Prevalence and Correlates of Hepatitis C Infection among Male Injection Drug Users in Detention, Tehran, Iran

For the benefit of planning for the future care and treatment of people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and to help guide prevention and control programs, data are needed on HCV seroprevalence and associated risk factors. We conducted a cross-sectional sero-behavioral survey of injection drug users (IDU) detained for mandatory rehabilitation during a police sweep of Tehran, Iran, in early 2006. During the study period, a consecutive sample comprising 454 of 499 (91.0%) men arrested and determined to be IDU by urine test and physical examination consented to a face-to-face interview and blood collection for HCV antibody testing. Overall, HCV prevalence was 80.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) 76.2–83.6). Factors independently associated with HCV infection included history of incarceration (adjusted OR 4.35, 95% CI 1.88–10.08), age of first injection ≤25 years (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.09–6.82), and history of tattooing (OR 2.33, 95% CI 1.05–5.17). HCV prevalence in this population of IDU upon intake to jail was extremely high and possibly approaching saturation. Findings support that incarceration is contributing to the increased spread of HCV infection in Iran and calls for urgent increased availability of HCV treatment, long-term preparation for the care of complications of chronic infection, and rapid scale-up of programs for the primary prevention of parenterally transmitted infections among drug users

Comparison of hspX gene sequence in the Beijing and non-Beijing Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Purpose: The pathogenicity of various lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is different. This could be due to the difference in survival ability within the host macrophage. The alpha crystalline secretion protein, a product of the hspx gene, is one of the bacterial protection factors in these stressful situations. The Beijing family, part of the East Asian lineage, was reported to be more virulent. Regarding the importance of this protein in pathogenicity, this study was conducted to investigate the polymorphism of the hspx gene in Beijing family compared to non- Beijing strains. Method: DNA of 50 MTB isolates were extracted by boiling method. The existence of hspx gene was determined using PCR-specific primer and finally PCR product was sequenced to examine the polymorphism in both direct and reverse directions. Sequencing results were aligned by chromas software. Results: The hspx gene was detected in all of the Beijing and non-Beijing isolates. The polymorphism in the sequences of this gene were not observed in all of the MTB isolates. Discussion: This study indicated that hspx gene is protected. Also it has showed that lineage type was not related to the sequence of hspX gene, but the expression of this protein may be different, which requires further studies. © 202

Photocatalytic desulfurization of dibenzothiophene by NiCo₂O₄ nanospinel obtained by an oxidative precipitation process modeling and optimization

<p>This paper reports for the first time, synthesis of NiCo₂O₄ nano spinel by green oxidative precipitation and its performance in photocatalytic desulfurization of dibenzothiophene (DBT) from gas oil model at different process conditions under visible light. The as-produced nanostructure was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, UV–VIS diffuse reflective spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. The experiments for the study of different photocatalytic conditions were designed by response surface methodology and a second-order regression model was developed with a determination coefficient (<i>R</i>²) of 0.9769. Pareto analysis predicted that the relative importance of process factors for DBT removal is as follows: irradiation time > reaction temperature > photocatalyst dosage > DBT concentration. The promising results for DBT removal were concluded by photo desulfurization over the nano spinel. The study confirmed that nano spinels could be an alternative and cheap photocatalyst for desulfurization from the oil products.</p

CISPLATIN CHEMORESISTANCE RELATED GENES: A MACHINE LEARNING AND SYSTEMS BIOLOGY ANALYSIS APPROACH

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Global Fe-O isotope correlation reveals magmatic origin of Kiruna-type apatite-iron-oxide ores

Kiruna-type apatite-iron-oxide ores are key iron sources for modern industry, yet their origin remains controversial. Diverse ore-forming processes have been discussed, comprising lowtemperature hydrothermal processes versus a high-temperature origin from magma or magmatic fluids. We present an extensive set of new and combined iron and oxygen isotope data from magnetite of Kiruna-type ores from Sweden, Chile and Iran, and compare them with new global reference data from layered intrusions, active volcanic provinces, and established low-temperature and hydrothermal iron ores. We show that approximately 80% of the magnetite from the investigated Kiruna-type ores exhibit d56Fe and d18O ratios that overlap with the volcanic and plutonic reference materials (&gt; 800 degrees C), whereas similar to 20%, mainly vein-hosted and disseminated magnetite, match the low-temperature reference samples (&lt;= 400 degrees C). Thus, Kiruna-type ores are dominantly magmatic in origin, but may contain latestage hydrothermal magnetite populations that can locally overprint primary hightemperature magmatic signatures