Cytochrome CYP141: a new target for direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from clinical specimens

Cytochrome P450 CYP141 is an intermediary metabolic and respiratory protein that interferes with oxidation reduction in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This conserved protein has also been debated as a hypothetical target for therapeutics. We used the sequences of CYP141 gene to develop a PCR for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from respiratory specimens. The sensitivity of this PCR for culture positive-smear positive and culture positive-smear negative samples were 92% and 62.5%, respectively. The overall sensitivity and specificity of this PCR was 85.7% and 97.8%. As compared with other studies, it appears that the CYP141 gene is a good target for direct detection of M. tuberculosis from respiratory specimens.     

Clinical governance implementation in a selected teaching emergency department: a systems approach

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Clinical governance (CG) is among the different frameworks proposed to improve the quality of healthcare. Iran, like many other countries, has put healthcare quality improvement in its top health policy priorities. In November 2009, implementation of CG became a task for all hospitals across the country. However, it has been a challenge to clarify the notion of CG and the way to implement it in Iran. The purpose of this action research study is to understand how CG can be defined and implemented in a selected teaching emergency department (ED).Methods/designWe will use Soft Systems Methodology for both designing the study and inquiring into its content. As we considered a complex problem situation regarding the quality of care in the selected ED, we initially conceptualized CG as a cyclic set of purposeful activities designed to explore the situation and find relevant changes to improve the quality of care. Then, implementation of CG will conceptually be to carry out that set of purposeful activities. The activities will be about: understanding the situation and finding out relevant issues concerning the quality of care; exploring different stakeholders' views and ideas about the situation and how it can be improved; and defining actions to improve the quality of care through structured debates and development of accommodations among stakeholders. We will flexibly use qualitative methods of data collection and analysis in the course of the study. To ensure the study rigor, we will use different strategies. DISCUSSION: Successful implementation of CG, like other quality improvement frameworks, requires special consideration of underlying complexities. We believe that addressing the complex situation and reflections on involvement in this action research will make it possible to understand the concept of CG and its implementation in the selected setting. By describing the context and executed flexible methods of implementation, the results of this study would contribute to the development of implementation science and be employed by boards and executives governing other clinical settings to facilitate CG implementation.     

Biocontrol of Rhizoctonia solani damping-off of sugar beet with native Streptomyces strains under field conditions

A 3-year study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of two disease-suppressive Streptomyces spp. to control sugar beet Rhizoctonia solani damping off under field conditions. Streptomyces seed treatments reduced seedling damping off in naturally (2005) and artificially (2006 and 2007) infested soils. All biocontrol agents provided better efficacy than Vitavax to control seedling damping-off. There were no significant differences among Streptomyces isolates. Isolate C increased plant stand by 19.5, 50.5 and 53.75% in 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. Evaluation of final harvest revealed that the root yield of the biocontrol agents increased compared to untreated control in these years.     

A Comparative Study to Evaluate Myogenic Differentiation Potential of Human Chorion versus Umbilical Cord Blood-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Objective

Musculodegenerative diseases threaten the life of many patients in the world. Since drug administration is not efficient in regeneration of damaged tissues, stem cell therapy is considered as a good strategy to restore the lost cells. Since the efficiency of myogenic differentiation potential of human Chorion- derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (C-MSCs) has not been addressed so far; we set out to evaluate myogenic differentiation property of these cells in comparison with Umbilical Cord Blood- derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (UCB-MSCs) in the presence of 5-azacytidine.

Characterization of a candidate multi-pole molecular switch using computational techniques

An organic molecule, designed in this study, is proposed as a candidate molecular switch and characterized using the B3LYP/6-31G* computational method. Structural and electronic properties of this molecular switch (M) and its singly charged (M⁺ and M⁻) species in their lowest and the first higher spin states are calculated and analyzed. Molecular volume and electronic spatial extent (ESE) of this nanoswitch undergo negligibly small changes (<2%) upon charging. Furthermore, the small difference between the calculated dipole moments of the M⁺ and M⁻ species shows that switching between negative and positive poles does not significantly affect the charge transfer performance of this molecular switch. Natural bond orbital (NBO) and spin density distributions are also calculated and analyzed. A preliminary study on the response of the proposed molecular switch to the external electric field approves its function as a multi-pole nanoswitch controlled by a bias voltage. Figure Electron transfer scheme and arrangement of the π-electrons in the turn-on state of the candidate multi-pole molecular switch.     

Altered frequency of CD8+CD11c+ T cells and expression of immunosuppressive molecules in lymphoid organs of mouse model of colorectal cancer

CD11c is a member of the β2-integrin family typically used to define myeloid dendritic cells (DCs). Recent reports identify CD11c-expressing CD8⁺ T cells as a new subset of CD8⁺ regulatory T cells (Treg). Evidence exists that CD11c⁺CD8⁺ T cells may exert their effector or regulatory functions under different conditions. To date, no studies have addressed the frequency of CD11c⁺ T cells in cancer. Limited evidence exists in terms of expression of immune-checkpoint receptors, programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), as well as forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) in mouse lymphoid organs. Here, we have assessed CD11c⁺CD8⁺ and CD11c⁺CD4⁺ T cells, Foxp3, PD-1, and CTLA-4 expressing CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells in different tissues from three groups of male BALB/c mice—young, mature, and those with colorectal cancer (CRC). Analysis of CD3⁺CD11c⁺ T cells in the bone marrow (BM), spleen, and lymph nodes (LN) in each group showed a higher percentage of CD3⁺CD11c⁺ T cells in the BM from all groups and in the lymphoid organs of the cancer group compared with the young and mature groups. CD4^low and CD4^high cell fractions in mice BM have different expression patterns for Foxp3 and CTLA-4. We have observed a higher frequency of CD8⁺PD-1⁺ T cells in the BM, spleen, and LN of CRC mice compared with normal mice. T-cell exhaustion is associated with inhibitory receptor PD-1. According to the regulatory roles of CD11c expression in CD8⁺ T cells, we have proposed that the elevated percentage of CD11c, Foxp3, CTLA-4, and PD-1 expressing T cells were associated with immune response dysregulation in CRC.     

Prevalence of Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacterial Infections among Tuberculosis Suspects in Iran: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction

The infections due to Non-Tuberculosis Mycobacteria (NTM) are becoming an important health problem in many countries in the world. Globally, an increase in NTM infections has been reported from many countries around the world. However, limited information is available about the prevalence of NTM infections in Iran.

Material and Methods

The data of the prevalence of NTM infections were collected from databases such as PubMed, Web of science, Cochrane Library, Embase, Scopus, Iranmedex, and Scientific Information Database. Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (V2.0, Biostat) software was used to analyze the data.

Results

The meta-analyses showed that the prevalence of NTM infections was 10.2% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 6.3-15.9) among culture-positive cases of tuberculosis (TB) in Iran. The further stratified analyses indicated that the prevalence of NTM was higher in studies that were done after year 2000. Additionally, M. simiae (43.3% [95% CI 36.8-50.0]), M. intracellucar (27.3% [95% CI 0.7-95.5]) and M. fortuitum (22.7% [95% CI 16.1-30.9]) were the most prevalent NTM species, respectively.

Discussion

The relatively high prevalence of NTM infections (10.2%) among culture positive cases for TB underlines the need for greater enforcement of infection control strategies. Establishment of appropriate diagnostic criteria and management guidelines for NTM diseases and expanding the number and quality of regional reference laboratories may facilitate more accurate action for prevention and control of NTM infections in Iran.     

Kinetic, thermodynamic and statistical studies on the inhibition of adenosine deaminase by aspirin and diclofenac

The kinetic and thermodynamic effects of aspirin and diclofenac on the activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) were studied in 50 mM phosphate buffer pH = 7.5 at 27 and 37 degrees C, using UV-Vis spectrophotometry and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Aspirin exhibits competitive inhibition at 27 and 37 degrees C and the inhibition constants are 42.8 and 96.8 microM respectively, using spectrophotometry. Diclofenac shows competitive behavior at 27 degrees C and uncompetitive at 37 degrees C with inhibition constants of 56.4 and 30.0 microM, at respectively. The binding constant and enthalpy of binding, at 27 degrees C are 45 microM, - 64.5 kJ/mol and 61 microM, - 34.5 kJ/mol for aspirin and diclofenac. Thermodynamic data revealed that the binding process for these ADA inhibitors is enthalpy driven. QSAR studies by principal component analysis implemented in SPSS show that the large, polar, planar, and aromatic nucleoside and small, aromatic and polar non-nucleoside molecules have lower inhibition constants.     

Assessment of genetic diversity in Salvadora persica L. based on inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) genetic marker

Studies on the genetic variation in marginal populations and differentiation between them are essential for assessment of best gene conservation strategies and sampling schemes. In this study, ISSR markers were used to establish the level of genetic relationships and polymorphism 50 genotypes of Salvadora persica collected from 6 different regions of Hormozgan province. The ISSR analysis with 9 anchored primers also generated 105 scorable loci, of which 85 were polymorphic (80.95%). Parameters of genetic diversity and its partitioning were calculated. The genetic analysis demonstrated that S. persica maintain relatively high genetic diversity (PIC was 0.63, Na was 1.27 and Ho and He were 0.15 and 0.17 respectively). The coefficient of genetic differentiation among populations based on FST equaled 0.20. Genetic identities between population's pairs were high (mean I?=?0.88). These values are high as compared with other widespread congener species. Cluster analysis based on the Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA) revealed 3 main clusters for the ISSR data. The levels of genetic diversity maintained within populations of S. persica indicate that an appropriate sampling design for ex situ safeguarding should capture the majority of genetic diversity found within these taxa to help ensure the long term viability of this species. Furthermore, it could be inferred that ISSR markers are suitable tools for the evaluation of genetic diversity and relationships within the Salvadora persica.     

Effects of Three Bacterial Infections on Serum Lipids of Rabbits

Alteration of the rabbit serum lipids as a result of three bacterial infections was studied by quantitative thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatography. Anthrax infection slightly changed the serum lipid. Cholesterol did not change, though free fatty acids, triglycerides, and cholesteryl esters doubled, and lecithin increased threefold. Tularemia infection produced drastic changes in the serum lipid content of rabbits, increasing levels of cholesterol over 4-fold, free fatty acids 17-fold, triglycerides 11-fold, cholesteryl esters 2.5-fold, and lecithin almost 3-fold. Pneumococcus infection increased cholesterol 2.5 times, free fatty acids were more than doubled, triglycerides were increased 9.5 times, and lecithin was increased almost 4 times. Gas-liquid chromatographic analysis of the methyl esters of free fatty acids showed only quantitative changes in these acids due to infection. Some possible mechanisms of alteration of serum lipid content are discussed.