Survey of both hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) and hepatitis C virus (HCV-Ab) coinfection among HIV positive patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>HIV, HBVand HCV is major public health concerns. Because of shared routes of transmission, HIV-HCV coinfection and HIV-HBV coinfection are common. HIV-positive individuals are at risk of coinfection with HBV and HCV infections. The prevalence rates of coinfection with HBV and HCV in HIV-patients have been variable worldwide depending on the geographic regions, and the type of exposure.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>This study aimed to examine HBV and HCV coinfection serologically and determine the shared and significant factors in the coinfection of HIV-positive patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out on 391 HIV-positive patients including 358 males and 33 females in Lorestan province, west Iran, to survey coinfection with HBsAg and anti-HCV. The retrospective demographic data of the subjects was collected and the patients' serums were analyzed by ELISA kits including HBsAg and anti-HCV. The collected data was analyzed with SPSS software (15) and Chi-square. Fisher's exact test with 5% error intervals was used to measure the correlation of variables and infection rates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results of the study indicated that the prevalence of coinfection in HIV-positive patients with hepatitis viruses was 94.4% (370 in 391), out of whom 57 (14.5%) cases were HBsAg positive, 282 (72%) cases were anti-HCV positive, and 31 (7.9%) cases were both HBsAg and anti-HCV positive.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There was a significant correlation between coinfection with HCV and HBV and/or both among HIV-positive patients depending on different variables including sex, age, occupation, marital status, exposure to risk factors.(p < 0.001).</p

Non-invasive diagnostic tests for Helicobacter pylori infection

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection has been implicated in a number of malignancies and non-malignant conditions including peptic ulcers, non-ulcer dyspepsia, recurrent peptic ulcer bleeding, unexplained iron deficiency anaemia, idiopathic thrombocytopaenia purpura, and colorectal adenomas. The confirmatory diagnosis of H pylori is by endoscopic biopsy, followed by histopathological examination using haemotoxylin and eosin (H & E) stain or special stains such as Giemsa stain and Warthin-Starry stain. Special stains are more accurate than H & E stain. There is significant uncertainty about the diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive tests for diagnosis of H pylori. OBJECTIVES: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of urea breath test, serology, and stool antigen test, used alone or in combination, for diagnosis of H pylori infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic people, so that eradication therapy for H pylori can be started. SEARCH METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase, the Science Citation Index and the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Database on 4 March 2016. We screened references in the included studies to identify additional studies. We also conducted citation searches of relevant studies, most recently on 4 December 2016. We did not restrict studies by language or publication status, or whether data were collected prospectively or retrospectively. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included diagnostic accuracy studies that evaluated at least one of the index tests (urea breath test using isotopes such as13C or14C, serology and stool antigen test) against the reference standard (histopathological examination using H & E stain, special stains or immunohistochemical stain) in people suspected of having H pylori infection. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently screened the references to identify relevant studies and independently extracted data. We assessed the methodological quality of studies using the QUADAS-2 tool. We performed meta-analysis by using the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model to estimate and compare SROC curves. Where appropriate, we used bivariate or univariate logistic regression models to estimate summary sensitivities and specificities. MAIN RESULTS: We included 101 studies involving 11,003 participants, of which 5839 participants (53.1%) had H pylori infection. The prevalence of H pylori infection in the studies ranged from 15.2% to 94.7%, with a median prevalence of 53.7% (interquartile range 42.0% to 66.5%). Most of the studies (57%) included participants with dyspepsia and 53 studies excluded participants who recently had proton pump inhibitors or antibiotics.There was at least an unclear risk of bias or unclear applicability concern for each study.Of the 101 studies, 15 compared the accuracy of two index tests and two studies compared the accuracy of three index tests. Thirty-four studies (4242 participants) evaluated serology; 29 studies (2988 participants) evaluated stool antigen test; 34 studies (3139 participants) evaluated urea breath test-13C; 21 studies (1810 participants) evaluated urea breath test-14C; and two studies (127 participants) evaluated urea breath test but did not report the isotope used. The thresholds used to define test positivity and the staining techniques used for histopathological examination (reference standard) varied between studies. Due to sparse data for each threshold reported, it was not possible to identify the best threshold for each test.Using data from 99 studies in an indirect test comparison, there was statistical evidence of a difference in diagnostic accuracy between urea breath test-13C, urea breath test-14C, serology and stool antigen test (P = 0.024). The diagnostic odds ratios for urea breath test-13C, urea breath test-14C, serology, and stool antigen test were 153 (95% confidence interval (CI) 73.7 to 316), 105 (95% CI 74.0 to 150), 47.4 (95% CI 25.5 to 88.1) and 45.1 (95% CI 24.2 to 84.1). The sensitivity (95% CI) estimated at a fixed specificity of 0.90 (median from studies across the four tests), was 0.94 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.97) for urea breath test-13C, 0.92 (95% CI 0.89 to 0.94) for urea breath test-14C, 0.84 (95% CI 0.74 to 0.91) for serology, and 0.83 (95% CI 0.73 to 0.90) for stool antigen test. This implies that on average, given a specificity of 0.90 and prevalence of 53.7% (median specificity and prevalence in the studies), out of 1000 people tested for H pylori infection, there will be 46 false positives (people without H pylori infection who will be diagnosed as having H pylori infection). In this hypothetical cohort, urea breath test-13C, urea breath test-14C, serology, and stool antigen test will give 30 (95% CI 15 to 58), 42 (95% CI 30 to 58), 86 (95% CI 50 to 140), and 89 (95% CI 52 to 146) false negatives respectively (people with H pylori infection for whom the diagnosis of H pylori will be missed).Direct comparisons were based on few head-to-head studies. The ratios of diagnostic odds ratios (DORs) were 0.68 (95% CI 0.12 to 3.70; P = 0.56) for urea breath test-13C versus serology (seven studies), and 0.88 (95% CI 0.14 to 5.56; P = 0.84) for urea breath test-13C versus stool antigen test (seven studies). The 95% CIs of these estimates overlap with those of the ratios of DORs from the indirect comparison. Data were limited or unavailable for meta-analysis of other direct comparisons. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: In people without a history of gastrectomy and those who have not recently had antibiotics or proton ,pump inhibitors, urea breath tests had high diagnostic accuracy while serology and stool antigen tests were less accurate for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.This is based on an indirect test comparison (with potential for bias due to confounding), as evidence from direct comparisons was limited or unavailable. The thresholds used for these tests were highly variable and we were unable to identify specific thresholds that might be useful in clinical practice.We need further comparative studies of high methodological quality to obtain more reliable evidence of relative accuracy between the tests. Such studies should be conducted prospectively in a representative spectrum of participants and clearly reported to ensure low risk of bias. Most importantly, studies should prespecify and clearly report thresholds used, and should avoid inappropriate exclusions

Cloning and in planta expression of an omiganan antimicrobial peptide in tobacco and potato plants to control the growth of human bacterial pathogens

Background: Antimicrobial peptides are one of the vital components of innate immunity in plants and animals. The identification and introduction of novel and effective peptide molecules to plants is a cost-effective way both to improve the resistance of crop plant species to pathogens, and to produce peptides for pharmaceutical applications by using recombinant DNA technology. Material and Methods: An expression construct containing the omiganan (MBI-226) antimicrobial gene sequence was cloned and used for tobacco and potato Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Following tissue culture, Polymerase chain reaction analysis (PCR) confirmed that some kanamycin resistant plants are transgenic. A number of transgenic plants, along with a non-transgenic control, were selected. Total protein was extracted from the transgenic plants, and the non-transgenic control, and was used for antimicrobial activity assay against some human pathogens, including; Escherchia coli, Staphylococcus epidermis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typh, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans using the disc diffusion method. Results: Total protein extract from transgenic plants was significantly (P0.05) on human gram-positive pathogenic bacteria. Conclusion: The total protein from the omiganan-expressing peptide had a strong antibacterial activity against some human bacterial pathogens. By expression and purification of the omiganan peptide, the peptide could be used as an antibiotic to destroy pathogenic bacteria. This approach could open an opportunity to produce antibacterial peptides in plants for pharmaceutical applications

Immunomodulatory Effects of Betaine on Experimental Model of Asthma in Balb/c Mice

Background and purpose: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that is associated with excessive irritation and airway obstruction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of betaine on experimental model of asthma in Balb/c mice. Materials and methods: The statistical population consisted of 32 Balb/c mice that were randomly divided into four groups (n=8 per group). One group (control) was not sensitized with ovalbumin to induce experimental asthma. Experimental asthma was induced in other three groups by injecting ovalbumin. These groups were treated with saline phosphate buffer, betaine (1% w/w), and prednisolone (3 mg/kg) in drinking water, for 81 days after induction of the disease, respectively. Then, blood and spleen samples were collected for biochemical studies. Results: Betaine treatment of ovalbumin-sensitized mice significantly reduced IgE antibody production, spleen cell proliferation, IL-5 and IL-17 levels, and significantly increased TGF-β and INF-γ levels (P<0.05). Conclusion: Betaine as a naturally occurring chemical in the body has significant effects on IgE production and levels of some key cytokines of asthma. So, this substance could be considered as as a possible candidate for modulating immune responses in asthma

Design and construction of a recombinant gene construct expressing the cell protective gene

Background : Genetic manipulation is an effective strategy to protect cells against environmental damages and enhance their capabilities for therapeutic usage. In order to avoid unwanted side effects, such as cancers, the expression of genes should be temporary increased. The aim of this study was to clone and temporary increased expression of a cell protective gene, Metallothionein 1 (MT1) in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) using plasmid expression system with the pcDNA 3.1 vector. Materials and Methods: Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and validated by flow cytometry method. Complete cDNA sequence of MT1 gene was isolated and cloned in a plasmid vector named pcDNA 3.1. Recombinant gene construct was generated and transferred to the human MSCs. MT1 expression was monitored by RT-PCR and western blotting. Results: Recombinant human MT1 gene was successfully cloned in pcDNA vector and the correct format gene in the vector was confirmed by DNA sequencing. By RT-PCR and western blot methods, increased MT1 expression in MSCs was approved. The results showed that the expression of MT1 in the MSCs was transient. Conclusion: Genetic manipulation of MSCs by MT1using pcDNA 3.1 plasmid vector may be one of the protective strategies for transplanted cells from apoptosis and promote a new approach to provide an effective cell therapy after transplantation

Designing a T-cell epitope-based vaccine using in silico approaches against the Sal k 1 allergen of Salsola kali plant

Abstract Allergens originated from Salsola kali (Russian thistle) pollen grains are one of the most important sources of aeroallergens causing pollinosis in desert and semi-desert regions. T-cell epitope-based vaccines (TEV) are more effective among different therapeutic approaches developed to alleviate allergic diseases. The physicochemical properties, and B as well as T cell epitopes of Sal k 1 (a major allergen of S. kali) were predicted using immunoinformatic tools. A TEV was constructed using the linkers EAAAK, GPGPG and the most suitable CD4+ T cell epitopes. RS04 adjuvant was added as a TLR4 agonist to the amino (N) and carboxyl (C) terminus of the TEV protein. The secondary and tertiary structures, solubility, allergenicity, toxicity, stability, physicochemical properties, docking with immune receptors, BLASTp against the human and microbiota proteomes, and in silico cloning of the designed TEV were assessed using immunoinformatic analyses. Two CD4+ T cell epitopes of Sal k1 that had high affinity with different alleles of MHC-II were selected and used in the TEV. The molecular docking of the TEV with HLADRB1, and TLR4 showed TEV strong interactions and stable binding pose to these receptors. Moreover, the codon optimized TEV sequence was cloned between NcoI and XhoI restriction sites of pET-28a(+) expression plasmid. The designed TEV can be used as a promising candidate in allergen-specific immunotherapy against S. kali. Nonetheless, effectiveness of this vaccine should be validated through immunological bioassays

The internal evaluation of physiology department of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences

Background: Given the role educational system, it is necessary to most desirable design and implements activities. Internal evaluation is process in which members of the department said the group's objectives and their performance are judged and then reviewed their role and for better performance, essential steps to take.The purpose of this study was the internal evaluation of Physiology Department of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: The study was descriptive and cross sectional conclucted in 2014-2015. Data was collected using questionnaire and was evaluated in 6 areas. Questionnaire was prepared and drafted by some faculty members and Medical Education Development Center. Based on the Likert scale, data was classified favorable, relatively favorable and unfavorable in a range of 0 to 5 points. Results: The results showed that the head of department area (acquired by averaging 4.23), faculty members (3.57), educational courses (3.96) and curriculums of the department of physiology (3.57) are favorable and areas of educational and research requirement and constructions (2.92) and research activities of the faculty members (2.73) are comparatively favorable. Conclusion: According to Likert scale, department of physiology of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences was evaluated and ranked in all mentioned areas (acquired by averaging 3.39), therefore has a satisfactory level