Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis is a common and curable STI which can be symptomatic or asymp... more Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis is a common and curable STI which can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Nowadays, PCR is a very sensitive diagnostic tool for detecting Chlamydia in urine and can be used in routine screening procedures as a noninvasive test. There are few studies on the prevalence of C. trachomatis in Iranian women and most of them have small sample sizes which are not suitable for epidemiological deductions. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ...
Helicobacter pylori, a microaerophilic fastidious bacterium, has been cultured on various plating... more Helicobacter pylori, a microaerophilic fastidious bacterium, has been cultured on various plating and broth media since its discovery. Although the agar media can be sufficient for the identification, typing, and antibiotic resistance studies, no secretory antigen of H. pylori can be evaluated in such media. Thus, satisfactory growth of H. pylori in liquid culture which is needed for analysis of secretory proteins without the presence of interfering agents is in demand. We assessed the impact of b-cyclodextrin, Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), and charcoal as supplements for H. pylori growth. Furthermore, we aimed to identify the most favorable supplement that supports the secretion of the dominant secretory protein, vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA). Five clinical strains were cultured on broth media and the growth, viability, morphology, and protein content of each strain were determined. Our results revealed that b-cyclodextrin supports the growth rate, viability, and cell lysate protein content to the extent similar to FBS. Application of b-cyclodextrin is found to postpone spiral to coccoid conversion up to 72 h of incubation. Although FBS supports a higher VacA protein content, presence of interfering macromolecules in FBS questions its utility particularly for purposes of studying extra cellular proteins such as VacA. This study recommends further application of b-cyclodextrin as a culture supplement with the potential capacity in neutralizing toxic compounds and flourishing the secretion of H. pylori proteins without addition of interfering proteins.
Results: The mean age for the first menses or menarche in the two studied periods of time (in the... more Results: The mean age for the first menses or menarche in the two studied periods of time (in the years 1990 and 1999) were 13.86±1.51 and 13.65±1.47 respectively, and in both periods the mean age at the first menses was significantly (p< 0.001) less in urban areas compared to that of rural ones. With the passage of this 9-year period the mean age for the first menses has been reduced sig-nificantly (p< 0.001) in both urban and rural areas, that is from 13.76 to 13.61 in urban areas and from 14.03 to 13.72 in rural areas. The analysis of ...
Background: Malassezia species as skin microflora of humans and other warm-blooded vertebrates ar... more Background: Malassezia species as skin microflora of humans and other warm-blooded vertebrates are the lipophilic yeasts associated with various human diseases, especially pityriasis versicolor (PV). Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the Malassezia species of scraped skin of PV patients in Yazd, Iran, using morphological, biochemical and physiological methods. We also compared the obtained results of PV patients with normal healthy volunteers.
AimTo determine the potential influence of genetic factors on the prevalence of myopia in Tehran.... more AimTo determine the potential influence of genetic factors on the prevalence of myopia in Tehran.MethodsOf 6497 citizens of Tehran sampled from 160 clusters using stratified random cluster sampling, 4565 (70.3%) participated in the study and were referred to a clinic for an extensive eye examination and interview. These were from 1259 nuclear families with the average size of 3.6. Refraction data obtained from 3321 participants aged 16 years and over are presented. Three definitions of myopia, as the spherical equivalent of −0.5, −1, and −2 diopters or less, were used. Familial aggregation of myopia was evaluated with odds ratios and recurrence risk ratios (λR) using a multiple logistic regression with generalised estimating equations (GEE), adjusted for age, sex, height, and education.ResultsMultivariate analyses showed a strong familial aggregation of myopia among siblings (λR ranging from 2.09 to 3.86) and parent–offspring pairs (λR from 1.82 to 3.81) adjusted for age, sex, height, and education. The aggregation increased with higher myopia thresholds and with the use of cycloplegic refraction. The odds ratios for spouse pairs were not significantly different from 1.0. The association of myopia with sex, height, and education (and not age) remained significant in the final GEE2 model.ConclusionsThe findings indicate a relatively high degree of familial aggregation of myopia in the Tehran population, independent of age, sex, height, and education. This residual aggregation may be a result of heredity or of an unmeasured common environmental effect.
Background: Immunization against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis has been applied in Iran since... more Background: Immunization against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis has been applied in Iran since 1950. WHO suggests periodical evaluation of effectiveness of the triple diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis (DTwP) vaccine, worldwide. Objectives: To determine the immunogenicity of locally manufactured DTwP vaccine administered to preschool children in a number of health centers of Tehran in 2006. Methods: In this prospective study, 350 children aged 4-6 years were injected with DTwP vaccine manufactured by Razi Institute of Iran. Blood samples were collected before and 2-4 weeks after the vaccination. The immunogenicity of the vaccine was assayed by measurement of specific antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: Of the 337 children who were vaccinated, 99.4% and 100% had protective anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus antibody titers, respectively. The vaccine response and seroconversion for pertussis was achieved in 70.3% of the subjects. The geometric mean titers (GMT) of the antibodies produced against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis by DTwP vaccine were 7.76, 9.37 IU/ml and 30.20 EU/ml after booster vaccine dose, respectively. Conclusions: Comparison of the results obtained from this study with those of previous studies performed in other countries reveals that immunogenicity of diphtheria and tetanus components is similar to other vaccines, but the immunogenicity of pertussis vaccine was less efficient. The lower immunogenicity of DTwP against pertussis may be related to the bacterial strain used or the formulation protocol adopted for the vaccine preparation.
The identification of the vacA intermediate region has provided new insights into the role of vac... more The identification of the vacA intermediate region has provided new insights into the role of vacA heterogeneity in relation to gastro-duodenal pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess vacA polymorphism in Iranian Helicobacter pylori strains and its association with cagA as a major virulence determinant, gastric histopathology and disease. vacA polymorphism and serum antibody responses were studied in 207 H. pylori-infected (139 NUD, 34 PUD, and 34 GC) patients and correlated with gastric histopathology. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found intermediate region typing superior to signal or mid region typing for screening high risk patients. vacA i1 allele was identified as an independent predictor of dysplasia (OR = 9.044; 95% CI: 1.11-73.33). Possession of s1/i1/cagA(+) strains was also identified as a predictor of intestinal metaplasia (OR = 3; 95% CI: 1.13-7.95), dysplasia (OR = 9.9; 95% CI: 1.23-80.86) and risk of GC (OR = 6.9; 95% CI: 2.5-18.66) as well as induction of anti-VacA sero-positivity (OR = 5.04; 95% CI: 1.8-13.6). Anti-VacA serology correctly detected 83.8% of s1/i1/cagA(+) strains carried by high-risk patients. The current study emphasizes the implication of vacA polymorphic structure, especially the s1/i1/cagA(+) genotype, in increasing the risk of GC by revealing their association with gastric pre-neoplastic changes and their reflection in VacA sero-positivity which encourages the application of noninvasive procedures in population screening.
Previous studies have shown controversial results about the role of androgens in coronary artery ... more Previous studies have shown controversial results about the role of androgens in coronary artery disease (CAD). We performed this study to examine and compare the relationship between androgenic hormones and CAD using conventional linear statistical techniques as well as novel non-linear approaches. The study was conducted on 502 consecutive men who were referred for selective coronary angiography at Tehran Heart Center due to different indications. We studied the relationship between androgenic hormones and CAD by using the generalized linear models, generalized additive models, and neural networks. Free testosterone (fT), total testosterone (tT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in patients with significant CAD versus normal individuals were 6.69 ± 3.20 pg/ml, 16.60 ± 6.66 nm/l, and 113.38 ± 72.9 lg/dl versus 7.12 ± 3.58 pg/ ml, 15.82 ± 7.26 nm/l, and 109.03 ± 68.19 lg/dl, respectively (P [ 0.05). The Generalized linear models was unable to show any significant relationship between androgenic hormones and CAD, while generalized additive model and neural networks supported the significant effect of androgenic hormones on CAD. This finding suggests a nonlinear association of tT levels with CAD: lower levels have a preventive effect on CAD, whereas higher values increase the risk of CAD. Emphasizing the non-linearity of the variables may provide new insight into the possible explanation of the effect of androgenic hormones on CAD.
Background: High incidence rates of gastrointestinal tract cancers have been reported in the Casp... more Background: High incidence rates of gastrointestinal tract cancers have been reported in the Caspian region of Iran. This study aimed to: 1) describe the geographical spatial patterns of gastrointestinal tract cancer incidence based on cancer registry data and, 2) determine whether geographical clusters of statistical significance exist.
Background: Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial infection of the stratum corneum which caused ... more Background: Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial infection of the stratum corneum which caused by a group of yeasts formerly named pityrosporium. The taxonomy of these lipophilic yeasts has recently been modified and includes seven species referred as Malassezia. The aim of this study is to compare the distribution of Malassezia species isolated from pityriasis versicolor lesions and those isolated from healthy skins.
Objective(s)Rapid tests for detection of Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococci (GBS) a... more Objective(s)Rapid tests for detection of Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococci (GBS) at the onset of labor are needed to permit early intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. This study aimed to evaluate the PCR assays targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S ...
The transmission of malaria by blood transfusion was one of the first transfusion-transmitted inf... more The transmission of malaria by blood transfusion was one of the first transfusion-transmitted infections recorded in the world. Transfusion-transmitted malaria may lead to serious problems because infection with Plasmodium falciparum may cause rapidly fatal death. This study aimed to compare real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) with rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and light microscopy for the detection of Plasmodium spp. in blood transfusion, both in endemic and non-endemic areas of malaria disease in Iran. Two sets of 50 blood samples were randomly collected. One set was taken from blood samples donated in blood bank of Bandar Abbas, a city located in a malarious-endemic area, and the other set from Tehran, a non-endemic one. Light microscopic examination on both thin and thick smears, RDTs, and real-time PCR were performed on the blood samples and the results were compared. Thin and thick light microscopic examinations of all samples as well as RDT results were negative for Plasmodium spp. Two blood samples from endemic area were positive only with real-time PCR. It seems that real-time PCR as a highly sensitive method can be helpful for the confirmation of malaria infection in different units of blood transfusion organization especially in malaria-endemic areas where the majority of donors may be potentially infected with malaria parasites.
Background: Immune system disturbances have an important role in endometriosis which may lead to ... more Background: Immune system disturbances have an important role in endometriosis which may lead to infertility. It seems that inflammatory cytokines specially tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) which were produced by activated macrophages have an important role in pathology of endometriosis. Based on this theory, anti TNF-α drugs like pentoxifylline (PX) are suggested as new drugs for Endometriosis. Objective: This experimental study has been done on female rats to determine the effect of PX on the endometrial implants and leukocytes in serum. Material and Methods: In proestrous phase, one horn of rat's bicorn uterus was removed surgically and the endometrium was implanted to different places as follows: subcutaneous, peritoneum and near ovaries. After two months observation, female rats divided into two groups randomly. In treated group (n=10) PX (5mg/kg twice a day) and in control group (n=10), normal saline (same dose) were injected subcutaneously. Then, via second laparotomy and in the same phase of the cycles, the size of implants and the amount of leukocytes in serum were measured. Results: In treated group compared with control, the size of implants was decreased significantly in right subcutaneous (8.05mm vs 13.50mm) p<0.01, left subcutaneous (7.64 mm vs 14mm) p<0.01, right ovary (6.64 mm vs 15.22mm) p<0.001 and left ovary (7.18 mm vs 14.56 mm) p<0.005. In treated group, the total leukocyte count (5259.54 ± 178.78 vs 15833.33 ± 259.27) p<0.02 was decreased. The number of esterous cycle was similar in both groups. Conclusion: PX can reduce the size of endometrial implants as well as leukocyte count.
Among important suspected causes of thrombophilia in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) ar... more Among important suspected causes of thrombophilia in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are the polymorphisms of coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) gene. We performed a case-control study on the association between three polymorphisms of factor XIII (FXIII G103T, FXIII A614T and FXIII C1694T) and RPL in Iranian women.
In recent years, the patterns of mortality have changed in Iran, and cancers are playing a greate... more In recent years, the patterns of mortality have changed in Iran, and cancers are playing a greater role in this regard in this country. Various reports indicate that gastric cancer is highly prevalent; it is the second most common cancer in men, and fourth in the general population. The purpose of this study was to determine the 5-year survival rate of gastric cancer patients who had undergone surgical treatment at one of the most important cancer treatment centers, the Iran Cancer Institute, and to assess its associated factors. Three hundred and thirty patients with gastric cancer who had been admitted to and operated on at the Iran Cancer Institute, Iran between January 1996 and April 2000 were enrolled in this study. The patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; life expectancy after surgery was determined, and its relationship with variables of age at the time of surgery, gender, and factors related to the disease such as the cancer site, pathologic type, stage, presence of metastasis, and sites of metastases were assessed. The 5-year survival rate in the studied patients was 23.6%, and the median life expectancy was 19.9 months. Univariate analysis showed that gender, cancer site, and pathologic type did not affect life expectancy significantly. However, the 5-year survival rate significantly decreases with age. As expected, those involved with metastasis had a significantly lower 5-year survival rate, and the disease stage significantly affected the patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; life expectancy (p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the effect of different variables simultaneously, and it showed that age, lymph node metastasis, and disease stage influenced the rate of survival. Gastric cancer patients in Iran have a low 5-year survival rate. One of the most important reasons seems to be delayed consultation and diagnosis. Most patients are seen first with the disease in the late stages. At this point, most have lymph node and liver metastasis, which makes treatment even more complex. Thus, it is necessary to employ mass media for extensive public education about the early warning signs of the disease and performing periodic examinations.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) after haemat... more The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) after haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patients using accelerated failure time (AFT), Cox proportional hazard (PH), and Cox time-varying coefficient models.
Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis is a common and curable STI which can be symptomatic or asymp... more Introduction: Chlamydia trachomatis is a common and curable STI which can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. Nowadays, PCR is a very sensitive diagnostic tool for detecting Chlamydia in urine and can be used in routine screening procedures as a noninvasive test. There are few studies on the prevalence of C. trachomatis in Iranian women and most of them have small sample sizes which are not suitable for epidemiological deductions. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ...
Helicobacter pylori, a microaerophilic fastidious bacterium, has been cultured on various plating... more Helicobacter pylori, a microaerophilic fastidious bacterium, has been cultured on various plating and broth media since its discovery. Although the agar media can be sufficient for the identification, typing, and antibiotic resistance studies, no secretory antigen of H. pylori can be evaluated in such media. Thus, satisfactory growth of H. pylori in liquid culture which is needed for analysis of secretory proteins without the presence of interfering agents is in demand. We assessed the impact of b-cyclodextrin, Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), and charcoal as supplements for H. pylori growth. Furthermore, we aimed to identify the most favorable supplement that supports the secretion of the dominant secretory protein, vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA). Five clinical strains were cultured on broth media and the growth, viability, morphology, and protein content of each strain were determined. Our results revealed that b-cyclodextrin supports the growth rate, viability, and cell lysate protein content to the extent similar to FBS. Application of b-cyclodextrin is found to postpone spiral to coccoid conversion up to 72 h of incubation. Although FBS supports a higher VacA protein content, presence of interfering macromolecules in FBS questions its utility particularly for purposes of studying extra cellular proteins such as VacA. This study recommends further application of b-cyclodextrin as a culture supplement with the potential capacity in neutralizing toxic compounds and flourishing the secretion of H. pylori proteins without addition of interfering proteins.
Results: The mean age for the first menses or menarche in the two studied periods of time (in the... more Results: The mean age for the first menses or menarche in the two studied periods of time (in the years 1990 and 1999) were 13.86±1.51 and 13.65±1.47 respectively, and in both periods the mean age at the first menses was significantly (p&amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001) less in urban areas compared to that of rural ones. With the passage of this 9-year period the mean age for the first menses has been reduced sig-nificantly (p&amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001) in both urban and rural areas, that is from 13.76 to 13.61 in urban areas and from 14.03 to 13.72 in rural areas. The analysis of ...
Background: Malassezia species as skin microflora of humans and other warm-blooded vertebrates ar... more Background: Malassezia species as skin microflora of humans and other warm-blooded vertebrates are the lipophilic yeasts associated with various human diseases, especially pityriasis versicolor (PV). Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the Malassezia species of scraped skin of PV patients in Yazd, Iran, using morphological, biochemical and physiological methods. We also compared the obtained results of PV patients with normal healthy volunteers.
AimTo determine the potential influence of genetic factors on the prevalence of myopia in Tehran.... more AimTo determine the potential influence of genetic factors on the prevalence of myopia in Tehran.MethodsOf 6497 citizens of Tehran sampled from 160 clusters using stratified random cluster sampling, 4565 (70.3%) participated in the study and were referred to a clinic for an extensive eye examination and interview. These were from 1259 nuclear families with the average size of 3.6. Refraction data obtained from 3321 participants aged 16 years and over are presented. Three definitions of myopia, as the spherical equivalent of −0.5, −1, and −2 diopters or less, were used. Familial aggregation of myopia was evaluated with odds ratios and recurrence risk ratios (λR) using a multiple logistic regression with generalised estimating equations (GEE), adjusted for age, sex, height, and education.ResultsMultivariate analyses showed a strong familial aggregation of myopia among siblings (λR ranging from 2.09 to 3.86) and parent–offspring pairs (λR from 1.82 to 3.81) adjusted for age, sex, height, and education. The aggregation increased with higher myopia thresholds and with the use of cycloplegic refraction. The odds ratios for spouse pairs were not significantly different from 1.0. The association of myopia with sex, height, and education (and not age) remained significant in the final GEE2 model.ConclusionsThe findings indicate a relatively high degree of familial aggregation of myopia in the Tehran population, independent of age, sex, height, and education. This residual aggregation may be a result of heredity or of an unmeasured common environmental effect.
Background: Immunization against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis has been applied in Iran since... more Background: Immunization against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis has been applied in Iran since 1950. WHO suggests periodical evaluation of effectiveness of the triple diphtheria-tetanus-whole cell pertussis (DTwP) vaccine, worldwide. Objectives: To determine the immunogenicity of locally manufactured DTwP vaccine administered to preschool children in a number of health centers of Tehran in 2006. Methods: In this prospective study, 350 children aged 4-6 years were injected with DTwP vaccine manufactured by Razi Institute of Iran. Blood samples were collected before and 2-4 weeks after the vaccination. The immunogenicity of the vaccine was assayed by measurement of specific antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: Of the 337 children who were vaccinated, 99.4% and 100% had protective anti-diphtheria and anti-tetanus antibody titers, respectively. The vaccine response and seroconversion for pertussis was achieved in 70.3% of the subjects. The geometric mean titers (GMT) of the antibodies produced against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis by DTwP vaccine were 7.76, 9.37 IU/ml and 30.20 EU/ml after booster vaccine dose, respectively. Conclusions: Comparison of the results obtained from this study with those of previous studies performed in other countries reveals that immunogenicity of diphtheria and tetanus components is similar to other vaccines, but the immunogenicity of pertussis vaccine was less efficient. The lower immunogenicity of DTwP against pertussis may be related to the bacterial strain used or the formulation protocol adopted for the vaccine preparation.
The identification of the vacA intermediate region has provided new insights into the role of vac... more The identification of the vacA intermediate region has provided new insights into the role of vacA heterogeneity in relation to gastro-duodenal pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess vacA polymorphism in Iranian Helicobacter pylori strains and its association with cagA as a major virulence determinant, gastric histopathology and disease. vacA polymorphism and serum antibody responses were studied in 207 H. pylori-infected (139 NUD, 34 PUD, and 34 GC) patients and correlated with gastric histopathology. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found intermediate region typing superior to signal or mid region typing for screening high risk patients. vacA i1 allele was identified as an independent predictor of dysplasia (OR = 9.044; 95% CI: 1.11-73.33). Possession of s1/i1/cagA(+) strains was also identified as a predictor of intestinal metaplasia (OR = 3; 95% CI: 1.13-7.95), dysplasia (OR = 9.9; 95% CI: 1.23-80.86) and risk of GC (OR = 6.9; 95% CI: 2.5-18.66) as well as induction of anti-VacA sero-positivity (OR = 5.04; 95% CI: 1.8-13.6). Anti-VacA serology correctly detected 83.8% of s1/i1/cagA(+) strains carried by high-risk patients. The current study emphasizes the implication of vacA polymorphic structure, especially the s1/i1/cagA(+) genotype, in increasing the risk of GC by revealing their association with gastric pre-neoplastic changes and their reflection in VacA sero-positivity which encourages the application of noninvasive procedures in population screening.
Previous studies have shown controversial results about the role of androgens in coronary artery ... more Previous studies have shown controversial results about the role of androgens in coronary artery disease (CAD). We performed this study to examine and compare the relationship between androgenic hormones and CAD using conventional linear statistical techniques as well as novel non-linear approaches. The study was conducted on 502 consecutive men who were referred for selective coronary angiography at Tehran Heart Center due to different indications. We studied the relationship between androgenic hormones and CAD by using the generalized linear models, generalized additive models, and neural networks. Free testosterone (fT), total testosterone (tT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in patients with significant CAD versus normal individuals were 6.69 ± 3.20 pg/ml, 16.60 ± 6.66 nm/l, and 113.38 ± 72.9 lg/dl versus 7.12 ± 3.58 pg/ ml, 15.82 ± 7.26 nm/l, and 109.03 ± 68.19 lg/dl, respectively (P [ 0.05). The Generalized linear models was unable to show any significant relationship between androgenic hormones and CAD, while generalized additive model and neural networks supported the significant effect of androgenic hormones on CAD. This finding suggests a nonlinear association of tT levels with CAD: lower levels have a preventive effect on CAD, whereas higher values increase the risk of CAD. Emphasizing the non-linearity of the variables may provide new insight into the possible explanation of the effect of androgenic hormones on CAD.
Background: High incidence rates of gastrointestinal tract cancers have been reported in the Casp... more Background: High incidence rates of gastrointestinal tract cancers have been reported in the Caspian region of Iran. This study aimed to: 1) describe the geographical spatial patterns of gastrointestinal tract cancer incidence based on cancer registry data and, 2) determine whether geographical clusters of statistical significance exist.
Background: Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial infection of the stratum corneum which caused ... more Background: Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial infection of the stratum corneum which caused by a group of yeasts formerly named pityrosporium. The taxonomy of these lipophilic yeasts has recently been modified and includes seven species referred as Malassezia. The aim of this study is to compare the distribution of Malassezia species isolated from pityriasis versicolor lesions and those isolated from healthy skins.
Objective(s)Rapid tests for detection of Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococci (GBS) a... more Objective(s)Rapid tests for detection of Streptococcus agalactiae or Group B Streptococci (GBS) at the onset of labor are needed to permit early intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. This study aimed to evaluate the PCR assays targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S ...
The transmission of malaria by blood transfusion was one of the first transfusion-transmitted inf... more The transmission of malaria by blood transfusion was one of the first transfusion-transmitted infections recorded in the world. Transfusion-transmitted malaria may lead to serious problems because infection with Plasmodium falciparum may cause rapidly fatal death. This study aimed to compare real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) with rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and light microscopy for the detection of Plasmodium spp. in blood transfusion, both in endemic and non-endemic areas of malaria disease in Iran. Two sets of 50 blood samples were randomly collected. One set was taken from blood samples donated in blood bank of Bandar Abbas, a city located in a malarious-endemic area, and the other set from Tehran, a non-endemic one. Light microscopic examination on both thin and thick smears, RDTs, and real-time PCR were performed on the blood samples and the results were compared. Thin and thick light microscopic examinations of all samples as well as RDT results were negative for Plasmodium spp. Two blood samples from endemic area were positive only with real-time PCR. It seems that real-time PCR as a highly sensitive method can be helpful for the confirmation of malaria infection in different units of blood transfusion organization especially in malaria-endemic areas where the majority of donors may be potentially infected with malaria parasites.
Background: Immune system disturbances have an important role in endometriosis which may lead to ... more Background: Immune system disturbances have an important role in endometriosis which may lead to infertility. It seems that inflammatory cytokines specially tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) which were produced by activated macrophages have an important role in pathology of endometriosis. Based on this theory, anti TNF-α drugs like pentoxifylline (PX) are suggested as new drugs for Endometriosis. Objective: This experimental study has been done on female rats to determine the effect of PX on the endometrial implants and leukocytes in serum. Material and Methods: In proestrous phase, one horn of rat's bicorn uterus was removed surgically and the endometrium was implanted to different places as follows: subcutaneous, peritoneum and near ovaries. After two months observation, female rats divided into two groups randomly. In treated group (n=10) PX (5mg/kg twice a day) and in control group (n=10), normal saline (same dose) were injected subcutaneously. Then, via second laparotomy and in the same phase of the cycles, the size of implants and the amount of leukocytes in serum were measured. Results: In treated group compared with control, the size of implants was decreased significantly in right subcutaneous (8.05mm vs 13.50mm) p<0.01, left subcutaneous (7.64 mm vs 14mm) p<0.01, right ovary (6.64 mm vs 15.22mm) p<0.001 and left ovary (7.18 mm vs 14.56 mm) p<0.005. In treated group, the total leukocyte count (5259.54 ± 178.78 vs 15833.33 ± 259.27) p<0.02 was decreased. The number of esterous cycle was similar in both groups. Conclusion: PX can reduce the size of endometrial implants as well as leukocyte count.
Among important suspected causes of thrombophilia in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) ar... more Among important suspected causes of thrombophilia in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) are the polymorphisms of coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) gene. We performed a case-control study on the association between three polymorphisms of factor XIII (FXIII G103T, FXIII A614T and FXIII C1694T) and RPL in Iranian women.
In recent years, the patterns of mortality have changed in Iran, and cancers are playing a greate... more In recent years, the patterns of mortality have changed in Iran, and cancers are playing a greater role in this regard in this country. Various reports indicate that gastric cancer is highly prevalent; it is the second most common cancer in men, and fourth in the general population. The purpose of this study was to determine the 5-year survival rate of gastric cancer patients who had undergone surgical treatment at one of the most important cancer treatment centers, the Iran Cancer Institute, and to assess its associated factors. Three hundred and thirty patients with gastric cancer who had been admitted to and operated on at the Iran Cancer Institute, Iran between January 1996 and April 2000 were enrolled in this study. The patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; life expectancy after surgery was determined, and its relationship with variables of age at the time of surgery, gender, and factors related to the disease such as the cancer site, pathologic type, stage, presence of metastasis, and sites of metastases were assessed. The 5-year survival rate in the studied patients was 23.6%, and the median life expectancy was 19.9 months. Univariate analysis showed that gender, cancer site, and pathologic type did not affect life expectancy significantly. However, the 5-year survival rate significantly decreases with age. As expected, those involved with metastasis had a significantly lower 5-year survival rate, and the disease stage significantly affected the patients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; life expectancy (p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the effect of different variables simultaneously, and it showed that age, lymph node metastasis, and disease stage influenced the rate of survival. Gastric cancer patients in Iran have a low 5-year survival rate. One of the most important reasons seems to be delayed consultation and diagnosis. Most patients are seen first with the disease in the late stages. At this point, most have lymph node and liver metastasis, which makes treatment even more complex. Thus, it is necessary to employ mass media for extensive public education about the early warning signs of the disease and performing periodic examinations.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) after haemat... more The aim of this study is to evaluate the prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) after haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) patients using accelerated failure time (AFT), Cox proportional hazard (PH), and Cox time-varying coefficient models.
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Papers by Hojjat Zeraati