Toxocara sero-prevalence and its relationship with allergic asthma in asthmatic patients in north-eastern Iran.

Toxocariasis is an important neglected tropical disease that has been suggested as a possible etiologic agent of asthma. The objective of the present study was to investigate possible significant association between Toxocara seroprevalence and asthma in a clinic-based case-control study. Blood samples were collected from human subjects aged 5-70 years, 50 of whom had signs of asthma and 50 of whom had no signs of asthma. Risk factors for asthma and Toxocara spp. infection were assessed by a questionnaire given to each patient. Blood samples were analysed to measure levels of anti-Toxocara spp. immunoglobulin G (IgG). Patients with bronchial asthma were observed to have higher Toxocara spp. seropositivity than that of the non-asthmatic controls (6 vs 2%, P = 0.47). The mean anti-Toxocara spp. antibody titre was not significantly higher in patients with bronchial asthma than in individuals without asthma (P = 0.395, 95% CI = 0.579-1.45). There was no significant difference in the mean age, sex, social class, exposure to smoking and presence of domestic dog or cat at home between the two groups (P ≥ 0.05). The presence of anti-Toxocara spp. IgG was statistically associated with higher blood eosinophils, but it was not associated with asthma (P ≥ 0.05). The observed relationship between exposure to Toxocara spp. infection and bronchial asthma in Iranian patients warrants further evaluation. An understanding of any potential influence on the pathogenesis of human asthma provides a potential avenue for prevention.

Tuberculosis in patients with anthracosis of lung underlying mechanism or superimposed disease.

BACKGROUND: Anthracosis is the black pigment discoloration of bronchi with an unknown cause which can cause bronchial destruction and deformity (anthracofibrosis). The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of tuberculosis in anthracosis and evaluate their association. METHODS: One hundred and twenty subjects with bronchoscopy diagnosis of simple anthracosis, anthracofibrosis and non-anthracotic control groups entered this study. Demographic data and important clinical and radiological findings were recorded. Bronchial biopsy and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed for further cytopathological, acid-fast bacilli staining and culture in all cases. RESULTS: Cough and dyspnea were significantly higher in anthracosis subjects. Radiological characteristic of tuberculosis such as upper lobe localization and cavity were not significantly higher in anthracosis subjects that suffer from tuberculosis. Laboratory test for tuberculosis showed positive acid fast bacilli in 17.5 and 25% and caseating granuloma in 20 and 17.5% of anthracosis and anthracofibrosis subjects. Adding the result of culture, the frequency of tuberculosis in both groups of anthracosis was 27.5% that was significantly more than nonanthracotic control group (Odd ratio= 6.15, CL=1.29

Association of HTLV1 infection and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Both esophageal carcinoma and HTLV-1 (Human T cell lymphotropic virus 1) have high prevalence in northeastern of Iran. OBJECTIVE: To assess the presence of HTLV-1 genome in esophageal cancerous tissue and in tissues from non cancerous individuals. METHODS: Eighty five patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 48 non-cancerous control patients that underwent esophagogasteroscopy for other reasons were included in this study. All selected subjects are residing in northeastern part of Iran. All specimens were studied histopathologically by H&E staining and were evaluated for HTLV-1 by PCR method. In PCR, the presence of tax, pol, env and LTR segments of HTLV-1 genome were detected. RESULTS: Male to female ratio in the case group was 3 to 5. Average age and standard deviation in case and control group were 56 +/- 17 and 54 +/- 21 years, respectively; which did not have any significant differences. All the patients came from the same area in the northeastern part of Iran. HTLV-1 genome was found in two subjects with esophageal cancer and in one subject in the control group. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences between the two groups (chi square = 0.26, Fisher exact test P value = 0.7, Odd ratio = 1.13 [0.08