Showing 30 results for Mahmoudi
Ahmadinejad Z, Rasoiili Nejad M, Mahmoudi M, Rezaei N,
Volume 61, Issue 2 (14 2003)
Abstract
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of worldwide distribution. Despite its control in many developing countries the disease remains endemic in Iran. The symptoms, signs and laboratory results are variable and nonspecific. This case series study was conducted to determine the liver complications of Brucellosis in Iran
Materials and Methods: We studied 188 patients (108 males and 80 females) with Brucellosis, fulfilled the diagnostic criteria, aged 1-79 years (mean 34.8 years) were registered in Imam Khomeini Hospital, a referral center in Tehran, during the six years (1995-2001).
Results: Thirty-four of 188 cases (18.08 percent) had elevated liver enzyme (elevated SGOT only, 6 patients elevated SGPT only 1 patient elevation of both transaminases, 27 patients). The prominent symptoms included anorexia (74 cases), weight loss (62 cases), right upper quadrant pain (32 cases), epigastric pain (25 cases) and nausea and vomiting (23 cases). Among the gastrointestinal signs were found in these patients, hepatomegaly was seen in 28 patients. Jaundice and ascitis were present in only 7 and 3 patients, respectively. Other laboratory results showed elevated alkaline phosphatase in 28 cases and abnormal bilirubin in 10 cases. Fifty-seven patients had a focal illness, representing 30.32 percent of all patients. Osteoarticular complications were the most frequent focal forms, being present in 34 cases. Twelve male patients had genitourinary Brucellosis, representing 10.53 percent of focal forms. Also, 5 patients had neurologic complications.
Conclusion: In conclusion liver involvement is frequent in Brucellosis, although the rate of this complication in our study was lower than other studies. So, in patients with evidence of overt clinical or laboratory findings compatible with liver disturbance etiologies other than brucellosis should be considered in Iran.
H Fakhrzadeh, M Moradi, Mj Mahmoudi, N Naderpoor, M Bagheri Rad, M Ahmadzad-Asl , H Arefi,
Volume 64, Issue 2 (30 2006)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Quality of care and its concordance with scientific evidence has a significant role in improvement of prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The present study was performed to evaluate the quality of care in a TUMS-affiliated hospital.
Materials and Methods: The quality indicators of the process and outcome of care according to guidelines of the MONICA project was used in this study. 320 cases with primary impression of ACS (including 80 cases from each trimester during Aug-2003 to Jul-2004) were evaluated according to MONICA standard definitions of diagnosis, provided care and survival in 28th day after heart attack.
Results: The Equivalent Treatment Score (ETS) was 43.4 percent (95%CI: 32.86-53.94) and the Weighted Treatment Score (WTS) was 22.2 percent (95%CI: 13.36-31.03) in patients with definite myocardial infarction. The 28-day case fatality among the evaluated patients was 9.09 percent (95%CI: 5.85-12.33).
Conclusion: Although the measures of quality of care in this patient setting were acceptable in comparison with MONICA collaborative centers, however the difference between ways of hospital sampling (in the present study) and the population-based method (applied in the MONICA populations) should be taken in to consideration. Adding pre-hospital fatal events to this data set will decrease the precision of quality measures.
Mahmoudi-Gharaei J, Mohammadi Mr, Bina M, Yasami Mt, Fakour Y,
Volume 64, Issue 8 (13 2006)
Abstract
Background: Psychological debriefing has been widely advocated for routine use following major traumatic events. Cognitive Behavioral Interventions, art supportive therapies, and sport and recreational support activities are other interventions for reducing posttraumatic stress disorder. We assessed the effects of theses methods individually and in combination on reduction posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in adolescents who had experienced Bam earthquake.
Methods: In a field trial, we evaluated the efficacy of psychological debriefing, group cognitive-behavioral therapy, art and sport supportive interventions in 200 adolescents with PTSD symptoms who survived of Bam earthquake and compare it with a control group. Patients were randomly assigned to one of intervention programs including: group cognitive-behavioral therapy group CBT plus art and sport interventions art and sport interventions without group CBT and control group.
Results: Thirty one individuals were excluded because of migration. A statistically significant reduction in overall PTSD symptoms as well as in avoidance symptoms was observed after group cognitive-behavioral therapy. There was no significant difference in reduction of overall PTSD and avoidance symptoms between the other groups.
Conclusion: Psychological interventions in form of group cognitive behavioral therapy can reduce the symptoms of PTSD symptoms but we couldn't find the art and sport supportive therapy alone or in combination with group CBT to be useful in this regard.
Bakhtiari M, Mahmoudi R, Sobhani A , Akbari M, Barbarestani M, Pasbakhsh P. , Sargolzaei Aval F, Hedayatpoor A,
Volume 64, Issue 9 (1 2006)
Abstract
Background: Freezing and thawing induce a number of insults to the sperm cells, such as low motility and low fertilization capability. For evaluation of hyaluronan (HA) supplementation on sperm characteristics, we investigated the effect of hyaluronan (HA) on mouse sperm before freezing and after thawing.
Methods: For this purpose we removed cauda epididimes from 24 male mice with aseptic method and freezed the semen in 1.8ml cryotubes with %18 raffinose and %3 skim milk cryoprotectant solution.We had 4 groups: group 1(fresh control) group 2(freeze control) group 3(supplemented 750 µg/ml HA to sperm before freezing) and group 4(supplemented 750 µg/ml HA to sperm after thawing). Fertility rate evaluated after routine IVF by counting two-cell stage embryos.
Results: HA supplementation (750µg/ml) after thawing improved fertilization capability parameters but supplementation before freezing had no effect on mentioned characteristic.
Conclusion: Acording to data of present study the hyaluronan supplemen- tation (750µg/ml) after thawing has the greatest effect on the fertility rate of sperms.
Fakour Y, Mahmoudi-Gharaei J, Mohammadi Mr, Karimi M, Azar M, Momtaz-Bakhsh M,
Volume 64, Issue 9 (1 2006)
Abstract
Background: Many studies have shown the efficacy of cognitive – behavioral
therapy and psychological debriefing in treatment of post traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD) and a few evidences are available for using these techniques
in large scale disasters. This study aimed to asses the effect of some
psychological interventions in reducing PTSD symptoms after Bam earthquake
in different age groups.
Methods: In a before-after quasi experimental clinical trial, we compared the
efficacy of one session of psychological debriefing and three sessions of group
cognitive-behavioral therapy in bam earthquake PTSD symptoms in different
age groups. We evaluated PTSD symptoms before and immediately and three
months after interventions by CASP scaling system and analyzed data.
Results: one hundred and thirty persons entered in the study and 51 persons
excluded during interventions because of migration. Interventions were
showed to be effective only in short term period. The means of PTSD
symptoms frequency and severity of avoidance symptoms were reduced during
three months period of study which were statistically significant P<0.05.
Interventions showed no efficacy for recall symptoms in long term and hyper
arousal symptoms in short term and long term periods. There was no
statistically significant difference among age groups.
Conclusion: Psychosocial supportive interventions may be effective on some
of the PTSD symptoms but there is no difference in different age groups.
Afsarian Smh, Zaini F, Kordbacheh P, Mahmoudi M, Rezaii S, Safara M,
Volume 64, Issue 12 (6 2006)
Abstract
Background: I Infections due to Candida spp. have increased dramatically in recent years through a rising number of predisposing factors and immunocompromised hosts. Although Candida albicans is the most prevalent and important causative agent of Candida infections, the importance of C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. glabrata, C. guilliermondii and C. kefyr have increased significantly as they tend to be more resistant to antifungal agents. Therefore, it is critical that infecting Candida spp. be identified and considered. Furthermore, clinical laboratories may need to expand their yeast identification capabilities in order to facilitate rapid identification of clinical yeast isolates.
Methods: In a discroptive – analytic study, the patients suspected of candidiasis were sampled. Direct examination and culture was carried out for all specimens. The isolated yeast colonies were then identified using various different tests such as culture on corn mealagar tween-80, CHROMagar Candida, and assimilation test by API 20C AUX kit.
Results: In the present study, 304 yeast colonies were isolated from referral patients to mycology laboratory of 304 isolated colonies 204 were identified as C. albicans and 100 were identified as non albicans candida as follow 35% C. parapsilosis, 32% C. tropicalis, 8% C. glabrata, 8% C. kefyer, 6% C. krusei, 3% C. guilliermondii, 3% C. famata, 3% C. lusitaniae, 1% C. zeilanoides and 1% C. homicola. C. parapsilosis was the most frequent species. The result showed that clinical specimens were obtained from various infected sites of body and nail samples (59 cases) were found to be the most frequent among those specimens.
Conclusion: In conclusion, our results suggest that no single phenotypic test has proven to be highly effective for definitive identification. Moreover since these organisms can vary greatly in their susceptibility to the current antifungal agent and causing significant patient management problem therefore evaluation of susceptibility of these isolates against antifungal drugs is need to be investigated.
Mahmoudian S.a , Poya A,
Volume 65, Issue 6 (3 2007)
Abstract
Background: The common cold is the most prevalent sickness and an important cause of absence from job. Furthermore, it often disturbs travel, including the practice of hajj, causing the use of many inappropriate drugs by these travelers. The health belief model is a psychological model that attempts to explain and predict health behaviors. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of zinc and health belief model based educational intervention on the behavior of hajj travelers with regard to viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTI).
Methods: This double-blinded randomized controlled trial was performed among hajj travelers in 2005. Preventive measures were randomly allocated to four groups: 1- education + zinc sulfate. 2- education + placebo. 3- zinc sulfate only 4- placebo only. Data regarding incidence and duration of URTIs, background disorders, vaccination and health behaviors for cold were gathered by questionnaire by physicians and finally analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software using chi-square, t-test and independent samples t-test.
Results: A total of 646 travelers were studied. The incidence of common cold in groups receiving zinc were significantly less than that for those receiving the placebo. (P=0.05). However, incidence was statistically the same for those who received education versus those who did not. Use of handkerchief was the most prevalent behavior and use of mask was the least prevalent behavior. Mean duration of symptoms was less in those receiving zinc and education (3.7 days) comparing to those who received placebo and education (5.6 days).
Conclusions: This study showed that zinc consumption can decrease the incidence and duration of the common cold. Health belief model based education could promote some preventive behaviors although most people do not take advantage of them. We recommend the use of zinc by those attending hajj.
Shirani-Bidabadi L, Mahmoudi M, Saberi S, Zolfaghari-Baghbaderani A, Nilforoushzadeh Ma, Abdoli H, Moatar F, Hejazi Sh,
Volume 66, Issue 11 (3 2009)
Abstract
Background: Though many therapeutic modalities have been suggested but still no definite treatment for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is available. Many compounds including Alkaloid, Quinones, Iridoids, Terpenes, Indole analogue have been documented to have antileishmania activity invitro. On the other hand, the aforementioned compounds can be found in the herbs including Thyme, Yarrow. Propolis is a brown color substance that is collected by honey bee from plants. Regarding the lack of data about the possible efficacy of these herbs against leishmaniasis, we have decided to evaluate and compare the efficacy of herbal extract of Thyme, Yarrow, Propolis and systemic glucantime against cutaneous leishmaniasis in Balb/c, and to formulate drugs without harmful chemical material and without side effect.
Methods: During three weeks of inoculation of parasite in base tail of mice, lesions will appear in the inoculation site. The animals divided into seven groups. We used mix alchoholic extract solution two times a day, checked lesions weekly for six week and measured size of lesion in the base of tail with kulis- vernieh.
Results: We observed significant difference between mean of lesion diameter before and after treatment in control, Yarrow and Thyme groups (p<0.05). Paired t test showed no significant difference between mean of lesion diameter after treatment between treatment and glucantime groups (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Alchoholic extract to Thyme and Yarrow have good effect on lesions treatment, we suggest repeat of this study with Thyme and Yarrow extract in gel or cream base in first stage of lesions appearance.
Karimzadeh H, Pakzad Sr, Mahmoudi M, Ajdary S, Norouzi M, Akbari M, Daram M, Jazayeri Jazayeri Sm,
Volume 67, Issue 3 (5 2009)
Abstract
Background: Hepatitis B
vaccination has been included in routine immunization of all
individuals according to WHO recommendations since 1991. Despite
successful coverage, 3-5% of recipients fail to mount a desirable
protection level of Ab. Vaccine failure results from: emergence of
mutation, immune failure of individuals, decrease in vaccine potency,
and etc. The quality of Hepatitis B vaccine should be evaluated by a
reliable method.
Methods: The amount of vaccine antigen was measured through the in vitro assay
of Hepatitis B vaccines which consists of multiple dilutions of the
reference material and samples. The preparations were evaluated by
Elisa to determine the amount of HBsAg. The data were analyzed by
parallel-line analysis software. The in vivo assay was performed by
inoculating multiple doses of the reference and sample preparations in
Balb/c mice. A control group was also inoculated with vaccine matrix.
Four weeks later, the mice sera were evaluated to determine the
presence of antibodies against Hepatitis B by Elisa method. The data
were analyzed by Probit analysis software.
Results: Both methods were set up in our laboratory by which different batches
of Hepatitis B vaccine were evaluated. It was observed that In vivo and
In vitro methods provide comparable results. Therefore we can use the
in vitro method for routine testing of HB vaccine quality control.
Conclusion: In vitro method can be used in place of In vivo method because of its
time and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, since no animals are used in in
vitro method, it complies well with the 3R concept (Reduction,
Refinement, and Replacement of animal testing) and the current tendency
to use alternative method.
Mahmoudi Rad M, Zafarghandi As, Amel Zabihi M, Mirdamadi Y, Rahbarian N, Abbasabadi B, Shivaei M, Amiri Z,
Volume 67, Issue 9 (6 2009)
Abstract
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Background: Vulvovaginal
candidiasis is a fungal disease with itching, and vaginal thick white
discharge. Most of
non-albicans species have less sensitivity to azoles. So, definition of candida species which lead to vulvovaginal candidiasis is very important to perfect
usage of drugs. In the present study 191 Candida isolates from 175 patients who admitted in Gynecology department of
Mahdieh Hospital during the period 1385-1387 were identified by multiplex PCR.
Methods: One hundred seventy five vaginal swab specimens from
patients were cultured on Sabouraud
Dextrose Agar (SDA). The internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region between the 18S and 5.8S rRNA genes and a
specific DNA fragment
within the ITS2 region of Candida albicans were amplified and the multiplex PCR products were separated by electrophoresis in 2% agarose gel (200 mA, 140V), visualized
by staining with ethidium bromide, and photographed.
Results: One hundred ninety one Candida isolates were identified in vaginal swab specimens
from 175 patients. In 89.7% of cases, single candida species and in 10.3% cases,
multiple candida species were isolated. C.
albicans (65.1%), C.
glabrata (13.1%), C.
tropicalis (6.2%), C. krusei (4%), C. guilliermondii (0.6%), C. parapsilosis (0.6%),
C. glabrata and C. albicans (5.7%), C. albicans and C. parapsilosis (1.1%),
C. glabrata and C. tropicalis (0.6%),
C. krusei and C.
tropicalis (0.6%), C.
albicans and C.
tropicalis (0.6%), C. krusei and C. albicans (0.6%), C. glabrata and C. krusei (0.6%), and C.
glabrata and C. krusei and
C. albicans (0.6%) were the
cause of disease.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that, the common cause of both
recurrent and non-recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis was C. albicans, and then C. glabrata.
Also the most common mixtures of Candida species were combination of them
Mahmoudi Rad M, Zafarghandi As, Shivaei M, Mahmoudi Rad N, Abbasabadi B, Amel Zabihi M, Amiri Z,
Volume 67, Issue 11 (4 2010)
Abstract
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Background: Vulvovaginal
candidiasis is a common mucosal infection among immunocompetent, healthy women,
and is caused by opportunistic yeasts that belong to genus Candida. In this study, we isolated and identified the Candida species in the vagina of patients who admitted in
Gynecology Department of Mahdieh Hospital in Tehran, Iran to evaluate the in
vitro activities of fluconazole, miconazole, itraconazole and flucytosine against 191 clinical Candida isolates by the NCCLS microdilution method.
Methods: 191 Candida were isolated from vaginal secretions and identified
with conventional mycological methods in the diagnosis
of Candida species. The identity of all strains was confirmed genotypically by multiplex PCR. In vitro
susceptibility testing of vaginal Candida isolates was
performed by the NCCLS broth microdilution
method. The results were read at 48 h.
Results: Most C. albicans isolates (>90%) were sensitive in vitro to the antifungal agents
tested. Most C. glabrata isolates showed sensitivity to miconazole and then flucytosine while they were
more resistant to Itraconazole and fluconazole. Many isolates of C.
tropicalis were susceptible to
miconazole and then fluconazole. They
showed a little resistance to all antifungals tested and flucytosine-resistance
was the most frequent in the C. tropicalis isolates. High susceptibility to miconazole was observed in isolates of C. krusei and their susceptibility to the rest of the
antifungals tested was dose-dependent. fluconazole -resistance was
the most frequent in the C. krusei isolates.
Conclusion: Most isolates tested were susceptible to miconazole. A
trend toward increased resistance among C. glabrata and C.
krusei strains to antifungals tested was noted. Our
findings suggest that, miconazole should be the agent of choice for the treatment of resistant
vaginal candidiasis.
Diba K, Mousavi B, Mahmoudi M, Hashemi J,
Volume 68, Issue 2 (5 2010)
Abstract
Background: Several studies have shown that propolis has antibacterial, antifungal,antiviral and antiparasitic activity. Furthermore propolis has been described to have medicinal usages in some fungal infections like Candidiasis. Our aim is to study the inhibitory effects of alcoholic extract of propolis on Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp.Methods: To determine inhibitory and fatality dose of propolis extract, we prepared serial dilution of the extract including 1/20, 1/40, 1/80, 1/160, 1/320 and 1/640 in 1 ml of liquid medium sabouraud broth. Given numbers of Candida yeasts in 1ml were added to above dilution tubes. Candida and Aspergillus cultures were incubated at 30°C and 25°C respectively for 24-72 hours.Results: We obseved that the concentration of 0.25 g/dl of propolis extract showed an
inhibitory and killing effect on more than 50% of the isolates. But there were no inhibitory and killing by the concentrations 0.0312 g/dl and 0.0625 g/dl on Candida
isolates. Our findings showed that 0.0312 g/dl of the extract was partially active on Aspergillus fumigatus and dilution of 0.125 g/dl was active on Aspergillus. niger. In the agar dilution method, some changes were observed on morphological features (depends on the extract dilution) as well as quantitative effects of dilution of extract on the colonies.Conclusion: We found that the alcoholic extract of propolis had a prominent antifungal activity and inhibitory effect on Candida and Aspergillus isolates.
Ahmadi Shadmehri A, Nicknam Mh, Shokrgozar Ma, Mahmoudi M, Sarial Sh, Ahmadi Shadmehri A, Moradi B, Farhadi E, Amirzargar Aa,
Volume 68, Issue 2 (5 2010)
Abstract
Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system with presumed autoimmune origin. T cells are considered to play a pivotal role in orchestrating the self-reactive immune responses in multiple sclerosis (MS). This study was performed to investigate the role of polymorphisms of the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) gene on susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis.This gene codes an immunoreceptor named PD-1, which has a cytoplasmic domain containing two tyrosine residues located within immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory and switch motifs (ITIM and ITSM), suggesting that PD-1 is predominantly inhibitory which responsible for the negative regulation in T cell activation and peripheral tolerance. We investigated whether PD-1 gene polymorphism is a genetic modifier for risk and progression of MS.Methods: Blood samples from 150 Iranian Relapsing-Remitting MS patients (mean age,
34.98 years) and 202 healthy controls (mean age, 30 years) were enrolled in this study.The PD-1.3 (7146 G/A Intron 4) and PD-1.9 (7625 C/T Exon 5) polymorphisms were detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Enzyme digestion or Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).
Results: No significant association of the mutated alleles with the disease were detected. Because of the ethnic group genetic variation, our data is not like some of
Asian population such as Korea and China.Conclusions: Our data suggest that PD-1 polymorphisms are not act as genetic modifiers of the progression of MS, possibly these polymorphisms don't induce a partial defect in PD-1 mediated inhibition of T-cell activation.
Ali Akbar Amirzargar , Majid Mahmoodi , Hedayat Nahvi , Amir Kasaian , Zahra Safari, Mahdi Mahmoudi , Yadolla Shekiba , Kouros Divsalar , Abbas Jafari , Bita Ansarpour , Batool Moradi , Mohammad-Ali Mohagheghi ,
Volume 68, Issue 8 (November 2010)
Abstract
Background: Based on the reports, high frequency of special alleles of HLA class II genes might be associated with susceptibility to or protective from a particular cancer. These alleles might vary depending on the geographical region. Here we investigate the association between alleles of HLA class II genes and breast cancer in Iranian women.
Methods: 100 patients with pathologically proved breast cancer who referred to Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, were divided to two groups based on ages (40 years old and less/ or more than 40 years old) and were randomly selected and compared with a group of 80 healthy blood donor subjects. HLA class II alleles were determined by amplification of DNA with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method followed by HLA-typing using sequence-specific primer (SSP) for each allele.
Results: The most frequent alleles in the DR and DQ regions in group 1 (40 years old and less) in comparison with control group were HLA-DQA1*0301 (p=0.002) and HLA-DQB1*0302 (p>0.05). In contrast HLA-DQA1*0505 (p=0.004) had significantly lower frequency in this group compared with control group. Patients of group two (more than 40 years old) had a higher frequencies of HLA-DQA1*0301 (p=0.001) and HLA-DRB1*1303 (p=0.02) and a lower frequency of HLA-DQA1*0101 (p=0.002) compared to healthy control.
Conclusion: These findings provide information of a positive and negative association between certain alleles of HLA class II and breast cancer in our population and also might support that the pattern of inheritance in the early and late onset of breast cancer differ substantially.
Atefeh Mahmoudi , Mehri Kadkhodaee , Fereshteh Golab , Atefeh Najafi , Zahra Sedaghat , Parisa Ahghari ,
Volume 71, Issue 8 (November 2013)
Abstract
Background: Several studies indicate that gender differences exist in tolerance of the kidney to ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. Recently, postconditioning (POC), induction of brief repetitive periods of IR, has been introduced to reduce the extent of the damage to the kidney. This method was shown to attenuate renal IR injury by modifying oxidative stress and reducing lipid peroxidation. Considering the gender effect on the results of several treatment methods, in this study, we investigated the impact of gender on the protective effect of POC on the rat kidney.
Methods: In this study, after right nephrectomy, 48 male and female rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 8 rats: In IR group, with the use of bulldog clamp, 45 minutes of left renal artery ischemia was induced followed by 24 hours of reperfusion. In the sham group, all of the above surgical procedures were applied except that IR was not induced. In the POC group, after the induction of 45 minutes ischemia, 4 cycles of 10 seconds of intermittent ischemia and reperfusion were applied before restoring of blood to the kidney. 24 hours later, serum and renal tissue samples were collected for renal functional monitoring and oxidative stress evaluation.
Results: Postconditioning attenuated renal dysfunction considering the significant decrease in plasma creatinine and BUN compared with IR group only in male rats (P<0.05). Also, POC attenuated oxidative stress in male rats’ kidney tissues as demonstrated by a significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) level and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (P<0.05). In female rats, there were no changes in functional markers and oxidative stress status in POC group compared to IR group.
Conclusion: Considering gender difference, POC had protective effect against IR injury by attenuating functional and oxidative stress markers in male rat kidneys. This protective effect was not seen in female rats.
Hassan Mahmoudi , Mohammad Reza Arabestani , Seyed Fazlullah Mousavi , Safiyeh Ghafel , Mohammad Yousef Alikhani ,
Volume 73, Issue 1 (April 2015)
Abstract
Background: Staphylococcus aureus is the most important cause of nosocomial infections acquired in the community. Protein A is a major component of Staphylococcus aureus cell wall. In analysis of the nucleotide sequence Protein A encoding spa, locus x consists of 24 base pairs which repeat with high polymorphism. In this study, the spa gene of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical specimens were obtained from patients admitted to the hospital and healthy carriers. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a total of 200 samples were collected. One hundred fifty samples were obtained from hospitalized patients and 50 samples obtained from staff nasal swabs in Hamadan University Hospitals from October 2013 to August 2014. Disk diffusion antibiotic susceptibility tests performed. The antibiotics studied were Vancomycin (30 µg), Cefoxitin (15 µg) Gentamicin (10 µg), Tetracycline (30 µg), Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (25 µg), Ciprofloxacin (5 µg), Erythromycin (15 µg), Clindamycin (2 µg), Rifampin (5 µg). The tests performed according to the guidelines of clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI). It also detect the mecA gene of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) and genes spa which encodes the protein A by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method with enzyme Rsa I (Afa I) were prepared. Results: This methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain (MRSA) had the highest sensitivity and resistance to ciprofloxacin and clindamycin. Totally, 8 amplicon with different sizes for the spa gene were identified. A total of 9 patterns polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) were found. Some of these patterns between Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical specimens and nasal carriers were common. Conclusion: There is a similar pattern of spa gene among patients admitted to the hospital and staff, according to our findings. Analysis of the patterns can reduced transmission of infection in both hospital staff and patients. Also it can help the physicians for correct management of infections.
Narges Sadat Taherzadeh , Farideh Zaini , Roshanak Daie Ghazvini , Sasan Rezaie , Mahmoud Mahmoudi , Maliheh Kadivar , Fatemeh Sadat Nayeri , Mahin Safara , Parivash Kordbacheh ,
Volume 73, Issue 11 (February 2016)
Abstract
Background: Over the last two decades invasive candidiasis has become an increasing problem in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Colonization of skin and mucous membranes with Candida spp. is important factor in the pathogenesis of neonatal infection and several colonized sites are major risk factors evoking higher frequencies of progression to invasive candidiasis. The aim of this study was to detect Candida colonization in NICU patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 93 neonates in NICUs at Imam Khomeini and Children Medical Center Hospitals in Tehran. Cutaneous and mucous membrane samples obtained at first, third, and seventh days of patients’ stay in NICUs during nine months from August 2013 to May 2014. The samples were primarily cultured on CHROMagar Candida medium. The cultured media were incubated at 35°C for 48h and evaluated based on colony color produced on CHROMagar Candida. In addition, isolated colonies were cultured on Corn Meal Agar medium supplemented with tween 80 for identification of Candida spp. based on their morphology. Finally, polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was performed for definite identification of isolated species.
Results: Colonization by Candida spp. was occurred in 20.43% of neonates. Fifteen and four patients colonized with one and two different Candida spp., respectively. Isolated Candida spp. identified as; C. parapsilosis (n: 10), C. albicans (n: 7), C. tropicalis (n: 3), C. guilliermondii (n: 2), and C. krusei (n: 1). In present study non-albicans Candia species were dominant (69.56%) and C. parapsilosis was the most frequent isolate (43.47%). Using Fisher's exact test, the correlation between fungal colonization with low birth weight, low gestational age, and duration of hospital stay was found to be statistically significant (P=0.003).
Conclusion: The results of this study imply to the candida species colonization of neonates. Neonates in NICU are at the highest risk for severe infection with Candida parapsilosis. Therefore, isolation of C. parapsilosis as the most common species (43.47%) in present study was noteworthy.
Hossein Fakhrzadeh , Mohamad Jafar Mahmoudi , Zahra Droudian, Farshad Sharifi , Yaser Tajalizadeh Khoob, Neda Mehrdad , Fatemeh Jafaraghaei , Zohreh Badamchizadeh ,
Volume 74, Issue 3 (June 2016)
Abstract
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Background: The relationship between serum homocysteine levels and cardiovascular diseases has been elucidated since many years ago. In this study, the association between serum levels of homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B12 with the pulse wave velocity and Buckberg index or subendocardial viability ratio was assessed in individuals with diabetes and also non-diabetic subjects.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 58 individuals with type 2 diabetes and 36 non-diabetic people, from April to October 2013 were enrolled in Dr. Shariati Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Anthropometric and blood pressure measurements were performed with standard methods. Fasting serum glucose, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, Triglyceide, A1C, vitamin B12, folic acid and serum homocysteine levels as well as, highly sensitive complement-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured. Artherial stiffness was assessed by calculating pulse wave velocity and aortic agumentation index via Sphygmocor. In addition, Buckberg index (Subendocardial viability ratio) was assessed by dividing myocardial oxygen supply to dimand expressed as percent. The normality of distributions was evaluated by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and linear regression models were utilized to detect associations.
Results: Diabetic and non-diabetic subjects differed in terms of age, history of hypertension, serum levels of homocysteine, and LDL-C (P< 0.05). The pulse wave velocity in subjects with diabetes and without diabetes were 60.91 m/s and 41.91 m/s, respectively (P= 0.01). After adjustment for confounding factors in multivariate regression analysis pulse wave velocity was associated with age and homocysteine levels in non-diabetic group, (β equal to 0.441 and 0.345, respectively), and it was related to age, diastolic blood pressure and serum levels of c-reactive protein in subject with diabetes (β= 0.417, 0.302, and 0.262, respectively).
Conclusion: Homocysteine levels in non-diabetic individuals were associated to sub-clinical atherosclerosis markers but we could not find this association in diabetic participants.
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Majid Abed Khojasteh , Fereshteh Alsahebfosoul , Mahdi Mahmoudi , Mohammad Bagher Mahmoudi , Shayan Mostafaei , Mazdak Ganjalikhani-Hakemi , Farhad Gharibdoost ,
Volume 74, Issue 4 (July 2016)
Abstract
Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune rheumatic connective tissue disease. In normal wound healing process, fibroblasts are activated, proliferated and involved in tissue repair, and then removed by apoptosis. In systemic sclerosis, patient’s fibrosis occurs when fibroblasts become resistant to apoptosis and secrete a large amount of collagen and other extracellular matrixes. As the primary causes the disease are very complex and often unknown, it is necessary to consider or target the secondary causes of disease, such as the unresponsiveness of activated fibroblasts to apoptosis as the major factor in the creation and deployment of illness. In this study, we examined the expression levels of two key pro-apoptotic genes, Fas and Apaf-1, which are respectively involved in external and internal pathway of apoptosis.
Methods: In a case-control study skin biopsy samples were obtained from 19 patients with diffuse SSc, and 16 healthy controls. Dermal fibroblasts were cultured and total RNA was isolated from cell populations using High Pure RNA Isolation Kit (Roche Applied Science, Mannheim, Germany), followed by cDNA synthesis using RevertAid First Strand cDNA Synthesis Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Massachusetts, USA). Real-time PCR was performed using SYBRGreen gene expression master mix (Takara Shuzo, Co., Ltd, Shiga, Japan) and specific primers for Fas and Apaf-1. Real-time data were analyzed using the (2-ΔCT)×1000 method. Statistical analysis was accomplished by using the SPSS software, v22 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). The P value less than 0.05 were recognized as a significant threshold. All data are represented as the mean ± SEM.
Results: Our results showed no significant difference in Fas (P=0.8) and Apaf-1 (P=0.17) mRNA expression levels between skin fibroblasts of systemic sclerosis patients and healthy controls.
Conclusion: In this study we observed no significant change in Apaf-1 and Fas mRNA levels in systemic sclerosis fibroblasts compared to control group. Hence, Apaf-1 and Fas are not transcriptionally activated in SSc fibroblasts. Further studies need to take place on protein levels and function of these proteins to confirm the mRNA transcription results.
Zahra Kamali Sarwestani , Alireza Dasdar , Setareh Agha Kuchak Afshari , Mohsen Gerami Shoar , Seyyed Jamal Hashemi , Reza Pakzad , Pegah Ardi , Alireza Abdollahi , Mohammad-Taghi Haghi-Ashtiani, Shahram Mahmoudi ,
Volume 75, Issue 4 (July 2017)
Abstract
Background: Fungi have a worldwide distribution which can cause a broad spectrum of disease ranging from allergic to systemic infections, particularly in immuno-compromised individuals. Fungal spores are an important group of bioaerosols in hospital environment which are an emerging cause of hospital-acquired infection. Nosocomial infections cause significant morbidity and mortality as well as large financial burden on the healthcare system. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency and species distribution of airborne fungi in selected wards of two tertiary hospitals in Tehran, Iran.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, samples were collected during six months from July 2016 to December 2016 by using of settle plate method. Samples were collected from selected wards of Imam Khomeini Hospital and Children's Medical Center and then incubated at 28 °C for 8-10 days. Fungal isolates were identified using the macroscopic features of colony and microscopic characteristics in slide cultures. Yeast isolates were identified by CHROMagar candida medium. PCR-sequencing of ITS1-5.8 S-ITS2 region of ribosomal DNA was used for identification of unknown isolates.
Results: A total of 202 colonies including 133 colonies from the Imam Khomeini Hospital and 69 colonies from the Children's Medical Center were isolated. Cladosporium spp. were the most common obtained fungi accounted for 30.1% and 47.8% of all isolates in the Imam Khomeini Hospital and the Children's Medical Center, respectively. Penicillium spp. and Aspergillus spp. were other frequent species in two hospitals. Infectious diseases ward in Imam Khomeini hospital and emergency and urology wards in Children's Medical Center had the highest rate of contamination.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the frequency and diversity of fungal spores in hospital wards were different. In addition, since the fungal contamination in the hospital environment are affected by various environmental factors and the efficiency of ventilation systems, some of these wards require better ventilation system as well as regular monitoring to remove these fungal bioaerosols in order to maintain the health of patients and health care workers.
