reza nasr

Numerous reports indicate the spread of multiple drug resistances through different types of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL), including enzymes resulting from SHV gene expression in different parts of the world, which is one of the major medical and therapeutic problems. Nowadays, investigating the role of Escherichia coli bacteria in various infections, including hospital infections, and the amount of use of different antibiotics in treatment, considering the increasing resistance of bacteria causing infection to antibiotics, is a necessity. The purpose of this research project was to investigate the prevalence of the SHV gene as one of the genes encoding ESBL in infectious bacteria including E. coli strains.

Sampling and isolation of Escherichia coli collected from clients suspected of urinary tract infection using standard methods and antibiogram test using disc-diffusion method were performed on them. To identify strains producing broad-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), nitrocephene-resistant isolates rechecked with the combined disc method to definitively detect the production of broad-spectrum beta-lactamase enzymes (ESBLs) with the use of pairs of ceftazidime, cefotaxime, cefotaxime, and ceftazidime antibiotic discs with and without clavulanic acid purchased from British Mast Company were tested. By extracting DNA from them using specific primers designed, evaluated, and prepared for the SHV gene, and performing PCR, the presence or absence of the SHV gene in the above strains was evaluated.

E. coli strains were isolated from 151 urinary samples (37.75)%. Isolates resistant to nitrocephene were considered as possible strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), the result of the confirmatory phenotypic test on probable positive (+) ESBL strains, in 33 cases (67.47) % of them were positive. By performing PCR using a pair of specific primers designed and prepared to detect and identify the SHV gene, the result of this test was also positive in 9 cases (72.72) % of them.

Using molecular methods along with phenotypic methods to accurately diagnose infectious agents, even their VBNC (viable but non-culturable) forms, and resistance genes can make the effectiveness of "molecular epidemiology" methods in tracking and increasing the fight against infections, including hospital infections.

PRICO process is a promising method for liquefaction of the natural gas which is sometimes used with some optional equipment. Although the PRICO process is widely used in natural gas liquefaction, the configuration leading to the most desirable performance has not been determined. The liquefaction rate and the energy consumption are two important factors to evaluate the performance of the PRICO process. In this study, the PRICO process with five different configurations was simulated and compared. By the means of the multi-objective optimization method, the liquefaction rate and the energy consumption were optimized, simultaneously, for each of the procedures. The five different simulated configurations are simple PRICO process, simple process with the third compressor, simple process with second heat exchanger, simple process with pre-cooling heat exchanger, and full-set process. The optimization results demonstrated that the three-compressor and the full-set processes achieved the maximum liquefaction rate (96.51) and the minimum energy consumption (1219.53 kW), respectively. The economic analysis has also presented and revealed that the three-compressor process had the highest net profit (730.9288 M$/25 years) among the configurations. In other words, the three-compressor process outperformed other configurations with respect to the operation and economics (maximum liquefaction rate of 96.51 and net profit of 730.9288 M$/25 years).

Falling film evaporators, due to their high heat transfer coefficients, low energy loss, rather a low holdup time, and the ability to handle high capacities have broad applications in food industries. Thus, this kind of evaporator is being used in the production of temperature sensitive compounds such as syrups. In this study, through modelling of the falling film evaporator with the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) we have tried to investigate the effect of adding flow turbulator (baffles) on the inner side of the tubes and assess the key parameters for increasing the efficiency of the evaporator. The simulation was conducted using ANSYS FUENT (v 0.16.0). Results indicate that placing baffles would have a significant effect on increasing evaporator efficiency. The results of the parametric study showed that by installing baffles, the amount of juice evaporation rate can be increased, however, both the evaporator length and volume fraction can be reduced. The results showed that the heat transfer coefficient has increased from 10000 W/m2 °C in the case of the typical evaporator to 25000 W/m2 °C in the case of a baffled tube wall.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-induced diarrhoea is the second most commoncause of death in children in the developing countries. Heat labile toxin (LT) is responsible forETEC-induced diarrhoea. In the present study, a novel live ETEC vaccine based on subunitB of LT (LTB) expression in attenuated PhoPc Salmonella strain was developed. Herein, weaimed to compare the in-vitro activity of promoters including constitutive tac, IPTG inducibletrc, and in-vivo-inducible (nirB and nirB78-23) in PhoPc. Additionally, the ability of theserecombinant PhoPc/pLTBs to induce LTB-specific antibody responses in BALB/c mice afternasal immunization was evaluated. In-vitro studies demonstrated that PhoPc has the abilityto produce rLTB. Furthermore, nirB promoter directed significantly more LTB expression inPhoPc/pnirBLTB under anaerobic condition without induction compared to the amount of rLTBsecreted by PhoPc/ptrcLTB in bacterial soup under uninduced condition (6.06 ± 0.05 vs. 1.4 ±0.46 μg/109 cfu, p < 0.01). In addition, the constitutive rLTB expression from tac promoter wasmore than its expression from uninduced trc promoter in bacterial soup (4.2 ± 0.92 vs. 1.4 ±0.46 (μg/109 cfu)) and pellet (27.4 ± 0.89 vs. 13.4 ± 1.42 (μg/109 cfu), p < 0.0001). However,the mice immunized with PhoPc/ptrcLTB elicited the superior anti-LTB responses among thePhoPc containing the examined prompters, which were significantly higher than those inducedby PhoPc/pnirB78-23LTB and PhoPc/pnirB, 6 weeks after the first immunization. Totally, itcould be concluded that in-vitro analysis of promoters for LTB expression in PhoPc may notnecessarily predict the recombinant PhoPc immunogenicity.

Cancer is one of the main causes of death in the world. In recent years, many studies have been conducted on the usage of nanomaterials in cancer treatment. In previous studies, the anti-tumor effects of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) on cancer cells have been shown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of MSN loaded with Hematoporphyrin (HpD) on the cell proliferation and invasion of MCF7 (Michigan Cancer Foundation-7) breast cancer cell line. The antioxidant effects of MSN loaded with HpD were also investigated.

In this study, using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay, the proliferation and viability of cancer cells were studied after exposure to MSN loaded with HpD. The wound healing assay technique (migration test) was used for the assessment of cancer cells’ invasion. The antioxidant effects of MSN loaded with HpD were studied by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay and FRAP (ferric reducing/antioxidant power) assay techniques.

Our results showed that the viability and proliferation of breast cancer cell line MCF7 in the presence of silica nanoparticles loaded with hematoporphyrin (HpD) significantly declined (P = 0.02). After exposure to mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) loaded with hematoporphyrin (HpD), the cancer cell invasion decreased (P = 0.025). Silica nanoparticles alone and loaded with hematoporphyrin (HpD) showed considerable cytotoxic activities against cancer cell lines (IC50 = 20 - 30 μg.mL-1). The most promising result was achieved for MSN loaded with hematoporphyrin (HpD) with the minimum IC50 value. It was found that the proliferation rate of MCF7 cells decreased after treatment with this compound in a dose-dependent manner. The assessments with DPPH assay and FRAP assay techniques showed that MSN and MSN loaded with HpD have antioxidant activities.

MSN loaded with HpD have an inhibitory effect on the growth of the MCF7 cell line. MSN alone and in combination with HpD have an inhibitory effect on cell invasion in the MCF7 cell line. MSN alone and loaded with HpD have antioxidant effects. These results indicate that MSN has the potential to be used in cancer treatment as a carrier for anticancer drugs.

Background and Among different cancers, breast cancer has a high prevalence among women and radiotherapy is used as a treatment modality in which radio sensitizers are used to increase its efficiency. Nanoparticles are such sensitizers that enhance the efficiency of radiotherapy via creation of free radicals and induction of oxidative stress. This study aimed at evaluating the synergistic effect of radiation therapy and TiO2 nanoparticles on animal models of breast cancer.
After induction of breast adenocarcinoma tumors in Balb/C, the animals were divided into several groups as control, rutile and anatase injections at 5mg/kg and 10mg/kg doses/with and without radiotherapy. Then, the efficiency of treatment was evaluated.
In groups receiving anatase nanoparticles with and without radiation, the values for tumor volume, relative volume and relative volume percentage showed a small increase and a considerable reduction, respectively. In rutile groups with and without radiation, these values showed a small increase and a considerable increase, respectively. IR value reduced to negative value and then increased to zero and positive in anatase groups with and without radiation. This parameter had little changes in rutile groups with and without radiation.
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles increased sensitivity of tumor cells to radiation therapy due to ROS production. Compared with rutile crystals, anatase crystals have intense effect because of having a larger surface area and higher photocatalytic activity.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the VRE frequency and the rate of each gene in isolated enterococci from patients with intestinal infection in the central region of Iran.
Enterococci infections are a public health growing concern due to the glycopeptide antibiotics resistance especially vancomycin. Genes, vanA, B, and H contribute to the influence of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE).
Patients and This study was conducted from January to July 2014 in Shahrood university hospital. Enterococci isolation and its antibacterial susceptibility were performed by culturing in Aesculin Azide agar and Kirby- Bauer method, respectively. Vancomycin-resistant genes were screened through conventional PCR, and subsequently sequenced.
Among 265 specimens, 100 isolates revealed enterococci, in which E. faecalis 91%) and E. faecium (9%). The isolated enterococci were resistant to vancomycin (6%) and chloramphenicol (21%), whereas their large proportions (94% to 100%) were multi-drug resistant. All VRE isolates belonged to E. faecalis, conversely, the E. faecium were susceptible to the same antibiotic. Both vanA and vanH genes were identified in all VRE isolates, although, no vanB gene was indicated. Homology analysis of sequenced amplicons verified the full length compatibility to the worldwide reported genes.
The present study revealed VR E. faecalis in gastroenteritis patients and resistance factor for vanA and vanH genes are coordinated. Since enterococci isolates were all multidrug resistance, increase in VR E. faecalis vanA / vanH in this area could be expected.

TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) might be considered as the most important photosensitizer due to high photocatalytic and sonocatalytic efficiency, low toxicity, excellent biocompatibility, low cost and high chemical stability. TiO2-NPs normally tend to aggregate in physiological medium and which results to decreased cell viability and inducing expression of stress-related genes. Thus dispersion and stability of TiO2 NPs should be considered in biological application. This paper deals on various dispersing methods such as ultrasonication, electrostatic, steric electrosteric stabilization that suppress agglomeration and stabilizes the dispersed NPs in aqueous medium.Sonication breaks up agglomerated NPs in a solvent. The results showed that probe sonication performs better than bath sonication in dispersing TiO2 agglomerates, but sonication couldn’t prevent long term aggregation of nanoparticles and in order to form stable dispersions, it is not enough to break nanoparticles apart. Agglomerated NPs can be separated by overcoming the weaker attractive forces by electrostatic, steric or electrosteric interactions. Electrostatic stabilization takes place when charges accumulate at the surface of particles. At values of potential more than 30 mV or less than -30 mV no agglomeration occurs. Ionic strength and pH influence on electrostatic stabilization; when pH is far from the isoelectric point, agglomeration is suppressed. In a sterically stabilized dispersion large molecules such as polymers, surfactants and biomolecules, adsorbed on to the surface of particles suppress re-agglomeration. PEG is a hydrophilic polymer, non-toxic and non-immunogenic, and has favorable pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution. PEGylation of NPs not only prevents agglomeration, but also enhances their biocompatibility and increases the in vivo circulation time.

Systemic candidiasis is a major public health concern. In particular, in immunocompromised people, such as patients with neutropenia, patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and cancer who are undergoing antiballistic chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants, and people with diabetes. Since the clinical signs and symptoms are nonspecific, early diagnosis is often difficult. The 65-kDa mannoprotein (MP65) gene of Candida albicans is appropriate for detection and identification of systemic candidiasis. This gene encodes a putative b-glucanase mannoprotein of 65 kDa, which plays a major role in the host-fungus relationship, morphogenesis and pathogenicity.. The current study aimed to identify different species of Candida (C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis) using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique and also to evaluate C. albicans MP65 gene expression in BALB/C mice.. All yeast isolates were identified on cornmeal agar supplemented with tween-80, germ tube formation in serum, and assimilation of carbon sources in the API 20 C AUX yeast identification system. Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed on all samples using species-specific primers for the MP65 65 kDa gene. After RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis was performed by the Maxime RT Pre Mix kit. Candida albicans MP65 gene expression was evaluated by quantitative Real-Time (q Real-Time) and Real-Time (RT) PCR techniques. The 2-ΔΔCT method was used to analyze relative changes in gene expression of MP65. For statistical analysis, nonparametric Wilcoxon test was applied using the SPSS version 16 software.. Using biochemical methods, one hundred, six and one isolates of clinical samples were determined as C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis, respectively. Species-specific primers for PCR experiments were applied to clinical specimens, and in all cases a single expected band for C. albicans, C. glabrata and C. parapsilosis was obtained (475, 361 and 124 base pairs, respectively). All species isolated by culture methods (100% positivity) were evaluated with PCR using species-specific primers to identify Candida species. Relative expression of Mp65 genes increased significantly after C. albicans injection into the mice (P < 0.05).. The results of the current study showed that the PCR method is reproducible for rapid identification of Candida species with specific primers. Mp65 gene expression of C. albicans after injection into the mice was 2.3 folds higher than before injection, with this difference being significant. These results indicated that increase of Mp65 gene expression might be an early stage of infection; however definitive conclusions require further studies..

ethanol consumption may impose cytotoxic effects on the human body, by producing toxic metabolites through different pathways. Furthermore, some studies have also linked alcohol consumption to various types of diseases. Therefore, this in vitro study is aimed to assess the ethanol toxic effects on the human fibroblastic chromosome structure. G banding staining method was used to determine the karyotype of chromosomal abnormalities of cultured fibroblast cells. Karyogram of ethanol-treated cells after 48 hours of incubation with 54 and 108 mmol of ethanol were assessed against the untreated cultured cells. the comparison between two karyogram models confirmed that lower ethanol concentration (54mmol) caused breakage in chromosome type C and number 1, while with higher concentration (108mmol) breakage was observed in chromosome 9, chromatids as well as endoreplication in some other cells. this study indicates that specific concentrations of ethanol can cause vast alterations in chromosomal structure. Therefore, in general, more care is suggested in consuming this substance. In addition, to confirm the cytotoxic alterations in chromosomal structure in relation to alcohol consumption, using other cell lines and /or in vivo studies, more investigations are warrant

Invasive fungal infections represent a major public health concern. In particular, systemic candidiasis remains an increasing source of morbidity and mortality especially in immunocompromised patients such as neutropenic patients undergoing antiblastic chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants. Early diagnosis is often difficult. Consequently, effective treatment is often delayed. PCR has the potential to decrease the time required to diagnose fungal infections and therefore reduce the mortality associated with disseminated disease.The MP65 gene of Candida albicansis appropriate for detection and identification. The aimofthisstudy was toidentifydifferentspecies of Candida (C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis) withPCRtechnique. All 107 yeast isolateswere identified on cornmeal agar supplemented with tween-80, germ tube formation in serum, and assimilation of carbon sources in the API 20 C AUX (Biomerieux, France). Then, all isolates were tesed by PCR using by different species-specific PCR primers selected within the MP65 gene; a recently cloned gene encoding a mannoprotein adhesin. A hundred of clinical isolates were detemined as C. albicans and 6 of the isolates detemined asC. glabrata and 1 of the isolates detemined as C. parapsilosis. The species-specific PCR primers allowed differentiation of each of three Candida species by the amplicon length produced.The primers amplified all Candida species DNA tested (100% positivity) giving a band of the expected length (475 bp for C. albicans, 361bp forC. glabrata, 124bp forC. parapsilosis). The results were agreed with all culture results for Candida species detection. The results of this study showed that PCR method for rapididentification ofCandida specieswith specific primers is reproducible, simple and specific

The growth of science and technology tend to convert society to a learning society and enjoy its profits and also cope with its challenges (Edwards, 2002; Jarvis, 2008; Unesco, 2005). In response to questions such as "what is a learning society?" And "what are features of a learning society?" researchers have noted that understanding the concept of learning society requires attention to lifelong learning objectives or outcomes (Tuomi, 2005). These goals can be obtained by individual, social and economic developments. Today, despite the differences of opinion between the professionals about the purpose of lifelong learning, all believe that in a learning society, individuals are encouraged to undertake learning in different locations to realize the above three developments. They have proposed different models about learning society. Edwards (1997) have divided these models based on their philosophical foundations into three: learning society as an educated society, as a learning market, and as learning networks. Reviewing the learning society model, many scholars have noted that there is not a single ideal model for learning society, which could be suitable for all countries. Therefore each country should supply a specific strategic model of learning society that fits the cultural and national heritage of its nation (Tuijnman, 2002, p 26). According to the notification, the present paper seeks to examine the concept and model of learning society for Iran. This research is a developmental study to design a model based on the philosophical foundations of Islam and Iranian culture. Also, it is a descriptive qualitative survey study. The Statistical population consists of two groups. The first group includes managers, assistants and faculty members working in the public universities in the cities of Isfahan, Shiraz and Tehran in the academic year 2010-2011. The criteria for their selection were a history of teaching, management and research on issues related to the research topic. The second group includes professionals working in higher education and research institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology in Iran. Potential sample size included 98 individuals who were identified as informants based on purposive sampling strategies and chain approach. They were all invited to participate in the interview. Finally, 24 individuals (9 male and 15 female administrators and faculty experts) announced their agreement. They were all interviewed. We analyzed interviews using thematic categorization and the results were analyzed by direct and indirect quotations in the research report. Discussion of Results & With the turn of the third millennium, the Iranian society has chosen a knowledge-based development as its path towards development. In this country, the community members should keep their skills up to date, not only because of the natural need but also for being able to be actively involved in generation, transmission, distribution and use of knowledge. In other words, they must become a learning society. This society must be based on the philosophical foundations of Islam. The main message of this religion is (Aqra’) which asks people to read and learn from the cradle to the grave. According to Islam, The ultimate goal of people in a learning society is to be the servants of God. Therefore, learning is considered as a duty for every Muslim at any time and at any age. And the community should provide the opportunity to perform this task. However, Iranian society is a learning society that has a balanced look to the three goals of learning throughout life (Individual development, economic development and social development). Iranian-learning society is a community with the features listed below: This society: • considers the right to receive education • and develops equal learning opportunities to establish social justice • supports the collective rationality and is both critic and receptive of critic • encourages active citizenship in a global and national level to achieve the ultimate goal of being servant of God.• provides learning opportunities to help people feel they have reached to the learning and teaching right • enhances learning motivations by different methods.• fosters the ability of self-directed learning and learning how to learn. Educational Features in this society include: • interconnectivity among different sectors of formal education • Informal education is developed to suit the needs of all people. • appropriate learning strategies to take non-formal learning into account. • qualitative and quantitative developments of learning opportunities at the same time• The potential of ICT for development of national and global learning networks is used. Cultural features of this society include: • citizens extracts their procedures and instructions from principles and teachings of Islam. Economical features of this society include: • learning opportunities are provided to help people keep up to date with their knowledge and skills and to supply their personal life and skilled manpower for economic developmentThe comparison between this model and other models shows that Iranian Learning Society is a Humanist Society which is based on Islamic philosophical foundations; hence this is different from Western models. It is necessary to note that the current cultural, social and educational conditions are not desirable to provide the basis for development of a learning society in Iran. Lack of belief in science and knowledge among all people, reduced learning motivation, inattention to orders of Islam, problems in the educational system are, among others, a few obstacles to realize this model.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is one of the glycoprotein hormones of pituitary gland that consists of two subunits، alpha and beta. Beta subunit has 111 amino acids and a signal peptide، which is consisted of 18 amino acids and it is responsible for biological activity of the hormone. The aim of this study was to construct a pcDNA3. 1FSHβ expression vector in order to transfer FSHβ gene into a mammalian cell line.

To sub-cloning of beta chain from T. vector، a pair of primer was designed that they had a site for EcoRI and HindIII in addition of the start and stop site of the beta chain gene. Amplified beta chain was cloned in pcDNA3. 1 at the site of the mentioned enzymes anvd the recombinant plasmid was transformed into E. coli cell. The resulting colonies were checked by PCR re-amplification. The plasmid was purified from some positive colonies. The accuracy of purified plasmids were confirmed by both enzyme digestion and sequencing.

Enzyme analysis and sequencing demonstrated that pcDNA3. 1-F390β had both correct construction and gene sequence which had an exact correlation with reported FSHβ gene in GenBank.

This recombinant plasmid structurally is correct and is proper for transmitting into mammalian cell culture.

Anterior pituitary glycoprotein hormones include thyroid stimulating hormone, lutinizing hormone, follicule stimulating hormone, and gonadotropine hormone. Each of them contains alpha and beta subunits. The alpha subunit gene is the same in all of these hormones and contains 4 exones and 3 intrones. The beta subunit is responsible for specific function of each hormone. The aim of this study was to clone alpha chain cDNA of glycoprotein hormones in a proper vector for eukaryotic system. To clone cDNA, alpha subunit of glycoprotein hormones was amplified by using one pair primers and T.vector as template and cloned in Not I and Bam HI sites of pcDNA3.1 plasmid. The recombinant plasmid transformed to E.coli Top10F΄ cell and colonies that contain plasmid were selected by Colony PCR. The accuracy of extracted plasmid of these clones was approved by enzyme digestion and sequencing. Enzyme analysis showed that pcDNA3.1-F351 a had correct structure and sequencing confirmed by 100% homology of the gene with reported alpha gene in Gene Bank. Because of its proper structure, this plasmid is able to transform to Eukaryotic system and translation.