Assessment of Clindamycin and Erythromycin Resistance, and Inducible Clindamycin Resistance in Streptococcus Group B Isolated from Urinary Samples of Outpatient Women in Tehran

Background: Streptococcus group B (GBS) or Streptococcus agalactiae is typically associated with neonatal disease and infection in pregnant women. Mortality of GBS sepsis in neonates is over 50% and is particularly high in preterm infants. GBS also causes invasive infection in pregnant and non-pregnant women including urinary tract infection (UTI). Penicillin-derived antibiotics remained as choice drugs for treatment of GBS infection; however, Erythromycin and Clindamycin are useful in cases of allergic to Penicillin. The aim of this study was to investigate the resistance to Erythromycin and Clindamycin, especially inducible Clindamycin resistance, in GBS isolated from urinary samples of women who attended medical offices in Tehran, Iran.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 5000 urine samples from Jan. 2011 to Oct. 2012 that 104 GBS were isolated. The isolates were identified as GBS using laboratory criteria. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by Erythromycin disk 15µg and Clindamycin disk 2µg for observation inducible resistant D-zone test by double-disk diffusion method with Erythromycin and adjacent Clindamycin.Results: Among the 5000 urine samples 104 (2.08%) were Beta hemolytic GBS. Of the 104 isolated GBS, 22 (21.2%) were resistance, 24 (23%) were intermediate, and 58 (55.8%) were susceptible to Erythromycin; however, 24 (23%) were resistance, 5 (4.8%) were intermediate, and 75 (72.2%) were susceptible to Clindamycin. Of the 22 Erythromycin-resistant isolates, 10 (9.5% in total GBS isolated) displayed the D zone; it means they have inducible Erythromycin resistant to Clindamycin.Conclusion: Various studies in other countries report lower rates of inducible Clindamycin resistance; it indicates the use of more macrolides in the treatment of UTI

Prevalence of Helminthes Infection of Stray Dogs in Ilam Province

    Stray dogs are considered as an important health problem in societies because they can carry dangerous diseases such as hydatidosis, toxocariasis and coenurus cerebralis to humans and animals. Therefore, the study of helminthes infections in all parts of Iran for evaluation of infection state, and provision of the infection control programs is essential. The aim of this study, was to determine the prevalence of parasitic cestodes in stray dogs around Ilam city. In this study, 65 stray dogs were killed by shooting with the municipality officers and were dissected considering health rules. After laparotomy, internal organs are inspected, and bowels completely collected in separate containers containing 10% formaldehyde. Transferring the samples to the parasitological laboratory, the bowels were cut using forceps, and its contents passed through the sieve, and the worms were separated. Azo carmine & carminic acid staining was used for diagnosis of isolated cestodes. The number of 65 dogs, 54 dogs (83%) had at least one species of cestodes; that 32% (21 dogs) infected by Taenia ovis, 9% (6 dogs) by Echinococcus granulosus, 15.4% (10 dogs) by Taenia hydatigena, 20% (13 dogs) by Taenia multiceps, 18.5 /% (12 dogs) by Dipylidium caninum and 10.8% (7 dogs) by Mesocestoides lineatus. In this study, it was shown that helminthic rate in stray dogs is very high around Ilam. These parasites are important in terms of health and economic aspects. Therefore, it is more essential that we note to parasitic infections, to develop control programs

Effect of intra-organizational factors on research

      Along with other areas in our country, the research in medical sciences is a necessity for the maintenance and improvement of community health. The objectives of this study were to determine the intra-organizational factors of conducting research in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The matrix of the study included entire academic members and research staff of the university where 121 of them were selected randomly for a descriptive cross sectional study. A questionnaire was designed to collect data using Likert Spectrum. The major difficulty was the lack of sufficient free time. Significant differences were seen in respect with the access to facilities and conducting research, assessing expected benefits of conducting research, level of research awareness among academic members with and without research project. Differences in respect with motivation force, collaboration, job satisfaction and expected benefits from conducting research were shown to be not significant. As stated by academic members, their problems involved with conducting research projects provides lesser role of intra-organizational factors compared to that of personal factors. In other words, the most major problems in not doing research are the lack of sufficient time and proper skills in research method and innovation in looking for problems to be solved.

Modern medical ethics and viewpoints in the field of stem cell

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.There are advanced improvements in medical knowledge and technology. Identification and isolating of the stem cells is one of the new findings in medical sciences. The stem cells have high potential in duplication and differentiation into specialized cells; they have high capability in tissue repairing. For that reason, they have been mattered by researchers. As the science and technology improves, ethical viewpoints surround it more. Discussion and contention on ethical problems of stem cells continues from argument about type of stem cells to their basic and clinical utilization. Thus, research and exploring about this science must be lined up ethical aspects. Since Islamic Republic of Iran is among the first countries using technology of the stem cells, and Iranian researches have focused on studying these cells, therefore, we have studied on main medical ethics of the stem cells Keywords: Medical ethics, Stem cells, Inducible stem cellsFor downloading the full-text of this article please click here

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus Infection by Quantitative Chemiluminescent in Tabriz (North West of Iran), 2010-2011

Background: Hepatitis B is considered as one of the most common infectious diseases. The contamination of this virus has caused hygienic problems all over the world. Liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are most important consequences of this disease. The purpose of this study is to determine the rate of infection in Tabriz North West of Iran.Materials and Methods: This study is carried out, on partial and short time basis between 2010 and 2011, on test results of 21421 examined individuals whom have visited clinics in Tabriz. HBsAg of the samples was analyzed with chemiluminescence apparatus and finally, SPSS software was used to conduct the statistical examination of the results.Results: Among 21421 examined individuals (5021 cases in 2010 and 16400 cases in 2011), 594 samples (2.77%) were reported positive and 20827 samples (97.23%) were reported negative.Conclusion: According to the results, gender was not a determining factor affecting the susceptibility of patients. Our country is endemic to this disease, so diagnostic and preventive methods are crucial, more over comprehensive national vaccination can help to noticeably reduce the infectious cases caused by the disease

Quality of life in peptic ulcer patients referring to Al-Zahra hospital of Isfahan, Iran

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine quality of life in peptic ulcer patients referring to Al-Zahra hospital of Isfahan. Background: Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is one of the most prevalent diseases. Its prevalence is 6-15% and about 10% of people experience its symptom in their life. PUD can have a considerable impact on patients’ quality of life (QOL). Patients and methods: This descriptive- analytic survey was done on 93 randomly patients referred to Al-Zahra hospital of Isfahan city in Iran. Data gathering was done via questionnaire including five domains: physical, psychological, social, behavioral and economical. For data analysis, t-test, Pearson correlation and ANOVA test were used. Results: 93 patients with mean age of 38.54 years, including 43 (46.2%) women and 54 (53.8%) men, were studied. There was a negative significant between quality of life and age and between disease duration and psychological, economical domains and between the mean of QOL scores in physical and social domains with the number of cigarette per day, also there was significant relation between social domain and gender, and physical, psychological and behavioral domains with marital status; Physical, social domains with smoking. Also there was a negative significant between physical, social and behavioral domains with years of smoking. Conclusion: Study results showed that quality of life is in a relatively good level among patients, thus some diseases such as peptic ulcer can effect on quality of life. So, treatment and prevention of these diseases may improve their quality of life

Effect of low-dose intravenous dexamethasone on post-lumbar discectomy pain: Randomized and Double blind study

The Pain is the most common complaint in various diseases. Postoperative pain is common complication and spatially in elderly patient because of exacerbation of heard and vessel was impotents. The aim of this study was evaluation of the effect of low-dose IV dexamethasone on postoperative pain in patients with lumbar discectomy.  In a clinical trial that studied in neurosurgery wards of Shohada and Imam Reza hospitals affiliated to the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences on patients underwent lumbar discectomy, the effect of low-dose IV dexamethasone on postoperative pain was evaluated. 80 patients divided in 2 equal groups, we used IV morphine (present routine treatment) in group A and IV morphine in addition to 8mg IV dexamethasone in group B, for reducing post lumbar discectomy pain. 21 patients in group A, & 22 in group B were male and 19 patients in group A & and 18 in group B were female (P=0.823). Mean age of patients in groups A and B was 39.32 and 39.22 years, respectively (P=0.945). Mean of pain score (VAS) at 6 hours post-operation in group A and B was 6.97 and 6.75, respectively (P=0.065). VAS at 12, 18 or 24 hours post-operation in both groups didn't differ significantly, too (P>0.05). We didn't observe any significant reduction in post lumbar discectomy pain after adding 8 mg dexamethasone into morphine. Regarding other studies, it seems that higher doses of dexamethasone should be used to achieve a significant pain reduction

The effect of education on improvement of intake of fruits and vegetables aiming at preventing cardiovascular diseases

Background: Cardiovascular diseases refer to a group of diseases that affect the cardiovascular system; principally cardiac diseases, vascular diseases of the brain and kidney and peripheral arterial diseases which are caused by various factors. Considering the importance of nutrition education, especially the intake of fruits and vegetables, this study was performed to determine the effect of health education, Based on the Health Belief Model, on the improvement of intake of fruits and vegetables aiming at preventing cardiovascular diseases among high school girls in the city of Shahre- Kord, Iran. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental intervention study, in which 120 female students of high schools in Isfahan were selected through convenient sampling and were divided into two groups of experimental (60) and control (60). The instruments for data collection were the Health Belief Model and FFQ questionnaires. The HBM questionnaire was completed three times (before, immediately and two months after the intervention) and the FFQ questionnaire was completed two times (before and two months after the intervention) by the students. After the pre-test, six educational sessions were provided for the experimental group. Finally, data were collected and analyzed by SPSS 16 (ttest, paired t-test and repeated measure ANOVA). Results: There were no differences between the two groups in terms of demographic variables. Before the intervention, there were not any significant differences between the scores of different structures of this model between the two groups (p>0.05); however, after the intervention, significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups in the levels of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived efficacy and performance (p<0.001). Conclusion: According to the results, the intervention had a positive impact on the improvement of intake of fruits and vegetables among the students