Cell fusion is a ubiquitous process fundamental to physiological and pathophysiological events co... more Cell fusion is a ubiquitous process fundamental to physiological and pathophysiological events common to multiple cell types and species. Performed ex vivo , cell fusion is a versatile research and therapeutic tool for gene mapping, antibody production, discovering new mechanisms in biological processes, inventing alternative therapies for cell reprogramming, restoring organ function, and creating cellular therapeutics for cancer treatment. Cell fusion can be successfully applied by creating cellular therapeutic of donor -recipient chimeric cell (DRCC) in the fi eld of solid organ and vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). Immunomodulatory DRCC therapy has the potential to reduce or even eliminate the need for toxic, life-long immunosuppression and to prevent both acute and chronic rejection. This innovative VCA treatment is a combination of ex vivo created chimeric cell therapy with a short-term selective protocol of monoclonal antibody and Cyclosporine A. The utilization of short-term immunosuppressive protocol will provide the opportunity for chimeric cell engraftment, proliferation, and re-education of recipient's immune system resulting in prolongation of allograft survival. The use of chimeric cells, as a supportive treatment for VCA, would improve the conditions of severely disfi gured patients by offering safe alternative approach and providing better functional and aesthetic results compared to standard reconstructive procedures. This chapter summarizes the phenomenon, current discoveries, and advancements in the fi eld of cell fusion, as well as introduces ex vivo creation of chimeric cells and presents potential benefi ts of chimeric cellbased protocols. Successful application of chimeric cell protocol in VCA experimental models will advance the fi eld of reconstructive transplantation towards clinical trials.
Co r r e s p o n d e n c e Homayoun Sadeghi-Bazargani (MD, PhD) WHO collaborating center on safe ... more Co r r e s p o n d e n c e Homayoun Sadeghi-Bazargani (MD, PhD) WHO collaborating center on safe community promotion 2nd floor, Norrbacka
Summary Background. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important lifethreatening nosocomial pathogen wh... more Summary Background. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important lifethreatening nosocomial pathogen which plays a prominent role in wound infections in burns patients. We designed this study to identify the isolates of P. aeruginosa recovered from burns patients at the genus and species levels by means of primers targeting oprI and oprL genes. Methods. During a 5-month period, wound samples were taken from burns patients and plated on MacConkey agar. All suspected colonies were screened for P. aeruginosa by means of a combination of phenotype tests. Specific primers for oprI and oprL genes were then used for the molecular identification of colonies. Results. During the 5-month period, bacterial isolates recovered from burn wound infections were analyzed. Phenotype identification tests identified 171 (34.8%) P. aeruginosa isolates. However, molecular techniques that used species-specific primers to detect the amplicon of the oprL gene confirmed the exact identification of P. aeruginosa in...
Background Salmonella is considered as a main cause of community-acquired diarrhea in humans, how... more Background Salmonella is considered as a main cause of community-acquired diarrhea in humans, however, sources of the multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains and their link with the disease are not well known. Aims This study aimed to investigate the frequency, serogroup diversity, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella strains in poultry meat and stool samples of patients with community acquired diarrhea in Tehran. Methods We compared the frequency of non-typhoidal Salmonella serogroups, the similarities of their resistance patterns to 10 antimicrobial compounds, the prevalence of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and ampicillinase C (AmpC) genetic determinants, and class 1 and 2 integrons in 100 chicken meat and 400 stool samples of symptomatic patients in Tehran during June 2018 to March 2019. Results Salmonella was isolated from 75% and 5.5% of the chicken meats and human stool samples, respectively. The chicken meat isolates mainly belonged to serogroup C (88%, 6...
Background: Toxigenic Clostridium difficile is one of the prevalent diarrheagenic pathogens in ho... more Background: Toxigenic Clostridium difficile is one of the prevalent diarrheagenic pathogens in hospitalized patients. Objectives: The study assessed the ability of three diagnostic methods in identifying C. difficile strains. The genotyping of the isolates was done, as well. Methods: Stool samples were subjected to three different diagnostic methods including direct stool culture, glutamate dehydrogenase enzyme immunoassay (GDH-EIA), and direct stool PCR for the detection of the tcdA and tcdB genes. The sensitivity and specificity of the tests were evaluated. The genotyping was done by the PFGE method. Results: Of 120 samples, 20 (16%) were positive for C. difficile based on PCR, while 15 (12.5%) and 12 (10%) were positive according to GDH-EIA and direct stool culture. Among patients with C. difficile-associated diseases (CDAD), 11 (61%) were more than 65-years-old. The specificity of PCR, GDH-EIA, and direct culture was almost similar and equal to 100%, but their sensitivity was 90%, 70%, and 60%, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) was lower for GDH-EIA than for the other two methods, and the highest negative predictive value (NPV) was related to the PCR method. The results showed a high similarity between the isolates, and only were three pulsotypes differentiated among the isolates. Conclusions: The specificity and sensitivity of the direct stool PCR method were higher than those of the other two methods. Although PCR inhibitors may reduce its ability for the correct diagnosis of negative samples, it seems to be a reliable method for the detection of C. difficile infection. The weakness of the GDH-EIA method was its lower PPV, which can cause false-positive results. Toxin patterns and pulsotypes of C. difficile isolates revealed a high similarity between the strains isolated from the same units.
Introduction: The axillary hair removal laser is one of the most often used procedures to treat u... more Introduction: The axillary hair removal laser is one of the most often used procedures to treat unwanted hairs in that region. Employing this technology can be helpful in decreasing the bromhidrosis. Methods: In the present research, a clinical trial study over the effect of the hair removal laser on normal microbial flora at the axillary region is presented. The intervention group consisted of 30 women referred to the dermatologic clinic for the purpose of removing axillary hair by the alexandrite 755 nm laser and the control group consisted of 30 women referred to the same clinic for any other reasons. Both groups were evaluated for the type of bacterial strains on the first visit and after three and six months. Results: The results showed that the sense of sweat smell improved by about 63% after the last laser session. The frequency of all bacterial strains decreased in the intervention group except Staphylococcus epidermidis which was significant. In the control group, there was...
Background: Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia is reported as an important cause of morbidity and mo... more Background: Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia is reported as an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The members of E. cloacae complex are clinically involved in nosocomial infections. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of E. cloacae complex and its members in blood samples and conduct the hsp60 cluster analysis and genotyping of the isolates. Methods: Eight isolates of E. cloacae complex were collected from blood cultures of hospitalized patients during the study period (December 2012 to November 2013). The hsp60 sequencing was done for the genetic classification. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used for genotyping of the isolates. Results: Fifty percent of the isolates belonged to two E. hormaechei subspecies. Three isolates (37.5%) clustered within genotype III while only one isolate fitted cluster XIII genotype (12.5%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed four different pulsotypes. Conclusions: Different E. cloacae complex species and subspecies unequally contribute to the pathogenesis of blood infections and the subspecies of E. hormaechei were found to be most prevalent. Moreover, the common E. cloacae pulsotypes were observed to essentially produce identical hsp60 sequence types, indicating the probable clonality of isolates with identical pulsotypes.
Intravenous drug users are considered to be at high risk of having the infections, hepatitis B vi... more Intravenous drug users are considered to be at high risk of having the infections, hepatitis B virus (BBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immune-deficiency virus (HIV), because of their high risky behaviours especially of sharing of syringes. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of BBV, HCV and HIV in intravenous drug users in a harm reduction center. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 118 cases of IDUs who were referred to Mah-o-Mehr Harm Reduction Center in Southern of Tehran in 2008. Information on sexual behaviour, socio-demographic and drug use variables were collected by means of a check list from their medical records. SPSS-15 software was used for data analysis and p-value<0.05 was considered significant. From the total of 118 IDU users, 91.5% were males. Mean age of them was 33.52(SD=8.25). Abused substances were crack (60.2%), heroin (31.4%) and Norgezik (8.5%). Prevalence of total infections was 32.2% and prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV were 10.2, 5.1 and 26.3% respectively. Eleven patients (9.32%) had two co-infection: One HIV and HBV, one HBV and HCV, 9 HIV and HCV. All 38 infected IVD users were males. Sexual contact in infected group was significantly higher than non-infected (47.4 vs. 15%; p<0.001). Frequencies of heroin abuse, homelessness and singles in infected group were significantly higher than non-infected group. The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV was higher among intravenous drug users in this center than general population. Risk reduction programs are required for this group.
Cell fusion is a ubiquitous process fundamental to physiological and pathophysiological events co... more Cell fusion is a ubiquitous process fundamental to physiological and pathophysiological events common to multiple cell types and species. Performed ex vivo , cell fusion is a versatile research and therapeutic tool for gene mapping, antibody production, discovering new mechanisms in biological processes, inventing alternative therapies for cell reprogramming, restoring organ function, and creating cellular therapeutics for cancer treatment. Cell fusion can be successfully applied by creating cellular therapeutic of donor -recipient chimeric cell (DRCC) in the fi eld of solid organ and vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). Immunomodulatory DRCC therapy has the potential to reduce or even eliminate the need for toxic, life-long immunosuppression and to prevent both acute and chronic rejection. This innovative VCA treatment is a combination of ex vivo created chimeric cell therapy with a short-term selective protocol of monoclonal antibody and Cyclosporine A. The utilization of short-term immunosuppressive protocol will provide the opportunity for chimeric cell engraftment, proliferation, and re-education of recipient's immune system resulting in prolongation of allograft survival. The use of chimeric cells, as a supportive treatment for VCA, would improve the conditions of severely disfi gured patients by offering safe alternative approach and providing better functional and aesthetic results compared to standard reconstructive procedures. This chapter summarizes the phenomenon, current discoveries, and advancements in the fi eld of cell fusion, as well as introduces ex vivo creation of chimeric cells and presents potential benefi ts of chimeric cellbased protocols. Successful application of chimeric cell protocol in VCA experimental models will advance the fi eld of reconstructive transplantation towards clinical trials.
Co r r e s p o n d e n c e Homayoun Sadeghi-Bazargani (MD, PhD) WHO collaborating center on safe ... more Co r r e s p o n d e n c e Homayoun Sadeghi-Bazargani (MD, PhD) WHO collaborating center on safe community promotion 2nd floor, Norrbacka
Summary Background. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important lifethreatening nosocomial pathogen wh... more Summary Background. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important lifethreatening nosocomial pathogen which plays a prominent role in wound infections in burns patients. We designed this study to identify the isolates of P. aeruginosa recovered from burns patients at the genus and species levels by means of primers targeting oprI and oprL genes. Methods. During a 5-month period, wound samples were taken from burns patients and plated on MacConkey agar. All suspected colonies were screened for P. aeruginosa by means of a combination of phenotype tests. Specific primers for oprI and oprL genes were then used for the molecular identification of colonies. Results. During the 5-month period, bacterial isolates recovered from burn wound infections were analyzed. Phenotype identification tests identified 171 (34.8%) P. aeruginosa isolates. However, molecular techniques that used species-specific primers to detect the amplicon of the oprL gene confirmed the exact identification of P. aeruginosa in...
Background Salmonella is considered as a main cause of community-acquired diarrhea in humans, how... more Background Salmonella is considered as a main cause of community-acquired diarrhea in humans, however, sources of the multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains and their link with the disease are not well known. Aims This study aimed to investigate the frequency, serogroup diversity, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella strains in poultry meat and stool samples of patients with community acquired diarrhea in Tehran. Methods We compared the frequency of non-typhoidal Salmonella serogroups, the similarities of their resistance patterns to 10 antimicrobial compounds, the prevalence of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and ampicillinase C (AmpC) genetic determinants, and class 1 and 2 integrons in 100 chicken meat and 400 stool samples of symptomatic patients in Tehran during June 2018 to March 2019. Results Salmonella was isolated from 75% and 5.5% of the chicken meats and human stool samples, respectively. The chicken meat isolates mainly belonged to serogroup C (88%, 6...
Background: Toxigenic Clostridium difficile is one of the prevalent diarrheagenic pathogens in ho... more Background: Toxigenic Clostridium difficile is one of the prevalent diarrheagenic pathogens in hospitalized patients. Objectives: The study assessed the ability of three diagnostic methods in identifying C. difficile strains. The genotyping of the isolates was done, as well. Methods: Stool samples were subjected to three different diagnostic methods including direct stool culture, glutamate dehydrogenase enzyme immunoassay (GDH-EIA), and direct stool PCR for the detection of the tcdA and tcdB genes. The sensitivity and specificity of the tests were evaluated. The genotyping was done by the PFGE method. Results: Of 120 samples, 20 (16%) were positive for C. difficile based on PCR, while 15 (12.5%) and 12 (10%) were positive according to GDH-EIA and direct stool culture. Among patients with C. difficile-associated diseases (CDAD), 11 (61%) were more than 65-years-old. The specificity of PCR, GDH-EIA, and direct culture was almost similar and equal to 100%, but their sensitivity was 90%, 70%, and 60%, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) was lower for GDH-EIA than for the other two methods, and the highest negative predictive value (NPV) was related to the PCR method. The results showed a high similarity between the isolates, and only were three pulsotypes differentiated among the isolates. Conclusions: The specificity and sensitivity of the direct stool PCR method were higher than those of the other two methods. Although PCR inhibitors may reduce its ability for the correct diagnosis of negative samples, it seems to be a reliable method for the detection of C. difficile infection. The weakness of the GDH-EIA method was its lower PPV, which can cause false-positive results. Toxin patterns and pulsotypes of C. difficile isolates revealed a high similarity between the strains isolated from the same units.
Introduction: The axillary hair removal laser is one of the most often used procedures to treat u... more Introduction: The axillary hair removal laser is one of the most often used procedures to treat unwanted hairs in that region. Employing this technology can be helpful in decreasing the bromhidrosis. Methods: In the present research, a clinical trial study over the effect of the hair removal laser on normal microbial flora at the axillary region is presented. The intervention group consisted of 30 women referred to the dermatologic clinic for the purpose of removing axillary hair by the alexandrite 755 nm laser and the control group consisted of 30 women referred to the same clinic for any other reasons. Both groups were evaluated for the type of bacterial strains on the first visit and after three and six months. Results: The results showed that the sense of sweat smell improved by about 63% after the last laser session. The frequency of all bacterial strains decreased in the intervention group except Staphylococcus epidermidis which was significant. In the control group, there was...
Background: Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia is reported as an important cause of morbidity and mo... more Background: Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia is reported as an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The members of E. cloacae complex are clinically involved in nosocomial infections. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of E. cloacae complex and its members in blood samples and conduct the hsp60 cluster analysis and genotyping of the isolates. Methods: Eight isolates of E. cloacae complex were collected from blood cultures of hospitalized patients during the study period (December 2012 to November 2013). The hsp60 sequencing was done for the genetic classification. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used for genotyping of the isolates. Results: Fifty percent of the isolates belonged to two E. hormaechei subspecies. Three isolates (37.5%) clustered within genotype III while only one isolate fitted cluster XIII genotype (12.5%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed four different pulsotypes. Conclusions: Different E. cloacae complex species and subspecies unequally contribute to the pathogenesis of blood infections and the subspecies of E. hormaechei were found to be most prevalent. Moreover, the common E. cloacae pulsotypes were observed to essentially produce identical hsp60 sequence types, indicating the probable clonality of isolates with identical pulsotypes.
Intravenous drug users are considered to be at high risk of having the infections, hepatitis B vi... more Intravenous drug users are considered to be at high risk of having the infections, hepatitis B virus (BBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and human immune-deficiency virus (HIV), because of their high risky behaviours especially of sharing of syringes. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of BBV, HCV and HIV in intravenous drug users in a harm reduction center. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 118 cases of IDUs who were referred to Mah-o-Mehr Harm Reduction Center in Southern of Tehran in 2008. Information on sexual behaviour, socio-demographic and drug use variables were collected by means of a check list from their medical records. SPSS-15 software was used for data analysis and p-value<0.05 was considered significant. From the total of 118 IDU users, 91.5% were males. Mean age of them was 33.52(SD=8.25). Abused substances were crack (60.2%), heroin (31.4%) and Norgezik (8.5%). Prevalence of total infections was 32.2% and prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV were 10.2, 5.1 and 26.3% respectively. Eleven patients (9.32%) had two co-infection: One HIV and HBV, one HBV and HCV, 9 HIV and HCV. All 38 infected IVD users were males. Sexual contact in infected group was significantly higher than non-infected (47.4 vs. 15%; p<0.001). Frequencies of heroin abuse, homelessness and singles in infected group were significantly higher than non-infected group. The prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV was higher among intravenous drug users in this center than general population. Risk reduction programs are required for this group.
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