The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and Genotypes in Patients with Hemophilia and Other Blood Coagulopathies in Mashhad, Iran

Background and Aim: Patients with blood coagulopathies treated with multiple transfusions have a high risk to acquire some viral infections such as hepatitis C. This research was aimed to identify hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection prevalence, and the viral genotypes among patients with hemophilia and other inherited coagulopathies in Mashhad, Iran. Methods: Medical records of 760 patients with inherited coagulopathies including hemophilia were reviewed in Sarvar Clinic of Mashhad. Plasma samples were subjected to detect antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HCV RNA and genotypes were determined by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results: Totally 128 individuals (16.8%) including patients with hemophilia (n=116) and individuals with other coagulopathies (n=12) were found to be seropositive for anti-HCV. They comprised 122 men and six women with a mean age of 31.6 ± 10.5 years. The PCR results were available for 118 patients, of whom 86 individuals (72.9%) were found to have detectable HCV RNA in their serum. The most frequent genotypes were 1a and 3a (49.1% and 35.8%, respectively). HCV genotypes were not significantly correlated with the patients’ age (p=0.477) as well as with the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (p=0.655) and aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.332). Conclusion: The patients with blood coagulation disorders had a greater prevalence of HCV infection in comparison with the general population in our region. The most common subgenotypes of HCV were 1a, and 3a, respectively. These results could assist professionals to choose more efficient approaches for the management of their patients. *Corresponding Author: Mohammad Reza Hedayati-Moghaddam; Email: [email protected] Please cite this article as: Badiei Z, Ahmadi-Ghezeldasht S, Sima HR, Habibi M, Khamooshi M, Azimi A, Hedayati-Moghaddam MR. The Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection and Genotypes in Patients with Hemophilia and Other Blood Coagulopathies in Mashhad, Iran. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2021;7:1-7 (e9). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v7.3396

Comparative assessment of different categories of absorption heat transformers in water desalination process

During the last decade, there has been a significant amount of research conducted on absorption heat pumps (AHPs). Second type AHPs, namely absorption heat transformers (AHTs) are useful devices, capable of raising the temperature of waste heat to more useful temperature levels. The excluded heat from AHTs can provide the required energy for desalination. In the present work, performances of three main categories of AHT systems comprising single, double and triple absorption heat transformers (SAHT, DAHT, and TAHT) while they are coupled to water purification system are investigated and compared. A simulation model has been developed in EES (Engineering Equation Solver) to evaluate the effects of several key thermodynamic parameters on the performance of the cycle and amount of desalinated water. The results show that the highest gross temperature lift can be achieved with TAHT while it has the lowest COP among the other types of AHTs. Additionally, a performance optimization performed by using EES shows that SAHT, DAHT, and TAHT can provide fresh water for 853, 796 and 697 residential units respectively if they operate nonstop.</p