Advanced Biomedical Research
Volume:6 Issue: 9, Sep 2016

Candida species are the most prevalent cause of invasive fungal infections such as candidemia. Candidemia is a lethal fungal infection among immunocompromised patients worldwide. Main pathogen is Candida albicans but a global shift in epidemiology toward non‑albicans species have reported. Species identification is imperative for good management of candidemia as a fatal infection. The aim of the study is to identify Candida spp. obtained from candidemia and determination of mortality rate among this population.

The study was performed during February 2014 to March 2015 in Tehran, Iran. Two‑hundred and four blood cultures were evaluated for fungal bloodstream infection. Identification of isolates was carried out using phenotypic tests and polymerase chain reaction sequencing technique.

Twenty‑two out of 204 patients(10.8%) had candidemia. Candida parapsilosis was the most prevalent species(45.4%), followed by C. albicans (31.8%) and Candida glabrata (22.7%). Male to female sex ratio was 8/14.

The emergence of resistant strains of Candida species should be considered by physicians to decrease the mortality of this fatal fungal infection by appropriate treatment.

The absence of a detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with or without hepatitis B core antibody (anti‑HBc) or hepatitis B surface antibody (anti‑HBs) in the presence of hepatitis B virus‑DNA (HBV‑DNA) is defined as occult HBV infection. This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of occult HBV infection in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) in Isfahan, Iran.

This cross sectional study was done on 400 patients without acute or chronic HBV infection with end‑stage renal disease undergoing regular HD. Blood samples were collected prior to the HD session, and serological markers of viral hepatitis B included HBsAg, anti‑HBs and anti‑HBc were measured using standard third generation commercially avail‑able enzyme immunoassays kit, then samples of positive anti‑HBc and negative anti‑HBs were tested for HBV DNA using quantitative real‑time polymerase chain reaction techniques. Data were analyzed by SPSS using t‑test and Chi‑square test.

The mean age of patients was 51.6 ± 11.2 years. Anti‑HBc positive was observed in 32 (8%) of 400 studied patients with negative HBsAg. Of 32 patients with anti‑HBc positive, 15 were males and 17 were females with mean age of 49.7 ± 12.6 years. Among 32 patients with anti‑HBc positive, 10 patients were negative for anti‑HBs. All of 10 patients were negative for HBV DNA. The prevalence of occult HBV infection was 0%.

The prevalence of occult HBV infection in HBsAg negative patients undergoing HD was 0% and look to be among the lowest worldwide. So, occult HBV infection is not a significant health problem in HD patients in this region.

Computed tomography‑guided percutaneous core needle biopsy (PCNB) is a diagnostic technique for initial assessment of mediastinal mass lesions. This study was conducted to evaluate its diagnostic yield and its complication rate.

We reviewed the records of CT‑guided PCNB in 110 patients with mediastinal mass lesions performed in Kashani and Alzahra Hospitals, Isfahan, from 2006 to 2012. Gender, age at biopsy, size, and anatomic location of the lesion, number of passes, site of approach, complications, and final diagnosis were extracted.

Our series encompasses 52 (47.2%) females and 58 (52/7%) males with mean age of 41 ± 8 years. The most common site of involvement was the anterior mediastinum (91.8% of cases). An average of 3/5 passes per patient has been taken for tissue sampling. Parasternal site was the most frequent approach taken for PCNB (in 78.1% of cases). Diagnostic tissue was obtained in 99 (90%) biopsies while, in 11 (10%) cases, specimen materials were inadequate. Lymphoma (49.5%) and bronchogenic carcinoma (33.3%) were the most frequent lesions in our series. The overall complication rate was 17.2% from which 10.9% was pneumothorax, 5.4% was hemoptysis, and 0.9% was vasovagal reflex.

CT‑guided PCNB is a safe and reliable procedure that can provide a precise diagnosis for patients with both benign and malignant mediastinal masses, and it is considered the preferred first diagnostic procedure use for this purpose.

Insulin resistance (IR) is associated with low‑grade systemic inflammation. It plays an important role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). It is unclear whether diabetic patients with MetS confer elevated CVD risk and outcomes beyond the impact of individual’s components of MetS. The aim of this study is to highlight the central role of IR, inflammation, triglyceride/high‑density lipoprotein‑ cholesterol (TG/HDL‑C) ratio, and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in T2DM with MetS.

This cross‑sectional study comprised 130 men distributed into three groups, namely Controls: 40 nondiabetic healthy volunteers; Group I: 40 T2DM patients without MetS, and Group II: 50 T2DM patients with MetS. Fasting blood samples were collected for the measurement of blood lipid profile, glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1c, and high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein (hs‑CRP). TG/HDL‑C ratio, AIP, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were calculated.

Significant positive association was observed between HOMA‑IR and hs‑CRP only in Group II and between HOMA‑IR and TG/HDL‑C ratio in all subjects. Significant differences were seen in waist and hip circumferences, waist/hip ratio, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, TGs, HDL‑C, insulin, hs‑CRP, HOMA‑IR, TG/HDL ratio, and AIP between Controls and Group I with Group II.

In T2DM with MetS, coexistence of elevated atherogenic indices, systemic inflammation, and association between HOMA‑IR and TG/HDL‑C ratio were seen. These factors are considered having important role in elevated CVD risk beyond MetS components in these patients.

Symmetrical peripheral gangrene (SPG) is a rare clinical entity, infective, and noninfective both types of etiologies are responsible. The basic underlying pathology in SPG is being disseminated intravascular coagulation and carries a high mortality. Here, we describe a 52‑year‑old male with dengue fever, who developed bilateral symmetrical dry gangrene of both hand and feet. His dengue IgM antibody was positive. All the peripheral pulses of the affected limbs were palpable. Color Doppler study of upper and lower limb vessels showed normal flow. The patient was managed with intravenous fluids, low molecular weight heparin, and fresh frozen plasma. His general condition was improved within 72 h with no further progression of gangrene. Clinician should suspect the possibility of SPG while dealing a case of dengue fever presenting as peripheral gangrene.

Since preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) is one of the most important complications of pregnancy and its relationship with nutrition status have not been surveyed comprehensively, we decided to study the relationship of maternal received nutrients (36 macro‑ and micro‑nutrients) in three trimesters and PPROM which could be considered as a unique study.

In this prospective cohort study, data was collected by filling a questionnaire through interviews with 620 pregnant women who had no parameters to affect pregnancy outcome. 48‑hr dietary recalls were completed for eligible women at 11th–15th, 26th, 34th–37th weeks of gestation. Physical activity was also assessed using a standard questionnaire. Also pregnant mother’s reproductive and demographic characteristic and supplementation are considered.

The mean value of received saturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and energy, in the first trimester (P < 0.001, P = 0.007, and P < 0.001 respectively), the mean values of calcium, sodium intake in the second trimester (P = 0.045, P = 0.006, and P = 0.004 respectively), Vitamins C, A (mg), β‑carotene, cartenoids intake in the second trimester (P = 0.03, P = 0.001, P = 0.007, and P = 0.01 respectively), and higher Vitamin C intake during the first trimester (P = 0.02) was significantly greater among subjects with PPROM compared to the others.

The mean value of mentioned received nutrients in subjects who experienced PPROM later in pregnancy was higher than the others, which is independent of demographic and reproductive characteristic, estimated physical activity, and supplementation. Therefore, these findings could be considered in the nutritional programming for pregnant women to manage the risk of PPROM.

The generation of bioartificial bone tissues may help to overcome the problems related to donor site morbidity and size limitations.

In this paper, hydroxyapatite (HA) powder was made out of bovine bone by thermal analysis at 900°C and first, and then, porous HA (50 weight percentage) was produced by polyurethane sponge replication method. In order to improve the scaffold mechanical properties, they have been coated with poly hydroxybutyrate. In terms of phase studies, morphology, and specifying agent groups, the specific characterization devices such as X‑ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared, were employed. To compare the behavior of cellular scaffolds, they were divided into four groups of scaffolds. The osteoblast cells were cultured. To perform phase studies, analysis of Methylthiazole tetrazolium (MTT) and Trypan blue were carried out for the viability and attachment on the surface of the scaffold, and the specification of Scanning electron microscopy was employed for the morphology of the cells.

The results of MTT analysis performed on four groups of scaffolds have shown that Titanium oxide (Tio2 ) had no effect on cell growth alone and HA was the main factor of growth and cell osteoblast adhesion on the scaffold. Moreover, the results showed that the use of coating with poly‑3‑hydroxybutyrate saved the factors and placed the osteoblasts within the pore. Since the main part of bone consists of HA, the TiO2 accelerates the formation of apatite crystals at the scaffold surface which is the evidence for bone tissue regeneration.

It is likely that the relation between HA and TiO2 leads to an increase in osteoblast adhesion and growth of cells on the scaffold surface.

“Persian Weaning Tool (PWT)” is the only specific, national protocol designed to assess patients’ readiness for weaning from mechanical ventilation in Iran. This study was developed to determine the validity and reliability of this protocol.

This is a psychometric study conducted on 31 patients connected to mechanical ventilation were ready from weaning according to anesthesiologist’s diagnosis and was selected through convenient sampling. The patients selected from Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of Al‑Zahra Hospital in Isfahan. The sheet data collection includes demographic data, PWT; Burn’s Wean Assessment Program (BWAP), and Morganroth’s scale. To determine the inter‑rater reliability between researcher and his partner, Pearson correlation and paired t‑test were used. To assess the criterion validity of the PWT in relation to Burn’s and Morganroth’s weaning scales (as criteria), Pearson correlation and McNemar tests were used. To specify a minimum acceptable score of the PWT for weaning from mechanical ventilation, receiver operating characteristic curve was used.

The results showed that there was statistically significant correlation between score of PWT and BWAP (r = 0.370 with P < 0.05) and there were no statistically significant differences between these tools in terms of identification of patients’ readiness for weaning (P = 0.453). There was statistically significant correlation between PWT score obtained by researcher and his colleague (r = 0.928), and the reliability of this tool was approved. The PWTs cut of point was calculated as 57 (sensitivity = 0.679, specificity = 1).

The reliability and validity of the PWT were confirmed for this study’s sample size. Consequently, the findings of this study can be used to measure the PWTs effectiveness and applicability in ICUs.

The frequency and the perceived intensity of life stressors, coping strategies, and social supports are very important in everybody’s well‑being. This study intended to estimate the relation of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and these factors.

This was a cross‑sectional study carried out in Isfahan on 2013. Data were extracted from the framework of the study on the epidemiology of psychological, alimentary health, and nutrition. Symptoms of IBS were evaluated by Talley bowel disease questionnaire. Stressful life event, modified COPE scale, and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were also used. About 4763 subjects were completed questionnaires. Analyzing data were done by t‑test and multivariate logistic regression.

Of all returned questionnaire, 1024 (21.5%) were diagnosed with IBS. IBS and clinically‑significant IBS (IBS‑S) groups have significantly experienced a higher level of perceived intensity of stressors and had a higher frequency of stressors. The mean score of social supports and the mean scores of three coping strategies (problem engagement, support seeking, and positive reinterpretation and growth) were significantly lower in subjects with either IBS‑S or IBS than in those with no IBS. Multivariate logistic regression revealed a significant association between frequency of stressors and perceived intensity of stressors with IBS (odds ratio [OR] =1.09 and OR = 1.02, respectively) or IBS‑S (OR = 1.09 and OR = 1.03, respectively).

People with IBS had higher numbers of stressors, higher perception of the intensity of stressors, less adaptive coping strategies, and less social supports which should be focused in psychosocial interventions.