Imipenem resistance in clinical Escherichia coli from Qom, Iran

OBJECTIVE: The emergence of metallo-\u3b2-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae is a worldwide health concern. In this study, the first evaluation of MBL genes, bla IMP and bla VIM , in Escherichia coli resistant to imipenem isolated from urine and blood specimens in Qom, Iran is described. Three hundred urine and blood specimens were analysed to detect the presence of E. coli. Resistance to imipenem and other antimicrobials was determined by disk diffusion and MIC. MBL production was screened using CDDT. PCR was also carried out to determine the presence of bla IMP and bla VIM genes in imipenem-resistant isolates. RESULTS: In total, 160 E. coli isolates were collected from March to May 2016. According to disk diffusion, high-level of resistance (20%) to cefotaxime was observed, whereas the lowest (1%) was detected for tetracycline. In addition, five isolates showed resistance to imipenem with a MIC\u2009 65\u20094 \ub5g/mL. CDDT test confirmed that five isolates were MBL-producing strains, but no bla IMP and bla VIM genes were detected. Results of this study show a very low level of resistance to imipenem in our geographical area

Sound-Induced Flash Illusion is Resistant to Feedback Training

A single flash accompanied by two auditory beeps tends to be perceived as two flashes (Shams et al. Nature 408:788, 2000, Cogn Brain Res 14:147–152, 2002). This phenomenon is known as ‘sound-induced flash illusion.’ Previous neuroimaging studies have shown that this illusion is correlated with modulation of activity in early visual cortical areas (Arden et al. Vision Res 43(23):2469–2478, 2003; Bhattacharya et al. NeuroReport 13:1727–1730, 2002; Shams et al. NeuroReport 12(17):3849–3852, 2001, Neurosci Lett 378(2):76–81, 2005; Watkins et al. Neuroimage 31:1247–1256, 2006, Neuroimage 37:572–578, 2007; Mishra et al. J Neurosci 27(15):4120–4131, 2007). We examined how robust the illusion is by testing whether the frequency of the illusion can be reduced by providing feedback. We found that the sound-induced flash illusion was resistant to feedback training, except when the amount of monetary reward was made dependent on accuracy in performance. However, even in the latter case the participants reported that they still perceived illusory two flashes even though they correctly reported single flash. Moreover, the feedback training effect seemed to disappear once the participants were no longer provided with feedback suggesting a short-lived refinement of discrimination between illusory and physical double flashes rather than vanishing of the illusory percept. These findings indicate that the effect of sound on the perceptual representation of visual stimuli is strong and robust to feedback training, and provide further evidence against decision factors accounting for the sound-induced flash illusion

PRP and BMAC for Musculoskeletal Conditions via Biomaterial Carriers.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) are orthobiologic therapies considered as an alternative to the current therapies for muscle, bone and cartilage. Different formulations of biomaterials have been used as carriers for PRP and BMAC in order to increase regenerative processes. The most common biomaterials utilized in conjunction with PRP and BMAC clinical trials are organic scaffolds and natural or synthetic polymers. This review will cover the combinatorial strategies of biomaterial carriers with PRP and BMAC for musculoskeletal conditions (MsCs) repair and regeneration in clinical trials. The main objective is to review the therapeutic use of PRP and BMAC as a treatment option for muscle, bone and cartilage injuries

Band-edge Bilayer Plasmonic Nanostructure for Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Spectroscopic analysis of large biomolecules is critical in a number of applications, including medical diagnostics and label-free biosensing. Recently, it has been shown that Raman spectroscopy of proteins can be used to diagnose some diseases, including a few types of cancer. These experiments have however been performed using traditional Raman spectroscopy and the development of the Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) assays suitable for large biomolecules could lead to a substantial decrease in the amount of specimen necessary for these experiments. We present a new method to achieve high local field enhancement in surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy through the simultaneous adjustment of the lattice plasmons and localized surface plasmon polaritons, in a periodic bilayer nanoantenna array resulting in a high enhancement factor over the sensing area, with relatively high uniformity. The proposed plasmonic nanostructure is comprised of two interacting nanoantenna layers, providing a sharp band-edge lattice plasmon mode and a wide-band localized surface plasmon for the separate enhancement of the pump and emitted Raman signals. We demonstrate the application of the proposed nanostructure for the spectral analysis of large biomolecules by binding a protein (streptavidin) selectively on the hot-spots between the two stacked layers, using a low concentration solution (100 nM) and we successfully acquire its SERS spectrum

Rotations in Coastal Plains to Combat Desertification in Egypt

Abstarct: Northern coastal plains in west of Alexandria extend towards Libyan borders. The rainfall increases from west of Alexandria to Libyan border (150 ~ 200 mm /y). Degradation and desertification threaten these areas and it is necessary to adopt innovative approaches to the use and management of such fragile resources. The major constraints which threaten sustainability in these areas are the disappearance of crop rotation and the use of cereal mono-cropping particularly barley. Agricultural development and crop intensification project conducted three series of experiments to innovate the cropping systems in these areas. Conventional two year rotations and intensive two year were compared with the mono-cropping system. The data obtained revealed that the yield of crops in any rotation or in mono-cropping pattern were generally higher in 2008 season rather than in 2009 season and was in parallel with the rainfall rate. Barley, lentil and pea were more pertinent in these areas whereas wheat was drastically affected particularly in the second year. In two year rotations yield of cereals (wheat and barley) improved in the second year. In cereal rotations wheat was drastically affected in mono-cropping rather than two year rotations whereas the effect was not pronounced in leguminous crop (lentil and green pea). In intensive crop rotations, the continuation of cropping in summer necessitates one supplementary irrigation, since all plots that were subjected to rain only had perished due to the modest quantities of rainfall. With the supplementary irrigation cantaloupe plants continue growing till fruit set and ripening. Nevertheless, the yield of cantaloupe, after wheat and barley yield was drastically affected rather than after lentil and green pea

Absence of singular superconducting fluctuation corrections to thermal conductivity

We evaluate the superconducting fluctuation corrections to thermal conductivity in the normal state which diverge as T approaches T_c. We find zero total contribution for one, two and three-dimensional superconductors for arbitrary impurity concentration. The method used is diagrammatic many-body theory, and all contributions -- Aslamazov-Larkin (AL), Maki-Thompson (MT), and density-of-states (DOS) -- are considered. The AL contribution is convergent, whilst the divergences of the DOS and MT diagrams exactly cancel.Comment: 4 pages text; 2 figure

A study on prevalence of some helminthic infections of the liver and lungs among ruminants in abattoir of Fars province, Iran

Zoonotic helminths are often transmitted to humans through domestic animals. This retrospective study was performed to estimate the prevalence of some important zoonotic helminthic infections of the liver and lung including echinococcosis, fasciolosis and dicrocoeliasis in Kazerun and Shiraz abattoirs, Fars, Iran, during 2011-2013. A total of 12381 sheep, 6473 cattle, 22847 goats, 66 camels, and 10 buffalos were analyzed with regard to liver and lung helminthic infections including hydatidosis, fasciolosis, and dicrocoeliasis in Kazerun, during March 2011-January 2013. Moreover, 121100 sheep, 23515 cattle, 81293 goats, and 69 camels were investigated for the mentioned infections in Shiraz abattoir during one year since March 2012. Kazerun abattoir: The prevalence rates of liver hydatid cysts were 0.86, 2.1, 0.76, and 15.1 in sheep, cattle, goats, and camels, respectively, whereas the prevalence rates of pulmonary hydatid cysts were 0.89, 2.36, 0.9, and 16.6 in the mentioned animals, respectively. Fasciolosis was detected in 0.33, 1.65, and 0.24 of condemnation livers of sheep, cattle, and goats, respectively. However, dicrocoeliasis was just prevalent in 0.004 of goat livers. Shiraz abattoir: the prevalence rates of liver hydatid cysts were 3.44, 3.12, 2.94, and 2.9 in slaughtered sheep, cattle, goats, and camels, respectively. In addition, 4.54, 4.33, 4, and 4.35 of the lung of the mentioned animals were infected with hydatid cysts, respectively. Prevalence rates of Fasciola spp in slaughtered sheep and cattle were 2.49 and 1.86, respectively, and rate of D. dendriticum infection in slaughtered sheep, cattle, and goats were 0.026, 0.91, and 4, respectively. As compared with reports from other studies, it seems that Fars is among the low-endemic regions regarding this type of infection. © 2016 by Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute