Inherited CARD9 deficiency in 2 unrelated patients with invasive Exophiala infection.

BACKGROUND: Exophiala species are mostly responsible for skin infections. Invasive Exophiala dermatitidis disease is a rare and frequently fatal infection, with 42 cases reported. About half of these cases had no known risk factors. Similarly, invasive Exophiala spinifera disease is extremely rare, with only 3 cases reported, all in patients with no known immunodeficiency. Autosomal recessive CARD9 deficiency has recently been reported in otherwise healthy patients with severe fungal diseases caused by Candida species, dermatophytes, or Phialophora verrucosa. METHODS: We investigated an 8-year-old girl from a nonconsanguineous Angolan kindred, who was born in France and developed disseminated E. dermatitidis disease and a 26 year-old woman from an Iranian consaguineous kindred, who was living in Iran and developed disseminated E. spinifera disease. Both patients were otherwise healthy. RESULTS: We sequenced CARD9 and found both patients to be homozygous for loss-of-function mutations (R18W and E323del). The first patient had segmental uniparental disomy of chromosome 9, carrying 2 copies of the maternal CARD9 mutated allele. CONCLUSIONS: These are the first 2 patients with inherited CARD9 deficiency and invasive Exophiala disease to be described. CARD9 deficiency should thus be considered in patients with unexplained invasive Exophiala species disease, even in the absence of other infections.

The impact of human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11 in women with genital warts.

OBJECTIVE: Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are etiologically associated with the development of virtually all genital warts. HPV-6 and HPV-11 are the most commonly detected HPV genotypes, but at least 20 other HPV genotypes have occasionally been found in genital wart tissue specimens. STUDY DESIGN: The aim of this study was to determine from 100 genital wart tissue specimens collected from female patients using multiplex gap-PCR technique the prevalence of various genital HPV among women with HPV genital warts in south of Iran. 100 genital wart tissue specimens were tested for the presence of HPV PG5/PG6 and also for HPV type using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Based on the collected data, 73 (73 %) samples were detected positive for HPV DNA and 23 (23 %) samples out of 100 samples were detected negative for HPV DNA. 49 (49 %) and 67 (67 %) of patients were detected positive for HPV type 6 and 11, respectively. There was a significant association between marital status and HPV genotype 6 (OR = 0.51, 95 % CI = 0.37-0.70, P = 0.01). Nevertheless, no significant association was found between marriage and HPV genotype 11 (OR = 0.85, 95 % CI = 0.58-1, 24, P = 0.7). Similarly, this result was demonstrated, in combined marriage and HPV-general (OR = 0.80, 95 % CI = 0.62-0.05, P = 0.4). CONCLUSION: Concerning the prevalence of HPV in our study, determination of genital HPV prevalence and multiple infections among the normal population of women of Hormozgan Province is recommended.

Effects of educational intervention on long-lasting insecticidal nets use in a malarious area, southeast Iran.

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been advocated as an effective tool against malaria transmission. However, success of this community based intervention largely depends on the knowledge and practice regarding malaria and its prevention. According to the national strategy plan on evaluation of LLINs (Olyset nets), this study was conducted to determine the perceptions and practices about malaria and to improve use of LLINs in Bashagard district, one of the important foci of malaria in southeast Iran. The study area comprised 14 villages that were randomized in two clusters and designated as LLINs and untreated nets. Each of households in both clusters received two bed nets by the free distribution and delivery. After one month quantitative data collection method was used to collect information regarding the objectives of the study. On the basis of this information, an educational program was carried out in both areas to increase motivation for use of bed nets. Community knowledge and practice regarding malaria and LLIN use assessed pre- and post-educational program. The data were analyzed using SPSS ver.16 software. At baseline, 77.5% of respondents in intervention and 69.4 % in control area mentioned mosquito bite as the cause of malaria, this awareness increased significantly in intervention (90.3%) and control areas (87.9%), following the educational program. A significant increase also was seen in the proportion of households who used LLINs the previous night (92.5%) compared with untreated nets (87.1%). Educational status was an important predictor of LLINs use. Regular use of LLIN was considerably higher than the targeted coverage (80%) which recommended by World Heaths Organization. About 81.1% and 85.3% of respondents from LLIN and control areas reported that mosquito nuisance and subsequent malaria transmission were the main determinants of bed net use. These findings highlight a need for educational intervention in implementation of long-lasting insecticidal nets; this should be considered in planning and decision-making in the national malaria control program during the next campaigns of LLINs in Iran.

Periorbital tuberculosis in a young man: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is an endemic disease in developing countries which may involve various organs. Soft tissue involvement including periorbital tissues is very rare, and often this involvement is accompanied by the involvement of other body organs such as lungs. Most of the patients suffering from periorbital infections have underlying diseases and diagnosis of these infections without concomitant involvement of other parts of body is often complex. CASE PRESENTATION: In this paper, a periorbital tuberculous infection is described. A 17-year-old male with chronic periorbital mass underwent surgical and medical treatment and the mass recurred. Culture and microscopic studies of the specimen showed mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient was treated for a periorbital tuberculous infection for a 6-month period with antituberculous regimen and was cured. CONCLUSION: Periorbital tuberculous infection may occur in the absence of underlying factors or active tuberculosis in the rest of the body organs or a history of tuberculosis infection.

Seropositivity for Listeria monocytogenes in women with spontaneous abortion: a case-control study in Iran.

OBJECTIVE: There are many studies supporting the role of certain asymptomatic infections such as Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) in spontaneous abortion. In some cases, latent listeriosis may complicate the pregnancy, and serologic tests can, therefore, be used to detect the disease. This study was designed to assess the relationship between seropositivity for L. monocytogenes and spontaneous abortion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 250 women with previous spontaneous abortion and a control group of 200 women with normal full-term deliveries entered the study as case and control groups, respectively. Demographic characteristics were recorded for each subject, and serum samples were obtained from all participants. All serum samples were examined using the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test for L. monocytogenes antibody. Data was analyzed using Chi-squared and t tests. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 25.6 +/- 7.6 years in cases and 25.3 +/- 6.5 years in controls. Eighty-nine (35.6%) of the cases with abortion and 35 (17.5%) of the control group were positive for L. monocytogenes antibody (p = 0.001). No relationship was observed between the number of pregnancies and infection with L. monocytogenes (p = 0.4), or between the number of previous abortions and L. monocytogenes seropositivity (p = 0.2). CONCLUSION: We suggest monitoring L. monocytogenes seroprevalence in pregnant women at high risk of threatened abortion, and further microbiological assessment of symptomatic women for detection of L. monocytogenes and insidious infection.

The effect of combination therapy with albendazole and praziquantel on hydatid cyst treatment.

The standard therapy of hydatid cyst is surgery but, in nonoperable patients and multiple organ involvement, medical therapy may be more useful. The efficacy of drugs especially in short-term treatment of hydatid cyst is unknown. This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of combination therapy with albendazole and praziquantel in the treatment of hydatid diseases. In a nonrandomized quasi-experimental study, nine patients with multiple hydatid cysts were treated with albendazole (400 mg/twice a day) and praziquantel (40 mg/kg per day) twice a week for 4 weeks. This regimen was repeated for three courses with a 2-week interval between each one. The average follow-up period after treatment was 18 months. Response to treatment was assessed through the observation of the symptoms and radiologic findings (computed axial tomography scan, sonography, X-ray). Symptoms disappeared in seven (77.8%) patients and improved partially in two (22.2%) patients. Radiological assessment showed significant improvement in five (55.6%) and partial improvement in four (44.4%) patients. Combination therapy with albendazole and praziquantel is effective in the treatment of hydatid cyst and can be used as an alternative to surgery in disseminated and nonoperable cases.

Periocular dirofilariasis in a young woman: a case report.

A case of periocular dirofilariasis has been diagnosed in Iran. A 27-yr old female referred with a history of edema and redness in the left eye since 2 wk ago. On slit lamp examination, a moving thread-like worm was seen in the subconjunctival area. Two days later, a 126 mm long, live filaria worm was extracted from the lower lid subcutaneous tissue. The worm was diagnosed as, likelihood, Dirofilaria immitis on microscopic examinations. The present case suggests that D. immitis can cause periocular infections.