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Biomedical subjects

A Eslami

Publications and source records attributed to A Eslami.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The predatory capability of Arthrobotrys cladodes var. macroides in the control of Haemonchus contortus infective larvae.

One hundred compost samples were examined for the presence of nematophagous fungi on the sheep farms of Mazanderan, province, Iran. Arthrobotrys cladodes var. macroides (IRAN 677C=CBS 143565) was isolated from 3% of the samples examined. Nematophagous activity of this fungus which was shown for the first time in this study, revealed the addition of 1000, 8000, 20000 and 100000 conidia per gram of feces of sheep reduced significantly (P<0.001) the number of Haemonchus contortus infective larvae in the feces by 41.71%, 63, 27%, 73.49% and 94.96%, respectively. These results show that A. cladodes var. macroides is a promising candidate for biological control of H. contortus.

Animals↗

An open, comparative pilot study of thiamphenicol glycinate hydrochloride vs clarithromycin in the treatment of acute lower respiratory tract infections due to Chlamydia pneumoniae.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of thiamphenicol glycinate hydrochloride (TGH) i.m. versus clarithromycin in acute lower respiratory infections due to Chlamydia pneumonia. 113 patients with suspected pneumonia were screened. 40 patients with IgM and/or IgA titers > or = 1:16 and/or IgG titers > or = 1:512 were assigned to 10 days of treatment with TGH 1500 mg daily or clarithromycin 1000 mg daily. 34 patients were considered a clinical success. 33 patients were a radiological success. 22 patients showed a decrease in IgG values. 3 patients had an increase in IgG values. Blood/urine values presented no clinically significant variations. Clinical efficacy was similar in both treatment groups. These are the first results confirming in vivo the recent in vitro evidence that TGH is effective against acute lower respiratory tract infections due to C. pneumoniae, thus representing an alternative therapy to clarithromycin.

Administration, Oral↗

Basis for nebulized antibiotics: droplet characterization and in vitro antimicrobial activity versus Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The aims of this study were to (1) quantify the particle size characteristics of several antibiotics considered suitable for aerosol therapy after aerosolization with the PARI IS/2 nebulizer (Pari GmbH, Sarnberg, Germany) and (2) determine the degree to which in vitro antimicrobial activity of these antibiotics is maintained after nebulization. The aerosolized drugs were tobramycin sulfate, streptomycin, and imipenem, with saline solution as the control. Mean mass aerodynamic diameter of the nebulized drugs was 3.25 microns for tobramycin, 2.26 microns for imipenem, and 2.38 microns for streptomycin. In vitro tests showed that tobramycin and imipenem were unaltered in their bacteriostatic activity against strains of Escherichia coli (American Type Culture Collection [ATCC] 25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) as well as against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values less than 0.3 microgram/mL. Nebulized streptomycin showed significantly higher MIC values against P. aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). These results suggest that tobramycin and imipenem may be prescribed as an aerosol generated by jet nebulization (PARI IS/2) to treat S. aureus, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa infections without any risk of altering the drugs minimum bacteriostatic activity by the nebulization process. Aerosolization of streptomycin with this nebulizer may not be as effective against P. aeruginosa because it seems to alter the bacteriostatic activity.

Aerosols↗

Myasthenic inspiratory vocal cord dysfunction: efficacy of nasal continuous positive airway pressure treatment.

Myasthenic vocal cord dysfunction (VCD), presenting with severe inspiratory stridor, was successfully treated with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP), thus giving the medical staff time to make the diagnosis and avoiding intubation or tracheostomy. An important sign leading to diagnosis was the very high MEF(50)/MIF(50) ratio calculated from the flow-volume loop. nCPAP treatment induced prompt remission of stridor and a sharp reduction in the MEF(50)/MIF(50) ratio from 9.90 to 1.36. A review of the literature has shown that VCD with inspiratory stridor is an unusual onset symptom of myasthenia gravis and that nCPAP treatment may avoid emergency oral/tracheal intubation and tracheostomy. After diagnosis, the patient underwent thymectomy, and today, 3 years later, he is well without any further therapy.

Adult↗

Echinococcus granulosus infection of farm dogs of Iran.

The prevalence and distribution of Echinococcus granulosus in sheepdogs was studied in 13 provinces of Iran, where 90% of the Iranian sheep and goat populations and, thus, sheepdogs are found. Worms were found in 27.17% of 390 dogs successfully purged with 4 mg/kg arecoline hydrobromide. The highest prevalence was detected in dogs from the rural areas of Isfahan (central part of Iran) and the lowest, in dogs from those of Sistan (Southeast Iran). The frequency distribution of E. granulosus was overdispersed, with only a few animals harboring heavy infections.

Animals↗

Morphological and developmental characteristics of Echinococcus granulosus derived from sheep, cattle and camels in Iran.

Echinococcus granulosus is widely distributed throughout Iran, where a variety of animals act as intermediate hosts. In this study, the development and morphological characteristics of E. granulosus of sheep, cattle and camel origin were compared and, overall, the characteristics of larval and adult isolates from sheep and cattle, although similar, showed significant differences from those of the camel isolates, especially with respect to the size of rostellar hooks. Differences in the fertility rates of hydatid cyst in sheep, cattle and camel were recorded as 88%, 19% and 70% respectively. In dogs experimentally infected with the three 'strains' of E. granulosus, the rate of development was more rapid in the camel than in the sheep and cattle 'strain'. In addition, adult E. granulosus derived from the camel demonstrate differences in worm length, segmentation and size, shape, number and arrangement of the genitalia when compared with worms derived from sheep and cattle. The epidemiological significance of these findings is discussed in relation to human hydatid infections in Iran.

Animals↗

Indication of the presence of two distinct strains of Echinococcus granulosus in Iran by mitochondrial DNA markers.

Sixteen isolates of Echinococcus granulosus, collected from Iranian patients at surgery, and from domestic animals, including sheep, goats, cattle, and camels at slaughterhouses in Tehran and central and southern Iran were analyzed for DNA nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequence variation within regions of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit I (NDI) genes. A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method, based on the DNA sequence variation in the NDI gene, was also used to rapidly survey the E. granulosus isolates. The isolates were categorized into two distinct and uniform genotype groupings. The analysis clearly indicated that the camel/dog strain (G6 genotype) of E. granulosus as well as the cosmopolitan, common sheep strain (G1 genotype) occur in Iran. The G1 genotype was found present in all four human isolates examined and it was more prevalent in domestic animals than the camel-restricted G6 genotype. In E. granulosus-endemic areas of Iran it is evident, therefore, that the majority of E. granulosus-infected livestock animals can potentially act as reservoirs of human infection, and this has important implications for hydatid control and public health.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Nasal-continuous positive airway pressure in the treatment of near-drowning in freshwater.

In patients who have experienced near-drowning, hypoxemia is the major clinical consequence. We report two cases of patients who have experienced near-drowning in freshwater who were successfully treated with nasal-continuous positive airway pressure (N-CPAP) plus oxygen therapy. Both patients presented a radiographic appearance of bilateral pulmonary edema. We suggest the use of N-CPAP as an easier and less costly alternative to tracheal intubation for treating near-drowning in patients who are breathing spontaneously and who have not experienced loss of consciousness.

Adolescent↗

Macrophage activation by N-acetyl-cysteine in COPD patients.

The effect of in vivo and in vitro N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment on destructive activity of macrophages against Candida from COPD patients has been evaluated. Patients received NAC (600 mg) or placebo orally 3 times a day for 15 days and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and peripheral blood were collected before and at the conclusion of treatment. In our system, NAC treatment was not able to modulate antifungal activity of alveolar macrophages, peripheral blood monocytes (PBM), and polymorphonuclear leukocytes. On the contrary, in vitro NAC treatment at appropriate doses (10 micrograms/ml) significantly enhanced antifungal activity of PBM from COPD patients. This phenomenon is mediated by augmented phagocytic activity and phagosome-lysosome fusion. The lack of correlation between in vivo and in vitro studies could be ascribed to differences in the intracellular concentration of the drug that in vivo does not reach levels capable of inducing macrophage activation. We speculate that in COPD patients who undergo long-term NAC treatment, appropriate schedules and doses of the drug could augment resistance against microbial infections which are often life-threatening in these patients.

Acetylcysteine↗

Mild prematurity and respiratory functions.

Pulmonary function tests and bronchial reactivity to methacholine (MCH) were measured in 34 randomly selected prematures (21 males, 13 females; mean age 11.6 years; mean gestational age 34.9 weeks; mean birth weight 1980 g) and in 34 siblings (22 males, 12 females; mean age 12.5 years, mean gestational age 39.5 weeks; mean birth weight 3030 g). None had suffered neonatal respiratory distress syndrome or had been artificially ventilated. Prematurely born children had a residual volume (RV) and residual volume/total lung capacity (RV/TLC) significantly (P < 0.01) increased compared to controls, although the mean values of both groups were still within the upper limits of normal. Furthermore, an increase of closing volume/vital capacity and closing capacity/total lung capacity (CC/TLC) was observed in most patients with increased RV and RV/TLC. No significant difference was observed for bronchial responsiveness to MCH between prematurely born and control children (11.8% and 5.9% of hyperreactive subjects, respectively). Maternal smoking during pregnancy was prevalent in prematures with impaired respiratory functions. In conclusion clinically normal children of smoking mothers who have survived prematurity but present some respiratory function impairment compared to their born-at-term siblings, should be fully informed and protected from risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adult life.

Bronchial Hyperreactivity↗

99mTc-DTPA-surfactant inhalation in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): a new diagnostic-therapeutic tool.

ARDS is a life-threatening pulmonary disease with a rapidly progressive decline due mainly to multi-organ failure. Death occurs in 50-75% of ARDS cases. The diagnosis and therapy should start in the first six days of this fatal disease when mortality is at its lowest level. The 99mTc-DTPA-measured pulmonary alveolar epithelial permeability (PAEP) is strikingly increased in ARDS even in comparison to heavy smokers. Furthermore, surfactant inhalation has been shown to be of therapeutic value. In five ARDS patients with increased PAEP (T0.5 = 12% pred.) 20 mg/kg of aerosolized surfactant determined a dramatic improvement in blood gases and PAEP (51.8% pred.) No patient remained dependent on ventilatory treatment.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Helminth parasites of wild boar, Sus scrofa, in Iran.

Fifty-seven wild boars (Sus scrofa) from protected regions of Iran were examined for helminths. Sixteen species of helminths were collected; there were ten nematodes, one acanthocephalan, two trematodes and three larval cestodes. New host and distribution records were established for all helminths except of Taenia solium cysticerci. Wild boar shared nine of these helminths with domestic pigs, six with ruminants and three with human beings in Iran. Metastrongylus pudendotectus and M. salmi are reported for the first time from Iran.

Animals↗

Prediction of pulmonary immunodeficiency in chronic bronchitis by cutaneous hypoergy to multitest.

Multitest (Pasteur Mérieux) is a plastic disposable device used to assess delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity (DCH) to seven antigens. Hypoergy to Multitest is believed to reflect a status of compromised cell-mediated immunity. Among the many possible pathogenic factors of chronic bronchitis, immunodepression has been little investigated. Indeed, whether lower immunodefence is the cause or the consequence of chronic bronchitis is still a subject of debate. The aim of the study was to evaluate DCH in a large group of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in a control group, in order to relate DCH (expressed as score, mm) to clinical and functional impairment. One hundred patients with COPD in stable conditions and not undergoing treatment with immunomodulating drugs (mean age, yr, M +/- SD: 66.1 +/- 6.5) and 40 normal controls in the same age range were admitted to the study. Evaluated parameters were: symptoms scores, physical examination, lung function tests and Multitest. Fifty-three percent of the COPD patients were hypoergic compared with 14% of controls. The Multitest score was 10 +/- 10 (mm M +/- SD) in COPD compared with 17 +/- 9 in controls. The Multitest score was significantly related to age (r = -0.45) in the control group, but not in COPD patients. DCH to only three of the seven antigens may predict a response to Multitest, with a sensitivity of 90%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic combined with fibrillar collagen with and without citric acid conditioning in the treatment of periodontal osseous defects.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the combination of biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic (BCP) and collagen and citric acid root conditioning would promote accelerated new attachment of periodontal tissue to the root surface in dogs. Intrabony defects were surgically produced for each animal and were made chronic for 16 weeks. These defects were assigned to two study treatment and one control group: ceramic-collagen without citric acid (CO-CE); ceramic-collagen with citric acid (CO-CE-CA); and control (surgical debridement and root planing only). Results showed that all groups gained new attachment level as demonstrated both clinically and histometrically. The treatment groups showed a significant mean gain greater than the control (P less than .005), but no significant difference was found between treatment groups. Small areas of ankylosis was also found in both treatments but there was no evidence of active root resorption. It is concluded that the use of combined BCP and fibrillar collagen is beneficial in promoting new attachment of periodontal tissues to the root surface in dogs. Although citric acid root conditioning did as well or better than ceramic and collagen alone, its benefits are still speculative and need further experimentation.

Animals↗

Oral manifestations of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome: report of case.

First described in the beginning of this century, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a hereditary connective tissue disorder. This case report describes an 11-year-old girl who had frequent unexplainable bruises. During an initial orthodontic evaluation, characteristic symptoms were spotted, and a subsequent diagnosis made.

Child↗