International journal of basic science in medicine
Volume:6 Issue: 1, Mar 2021

The emergence and global spread of carbapenemases produced by Klebsiella pneumoniae is a serious problem to health services worldwide. K. pneumoniae, belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family, is commonly found in the human gastrointestinal tract and environment, especially in the hospital environment. Carbapenem is administered as the first treatment for severe infections created by multi-drug resistant K. pneumoniae. Despite the fact that the carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae has become more prevalent in Iran, few investigations have probed into the prevalence of different carbapenemase genes in Iran.

The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of carbapenemase genes in K. pneumoniae from 2010 to 2018 in Iran. PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for the articles published between 2010 and 2018 in Iran.

A total of 25 papers published between 2012 and 2018 were selected. The highest frequency of blaNDM, blaIMP, blaVIM, blaKPC and, blaOXA48 genes were related to cities of Shiraz in 2017 [23 (26.14%)], Hamedan in 2017 [2 (50%)], Babol in 2015 [15 (41.66%)], Isfahan in 2013 [65 (44.83%)] and, and Isfahan in 2018 [90 (76.27%)], respectively. The results showed that the frequency of blaNDM, blaOXA48, and blaIMP genes increased in 2017 and 2018, and there was an increase in the frequency of the blaVIM gene in 2014 and 2015, and the blaKPC gene in 2013. The highest percentage of carbapenemases genes isolated in Iran were related to blaKPC [145 (37.08%)], blaOXA48 [118 (30.18%)], and blaNDM [88 (22.51%)], and the lowest percentages were reported in blaIMP [4 (1.02%)], and blaVIM [36 (9.21%)], respectively.

The results of our review showed that blaNDM and blaOXA48 carbapenemase genes have been increasing in Iran, and it seems that traveling is one of the most important factors in the transmission of carbapenemase genes.

Motor learning consolidates in adulthood, and its defects begin to appear with aging. Ghrelin, an endogenous peptide, improves memory and learning, targeting dopaminergic circuits. While cytidine diphosphate choline (citicoline) is known as a common drug for enhancing memory and learning in aging, it is not recommended for adults due to its side effects. The current study aimed at investigating if ghrelin treatment would improve motor learning via the expression of a relevant gene.

For this experimental study, adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, three groups of ghrelin treatment (0.3, 1.5, and 3 nmol/μL), and one group with citicoline treatment. The injections were done intra-hippocampally. The motor learning rate was determined using the rotarod performance test by measuring the resistance to falling. Then the expression of dopamine receptor type D1 (Drd1) gene in the hippocampus was measured by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Ghrelin (3 nmol/μL) and citicoline had similar and significant effects on motor learning improvement (P<0.01). Both drugs significantly increased Drd1 gene expression (P <0.001).

Ghrelin, like citicoline, improves motor learning by altering the expression of Drd1 gene in the hippocampus.

The global postural reeducation (GPR) method seems to be an effective method for the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders; therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effect and durability of 6 weeks of GPR and lumbar stability exercises on movement control, pain and disability in men with chronic nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) with lumbar movement control dysfunction.

Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 46 men with non-specific chronic low back pain (LBP) with lumbar movement control dysfunction were selected and randomly divided into three groups (two exercise groups - one control group). Training intervention groups practiced for six weeks, three sessions per week. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Roland Morris questionnaire, and movement control test were used to measure pain, level of physical disability, and lumbar movement control, respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA was utilized to compare the effect and durability of the two training protocols on the dependent variables at a significant level.

Results from this research showed that both types of exercises reduced pain (P=0.001) and improved disability index (P=0.001) and lumbar movement control (P=0.001). Our findings suggested that a GPR intervention for 6 weeks (P=0.040) and inactivity for 4 weeks (P=0.001) resulted in a greater improvement in disability compared to the lumbar stabilization exercises (LSEs).

Both types of exercises seem to be effective in improving lumbar movement control, pain, and disability in people with movement control dysfunction after both training and inactivity. The GPR method improved disability more than the LSEs.

Hepatitis B is a common viral infection worldwide and the main cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cell carcinoma. hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) is one of the markers indicating chronic hepatitis B infection. In this cross-sectional study, we investigate serological markers and HBeAg positivity in in children with maternally transmitted hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Overall, 26 children with congenital HBV referred to Amir Al-Mo’menin Ali hospital in Zabol in 2019 and 2020 were enrolled. After gathering demographic characteristics, blood samples were taken from the patients. Serological tests were performed by routine ELISA tests. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22.

Twenty-six children were included in the study;18 of them (69.2%) were males. The mean age of the participants was 13.98±11 years (minimum of 1 and maximum of 18 years old). The mean age of mothers was 40.45±10 years (minimum of 27 and maximum of 63 years old). Four (15.4%) of the children were HBeAg positive, and 18 (69.2%) were HBeAb positive with no significant differences between genders (P > 0.05). HBeAg positivity was not associated with the birth rank (P = 0.71) or HBV vaccination (P = 0.17). Liver enzymes, serum albumin and children’s age and duration of maternal infection were not significantly different between HBeAg positive and HBeAg negative groups (P > 0.05). Mean serum alanine transaminase (ALT) was significantly higher in HBeAb positive than HBeAb negative children (P = 0.018), and HBeAb positivity was significantly associated with HBV vaccination history (P = 0.02). Other liver enzymes as well as age of mother and child and the duration of maternal infection were not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.99).

The prevalence of chronic HBV infection based on HBeAg positivity was relatively high in children vertically infected with the virus. HBeAb seroconversion seems to be associated with HBV vaccination.

Herbal plants are important sources for finding new and rare products of medicinal value for drug development. The present research aimed to investigate the antibacterial properties of Dendrostellera lessertii against infectious bacteria and analyze its chemical composition.

The different organs comprising root, stem, and leaf of D. lessertii from Lorestan province, Iran, were tested. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the agar well-diffusion assay. The total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were assessed by the Folin Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were tested by the serial dilution method, and chemical compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS).

The chemical composition analysis showed the dominance of bergamotol (10.62%) and bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (7.49%) in the stem extract. However, phytol (12.64%) and E-11-hexadecenal (12.53%) were major constituents in the root extract. Furthermore, major constituents in the leaf extract were phytol (19.658%) and hexadecanoic acid (7.151%). The methanolic extract of root exhibited the highest TPC as 109.1±2.2 mgGA/g and TFC as 2.1±0.33 mgQ/g. The root methanolic extract demonstrated a MIC of 3.125 mg/mL against Enterococcus faecalis. Accordingly, the highest sensitivity and resistance were observed on E. faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively.

Dendrostellera lessertii extract is suggested as a source for antimicrobial drugs, especially to treat bacterial infections.

One of the popular questionnaires for screening neuropathic pain is the DN4 (Douleur Neuropathique 4) which has been translated into many languages and validated in different populations. So, we wanted to determine the Persian version of this questionnaire’s reliability and validity to differentiate neuropathic pain from other painful non-neuropathic conditions.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 patients who suffered from chronic pain referred to the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at the three great referral hospitals in Tehran, Iran in 2016. In this study, a modified version of DN4 was used to validate adding a question related to the appearance of pain in an especial joint and adding visual analogue scaling (VAS) score in each item.

The modified DN4 questionnaire had high reliability for assessing neuropathic pain with the Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.874. The correlation coefficients obtained by the retest intra-class correlation test ranged from 0.650 to 0.941. Also, the internal consistency of Spearman’s R coefficients ranged from 0.482 to 0.904. Test-retest reliability analysis also showed a higher intraclass correlation (ICC) value in the neuropathic than non-neuropathic pain group (0.85 vs0.73). The modified DN4 questionnaire could effectively discriminate neuropathic pain from non-neuropathic pain with the area under the curve (ROC) of 0.989 (95% CI: 971–1000, P < 0.001). The best cutoff value for the modified DN4 questionnaire to diagnose neuropathic pain was 5, yielding a sensitivity of 98.3% and a specificity of 90.3%.

Applying the new modified Persian version of DN4 achieved by adding a VAS score and a new question related to the appearance of pain in an especial joint led to high reliability and validity for this tool to discriminate neuropathic from non-neuropathic pain.