ABSTRACT
Introduction: Limited data are available on the relationship between nutritional status and tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the body mass index [BMI] and serum albumin level in patients with active tuberculosis [ATB] and latent tuberculosis [LTB]
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 17 patients newly diagnosed with pulmonary TB who were referred in Iran, during September 2011 to March 2012 and 17 latent tuberculosis infection individuals. Standard method was performed to collect an early morning fasting blood sample for albumin [by the bromocresolgreen method]. Also [BMI] was calculated as body weight divided by height squared [kg/m2]
Results: One-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to check normal distribution data The mean +/- Standard deviation[SD] for albumin in the patients and controls were 3.62 +/- 0/56 and 4.68 +/- 0.25, respectively. BMI in the patients and controls were 19.46 +/- 2.79 and 25.4 +/- 3.46, respectively. The serum albumin level was significantly lower in the patient group, compared to the control group [P<0.001].BMI was significantly lower in the patient group, compared to the control group [P<0.001]
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that BMI and serum Albumin were significantly lower in the active tuberculosis patients than latent tuberculosis groups
ABSTRACT
Today, the intractions of the immune system of the immune system, nutrition, and nervous system are one of the main research areas of interest in immunology and disease treatment. Due to changes in the mood, behavior, and diet of an individual during fasting period, the body's internal homeostasis is affected. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Ramadan fasting on lymphocyte subgroups, which are the main specific immune cells in the body. For this purpose, in years 1999 and 2000, thirty?eight healthy Muslims [9 females and 29 males], within the age range of 17 to 51 years [mean age=35.4 years], were assessed before the start and one day before the end of Ramadan. The pre-Lymphocytic subpopulations analysis was conducted using flow cytometery. The results showed that the percentage of total lymphocytes was 25.82% and 26.23% in the pre- and late- Ramadan periods, respectively; the observed difference was insignificant. However, the absolute lymphocyte counts were 2.3x103 and 2.1x103 mm3 before and late Ramadan, respectively, and the difference was considered significant [P-value=0.06]. The percentage of CD3+ cells [T cells] was 70.12% before Ramadan and 70.25% late Ramadan, and the absolute lymphocyte counts were 1.6x103 and 1.5x103 mm3, respectively; therefore, the differences were not significant. Regarding the subgroups of CD4+cells [TH], the percentage ratios of the cells were 53.46% and 52.8% in the pre- and late Ramadan periods, and the absolute counts were 0.087x103 and 0.081x103 mm3, respectively; however, the differences were not significant in this cell subgroup. The percentage of CD8+ [TC] cells was 37.7% before Ramadan and 37.8% late Ramadan, and the absolute counts were 0.6x103 and 0.54x103 mm3 in the pre- and late-Ramadan periods, respectively; therefore, the differences were considered insignificant. In addition, the percentage ratios of Blymphocytes cells were 14.56% and 14.74% in the pre- and late-Ramadan periods, and the absolute count changed from 0.35x103 to 0.3x103 mm3. According to the results, the differences were not significant, therefore, it seems Ramadan fasting does not affect these cells. Moreover, the percentage of activated T cells or TDR+, which are involved in specific immune responses, has not been affected by fasting. In fact, the percentage ratios were reported as 11.14% and 10.54% in the pre- and late-Ramadan periods, and the absolute count changed from 0.14x103 to 0.11x103 mm3; the differences were not considered significant. Finally, the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ cells or TH/TC changed from 1.48% before Ramadan to 1.5% late this month; however, this difference was insignificant. Thus, the overall results indicate that Ramadan fasting during winter does not affect the lymphocyte count, percentage ratio, and the main lymphocyte subpopulations
ABSTRACT
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a parasitic infection With an important health problem in many parts of Iran such as Sabzevar, in Khorasan Razavi province. Epidemiological and clinical findings aren't sufficient for identification of parasites. Because the host sources are different an accurate identification and diagnosis is necessary before treatment. DNA of every parasite such as every organism is specific. This facilitates extensive use of DNA for diagnostic and identification of parasite species. Molecular methods such as PCR seem to be very useful for this reason. We decided to identify different species of leishmania parasites causing Cutaneous leishmaniasis by PCR in Sabzevar A Total of 86 patients, whom diseases were confirmed by direct smear, were recruited and samples were isolated and cultured in NNN medium, followed by sub-cultured in RPMI-1640. Then DNA was extracted using four DNA extraction methods. Extracted kinetoplastic DNA was amplified by PCR method using two specific primers. Electrophoresis patterns from each isolate were compared with reference strains of L.major, L.tropica and the markerThe related bands to amplified products were detected on agarose gel in all samples expected of DNA extracted by boiling method. The results of kDNA gene templets in Electrophoresis gel indicated the leishmania parasite species, causing Cutaneous leishmaniasis, in Sabzevar as 32 samples L.tropica and 54 samples L.major. L.tropica and L.major both are Etiologic agents ofCutaneous leishmaniasis in Sabzevar and PCR technique is a suitable tool for the leishmania species characterization in epidemiological studies. The phenol-chloroform based methods are as valuable as DNeasy mini kit [QIAGEN] but more cost effective than kit