International Journal of Medical Laboratory
Volume:7 Issue: 3, Aug 2020

Urinary tract infections are one of the most common human infections seen in all age groups and both sexes. Inappropriate use of antibiotics to treat urinary tract infection causes the resistance of the pathogens to the drug. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and antibiotic resistance patterns in patients with urinary tract infection.

Samples were cultured on Blood Agar and Eosin Methylene Blue. Colonieschr('39') growth was identified by biochemical tests and standard microbiological and antibiotic sensitivity tests, which were performed with the disc diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute 2016 Standard.
Results and

The isolated bacteria showed the highest susceptibility to imipenem (89.66%) and meropenem (87.21%) and the highest resistance to sulfamethoxazole (50.00%) and nalidixic acid (44.09%). So, using imipenem is recommended as the most effective antibiotic for the treatment of infection.

Previous studies have shown that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem/ stromal cells are one of the sources of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with the capacity to differentiate into various mesodermal cell lineages. MSCs with cytokines secretion capability, which contributes to repair damaged tissues have gained wide credence for future cell-based therapeutic applications. In this study, the effect of the different dosages of vitamin E and Selenium was assessed on the stemness of the human adipose tissue-derived MSCs (AD-MSCs).

Following 24 hours of cell treatments with different dosages of vitamin E and Selenium, MTT assay was used to assess the effect of them on cell proliferation. Moreover, the stemness of the AD-MSCs was assessed using osteogenic and adipogenic induction medium supplemented with the different dosages of the vitamin E and Selenium. Finally, Alizarin red and Oil-red O staining were performed to detect matrix mineralization and lipid droplet accumulation, respectively.

MTT data revealed that the optimal concentration for vitamin E and Selenium were 125 µM and 121 µM for the viability of the AD-MSCs. Moreover, the effect of vitamin E and Selenium were assessed by osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation by optimal dosages obtained by MTT assay, respectively. Maximum mineralization and lipid droplet aggregation of the differentiated cells were detected at IC50 in comparison with the control group.

These results suggest that different dosages of vitamin E and Selenium could have various impacts on the proliferation and differentiation induction of human AD-MSCs.

Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is common obstetric problem and nutritional disorder in developing countries. However, there is paucity of studies that evaluated the iron indices of pregnant women to augment diagnosis of IDA and associated disorders.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and Unsaturated iron binding capacity (UIBC) of pregnant women attending University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria.

Blood samples was collected from 58 non-pregnant women, 22 pregnant women at first trimester, 52 in 2nd and 44 in 3rd trimester. The serum ferritin concentration of these samples was measured by Chemiluminescence Assay (CLIA) while the serum transferrin, total iron binding capacity and iron concentrations were measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). IDA was defined as serum ferritin levels <15μg/L

The overall prevalence of IDA in pregnant women was 33.1%. However, the prevalence of IDA was 29.3%, 22.7%, 34.6% and 36.4% among non-pregnant women, women at 1st trimester, 2nd and 3rd trimester, respectively. The mean+SD Iron levels was significantly higher among pregnant women than the non-pregnant women (p=0.004). There was no significant difference in the mean+SD serum ferritin, transferrin, TIBC concentration between pregnant and non-pregnant women (p˃0.05). However, the mean+SD serum iron, ferritin and UIBC significantly differ from across gestation age of pregnant women (p˂0.05).

This study revealed a high level of IDA during pregnancy and this increases with the trimester of pregnant women. Healthcare interventional measures that could address this nutritional and metabolic disorder are recommended.

Smoking has an influence on different semen parameters. It is regarded as a risk factor for infertility. This study aims to evaluate the effect of smoking cigarettes on the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and glutathione S-transferase Mu 1 (GSTM1) genes and biomarkers of oxidative stress in sperm.

A case-control study was conducted on 15 men smoker (case) and 15 men nonsmokers (control) who had referred to infertility clinics in Isfahan, Iran. After sampling and analysis of semen quality parameters, gene expression of NRF2 and GSTM1 was determined using a Real time-polymerase chain reaction instrument. The lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were evaluated by colorimetric methods.

Sperm concentration and their progressive motility in smokers were significantly lower than the nonsmoker population (p<0.001). In addition, the lipid peroxidation level increased and TAC level (p<0.01) as well as gene expression of NRF2 (p<0.05) and GSTM1 (p<0.01) decreased compared to control groups.

Our data demonstrated that the NRF2 and GSMT1 expressions are significantly lower in human males with low sperm motility and correlated with specific sperm quality parameters.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a gram-negative, microaerophilic, spiral-shaped flagellated bacterium that is urease, catalase and oxidase positive. One of its pathogenicity factors is the iceA gene. H. pylori has recently been recognized as a genetic indicator for the development and evolution of duodenal ulcer disease in the East. This study aimed to determine the presence of this bacterium in gingival plaques in non-endocrine patients in Bojnourd city, and the polymerase chain reaction technique examined the percentage of iceA gene.

A total of 100 samples of dental plaque were taken and transferred to a tube that has been physiologically placed. After DNA extraction, primer design was performed, and then the polymerase chain reaction was performed for the whole sample.

Of 100 samples examined in this study, two samples of H. pylori were positive (2%), and the frequency of the iceA gene of two samples was positive (100%).

In the Bojnord city, the frequency of iceA gene in people is high, and the frequency of H. pylori in tooth plaques is low. Also, iceA gene can be considered as an indicator for predicting the contamination and risk of H. pylori infection in the region. To confirm the results, more molecular studies are required in other populations.

This study aimed to observe the effect of Icariin on histomorphometric changes of testis and prostate induced by Acrylamide.

Male mice were divided into four groups (n=8): A is the control group and does not get any treatment, B is the sham group and only received drinking water. C group received Acrylamide 10 mg/kg. D group received Acrylamide 15 mg/kg+1.5 mg/kg of Icariin. Histological changes in testis and prostate were examined using stereological methods.

Results showed decreases in testis weight of the group treated by (p≤0.01) and the group cured by Acrylamide +Icariin group (p≤0.05). The total volume of testis showed a reduction in the Acrylamide  group compared to other groups (p≤0.05). The total number of spermatogonia and spermatocyte cells in the Acrylamide group showed a decrease in comparison with the other groups (p≤0.05). The total number of spermatid cells in the Acrylamide group indicated a significant reduction in comparison with the control and sham group (p≤0.05). The total number of sertoli cells in the Acrylamide group showed a reduction when the number of leydig cells in the Acrylamide group showed a significant decrease in comparison with the control, sham, and Acrylamide+Icariin groups (p≤0.05). The mean Johnsen score was decreased in the Acrylamide treated group compared to control, sham, and Acrylamide+Icariin groups (p≤0.05). Testosterone concentration in the Acrylamide group showed a reduction in comparison with control, sham, and Acrylamide+Icariin groups (p≤0.05).

Results demonstrated that Acrylamide altered the structure of the testis, prostate gland, and spermatogenesis stage, and Icariin treatment improved these histopathological changes.

Cola acuminata pod extract (CAPE) is used in Nigerian traditional medicine to treat low sperm count in males. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the effects of CAPE on the reproductive system of male albino rats.

Preliminary acute toxicity testing, phytochemical screening, proximate analysis, and determination of vitamin E concentration were performed on the extract. Three groups (I, II, and III) of 12 rats were used in the study. Each group comprised three batches (A, B, and C) of 4 rats each for different periods (4, 6, and 8 weeks, respectively).

Acute toxicity testing showed that CAPE had an oral lethal dose of 50% (LD50) of >5 g/kg body weight (b.wt) in rats. Vitamin E concentration was 0.511 mg/l. The caudal epididymal sperm count increased marginally from 4 to 6 weeks for rats treated with 800 mg/kg b.wt., but reduced significantly at 8 weeks for both CAPE treatment groups (II and III) (p<0.05) compared with the control group (I). Significant reduction (p<0.05) of sperm motility and serum testosterone levels at 8 weeks were observed. The histology of the reproductive organs revealed evident histo-architectural changes.

These results suggest that the aqueous pod extract of Cola acuminata causes marked alterations in reproductive organs and shows antispermatogenic and antiandrogenic effects when administered orally over 8 weeks in mature male rats leading to contradicting its use as a traditional remedy for low sperm count in males.

Globally, intestinal parasitic infections are a significant risk to human health. These infections may cause many health problems for humans, such as reduced growth, especially in children. This study, epidemiologically, aims to investigate the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections which are collected from three medical centers in the city of Masjed Soleyman located in the southwest of Iran from 2010 to 2017.

 In this retrospective study, documented data of three medical center’s laboratories in Masjed Soleyman were collected through the years 2010 to 2017. In these medical centers, conventional parasitology methods such as direct observation are employed for detection, and other techniques have been practiced in required cases.

 Out of 45829 patients, 9.7% of the patients were infected by the intestinal parasites. Statistical analysis has revealed that there is a significant relationship between the rate of infection and sex and season.

 Considering the obtained data, the incidence of protozoan parasites is more than worm infections. Despite increased levels of public health, parasitic infections that are transmitted directly are still found in the community. The air temperature, sex, environmental pollution, and lifestyle are effective factors in increasing or decreasing these infections.