Prevalence of Helicobacter Pylori in Iranian milk and dairy products using culture and ureC based-PCR techniques

The hygienic quality of milk has an important public health importance. Helicobacter pylori has a foodborne route and especially food with animal origin. This present study was carried out in order to isolation the H. pylori from cow milk samples using culture and PCR method. A total of 120 bovine milk and 120 dairy product samples were collected from the supermarkets of various parts of Iran. The animals whose milk samples collected for this study were clinically healthy. All samples were cultured and those that were H. pylori-positive were subjected for PCR method fordetection of the H. pyloriure C gene. Of 240 samples studied, 33 (13.75) were positive for the H. pylori using the culture method. Raw bovine milk were the most contaminated (16.66) but traditional cream were the less contaminated (7.5) samples. Significant differences was seen for the prevalence of H. pylori between raw bovine milk and traditional cream samples (P =0.027). All of the positive colonies of H. pylori were confirmed using the ureC gene based-PCR method. This study showed that cow milk and traditional dairy product samples are the sources of H. pylori infection for humans

Sensitive high-resolution melting analysis for screening of kras and braf mutations in Iranian human metastatic colorectal cancers

Background: Investigations of methods for detection of mutations have uncovered major weaknesses of direct sequencing and pyrosequencing, with their high costs and low sensitivity in screening for both known and unknown mutations. High resolution melting (HRM) analysis is an alternative tool for the rapid detection of mutations. Here we describe the accuracy of HRM in screening for KRAS and BRAF mutations in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRCs) samples. Materials and Methods: A total of 1000 mCRC patients in Mehr Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from Feb 2008 to May 2012 were examined for KRAS mutations and 242 of them were selected for further assessment of BRAF mutations by HRM analysis. In order to calculate the sensitivity and specificity, HRM results were checked by pyrosequencing as the golden standard and Dxs Therascreen as a further method. Results: In the total of 1,000 participants, there were 664 (66.4) with wild type and 336 (33.6) with mutant codons 12 and/or 13 of the KRAS gene. Among 242 samples randomly checked for the BRAF gene, all were wild type by HRM. Pyrosequencing and Dxs Therascreen results were in line with those of the HRM. In this regard, the sensitivity and specificity of HRM were evaluated as 100. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the HRM, in comparison with DNA sequencing, is a more appropriate method for precise scanning of KRAS and BRAF mutations. It is also possible to state that HRM may be an attractive technique for the detection of known or unknown somatic mutations in other genes

Mutation analysis of KRAS and BRAF genes in metastatic colorectal cancer: A first large scale study from Iran

Background: The investigation of mutation patterns in oncogenes potentially can make available a reliable mechanism for management and treatment decisions for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study concerns the rate of KRAS and BRAF genes mutations in Iranian metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, as well as associations of genotypes with clinicopathological features. Materials and Methods: A total of 1,000 mCRC specimens collected from 2008 to 2012 that referred to the Mehr Hospital and Partolab center, Tehran, Iran enrolled in this cross sectional study. Using HRM, Dxs Therascreen and Pyrosequencing methods, we analyzed the mutational status of KRAS and BRAF genes in these. Results: KRAS mutations were present in 33.6 cases (n=336). Of KRAS mutation positive cases, 85.1 were in codon 12 and 14.9 were in codon 13. The most frequent mutation at KRAS codon 12 was Gly12Asp; BRAF mutations were not found in any mCRC patients (n=242). In addition, we observed a strong correlation of KRAS mutations with some clinicopathological characteristics. Conclusions: KRAS mutations are frequent in mCRCs while presence of BRAF mutations in these patients is rare. Moreover, associations of KRAS genotypes with non-mucinous adenocarcinoma and depth of invasion (pT3) were remarkable

The incidence and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A cohort study from Iran

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition with a global prevalence of 24. A broad spectrum of liver complications has been attributed to this condition. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the incidence of NAFLD and its potential risk factors in a seven-year follow-up study in Iran. Methods: This is a prospective cohort population-based study conducted in the northern region of Iran. In phase I of the cohort study, 2,461 participants were selected, between 2009 and 2010, using the stratified randomization method based on the sex and age of individuals. Ultrasonographic examination was performed again after a seven-year follow-up between 2016 and 2017. The multiple binary regression analysis was applied to evaluate the association between the development of NAFLD and potential risk factors. Results: The incidence of NAFLD was 27.88 (95 CI: 25.41-30.35) in men and 30.17 (95 CI: 27.40-32.94) in women (P = 0.226) in a seven-year follow-up period. Based on the multiple binary logistic regression analysis, body mass index (BMI) OR = 1.219 (95% CI: 1.162-1.278) P < 0.001, triglyceride (TG) OR = 1.003 (95% CI: 1.001-1.005); P = 0.005 and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) OR = 0.986 (95% CI: 0.972-0.999); P = 0.046 showed a significant association with the incidence of NAFLD in men. In contrast, the marital status OR = 2.141 (95% CI: 1.286-3.565); P = 0.003, BMI OR = 1.165 (95% CI: 1.121-1.211); P < 0.001 and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) OR = 1.164 (95% CI: 1.041-1.301); P = 0.007 had a significant relationship with the incidence of NAFLD in women. Conclusions: It seems that NAFLD is markedly rising in the northern part of Iran. Higher levels of BMI, TG, and HDL are considered independent risk factors for the development of NAFLD in men, while the marital status, BMI, and HOMA-IR exhibited independent risk factors with the incidence of NAFLD in women. © 2020, Author(s)

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is not independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease event: A cohort study

BACKGROUND There are no consistent results between previous studies for an independent association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. AIM To determine if there is an independent association between NAFLD and CVD events. METHODS In the present study, valid outcome data of 4808 subjects were available for phase 2 of our cohort study. These subjects had been followed up for seven years from phase 1, beginning in 2009-2010 to phase 2 during 2016-2017. Simple and multiple Cox proportional models were used to determine the association between NAFLD in the primary phase of the cohort and subsequent fatal and non-fatal CVD events during follow-up. RESULTS The incidence of non-fatal CVD events in males with NAFLD was significantly higher (P = 0.004) than in males without NAFLD. A positive association was demonstrated between NAFLD and non-fatal CVD events in males (Hazard ratio = 1.606; 95CI: 1.166-2.212; P = 0.004) by the simple Cox proportional hazard model, but no independent association was detected between these in the multiple Cox models. CONCLUSION No independent association was detected between NAFLD and CVD. It is likely that diabetes mellitus and age may be the principle mediators in this regard. © The Author(s) 2020

Enzymatic digestion pattern of varicella zoster virus ORF38 and ORF54 in chickenpox patients using RFLP technique

Background: Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox in children and zoster (zona) in the elderly. Using RFLP-PCR method for detection of VZV specific SNPs ORF38, 54 and 62 could distinguish the profile of VZV isolates. The aim of this study was to investigate enzymatic digestion pattern of VZV ORF38 and ORF54 in chickenpox patients using RFLP technique. Methods: Thirty-eight chickenpox patients, who referred to the hospitals of Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran from May 2010 to June 2015 were enrolled in this cross sectional study. After the DNA extraction, PCR amplification of 38 VZV isolates performed by specific primers of ORFs 38 and 54, then RFLP assay and digestion carried out by PstI (for ORF38) and BglI (for ORF54) restriction enzymes. Results: Of 38 positive VZV DNA, the mean age (yr)±SD was 34.4±23.3 (range: 7-89). 22 (57.9) were female and 16 (42.1) were male. The predominant VZV profile of BglI+PstI+ were 89.5 (34/38) followed by 10.5 (4/38) PstI+BglI�. Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between genotype, age, sex, and year of infection variables (P value> 0.05). The common VZV genotype among Iranian patients with chickenpox and zona infection is genotype BglI+PstI+ followed by PstI+BglI�. Conclusion: There are different VZV circulating genotypes that call for for more research on this field by widely population and other methods such as nucleotide sequencing to justify the accurate VZV genotype prevalence in Iran. © 2016, Iran J Pathol. All rights reserved

The evaluation of diagnostic and predictive values of helicobacter pylori stool antigen test in Iranian patients with dyspepsia

Background and Objectives: Iran, as a developing country, is experiencing high burdens of Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-associated non-communicable diseases. Hp stool antigen test (HpSA) is widely used as an inexpensive and feasible noninvasive method to diagnose Hp infection, instead of invasive approaches. The current study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic and predictive values of HpSA test for Hp infection in Iranian patients with dyspepsia. Methods: The current cross sectional study was performed on 100 patients with dyspepsia. Gastric mucosal specimens were taken, processed, and examined according to the standard protocols. Simultaneously, stool samples were obtained and sent to laboratory for further analyses. Hp stool antigen titers were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: Stool antigen titers were not associated with gender (P-value=0.284), but correlated to age (r=0.213, P-value=0.034). Considering 0.385 as a cutoff point, the HpSA test had 80.4 sensitivity and 85.7 specificity. Conclusion: Based on cost-effectiveness of HpSA test, the current study findings corroborated the use of HpSA test to detect and follow-up patients with Hp infection, as an alternative method to detect Hp rather than invasive procedures. © 2017, IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY

The evaluation of diagnostic and predictive values of helicobacter pylori stool antigen test in Iranian patients with dyspepsia

Background and Objectives: Iran, as a developing country, is experiencing high burdens of Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-associated non-communicable diseases. Hp stool antigen test (HpSA) is widely used as an inexpensive and feasible noninvasive method to diagnose Hp infection, instead of invasive approaches. The current study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic and predictive values of HpSA test for Hp infection in Iranian patients with dyspepsia. Methods: The current cross sectional study was performed on 100 patients with dyspepsia. Gastric mucosal specimens were taken, processed, and examined according to the standard protocols. Simultaneously, stool samples were obtained and sent to laboratory for further analyses. Hp stool antigen titers were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Results: Stool antigen titers were not associated with gender (P-value=0.284), but correlated to age (r=0.213, P-value=0.034). Considering 0.385 as a cutoff point, the HpSA test had 80.4 sensitivity and 85.7 specificity. Conclusion: Based on cost-effectiveness of HpSA test, the current study findings corroborated the use of HpSA test to detect and follow-up patients with Hp infection, as an alternative method to detect Hp rather than invasive procedures. © 2017, IRANIAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY

Varicella zoster virus genotyping in chickenpox patient's clinical isolates from Iran

Aim: The varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox and zoster infections. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of VZV genotypes among Iranian patients. Materials &amp; methods: From 2010 to 2015, 244 patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study, 45 of whom were positive for VZV DNA. Both direct sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism assay were performed for 19 positive specimens. SPSS v.20 was used for statistics. Results: The predominant VZV genotype was M1 (84.2) followed by genotype E (10.5) and genotype J (5.3). Restriction fragment length polymorphism demonstrated that 17 strains were PstI+ BglI+ (M1 and/or J genotypes) and 2 were PstI+ BglI- (E genotype). Conclusion: This research is a prelim study on VZV genotyping. Further investigations will help to confirm the VZV genotype prevalence reported here. � 2016 Future Medicine Ltd