Journal of Trends in Medical Sciences
Volume:2 Issue: 2, Spring 2022

Context: 

The growth and production of enzymes by microorganisms depend highly on the compounds and factors entering the system.

The present systematic review aimed to assess the optimized medium content to enhance alpha-amylase production from the microorganisms.

The PubMed, EmbaseWeb of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched from inception to April 2022, restricted to the English language. The reference list of the included studies was cross-checked, and a partial gray literature search was undertaken. Alpha-amylase production from the microorganisms and optimized medium content by statistical design were the key evaluated outcomes.

Among 995 initially gathered litterateurs, 12 studies were included in this review, which involved bacteria (seven studies), yeasts (two studies), fungi (two studies), and protists (one study). The results indicated that the optimized medium composition by statistical design might increase alpha-amylase production.

Growth conditions, including pH, temperature, and starch concentration, are essential to be optimized to improve alpha-amylase yield.

Context: 

The Chironomidae family is more sensitive to changes in water environment quality. This taxon is tolerant in stream ecosystems. Thus, it could be used as a bio-indicator of freshwater to recognize the presence of contaminants with deleterious effects on human health.

Evidence Acquisition: 

We searched keywords Chironomidae, bioindicator, environment, water stream, water quality, anthropogenic disturbance, pollutant, fossil, industrial waste, and aquatic habitats. Chironomidae was used once in single and again in combination with others. Google Scholar, Scopus, Springer, ScienceDirect, PubMed, ProQuest, JSTOR, EBSCO, BioOne, Research- Gate, Sage, Wiley Online Library, and SID were used as databases or search engines. Then, the results were sorted into four sections: Distribution and ecology, biotic indicators, food, and paleoecological studies.

The identification key of chironomids should be improved based on morphological and molecular data to determine this family more clearly. Identifying sub-fossil chironomid insects found in the sediments of lakes unravels the range of environments during the history of its aquatic habitat through paleoecological investigations.

Chironomidae at genera or species has variations in traits in the ecosystems. Each species as a bio-indicator has different tolerable condition in its own habitat .Overall, the role of this family in all types of pollutants is ambiguous. More studies are needed to particularize the importance of Chironomidae based on genera and species.

We are witnessing the increasing use of antibiotics and the upward trend of resistant nosocomial infections. Therefore, identifying pathogens and determining the local patterns of antibiotic resistance are the health system’s priorities in any region.

The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Non-ICU wards, the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1), alpha-toxin (Hla), and pantone-valentine leucocidin (PVL) genes in S. aureus strains, and antibiotic resistance patterns to provide a clinical guide for clinicians in Southwest Iran.

Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from clinical specimens between 2018 and 2020. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was detected by cefoxitin screening. Then, the antimicrobial resistance of all isolates was tested with the disk diffusion (DD) and the minimuminhibitory concentration (MIC) methods. Virulence genes, including TSST-1, Hla, and PVL, were evaluated by the PCR method.

Of 186 S. aureus strains isolated from various specimens, 51 (27.4%) were MRSA, with a 26.8% rate in the ICU. All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, daptomycin, andquinupristin-dalfopristin. The penicillin-resistant S. aureus proportion was 93.5% (174/186), and more than 50% of all S. aureus isolates were resistant to fluoroquinolones. The incidence rates of virulence factors, including TSST-1, Hla, and PVL genes in MRSA, were 3.9%, 39.2%, and 2%, respectively.

It is recommended to start empiric treatment against MRSA in case of severe infections in the ICU with either quinupristin-dalfopristin, daptomycin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, or linezolid until the culture and antibiotic susceptibility test results are available. Nevertheless, following the antibiotic resistance pattern is necessary to start treatment for other infections.

The effect of exercise on serum and salivary cortisol levels depends on the intensity of sports. So far, no study has evaluated the effect of acute exercise on cortisol levels.

This study aimed to determine and compare the salivary cortisol concentration two weeks and 30 minutes before competition in elite adolescent boy swimmers. Also, we determined the association between anxiety and salivary cortisol levels.

We included 14 elite boy swimmers aged 10 - 13 years old. Anxiety was assessed using the Sports Competition Anxiety Test (SCAT) 30 minutes before the competition. Saliva samples were measured two weeks and 30 minutes before the swimming competition. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was used to assess salivary cortisol levels. Using paired t-test, we compared salivary cortisol levels 30 minutes and two weeks before the competition. Also, we used linear regression to examine the effect of anxiety on salivary cortisol levels before the competition.

Our results showed a significantly elevated cortisol level 30 minutes before the competition compared to two weeks before the competition (5.241.97 vs. 3.471.03 g/dL, P = 0.007). However, pre-competition salivary cortisol levels were not significantly related to SCAT, somatic, and cognitive anxiety (P > 0.05).

According to the results of this study, swimming competition influenced salivary cortisol response before the competition.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system disease accompanied by variable symptoms such as optic neuritis, fatigue, spasticity, neuro-urological dysfunction, paresthesia, and headache. The frequency of MS was reported differently in geographical latitude, which may be in relation to genetic changes in circadian rhythm regulator genes, including aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator-like (ARNTL) and circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK).

This study aimed at genotyping rs3789327 in the ARNTL and rs6811520 in the CLOCK genes and their association with MS in the Iranian population.

Totally, 100 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and 100 healthy controls were recruited. DNA extracted from the whole blood of all patients was genotyped by high-resolution melting (HRM) real-time PCR method for the rs3789327 and rs6811520 within the ARNTL and CLOCK genes, respectively, then theHRMresults were confirmed by Sanger sequencing method.

Our results showed a statistically significant difference in genotype distributions in the CLOCK gene (rs6811520, P = 0.023) in MS and healthy controls, but in the ARNTL gene, there was no significant change in rs3789327 genotypic distribution between MS patients and healthy individuals (P = 0.2). The TC genotype of the rs6811520 was associated with a higher risk for MS [P = 0.006, OR = 4.164, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.43 - 12.09].

The present results suggested that genetic variations in the CLOCK gene are a risk factor for MS.

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among men worldwide. The early detection of prostate cancer with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) increases the disease treatment in the early stages. Moreover, knowledge and screening for PSA for prostate cancer in men decreases the mortality rate.

The present study aimed to screen prostate cancer behaviors according to the Health Belief Model in Men Aged above 40 in Dezful.

This cross-sectional study encompassed 120 male employees aged above 40 years working at the Dezful University of Medical Sciences in 2018. The participants were selected using a random cluster sampling method. Data collection tools were a researcher-made, three-section questionnaire with questions on demographic characteristics, awareness, Health Belief Model (HBM) constructs, and prostate cancer screening behaviors.

The participants’ mean age was 46.224.56 years (ranging from 40 to 60 years). Total awareness of prostate cancer and screening behavior among men was acceptable (5.59  4.13). The performance of PSA was 20.8%. There was no significant difference between the mean age and PSA (P = 0.39). In the logistic regression analysis, perceived sensitivity to prostate cancer yielded a psychological predictor of prostate cancer screening behaviors (OR = 0.92, P value = 0.01).

The findings showed a relationship between perceived sensitivity and the frequency of PSA. Moreover, the participants’ poor knowledge and performance indicated an urgent need for formal training programs to promote their sensitivity to the significance of prostate cancer screening. Factors affecting prostate cancer screening behaviors should be included in these training programs.