Co-existence of cutaneous leishmaniasis with pleural effusion: a case report from Iran

Herein, a 12-year-old Afghan boy with chronic cutaneous leishmaniasis on the face and verrucous lesions on the body and pleural effusion suspected of having co-existent tuberculosis has been presented. The cutaneous lesions were appeared for five years before his admission. Leishman-Donovan bodies were seen in H and E [Hematoxylin and eosin] slide of skin lesion specimens. The pathogenic species was proved to be Leishmania tropica using Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] method. Purified Protein Derivative [PPD] and Leishmanin Skin Test [LST] were strongly positive. The patient was treated with systemic and intralesional meglumine antimoniate [Glucantime] for cutaneous leishmaniasis and then with anti-tuberculosis drugs for pleural effusion. Afterwards, pleural effusion was disappeared and cutaneous leishmaniasis cured

Bullous Pemphigoid in Iranian patients: a descriptive study on 122 cases

Bullous pemphigoid is an immunobullous disease with high mortality and morbidity. Different aspects and characteristics in the patients vary in different areas in the world. Our objective was to study clinical and demographic characteristics of bullous pemphigoid in Iranian patients. In a retrospective descriptive study, we reviewed 122 patients with bullous pemphigoid within 1987-2007. Demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, treatment, relapses and outcome were evaluated. The mean age of 122 patients was 65 +/- 18.11 years including 35.2% male and 64.8% female. The most common manifestations were cutaneous bullae [97.5%]. 27% had oral lesions. 30.3% had eosinophillia. 90 patients [73.8%] received oral prednisolone, 29 patients [23.8%] topical steroid, 2 patients tetracycline and 1 patient dapsone. 89 patients were followed after admission. Out of them 44 patients experienced first relapse and 22 patients second relapse. 41 cases [46%] were completely controlled. 11 cases [12%] were not controlled. Clinical and general characteristics of bullous pemphigoid patients differ in various regions in the world

Evaluation of bone mineral density in Iranian HIV/AIDS patients

Bone disorders have emerged as a worrisome complication in HIV-infected patients in recent years. It is not clear that HIV infection itself or antiretroviral treatment or both are causes of bone loss. However, most studies have found a high prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV/AIDS patients. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients either untreated or receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy as compared with HIV negative persons. We also assessed the factors associated with these conditions. Bone Mineral Density was assessed by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry scans at the hip and lumbar spine in 36 AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy and 44 HIV infected patients not receiving antiretroviral therapy [na‹ve patients] and 40 HIV negative individuals as control. Factors that affect BMD were also determined. Prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis in different regions was significantly higher in HIV/AIDS patients compared with HIV negative subjects [77.3% in HIV positive na‹ve patients, 86.1% in HAART-treated patients and 60% in the control group, P=0.002]. Mean serum alkaline phosphatase was higher in HIV/AIDS patients than the control group [P=0.003]. Osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients were associated with duration of HIV infection [P<0.0001] and antiretroviral treatment [P=0.012]. Prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV/AIDS patients was higher than HIV negative individuals. Osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV/AIDS patients was associated with duration of HIV infection and antiretroviral treatment

[ identification of nocardia in BAL specimens of bronchoscopic patients by using classical and molecular methods]

Nocardiosis is a rare and potentially life-threatening infection caused by several species of the Nocardia genus. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a rapid and new method to clinically identify relevant Nocardia species. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of Nocardia species is essential for the treatment of severe infections and prevention of cerebral abscess. One hundred and eighty patients, 103 [57.22%] male and 77 [42.78%] female, with severe symptomatic pulmonary infection were studied in the course of a 12-month period in Dr. Shariati Teaching Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2010. The specimens were cultured and identified using microbiological and biochemical tests. Polymerase chain reaction [PCR] was used to directly identify the organism in the broncoalveolar lavage samples collected from the patients. NG1 and NG2 primers were used to amplify a Nocardia genus-specific 598-bp fragment of 16S rRNA. Nineteen samples [10.56%] were positive with PCR and 5 samples [2.78%] with conventional methods. All samples with positive cultures were also positive by PCR. The results of this study showed that PCR has a high sensitivity and accuracy for the detection of Nocardia compared with culture and biochemical tests. Considering the rapidity, precision, high sensitivity and specificity of molecular techniques, use of these techniques is suggested in conjunction with conventional methods for the detection of Nocardia phenotypes in clinical laboratories and research centers