Determination of intimin and Shiga toxin genes in Escherichia coli isolates from gastrointestinal contents of healthy broiler chickens in Kerman City, Iran

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains have emerged as food poisoning pathogens which can cause severe diseases in humans. Poultry can be readily and persistently colonized, leading to the excretion of the STEC strains in the gastrointestinal contents and becoming a potential risk for human infection. Two hundred and ninety E. coli isolates were recovered from the cecum and jejunum contents of 145 broiler chickens during the slaughter. The isolates were examined to determine the phylotypes and prevalence of stx1, stx2, and eae genes. E. coli isolates were segregated in four main phylogenetic group A (60.69 %), B1 (8.62 %), B2 (9.31 %), and D (21.38 %). The isolates from the cecal contents belonged to A (68.27 %), B1 (1.38 %), B2 (13.10 %), and D (17.24 %) phylogenetic groups. The E. coli isolates from the contents of the jejunum indicated that the isolates were distributed in four phylogenetic groups including 53.11 % (77 isolates) in A, 15.86 % (23 isolates) in B1, 5.52 % (8 isolates) in B2, and 25.51 % (37 isolates) in D group. Nine isolates (3.10 %) were positive for eae and stx2 genes. None of the isolates contained the stx1 gene. The positive isolates were distributed in three phylo-groups and four phylogenetic subgroups A (A₀, A₁), B1, and D (D₁, D₂). The four eae- and stx2-positive isolates from the cecal contents belonged to A₀, A₁, and D₁ phylo-subgroups; whereas five eae- and stx2-positive isolates from the jejunum contents fell into A₀, A₁, and D₁ phylo-subgroups and B1 phylo-group.     

Effects of acrylic resin monomers on porcine coronary artery reactivity

The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the reactivity of porcine coronary arteries under in vitro conditions following their exposure to methyl methacrylate (MMA) and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) monomers. Confirming previous studies using rat aortas, both MMA and HEMA induced acute/direct relaxation of coronary ring preparations, which was partly dependent on the endothelium. With prolonged tissue exposure, both monomers caused time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of receptor-mediated contraction of the vascular smooth muscle caused by prostaglandin F_2∝ (PGF_2∝), with HEMA causing more inhibition than MMA. Hydroxyethyl methacrylate, but not MMA, also produced impairment of non-receptor-mediated contraction of the coronary smooth muscle induced by KCl. On the other hand, neither HEMA nor MMA altered relaxation of the smooth muscle produced by the direct-acting pharmacological agent, sodium nitroprusside (SNP). While exposure to HEMA impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation caused by bradykinin (BK), MMA markedly enhanced this endothelial-mediated response of the arteries. The enhanced endothelial response produced by MMA was linked to nitric oxide (NO) release. In conclusion, with prolonged tissue exposure, MMA causes less pronounced effects/adverse consequences on coronary smooth muscle function relative to the effect of HEMA, while enhancing vasorelaxation associated with release of NO from the endothelium. Accordingly, MMA-containing resin materials appear to be safer for human applications than materials containing HEMA.     

Treatment of pediatric femoral shaft fractures with titanium elastic nails–our experience

Management of femoral diaphyseal fractures in the age group of 6-16 years is controversial. There has been a resurgence worldwide for operative fixation in general and TENS (titanium elastic nailing system) in particular.We performed a retrospective review of pediatric femoral fractures treated by TENS. The data was collected from cases operated between July 2007 and June 2010 at Sohar Hospital, Oman.We had treated 16 children (14 boys and 2 girls) with TENS for femoral shaft fractures. The mean age was 12.5 years (range 7-16 years) and mean hospital stay was 7.6 days (range 4-15 days). All fractures were radio-graphically united at a mean of 7.5 weeks (range 5-10 weeks). The nails were removed in 14 children after a mean of 22 weeks (range 6-38 weeks) postoperatively. At follow-up, we had found leg length discrepancy of 1 cm in one child and 10° of internal rotational deformity in another. No angular deformity had occurred.Titanium elastic nailing seems to be a safe and effective method for the treatment of femoral shaft fractures in children between 7 and 16 years of age.     

Efficacy of clofibrate on severe neonatal jaundice associated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (a randomized clinical trial)

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency may cause severe hyperbilirubinemia with bilirubin encephalopathy unless intervention is initiated. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of clofibrate in full term G6PD deficient neonates with jaundice. A randomized clinical trial study was performed in two groups of full-term G6PD deficient jaundiced neonates (clofibrate treated group, n = 21; control group, n = 19). Infants in the clofibrate group received a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg clofibrate, whereas control group received nothing. Both groups were treated with phototherapy. Serum total and direct bilirubin levels were measured at the onset of treatments, 16, 24 and 48 hours later. On enrollment, the mean total serum bilirubin (TSB) level in the clofibrate treated group was 18.40 +/- 2.41 and in the control group was 17.49 +/- 1.03 (p = 0.401). At 16, 24 and 48 hours of treatment, the mean TSB in the clofibrate group were 15.2 +/- 1.9, 12.6 +/- 2.4, and 10.1 +/- 2.4 and in the control group were 16.5 +/- 1.2, 13.3 +/- 2.2 and 11.4 +/- 2.4, respectively (p = 0.047). At 48 hours, 7 (33%) cases in the clofibrate group and one (5%) case in the control group were discharged with a TSB < 10 mg/dl (p = 0.031). No side effects were observed on serial examinations during hospitalization, or on the 1st and 7th days after discharge. The results show that clofibrate induces a faster decline in serum total bilirubin level, a shorter duration of phototherapy, and hospitalization with no side effects in full-term G6PD deficient neonates with jaundice.     

Association of Long-Term Diet Quality with Hippocampal Volume: Longitudinal Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Diet quality is associated with brain aging outcomes. However, few studies have explored in humans the brain structures potentially affected by long-term diet quality. We examined whether cumulative average of the Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI-2010) score during adult life (an 11-year exposure period) is associated with hippocampal volume.

Post-transplant infections: single center experience from the developing world.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience of post-transplant infections in allogeneic stem cell transplants at the Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. METHODS: From July 2001 to September 2006, patients with malignant and non-malignant hematological disorders having human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donors were selected for transplant. Pre-transplant infection surveillance was carried out, and strict prophylaxis against infection was observed. After admission to the hospital, patients were kept in protective isolation rooms, equipped with a HEPA filter positive-pressure laminar airflow ventilation system. Bone marrow and/or peripheral blood stem cells were used as the stem cell source. Cyclosporin and prednisolone were used as prophylaxis against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The engraftment was monitored with cytogenetic/molecular analysis and change of blood group. Survival was calculated from the date of transplant to death or last follow-up. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty-four patients received allogeneic stem cell transplants from HLA-matched siblings for various hematological disorders at the Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, Rawalpindi, Pakistan between July 2001 and September 2006. Indications for transplant included aplastic anemia (n=66), beta-thalassemia major (n=40), chronic myeloid leukemia (n=33), acute leukemia (n=8), and miscellaneous disorders (n=7). One hundred and twenty patients were male and 34 were female. The median age of the patient cohort was 14 years (range 1 1/4-54 years). One hundred and thirty-six patients and 135 donors were cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgG-positive. One hundred and forty patients (90.9%) developed febrile episodes in different phases of post-transplant recovery. Infective organisms were isolated in 150 microbiological culture specimens out of 651 specimens from different sites of infections (23.0% culture positivity). Post-transplant infections were confirmed in 120 patients (77.9%) on the basis of clinical assessment and microbiological, virological, and histopathological examination. Mortality related to infections was 13.0%. Fatal infections included CMV disease (100% mortality, 6/6), disseminated aspergillosis (66.7% mortality, 4/6), pseudomonas septicemia (42.9% mortality, 9/21), and tuberculosis (25% mortality, 1/4). CONCLUSIONS: More than 90% of our patients developed febrile episodes with relatively low culture yield. The majority of infections were treated effectively, however CMV, aspergillosis, and pseudomonas infections remained problematic with high mortality.