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Background: Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is used primarily to produce home appliances however, its production without vinyl chloride (VCM) is not reproducible. VCM has harmful effects on liver when is exposed during a long term duration. We surveyed long term liver effects with exposure of mild to moderate amounts of VCM.

 Materials and methods: In this case-control study, liver enzymes levels of 52 workers were compared with 48 staff employees using t-test analysis. Case group was composed of all occupied workers in PVC production unit (one of the petrochemical complex), while, the control group was chosen form administrative staff of the same petrochemical complex.

 Results: The mean level of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamine trans peptidase (GGT) were shown to be significantly differed between the two groups. Other measures such as AST, ALT, and direct and indirect billirubin were revealed to be higher in case group, however, their difference did not reach a statistically significant level.

Conclusion: Results revealed that exposure to even low levels of VCM may lead to mild liver cholestatic damage, therefore, use of tests for liver cholestasis such as GGT and ALP for individuals working in PVC production units should be kept in mind periodically.

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Background: Hyper IgE syndrome is a rare primary immune deficiency disorder characterized by pulmonary and cutaneous infection, eczema, and elevated serum IgE levels. In this article, 4 patients with hyper IgE syndrome and recurrent pulmonary infection were reported.
Case Report: Four girls with history of recurrent pulmonary infections were worked up and hyper IgE syndrome was diagnosed for them. All patients had recurrent pulmonary infections including pneumonia, bronchiectasis, pulmonary abscess, hydropneumothorax. Serum IgE levels were greater than 2000 Iu/ml in all cases. Microbial cultures showed staphylococcus aureas and pseudomans aeroginosa in two cases. All patients respond well to the wide spectrum intravenous antibiotics. Extra-pulmonary manifestations including purulent lymphadenitis, and skin and brain abcesses were observed. Conclusion: Hyper IgE syndrome causes recurrent pulmonary and extra-pulmonary infections which response fairly well to wide spectrum antibiotic therapy.

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Background: Occupational diseases are certain sorts of diseases that have been caused by special jobs and subject to special circumstances. There are several factors that can intensify these diseases. Studies of various countries have indicated that they have played an effective role in decreasing exposures and its economic costs and attracting optimal resources through establishment of a comprehensive information system for occupational diseases. In this study the occupational disease Information system in selected countries are compared.
Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study which was conducted in 2008, during which information systems in USA, Finland, France and Iran have been studied based on their objectives, structure, most important data base characteristics and active organizations. Main instrument of this research were articles, books, magazines and valid internet sites in English language.
Results: All the three selected countries had an electronic information system and database in the field of occupational disease. In Finland, occupational diseases data as well as their damages are kept in separate databases while USA lacks a comprehensive system. In France, supervision on laboratories is a priority. In Iran, there is no certain comprehensive system for registering diseases.
Conclusion: Occupational diseases information system in Finland is more comprehensive. Iran lacks such a comprehensive system. So, it is recommended to use experiences of other countries and establish electronic comprehensive disease system.

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Background: Sleep apnea is defined as more than 10 seconds to stop the air flow in the adult airway, which may occur due to upper airway obstruction during sleep. Sleep apnea is highly prevalent among patients with cardiovascular disease, so that 50% of patients with atrial fibrillation suffer from sleep apnea. Therefore, this current study discussed the risk of sleep apnea in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Materials and Methods: This comparative-descriptive study with convenience sampling was performed on 150 patients with atrial fibrillation and 150 patients without atrial fibrillation admitted to CCU of Imam Khomeini's hospital, Saghez, Iran. Patients were matched for age and sex. Data was collected using demographic and Berlin questionnaire. Data analysis was performed by SPSS16 statistical software and descriptive and inferential statistical tests.
Results: Blood pressure in patients with atrial fibrillation was significantly higher than patients without atrial fibrillation (p=0.001). In the groups with and without atrial fibrillation, 60% and 36% had a high risk of sleep apnea, respectively. Patients with sleep apnea were prone 2.98 times to atrial fibrillation more than those without this disorder.
Conclusion: According to high incidence of sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation in the CCU, using the screening methods for patient's identification to reduce the risk factors among these patients seems to be necessary.

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Background: Water used in the pharmaceutical industry should have special physicochemical and microbiological characteristics. One of the quality items of pharmaceutical water is level of microbial content. For this reason selection of effective disinfection method is the main item for design of pharmaceutical water systems. Water systems can be maintained at temperature below 10 ºC and more than 70 ºC but maintaining of water at ambient temperature could increase of microbial content. In this condition use of disinfectant is useful for reducing of microbial content. Some of them such as chloride, ozone and hydrogen peroxide due to good results have more application.
Materials and Methods: In this study, effect of three disinfectants chloride, ozone and hydrogen peroxide with 1 ppm concentration, consider on five microorganisms Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and E.coli.
Results: Counting and decreasing of microorganisms showed the efficiency of disinfectants.
Conclusion: Finally ozone was selected as the best disinfectant due to high efficiency.

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Background: Nowadays, the widespread use of broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics has increased antibiotic resistance around the world. The aim of this study was to assess and identify genes bla_TEM, bla_SHV, bla_oxa and bla_aada in clinical isolates E.coli by Multiplex- PCR methods.

Materials and methods: In this descriptive study, 150 stool samples from different treatment centers in Tehran were randomly gathered; and biochemical tests detected 55 E. coli. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method according to CLSI. Multiple PCR assay was used to identify the genes β-lactamase. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical analysis using SPSS version 19.

Results: Highest sensitivity was observed to cefpodoxime and trimethoprim (90.9% and 58.1% respectively) and the maximum resistance was reported to imipenem and ciprofloxacin (76.3% and 100% respectively). PCR results showed bla _oxa gene in 40 isolates (72.7%), aadA gene in 15 samples (27.2%) and concurrent  bla_oxa/ aadA genes in 12 isloates (21.8%). bla_TEM and bla_SHV genes were not identified in samples.

Conclusion: Antibiotic resistance to E.coli in children with diarrhea is indicated the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Monitoring and control of drug-resistant intestinal bacteria play a major role in preventing the creation of resistant strains.

Keywords: Escherichia coli, Extended specterum β- lactamases, Multiplex-PCR.

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Background: Gastroenteritis due to Salmonella is common in human and considered as a global ‎dilemma of public health. This study was done to determine cmlA/tetR, ‎‌bla PSE-1, bla TEM and sip B ‎in the Salmonella strains by Multiplex-PCR method and their antibiotic susceptibility profile. ‎ Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 163 clinical samples were obtained from ‎patients admitted to Hazrat-e Rasool General Hospital. The antibiotic susceptibility test was determined ‎using the disk diffusion method agreeing with CLSI guideline. Then, M-PCR was achieved for ‎determination of these target genes by the specific oligonucleotides primers. ‎ Results: Of 163 collected samples, 48(29.4%) Salmonella spp., were obtained, which 25(52.1%) were ‎S. enteritidis, 14(29.2%) S. typhimurium and 9(18.7%) S. infantis. Antibiotic resistance analysis showed ‎that the highest resistance rate were related to tetracycline (n: 27, 56.2%) and then streptomycin and ‎chloramphenicol (n: 15, 31.2%). All isolates (n: 48, 100%) were susceptible to imipenem, amikacin, ‎gentamycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The MPCR results revealed that 62.5% and 16.6% of ‎Salmonella spp., isolates carried cml/tetR and sipB genes, respectively. ‎ Conclusion: According to our results, detection and genotyping of virulence genes and comparison ‎with global ranging is a basic requirement in the control and prevention of salmonellosis in industrial ‎purposes.‎ Keywords: cmlA/tetR, PSE-1, TEM, sip B, Salmonella, Multiplex-PCR

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Background: Salmonella, as an aerobic and facultative anaerobe bacillary gram-negative bacterium, is pathogen for humans and animals. This bacterium dominates the vertebral gastrointestinal tract, depending on the serotype and host conditions and factors, causes diseases with various symptoms and complications. Today, the development of multiple antibiotic resistance in this bacterium is a major barrier to public health. Integrons can play an important role in creating and expanding this resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of class I, 2 and 3 integrons in Salmonella typhimurium isolated of clinical samples by Multiplex PCR.
Materials and methods: In this study, 60 isolates of Salmonella typhimurium were collected from Tehran Hospitals and confirmed by biochemical and culture tests. Multiplex-PCR assay was performed to identify int1, int2 and int3 integrons genes.
Results: Of the 60 strains of Salmonella typhimurium, PCR assays detected 85% integron class 1, 45% integron class 2, and 70% integron class III.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed high incontinence in Salmonella typhimurium strains isolated from clinical cases. Identifying these genes can be an important strategy in identifying and responding to antibiotic resistance, since the presence of infrared cells is an indicator of the development and spread of antibiotic resistance.
 

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Background: Clinical competence in nursing profession has a unique position. The quality of care in the psychiatric wards, which include patients with special conditions, is important. Hence, nurses of these departments must have high clinical competency. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical competency of nurses working in psychiatric wards.
Materials and methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 210 nurses working in psychiatric wards of selected hospitals of the University of Behzisti and Tavanbakhshi Sciences were selected by simple random sampling. After completing the demographic questionnaire, clinical function of nurses was assessed by a checklist of clinical competence scale in CCMHN psychiatric nurses. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were used in SPSS 21 software.
Results: Clinical competence was in a good level among 70.9% of clinical nurses. There was a significant association between work experience and clinical competency, work shift, and clinical competency, and overtime and clinical competence (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed that the clinical competence of the nurses is desirable and there is a need for planning for its development. However, the need to plan work hours and avoid overtime in nurses, as well as the appropriate distribution of personnel based on work experience and constant staff shift can help to balance and improve the clinical competence of nurses.

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Background: Streptomyces is one of the most important prokaryotic microorganisms, and their secondary metabolites have high antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. Three-quarters of the antibiotics known to be produced by these bacteria. As a result, finding new effective compounds from these microorganisms can be a way to treat cancer. The aim of this study was to isolate and screen halophilic or halotolent Streptomycetes from Garmsar salt cave soil that have the ability to produce metabolites with cytotoxic properties against human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7, IBRC C10082).
Materials and methods: Isolation of Streptomyces from soil sample was done by serial dilution method and cultured on casein agar with 15% Nacl. The isolates were identified by microscopic and macroscopic examinations and the presence of diaminopalimic acid (DAP) in their cell wall. The cytotoxic effect was evaluated using MTT assay and 16SrRNA sequencing was performed to select selected streptomycetes.
Results: Secondary metabolites of 2 Streptomyces showed a 50% reduction in the concentration of human breast cancer cells. Streptomyces sp.2 was 100% similar to Streptomyces koyangensis and Streptomyces sp.25 was 95.4% similar to Streptomyces tunisiensis.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Streptomyces sp.2 and Streptomyces sp.25 secondary metabolites had cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line. The metabolite produced by them can be an option for further studies and provide more effective treatment with fewer side effects in the treatment of this disease.

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Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder with chemical, physiological and pathological changes in the liver. Due to the side effects of insulin, the use of herbal medicines such as Nigella sativa with flavonoid compounds and antioxidant properties is considered. In this study, the effect of magnetic hydroethanolic extract of Nigella sativa and MgO nanoparticles separately and simultaneously on the expression of CAT gene in liver tissue of male diabetic rats was investigated.
Materials and methods: 40 male Wistar rats, after induction of diabetes by injection of streptozotomycin (STZ) at a dose of 60 mg / kg, were treated by magnetic hydroathanolic extract of Nigella sativa at a dose of 250 mg / kg, MgO nanoparticles at a dose of 10 mg / kg, combined magnetic hydroathanolic extract 125 mg / kg and 5 mg / kg MgO nanoparticles, and the extract loaded with MgO nanoparticles every other day for 28 days and the expression of liver CAT gene was evaluated.
Results: The extract loaded with MgO nanoparticles was able to increase CAT gene expression in diabetics to the extent of gene expression in metformin-treated diabetics.
Conclusion: It seems that thymoquinone (TQ) in Nigella sativa due to its antioxidant properties increases the expression of CAT gene and overcomes the oxidative stress caused by diabetes with its protective effect on pancreatic beta cells. Loading the nanoparticles probably resulted in better absorption of the antioxidant compounds in the cell, and the MgO nanoparticles as nanocontractors facilitated the cell's access to the particulate compounds.
 

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Background: In this study, a rapid, simple, and advanced reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for the quantification of sulfasalazine in human plasma.

Materials and methods: Sulfasalazine was extracted from plasma matrices using a simple protein precipitation method by acetonitrile. Chromatographic conditions were optimized (mobile phase compositon, flow rate, injection volume and temperature of the oven). The method was validated in protein precipitated human plasma for linearity, selectivity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantification.

Results: The chromatographic separation was conducted on C₁₈ brisa LC₂ column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5μ) using isocratic elusion with mobile phase consisting of the mixture of acetonitrile: 10mM Ammonium acetate pH adjusted to 4.6 (30:70 v/v) with a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min at ambient temperature. Detection was carried out by UV detector at 361 nm. Calibration curves made in the human plasma were linear in the range of 3.125-50 μg/ml with the value of r² > 0.9999. The LOD and LOQ was 0.5 and 2.5 µg/ml, repectively.

Conclusion: The developed and validated HPLC-UV method is suitable for accurately determining sulfasalazine levels in pharmacokinetic studies of new formulations.