The efficiency of clinical laboratories: the case of Kerman province.

Background: Medical diagnostic laboratories are an essential work environment that plays an important role in diagnosing, treating, and being sensitive to diseases. One way to evaluate laboratories' performance is to calculate their efficiency. This study investigates the efficiency of laboratories that are related to health centers in the south of Iran.

The economic burden of bipolar disorder: a case study in Southern Iran.

Background: Bipolar Disorder (BD) imposes considerable economic and social burdens on the community. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the economic burden of bipolar disorder in patients referred to single-specialty psychiatric hospitals at the secondary and tertiary care level in 2022.

Methods: This partial economic evaluation was conducted as a cross-sectional study in the south of Iran in 2022, and 916 patients were selected through the census method.

The effect of N-acetyl cysteine injection on renal function after coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a randomized double blind clinical trial.

Background: This study aimed to compare the effects of N-acetyl cysteine on renal function after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial conducted in Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran, 60 candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery were selected and divided into two N-acetyl cysteine and control groups (30 people each). Patients received 3 (2 intraoperative and 1 postoperative) doses of IV N-acetyl cysteine (100 mg/kg) (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) over 24 h.

Development of a Radiographic Index for Periodontitis.

The use of radiographic indices is noticeably diminished due to the lack of simplicity and standardisation among the existing ones. The aim of this study was to introduce a radiographic index to aid clinicians in determining the extent and severity of interproximal alveolar bone loss (iABL), in relation to individual root lengths, among patients suffering from periodontitis. A retrospective analysis of 50 anonymised dental panoramic tomograms (DPTs) of patients with periodontitis was conducted.

Effect of Single-Dose Methotrexate Treatment on Ovarian Reserve in Women with Ectopic Pregnancy Undergoing Infertility Treatment: A Single-Center Experience.

Background: The aim of this study was evaluation of the impact of single-dose methotrexate (MTX) treatment on ovarian reserve in women with ectopic pregnancy (EP) undergoing infertility treatment in Iranian population.

Materials And Methods: This prospective cohort study was done between March 2015 and March 2017 in Tehran General Women Hospital, Tehran, Iran. We enrolled 20 patients with EP who conceived during infertility treatment and received a single-dose MTX (50 mg/m2) intramuscularly.

ROLE OF T REGULATORY CELLS IN CHRONIC HCV INFECTED EGYPTIAN PATIENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE RESPONSE TO PEGYLATED INTERFERON THERAPY.

Treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C with the current standard pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin achieves overall response (SVR) rates of ~55%. A role of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) has been proposed as they can suppress HCV-specific T cells in HCV-infected patients. Patients with chronic HCV legible for PEG-IFN plus ribavirin treatment, were classified according to their response to treatment into two groups (responders and non-responders, 32 and 27 patients respectively).

Monoclonal antibody-based dipstick assay: a reliable field applicable technique for diagnosis of Schistosoma mansoni infection using human serum and urine samples.

A field applicable diagnostic technique, the dipstick assay, was evaluated for its sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing human Schistosoma mansoni infection. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) against S. mansoni adult worm tegumental antigen (AWTA) was employed in dipstick and sandwich ELISA for detection of circulating schistosome antigen (CSA) in both serum and urine samples.

Development of liposomes loaded with anti-leishmanial drugs for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is caused by different species of Leishmania parasites and its available treatments have not yet provided a strong consistent result. The weak response of current chemotherapeutics is due to their deficient effects on stealth parasites inside macrophages, rapid clearance from the site of action and systemic side effects in high doses. Liposomal formulation of anti-leishmanial drugs could overcome these problems.

Outcome of plasmapheresis in myasthenia gravis: delayed therapy is not favorable.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare the in-hospital mortality and complication rates after early and delayed initiation of plasma exchange (PLEX) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods: Our cohort was identified from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for the years 2000 through 2005. Early treatment was defined as therapy with PLEX administered within the first 2 days from hospital admission.

Human schistosomiasis haematobium: effective diagnosis of active infection using a pair of monoclonal antibodies against soluble egg antigen.

The present study was designed to prepare monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against Schistosoma haematobium soluble egg antigen (SEA) with immunodiagnostic potential for urinary schistosomiasis. From a panel of MAbs, a pair of IgG1 MAbs (2D/11C and 10B/2C) specific for S. haematobium SEA was selected.

The immunostatus of T helper and T cytotoxic cells in the patients ten years after exposure to sulfur mustard.

The treatment and cure of patients exposed to sulfur mustard is a remaining challenge despite ongoing research in this field. A severe suppression of the immune system still remains the major cause of opportunistic infections, septicemia, and death in these patients. The patients evaluated in this study were classified into three groups; severe, moderate, and mild according to the severity of exposure to sulfur mustard.

A monoclonal antibody against Schistosoma haematobium soluble egg antigen: efficacy for diagnosis and monitoring of cure of S. haematobium infection.

A monoclonal antibody (mAb), 2F/11F, raised against Schistosoma haematobium soluble egg antigen (SEA) was found to be nonreactive with S. mansoni SEA or other parasite antigens (Fasciola hepatica, Echinococcus granulosus). This IgG1 mAb recognized a repetitive epitope on S.

Parasite-specific antibody profile in human fascioliasis: application for immunodiagnosis of infection.

The antibody isotype response to an adult Fasciola worm antigen preparation (FWAP) was examined in sera from 60 Egyptians with parasitologically confirmed fascioliasis by an ELISA. The FWAP-specific IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies were found in 97-100% of the patients. The ratio of the mean absorbance values between infected patients and healthy controls was 9.

Production of monoclonal antibodies against target schistosomal antigen secreted in the urine of Schistosoma mansoni-infected patients.

This study was undertaken to develop an immunodiagnostic test of active human schistosomiasis mansoni using a monoclonal antibody which targets urinary schistosomal antigen. Polyclonal antisera raised in rabbits against the processed urine of Schistosoma mansoni-infected patients showed very high and significant reactivity with ES product of ova compared with other different S. mansoni antigens.

A monoclonal antibody diagnoses active Fasciola infection in humans.

Monoclonal antibodies (MABs) were produced after fusion of spleen cells of Fasciola antigen immunized BALB/c mice and non secreting murine myloma cells (P3x63 Ag8). Six MAbs, showing the highest reactivity with purified Fasciola antigen, were prepared. All 6 MABs were IgG2 with Kappa light chain.

Induction of hepatic egg granuloma hyporesponsiveness in murine schistosomiasis mansoni by intravenous injection of small doses of soluble egg antigen.

This work was designed to test whether hyporesponsiveness to schistosomal egg antigen (SEA) was associated with reduction in size of hepatic granulomas. Multiple small doses of SEA (10 micrograms x 4) were injected intravenously (i.v.

Efficacy of an antipathology vaccine in murine schistosomiasis administered with and without chemotherapy.

This study was undertaken to study the efficacy of praziquantel (PZQ) in potentially tolerized Schistosoma mansoni infected, egg-injected C57BL/6 mice, receiving multiple administrations of soluble egg antigen (SEA) intravenously (i.v.).

Detection of circulating schistosome antigens in serum and urine of schistosomiasis patients and assessment of cure by a monoclonal antibody.

From a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAb), an IgM monoclonal antibody (7F1/6B) reactive with repetitive epitopes on S. mansoni soluble egg antigen was selected. This MAb was employed both as antigen capture and detection antibody in a sandwich ELISA and had a detection limit < 1 ng S.

Immunoregulatory potential of exogenous Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen in a model of experimental schistosomiasis--I. Regulation of granuloma formation in vivo.

This study was undertaken to assess the optimum conditions required to reduce the vigorous host granulomatous reaction around Schistosoma mansoni eggs. Soluble schistosomal egg antigen (SEA) at a concentration of 10 or 100 micrograms protein was administered i.p.

Use of Kato and nucleopore techniques for qualitative diagnosis of schistosomiasis.

A comparison on qualitative basis, is attempted between merthiolate-iodine-formaldehyde concentration (MIFC) and Kato thick smear techniques for diagnosis of schistosome eggs in stools. As well, the centrifugation-sedimentation method was compared with the Nucleopore filtration technique for schistosome eggs in urine. Using MIFC and Kato techniques, 149 out of 185 subjects were found to have Schistosoma mansoni infection, 41 of them were diagnosed by Kato alone, while no case was solely MIFC positive.

Evaluation of specific Fasciola antigen in the immunodiagnosis of human fascioliasis in Egypt.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and enzyme linked immunoelectrotransfer blot technique (EITB) were employed for the detection of circulating Fasciola antibodies in infected human sera using a specific Fasciola antigen, prepared by immunoaffinity purification of homogenates of Fasciola hepatica adult worms. Ninety two individuals diagnosed clinically and parasitologically were classified into: Fascioliasis group (21 patients), schistosomiasis group (21 patients) and subjects harbouring other parasitic infections (50 patients). Eighteen healthy individuals served as normal controls.

Purification and characterization of a specific Fasciola antigen.

Specific Fasciola antigen was prepared from homogenates of Fasciola hepatica adult worms. The homogenate was ultracentrifuged and the supernatant containing crude Fasciola antigen was then passed over a cyanogen bromide activated sepharose 4B column coupled with antiserum against Schistosoma mansoni adult worm surface antigen. The specific, Schistosoma-free Fasciola antigen was tested for its specificity by immunodiffusion.

Antifilarial IgM versus IgG antibody determination in the diagnosis of Wuchereria bancrofti infection in Egyptians.

Circulating antifilarial IgM and IgG antibodies were assessed by indirect ELISA in 184 serum specimens from 80 patients with clinically and parasitologically diagnosed filarial infections (20 with acute filariasis 40 with chronic filariasis & 20 asymptomatic microfilaraemic subjects), 64 individuals with other parasitic infections, 20 parasitologically-free subjects from filariasis endemic areas and 20 normal healthy controls. A soluble surface membrane extract from Dirofilaria immitis worms was used as the antigen. Using a single serum dilution of 1:128 and optical densities (OD) at 492 nm, the respective cut off values for IgM and IgG were found to be 0.

Evaluation of different immunodiagnostic techniques for diagnosis of hydatidosis in Egypt.

In this study detection of the circulating hydatid antibodies was performed by three serological tests: Immunoelectrophoresis (IEP), Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Enzyme linked immunoelectrotransfer blot (EITB) technique. The antigen which was used in these tests was Echinococcus granulosus antigen free of host (camel) antigen by immunoaffinity chromatography. Most serum samples were pre-selected from the patients on the basis of clinical syndrome or past history of possible diagnosis of echinococcosis.

Identification and characterization of specific hydatid antigen fraction(s).

A specific hydatid antigen was prepared in this study from Echinococcus granulosus cyst in livers and lungs of camels. Elimination of host "camel" protein from crude hydatid fluid was achieved by two methods: Salting out using ammonium sulfate precipitation method and immunoaffinity purification using coupled anticamel antibody to cyanogenbromide activated sepharose 4B gel. Testing the prepared hydatid antigen against anticamel serum, using immunodiffusion method, indicated that the affinity purified hydatid antigen was almost completely purified from camel protein.