Molecular investigation of Toxocara infection from the serum of people living with HIV in Alborz, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Toxocara infection is one of the most common neglected infections of poverty and a helminthiasis of global importance. Traditional diagnostic methods such as antibodies detection in serum samples are limited due to cross-reactivity and poor sensitivity. The use of molecular base methods for diagnosis of Toxocara infection in Iran has not been fully explored. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of Toxocara infection from serum samples of people living with HIV in Alborz province, Iran using serological and molecular methods. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 105 people living with HIV. Epidemiological data of participant were obtained through a structured questionnaire to investigate the risk factors. Patients CD4+ T cell count were recorded. Anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA, with a cut-off point of 11. PCR was performed to detect genetic material of Toxocara species in the serum samples. RESULTS: The mean CD4+ count in HIV-infected individuals with positive toxocariasis serology was 255.1 ± 21.6 cells/µL. Seropositivity for Toxocara species was observed in 12/105 (11.4%) people living with HIV. Three samples gave positive results on PCR analysis. Based on the data, a statistically significant relationship was found between anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies seropositivity and underlying conditions (p = 0.017). No significant statistical association was observed between seropositivity for Toxocara and gender, age, exposure to domestic animals or pet keeping, education levels, and occupation (p > 0.05). The findings of PCR confirmed Toxocara DNA in 3/12 (25.0%) serum samples. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrated for the first time that people living with HIV from Alborz province, are being exposed to this zoonosis and a relatively high seroprevalence of Toxocara in HIV/AIDS people needs comprehensive health education regarding personal hygiene and how to avoid exposure to this parasite infection, especially in people with an impaired immune system.

Detection of Toxocara species larvae in four Iranian free-range broiler farms.

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati in food animals, associated products, and their zoonotic potential are poorly understood. A cross sectional study was designed to determine the prevalence of Toxocara spp. larvae from free-range broiler chickens in traditional farms using conventional techniques and molecular method. Eight-hundred tissue samples including liver, gizzard, lungs and heart were collected from 200 chickens belonging to different regions of Zanjan Province, Iran and were processed by conventional and molecular methods. RESULTS: Out of 800 chicken tissues, 49 samples (6.1%) were positive for nematode larvae. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to identify species-specific of Toxocara larvae. The findings showed that 10.5% (21 out of 200) chickens were infected with Toxocara species, so that 57.1% (12 out of 21) of the samples were positive for Toxocara canis and 42.9% (9 out of 21) of the samples were positive for Toxocara cati. CONCLUSION: Considering the significant contamination/infection of free-range broiler chickens with Toxocara larvae, the consumption of chicken meat and viscera, especially liver and gizzards, can play an important role in the transmission of infection to humans. Prevention and control measures focused on regular deworming of dogs and cats, increasing public awareness of Toxocara infection are recommended.

Larva migrans in BALB/c mice experimentally infected with Toxocara cati ensured by PCR assay.

BACKGROUND: Toxocara cati, the cat roundworm, is a parasitic nematode that known to cause toxocariasis in intermediate hosts and humans. In this study, we characterized the dynamics of T. cati larvae migration in BALB/c mice after inoculation with eggs and ensured the migration detecting the larval DNA by a PCR. To evaluate the dynamics of larval migration and distribution, twenty-four BALB/c mice were orally inoculated with 2500 T. cati infective eggs and the visceral organs of the infected animals were examined by pepsin digestion and microscopic parasite counts, followed by PCR at day 1 to 28 post-inoculation. RESULTS: The PCR assays were successfully used for detection of T. cati larvae in tissue samples and T. cati larvae and the DNAs were found in the liver, lungs, heart, kidneys and the brain. We detected T. cati in 92.2% of tissue samples by PCR, 30% higher than the conventional pepsin digestion technique. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that the PCR assay is a sensitive and specific for the detection of T. cati larvae. Therefore, it could become a useful tool for the investigation of the dynamics of larval migration and Toxocara infection in murine model.

Utilization of Carbon-Based Nanomaterials and Plate-Fin Networks in a Cold PCM Container with Application in Air Conditioning of Buildings.

Cold energy storage devices are widely used for coping with the mismatch between thermal energy production and demand. These devices can store cold thermal energy and return it when required. Besides the countless advantages of these devices, their freezing rate is sluggish, therefore researchers are continuously searching for techniques to improve their operating speed. This paper tries to address this problem by simultaneously combining a network of plate fins and various types of carbon-based nanomaterials (NMs) in a series of complex computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations that are validated by published experimental results. Horizontal, vertical, and the combination of these two plate-fin arrangements are tested and compared to the base model. Subsequently, several carbon-based NMs, including SWCNT, MWCNT, and graphene-oxide NMs are utilized to further improve the process. The influence of these fin networks, nanoparticle types, and their volume- and mass-based concentrations within the PCM container are studied and discussed. According to the results, carbon-based NMs exhibit superior performance compared to metal-oxide NMs, so that at identical NM volume and mass fractions, MWCNT particles present a 2.77% and 17.72% faster freezing rate than the CuO particles. The combination of plate-fin network and MWCNT particles is a promising technique that can expedite the ice formation rate by up to 70.14%.

Physical Hybrid of Nanographene/Carbon Nanotubes as Reinforcing Agents of NR-Based Rubber Foam.

Natural rubber (NR) foams reinforced by a physical hybrid of nanographene/carbon nanotubes were fabricated using a two-roll mill and compression molding process. The effects of nanographene (GNS) and carbon nanotubes (CNT) were investigated on the curing behavior, foam morphology, and mechanical and thermal properties of the NR nanocomposite foams. Microscope investigations showed that the GNS/CNT hybrid fillers acted as nucleation agents and increased the cell density and decreased the cell size and wall thickness. Simultaneously, the cell size distribution became narrower, containing more uniform multiple closed-cell pores. The rheometric results showed that the GNS/CNT hybrids accelerated the curing process and decreased the scorch time from 6.81 to 5.08 min and the curing time from 14.3 to 11.12 min. Other results showed that the GNS/CNT hybrid improved the foam's curing behavior. The degradation temperature of the nanocomposites at 5 wt.% and 50 wt.% weight loss increased from 407 °C to 414 °C and from 339 °C to 346 °C, respectively, and the residual ash increased from 5.7 wt.% to 12.23 wt.% with increasing hybrid nanofiller content. As the amount of the GNS/CNT hybrids increased in the rubber matrix, the modulus also increased, and the Tg increased slightly from -45.77 °C to -38.69 °C. The mechanical properties of the NR nanocomposite foams, including the hardness, resilience, and compression, were also improved by incorporating GNS/CNT hybrid fillers. Overall, the incorporation of the nano hybrid fillers elevated the desirable properties of the rubber foam.

In vitro effect of changing the horizontal angulation of X-ray beam on the detection of proximal enamel caries in bitewing radiographs.

BACKGROUND: Bitewing radiography is an important modality useful for the evaluation of teeth in patients of various ages and in different stages of tooth eruption. Clinical examination of proximal surfaces for caries may result in false negative results, especially in tight contact areas. Thus, radiography, as an adjunct to clinical examination, is used as a routine diagnostic modality for caries detection. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the in vitro effect of changing the horizontal angulation of X-ray beam on the detection of proximal enamel caries in bitewing radiographs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This in vitro study was conducted on 150 caries-free human premolars (code: p/16/35/9/210). The teeth were randomly divided into 3 groups (n = 50). Group 1 served as the control group and no carious lesions were induced in this group. Teeth in groups 2 and 3 were immersed in demineralizing solution for 2 and 4 months, respectively. After induction of caries and its radiographic confirmation, the teeth were mounted in wax in groups of 3 and bitewing radiographs were obtained at 0°, 5°, 10° and 15° horizontal angles. RESULTS: The sensitivity values of bitewing radiographs at 0°, 5°, 10° and 15° horizontal angles were 88%, 90%, 88%, 92% in group 2 and 88%, 94%, 94% and 94% in group 3, respectively. The specificity values of bitewing radiographs at 0°, 5°, 10° and 15° horizontal angles were 92%, 86%, 84% and 76%. The accuracy of bitewing radiographs at 0°, 5°, 10° and 15° horizontal angles was 89.3%, 90%, 88.7% and 87.3%, respectively. The highest diagnostic accuracy was obtained at 5° horizontal angle for caries detection; however, the difference in this regard among the tested horizontal angles was not statically significant (p = 0.846). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, changing the horizontal angulation has no significant effect on the detection of proximal enamel caries in bitewing radiographs.