امید رضا حسینی

Traditionally, diagnosis of the agents of infectious diseases is based on conventional or phenotypic methods. Due to the lack of growth of some infectious agents, these methods are very difficult or impossible for diagnosis of some bacteria. The advent of molecular techniques has more or less influences on the detection of microbial infections. This article addresses the advantages and disadvantages of diagnostic molecular and conventional methods in detecting pathogenic microorganisms. Traditional diagnostic methods such as phenotypic, chemical and serologic characteristics are still used for detection of infectious diseases. In addition to diagnosing the bacterial agents, varient molecular methods may also detect virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes at a higher rate, sensitivity and accuracy. It seems that the advanced molecular methods can reduce diagnosis time, mortality rate and costs of laboratory diagnosis, and shorten the duration of hospitalization.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) as a major health challenge has close relationship with high-risk behaviour. Patterns and changes in risk behaviour associated with HIV are important factors in creating a community-level HIV epidemic. The current study examined the prevalence and patterns of risky behaviour before and after the diagnosis of HIV-positive individuals. In this cross-sectional study, 130 HIV-positive people were selected through census method in Rafsanjan health center 1 (n = 55) and Kerman behavioral diseases center (n = 75) in 2012. The patients were interviewed thrugh of checklist made by resercher by a psychiatrist and necessary information was collected before and after the diagnosis of HIV infection. Data were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and McNemar's tests. The mean age of patients was 40.12 ± 8.20 years and most of them were male. Before HIV diagnosis, the frequencies of injecting drugs, the use of collaborative injection tools and unprotected sexual behavior were 61.5%, 43.1% and 40%, respectively. According to findings, the probable cause of the high-risk behavior for HIV infection in this study was similar to the national pattern. Risky behavior had significant changes in different directions after diagnosis.

Appendicitis is one of the most common causes of emergency abdominal surgery in children. Diagnosis before surgery has always been a problem. One of the symptoms in dealing with patients with suspected appendicitis is dry and scaly lips. Therefore، the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship of this sign with appendicitis. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a three-month period، all the patients under 18 admitted with complaints of abdominal pain were entered into the study. Possible diagnosis was appendicitis based on history، clinical examinations، laboratory tests and abdominal sonography. Alvarado score pediatric appendicitis score (PAS) and pathological results were recorded. Collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS software. Out of 25 patients who entered the study، 11 patients (44%) were males and 14 patients (56%) were females with mean age and SD of 11. 88± 4. 77 years old. The pathology reports were as follows: 13 patients (52%) acute appendicitis، 10 patient (40%) acute suppurative appendicitis with periappendicitis، one patient (4%) ruptured appendicitis and for one patients (4%) nomal appedix. Pain shifting in 20 patients (80%) and dry lips in 22 patients (88%) were observed. Alvarado average score of the patients was 7. 04± 2. 28 and PAS average score was 7. 24± 1. 71. Early diagnosis and appendectomy before gangrene or rupture of the appendix will reduce complications of this disease. Therefore، early diagnosis of this disease is important. Sign of dry lips in 22 patients (88%) compared with other signs and symptoms is important. Based on this study it is concluded that dry lips can be a diagnostic sign along with other signs. According to the findings of this study further studies are recommended.

Infections attributed to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) involve almost half of the world''s population. One of the effects is auto-antibody induction and cross-reaction with numerous proteins in the body. As a result of its widespread prevalence and importance, this study evaluates the associations between H. pylori and thyroid auto-antibodies. This study enrolled 100 patients who were candidates for gastroesophageal endoscopies that referred to the Yazd Gastrointestinal Clinic. Patients underwent the following laboratory analyses: urease test, anti-H. pylori (IgG), TSH, T4, T3 and thyroid auto-antibodies (anti-thyroglobulin, anti-thyroid peroxides). Patients were divided into two groups of H. pylori positive and negative according to the results of the anti-H. pylori IgG and urease tests.. The level of thyroid auto-antibodies and thyroid function were compared between groups. Data were analyzed with chi-square and t-tests. SPSS software version 17 was used for data analysis. Overall, 61% of patients were H. pylori positive. The mean anti-Thyroid peroxidase level in the H. pylori positive group was significantly more than the negative group (p‹0.01). In addition, 19.7% of H. pylori positive patients and 5.1% of H. pylori negative patients had positive anti-TPO levels, which the difference between both groups was significant (p‹0.04). There was no significant difference in thyroid function between the two groups. Although no significant difference in thyroid function was seen in the two groups more patients tested positive for anti- TPO levels in the H. pylori positive group, which was suggestive of thyroid auto-antibody induction by H. pylori

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with unknown pathophysiology and a number of detrimental effects including; leave of absence، seeking for medical treatment، and a poor quality of life. We evaluated the frequency of this syndrome among students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences in 2008-2009. In this cross-sectional study، 406 students of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences were choosen by systematic sampling method. The collecting data tool was a self-administrated questionnaire which designed according to the RomeIII. Data were then analyzed by X2 test and t-Test. Of 274 completed and returned questionnaires، 175 (63. 9%) belonged to female and 99 (36. 1%) belonged to male with a mean age of 21. 36 ± 2. 3 years (± standard deviation). Sixteen (5. 8%) students had IBS with common symptoms of pain or abdominal discomfort associated with a change in frequency of stool (12. 4%). These symptoms were more significantly frequent in women than in men (p=0. 015). No significant differences were obseved between the other demographic variables and the frequency of IBS. The frequency of IBS was 5. 8% in this study which was comparable to those reported from the other cities of Iran (4. 2%-18. 4%) or of developed countries and it was lower than the results from the developing countries.

Applying the suitable mouthwash can kill bacteria or reduce the bacterial growth; in the same context, diluting mouthwashes can decrease their probable side effects. In this study, the maximum inhibitory concentrations of two common mouthwashes were evaluated. In this in vitro study, agar dilution and disk diffusion methods were used. Sixty-nine bacterial plates were cultured to evaluate the effects of thymol and chlorhexidine mouthwashes on Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sanguis. The results of agar dilution method were recorded as "growth' and "no growth", and the results of disk diffusion were recorded as means of growth inhibitory halos. Data was analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test using SPSS software. (α = 0.05). Growth inhibitory halos for different concentrations of the two mouthwashes decreased with an increase in dilution rate. In agar dilution method, dilutions less than 80% of the initial concentration for thymol-based mouthwash and less than 70% for chlorhexidine could not inhibit bacterial growth. Growth inhibition halos with 100% thymol-based mouthwash (Orion®) were 10.15 ± 0.1 mm for Steptococcus mutans and 9.2 7 ± 0.16 mm for Streptococcus sanguis. Mean rank of the two mouthwashes was statistically significant for the two bacterial strains under study (p value < 0.001). Both mouthwashes were effective on the bacteria under study; however, this efficacy was higher for Streptococcus sanguis. Chlorhexidine mouthwash was more potent to inhibit bacterial growth than thymol-based mouthwash if diluted.

Generally, a material with less toxicity and greater antimicrobial effect seems more agreeable to use. The aim of this study was in vitro comparison of the antimicrobial effects of Persica® and Chlorhexidine with Sodium hypochlorite on Enterococcus fecalis and Candida albicans. In this in vitro experimental study, 92 samples of study microorganisms were cultured on meuller hinton agar with Kirby bauer method. Paper discs were treated by Persica (pure and 50%), Chlorhexidine (0.1% and 0.2%) and Sodium hypochlorite 1% and placed on the culture media. After 48 hours incubation, Zones of microbial inhibition were measured in millimeters. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Sodium hypochlorite was more effective in growth inhibition of the microorganisms than Persica and chlorhexidine significantly (P=0.000). In this study, the microorganisms were very sensitive to Sodium hypochlorite. Reducing the concentration of Chlorhexidine, lessened its effectiveness. There was not any sensitivity to Persica. Totally used concentrations had less effect than Sodium hypochlorite.