Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences
Volume:24 Issue: 3, Sep 2020

The oral and dental infections that are mainly caused by bacterial biofilms are among the most prevalent human infections worldwide.

The present study aimed to investigate the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory and anti-biofilm effects of oregano essential oil on the Streptococcus mutans isolates obtained from elementary school students.

This experimental study was conducted on 150 samples collected from the buccal and lingual surfaces of the posterior teeth of elementary school students. S. mutans strains were identified using conventional microbiological and biochemical tests, and biofilm formation was assessed using the microtiter plate assay. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the oregano essential oil against the isolates was determined using the broth microdilution method. In addition, the effective constituents of the essential oil were measured via gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The in vitro and in vivo anti-biofilm activities of the oregano essential oil were also evaluated using the modified microtiter plate assay and on the tooth surfaces of male NMRI mice, respectively.

The frequency of S. mutans was 15.3%, 87% of which were capable of biofilm formation. The MIC of the oregano essential oil was 50 µl/ml against the S. mutans isolates, and 82% of the isolates did not grow at the concentrations of ≥ 512µl/ml. However, none of the isolates were capable of biofilm formation at the MIC and sub-MIC concentrations of the essential oil. Limonene and myrcene were the most effective constituents of the essential oil. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between treatment with the oregano essential oil and biofilm formation by the streptococci isolates (P = 0.05).

According to the results, the presence of biofilm and incidence of dental caries were significantly correlated. Moreover, the essential oil of oregano and itsmain constituents had potent anti-biofilm and antibacterial properties and could be utilized for the production of new plant-based mouthwashes.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming more prevalent among elderly women. Sedentary lifestyle is an important etiological factor of NAFLD.

The present study aimed to investigate the association between physical activity level (PAL) and the risk factors of NAFLD in the elderly female patients.

This study was conducted on 40 elderly women with NAFLD, who were aged 62.25 ± 1.97 years, weighed 86.70 ± 3.81 kilograms, and had the body mass index (BMI) of 34.54 ± 2.38 kg/m2 . The women were selected from 90 volunteers. The PAL was measured using the rapid assessment of physical activity (RAPA) questionnaire. As the outcomes, we measured anthropometric indices, sitting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, lipid profile, glycemic indices, liver enzymes, and fatty liver grade in the fasting state. The outcome variables were statistically normalized and expressed as mean and standard deviation (SD). The association between the PAL and NAFLD risk factors was evaluated using Pearson’s correlation-coefficient.

The risk factors of NAFLD were inversely correlated with the PAL, except for high-density lipoprotein, which was positively correlated with the PAL (r = 0.495; P = 0.001). In addition, low PAL had a significant correlation with a higher fatty liver grade (r = -0.464; P = 0.003), while the PAL was inversely associated with the NAFLD risk factors.

According to the results, the PAL and fatty liver grade had a significant correlation, which indicated the potential health benefits of adequate PAL for the elderly women with NAFLD.

With the presence of secondary metabolites that have antimicrobial properties and bacterial resistance against antibiotics, medicinal plants have attracted the attention of researchers in the pharmaceutical industry.

The present study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and antioxidant activity and phytochemical compounds of Citrus grandis extract against human infection bacteria in-vitro.

Samples of Citrus grandis were collected from the north of Iran and assessed in terms of the antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) using the agar well diffusion method. In addition, the anti-radical activity was determined by DPPH, total phenols were measured using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and flavonoids were determined using aluminum chloride. The presence of alkaloid, saponin, and tannin was also investigated. Data analysis was performed in SPSS.

The colored and white skin methanol extract of C. grandis indicated more significant inhibitory effects on Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Micrococcus luteus. The total phenol content of the colored and white skin was estimated at 79.71 and 71.63 mgGA/g, and the flavonoid level was determined to be 3.63 and 4.06 mgQ/g, respectively. The IC50 of the colored and white skin methanol extract and ascorbic acid were estimated at 0.1251, 0.1376, and 0.1095 mg.mL-1, respectively. The methanol extract of the colored skin showed the presence of alkaloid, while the white skin showed the presence of alkaloid and saponin.

According to the results, the C. grandis extract had antioxidant and antibacterial properties due to the presence of secondary metabolites. Therefore, it is recommended that natural and rare drugs be produced to control pathogenic bacteria in the pharmaceutical industry

This study aimed to present a case of a clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) with a reported tumefactive demyelinating lesion (TDLs) in the cord. The patient was a 25-year-old woman who referred to MS Clinic complaining of walking impairment and a blurred vision in the right eye. In themagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, there were several periventricular plaques, a significant portion of which had enhanced, but none of the lesions was tumefactive. In the cervical MRI, however, several tumefactive plaques appeared with a clear enhancement and expansion, which was central-based in the axial view. Concerning the involvement of the cervical cord, further examinations were conducted of anti-aquaporin and anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) antibodies, which were negative. The patient was treated with 1g methylprednisolone daily injection for five days; her symptoms recovered completely. Then, due to the extent of the involvement, rituximab was prescribed for her. Unlike the TDLs of the brain, little attention has been paid to these lesions in the cord. Here, firstly a case of CIS with a tumefactive lesion reported in the cord is investigated, and then, by examining similar cases, we try to find a definition for cord TDLs.

Concurrent training is more effective in developing fitness indicators than doing endurance and resistance training separately. However, there has been limited research to evaluate the effects of this type of exercise training on improvement of body composition and quality of life indicators in postmenopausal women with cancer.

The present study aimed to determine the effects of eight-week of concurrent training on body composition, quality of life, and sleep quality in postmenopausal women with breast cancer.

This study was conducted on 42 women with breast cancer who were selected randomly and divided into exercise training and control groups. The training group followed eight-week of resistance training (2 - 3 sets, 10 - 18 repetitions, and 50% - 70% 1RM) and aerobic training (50% - 70% maximum heart rate, 12 - 14 Borg scale, and 20 - 40 minutes). Anthropometric characteristics were measured based on body composition (ZEUS 9.9), the sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and the quality of life was measured by the McGill quality of life (MQOL) questionnaire. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA has been used for McGill’s analysis of variance (P < 0.05).

The results showed a significant decrease in sleep quality score, weight, fat percentage, BMI, and waist circumference in the training group (P < 0.05), as well as an increase in quality of life index in the training group (P < 0.05). However, no significant changes were observed in the Waist-hip ratio (WHR) values of the training group compared with the control group (P > 0.05).

Although the changes in WHR index were not significant after eight weeks of concurrent training, this type of training program could be considered as a beneficial way for improving body composition, quality of life, and sleep quality in patients with breast cancer.

Previous research has indicated that environmental incivilities adversely affect the general health of individuals.

The present study aimed to describe the general health status of individuals considering the environmental incivilities in various areas of Kalar city, Iraq.

This casual-comparative study was conducted in four distinct areas of Kalar city, which were selected purposively. The sample population included 128 participants, who were randomly selected from these areas. Data were collected using a researchermade questionnaire of environmental incivilities and the general health questionnaire (GHQ-28). Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22.

The descriptive data indicated the higher scores of the general health status and environmental incivilities in older inhabited areas of the city, and the ANOVA results implied that the differences in this regard were significant (P < 0.01). In addition, the results of Pearson’s correlation-coefficient showed a positive association between the general health scores and environmental incivilities (P = 0.001; r = 0.249). Nonetheless, no significant differences were observed in term of the age and gender of the participants.

According to the results, although the scores of general health and environmental incivilities were high in all the selected areas, a significant difference was observed in the health status of the participants in the older inhabited areas, which confirmed the deteriorated general health status of the individuals with the higher prevalence of depressive symptoms.

Diazinon is an insecticide with oxidative stress properties, which is widely used in agriculture. Selenium is used as a basic nutrient for animals and humans as a potential antioxidant. No studies have evaluated the protective effects of selenium on diazinon in the reproductive system of male Wistar rats.

The present study aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of selenium on balanced testosterone levels, sperm DNA damage, fertilization, and early embryonic development in diazinon-treated rats.

This experimental study was conducted on 32 mature male Wistar rats, which were randomly assigned to four groups of eight, including control (0.2 mg/kg/B.W of corn oil), diazinon (300 mg/kg/B.W), selenium (0.5 mg of Na2 SeO3 /kg), selenium (0.5 mg/kg), and diazinon (300 mg/kg/B.W of diazinon). The animals received daily oral treatment for 60 days.

Compared to the control group, the diazinon group showed a significant reduction in the testosterone levels, sperm count, sperm motility, sperm maturation, DNA maturity, in-vitro fertilization (IVF), two-cell embryo, hatching, and blastocyst (P value < 0.05). However, the sperm mortality, sperm DNA damage, and immature sperm significantly increased in the treatment group (P value < 0.05). In the diazinon and selenium treatment group, the total sperm parameters returned to the physiological range, and no significant changes were observed.

According to the results, selenium could protect the sperm parameters, testosterone level, and IVF in the diazinontreated Wistar rats.