Medical Laboratory Journal
Volume:14 Issue: 1, Jan-Feb 2020

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most common types of cancer, especially in Asia. Esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) is the most important histological subtype of EC, which accounts for 90% of all EC cases worldwide. ESCC is highly prevalent in Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan and northern and central parts of China. Selenium is an essential micronutrient that is required for cellular functioning and synthesis of several selenoproteins. It also modulates the antioxidant defense system, cell cycle and apoptosis. This article reviews the most important molecular mechanisms of EC and investigates the association between selenium level and incidence of EC in high-risk areas.

Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of hospital- and community-acquired infections in the world. This microorganism causes a wide range of diseases, and biofilm formation is as an important mechanism for its virulence. Alpha-toxin and phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) are among the main factors involved in the biofilm formation by S. aureus. The aim of this study was to detect PSM B gene among biofilm-forming S. aureus clinical isolates from hospitalized patients at the 5th Azar Hospital in Gorgan, Iran.

Clinical specimens were collected and examined for presence of S. aureus using conventional microbiological and biochemical tests. Then, biofilm formation ability of S. aureus isolates was evaluated using the microtiter plate assay. In addition, presence of the PSM B gene was assessed using real-time PCR.

Of 1,800 clinical isolates, 60 (3.3%) were identified as S. aureus. Of these isolates, 47 (78.3%) were positive for biofilm formation. The PSM B gene was present in all biofilm-forming isolates. Results of the phenotypic and genotypic biofilm tests were closely linked and the rate of PSM B expression was 80%.

The prevalence of biofilm-producing S. aureus clinical isolates from patients hospitalized in the 5th Azar hospital of Gorgan (Iran) is relatively high, which could pose a serious challenge. Therefore, regular surveillance of biofilm formation in S. aureus isolates and their antimicrobial resistance profiles is highly recommended.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that function through various mechanisms and affect the alteration of the commensal microbiota against pathogens. Nowadays, given the problems associated with antibiotics use, probiotic strains offer a novel and appropriate alternative for the treatment of diseases such as diarrhea. The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial synergism of Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp. and Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 (ECN) on the clinical sample of diarrheagenic E.coli and Campylobacter jejuni.

A paper disk-diffusion technique was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity. Sterile 6 mm paper disks were saturated with probiotic suspensions made by settling probiotic medications into distilled water. Three kinds of disk were prepared. One disk was prepared for Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp., another for ECN, and the third was made by combined probiotics. Clinical samples of diarrheagenic E.coli and Campylobacter jejuni were cultivated on Muller Hinton agars, and disks were placed on the inoculated Muller Hinton agars. All plates were incubated under microaerophilic and appropriate conditions.

The zone of inhibition (ZOI) of the bacterial growth was measured. All pathogenic microorganisms showed sensitivity to the probiotic disks. The combined disks had better effects against pathogens compared with single disks.

A considerable synergistic effect was observed in the results of combined probiotics; therefore, combined strains can be more efficient against intestinal pathogens in comparison with single probiotics.

Nosocomial infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria is a life threatening health challenge. This study aimed to determine the frequency of antibiotic resistance genes in clinical isolates from hospitals of Zahedan, southeast of Iran.

Overall, 818 isolates were collected from different hospital wards. The isolates were identified using conventional microbiological and biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern was assessed by agar disc diffusion method and determination of minimum inhibitory concentration of a number of antibiotics. Multiplex PCR was performed using specific primers for the detection of resistance genes.

The most common species were Staphylococcus aureus (25%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (22%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14%). The rate of methicillin resistance among S. aureus, S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus was 60%, 43% and 24%, respectively. In addition, 28.5% of enterococci isolates were vancomycin resistant. Among gram-negative bacteria, 45% of A. baumannii and 24% of P. aeruginosa were identified as ESBL. A high level of resistance to ampicillin (96%), cefotaxime (89%), gentamicin (89%) and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprime (60%) was observed in K. pneumoniae.

Our results highlight the urgent need for an eradication program and a surveillance plan for preventing increased emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the study area.

Bilophlia spp. are gram-negative, pleomorphic rod, obligate anaerobe, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive and non-motile bacteria. B. wadsworthia is type species of genus Bilophila with the additional characteristic of urea hydrolysis. B. wadsworthia can be found in a variety of anaerobe infections, particularly appendicitis and intra-abdominal infection that are considered as important opportunistic pathogens.

This study was designed to identify Bilophila spp. in clinical specimens by culture and PCR. We examined 91 DNA samples extracted from infected appendix tissues with specific primers.

Data showed that Bilophila spp. DNA existence in 53.85% (n=49) provided appendiceal tissue.

The pathological and molecular examination of infected appendiceal tissues revealed that B. wadsworthia is able to act as the primary cause of significant lesions in the appendicle tissues.

In recent years, due to the eradication of type 2 poliovirus, a bivalent vaccine containing types 1 and 3 is used in Iran. Since it is a highly thermolabile vaccine, it should be stored at a recommended temperature. Since cold chain may not be applied in Iran’s tropical weather conditions, potency of the vaccine may be subjected to change. Therefore, we evaluated the effective factors on the potency of this vaccine.

We evaluated stability of a bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine produced by Razi Institute of Iran to ensure consistency of virus at different temperatures (-20, 2-8, 22-25 and 35-37 ºC), time intervals and freeze/thaw cycles. Three consecutive batches produced during full-scale production were randomly sampled.

At -20 o C, there was no change in vaccine vial monitor (VVM). The potency of the samples exposed to 2-8 o C for 60 days and to 22-25 o C for five days met the specification. The mean potency of the samples was 6.17, 6.00, 5.83, 5.75 and 5.54 (log CCID50/dose) after 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 freeze/thaw cycles, respectively. In addition, the mean degradation of VVM was 0, 23.33, 60 and 100% for samples exposed to -20, 2-8, 22-25 and 35-37 o C, respectively.

The results indicate the effects of environmental factors on the potency of the vaccines and the correlation between the VVM grade, color change and the vaccine potency for programming vaccine distribution networks at different transit levels. Based on the results of our study, the best temperature for maintenance and transportation of bivalent oral poliovirus vaccine is -20 o C. Furthermore, freeze/thaw cycles lower the potency of the vaccine and change the VVM grade significantly.

Liver is one of the vital organs of the human body. Antioxidants have been shown to play important roles in reducing liver injuries. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of gallic acid supplementation and resistance exercise on liver damage biomarkers in male rats intoxicated by steroid anabolic.

Forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six equal groups: control, sham, steroid anabolic (5 mg/kg), steroid anabolic (5 mg/kg) + gallic acid supplementation (50 mg/kg), steroid anabolic (5 mg/kg) + resistance exercise, and steroid anabolic (5 mg/kg) + gallic acid supplementation (50 mg/kg) + resistance exercise. Except for control and sham groups, all groups received (injection) steroid anabolic at a dose of 5 mg / kg body weight once a week. The resistance exercise protocol was comprised of three weekly exercise sessions by 5 rep/3 set of climbing ladder for eight weeks. Data were analyzed via ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test at a significance level of P<0.05.

The hepatic enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase) and bilirubin (total and direct), "In the gallic acid supplementation group (P<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.02, and p<0.05, respectively), resistance training group (p<0.02, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, and p<0.05, respectively), and the gallic acid supplementation group with resistance exercise (P<0.02, p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01, and p<0.01, respectively)" were significantly reduced compared to the anabolic steroid group.

Gallic acid supplementation and resistance exercise significantly reduce liver damage biomarkers. However, the simultaneous use of resistance exercise and gallic acid supplementation has no increasing effects on these biomarkers.

Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) are considered as important factors contributing to knee osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. Here, we compared therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), ozone and exercise training alone and combined on expression of MMP-13 and ALK5 in rats with knee OA.

Knee OA was induced by a surgical method. Rats with OA were then randomly divided into several groups, including model, MSCs, ozone, exercise, MSCs + ozone, MSCs + exercise, ozone + exercise and MSCs + ozone + exercise groups. Expression of MMP-13 and ALK5 genes was evaluated using RT-PCR. Data were analyzed using SPSS software at significance of 0.05.

Expression of MMP-13 and ALK5 differed significantly between the study groups (P<0.0001). Knee OA was significantly associated with overexpression of MMP-13 and ALK5 in the cartilage tissue of rats with knee OA. Combined therapy with MSCs, ozone and exercise significantly decreased the expression of MMP-13 and ALK5 in the cartilage of rats with OA (P<0.001). Although MSCs, ozone and exercise training were effective to mitigate expression of MMP-13 and ALK5 genes, ozone therapy was more effective compared to the other two therapies.

Although ozone, MSCs and exercise training alone could decrease the expression of MMP-13 and ALK5 genes, combined therapy with MSC, ozone and exercise is more effective.