Determining the effect of an electromagnetic field generated by a high voltage power line on rat spermatogonia cells

Objective: Purpose of the study was to research the effect of an electromagnetic field created by a high voltage line on the testes tissue and the serum biochemistry of Wistar albino male rats. At the same time, in the study also examined the protective effects of melatonin and ganoderma lucidum. Methods: In the study, 64 rats were divided into eight equal groups (n: 8). In experiments lasting 26 and 52 days, the following groups were used: High voltage (HV), HV + Ganoderma lucidum (GI), HV + Melatonin (MEL), and Sham-control. MEL (10 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally and GI (20 mg/kg) as oral lavage. Extremely low frequency electric (80.3 V/m) and magnetic fields (2.48 µT) were applied for eight hours per day. Results: The biochemical results of the study show an increase in total oxidant status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) level and a decrease in total antioxidant status (TAS) level in the 26 and 52 day high voltage groups, compared to the control group. In the high voltage groups, the nitric oxide (NO) value increased with the increase of the exposure period. Testicular mass (p>0.05), TAS, TOS, OSI and NO (p 0.05) were found in 52 day comparisons. In routine histopathology data, we detected effects on both the 26 and 52 day HV groups, such as degeneration in spermatic cells and full structural deterioration and increasing hyalinisation. We also detected an step up in the ligament cell in the tubular field for the 52-day test groups. In melatonin added group, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells were more active. TUNEL assay analysis showed that there was no significant difference between the the 26 day experiment groups (p>0.05), but that there was a significant dissimilarity between the 52 day experiment groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: In our study, the oxidative effect of created by a high voltage results in changes in serum biochemistry of rats and a number of degenerative deterioration in the histological structure of testes. Aslo, it is shown that the oxidative effect created by a high voltage has negative effects on the creation of spermatogonia. GI partly protects against these effects, while melatonin is more effective in this regard.

A Comparative Analysis of the Effects of Melatonin and Nimodipine on Vasospasm

Objective: In this study, we aimed to compare the efficacy of nimodipine and melatonin in a rat femoral artery vasospasm model. Material and Methods: The rats were divided into five groups as follows: Group I (n=8): control group, Group II (n=8): vasospasm group, Group III (n=8): vasospasm + melatonin group, Group IV (n=8): vasospasm + nimodipine group, Group V (n=8 rats): vasospasm + melatonin + nimodipine group. At the end of the 7 th day, the femoral arteries were excised and histopathologically examined under light microscope. Results: Vascular wall of vasospasm group was relatively thicker when compared with the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the wall thickness of Group II and Group III, IV and V. The maximum reduction of wall thickness was observed in Group V. There was no statistically significant difference in lumen diameter between Group I and Group IV. The lumen diameter was found to be increased in Group III, IV and V when compared with Group II. Conclusion: The development of experimental peripheral vasospasm has been reduced by the melatonin and nimodipine and their effect was increased when they were used concomitantly.

Interesting Case of Leptospirosis Presenting as Jaundice and Acute Renal Failure in North East Tennessee

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic infection common in the tropics especially during the hurricanes and floods seasons. Most common clinical presentation is rash, fatigue, weakness, malaise, fever, headache just like viral prodromal symptoms, but clinical presentation of jaundice liver and kidney dysfunction in severe cases can result in multiorgan failure. Diagnosis need serology and cultures which are usually positive early in course of the disease but require special media to grow i.e. Fletcher’s media. Treatment is usually with Penicillin or doxycycline. We present a case of leptospirosis presenting with jaundice along with acute liver and renal involvement in the form of Weil’s disease which is one of the severe form of presentation. Diagnosis was made by positive leptospirosis serology. Patient was treated with oral doxycycline. Patient had good response to antibiotics with resolution of symptoms on follow up outpatient. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2018; 8(2):80-82.

Multidrug Resistant Bacterial Pathogens in the Indoor Air and Floors of Surgical Wards in a University Hospital

Detection of Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin (tsst) Gene Among Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Patients and Healthy Carriers

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is the major causative agent of hospital-acquired and community-acquired infections. These bacteria produce a wide variety of exotoxins, including Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin (TSST) and virulence factors, which are thought to contribute to its pathogenic potential. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify tsst gene in S. aureus isolated from patients and healthy carriers. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 60 humanS. aureus isolates were collected from individuals referred to Shahid Beheshti hospital (patients, n = 40) and healthy farm workers (n = 20) in Hamadan province of Iran. Thereafter, DNA samples were extracted using the phenol-chloroform method and the samples were investigated for tsst gene using a specific PCR assay. Results: The DNA fragment corresponding to the tsst gene (326 bp) was observed in 45% (9 out of 20) of S. aureus isolated from healthy farm workers; while, 22.5% (9 out of 40) of patients’ isolates were found to be positive for tsst gene, which indicated that in total 30% of the isolates possessed this gene. Conclusions: The results of the present study showed the high prevalence of the tsst gene among S. aureus isolated from healthy farm workers and patients. Therefore, appropriate precautions must be considered to decrease the risk of transmission of such isolates to other humans.

Generic Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir for Treatment of Naïve, Non-Cirrhotic, Easy to Treat Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 4: 8 Vs. 12 Weeks of Treatment

The Use of IOTN in Determining Orthodontic Treatment Needs of Turkish Adolescents

The Effect of Overt and Covert Motivational Self-Talk on Physiological Factor and Motor Performance During a Push-Up Exercise in Children

Correlations of T2* Mapping with Delayed Gadolinium Enhancement in Chronic Myocardial Infarction Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Diagnostic Ability of 384-Slice Computed Tomographic Angiography in Prediction of Myocardial Ischemia in Patients with Myocardial Bridging (MB) as Compared to SPECT-MPI Examination

Background: During the past decade, coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) has become the primary non-invasive imaging technique for the assessment of myocardial bridging (MB). Objectivs: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of CCTA to predict myocardial ischemia in patients with MB. Patients and Methods: A total of 32 MB patients (21 males and 11 females) participated in this study. Eleven MB parameters were measured to assess the ability of CCTA to predict MB patients with ischemia. In order to evaluate ischemia, all the patients underwent single positron emission computed tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI) examination. Results: Ischemia was observed in 17 patients (53.1%), while 15 patients (46.9%) did not show signs of ischemia. Out of the 32 patients, superficial MB was observed in 15 patients while deep MB was identified in 12, and borderline was observed in five patients. All MB examined parameters were found to be significantly different between ischemic and non-ischemic patients, except for the location and tunnel artery diameter in diastole. Moreover, a cut-off value of 0.65 mm was able to discriminate ischemia with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 93%, and yield area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.996. Also, by considering the depth cut-off value of 1.75 mm, ischemia can be distinguished with sensitivity and specificity of 100%. MB length had a lower discrimination power, with a cut off value of 22.5 mm yield, 76% sensitivity, 67% specificity, and AUC = 0.810 in the diagnosis of ischemia. Conclusion: CCTA was a reliable modality with high accuracy to depict MB, identify high risk MB, and prevent unnecessary SPECT-MPI examination.