A systematic review of the effects of Iranian pharmaceutical plant extracts on Giardia lamblia

This study aimed to provide a systematic review regarding anti-Giardia effect of different Iranian plant extracts used in vivo and in vitro on cysts and trophozoites. Many reports indicated that most of plant extracts used as anti-Giardia were obtained from Liliaceae, Apiaceae, Asteraceae, and Myrtaceae. These extracts included different fractions such as aqueous, alcoholic and chloroform extracts as well as Soxhlet extraction of juice or essence. The findings of this review showed that hydroalcoholic extract of asafoetida, Chenopodium botrys, and chloroformic extract of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) have the maximum effect (100 efficacy) on in vitro application against Giardia. However, the highest in vivo effect of 100 therapeutic significance was recorded for the extract of Allium sativum at 80 mg/mL concentration. Given the plant species richness of Iran in terms of herbal medicines with fewer side effects, it can be a good alternative to chemical drugs used to treat giardiasis. © 2015 Asian Pacific Tropical Medicine Press

Evaluation and statistical optimization of a method for methylated cell-free fetal DNA extraction from maternal plasma

Purpose: Methylated cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) in maternal plasma can potentially be used as a biomarker for accurate noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) of fetal disorders. Recovery and purification of cffDNA are key steps for downstream applications. In this study, we aimed to developed and evaluated different aspects of an optimized method and compared its efficiency with common methods used for extraction of methylated cffDNA. Methods: Single factor experiments, Plackett-Burman (PB) design, and response surface methodology (RSM) were conducted for conventional Triton/Heat/Phenol (cTHP) method optimization. The total cell-free DNA (cfDNA) was extracted from pooled maternal plasma using the optimized method called the Triton/Heat/Phenol/Glycogen (THPG), cTHP method, a column-based kit, and a magnetic bead-based kit. In the next step, methylated cfDNA from the extracted total cfDNA was enriched using a methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) kit. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed on the RASSF1 gene and hyper region to determine the genomic equivalents per milliliter (GEq/ml) values of the methylated cfDNA and cffDNA, respectively. Results: The optimum values of the significant factors affecting cfDNA extraction from 200 μl of plasma were 3% SDS, 1% Triton X-100, 0.9 μg/μl glycogen, and 0.3 M sodium acetate. The GEq/ml values of methylated cffDNA extracted using the THPG method were significantly higher than for the tested extraction methods (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results indicate that the THPG method is more efficient than the other tested methods for extraction of low copy number methylated cffDNA from a small volume of maternal plasm

Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Extended Spectrum beta-lactamase and non Extended Spectrum beta-lactamase Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known as an opportunistic pathogen responsible for nosocomial infections. Multidrug (MDR) resistance bacteria are considered as a worldwide issue. The current research goal to investigate the antibiotic susceptibility pattern in Extended Spectrum beta-lactamase and non Extended Spectrum beta-lactamase producing P. aeruginosa clinical isolates. METHODS: A total of 76 P.aeruginosa clinical isolates were collected from Milad hospital in Tehran, Iran, during 8 months period in 2012. P.aeruginosa clinical isolates were subjected for ESBL production by phenotypic methods. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns were identified in ESBL and non-ESBL P. aeruginosa by MIC. RESULTS: our results demonstrated that 76.3 (n =58) isolates were resistant to more than three antibiotics and classified as MDR. The majority of MDR strains were found in ESBL producer P. aeruginosa. ceftazidim as 3rd generation of cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, Ticarcillin and aztreonam were found as a base for definition of MDR in the current research. The effectiveness antibiotics against ESBL and non-ESBL were meropenem and amikacin, respectively. CONCLUSION: based on our knowledge obtained from results, both ESBL and non-ESBL P. aeruginosa were resistant to extended antibiotics and this is a major health care problem. On the other hand, MDR strains more identified in ESBL producer P .a eruginosa. Also, carabapenem resistance observed in non-ESBL producer strains. Hence, it is recommended that the MDR strains should be following up. the prescription of ceftazidim, ciprofloxacin, Ticarcillin and aztreonam should be limited

Exosome loaded alginate hydrogel promotes tissue regeneration in full-thickness skin wounds: An in vivo study

Wound healing is known as one of the most complicated biological processes for injured skin caused by surgical, trauma, burns, or diabetic diseases, which causes a nonfunctioning mass of fibrotic tissue. Recent reports have suggested that exosomes (EXOs) secreted by this type of stem cells may contribute to their paracrine effect. In this study, the EXOs were isolated from the supernatant of cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) via ultracentrifugation and filtration. The EXO loaded in the alginate-based hydrogel was used as a bioactive scaffold to preserve the EXO in the wound site in the animal model. The physical and biochemical properties of EXO loaded Alg hydrogel were characterized and results proved that fabricated structure was biodegradable and biocompatible. This bioactive wound dressing technique has significantly improved wound closure, collagen synthesis, and vessel formation in the wound area. Results offer a new viewpoint and a cell-free therapeutic strategy, for wound healing through the application of the composite structure of EXO encapsulated in alginate hydrogel. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc