ABSTRACT
Aim: In this study, we investigated the prevalence of PARV4 virus among the healthy population and four other groups of HBV infected, HCV infected, HIV infected and HIV/HCV co-infected individuals in Iran
Background: Parvovirus 4 [PARV4] was first discovered in 2005, in a hepatitis B virus-infected injecting drug user [IDU]. To date, the best evidence about PARV4 transmission is parenteral roots which comes from IDU individuals. It seems that the prevalence of the virus in the normal population is very low
Methods: A total of 613 patients, including chronic HCV [n=103], HBV [n=193], HIV [n=180] infected individuals, HIV/HCV [n=34] co-infected patients and 103 healthy controls, were studied by using nested-PCR and also real-time PCR techniques
Results: Of those 180 samples were positive for HIV RNA, co-infection of PARV4 was detected in 3 cases [1.66%]. All these three patients were male with the age of 28, 32 and 36 years [mean: 32]. No statistical differences were found between HIV positive group and the healthy individuals. [P>0.05] The result of PARV4 PCR was negative in all other samples and healthy controls as well
Conclusion: This study is the first to investigate the occurrence of PARV4 among these groups in Iran. The results show, that the virus is not significant in Iranian population, even in patients with blood born infections such as HCV, HBV or even HIV patients. Further studies in other areas and various groups are required
ABSTRACT
Aim: Our goal was to identify the putative association of rs4072111 variant in IL-16 gene and HCV susceptibility in an Iranian population
Background: Interleukin 16 [IL-16], a multifunctional cytokine, plays a vital role in modulation of immune system
Methods: In present case control and cross sectional study, IL-16 gene variant in 300 patients with hepatitis C [HCV] infection and 300 healthy individuals were analyzed. To evaluate this possible association, genomic DNA from venous blood was extracted and genotypes of IL-16 rs4072111 variant were determined by polymerase chain reaction- Fragments Length Polymorphism Technique [PCR-RFLP]. Then, rs4072111 C/T genotypes frequency and allelic distribution were evaluated in each group
Results: The results of genotyping showed 82% CC, 17.3% CT, 0.7% TT in the control group and 78% CC, 20% CT and 2% TT in the case group. The distribution of rs4072111 C allele was 90.7% in controls and 88% in case group respectively. However, no correlation between IL-16 rs4072111 C/T variants and susceptibility to chronic HCV infection was found in the present study
Conclusion: We concluded the rs4072111 C/T cannot be considered as a proper biomarker to identify susceptibility to chronic hepatitis C virus infection
ABSTRACT
Aim: The aim of the present study was to simultaneously investigate parasitic contamination of treated wastewater and downstream vegetable farms that are irrigated with treated sewage, during a year
Background: [Oo] Cysts and eggs of parasites are resistant to most of routine wastewater treatment process. Irrigation of vegetables farms with either treated wastewater or illegally use of raw wastewaters enhances the risk of contamination with enteric pathogens
Methods: The treated wastewater samples were taken after chlorination from a wastewater treatment plant located at the south of Tehran. In addition, 60 vegetable samples [5 samples from each farm] were collected from the selected downstream farms that routinely used treated wastewater for irrigation of crops. Parasitological tests were performed using Ziehl-Neelsen, conventional lugol's iodine staining and direct microscopical examination
Results: Parasites including free living larvae, eggs of Toxoascaris leonina, egg of Toxocara sp. Trichuris sp, Trichostrongylus sp and amoeboid trophozoite were seen in 5/12 [41.7%] of vegetable samples gathered during a year. There was no statistically significant correlation between the season and parasitic contamination of the vegetables [P= 1]. Furthermore, parasitic contamination was observed in 7/12 [53.8%] of treated wastewater samples. The correlation between season and parasitic contamination of treated wastewater was evaluated that the results showed a higher contamination of treated wastewater in spring and autumn [P<0.05].Fisher's exact test also showed that there was no significant correlation between parasitic contaminations of vegetable samples and treated wastewater according to seasonal change
Conclusion: The results showed parasites in both treated wastewater plant and downstream crops farms that suggests the public health importance of the quality of water resources that routinely used for irrigation of vegetable farms
ABSTRACT
Simple renal cysts are one of the most common lesions in elderly. These cysts are usually asymptomatic but when the size of these cysts increase, we would see symptoms such as hypertension, hematuria, flank pain or urinary obstruction. In this study, we explore a case of small bowel obstruction that presented with nausea, repeated vomiting that causes hematemesis, and a submucosal obstructive lesion that was seen in Esophagogastroduodenoscopy [EGD]. After endoscopic ultrasound [EUS] evaluation, we detected a large simple renal cyst and approved our diagnosis with CT scan. We planned a medical treatment for this patient that consist consuming small size meals, 5 to 6 times a day, and high calorie liquids in small volumes. We conclude that simple renal cyst can be one of the cause of extrinsic intestinal obstruction and EUS is affective for differentiation of intrinsic submucosal lesion from extrinsic compression
ABSTRACT
IgG4-associated cholangitis [IAC] is a subgroup of IgG4-related disease, which is more common in elderly men. IAC is frequently coincident with autoimmune pancreatitis [AIP]. However, some IAC cases do not have other organs involvement. The diagnosis of IAC is based on biochemical, radiological, and histological features. Among these, elevated serum levels of IgG4, extra- and intrahepatic biliary strictures [as visualized by cholangiography], lymphoplasmacytic infiltrations in the liver and bile duct tissue, and association with AIP are of key importance. IAC may mimic primary sclerosing cholangitis or cholangiocarcinoma [CC]. It is classically a corticosteroid-responsive condition and corticosteroid is regarded as the initial treatment of choice in this disease. However, relapse following corticosteroid withdrawal is a frequent event