Shiraz Emedical Journal
Volume:25 Issue: 3, Mar 2024

Antibiotics are used to treat and prevent oral infections. Clindamycin and penicillin are widely used drugs in this field. Poor use of antibacterial agents causes the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The present study examined and compared the frequency distribution of resistance of streptococci isolated from the root surface of extracted teeth to penicillin V and clindamycin. This study was conducted in 2021 in Yazd, Iran.

This was an analytical cross-sectional study performed in vitro. The samples were taken from the root surfaces of 50 teeth immediately after extraction and transferred to the laboratory in a transfer medium. After cultivation, isolation, and identification, the antibiotic resistance of isolates was measured by the E-test method. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 23).

Streptococci spp. were isolated from 46 samples (92%) without environmental contamination. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 50 and MIC 90 for penicillin V were 0.5 g/mL and 1 g/mL, respectively, and for clindamycin, 0.125 g/mL and 0.19 g/mL, respectively, which was significantly (P = 0.0001) lower for clindamycin. Intermediate sensitivity to penicillin V was 95.6%, and resistance to clindamycin was 21.8%.

It seems that except in limited cases where there is resistance to clindamycin, this antibiotic is amoreeffective drug to control the bacteria in the mouth. However, in some cases, aerobic isolates showed intermediate sensitivity to penicillin V; instead, resistance to clindamycin was observed.

Correctly estimating the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is crucial for monitoring and managing these diseases effectively.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of STI syndromes and evaluate the surveillance systems for STIs in Marvdasht.

We conducted a cross-sectional study in 2018 involving a population-basedrandomsampleof 3 879 participants aged 18-50 in Marvdasht city. Genital ulcers and secretions in both genders were used as the primary outcomes to assess the completeness of the system and calculate the correction factor. A mathematical model was developed to estimate the correction factor for the prevalence of selected syndromes in each gender. The correction factor was determined by dividing the cases estimated through the mathematical model by the cases reported by the surveillance systems.

The estimated prevalence (with 95% confidence intervals [CI]) of urethral discharge in men and women, based on the model, was 25.32% (23.08 - 27.56) and 47.03% (39.93 - 54.13), respectively, and for genital ulcers, it was 5.16% (4.06 - 6.86) for men and 15.50% (9.5 - 21.5) for women. In both genders and for both syndromes, the reported prevalence by the care system (men: discharge 0.09% [0.07 - 0.11], ulcer 0.04% [0.03 - 0.06]; women: discharge 0.12% [0.1 - 0.15], ulcer 0.19% [0.16 - 0.22]) was severely underestimated. The highestandlowest underreporting correction ratios in the national STI monitoring system were observed for urethral discharge in men (124.5) and genital ulcers in women (7.26), respectively.

The study revealed that the reported prevalence of STI syndromes in Iran is significantly underestimated compared to the actual prevalence in the population. Fundamental revisions are necessary to enhance the system’s validity and completeness in detecting and reporting STIs.

Vitamin C and kombucha contain a high amount of glucuronic acid that can prevent cholesterol accumulation and convert cholesterol to a more water-soluble compound.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of kombucha and vitamin C on the coronary arteries and aorta of male rabbits exposed to lead acetate fed with a high-cholesterol diet.

Forty male rabbits were divided randomly into four groups of 10 animals. Group 1 served as a control group. Rabbits in group 2 received water containing 547 ppm of lead acetate and a high-cholesterol diet (1%). Group 3 received water containing 547 ppm lead acetate and a high-cholesterol diet (1%) in combination with ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg), and group 4 rabbits were treated with water containing 547 ppm lead acetate and kombucha extract (10 ml/kg) for 40 days orally on a high-cholesterol diet (1%).

The results showed that in groups 3 and 4, no significant atherosclerotic plaques could be detected in coronary arteries, compared to the control animals. However, large atherosclerotic plaques were observed in the aortas of those treated only with kombucha. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical methods. The mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) triglyceride (TG) serum levels in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 122.70 ± 66.77, 280.60 ± 88.66, 120.10 ± 8.33, and 107.86 ± 8.61 mg/dL, respectively. The mean ± SEM TG serum levels in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 67.80 ± 10.33, 67.90 ± 10.10, 60.80 ± 8.16, and 58.71 ± 4.78 mg/dL, respectively. The mean ± SEM TG serum levels in groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were 194.50 ± 6.58, 182.60 ± 13.75, 178.30 ± 18.01, and 166.00 ± 7.65 mg/dL, respectively. P-values for low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and TG were reported as P < 0.001, P = 0.077, and P < 0.001, respectively.

It could be concluded that kombucha, unlike vitamin C, cannot prevent the formation of large plaques in the aorta, although it seems that it can prevent atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries. Therefore, further studies are required to evaluate the long-term use of kombucha to assess whether higher doses are beneficial in preventing atherosclerotic events or not.

 The transcendental society is characterized by cohesive, purpose-driven, and flourishing families. To achieve this, marital satisfaction (MS) plays a crucial role in the lives of married couples.

 This study aimed to determine MS and its influencing factors among newly married women.

 A prospective cohort study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran, involving 495 young first-married women within the first 2 years of their marriage. The participants completed a valid questionnaire encompassing demographic information, socioeconomic characteristics, and mate-selection criteria at the onset and after 2 years of marriage. The questionnaire in the second stage consisted of updated demographic and socioeconomic data and assessments of MS. These questionnaires demonstrated reliability rates of 70.6% and 88.6% in the first and second stages, respectively. Marital satisfaction was measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with scores ≤ 5 and > 5 indicating low and high satisfaction levels, respectively. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 25.

 The mean age of the participants was 28.2 ± 5.3 years. Most women (70.7%) had an age difference of 1 - 7 years with their husbands; however, 78.4% had an academic education. Additionally, 73.5% reported no blood relation with their spouses, 74.5% did not have children, 62.8% were employed, and 87.3% did not live with their parents after marriage. The average follow-up period was 23.8 ± 8.3 months. Marital satisfaction was reported as high in 442 (89.3%) participants and low in 53 (10.7%). Multiple regression analysis revealed that the following factors significantly influenced MS among young married women: belief in the correctness of mate-selection criteria (OR = 21.4, P < 0.001), meeting husband's expectations (OR = 13.1, P < 0.001), sexual satisfaction within the marriage (OR = 11.5, P < 0.001), pre-existing acquaintance with the husband (OR = 9.4, P < 0.001), and abstaining from cigarette, alcohol, substances, or psychological drugs after marriage (OR = 8.5, P = 0.001). Furthermore, not living with the husband's family (OR = 6.4, P = 0.002), having a healthy husband (OR = 5.9, P = 0.002), receiving support from the husband's family (OR = 5.9, P = 0.001), husband's abstinence from cigarette, alcohol, substances, or psychological drugs after marriage (OR = 3.6, P = 0.04), engaging in regular communication with the husband regarding mutual expectations (OR = 3.5, P = 0.03), and higher age of the husband (OR = 1.1, P = 0.03) were also correlated with MS.

 This study highlights the significance of various pre-marriage and post-marriage personal and familial factors in determining MS among young married women. These findings underscore the importance of providing guidance, education, and support to couples and their parents regarding these influential factors before and after marriage.