Haplotype analysis of hemochromatosis gene polymorphisms in chronic hepatitis C virus infection : A case control study

Funding/Support: This study was financially supported by the research council of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran (Grant No. 901012).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Comparison of diagnosis of VUR nephropathy by urinary level of ceruloplasmin with DMSA-Scan in children

Background: Children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) are at risk of recurrent pyelonephritis, kidney scars, hypertension, and renal failure. Currently, VUR complications can be diagnosed by different imaging methods such as sonography, intravenous pyelography and dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan, having certain limitations. Urinary level of ceruloplasmin (Cp) might be an effective non-radiological method. The aim of this study was to compare the urinary level of Cp with DMSA scan in the diagnosis of VUR complications. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in Pediatric Research Center of Qom University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Iran. Subjects consisted of 61 children with VUR, diagnosed by voiding cystoureterography (VCUG) and undergone either DMSA scan or urine Cp measurement. VUR stages and complications of the cases were evaluated using serum and urinary renal parameters. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22. Results: Among them, 80.3% were girls with a mean age of 7.2±3.8 years. Mean Cp urine level was statistically different between VUR sides in DMSA scan (unilateral: 269.56 vs. bilateral: 450.42 µg/dL) (P=0.034, r =0.273), but was not statistically different among various VUR degrees (P=0.102, r=0.211), different ages and genders (P>0.05). Conclusions: Urinary level of Cp was not statistically different among VUR degrees, but was higher in bilateral VUR cases, indicating Cp can be used as a safe, non-invasive, and cheap measurement tool for screening test. Further studies are required to confirm Cp as an effective method

Comparison of Interferon-Gamma (IFNG) +874 T/A single nucleotide polymorphism in hepatitis C virus infected patients and non-infected controls in Mashhad, Iran

This study was financially supported by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran (Grant No. 900513).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Prevalence of reflux nephropathy in Iranian children with solitary kidney: results of a multi-center study

Abstract Background: Given the importance of the function of the remnant kidney in children with unilateral renal agen‑ esis and the significance of timely diagnosis and treatment of reflux nephropathy to prevent further damage to the remaining kidney, we aimed to determine the prevalence of reflux nephropathy in this subgroup of pediatric patients. Methods: In general, 274 children referred to pediatric nephrologists in different parts of Iran were evaluated, of whom 199 had solitary kidney and were included in this cross‑sectional study. The reasons for referral included urinary tract infection (UTI), abnormal renal ultrasonography, being symptomatic, and incidental screening. Demographic characteristics, including age and gender were recorded. History of UTI and presence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) were evaluated. Results: Of the 274 children evaluated in this study with the mean age (SD) of 4.71 (4.24) years, 199 (72.6%) had solitary kidney. Among these, 118 (59.3%) were male and 81 (60.7%) were female, 21.1% had a history of UTI, and VUR was present in 23.1%. The most common cause of referral was abnormal renal ultrasonography (40.2%), followed by incidental screening (21.1%), being symptomatic (14.1%), and UTI (5.5%). In 116 children (58.3%), the right kidneys and in 83 (41.7%) the left kidneys were absent. Besides, 14.6% of the participants had consanguineous parents and 3% had a family history of solitary kidney. Upon DMSA scan, the single kidney was scarred in 13.1%, of which only 7.5% were associated with VUR. In addition, proteinuria and hematuria were observed in 6.5% and 1.5% of children, respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of reflux nephropathy was 7.5% in children with solitary kidney with a male predomi‑ nance. Given the relatively high prevalence of reflux nephropathy in these children, screening for VUR in the remnant kidney appears to be essential in this population. Keywords: Vesicoureteral reflux, Nephropathy, Children, Solitary kidney, Renal agenesi

Autophagy and treatment of patients with COVID-19; which drugs target the autophagy pathway?

Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Autophagy is a way to create new cellular structures, clear cells invaded by microbes, and block accumulating proteins that can cause disease. Moreover, it can destroy all cellular organs and pathogens, including fungi, parasites, bacteria, and viruses, either randomly or selectively. Many research groups are examining a strategy to combat COVID-19. In particular, research is underway to identify drugs that can target autophagy in COVID-19 virus infection. Several known drugs are currently under clinical evaluation for the autophagy process, given that regulating autophagy is a way to combat COVID-19. This study introduces drugs that target the autophagy pathway.publishedVersio

Autophagy and treatment of patients with COVID-19; which drugs target the autophagy pathway?

Autophagy is a way to create new cellular structures, clear cells invaded by microbes, and block accumulating proteins that can cause disease. Moreover, it can destroy all cellular organs and pathogens, including fungi, parasites, bacteria, and viruses, either randomly or selectively. Many research groups are examining a strategy to combat COVID-19. In particular, research is underway to identify drugs that can target autophagy in COVID-19 virus infection. Several known drugs are currently under clinical evaluation for the autophagy process, given that regulating autophagy is a way to combat COVID-19. This study introduces drugs that target the autophagy pathway

Comparison of the prevalence of enteroviruses in blood samples of patients with and without unstable angina

BACKGROUND: Although the role of enteroviruses has been proved in heart diseases, extensive information is not available on the association between enteroviruses and unstable angina. In the present study, the authors compared the prevalence of enteroviruses in patients with and without unstable angina. METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 51 patients with unstable angina and 55 patients without unstable angina or myocardial infarction that were admitted to Imam Reza and Ghaem hospitals (Mashhad, northeast of Iran). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using specific primers for the detection of the enteroviruses in blood samples of study subjects. RESULTS: Patients with and without unstable angina were similar in age with mean &plusmn; standard deviation of 62.6 &plusmn; 12.8 and 59.7 &plusmn; 12.7 years, respectively (P = 0.243) and there were no differences in gender in these two groups (P = 0.174). Prevalence of the enteroviruses in patients with unstable angina was higher only in 66-80 years age group compared to the control group (patients without unstable angina, P = 0.032). There was a higher prevalence of enterovirus RNA positivity in the blood samples of women with unstable angina (75.9%) than those without unstable angina (41.7%, P = 0.011), however, no significant difference was observed in men (P = 0.983). CONCLUSION: Our data showed that enteroviral RNA positivity was higher in patients with unstable angina compared to those without unstable angina. However, the differences between the two groups were not statistically significant. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p

Kidney Calculi in Iranian Children: A Multicentric Report: Kidney Calculi in Iranian Children

Background and Aim: Studies on the prevalence of kidney stones in Iranian childrenare limited. Children with nephrolithiasis have a high risk of recurrent stones; therefore, athorough evaluation is warranted. Due to the paucity of data on Iranian children, this studyaims to investigate the prevalence of kidney stones in this population.Methods: This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of kidney stones amongoutpatients and inpatients at various university centers in Iran from March to December2019. Twenty-six pediatric nephrologists from 13 centers participated and completed aquestionnaire on the total number of inpatients and outpatients and the number of patientswith kidney stones. The diagnosis was based on radiological results.Results: A total of 97 912 patients were included, with 20327 hospitalized and 77585outpatients. Of all patients, 2.86% had kidney stones, the prevalence of which was 1.5%in inpatients and 3.2% in outpatients. This figure is about 1% more than Iran’s past reports.Inpatient stones in Kerman City, Iran (3.65%) and outpatients in Zahedan City, Iran (16.4%) were the most common. The study lacked data on age and gender. The main results are thetotal and setting-specific prevalences, and regional variations suggesting environmental andgenetic factors.Conclusion: This large study examined kidney stone prevalence in Iranian children, the totalprevalence of which is 2.86%. Given the limited data and rising trend, more extensive studieswith the collaboration of additional centers are recommended. Demographic characteristics,such as age, sex, stone composition, family history, and diet should be examined