Publications by authors named "Soheila Hekmat"

Background: A licensed vaccine against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has not become available to date. The stability and antigenicity of a targeted synthesized recombinant fusion protein consisting of a truncated core and NS3 (rC/N) of HCV had been predicted. Although safe antigens, recombinant proteins are not efficacious vaccines without adjuvants.

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Background: The rapid increase of HIV-1 strains resistant to current antiretroviral drugs is a challenge for successful AIDS therapy. This necessitates the development of novel drugs, and to this end, availability of screening systems for in vitro drug discovery is a priority. Herein, we report the modification of a previously developed system for increased sensitivity, ease of use, and cost-efficiency, based on the application of the EGFP marker.

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Background: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is a new effective treatment option for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Objectives: To evaluate TDF efficacy in nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs)-naive Iranian patients with CHB.

Patients And Methods: The NA-naive patients received TDF for at least six months.

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HIV is commonly caused to a very complicated disease which has not any recognized vaccine, so designing and development of novel antiretroviral agents with specific application of nanomedicine is a globally interested research subject worldwide. In the current study, a novel structure of silver complexes with anionic linear globular dendrimer was synthesized, characterized and then assessed against HIV replication pathway in vitro as well. The results showed a very good yield of synthesis (up to 70%) for the nano-complex as well as a very potent significant (P < 0.

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Article Synopsis
  • - This study investigates the prevalence of occult Hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) in hemodialysis (HD) patients who are negative for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), focusing on a sample of 100 patients in Tehran, Iran.
  • - Results indicate that 1% of the patients had detectable HBV-DNA, while low levels of isolated anti-HBc were found in 2% of cases, suggesting a limited occurrence of OBI.
  • - The low rates of OBI may be attributed to increased awareness of Hepatitis B transmission, vaccination efforts among HD patients, and consistent monitoring for HBV infections.
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Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus is a tick-borne member of the genus Nairovirus, family Bunyaviridae. CCHF virus has been isolated from at least 31 different species of ticks. The virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected tick or by direct contact with CCHF virus-infected patients or the products of infected livestock.

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Tumor and especially breast cancer is among the most common causes of death worldwide. Finding novel nanosized therapeutic compounds have important role to decrease the chance of death and increase the survival. Cancer cells are highly attractive to glucose [with a nanosize bimolecular structure 1nm] as an energy source more than normal cell and nanosized therapeutics due to possessing different pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic have advantageous over classical dosage forms in cancer therapy.

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Background: Epidemiological data indicate that Hepatitis G virus (HGV) is transmitted predominantly through parenteral routes, with a high seroprevalence among injection drug users (IDUs), although sexual transmission has also been reported. In this study our objective was to compare the frequency of HGV infection in two groups of HIV-positive patients including IDUs and those with sexual risk of exposure.

Methods: Presence of HGV-RNA was analyzed in serum samples from 82 HIV-infected patients including 52 IDUs and 30 cases with sexual (heterosexuals) risk of exposure by reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction.

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GB virus C (GBV-C) infection is frequent in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) due to similar transmission routes of these viruses. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of infection and genotypic characteristics of GBV-C in this population. The presence of GBV-C RNA was determined in serum samples of 106 patients infected with HIV by reverse transcriptase-nested polymerase chain reaction.

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