Abstract

Background and Objective: The presence of microorganisms in food is a paramount importance to public health. This study was carried out to measure the rate of microbial contamination of the hamburgers consumed in Arak.

Material and Methods: The samples of frozen hamburgers ( n= 100) were collected from  the selling centers in  Arak. The city was divided into five areas and 20 samples were collecte from each area. The experiments of counting staphylococcus aureus with Iranian National No 6806-6, the total counting of bacteria No. 5272 and the counting mould and yeast with No 997 were carried out.

Results: the samples polluted by staphylococcus aureus were 26.6%. , 61.3% of the samples were higher than the required standard and 65% of the samples were higher than the required standard in Iran. The rate of staphylococcus aureus in the samples was 6×10³ CFU/gr on average and the total counting of the bacteria was 5×10⁶ CFU/gr on average, and the average rate of being polluted by fungi was 2×10⁴ CFU/gr (820-36300) showing the high microbial contamination in this product. No significant difference was found at the level of different brands.

Conclusion: The results showed that 26.6% of the samples were contaminated with S. aureus, 61.3% with total microbial and 65% with fungal infection.

Keywords: Meat Products, Staphylococcus, Fungi, Food Safety

Abstract

Background and Objective: Nosocomial infection is one of the main factors of mortality in hospitals . One of the most important measures to control infection in hospitals  is sampling of equipment and  culturing the samples . This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of gram-negative bacilli obtained from the equipment of the hospital wards .

Material and Methods: This Descriptive study was carried out on 488 specimens taken from medical and non-medical devices and equipment of various wards, via census sampling. the samples taken by sterile swabs in Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) were inoculated in blood agar and Eosin-Methylene Blue agar, and by biochemical standard tests the isolated colonies  were identified.

Results: Of 488 isolates, 157 (32.17%) were positive for the presence of gram-negative bacilli. The highest bacterial contamination was related to Enterobacter (37.58%). Of  hospital wards, the highest infection related to the surgical wards (19.75%), and the highest contamination is related to laryngoscope blades (12.74%) and ECG sensor device and the monitoring interface (7%).

Conclusion: Microbial infection with gram-negative bacilli  is an overwhelming condition  in hospital equipment.

Key Words: Gram Negative Bacilli, Nosocomial Infection, hospital wards, hospital equipments, Gorgan

Abstract

Background and Objective: Cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic protozoan parasite causing diarrheal cryptosporidiosis. Numerous outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis have been reported worldwide.  The transmission via milk, water and raw animal products is one of the important ways. The aim of this study was the identification of hsp70 gene in Cryptosporidium parvum in raw cow’s milk samples.

Material and Methods: In this cross sectional study, 38 raw cow’s milk samples of bulk tank were randomly collected from traditional and semi industrial cattle farms in Isfahan.  To identify the protozoa in milk samples, the extracted DNA was evaluated by Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: Based on Nested polymerase chain reaction, 2 samples (5.26%) were infected to Cryptosporidium parvum.

Conclusions: The contamination of milk with Cryptosporidium Parvum is less than that of the other foodstuffs. Thus, it is necessary to reduce food contamination and to have appropriate health education programs.

Keywords: Cryptosporidium Parvum, Milk; Polymerase Chain Reaction.

ABSTRACT
            Background and objectives: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. This study examined the effects of cardiac rehabilitation exercise on lipid profile and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) gene in patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting.
           Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, after screening, patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=12) and a control group (n=12). After the surgery and discharge from hospital, the experimental group performed rehabilitation exercise for two months, while the control group did not perform any exercise after discharge from the hospital and the initial phase of rehabilitation. Fasting blood samples were collected before and after the last training session to evaluate biochemical variables and PPAR-α gene expression of lymphocytes. PPAR-α expression level was assessed by qRT-PCR. Statistical analysis was done in the SPSS software (version 20) using repeated measures.
            Results: In the follow-up after the two-month cardiac rehabilitation exercise, the PPAR-α gene was significantly overexpressed and plasma HDL levels increased significantly in the training group compared with the control group (P<0.05). Although the concentrations of LDL and triglycerides decreased in the experimental group, this reduction was not statistically significant (P>0.05).
            Conclusion: The results indicate that the protocols carried out in the study could be utilized for improving HDL levels and cardiovascular function in CABG patients.
            keywords: Cardiac Rehabilitation, Gene Expression, PPAR-α.

ABSTRACT
           Background and objectives: Studies have shown that exercise can affect hormone secretion and some metabolic and endocrine functions. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of eight weeks of aerobic training on thyroid hormones and quality of life in obese postmenopausal women.
           Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 21 obese (body mass index >30 Kg/m²) women aged between 35 and 45 were randomly divided into an experimental (n=10) group and a control group (n=11). The subjects in the experimental group performed 30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise at 65-75% of maximum heart rate, three times a week, for eight weeks. Level of thyroid hormones and quality of life subscales were compared within and between the groups. Statistical analysis was performed at significance level of 0.05.
           Results: After the eight-week exercise program, thyroxine, triiodothyronine and thyrotropin releasing hormone levels increased significantly, and thyroid releasing hormone level decreased significantly (P=0.001). The exercise program also had significantly positive effects on quality of life and its occupational, sexual and emotional subscales in obese postmenopausal women.
           Conclusion: Aerobic exercise causes a significant increase in levels of thyroxine, triiodothyronine and thyrotropin releasing hormone and some subscales of quality of life. It also causes a significant decrease in thyroid releasing hormone level, which indicates the effect of exercise on hormone secretion.
           KEYWORDS: Thyroid hormones, Obese, Quality of life, Aerobic training.

ABSTRACT
             Background and Objectives: Efflux-based systems may play a role in resistance to fluoroquinolones in Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. Extracts of some medicinal plants contain molecules that can act as efflux pumps inhibitors. In this study, we aimed to evaluate antibacterial activities of ethanolic and chloroform extracts of Cinnamomum zeylanicum and their possible synergistic activity with ciprofloxacin against some Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. We also analyzed the extracts for presence of efflux pump inhibitors against the examined bacteria.
             Methods:  Powdered dried leaves and branches of C. zeylanicum were extracted with ethanol (85%) and chloroform by the maceration method. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the extracts alone or combined with ciprofloxacin and phenylalanine-arginine β-naphthylamide (an efflux pump inhibitor) were determined against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter bummani, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis using the double serial microdilution method.
             Results: The extracts of C. zeylanicum inhibited the growth of all studied bacteria. Synergistic effects were noted between the extracts and ciprofloxacin against all tested bacteria other than P. aeruginosa. Ciprofloxacin efflux pumps in E. coli, S. enteritiditis and A. baumannii were inhibited by the extracts of C. zeylanicum.
             Conclusion: The extracts of C. zeylanicum could be used as ciprofloxacin-potentiating agents against some Gram-negative pathogens.
             Keywords: Anti-bacterial agents, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Bacterial pathogens, Efflux pumps.

ABSTRACT
          Background and Objectives: Proper diagnosis of clinical conditions is a major goal of clinical and biochemical analyses. Recently, increasing efforts have been put on the use of less invasive sampling techniques with optimal sensitivity and specificity. The aim of this study was to investigate the applicability of saliva instead of blood for measuring biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function in healthy individuals.
          Methods: Plasma and saliva samples were collected from 100 healthy volunteers to measure level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), urea and creatinine using a fully automated chemistry analyzer (ACE Alera) with ready to use validated kits. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was carried out using MediCal program to calculate sensitivity and specificity and area under ROC (AUC).
          Results: The mean (standard deviation) salivary level of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, creatinine and urea was 20.9 (20.7) U/L, 25.8 (17.9) U/L, 10.6 (11.8) U/L, 9.6 (4.37) U/L, 0.16 (0.13) mg/dL, 0.09 (0.05) mg/dL and 35.6 (15.2) mg/dL, respectively. Saliva to blood ratios of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, creatinine and urea was 14%, 113%, 65%, 45%, 19%, 12% and 130%, respectively. The suggested normal saliva ranges of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, total bilirubin, creatinine and urea were 7-98 (U/L), 31-104 (U/L), 6-31 (U/L), 15-24 (U/L), 0-0.13 (mg/ dL), 0.14-0.31 (mg/ dL) and 45-74 (mg/ dL), respectively.  The calculated sensitivity and specificity values were 38%  and 85% for ALP), 80% and 76% for AST, 75% and 45% for ALT, 60%  91% for GGT, 49% and 38% for total bilirubin, 20% and 91% for creatinine and 100% and 75% for urea. The AUC was higher than 0.7 for urea, GGT and AST, indicating good sensitivity and specificity of saliva testing for evaluation of these enzymes.
          Conclusion: Based on the results, saliva could be as a noninvasive method of assessing kidney and liver function. Saliva may be a favorable alternative to plasma for measuring level of urea, GGT and AST in humans.

Background: Acute ischemic stroke occurs when blood clots obstruct blood vessels within the brain. Platelets (Plts) are integral to the pathophysiology of stroke. This research aimed to explore the relationship between Plt quality and Plt indices in the context of acute ischemic stroke.
Methods: This cross-sectional investigation involved 100 patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke at Kosti Teaching Hospital and Alyammama Hospitals. The diagnosis was confirmed using brain CT imaging and electrocardiography (ECG). Blood samples were collected in EDTA-containing tubes within 24 hours following the commencement of treatment and were subsequently analyzed for Plt count, mean Plt volume (MPV), Plt distribution width (PDW), and plateletcrit (PCT) utilizing a hematological analyzer. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software.
Results: Platelet counts negatively correlated with PDW [r=-0.074, P=0.459; R=-0.023, P=0.815], MPV [r=-0.130, P=0.194; R=-0.081, P=0.417], and diastolic blood pressure [r= -0.023, P=0.818; R= -0.024, P=0.805]; and positively correlated with PCT [r= 0.103, P=0.308; R=0.143, P=0.155] and diastolic blood pressure [r=0.022, P=0.823; R= 0.008, P=0.932]. Moreover, PDW positively correlated with systolic blood pressure [r=0.105, P=0.298; R= 0.147, P=0.148] and diastolic blood pressure [r=0.146, P=0.145; R=0.173, P=0.084]. Based on Spearman but not Pearson correlation, PDW showed a negative correlation with PCT [r=-0.005, P=0.959; R=0.010, P=0.929].
Conclusion: The study shows a correlation between Plt count and indices in ischemic stroke patients. The research also presented evidence concerning the relationship between diastolic and systolic blood pressure and Plt counts and indices.
 

Background: Due to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and rising consumer preference for natural food preservatives, there is an increased interest in plant-based antimicrobial agents. While Salix aegyptiaca (S. aegyptiaca), also known as Musk Willow, is a promising source of bioactive compounds, its antibacterial properties have not been extensively studied. Therefore, this research investigates the chemical composition and antibacterial effectiveness of essential oils extracted from the leaves and male inflorescences of S. aegyptiaca against important foodborne pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), and Salmonella enteritidis (S. enteritidis).
Methods: Essential oils were extracted from the leaves and male inflorescences of S. aegyptiaca through hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of these oils was then determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify their bioactive constituents. The antibacterial efficacy of the extracted oils was assessed using several methods, including the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), as well as diffusion assays (Agar disk and agar well diffusion).
Results: GC-MS analysis revealed that the leaf oil was predominantly composed of 1,4-dimethoxybenzene, citronellol, and eugenol, whereas carvone was the main constituent of the male inflorescence oil. The leaf oil demonstrated superior antimicrobial activity, particularly against S. aureus, for which the MIC was determined to be 1250 µg/mL. Both oils indicated limited efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria. Of the strains tested, S. aureus proved to be the most susceptible, while E. coli exhibited the highest resistance.
Conclusion: The essential oils extracted from S. aegyptiaca, especially from its leaves, have shown significant antibacterial effects against common foodborne pathogens. This suggests they could be used as natural food preservatives, offering a viable alternative to synthetic additives. Additional research is necessary to investigate their use in food products and to establish their toxicological safety.