level of mite dermatophagoides' allergens [Der-p 1 and Der-f 1] in Birjand

House dust mite allergens especially pyroglyphid species are among the most important indoor allergens and have an important role in development of asthma and allergies. In current study, the level of two main allergens from mites including Der-p1 and Der-f 1 in dust of 28 homes in Birjand city was measured by ELISA method. All samples were negative for Der-p1. Low leverl of Der-f 1 was detected in one sample. Prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis was 2%, 28% and 15% respectively. The results of this study suggest that House dust mites could not grow in Birjand climate

Prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B, C, D infections and their associated risk factors among prisoners in Southern Khorasan Province, Iran

Background: Prison inmates are among the high risk population for dangerous infections such HIV, HBV, HCV and other contagious diseases. In spit of many data about the prevalence and risk factors for blood born diseases among prisoners in the world, such data are spares from Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for HIV, HBV, HCV and HDV infections among a large sample of prison inmates in Iran

Methods: In a cross-sectional study in 2009-2010, 881 inmates in three prisons of Southern Khorasan Province in Iran were selected based on a systematic, stratified random sampling method. Sera were analyzed for HBV, HDV, HCV and HIV infections by appropriate commercial ELISA kits. An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect the demographic data and information about risk factors

Results: Overall, 881 prisoners [mean age: 34.7+/-11.4 years, range: 11-84 years, M/F ratio: 4.5/1] were participated in this study. The prevalence of HBV and HCV infection was 6.9% and 7.7%, respectively. Among the HBsAg positive subjects, 6.6% [4/61] and 9.8% [6/61] had HDV and HCV super-infection, respectively. Only one case [0.1%] had HIV infection that was co-infection with HCV. Drug abuse and history of traditional phlebotomy were associated risk factors for HBV infection [P<0.05] and history of drug injection was associated with HCV infection [P<0.05]

Conclusions: This study show fairly higher prevalence of blood borne infections among prisoners and indicate drug abuse and phlebotomy as the associated risk factor. Implementation of appropriate screening tests and preventive programs is suggested in prisons

nasal smear for eosinophils, its value, and its relation to nasal mucosal eosinophilia in allergic rhinitis

There is no single test as a gold standard for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis [AR]. This study was to assess the usefulness and validity of nasal smear as a quick, easy and inexpensive diagnostic method for diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. This study was conducted in a university hospital setting. Nasal smears were taken from 39 patients with a clinical history of nasal allergy and a positive skin prick test to at least one aeroallergen as well as 26 controls without any history and negative test. Biopsy specimens from the inferior turbinate as well as nasal smears of 19 cases including 9 patients and 10 controls with the same criteria were taken. Nasal smears and biopsy slides were stained with Giemsa and Hematoxilin-Eosin and were examined blindly by two separate pathologists. Fifty one percents of the patients and 11.5% of the controls showed eosinophilia in their nasal smear [>/=10% eosinophils, P=0.001]. The sensitivity of nasal eosinophil count as a diagnostic test for AR was 51.3% with a specificity of 88.5%, a positive predictive value of 87% and a negative predictive value of 54%. Eosinophilia in nasal biopsies was found in 44% and 30% of allergic patients and controls respectively. There was no significant correlation between symptoms or positive skin tests with either smear eosinophilia or tissue eosinophilia. Evaluation of eosinophils in nasal smear is an insensitive but fairly specific test for the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. It seems that the nasal secretions and nasal tissue represent two distinct cellular compartments

Comparison of two flow cytometric methods for detection of human invariant natural killer T cells [iNKT]

Invariant natural killer cells [iNKT] are an important immunoregulatory T cell subset. Currently several flow cytometry-based approaches exist for the identification of iNKT cells, which rely on using the 6B11 monoclonal antibody or a combination of anti-V alpha 24 and anti-V beta 11 antibodies. The aim of this study was to compare the ability of two flow cytometry-based methods for detecting the frequency of circulating iNKT cells. The frequency of iNKT cells was detected in the peripheral blood of 37 healthy adult donors by flow cytometry using the 6B11 antibody or a combination of anti-V alpha 24 and anti-V beta 11 antibodies. The frequency of iNKT cells detected by 6B11 antibody or by combination of anti-V alpha 24 and anti-V beta 11 antibodies was significantly different [0.54% vs. 0.31%, respectively, p<0.001] but the values were highly correlated [Spearman r=0.742, p<0.0001]. The results of this study indicate that different combinations of mAbs detect different frequencies of peripheral blood iNKT cells and a consensus in the field needs to be established to allow better assessment of iNKT-related studies and suggest using different methods for accurate identification of iNKT cells