Artisans and guild life in the later Safavid period

In the social and economic history of Iran, as of other Moslem countries, bazaars and guilds of craftsmen and tradesmen working in them have always played an important part. After a discussion of the historical background, this thesis examines the functions of the guilds in the later Safavid period (c. 1597-1722 A.D.), when Iran was a large and generally stable empire administered on bureaucratic rather than feudal lines. Guild practices and traditions from the period endured into the 19th and 20th centuries. Evidence is adduced to show that the guilds had a dual role as spontaneous associations for defence of their members' interests and as agencies used by the Safavid government for collection of taxes, control of prices, and procurement of goods and labour. Among the subjects which are examined are the functions of responsible officials and headmen, the taxes and the tax collection methods, the apprenticeship system, price supervision, judicial and penal matters, and guild restrictions. Attention is also given to the Safavid government's intervention in economic life through royal industrial establishments and royal monopolies. Although merchants were not organized in guilds, they influenced the life of the bazaars, and so too did the East India Companies which established "factories" in Iran during the period. Attention is therefore given to the activities of Muslim Iranian, Armenian, Jewish, and Hindu merchants and financiers, and of the English and Dutch East India Companies

Recombinant Coree1e2 Protein Expressed in Pichia pastoris Yeast a Candidate Vaccine for Hepatitis C Virus

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major health problem both in developed and developing countries and HCV infection is a global blood borne disease that affects almost 3% of the world’s population with a morbidity and mortality rates. The efficacy of hepatitis C treatment is less than satisfactory and development of an effective vaccine may be essential in the control of HCV infection. The E1 and E2 proteins, two heavily glycosylated enveloped proteins, which can elicit neutralizing antibodies against HCV infection in the host and Core, E1 and E2 proteins are the major vaccine candidates for vaccination and ELISA is one of routine testes which has been used in clinical laboratories and different studies to detect the rate of antibody in sera against HCV infection. Aim: Evolvement and gradual development of a useful vaccine can be the main point in the control and eradication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Recent studies have reported that HCV envelope glycoproteins can induce neutralizing antibodies against antigen domain of HCV. So HCV envelope proteins are considered as the main HCV vaccine candidate. Methods: In this study, we used Pichia pastoris yeast expression system to express recombinant HCV CoreE1E2 protein, which consists of Core (269 nt-841nt) E1 (842 nt-1417nt) and E2 (1418 nt-2506nt). The Pichia pastoris can produce high level of recombinant HCV CoreE1E2 protein. The protein has glycosylation and also by codon optimization based on pichia expression system we could increase the rate of recombinant proteins. Moreover, the purified protein can efficiently induce anti-CoreE1E2 antibodies in rabbits, and also by developing homemade ELISA kit we can detect antibody of HCV Iranian patients with 1a genotype. Results: Although little is known about the mechanism of hepatitis C virion assembly, in our study the virus like particle of rCoreE1E2 with 70 nm size, were shown by Electron microscopy and have proved the self-assembly in vitro in yeast expression system. Conclusion: These findings indicate that the recombinant CoreE1E2 glycoprotein is effective in inducing neutralizing antibodies, and is an influential HCV vaccine candidate

Hepatitis C Virus - Proteins, Diagnosis, Treatment and New Approach for VaccineDevelopment

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes acute and chronic human hepatitis infection and as such is an important global health problem. HCV was discovered in the USA in 1989 and it is now known that three to four million people are infected every year. The WHO estimates that 3 percent of the 180 million people worldwide are chronically infected. Humans are the natural hosts of HCV and this virus can eventually leads to permanent liver damage and carcinoma. HCV is a member of the Flaviviridae family and Hepacivirus genus. The diameter of the virus is about 50-60 nm and the virion containing a single-stranded positive RNA with approximately 10,000 nucleotides in length and consists of one ORF which is encapsulated by an external lipid envelope and icosahedral capsid. HCV is a heterogeneous virus, classified into 6 genotypes and more than 50 subtypes. Because of the genome variability, nucleotide sequences of genotypes differ by approximately 31-34%, and by 20-23% among subtypes. The quasispecies of mixed virus populations make survival advantage for virus to create multiple variant genomes and a high rate of generation of variants to allow rapid selection of mutants for new environmental conditions. Direct contact with infected blood and blood products, sexual relationships and availability of injectable drugs have had remarkable effects on HCV epidemiology. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from hepatitis and liver cancer caused by HCV virus infection. Approximately 80% of patients with acute hepatitis C progress into a chronic disease state leading to serious hepatic disorders, 10-20% of which develop chronic liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The incubation period of HCV is 6-8 weeks and the infection is often asymptomatic so it is very hard to detect at early stages, making early treatment very difficult. Therefore, hepatitis C is called a “silent disease”. Neutralizing antibodies are produced against several HCV proteins during infection but the virus mutates to escape from antibodies. Some patients with chronic hepatitis C may have some symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, nausea and pain. Autoimmune and immunecomplex-mediated diseases have also been reported with chronic HCV infection

Congenital rubella infection in neonatal cord blood samples of newborns in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Rubella is a disease caused by the rubella virus and it is usually mild and self-limiting. Infection of a developing fetus is serious and important because the child may be born with congenital rubella syndrome. Its symptoms include mental retardation, heart defects, cataract, etc. In 2003, mass vaccination against measles and rubella in individuals 5-25 years old was done. One of the main objectives of this study was to survey congenital rubella infection status with the presence of IgM antibodies against rubella virus in cord blood samples and also the immunity assessment of maternal IgG antibodies against rubella virus in the above samples. Methods: The cross-sectional study was to determine the transfer of congenital rubella in 358 cord blood samples collected in hospitals affiliated to the Tehran University of Medical Sciences that was done in 2008-2009 The collected samples were analyzed by two ELISA methods for detection of IgG and IgM antibodies, RT-Nested PCR tests was applied on samples of IgG–negative and IgM-positive and also some of randomly IgG-positive samples for identifying the presence of the virus genome. In this study two groups of mothers were tested, one consisted above 29 years of age (at the time of vaccination) with the frequency of 73.4% and the other one below 29 years of age with the frequency of 26.6%.Results: Of the 358 samples, 91.1% IgG and 2.8% were found to be positive. None of the 31 samples were positive according to the presence of the virus genome via the method of RT-Nested PCR. Conclusion: According to high immunity of mothers, the probability of congenital rubella transmission was low, but because of low immunity of mothers of >29 years of age, it is much better to upgrade the age of vaccination to 28 years old

Detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies or DNA sequences from ostensibly healthy Iranian mothers and their neonates

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains the most common cause of viral intrauterine infection. The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of at-risk pregnancies for congenital cytomegalovirus transmission in a randomly selected pregnant women and their newborns. Enzyme Link Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were utilized to screen the sera of mothers (n = 100) and consecutive umbilical cord blood samples from their newborn (n = 100). Of the 100 mother's sera analyzed, 100 (100%) and 3 (3%) were positive for cytomegalovirus IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Of the 100 cord serum specimens analyzed, 99 (99%) and 2 (2%) were positive for cytomegalovirus IgG and IgM antibodies, respectively. Cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in 4 out of 100 (4%) cord blood samples of newborns. From four CMV DNA positive cases, Case 1 had no IgM in cord serum, but had IgM in mother's sera. Cases 2 and 4 were positive for IgM in both mother's sera and cord serum. Case 3 had no detectable CMV IgM in sera and cord serum. As many as 66 and 100% of CMV IgM-positive women in this study also had CMV IgM and CMV DNA in their delivery cord blood samples, respectively suggesting an increased risk of congenital CMV infection in those pregnancies. A paired women sera/cord blood CMV IgM-negative was found to be positive for CMV DNA. The data may also suggest the utility of PCR in place of CMV IgM as a diagnostic method for congenital CMV infection

Detection of human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type-1 among patients with malignant hematological diseases in Capital of Iran, Tehran

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is a deltaretrovirus linked causally to adult T-cell leukemia or lymphoma (ATL), and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). The aim of this study was to detect HTLV-1 infection in patients with malignant hematological diseases and also determining the prevalence of HTLV-1 in these patient groups. Sixty patients with malignant hematological diseases were included in the study and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-HTLV-1, and Real time-PCR for the sequences from HTLV-1 tax gene. The mean age of patients was 33.9 ± 18.3 years. 18 of the subjects were found HTLV-1 seropositive using ELISA and the viral prevalence by Real time-PCR was 12%. HTLV-1 was found in 25% of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 58.3% of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), 16.7% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and no detected in patients with lymphoma. The present study revealed that HTLV-1 is prevalent in patients with malignant hematological diseases and in our study. The major HTLV-1 associated syndromes were chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Modeling of a Bio Sensor Based on Detection of Antigens Concentration Using an Electrically Actuated Micro Cantilever

Nano molecular adsorption of bio particles made it possible to design and produces of some micro sensors that can sense some vital characteristics of a patient. In this paper, electromechanical characteristics of such a device are investigated and a novel suggestion is made to increase its sensitivity. The device is a micro-cantilever beam submerged in blood that it has been proven that by applying an electrical potential difference between the beam and a supplemented substrate it will work more precisely. In order to investigate the electromechanical behavior of its structure, the well-known Euler-Bernoulli beam theory and differentially parallel capacitor assumption is hired. Due to the nonlinearity of governing differential equations, there is no known explicit solution, so in order to gain an approximate solution, Galerkin based step by step linearization method (SSLM) (for static deflection) is used then the equation of dynamic motion is linearized about an electrostatically deflected position so mode summation method is implemented. In addition some sensing methods including capacitive, resonance frequency shifting method have been investigated

Mutational analysis of reverse transcriptase and surface proteins of patients with partial virological response during mono and combination antiviral therapies in genotype D chronic hepatitis B

Introduction: The mutational pattern of chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is unclear in patients who show incomplete response to antiviral therapy. The aims of this study were 1) to determine the benefit of combination therapy with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) and Lamivudine (LAM) versus ADV or LAM alone in maintaining virological, biochemical and histological responses and 2) to investigate the patterns of mutations in the reverse transcriptase and surface proteins of HBV with LAM and/or ADF-resistant in partially-responded chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Methods: The study group consisted of 186 chronic HBV carriers who were admitted to the Tehran Hepatitis Network from 2010 to 2013. We retrospectively selected 86 patients who partially responded to different nucleoside analogue regimens. After 48 weeks of therapy, five groups of patients were defined including eight Lamivudine (LAM) Group (I), 30 Adefovir (ADV) Group (II), 16 ADV add on LAM Group (III), 32 ADV+LAM Group (IV), and 100 controls (no therapy). Reverse transcriptase (RT) and surface genes were amplified and sequenced for mutational analysis. Results: All groups showed differences between mean values for age, gender, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and HBV DNA levels groups showed significant differences than other groups (p < 0.05). The mutation frequencies for groups were I (1.7%), II (1.39%), III (2.28%), IV (2.0%), and V (0.38%). T54N, L80I/V, I91L/V, L180M, M204I/V, Q215P/S, and F221Y/S showed the highest number of mutations in all groups with different frequencies. Four new, unreported mutations were found. Conclusion: Those patients who failed to respond in the first 48 weeks, whether they were receiving mono or combination therapy, should be tested genotypically, for the early modification of treatment

Detection of human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type-1 among patients with malignant hematological diseases in Capital of Iran, Tehran

International audienceHuman T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is a deltaretrovirus linked causally to adult T-cellleukemia or lymphoma (ATL), and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis(HAM/TSP). The aim of this study was to detect HTLV-1 infection in patients with malignanthematological diseases and also determining the prevalence of HTLV-1 in these patient groups. Sixty patients with malignant hematological diseases were included in the study and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-HTLV-1, and Real time-PCR for the sequences from HTLV-1 tax gene. The mean age of patients was 33.9 ± 18.3 years. 18 of the subjects were found HTLV-1 seropositive using ELISA and the viral prevalence by Real time-PCR was 12%. HTLV-1 was found in 25% of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 58.3% of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), 16.7% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and no detected in patients with lymphoma. The present study revealed that HTLV-1 is prevalent in patients with malignant hematological diseases and in our study. The major HTLV-1 associated syndromes were chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Detection of human T-cell lymphotropic virus Type-1 among patients with malignant hematological diseases in Capital of Iran, Tehran

International audienceHuman T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is a deltaretrovirus linked causally to adult T-cellleukemia or lymphoma (ATL), and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis(HAM/TSP). The aim of this study was to detect HTLV-1 infection in patients with malignanthematological diseases and also determining the prevalence of HTLV-1 in these patient groups. Sixty patients with malignant hematological diseases were included in the study and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-HTLV-1, and Real time-PCR for the sequences from HTLV-1 tax gene. The mean age of patients was 33.9 ± 18.3 years. 18 of the subjects were found HTLV-1 seropositive using ELISA and the viral prevalence by Real time-PCR was 12%. HTLV-1 was found in 25% of patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 58.3% of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), 16.7% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and no detected in patients with lymphoma. The present study revealed that HTLV-1 is prevalent in patients with malignant hematological diseases and in our study. The major HTLV-1 associated syndromes were chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia