Prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, HPV and syphilis among female sex workers in Kurdistan, west of Iran.

Background: Female sex workers (FSWs) in most societies run a high risk of health problems, including sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as viral infections and syphilis. The present study examines the prevalence of viral infections and syphilis among FSWs. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 100 female sex workers (April 2019 to April 2020) who visited the Counseling Center for Behavioral Diseases or were selected via purposeful (snowball) sampling. A questionnaire (demographic information and STI risk factors) was completed in a face-to-face interview with the participants. Blood samples were then taken to test the markers for HBV, HCV Ab, HIV Ab, Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) for syphilis and a PCR was taken to test for HPV (in vaginal sex workers from the cervix and anal sex workers from the anal region). The data were analyzed in Stata 14. Results: Among 100 FSWs, 6 (6%) were infected with HIV, 1 (1%) with hepatitis B, and 2 (2%) were anti-HCV positive. 1 (1%) participant was suspected of having syphilis. Based on the PCR tests, 16 (16%) participants were infected with HPV. Moreover, 68 (68%) FSWs reported having unprotected sex. Conclusion: Due to the prevalence of viral infections and syphilis and unprotected sex in FSWs, immediate preventive measures are critical for this vulnerable group to control the transmission of these viral infections in society.

Comparison of three doses of amikacin on alternate days with a daily dose of meropenem during the same period for the treatment of urinary tract infection with E. coli: a double-blind clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common infections in humans, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the commonest pathogen leading to UTIs. The generation of beta-lactamase enzymes in this bacterium results in its resistance against many antibiotics. This study compares three doses of amikacin on alternate days with a daily dose of meropenem in the same period for the treatment of UTIs with E. coli in a double-blind clinical trial. METHODS: The current double-blind clinical trial compares three doses of amikacin on alternate days with a daily dose of meropenem in the same period for the treatment of UTIs with E. coli. The patients were assigned to two groups: Intervention (receiving a single dose of amikacin once a day at 48-h intervals for a week, three doses) and control (receiving meropenem for 1/TDS for a week). RESULTS: The E. coli infection frequency was 61 (21 cases of non-ESBL and 40 cases of ESBL-positive infections) and the frequency of the other infections was 52 (46%). In the patients with ESBL E. coli infection, ciprofloxacin (21; 70%) showed the highest antibiotic resistance, and nitrofurantoin (33; 91.7%) showed the highest sensitivity. The baseline variables between the control and intervention groups indicated no significant difference (p > 0.05). The frequency of signs and symptoms showed no significant difference between the amikacin and meropenem groups in the first 24 h and the first week. In the second week of follow-up, no clinical signs or symptoms were observed in the two groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that treatment with amikacin, 1 g q48h, for one week (three doses) has the same result as meropenem, 1 g q8h, for one week (21 doses). The results are the same for the treatment of UTIs with ESBL positive and ESBL negative. Amikacin can be used once every 48 h to treat UTIs, is less expensive and can be administered on an outpatient basis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with ID number: IRCT20170417033483N2 on the date 2018-02-13.

Osteopoikilosis: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Osteopoikilosis, also referred to as disseminated condensing osteopathy, spotted bone disease, or osteopecilia, is a rare bone disorder. The case presented here showcases multiple disc lesions in the spine, extensive multifocal skin lesions, and positive test results for dermatomyositis and multifocal enthesopathy, accompanied by neurological symptoms. This manifestation represents a novel variant of the disease. CASE PRESENTATION: Our patient is a 46-year-old mosque Kurdish servant presenting with complaints of pain in the right leg, lower back, right hand, and neck. Additionally, the patient has been experiencing redness in the right buttock and ipsilateral thigh, as well as gradually expanding and stiffening skin lesions on the left shin for the past 3 weeks. Painful neck movements and a positive Lasegue test were also observed in the right leg. The patient reports pain in the right buttock accompanied by a substantial erythematous area with induration measuring 8 × 15 cm, as well as an erythematous and maculopapular lesion measuring 6 × 18 cm on the left shin. CONCLUSIONS: Our patient is a 46-year-old man presenting with complaints of skin lesions and pain in the lower back, pelvis, neck, and limbs. The X-ray reveals shoulder, pelvis, knee, and ankle involvement, while spinal involvement is observed in the neck and lumbar region. Furthermore, the bone scan indicates extensive enthesopathy in various regions, a unique manifestation not previously reported in similar cases.

Effectiveness of different treatment regimens on patients with COVID-19, hospitalized in Sanandaj hospitals: a retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Different drugs have different effects on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different drug regimens on patients with COVID-19, hospitalized in Sanandaj city. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 660 patients with COVID-19, hospitalized in the Tohid, Kowsar and Besat hospitals located Sanandaj (Kurdistan Province, Iran) were studied from February 2020 to February 2021 with clinical symptoms and positive test results. RESULTS: The results of multivariate regression analysis showed the days of hospitalization for patients who had received the drug regimen 2 (Interferons (ReciGen/Ziphron) or Interferon Vectra (lopinavir/ritonavir)) was 1.92 times higher than those who had received the drug regimen 1 (hydroxychloroquine group or a combination of chloroquine and azithromycin) while a significant association was observed (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.16-3.16, P = 0.011). Also, the hospitalization in ICU was longer in patients treated by the drug regimen 2 (Interferons (ReciGen/Ziphron) or Interferon Vectra (lopinavir/ritonavir)) (OR = 4.63, 95% CI: 1.80-11.82, P = 0.001), however, drug regimens did not show a significant effect on mortality and use of ventilator in patients (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study results showed the drug regimens 2 and 5 increased the days of hospitalization and hospitalization in ICU, respectively, while the other drug regimens had no significant effect on mortality and use a ventilator in the studied patients and none of the drug regimens had an effect on reducing mortality compared to other ones.

The Prognostic Factors Affecting the Survival of Kurdistan Province COVID-19 Patients: A Cross-sectional Study From February to May 2020.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new viral disease and in a short period of time, the world has been affected in various economic, social, and health aspects. This disease has a high rate of transmission and mortality. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors affecting the survival of COVID-19 patients in Kurdistan province. METHODS: In this retrospective study, the data including demographic features and the patient's clinical background in terms of co-morbidities such as diabetes, cancer, chronic lung disease (CLD), coronary heart disease (CHD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and weak immune system (WIS) were extracted from electronic medical records. We use Cox's regression proportional hazard (PH) to model. RESULTS: In this study, out of 1831 patients, 1019 were males (55.7%) and 812 were females (44.3%) with an average age of 52.74 ± 22.16 years. For survival analysis, data from people infected with COVID-19 who died or were still being treated were used. According to Cox's regression analysis, age variables (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.03, CI: 1.02-1.04), patients with a history of diabetes (HR: 2.16, CI: 1.38-3.38), cancer (HR: 3.57, CI: 1.82-7.02), CLD (HR: 2.21, CI: 1.22-4) and CHD (HR: 2.20, CI: 1.57-3.09) were significant and affected the hazard of death in patients with COVID-19 and assuming that the other variables in the model are constant, the hazard of death increases by 3% by increasing one unit (year), and the hazard of death in COVID-19 patients with CHD, diabetes, cancer, CLD is 2.16, 3.57, 2.2 and 2.21, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to findings, it is necessary to evaluate the prevalence of COVID-19 in patients with CLD, diabetes, cancer, CHD, and elder, as patients with these characteristics may face a greater risk of death. Therefore, we suggest that elders and people with those underlying illnesses need to be under active surveillance and screened frequently.

Relationship between vitamin D levels and brucellosis: a case-control study from Sanandaj, Iran.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that is caused by the Brucella species. This disease is common in Iran and its incidence is increasing .This study measures serum vitamin D levels in patients with brucellosis and healthy people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This research was conducted as a case-control study at Tohid Hospital, Sanandaj, Iran. The calculated sample size included 90 patients in the case group and 90 patients in the control group. The measurement of vitamin D levels in the case and control groups were performed by ELISA. RESULTS: The mean serum vitamin D level was 19.91 ng/ml in the case group and 22.87 ng/ml in the control group. (Serum vitamin D level <10 ng/mL is accepted as deficiency, 10-30 ng/mL as insufficiency, 30-100 ng/mL as sufficiency, and >100 ng/mL as toxicity). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of vitamin D deficiency (p-value=0.097).

Geographical distribution of Typhoid using Geographic Information System (GIS) during 2009-2014 in Iran.

Background: Salmonella induced infections remain one of the most important health problems worldwide. The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence and geographical distribution of typhoid using GIS and to predict its incidence in Iran in 2021. Methods: This study is a descriptive analytical study. Information on pertussis was obtained from the Center for Communicable Diseases Control during 2009-2015. In the next step, ArcGIS 9.3 was used to prepare geographic maps of the disease incidence and frequency Therefore, using the Raster Calculator tool, the disease prediction map was drawn. Results: The results showed that the highest incidence of typhoid during 2009-2014 was in Kermanshah, Lorestan, Hamadan, Kurdistan, and Ilam provinces. The incidence of typhoid in Iran increased during 2009-2010. The annual incidence of typhoid decreased from 0.85 per 100,000 in 2010 to 0.5 in 2014. Based on the modeling results for Iran, Kermanshah, Lorestan, Kurdistan, Ilam and Hamadan provinces with 92.17%, 46.56%, 31.74%, 25.62% and 22.96% of their areas (Km2) are at high risk for typhoid in the coming years, respectively. Conclusion: Considering that the provinces of Kermanshah, Lorestan, Kurdistan, Ilam, and Hamadan are at risk of typhoid incidence in the coming years in Iran, and given that salmonella infections have a direct relationship with the individual's health status and individual's environmental health and socioeconomic status, improving the health status and disease control in carriers as well as improving the socio-economic status of the population living in these areas can prevent the disease in the years to come.

Persistence assessment of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody in recovered COVID-19 individuals and its association with clinical symptoms and disease severity: A prospective longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Antibodies play an important role in neutralizing invading pathogens and protecting the host against re-infection. Thus, the accurate assessment of antibodies during a pandemic can provide important evidence for monitoring pathogen exposure, understanding the role of antibodies in protective immunity, and helping vaccine development. METHODS: In this study, 96 west Iranian recovered COVID-19 subjects were recruited and, based on clinical symptoms and disease severity, categorized into three different groups: mild, moderate, and severe. In addition, the presence and dynamic change of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody three, four-, and six months post symptom onset (PSO) were measured. Also, the association between IgG antibody titer with clinical symptoms and disease severity was examined. RESULTS: Although in real-time RT-PCR-positive samples negative IgG antibody results were found, most subjects mount humoral immune responses that could raise a robust SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody. Furthermore, this antibody persisted in the serum of most recovered COVID-19 subjects at least six months PSO and demonstrated little to no decrease. Also, specific IgG antibody titer was strongly correlated with clinical symptoms and disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide an insight into the presence and persistence of the SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody. Although serological tests could not be used as the primary diagnostic test, they may support real-time RT-PCR results. Also, they could be used for diagnosing COVID-19 subjects tested later outside of the optimal period. Thus, the SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG antibody is an excellent marker of COVID-19 infection or vaccination and provides an additional diagnostic tool for verifying results and helps monitor and control COVID-19 spread.

Subcutaneous tocilizumab in adults with severe and critical COVID-19: A prospective open-label uncontrolled multicenter trial.

Potential therapeutic approaches in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) comprise antiviral and immunomodulatory agents; however, no immunomodulator drug has been approved. This multicenter, prospective, open-label, uncontrolled study aimed to assess the use of subcutaneous tocilizumab in adult patients with severe and critical COVID-19. Tocilizumab was added to the standard care of therapy at a dose of 324 mg (<100 kg bodyweight) or 486 mg (≥100 kg bodyweight). The study endpoints were all-cause mortality rate, changes in oxygen-support level, oxygen saturation, body temperature, respiratory rate, and laboratory variables during the study, and drug safety. Of 126 patients enrolled, 86 had severe and 40 had critical disease. Most patients were male (63.49%) and aged below 65 (78.57%). By day 14 of the study, 4.65% (4/86) of severe patients and 50.00% (20/40) of critical patients died. By the end, 6.98% (6/86) of severe patients and 60.00% (24/40) of critical patients died.Outcomes concerning three additional endpoints (oral temperature, oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate)were significantly improved as early as three days after tocilizumab administration in both groups of subjects, more considerably in severe patients. Significant improvement in the required level of oxygenation was reported in severe patients seven days after tocilizumab administration. No tocilizumab-related serious adverse event occurred in this study. Subcutaneous tocilizumab might improve some clinical parameters and reduce the risk of death in COVID-19 patients, particularly if used in the early stages of respiratory failure.

Relation between serum zinc levels and recurrent urinary tract infections in female patients: A case-control study.

Background: Zinc deficiency can increase the risk of infectious diseases. Given that recurrent urinary tract infection is a common complication, this study examines the association between serum zinc levels and recurrent urinary tract infections. Methods: In this case-control study, serum zinc levels for 48 patients with recurrent urinary tract infections were compared with the serum zinc levels of the same number of people in the control group who were matched in terms of location and age. Using SPSS ver. 18, univariate analysis was performed through t-test, correlation coefficient; and multivariate analysis was carried out through multiple regression tests. Significant level was considered as less than 0.05. Results: There was a weak correlation between age and serum zinc level (r=-0.205, p=0.045). Mean serum zinc level of the test group and the control group were 96.83 (±11.25) and 76.72 (±17.06) microgram/deciliter (p=0.001), respectively. Level of zinc reduced with aging; in addition, the group with recurrent UTIs had lower zinc levels than the control group (p=0.010, R2=0.377). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, serum zinc levels of people with recurrent urinary tract infections were lower than that in the control group. It seems that zinc levels are a risk factor for recurrent urinary tract infections.

Prevalence of Cefepime-Resistant Escherichia coli in Iran: A Meta-Analysis (2007-2016).

BACKGROUND: Cefepime-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the seven important types of microbial resistance. This meta-analysis study was conducted to identify the prevalence of cefepime-resistant E. coli in Iran during 2007-2016. METHODS: Studies published were searched in Persian databases (including Magiran, and SID) and international databases (including PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus). The selected studies included all types of laboratory methods. Moreover, the random effects model (DerSimonian Laird method) was used to addresses the high heterogeneity (50% < I2) between the reviewed studies. The collected data were categorized into different subgroups on the basis of the year of study and province. Data analysis was performed using the Statsdirect software. RESULTS: Overall, 516 articles were selected from the searched medical databases. After reviewing and applying the inclusion criteria, irrelevant papers were excluded and the remaining 26 studies were meta-analyzed. The overall prevalence of cefepime-resistant E. coli was 53.42% (95%: 43.35, 63.35), ranging from 25% (95%CI: 21.67, 28.55) in 2009 to 61.95% (95%CI: 56.62, 67.09) in 2016. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cefepime-resistant E. coli in Iran has had an increasing and alarming trend during the recent years. Therefore, it is necessary to use practical strategies and interventions to control and monitor cefepime-resistant E. coli in the country.

A case report of human tularemia from Iran.

Tularemia is one of the most contagious bacterial infections. Here, we report a human case of glandular tularemia in Iran following the first report in 1980. The patient was a 6-year-old girl who had consumed a hunted hare in Kurdistan Province in western Iran.

Does Helicobacter pylori Infection Play a Role in Susceptibility to Brucellosis?

Brucellosis is endemic in Iran. Several studies have shown that brucellosis is associated with other infectious diseases. This study aimed to determine the relationship between Helicobacter pylori (HP) and brucellosis. In this case-control study, 100 patients with brucellosis as cases and 200 participants without brucellosis as controls were evaluated. To compare the prevalence of HP in the 2 groups, odds ratios and confidence intervals for every variable were analyzed using logistic regression models after adjustment for confounding factors. The results obtained in patients with brucellosis showed that fever, sweating, and joint pain were the most prevalent clinical symptoms. In addition, compared with the control group, there was a significant relationship between the IgM antibody to HP and brucellosis infection (estimated odds ratio 2.74; 95% CI: 1.5-4.9) (p = 0.001). Acute infection with HP was associated with brucellosis and increased the risk of brucellosis infection.

A seroprevalence and relationship survey of brucellosis between pregnant women and women with spontaneous abortion in Iran.

Background: Brucellosis is one of the most prevalent diseases common between humans and animals. It is also called Malta fever, Undulant fever and Mediterranean fever. This disease is spread by consuming milk and its unpasteurized derivatives. Clinical symptoms of brucellosis in humans are fever, chills, headache, muscular pain, tiredness, loss of appetite, joint pain, weight loss, constipation, sore throat, and dry cough. The present study aimed at surveying the seroprevalence of brucellosis in pregnant women and those women who suffered from spontaneous abortion. Methods: This case- control study was conducted in Sanandaj (Iran) in 2016 and included 2 groups of pregnant women: one group included 160 pregnant women and the other included 160 women who suffered from spontaneous abortion. Then, the participants were asked to fill out the questionnaire. After receiving permission from an obstetrician, a 10-cc blood sample was taken from each person to be used in the Rose Bengal, Wright, 2ME, and Coombs tests. Independent samples t test and Chi-square test were used to analyze the data and compare the groups. Results: Mean±SD age of women in the case group was 30.9±7.3 years, while it was 27.74±5.41 years in control women. The Rose Bengal, Wright, and 2ME prevalence for both groups was negative, but the Coombs and Wright tests score was 33 (20.6%) in pregnant women and it was 27 (16.9%) in women who experienced spontaneous abortion. No meaningful relationship was observed between spontaneous abortion and brucellosis (p= 0.39). Conclusion: Even though the present study did not find a meaningful relationship between spontaneous abortion and brucellosis (p=0.39), high brucella seroprevalence rates between both groups of women indicated that screening tests should be considered before gestation as an appropriate therapeutic strategy.

ABO blood groups and susceptibility to brucellosis.

The relationship between blood groups and some infections such as norovirus, cholera, and malaria has been reported. Despite the importance of brucellosis, there is a lack of data on the relationship between blood groups and brucellosis. Thus, in this study, we examined the relationship between blood groups and brucellosis. In this case-control study, the blood groups of 100 patients with brucellosis and 200 healthy individuals were studied. Exclusion criteria for the control group consisted of a positive Coombs Wright test or a history of brucellosis. The chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables between the two groups. The variables that met inclusion criteria for the regression model were entered into the logistic regression model. A total of 43% patients were female and 57% male; 27% were urban and 73% rural. Regression analysis showed that the likelihood of brucellosis infection was 6.26 times more in people with blood group AB than in those with blood group O (P<0.001). However, Rh type was not associated with brucellosis infection. Thus, there is a relationship between blood group and brucellosis. People with blood group AB were susceptible to brucellosis, but no difference was observed for brucellosis infection in terms of blood Rh type.

Determination of the best prognostic value of serum tumor markers in patients with suspected lung cancer in an Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: Finding a suitable marker with high sensitivity and specificity for early diagnosis of cancer is very desirable. This study was aimed to determine the diagnostic value of serum CYFRA21-1, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) for screening of lung cancer patients in western Iran. METHODS: This descriptive analytical case-control study was performed on 30 subjects with malignant and 81 with benign lung cancer. Serum levels of CYFRA21-1, CEA, and NSE were determined. RESULTS: The concentration of serum tumor markers was significantly higher in the malignant group than in the benign subjects. The highest sensitivity was obtained by measurement of serum NSE (73%). The highest specificity was obtained by measurement of serum CYFRA21-1 (95%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate the usefulness of measuring CYFRA21-1 and NSE together for early screening of lung cancer in western Iran.

Diagnostic value of serum adenosine deaminase level in pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: In some studies, the level of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in sputum and effusion liquids was used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). But it is not always possible to access these materials. The goal of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of serum ADA levels in pulmonary TB patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 40 sputum smear-positive TB patients who were hospitalized and 40 non-TB patients who referred for surgeries were selected. A serum sample was collected and serum ADA level was measured by ADA kit. RESULTS: The average (SD) of serum ADA in TB and non-TB patients were 20.88 (±5.97) and 10.69 (±2.98) U/L, respectively (P value < 0.05). The best cut-off point was 14 U/L. The calculated area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.955 (95% CI, 0.914-0.995); sensitivity was 92.7% (95% CI, 84.7-100) and specificity was 88.1% (95% CI, 78.3-97.8) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Serum ADA level may be proposed as a proper index for TB diagnosis.

Comparison of sexual dysfunction between diabetic and non-diabetic women.

CONTEXT: Sexual dysfunction (SD) among diabetic women is an important disorder. It has many negative effects on general health. AIMS: This study aimed to compare SD status between diabetic and non-diabetic women. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study was conducted on 200 women, half of them diabetic and the others as non-diabetic in Tohid Hospital (Sanandaj, Iran). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The non-diabetic group was matched for age (±5 years) and education. Data were collected using an interview-based questionnaire containing demographic characteristics and female sexual function index (FSFI). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess and interpret the results. RESULTS: Analyses of the data showed that low educational levels, longer duration of diabetes and poor controlled diabetes were associated with the lower FSFI scores. In both groups the prevalence of SDs for all FSFI domains was high. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that these three variables were associated with lower FSFI scores. CONCLUSIONS: Study confirms that Kurdish Iranian diabetic women are at an increased risk of SD. Low educational level, longer duration of diabetes, and poor controlled diabetes were associated with a lower FSFI score.