Journal of Arak University of Medical Sciences

Studying the Relationship between the Ability of Biofilm Formation and Antibiotic Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical and Environmental Isolates in Tehran, 2015

Nour Amirmozafari Sabet

Abstract

Background: Acinetobacters are aerobic gram-negative bacteria which are distributed widespread in soil and water. The bacteria are isolated from cultured skin, mucous membranes, secretions and hospital environment. Acinetobacter baumannii, is a strain that more frequently isolated. Acinetobacter strains are often resistant against antimicrobial agents.

Materials and Methods: The method of this study was based on field, observation and test. On August and October 2015, samples were isolated from the soil and water of the Sadeghieh Square river in Tehran, respectively, and were transferred to the laboratory in the ice pack. 50 baumannii samples were isolated by biochemical methods (TSI, SIM, OF and gram test). November 1394, 100 clinical samples were isolated from Imam Khomeini hospital by biochemical method, and in the culture media Mueller Hinton agar plates were transferred to the laboratory. Antibiogram test for 150 baumannii samples was performed. Biofilms formation of Acinetobacter baumannii environmental and clinical samples was investigated by Congo red agar and culture plate methods.

Results: In all samples (clinical and soil), most of antibiotic resistance was 92% for imipenem and the resistance of water samples to imipenem was 99.9%. Biofilm formation by Congo red agar in water, soil, and clinical samles was resprctively 44%, 40% and 1%. All isolates were negative biofilm culture plate.

Conclusion: Considering Acinetobacter baumannii resistance to antibiotics and the lack of biofilm formation of in clinical and environmental isolates, it was concluded that there wasn’t any relationship between antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation.

Effect of Thymol on Serum Antioxidant Capacity of Rats Following Myocardial Hypertrophy

Fatemeh Safari

Abstract

Background: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension- induced cardiac hypertrophy. Plants are a rich source of antioxidant compounds. Thymol is a natural monoterpen phenol which is plentiful in some plants and shows many biological effects. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of thymol on activity of antioxidant enzyme catalase, malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the activity of the inhibition of free radical DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl), following left ventricular hypertrophy in rats.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, rats were divided into hypertrophied group without any treatment (H group) and rats pretreated with 25 and 50 mg/kg/day of thymol (Thy25+H and Thy50+H groups, respectively). Intact animals were served as control (Ctl). Animal model of left ventricular hypertrophy was induced by abdominal aortic banding. Serum catalase (CAT) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) level and the activity of inhibition of free radicals DPPH were determined by the biochemical methods.

Results: In Thy25+H and Thy50+H groups, the CAT activity was increased significantly in serum (p<0.01, vs. Ctl). Also, serum level of MDA was decreased significantly compared to the group H in Thy25+H and Thy50+H groups (p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively). The effect of inhibiting DPPH free radicals was increased significantly in Thy25+H and Thy50+H groups compared to the group H (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively).

Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that thymol as an antioxidant causes cardioprotective effects and as well as prevents left ventricular hypertrophy via augmentation of serum antioxidant capacity.

Survey of DAOA Gene Polymorphism in Schizophrenic Patients in Iran

Rasoul Zahmatkesh Roodsari

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia is a common mentaly disorder with high heritability and variable phenotype that they are placed in bipolar nervous disease family. Different genes are associated with this disease that among of them, DAOA gene plays a significant role. DAOA gene is located in the long arm of chromosome 13 and produces a protein called D-amino acid oxidase which is N - metyle D– aspartate (NMDA) receptor activator in the brain. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between DAOA gene polymorphisms and the risk of schizophrenia in Iranian population.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 100 patients with schizophrenia and 100 normal people as a control group were investigated. After genomic DNA extraction from blood samples, allele and genotype frequencies in patients and control group were determined by PCR-RFLP method. Data analysis was performed with Med Calc (ver 12) software.

Results: Frequency of GG, GA, AA genotypes in patients group was 18%, 42%, 40% and in normal group was 14%, 45%, and 41%, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that there is a significant relationship between DAOA gene polymorphism with schizophrenia disease in the people under the age of 40.

Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the DAOA gene has significant association with schizophrenia in the Iranian population.

The Effects of Adding Whey Protein and Branched-chain Amino Acid to Carbohydrate Beverages on Indices of Muscle Damage after Eccentric Resistance Exercise in Untrained Young Males

Azimeh Izadi

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation of Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) plus carbohydrate (CHO) and whey protein plus CHO on muscle damage indices after eccentric resistant exercise.

Materials and Methods: Twenty four untrained healthy males participated in this study. They were randomly divided into three groups, BCAA +glucose (0.1+0.1g/kg) supplement group (n=8), Whey+glucose (0.1+0.1g/kg) supplement group (n=8), and placebo (malto dextrin 0.2g/kg) group (n=8). Each subject consumed a carbohydrate beverage with addition of whey protein or branched-chain amino acid or placebo 30 minutes before exercise in a randomized,double-blind fashion. Serum levels of Creatine Kinase (CK), Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and muscle pain were measured before, 24, 48, 72 h after exercise. Follow-up analyses included 1-way repeated measures ANOVAs, and Bonferroni post hoc comparisons.

Results: 24 h after test, serum levels of CK, LDH and muscle pain in both supplement groups were increased less than placebo group (0.015, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Also, the levels of CK and LDH showed significant changes in both intervention groups compared to placebo group at 24 h (0.001, 0. 015, respectively). Similarly, significant differences in the levels of CK and LDH between groups were observed.

Conclusion: These data indicate that muscle damage and pain after resistant exercise were reduced by an ingestion of either BCAA drink or whey protein drink.

A Case of Hydatid Cyst Recurrence in Different Areas of the Body

Shahin Fateh

Abstract

Introduction: Echinococcosis or hydatid cyst disease is one of the most common infectious diseases between animals and humans (zoonosis) that is endemic in all the countries of the Mediterranean region, including Iran. Pelvic involvement is rare, and the involvement of the uterus is very rare.

Case Report: 26-year-old female patient complained of limb paresis, ataxia and progressive headaches diagnosed with hydatid cyst of the brain was undergone surgery. The pain and slight swelling in the area of the wrist occurred, one year later and with the same diagnosis, surgery was performed again. Abdominal ultrasound showed two cystic lesions in the suprapubic region with a diagnosis of hydatid cyst of the uterus, 3 years later, surgery was performed. In all cases, the diagnosis was confirmed by pathology.

Discussion: Follow-up of patients with radiologic and serologic methods is necessary.

Conclusion: In patients with any clinical manifestation of endemic areas, particularly if there is a previous history of hydatidosis, hydatid cyst should be considered in terms of risk.

Studying the Serum Factors Involved in the Metabolism of Vitamin D and Polymorphic Loci of VDR Gene on the Incidence of Parkinson's Disease in Isfahan Population

Seyed Morteza Javadirad

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D was recognized with protective effects on nerve cells of Parkinson’s patients. The relationship between several VDR gene polymorphisms and age and risk of the disease was determined. Also, the relationship between VDR gene FOKI genotypes and PD was specified. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the relationship between polymorphic loci of FokI, TaqI, BsmI, ApaI and serum factor related to vitamin D metabolism in Isfahan population.

Materials and Methods: Case- control study of 125 Parkinson’s patients with their matched control individuals has been investigated based on Parkinson's disease brain bank criteria of Great Britain. After receiving consent, serum levels were measured. The genetic material was isolated by Miller protocol and polymorphisms has been analyzed and confirmed by repeated PCR-RFLP.

Results: Comparing the five serum factors between healthy subjects and patients with Parkinson's disease, we have shown a significant reduction in the levels of calcium, ALP and PTH (p<0.01). However, none of the levels of vitamin D and phosphate show any kind of significant relationship between patients and control subjects. Concentration of blood serumic factors including calcium and PTH showed p-values less than 0.01 between Parkinson's patients and control subjects according to different genotypes containing FokI-F allele,ApaI-A allele and BsmI-b allele .

Conclusion: The result of this study showed that each of FokI and ApaI recessive alleles can influence serum calcium and parathyroid hormone between healthy individuals and Parkinson's patients significantly.

Association of EGFR Gene Common Mutation with Uterine Fibroids in Iranian Affected Women

Ahmad Ebrahimi

Abstract

Background: Uterine myomas are benign tumors of the uterus which are derived from smooth muscle cells of the myometrium. Genetic factors play a major role in the progression of the disease. One of the most important genes which have impression in the mechanism of formation of the myoma is epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) that plays a basic role in the process of cell growth, differentiation, proliferation and mitogenesis. The aim of this study is survey of EGFR gene common mutations in Iranian women with uterine myomas. In this test, the common mutations of the exon 21 and 19 in the EGFR gene were surveyed.

Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 80 women with myoma and 80 healthy women were studied as control. For checking deletion mutation of the Exon 19 (rs121913438), the Tetra ARMS/PCR method has been used and also for checking point mutation of the exon 21(rs121434568), the ARMS/PCR method has been used and results of the experiments were analyzed via χ 2 test.

Results: The comparison of the genotypes frequency of exon 21 (TT, TG, GG) and exon 19 (WW, WD, DD) related to EGFR gene in two groups of patients and control with using statistical test respectively represents the significant difference (p=1.320e-16) and (p=3.053e-13) in the different genotypes frequency among the patients and control groups.

Conclusion: The results of research indicate a significant relationship between EGFR gene mutations in exon 19 and exon 21 and potential for myoma in the studied population.