Background: Helicobacter pylori is classified as a carcinogen, and it is also the most common cause of chronic bacterial infection and peptic ulcers. Approximately 45% of people are infected with the bacterium. Methods: In this study, the H. pylori genes, CagA and VacA, were investigated in drinking water, using 100 samples (50 samples from the municipal water supply and 50 samples from the effluent of household water treatment devices). DNA was extracted from colonies with a positive heterotrophic plate count (HPC) for use in molecular testing and microbial identification. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify H. pylori. Results: The study showed that 24% of urban water samples (12% above the World Health Organization [WHO] standards for safe drinking water) and 18% of home water treatment-device samples (4% above the WHO standards) were HPC-positive. The H. pylori genes, CagA and VacA, were identified in 2% of the samples from household water treatment devices and 8% of the municipal water supply samples. Conclusion: The study findings show that H. pylori may be transmitted in drinking water. However, there is currently no strong evidence that the bacteria can survive after the disinfection process in the water supply system. Therefore, the health risks of this bacterium in drinking water are still unknown.
As one of the induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) methods, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCS ) extract is considered as new approach in stem cell therapy of infertility. 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) inhibits methyltransferase enzyme, and induces gene reprogramming; herein, the effects of SSCS extract incubation in 5-aza-dC-treated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) has been surveyed. BMMSCs were isolated from femurs of three to four weeks old male NMRI mice, and the cells at passage three were treated with 2 µM 5-aza-dC for 72 hours. SSCs were isolated, cultured, and harvested at passage three to collect SSCS extract; BMMSCs were then incubated with SSCS extract in the three time periods: 72 hours, one week and two weeks. There were five groups: control, sham, extract, 5-aza-dC and extract-5-aza-dC. After one week of incubation, flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) exhibited high levels of expression for β1- and α6-integrins and promyelocytic leukaemia zinc finger (PLZF) in extract and extract-5-aza-dC groups (P < 0.05 vs. control and 5-aza-dC), and cells in these two groups had two forms of morphology, round and fusiform, similar to germ-like cells. 5-aza-dC had no significant effects during the three time periods of evaluation. These data disclose the effectiveness of SSCs extract incubation in transdifferentiation of BMMSCs into germ-like cells; this strategy could introduce a new approach for treatment of male infertility in clinic.
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