Biochemistry
Mohammad Mahdi Zamani; Seyedeh Hamideh Mortazavi; Maryam Monajemzade; Vahhab Piranfar; Zahra Aalidaeijavadi; Azam Bakhtiarian
Abstract
Background and Objective: Increased industrial activities leads to prolonged human exposure to industrial pollutant such as cadmium (Cd). Chronic exposure to Cd in Mammals and also human being, can cause damages to various organs and particularly kidneys and liver. The goal of this study was to ...
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Background and Objective: Increased industrial activities leads to prolonged human exposure to industrial pollutant such as cadmium (Cd). Chronic exposure to Cd in Mammals and also human being, can cause damages to various organs and particularly kidneys and liver. The goal of this study was to investigate the prophylactic effects of combined selenium (Se) and ascorbic acid supplement in rat cadmium toxicity. Methods: Sixty adult male Wistar rats were divided into 10 groups: one control, one sham, and two clusters of 4 intervention groups which were fed with 1 or 5 mg Cd /kg water, for 28 days. The ascorbic acid supplement was added to the drinking water of four groups (10 mg/l). Four groups received intraperitoneal Se (1 mg/kg) at day 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25. Finally, Cd concentration was measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in liver and kidney sections. Furthermore, pathological changes were investigated in these sections. Results: The results showed weight gain in Cd groups which received ascorbic acid and Se, in contrast to weight loss in parallel groups without vitamin C and Se. The stronger necrosis and inflammation have been observed in group received 5 mg/kg Cd compared to group with 1 mg/kg Cd (p <0.05). In addition, the cadmium level was higher in untreated groups without any supplements, significantly (p <0.05). Conclusion: The drinking water with ascorbic acid has prophylactic effects across cadmium, and combination of Se and ascorbic acid have more prophylactic effects in both kidney and liver of rat to decrease the Cd toxicity.
Molecular Pathology
Mahdieh Mahboobi; Reza Mirnejad; Hamid Sedighian; Vahhab Piranfar; Abbas Ali Imani Fooladi
Abstract
Background & Objective: Vibrio cholerae is a natural inhabitant of the environment and causes severe diarrhea ailments (cholera) that affects thousands of people each year worldwide. The most important virulence factors of this pathogen are cholera toxin (cholera toxin CT) and Type IV ...
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Background & Objective: Vibrio cholerae is a natural inhabitant of the environment and causes severe diarrhea ailments (cholera) that affects thousands of people each year worldwide. The most important virulence factors of this pathogen are cholera toxin (cholera toxin CT) and Type IV pili (toxin co-regulated pili TCP), which are encoded within the genome of the filamentous bacteriophage CTXφ. In the present study, according to researchers’ report on genotypic variations of cholera toxin, we evaluated the sequence of ctxB subunit obtained from 100 strains of patients infected with cholera in Iran. Methods: The evaluation of genotype variations of cholera toxin was made by high-resolution melting curve analysis illustrating a single nucleotide change. Then, ctxB gene sequencing was performed. Through this analysis and the sequencing process, two standard samples were studied. Results: Using serologic tests, all the strains analyzed in this study were identified to be in O1 serotype. However, there have been differences in sequences of ctxB as some were similar to V. cholerae O1 biovar El Tor str. N16961 while others were similar to the genotype of V. cholerae ATCC 14035. We did not observe any particular pattern within the process of mutation. Conclusion: The analysis of the new samples of ctxB showed that they were potentially different. It seems that these complicated species were affected by a new genetic exchange of El Tor and classic genotypes.
Microbiology
Sara Masoumi Zavaryani; Reza Mirnejad; Vahhab Piranfar; Mehrdad Moosazadeh Moghaddam; Nikta Sajjadi; Somayyeh Saeedi
Abstract
Background & Objective: Enterococcus Species are the common cause of nosocomial infections, which are highly resistant to different antibiotics. Therefore, determination of their antibiotic susceptibility patterns and simultaneous resistance to antibiotics is important for better treatment strategies. ...
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Background & Objective: Enterococcus Species are the common cause of nosocomial infections, which are highly resistant to different antibiotics. Therefore, determination of their antibiotic susceptibility patterns and simultaneous resistance to antibiotics is important for better treatment strategies. Methods: 400 clinical Enterococcus isolates were collected from different hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Standard phenotypic-biochemical tests and PCR were used to identify the Enterococcus species. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and simultaneous resistance to selected antibiotics were determined by disk diffusion method according to the CLSI guidelines. All data analysis was performed using Python packages Scipy and Stats models. Result: According to the biochemical and PCR analyses, among 400 Enterococcus species, 72% of samples were Enterococcus faecalis, 10.75% Enterococcus faecium, and 17.25% other Enterococcus species. The results determined antimicrobial resistances of these strains against gentamicin, vancomycin, fosfomycin trometamol, teicoplanin, and quinupristin/dalfopristin. Results confirmed a significant correlation between resistance to vancomycin and resistance to teicoplanin. This correlation remains significant when including only E. faecium or E. faecalis species. We also found a negative correlation between resistance to teicoplanin and quinupristin/dalfopristin. Additionally, Quinupristin/dalfopristin was the least effective antibiotic while vancomycin and teicoplanin were the most effective ones. Conclusion: Based on the results and association between simultaneous resistance to some antibiotics such as vancomycin and teicoplanin, in the case of antibiotic resistance, the choice of a second antibiotic can be very important which can lead to good or bad effects.
Microbiology
Faramarz Masjedian Jazi; Gholamreza Irajian; Reza Mirnejad; Vahhab Piranfar; Taghi zahraei salehi; Noor Amir Mozafari; Ehsanollah Ghaznavi-rad; Mahmoud Khormali
Volume 11, Issue 3 , July 2016, , Pages 238-247
Abstract
Background: Brucellosis is an endemic zoonotic disease in the Middle East. This study intended to design a uniplex PCR assay for the detection and differentiation of Brucella at the species level and determining the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Brucella in Iran. Methods: Sixty-eight Brucella ...
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Background: Brucellosis is an endemic zoonotic disease in the Middle East. This study intended to design a uniplex PCR assay for the detection and differentiation of Brucella at the species level and determining the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Brucella in Iran. Methods: Sixty-eight Brucella specimens (38 animal and 30 human specimens) were analyzed using PCR (using one pair of primers). Antibiotic susceptibility patterns were evaluated and compared using the E-Test and disk diffusion susceptibility test. Tigecycline susceptibility pattern was compared with other antibiotics. Results: Thirty six isolates of B. melitensis, 2 isolates of B. abortus and 1 isolate of B. suis from the 38 animal specimens, 24 isolates of B. melitensis and 6 isolates of B. abortus from the 30 human specimens were differentiated. The MIC50 values of doxycycline for human and animal specimens were 125 and 10 μg/ml, respectively, tigecycline 0.064 μg/ml for human specimens and 0.125μg/ml for animal specimens, and trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole and ciprofloxacin 0.065 and 0.125μg/ml, respectively, for both human and animal specimens. The highest MIC50 value of streptomycin in the human specimens was 0.5μg/ml and 1μg/ml for the animal specimens. The greatest resistance shown was to tetracycline and gentamicin, respectively. Conclusion: Uniplex PCR for the detection and differentiation of Brucella at the strain level is faster and less expensive than multiplex PCR, and the antibiotics doxycycline, rifampin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin are the most effective antibiotics for treating brucellosis. Resistance to tigecycline is increasing, and we recommend that it be used in a combination regimen.
Microbiology
Sharareh Mohammad Hasani; Reza Mirnejad; Vahhab Piranfar; Jafar Amani; Mohamad javad Vafadar
Volume 11, Issue 2 , April 2016, , Pages 144-150
Abstract
Background: Rapid diagnosis and differentiation of Brucella is of high importance due to the side effects of antibiotics for the treatment of brucellosis. This study aimed to identify and compare PCR-ELISA as a more accurate diagnositc test with other common molecular and serological tests. Methods: ...
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Background: Rapid diagnosis and differentiation of Brucella is of high importance due to the side effects of antibiotics for the treatment of brucellosis. This study aimed to identify and compare PCR-ELISA as a more accurate diagnositc test with other common molecular and serological tests. Methods: In this experimental and sectional study, during March 2014 to Sep 2015, 52 blood samples of suspected patients with clinical symptoms of brucellosis were evaluated in medical centers all over Iran with serum titers higher than 1:80. Using two pairs of specific primers of Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and DIG-dUTP, Fragment IS711 (The common gene fragment in B. melitensis and B. abortus) was amplified. DIG-ELISA was performed using specific probes of these 2 species of Brucella and patterns were subsequently analyzed, then positive responses were compared by detecting gel electrophoresis. Results: PCR-ELISA method detected all 28 samples from 52 positive samples. Its sensitivity was 6.0 pg concentration of genomic DNA of Brucella. In gel electrophoresis method, 22 samples of all positive samples were detected. PCR-ELISA was more efficient than PCR and bacterial culture method at P-value Conclusion: PCR-ELISA molecular method is more sensitive than other molecular methods, lack of mutagenic color and also a semi-quantitative ability. This method is more effective and more accurate compared to PCR, serology and culture of bacteria. PCR-ELISA does not have false responses. The limitation of this method is detection of bacteria in the genus compared to Multiplex PCR and Gel Electrophoresis.