Species relationship in the genus Silene L. Section Auriculatae (Caryophyllaceae) based on morphology and RAPD analyses

Morphological and RAPD studies were performed on Silene species of the sect. Auriculatae growing in Iran for the first time using phenetic, parsimony and Bayesian analyses. Trees obtained differed in the species groupings although agreed in some parts. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses of morphological characters produced some clades which were not well supported by bootstrap and clade credibility values but UPGMA tree showed a high cophenetic correlation. Grouping based on morphological characters partly support the species affinity given in Flora Iranica. Out of 40 RAPD primers used 15 primer produced reproducible polymorphic bands. In total 347 bands were produced out of which 340 bands were polymorph and 7 bands were monomorph. Among the species studied S. goniocaula showed the highest number of RAPD bands (184), while S. commelinifolia var. isophylla showed the lowest number (123). Some of the species studied showed the presence of specific bands which may be use for species discrimination. NJ and Bayesian trees of RAPD data partly agree with morphological trees obtained

Determination and prevalence of antibiotic resistance in multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumonia in patients referred to the educational hospitals of Shahrekord in 2013

زمینه و هدف: شیوع مقاومت آنتی بیوتیکی بین باکتری های پاتوژن به مسئله جدی جهانی تبدیل شده است. کلبسیلا پنومونیه از مهم ترین پاتوژن های فرصت طلب است که باعث عفونت های اکتسابی از بیمارستان و جامعه می شود. گسترش جهانی سویه های دارای مقاومت چندگانه (MDR) یک نگرانی جدی است. هدف از این مطالعه بررسی الگوی مقاومت آنتی بیوتیکی و شیوع مقاومت چندگانه کلبسیلا پنومونیه از بیمارستان های آموزشی شهرکرد است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه مقطعی- تحلیلی، 136 ایزوله کلبسیلا پنومونیه از نمونه های ادرار، خون، زخم، خلط جدا شد و با استفاده از آزمون های استاندارد بیوشیمیایی تعیین هویت شد. مقاومت ایزوله ها نسبت به آنتی بیوتیک های: آمیکاسین، سفالوتین، کوتریماکسازول، جنتامایسین، سفوتاکسیم، نیتروفورانتوئین، نالیدیکسیک اسید، سیپروفلوکساسین، تتراسایکلین، کلرآمفی نیکل، ایمی پنم و نورفلوکساسین به روش دیسک دیفیوژن طبق دستورالعمل CLSI مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. یافته ها: بر اساس نتایج حاصل، میزان مقاومت ایزوله ها به کوتریماکسازول 1/58، سفالوتین 9/52، تتراسایکلین 8/47، سفوتاکسیم 7/39، جنتامایسین 8/36، نیتروفورانتوئین و کلرآمفی نیکل 7/25، آمیکاسین 3/21، نورفلوکساسین 8/11، نالیدیکسیک اسید 9/19 و سیپروفلوکساسین و ایمی پنم 6/9 بود. از کل ایزوله ها، 81 نمونه (6/59) دارای مقاومت دارویی چندگانه بودند. نتیجه گیری: کلبسیلا پنومونیه دارای مقاومت چندگانه یک خطر جدی برای بیماران مراجعه کننده به بیمارستان های شهرکرد است؛ بنابراین نظارت بر مصرف آنتی بیوتیک ها و تعیین سویه های مقاوم به چند دارو می تواند از توسعه مقاومت در باکتری ها جلوگیری کند

Genotyping of giardia duodenalis isolates in individuals with and without chronic diarrhea using polymerase chain reaction

Background and purpose: Giardia cyst and trophozoite have invariant morphologies, therefore, investigating aspects such as host specificity, transmission patterns and clinical behavior of the parasite in hosts requires molecular characterization of the parasites isolated from clinical samples. The aim of this study was to characterize giardiasis isolated from human fecal samples with symptomatic (with a history of chronic diarrhea) and asymptomatic giardiasis and investigating the correlation of parasite's assemblage with diarrhea. Materials and methods: Thirty one fecal samples containing Giardia cysts from individuals with symptomatic and asymptomatic giardiasis were used to characterize the parasites' genotype. Triose Phosphate Isomerase (TPI) gene was amplified by polymerase chain Reaction (PCR). Demographic information was recorded using a questionnaire and SPSS ver.16 and Fisher's exact test were applied to analyse the data. Results: PCR showed a higher frequency of Giardia duodenalis assemblage B compared with assemblage A (51.6 vs. 35.5). However, the frequency of Giardia duodenalis assemblage A in symptomatic giardiasis was significantly higher than that of the asymptomatic giardiasis (62.5 vs. 18.75). The Fisher's exact test revealed a significant correlation between Giardia doudenalis assemblage A and diarrhea (p<0.005). Conclusion: Usually, duodenalis assemblage A is accompanied by clinical symptoms such as diarrhea. However, duodenalis assemblage B is more prevalent among those with diarrhea

Medicinal plants and atherosclerosis: A review on molecular aspects

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory vascular disease that is characterized by progressive accumulation of cholesterol in the arterial walls and it is a major cause of cardiovascular disease. Issues related to the side effects of synthetic drugs have in recent times, led to the misuse of drugs, a lack of patient consultations, and consequently, a disruption in meticulous disease control. Therefore, a new insight into medicinal plants has recently emerged and much research has been conducted on these herbs in an attempt to prepare novel naturally based drugs. The aim of this review article was to scrutinize the molecular mechanisms of medicinal plants possessing effectiveness against atherosclerosis. To conduct the review, electronic searches were performed to retrieve potentially relevant publications, indexed within internet databases and reference textbooks concerning the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of plants or their constituents used to treat atherosclerosis. Overall, medicinal plants facilitate atherosclerosis treatment through a variety of mechanisms which include the regulation of expression of inflammatory factors, stimulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), promotion of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) as well as ATP-binding cassette transporter G (ABCG), facilitation of adiponectin activity, reduction of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) and antioxidant activity. An increased perception of these herbal mechanistic links is an important prelude to the design of novel plant based drug

Inhibitory effects of Nigella sativa seed oil on the testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most prevalent disease of the prostate in elderly men. Since Nigella sativa has been reported to show various pharmacological effects, this study was conducted to examine the effect of N. sativa seed oil on experimental BPH. Methods: The oil was extracted using the cold-pressing method. Fifty rats were divided into five groups of 10 each as follows: Group 1 orally (p.o.) received normal saline; groups 2e5 were castrated and subcutaneously received 5 mg/kg testosterone propionate for four weeks. Group 2, namely, BPH model, underwent no further treatment, Groups 3 and 4 were treated with 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg N. sativa seed oil, Group 5 received finasteride (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) for 28 days. All groups received repeated testosterone injections for the following four weeks after BPH induction. After the treatments, rats were sacrificed and the prostate tissues removed. Wet weight, prostatic volume (PV) and prostatic index (PI) were determined. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant levels were determined. Results: Our results showed that oral treatment with 400 and 800 mg/kg N. sativa oil led to a significant decrease in PI, PV, DHT concentration, PSA, and serum MDA level, and also significantly increased serum antioxidant capacity. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the oil seed exerted anti-BPH effects which may be associated with its antioxidant properties in vivo

Does high-dose metformin cause lactic acidosis in type 2 diabetic patients after CABG surgery? A double blind randomized clinical trial

Metformin is a dimethyl biguanide oral anti-hyperglycemic agent. Lactic acidosis due to metformin is a fatal metabolic condition that limits its use in patients in poor clinical condition, consequently reducing the number of patients who benefit from this medication. In a double blind randomized clinical trial, we investigated 200 type 2 diabetic patients after coronary artery bypass surgery in the open heart ICU of the Mazandaran Heart Center, and randomly assigned them to equal intervention and control groups. The intervention group received regular insulin infusion along with 2 metformin 500 mg tablets every twelve hours, while the control group received only intravenous insulin with 2 placebo tablets every twelve hours. Lactate level, pH, base excess, blood glucose and serum creatinine were measured over five 12 h periods, with data averaged for each period. The primary outcome in this study was high lactate levels. Comparison between the 2 groups was made by independent Student’s t-test. To compare changes in multiple measures in each group and analysis of group interaction, a repeated measurement ANOVA test was used

Service Quality of Delivered Care from the Perception of Women with Caesarean Section and Normal Delivery

Background: Our aim was to determine the service quality of delivered care for people with Caesarean Section and Normal Delivery. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 people who had caesarean section and normal delivery in Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital in Tabriz, north western Iran. Service quality was calculated using: Service Quality = 10 – (Importance × Performance) based on importance and performance of service quality aspects from the postpartum women‟s perspective.A hierarchical regression analysis was applied in two steps using the enter method to examine the associations between demographics and SQ scores. Data were analysed using the SPSS-17 software. Results: “Confidentiality”, “autonomy”, “choice of care provider” and “communication” achieved scores at the highest level of quality; and “support group”, “prompt attention”, “prevention and early detection”, “continuity of care”, “dignity”, “safety”, “accessibility and “basic amenities” got service quality score less than eight. Statistically significant relationship was found between service quality score and continuity of care (P=0.008). Conclusion: A notable gap between the participants‟ expectations and what they have actually received in most aspects of provided care. So, there is an opportunityto improve the quality of delivered care

Inhibitory effects of Nigella sativa seed oil on the testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats

Background: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most prevalent disease of the prostate in elderly men. Since Nigella sativa has been reported to show various pharmacological effects, this study was conducted to examine the effect of N. sativa seed oil on experimental BPH. Methods: The oil was extracted using the cold-pressing method. Fifty rats were divided into five groups of 10 each as follows: Group 1 orally (p.o.) received normal saline; groups 2e5 were castrated and subcutaneously received 5 mg/kg testosterone propionate for four weeks. Group 2, namely, BPH model, underwent no further treatment, Groups 3 and 4 were treated with 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg N. sativa seed oil, Group 5 received finasteride (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) for 28 days. All groups received repeated testosterone injections for the following four weeks after BPH induction. After the treatments, rats were sacrificed and the prostate tissues removed. Wet weight, prostatic volume (PV) and prostatic index (PI) were determined. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant levels were determined. Results: Our results showed that oral treatment with 400 and 800 mg/kg N. sativa oil led to a significant decrease in PI, PV, DHT concentration, PSA, and serum MDA level, and also significantly increased serum antioxidant capacity. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the oil seed exerted anti-BPH effects which may be associated with its antioxidant properties in vivo