Medical Laboratory Journal

Inhibitory Effects of a Herbal Ointment against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Maryam Meskini

ABSTRACT
            Background and Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a gram negative opportunistic pathogen and an important cause of wound infections and nosocomial infections. The purpose of this study was to study inhibitory effects of a new ointment prepared from medicinal plants against P. aeruginosa isolates.
            Methods: In this study, an ointment called ZOUSH was prepared from mixing alcoholic extracts of Satureja khuzestaniea, Zataria multiflora, Mentha mozaffariani Jamzad, honey and polyurethane. Minimal inhibitory concentration of ZOUSH and its compositions alone or combined was determined using the disk diffusion method.
            Results: S. khuzestaniea, Z. multiflora and Mentha mozaffariani Jamzad had inhibitory effects against P. aeruginosa. The ZOUSH ointment had greater antibacterial effects than the any of its compositions used solely or combined. The diameter of inhibition zone had a direct relationship with the concentration of the extracts. Moreover, the antibacterial effect of the ZOUSH ointment was identical to that of polymyxine B (300 µg).
            Conclusion: We demonstrated that the ZOUSH ointment has inhibitory effects against P. aerugionosa. The inhibition zone diameter is directly correlated with the concentration of the extracts. Our results suggest that the ointment could be useful for treatment of burn wounds and skin infections.

Preparation and Characterization of a Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody against Poliovirus Type 1 (Mahoney Strain)

Sina Soleimani

ABSTRACT
          Background and Objectives: Poliomyelitis remains a major public health problem in developing countries, which signify the need for extensive diagnostic and prevention research. The aim of the present study was to design monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against poliovirus type I with biomedical, diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
          Methods: B-cells were isolated from a mouse challenged with polio antigen injection. The B-cell were fused with myeloma tumor cells. After evaluation and screening of approximately 250 hybridoma colons by ELISA, 35 colons with the highest antibody titer and no cross-reactivity were selected and subsequently cloned by limiting dilution. Finally, three colons capable of secreting MAbs against epitopes of poliovirus type I were used for MAb production. Next, the MAbs were characterized by antibody assays, isotyping, epitope analysis (western blot), cross-reactivity test, stability test, sterility test and mycoplasma test.
          Results: The results indicated that the MAbs were of IgG1 kappa chain, had good stability and no cross-reactivity. In western blot, a band at 26 kDa which is associated to VP3 neutralization protein was observed.
          Conclusion: These serotype-specific MAbs can be potentially used for identification of type I poliovirus for research, diagnostic and prevention purposes.
          Keywords: Monoclonal antibody, Hybridoma, Poliomyelitis, Poliovirus.

Lack of Association between Selenium Level and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) Expression in Breast Cancer Tissue

Hamidreza Joshaghani

Background and Objective: HER-2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is one such gene that can play a role in the development of breast cancer by making HER-2 proteins (receptorson breast cells). Normally, HER-2 receptors control breast cells grow and Division. HER-2 protein over expression is the cause of up to 20% of breast cancers. The phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) pathway is important in the oncogenic function of HER-2.

It has been reported compounds including Se, such as selenite significantly attenuated oxidative-stress-induced activation of the PI3K signaling pathways and can exhibit antitumor activity by downregulating PI3K activation.

In this study, we evaluated Association of tissue selenium level and Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression in breast cancer.

methods:

Se contents and expression of HER-2 were determined in 30 tissue collected from 30 women diagnosed with breast cancer based on immunohistochemistry (HER-2) and atomic absorption (Se).

Results:

About 30% of the samples were positive for HER-2 expression. Mean level of tissue selenium in tumors for positive and negative HER-2 was 268.15 µg/l and 206.43µg/l respectively. So, there was no significant association between selenium level and HER-2 expression. (p>0.005)

Conclusion:

There is no Association of tissue selenium level and HER-2 expression in breast cancer.

Keyword:

Selenium, HER-2, breast cancer

Evaluation of Bcl-2 and Bax Expression in the Heart of Diabetic Rats after Four Weeks of High Intensity Interval Training

Nasrin Ramezani

ABSTRACT
           Background and Objectives: Diabetes is one of the most common diseases and a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Studies have shown that regular exercise can affect apoptosis in cardiomyocytes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of high-intensity interval training on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax as important apoptosis factors in diabetic rats.
           Methods: After inducing diabetes in 20 male Wistar rats (weighing 250 ± 1.15 g), the rats were randomly divided into a control group and a training group. The training group performed high-intensity interval training five days a week for four weeks, and the control group did not perform any training. After the intervention, RNA was extracted and TCF mRNA was subjected to real time RT-PCR for measuring Bax and Bcl-2 expression in the heart tissue of diabetic rats. Data were analyzed by IBM SPSS Statistics V22 using independent t-test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.
           Results: The expression of Bcl-2 increased significantly and the expression of Bax decreased significantly after the four-week training intervention.
           Conclusion: The high-intensity interval training can have beneficial effects on the expression of apoptotic genes in rats with type 2 diabetes.
           Keywords: Bax, Bcl-2, High intensity interval training, Heart, Type 2 diabetes.

Protective Effect of Ilex spinigera and Gleditsia caspica Extracts against Drug-Induced Hemolysis in Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase-deficient Patients

Maryam Mohadjerani

ABSTRACT
           Background and Objectives: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deﬁciency is the most common X-linked disorder of human erythrocytes in which cells are susceptible towards hemolytic changes and could be destroyed by peroxides. Extracts of Ilex spinigera and Gleditsia caspica leaves have excellent free radical scavenging activity. We investigated the protective effects of these extracts against hemolysis induced by some drugs in G6PD-deﬁcient erythrocytes.
           Methods: Blood samples were collected from males with and without G6PD deﬁciency. Hemolysis induced by aspirin, phenylhydrazine hydrochloride and phenacetin was assessed in the presence and absence of the extracts. The amount of released hemoglobin was determined by reading absorbance at 540 nm.
           Results: The methanol extract of G. caspica had significant protective effects against phenacetin-induced hemolysis in G6PD-deﬁcient human erythrocytes (P<0.05). However, the I. spinigera extract had no significant anti-hemolytic effects on these cells.
          Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the extract of G. caspica could be a potential drug with antioxidant and anti-hemolytic properties for patients with G6PD deficiency.
           Keywords: Antihemolytic activity, Medicinal plant, G6PD deﬁciency, Gleditsia caspica, Ilex spinigera.

Comparison of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Test and Amnisure Test for Diagnosis of Premature Rapture of Membrane

Esmat Barooti

ABSTRACT
             Background and objectives: Accurate diagnosis of preterm rupture of membrane (PROM) is critical during pregnancy, and researchers are seeking ways to decrease the rate of false negative results in diagnostic tests. In the present study, we compare diagnostic properties of Amnisure test and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test for diagnosis of PROM.
             Methods: The study was performed on singleton pregnant women (gestational age: 20 to 41 weeks) who were referred to the Taleghani Hospital in Tehran (Iran) between December 2016 and December 2017. The study included 44 PROM patients and 44 control pregnant women. Speculum examination for cervicovaginal fluid washing, hCG test and Amnisure test were performed for all of patients. Statistical analysis of data was performed in SPSS software package (Version 18, Chicago, IL, USA) using t-test, Chi-square test, and Mann-Whitney test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
             Results: The Amnisure test had better sensitivity and specificity compared with the β-hCG test (95.5% and 97.7% vs. 93.2% and 95.5%). The Amnisure test also had higher positive and negative predictive values than the β-hCG test (97.7% and 95.5% vs. 93.3% and 94.3%). Diagnostic accuracy of the Amnisure test was also higher than that of the β-hCG test (96.6% vs. 94.3%).
             Conclusion: According to the results, the two tests have almost equal diagnostic power for detection of PROM during pregnancy.
             Keywords: Chorionic Gonadotropin, Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture

Identification of Pathogenic Leptospiral Serovars by Detection of the ompl37 Gene Using PCR

Pejvak Khaki

ABSTRACT
            Background and Objectives: Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease that is transmitted directly or indirectly from animals to humans. Humans mainly acquire pathogenic leptospires through mucosal or percutaneous exposure to environment contaminated with urine from an infected animal. We aimed to identify pathogenic leptospiral serovars by detection of the ompL37 gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
            Methods: Sixteen pathogenic leptospiral serovars and a saprophytic serovar, L. biflexa were cultured in modified semisolid Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris medium containing 5% rabbit serum. Genomic DNA extraction was done using the phenol-chlorophorm method. The ompL37 gene was amplified using specific primers. PCR products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis.
            Results: The ompL37 gene was amplified only in the pathogenic leptospiral serovars. We detected no amplified fragment for the saprophytic serovar.
Conclusion: Leptospirosis may be confused with other infectious diseases, and therefore, its early and accurate diagnosis is crucial. We showed that molecular detection of pathogenic leptospires based on the ompL37 gene could be used for laboratory diagnosis of leptospirosis.
            Keywords: Leptospirosis, PCR, ompl37 Gene, Pathogenic Leptospires.

Implementing QMS and Accreditation Standards in Medical Diagnostics for Quality of Services

Manickam Tamil Selvi

ABSTRACT
            Background and Objectives: Implementing quality management system (QMS) in medical laboratories improves quality of procedures and enhances the staff’s skill development. It prevents frequent inaccuracies in both clinical and laboratory procedures caused by lack of regulatory compliance, safety precautions and inadequate facilities. The purpose of this study is to evaluate effect of implementing QMS based on essential standards NABH (MLP) and NABL (ISO 15189:2012) in a medical laboratory on quality of services.
            Methods: Important quality indicators such as external quality assurance services (EQAS), rework, turnaround time (TAT) and feedback were monitored for four months, following implementing the QMS standards in a medical laboratory.
            Results: We found that implementation of the QMS program improved the tested indicators of quality. Overall percentage of rework reduced significantly.
Conclusion: Implementation of QMS improves overall quality of laboratory procedures. It significantly reduces laboratory errors and progressively improves quality, efficiency, and outcomes, thus enabling delivery of timely and accurate services for patients.
            Keywords: ISO 15189, Quality Assurance, Quality Improvement, Accreditation, Clinical Chemistry, India.