A serological investigation and genotyping of Toxoplasma gondii among Iranian blood donors indicates threat to health of blood recipients.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease in animals and human caused by the intracellular obligatory protozoan named Toxoplasma gondii. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the sero-molecular prevalence and genotyping T. gondii among healthy blood donors in north of Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 400 blood donors participated from all Blood Transfusion Organization (BTO) in Mazandaran province during October and November 2014. The blood samples were investigated for seroprevalence, DNA detection and genotyping of T. gondii using ELISA, nested-PCR, and Multilocus nested-PCR-RFLP methods respectively. RESULTS: Among all of blood donors, 294 (73.5 %) and 9 (2.2 %) cases were seropositive for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. T. gondii DNA was detected in 7 samples. Four genotype of T. gondii were identified in blood donors samples (Genotype ToxoDB#1, #2, #10 and #27), which 50 % of T. gondii strains were highly pathogenic. CONCLUSIONS: Taking into account survive T. gondii in blood transfusion bag, the high prevalence of T. gondii and existence of pathogenic genotypes in Iranian blood donors, it seems that T. gondii screening should be performed at the BTO to prevent complications of toxoplasmosis in blood recipients.

Evaluation of Diagnostic Accuracy of Alpha-Fodrin Antibody in Iranian Patients with Sjogren's Disease.

Background: Sjogren's syndrome, as a chronic autoimmune disease, involves in lymphocytic infiltration in the exocrine glands. As the result of exocrine glands disruption, the clinical hallmark of this disease including dryness of mouth and eyes along with fatigue and joint pain occur. However, heterogeneity of clinical presentations among newly diagnosed adult patients with Sjogren's syndrome leads to difficulty in its diagnosis. One of the diagnostic criteria for Sjogren's syndrome is the presence of autoantibodies in patient serum. One of the novel biomarkers suggested for diagnosis of Sjogren is alpha-fodrin antibody. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic power of anti-α-fodrin antibody among the Iranian population for the first time. Materials and Methods: We recruited 82 individuals in this study. Alpha-fodrin were measured in case and control with Elisa kit as 16.71 (9.84) and 18.44 (11.54). Results: There was no any significant difference between two groups regarding alpha-fodrin level (P = 0.35). Then we applied the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine the predictive value of alpha-fodrin for diagnosing Sjogren's disease. The area under curve of the ROC curve was calculated as 0.5453. Also, there were significant association between age and alpha-fodrin antibody. Conclusions: Alpha-fodrin test did not have acceptable predictive power for predicting Sjogren's disease; however, it could be associated with disease progression.

Injection of Paraquat in the Neck: A Rare Complicated Case Report.

Paraquat is a highly toxic compound and a widely used herbicide that causes serious morbidity and mortality. The most well-known route of poisoning is oral ingestion, whereas parenteral injection of paraquat is individually uncommon. We present a case who injected paraquat in his neck in an attempt to commit suicide. His general condition got worsened gradually over 3 days. He received early hemodialysis in 4 h after self-injection and then supportive treatment in intensive care unit. Early hemodialysis helped him survive, but during hospitalization, some rare complications occurred, and unfortunately, he died after 3 months. Despite the high-risk route of poisoning, the patient survived for 3 months. Our patient was protected from renal and hepatic damage may be because of early hemodialysis but suffered from central nervous system and pulmonary damage.

Evaluation of bone mineral density in Iranian HIV/AIDS patients.

Bone disorders have emerged as a worrisome complication in HIV-infected patients in recent years. It is not clear that HIV infection itself or antiretroviral treatment or both are causes of bone loss. However, most studies have found a high prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV/AIDS patients. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients either untreated or receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy as compared with HIV negative persons. We also assessed the factors associated with these conditions. Bone Mineral Density was assessed by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry scans at the hip and lumbar spine in 36 AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy and 44 HIV infected patients not receiving antiretroviral therapy (naïve patients) and 40 HIV negative individuals as control. Factors that affect BMD were also determined. Prevalence of osteopenia or osteoporosis in different regions was significantly higher in HIV/AIDS patients compared with HIV negative subjects (77.3% in HIV positive naïve patients, 86.1% in HAART-treated patients and 60% in the control group, P=0.002). Mean serum alkaline phosphatase was higher in HIV/AIDS patients than the control group (P=0.003). Osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients were associated with duration of HIV infection (P<0.0001) and antiretroviral treatment (P=0.012). Prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV/AIDS patients was higher than HIV negative individuals. Osteopenia and osteoporosis in HIV/AIDS patients was associated with duration of HIV infection and antiretroviral treatment.