Seroprevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in pre-pregnancy women in Yazd, Iran

Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, is an important zoonotic disease produced by ingesting food contaminated with oocysts and tachyzoites of this parasite and as well as congenital infection occurs unintentionally in humans by the placenta. The study of this parasite in pre-pregnancy women is of paramount importance because of abortion, hydrocephalus, microcephalus, intracranial calcifications, retinochoroiditis, strabism, blindness, epilepsy, psychomotor and mental retardation. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the seroepidemiology of T. gondii infection in pre-pregnancy women referring to private laboratories in Yazd city. In this study, blood was sampled from 185 pre-pregnancy women. Anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies were determined in separated serum samples using the ELISA test. Data were entered in Excel 2016 to calculate the percentages. The results indicated that 50 (27.03%) out of 185 pregnant women were positive for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies. Among these women, IgG and IgM antibodies were observed in 35 (18.91%) and 14 (7.56%) subjects, respectively. Both antibodies were found in the serum of one participant (0.5%). Since the anti-T. gondii antibody level is low in the blood serum of pregnant women in this region; pregnant women are recommended to avoid contact with cats, restrain from eating raw meat and food during pregnancy, and be tested for T. gondii at least once, particularly in the first trimester of pregnancy

Lead concentration in the muscles of slaughtered buffalos in northwest regions of Iran

Background: The topic of food safety has become a major public health issue worldwide. Over recent decades, the growing concern for food safety has brought about greater research regarding the risks associated with the consumption of produce that has been contaminated by pesticides, heavy metals and/or toxins. Objective: The study was conducted to determine the concentration of Pb in the muscle of buffalos slaughtered in the northwest regions of Iran (Ardabil, Urmia and Tabriz cities). Methods: The present was a descriptive cross-sectional study in the northwest regions of Iran during 2013 to 2014. A total of 30 muscle samples from individual buffalos were analyzed for Pb concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (ASS). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 17.0. All results were computed as mean standard deviation and subjected to one-way analysis of variance to establish whether the differences in Pb concentrations in meat samples from different cities were significant or not. The Statistical significance was determined at p<0.05. Results: The results showed that the mean concentration of Pb in muscle samples were measured 0.043±0.035 ppm. The highest Pb concentration (0.11 ppm) was detected in the buffalo muscle samples from Urmia city. In total, 25 muscle samples (80.33%) were contaminated with Pb and concentration of Pb in 3.33% of contaminated samples exceeded the permissible limits advised by the European Commission (EC) (0.1 ppm). Conclusion: We recommend identifying Pb sources in order to eliminate or control Pb contamination of food, and monitor environmental exposures and hazards to prevent lead poisoning

E-Readiness Assessment at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: E-readiness assessment is the evaluation of one’s ability to accept and use information technologies and their relevant applications. E-readiness assessment helps us identify and study the strengths and weaknesses and consequently find solutions and formulate strategies to improve e-readiness which is considered as a guarantee for the implementation of knowledge development programs. This study aimed to assess ereadiness at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The current research is an analytical study using a questionnaire designed by the researchers to assess e-readiness at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 2010-2011. Using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, the questionnaire reliability was estimated 0.85. Researchers have randomly selected 520 of managers, IT experts, professors and students at Tabriz university of Medical Sciences. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: In general, the academic staff, students, managers and IT experts have assessed e-readiness as good, measuring 54.46±9.63. Conclusion: The study showed that the overall e-readiness rates were good at Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and suitable platforms were also provided for the University to enter into the field of IT. The condition will further improve if the officials dedicate more attention and support to the activities of Computer Department

Hyaluronate Targeted Solid Lipid Nanoparticles of Etoposide: Optimization and In Vitro Characterization

The aim of the present study was preparation of hyaluronan (HA) targeted solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) of etoposide. SLNs were prepared by an emulsification-solvent evaporation method and physically coated with HA. Four variables, including the ratio of cetyl alcohol to cationic lipid, cationic lipid type (stearylamine (SA) or dodecylamine (DDA)), lipid to HA ratio, and organic to aqueous phase ratio, were studied in an irregular fraction factorial design. Four responses, including particle size, zeta potential, drug loading, and 24-hour release efficiency percent, were measured for each formulation and then the optimization was carried out. The percent of HA coated on the SLNs was calculated by CHN elemental analysis which was shown to be about 55.89%. The cationic lipid type and the ratio of cetyl alcohol to cationic lipid had the highest influence on particle size and zeta potential, respectively. The highest effects of the ratio of lipid to HA and the organic to aqueous phase ratio were on the drug loading efficiency of SLNs. The optimized formulation of SLNs was obtained by SA, the equal proportion of cetyl alcohol and cationic lipid, the ratio of 1.5 for lipid to HA, and 10% of organic phase to aqueous phase

Decreased frequency of Th22 cells and IL-22 cytokine in kidney transplant patients with active cytomegalovirus infection

Abstract Background The immunity of CD4+ T cell subsets against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is considerable due to their essential role in controlling the infection in transplant individuals. Previously explained CD4+ subsets such as T helper (Th) 1 have been proven to have a protective role against HCMV infection, while the role of the recently identified Th22 subset has not been described yet. Here, the frequency changes of Th22 cells and the IL-22 cytokine production were investigated in kidney transplant recipients with and without HCMV infection. Methods Twenty kidney transplant patients and ten healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Patients were categorized into HCMV + and HCMV- groups based on the HCMV DNA real-time PCR results. After isolating CD4+ T cells from PBMCs, the phenotype (CCR6+CCR4+CCR10+) and cytokine profile (IFN-γ−IL-17−IL-22+) of Th22 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The gene expression of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) transcription factor was analyzed by real-time PCR. Results The phenotype frequency of these cells was lower in recipients with infection than in those without infection and healthy controls (1.88 ± 0.51 vs. 4.31 ± 1.05; P = 0.03 and 4.22 ± 0.72; P = 0.01, respectively). A lower Th22 cytokine profile was observed in patients with infection than in the two other groups (0.18 ± 0.03 vs. 0.20 ± 0.03; P = 0.96 and 0.33 ± 0.05; P = 0.04, respectively). AHR expression was also lower in patients with active infection. Conclusions Overall, this study for the first time suggests that the reduced levels of Th22 subset and IL-22 cytokine in patients with active HCMV infection might indicate the protective role of these cells against HCMV

Effects of soil and foliar applications of nutrients on corm growth and flower yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in six-year-old farm

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most important crops and medicinal plants in Iran. Appropriate application of nutrients has special important role on replacement corm growth and flower yield of saffron. In order to investigate the effects of different levels of soil and foliar nutrients applications by using mixture fertilizer on replacement corm production and flower yield of saffron, an experiment was conducted by using a factorial layout based on complete randomized block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2011- 2012 growing season. The experimental treatments were all combinations of four levels of soil nutrition (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg.ha-1) and three levels of foliar spray (0, 5 and 10 per 1000). Results of variance analysis showed that the soil application of treatments had positive significant effects on weight of replacement corms and number and weight of flower and stigma yield of saffron but these treatments had no significant effects on total corm number. The number and yield of replacement corms and flowers were not affected by simple effect of foliar spray and soil and foliar applications interactions. The results of this research showed that the using 150 kg.ha-1 of nutrients soil application in early March had more positive and significant effect on yield of fresh and dry flower (120 and 963 kg.ha-1, respectively), yield of fresh and dry stigma (45.5 and 7.90 kg.ha-1, respectively) and weight of replacement corms (1646 g.m-2) than other treatments but foliar application of nutrients in this time had no significant effects on flower and corm yield of saffron

Effects of maternal corm weight and different levels of cow manure on corm and flower yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

In order to investigate the effects of different maternal corm weight and different levels of cow manure on saffron (Crocus sativus L.) production, an experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad during 2011- 2012 and 2012- 2013 growing seasons. For this purpose a factorial experiment was used based on complete randomized block design with three replications and 16 treatments. The experimental treatments were done at 4 levels of maternal corm weight (1.1- 3, 3.1- 5, 5.1- 7 and 7.1- 9 g) and 4 levels of cow manure (0, 20, 40 and 60 t.ha-1). Variance analysis results for studied characteristics of saffron corm showed that maternal corm weight, cow manure and maternal corm weight × cow manure had significant effects on these characteristics. Among the experimental treatments, maternal corm with 7.1- 9 g weight and the use rate of 60 t.ha-1 of cow manure treatment had both the highest total corm number (510 corm.m-2) and corm yield (1044 g.m-2). It seems that the corms with higher weight in the first year produce larger number of replacement corm than the corms with lower weight. The saffron flower yield characteristics showed that flower yield in the first year increased by increasing the maternal corm weight. The results of variance analysis of the number of flowers and fresh and dry yield of flower and stigma of saffron in the second year showed that the maternal corm weight, cow manure and maternal corm weight × cow manure had significant effects on them. These characteristics increased by increasing the maternal corm weight and levels of cow manure. It seems that producing replacement corm with high weight in the first year, requires large amount of maternal corm and high levels of cow manure usage