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BACKGROUND: Trisomy 13 (T13) and sex chromosome aneuploidies (SCA) are the vital causes of congenital malformations. This study was performed to identify the T13 and SCA with screening tests in the first trimester of pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, first-trimester combined screening was conducted on 2100 pregnant women referred to Narges Genetics Laboratory, Ahvaz, Iran. Evaluating the first trimester screening tests, including nuchal translucency (NT), crown-rump length (CRL) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), and free beta of human chorionic gonadotropin (fßhCG) was performed. For a definitive diagnosis of T13 and SCA syndrome, fetal karyotype was evaluated. RESULTS: The average NT and CRL in high-risk group for T13 were 5.96 mm and 61.7 mm respectively and in high-risk groups for SCA were 3.7 mm and 75.9 mm, respectively. Significant correlation was observed among NT, CRL and T13, SCA (P<0.05). The average serum fßhCG and PAAP-A levels in high-risk group for T13 were 0.42 and 0.31, respectively. Significant correlation was observed between decrease fßhCG, PAPP-A and T13 levels and increase fßhCG levels and SCA levels (P<0.05). No Significant correlation was observed between PAPP-A levels and SCA levels (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Using special software and karyotype testing, the prenatal screening tests based on the maternal age and gestational age in the first trimester of pregnancy may determine the major risk of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.
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BACKGROUND: Since the importance of poliovirus has diminished, as a result of its elimination in the majority of countries, non-polioviruses are emerging as causative agents of severe central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Outbreaks of enterovirus 71 (EV71)-associated CNS infections have recently been reported in Asia, Australia, and Europe. OBJECTIVES: This is the first study on genotyping of EV71 in children with meningoencephalitis to be carried out in Iran, and it was conducted in order to obtain an improved understanding of the disease burden of this virus, particularly with regard to CNS involvement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Viral RNA was extracted from 170 cerebrospinal fluid samples obtained from children aged under 8 years with a primary diagnosis of aseptic meningitis. Specific EV71 PCR was conducted to identify the genotype of the detected EV71 viruses. RESULTS: Human enteroviruses (HEVs) were detected in 89 patients (52.3%). EV71 infection was detected in 19 (21.3%) of the 89 EV71-positive patients, and the C genotype was identified in 15 isolates. CONCLUSIONS: The C genotype should be considered as the prevalent EV71 circulating genotype in Iran, particularly in cases of aseptic meningitis.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Rabies is a major zoonotic viral disease and is detected using the World Health Organization standard diagnostic techniques. Rabies detection is preferably done using the fluorescent antibody technique (FAT) that provides reliable diagnosis with almost 100% accuracy for all variant strains, if a proper conjugate is used. Rabies virus nucleoprotein (NP) is the most important protein used in production of a specific diagnostic conjugate. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to extract the cell-associated rabies virus NP from infected Baby Hamster Kidney cell clone (BSR) with rabies virus (Pasteur vaccine strain/PV) and purify for a future project to produce an anti-NP conjugate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pasteur vaccine strain (PV) as the standard rabies vaccine strain with a focus-forming dose (FFD) of 105 was inoculated in to the BSR cell culture at a concentration of 10(6) cells per milliliter. Infected cells were harvested 72 hours after infection and the rabies NP was extracted from these cells by low-speed centrifugation and purification by ultracentrifugation in cesium chloride (CsCl) gradient. For analysis, the purified NP was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). RESULTS: The volume of the lysate was 15 mL and it became 2.5 mL after purification, with a concentration of 3.25 mg/mL. The corresponding band to the cell lysate protein on the SDS-PAGE had a molecular weight of 50 KDa, similar to the molecular weight of NP in rabies virus. CONCLUSIONS: The rabies virus NP could be extracted and purified in an appropriate amount from infected cell culture. The results of SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the intact rabies virus NP had been purified properly and thus could be used for further steps to produce the specific diagnostic rabies conjugate.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Human enterovirus 71 (HEV71) was isolated for the first time from an infant with encephalitis in California in 1969 and then spread through the world. It has emerged as a major cause of a vast variety of diseases such as epidemics of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), aseptic meningitis (AM), acute flaccid paralysis, and encephalitis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of enterovirus 71 in children < 8 years old who were hospitalized due to primary diagnosis of AM in Tehran. METHODS: One hundred cerebrospinal fluid samples (CSF) were collected by physicians from children with a diagnosis of AM and transported on ice to the Pasteur Institute of Iran for further processing. Viral RNA was extracted and EV71 infection was detected by RT-PCR method using the specific primers. RESULTS: EV71 infection was detected in 14 patients (14%). Eight (57.14%) patients were younger than 2 years old, 11 (78.57%) were male and 3 (21.43%) were female. The seasonal peaks of EV71 were observed during autumn and winter with 6 (42.86%) and 5 (35.71%) cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EV71 should be considered as a causative agent of AM in Iran with the epidemiological pattern similar to that of other enteroviruses as males are more susceptible to be affected by these viruses. Further studies on this virus are needed to improve our knowledge about them in our country.
