Maryam Karimi, Mahtab Moazzami, Najmeh Rezaeian,
Volume 15, Issue 1 (Jan-Feb 2021)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common debilitating neurodegenerative disease caused by inflammatory demyelinating processes in the central nervous system. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of core stability training on serum levels of progranulin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in women with MS.
Methods: The study population consisted of 24 women with MS (aged 25 to 40 years) in Bojnourd (Iran) with expanded disability status scale score of 2-5. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of core stability training (n=12) and control (n=12). The training group performed 30-40 minutes of core stability training, three sessions a week for eight weeks. Blood sampling was done 24 hours before the first session and 48 hours after the last training session. Serum levels of progranulin and TNF-α were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Analysis of covariance was used to assess data at a significance level of 0.05 .
Results: The eight-week core stability training was associated with a significant increase in serum level of progranulin (P=0.037) and a significant decrease in the level of TNF-α (P=0.000).
Conclusion: The findings indicate that the eight-week core stability training could significantly change serum levels of progranulin and TNF-α and improve the condition of women with MS. Therefore, this type of training could be applied as a complementary therapy for MS patients.
Mehrdad Rezaeian, Saeid Khanzadi, Mohammad Hashemi, Mohammad Azizzadeh,
Volume 15, Issue 3 (May-Jun 2021)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Chitosan is a preservative that is commonly used in food packaging due to forming a film with antimicrobial activity. Many antimicrobial agents have been used to control the growth of different bacteria, fungi and yeasts in food products using chitosan coating. The present research was conducted to examine inhibitory effects of a coating incorporated with the essential oils of Zataria multiflora (ZEO) and Bunium persicum (BEO) on the growth of Pseudomonas artificially inoculated onto salmon fillets over a period of 12 days at 4 °C.
Methods: The antibacterial activity of BEO against P. aeruginosa was evaluated using the microdilution method via determining minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. For the food model investigation, three P. aeruginosa strains were inoculated onto trout fillets as culture cocktail to assess their survival over 12 days of storage.
Results: The results indicated that ZEO and BEO had stronger inhibitory effect on P. aeruginosa in trout fillets when applied along with gel type nano-emulsion of chitosan solution. The separate use of each of these substances also significantly inhibited the growth of these pathogenic bacteria compared with the control. In addition, the use of chitosan coating without any antimicrobial agent affected the growth of P. aeruginosa.
Conclusion: The gel type nano-emulsion of chitosan coating containing ZEO and BEO can be applied on foodstuff, particularly fish and its products, as an antimicrobial agent.
Maryam Rezaeian, Laleh Hoveida,
Volume 19, Issue 1 (4-2025)
Abstract
Background: Infections caused by bacteria transmitted from food, including Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), and Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) resistant to carbapenems, are spreading, and this has caused concerns in the field of treatment. This study investigated the frequency of carbapenem resistance genes in Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa, and A. baumannii isolated from raw chicken meat.
Method: In this cross-sectional study, 100 samples of raw chicken meat were collected from Isfahan. Bacterial infection was evaluated and confirmed using biomedical tests. Antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed using disc diffusion for Enterobacteriaceae, P. aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii isolates. The frequency of genes encoding resistance to carbapenems (OXA-181, OXA-48, VIM, NDM, IMP, and KPC) was determined through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.
Results: Out of 100 samples, 70 were positive for bacterial infection, of which 30 were infected with Escherichia coli (E. coli), 14 samples with Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), 9 samples with Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium), 11 samples with P. aeruginosa, and 6 samples were infected with A. baumannii. The highest amount of antibiotic resistance was estimated to be tetracycline, cotrimoxazole, gentamicin, trimethoprim, and streptomycin, and the lowest amount was azithromycin and rifampin. Among genes encoding resistance to carbapenem, NDM and OXA-48 genes were the most commonly expressed, with a frequency of 60% and 28.24%, respectively.
Conclusion: The study found significant bacterial contamination, especially for Enterobacteriaceae, with notable antibiotic resistance to tetracycline. Carbapenem resistance genes NDM and OXA-48 were prevalent, indicating the urgency of addressing antibiotic resistance.
