Accompaniment of multiple sclerosis with varicella zoster virus; a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

@#Numerous studies and meta-analyses have been conducted on the role of infectious agents in susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study we aimed to investigate the role of varicella zoster virus (VZV) in susceptibility to MS as an individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. After screening and applying eligibility criteria 19 studies were imported for qualitative systematic review and 11 studies were imported for meta-analysis as different subgroups. No significant result was obtained for association of VZV IgG seropositivity with susceptibility to MS. Positive history of VZV infection was significantly associated with susceptibility to MS. Synthesis of IPD showed that presence of VZV DNA was associated with MS(P<0.001) both in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (OR= 22.40 [5.85-85.71]) and in cerebrospinal fluid (OR= 14.42 [5.29-39.29]). In general VZV can be a risk factor for MS; but since VZV infection history is highly prevalent in populations without vaccination and on the other hand MS has low prevalence, this association should not be used as a prognostic or predictive value. The exact mechanism should be investigated in future.

Investigation of MicroRNA-21 expression levels in serum and stool as a potential non-invasive biomarker for diagnosis of colorectal cancer

Background: Most cancer studies focus on exploring non-invasive biomarkers for cancer detection. In the present study, we sought to investigate the expression level of microRNA-21 [miR-21], as a potential diagnostic marker, in serum and stool samples from 40 patients with colorectal cancer [CRC] and 40 healthy controls

Methods: Quantitative real-time RT-PCR was applied to determine the relative expression level of miR-21 in serum and stool. At the same time, the sensitivity and specificity of this marker was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve analysis

Results: miR-21 expression levels of serum and stool were up-regulated 12.1 [P<0.05, 95% CI: 5.774-34.045] and 10.0 [P<0.05, 95% CI: 0.351-16.260] times in CRC patients, respectively, when compared to the control group. The sensitivity and specificity of miR-21 was found to be 86.05% and 72.97%, respectively [an area under the ROC curve [AUC] of 0.783]. The stool miR-21 level in CRC patients was much higher than that in the healthy controls, showing a sensitivity of 86.05% and a specificity of 81.08% [AUC: 0.829]. The expression level of miR-21 in stool was able to significantly distinguish CRC tumor, node, metastasis stages III-IV from stages I-II, with a sensitivity and specificity of 88.1% and 81.6%, respectively [AUC: 0.872]

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that miR-21 expression levels in serum and stool can be considered as a potential diagnostic biomarker for the diagnosis of CRC patients. However, more studies are required to confirm the validity of miR-21 as a valuable non-invasive diagnostic tool for CRC

Determination of carbapenem resistance mechanism in clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn patients, in Tehran, Iran

Carbapenems are the most important therapeutic options that effect against serious infections caused by multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa [MDR-PA] isolates. Carbapenems resistant isolates of P. aeruginosa are increasing worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the carbapenem resistance mechanisms in clinical P. aeruginosa isolates from burn patients, in Tehran, Iran. A total of 53 non-duplicated isolates of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa were collected from burn patients. The presence of carbapenemase genes were determined by PCR. AmpC overproducer isolates were detected by phenotypic method. The mutation and transcription level of oprD were determined by PCR-sequencing and quantitative Real-time PCR [RT-PCR], respectively. Twenty-seven [50.9%] isolates were positive for carbapenemase [bla[vm] = 25 and bla[mp] = 2] and showed high-level resistance to imipenem and merope-nem. Twenty-eight isolates were AmpC overproducers. All isolates had a mutation in the oprD gene and down-regulation of oprD was found in 56.6% of MDR-PA isolates. Although the presence of carbapenemase is the common mechanism of resistant to carbapenem, but carbapenem resistance was found by oprD mutation-driven and the AmpC overproducing isolates in Tehran, Iran

Molecular investigation of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the patients, personnel, air and environment of an ICU in a hospital in Tehran

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from the patients, staff, air and environments of an ICU in a hospital in Tehran. During this study, 37 S. aureus isolates were collected and analyzed via the spa typing method. Of the 37 S. aureus isolates, 35 [94%] were methicillin resistant [MRSA], 28 [76%] were identified as SCCmec types III or IIIA, four [10%] were identified as SCCmec types I or IA and three [8%] were identified a SCCmec type IV. All of the MRSA isolates were resistant to oxacillin and contained mecA. The isolates were all spa typed and found to comprise 11 spa types, including t7688, t7689, and t7789, which have not previously been reported. The spa type t7688 was isolated from the hands of two ICU personnel. The spa type t7689 was observed among five isolates from the air and the environment. The spa type t7789 was observed among three isolates from the patients, ventilators and the air. The majority of the isolates [43%] belonged to spa types t030 and t037. Our results revealed that MRSA strains that were isolated from the air, the environment of the ICU and the patients who were colonized or infected with MRSA often exhibited the same spa and SCCmec types. These results also reveal that the isolates from the patients and environment were usually indistinguishable

Acinetobacter baumannii clonal lineages I and II harboring different carbapenem-hydrolyzing-beta-lactamase genes are widespread among hospitalized burn patients in Tehran

The aim of this study was to analyze antimicrobial resistance patterns and their encoding genes and genotypic diversity of Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from burn patients in Tehran, Iran. The presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase- and bla[OXA]-encoding genes among 37 multidrug resistant [MDR] A. baumannii strains isolated from patients hospitalized in a teaching hospital in Tehran was evaluated. Susceptibility to 7 antibiotics was tested by disk agar diffusion and to polymyxin B and colistin was tested by E-test, according to CLSI guidelines. All isolates were then analyzed by PCR for the presence of bla[IMP],bla[VIM], bla[SIM] bla[OXA-23], bla[OXA-24], and bla[OXA-58]-like carbapenemase genes, and bla[OXA-51] like, bla[TEM],bla[SHV], bla[PER], bla[VEB], and bla[GIM] genes. Genotyping of A. baumannii strains was performed by repetitive sequence-based [REP]-PCR and cluster analysis of REP-PCR profiles. A. baumannii isolates were assigned to international clones by multiplex PCR sequence group analysis. Twenty-five A. baumannii isolates were classified as MDR, and 12 were classified as extensively drug resistant. All isolates were susceptible to colistin and polymyxin B. Eighty-one percent of the isolates was resistant to imipenem or meropenem and harbored at least one or both of the bla[OXA-23]-like or bla[OXA-24]-like carbapenemase genes. Co-existence of different resistance genes was found among carbapenem-resistant isolates. Multiplex PCR sequence group analysis most commonly assigned A. baumannii isolates to international clones I [18/37; 48.6%] and II [18/37; 48.6%]. An alarming increase in resistance to carbapenems and the spread of bla[OXA-23]-like and/or bla[OXA-24]-like carbapenemase genes was observed among A. baumannii strains belonging to clonal lineages I and II, isolated from burn patients in Tehran

Echinococcosis/hydatidosis in Ilam province, western Iran

Hydatidosis is a zoonotic disease of global prevalence. It causes considerable health problems and economic losses throughout the world, including Iran. The objective of this study was to assess the current status of echinococco-sis/hydatidosis in the province of Ilam [western Iran]. From April to September 2011, 65 stray dogs were collected from urban and rural areas of Ilam City. Parasites were isolated from the dogs and stained with carmine. A taxonomic study was carried out by measuring different parts of hel-minths. Meat inspection documents from slaughterhouses in Ilam were used to assess the prevalence of hydatidosis during a 3-year period in sheep, cattle, and goats. ELISA test was used to detect the presence of antibodies to hydatidosis in human sera. Clinical records from 2000 to 2010 of either treated or diagnosed patients from public hospitals of this province were reviewed. The prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus infection in stray dogs was 9%. A total of 81,726 animals were assessed for hydatidosis; 2.94% [2403 cases] had liver hydatidosis and 2.34% [1918 cases] had lung hydatidosis. Within a 10-year period, 140 patients [91 females and 49 males] were treated for hydatidosis. Of 1200 human sera, 2.25% [27 patients] were seropositive for hydatidosis. Hydatidosis is endemic in Ilam Province especially in rural area. The health and economic losses caused by the disease are significant; thus, our efforts need to be focused on the control of this disease

molecular investigation of celiac disease

Celiac disease [CD] is an immune-mediated disorder resulting in nutrient malabsorption now thought to have a prevalence of 1:100 in the Iranian population.Symptoms of CD are included diarrhea, abdominal pain, steatorrhea, bloating, cramps, flatulence, weight loss, weakness and short stature. In addition to presenting symptoms, patients are also at increased risk of metabolic bone disease, lymphoma [enteropathy-associated with T-cell] and other malignancies in different parts of the body such as gastric, esophageal, bladder, breast and brain. There appears to be a strong genetic component to this disease. In this short review we provided the historical, clinical and genetic aspects of this disease and highlight numerous findings from recent molecular immunology studies

Qnr prevalence in extended spectrum beta-lactamases [ESBLs] and none-ESBLs producing escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infections in central of Iran

Extensive use of quinolones has been associated with raising level of resistance, in the current, we focused on assessing the prevalence of Escherichia coli resistance to quinolones and frequency of qnrA, qnrB and qnrS in non ESBLs [extended spectrum beta-lactamases] and ESBLs producing E. coli with blaSHV and blaTEM. One hundred and fifty E. coli isolates were identified during Mar. 2007 to Apr. 2008 in Milad [Tehran] hospital. They were tested for ESBLs production as well as quinolone resistance. PCR was performed for detection of blaSHV and blaTEM as well as qnrA, B and S. Of 150 isolates, forty-two [28%] ESBLs producing and one hundred and eight [72%] non-ESBLs producing E. coli were identified. 64.2% [n= 24] of E. coli producing ESBLs and 4.62% [n= 5] of non-ESBLs E. coli were resistance to ciprofloxacin. 95.2% [n= 40] and 26.1% [n= 11] of the isolates harbored blaTEM and blaSHV, respectively. 23.8% [n= 10] had both genes. 37.5% [n= 9] and 20.8% [n= 4] of ESBLs producing E. coli were positive for qnrA and qnrB respectively. qnrS was not identified in any isolate. Our study showed high frequency of ESBLs producing E. coli as well as quinolone resistance genes [qnrA, qnrB] in Milad hospital