Geohelminthic: human ascariasis and trichuriasis in Mazandaran province, northern Iran

Background: ascariasis and trichuriasis are the most common intestinal geohelminthic diseases, and as such they are significant in terms of clinical and public health. This study was done to determine prevalence, status and geographic distribution patterns for Ascariasis and Trichuriasis. The study was done in the period 1991-2014 in northern Iran using Aregis 9.2 software

Methods: this was a review study, using description and analysis, of geographical distribution of Ascaris and Trichuris relating to townships in Mazandran province, northern Iran, covering a 23-year period. Data were collected from a review of the relevant literature, summarized and classified using Arc GIS, 9.2 to design maps and tables

Results: based on results presented in tables and maps, means for prevalence of Ascaris and Trichuris were divided into five groups. The maximum prevalence rate of Ascaris was 16.3% reported in rural areas of Tonkabon in 1981-1982. Prevalence means for Ascaris in the central and western areas of Mazandaran province were 2%-4% and 4%, respectively. The maximum prevalence of Trichuris in the rural area of Tonkabon was 22.5% and the lowest 0.06% was among the cattle breeder's in rural areas of the province at in 2002-2003

Conclusion: data presented in this study provides information useful to health care workers researchers and health administrators, especially for physicians, clinicians and for future research. Also, it is necessary to control and prevent geohelminthic parasitic infections, particularly in rural areas by public education for families, health authorities and health care systems

Edentulous child with Allgrove syndrome: a rare case report / 소아과

Triple-A syndrome, also known as Allgrove syndrome, is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. The 3 features of this syndrome are achalasia, adrenal insufficiency, and alacrima. Achalasia could be the first manifestation of the triple-A syndrome; however, its etiology is unclear. Alacrima is generally asymptomatic but can be detected by obtaining patient history. Although adrenal insufficiency could have manifestations such as asthenia, it might be wrongly diagnosed as muscle fatigue. Vitamin D and calcium supplements are usually prescribed for the prevention of osteoporosis. Neurologic manifestations could be present in adults. In some individuals with this disorder, genetic examination indicates mutations in both alleles of the AAAS gene, which encodes a special 546-amino-acid protein designated ALADIN, and in chromosome 12q13. The genetic cause of the triple A syndrome in some patients who do not have an identified mutation is unknown. While very few such cases have been reported till date, one such case was presented to us as an edentulous child.

relationship between salivary beta-2 microglobulin and uremia intensity in men with chronic renal failure

This study defines the relationship between salivary beta-2 microglobulin [beta 2-M] and intensity of uremia in male patients diagnosed with chronic renal failure [CRF]. In total of 42 males were enrolled in a case-control study. There were 21 cases of CRF and 21 control cases. We collected 10cc of saliva plus 5 cc of blood from all patients to determine beta 2-M, blood urea nitrogen [BUN] and creatinine [Cr] levels. There was a correlation between the level of serum BUN and salivary urea in controls and patients, which was statistically significant for controls [p=0.028].The correlation between serum and salivary Cr was 0.195 in controls [p=0.398] and 0.598 in patients [p=0.006], which was statistically significant in patients. The correlation between serum and saliva was 0.133 [p=0.566] in controls and 0.078 [p=0.737] in patients, which was not statistically significant. The correlation between serum BUN and beta 2-M was 0.168 [p=0.469] in the control group and 0.629 [p=0.002] in patients, which was statistically significant in patients. The correlation between serum Cr and beta 2-M was 0.110 [p=0.635] in the control group and 0.678 [p=0.001] in patients, which was statistically significant in patients. The correlation between serum BUN and salivary beta 2-M was 0.093 [p=0.0690] in controls and 0.152 [p=0.152] in patients, which was not statistically significant. The correlation between serum Cr and salivary beta 2-M was 0.072 [p=0.070] in the control group and 0.286 [p=0.209] in patients, which was not statistically significant in either group. The results of the study indicated that salivary beta 2-M cannot be used as a non-invasive indicator to detect the severity of renal failure

[Evaluation of yoghurt with probiotics effect on salivary IgA concentration]

Probiotics have been associated to various benefits on oral health, partially through regulation of local immunity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics on salivary IgA. This randomized, triple-blind trial was conducted on 40 healthy non-smoker volunteers. The subjects were assigned to two age- and sex-matched groups ingesting 200 g of a regular yoghurt [control] or a yoghurt containing probiotic bacteria [treatment group] once daily for 8 weeks. Unstimulated salivary samples were collected from the subjects at weeks 0, 4 and 8 of trial and total salivary IgA concentration was determined using ELISA. Saliva volume was measured and salivary IgA secretion rate was calculated. The differences in IgA means were statistically analyzed by repeated measurments [alpha=0.05]. Over the trial period, no significant changes were found among the salivary IgA concentrations of control group; however, treatment group presented a non-significant increase [P>0.05]. There were not significant differences in concentration and secretion rate between two groups at each time point of study [P>0.05]. Within the limitations of this study, an 8-week period daily consumption of probiotic yoghurt could not alter the salivary IgA concentrations, although it persuades an increase trend in salivary IgA secretion rate

Prevalence of parasites in patients with gastroenteritis at East of Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran

Parasitic gastrointestinal infections are one of the most important health problems in the developing countries, which lead to the onset of intestinal disease particularly diarrhoea. Due to the particular geographic situation in the Mazandaran province, individuals are infected with various intestinal parasites. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of enteropathogenic parasites in the patients with gastroenteritis living at the east of Mazandaran province (Sari, Nekah and Joybar cities), northern Iran. This descriptive study was carried out from September 2009 to March 2010. Faecal samples were collected by randomized cluster method from 962 patients with gastroenteritis who were refered to the Health Service Centers of Sari, Neka and Joybar cities. All data about the patients were recorded in questionnaire. Stool specimens were examined by direct wet mounting, formolether concentration, and Ziehl-Neelsen acid fast stain and Auramin Phenol fluorescence (APF) method for the investigation of Cryptosporidium and Isospora. Prevalence of intestinal parasites and their relationship with gender, age, and season were investigated, and the obtained data were analyzed with χ2 test using the SPSS software (16.0). Out of 962 patients with gastroenteritis, overall infection was 9.1%; Giardia lamblia (4.1%) with the highest and Enterobius vermicularis (0.2%) with the lowest prevalence rate. Prevalence rate of other parasites were as follow: Cryptosporidium, 0.1%; Entamoeba histolytica, 0.1%; Chilomastix mesnili, 0.1%; Entamoeba coli, 1.2%; Blastocytis hominis, 1.8%; Trichostrongylus spp., 0.4% and Hymenolepis nana, 0.9%. Findings showed that Giardia is the most common cause of intestinal infection at the east of Mazandaran province, and could be defined as the most important parasitic agent of gastroenteritis. On the other hand, infection with enteropathogenic parasites as compared with the previous reports showed significant decline, which reveals the coverage of health education, increase of public knowledge on the parasitic diseases and sanitation of living environment.

Comparison of several maturation including factors in dendritic cell differentiation

Dendritic cells [DCs] are professional antigen presenting cells that have an important role in the initiation of immune response. The use of maturation factors in dendritic cell differentiation provides a promising approach in immunotherapy. In this study, we compared tumor necrosis factor-alpha, polyribocytidylic acid, lipopolysacharide and CpG oligonucleotides in inducing dendritic cell maturation. We generated immature dendritic cells with GM-CSF in combination with IL-4 from peripheral blood mononuclear adherent cells and used tumor necrosis factor-alpha, polyribocytidylic acid, lipoplysacharide and CpG for the induction of dendritic cell maturation. CD83 maturation marker on the dendritic cells was analyzed by flowcytometry after 7 days. In addition, mixed leukocyte reaction between dendritic cells and T cells was performed by MTT proliferation assay. Flow cytometry results demonstrated a comparable high level of CD83 expression on the mature dendritic cells generated by TNF-alpha, CpG, Poly I:C, and LPS treatment of the immature dendritic cells. However, a significantly poorer proliferation of lymphocytes cocultured with the Poly I:C-treated DCs was observed compared to the CpG-treated DCs in mixed leukocyte reaction [p=0.025]. Our results indicated that all of studied maturation inducing factors can be used in DC maturation but TNF-alpha and CpG were the preferred in vitro maturation factors. It is concluded that maturation of dendritic cells by CpG motif and TNF-alpha can be used to regulate immune responses

Root canal configuration of one-rooted mandibular canine in an iranian population: an in vitro study

A perfect endodontic treatment necessitates proper understanding of the morphology of canal and pulpal variations. This in vitro study was conducted to demonstrate the internal anatomy of mandibular canine teeth in an Iranian population. The samples consisted of 100 extracted mandibular permanent canines. The roots of the teeth were molded in acrylic boxes. The crowns of the teeth were cut and 2 mm cross sections were made from CEJ to the apex. Sections were examined using stereomicroscope to reveal the number and location of root canals. From 100 evaluated teeth, 12 [12%] had 2 canals from which 5 had type II canal configuration and 7 [7%] had type III. 88% of the specimens had one canal and none were seen to be of type IV. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of dentist's knowledge of variations in root canal morphology, since leaving a canal untreated is one of the main reasons of endodontic failures. When treating mandibular canines, the existence of a second canal should be taken into consideration

Epidemiology of pemphigus in Tehran, Iran: a 20-year retrospective study

Pemphigus is a chronic autoimmune and vesiculobollous disease that can affect skin and different mucous membrane surfaces. Primary manifestations occur in oral cavity in almost 60% of cases. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the epidemiology of pemphigus in Tehran, Iran in a 20-year period. A retrospective study was conducted on the records of 1560 patients diagnosed with different types of pemphigus in Razi Hospital of Dermatology in Tehran from March 1985 to March 2005. A questionnaire was prepared to collect information regarding age, sex, bedridden duration, pemphigus subtype, sites of involvement, recurrence and mortality rate. Data was analyzed using chi-square test with significant level of P < 0.05. There was a female predominance with a male to female ratio of 1:1.53. In nearly half of the patients, only the oral mucous membranes were affected. One hundred and fifty had only skin lesions and 261 cases had both skin and oral mucosal lesions. Involvement of esophageal and vaginal mucous membranes without skin lesions was observed in 150 patients and 298 cases had esophageal and vaginal mucosal involvement as well as skin lesions. Pemphigus vulgaris was the most common type, with the mean age of 44.6 years. Oral mucous membrane was the most frequent location where pemphigus vulgaris was observed. 1265 patients recovered which 52.2% of them had only oral lesions. Average of bedridden duration was 2.9 months. The highest recurrence rate was seen in patients with skin lesions exclusively. There was a significant difference between recurrences of lesions and location of involvement [P < 0.05]. Thirty six patients had died from of the disease. The mean age of the disease onset in the present study was found to be a decade earlier than the other parts of the world. Recurrence and mortality rates were lower in patients with only oral lesions and their prognosis was better