مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 696 (هفته چهارم دی 1401)

Candida species are common organisms in human and animal mucosa that cause a wide range of Candida infections in immunocompromised patients. This study investigated the ability to produce proteinase, phospholipase and hemolysin as well as biofilm formation in different clinical isolates of Candida albicans.

In this study, ninety-four C. albicans were identified using phenotypic tests and amplification of the hyphal wall protein (HWP1) gene, and the proteinase, phospholipase and hemolysin production in specific mediums, as well as the ability to biofilm formation using the crystal violet method were evaluated. Then, the antifungal susceptibility of planktonic cells was tested on the basis of the CLSI- M27-A3/S protocol.

In this study, the proteinase, phospholipase and hemolysin activities of C.albicans isolated from different body sites were 82%, 75.5%, and 68%, respectively. Additionally, 74.5% of the isolates had the ability to biofilm formation. Among the isolates being studied, the strains isolated from the oral cavity showed the highest activity of proteinase, hemolysin and biofilm formation, and the strains isolated from vaginal secretions showed the highest level of phospholipase activity. The susceptibility pattern of C. albicans species to antifungals showed that all isolates were sensitive to AMB and VRC, and resistance to FLC and ITC was reported as 5.4% and 2.2%, respectively.

The results show the importance of molecular epidemiology studies and understanding the role of hydrolytic enzymes and biofilm production in C. albicans strains.

L-asparaginase is an enzyme derived from E. coli and is one of the drugs used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Decreased blood asparagine after the use of the asparaginase can lead to death for these cells. The aim of this project is to investigate the possibility of the production and purification of theasparaginase enzyme.

The asparaginase gene of E. coli was amplified using PCR technique. After purification, the gene was cloned into pET28a vector and transformed into a bacterial host. After transformation, different protein expression conditions were investigated for optimization. Recombinant enzyme expression was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. The asparaginase enzyme was then purified by affinity chromatography using a column containing Ni-NTA resin and a hybrid method and finally, its enzymatic activity was investigated.

The high production of asparaginase enzyme in E. coli was at 37 °C, 1 mM concentration of IPTG, and incubation 20 hours after induction. Insoluble asparaginase enzyme was purified using a Ni-NTA column and the refolding process was performed on the column. According to the activity of the refolded enzyme in the enzyme activity test, it can be concluded that the refolding process of the enzyme has been done correctly.

Due to the great importance of asparaginase production in Iran and the need of a group of patients to use this enzyme, in this project, by optimizing the expression and purification process, the L-asparaginase enzyme was produced on a laboratory scale.

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common disorders that are highly influenced by psychological factors. The aim of this study was to determine the cognitive emotion regulation strategies on self-care in patients with cardiovascular disease.

The research method was cross-sectional descriptive correlational and was performed by structural equations. The study population included all patients with cardiovascular disease aged from 25 to 70 years old who referred to educational and medical centers in Isfahan during 2016-2017. Four hundred patients were selected by convenience sampling method and they answered three questionnaires of Garnefski Cognitive Emotion Regulation, Neff Self-compassion, and Jarasma Self-care Behavior in patients with heart failure. Data was analyzed by Pearson correlation and hierarchical regression simultaneously.

The results showed a direct and significant correlation between the positive emotion regulation score with self-compassion (P = 0.020 and r = 0.116) and with self-care (P = 0.001; r = 0.205). According to the indirect effect coefficient β = 0.046, the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between positive emotion regulation and self-care was supported. Also, the indirect effect coefficient β = 0.046 of self-compassion can be a good mediator between negative emotion regulation and self-care.

The cognitive emotion regulation strategies and self-compassion can explain the improvement of self-care in patients with cardiovascular disease; and self-compassion is considered an important mediator. Therapists are suggested to pay attention to self-compassion and psychological capital, because awareness of variables can provide quality services to patients.