Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus in the families of the patients with hepatitis C infection in Shahre-Kord, Iran

Chronic hepatitis C is a major health concern around the world. Although transmission of hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection through parenteral exposure is well documented, sexual transmission of HCV is still debated. Therefore, we evaluated the prevalence of HCV infection within the families of the patients infected with HCV in a central city of Iran, Shahre-kord. We examined eighty patients with chronic HCV-associated liver disease and their 230 first degree families in a cross-sectional descriptive serological study. Their serum samples were tested for anti-HCV antibody, using ELISA and Immunobloting. A questionnaire including risk factors for HCV infection specially drugs addiction, sexual behaviors, and duration of partnership was filled in by the cases. About 2.17% of the household contacts were seropositive. Of them, 8.7% spouses and 20% sisters had anti-HCV antibody. The risk of HCV transmission between monogamous sex partners is higher than that of in other family members, depending on the duration of exposure especially sexual exposure. Infection rate in other family members of HCV-infected persons and community members is the same

[In vitro antifungal activity of shallot extract and its comparison with miconazole]

Shallots are an important part of the diet of many populations and show some different pharmacological effects in different medical aspects. Some studies have been performed to evaluate the antimicrobial effects of shallots. The objective of this survey was to evaluate its antifungal activities in several fungal species. In this experimental study, after extracting shallot by soxhlet's procedure, antifungal effects of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of shallot [Allium hirtifolium] against 5 saprophyte species [Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium gryseogenum and Alternaria] and 2 dermatophyte species [Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes] were evaluated in vitro. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations [MIC[s]] were determined by broth macrodilution method and finally were compared with miconazole. Allium hirtifolium showed antifungal effects against all the tested fungi with MIC ranged between 0.058 to 0.8 mg/ml for alcoholic extract and 0.26 to 3.84 mg/ml for aqueous extract, respectively. Minimum Fungicidal Concentrations [MFC[s]] of alcoholic and aqueous extracts ranged between 0.1 to 12.8 mg/ml and 0.6 to 68.26 mg/ml, respectively. This study indicated that shallot crude juice has antifungal activity and looks promising to be an alternatative for chemical antifungal agents that have sometimes serious side effects

Study of the effect of environmental factors and conventional antifungal drugs on arthroconidia production in the common species of trichophyton and epidermophtyon floccosum

Background and purpose: Dermatophytes are a group of keratophilic fungi, some of which produce arthroconidia under invivo conditions and these seem to have an important role in pathogenecity. Arthroconidia formation is a characteristic of dermatophyte infection of skin, hair and nail. The present study is intended to study the effects of environmental factors and conventional antifungal drugs on the production of this pathogenic agent in some dermatophytes

Methods and materials: This is a descriptive analytical study involving the research population of patients with dermatophytosis admitted to Razi hospital in Tehran, Iran, during 2006-2007. Fifty patients were selected through convenient sampling, and were include in the study after direct microscopic examination confirmed the disease. In the present study, the environmental factors including the media [SDA, SDA+NaCl 1%, 3% and 5%, Trichophyton agar no.1 and SDB], temperature, PH, CO2 and the conventional antifungal drugs [Geriseofulvin, Clotrimazole, Itraconazole Terbinafin, and Betametasone] were observed for their effects on arthroconidia production in Trichophyton Verucosum, Trichophyton riolaseum, Epidermophyton floccosum Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton Mentagrophytes. The obtained data were analyzed using Chi- Square and student t-test

Results: The highest production rate of arthroconidia occurred in SDA with PH [7.5], CO2 pressure 10% and temperature of 37?C after 10 days. No growth was observed at the temperature of 42?C and in a media of NaCl 3% or higher. Geriseofulvin, Clotrimazole and Betametazone stimulated arthroconidia production but Itraconazole and particularly Terbinafin stopped and controlled its production

Conclusion: The results of this study emphasized the importance of arthroconidia production and its being influenced by environmental factors such as PH, CO2 pressure and media in dermatophytes

[Comparison of growth parameters of infants of Ramadan fasted and non-fasted mothers]

The many advantages of exclusively breast feeding infants are documented: breast-feeding enhances the growth and development of breast fed infants. The impact of Ramadan fasting by breast-feeding mothers on the growth parameters of exclusively breast-fed infants is still not clear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of maternal fasting during Ramadan on the growth parameters of their exclusively breast-fed infants. This cohort study was performed throughout Ramadan and for five months after, on healthy, exclusive breast-fed infants [n=116], aged between 15 days to 6 months, assigned into two groups based on their mothers fasting: Control group [n=80] and fasting group [infants with fasting mothers: n=36]. All infants underwent periodic physical examinations twice in Ramadan, 3 times in the second month and then twice monthly in next 4 months. The infant's growth status was evaluated by calculating each growth parameters [weight, height, head circumference] as a percentage of the median value for age, based on appropriate growth charts. The mean age of infants in the case group was 3.43 +/- 1.38 and in the control group was 2.31 +/- 1 45 months age being significantly different between the two groups [P<0.05]. Fifty-four [46.6%] were boys and this proportion was the same in both groups [P>0.05]. According to the repeated measures ANOVA, all growth parameters increased during the study period [P< 0.05] but the rate of increasing was the same for both groups [P>0.05]. Ramadan fasting by breastfeeding mothers did not adversely affect on the growth parameters of exclusively breast-fed infants

[ frequency and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori in children of 6 years old from Shahrekord in 2006]

Helicobacter pylori is a common bacterial pathogens in human. The organism is associated with development of acute and chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer diseases, and gastric cancer. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori in children ranges from 10% to more than 80%. High prevalence occurs in developing countries. This aimed to determine the frequency and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori in children of 6 years old from Shahrekord in 2006. In this descriptive and analytical study, a total of 215 stool samples from children selected none randomly at age of 6 years. Infection was determined based on antigen immunoassay in stool using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. [Diaper kit, Italy]. Data were analyzed using X2 and Regression Logistic tests. According the results, 50 of 215 [23.3%] children, were positive for the H.pylori. There were no significant differences between the prevalence of H.pylori infection and sex, smoking of parent, abdominal pain growth of children, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, peptic ulcer in parents and history of breast milk [P>0.05]. But there was a significant relationship between the prevalence of H.pylori infection and history of stomach cancer in their family and level of education in their parents [P<0.05]. Less than a quarter of the children studied tested positive for H.pylori. Thus, the promotion of health services should be considered

[ effect of maternal Ramadan fasting on growth parameters of their breast-fed infants]

Breast feeding is the best feeding pattern for infants. As a large number of mothers are fasting during the Ramadan, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of maternal Ramadan fasting on growth parameters of the infants whom fed only with maternal breast milk. This cohort study was performed from the beginning of Ramadan till the end of the following month in 1385. A total of 60 infants who fed only with maternal breast milk aged ranging from 15 days to 6 months were selected. Based on their mother fasting, they were divided in two groups of case [27 infants who their mothers were fasting] and control [33 infants who their mothers were not fasting]. The growth statue of the infants were evaluated using parameters weight, height, head circumference, during Ramadan and the following month. Using descriptive and analytical statistics, analysis of variance and independent t-tests data were analyzed. The mean age and sex of the infants was the same [P>0.05]. Weight, height and head circumference of the infants increased by 21, 7 and 6 percent, respectively during the study [P<0.05]. The repeated analysis variance showed that there was no significant difference in increasing of growth parameters between fasting and non-fasting mothers [P>0.05]. Ramadan fasting of mothers with exclusively breast-feeding infants did not adversely affect on the growth parameters of their infants