[Detection of plasmodium vivax by nested PCR in marious areas of western north of Iran]

Malaria is one of the most important parasitic diseases in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world and kills a large number of People annually. Diagnosis of the disease is preformed by microscopic and molecular methods. This study has been designed for detecting of latent/sub-patent infection caused by plasmodium vivax in individuals with history of vivax malaria without any clinical signs by means of microscopic and molecular methods. In this descriptive study, the blood samples of 38 individuals from Parsabad [Ardabil province] and Kaleiber [East Azarbayejan province] has been collected one year after primary diagnosis of vivax malaria and effective treatment of the diseases, based on the standard country's protocol, as well as upon primary microscopic detection of thin and thick blood smears. They were assessed by Nested-PCR method in Pastor Institute of Iran. All samples were negative by microscopic method; we found one vivax positive case via Nested-PCR. Microscopic examination is a selective and standard method in malaria diagnosis. Due to the probability of existence of latent/sub-patent infection in endemic areas and microscopic misdiagnosis of thin and thick blood smears and epidemiologic importance of malaria diagnosis, the use of molecular methods such as Nested-PCR in individuals with history of vivax malaria to detect any latent/sub/patent infection seems to be beneficial

[Effect of mixed chlorhexidine fluoride gel made in Iran on the level of Mutans Streptococci around orthodontic brackets]

Patients with fixed orthodontic appliances often experience an increase in the rate of dental caries. Appling chlorhexidine and fluoride is known to be an effective method to solve this problem since Mutans Streptococci is described as the most important bacteria related to the etiology of dental caries. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinically the application of a chlorhexidine-fluoride gel made in Iran on the level of Mutans Streptococci in plaque adjacent to bonded orthodontic brackets. In this double blind clinical trial 37 patients were selected. The patients were divided into 2 groups: those treated with chlorhexidine-fluoride gel five times with one week interval [group A] and those treated with placebo gel [group B]. The level of Mutans Streptococci in the plaque of canine and second premolar of Maxilla before and after treatment was evaluated and compared by Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. The range of changes in group A was compared with group B by Mann-whitney test. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between baseline and final colony count results in group A [P<0.0001] but no significant difference in group B and also Mann-Whitney test showed a significant difference between the 2 groups [P<0.0001]. Chlorhexidine-fluoride significantly decreased the level of Mutans Streptococci in plaque around the orthodontic brackets