Cross-Reaction between the Crude Hydatid Cyst Fluid Antigens of Human and Animals Origin in Response to Human IgG Class and Subclasses

The current work aimed to evaluate the cross-reactivity of human immune sera against crude hydatid fluid antigens of sheep, human, mouse, cattle, as well as B fraction of cystic fluid antigen. 30 balb/c mice were infected with sheep hydatid cyct fluid antigen containing protoscolex after the viability of these protoscolices was assessed. ANOVA was used to test the difference of themean of optical density (OD) values among case and control groups. The highest human IgG class antibody was against antigen B (0.93) and the lowest against cattle HCF antigen (0.32). The differences between responses to these antigens were statistically significant (P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA test used for evaluating the responses of human total IgG to different hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) antigens among the case and control groups were 100 and 95.8%, respectively. Cross-reaction of human IgG class and subclasses responses was found almost for all the antigens with the best reaction against human and cattle (HCF) antigens and antigen B using a ratio of mean OD value to each antigen divided by the cut-off point value for the same antigen. Human sera showed a considerable cross-reactivity against all antigens by using ELISA

Study on the Parasitic and Microbial Contamination of Vegetables, and the Effect of Washing Procedures on their Elimination in Ilam city

The risk of disease spread through water, fruits and vegetables contaminated through unclean waters varies from region to another. Springs and underground water resources are essentially free of germs or they have tolerable levels of germs; unless they are infected by surface water or human excreta. Scientific reports have shown that outbreaks of food-borne illnesses especially foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables are rising. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of washing procedures in eliminating of microbial and parasitic contamination of vegetables consumed in Ilam city. Multiple samples of vegetables were collected from five regions of the city (North- South- West- East- Center) about 1 kg from each shop and transferred to the laboratory. Then we put apiece in a dish containing five liters water; vegetable was washed into it and a sample was collected. Then we added to dish, 20 drops of dish soap and mixed it for a few minutes so that all of vegetable dipped in the foam. After a few minutes, the vegetable were washed with pure water. Another sample was collected from sewage of this water. For detection of microbes, we used two methods: formalin eater and direct microscopic observation. 86 samples were collected from five regions of city. 40.6% of them had parasitic contamination in scantling water of washing with pure water, and 43% had parasitic contamination in scantling water of washing with dish soap. 70.9% of them had parasitic and bacterial contamination in both wastewaters. There was no significant difference between washing with water and washing with dish soap for parasitic or bacterial contamination. Methods of washing in some types of vegetable may reduce effectively parasitic infection; but we found that washing with dish soap didn’t have any significant effect on reduction of microbial contamination. 

Relationship between the Presence of the nalC Mutation and Multidrug Resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Objectives. The current study was conducted to determine the relationship between the presences of significant multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) having intact mexR genes (nalC) to different antibiotics. Methods. In order to identify nalC, fifty strains of P. aeruginosa were obtained. All isolates were found in urinary tract infections. They were evaluated against different antibiotics. The nalC mutant was identified by PCR. Results. The 50 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa originated from two hospitals in Iran, in which 32 isolates were found in Milad hospital, and 18 isolates were collected in the Ilam Hospital. The results in Milad hospital of nalC revealed that all P. aeruginosa resistant to oxacillin showed the presence of nalC. In Ilam hospital only three (16.6%) isolates were resistant to oxacilin and aztreonam, and among these three isolates only one isolate revealed resistance to ceftazidime and amikacin. The resistant isolates showed the presence of both OXA-10 and nalC. Conclusion. Our results showed that the presence of nalC was observed among P. aeruginosa resistance to oxacilin. Thus, the finding suggested relationship between oxacilin resistance and presence of nalC and consequently overproduction of the MexABOprM efflux system

Antibody profiling for the prognosis and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in patients, compared with healthy subjects

Background: Multiple sclerosis is considered as an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that is the main cause of disability in young adults around the world. The purpose of this study was to determine changes in antibodies in the prognosis of multiple sclerosis, and the use of antibody against aquaporin 4 for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.Materials and Methods: In this case - control study, 21 patients with a definite diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and 21 healthy subjects were selected as the study population.  Blood and urine samples were collected, and nephelometry technique was used to assess the presence or absence of IgG, IgM and IgA in serum and urine samples. ELISA method for measuring of antibodies against aquaporin 4 was used.Results: There was no major difference in  the mean of the total IgM  in the case and control groups , but the mean IgA and IgG levels in the control group were  evidently higher than in the case group.  It was releaved that IgA, RBC and Hb mean differences between the two groups are statistically significant.  Parallel with an increase in IgG, the probability of disease exacerbation was increased by 0.22, whereas with increasing ages, the probability of disease exacerbation was 15.0. There was also a positive and significant relationship between the average level of antibodies, IgG and IgM with the degree of illness However, the relationship between the mean serum IgA level and the degree of illness was inverse. It also became clear that antibodies against AQP-4 in serum and urine of patients with different degrees of illness showed no significant difference.  The difference between the mean of antibodies against AQP in the serum of patients with mild and moderate MS was 54.1, but in mild and severe MS   it was 53.3.Conclusion: The findings of this research suggest that serum antibody levels are directly related to the disease levels and can be used as a prognostic factor. Accordingly, it appears that the use of antibodies against aquaporin-4 in serum and urine for the diagnosis of this disease   can be considered as a reliable approach

Evaluation of allergy and eosinophilia level in peripheral blood of patients with cardiovascular diseases

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of deaths in Iran and other developing countries. The risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are divided into two categories; the variable risk factors and the non-variable risk factors. Many recent studies evaluated the relationship between higher eosinophilia and allergy levels with the incidence, progress and severity of cardiovascular diseases, but the exact correlation between these two still remains  unknown. The current study was designed to assess the relationship between allergic responses and eosinophilia amongst patients with cardiovascular diseases in Ilam province, in comparison with healthy individuals.Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, we enrolled 59 cardiovascular patients and 55 healthy individuals without any history of allergy and parasitic infections. A questionnaire including questions about demographic data, family history of heart disease, history of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, physical activity, smoking, stress, dietary fat consumption, salt intake, allergies to certain substances, history of parasitic disease and history of hypertension was completed. The blood was taken from each participant and CBC and IgE titer were measured.Results: There was a significant relationship for the variables such as the family history of cardiovascular disease (P&lt;0.001), diabetes (P&lt;0.003), hyperlipidemia (P&lt;0.0001), high blood pressure (P&lt;0.0001) and physical activity (P&lt;0.0001) between the case and the control groups. The mean IgE titer in case group was 95.3±71 and 62.44±49 in control group. The mean eosinophilia level in peripheral blood was 3.95±1.057 in case and 1.53±0.57 in control group. The difference between the IgE and eosinophilia levels in the case and the control groups was statistically significant (P&lt;0.0001).Conclusion: Based on our results, it can be concluded the increase in levels of IgE and eosinophilia can be considered by cardiologists as a reliable diagnostic tool for predicting cardiovascular diseases

The mazef toxin-antitoxin system as an attractive target in clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis

The toxin-antitoxin (TA) system is a regulatory system where two sets of genes encode the toxin and its corresponding antitoxin. In this study, the prevalence of TA systems in independently isolated clinical isolates of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis was determined, the dominant TA system was identified, different virulence genes in E. faecium and E. faecalis were surveyed, the level of expression of the virulence and TA genes in normal and stress conditions was determined, and finally their associations with the TA genes were defined. Remarkably, the analysis demonstrated higBA and mazEF in all clinical isolates, and their locations were on chromosomes and plasmids, respectively. On the other hand, a quantitative analysis of TA and virulence genes revealed that the expression level in both genes is different under normal and stress conditions. The results obtained by anti-mazF peptide nucleic acids demonstrated that the expression level of virulence genes had decreased. These findings demonstrate an association between TA systems and virulence factors. The mazEF on the plasmids and the higBA TA genes on the chromosomes of all E. faecium and E. faecalis strains were dominant. Additionally, there was a decrease in the expression of virulence genes in the presence of anti-mazF peptide nucleic acids. Therefore, it is suggested that mazEF TA systems are potent and sensitive targets in all E. faecium and E. faecalis strains

Evaluation of an immunocapture-agglutination test (Brucellacapt) for serodiagnosis of human brucellosis, Ilam, Iran

Brucellosis is common health problem in some Middle Eastern, Mediterranean countries and Iran. The present investigation was carried out to investigate the prevalence of brucella antibodies through Rose bengal test (RBT), Wright and Coombs and comparison with Brucella Capt Test. A total of 754 different suspected to brucellosis were tested during the period from March 2008 to February 2009. They assayed by Brucellacapt, Coombs tests and SAT. Our results had shown that of 754 serum samples, 125 samples were positive by Rosbangal test. Thus, frequency of brucellosis by Rosbangal test was 16.5%. The results in 1/40 and 1/80 were equal for Brucellacapt and Coombs test and different for SAT. The other titers results were different for all testes which used in our study. The results from the present study showed a high sensitivity and specificity of Brucellacapt for the diagnosis of human brucellosis

Age-dependent antibody response to Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein-2 (MSP-2)

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