Abstract

Background and Objective: Swimming pools, which are recreational places, can cause transmission of bacterial diseases, fungal and parasitic infections due to direct contact with various groups of people. We aimed to determine and compare the common microbial indicators in the water of pools and Jacuzzis in Golestan province.

 Material and Methods: the samples were obtained from eight indoor pool and Jacuzzi in Golestan province from July to December 2010, to evaluate the biological and physiochemical parameters.

Results: The residual chlorine in the pool and Jacuzzis was 74.3 % and the 41.1 %, respectively, and the difference was significant; the pH level was 70.4 % and 78.1 %, respectively; the mean of turbidity was 17.8 %, and 9.8 % and the difference was not significant. The samples contaminated with total coliform in the pool and Jacuzzi, respectively, were 4.3 % and 15.2 % and with E. coli were 1.3 % and 11.2 %.

Conclusions: The higher contamination of Jacuzzi is related to the higher temperature and turbidity of water, and more exposure of swimmer with water and less recirculation of Jacuzzi water. The high turbidity, lack of desired residual chlorine and choliform contamination are the main problems of swimming pools and Jacuzzi in Golestan province.

Keywords: Biological indicators, Microbial, Pool, Golestan Province.

ABSTRACT

      Background and Objective: Ochratoxin is a fungal toxin produced by Penicillium verrucosum and some Aspergillus species. Ochratoxin is usually found in grains, cereal products and also animal feed of livestock. The aim of this study was to measure the level of Ochratoxin in pasteurized milk samples of Golestan Province, Iran.

      Methods: Overall, 38 milk samples were collected from East and West of the Golestan province in accordance with standards 326 and 419 of the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. The level of Ochratoxin was measured by ELISA method.

      Results: The mean level of Ochratoxin A in 20 raw milk samples collected from the West of the Province was 3.32 ± 3.76 ng/ml. The mean level of Ochratoxin A in 18 raw milk samples collected from the East was 6.02 ± 4.42 ng/ml. Ochratoxin A levels in most samples were higher than the limits established by the European standards.

      Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, Ochratoxin level of 84.2% and 52.6% of the samples from the West and East of the province are higher than the allowed limits (2 ng/ml), respectively.

      

ABSTRACT

          BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stachys inflata Benth. is used as an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent in traditional medicine in most mountain villages of Golestan province. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the antioxidant, ethnopharmacological and phytochemical properties of extract from different parts of S. inflata, collected from Chahar Bagh Mountain.

         METHODS: Flowering branches and root of the plant were collected from Chahar Bagh Mountain (2100 m) in July 2013. At the same time, the most important information about traditional uses of the plant (ethnopharmacology) was recorded by questioning local people. Phytochemical evaluation (total phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanins content) of ethanolic extract of plant organs was done using spectrophotometry and folin-ciocalteu. The antioxidant activity of the extract was evaluated by DPPH test. P ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

       RESULTS: The amount of chemical compounds in the extract of flowering branches and root extract was significantly different. The total phenolic (129.96 ± 5.6 mgGAE/g), flavonoid (29.62 ± 1.4 mgQUE/g) and anthocyanin (0.021 ± 0.001 µg/g) content in the extract of aerial parts of the plant was approximately 1.5 to 3 times higher than those in the root. Due to higher production of active compounds, the antioxidant activity of the aerial parts’ extract showed  a greater potential in free radical scavenging (IC₅₀= 76.33 ± 4.2 µg/ml) compared to the root extract.

        CONCLUSION: Phytochemical findings and antioxidant activity of the extract of aerial parts of the plant in free radical scavenging, confirm the traditional applications of this plant as analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agent in treatment of rheumatism, wounds, burns and diarrhea. It is recommended that further evaluation of the plant’s traditional applications be conducted in vivo and in vitro.

       

ABSTRACT

      Background and Objective: Glycyrrhizaglabra L. is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs in Golestan province that is known for its anti-inflammatory, carminative, antiviral, anti-infection and anti-ulcer properties in Iranian traditional medicine. This study aimed to assess the anti-bacterial and anti-oxidative activity of G. glabrafrom the Golestan province.

        Methods:  The rip root of the plant was collected in autumn 2013. The ethanolic extract of the plant was prepared by maceration method. The anti-oxidative property of the plant was assessed by total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reducing power (RP) and 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity assays. The anti-bacterial activity was assessed using agar-well diffusion method and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay.

        Results: The ethanolic extract of G. glabrahad relatively high anti-oxidative activity with IC50 value of 130 µg/ml, especially in the DPPH method. The extract also exhibited high anti-bacterial activity against the following Gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus (21.1±0.7 mm), Staphylococcus epidermidis (19.6±0.2 mm), Bacillus subtilus (19.3±0.6 mm), followed by Escherichia coli (12.1±0.8 mm), Enterococcus faecalis (13.2±0.1 mm) and Kelebsiellapneumoniae (11.5±0.4 mm) with MIC values in the range of 31 - 132 mg. mL^-1.

         Conclusion: According to results, the root extract of G.glabrais a good source of antioxidant compounds with suitable anti-bacterial activity, which can be used as natural anti-infection and anti-inflammatory agent for treatment of many diseases.

      

ABSTRACT
          Background and Objectives: Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis, a main public health problem that results in 1.5 million deaths annually. A number of epidemiological studies suggested that host genetic factors could play a main role in susceptibility to tuberculosis infection.
SP110 is an interferon-induced nuclear body protein with vital roles in apoptosis, cell cycling and immunity. SP110 gene has been suggested to be a suitable candidate for limiting TB infections. Thus, we investigated the possible association between SP110 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to tuberculosis in the Golestan Province, Iran.
          Methods: We investigated the frequency of rs1135791 polymorphism of the SP110 gene among 100 pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 100 healthy individuals who were referred to the health centers in the Golestan Province (Iran) between 2014 and 2015. Frequency of genotypes was evaluated using amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction.
          Results: The frequency distribution of TT, TC and CC genotypes among the patients was 65%, 31% and 4%, respectively. In the control group, the frequency distribution of TT, TC and CC genotypes was 56%, 46% and 7%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the frequency of rs1135791 between the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and the healthy controls (P=0.42).
          Conclusion:  Based on the results, the SP110 rs1135791 variant is not a genetic risk factor for development of pulmonary tuberculosis in Golestan Province, Iran.
          Keywords: rs1135791T, Pulmonary tuberculosis, Golestan Province.

ABSTRACT
            Background and objectives: Coronaviruses are the main causes of respiratory tract infections in humans. They are also the second leading cause of common cold after rhinoviruses, and can lead to otitis media and asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular detection of coronaviruses in clinical samples of patients with flu-like symptoms.
            Methods: Specimens were taken from 297 patients with flu-like symptoms who were referred to the influenza laboratory of Golestan University of Medical Sciences during 2012-2014. RNA was extracted from the specimens using an RNA extraction kit. Accordingly, RNA was used for cDNA synthesis and GAPDH was used as the internal control. Synthesized cDNA was investigated for presence of human coronaviruses genome with real-time polymerase chain reaction using specific primers. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16.0 software. 
            Results: The coronavirus genome was not detected in the specimens of patients with flu-like symptoms.
            Conclusion: Genome of human coronaviruses is absent in samples from patients with upper respiratory tract infections and influenza-like symptoms, which may indicate the low prevalence of the virus in the Golestan Province, Iran.
            KEYWORDS: Human coronaviruses, Upper respiratory tract infection, Golestan Province.