Comparison of the prevalence of human papillomaviruses among fertile and infertile women in Mashhad, northeast of Iran

Background: Human papillomaviruses [HPVs] are the most common viruses which can be sexually transmitted. They can cause different malignancies in asymptomatic women. The association of HPVs with infertility among men and women is controversial. In the current study, the authors compared the frequency of HPVs in fertile and infertile women in the city of Mashhad

Materials and Methods: In the present case-control study, cervical and vaginal smears were collected from infertile and fertile women. HPVs were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Data was analyzed by SPSS v.20 and P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant

Results: In the current study, 115 infertile women with the mean age of 30.5 +/- 5.6 years and 60 fertile women with the mean age of 32.6 +/- 9.3 years were included [p=0.07]. Among women who were infertile [cases], 121 [52.6%] of 230 smears were positive, while in control group [who were fertile], 50 [41.7%] of 120 smears were positive [p=0.052]

Conclusion: Frequency of HPV in both groups was high, which could be due to lack of routine HPV vaccination. HPV can cause placenta abnormality, our infertile women had multiple abortion history and history of abortion had significant differences among infertile and control group. The frequency of HPV had no significant differences between the infertile and control groups

Pneumothorax after mechanical ventilation in newborns

Air leak syndromes including pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and pulmonary interstitial emphysema are frequent in neonatal period. Mechanical ventilation with positive pressure is one of the most common causes of these syndromes. The aim of this study was to evaluate predisposing factors and incidence of pneumothorax in newborns under mechanical ventilation. This descriptive cross sectional study was performed in 400 newborns under mechanical ventilation in intensive care unit of a teaching hospital in Iran from April 2004 to December 2008. Predisposing factors leading to ventilation and incidence of air leak syndromes were studied. Sex, gestational age, birth weight, type of delivery, history of surfactant replacement therapy, ventilator settings and mortality rate were recorded. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. Univariate analysis and regression analysis were considered. Among 400 patients under mechanical ventilation, 102 neonates developed pneumothorax [26%]. Fifty six [54.9%] of them were boys and 46 [45.1%] girls. 54.9% of newborns with pneumothorax were preterm and 45.1% term. Birth weight less than 2500g was recorded in 59.8%. Fifty two percent of these neonates were born by cesarean section vs. 32% of newborns without pneumothorax. The most common type [62.7%] of ventilation leading to pneumothorax was Inspiratory Positive Pressure Ventilation [IPPV]. Surfactant replacement therapy was recorded in 32.4% of cases with pneumothorax compared to 60.4% of neonates under ventilation without pneumothorax, which was significantly different [P= 0.017]. In newborns surfactant replacement therapy can reduce the risk of pneumothorax caused by mechanical ventilation

Strong Immune Responses Induced by a DNA vaccine containing HPV16 truncated E7 C-terminal linked to HSP70 gene

Vaccines capable of controlling tumor virus based infections are found difficult to develop due to the consistence latent infection in the host. DNA vaccines are attractive tools for the development of HPV vaccines and inducing antigen-specific immunity owing to the stability, simplicity of delivery, safety and cost effectiveness. However, there is a need to increase their potency by procedures such as using HSP70 gene as an adjuvant. To evaluate a DNA vaccine containing HPV16 truncated E7 C-terminal cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes linked to HSP70 gene [HSP70-tE7] in an animal model. Mice were immunized with the plasmid DNA after pre-treatment with cardiotoxin. The splenocytes of immunized mice were then tested for CTL activity by detecting the apoptosis and necrosis in target cells, cytokine production by ELISA, CD4 and CD8 frequencies by flow cytometry, and lymphocyte stimulation by MTT assay. The recombinant expression vector was able to elicit immune responses close to that of full length E7 complete gene. Although the use of a small part of a target antigen can induce immune responses equivalent to the full length antigen, it fails to elicit statistically significant stronger immune responses when fused with HSP70 compared to the complete E7 gene alone. The potent immunogenicity of HPV16 E7 was preserved in the HSP70-tE7 vaccine and may represent a target of choice for the therapeutic vaccination strategies. However, to improve the immunogenicity polytope DNA vaccines which elicit multiple effector and memory CTL responses should be considered in future studies of DNA-based cancer vaccines

[Correlation between the result of leishmanin skin test and clinical forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis and species of parasite]

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis [CL] is a common parasitic skin disease which is endemic in many parts of Iran, including Khorasan. Leishmanin Skin Test [LST] is used for clinical diagnosis of previous infection. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the result of LST with the clinical form of CL lesion and species of causative agent in patients referred to the Parasitology laboratory, Imam Reza hospital during 2007-2008. This study was undertaken over a 12 month period. Following confirmation of diagnosis of CL in 50 patients who obtained positive result by direct smear test, their demographic, clinical and laboratory information were recorded. LST was performed for each patient. PCR [polymerase chain reaction] was used to determine the species of parasite. The result of LST read after 24, 48 and 72 hours. The collected data were statistically analyzed using SPSS. Among 30 persons with Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis [ACL], 60% had dry and 33% had infected moist lesions. Among 20 persons with Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis [ZCL], dry and infected moist ulcers were observed in 30% and 65% respectively. The result of Positive LST was increased 48 and 72 hrs. After injection. There was a significant relationship between the clinical form of CL lesion and causative agent as the result of the LST; but no significant relationship was observed between causative agent and clinical form

Mycotic keratitis, a study on etiologic agents, predisposing factors and the result of treatment among 44 patients

Mycotic Keratitis is a suppurative, usually ulcerative, and sight threatening infection of cornea that sometimes leads to loss of vision. The peak of incidence is observed in the tropical and subtropical regions. To investigate the etiological agent, predisposing factors and treatment follow up of mycotic keratitis; this study was undertaken over a period of 2 years in Mashhad. In this prospective, cross sectional study, among 466 individuals suffering from keratitis,65 patients, highly suspected to mycotic keratitis were examined by direct fresh smear [KOH 10%] and culture in Mycology Media. The results were analyzed by SPSS method. Among 65 clinically suspected individuals, the results of direct smear and culture of 44 patients were positive, of patients, 21 were male [47.1%] and 24 were female [52.3%]. The patients were between 8 to 84 years old. More than 40% of them were farmers. Trauma was the most common predisposing factor in more than 47% of cases due to vegetable materials. Molds and Yeasts were isolated from 86.4% and 13.6% of the samples respectively. Fusarium spp. were the most frequent isolates [44.4%].Others included Aspergillus spp. [21.8%], Acremonium spp. [8.3%], Penicillium spp. [5.6%] and Candida albicam [13.9%]. Tearing and redness were the most common symptoms observed [93.2%]. Amphotricin B was used in patients with Aspergillus and Candida Keratitis., but for Fusarium and other molds keratitis, Natamycin was used for 6 to 12 weeks. In one patient with Fusarium Keratitis, medical therapy was failed and therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty was performed. Six months follow up showed that prognosis was good in all of the patients. In relation to the last decade, the incidence of Mycotic Keratitis is increased in Mashhad. Keratitis due to the molds is more prevalent than yeast keratitis. Entrance of foreign body [Plant particles] is the most common predisposing factor. However, it needs long term therapy but the prognosis is good

Accuracy of mid expiratory flow and dysanapsis parameters for evaluation of methacholine provocation test

The most sensitive parameter for evaluation of airway hyper-responsiveness is PC35 [35% decrease in specific airway conductance]. But assessment of this parameter requires expensive equipments. This study aimed to evaluate mid expiratory flow and dysanapsis parameters in standard spirometry for possible substitution of PC35.Thirty-seven subjects with clinical findings suggestive of asthma who had normal standard spirogram were entered in this case-control prospective study. Thirty- seven healthy volunteers were also included in this study as controls. Airway responsiveness was examined by methacholine challenge test and measurement of PC20 and PC35. In addition, concentration of methacholine needed for 20% reduction in FEF25-75%, MEF50%, and FEF25-75%/FVC was determined and compared with PC35 as the gold standard. FEF25-75%/FVC ratio was used for evaluation of dysanapsis. PC35 was more sensitive than PC20 and was obtained in 93% [68/73] of patients in both groups. Although PC35 and new parameters could be positive in both groups, the concentrations in two groups were significantly different. Regression model showed that in asthmatic patients all the conventional and new parameters had good and comparable correlations with PC35. But in the control group alone and in both asthmatic and control groups, PC 20 of FEF25-75%/FVC showed a significant correlation with PC35. PC20 of FEF25-75/FVC was also significantly correlated with PC20 of FEV1 in asthmatic and control groups. PC20 of FEF25-75/FVC and MEF50% revealed the best accuracy. An equation was determined for calculation of PC35 according to PC20 of FEF25-75/FVC and MEF50% when PC35 was unavailable. PC20 of FEF25-75/FVC ratio and MEF50% are sensitive parameters for diagnosis of airway responsiveness. PC20 of FEF25-75/FVC is the best substitution for PC35

CTL responses to a DNA vaccine encoding E7 gene of human papillomavirus type 16 from an Iranian isolate

Cervical cancer is the most prevalent tumor in developing countries and the second most frequent cancer among female population worldwide. Specific human papillomaviruses and, most notably, HPV types 16 and 18 are recognized as being causally associated with cervical carcinomas. The early HPV type 16 genes, E6 and E7, directly participate in the in vitro transformation of primary human keratinocytes and represent an excellent target for immune therapy of HPV related disease. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the efficacy of a DNA vaccine containing human papillomaviruse type 16 E7 gene [Iranian isolate] in induction of CTL responses in an animal model. In this study, the expression vector containing HPV type 16 E7 gene was constructed and chosen as a model antigen in the development of a therapeutic DNA vaccine in an animal model. CTL responses, cytokine assay, lymphocyte stimulation test, CD4 and CD8 staining and flowcytometry were done for evaluating of the immune responses. Our findings indicate that the target DNA vaccine can induce an E7-specific CTL response, which is important in the lysis of infected tumor cells, compared to negative control [p < 0.005] after in vivo immunization in the mouse system. The developed vaccine may be promising as an anti-cancer vaccine