Objective: To determine the presence of antibodies against phase II among slaughterhouse workers in Kerman, southeast of Iran.Methods:sorbent assay using phase II Coxiella burnetii as the antigen [kit (Virion\Serion, Wurzburg, Germany) according to the manufacturer’s protocol].Results:The antibody titers of the serum samples were measured by enzyme-linked immuno Conclusions: Our findings suggest that slaughterhouse workers in Kerman area have a higher risk of infection and should consider potential infection with Coxiella burnetii. The positive rate of IgG antibody was 68% in the slaughterhouse workers.

OBJECTIVE: Embryo loading (EL) is a major step in embryo transfer (ET) and affect on the success of in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study aimed to compare the effect of two different EL techniques on the rates of pregnancy and delivery in IVF/ET cycles. METHODS: 207 fresh ET and 194 Frozen-thawed ET (FET) cycles were included in this retrospective study. Two groups (A and B) were defined based on the EL technique used. In group A, the entire catheter was flushed with Ham's F-10 medium. The embryos were then drawn into the catheter using one air bracket. In group B, 70 microL of air was aspirated into the syringe and the catheter was flushed using Ham's F10 medium. The medium, air, embryos, air, and finally another layer of medium were then sequentially drawn into the catheter. The main outcome measures were the pregnancy and delivery rates. RESULTS: The groups did not differ with respect to the etiology of infertility, the source of spermatozoa, the quality of the embryos, the type of EL catheter, and the ease of transfer. The pregnancy rate was similar between two groups. In fresh ET cycles, a higher delivery rate was observed in group B than it group A (78.1% vs. 60%, p=0.1). In FET cycles, the rate of delivery was significantly higher in group B than in group A to a nonsignificant extent (88.9% vs. 58.8%, p=0.06). CONCLUSION: EL techniques did not have a significant impact on the delivery rate in either fresh or FET cycles.
Catheters* ; Embryo Transfer ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Infertility ; Live Birth* ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Retrospective Studies ; Spermatozoa ; Syringes

BACKGROUND: In many developing countries, shigellosis is endemic and also occurs in epidemics and treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates are important. The aims of this study were to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility, prevalence of class 1 and 2 integrons and the clonal relatedness of isolates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by disc diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-sequencing technique was employed for detection and characterization of integrons. The genetic relatedness was evaluated by using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR. RESULTS: There was a high percentage of resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) (93.7%), ampicillin (AMP) (87.3%), streptomycin (STR) (84.5%) and tetracycline (TET) (78.9%). Multidrug resistant phenotype was seen in 95.1% of total isolates. Most common MDR profile was TMP/SMX/STR/AMP resistant pattern. Among the 142 Shigella spp. analyzed in this study, 28 isolates were positive for class 1 integron with two types of gene cassette arrays (dfrA17/aadA5 = 31.7% and dfrA7 = 3.8%). The class 2 integron was more frequently detected among the isolates (94.7%) with dfrA1/sat1/aadA1 (69.4%) and dfrA1/sat1 (30.6%) gene cassettes. ERIC-PCR results showed 6, 5, 4 and 3 main genotypes among S. flexneri, S. sonnei, S. boydii and S. dysenteriae isolates, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that multidrug resistant Shigella species with high prevalence of class 2 integron were very common in Iran. In addition, ERIC-PCR patterns showed limited variety of clones are responsible for shigellosis in the region of the study.
Ampicillin ; Clone Cells ; Consensus ; Developing Countries ; Diffusion ; Dysentery, Bacillary ; Genotype ; Integrons ; Iran* ; Methods ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Shigella* ; Streptomycin ; Tetracycline ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

BACKGROUND: In many developing countries, shigellosis is endemic and also occurs in epidemics and treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates are important. The aims of this study were to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility, prevalence of class 1 and 2 integrons and the clonal relatedness of isolates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed by disc diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-sequencing technique was employed for detection and characterization of integrons. The genetic relatedness was evaluated by using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC) PCR. RESULTS: There was a high percentage of resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) (93.7%), ampicillin (AMP) (87.3%), streptomycin (STR) (84.5%) and tetracycline (TET) (78.9%). Multidrug resistant phenotype was seen in 95.1% of total isolates. Most common MDR profile was TMP/SMX/STR/AMP resistant pattern. Among the 142 Shigella spp. analyzed in this study, 28 isolates were positive for class 1 integron with two types of gene cassette arrays (dfrA17/aadA5 = 31.7% and dfrA7 = 3.8%). The class 2 integron was more frequently detected among the isolates (94.7%) with dfrA1/sat1/aadA1 (69.4%) and dfrA1/sat1 (30.6%) gene cassettes. ERIC-PCR results showed 6, 5, 4 and 3 main genotypes among S. flexneri, S. sonnei, S. boydii and S. dysenteriae isolates, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings revealed that multidrug resistant Shigella species with high prevalence of class 2 integron were very common in Iran. In addition, ERIC-PCR patterns showed limited variety of clones are responsible for shigellosis in the region of the study.
Ampicillin ; Clone Cells ; Consensus ; Developing Countries ; Diffusion ; Dysentery, Bacillary ; Genotype ; Integrons ; Iran* ; Methods ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Shigella* ; Streptomycin ; Tetracycline ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

INTRODUCTIONThe number of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing worldwide. Hyperphosphataemia and high serum calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) product contribute to the substantial increase in cardiovascular events in CKD patients. Although reports of CKD complications in Iranian haemodialysis (HD) patients are comparable to data from other developed countries, management of these complications has failed to meet generally accepted targets. This study evaluated the impact of clinical pharmacy services in the management of complications in HD patients.

METHODSDuring a six-month prospective study, clinical pharmacists conducted medical visits in the HD ward and adjusted the patients' medications according to their laboratory findings.

RESULTSSerum Ca concentration was increased in hypocalcaemia patients and decreased in hypercalcaemia patients until it reached the optimal range in both groups. A decline in serum P level was noted in hyperphosphataemia patients, although it did not reach the target range. The Ca × P product decreased in patients with Ca × P > 55 mg2/dL2. Although it did not reach the goal, there was an increase and decrease in serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) concentration in suboptimal and supraoptimal range patients, respectively. Serum Ca, P and iPTH levels did not change in patients with optimal values at the initiation of the study. Haemoglobin concentration increased in anaemic patients and serum ferritin reached target values in all patients. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides decreased to near-optimal values in dyslipidaemia patients.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that clinical pharmacy services at the HD centre can improve the management of complications in CKD patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anemia ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Dyslipidemias ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; Male ; Medication Adherence ; Middle Aged ; Pharmacy Service, Hospital ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Prospective Studies ; Reference Standards ; Renal Dialysis ; adverse effects ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; complications ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo determine the presence of antibodies against phase II among slaughterhouse workers in Kerman, southeast of Iran.

METHODSThe antibody titers of the serum samples were measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay using phase II Coxiella burnetii as the antigen [kit (Virion\Serion, Wurzburg, Germany) according to the manufacturer's protocol].

RESULTSThe positive rate of IgG antibody was 68% in the slaughterhouse workers.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings suggest that slaughterhouse workers in Kerman area have a higher risk of infection and should consider potential infection with Coxiella burnetii.