Prevalence and risk factors of ecstasy use among college students in Astara, Islamic Republic of Iran.

We determined the prevalence and risk factors for 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") use among college students in Astara, a northern border city of Iran. In a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 1226 students, the lifetime prevalence of ecstasy use was 5.6%. The lifetime prevalence of use of other drugs, mostly cannabis and opium, was 4.6%. A fifth of students (21.8%) were current cigarette smokers and 24.8% had ever used alcohol. After logistic regression, the factors influencing ever use of ecstasy were ever use of other drugs, ever use of alcohol, current cigarette smoking and living alone or with friends. Targeted prevention programmes should be conducted in all colleges.

Prevalence and risk factors of ecstasy use among college students in Astara, Islamic Republic of Iran

We determined the prevalence and risk factors for 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine [MDMA, "ecstasy"] use among college students in Astara, a northern border city of Iran. In a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 1226 students, the lifetime prevalence of ecstasy use was 5.6%. The lifetime prevalence of use of other drugs, mostly cannabis and opium, was 4.6%. A fifth of students [21.8%] were current cigarette smokers and 24.8% had ever used alcohol. After logistic regression, the factors influencing ever use of ecstasy were ever use of other drugs, ever use of alcohol, current cigarette smoking and living alone or with friends. Targeted prevention programmes should be conducted in all colleges

CD26 expression on CD4+T cells in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Surrogate marker(s) of protection in human leishmaniasis is not well defined. In this study, T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokine profiles and CD26 expression on CD4(+) T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with healing or non-healing forms of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) stimulated with Leishmania antigens were assessed. The level of interferon (IFN)-gamma production was significantly higher in patients with healing or non-healing forms of CL than in healthy controls, but it was not significantly different between the two patient groups. The level of interleukin-5 production was significantly higher in patients with the non-healing form of CL than in the two other groups. There was a significant increase in the level of CD26 expression on CD4(+) T cells in patients with healing (P < 0.001) or non-healing (P = 0.025) forms of CL compared with the control group, but no significant difference was seen between the two patient groups. A weak positive correlation was seen between IFN-gamma production and CD26 expression on CD4(+) T cells of patients with the healing form of lesion (r = 0.54, P = 0.008), but this correlation was not observed in patients with the non-healing form of CL (r = 0.53, P = 0.078). Surface CD26 is not correlated with the clinical manifestation of CL or IFN-gamma production. Therefore, CD26 is not a surrogate marker for IFN-gamma production in CL.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and risk factors of drug using prisoners in Guilan province

This was a cross- sectional prevalence study to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus [HCV] and high- risk behaviours in drug abusers admitted to prison in Guilan province, northern Islamic Republic of Iran. Subjects were asked about risk behaviours for acquiring HCV and blood was drawn for HCV antibody testing using ELISA techniques. Of 460 inmates, the mean duration of drug use was 8.9 years; 51.7% were opium users and 18.3% heroin users. HCV risk behaviours were in this population and 209 inmates [45.4%] were HCV antibody positive [88.9% of intravenous common drug abusers]. HCV- positive status was significantly associated with intravenous drug use, having skin tattoos and number of times in prison