Prevalence of cryptosporidium infection in immunocompromised patients, in South-west of iran, 2009-10.

Background: Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite with worldwide distribution. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection by antigen detection in faeces among immunocompromised patients referred to educational hospitals of Ahvaz City, South-West of Iran, 2009-2010.

Methods: Fecal samples from 176 immunocompromised patients were collected and Cryptosporidium coproantigen test was performed using ELISA method (DRG kit, Germany).

Analysis of patients with post-chemotherapy arthralgia and arthritis in breast cancer.

Objective: Evaluate the characteristics of arthropathy and musculoskeletal pain after chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we evaluate the characteristics of 15 patients with joint symptoms after receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. Demographic information including sex, age, time of rheumatologic findings after starting of chemotherapy, and time of improvement after starting of medication, and laboratory findings detected for each patient.

Prevalence of intestinal parasites and profile of CD4+ counts in HIV+/AIDS people in north of Iran, 2007-2008.

In this study 142 stool samples (64 HIV+/AIDS patients and 78 non-HIV infected individuals) collected from Mazandaran province and screened for intestinal parasites, using direct wet mont, formalin-ether sedimentation concentration, modified Ziehl Neelsen and modified trichrome techniques. Each person in this study was examined for CD4+ counts. Intestinal parasites were found in 11/64 (17.

Association of human leukocyte antigen and esophageal cancer in North of Iran.

Several risk factors including environmental factor, Genetic and nutritional deficiencies have been associated with Esophageal Cancer (EC) in high risk areas. In a case-control association study, the association of HLA class I and esophageal carcinoma has been investigated. A total number of 30 patients and 30 clinical healthy individuals matched for sex and age with the same ethnicity and residence status were enrolled.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis of the lid: a report of nine cases.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania species and is classified into three forms; cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral. The eyelid is a rare site involved by leishmaniasis and only makes up 2.5% of cases with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL).

Th-1/Th-2 cytokine pattern in human amoebic colitis.

Amoebiasis, caused by Entamoeba histolytica, is still considered a major health problem in developing countries. Since the immune response during human amoebiasis has not been clearly defined, we chose to evaluate cytokine production in patients suffering from amoebic colitis. A case-control association study was carried out on 62 subjects, including 31 patients with amoebic colitis and 31 healthy controls (age, sex and geographic region-matched).

Fungal Contamination of Indoor Public Swimming Pools, Ahwaz, South-west of Iran.

Background: Using public swimming pools during different seasons and poor health behavior could be responsible in transmission of fungal disease through pool water and its environment. Therefore, this research was conducted to investigate fungal agents of indoor public swimming pools of Ahwaz, capital city of Khouzestan Province, south-west of Iran.

Methods: Ten indoor swimming pools of Ahwaz were investigated during two seasons for 6 months.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism and susceptibility to ischemic stroke.

Cytokines gene polymorphisms have been implicated in susceptibility to ischemic stroke. This study aims to determine the influence of the polymorphism within the intron 2 of the interleukin- 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene on the susceptibility to stroke. A variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in intron 2 of the IL-1Ra gene was analyzed in 148 patients with stroke and 161 healthy volunteers from the same area.

Initial experience with two-incision laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.

Background: To introduce the 2-incision technique for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) and report our experience with 25 consecutive patients. Newer applications of minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques have been touted as revolutionary.

Methods: We have introduced a technique for LAGB that uses 2 skin incisions: 1 incision in the right upper quadrant (2.

E-selectin genetic variation as a susceptibility factor for ischemic stroke.

The polymorphism of the E-selectin gene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We sought to explore whether the allelic variants relate to ischemic stroke. We conducted a case-control study of 359 cases of ischemic stroke and 353 community controls.

E-selectin and L-selectin polymorphisms in patients with periodontitis.

Background And Objective: Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease in which environmental and genetic determinant factors contribute to individual subjects susceptibility. A DNA polymorphism in the regulating region of adhesion molecule genes is suggested to modulate the molecules physiological effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic association between the E-selectin Ser128Arg and L-selectin Phe206Leu polymorphisms and periodontitis.

Interleukin-4 (C-590T) and interferon-gamma (G5644A) gene polymorphisms in patients with periodontitis.

Background And Objective: Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease and immunologic and genetic factors have an important role in its pathogenesis. Mutation in the promoter regions of the interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma genes has been reported to modify the protein expression. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible role of interleukin-4 (C-590T) and interferon-gamma (G5644A) polymorphisms in the susceptibility to periodontitis.

Identification of an HLA-A*0201-restricted T-cell epitope on the MPT51 protein, a major secreted protein derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, by MPT51 overlapping peptide screening.

CD8+ T cells play a pivotal role in protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We identified a novel HLA-A*0201-restricted CD8+ T-cell epitope on a dominant secreted antigen of M. tuberculosis, MPT51, in HLA-A*0201 transgenic HHD mice.

Cytokine production in Hymenolepis nana infection.

Background: Although many experimental studies provide convincing evidence that type II immunity is protective against helminths, recent data in mice demonstrate that Th1 is also important in some cestodes like Hymenolepis nana.

Objectives: To identify the role of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes in immunity against H. nana, the levels of IL-12, IFNgamma, IL-5, and IL-13 were determined in serum of humans infected with this cestode.

Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis CTL epitopes restricted by HLA-A*0201 in HHD mice.

Background: CD8 T cells are thought to play an important role in protective immunity to tuberculosis. The major histocompatibility complex class I subtype HLA-A*0201 is one of the most prevalent class I alleles, with a frequency of over 30% in most populations. HLA-A*0201 transgenic, H-2D(b)/mouse beta2-microglobulin double-knockout mice (HHD) which express human HLA-A*0201 but no mouse class 1, was shown to provide a powerful model for studying induction of HLA-A*0201-restricted immune responses in vivo.

E-selectin S128R polymorphism leads to severe asthma.

The E-selectin mediates the interaction of activated endothelial cells with leukocytes and plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of asthma. It has been suggested that an S/R (Serine128Arginine) polymorphism of E-selectin alters ligand binding function. Our purpose in this study was to determine whether this Serine128Arginine polymorphism influences the risk of asthma and also to analyze the possible correlation of disease severity in Iranian patients with polymorphism of E-selection.

Human cystic echinococcosis in nomads of south-west Islamic Republic of Iran.

We investigated the prevalence of human CE among nomadic communities in 4 areas of Khuzestan province: Behbahan, Shoush, Masjed Soleiman and Izeh. Blood samples from 3446 individuals from 700 randomly selected families were examined for detection of antibody against Echinococcus granuIosus. Family members were interviewed to assess possible risk factors for infection such as age, sex, dog ownership.

The Ser128Arg polymorphism for E-selectin gene and brucellosis.

Background: E-selectin is expressed on activated endothelial cells and plays an important role in regulating the early steps of tethering and rolling of leukocytes into and within sites of infection and inflammation. An A/C polymorphism (Ser128Arg) has been descried to alter ligand binding function. Therefore, the purpose of this case-control association study was to determine whether E-selectin polymorphism influences the risk of brucellosis and to analyze the possible correlation to disease progression.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 polymorphisms in patients with brucellosis: an association between codon 10 and 25 polymorphisms and brucellosis.

This study examined the association between transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 polymorphisms and brucellosis. The TGF-beta1 genotypes at codons 10 and 25 were determined by an amplification refractory mutation system-PCR among 425 brucellosis patients and 213 healthy volunteers. The frequencies of TGF-beta1 codons 10 C and 25 G were significantly higher among patients than among controls, as was that of TGF-beta1 codon 10 C/C.

Association of susceptibility to brucellosis and interleukin-4 promoter polymorphism.

A C-T substitution at position 590 in the interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene is associated with increased production of IL-4. We sought to determine the associations between this polymorphism and susceptibility to brucellosis. DNA was extracted from the whole blood of 163 control individuals and 282 patients with brucellosis.

The G-308A promoter variant of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene is associated with migraine without aura.

Migraine is considered to be a polygenic multifactorial disease with various environmental and genetic etiologies. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a potent immunomodulator and pro-inflammatory cytokine, has been implicated in many pathological processes in brain. The hypothesis of this study was that migraine without aura (MWA) might be associated with TNF-alpha (-308) polymorphism, resulting in increased TNF-alpha production.

Association of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism and susceptibility to human brucellosis.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the polymorphism within the intron 2 of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene (IL-1Ra) on the susceptibility to or development of brucellosis. A total of 255 patients with brucellosis and 162 healthy volunteers were genotyped for polymorphisms in intron 2 of the IL-1Ra gene. The frequency of allele 2 of the IL-1Ra gene was significantly higher in patients with brucellosis compared with the controls (24.

Detection of specific hydatid antigens and antibodies in serum and urine of experimentally infected sheep.

Immunodiagnostic confirmation of cystic human hydatidosis is frequently required before surgical intervention or of chemotherapy. However, it remains inadequate to detect specific antibodies or antigens in some confirmed cases of echinococcosis. This study was carried out to investigate the accuracy of three different immunodiagnostic tests for detection of specific circulating antigens or antibodies in the serum and urine of 13 experimentally infected sheep.