Distribution of bacterial contamination in a teaching hospital in Tehran - a special focus on Staphylococcus aureus

There are documents that confirm the cycle of bacterial transmission between patients, staff, and the inanimate environment. The environment may have more effect on intensive care units (ICUs), because the patients who require intensive care have unstable clinical conditions and are more sensitive to infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of bacteria in air and inanimate surface in the ICUs and to compare the microbial levels to standard levels.Air and inanimate surface in the four ICUs of a teaching hospital underwent weekly surveillance by means of air sampler and swabs for a period of six-month. Total bacterial counts were evaluated onto trypticase soy agar and mannitol salt agar (MSA).A total of 725 samples [air (168) and inanimate surfaces (557)] were collected. The total mean ± SD CFU/m3 of airborne bacteria in all of the ICUs were 115.93 ± 48.04. The most common bacteria in air of the ICUs were Gram-positive cocci (84.2%). The total mean ± SD airborne of Staphylococcus aureus was 12.10±8.11 CFU/m3. The highest levels of S. aureus contamination were found in ventilators and bed ledges. More suitable disinfection of hospital environments and monthly rotation in utilization of the various disinfectant agents are needed for the prevention of airborne and inanimate transmission of S. aureus.     

Assessment of the interaction procedure between Pt(IV) prodrug [Pt(5,5′-dmbpy)Cl4 and human serum albumin: Combination of spectroscopic and molecular modeling technique

In this study, a cytotoxic Pt(IV) complex [Pt(5,5′-dmbpy)Cl₄ (5,5′-dmbpy is 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine) was selected to investigate its affinity to human serum albumin (HSA) by spectroscopy and molecular docking methods. This complex has a bidentate nitrogen donor ligand with four chloride anions attached to a Pt(IV) metal in a distorted octahedral environment. The ?uorescence data showed this complex quench the intrinsic ?uorescence of HSA through a static quenching mechanism. The binding constant (K_b) and the number of binding sites (n) were obtained based on the results of fluorescence measurements. UV–vis, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy proved that the Pt(IV) complex could slightly change the secondary structure of protein. Thermodynamic parameters show that the Pt(IV) complex binds to HSA through electrostatic and Vander Waals interactions with one binding site. The molecular docking results confirmed the spectroscopic results and showed that Pt(IV) complex is embedded into subdomain IIA of protein. The aim of this study is to describe the performance of effective anti-cancer drugs when faced with proteins such as HSA.     

Microstructural characterization of the body key scale morphology in six Iranian endemic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphanius</Emphasis> species (Cyprinodontidae): Their taxonomic and evolutionary significance

The microstructural characteristics of the body key scales were described for six Iranian endemic Aphanius Nardo, 1827 species. Among them, five species genetically belong to the “Iranian inland and inland-related Aphanius species, IIRAS” group, while A. ginaonis (Holly, 1929) belongs to the “brackish water species” group. General scale shape in the studied Aphanius species was cycloid with the exception of A. ginaonis, which has cycloid scales with few spinous-like structures present in the posterior edge of the scales. Considering phylogenetic relationships of the studied taxa, the most likely explanation for presence of the spinous scales in Aphanius species is the primary existence of these scales in this group. In addition, among the IIRAS group, the most different lepidont was recognized in scales of the A. isfahanensis Hrbek, Keivany and Coad, 2006 (pointed), which is similar to lepidonts in the A. ginaonis. The scales of these species are polygonal with similar typology. The similarity in lepidont morphology between A. ginaonis and A. isfahanensis can explained by (i) the primary existence of the rounded lepidont in this group, and (ii) since A. ginaonis and A. isfahanensis belong to two separate phylogenetic lineages, therefore, similarity in their lepidont morphology could be results of convergent evolution.     

Preparation of FMD type A87/IRN inactivated vaccine by gamma irradiation and the immune response on guinea pig

FMD is one of the most economically damaging diseases that affect livestock animals. In this study FMD Virus type A87/IRN was multiplied on BHK21 cells. The virus was titrated by TCID50 method, it was 10^7.5/ml. The FMD virus samples were inactivated by gamma ray from 60Co source at −20°C. Safety test was done by IBRS2 monolayer cell culture method, also antigenicity of irradiated and un-irradiated virus samples were studied by Complement Fixation Test. The Dose/Survival curve for irradiated FMD Virus was drawn, the optimum dose range for inactivation of FMDV type A87/IRN and unaltered antigenicity was obtained 40–44 kGy. The inactivated virus samples by irradiation and ethyleneimine (EI) were formulated respectively as vaccine with Al(OH)3 gel and other substances. The vaccines were inoculated to Guinea pigs and the results of Serum Neutralization Test for the normal vaccine and radio-vaccine showed protective titer after 8 months. The potency test of the inactivated vaccines was done, PD50 Value of the vaccines were calculated 7.06 and 5.6 for inactivated vaccine by EI and gamma irradiation respectively.     

Mixing and sulphate-reducing activity of bacteria in swelling, compacted bentonite clay under high-level radioactive waste repository conditions

AIM: The fate of micro-organisms in the bentonite clay surrounding high-level radioactive waste (HLW)-containing copper canisters in a future Swedish underground (500 m) repository were investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Laboratory experiments were designed in which the mixing of various bacterial species with swelling bentonite was studied. A clear trend of fewer cultivable bacteria at depth was seen in the clay. This trend was consistent as the incubation time was increased from 8 h to 28 weeks. Sulphate-reducing bacteria were found to be active, reducing sulphate at the lowest density studied, 1.5 g cm-3, but sulphate reduction activity ceased at higher densities. CONCLUSIONS: The number of viable micro-organisms in an HLW repository bentonite clay buffer will decrease rapidly during swelling and very few viable cells will be present at full compaction. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Sulphate-reducing bacteria will most probably not be able to induce corrosion of HLW-containing copper canisters.     

The Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Genetic and Metabolic Profiles in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: a Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on genetic and metabolic profiles in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) who were not on oral hypoglycemic agents. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 48 patients with GDM. Participants were randomly divided into two groups to intake either probiotic capsule containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus fermentum (2 × 10⁹ CFU/g each) (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24) for 6 weeks. Probiotic intake upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (P = 0.01), transforming growth factor beta (P = 0.002) and vascular endothelial growth factor (P = 0.006), and downregulated gene expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (P = 0.03) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of subjects with GDM. In addition, probiotic supplementation significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (β, − 3.43 mg/dL; 95% CI, − 6.48, − 0.38; P = 0.02), serum insulin levels (β, − 2.29 μIU/mL; 95% CI, − 3.60, − 0.99; P = 0.001), and insulin resistance (β, − 0.67; 95% CI, − 1.05, − 0.29; P = 0.001) and significantly increased insulin sensitivity (β, 0.009; 95% CI, 0.004, 0.01; P = 0.001) compared with the placebo. Additionally, consuming probiotic significantly decreased triglycerides (P = 0.02), VLDL-cholesterol (P = 0.02), and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (P = 0.006) and significantly increased HDL-cholesterol levels (P = 0.03) compared with the placebo. Finally, probiotic administration led to a significant reduction in plasma malondialdehyde (P < 0.001), and a significant elevation in plasma nitric oxide (P = 0.01) and total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.01) was observed compared with the placebo. Overall, probiotic supplementation for 6 weeks to patients with GDM had beneficial effects on gene expression related to insulin and inflammation, glycemic control, few lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress.

     

EW-7197 prevents ulcerative colitis-associated fibrosis and inflammation

EW-7197 is a transforming growth factor-β type I receptor kinase inhibitor with potential anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties. Here, we investigate the potential therapeutic effects of EW-7197 in a murine model of ulcerative colitis. EW-7197 attenuated the colitis disease activity index by improving rectal bleeding, body weight, and degree of stool consistency. EW-7197 also reduced colorectal tissue damage and the colon histopathological score by reducing crypt loss, mucosal damage, and tissue inflammation. Moreover, EW-7197 appeared to ameliorate the inflammatory and fibrotic responses by reducing oxidative stress, reducing submucosal edema and inflammatory cell infiltration, downregulating proinflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes, and inhibiting excessive collagen deposition in inflamed and fibrotic ulcerative colitis tissues. These results suggest that EW-7197 has potentially useful therapeutic properties against colitis, with clinically translational potential of inhibiting key pathological responses of inflammation and fibrosis in patients with colitis.