[Evaluation of touchdown nested PCR to circumvent spurious priming and increase specificity during HIV and GBV-C gene amplification]

Primer-Template hybridization temperature is one of the important parameters in Nested PCR optimization. Unlike instant temperature for sequence amplification in routine PCR process, Touchdown PCR is a modified form of standard PCR that employs a range of annealing temperature. This study intended to develop a Touchdown Nested PCR in order to circumvent spurious priming and enhancing specify during gene amplification. This is an experimental study conducted at Tarbiat Modarres University of Tehran during 2008-2009. Study samples were collected from Digestive Diseases Research Centre at Shariati Hospital and HIV research center-Imam Khomeini Hospital. After extracting the nucleic acid, primer designing for HIV and GBV-C and c-DNA synthesis; Nested PCR was performed on negative and positive samples using standard and touchdown protocols. The intended band was observed in all positive samples. No band was observed in any human and viral negative control samples. After electrophoresis of PCR products, non specific band were seen in HIV and GBV-C samples during standard PCR. Using the touchdown protocol, undesirable bands were omitted or significantly decreased. In the present study, despite the formation of uncalled bands in standard reaction; using the touchdown method led to omission of non-specific bands without any significant effect on the final products. As for its simplicity, cost and time saving, it seems that using this method is a rational and economical way for fast optimization of PCR reactions

Prevalence of GBV-C RNA in HIV infected individuals in Tehran, Iran

GB virus C [GBV-C] is a flavivirus that was characterized in 1995. The prevalence of GBV-C RNA in HIV-infected subjects has not been previously studied in Iran and was therefore determined. We have investigated serum samples of 80 patients from Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, whose HIV infection was confirmed in our laboratory by Western-blotting. We used nested-PCR to detect GBV-C/HGV RNA in their sera. GBV-C/HGV RNA was detected in 15 [18.8%] of 80 patients. There was no significant difference in GBV-C/HGV RNA prevalence between males and females, in different age groups and HIV viral loads groups. The prevalence of GBV-C RNA was high in HIV-infected patients. There was no association between GBV-C RNA prevalence and specific gender, age, and HIV viral loads groups

[Evaluation of two surveillance methods for surgical site infection]

Surgical wound infection surveillance is an important facet of hospital infection control processes. There are several surveillance methods for surgical site infections. The objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of two different surgical site infection surveillance methods. In this prospective cross sectional study 3020 undergoing surgey in general surgical wards of Imam Khomeini hospital were included. Surveillance methods consisted of review of medical records for postoperative fever and review of nursing daily note for prescription of antibiotics postoperatively and during patient's discharge. Review of patient's history and daily records and interview with patient's surgeon and the head-nurse of the ward considered as a gold standard for surveillance. The postoperative antibiotic consumption especially when considering its duration is a proper method for surgical wound infection surveillance. Accomplishments of a prospective study with postdischarge follow up until 30 days after surgery is recommended. The result of this study showed that postoperative antibiotic surveillance method specially with consideration of the antibiotic usage duration is a proper method for surgical site infection surveillance in general surgery wards. Accomplishments of a prospective study with post discharge follow up until 30 days after surgery is recommended

[An evaluation of the side effects of anti Tuberculosis drugs in patients with Tuberculosis and factors affecting them in Imam Khomeini hospital]

During the course of treatment with anti - tuberculosis drugs in patients with pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis, unusual reactions such as hepatitis, rash, fever, flu like syndrome, neuropathy, . . . due to three potentially hepatotoxic drugs, Isoniazid, Rifampicin, and Pyrazinamide occur. Hepatotoxic reactions are vital because fulminant hepatic failure is devasting and may be fatal without liver transplantation. To determine the frequency and predisposing factors of drug reactions in patients managed with anti- tuberculosis drugs, we arranged retrospective case control study in Imam Khomeini Hospital.120 patients with hepatitis and other adverse reactions after receiving ant tuberculosis drugs in case groups and 240 patients without any drug reaction after receiving anti tuberculosis drugs in control group were evaluated. Most common adverse events were hepatitis 35.8%, abnormal liver enzyme without overt hepatitis 18.3%, skin rash 11.6% nausea and vomiting 8.3%, arthralgia 5.8%, flu like syndrome 5%. Old age more than 65 years [P=0.047], chronic liver disease [P= 0.008], renal failure [P=0.009], severe tuberculosis [P=0.001] and HIVIAIDS [P<0.039] were predisposing factors for adverse reaction in our patients. In conclusion, close monitoring for symptoms or signs of hepatitis among patients receiving anti-tuberculosis drugs especially old patients, who have chronic liver or kidney failure, patients with HIVI AIDS and patients with severe tuberculosis must be considered