Seroprevalence of toxocariasis in children aged 1-9 years in western Islamic Republic of Iran, 2003

We determined the seroprevalence of Toxocara canis infection in 544 children under 10 years randomly selected from urban and rural areas of Hamadan, An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for detection of antibodies to T. canis excretion - secretion antigens. Using a questionnaire, epidemiological factors associated with infection were examined, including age, sex, residence. Antibodies to T. canis were detected in 29 children (5.3%) and 19 children (3.5%) were categorized as borderline positive; thus together this gave a prevalence of toxocariasis of 8.8%. No significant differences were found in terms of sex, age and residence

Molecular variation in Leishmania parasites from sandflies species of a zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in northeast of Iran

Background & objectives: In the well-known zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) focus in Turkmen Sahara, border of Iran and Turkmenistan, ZCL has increased among humans in the past five years. The present study was undertaken to incriminate vectors of ZCL in the region, and to find molecular variation in Leishmania parasites. Methods: The sandflies were sampled using CDC light-traps and sticky papers. All the sandflies were identified using morphological characters of the head and abdominal terminalia. DNA was extracted from the dissected thorax and attached anterior abdomen of individual female sandfly. Leishmania detection and identification of sandflies were performed using PCR, digestion of BsuRI restriction enzyme and sequencing of ITS-rDNA gene and also by semi-nested PCR to amplify minicircle kinetoplast (k) DNA of Leishmania. Results: Leishmania infections were detected in 26 out of 206 female sandflies. Of the infected sandflies, 18 were Phlebotomus papatasi while eight were P. caucasicus/P. mongolensis. Two infections of L. turnica were detected, one in P. papatasi and other in P. caucasicus/P. mongolensis and the rest of the sandflies were found infected with L. major. Conclusion: Our finding showed that L. major had low diversity with only one common haplotype (GenBank Access No. EF413075). The novel haplotypes were discovered in L. major (GenBank Access No. KF152937) and in L. turanica (GenBank Access No. EF413079) in low frequency. These Leishmania parasites are circulating to maintain infections in the P. papatasi and P. caucasicus/P. mongolensis in Turkmen Sahara

Association between Endothelial Selectin (E-selectin) gene polymorphisms and E-selectin level with visceral leishmaniais, in an ARMS-PCR based study

Background: In the visceral leishmaniasis (VL), parasites reside in reticuluendothelial system, mainly in macrophages. Endothelial Selectin (E-selectin) might play an important role in leukocyte-endothelium interactions and inflammatory cell recruitment. The aim of this study was determining E-selectin level and its polymorphism in three groups, patients, seropositive and healthy individuals. Methods: Serum soluble E-selectin levels as well as 2 polymorphisms of E-selectin (Ser128Arg and Leu554Phe) were measured in a cohort of patients with documented VL (n=64), a healthy control group (n=74) and a seropositive for VL but without any symptoms (n=81). Circulation concentration of E-selectin levels was measured by ELIS. The amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)-PCR procedure was used for detecting polymorphisms. Results: The mean of E-selectin levels significantly differed between three groups (P<0.026), and were increased in patients in comparison with other groups. Difference was more considerable between two groups of patients and healthy ones (patients 92.8 ng/ml; healthy individuals 71.9 ng/ml). Polymorphisms were associated with soluble E-selectin levels and altogether explained 14.4%, 7.2%, and 8.7% in patients, seropositive and seronegative healthy individuals, respectively. Distribution of polymorphisms of 128Ser/Arg and 554Leu/Phe among three groups was not different significantly; however, there was a considerable arrangement in distribution of Ser128Arg polymorphism and 128Arg allele in healthy group was more than two fold of patients (55% against 20%). Conclusion: The association between soluble E-selectin levels and visceral leishmaniasis suggests that this molecule might have significant role in the inflammatory process in VL. Moreover, frequency of 128Arg allele in healthy group was higher than patients

Discrimination of Entamoeba spp. in children with dysentery

Aim: The present study was performed in order to differentiate E. histolytica and E. dispar in children from Gorgan city, using a PCR method. Background: Differential detection of two morphologically indistinguishable protozoan parasites Entamoeba histolytica and E. dispar has a great clinical and epidemiological importance because of potential invasive pathogenic E. histolytica and non-invasive parasite E. dispar. Patients and methods: One hundred and five dysentery samples were collected from children hospitalized in Taleghani hospital in Gorgan city. The fecal specimens were examined by light microscopy (10X then 40X) to distinguish Entamoeba complex. A single round PCR amplifying partial small-subunit rRNA gene was performed on positive microscopy samples to differentiate E. histolytica/ E. dispar and E. moshkovskii from each other. Results: Twenty-five specimens (23.8%) were positive for Enramoeba complex in direct microscopic examination. PCR using positive controls indicated E. histolytica and E. dispar in two (2/25, 8%) and three (3/25, 12%) samples, respectively. Conclusion: There is a warrant to performing molecular diagnosis for stool examination at least in hospitalized children in order to prevent incorrect reports from laboratories and consequently mistreating by physicians. © 2014 RIGLD, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases

Anthropometric indices in individuals infected with ascaris lumbericoids in Iran

Context: Ascaris Lumbericoids infection is more common in children and teenagers and in areas with poor sanitation or crowded living conditions. Largest of all the parasites inhabiting the human intestine it is also the most common of parasitic infections in developing countries. It has been reported to infect about one-fourth of the world population. Chronic ascariasis has been reported to adversely effect the growth rate and anthropometric indices in infected individuals of growing age. Aims: The goal of this research was to evaluate the anthropometric indices in individuals infected with Ascaris in Hamedan province of Iran. Settings and Design: This was a descriptive cross sectional study. Methods and Material: Six hundred fourteen randomly selected individuals who were inhabitants of Hamedan province of Iran were chosen for this study. Stool samples of these individuals were collected and then experimented with Formel-Ether method to determine Ascaris Lumbericoids infection. Height and weight of these individuals were measured and compared with the indices related to NCHS. Demographic information of these individuals was entered into questionnaires and ultimately was analyzed with SPSS software. Results: Out of the total study population, 16.5% of individuals were found to be infected with Ascaris. Out of the individuals infected with Ascaris, 1% were underweight. In the age groups of 6-10, 11-15, 16-20 years, 3.5%, 5.1% and 3.5% were found to be suffering from malnutrition, respectively. Conclusion: Malabsorption in children might result in malnutrition. In this study, few individuals infected with Ascaris had malnutrition, thus Ascaris infection may not be an important cause of malnutrition among children in our area

Роль альтруизма и эмпатии в отношении к донорству органов у медсестер в отделениях интенсивной терапии в Казвине: перекрестное исследование

Aim: Nurses, especially nurses in ICUs play an important role in organ donation; their performance in relation to their role is more affected by their attitude in this regard, identification of effective factors on the positive attitude of nurses towards organ donation is essential. This study was conducted aimed to determine the empathy and altruism with the nurses’ attitudes in intensive care unit towards organ donation and brain death. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, which was conducted in 2019, 222 nurses from intensive care unit were selected by stratified random sampling. For collecting data the questionnaires of altruism, empathy and attitude toward organ donation were completed by nurses. Data was analyzed using pearson correlation, multiple linear regression. Results. There was a significant correlation between altruism (p &lt; 0.001, r = 0.24) and its components (anonymous prosocial behaviors (r = 0.33, p &lt; 0.001), emotional prosocial behaviors (r = 0.14, p = 0.03), dire prosocial behaviors (r = 0.14, p = 0.03) and compliant prosocial behaviors (r = 0.21 and p = 0.001)) with attitudes and also between empathy (r = 0.04, r = 0.13), perspective taking component (p = 0.02, r = 0.152) and imaginary empathy (r = 0.14, p = 0.03) with nurses’ attitudes. The components of anonymous prosocial behaviors in altruism (p &lt; 0.0001), gender (p = 0.007) and having organ donation card (p = 0.012) are positive predictors of nurses’ attitudes towards organ donation. Conclusion. The results showed that altruism and having organ donation card were two of the most important factors in the tendency of nurses to organ donation. Therefore, the implementation of educational programs regarding changing nurse’s attitude in order to increase the sense of altruism and empathy about organ donation is necessary. By strengthening the sense of altruism and empathy in the family of brain death patients, they can be helped to decide on donate their patient’s organ with more certainty.Цель. Медицинские сотрудники среднего звена, особенно медсестры в отделениях реанимации и интенсивной терапии, играют важную роль в донорстве органов. На их работу влияет множество различных факторов, и поэтому важно определить, какие из них являются эффективными для формирования положительного отношения медсестер к донорству органов. Это исследование было проведено с целью определения уровня эмпатии и альтруизма к донорству органов и смерти мозга у медсестер отделений реанимации интенсивной терапии. Материалы и методы. В этом перекрестном исследовании, которое проводилось в 2019 году, было отобрано 222 медсестры из отделений реанимации и интенсивной терапии с помощью стратифицированной случайной выборки. Для сбора данных медсестры заполняли анкеты, по которым в дальнейшем были оценены их уровни альтруизма, эмпатии, а также отношение к донорству органов. Данные были проанализированы с использованием корреляции Пирсона, множественной линейной регрессии. Результаты. Наблюдалась значительная корреляция между альтруизмом (р &lt; 0,001, r = 0,24) и его компонентами (анонимное просоциальное поведение (r = 0,33, р &lt; 0,001), эмоциональное просоциальное поведение (r = 0,14, р = 0,03), отрицательное просоциальное поведение ( r = 0,14, p = 0,03), просоциальное поведение (r = 0,21, p = 0,001) с отношением к донорству органов, а также между эмпатией (r = 0,04, r = 0,13), компонентом, учитывающим перспективы (p = 0,02, r = 0,152) и воображаемым сочувствием (r = 0,14, p = 0,03) с отношением медсестер к донорству органов. Компоненты анонимного просоциального поведения при альтруизме (р &lt; 0,0001), пол (р = 0,007) и наличие карты донорства органов (р = 0,012) являются положительными предикторами отношения медсестер к донорству органов. Выводы. Результаты показали, что альтруизм и наличие карты донорства органов были двумя наиболее важными факторами в положительном отношении медсестер к донорству органов. Следовательно, необходима реализация образовательных программ, касающихся изменения отношения медсестер к посмертному донорству органов. Укрепляя чувство альтруизма и эмпатии в семье пациента со смертью мозга, можно помочь с большей уверенностью принять решение о пожертвовании органа своего близкого человека

Effects of progesterone injection on performance, plasma hormones and ovarian morphology of ad libitum and restricted fed broiler breeder hens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate responses of feed-satiated and feed- restricted breeder hens to daily injection of progesterone (P4). A total of 64 Cobb 500 hens were fed either restricted or ad libitum from 27 to 38 wk of age. Fourteen laying hens from each group were selected to conduct P4 injection assay. Half of birds in each group (n = 7) were injected daily by 2.5 mg P4/kg BW and remaining birds were used as control. The P4 was injected subcutaneously, at the base of the neck daily(at 0900 h) for 21 d. Settable and abnormal eggs were recorded daily. Blood samples were taken just before initiation of injections, 10-d and 20-d after initiation of injection. Plasma samples were analyzedfor glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol (TAG), P4, estradiol (E2), testosterone, T3 and T4 concentration. Settable egg production declined following P4 injection, whereas total egg production (including softshell egg) remain at high levels in injected birds during the first week after initiation of P4 injection. Progesterone injection in feed-satiated and feed-restricted birds resulted in ovary regression; the ovaryof these birds had no hierarchical follicle. Progesterone injection increased incidence of holding hardshelled eggs in the uterus. Plasma E2 concentrations were affected both by feeding pattern and P4 injection. Progesterone injection depressed plasma E2 concentration in both ad libitum and restricted fed hens. Hens with free access to feed had significantly lower plasma E2 levels compared to restricted fed hens. Our results revealed that whereas injection of P4 induced frequent ovulation early in the injection period in both feed- satiated and feed-restricted breeder hens; however this higher ovulation rate did not result in more settable egg production