Serum uric acid as a risk predictor for erectile dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: Serum uric acid (UA) is now beginning to be considered a risk predictor for cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about the effect of hyperuricemia on the risk of developing other systemic vascular disorders, especially erectile dysfunction (ED). AIM: To evaluate whether serum UA is a predicting factor for ED while adjusting for other common risk factors. METHODS: Two hundred fifty-one patients aged 45.2 ± 10.1 years with newly diagnosed and documented ED and 252 age-matched participants without ED (aged 45.1 ± 8.4 years) were enrolled in this case-control study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to assess the effect of serum UA on ED; odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Adjustments were made for potential confounding factors, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, serum triglyceride, and smoking. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: Serum UA concentration and the distribution of potential ED risk factors (age, smoking, lipid profile, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus) were evaluated. Serum UA levels were organized into tertiles. The five-item International Index of Erectile Function was used to evaluate the presence and the severity of ED. RESULTS: The mean serum UA levels in ED-positive and ED-negative groups were 6.12 ± 1.55 mg/dL and 4.97 ± 1.09 mg/dL, respectively (P < 0.001). On analysis of unadjusted variables, statistically significant differences were found for all variables, including serum UA, between ED-positive and ED-negative groups. After adjustment for major risk factors, a significant trend of increasing risk was found for serum UA concentration (OR 5.95, 95% CI 2.96-11.97; P < 0.001, comparing the highest with the lowest tertile). An increase of 1 mg/dL in serum UA level was associated with an approximately twofold increase in risk of ED (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.63-2.64). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings reveal that serum UA can be considered a risk predictor for ED. Furthermore, hyperuricemia can be regarded as an independent risk factor in addition to the established ones.

Alleviating effects of exogenous Gamma-aminobutiric acid on tomato seedling under chilling stress.

Low temperature during germination and early seedling growth is one of the most significant limiting factors in the productivity of plants. Tomato seedling germination is sensitive to chilling stress. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), as a non-protein amino acid, involved in various stress tolerances in plants. In this study, 5-day old tomato seedlings were exposed to chilling stress (2 ± 0.05 °C for 48 h) and then the effects of 0, 100, 250, 500 and 750 µmolL(-1) concentrations of GABA on electrolyte leakage, proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were investigated. The resultS showed that the antioxidant enzyme activity, electrolyte leakage, MDA and proline content were significantly reduced by GABA treatments. However under chilling stress seedlings treated with GABA exhibited significantly higher sugar and proline contents as compared to un-treated seedlings. These results suggest that GABA treatment protects tomato seedlings from chilling stress by enhancing some antioxidant enzymes activity and reducing MDA content which results in maintaining membrane integrity.

Occurrence of Multiple-Drug Resistance Bacteria and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Burn Infections from Southwest of Iran.

Burn infection continues to be a major issue of concern globally and causes more harm to developing countries. This study aimed to identify the aerobic bacteriological profiles and antimicrobial resistance patterns of burn infections in three hospitals in Abadan, southwest Iran. The cultures of various clinical samples obtained from 325 burn patients were investigated from January to December 2019. All bacterial isolates were identified based on the standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed according to the CLSI. A total of 287 bacterial species were isolated from burn patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent bacterial isolate in Gram-negative bacteria and S. epidermidis was the most frequent species isolated in Gram-positive bacteria. The maximum resistance was found to ampicillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, while in Gram-negative bacteria, the maximum resistance was found to imipenem, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, and amikacin. The occurrence of multidrug resistance phenotype was as follows: P. aeruginosa (30.3%), Enterobacter spp (11.1%), Escherichia coli (10.5%), Citrobacter spp (2.1%), S. epidermidis (2.8%), S. aureus, and S. saprophyticus (0.7%). Owing to the diverse range of bacteria that cause burn wound infection, regular investigation, and diagnosis of common bacteria and their resistance patterns is recommended to determine the proper antibiotic regimen for appropriate therapy.

The biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance of bacterial profile from endotracheal tube of patients admitted to intensive care unit in southwest of Iran.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a prevalent nosocomial illness in mechanically ventilated patients. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the pattern of antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation of bacterial profiles from Endotracheal Tubes of patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit in southwest Iran. According to the standard operating method, the microbiological laboratory conducts bacteria culture and susceptibility testing on endotracheal Tube samples suspected of carrying a bacterial infection. The Clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) techniques are used to determine the Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of bacterial isolates to antibiotics using the disk diffusion method. The crystal violet staining method was used to assess the biofilm-forming potential of isolates in a 96-well microtiter plate. In total, (51%) GPBs were included in this study. The isolated GPB were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (16%), S. aureus (14%). In total, (40%) of GNB were included in this study. The isolated GNB were Klebsiella spp. (36%), A. baumannii (22%), P. aeruginosa (35%). (32%) bacterial strains were MDR and (29%) strains were XDR. The results of biofilm formation showed (72%) were biofilm producers. VAP is a common and severe nosocomial infection in mechanically ventilated patients. Controlling biofilm formation, whether on the ET or in the oropharyngeal cavity, is thus an important technique for treating VAP. Colistin and linezolid are antibiotics that are effective against practically all resistant GNB and GPB isolates.

Protective Role of Probiotic Supplements in Hepatic Steatosis: A Rat Model Study.

BACKGROUND: Treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered one of the public health priorities in the past decade. So far, probiotics have represented promising results in controlling the signs and symptoms of NAFLD. However, attempts to find the ideal probiotic strain are still ongoing. The present study is designed to find the best strain amongst suitable probiotic strains according to their ability to ameliorate histopathological and oxidative stress biomarkers in hepatic steatosis-induced rats. METHODS: Initially, four probiotics species, including Lactobacillus (L.) acidophilus, L. casei, L. reuteri, and Bacillus coagulans, were cultured and prepared as a lyophilized powder for animals. The experiment lasted for fifty days. Initially, hepatic steatosis was induced by excessive ingestion of D-fructose in rats for eight weeks, followed by eight weeks of administering probiotics and D-fructose concurrently. Forty-two six-week-old male rats were alienated to different groups and were supplemented with different probiotics (1∗109 CFU in 500 mL drinking water). After eight weeks, blood and liver samples were taken for further evaluation, and plasma and oxidative stress markers corresponding to liver injuries were examined. RESULTS: Administration of probiotics over eight weeks reversed hepatic and blood triglyceride concentration and blood glucose levels. Also, probiotics significantly suppressed markers of oxidative stress in the liver tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Although some of the single probiotic formulations were able to mitigate oxidative stress markers, mixtures of probiotics significantly ameliorated more symptoms in the NAFLD animals. This enhanced effect might be due to probiotics' cumulative potential to maintain oxidative stress and deliver improved lipid profiles, liver function markers, and inflammatory markers.

Synthesis of 2-tetrafluoropyridyl-4,5-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles.

ABSTRACT: By cycloaddition reaction of sodium azide with chalcone in the presence of CuO as a catalyst in DMF a 1,2,3-triazole are prepared in reaction with pentafluoropyridine to give 2-(tetrafluoropyridin-4-yl)-1,2,3-triazole derivatives in good yields and high regioselectivity. The regioselectivity of the compounds are confirmed by 19F-NMR and other spectroscopy.

Reaction of hydroxyl-quinoline with pentafluoropyridin.

Reaction of pentafluoropyridine with 2 or 8-hydroxyl-quinoline under basic conditions in acetonitrile gives 4-oxy quinoline 2,3,5,6-tetrafluoropyridine derivatives in good yields. All the compounds were characterized using 1H, 13C, 19F-NMR and MS spectroscopy.

Renoprotective effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Rheum ribes root in diabetic female rats.

OBJECTIVE: Medical plants, as rich sources of natural antioxidants with antidiabetic effects, are used worldwide to diminish a variety of symptoms and many diseases. R. ribes L., which belongs to the family of polygonaceae, can provide symptomatic relief and assist in the prevention of the secondary complications of the diabetes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 36 female adult rats were randomly divided into 6 groups of 6. Normal Control groups treated with normal saline. Positive control groups treated with hydroalcohlic extract of R. ribes root (150 mg/kg) daily by gavages for 4 consecutive weeks. Diabetes was inducedby injection of 120 mg/kg alloxan monohydrate intraperitoneally. Two diabetic groups were treated with different doses of R. ribes root extract. The sixth diabetic groups were treated with glibenclamide (0.6 mg/kg). At the end of 28 days, blood samples were collected and their kidney tissues were processed for light microscopy. RESULTS: The results showed that hydro-alcoholic extract of R. ribes decreased the level of glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, urea and creatinine in diabetic rats (p<0.05) in compared with diabetic rats, while the level of HDL increased at the same group (p<0.05). Histopathological changes of kidney samples were comparable with respective control. In diabetic rats, kidney sections showed atrophy of glomerular capillaries with increased Bowman's space and acute tubular necrosis. The groups that were treated with R. ribes root were improved towards normal condition. CONCLUSION: It is interesting to note that hydroalcohlic extract of R. ribes root improves renal dysfunction in alloxan-induced diabetic rats through controlling blood glucose and renal protective effects.

Novel multicomponent reactions involving isoquinoline or phenanthridine and activated acetylenic ester in the presence of heterocyclic NH or 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds.

Multicomponent reactions involving azines (phenanthridine or isoquinoline) and dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate were undertaken in the presence of heterocyclic NH compounds (indole, 2-methyl indole, 3-methyl indole, carbazole and 3,6-dibromocarbazole) or 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds such as N,N'-dimethylbarbituric acid, 1,3-diethyl-2-thiobarbituric acid, acetylacetone, 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propandione and cyclopentan-1,3-dione to generate enaminoesters in good yields.

Histopathological observations on protective effects of vitamin E on endosulfan induced cardiotoxicity in rats.

The protective effects of vitamin E was investigated on the cardiotoxicity induced by endosulfan administration. Male rats in different groups were given endosulfan (2 mg per kg body weight per day in corn oil through gavage), vitamin E (200 mg per kg body weight twice a week in corn oil through gavage) and endosulfan and vitamin E at the same dose and route, to the control group corn oil is given at the dose rate of 2 mL per rat per day through gavage, for a period of28 days. The animals were sacrificed and heart tissues were collected and subjected to histopathology. The result indicated, sever congestion, haemorrhages with interstitial oedema. In some places there was diapedesis of leukocytes. Myocardium showed different degrees of degeneration, some of the myofibrils were found to be granular with pyknotic nuclei. Thickening of wall of arteries were seen. In the Vitamin E and endosulfan treated group the above mentioned lesions were significantly decreased in their severity. This study brought to light the protective effects of vitamin E on the toxic pathological lesions caused by endosulfan administration.

Synthesis of oxime phosphoranes from reaction between triphenylphosphine and acetylenic esters in the presence of oxime derivatives.

A new one-pot, simple and effective procedure is presented for the preparation of O-containing phosphorus ylides by the Michael addition reaction of N-methylpyrrole-2-carbaldehydoxime, pyridin-2-carbaldehydoxime or acetophenonoxime with acetylenic esters.