Evaluating autoimmunity markers (TPO Ab, Tg Ab and TM Ab) in hypothyroid patients of Bushehr province

Background: Chronic autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's Thyroiditis) is the common cause of primary hypothyroidism in iodine sufficient countries. Iran is named an iodine sufficient country, in this century. Methods: A total of 88 hypothyroid patients, on suppressing dose of levothyroxine who were followed in a university endocrine disorder clinic were evaluated for serum thyroid autoimmunity markers: thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO Ab), thyroglobulin antibody (Tg Ab) and thyroid microsomal antibody (TM Ab) using ELISA method. Results: The prevalence of TPO Ab, Tg Ab and TM Ab were 73.9%, 45.5% and 71.6%, respectively. Among the patients with high level of TPO Ab (> 75 u/ml), 45.3% had grade 1 or 2 of goiter (P< 0.05). Conclusion: Autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's thyroiditis) is the most common cause of hypothyroidism in Bushehr province

Seroepidemiological prevalence of brucellosis in livestock breeders of the central rural area of Bushehr province 2003-4

Background: Brucellosis is the most important zoonotic disease. As Brucellosis is endemic in Iran, this study was designed to evaluate seroepidemiological prevalence of brucellosis in livestock breeders of the central rural area of Bushehr province in 2003-2004. Methods: Sera of 397 livestock breeders from the central rural area of Bushehr province were collected and tested for anti-brucella IgG antibody using ELISA method. Results: The prevalence of brucellosis in livestock breeders was 10.8%. Brucella seropositively was found to have a significant association with sheep contact and abortion in domestic animals (p<0.05) but anti-brucella Ig antibody positivity had not a significant association with sex, age, contact with cattle, goats and camel, keeping livestock at home, consumption of milk products and raw milk, history of brucellosis in person and/or family and nonspecific signs such as fever, myalgia, low back pain and artheralgia. Conclusion: The prevalence of brucellosis is high in the central rural area of Bushehr province. The prevalence was much higher among livestock breeders in contact with sheep and also in those who had abortion in their domestic animals

Seroepidemiology of Chlamydia pneumoniae in community-acquired pneumonia in Bushehr Province

Chlamydia pneumonia is a common etiologic agent of community-acquired pneumonia. In a prospective study, the frequency of Chlamydia pneumonia was investigated in 95 admitted subjects in a university hospital in Bushehr port during autumn and spring of 2005. Age range of the patients was 16 to 95 years. The acute and convalescent sera for IgG titer were examined by ELISA method. A four-fold rising in antibody or >=1/1200 titer was defined acute infection with Chlamydia pneumonia and a titer of >=1/100 was also defined as seroprevalence of the organism. The prevalence of acute infection and seroprevalence of Chlamydia pneumonia were 25 and 71 percent, respectively. The prevalence of acute infection with the organism was 28.6 and 11.8 percent in COPD and asthma groups, respectively. In conclusion, Chlamydia pneumonia is a prevalent etiologic agent

Reference range of serum homocysteine level for the northern Persian Gulf

Background: Homocysteine (Hcy), an intermediate form generated during the metabolism of methionine, is associated with cardiovascular diseases. There is little information available about serum concentration of Hcy in healthy Iranian population. In the present study, we assessed the reference range of serum Hcy level among inhabitants of the northern Persian Gulf. Methods: In the Persian Gulf Healthy Heart Study (PGHHS) which used a multistage, stratified, clustered sampling, we measured fasting serum Hcy level using enzyme immunoassay method with an accuracy limit of 1 µmol/ L. Confounding factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, drugs and chronic diseases were eliminated. Reference range for homocysteine level was considered between 5 and 95 percentiles. Results: A total of 886 participants (39.3% female, 60.7% male) were evaluated. Mean plasma Hcy level was 14.58 ± 7.29 µmol/ L and was higher in men than women. Reference range for Hcy level was 8.35-31.1 µmol/ L in males and 2.39-24.31 µmol/ L in females. There was no difference among age groups for serum Hcy level. Conclusion: The Hcy level in the northern Persian Gulf general population is high. Since high Hcy level has been shown as a risk factor of cardiovascular diseases in various studies, it is essential to study the reasons of this high level of Hcy in this region

Association between H. pylori infection & hypertension in the residents of the Northern Persian Gulf

Background: Due to presence of confounding factors in contemporary studies, there are controversial data on correlation between hypertension and chronic H. pylori infection. In our study which was conducted for the first time in the Western Asia, we tried to find any correlation between hypertension and positive H. pylori seropositivity after correction for the confounding factors. Methods: To evaluate any correlation between H. pylori infection and hypertension, the randomized multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 1752 subjects from Northern Persian Gulf (Bushehr, Genaveh and Dailam). Hypertension was defined according to WHO criteria. ELISA method was used for seropositivity of H. pylori infection. Results: The prevalence of hypertension and positive H. pylori seropositivity were 26.3% and 61.6%, respectively. According to multivariate logistic regression analysis, we observed correlation between hypertension and positive H. pylori seropositivity, independent of type II diabetes, high LDL cholesterol, smoking, and high BMI [OR=1.49 CI (1.18-1.89) P= 0.001]. Conclusion: There is an association between H. pylori infection and hypertension in the residents of the Northern Persian Gulf after adjustment of demographic and metabolic factors

Assessment of serum homocysteine level and hyperhomocysteinaemia in the northern Persian Gulf

Background: Homocysteine is a non essential amino acid which is derived from metabolism of the essential amino acid, metionin. It has been shown that an elevated serum homocysteine level in adults is associated with vascular diseases. In this study, we determined serum homocysteine level and its gender and age distribution in three cities of Bushehr, Genaveh and Deilam in the northern Persian Gulf. Methods: A total of 1699 inhabitants of the north region of the Persian Gulf were selected based on a multi stage stratified clustered sampling and a fasting blood sample was taken from them. We measured serum homocysteine level using enzyme immuno assay method with accuracy limit of 1 µmol/L. Hyperhomocyteinaemia was defined as homocysteine more than 14 µmol/L. Results: Mean plasma homocysteine level was 14.63±7.08 µmol/L (17.72±6.63 µmol/L for men and 12.73±6.78 µmol/L for women). No correlation between homocysteine and age was found. The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia was 51.2% (22.2% in male and 29% in female). Conclusion: The homocysteine level in the north region of the Persian Gulf general population is high. Further study is essential to reveal the reason of the high homocysteine serum level in the inhabitants of the northern Persian Gulf with emphasis on folic acid and vitamin B12 serum levels

A sero-epidemiological survey on leptospirosis in the livestock breeders during the outbreak of haemorrhagic fever in domestic animals of the Helleh River area in 2004

Background: Leptospirosis is an infectious disease of animals and Man caused by a spiral-shaped organism (spirochete) of the genus Leptospira. Following torrential rains on Jan 2004, the Helleh River area was flooded and it was followed by an outbreak of haemorrhagic fever in domestic animals with a high fatality rate. Methods: Sera of all (58 cases) livestock breeders of the Helleh River area and 359 livestock breeders from the surrounding villages (as a control group) were collected and tested for anti-leptospiral antibodies using ELISA method for Leptospira IgG/IgM. Results: IgM antibodies for leptospira were detected in 29.3% of cases and in 15.0% of control group (p=0.01). However, there was no significant difference for seropositivity of IgG (15.5% in cases and 8.4% for controls). 12.1% of cases and 2.5% of control group also were positive for both IgG & IgM antibodies (p=0.001). Fourteen livestock breeders of Helleh River had symptoms of fever, headache, low back pain and myalgia. Conclusion: Leptospirosis was the etiologic agent of the haemorrhagic fever in Helleh River area. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of haemorrhagic fever in domestic animals. Leptospirosis should also be suspected in febrile cases with contact with flood water

Isolation and purification of a novel anticancer 60 K daltons protein from the Persian Gulf sea hare, Aplysia Dactylomela

Sea hares have attracted the interest of many workers investigating chemical defense substances. Most of these substances are low molecular weight compounds derived from algal diets. Anticancer effects of a novel protein isolated from purple fluid of A. dactylomela are reported. The purification procedure consisted basically of ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange and ultrafiltration techniques. For cytotoxicity effects, L929, K562, HL60 and NB4 cell lines and MTT assay were used. A protein of 60000 Da of the purple fluid of A. dactylomela had antiproliferative effects on the cell lines it was maximally active at 0.5-1.5 microgram/ml on NB4 cell line. Therefore, the purple fluid of A. dactylomela has a novel antiproliferative agent