Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of Lactobacillus strains secretome and extraction against Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infection.

The purpose of this study was to antibacterial, and antibiofilm activity of two Lactobacillus strains secretome and extraction against E. coli isolated from women with urinary tract infection (UTI). We isolated 100 E. coli samples from women with UTI. Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus casei characteristics were evaluated, and their secretome and extraction were prepared. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of secretome and extraction of both Lactobacillus strains were evaluated against isolated E. coli samples. L. acidophilus and L. casei were able to tolerate pH 3, bile salts, and pancreatic enzymes. Both probiotics were not resistant to antibiotics and demonstrated an appropriate ability to adhere to the intestinal epithelial cells. Secretome and extraction of L. acidophilus and L. casei strains showed a good antibacterial and antibiofilm against E. coli isolates. Generally, present study suggested that the secretome and extraction of L. acidophilus and L. casei strains exhibits a good antimicrobial activity.

Identification of a compound heterozygous missense mutation in LAMA2 gene from a patient with merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A.

BACKGROUND: Merosin-deficient congenital muscular dystrophy type 1A (MDC1A) is occurred by mutations in LAMA2 gene that encodes the laminin α2 chain (merosin). MDC1A is a predominant subtype of congenital muscular dystrophy. Herein, we identified two missense mutations in LAMA2 gene in compound heterozygous status in an Iranian patient with MDC1A using whole-exome sequencing (WES). METHODS: In the present study, we evaluated genetic alterations in an Iranian 35-month-old boy with MDC1A and his healthy family using WES method. The identified mutations further confirmed by Sanger sequencing method. Finally, in silico analysis was conducted to further evaluation of molecular function of the identified genetic variants. RESULTS: We identified two potentially pathogenic missense mutations in compound heterozygous state (c.7681G>A p.Gly2561Ser and c.4840A>G p.Asn1614Asp) in LAMA2 gene as contributing to the MDC1A phenotype. The healthy parents of our proband are single heterozygous for identified mutations. These variants were found to be pathogenic by in silico analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In general, we successfully identified LAMA2 gene mutations in an Iranian patient with MDC1A using WES. The identified mutations in LAMA2 gene can be useful in genetic counseling, prenatal diagnosis, and predicting prognosis of MDC1A.

Evaluation of Month of Birth in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMSOD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMO) are chronic immune-mediated diseases in the central nervous system (CNS). Environmental factors such as month of birth can be a trigger for these diseases. Therefore, we conducted this study to compare the months of birth in MS and NMOSD patients with the control group. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 2345 patients with MS, 220 NMOSD patients, and 2174 healthy subjects were enrolled. Demographic information such as age, sex, month of birth, and education in three groups was extracted from the database. The associations between month of birth and MS were studied by binary logistic regression with adjusting for the year of birth. RESULTS: There was a reduced birth rate in September-October in NMOSD (OR = 0.309, 95% CI: 0.150-0.636; p < 0.001) and MS patients (OR = 0.470, 95% CI: 0.374-0.591; p < 0.001) compared to the general population. The birth rate in March-April in MS was higher than the control group (OR = 1.613, 95% CI: 1.324-1.964; p < 0.001). There was no difference in the birth month distribution between the NMOSD and MS patients. No significant difference in MOB among different MS types was found. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed a decreasing risk of NMOSD and MS in individuals born in the autumn months and an increasing MS risk in spring. More studies are required to elucidate the association between the month of birth and risk of MS and NMOSD and the seasonality factors.

Association between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and magnetic resonance imaging findings and intelligence in patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease in which demyelination and axonal loss leads to progressive disability. Cognition impairment is among the most common complication. Studying axonal loss in the retina is a new marker for MS. The main goal of our study is to search for correlations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness at the macula and head of the optic nerve and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) Scores that assess multiple domains of intelligence, and to explore the relationship between changes in the RNFL thickness with intellectual and cognitive dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Hospital of Kashani, Isfahan, Iran, from September to December 2013. All patients were assessed with a full-scale intelligence quotient (IQ) on the WAIS-R. An optical coherence tomography study and brain MRI were performed in the same week for all the patients. Statistical analysis was conducted by using a bivariate correlation, by utilizing SPSS 20.0. A P value ≤ 0.05 was the threshold of statistical significance. RESULTS: Examination of a 100 patients showed a significant correlation between the average RNFL thickness of the macula and the verbal IQ (P value = 0.01) and full IQ (P value = 0.01). There was a significant correlation between brain atrophy and verbal IQ. CONCLUSION: The RNFL loss was correlated with verbal IQ and full IQ.

Brain radiation and possible presentation of multiple sclerosis.

Radiation therapies are commonly used for malignant or metastatic brain tumors for curative and palliative use. The radiation-induced neurotoxicity includes both parenchymal and vascular damage. Here we report the case of a 43-year-old woman who developed Multiple sclerosis (MS) 9 months after she underwent the last session of radiotherapy for the diagnosed meningioma. Conventional doses of radiation might trigger MS.

Ocular mucosal CD11b+ and CD103+ mouse dendritic cells under normal conditions and in allergic immune responses.

Steady state dendritic cells (DC) found in non-lymphoid tissue sites under normal physiologic conditions play a pivotal role in triggering T cell responses upon immune provocation. CD11b+ and CD103+ DC have received considerable attention in this regard. However, still unknown is whether such CD11b+ and CD103+ DC even exist in the ocular mucosa, and if so, what functions they have in shaping immune responses. We herein identified in the ocular mucosa of normal wild-type (WT) and Flt3-/- mice the presence of a CD11b+ DC (i.e., CD11c+ MHCII+ CD11b+ CD103- F4/80+ Sirp-a+). CD103+ DC (i.e. CD11c+ MHCII+ CD11b low CD103+ CD8a+ DEC205+ Langerin+) were also present in WT, but not in Flt3-/- mice. These CD103+ DC expressed high levels of Id2 and Flt3 mRNA; whereas CD11b+ DC expressed high Irf4, Csfr, and Cx3cr1 mRNA. Additionally, the functions of these DC differed in response to allergic immune provocation. This was assessed utilizing a previously validated model, which includes transferring specific populations of exogenous DC into the ocular mucosa of ovalbumin (OVA)/alum-primed mice. Interestingly, in such mice, topical OVA instillation following engraftment of exogenous CD11b+ DC led to dominant allergic T cell responses and clinical signs of ocular allergy relative to those engrafted with CD103+ DC. Thus, although CD11b+ and CD103+ DC are both present in the normal ocular mucosa, the CD11b+ DC subset plays a dominant role in a mouse model of ocular allergy.

A 10-year review of assault-related open-globe injuries at an urban hospital.

BACKGROUND: To describe the demographics and outcomes of assault-related open-globe injuries (OGI) at University Hospital (UH), Newark, New Jersey over a ten-year period. METHODS: The medical records of all subjects presenting to a single university referral center with an OGI were retrospectively analyzed to identify prognostic factors for enucleation and final visual acuity (VA) of no light perception (NLP). RESULTS: One hundred and forty-eight eyes of 147 patients presented to UH with assault-related OGI. Eighty-two percent of patients were male, and the mean age was 35.9 years. The anatomic site of the wound was zone 3 in the majority (54.1 %) of eyes. Most common type of injury noted was rupture (57.4 %), followed by penetrating injury (35.1 %). Mean initial presenting and final VA in LogMAR were 2.38 ± 0.12 and 2.18 ± 0.16 respectively. Initial Snellen VA was no light perception (NLP) in 57 eyes (38.5 %); four eyes had an initial VA of ≥ 20/40 (2.7 %). Final VA was NLP in 68 eyes (45.9 %) of which 46 were enucleated (31.1 %); 18 eyes (12.2 %) had a final VA of ≥ 20/40. Fifty eyes (33.8 %) underwent pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). Significant risk factors of final VA of NLP or enucleation included initial VA of NLP, perforating or rupture type of OGI, and zone 3 injury. Eyes that sustained penetrating injuries were less likely to have final VA of NLP or require enucleation. CONCLUSIONS: Assault-related OGIs carry an extremely poor visual prognosis and a high rate of enucleations. Only eighteen eyes (12.2 %) recovered VA ≥ 20/40. We found initial VA of NLP and zone 3 injury to be significant predictors of final VA of NLP or undergoing enucleation. Penetrating injuries were less likely to have a final VA of NLP or an enucleation.

Work-related open-globe injuries: demographics and clinical characteristics.

PURPOSE: To describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of work-related open-globe injuries (OGIs) at a level I trauma center over a 10-year period. METHODS: Retrospective series. RESULTS: A total of 183 eyes with work-related OGIs were identified. The majority of injuries occurred in men (96.7%). The anatomic site of the wound was zone 1 in 107 eyes (72.3%). The most common cause was nail gun use (47.0%). The types of OGI included 32 ruptures (17.5%), 112 penetrating injuries (61.2%), 38 intraocular foreign bodies (IOFB) (20.8%), and 1 mixed rupture/IOFB injury (0.5%). Presenting visual acuity (VA) was worse than 20/200 in 112 eyes (65.9%) and no light perception (NLP) in 10 eyes (5.8%). Final VA worse than 20/200 occurred in 64 eyes (37.2%); 11 eyes underwent enucleation. In comparison to non-work-related OGIs (420 eyes), we found significant differences in types and zones of injury, initial and final mean VA, enucleation rate, incidence of cataracts, hyphema, retinal detachment, hemorrhagic choroidals, and afferent pupillary defect (APD). Using multivariate analysis, significant prognostic factors for a final VA of NLP were zone 3 injury, rupture injury, and initial VA of NLP. Risk factors for enucleation included zone 3 injury, APD, and endophthalmitis. CONCLUSIONS: Work-related injuries were noted to have a much higher incidence of IOFBs and cataracts compared to non-work-related OGIs. Zone 3 injuries, rupture injuries, and a presenting VA of NLP were found to be significant predictors for a final VA of NLP. Zone 3 injury, APD, and endophthalmitis were found to be significant predictors for enucleation.

Risperidone as a treatment for childhood habitual behavior.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding risperidone to the general behavioral treatment of masturbation in children 3-7 years old. METHODS: A 4 week randomized clinical controlled trial was designed in year 2009. Samples have been chosen from children who have been referred to the Child and Adolescence Psychiatric Clinic of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Ninety children were recruited at the study and randomly allocated into the risperidone and control groups (44 and 46 respectively). The risperidone group was medicated simultaneously by behavioral treatments and 0.25-1 mg of risperidone daily while the controls only received the behavioral treatments. FINDINGS: The mean ± SD age of the risperidone and control groups was 5.3 ± 1.1 and 4.9 ± 1.1 years, respectively. The mean ± SD of the period of suffering from masturbation was 3.4 ± 1.2 and 3.8 ± 1.7 months in the risperidone and the control groups, respectively. At the beginning of the study, the mean frequency of masturbation in control and the risperidone groups was 2.6 ± 0.9 and 2.7 ± 0.9 times/day, whereas after the 4(th) week, it decreased to 1.4 ± 0.6 and 1.1 ± 0.5 times/day, respectively. The results showed a more reduction in the mean frequency of masturbation in the risperidone group significantly. CONCLUSION: In comparison to the general behavioral treatment, risperidone in addition to the behavioral treatment will probably reduce the frequency of masturbation in children more effectively.