مجله دانش و تندرستی در علوم پایه پزشکی
سال هجدهم شماره 2 (تابستان 1402)

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the major pathogens causing urinary tract infection (UTI). The Spread of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases (ESBL)/AmpC enzymes has become a major issue, particularly due to the antibiotic therapeutic failures that result in less favorable patient outcomes, including higher mortality. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of phenotypic and genotypic beta-lactamase resistance in E. coli strains isolated from the urine sample.

A total of 231 E. coli isolates were collected from urine samples of patients from Tehran Children's medical center hospital between 2012 to 2015. The antibiotic resistance pattern of clinical isolates was determined by using the disk diffusion method. AmpC β-lactamases and ESBLs, alone and in combination, could reliably be detected using a disc diffusion method. Genes encoding beta-lactamases were detected by PCR method using β-lactamase gene-specific primers.

All isolates of the present study were resistant to ampicillin and cefazoline. The resistance rate to other antibiotics was as follows: trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 85.7%, gentamicin 37.6%, levofloxacin 35.9%, and cefoxitin 24.6%. A high sensitivity rate was observed against meropenem and nitrofurantoin. Among collected isolates, 81.5% were ESBLsproducers. The prevalence of ESBLs production in CTX-M, SHV, and TEM was 100%, 35%, and 46.7%, respectively. Among 68 presumptive AmpC producers, CIT was the most prevalent detected gene, while FOX was the least seen.

Regarding the production of ESBL by some E. coli isolates, phenotypic detection for determining the antibiotic profile and resistance genes is recommended to formulate an effective antibiotic therapy.

Higher viral load in women with chronic Human Papillomavirus type 16 (HPV 16) infection and integration of the viral genome into the cell's chromosomes associates with an increased prevalence of premalignant/malignant lesions in the cervix. The present study describes the development of simultaneous measurement of viral load and physical status for the HPV16 genome by the Multiplex Real-Time PCR method.

In this study, conserved genes (E6 and E2) of HPV16 were extracted from the CaSki cell line and, after PCR amplification, cloned in bacterial plasmid pJET1.2/blunt cloning vector. In addition, recombinant cellular RnaseP gene plasmid was used as an internal amplification control gene.

Based on our findings, the E2 and E6 genes of the HPV16 virus and the cellular RnaseP gene are identified with high efficiency. Besides, the results of the Real-time PCR showed a high R2 coefficient that reflects the linearity of the standard curve. The results of the E2/E6 ratio of CaSki cells (E2/E6 ratio=0.15) indicated the presence of both integrated and episomal forms in this cell line.

According to the pre-determined acceptance criteria, the diagnostic panel designed to measure the viral load and the physical status of the HPV16 genome using the Multiplex Real-Time PCR method has appropriate sensitivity and specificity.

Wound healing depends on angiogenesis and collagen production by fibroblasts. Seaweeds are among the organisms that are of interest today for healing wounds. This study examines the effect of seaweed called Gracilaria corticata to increase angiogenesis and fibrosis of infectious skin wounds.

Eighty male rats that participated in this experiment were maintained according to the Laboratory Guidelines for Animal Care. The animals were divided into four groups (20 rats in each group), and a square wound on the back skin was performed on all rats. The time points were 3, 7, 14, and 21 days after the surgical procedure. After creating a wound, an aliquot of 50 μL of suspension containing 2x108 CFU/mL of Staphylococcus bacteria was inoculated onto each wound. The groups were divided into control (no treatment), zinc oxide (control), 3%, and 7% ointment (algae treatment). The samples were placed in 10% buffered formalin and then in the tissue processing and staining with trichrome. Trichrome staining is used to show collagen fibers and the degree of fibrosis. On the other hand, VEGF and TGF-Β antibodies were used for immunohistochemical evaluation.

The use of algae increased the occurrence of VEGF and TGF-Β more than the administration of zinc oxide.

The use of algae has a strengthening effect, especially in the form of ointment, on the healing of infected wounds. It can be related to more blood supply and, as a result, more immunity in the wound, along with antimicrobial effects.

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in men and women. Recently, investigations have revealed a much larger role for epigenetic and non-hereditary factors in CRC incidence than hereditary factors. Among all nonhereditary factors, gut microbiota alterations are the most prominent factor in the development of CRC. This work aimed to study the quantification of Enterococcus faecalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum in healthy colorectal tissues compared with polyp and cancer colorectal tissues of Iranian peoples.

In this case-control study, 21 biopsy samples of normal colon tissue, 21 polyp tissues, and 19 tumor tissues were investigated. To quantify the Enterococcus faecalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum in our samples, we employed the 16SrRNAspecific gene in Real-Time Quantitative PCR method.

The Quantitative Real-Time PCR results demonstrated a significant increase (P-value<0.05) in the population of both bacterial species, Enterococcus faecalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum in tumor and polyp tissues compared with normal samples. In addition, the Spearman index for these two species was 0.7634, which refers to a synergistic relationship between these species in the colon environment.

Collectively, by the progression of CRC, the abundance of Enterococcus faecalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum, will be increasing. In other words, the enrichment of these species can induce the development and progression of CRC and might be a sign of its occurrence.

Poor sleep quality during pregnancy could lead to adverse outcomes for the mother and fetus. Therefore, this study aimed to employ auriculotherapy to improve sleep quality in pregnant women and enhance pregnancy outcomes.

The present study was a one-blind randomized clinical trial carried out on 99 pregnant women (49 in the intervention group and 50 in the control group) with sleep disorders who were referred to the health center of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The intervention group underwent auriculotherapy for four weeks. In the control group, the ear seeds were placed on different points without pressure was applied on these points. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire was completed for both groups before and 2 and 4 weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed by the SPSS software using paired t-test and ANOVA. P<0.05 was considered significant.

The results showed that sleep quality scores in the control group were not significantly different between the three times (P<0.05). In the intervention group compared to the control, sleep quality scores improved significantly two and four weeks after the intervention (P<0.05).

Based on our findings, auriculotherapy can be used as an uncomplicated and effective method instead of harmful drug treatments to improve the sleep quality of pregnant women.

Nowadays, synthetic drugs used to treat inflammatory diseases are of the slightest interest due to their potential side effects and serious adverse effects. Therefore, finding new treatment approaches, especially herbal medicines, could help manage inflammation disorders. Olive and its products (oleuropein), as both antioxidants and inflammatory inhibitors, can effectively reduce the inflammatory process. This study aimed to investigate the effects of oleuropein on the cytokines profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rheumatoid arthritis patients.

A 5 ml blood sample was taken from 40 patients with RA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from each sample using Ficoll. Then, it cultured in 24 well tissue culture plates with and without oleuropein and phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The concentration of TNF-α and IL-4 was evaluated in the supernatant of treated and non-treated cells using immunoassay after 72 hours. The results were analyzed using t-test and ANOVA.

The results revealed a significant reduction of TNF-α in treated PBMCs with oleuropein compared to non-treated cells, especially in the 100 mg/ml of oleuropein (P<0.0001). In addition, a significant increase in IL-4 in a dose-dependent manner was indicated (P<0.0001).

Our findings demonstrated that oleuropein could effectively reduce the inflammation of inflammatory diseases, especially rheumatoid arthritis, by increasing the anti-inflammatory factor IL-4 production and decreasing the level of TNF-α.

Paraoxonase 1 is a key enzyme against Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Increased activity of this enzyme can lead to the prevention of atherosclerosis. This study investigated the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of fig on the activity and gene expression of paraoxonase 1. Also, the effect of the most important effective compounds of fig on the function of this enzyme was investigated by simulation studies.

Four groups of ten male rats including control group and hyperlipidemia groups were treated with concentrations of 400 and 800 mg / kg of hydro-alcoholic extract of fig for 90 days. Serum lipid profile was measured, and paraoxonase1 gene expression was detected in liver tissues, as well as paraxonase1 aryl esterase activity in animal serum. Simulation and molecular dynamics studies of the most important effective compounds of fig including gallic acid and rutin were performed using AutoDock v.4.2 and Gromacs 2018 software.

The hydro-alcoholic extract of fig decreased the lipid profile of hyperlipidemia rats (P<0.001), increased gene expression as well as paraoxonase 1 activity (P<0.05). According to the results of molecular dynamics studies, two compounds of rutin and gallic acid with a high tendency to bind to the enzyme paraxonase 1 increase the rotational radius of the enzyme and also increase the activated probability of the enzyme.

The hydro-alcoholic extract of fig not only reduces the lipid profile but also by activating the enzyme paraxonase1 can greatly prevent atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis.