مجله دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهرکرد
سال بیست و یکم شماره 5 (پیاپی 104، Sep-Oct 2019)

Hearing loss (HL) is the most common sensorineural disorder affecting 1 in 1000 newborns. Autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL), which is the most common cause of severe HL, is caused by mutations in more than 80 loci. The OTOA gene located on DFNB22 is a rare cause of the disease and the gene studied less in Iranian ARNSHL families. Hence, limited information is available on the frequency and type of OTOA mutations in different populations. In this study, we investigated the role of DFNB22 locus in ARNSHL patients in Khuzestan province, Iran.

In this descriptive-experimental study, 23 large families with pre-lingual ARNSHL from Khuzestan province were enrolled. Mutations in GJB2 were excluded by DNA sequencing followed by linkage analysis. Homozygosity mapping of DFNB22 was conducted using 6 short tandem repeat polymorphic markers via touch-down PCR and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Homozygosityby-descent was identified by calculating two-point and multi-point LOD score and haplotype reconstruction.

Families were negative for GJB2 mutations. Genotyping the STRP markers, haplotype reconstruction, and two-point and multiplepoint LOD scores did not show homozygosity-by-descent in any of the pedigrees.

Our findings suggest that OTOA mutations might not contribute significantly to the molecular pathophysiology of ARNSHL in Khuzestan province. However, extending the sample size can illuminate the role of this gene in Khuzestan province.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) based-lentivirus vector is one of the most promising viral vectors for gene delivery in different cell lines including gastric cell lines. Therefore, the aim of this study was to produce a lentivirus vector for transduction and expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in human gastric cancer cell line, AGS.

In this piece of work, Escherichia coli HB101 was transformed with plasmids psPAX2, pTD, and pMD2.G, following the purification of which their DNA was extracted along with their quantity and quality evaluated to be used in the next experiments. Subsequently, to produce the vector, the packaging cells were transfected with the plasmids and the vector containing supernatant was collected and purified using ultracentrifuge. ELISA was used to confirm the construction of the vector. Fluorescent microscopy and flow cytometry were used to check the expression of GFP in the cell line and to calculate the percentage of GFP expression, respectively.

In this study, the results of ELISA confirmed the construction of the plasmid used in this study. AGS cells were infected with viruses produced to detect the viral activity and GFP expression was evaluated by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry after 72 hours. Based on the results of flow cytometry, GFP was expressed in over 90% of transduced AGS cells.

The results of this study showed that lentiviral vector is a highly efficient vector for expression of GFP gene in AGS cell line.

Endometrial thickness (ET) is one of the main parameters in the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART) methods, which is influenced by sex steroids. This study investigated the effect of vaginal estrogen cream on ET in women undergoing embryo transfer.

In this clinical trial, 100 infertile women candidates for embryo-fetal transfusion were enrolled in the study by a simple sampling method and then randomly divided into two treatment groups. For patients in group A, estradiol tablets were administered alone (control) and group B received the estradiol plus vaginal estrogen cream (intervention). The thickness of the endometrium was measured by ultrasound in both groups and recorded in the checklist. The rate of positive bHCG, pregnancy, and canceled cycles was evaluated in both groups as well. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Both groups were matched in terms of age (P=0.129). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding ET (P=0.651) and bHCG frequency (P=0.418) and the pregnancy rate was similar in two groups. Based on the results, the frequency of the canceled cycles was 32% and 50% in intervention and control groups (P=0.031).Eventually, no significant relationship was observed between pregnancy outcome (0.637) and the bHCG (0.553) test with ET.

Overall, the administration of vaginal estrogen cream has no effect on ET and pregnancy rate in women under embryo transfer by applying the long protocol method in patients who referred to endometrium and endometriosis research center but it significantly reduces the eliminated cycles

Increasing the prevalence of nosocomial infections by multidrug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa has severely challenged the choice of treatment and led to an increased mortality rate. Thus, this study investigated the frequency of class I and II integrons and its association with MDR.

A total of 175 P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from Shahrekord teaching hospitals and Isfahan Shahid Chamran hospital during 12 months (from April 2008 to March 2009). Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by disc diffusion according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. The E-test strips of imipenem, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin were used to identify the minimum inhibitory concentration and MDR bacteria. Finally, the frequency of class I and II integrons genes was evaluated by using the polymerase chain reaction test.

The highest antibiotic resistance and the highest susceptibility belonged to meropenem (86.9%) and polymyxin B (96.0%) by disc diffusion, respectively. By the E-test, the highest and lowest resistance rates were reported for imipenem (97.2%) and ciprofloxacin (86.8%), respectively. The frequency of MDR strains was 82.3% as well. The frequency of class I and II integrons was 57.7% and 17.7% in all P. aeruginosa isolates, as well as 68.1%and 21.5% in the MDR isolates, respectively. There was also a significant correlation between I and II integrons and MDR.

Overall, the resistance to different antibiotics and the frequency of MDR strains among the studied P. aeruginosa isolates were very high. There was also a significant correlation between integrons and multidrug resistance. Regarding the role of integrons in the transfer of drug-resistant genes and the development of MDR strains, the use of appropriate diet and accurate determination of the susceptibility pattern of P. aeruginosa isolates are considered necessary.

The present study aimed to compare mobile social network-based mindfulness training, along with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindfulness therapy on self-management and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The research employed a pretest-posttest control group quasi-experimental design with a three-month follow-up. Among type 2 diabetic patients who referred to diabetes treatment centers in Isfahan in the spring of 2018, 80 of them were purposefully selected based on inclusion criteria and then randomly assigned to three groups of the social network-based mindfulness intervention, ACT, and mindfulness training, along with a control group. Then, the summaries of Diabetes Self-care Activities questionnaire and glycated haemoglobin test were used to measure the dependent variables. The mindfulness interventions were conducted in the form of attendance in the training sessions. In addition, virtual network-based training and ACT were presented during eight 45-minute and 120-minute sessions, respectively. Finally, the data were analyzed using repeated measures of ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test by SPSS software.

The findings indicated that in the self-management variable, there was a significant difference between social network-based mindfulness (posttest mean=30.59, follow-up mean=30.88, P=0.004) and ACT (posttest mean=32.7, follow-up mean=32.29, P=0.001) with the control group. Further, a significant difference was observed between ACT and mindfulness therapy regarding self-management (P=0.04). In the HbA1c level, there was a significant difference only between social network-based mindfulness (mean in posttest and follow-up=7.44and 7.39, respectively, P=0.02) and the control group.

According to the findings of the present study, mobile social networks-based mindfulness interventions, along with ACT, are considered as effective treatments for diabetic patients to increase self-management while reducingHbA1c.

Osteoporosis is rapidly turning into a global epidemic, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality due to the resulting complications such as osteoporotic fractures in older people. Therefore, this review investigated the findings of clinical trials regarding the effects of medicinal herbs on osteoporosis. To this end, several keywords were used to search for relevant articles indexed in the Institute for Scientific Information and PubMed, including "Osteoporosis" or "Bone loss" AND "medicinal plant" or "phyto*" or "herb*". Finally, 43 articles were included in the review. There are several mechanisms for anti-osteoporosis effects. Estrogen-like effects, especially soy phytoestrogenic compounds and other herbal compounds and formulations, can enhance bone formation markers, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity, while decreasing bone resorption biomarkers. Therefore, they can be used as complementary medicine for osteoporosis, especially in postmenopausal older women. However, for more reliable evidence, further studies are still needed because most studies have addressed soy, and the number of randomized controlled trials conducted on other herbal drugs is small. The plants possess the androgen-like properties that play an important role in the promotion of bone health. In addition, herbal treatments are supportive and slow-acting and thus such treatments are suggested for prevention and maintenance purposes rather than fast-acting treatments.

Vitamin D deficiency is a known pandemic problem which has thousands of bad health outcomes. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of maternal vitamin D, Ca, and PO4 levels on growth indexes of newborns at birth and 1 month and 3 months after delivery in pregnant women admitted to Hajar hospital of Shahrekord, Iran in 2016.

This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 196 pregnant women admitted to the hospital. During pregnancy, 5 mL of mother’s blood and 5 mL of umbilical cord blood were taken. Serum calcium and phosphorus levels were determined immediately after sampling and then centrifuged. After collecting the samples, 25-OHD levels were measured by ELISA method. Neonatal growth indexes such as weight, height, and head circumference atbirth,1 month, and 3 months were measured. Data were analyzed using independent samples t test, ANOVA, and correlation coefficient by SPSS version 16.0.

Deficiency of vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium was observed in 76%, 1%, and 25% of women, respectively. Moreover, deficiency of vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium was reportedin56.1%, 15.8%, and 9.2% of newborns, respectively. There was a significant relationship between calcium level in newborns and their weight and height at birth, one month, and three months of age ( P<0.05). Levels of vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus of mother and newborns were significantly correlated ( P<0.05).

More than two-thirds of mothers and more than half of the newborns were deficient in vitamin D. There was also a lack of calcium in one third of mothers and 9.2% of newborns, and phosphorus deficiency was observed only in 1% of mothers and 15.8% of newborns. Due to the low intake of these materials through nutrition, the supplementation of these substances, especially vitamin D and calcium, is required during pregnancy.

Thalassemia patients are predisposed to septicemia due to iron overload. The iron chelators have a potential role in the treatment of septicemia. This study was conducted to investigate the in vitro effect of iron chelators, deferoxamine (DFO), deferiprone (DFP), and deferasirox (DFS) on the growth of effective bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and their synergistic effect with each other and antibiotics.

Five bacterial strains were incubated in the presence of seven chelators in Mueller Hinton agar and the number of colonies was recorded for each sample. Antibiotic discs were placed in the plates. Susceptibility to antibiotics was assessed by disc diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer test) and also the zone inhibition around the disc was measured in mm after incubating the relevant plate at 37°C for a day.

The growth of all the studied bacteria increased in the presence of iron and was inhibited in the presence of different chelators. Chelators and antibiotics had synergistic effects on growth inhibition of Escherichia coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa in culture medium, while the growth inhibition of Y. enterocolitica was seen in the presence of deferiprone and deferasirox combination.

Chelators in combination with antibiotics exert synergistic effects on growth inhibition of prevalent bacteria (except for Y. enterocolitica).