Design of a multiplex PCR method for detection of toxigenic-pathogenic in Vibrio cholerae

ObjectiveTo study virulence and regulatory genes (hlyA, ctxB, tcpI) in clinical strains of Vibrio cholerae (V. cholerae), simultaneously.MethodsThree important genes, tcpI, hlyA and ctxB were used for detection of toxigenic and pathogenic V. cholera by chain reaction assay method.ResultsAccording to the results of the PCR, the incidence of hlyA, tcpI, and ctxB genes in clinical isolates was obtained as 94.7% (72 sample), 90.8% (69 sample), and 92.1% (70 sample), respectively. Five strains possessed all genes except ctxB, six strains possessed all genes except tcpI, four strains possessed all genes except hlyA, one strain possessed only hlyA and 60 strains contained a combination of three genes, Including hlyA, ctxB and tcpI.ConclusionsResult show that this method could be reliable to detect toxigenic-pathogenic strains of V. cholerae in Iran.     

Effects of alendronate on bone healing after tooth extraction in rats

Oral Diseases (2010) 16 , 674–685 Objectives: Tooth extraction has been identified as an important risk factor for bisphosphonate‐induced osteonecrosis of the jaw. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to determine the effects of alendronate on healing of the extraction socket and on interdental alveolar bone after tooth extraction in rats. Materials and methods: Animals were injected subcutaneously with vehicle or alendronate for 3–4 weeks before the first mandibular molar was extracted and these treatments were continued during post‐extraction periods of 10, 21, 35 and 70 days. Mandibles were processed to evaluate healing of the extraction socket and adjacent alveolar bone by assessing bone formation, bone resorption and vascularity by histomorphometric techniques. Results: Alendronate decreased new woven bone formation, blood vessel area, perimeter and number in the extraction socket at 10 days postextraction, but not at later time points. Furthermore, alendronate‐treated rats had increased interdental alveolar bone volume and height only at 10 days postextraction. In addition, a 2.5‐fold increase in the percentage of empty osteocyte lacunae was found in alveolar bone of alendronate‐treated rats only at 10 days postextraction. Conclusions: Alendronate transiently decreases bone formation and vascularity in the extraction socket and delays the removal of interdental alveolar bone after tooth extraction in rats.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection without cirrhosis

AIM:To investigate and characterise patients with chronic hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection presenting with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) in the absence of cirrhosis.METHODS:Patients with chronic hepatitis C infection without cirrhosis presenting with HCC over a 2-year period were identified.The clinical case notes,blood test results and histological specimens were reviewed to identify whether additional risk factors for the development of HCC were present.RESULTS:Six patients(five male,one female) with chro...     

Pain management in mice using methanol extracts of three plants belongs to family Amaranthaceae

ObjectiveTo investigate the analgesic activity of methanolic extract of Amaranthus viridis (A. viridis), Amaranthus caudatus (A. caudatus) and Amaranthus spinosus (A. spinosus).MethodsIn this study, the analgesic activity of methanol extracts of all three plants at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg were investigated by acetic acid-induced writhings test, hot plate test and tail immersion test for mice.ResultsIt was found that all the three plants showed significant pain management effect (P<0.01) at a dose of 400 mg/kg, but showed a less significant effect at a dose of 20 mg/kg in the entire tests used for evaluation of analgesic activities (P<0.05).ConclusionsMethanol extracts of A. viridis, A. caudatus and A. spinosus show potent analgesic activities, and this study provides the scientific proof for their traditional claims.     

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 identified in two Italian families may mimic sporadic ataxia

SCA12 is an autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia characterized by onset in the fourth decade of life with action tremor of arms and head, mild ataxia, dysmetria, and hyperreflexia. The disease is caused by an expansion of ≥51 CAGs in the 5′ region of the brain‐ specific phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B‐beta isoform (PPP2R2B) gene. SCA12 is very rare, except for a single ethnic group in India. We screened 159 Italian ataxic patients for SCA12 and identified two families that segregated an expanded allele of 57 to 58 CAGs, sharing a common haplotype. The age at onset, phenotype, and variability of symptoms were compatible with known cases. In one family, the disease was apparently sporadic due to possible incomplete penetrance and/or late age at onset. Our data indicate that SCA12 is also present in Italian patients, and its genetic testing should be applied to both sporadic and familial ataxias. © 2010 Movement Disorder Society     

Gastric ulcer localization by direct in vivo labeling of sucralfate. Work in progress

We developed and evaluated a new procedure for imaging gastric ulcer disease with technetium 99m-labeled sucralfate. The new method employs direct in vivo labeling of sucralfate instead of in vitro labeling using human serum albumin, as previously reported in the literature. Tests using hydrochloric acid and a rabbit ulcer model showed the efficacy of the direct in vivo labeling technique and the ability of the tagged material to bind to ulcers, respectively. In 26 studies using humans with sucralfate labeled directly in vivo, 15 gave true-negative results and 11 gave true-positive results. Of 14 studies using humans with in vitro labeled sucralfate, three gave true-negative results, three gave true-positive results, and the results of eight were either false-negative or could not be interpreted because of high levels of activity remaining in the stomach. We suggest that the direct in vivo labeling method significantly improves the sucralfate gastric ulcer imaging technique.     

Quality of life of 5–10 year breast cancer survivors diagnosed between age 40 and 49

Background  

The purpose of this report is to examine the correlates of quality of life (QOL) of a well-defined group of long-term breast cancer survivors diagnosed between the ages of 40 and 49.