Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume:19 Issue: 4, 2012

Adiponectin is the most important and promising adipocytokine to understand the relationship of obesity, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases showing anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti atherosclerotic effects too. The aim of this research was to survey the effect of cardiac rehabilitation, via special aerobic exercise training, on the serum levels of adiponectin hormone and lipoprotein lipid profile in men with atherosclerosis. Twenty patients with atherosclerosis (40-65-year-old men), selected by convenience sampling method and normalized by exercise training and primary tests, were enrolled. During 8 weeks (three session per week), subjects had 30 to 45 minutes training sessions by using treadmill, ergo meter, and arm ergo meter with the intensity of 30-50 percent of heart rate reserve. The t-test was conducted to check the difference between pretest and posttest at the significant level of P≤0.05. The level of adiponectin and HDL increased and the level of LDL, triglyceride and cholesterol decreased significantly. We concluded that cardiac rehabilitation has probably beneficial effects on the serum levels of adiponectin and lipoproteins in men with coronary artery disease after MI.

Diabetes mellitus is accompanied with higher incidence of cardiovascular disorders. There is some evidence on antidiabetic potential of silymarin. In this study the effect of chronic administration of silymarin on contractile-relaxation response of thoracic aorta of diabetic rats was investigated.

In this experimental study, male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups of control, silymarin -treated control (100 mg/kg), diabetic, and silymarin -treated diabetic groups (50 and 100 mg/kg). Ten days after streptozotocin injection, silymarin was daily administered (i.p.) for 4 weeks. At the end of study, contractile reactivity of thoracic aortic rings to KCl and phenylephrine and relaxation response to acetylcholine were determined using isolated tissue setup.

Silymarin-treated diabetic group showed a significantly lower maximum contraction to KCl (at high dose) and phenylephrine at both doses (p<0.05-p<0.01) as compared to the diabetic group. Maximum relaxation response of rings to acetylcholine was significantly higher in silymarin-treated diabetic group (high dose) as compared to diabetics (p<0.05). Meanwhile, there was also a higher relaxation response in silymarin-treated control group (high dose) in comparison to controls (p<0.05).

Chronic administration of silymarin could decrease contractile response and enhance relaxation response in aortic tissue of diabetic rat and this may be beneficial in prevention of long-term vascular complications of diabetes.

Vibrio cholerae is a gram-negative bacterial pathogen that causes cholera disease. Following ingestion by a host and entry into the upper intestine, V. cholera colonizes and begins to emit enterotoxin. One of the most pathogenic factors of Vibrio cholera is toxin-coregulated pili (TCP). Toxin-Coregulated pili is as the primary factor requiered for the colonization and insistence of bacteria in the small intestine. The toxin-coregulated pili are bundle-forming pili that are coordinately regulated with cholerae toxin (CT). The CT operon is part of the genome of the cholera toxin bacteriophage (CTXQ) which utilizes TCP as its receptor. The aim of this study is to produce a recombinant vaccine for V. cholerae in the future.

The tcpB gene was amplified by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and subcloned into pET32a expression vector. Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) plysS competent cells were transformed by pET32a - tcpB recombinant plasmid. In different media with changing the parameters of nutrient content like glucose as carbon source and yeast extract as nitrogen source, protein expression was induced by using IPTG. Recombinant protein were purified by affinity chromatography (Ni-NTA). The concentration of Recombinant proteins measured according to Bradford assay.

The sequencing results by Sanger method showed a similar sequence as tcpB gene. Escherichia coli BL21 plysS was transformed with TCPB-pET32a and gene expression was induced by IPTG. The expressed protein was purified by affinity chromatography and Ni-NTA kit.

Recombinant protein tcpB was produced in the cytoplasm of Escherichia coli BL21 plysS, by pET32a expression vector. Therefore, utilization of this protein in Escherichia coli BL21 plysS by expression vectors such as pET32a is possible.

Duo to clinical use of antibiotics, pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with multiple drugs resistance have significantly increased throughout the world. Betalactamase production is one of the Mechanisms involved in resistance to pseudomonas aeruginosa resulting in many problems in the treatment of infections caused by this bacterium. The aim of this study was molecular analysis of PER and VEB genes in Pseudomonas with multiple resistance isolated from clinical samples in Isfahan/Iran.

In whole, 98 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from various clinical specimens were identified by biochemical tests and the antibiotic susceptibility of the identified strains were determined using Kirby-Bauer method. PCR was performed on the samples to evaluate the presence or absence of PER and VEB genes.

Among 98 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 73 samples (73%) were multiple drugs resistant and all of them were cefotaxime, cefepime and ceftazidime resistant. Prevalence of PER and VEB genes were respectively 5 (6.84%) and 8 (10.9%).

Considering high prevalence of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeroginosa, it is essential to reduce these pathogens in hospitals through controlling PER and VEB genes transfer.

In regard to the limited studies about the effect of creatine on exercise-induced inflammatory responses, the present study was conducted to identify the effect of creatine monohydrate loading on response of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and peripheral blood leucocytes following one bout downhill running in male mountain climbers. Twenty volunteer young male mountain climbers (aged 24.5±1.82 year, fat = 10.42±1.96%, and VO2max = 53.56±2.36 ml/kg/min) in a quasi-experimental, randomized and double-blind design were allocated equally into supplement and placebo groups. After five consecutive days supplementation (0.3 g/kg body weight/day creatine monohydrate or dextrose), all subjects were participated in one bout downhill running protocol on a treadmill (-15% incline) for 30 minutes with 65% heart rate reserve (HRR). Changes in inflammatory indices were determined in four phases (baseline, after the supplement period, immediately and 24 hours after the exercise). Data were analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA, Bonferroni and independent t-test at α≤0.05. Creatine loading had only significant effect on the basal serum level of IL-6 (P<0.05). Moreover, the CRP, IL-6 and peripheral blood leukocytes counts in both groups showed significant increase following the exercise protocol (P<0.05) and remained higher than the baseline levels for 24 hours. However, the range of inflammatory indices alterations in supplement group was significantly lower than in placebo group (P<0.05). According to our present results, it can be concluded that creatine monohydrate loading might probably reduce exercise-induced inflammatory response following 30 min downhill running in elite male mountain climbers.

This study was carried out to assess the effect of opium addiction on the incidence of different types of arrhythmias after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The study population consisted of 200 patients with first AMI admitted within 6 hours of the onset of chest pain to the coronary care units (CCU) of two hospitals affiliated to Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. The participants were classified into two equal groups of with post-MI arrhythmias and without post-MI arrhythmias. Opium addiction in each group was determined. In the group with post-MI arrhythmia, the most common arrhythmias were sinus tachycardia (15.2%), premature ventricular complex (12.5%) and ventricular tachycardia (12%). Opium addication was significantly (P<0.001) higher in patients with arrhythmia (76%) than in the group without arrhitmia (18%). Opium addiction was a strong predictor for the appearance of arrhythmias following AMI (OR = 14.66, P<0.001). The most common type of post-MI arrhythmia following opium use was premature ventricular complex (21.3%) followed by ventricular tachycardia (20%). The corresponding values of these two types of arrhythmia in non-addict group were respectively 4.7% and 5.6% (P<0.001). Although all AMI patients are at risk of arrhythmia and mortality due to it, opium-addicts are at higher risk. This emphasizes the necessity of early refeming to medical centers in these patients.

One of the most common causes of bacterial resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is beta-lactamase producing. The aim of this study was to compare the antibiotic resistance of urinary Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolates producing CTX-M and TEM type beta-lactamases, and to determine the strains with co-resistance to multiple antibiotics in Mashhad, Iran. E. coli bacteria were isolated from urine samples of hospitalized patients referred to two selected hospitals in Mashhad, Iran, in 2010. The bacteria were identified by differential biochemical tests and confirmed using Microgene Kit tests. The antibiotic assay was performed by disk diffusion method. Double disk approximation and phenotypic confirmatory test were carried out for screening ESBLs. Plasmids of ESBL-producers were extracted. TEM and CTX-M type beta-lactamase-producing bacteria were identified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The percentage of bacteria with blaCTX-M gene was more than blaTEM (97.2% vs. 58.3%). Of the 36 bacteria producing ESBL, 20 isolates had both genes. Resistance to cefotaxime was more than ceftazidime among the isolates. A greater percentage of isolates with blaCTX-M gene were resistant or intermediate to non-lactam antibiotics; nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, and gentamicin (P<0.05) in comparison with the isolates encode blaTEM,CTX genes. 16 of 36 ESBL-producers (44.4%) were co-resistant to ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and co-trimoxazole (nine isolates encode blaCTX-M and eight encode both genes, blaTEM,CTX). The results indicated that the prevalence of blaCTX-M gene was higher than blaTEM in the studied population and the bacteria encoding blaCTX-M gene had a great resistance to gentamicin and likely the gene of resistance to gentamicin could be transmitted with blaCTX-M gene.

Child obesity is increasing in developing countries. This study assessed the prevalence of obesity and some related factors among less than 5-years children in Bandar Turkmen district, Iran. In this descriptive-analytical study, 616 children aged less than 5 years were selected with stratified random sampling. Obesity was defined as more than +2 standard deviation (SD) National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) reference. Data were collected by interviewing mothers using a questionnaire and were analyzed with chi-square and Fisher’s tests and multiple regression logistic models. 6 percent of children were obese. Prevalence of obesity did not differ significantly between boys and girls (6 and 6.1 percent respectively). Less than 2500 g and more than 4000 g birth weight (P = 0.031), less than 18 months breast feeding duration (P = 0.017), more than 37 years mother’s present age (P = 0.039), more than 30 years mother’s delivery age (P = 0.043), and formula or cow’s milk plus breast feeding up to 6 months of age (P = 0.018) had significant correlation with children’s obesity. Exclusively breast feeding up to 6 months of age rather than formula or cow’s milk plus breast feeding, reduced obesity risk about 2.45 times (P = 0.019). This study suggests that exclusively breast feeding at first 6 months of age, longer breast feeding duration and pregnancy in lower than 30 years of age reduce risk of child obesity.

It is estimated that by 2020, non communicable diseases will account for approximately two-third of all diseases that are often related to life style and nutrition. This study was conducted to assess Food pattern and anthropometric indices of students in Kerman University of Medical Sciences. In this cross-sectional study, 375 students (225 females, 150 males) with mean age of 20±2. 5 years were selected by multistage cluster sampling method. Food pattern was determined using 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire. Daily intake of energy and macronutrients, fiber and cholesterol were extracted by using nutritional software N4 and compared with, DRI (Dietary Reference Intake) and RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowances). Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured by standard instruments and methods and BMI and WHR were determined accordingly. Data analysis was performed using t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient. Mean daily intake of energy (Kcal), fat, Carbohydrate, protein (g), cholesterol (mg) and fiber (g) were respectively 2071±584, 84±29, 268±80, 69±22, 245±126 and 16±6.8 in females and 2774±638, 108±27, 361±95.5, 97±25.5, 367±185 and 19± 6.3 in males. Mean daily intake of cholesterol in males was higher than the recommended amount. Mean daily intake of fiber was lower than adequate intake in both groups. The percentage of energy intake from fat sources was higher than the favorite amount in both groups. Mean BMI (Kg/m2) and WHR were respectively 21.6±3.1 and 0.76±0.05 in females and 22.1±4.3 and 0.82±0.05 in males. A significant correlation was found between daily energy intake and WHR (r=0. 25 and P=0. 000). The daily diet composition of studied students is not balanced. Decrease of fat and increase of fiber consumption in both groups and reducing cholesterol intake in males for a balanced diet composition are recommended.

Acinetobacter spp. are non-fermenting gram-negative coccobacilli that have emerged in recent three decades as major causes of nosocomial infections. Acinetobacter baumannii is the most common pathogen causing a wide spectrum of infections. Acinetobacter infections are difficult to treat, due to both the intrinsic resistance of the pathogen and its ability to readily acquire new resistance mechanisms. A total of 84 Acinetobacter strains isolated from clinical samples were identified at the species level by biochemical tests. Then their susceptibility to 23 antibiotics and synergism among some of them were determined using disk agar diffusion testing. Antibiogram results were interpreted by using CLSI standard tables. The highest rate of drug resistance (92-98%) was observed to ampicillin, cefpodoxime, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone. Tigecycline, colistin and polymyxin B with the least resistance (3-14%) were identified as the most effective antibiotics. Non-fermentative bacteria such as Acinetobacter always are known as examples of drug-resistant bacteria. The results of the present study also indicate a high level of resistance to different antibiotics. Difference in the rates of Acinetobacter resistance to antibiotics based on geographical areas was observed.