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Background: The current study aimed to determine the effect and properties of surface-modified copper doped Cu:ZnO NPs on killing curves of bacterial pathogens. Methods: Preparation of in situ surface-modified copper doped ZnO nanoparticles (Cu:ZnO NPs) was done according to standard procedure. Assay for antimicrobial activity of Cu:ZnO NPs against bacterial pathogens was carried out based on disc diffusion method. Determination of shelf life, thermal and pH stability of antibacterial activity of Cu:ZnO NPs was done and residual activity was determined against the target cultures. Results: FTIR spectra indicate that the nanomaterials synthesized have higher peak intensity compared with reagent grade ZnO. According to the SEM image the nanoparticles synthesized have different size and heterogeneous morphology. 400 ppm of Cu:ZnO NPs gave zones of inhibition with diameters of 9.0 - 16 mm against the target cultures. Amongst the target cultures, Escherchia coli was the most sensitive to the Cu:ZnO NPs inhibition zone diameter 16 mm; whereas, 9 mm wide inhibition zone was obtained against Staphylococcus aureus. The Cu:ZnO NPs was fairly stable for a period of 60 days at room temperature (RT) showing lost of only 20% and 30% antibacterial activity as tested against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The Cu:ZnO NPs was quite stable at this pH and temperature range tested against both E. coli and S. aureus. Conclusion: Surface-modified copper doped Cu:ZnO NPs have significant potential for their usefulness as antibacterial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of absenteeism in patients with psoriasis and determine the factors influencing the incidence of absenteeism in these patients., Methods: A cross-sectional study from December 2012 to November of 2013 was conducted on 192 psoriasis patients referred to the Dermatology Clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran. The number day of absence from work due to psoriasis in the last year was asked from the patients; the absence of 7 days has been considered as short-term and more than 7 days as long-term. Logistic regression was used to data analysis., Results: Sickness absence in 21.4% of patients was positive. The average numbers of days of absence were 10.25 and the duration of absence from work in 48.7% were long-term ≥7 days. 51.3% had short-term absence (<7 days). Among disease factors: moderate to severe disease (SAPASI score >10), palms and soles involvement, joint problems and radiation therapy and among job factors: hazardous physical and chemical exposures in the workplace, non-office work, disability, exacerbations of disease on work days and problem on employment were associated with high incidence of sickness absence., Conclusion: Psoriasis with its chronic and recurrent nature especially in higher severities causes disabilities that deeply affect Work performance and can decrease the efficiency. In better management of psoriasis patients, physicians should pay special attention to occupational factors.

Background: Many scientists have reported Candida species to be of great concern because of the high frequency that they colonize and infect human hosts, particularly cancer patients. Moreover, in the last decades Candida species have developed resistance to many antifungal agents. Based on this, we aimed to identify and determine the prevalence of Candida spp from blood culture bottles among cancer patients and their antifungal resistance pattern., Materials and Methods: From the blood culture bottles isolation and identification of the Candida spp were performed by conventional microbiological techniques. The in vitro antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates was determined by CLSI guidelines. Genomic DNA was isolated and amplified. Each gene was separated by agar gel electrophoresis., Results: Identification of Candida spp was based on the presence of yeast cells in direct examination, culture and DNA extraction. Of the 68 blood samples collected during the study period (April 2013 to October 2013), five (7.35%) were positive for the presence of Candida spp, 2 (40%) of which were identified as Candida albicans and 3 (60%) were Candida non-albicans., Conclusions: High resistance to amphotricin B was observed among all the Candida non-albicans isolates. Regular investigations into antifungal resistance will help us to get an updated knowledge about their antibiotic resistance pattern which may help the physician in selecting the antibiotics for empirical therapy.