Human Papillomavirus Is Associated with Breast Cancer in the North Part of Iran

We have analyzed the possible relevance of HPV infection for breast cancer risk among Iranian women from north part of Iran. Among women with breast cancer, 25.9% had positive test results for HPV DNA in breast tumor samples in contrast to 2.4% of women with noncancer status (P = 0.002). The infection of HPV has increased the risk of breast cancer (OR 14.247; 95% CI 1.558–130.284, P = 0.019). The high-risk HPV genotypes (types 16 and 18) in samples of breast cancer patients were the predominant types (53.34%). Other genotypes detected in breast cancer were HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-15, HPV-23, and HPV-124, and one isolate could not be genotyped compared to HPV reference sequences. While the sole detected HPV in control specimens was HPV-124. Our study reveals that HPV infection and age are the risk factors in breast cancer development in the north part of Iran

Prevalence of anti-HCV antibody and related risk factors among bleeding disorder patients in Yazd province of Iran

زمینه و هدف: مصرف جایگزین درمانی خون و فرآورده های خونی غربال نشده یا فاکتورهای انعقادی تغلیظ شده ویروس زدایی نشده در بیماران اختلال انعقادی خطر ابتلا به هپاتیت C را در آنها ایجاد می کند. مطالعه حاضر به منظور بررسی فراوانی آنتی بادی بر علیه ویروس هپاتیت C (anti-HCV Ab) و فاکتورهای خطر مربوطه در بیماران اختلال انعقادی استان یزد انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی-تحلیلی که به روش سرشماری در تابستان 1385 انجام شد، پس از جمع آوری اطلاعات پرسشنامه ای، از 77 بیمار نمونه خون گرفته شد. نمونه های پلاسما با کیت الیزا از نظر آنتی بادی بر علیه ویروس هپاتیت C و سپس نمونه های مثبت با روش تست RIBA (Recombinant Immonoblot Assay) تایید شدند. داده ها با استفاده از آزمون های آماری کای دو و آنالیز رگرسیون لجستیک مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفتند. یافته ها: فراوانی آنتی بادی بر علیه ویروس هپاتیت ‍‍C معادل 4/49 (38 بیمار) بدست آمد. بین داشتن فرم شدید بیماری (از نظر نیاز به فرآورده های خونی) (01/0

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ABSTRACT Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA has been identified in esophageal carcinomas. However, the incidence of HPV varies significantly in different geographical locations. In this study, neoplasms from Turkmen Sahra, a region in Golestan province in northeast part of Iran, with a high incidence of squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed for the presence of HPV DNA. Turkmen Sahra is located in the cancer belt in Asia. Eighty-five squamous cell carcinomas were examined for the presence of HPV DNA. PCR was utilized to amplify a 124-bp segment of the HPV L1 gene using the consensus primers. The amplified region was subsequently sequenced to identify the HPV. The results indicated that the rates of HPV detection in squamous cell carcinoma specimen for men and women were 52.8% and 43.7% respectively. The positive cases included HPV-16 (54.7%), HPV-18 (4.8%), HPV-6 (14.3%), HPV-66 (7.1%), HPV-52 (4.8%) and 14.3% of cases were positive for more than one type of HPV. Human papillomavirus type 16 that can be potentially oncogenic was prevalent in 54.8% of the cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Our results confirm the previously reported HPV involvement in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and support the possible role of HPV as an etiological agent in esophageal carcinogenesis

Vaccine-associated Paralytic Poliomyelitis in Immunodeficient Children, Iran, 1995–2008

To determine the prevalence of vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) in immunodeficient infants, we reviewed all documented cases caused by immunodeficiency-associated vaccine-derived polioviruses in Iran from 1995 through 2008. Changing to an inactivated polio vaccine vaccination schedule and introduction of screening of neonates for immunodeficiencies could reduce the risk for VAPP infection

Seroprevalence of Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) and incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma in Iran

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Seroepidemiological surveys show that the prevalence of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection mostly varies in various geographical areas and reflects the local incidence of classic and endemic KS, being widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and Mediterranean countries and uncommon in the USA and Northern Europe. In the Middle East only few populations, such as Ashkenazi and Sephardic groups in Israel, have been adequately evaluated for HHV-8 seroprevalence. Among Iranian population a striking higher seroprevalence of HHV8 has been reported among haemodialysis (16.9%), renal transplant recipients (25%) and HIV (45.7%) patients compared to blood donors (2%). Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is the rarest cancer in Iran, with an annual age-standardized incidence varying from 0.10 to 0.17 per 100,000 in males and from 0.06 to 0.08 per 100,000 in females. KS, however, is one of the most important malignancies in Iranian renal transplanted patients affecting up to 2.4% of organ recipients. The epidemiology of HHV8 and KS in Iran needs further evaluation. While the high prevalence of HHV-8 antibodies in HIV positive and haemodialysis individuals may be attributed to high-risk sexual behavior and polytransfusions, respectively, unknown determinants may be responsible for high seroprevalence of HHV8 and high incidence of KS in solid organ recipients. A global survey on HHV8 seroprevalence in Iran is mandatory to define co-factors associated with HHV8 infection and KS risk in the general Iranian population and in specific patient groups.</p

Three Common TP53 Polymorphisms and the Risk of Breast Cancer among Groups of Iranian Women

Background: The TP53 gene is the most important tumor suppressor gene in humans. The aim of our study was to determine the genotype frequency of three common TP53 polymorphisms (codon 72 BstUI and intron 6 MspI, as well as the intron 3) in a group of Iranian women with and without breast cancer. Methods: Paraffin-embedded specimens of 65 malignant breast cancer cases and 65 cases with benign breast lesions were investigated for the presence of three common TP53 polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction. Samples were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction followed by variant specific restriction enzyme digestion. Results: In our study, age grouping as >50 and ?50 showed that the highest number of cancerous and non-cancerous patients was in the age group under 50; according to statistical tests, the difference was significant and recessive alleles of all three hot spots of TP53 had the highest frequency in the cancerous group. The majority of the cases with recessive alleles of all three hot spots of TP53 were in the age group ? 50. The difference between cancerous and noncancerous groups was statistically significant. Conclusions: Our results indicate that recessive alleles in three hot spots of TP53 gene might play a role in the breast cancer development, especially in women younger than 50 years

Detection of polioviruses and non-polio enteroviruses by acute flaccid paralysis and environmental surveillances in Sistan and Balouchestan Province

Background: In some countries, though wild poliovirus isolation from clinical specimens has not been done, evidences of silent circulation of wild virus in sewage system have been reported. On the other hand, based on WHO recommendations, if there is any probability of wild virus entrance from endemic countries, environmental surveillance is advised as a completion to Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance. Methods: AFP and environmental surveillance were performed simultaneously in Sistan and Balouchestan province to confirm wild poliovirus eradication. To perform AFP surveillance, 21 stool specimens of AFP suspected cases were collected in a one year period and evaluated using L20B, RD and Hep-2 cell lines. To perform environmental surveillance, 86 samples from urban and hospital sewage disposal systems were collected. Using direct, Pellet and Two-phase methods for virus concentration, Enterovirus existence was investigated in above-mentioned cell lines. Results: Non-polio enteroviruses and polioviruses were isolated from 53.49% and 20.93% of sewage specimens, respectively. Sabin-Like polioviruses were isolated from 9.52% of AFP cases, and non-polio enteroviruses from 14.28% of them. Poliovirus type 2 was not isolated form stool specimens and there was no Poliovirus type 1 isolation from sewage specimens, either. Conclusion: The environmental surveillance as a completion to AFP in Sistan and Balouchestan Province in Iran confirms poliovirus eradication