Frequency of blood-tissue parasitic infections in patients with multiple sclerosis, as compared to their family members

Multiple Sclerosis [MS] is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system which has been identifies more prevalent in economically developed countries than in the developing countries. Low prevalence of parasitic infections [which can activate immune response and prevent or modulate damage to host antigens] in these areas is among the possible responsible factors for such a difference. In this study we aimed to compare frequency of blood-tissue parasitic infections in patients with MS, as compared to their healthy family members. This study was conducted on 50 relapsing remitting MS patients and 50 family members attending MS clinic at Alzahra Hospital. IgM and IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii were measured. Given the high prevalence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Isfahan, all the participants were also examined for protozoan leishmania microscopically. Furthermore malaria parasite was investigated. Eighteen patients and 24 healthy family members had positive test in IgG Toxoplasma gondii[P = 0.09]. In both groups, there was no positive IgM Toxoplasma gondii. In investigating leishmania, only 3 participants in the case group and 2 in the control tested positive [P = 0.25]. No case of malaria was found among the participants. Our results showed a mismatch with hygiene hypotheses examined. However, considering that the prevalence of parasites varies with time, and depends on numerous epidemiological factors; these results do not discredit the theory investigated

Development of a latex agglutination test as a simple and rapid method for diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis infection

Trichomoniasis is a worldwide infection and due to its complications rapid and accurate diagnosis of infection especially in pregnant women is very important. In this study, development of a latex agglutination test using native antigens for rapid diagnosis of trichomoniasis is investigated. Trichomonas vaginalis was harvested from TYIS33 culture medium and anti Trichomonas vaginalis antiserum was raised in rabbits. Salt precipitation method was used for antibody purification. Polyesteren latex particles coated with purified antibody and used for detection of Trichomonas vaginalis. Clinical samples of vaginal discharge were collected from 500 women and examined or Trichomonas vaginalis by using wet mount, culture and latex agglutination test was 100% and 81% and those of wet mount were 33.3% and 100%, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values of latex agglutination tested were 6% and 100%, respectively. Due to inconvenient sensitivity and specificity of the latex agglutination test developed in this study, further work is recommended to improve the test

[ epidemiologic study on hearing standard threshold shift using audiometric data and noise level among workers of Isfahan metal industry]

Standard threshold shifts [STS] as an important indicator for identifying hearing loss in industries that they perform hearing conservation programs. The aim of this study is the investigation of the occurrence of standard threshold shift [STS] among workers of Isfahan metal industry using audiometric data and noise measurement level. This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study that performed among 2016 of workers in Isfahan Metal Industry. All of subjects were men and the rate of using personal protective equipment among workers were sometime= 189, often=865 and always=962. At the first we determined the parts of plant that exposed to non permissible noise level and then measured exposure to 8 hour equivalent noise level. Finally in regard to basic audiometric and current audiometric, the occurrences of STS were examined. This study showed that 29.9% of workers have a STS in these workplaces. There are significance relationship between age, exposure time, noise level, wearing time and number of workers with STS. But there is no relation between precedence of work and STS statistically. Findings of this study indicated that occurrences of STS among workers exposed to noise are high. Thus, it is concluded that hearing conservation programs in these industries was unsuccessful