Malassezia species in students from universities of Sabzevar, Northeastern Iran.

BACKGROUND: Malassezia species, usually part of normal human skin microbiota, may also cause cutaneous infections, mainly pityriasis versicolor (PV) which may rapidly spread in crowded communities, particularly in students' dormitories and sport leisure centers. OBJECTIVE: Few studies have been conducted on PV in students in the Middle East. The present study was designed to determine prevalence of Malassezia species and related diseases in students from city of Sabzevar, Northeast Iran. METHODS: Specimens were collected from 189 students and analyzed by direct microscopy and cultures. Following PCR amplification of the large subunit of ribosomal DNA, species were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (RFL-PCR). RESULTS: PV was suspected for 28 students which was confirmed by direct examination and cultures. Cultures also revealed positive for 13 students with healthy skin. Four Malassezia species were identified, with M. restricta as the most prevalent. A higher rate of PV was observed compared to other regions in Iran. However, despite the lipophilic feature of Malassezia species, no significant association was observed between PV or Malassezia species and fatty skin or gender. CONCLUSION: This study determined the frequencies of Malassezia species in part of Northeast Iran, but further studies are needed to identify risk factors for PV.

Allelic polymorphism in codon 72 of p53 gene: prognosis value, survival rates, and their association with breast cancer.

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: There are controversial findings to establish relationship between genotype polymorphism of codon 72 of P53 gene, its prognosis value, and survival rate of the patients in breast cancer. For the first time this study has shown such relationship in Sabzevar, Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive analytical case-control study was conducted on 160 people (80 patients and 80 controls). DNA was extracted and codon 72 of the p53 gene was amplified. The genotype of the p53 gene was determined by electrophoresis, samples were sequenced, and all patients were followed up for 30 months. RESULTS: The frequency of heterozygote arginine/proline was 49 (30.6%) and 51(31.9%) in the patients and controls, respectively. Homozygote arginine/arginine had frequency of 29 (18.1%) in the patients while it was 15 (9.4%) in controls. Homozygote of proline/proline was two (1.3%) in the patients and 14 (8.8%) in controls. The sequencing results were consistent to PCR and electrophoresis results. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study in the region which shows relationship between genotype polymorphism, survival rate, and its prognosis value in breast cancer. The authors showed that homozygote proline/proline in controls was significantly higher compared with that in the patients. They may therefore, conclude that detection of allelic polymorphisms of codon 72 of the p53 gene including arginine/arginine could be a risk factor predisposition for breast cancer and valuable tool for determining prognosis, progress, and treatment purposes.

Immune responses of NIH mice infected with avirulent and virulent strains of Plasmodium chabaudi adami single and mixed infections.

An understanding of the nature of the immune response to asexual erythrocytic stages of malaria parasites will facilitate vaccine development by identifying which responses the vaccine should preferentially induce. The present study examined and compared the immune responses of NIH mice in either single or mixed infections with avirulent (DK) or virulent (DS) strains of Plasmodium chabaudi adami using the ELISA test for detecting and measurement of cytokines and antibody production. In both single and mixed infections, the study showed that both cell- and antibody-mediated responses were activated. In all experiments, an early relatively high level of IFN-gamma and IgG2a during the acute phase of the infection, and later elevation of IL-4 and IgG1, suggested that there was a sequential Th1/Th2 response. However, in the avirulent DK strain infection a stronger Th1 response was observed compared to the virulent DS strain-infection or in mixed infections. In the virulent DS infection, there was a stronger Th2 response compared to that in the DK and mixed infections. The faster proliferation rate of the virulent DS strain compared to the DK strain was also evident.