Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Volume:21 Issue: 85, 2013

Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is one of the problems occurring after kidney transplantation. This study was designed to detect the probable relationship between the glucose intolerance and serum and urinary concentrations of β2-microglobulin as well as their value to predict acute rejection of the transplant. In this cohort study, 40 patients without previous history of diabetes mellitus were enrolled serially. The glucose tolerance test and measurement of urinary and serum concentration of β2-microglobulin were done for all cases on days 3, 7, 11, and 21 after kidney transplantation. The relationship between short-term prognoses of the transplantation with blood glucose was analyzed by odd٬s ratio and correlations were also calculated. Acute rejection of renal transplant was detected in 10% of the participants. At the third day after transplantation the rate of DM in subjects with and without transplant rejection was 75% and 35%, respectively (odd's ratio: 1. 9, CI 95%: 0. 2-20, p=0. 09(. The rate of DM declined and reached to zero 21 days after the transplantation. There was a significant correlation between post glucose blood sugar concentration on day 3 and creatinine concentration on day 22 after the transplantation, which did not remain significant after adjustment for age. However, the significant correlation between the urine concentration of β2-microglobulin on day 11 after transplantation, and serum creatinine on day 21 remained constant after adjustments for age and sex. In the patients with transplant rejection, serum level of β2-microglobulin increased about four days before rises of creatinine. We did not find any correlation between blood glucose and β2-microglobulin concentrations. High incidence of post-transplantation glucose intolerance and DM was found after kidney transplantation especially at the first week after the transplantation. But we couldn’t find any relationship between post transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) and short-term prognosis of the kidney transplant.

There have been many studies done to recognize the mechanism of controllingpain. However, there are still a lot of un-answered questions about initiatory nervous centers in expressing nociceptive behaviors and pain modulation. The nuclei ofparagigantocellularislateralis (LPGi) participate in different functions like adjustment of blood circulation, withdrawal syndrome, and pain perception. In this study, we investigated the effect of transient inactivation of the LPGi nucleus on formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors as a tonic pain model, and also the hot plate test as an acute pain model in rats. A total of 30 adult male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were used in the study. The formalin test (50 μl, 2%) was used to evaluate the effects of temporary inactivation by lidocaine into the LPGi nucleus on formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors and hot plate test (adjusted in 52+0.1 centigrade). Animals were divided into four groups: control, sham, vehicle, treatment for the formalin test, and vehicle plus treatment for the hot-plate test. A week after the surgery, saline and lidocaine were injected into the LPGi, and the nociceptive behaviors for the formalin test and hot plate were recorded. For analysis of the data, we used t-test and ANOVA followed by theTukey post hoc test. Lidocaine injection decreased nociceptive behaviors in phase 1, interphase, and the first part of phase 2 in the formalin test compared to the saline group. Also, in the hot plate test, lidocaine injection into the LPGinuclei caused a significant increase in the noxious response compared to the saline group in the minutes 30 and 60. Our results suggest the probability of involvement of the LPGi nucleus incausing formalin induced nociceptive behaviors and also acute pain.

Protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation have a profound effect on embryo gene expression. Incubation of sperm in culture medium leads to morphological changes of the nucleus and DNA release. However, the relationship between protamine deficiency and DNA fragments released from incubated sperm and the presence of the DNMT1 gene is not known. Semen analysis was performed according to the WHO criteria. CMA3 staining was used to determine protamine deficiency. Twenty million sperms per sample were incubated in Ham’s F10 medium for 24 hr at 37 °C. After centrifugation, DNA was extracted from the supernatant. DNA concentration was measured by biophotometer. The presence of the DNMT1 gene was confirmed by PCR using specific primers and agarose gel electrophoresis.A significant correlation was observed between the DNA fragments released from sperm in culture media and CMA3 staining (P<0.05). The presence of DNMT1 gene was significantly correlated with DNA fragments released from the sperm (P<0.05). Protamine deficiency and the presence of DNMT1 gene were not significantly correlated.These results demonstrate that incubation of protamines-deficient sperm leads to the release of additional DNA fragments that eventually could have detrimental effectson embryo’s health.

As the main virulence factor of Helicobacter pylori, HP-NAP has an important role in immunoprotection against this pathogen. This antigen is a strong candidate as a part of multi-component vaccine in the clinical trial against this bacterium. Due to NAP importance, it was used in this study as a template for optimization of heterologous genes with a low A-T content and low expression in E. coli. A synthetic single gene that could reach the highest level of expression in the host was designed by using bioinformatics tools. A number of factors that influence gene expression level were changed for HP-NAP gene optimizing: the codon usage bias in E. coli was changed; the G+C content was upgraded from 38% to 45%; and the stem-loop structure was broken. These could result to prolong of the half-life of the mRNA and overexpression of recombinant of HP-NAP protein up to 800 mg per liter. Applying of bioinformatics tools was appropriated to optimize of HP-NAP overexpression in E. coli. From our results, it appears that combination of In Silico and experimental approach is a logical approach for expression of heterologous genes in another host.

Extended Spectrum Beta lactamases (ESBL) such as TEM (Temoneria) is one of the bases of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli isolates. The aim of this study was evaluation of TEM Extended Spectrum Beta lactamase producing E. coli, in clinical samples isolated from Zanjan hospitals, by phenotypic and PCR methods. In this cross-sectional study 200 E.coli isolates were collected from the clinical specimens such as wound, blood, secretion, urine, and stool from Zanjan hospitals from 2011 to 2012. After identification of isolates by biochemical tests, the antibiotic susceptibility test (Kirby-Bauer method) was done according to CLSI advice against 13 antibiotics. The Combined Disk method was thencarried out for detection of ESBLs and thebla TEM gene was determined by a PCR method. In this study, 77.6 % of E. coli isolates were collected from urine samples. The majority of the samples (71.35%) were resistant to Amoxicillin. By contrast, Imipenem was an effective antibiotic (100% susceptibility) against all isolates. From the total of 200 isolates, the extended spectrum beta-lactamase was detected in 66 (33%) of the strains,only about half of whichwere positive for thebla TEM gene. As only about 15% of the isolates were positive forthebla TEM gene,it is likely that other beta-lactamase enzymes cause the antibiotic resistance. Because resistance agents exist on mobile genetic elements, a rapid detection of these strains couldhelpto prevent their distribution.

Early prediction of prolonged pregnancy for prevention of fetal asphyxia is important. The present study aimed to examine transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of the cervical length at week 37 as a predictor of prolonged pregnancy.

This study was a descriptive-correlated design of ultrasound examination at week 37 of gestation in 126 singleton pregnant women with cephalic presentation attending for prenatal care at the southern Tehran health antepartum clinics. The length of the cervix was measured using transvaginal ultrasound and clinical and demographic data questionnaire. Gestational age at the time of delivery was calculated. Prolonged pregnancy was defined as a pregnancy that extended beyond 41 weeks of gestation. T-test, χ2 test, Logistic Regression and receiver operating characteristic curve was used for statistical analysis using the SPSS ver. 16.0.

The mean cervical length was 26.10 ±8.9. The rate of pregnancy that extended beyond 41 weeks of gestation in this study was 4.8%. The cervical length at week 37 was significantly longer in women who delivered at >41 weeks (n=6) than in those delivering at ≤41 weeks (n=120), (34.08 mm ±8.5 vs. 25.7 ±8.7 mm; P=0.02). The best cut-off value of cervical length at week 37 for the prediction of prolonged pregnancy was 25.5 mm, with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 50%, positive predictive value of 9%, and negative predictive value of 100%.

Cervical length at week 37 can predict the likelihood of prolonged pregnancy, but with low positive predictive value. This information can be utilized when counseling patients regarding the management of term pregnancies.

Human plasma is a suitable source for different proteins and enzymes with a variety of therapeutic effects. Examples include coagulation factors VIII and IX, immunoglobulin, and albumin, which consists of a 585 amino-acid chain, weighing 66.5 kD. Albumin molecule also has 17 di-sulfide bridges which form a stable spherical protein structure, which it cause of 80% of oncotic blood pressure. The aim of this study was to separate albumin from the human plasma by using ethanol at low temperature. Fresh frozen plasma was used as the starting material. In this study, albumin was separated from human plasma by using ethanol (commercial grade with 94-96% purity) in low temperature. By adjustment of different parameters such as pH, temperature, and concentration of alcohol, different factions of plasma can be separated which are from fraction I to fraction V. Fraction I is a good source for fibrinogen and coagulation factor VIII preparation, fraction II is suitable for preparation of immunoglobulin, and fraction V is a good source for albumin preparation. Albumin was prepared with 5 and 20 percent concentrations. Quality comparison of the two concentrations showed a purity of more than 95%. The average yields of the 5 % and 20 % albumin preparations were 71% and 75.5%, respectively. Our data show that the produced albumin has a purity of higher than 95% and contains less than 5% polymer. In preparation of 5 % albumin, it is possible to use lower concentrations of sodium caprylate as stabilizer. It has also been shown in the formulation that the preparation process can be started at the acidic pH of 4.7, instead of 6.5, in order to avoid bacterial contamination.

The infant hospitalization crisis causes severe stress to the parents. The nursing staff can play an effective role in reducing the tension because of the close relationship they have with infant mothers. The main aim of this research was to determine the rate of anxiety in mothers of hospitalized infants and to determine the primary factors in order to reduce their tension.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 80 mothers were selected by convenient sampling. The questionnaire was designed based on researcher’s investigation and the pss:NICU pattern containing 8 demographic questions and 43 tension factor questions. The SPSS statistical software and descriptive and analytical statistical methods of T-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation were used for data analysis.

Our data indicates that mothers suffered a tension grade of 164.61 ±22. The highest tension score was related to the care methods with 33.37 ±7.4, and the lowest score was related to the staff behavior with 10.83 ±3.

Our observations show that the majority of mothers face stress regardless of their demographic differences and that the highest stress factor was related to the care methods, and the lowest was related to staff behavior. Therefore, the nursing staff must be aware of the factors causing stress so that they can apply appropriate practices to decrease the complications.

Salmonella typhi, Bacillus anthracis, and Yersinia pestis are potent human pathogenic bacteria that cause typhoid fever, anthrax, and plague,respectively. The classic microbiological methods for detection and identification of these agents are laborious and time consuming.Therefore, developing an accurate method for rapid detection of these potent human pathogens is important, especially due to their potential use as Bioterrorism agents. We have designed a new rapid molecular detection method by using multiplex PCR in a single reaction.

PCR was carried out using specific primers for the virulence factor of S. typhi, hp and invA, B. anthracis virulence factors, chr and pa, and Y. pestis toxin, pla. The primer sets were tested for cross reactivity with individual DNA strains and mixtures in a multiplex PCR format. For determination of sensitivity of the method, we used colony counting and genomic DNA dilution.

Theresult with standard strains revealed that primers are specific for each strain as they have successfully amplified the desire products. The sensitivity analysis showed a 1-10 CFU and 1-10 copies of the genomes. In this respect, the accuracy of the result was checked by sequencing of the 1083-bp PCR products, except for anthrax, which was determined by enzymatic digestion.

We have found a rapid, specific, sensitive, and a non-expensive molecular method for detection of three potent human pathogens. This finding provide an efficient diagnostic tool to determine these bacteria in bioterrorism samples.

The aim of this study was to evaluate psychosocial predictors of substance use during adolescence among the Iranian youth. Based on the “peer cluster theory” (Oetting and Beauvais 1986a, 1986b), structural connections between family, school, peer cluster, and religion, as well as their direct and indirect effects on drug use were studied. In this study, we collected data on 746 school students from 19 different schools in 9 educational districts of Tehran. Using confirmatory factor analysis, the validity of scales were evaluated, followed with structural equation modeling analysis using LISREL (8.53 package), generalizability of “Peer cluster theory” evaluated the findings. The results showed that our scales were reliable in measuring latent variables in the model. Based on fitness indices, Peer cluster theories with some modification in endogenous variables have good generalizability among the Iranian adolescents. We can consider the "Family" as a fundamental factor in prevention of drug use in adolescents. As long as the family has less power, e.g. paying less attention to their adolescent or the presence of conflicts between parents, the possibility of drug use in adolescent will increase.

low-value junk food consumption due to the large amount of salt, fat and sugar, prepare chronic diseases (heart diseases - cardiovascular, obesity, and hypertension) in adult age. This study has been designed to investigate the effect of health education methods on student's knowledge and practice of nutrition in junk food consumption. This quasi-experimental study was carried out on 618 (the fifth grade) elementary school students in regions 1 and 2 schools of Sanandaj in 1391-1390 academic year. 246 students were in the film show group, 204 students in lecture group and 168 students in control group. In film group, a film was showed 45 minutes for students. In lecture group, in order to follow similarity a text of the same content which showed in the film prepared and presented for 45-minutes by health expert. Students in the control group did not receive any training. Knowledge and practice of students was measured by questionnaires which included demographic questions, Knowledge questions and practice questions. The sample age was 10 to 12 years with average 11.07 ±. 58.46 percent of the population were female and 54 percent were male. The results showed that Knowledge and practice on junk food consumption in three groups after training had a significant difference (P = 0.0001), also in lecture and show film groups before and after intervention there was a significant difference (p = 0.0001). The Knowledge and practice of the control group was not significant before and after training. The results showed the positive effect of indirect educational methods (showing film) on practice on junk food consumption and also revealed that the impact of showing film is greater than the lecture.

The hospital staff is always vulnerable to needle stick injury (NSI). NSI potentially increases the risk of HCV, HBV, HIV, and other infections. This study was implemented with the aim of determining the frequency of NSI in nurses and paramedical staff of the Zanjan district educational hospitals. In this descriptive study, 600 nurses and paramedical staff who were working in educational hospitals of Zanjan district for more than 1 year completed a questionnaire. Descriptive and analytical statistic methods were used to analyze the gathered data by using the SPSS ver.16 software. Based on our findings, 53.6% of the respondents had experienced NSI throughout their work period. 26.3% of the participants in the study had the history of NSI within past year. The frequency of NSI had a reverse relationship with age and work history, and it was significantly higher in male workers, technicians, workers of labor unit and operation room, holders of academic degrees on hospital operations, midwifery, and anesthesia, and morning work shift of the hospitals. Injury with the syringe needle was the most frequent (53.8%)cause of the NSI. Only 46.5% of the injured workers had reported the event to the hospital Infection Control Officer. Because of the importance of NSI transmitted infections, better education of the staff, the practice of standard precautions,and also vaccination of the less experienced hospital workers, especiallyin the delivery unit and operation ward staff, is highly recommended.