مجله دانش و تندرستی در علوم پایه پزشکی
سال شانزدهم شماره 4 (زمستان 1400)

Streptococcus agalactiae is one of the infectious agents in pregnant women and newborns. The capsule of this bacterium is importance in pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate antibiotic resistance patterns and distribution of capsule types in S. agalactiae isolates collected from maternal-newborn.

First, using biochemical tests, S. agalactiae isolates were collected from the vagina and rectum of pregnant women and the ears and nose of newborns. Capsule types Ia, Ib, II, III, Iv, V, VI, VII, and VIII were identified by the ps1Ah, cps1bj, cps2k, cps1a / 2 / 3I, cps4N, cps5O, cps6I, cps7M and cps8j genes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the genes.

In this study, 73 isolates (52.8%) were collected from rectovaginal, and 61 isolates (44.2%) were collected from the ear and nose. In rectovaginal specimens, tetracycline (82.1%) and erythromycin (83.5%) resistant strains were most common. Also, in nose and ear samples, resistance to rifampin (83.6%), erythromycin (98.3%), tetracycline (93.4%), and clindamycin (83.6%) showed high frequency. In both groups, capsule type III (14.4%), followed by capsule type II (7.9%), Ib (7.2%), and V (6.5%) had the highest frequency, respectively. Capsule types VIII, VII Ia, and VI were not detected in any of the isolates. The frequency of capsule types III, Ib, II, and V significantly increased antibiotic-resistant strains.

Our results showed that the high frequency of S. agalactiae capsule types in pregnant women has an essential role in increasing resistance to various antibiotics.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, research has focused on identifying people at risk and preventing its spread. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between blood groups (ABO) and the risk of COVID-19 infection in Shahroud.

This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Data from suspected cases of Covid-19 were collected in Shahroud by the Corona Registration System from the beginning of the epidemic in February 2020. In this study, confirmed cases of Covid-19 were defined as those that had a positive RT-PCR test. Logistic regression was used in order to investigate the relationship between ABO and COVID-19 infection, and other variables, such as co-morbidities, age, and gender also were adjusted.

In this study, the highest percentage of positive PCR was for B type (49.6%) and then AB (43.1%), but this difference was not significant. In the modeling, a significant relationship was observed between B type and Covid-19 infection, so that the risk is 56% higher. Also, in the study of the relationship between non-O blood groups and adjusted for the variables of age, gender, and comorbidities, it was shown that non-O blood type compared to O blood type increased the odds of infection by35% significantly. Rh did not show a significant association with infection.

This study showed that non-O blood types have higher odds of developing Covid-19 compared to the O blood type. Among the various blood types, type B increases the odds of infection by 56%.

Due to thesevere side effects of using or exposure to chlorpyrifos toxin (CPF) on the lungs and respiratory system, in this study, the effects of aerobic exercise on improving the effects of CPF poisoning on the level of lung tissue changes and gene expression in Rats were examined.

Sixteen Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups: healthy control, dose 1-poisoned control group, dose 3-poisoned control group, dose 1-poisoned training group, dose 3-poisoned training group, and DMSO control. CPF was injected intraperitoneally in two different doses to the target groups. After intoxication, exercise was given to the target groups according to a specific exercise program. Histological assessments, evaluation of oxidative stress markers (SOD and MDA), and expression changes of Spa and Cop-1 genes in all study groups were performed.

Results from histological evaluations showed that the rate of mucosal destruction of lung tissue was increased in the control groups poisoned by dose 1 and dose 3 of CPF (P=0.001). SOD and MDA levels were reduced and enhanced, respectively, in poisoned control groups. After aerobic exercise, the severity of tissue damage was significantly reduced. SOD and MDA levels were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, in trained groups. At the molecular level, it was also observed that the expression of Spa and Cop-1 genes in the CPF-poisoned control group was significantly reduced, which increased significantly compared to the control groups after aerobic exercise.

According to the results of this study, aerobic exercise seems to play an effective role in reducing tissue damage due to oxidative stress and regulating the expression of tissue-specific genes by reducing oxidative stress induced by CPF.

Acute alcohol poisoning and the spread of epidemics in different parts of the country are among the most important known medical emergencies that are associated with high morbidity and mortality every year. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between open acid disorders and prognosis in patients with alcohol poisoning in Taleghani Hospital in Urmia in 2019.

This cross-sectional study was performed on patients with alcohol poisoning referred to Taleghani Hospital in Urmia during the period of 2019 by census method. The data were collected using a checklist that included demographic information. Data were collected by SPSS18 and analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test, Pearson correlation coefficient, ANOVA test and independent group t-test.

The results showed that out of 234 patients admitted to the hospital, 213 (91%) were male and 21 (9%) were female. The highest age group was 21-30 years with 115 (49.1%). Nausea and vomiting, mean HCO3 was 23.63±4.42 and mean pH was 7.35±0.08, There was no significant difference between the sexes with alcohol poisoning (P=0.26) and acid and base disorders with sex (P=0.24). Need for dialysis or no need for dialysis was significantly associated with alcohol poisoning (P=0.001). There was also a relationship between acid and base disorders with the prognosis of patients with alcohol poisoning (P=0.001).

The results showed that in alcohol poisoning, open acid disorders, especially metabolic acidosis, have a significant relationship with patients' prognosis and also pH less than 7.09 is associated with poor prognosis in patients. However, to confirm the results, more studies with higher sample size and prospective study method are recommended.

Transforming growth factor-beta-induced factor X-linked (TGIF2LX) as a homeodomain protein and TGF-βcorepressor, could regulate proliferation of some cancer cells including colorectal cancer by some signaling pathways. Small non-coding RNAs (microRNA; miRNA) are known as molecular regulators of colorectal cancer that are involved in the processes of cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological significance of TGIF2LX protein and its effect on the expression of oncogenic miRNAs miR-34a, miR-20a and miR-21 in colorectal cancer cells SW1116.

Human SW1116 cell line and cell line transfected with cDNA encoding TGIF2LX gene were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium under appropriate conditions. MTT assay was used to assess cell viability in vitro. After RNA extraction from all cell groups and cDNA synthesis, miRNA expression analysis was performed using qReal-time PCR technique.

The results showed that the increased expression of TGIF2LX could reduce the proliferation of SW1116 cell line. Gene expression analysis showed that increased expression of TGIF2LX could significantly reduce the expression level of miR-21 (P<0.038). However, the expression levels of miR-34a and miR-20a in SW1116 cells transfected with TGIF2LX did not show a significant change compared to non-transfected cells (P>0.05).

Our findings provide evidence of molecular mechanisms that the homeodomain protein TGIF2LX can act as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer cells by reducing miR-21 expression. Therefore, this protein can potentially be considered as a promising option for gene-based therapeutic strategies in this cancer.

High concentration of nicotine induces cell death in central nervous system which can affect the health of nicotine-exposed people. Some therapeutic properties of Nigella Sativa have been investigated but its protective power against neuron cell death not studied yet. Therefore, we studied the protective effect of Nigella Sativa oil in nicotine-treated PC12 cells.

The cell viability measured by LDH test. TUNEL test was used to show DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. NO production was calculated through Griess reaction. The Rat inflammatory cytokine assay kit was used to measurement of inflammatory cytokines concentrations.

100 mM of nicotine reduced cell viability, and increased cell cytotoxicity, NO production, inflammatory cytokines concentrations, and DNA fragmentation significantly. N. sativa essential oil increased cell viability and decreased cell cytotoxicity, NO production, inflammatory cytokines concentrations, and DNA fragmentation in high concentration nicotine-treated in PC12 cells, respectively.

The main finding of our study was that Nigella Sativa oil suppresses the nicotine-induced cell death in PC12 neuron-like cells. It inactivates the apoptosis process through inhibition of the NO production, and inflammatory cytokines synthesis.

Tissue engineering using scaffold, cells, and growth factor creates the appropriate environment to repair, replace, or regenerate of failure or damaged tissue. Scaffolds play the role of ECM of normal tissue and support cell growth and differentiation. Electrospinning is a fast and efficient method that makes it possible to make nanofiber scaffolds. Phase separation is also a fast and inexpensive method and requires fewer tools.

In the present study, after obtaining the optimal factors in electrospinning and phase separation process, from gelatin polymer for nanofiber synthesis and from poly-L-lactic acid polymer (PLLA) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes for making porous and nanofiber conduits containing berberine (Beri) was used and evaluated by various tests.

The results of in vitro characterization tests indicated the suitability of channels containing PLA/MWCNTs / nanofiber gelatin with berberine. Functional tests (including SFI, Hot plate test) and histological tests are made of a nerve and muscle (including H&E staining) as well as weighing of gastrocnemius muscle. The defect showed a significant improvement in berberine-receiving rats compared with the negative control group and the berberine-free groups.

synthesis of porous and nanofiber conduits from gelatin and poly-L-lactic acid polymer with electrospinning and phase separation process provide potential use in peripheral nerve tissue engineering.

Advancements in cancer imaging are rapidly moving from the detection and size measurement of a lesion to the quantitative assessment of metabolic processes and cellular and molecular interactions. Tumor stroma as an important factor in tumor pathophysiology plays an important role in treatment strategies and targeting the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, successful cancer control requires the study of complex cellular and molecular interactions in cancer tissue. The integration of advances in molecular biology, synthetic chemistry, and imaging techniques has shifted imaging-based diagnosis to molecular function. Therefore, imaging science seeks to find applications in basic science, preclinical, and translational research in cancer. Positron emission tomography, single-photon emission computed tomography, optical imaging, and magnetic resonance imaging are the primary tools being developed for oncologic imaging. These techniques are being developed due to the development of molecular probes that have recently been improved to record in vivo molecular and physiological properties. Herein, we review molecular imaging techniques and common probes in preclinical studies, as well as their application strategies.