Phenotypic Assays to Determine Virulence Factors of Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) Isolates and their Correlation with Antibiotic Resistance Pattern

Mohsen Tabasi,Mohammad Reza Asadi Karam,Mehri Habibi,Mir Saeed Yekaninejad,Saeid Bouzari 질병관리본부 2015 Osong Public Health and Research Persptectives Vol.6 No.4

Objectives: Urinary tract infection caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains is one of the most important infections in the world. UPEC encode widespread virulence factors closely related with pathogenesis of the bacteria. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of different phenotypic virulence markers in UPEC isolates and determine their correlation with antibiotic resistance pattern. Methods: UPEC isolates from patients with different clinical symptoms of UTI were collected and screened for biofilm and hemolysin production, mannose resistant, and mannose sensitive hemagglutination (MRHA and MSHA, respectively). In addition, antimicrobial resistance pattern and ESBL-producing isolates were recorded. Results: Of the 156 UPEC isolates, biofilm and hemolysin formation was seen in 133 (85.3%) and 53 (34%) isolates, respectively. Moreover, 98 (62.8%) and 58 (37.2%) isolates showed the presence of Types 1 fimbriae (MSHA) and P fimbriae (MRHA), respectively. Our results also showed a relationship between biofilm formation in UPEC isolated from acute cystitis patients and recurrent UTI cases. Occurrence of UTI was dramatically correlated with the patients’ profiles. We observed that the difference in antimicrobial susceptibilities of the biofilm and nonbiofilm former isolates was statistically significant. The UPEC isolates showed the highest resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, and cotrimoxazole. Moreover, 26.9% of isolates were ESBL producers. Conclusion: This study indicated that there is a relationship between the phenotypic virulence traits of the UPEC isolates, patients’ profiles, and antibiotic resistance. Detection of the phenotypic virulence factors could help to improve understanding of pathogenesis of UPEC isolates and better medical intervention.

Comparing the effects of vaginal misoprostol, laminaria, and extra amniotic saline infusion on cervical ripening and induction of labor

( Zohreh Tabasi ),( Elaheh Mesdaghinia ),( Masoumeh Abedzadeh-kalahroudi ),( Mojtaba Sehat ),( Aida Panahandeh ) 대한산부인과학회 2020 Obstetrics & Gynecology Science Vol.63 No.3

Objective This study aimed to compare the effects of vaginal misoprostol, laminaria, and extra-amniotic saline infusion (EASI) on cervical ripening. Methods This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 195 women with singleton pregnancies and unripe cervices. Participants were randomly allocated to 3, 65-person groups: a misoprostol, a laminaria, and an EASI group. The interventions in the misoprostol, laminaria, and EASI groups included a single 25-μg vaginal misoprostol suppository, an intracervical laminaria, and a transcervical Foley catheter, respectively. The groups were compared with each other regarding time intervals from labor induction to labor active phase and delivery, cervical dilation, Bishop scores 6 hours after induction, delivery type, length of hospital stay, and complications. Results There were no significant differences among the groups regarding maternal ages, gestational ages, body mass indices, baseline cervical dilations, and Bishop scores (P>0.05). Six hours after induction, the Bishop score and cervical dilation were significantly greater in the EASI group than in the other 2 groups (P<0.001). Moreover, time intervals from labor induction to labor active phase and delivery in the EASI group were significantly short (P<0.001). The rates of cesarean section, fetal distress, placental abruption, and meconium staining in the misoprostol group were significantly high (P<0.05), and the length of hospital stay in the EASI group was significantly short (P<0.001). Conclusion EASI is a safer and more effective method for cervical ripening. Considering its inexpensiveness, easy accessibility, and greater effectiveness, EASI is recommended for cervical ripening.

Chemokine Receptors Expression in MSCs: Comparative Analysis in Diff erent Sources and Passages

Asieh Heirani-Tabasi,Shirin Toosi,Mahdi Mirahmadi,Mohammad Amir Mishan,Hamid Reza Bidkhori,Ahmad Reza Bahrami,Javad Behravan,Hojjat Naderi-Meshkin 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2017 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.14 No.5

MSC-based therapy is providing a cure for degenerative diseases with unmet medical need and usually iliac crest bone marrow (ICBM) are being applied in clinics. Alternative sources, including adipose tissue and reamer/irrigator/ aspirator hold great potential for isolating MCSs. Here, we compared original MSCs features of adipose tissue (Ad-MSCs) and bone marrow of long-bone (RIA-MSCs) or iliac crest, and the expression of chemokine receptors (including CXCR4, CX3CR1, CXCR6, CXCR2, CCR1 and CCR7) in these three sources, which are important in the context of homing. We further investigated the role of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis as a key player in motility of different population of MSCs using Transwell migration assay. All cells exhibited typical MSCs characteristics. However, different MSCs sources expressed different levels of chemokine receptors. Generally, the expression of these chemokine receptors was decreased with increasing passage (P) number from 2 to 3. Interestingly, it was observed that the CXCR4 expression and migration capacity in Ad-MSCs is significantly higher than ICBM and RIA-MSCs in P2. Although our data showed that CXCR4 had highest expression in P2 Ad-MSCs, but it dramatically declined following sub-culturing in the P3. Hence, to improve homing of MSCs by means of chemokine/their receptors axis, the source of isolation and passage number should be considered for clinical applications.

The Effect of Acupuncture on Relieving Pain after Inguinal Surgeries

Taghavi, Rahim,Tabasi, Kamyar Tavakoli,Mogharabian, Nasser,Asadpour, Akram,Golchian, Amir,Mohamadi, Shabnam,Kabiri, Azade Ataran The Korean Pain Society 2013 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.26 No.1

Background: Postoperative pain is one of the most prevalent and bothersome issues found in the surgical department. Nowadays, there are various methods of acupuncture used for relieving pain without the complications found in some routine postoperative analgesics. These methods could be especially useful for high risk patients prone to complications from analgesics, such as transplantation recipients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of electro-acupuncture on postoperative pain control after inguinal surgeries. Methods: Ninety male patients, who were referred to our department with indications of inguinal surgery, were included in the study and randomly divided into two groups, such as acupuncture and control. We used electro-acupuncture for the acupuncture group and no actual acupuncture (but placed needle electrodes similar to the acupuncture group) for the control group. Postoperative pain was quantified by a blind observer in both groups using a visual analogue scale (VAS) standard score before being compared. Results: Pain intensity and analgesic use were significantly higher in the control group (P < 0.05). In the acupuncture group, the VAS pain scores were significantly lower than the control group at 0.5, 1 and 2 hours post operation. When the opioid related side effects were compared for each group, the results showed that the number of subjects who experienced dizziness in the acupuncture group was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Acupuncture in patients, after inguinal surgery, can reduce the need of analgesics, which also directly reduces the complications that may occur when analgesics are used in relieving pain postoperatively.

The Effect of Acupuncture on Relieving Pain after Inguinal Surgeries

( Rahim Taghavi ),( Kamyar Tavakoli Tabasi ),( Nasser Mogharabian ),( Akram Asadpour ),( Amir Golchian ),( Shabnam Mohamadi ),( Azade Ataran Kabiri ) 대한통증학회 2013 The Korean Journal of Pain Vol.26 No.1

Background: Postoperative pain is one of the most prevalent and bothersome issues found in the surgical department. Nowadays, there are various methods of acupuncture used for relieving pain without the complications found in some routine postoperative analgesics. These methods could be especially useful for high risk patients prone to complications from analgesics, such as transplantation recipients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of electro-acupuncture on postoperative pain control after inguinal surgeries. Methods: Ninety male patients, who were referred to our department with indications of inguinal surgery, were included in the study and randomly divided into two groups, such as acupuncture and control. We used electro- acupuncture for the acupuncture group and no actual acupuncture (but placed needle electrodes similar to the acupuncture group) for the control group. Postoperative pain was quantified by a blind observer in both groups using a visual analogue scale (VAS) standard score before being compared. Results: Pain intensity and analgesic use were significantly higher in the control group (P < 0.05). In the acupuncture group, the VAS pain scores were significantly lower than the control group at 0.5, 1 and 2 hours post operation. When the opioid related side effects were compared for each group, the results showed that the number of subjects who experienced dizziness in the acupuncture group was significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Acupuncture in patients, after inguinal surgery, can reduce the need of analgesics, which also directly reduces the complications that may occur when analgesics are used in relieving pain postoperatively. (Korean J Pain 2013; 26: 46-50)

Aerodynamic behavior of supertall buildings with three-fold rotational symmetric plan shapes: A case study

Hamidreza Rafizadeh,Matin Alaghmandan,Saba Fattahi Tabasi,Saeed Banihashemi 한국풍공학회 2022 Wind and Structures, An International Journal (WAS Vol.34 No.5

Many factors should be considered by architects and designers for designing a tall building. Wind load is one of these important factors that govern the design of tall building structures and can become a serious challenge when buildings tend to be built very tall and slender. On the other hand, through the initial stages of a design process, choosing the design geometry greatly affects the wind-induced forces on a tall building. With this respect, geometric shapes with 3-fold rotational symmetry are one of the applied plan shapes in tall buildings. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics of 8 different geometrical shapes using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) by measuring the drag and lift forces. A case study approach was conducted in which different building shape models have the same total gross area and the same height of 300 meters. The simulation was an incompressible transient flow that ran 1700 timesteps (85 seconds on the real-time scale). The results show a great difference between wind-induced force performance of buildings with different plan shapes. Generally, it is stated that the shapes with the same area, but with smaller perimeters, are better choices for reducing the drag force on buildings. Applying the lift force, the results show that the buildings with plan shapes that have rounded corners act better in crosswind flow while, those with sharp corners induce larger forces in the same direction. This study delivers more analytical understanding of building shapes and their behavior against the wind force through the parametric modelling.

Specification of Bacteriophage Isolated Against Clinical Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

Ahmad Nasser,Reza Azizian,Mohsen Tabasi,Jamil Kheirvari Khezerloo,Fatemah Sadeghpour Heravi,Morovat Taheri Kalani,Norkhoda Sadeghifard,Razieh Amini,Iraj Pakzad,Amin Radmanesh,Farid Azizi Jalilian 질병관리본부 2019 Osong Public Health and Research Persptectives Vol.10 No.1

Objectives: The emergence of resistant bacteria is being increasingly reported around the world, potentially threatening millions of lives. Amongst resistant bacteria, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most challenging to treat. This is due to emergent MRSA strains and less effective traditional antibiotic therapies to Staphylococcal infections. The use of bacteriophages (phages) against MRSA is a new, potential alternate therapy. In this study, morphology, genetic and protein structure of lytic phages against MRSA have been analysed. Methods: Isolation of livestock and sewage bacteriophages were performed using 0.4 μm membrane filters. Plaque assays were used to determine phage quantification by double layer agar method. Pure plaques were then amplified for further characterization. Sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and random amplification of polymorphic DNA were run for protein evaluation, and genotyping respectively. Transmission electron microscope was also used to detect the structure and taxonomic classification of phage visually. Results: Head and tail morphology of bacteriophages against MRSA were identified by transmission electron microscopy and assigned to the Siphoviridae family and the Caudovirales order. Conclusion: Bacteriophages are the most abundant microorganism on Earth and coexist with the bacterial population. They can destroy bacterial cells successfully and effectively. They cannot enter mammalian cells which saves the eukaryotic cells from lytic phage activity. In conclusion, phage therapy may have many potential applications in microbiology and human medicine with no side effect on eukaryotic cells.

Anti-cancer Properties of a Sesquiterpene Lactone-bearing Fraction from Artemisia khorassanica

Rabe, Shahrzad Taghizadeh,Emami, Seyed Ahmad,Iranshahi, Mehrdad,Rastin, Maryam,Tabasi, Nafise,Mahmoudi, Mahmoud Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.3

Background: Artemisia species are important medicinal plants throughout the world. The present in vitro study, using a sesquiterpene lactone-bearing fraction prepared from Artemisia khorassanica (SLAK), sought to investigate anti-cancer properties of this plant and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms for the effects. Materials and Methods: Anti-cancer potential was evaluated by toxicity against human melanoma and fibroblast cell lines. To explore the involved pathways, pattern of any cell death was determined using annexin-V/PI staining and also the expression of Bax and cytochrome c was investigated by Western blotting. Results: The results showed that SLAK selectively caused a concentration-related inhibition of proliferation of melanoma cells that was associated with remarkable increase in early events and over-expression of both Bax and cytochrome c. Conclusions: The current experiment indicates that Artemisia may have anti-cancer activity. We anticipate that the ingredients may be employed as therapeutic candidates for melanoma.

Decreased Levels of Spleen Tissue CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Regulatory T Lymphocytes in Mice Exposed to Berberine

Gholamreza Karimi,Mahmoud Mahmoudi,Mahdi Balali-Mood,Maryam Rahnama,Shahrzad Zamani Taghizadeh Rabe,Nafiseh Tabasi,Bamdad Riahi-Zanjani 사단법인약침학회 2017 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.10 No.2

The effects of isoquinoline alkaloid berberine (BER) on spleen tissue CD4þCD25þFoxp3þ regulatory T (Treg) cells were evaluated in BALB/c mice. Here, BER was administered daily by intraperitoneal injection at doses of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg for 14 days. Following the exposure, mice spleen cellularities, IL-10 production by splenocytes, and spleen Treg/CD4þ cell profiles were studied in all the test groups of animals. The results showed that a high dose of BER (10 mg/kg) could decrease both the absolute and relative percentages of spleen Treg cells as well as decrease the production of IL-10 by splenocytes in the treated mice (p < 0.05). BER at 5 mg/kg did not appear to affect any of these parameters. Based on the finding here, it would seem that BER has effective immunostimulatory properties, which contradicts the results from other studies indicating immunosuppressive effects of BER. Depending on the doses of BER used, it might have a broad spectrum from immunosuppressive to stimulatory effects. Further studies, including more doses, are required to better evaluate the effects of this natural product. Mechanistic studies are required, particularly in case of redox state of the immune cells, to elucidate and determine how BER functions to impart the toxicity effects demonstrated here and in other studies.