Human Brucellosis: Risks and Prevalence among Iranian Blood Donors Residing in Endemic Areas.

Background: Brucellosis is a common zoonotic infection worldwide. Transmission can be occasionally observed via transfusion or transplantation. This study was designed to survey the seroprevalence of anti- antibody in blood donors in different endemic provinces.

Platelet Septic Transfusion Reactions in Patients With Hemato-Oncological Diseases.

Background & Objective: Bacterial, contamination of blood components are a significant risk for transfusion reactions. Inherently, platelet concentrates (PCs) are vulnerable to bacterial contamination, due to the storage condition of processed PCs at room temperature, which provide very suitable conditions for the proliferation of microorganisms.The current study aimed at investigating the transfusion associated septic reaction rate in patients with hemato-oncological diseases in Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, and identifying the contaminating bacteria.

Human parvovirus B19 in patients with beta thalassemia major from Tehran, Iran.

Background: Due to the tropism of human parvovirus B19 to erythroid progenitor cells, infection in patients with an underlying hemolytic disorder such as beta-thalassemia major leads to suppression of erythrocyte formation, referred to as transient aplasia crisis (TAC), which may be life-threatening. We investigated the prevalence of parvovirus B19 among patients with beta thalassemia major attending the Zafar Adult Thalassemia Clinic in Tehran, Iran.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed to determine the presence of parvovirus B19 DNA in blood samples and parvovirus B19 genotypes in plasma samples of patients with thalassemia major.

Trends in Sero-Epidemiology of Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Voluntary Blood Donations in Iran, 2008-2013.

Background: Various strategies are implemented to increase blood safety. However, there is always a small amount of residual risk. The amount of risk is associated with the incidence and prevalence of infection in the community.

The Prevalence of SEN Virus and Occult Hepatitis B (OBI) Virus Infection Among Blood Donors in Ahvaz City.

Background: The SEN virus (SENV) is a prevalent blood borne pathogen that has a worldwide incidence. SENV is comprised of eight genotypes; genotypes H and D are frequently associated with the pathogenesis of non-A - E hepatitis and post-transfusion hepatitis in blood donors and hepatitis patients. So far, no SENV pathogenesis has been reported in the liver biopsies of SENV carriers, but the frequency of SENV and its related genotypes requires further molecular epidemiology studies in different regions of the world.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among Iranian Blood Donors: A Narrative Review Article.

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a common parasitic disease. There is likelihood of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in blood donors during the periods of life. Currently, laboratory screening of blood donors for T.

Prevalence of antibody to Hepatitis B core antigen and Hepatitis B virus DNA in HBsAg negative healthy blood donors.

Background: Hepatitis B virus is one of the most important blood born viruses. Although the sensitivity of screening tests has been considerably increased, transmission may still occur due to window period or occult hepatitis B infections (OBIs). This study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of the anti-HBc and identifying the HBV DNA in HBsAg negative blood donors.

Variations in Intraplatelet Phospho-VASP Expression Due to Pre-analytical Sample Preparations, Illustration of a Quality Control Issue in Platelet Pharmacology.

Intraplatelet vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) analysis is a commonly used laboratory approach for monitoring of the anti-platelet therapy with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) receptor blocking agents; however, it's testing in clinical laboratory needs a high level of experience and proficiency. The ability to recognize how the pre-analytical variations can change the results would be helpful for the interpretation of data from intraplatelet VASP analysis. The aim of this study was to describe the possible differences of intraplatelet phospho-VASP expression between washed and platelet rich plasma (PRP) samples, both at baseline levels and following experimentally induction of VASP phosphorylation.

Seroepidemiology of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV1) in Mashhad.

Introduction: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I) is associated with adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The major routes of HTLV-I transmission are mother-to-child, sexual contact, and blood transfusion. Mashhad is one of the main endemic areas in the world for HTLV-I, and minimizing the risk of HTLV-I transmission through blood transfusion is one of the main duties of the Blood Transfusion Center in Mashhad.

Interferon alpha-2b therapy in chronic hepatitis delta.

Background: Approximately 5% of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers are coinfected with hepatitis D virus (HDV). HBV/HDV coinfection is a major cause of cirrhosis and end stage liver disease in chronic HBsAg carriers. The only approved therapy for chronic hepatitis delta is interferon alpha (IFN α) in either pegylated or conventional forms.

The effect of 24 h resting of old PCs at 22-24°С in permeable bags on in vitro platelet parameters.

Background: During transporting periods, platelet (PLT) concentrates (PCs) usually undergo a long period without agitation. Whether this interruption, improves quality and viability, or has deleterious effect at 72 h stored PCs, is here investigated. The aim of our study is to investigate effect of metabolic resting (24 h interruption of agitation) versus continue agitation of 72 h-stored PCs (old), prior to transfusion in the blood bank of Tehran.

Evolutionary analysis of HBV "S" antigen genetic diversity in Iranian blood donors: a nationwide study.

The genetic diversity of the HBV S gene has a significant impact on the prophylaxis and treatment of hepatitis B infection. The effect of selective pressure on this genetic alteration has not yet been studied in Iranian blood donors. To explore HBV evolution and to analyze the effects and patterns of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) mutations on blood screening assays, 358 Iranian blood donors diagnosed as asymptomatic HBV carriers were enrolled in this nationwide study.

Frequency & specificity of RBC alloantibodies in patients due for surgery in Iran.

Background & Objectives: Red blood cell alloimmunization is common in patients receiving multiple blood transfusions. Since the probability of repeat transfusion increases with longer life expectancy, it is important to study to which extent alloimmunized patients with a history of transfusion are prone to form alloantibodies after transfusion events. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the alloimmunization against RBCs among transfused patients who were to undergo elective surgery in Tehran, Iran.

Emerging infectious threats to the blood supply: seroepidemiological studies in iran - a review.

The risk of transfusion-transmitted infections has been greatly reduced by improvements in donor screening and testing. However, newly recognized blood-borne infectious agents can be threats to blood safety. In order to evaluate the prevalence some of these agents in blood donors, a systematic review was conducted.

The frequency of HHV-8 infection in otherwise healthy blood donors as well as renal allograft recipients living in Iran.

Background: Different reports from Middle East countries demonstrated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in transplant population. This vascular malignancy occurs mostly among immunocompromised individuals. Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) appears to be the causative factor for the development of this neoplasm.

Efficacy of the confidential unit exclusion option in blood donors in tehran, iran, determined by using the nucleic Acid testing method in 2008 and 2009.

Background: In recent years, the confidential unit exclusion (CUE) option has been used to increase blood safety at blood transfusion centers in several countries. The epidemiologic characteristics of diseases and demographic characteristics of patients vary in different countries; therefore, we investigated whether the CUE option is useful in Iran. In this study, we determined the prevalences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in CUE-positive and CUE-negative units, as well as the efficacy of the CUE option.

Antibody titration and immune response of Iranian beta-thalassemic patients to hepatitis B virus vaccine (booster effect).

Background: Thalassemia is hereditary anemia with lifelong transfusion as treatment and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the transfusion transmitted infections (TTI). HBV vaccination is obligatory for these patients by 3 double-dose injections. The authors studied the HBV status and immune response to vaccination by hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) titration in their thalassemic patients.