Seroepidemiology of hepatitis C in Kermanshah (West of Iran, 2006)

Background and Aims: Chronic and serious outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection impose remarkable economic burden to the health system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of HCV infection in the general population of Kermanshah in the year 2006. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1721 residents from Kermanshah were chosen by systematic and cluster sampling in the year 2006. After interview, serum samples were taken and evaluated for HCV-Ab using ELISA method (3rd generation). Positive samples were confirmed by Western Blot (WB) and PCR if necessary. Results: The prevalence of HCV was 0.87 (male: 1.4 vs. female: 0.3). There was 88.2 coordination between ELISA and WB results. Statistical relationship was observed between HCV infection and male sex (P<0.018), history of addiction (P<0.0001), shared needle (P<0.0001), unsafe sexual contact (P<0.008), history of blood and blood products transfusion (P<0.0001), tattooing (P<0.0001), history of incarceration (P<0.0001), and hemophilia (P<0.0001). On the other hand, stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that hemophilia, shared needle, IV addiction, transfusion and addiction were the most important risk factors for HCV infection in a descending order. The rate of HCV infection increased in cases with multiple risk factors. Conclusions: We estimate that among 967196 people, who live in Kermanshah, nearty 8400 individuals may have HCV infection and this will be a major problem in the near future. Addicts especially IV drug users and cases with the history of blood and blood products transfusion are high risk groups who need special attention regarding HCV infection

Correlate DATA

Thermodynamic modeling using hybrid genetic algorithm to estimate interaction parameters of systems containing ionic liquids by seven thermodynamic model

Correlate Interaction Parameters PDH-UNIFAC and PDH-ASOG models

Correlate Interaction Parameters PDH-UNIFAC and PDH-ASOG model

Rhabdoid tumor of kidney associated with brain mass; case report and review of literature

Background: Rahbdoid tumor of kidney (RTK) is a childhood rare neoplasm, previously thought as a sarcoma variant of Wilms' tumor, but now is recognized as a distinct pathologic entity. Method: We report a pathologically proved case of RTK, associated with brain mass in a 4.5-month-old girl that has referred for gross hematuria. Shortly after initiating chemotherapy, because of retractile vomiting, convulsion, and cerebral salt wasting syndrome. Result: A tumor mass has found in mid-brain and pons in brain CT scan. Conclusion: Because of association of RTK with same or other pathologic brain masses, CT or MR of brain is recommended for all pathologically proven rhabdoid tumors or for patients with neurologic symptoms

Effect of date on blood sugar in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Background: The importance of feed controlling has been proved in metabolic control of diabetic patients. An appropriate metabolic control prevents later complications. Patients with diabetes mellitus are deprived from eating sweat foods. Considering the effect of different carbohydrates on blood sugar, physicians and patients confront a lot of questions about eating these foods. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of sugar cube and Date consumption on blood sugar in patients with type 1 diabetes. Methods: As a clinical-trial, we selected 20 patients with type I diabetes mellitus sequentially. They were divided into two groups with 10 subjects in each group. The patient's blood sugar was measured in 2 days with one week interval, before and after eating a Date (10gr) and a sugar cube (5gr). We measured blood sugar at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after consumption. Data analysis was performed by SPSS software version 11, and the results were compared by paired t test. Results: There was no significant difference between the blood sugar after eating Date and sugar cube. We also compared the surface under the curve of blood sugar after eating date and sugar cube in 2 hours, which was 1619.4 ± 614 mg.min/dL and 1572 ± 967 mg.min/dL for sugar cube and Date respectively, which the difference was not significant. Conclusion: Rising in blood sugar after Date consumption has not significant difference in comparison with sugar cube consumption in patients with type I diabetes. So, eating Date in diabetic patients is not preferable to eating sugar cube

Investigating Post-translational Changes of Histones, DNA Methylation Level, and ERβ Protein Level in the Cumulus Cell Genome of Infertile Women with Endometriosis

Background & aim: Among the important factors affecting female infertility, endometriosis (with a prevalence rate of up to 50% in infertile women) has a special place. Endometriosis, which is known as the presence of endometrial glands and stroma outside the uterine tissue, causes a wide range of functional disorders in the process of follicular development and changes in the follicular microenvironment, which ultimately leads to the creation of an egg that is of suitable quality for the formation of The fetus does not have Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine and investigate post-translational changes of histones, DNA methylation level and ERβ protein level in the genome of cumulus cells of infertile women with endometriosis. Methods: The present case-control study was conducted at the infertility treatment clinic of Royan Research Institute in 2014. Twenty-four patients were divided into two equal groups. Cumulus cells were obtained from 12 infertile patients with endometriosis and 12 women with male factor infertility (as a control group) under ovulation stimulation protocols for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Extraction of chromatin from cumulus cells was done after stabilization of DNA binding proteins and then cell lysis and preparation of soluble chromatin. The binding and incorporation levels of MeCP2 protein (as DNA methylation marker), two epigenetic markers related to histone modifications (H3K9me2 and H3K9ac), and ERβ protein to chromatin of cumulus cells were evaluated using the corresponding primary antibodies, secondary antibodies conjugated and Nucleosome-ELISA technique. Data were analyzed using independent t-test t and Levene's test. Results: MeCP2 protein incorporation into DNA was significantly higher in the endometriosis group than in the control group. The level of two epigenetic marks H3K9ac and H3K9me2 in the chromatin of cumulus cells of the patient group showed a significant increase compared to the control group (P<0.05). In addition, an increased level of binding of ERβ protein to the genome was observed compared to the control group. Conclusion: Epigenetic changes, including histone hyperacetylation and hypermethylation, and DNA hypermethylation of the whole genome of cumulus cells of patients with endometriosis had occurred, accompanied by an increase in the level of ERβ protein binding.

MIC susceptility testing of nosocomial infections at PICU in Children's Medical Center, Iran

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of microorganisms causing nosocomial infections in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of the Children's Medical Center in Tehran. Methods: All patients with nosocomial infections in the PICU were enrolled in the study. Causative microoraganisms were coagulase positive, and coagulase negative Staphylococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . MIC of many antibiotics was determined by microbroth dilution according to NCCLS. Findings: Within a period of 18 months, thirty patients developed nosocomial infection including 17 cases with P.aeruginosa and 9 individuals with Staph aureus infection. The remaining 4 patients were involved with coagulase negative Staphylococci. The most common sources were respiratory tract, blood stream, wound and soft tissue. Multi-antimicrobial resistance (resistance to Amikacin, Ceftazidim, Imipenem and Ciprofloxacin) was common among P. aeruginosa species All strains of Staph aureus were resistant to Methicillin (MRSA). These microorganisms were also resistant to clindamycin and ciprofloxacin in 88% of cases.Conclusion: Resistance to antimicrobial agents was high in our study, therefore routine MIC examination is necessary in PICU

Epigenetic alterations of CYP19A1 gene in Cumulus cells and its relevance to infertility in endometriosis

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the epigenetic mechanisms responsible for the aberrant aromatase expression (CYP19A1) in Cumulus Cells (CCs) of infertile endometriosis patients. Method: Cumulus cells were obtained from 24 infertile patients with and without endometriosis who underwent ovarian stimulation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Expression of CYP19A1 gene was quantified using Reverse Transcription Q-PCR. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and binding of Estrogen Receptor, ERβ to regulatory DNA sequences of CYP19A1 gene were evaluated by Chromatin ImmunoPrecipitation (ChIP) assay. Results: CYP19A1 gene expression in CCs of endometriosis patients was significantly lower than the control group (P = 0.04). Higher incorporation of MeCP2 (as a marker of DNA methylation) on PII and PI.4 promoters, and hypoacetylation at H3K9 in PII and hypermethylation at H3K9 in PI.4 were observed in CYP19A1 gene in endometriosis patients (P < 0.05). Moreover, a decreased level of ERβ binding to PII and an increased level of its binding to PI.3 and PI.4 promoters of CYP19A1 were observed in endometriosis patients when compared to control. Conclusion: Significant reduction of CYP19A1 gene expression in CCs of endometriosis patients may be the result of epigenetic alterations in its regulatory regions, either by DNA methylation or histone modifications. These epigenetic changes along with differential binding of ERβ (as a transcription factor) in CYP19A1 promoters may impair follicular steroidogenesis, leading to poor Oocyte and embryo condition in endometriosis patients. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Refugees at work: The preventative role of psychosocial safety climate against workplace harassment, discrimination and psychological distress

Published: 12 October 2021It is widely recognised that employment is vital in assisting young refugees’ integration into a new society. Drawing on psychosocial safety climate (PSC) theory, this research investigated the effect of organisational climate on young refugee workers’ mental health (psychological distress) through stressful social relational aspects of work (e.g., harassment, discrimination). Drawing on data from 635 young refugees aged between 15 and 26 in South Australia, 116 refugees with paid work were compared with 519 refugee students without work, and a sample of young workers from Australian Workplace Barometer (AWB) data (n = 290). The results indicated that refugees with paid work had significantly lower psychological distress compared with refugees with no paid work, but more distress than other young Australian workers. With respect to workplace harassment and abuse, young refugee workers reported significantly more harassment due to their ongoing interaction and engagement with mainstream Australian workers compared with unemployed refugees. Harassment played a vital role in affecting psychological health in refugees (particularly) and other young workers. While refugee youth experienced harassment at work, overall, their experiences suggest that their younger age upon arrival enabled them to seek and find positive employment outcomes. Although PSC did not differ significantly between the employed groups, we found that it likely negatively influenced psychological distress through the mediating effects of harassment and abuse. Hence, fostering pathways to successful employment and creating safe work based on high PSC and less harassment are strongly recommended to improve refugees’ mental health and adaptation.Ali Afsharian, Maureen Dollard, Emily Miller, Teresa Puvimanasinghe, Adrian Esterman, Helena De Anstiss and Tahereh Ziaia