Production and evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii recombinant surface antigen 1 [SAG1] for serodiagnosis of acute and chronic toxoplasma infection in human sera

The assays currently available for the detection of specific anti-Toxoplasma antibodies may vary in their abilities to detect serum immunoglobulins, due to the Lack of a purified standardized antigen. The aim of this study was evaluation the recombinant Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 antigen for the serodiagnosis of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis. This study describes an ELISA using recombinant SAG1 for detection of IgM and IgG antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in human sera. Genomic DNA of T. gondii [RH Strain] was isolated and PCR reaction was performed. Recovered DNA was cloned into PTZ57R cloning vector. The recombinant plasmid was detected by restriction analysis. The SAG1 gene was subcloned in the pET- 28a expression vector. Protein production was then induced with 1 mM isopropyl-D - thiogalactopyranoside [IPTG]. A total of 204 sera were tested using a commercial IgG and IgM ELISA kit [Trinity, USA] as gold standard prior to testing them with the recombinant antigen. Tested sera were divided into the following groups:[a] The 74 T. gondii IgG positive [b] 70 T.gondii IgM positive [c] 60 sera who had no serological evidence of toxoplasmosis as negative sera.To determine the specificity of the test, we used other parasitic diseases including echinococusis [N=5], malaria [N=14], leishmaniasis [N=7],fasciolasis [N=4], sterengyloidiasis [N=1]. Sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgG ELISA in comparison with commercial ELISA [Com ELISA] were 93% and 95%, and the sensitivity and specificity of the generated recombinant IgM ELISA were 87% and 95% respectively. The results acquired here show that this antigen is useful for diagnostic purposes and could be replaced by lysed, whole cell antigens for diagnosis of chronic toxoplasmosis

[ association of myopia and overweight in elementary school children: a case- control study in Islamshahr, Iran]

Increasing in prevalence of juvenile myopia in recent decades in eastern and western countries, especially in urban elementary school children, suggests that changing in early life style may play an important role in development of myopia. Our aim was to determine the relationships between myopia and overweight in elementary school children of Eslamshahr a city near Tehran, Iran. In a case control study, 240 new myopic primary school children [grade 2-4] identified as cases and 240 children without myopia in the same schools enrolled as control group. Anthropometric information was completed from schools'. Other information about pre-entrancing to school was collected by interviewing their parents. Children having a Body mass index BMI>=85th CDC2000 percentile were identified as overweight. Adjusted odds ratio for overweight was estimated after adjusting other potential risk factors. Of total 53.3% were girls. 23.8% of children in case group and 10.1% of them in control group were categorized in overweight group. After adjusting for other potential risk factors [family history, breast milk intake, near works, mother's job and financial position] being overweight was independently associated to myopia [OR: 3.10, 95% CI: 1.9-5.03]. It is concluded that overweight in children in preschool age, is independently associated with increased risk of myopia in primary school children. Therefore health promotion programs in order to change of the life style in this group of children should be considered

effect of conjugated linoleic acids, vitamin E and their combination on lipid peroxidation in active rheumatoid arthritis

Reactive oxygen species [ROS] have important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA]. We investigated the effect of conjugated linoleic acids [CLAs] and vitamin E on lipid peroxidation. In a randomized, double-blind placebo, controlled, clinical trial 87 patients with active RA were enrolled. They were divided into 4 groups, received one of the following daily supplement for 3 months; 1- group C: 2.5 gr CLA, that contained 2 gr 50:50 mix of cis 9-trans 11 and trans 10-cis 12 CLAs, 2- group E: 400mg Vitamin E, 3-group CE: CLAs plus vitamin E, 4-group P: placebo. After supplementation Glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px] level increased in C, E and CE groups, CE group had lower GSH-Px than P group [P