Expression of α- and ε-toxin genes in Clostridium perfringens type D vaccine strain in contact with the Caco-2 cell line.

Background: Clostridium perfringens commonly resides in the gastrointestinal tract and can survive in different environmental conditions. This pathogen produces several protein toxins including the potent ε-toxin which is classified as a category B toxin by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In several studies, the induction of C. perfringens type C or D to produce toxins much more rapidly by close contact of bacteria with Caco-2 cells has been reported. Aims: The effect of close contact of enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells with C. perfringens type D (vaccine strain) on the production time of ε- and α-toxins was studied. Methods: During C. perfringens type D contact with Caco-2 cells for 5 h, ε- and α-toxins expressions (at 0, 2, and 5 h) were evaluated by a quantitative real-time PCR assay. Non-contacted bacteria with cells were included as the negative control in this research. Results: Bacterial contact with the Caco-2 cells induces a significant effect on the mean expression of the ε-toxin gene (etx) (P<0.05). Two h after contact, the highest level of gene expression was detected in the experimental group. Bacterial harvesting time, cell treatment, and their interactions did not affect significantly the mean expression of the α-toxin gene (cpa) (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study, 2 h of bacterial contact with Caco-2 cells could stimulate etx gene expression in the C. perfringens type D vaccine strain.

Phylogenetic and Morphological Analyses of Androctonus crassicuda from Khuzestan Province, Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae).

The Androctonus crassicuda is the most diverse scorpion species in the family of Buthidae, which is endemic to Khuzestan province, Iran. Investigation of the relationship of species by means of a molecular study of specimens is one of the new approaches due to the limitations of the morphological approaches. In the current study, the analysis was based on 32 morphological characteristics of A. crassicuda native to southwest Iran. Moreover, the DNA sequencing of two mitochondrial markers, namely cytochrome oxidase subunit I and 12sRNA loci was performed, and the phylogenetic tree was constructed using maximum likelihood method with 1000 replications using MEGA software (version 7). Based on the results of the phylogenetic tree, A. crassicuda was classified into a monophyletic group. However, the genetic diversity of this species populations was not significant (0.001). The highest and lowest genetic distance of A. crassicuda was compared with the reports obtained in Urmia and west Azerbaijan, Iran. There was a clear divergence between the A. crassicuda isolated from northern and southern areas of Iran. This study showed the importance of geographical and climate features of the region and genetic distance among the populations. The phylogenetic analysis of Androctonus species from other regions showed the highest and lowest genetic distance with A. gonneti (Morocco) and A. amoreuxi (Portugal), respectively. The comparison of the morphological characteristics and morphometric results revealed that metasoma characteristics are important in the identification of A. crassicuda. The results of the analysis of the morphometric values of A. crassicuda were mainly compatible with the phylogenetic trees and supported the traditional morphological classification, thereby presenting a clearly definition of the genera of Androctonus species.

Health research evaluation and its role on knowledge production.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge production and evaluation are two important functions of health research system (HRS). In this article, we aimed to reveal the correlation between evaluation of health research organizations and health knowledge production promotion. METHODS: A comprehensive evaluation system was developed to evaluate the academic performance of national medical science universities on an annual basis. It assess following domains; stewardship, capacity building and knowledge production. Measurable indicators for each domain were assigned, a 'research profile' for each department was provided. In this study, we compared the results of annually national Health Research System evaluation findings during 2005-2008. RESULTS: The number of scientific articles has been increased from 4672 to 8816 during 2005 to 2008. It is mentionable that, the number of articles which has been published in indexed data bases has risen too. This fact could be related to directed policy for more international publication of scientific articles from Iran. The proportion of total articles to the number of academic members was 1.14 in 2008, comparing to 0.84 in 2005. It means that this proportion have increased about twice (0.7 Vs 0.45) during mentioned time. Moreover, other scientific products such as authored books based on domestic researches and cited articles in textbooks have increased according to special attention to knowledge production by policy makers. CONCLUSION: We conclude that Health System Research evaluation could be used as a mean for implementing policies and promoting knowledge production.

Adapting research to local contexts based on the model of Campinha-Bacote for cultural competence: a case scenario of 3 ethnic groups in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

This article examines the issue of cultural competence in qualitative cross-cultural mental health research. Conducting qualitative research on mental health and illness requires the researchers to acquire sensitivity to different cultures and develop the skills of cultural competence. We outline the main aims and steps of implementation when incorporating concepts of cultural competence into a qualitative research study. We present a case scenario from studies on women's depression in 3 ethnic groups (Fars, Kurd and Turk) in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The article presents a brief overview of the Campinha-Bacote model and addresses the 5 major constructs of cultural competence as they were applied in the 3 phases of the research process.

[Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pericardial effusion]. / Diagnostik und Differentialdiagnose des Perikardergusses

The clinical, hemodynamic and radiologic signs of pericardial effusion are reviewed. From the symptomatic point of view low pressure (lax) pericardial effusion and compressive effusion (tamponade) are to be distinguished. Echocardiography is today the preferred method for study of patients with suspected pericardial effusion. This technique also provides insight into ventricular performance and is therefore helpful in the differential diagnosis of cardiomegaly due to pericardial effusion, heart failure or both. In our material uremic pericarditis, malignant tumors and leukemia were the predominant causes of pericardial effusion.

[Proceedings: Results of early surgery in infectious endocarditis]. / Resultate der Frühoperation bei infektiöser Endokarditis

23 patients with infective endocarditis have been treated surgically during the period 1965 to 1975. 20 patients underwent operation for intractable heart failure, complicated in 4 instances by systemic embolization and in 4 others by intractable infection. Two patients were operated upon only for intractable infection and one patient for severe hemolysis. There were 5 early deaths within 12 days and 2 late deaths 2 and 21 months after operation. Four months to 9 1/2 years after operation 16 patients were alive, only one of whom had mild heart failure. The best prognosis (1 death) was apparent in the 12 patients who underwent operation for intractable heart failure only.