Cluster of Ebola Virus Disease,Bong and Montserrado Counties,Liberia

Lack of trust in government-supported services after the death of a health care worker with symptoms of Ebola resulted in ongoing Ebola transmission in 2 Liberia counties. Ebola transmission was facilitated by attempts to avoid cremation of the deceased patient and delays in identifying and monitoring contacts.     

Tropisetron ameliorates early diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats

It has been well established that oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. It has been shown that tropisetron exerts anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The current study was designed to investigate protective effects of tropisetron on early diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats. Rats were divided into six groups: (i) untreated diabetic (streptozotocin group); (ii) untreated control; (iii) diabetic rats treated with tropisetron (3 mg/kg); (iv) normal rats treated with tropisetron (3 mg/kg); (v) diabetic rats treated with granisetron (3 mg/kg); and (vi) normal rats treated with granisetron (3 mg/kg); rats began receiving treatment at the time of diabetes induction for 2 weeks. At the termination of the experiments, bodyweight, kidney index, urinary albumin excretion, and glomerular filtration rate were measured. The levels of oxidative stress markers and tumour necrosis factor‐α were also determined. Streptozotocin‐treated animals showed significant loss of bodyweight and renal enlargement and dysfunction. Diabetic rats also exhibited an increase in malondialdehyde along with a significant decrease in glutathione, superoxide dismutase activity, and catalase activity. Furthermore, the diabetic animals demonstrated a significant rise in renal cortical, urinary tumour necrosis factor‐α, and urinary albumin excretion. Both granisetron and tropisetron decreased blood glucose in diabetic animals, but this decrease was not significant for granisetron. Treatment with tropisetron, but not granisetron, prevented increases in oxidative stress and tumour necrosis factor‐α, decreased urinary cytokine excretion and albuminuria, and improved renal morphological damage. In conclusion, the present study suggests that tropisetron may be a protective agent in early diabetic nephropathy, and its action is mediated, at least in part, by anti‐oxidative and anti‐inflammatory mechanisms that appear to be independent of the 5‐HT₃ receptor.     

Tele-counseling based on motivational interviewing to change sexual behavior of women living with HIV: a randomized controlled clinical trial

AIDS and Behavior - Sexual transmission accounts for the majority of new HIV infections in Iran. More than 80% of HIV-positive persons are sexually active, and nearly 68% reported never using a...     

Low gradient ascites： A seven-year course review

AIM: To study the patients with low gradient ascites in hospitals of Guilan Province (northern Iran). METHODS: Patients admitted in hospitals of Guilan Province with low gradient ascites from 1993 to 2000 were enrolled in the study. Serum and ascitic fluid albumin levels were determined by biochemical reactions. The serum-ascitic albumin gradient (SAAG) less than 1.1 g/dL was considered low. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 9.0 software and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of the 148 patients enrolled in the study, 72 (48.6%) were males and 76 (51.4%) were females with a mean age of 59.03±13.54 years. Tuberculous peritonitis was the most frequent cause of low gradient ascites in 68 (45.9%). Other most frequent causes were cancer in 62 (41.9%), nephrotic syndrome in 9 (6%), pancreatitis in 6 (4%). Peritoneal cancer was found in 22 (35%), ovarian and gastric cancers were found in 14 (22.5%) and 12 (19.3%), respectively. All of which were the causes of ascites. The mean SAAG was 0.68±0.19 g/dL. The mean serum and ascitic fluid albumin concentrations were higher in tuberculous patients (P<0.006), but lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was higher in cancer patients (P<0.0001). In peritoneal tuberculosis, mean ascitic glucose concentration was significantly lower than other patients (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Tuberculosis should be considered in all patients with low gradient ascites especially in developing countries (like Iran), as the first cause of ascites. In the approach to patients with low gradient ascites, ascitic fluid glucose, and LDH level are useful indicators for decision making.     

Prevalence of fasciolosis and dicrocoeliosis in slaughtered sheep and goats in Amol Abattoir,Mazandaran, northern Iran

Objective

The liver flukes, Fasciola spp. and Dicrocoelium dendriticum, infect ruminants and other mammalian extensively and cause major diseases of livestock that produce considerable economic losses.

Methods

A survey of 2391 sheep and goats slaughtered at an abattoir in Amol region, northern Iran was used to determine the prevalence of the liver flukes infection based on season, sex and specie of the animals.

Results

The results revealed that the prevalence rate of Fasciola spp. and Dicrocoelium dendriticum was 6.6% and 4.3% respectively. Dicrocoeliosis was more dominant in female animals (7.1%) whereas there was no sex-related difference in the prevalence of Fasciola spp. in male and female animals. Furthermore, Fasciolosis was significantly more prevalent than dicrocoeliosis in both sheep and goats. The Seasonal prevalence of Fasciola spp. was highest (P<0.005) during spring (8.3%) followed in order by autumn (8.1%), winter (5.9%) and summer (4.0%) but Dicrocoeliosis did not follow any seasonal pattern.

Conclusions

According to this study, it can be concluded that Amol is regarded as an endemic region for Fasciola spp and D. dandriticum infection. Moreover, Fasciola spp. is the most widespread liver fluke found in sheep and goats which is more dominant in sheep than goats.