuberculosis

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of nested PCR in genitourinary tuberculosis (GUTB) compared with acid fast staining and culture method. In total 200 urine samples from suspected cases of GUTB were collected during the period of study. Urine pellets were used for smear preparation, culture and DNA extraction by ether-chloroform method. Nested PCR was performed according to standard protocol using primers based on IS6110 gene fragment. The results obtained by PCR were compared with those obtained by standard acid-fast bacilli stain and culture method. Based on obtained results, the positivity rate of urine samples in this study was 5.0% by using culture and PCR methods and 2.5% for acid fast staining. Four out of total samples showed positive results in all three methods (2%). The sensitivity of PCR in this study was estimated as high as culture equal to 100%, while the sensitivity for direct smear staining was 41.6%. In conclusion, the obtained rate of GUTB in our study was 5.0%. Since the detection rate of culture and nested PCR was identical, we could suggest PCR as a rapid alternative to culture especially for confirmed cases of GUTB

Prevalence and Mechanisms of Carbapenem Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies from Iran

Introduction: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) represents an urgent threat worldwide. We aimed to investigate the frequency of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in Iran. Materials and Methods: PubMed/Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Iranian databases were searched to find potentially relevant articles. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA version 14. Results: Forty-nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The pooled rates of resistance to carbapenem in K. pneumoniae and E. coli were 24.0 (95 confidence interval CI 18.0-31.0) and 5.0% (95% CI 2.0-8.0), respectively. blaOXA-48 gene was the most common cause of carbapenem resistance in K. pneumoniae and E. coli. Conclusions: CRE is prevalent in Iran, which confers the importance of strength prevention and control measures. © 2020, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers 2020

A Post-Marketing Surveillance Study to Evaluate the Safety Profile of Alvotere� (Docetaxel) in Iranian Patients Diagnosed with Different Types of Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy

Background: Docetaxel is a clinically well established antimitotic chemotherapy medication. Labeled docetaxel indications are breast cancer, gastric cancer, head and neck cancer, non�small cell lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Objective: This is a Phase IV study to evaluate the safety profile of docetaxel (Alvotere; NanoAlvand, Iran) in Iranian patients diagnosed with different types of cancers receiving chemotherapy regimens with docetaxel. Methods: Patients who received Alvotere as a part of their chemotherapy regimen were enrolled in this Phase IV, observational, multicenter, open-label study. Alvotere was administrated as a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapy agents. Safety parameters in each cycle were assessed, and the related data were recorded in booklets. Findings: A total of 411 patients with different types of cancers were enrolled from 25 centers in Iran. The most common malignancies among participants were breast cancer (49.88), followed by gastric cancer (22.63). Participants� mean age was 53.33 years, and the mean total dose used in each cycle was 132 mg. According to the results, 341 patients experienced at least 1 adverse event, that the most common was alopecia (41.12). In total, 92 (22.38) patients had at least 1 adverse event of grade 3 or 4, and 25 (6.08) patients showed 54 serious adverse events, which the causality assessment for all was possibly related to Alvotere. There was a significant difference between men and women in the incidence of skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders (55.63 in women vs 41.73 in men; P = 0.009). Also, the incidence of gastrointestinal disorders, nervous system disorders, skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders, hepatic enzymes increase, and fluid retention was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in patients receiving anthracyclines in their chemotherapy regimens. Conclusions: The findings of this open-label, observational, multicenter, postmarketing surveillance showed that Alvotere appears to have an acceptable safety profile in Iranian cancer patients receiving chemotherapeutic regimens. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2022; 82:XXX�XXX) © 2022 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc. © 202

SOX9 directly regulates the type-II collagen gene

Mutations in human SOX9 are associated with campomelic dysplasia (CD), characterised by skeletal malformation and XY sex reversal. During chondrogenesis in the mouse, Sox9 is co-expressed with Col2a1 the gene encoding type-II collagen, the major cartilage matrix protein. Col2a1 is therefore a candidate regulatory target of SOX9. Regulatory sequences required for chondrocyte-specific expression of the type-II collagen gene have been localized to conserved sequences in the first intron in rats, mice and humans. We show here that SOX9 protein binds specifically to sequences in the first intron of human COL2A1. Mutation of these sequences abolishes SOX9 binding and chondrocyte-specific expression of a COL2A1-driven reporter gene (COL2A1-lacZ) in transgenic mice. Furthermore, ectopic expression of Sox9 trans-activates both a COL2A1-driven reporter gene and the endogenous Col2a1 gene in transgenic mice. These results demonstrate that COL2A1 expression is directly regulated by SOX9 protein in vivo and implicate abnormal regulation of COL2A1 during chondrogenesis as a cause of the skeletal abnormalities associated with campomelic dysplasia.link_to_subscribed_fulltex