Antibiotic resistance genes in the gut microbiota of mothers and linked neonates with or without sepsis from low- and middle-income countries.

Early development of the microbiome has been shown to affect general health and physical development of the infant and, although some studies have been undertaken in high-income countries, there are few studies from low- and middle-income countries. As part of the BARNARDS study, we examined the rectal microbiota of 2,931 neonates (term used up to 60 d) with clinical signs of sepsis and of 15,217 mothers screening for blaCTX-M-15, blaNDM, blaKPC and blaOXA-48-like genes, which were detected in 56.1%, 18.5%, 0% and 4.1% of neonates' rectal swabs and 47.1%, 4.6%, 0% and 1.6% of mothers' rectal swabs, respectively. Carbapenemase-positive bacteria were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and showed a high diversity of bacterial species (57 distinct species/genera) which exhibited resistance to most of the antibiotics tested. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae/E. cloacae complex, the most commonly found isolates, were subjected to whole-genome sequencing analysis and revealed close relationships between isolates from different samples, suggesting transmission of bacteria between neonates, and between neonates and mothers. Associations between the carriage of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and healthcare/environmental factors were identified, and the presence of ARGs was a predictor of neonatal sepsis and adverse birth outcomes.

To reduce the maximum stress and the stress shielding effect around a dental implant-bone interface using radial functionally graded biomaterials.

In a dental implant system, the value of stress and its distribution plays a pivotal role on the strength, durability and life of the implant-bone system. A typical implant consists of a Titanium core and a thin layer of biocompatible material such as the hydroxyapatite. This coating has a wide range of clinical applications in orthopedics and dentistry due to its biocompatibility and bioactivity characteristics. Low bonding strength and sudden variation of mechanical properties between the coating and the metallic layers are the main disadvantages of such common implants. To overcome these problems, a radial distributed functionally graded biomaterial (FGBM) was proposed in this paper and the effect of material property on the stress distribution around the dental implant-bone interface was studied. A three-dimensional finite element simulation was used to illustrate how the use of radial FGBM dental implant can reduce the maximum von Mises stress and, also the stress shielding effect in both the cortical and cancellous bones. The results, of course, give anybody an idea about optimized behaviors that can be achieved using such materials. The finite element solver was validated by familiar methods and the results were compared to previous works in the literature.

A new model for the artificial aorta blood vessels using double-sided radial functionally graded biomaterials.

Based on radial functionally graded biomaterials and inspired by the geometry of a real aorta blood vessel, a new model was proposed to fabricate the artificial blood vessels. A finite element analyzer is employed to reach the optimal and proper material properties while earlier, it was validated by two famous theories, i.e., the first shear deformation and the plane elasticity. First, the geometry of a real ascending aorta part was simulated and then solved under the axially varying blood pressure and other real and actual conditions. Since the construction of artificial blood vessels just similar to the natural one is impossible, it was tried to find the best substitutes for other materials. Due to the significant properties of functionally graded biomaterials in the reduction in sudden changes of stress and deformation, these types of materials were selected and studied. Two types of conventional single-sided and an efficient double-sided radial functionally graded vessel were proposed and simulated. The elastic behaviors of proposed vessels were obtained and compared to ones previously attained from the real vessel. The results show that all the desired behaviors cannot be achieved by using a conventional single-sided radial FG vessel. Instead and as a conjecture, a smart double-sided radial FG biomaterial is suggested. Fortunately, the proposed material can meet all the desired goals and satisfy all of the indices simultaneously.

Suicide in the Islamic Republic of Iran: an integrated analysis from 1981 to 2007.

Although the rate of suicide is low in Muslim countries, there is evidence that it is increasing integrated analysis was made of data on suicide attempts (nonfatal and fatal) from studies carried out in the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1981 to 2007. Of 54 published studies concerning suicide, 48 (covering 26 768 cases of attempted suicide) satisfied the inclusion criteria. The weighted mean rate of suicide attempts was 26.5 per 100 000 and the average rate of death by suicide was 6.7 per100 000. The mean age of suicide attempters was 25 years; on average 41.8% were male, 50.5% single and 70.0% from urban areas. Most suicide attempters were not working: 54.2% on average were housewives, 24.5% students and 21.0% unemployed men. Medical history showed that 16.2% of suicide attempters had a history of disability and 42.0% had a history of psychological disorders. The rates were compared with studies from other nations/religious groups.

Mechanical properties evaluations of an age hardenable martensitic steel deformed by equal channel angular pressing.

Effect of severe plastic deformation by equal channel angular pressing on the mechanical properties of an age hardenable low carbon martensitic steel was investigated. Equal Channel angular pressing was carried out on the solution-annealed steel up to four passes at room temperature through the route Bc. Aging was carried out at 753 K for 2.4 ks. It was found that after four passes deformation, the microstructure is consist of fine grained high angle grain boundaries and lamellar dislocation cell block. The strength of steel is increased considerably while a increasing in elongation is revealed.

Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Fars Province, Iran: study of 130 cases.

One hundred and thirty cases of visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) are reported from Fars Province of Iran. The initial clinical and laboratory presentations of patients are presented. There have been an increasing number of cases of systemic Leishmaniasis in this part of the world. About one third of the patients were first diagnosed under 2 years of age. The mortality was particularly high among infants. It is suggested that immunofluorescence antibody titre of 1/128 or above can be applied for diagnosis systemic Leishmaniasis.