OBJECTIVES: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the major cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Here, we determined whether sensitivity to antibiotics was related to the prevalence of iron scavenging genes, or to biofilm and hemolysis formation. METHODS: A total of 110 UPEC and 30 E coli isolates were collected from the urine of UTI patients and feces of healthy individuals without UTI, respectively. The presence of iron receptor genes and phenotypic properties were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction and phenotypic methods, respectively. Susceptibility to routine antibiotics was evaluated using the disc diffusion method. RESULTS: The prevalence of iron scavenging genes ranged from 21.8% (ireA) to 84.5% (chuA) in the UPEC. Resistance to ceftazidime and cefotaxime was significantly correlated with the presence of fyuA and iutA iron genes. Biofilm production was significantly associated with the prevalence of fyuA and hma iron genes. A higher degree of antibiotic resistance was exhibited by isolates that produced biofilms than by their non-biofilm producing counterparts. CONCLUSION: Our study clearly indicates that biofilm production is associated with antibiotic resistance, and that iron receptors and hemolysin production also contribute to reduced antibiotic sensitivity. These results further our understanding of the role that these virulence factors play during UPEC pathogenesis, which in turn may be valuable for the development of novel treatment strategies against UTIs.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biofilms ; Cefotaxime ; Ceftazidime ; Diffusion ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Feces ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Iran* ; Iron ; Methods ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli ; Virulence Factors* ; Virulence*

No abstract available.
Phantom Limb

No abstract available.
Ascorbic Acid ; Vitamins

Objective: To examine the effect of acupuncture-like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (ACUTENS) on labor pain in nulliparous women. Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted at Razi Hospital in Qazvin, Iran between January and July 2018. After the screening process, 144 out of 184 pregnant women were selected by convenience sampling and assigned to an intervention group or a control group by the block randomization method. The intervention group received ACUTENS at Hegu (LI4), Shenmen (HT7), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Neimadian (Extra) during various stages of delivery in addition to routine labor care at the delivery room. For the control group, the same routine labor care was performed alone. The severity of pain was assessed in the two groups using the visual analog scale (VAS). The data were analyzed using R software (ver. 4.0.2) and repeated measurement analysis of variance. Results: ACUTENS reduced the mean score of pain intensity in the first stage of labor in the intervention group more than that in the control group (P<0.001). Also, the mean scores of pain intensity in the second stage of labor, episiotomy, and one hour after delivery in the intervention group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: ACUTENS at Hegu (LI4), Shenmen (HT7), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Neimadian (Extra) can decrease the intensity of labor pain in nulliparous women. It can be used as a non-pharmacological method for reducing pain in and after labor.

PURPOSE: Febrile seizures are induced by fever and are the most common type of seizures in children. Although numerous studies have been performed on febrile seizures, their pathophysiology remains unclear. Recent studies have shown that cytokines may play a role in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures. The present study was conducted to identify potential links between serum interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and febrile seizures. METHODS: Ninety-two patients with simple or complex febrile seizures (46 patients per seizure type), and 46 controls with comparable age, sex, and severity of temperature were enrolled. RESULTS: The median concentrations of serum IL-1beta in the simple, complex febrile seizure, and control groups were 0.05, 0.1, and 0.67 pg/mL, respectively (P=0.001). Moreover, the median concentrations of TNF-alpha in the simple, complex febrile seizure, and control groups were 2.5, 1, and 61.5 pg/mL, respectively (P=0.001). Furthermore, there were significant differences between the case groups in serum IL-1beta and TNF-alpha levels (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Unlike previous studies, our study does not support the hypothesis that increased IL-1beta and TNF-alpha production is involved in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures.
Child ; Cytokines ; Fever ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Seizures ; Seizures, Febrile* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are valuable for cell-based therapy. However, their application is limited owing to their low survival rate when exposed to stressful conditions. Autophagy, the process by which cells recycle the cytoplasm and dispose of defective organelles, is activated by stress stimuli to adapt, tolerate adverse conditions, or trigger the apoptotic machinery. This study aimed to determine whether regulation of autophagy would affect the survival of MSCs under stress conditions. METHODS: Autophagy was induced in bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) by rapamycin, and was inhibited via shRNA-mediated knockdown of the autophagy specific gene, ATG7. ATG7 expression in BM-MSCs was evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot, and quantitative PCR (qPCR). Cells were then exposed to harsh microenvironments, and a water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST)-1 assay was performed to determine the cytotoxic effects of the stressful conditions on cells. RESULTS: Of 4 specific ATG7-inhibitor clones analyzed, only shRNA clone 3 decreased ATG7 expression. Under normal conditions, the induction of autophagy slightly increased the viability of MSCs while autophagy inhibition decreased their viability. However, under stressful conditions such as hypoxia, serum deprivation, and oxidative stress, the induction of autophagy resulted in cell death, while its inhibition potentiated MSCs to withstand the stress conditions. The viability of autophagy-suppressed MSCs was significantly higher than that of relevant controls (P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Autophagy modulation in MSCs can be proposed as a new strategy to improve their survival rate in stressful microenvironments.
Anoxia ; Autophagy* ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Clone Cells ; Cytoplasm ; Down-Regulation* ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells* ; Organelles ; Oxidative Stress ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Sirolimus ; Survival Rate

Background: and Purpose Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a rare neurological disorder that is often associated with viral infections. Since the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a few COVID-19-associated ANE cases have been reported. Since very little is known about ANE, the present study aimed to determine the clinical, biochemical, and radiological characteristics of affected patients. Methods: A search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases for articles published up to August 30, 2022 using relevant keywords. Case reports and series in the English language that reported ANE in adult patients with COVID-19 confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were included in this study. Data on the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics of patients were extracted and analyzed using the SPSS software (version 26). Results: The study included 30 patients (18 males) with COVID-19 and ANE who were aged 49.87±18.68 years (mean±standard deviation). Fever was the most-prevalent symptom at presentation (66.7%). Elevated C-reactive protein was observed in the laboratory assessments of 13 patients. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were the most-common radiological modalities used for brain assessments. The most commonly prescribed medications were methylprednisolone (30%) and remdesivir (26.7%). Sixteen patients died prior to discharge. Conclusions The diagnosis of COVID-19-associated ANE requires a thorough knowledge of the disease. Since the clinical presentations of ANE are neither sensitive nor specific, further laboratory and brain radiological evaluations will be needed to confirm the diagnosis. The suspicion of ANE should be raised among patients with COVID-19 who present with progressive neurological symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effect of Zataria multiflora extract, an antioxidative medicinal plant, against cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced oxidative lung damage in mice. METHODS: Mice were intraperitoneally pre-treated with various doses of Zataria multiflora extract (50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) once daily for 7 consecutive days. Animals were then injected with a single 200 mg/kg intraperitoneal dose of CP 1 h after the last administration of O. vulgare. Twenty-four hours later, mice were euthanized, the lungs were immediately removed, and biochemical and histological studies were conducted. RESULTS: A single dose of CP markedly altered the levels of several biomarkers associated with oxidative stress in lung homogenates. Pretreatment with Zataria multiflora significantly inhibited the elevation of lipid peroxidation level and the depletion in glutathione content, and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities induced by CP in lung. In addition, Zataria multiflora effectively alleviated CP-induced histopathological abnormality and pulmonary damages in mice lung tissues. CONCLUSIONS The results reveal that Zataria multiflora protects lung tissues from CP-induced toxicity and suggest a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of lung toxicity produced by CP in mice. Because Zataria multiflora has been extensively used as an additive agent and is regarded as safe, it may be used concomitantly as a good supplement for reducing organ toxicity in patients undergoing chemotherapy, besides their consolidated ethnopharmacological uses.