Non-Infectious Complications in B-Lymphopenic Common Variable Immunodeficiency.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is considered the most symptomatic type of inborn errors of immunity in humans. Along with infectious complications, which have numerous consequences, non-infectious complications are also a major challenge among CVID patients. METHODS: All registered CVID patients in the national database were included in this retrospective cohort study. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of B-cell lymphopenia. Demographic characteristics, laboratory findings, non-infectious organ involvements, autoimmunity, and lymphoproliferative diseases were evaluated. RESULTS: Among 387 enrolled patients, 66.4% were diagnosed with non-infectious complications; however, 33.6% had only infectious presentations. Enteropathy, autoimmunity, and lymphoproliferative disorders were reported in 35.1%, 24.3%, and 21.4% of patients, respectively. Some complications, including autoimmunity and hepatosplenomegaly, were reported to be significantly higher among patients with B-cell lymphopenia. Among organ involvement, dermatologic, endocrine and musculoskeletal systems were predominantly affected in CVID patients with B-cell lymphopenia. Among autoimmune manifestations, the frequency of rheumatologic, hematologic, and gastrointestinal autoimmunity was reported to be higher compared to other types of autoimmunity independent from the B cell-lymphopenia. Furthermore, hematological cancers, particularly lymphoma, were slightly introduced as the most common type of malignancy. Meanwhile, the mortality rate was 24.5%, and respiratory failure and malignancies were reported as the most common cause of death in our patients without significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Considering that some of the non-infectious complications might be associated with B-cell lymphopenia, therefore, regular patient monitoring and follow-up along with proper medications (besides immunoglobulins replacement therapy) are highly recommended to prevent further sequels and increase the patients' quality of life.

Relativistic nucleon-nucleon potentials in a spin-dependent three-dimensional approach.

The matrix elements of relativistic nucleon-nucleon (NN) potentials are calculated directly from the nonrelativistic potentials as a function of relative NN momentum vectors, without a partial wave decomposition. To this aim, the quadratic operator relation between the relativistic and nonrelativistic NN potentials is formulated in momentum-helicity basis states. It leads to a single integral equation for the two-nucleon (2N) spin-singlet state, and four coupled integral equations for two-nucleon spin-triplet states, which are solved by an iterative method. Our numerical analysis indicates that the relativistic NN potential obtained using CD-Bonn potential reproduces the deuteron binding energy and neutron-proton elastic scattering differential and total cross-sections with high accuracy.

Evaluation of patients with primary immunodeficiency associated with Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-vaccine-derived complications

BACKGROUND: Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination has a great impact on the prevention of severe complications of tuberculosis. However, in patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID), it can lead to severe complications such as severe combined immunodeficiency, chronic granulomatous disease, and Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease. This study highlights the demographics, clinical complications and laboratory parameters among PID patients associated with BCG vaccination side effects. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-seven PID patients with BCGosis were evaluated in this study, based on the complications following BCG vaccination. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients with BCG complications at the time of the first visit was five years. The within-group comparison of patients showed a highly significant incidence of pneumonia and hepatomegaly in severe combined immunodeficiency patients. Furthermore, the immunologic data showed an increase in the overall rates of lymphocytes such as CD3+, CD4+ and CD8 + T cells in Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease patients. The level of immunoglobulins has also increased in chronic granulomatous disease patients. CONCLUSION: The high rate of undiagnosed PIDs predisposes individuals to a high risk of severe side effects as a result of BCG vaccination, as well as infants that are less than one month of age. Therefore, there is a need for early screening and diagnosis of PIDs before exposing unknown PID status patients to BCG vaccination. The benefits of screening and early diagnosis of PID cannot be overemphasized, especially in patients with a previous family history of immunodeficiency

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Evaluation of patients with primary immunodeficiency associated with Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-vaccine-derived complications.

BACKGROUND: Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination has a great impact on the prevention of severe complications of tuberculosis. However, in patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PID), it can lead to severe complications such as severe combined immunodeficiency, chronic granulomatous disease, and Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease. This study highlights the demographics, clinical complications and laboratory parameters among PID patients associated with BCG vaccination side effects. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-seven PID patients with BCGosis were evaluated in this study, based on the complications following BCG vaccination. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients with BCG complications at the time of the first visit was five years. The within-group comparison of patients showed a highly significant incidence of pneumonia and hepatomegaly in severe combined immunodeficiency patients. Furthermore, the immunologic data showed an increase in the overall rates of lymphocytes such as CD3+, CD4+ and CD8 + T cells in Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease patients. The level of immunoglobulins has also increased in chronic granulomatous disease patients. CONCLUSION: The high rate of undiagnosed PIDs predisposes individuals to a high risk of severe side effects as a result of BCG vaccination, as well as infants that are less than one month of age. Therefore, there is a need for early screening and diagnosis of PIDs before exposing unknown PID status patients to BCG vaccination. The benefits of screening and early diagnosis of PID cannot be overemphasized, especially in patients with a previous family history of immunodeficiency.

Three new Canuellidae (Copepoda: Canuelloida) from Iran.

A survey of copepods from intertidal zone of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman resulted in discovery of three new species belonging to the family Canuellidae Lang, 1944. This work contributes to the final aim to describe meiobenthic copepods from this region and is the first description of meiobenthic copepods from Iranian coastline. The new species belong to the genera Brianola Monard, 1926, Canuella, T. A. Scott, 1893, and Scottolana Huys, 2009. Compared to other congeners, Brianola haliensis sp. nov. is unique in the armature of the first leg, number of segments and setation of the antennary endopod and exopod. Canuella persica sp. nov. is easily distinguishable from its congeners by the shape of furcal rami and male genitalia. Scottolana gomezi sp. nov. is assigned to the longipes-group by the presence of two and three post-genital somites in the female and male, respectively. It is closely related to S. geei (Mu Huys, 2004) recorded from the Bohai Sea, China, but can be distinguished by its eight-segmented antennary exopod, mouthparts setation, and shape of the furcal rami.

Differential characteristics of primary infection and re-infection can cause backward bifurcation in HCV transmission dynamics.

Backward bifurcation, a phenomenon typically characterized by the co-existence of multiple stable equilibria when the associated reproduction number of the model is less than unity, has been observed in numerous disease transmission models. This study establishes, for the first time, the presence of this phenomenon in the transmission dynamics of hepatitis C virus (HCV) within an IDU population. It is shown that the phenomenon does not exist under four scenarios, namely (i) in the absence of re-infection, (ii) in the absence of differential characteristics of HCV infection (with respect to infectivity, progression, treatment and recovery) between re-infected individuals and primary-infected individuals, (iii) when re-infected and treated individuals do not transmit HCV infection and (iv) when the average infectivity-adjusted duration of re-infection is less than that of primary infection. This study identifies, using sensitivity analysis, five parameters of the model that have the most influence on the disease transmission dynamics, namely: effective contact rate, progression rate from acute to chronic infection, recovery rate from acute infection, natural death rate and the relative infectiousness of chronically-infected individuals. Numerical simulations of the model show that the re-infection of recovered individuals has marginal effect on the HCV burden (as measured in terms of the cumulative incidence and the prevalence of the disease) in the IDU community. Furthermore, treatment of infected IDUs, even for small rate (such as 4%), offers significant impact on curtailing HCV spread in the community.

Optical isolation via 𝒫 𝒯 -symmetric nonlinear Fano resonances.

We show that Fano resonances created by two 𝒫 𝒯 -symmetric nonlinear micro-resonators coupled to a waveguide, have line-shape and resonance position that depends on the direction of the incident light. We utilize these features in order to induce asymmetric transport, up to 47 dBs, in the optical C-window. Our theoretical proposal requires low input power and does not compromise the power or frequency characteristics of the output signal.

Migraine and its relation with lifestyle in women.

UNLABELLED: Migraine is a very common primary headache disorder with no underlying identifiable pathological cause. It has a profound effect on the well-being and general functioning of its victims. Migraine is best understood as a chronic disorder with episodic manifestations, progressive in some individuals, having dramatic social and economic costs. Migraine causes stress in patients and their families, changes the roles and lifestyles and disturbs the social interactions between family members. Being more common in women, migraine is a significant women's health concern. The low rate of headaches with identifiable organic causes suggests that individual and environmental factors are determinants of migraine. Therefore, studying lifestyle and its relation with migraine is very important. This study examines the relation between migraine headaches and lifestyle in women refereed to university clinics in Iran. METHODS: This is a case-control study of 170 patients selected randomly using Poisson sampling. The study population included female patients suffering from headache referred to the neurology clinics and health centers in Iran (with neurologist-diagnosed migraine according to the criteria of the International Society of Headache). The study population for the control group included women without migraine headache whose life conditions were similar to the migraine group and who were living in the same area. Data were collected by interview and a questionnaire which was tested for reliability and validity using content validity and retest methodologies. RESULTS: Findings showed a significant relation between some dimensions of lifestyle, such as diet eating habits (P = 0.001), resting and sleeping habits (P = 0.012), and drug usage patterns (P = 0.001) with migraine headaches. But there were no significant relationships noted between smoking, exercise or stress levels with migraine headaches. DISCUSSION: Lifestyle habits, including rest and sleep, diet and drug usage, are important factors in migraine attacks. It is important to emphasize changing habits, such as improper use of analgesics, to decrease side effects in migraine victims. The health centers should consider promoting healthy habits and behaviors as a priority in their services.

A model for developing countries of mass serological survey of children vaccinated against diphtheria and tetanus.

PIP: To assess the efficacy of Iran's mass immunization program, 60,000 blood samples were collected from all susceptible age groups and regions of the country. Diphtheria and tetanus antitoxin levels were determined by hemagglutination test. Official reports claim that over 70% of children in Iran receive vaccine during annual mass campaigns. At least 74% of children 3 months-7 years had diphtheria antitoxin titers sufficiently high to prevent infection, while 81-91% of those 7-13 years old were protected. Similarly, 74-82% of children 3 months-7 years had tetanus antitoxin levels high enough to avoid infection, as did 80-90% of older children. Following mass vaccination in Iran, diphtheria morbidity decreased among children but increased among adults. The incidence of tetanus has been significantly decreased in recent years due to an emphasis on immunizing girls and young mothers with adsorbed tetanus toxoid. These findings confirm both the effectiveness of Iran's vaccination campaign and the boosting effect of vaccine in older children. The hemagglutination test can be performed easily in developing countries where laboratory facilities are limited and is recommended for mass serological surveys.^ieng

A comparative study of two live measles vaccines in Iran.

The results of immunization of 523 children from 9 months to over 5 years of age with two attenuated measles vaccines, ;Denken' and ;Biken', are described. The clinical reactions following vaccination with both vaccines were mild, but Denken vaccine produced more rashes than the Biken vaccine. The serological conversion was satisfactory for both vaccines but a higher titre of neutralizing and haemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies was found in children immunized with Denken vaccine. The incidence of severe reactions or complications was negligible in this trial. The immunity to diphtheria or tetanus was not altered by vaccination with live measles vaccine.