Detection of SENV virus in healthy, hepatitis B- and hepatitis C-infected individuals in Yazd province, Iran

Background: SEN virus [SENV] is the latest virus proposed as a cause of unknown hepatitis cases. Among nine detected genotypes of the virus, genotypes D and H are more frequent in hepatitis cases of unknown origin. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of SENV-D and SENV-H genotypes in the sera of healthy individuals and hepatitis B and C patients

Methods: Totally, 200 serum samples from healthy individuals as well as 50 hepatitis B and 50 hepatitis C patients were collected. Anti-HCV [hepatitis C virus], anti-human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-HBV [hepatitis B virus] core antigen were detected, and serum alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST] were measured. Viral DNA was subjected to nested PCR. Fisher's exact and unpaired ANOVA tests were used for statistical analyses

Results: SENV was detected in 90%, 66%, and 46% of the healthy individuals HBV and HCV-positive individuals, respectively. The frequency of SENV and its two genotypes were significantly lower in hepatitis B and hepatitis C patients [P<0.01]. Also, the frequency of SENV-H was higher than SENV-D in all studied groups. In SENV-positive HBV patients, the level of ALT and AST enzymes were significantly less than SENV-negative patients [P<0.05]. It was the same for SENV-H-negative and -positive cases

Conclusions: The levels of liver enzymes were significantly lower in HBV patients co-infected with SENV compared to HBV patients [P<0.05], indicating a positive impact of the virus in liver pathology by decreasing liver damage and thus decreasing the liver enzymes

Antibiotic susceptibility pattern among Staphylococcus spp. with emphasis on detection of mecA gene in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen in hospital setting and in the community and causes a wide range of diseases. MRSA infection has recently become a serious problem in anti-microbial chemotherapy. The aim of the study was to detect and analyze the antibiotic diversity and isolation of methicillin resistance gene [mecA] of S. aureus isolated from Tehran hospitals as a rapid and reliable method. We studied 585 isolates of staphylococcus spp. recovered from patients at 3 clinical centers in Tehran from October 2005 to October 2006. antibiotic susceptibility test of isolates was achieved with 13 antibiotics by disc diffusion. The MIC of methicillin was also performed by broth micro dilution assay. PCR was used for detection of mecA gene. Totally, 321 [54.7%] isolates were identified as S. aureus. 66, 65, 88, 88, 100, 41, 38, 41, 0, 40, 93, 20 and 64% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to kanamycin, cephotaxim, methicillin, oxacillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprime, vancomycin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and tetracycline, respectively. All MRSA and 63% of intermediate isolates carried mecA gene. In contrary to other studies in Iran, the prevalence of methicillin resistance is rising up in Tehran and most of MRSA isolates were resistance to 5 antibiotics at least. Vancomycin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin and clindamycin are the most effective antibiotics. All MRSA isolates had mecA gene with different expression. Detection of mecA gene is a rapid and reliable method for identification of MRSA isolates

comparative study of dental caries prevalence in 35-44 and 6-12 year old Iranian villagers and Afghan refugees living in villages of Isfahan Province of Iran

The most common disease of oral cavity is dental caries. Dental caries cause significant economical loss due to heavy expenses of dental treatment. The most important way to reduce this loss is attention to prevention measures. One of the criteria for evaluation of oral and dental health is DMFT index. The age groups of 35 to 44 and 6 to 12 years-old are the recommended age groups for determination of the DMFT index by the world health Organization. The aim of this study was to determine possible DMFT indices in Iranian villagers and Afghan refugees living in villages of Isfahan province aged 35 to 44 and 6 to 12 years. Two hundred and twenty women [110 Iranian and 110 Afghan ] and 256 men [128 Iranian and 128 Afghan] were examined for DMFT index. For reduction of the influence of Iran environment on the index, only the last five years refugees were examined. Only 20 cases [10 girls and 10 boys] of 6-12 years old Afghan children were available so they were compared with 20 [10 girls an d 10 boys] Iranian village children. None of the cases examined had the regular habit tooth brushing. T-student test was used for statistical analysis. DMFT indices were 3.7 +/- 2.6 and 0.6 +/- 1 in Iranian and Afghan boys respectively [t= 3.5] [significant correlation, P<0.01].DT, MT, FT and DMFT indices were 3.3 +/- 2.5, 3.9 +/- 3.8 [t=1.6], 5.5 +/- 6.9, 1.9 +/- 4 [t=5.2], 0.9 +/- 2.4, 0.2 +/- 0.7 [t=3.4] and 9.7 +/- 6.5, 5.7 [t=5.3] in Iranian and Afghan men and 4 +/- 3.2, 4.7 +/- 4 [t=1.3], 5.5 +/- 7.2, 2.1 +/- 3.3 [t=4.5], 2.7 +/- 3.2, 0.05 +/- 0.2 [t=8.6] and 12.2 +/- 6.7, 7 +/- 5.2 [t= 6.6] in Iranian and Afghan women, respectively. Except for DT [not significant, P<0.05] the difference were significant in all other cases [P<0.01]. Ten percent of Afghan women and 15.6% of Afghan men were caries free. This was not the case for Iranian villagers. In addition, 4.5% and 3.9% of Iranian women and men were edentulous respectively, while this was null for Afghans. Iranian villagers consumed more sugar than Afghans. The results showed the significant resistance to dental earis in Afghan people. This resistance could be correlated to genetic make up and feeding habits

Dental caries prevalence and its correlation with dental health behavior, nutrition and socioeconomic conditions in twelve-year-old children

The aim of present study was to extend information and data on DMFT index in Shahreza city in 2000. Two hundred twelve-year-old students [100 girls and 100 boys] were examined clinically. For determining oral health behavior, questionnaires were distributed among the students and their parents. T-student, T-paired, ANOVA- one way and Tuky tests were used for statistical analysis. DT, MT, FT and DMFT were 5.04 +/- 3.67 -4.31 +/- 2.81 [t=1.580], 0.15 +/- 0.36 - 0.03 +/- 0.17 [t=1.746], 0.98 +/- 1.53 - 0.18 +/- 0.67 [t=4.785], 6.12 +/- 3.67 - 4.52 +/- 3.05 [t=2.605] in girls and boys respectively. FT and total DMFT were significantly higher in girls [P<0.01]. The difference between DT-FT, DT-MT and FT-MT in both girls and boys were significant [P<0.01]. The influence of income, occupation and educational background of parents and number of brushing per day, consumption of sugary and healthy food and dental visit per year were also determined. The difference among different income levels [good, moderate and poor] were significant [P<0.01] In comparison with the other two groups, the poor had the lowest level of DMFT. In comparison with WHO standard [Year 2000] of 3 for DMFT, the index was higher in Shahreza. Attention to the correction of fluoride level of drinking water and the dental health care especially in girls was suggested