The prevalence of penoscrotal abnormalities and inguinal hernia in elementary-school boys in the west of Iran

AIM: We designed a cross-sectional study in order to determine the prevalence of inguinal hernia and penoscrotal abnormalities in the Lorestan province, situated in the west of Iran. METHODS: We studied 3205 elementary-school boys, aged 6-12 years, who underwent clinical examinations of the groin and genitalia in 2002. RESULTS: Abnormalities were detected in 213 children (6.64%). The most frequent anomaly was indirect inguinal hernia, seen in 78 children (2.4%). The other abnormalities were retractile testes in 39 boys (1.22%), undescended testes in 36 boys (1.12%), hydrocele in 28 boys (0.87%) and hypospadiasis in 25 boys (0.78%). Also, three children had micropenises, two had epispadiasis and another two boys had varicoceles. Ambiguous genitalia and apenia were not seen in the present series. Most of the parents were not aware of their children's anomalies (60.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Education of the public and medical staff about these abnormalities and screening system are needed to improve the outcome.     

Frequency and Clinical Manifestations of Patients with Primary Immunodeficiency Disorders in Iran: Update from the Iranian Primary Immunodeficiency Registry

Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) are a heterogeneous group of diseases, characterized by an increased susceptibility to infections. A total of 930 patients (573 males and 357 females) are registered in Iranian PID Registry (IPIDR) during three decades. Predominantly antibody deficiencies were the most common (38.4%), followed by congenital defects of phagocyte number and/or function (28.3%), other well-defined immunodeficiency syndromes (17.7%), combined T- and B-cell immunodeficiencies (11.0%), complement deficiencies (2.4%), and diseases of immune dysregulation (2.3%). Common variable immunodeficiency was the most frequent disorder (20.8%), followed by chronic granulomatous disease, ataxia-telangiectasia, btk deficiency, selective IgA deficiency, and T-B-severe combined immunodeficiency. The frequency of other PID disorders was less than 50 in number (<5%). There is an increasing trend in recognition of more PID in the recent years. Construction of such registry is not only important for its epidemiological aspect but also for its role in increasing the physician's knowledge about such disorders.     

High Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Antibody in HIV/AIDS Individuals from North of Iran

Background:

Toxoplasmosis in immunocompetent people is generally asymptomatic but in immunocompromised patients including HIV/AIDS, cancer patients, and organ transplant recipients, etc. it can lead to serious pathological problems. The objective of current study was to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies in HIV/AIDS patients using ELISA technique in Mazandaran Province, northern Iran.

Methods:

Overall, 82 serum samples (61 males and 21 females) were collected from HIV/AIDS patients in Mazandaran Provinces, in 2013. Sera were surveyed employing ELISA assay. Data were analyzed using Chi-Square or Fisher exact test. In addition, before sampling a questionnaire was filled out for each subject.

Results:

Overall seroprevalence of examined sera was 96.3% for IgG antibody but none of the sera shown IgM antibody against T. gondii. The seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in males and females was 96.7% and 95.2%, respectively. An antibody titer of >1 IU/ml was considered as positive. Furthermore, none of the included variables statistically was significant.

Conclusions:

Seroprevalence of chronic (latent) toxoplasmosis in HIV/AIDS patients in Mazandaran Province is high compared to toxoplasmosis in general population. Consequently, the risk of acquiring Toxoplasma encephalitis in examined seropositive HIV/AIDS patients of Toxoplasma is high.     

PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG FOOD HANDLERS OF SARI,NORTHERN IRAN

Parasitic infection is highly prevalent throughout the developing countries of the world. Food handlers are a potential source of infection for many intestinal parasites and other enteropathogenic infections as well. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasite carriers among food handlers attending the public health center laboratory in Sari, Northern Iran for annual check-up. The study was performed from August 2011 through February 2012. Stool samples were collected from 1041 male and female food handlers of different jobs aged between 18 to 63 years and were examined following standard procedures. Sociodemographic, environmental and behavioral data analysis of the food handlers were recorded in a separate questionnaire. Intestinal parasites were found in 161 (15.5%) of the studied samples. Seven species of protozoan or helminth infections were detected. Most of the participants were infected with Giardia lamblia (53.9%) followed by Blastocystis hominis (18%), Entamoeba coli (15.5%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (5.5%), Cryptosporidium sp. (3.1%), Iodamoeba butschlii (3.1%) and Hymenolepis nana (1.9%) as the only helminth infection. The findings emphasized that food handlers with different pathogenic organisms may predispose consumers to significant health risks. Routine screening and treatment of food handlers is a proper tool in preventing food-borne infections.     

Novel galanin receptor ligands

Galanin is a neuroendocrine peptide which is 29/30 amino acids in length and is recognised by G-protein-coupled central nervous system receptors via its N-terminus. We synthesised several galanin receptor ligands and fragments around C-terminal extensions of galanin(l-13) to yield chimeric peptides with C-terminals corresponding to bioactive peptides like bradykinin(2-9), mastoparan, neuropeptide Y(25-36) or substance P(5-11), respectively. We also synthesised short galanin analogs in which galanin(l-13) was C-terminally elongated with Lys¹⁴; different pharmacologically active small molecules were then attached to the ε-amino group of Lys¹⁴. Several cysteine-substituted linear and ring closed analogs of galanin(l-9) and galanin(l-16) were also synthesised. The equilibrium binding constants for these peptides at hypothalamic galanin receptors were determined and found in the subnanomolar to micromolar range. The large number of peptides and their binding affinities presented here permit structure-activity relationship analysis of peptide-type ligands to galanin receptors.     

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION BY NURSING RATS AND ITS EFFECT ON THE CEREBELLUM OF THE OFFSPRING

To study the effect of alcohol on Purkinje cells and on myeinationof the cerebellum of neonate rats, female Sprague-Dawley ratswere fed alcohol (ethanol) during their nursing period. Thealcohol was given in amounts of 5% or 10% per volume of drinkingwater. Food and liquids, equal in calories, were distributedamong darns receiving alcohol. One group of control rats receivedsimilar diet but no alcohol. The results were then comparedwith those of a second group of controls, receiving no alcoholbut having access to unlimited supplies of food and water. Histologicalexamination of pups revealed degenerative changes in Purkinjecells and delayed myelination of the cerebellum.