Medical Laboratory Journal
Volume:13 Issue: 2, Mar-Apr-2019

  Utilization of essential oils instead of chemical preservatives has received significant attention in recent years. The present study aims to evaluate chemical composition and antibacterial and antioxidant properties of essential oils of Zataria multiflora, Artemisia deracunculus and Mentha piperita.              Chemical profile of the essential oils was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The microwell dilution and agar disk diffusion methods were used to evaluate the antibacterial properties of the essential oils. Total phenolic content, β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching test and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays were carried out to determine the antioxidant properties.              Menthol (39.18%) and mentone (21.64%) were the main components of the essential oil of M. piperita, while estragol (34.75%) and limonene (15.72%) were the major components of the essential oil of A. dracunculus. The main components of the essential oil of Z. multiflora were carvacrol (36.81%) and thymol (33.04%). The essential oils of M. piperita and Z. multiflora showed greater antimicrobial effects. Moreover, Z. multiflora showed the greatest antioxidant activity among the essential oils. The total phenolic content of Z. multiflora was 228.14±0.45 mg gallic acid equivalent/g.              Given their favorable antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, the essential oils of Z. multiflora, A. deracunculus and M. piperita can be used as natural food preservatives.              Keywords: Zataria multiflora, Artemisia deracunculus, Mentha piperita, antibacterial effect, antioxidant effect.

  The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Shigella spp. is becoming a health concern worldwide. This study aimed to investigate antibiotic resistance pattern and frequency of blaCTX-M, blaSHV, and blaTEM genes among Shigella isolates from patients in hospitals of Tehran, Iran.              In this cross-sectional study, 52 non-repeated Shigella strains were isolated from hospitalized patients in Milad, Emam Khomeini and Shariati hospitals in Tehran (Iran) from November 2015 to December 2016. Bacterial identification, serotyping, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed according to the standard guidelines. The blaCTX-M, blaSHV, and blaTEM resistance genes were identified using multiplex polymerase chain reaction.              Among 52 Shigella isolates, S. sonnei (44.2%) was the predominant species, followed by S. flexneri and S. dysenteriae (23%). Over 67% of the isolates were multidrug resistant. The highest rates of resistance were observed against cefalotin (67.3%), tetracycline (67.3%), amikacin (63.5%), trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (48.1), and ampi cillin (42.3%). The lowest resistance rate was against ciprofloxacin (1.9%). We detected the blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes in 61.5% and 19.2% of the isolates, respectively. However, the blaSHV gene was not detected in any of the isolates. In addition, 16.4% of the isolates harbored the blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes simultaneously. Ciprofloxacin was the most effective antibiotics according to the ESBL genes distribution.              Our findings indicate the high prevalence of multidrug resistance and ESBL genes in Shigella isolates, which elucidates the need for appropriate infection control measures for limiting the spread of resistant strains.              Keywords: Shigella, Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction, Drug Resistance.

  Pterygium is a non-cancerous growth of conjunctival tissue that can extend onto the corneal surface. The presence of some oncogenic viruses in pterygium and the neoplastic nature of these lesions led us to the postulated involvement of the viruses in the etiology of pterygium. Given the association of human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) with ocular diseases, we aimed to investigate presence of this virus in pterygium.             Fifty tissue specimens were collected from patients with pterygium who underwent pterygium surgery between February 2013 and May 2015. The specimens were tested by real-time PCR using Maxima SYBR Green/ROX qPCR Master Mix (2X) kit. Demographic and clinical data were collected and analyzed using SPSS software (version 18).             Six (12 %) specimens were positive for HHV-6 DNA. There was no statistically significant correlation between pterygium and presence of HHV-6.             Based on the results, a direct association between HHV-6 and development of pterygium seems less probable, which suggests that other etiologic agents must be involved in the multistep process of the disease.             Keywords: Human Herpesvirus 6; pterygium; Real-time PCR.

  Current medications used for the treatment of burn wounds have some side effects and disadvantages. Oral or topical administration of probiotic bacteria is thought to be useful for treatment of skin disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate effects of spray-dried Streptococcus thermophilus on healing of second-degree burn wounds.               After induction of second-degree burn on back of 80 male Wistar rats, the animals were randomly allocated to negative control (no treatment), first vehicle control (treatment with Eucerin), second vehicle control (treatment with skim milk) and experimental (treatment with bacterial ointment) groups. Wound healing rate (percent) and histopathological parameters of wound samples were evaluated on post-burn days 1, 3, 7 and 14.               On days 3 and 7, macroscopic results showed that the healing rate was significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control groups. Histopathological analysis of wound samples showed increased fibroblastic migration, collagen formation and re-epithelialization in the wounds treated with probiotic bacteria compared with the wounds of control groups.               Our results indicate that the topical use of spray-dried S. thermophilus could be useful for the treatment of burn wounds.               Keywords: Streptococcus thermophilus; Probiotics; Burns; Wound Healing; Rats.

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, which alone accounts for 30% of all new cancer cases in women. The development of cancer is a multistep process.  The complex series of cellular and molecular changes participating in cancer development are mediated by a diversity of stimuli such as Oxidative stress that is known to cause DNA damage and mutations of tumor suppressor genes which are critical initial events in carcinogenesis. The tumor suppressor p53 plays important roles in the senescence response to DNA damage. On the other hand, Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that consistent with the decreased DNA damage and increased apoptosis. The aim of our study was evaluating the Association of tissue selenium level and p53 expression in breast cancer. Our study population consists of 30 breast cancer patients. We had collected their tumor tissues. We examined expression of p53 by using immunohistochemistry and selenium level by atomic absorption in breast cancer patients, and divided patients into two groups with negative and positive P53. About 36.67% of the samples were positive for P53 expression. Mean level of tissue selenium in tumors for positive and negative P53 were 203.16 µg/l and 230.92 µg/l, respectively. So, there was no significant association between selenium level and P53 expression. (p>0.005) There is no Association of tissue selenium level and p53 expression in breast cancer. Keyword:Selenium, P53, breast cancer

  Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long-term acquired disability. It is of great importance to seek ways for improving motor, sensory, and cognitive function after stroke and brain injury. In this regard, therapeutic exercise is the most commonly used method of rehabilitation that can significantly reduce the severity of functional damage. The aim of the present study was to investigate effects of eight weeks of forced treadmill training on cognitive and motor functions in ischemic rats.              Fourteen adult male Wistar rats were divided into an exercise group and a control group (no exercise). Occlusion of both common carotid arteries was made to induce cerebral ischemia. Twenty-four hours after the induction of ischemia, the subjects in the exercise group were subjected to treadmill running, five days a week for eight weeks. The skilled ladder rung walking task was used to evaluate motor function before and after the stroke.             The number of errors was decreasing in both groups, but significant differences were observed in the motor function between the two groups in the third, fifth, and eighth week.             Our results suggest that post-ischemic exercise might modulate ischemia-induced hippocampal injury and ameliorate the subsequent memory and motor impairment.             Keywords:  Stroke, Cerebral Ischemia, Exercise, Treadmill training, sensorimotor.

  Cardiac rehabilitation improves functional capacity of post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate effects of eight weeks of cardiac rehabilitation on serum levels of sirutin1 (SIRT1) and functional capacity of post-CABG patients.              Forty-five non-active men (mean age: 47.4 ± 3.3 years, duration of disease: 150 ± 69.12 months) were randomly divided into three equal groups: aerobic exercise, combined (resistance and aerobic) exercise and control. The subjects performed trainings at 60-75% of maximum heart rate, three sessions a week for eight weeks. Blood samples were collected 24 hours before the first exercise session and 48 hours after the last exercise session. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 using one-way ANOVA and the Tukey post hoc test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.              Aerobic and combined exercise increased serum SIRT1 levels and functional capacity. There was no significant decrease in body mass index (P=0.06). The SIRT1 level did not differ significantly between the two exercise groups after the intervention (P=0.91). There were significant difference between the study groups in terms of the travelled distance (P<0.034).              Both combined and aerobic exercise can increase serum levels of SIRT1, reduce body mass index and improve functional capacity in CABG patients.              Keywords: Resistance training, exercise, SIRT1.

  Hemoglobinopathies are characterized by defects in the synthesis of globin chains of hemoglobin (Hb). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate mutations associated with thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies in Masjed Soleiman County, Iran.              This descriptive study was carried out on 456 individuals suspected of having hemoglobinopathies who were referred to health centers of the Masjed Soleiman Country in 2015-2017. Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes. Complete blood count test was performed and red blood cell indices were determined. Level of Hb variants was measured using capillary electrophoresis. Reverse dot-blot, gap-polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing were carried out to detect mutations.               We found that 17.7% of the subjects were heterozygous for β-thalassemia. Frequency of mutations 36/37 (–T), IVS-II-1 (G>A) and IVS-I-110 (G>A) in the β-globin gene was 26.7%, 22% and 16.27%, respectively. In addition, 9.5% of the subjects contained Hb S, Hb D and Hb C, while 1.1% of the subjects showed co-inheritance of an Hb variant and β-thalassemia. In subjects with α-thalassemia, the -α3.7 (57.1%), -- MED–(17.4%), -α4.2 (3.1%) and -α20.5 (1.5%) deletions were found as the most prevalent mutations.              In addition to the high prevalence of β-thalassemia and HBB gene mutations, we detected variants Hb S, Hb D, Hb C and co-inheritance of an Hb variants and β-thalassemia in individuals living in the Masjed Soleiman Country. We also identified four mutations in the α-globin gene. These results can be useful for genetic counseling in this population.              : Hemoglobinopathies, β-Thalassemia, α-Thalassemia, mutation, HB variant.