Herpes simplex virus in saliva of patients with Bell's palsy

Acute idiopathic peripheral facial paralysis [Bell's palsy] is the most common disorder of the facial nerve. Most patients recover completely, although some have permanent disfiguring facial weakness. Many studies have attempted to identify an infectious etiology for this disease. Although the cause of Bell's palsy remains unknown, recent studies suggest a possible association with Herpes Simplex Virus-1[HSV-1] infection. In this case-control study we investigated the presence of DNA of HSV in the saliva of 26 patients with Bells palsy in first and second weeks of disorder compared to normal population who were matched in sex, age, as well as history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and labial herpes. In the case group 3 and 7 patients had positive polymerase chain reaction [PCR] for HSV in first and second weeks of disease respectively compared to 4 in controls. It means that there was not any relationship between Bell's palsy and HSV in saliva either in first or in second week. Two and 6 of positive results from the sample of first and second weeks were from patients with severe [grade 4-6] Bell's palsy. Although the positive results were more in second week in patient group and more in severe palsies, but a significant relationship between Bell's palsy or its severity and positive PCR for HSV was not detected [P >0.05]

Evaluation of indirect fluorescent antibody assay for detection of Nocardia

Nocardiosis is an acute or suppurative chronic disease caused by an aerobic, gram-positive, weakly acid-fast and soil-borne filamentous and organism. Nocardia asteroides which is the dangerous and most frequently pathogen, infects humans through the respiratory tract. The bacterium is primarily an opportunistic pathogen that causes the infection in patients with underlying immunodeficiencies. The main purpose of the study was to detect antibody titre against Nocardia in all study groups, using indirect immunofluorescent assay [IFA]. Correlation between the antibody titre against Nocardia with age, sex, occupation, and chronic pulmonary infection and corticosteroid therapy patients was also investigated. The present investigation is a Cross-Sectional study conducted on a population consisted of 300 subjects including 200 hospitalized individuals patients, nurses and healthcare workers from Imam Khomeini hospital, and 100 health adult blood donors. None of the patients had already been diagnosed to be affected by Nocardia. Our results demonstrated four patients suffering from different infections, including TB, mycetoma, chronic pulmonary and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases were IFA positive. None of the high risk hospital personnel, who were working in close proximity to the areas infected with Nocardia, were found to be IFA positive. Meanwhile there was no positive result in a group of patients [n=34] who were under corticosteroid therapy. Finally, considering the small sample size of the IFA positive cases no significant association between the IFA results and age, sex, occupation and clinical conditions of the subjects could be established

Arsenic trioxide compound modulates multiple myeloma phenotypes: Assessment on cell line models

Recent evidences suggest that multiple myeloma phenotypes [MMPs] are involved in the infiltration of multiple myeloma-affected marrow foci. In this study, the effects of arsenic trioxide on the invasive and angiogenic phenotypes of multiple myeloma [MM] cell line were assessed on a dose-response and time-course basis. Multiple myeloma cell line, Karpas 707, was treated with step-wise elevated concentrations of arsenic trioxide compound at 24, 48, and 72 h intervals. Cytotoxicity was assessed with a colorimetric assay. Potential antiinvasive phenotype was analyzed with MMP-2 zymography. To verify directly the anti angiogenic effect, F1 endothelial cell line was also treated with arsenic and the dose-dependent cytotoxicity was assessed with a colorimetric assay. Apoptotic properties of arsenic trioxide compound were investigated using TUNEL assay. The significant dose-dependent inhibitory effects of arsenic trioxide on MMP-2 were seen at given concentrations. Cytotoxicity analysis revealed much higher cell death than untreated cells [P< 0.01], both in Karpas 707 and F1 endothelial cell lines. Colectively, this study showed that arsenic trioxide might potentially elicit anti-invasive anti-angiogenesis properties in the treatment of myeloma dissemination process. In addition, the concurrent inhibition of MMPs activity and endothelial cell proliferation could compose the scenario of neoangiogenesis inhibition in the marrow-infiltrated foci