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Background: The involvement of the central nervous system is a frequent yet underestimated complication of diabetes mellitus. Visual evoked potentials (VEP) are a simple, sensitive, and noninvasive method for detecting early alterations in central optic pathways. The objective of this paralleled randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the impact of ozone therapy on visual pathways in diabetic patients. Methods: Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes visiting clinics of Baqiyatallah university in Tehran (Iran) hospital were randomly assigned to two experimental groups: Group 1 (N = 30) undergoing a cycle of 20 sessions of systemic oxygen-ozone therapy in addition to standard therapy for metabolic control; Group 2 (N = 30)—serving as control—receiving only standard therapy against diabetes. The primary study endpoints were two VEP parameters; P100 wave latency and P100 amplitude at 3 months. Moreover, HbA1c levels were measured before the start of treatment and three months later as secondary study endpoint. Results: All 60 patients completed the clinical trial. P100 latency significantly reduced at 3 months since baseline. No correlation was found between repeated measures of P100 wave latency and HbA1c (Pearson's r = 0.169, p = 0.291). There was no significant difference between baseline values and repeated measures of P100 wave amplitude over time in either group. No adverse effects were recorded. Conclusions: Ozone therapy improved the conduction of impulses in optic pathways of diabetic patients. The improved glycemic control following ozone therpay may not fully explain the reduction of P100 wave latency though; other mechanistic effects of ozone may be involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An imbalance between regulatory T (Treg) and T-helper (Th)-17 cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exert immunomodulatory properties through secreting exosomes. This study aimed to assess the effect of MSC-derived exosomes (MSC-Exo) on the differentiation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) into Tregs from patients with COVID-19. Exosomes were isolated from adipose derived -- tissue MSCs. PBMCs were separated from the whole blood of COVID-19 patients (n=20). Treg frequency was assessed before and 48 hours after treatment of PBMCs with MSC-Exo using flow cytometry. Expression of FOXP3 and cytokine genes, and the concentration of cytokines associated with Tregs, were assessed before and after treatment with MSC-Exo. The frequency of CD4+CD25+CD127- Tregs was significantly higher after treating PBMCs with MSC-Exo (6.695±2.528) compared to before treatment (4.981±2.068). The expressions of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, interleukin (IL)-10, and FOXP3 were significantly upregulated in MSC-Exo--treated PBMCs. The concentration of IL-10 increased significantly after treatment (994.7±543.9 pg/mL) of PBMCs with MSC-Exo compared with before treatment (563.5±408.6 pg/mL). The concentration of TGF-β was significantly higher in the supernatant of PBMCs after treatment with MSC-Exo (477.0±391.1 pg/mL) than PBMCs before treatment (257.7±226.3 pg/mL). MSC-Exo has the potential to raise anti-inflammatory responses by induction of Tregs, potentiating its therapeutic effects in COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly emerged pandemic of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is the world's main health challenge because infected patients become vulnerable to a variety of opportunistic diseases. This study aimed to assess clinical outcomes, diagnosis, utilized drug therapies, and ongoing COVID-19 practices in Iranian cases co-infected with COVID-19 and mucormycosis. A case-series analysis was conducted in the presence of 10 patients with COVID-19 and mucormycosis co-infection (two men and eight women; mean age of 48.8 years) from March to October 2020. Demographic variables, signs/symptoms, and comorbidities of all patients were recorded. COVID-19 was confirmed with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) nasopharyngeal swab tests and high-resolution computed tomography (HR-CT)_ scans. All patients had a positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Eight patients had a history of diabetes, while three of them exhibited a hypertension history. Remarkable laboratory findings were elevated fasting blood sugar in 6 cases and anaemia in four patients. A rhino-orbital-cerebral of mucormycosis in all patients was detected based on HR-CT scans and otorhinolaryngological or ophthalmological examinations. Neurological disorders including facial, trigeminal, optic, and oculomotor nerve involvement resulted in paraesthesia, pain, ptosis, no light perception, blurred vision, and papilledema in five cases. Maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were the most common sites of involvement. Vulnerable COVID-19 patients with comorbidities, any facial involvements, or treated by excessive doses of glucocorticoids and antibiotics should undergo precise examinations during the appearance of early signs and hospitalization to diagnose and treat mucormycosis using the standard care and antifungal treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus infections, known as COVID-19, can induce a fatal respiratory system infection and also affect other organs, such as the kidney and heart. The mortality rate has been estimated between 1 and 5% in previous reports; however, the mortality and morbidity can be higher in patients with the immune-deficiency condition. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most rheumatoid disorders, and it is important to report their clinical and paraclinical data when affected with COVID-19. Evidence about their laboratory and radiologic findings is limited. In this case series, 10 cases of chronic and approved rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affected by COVID-19 are presented. Only 40% had dry cough, but myalgia and weakness as the general first presentation of infections was reported in most cases (80%). Gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and abdominal pain, were reported in 50% of individuals. In blood cell count, 30% of cases had thrombocytopenia, and ESR in all cases was positive. Abnormal CRP and elevated LDH were seen in 90% of cases. In HRCT assessment, all cases had an abnormal parenchymal pattern, and 90% of cases presented the usual pattern of COVID-19 (bilateral multifocal GGO/consolidation). Although it is a limited report, these findings are helpful for comparison of clinical and paraclinical cases in RA cases with normal cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the flow behavior and creep parameters of saffron desserts containing gum tragacanth combinations of three species were modeled by the mixture design approach. Flow behavior and creep-recovery experiments were performed and models were predicted for apparent viscosity, consistency index, flow index, instantaneous compliance, and viscoelastic compliance. Five representative samples regarding the range of apparent viscosity at the shear rate of 50 s−1 were subjected to sensory evaluation. According to rheological measurements, the addition of GT species of A. gossypinus led to the production of a dessert with a strong structure. Then, two samples with the highest consistency index and the lowest creep parameters were compared with two commercial saffron desserts. The results revealed that the overall acceptance of the two selected samples [containing 4% (w/w) A. gossypinus or 2.66% (w/w) A. gossypinus and 1.33% (w/w) A. fluccosus] was similar to those of the two commercial samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone, one of the most important air pollutants, is a triatomic molecule containing three atoms of oxygen that results in an unstable form due to its mesomeric structure. It has been well-known that ozone has potent ability to oxidize organic compounds and can induce respiratory irritation. Although ozone has deleterious effects, many therapeutic effects have also been suggested. Since last few decades, the therapeutic potential of ozone has gained much attention through its strong capacity to induce controlled and moderated oxidative stress when administered in precise therapeutic doses.Aplethora of scientific evidence showed that the activation of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1a), nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT), nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2-antioxidant response element (Nrf2-ARE), and activated protein-1 (AP-1) pathways are the main molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of ozone therapy. Activation of these molecular pathways leads to upregulation of endogenous antioxidant systems, activation of immune functions as well as suppression of inflammatory processes, which is important for correcting oxidative stress in diabetes and spinal pain. The present study intended to review critically the available scientific evidence concerning the beneficial properties of ozone therapy for treatment of diabetic complications and spinal pain. It finds benefit for integrating the therapy with ozone into pharmacological procedures, instead of a substitutive or additional option to therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan is considered as a functional packaging component for maintaining the quality and increasing the shelf life of perishable foods include meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, and all cooked leftovers. The present study was conducted to evaluate edible coating of chitosan (2%) containing ethanolic extract of propolis (1% and 2%) on microbiological (mesophilic aerobic, psychrotrophic, lactic acid bacteria, coliforms, and Staphylococcus aureus counts), chemical (TBARS, TVN and Peroxide values) and sensory (odor, color, texture, taste, and overall acceptance) properties of chicken fillet. Microbial analysis showed that coating had a significant reducing effect on growth of bacteria during 12 days at 4 °C. Besides, the increase of TBARS, Total volatile nitrogen, and peroxide value of samples coated by chitosan and ethanolic extract of propolis was less than control group. According to our results, chitosan and propolis can be used to enhance the shelf life of fillet and maintain its quality. Practical applications Propolis is used for infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungus, and by single-celled organisms called protozoans. Propolis is also used as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Ethanol extract of propolis improve the properties of chitosan edible coating in chicken fillet preservation. The chitosan coating incorporated with ethanolic extract of propolis can improve the microbial, chemical, and sensory quality of food and enhance the shelf life of them by synergistic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli, its virulence factors, O-serogroups and antimicrobial resistance properties in various types of food stuffs in Iran. All samples were cultured and those that were E. coli positive were subjected to PCR. Of 801 samples studied, 123 (15.35%) were positive for STEC strains. Samples collected in summer season had the higher prevalence of bacteria (49.59%). Beef meat was the most commonly contaminated sample (24.28%). The stx1 was the most commonly detected, while ehly was the least. The most commonly detected serogroups in the STEC strains recovered from the food samples were O157 (27.64%) and O26 (21.95%). The serogroup of 17.07% of STEC strains cannot be detected by means of the O-serogroup primers. The most commonly detected antibiotic resistance genes were blaSHV (47.15%) and aadA1 (44.71%). STEC strains of our investigation harbored the highest levels of resistance against ampicillin (100%), gentamycin (70.73%) and tetracycline (62.60%). Observation of proper monitoring, principles of food hygiene and accurate antibiotic prescription reduce the risk of diseases caused by STEC strains in human. Practical applications We found E. coli bacteria with defined pathotypes which originates mainly from human and animal sources in various types of food samples of Iranian markets. We also identified a large numbers of virulent and resistant strains of E. coli with higher prevalence of stx1 and eaeA gene, O157 and O26 serogroups, CITM and aac(3)-IV antibiotic resistance genes and resistance to ampicillin, penicillin and gentamycin antibiotics. Beef meat had the highest prevalence. Simultaneous presence of stx1 and eaeA and stx2 and eaeA virulence factors in some strains of E. coli bacterium in food stuffs indicated the important public health problem. Using from microbiological tests can contribute to reducing the microbial load in food stuffs. Controlling sources of human and animal fecal pollution, such as managing the quality of primary ingredients, staffs and devices are other approaches to reduce the prevalence of STEC in food stuffs. Using from the disk diffusion method and avoiding from the irregular and excessive prescription of antibiotics are two important approaches to reduce the levels of antibiotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of hydrocolloids in frozen dough has become frequent as bread improvers due to their anti-staling effect. Nevertheless, the impact of both different frozen storage and Arabic gum level in non-prefermented flat dough with following thawing procedure have not been studied. This work intended to study the effect of three different ratio of Arabic gum on rheological properties of 1, 7, and 30 days of frozen storage and the quality of the bread made from. In order to gain the least detrimental effects on gluten network, we used rapid rate freezing and microwave heating in thawing stage. Rheological results showed that the unfrozen samples to which Arabic gum had been added rendered the highest resistance to extension. The resistance of gum fortified samples were less than fresh dough, however the decline was not significant in 3.0% Arabic gum dough kept in a month storage ( p > .05). The similar findings were obtained for extensibility and adhesiveness; in which the maximum incorporation of Arabic gum lessen the destructive impact of long freezing storage. Addition of 3% gum could be able to retard staling through an increment in hydrophilic bonds between water molecules and amylose during thawing ( p < .05). The overall rating of Arabic gum enriched samples was similar with bread made from non-frozen dough, even after 30 days of storage as indicated by the sensory evaluation of breads. Practical applications Producing a chapatti-like fermented bread without long fermentation period. Formulation a frozen dough without using chemical additives. Introducing a proper use of a new defrosting method with the aim of achieving a better texture. Improvement in retarding staling by the use of Gum Arabic after 7 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Correction b B : b B Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome (2023) 15:140 b https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-023-01114-w Following the publication of the original article [[1]], it was noted that due to a typesetting error the affiliation of both the authors were wrongly placed. Reference 1 Izadi M, Javanbakht M, Sarafzadeh A, Einollahi B, Futuhi F, Vahedi Z, Zhao S, Jonaidi-Jafari N, Hosseini MS, Nejad JH, Naeimi E, Saadat SH, Ghaleh HEG, Fazel M, Einollahi Z, Cegolon L. Efficacy of ozone therapy on visual evoked potentials in diabetic patients. [Extracted from the article]

Background: According to the presence of the weak, diabetic and immunosuppressive patients in hospitals, hospital foods should have a high quality and safety. Cooking a lot of foods higher than daily requirement, storage of cooked foods in an inappropriate condition and presence of nurses and servants in distribution of food to patients are the main reasons caused contamination of hospital foods. Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli is one of the common cause of food poisoning in hospitals. The present research was carried out to study the distribution of virulence factors, O-serogroups and antibiotic resistance properties in STEC strains recovered from Iranian hospital food samples. Methods: Five-hundred and eighty raw and cooked food samples were collected and immediately transferred to the laboratory. E. coli-positive strains were subjected to PCR and disk diffusion method. Results: Thirty-nine out of 580 (6.72%) hospital food samples were contaminated with E. coli. Raw (20%) and cooked meat (6%) were the most commonly contaminated samples. Raw samples had the higher prevalence of E. coli (P <0.01). Samples which were collected in the summer season had the highest prevalence of bacteria (64.10%). Significant difference was seen between the prevalence of EHEC and AEEC subtypes (P <0.01). The most commonly detected virulence factors in both EHEC and AEEC subtypes were stx1 and eae. The most commonly detected serogroups were O26 (43.75%) and O157 (25%) and there were no positive results for O103, O145, O91, O113 and O128 serogroups. Aac (3)-IV (100%), CITM (100%) and tetA (62.50%) were the most commonly detected antibiotic resistance genes. STEC strains harbored the highest levels of resistance against ampicillin (93.75%), gentamycin (93. 75%), tetracycline (87.50%) and ciprofloxacin (81.25%). All of the STEC strains were resistant to at least 3 antibiotics, while the prevalence of resistance against more than 12 antibiotics were 12.50%. Conclusions: High presence of O157 serogroups, EHEC strains and animal-based antibiotics in cooked foods showed insufficiency of cooking time and temperature in the kitchens of hospitals. Judicious prescription of antibiotics and attentions to the principles of food safety can reduce the risk of resistant and virulent strains of STEC in hospital foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Up to now, fecal-oral and oral-oral are the most commonly known routes for transmission of H. pylori, therefore, contaminated water can play an important role in transmission of H. pylori to humans. Genotyping using virulence markers of H. pylori is one of the best approaches to study the correlations between H. pylori isolates from different samples. The present research was carried out to study the vacA, cagA, cagE, oipA, iceA and babA2 genotyping and antimicrobial resistance properties of H. pylori isolated from the bottled mineral water samples of Iran. Results: Of 450 samples studied, 8 samples (1.77 %) were contaminated with H. pylori. Brand C of bottled mineral water had the highest prevalence of H. pylori (3.63 %). The bottled mineral water samples of July month had the highest levels of H. pylori-contamination (50 %). H. pylori strains had the highest levels of resistance against metronidazole (62.5 %), erythromycin (62.5 %), clarithromycin (62.5 %), amoxicillin (62.5 %) and trimethoprim (62.5 %). Totally, 12.5 % of strains were resistant to more than 6 antibiotics. VvacAs1a (100 %), vacAm1a (87.5 %), cagA (62.5 %), iceA1 (62.5 %), oipA (25 %), babA2 (25 %) and cagE (37.5 %) were the most commonly detected genotypes. M1as1a (62.5 %), m1as2 (37.5 %), m2s2 (37.5 %) and S1a/cagA+/IceA2/oipA-/babA2-/cagE- (50 %) were the most commonly detected combined genotypes. Conclusions: Contaminated bottled mineral water maybe the sources of virulent and resistant strains H. pylori. Careful monitoring of bottled mineral water production may reduce the risk of H. pylori transmission into the human population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND A hypothesis has been presented about the role of serum iron, ferritin and transferrin saturation among patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and resistance to insulin (metabolic syndrome [MetS]), but there is much controversy. This study aimed at investigating the level of serum iron and demographic characteristics in patients with NAFLD with or without MetS. METHODS A case-control study was conducted on patients with elevated liver enzymes referring to Baqiyatallah clinic, Tehran, Iran during 2010-2011. After ruling out other causes of increased aminotransferases and approving the diagnosis of NAFLD, the patients were divided into two groups of with or without MetS. Then, the individuals' demographic, sonographic, and laboratory characteristics were recorded. RESULTS This research included 299 patients suffering from NAFLD who were divided into MetS (n=143; 47.8%) and non-MetS (n=156; 52.2%) groups. The age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, glucose tolerance test, serum insulin, C. peptide, triglyceride, and HB A1c were different between MetS and non-MetS groups (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum iron and ferritin levels between the two groups, however, a significant correlation was found between serum ferritin and alanine transaminase (p=0.005) and also aspartate aminotransferase (p=0.032). CONCLUSION Our findings did not show a significant relationship between iron, in free or storage form, and the presence of MetS among patients with NAFLD, but serum ferritin can correlate with hepatocytes injuries indicated by raised aminotransferases. Nevertheless, to clarify this relationship further molecular, genomic, and histopathological studies are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Angiotensin (Ang) II is believed to be a potential pro-inflammatory factor. The capability of Ang II to stimulate C-reactive protein (CRP) production has recently been described. Genetic polymorphisms of renin angiotensin system (RAS) components have been described to be associated with the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). This study investigated the association between six different genetic polymorphisms of RAS and serum CRP levels in a sample of CAD patients. Genotyping of RAS genes polymorphisms in 176 patients with documented CAD was performed by a modified polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Measurement of high-sensitivity (hs)-CRP was performed using standard immunoturbidimetric methods. Results show no significant differences in serum CRP regarding different variants of the six polymorphisms studied (p = 0.41, 0.24, 0.25, 0.19, 0.29, and 0.05 for Ang-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D), A-240T and A2350G, angiotensinogen M235T, AT1 receptor A1166C, and AT2 receptor C3123A polymorphisms, respectively). In conclusion, genetic polymorphisms of RAS are not associated with increased serum CRP in CAD. Compensation of an increased activity of ACE through counter-regulation and the secretion of CRP under the influence of Ang II in the vessel being local could explain the lack of association between the studied polymorphisms and CRP levels in CAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a very well-known risk factor for development of atherosclerosis, and it has been hypothesized that poor glycemic control and hyperglycemia plays a major role in this process. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the associates of poor glycemic control in Iranian patients who have already undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), with especial focus on the inhabitation of infectious agents within the coronary arterial wall. METHODS: In January 2010, 52 consecutive patients with type 2 DM who undergone CABG at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences (Tehran, Iran) were included into this cross-sectional study and biopsy specimens from their coronary plaques were taken and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods for detecting Helicobacter species, cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Chlamydia pneumoniae, and their potential relation to the glycemic control status in these patients. RESULTS: Compared to that in diabetic patients with mean fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels FBS <126, atherosclerotic lesions in type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control (FBS > 126) were significantly more likely to be positive for CMV PCR test (41% vs. 9%, respectively; P = 0.05). In laboratorial test results, mean triglyceride level was significantly higher among patients of poor glycemic control (168 ± 89 vs. 222 ± 125 mg/dl, respectively; P = 0.033). Hypertension was also significantly more prevalent in this population (73% vs. 36%, respectively; P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control can be at higher risk for developing CMV infection in their coronary arterial wall, which can promote atherosclerosis formation process in this patient population. According to the findings of this study, we recommend better control of serum glucose levels in type 2 diabetic patients to prevent formation/progression of atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium and the risk factors of zoonotic transmission in Najafabad, Isfahan, Iran dairy farms were examined. Methods. One fecal sample was collected from all calves less than 6 months old in eight dairy farms around Najafabad (Isfahan province, Central Iran) as well as individuals working in these farms and their household members. A twostep nested PCR protocol was used to amplify the 18S rRNA gene (830 bp). Results. Cryptosporidium was identified in the stool of 36 (prevalence 8.5%) of 96 farm workers and 326 household members. Furthermore, 31 (14.2%) of 218 calf samples were positive. Cryptosporidium parvum was identified in 15 (72%) of the positive farm workers and 10 (65%) of the positive household members. Of the positive calves, 20 (64.5%) were infected with C. parvum, indicating possible zoonotic transmission in these farms. Contact with calves (P < 0.0001) was the most significant risk factor of C. parvum infection. A considerable negative association was observed between C. parvum infection and cleaning of shoes/boots after daily work (P = 0.004), hand washing (P = 0.013), and use of piped water (P < 0.006). In the multivariate analysis with logistic regression, only contact with calves was significant. Conclusion. Zoonotic transmission of C. parvum due to contact with calves is predominant among farm workers and their household members of this region and appropriate health measures must be applied to control the infection and decrease of zoonotic transmission of this parasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Negative T (NT) wave in electrocardiography (ECG) is one of the important factors in determining short- and long-term outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, we compared clinical and paraclinical findings in post-MI patients according to presence or absence of NT wave. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with acute ST elevation MI who presented to Shahid Modares Hospital (Tehran, Iran) during 2009-10. After undergoing streptokinase therapy, demographic characteristics and ECG and exercise test findings of the subjects were compared based on the presence or absence of NT wave. RESULTS: Overall, 116 patients including 69 cases with NT wave (NT group) and 47 cases without NT wave (PT group) were enrolled (mean age: 53.7 ± 7.1 vs. 54.1 ± 6.8 years old). Mortality rate during the first five days was 13% in the NT group and 29% in the PT group (P < 0.05). Ejection fraction values of the NT group were significantly higher than the PT group (P = 0.005). However, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter of the NT group was significantly less than the PT group (P = 0.005). Moreover, ST segment depression was significantly less frequent in the NT group compared to the PT group. CONCLUSION: Patients with ST elevation MI accompanying with NT wave in ECG versus have better prognosis and myocardial function than similar patients without NT wave. Therefore, invasive procedures should be recommended for patients without NT wave. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mustard gas (MG) exposure can impair physical health and therefore increase the probability of the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychological disorders. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate long-term effects of MG exposure on veterans' mental health. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. In order to assess prevalence of mental health and PTSD of 100 MG victims 25 years after the exposure to MG in Iran-Iraq conflict, the general health questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Impact of Event Scale-Revised, respectively was administered. Results: The mean (±standard deviation (SD)) age of participants was 40.63 (±5.86) years. The mean GHQ-28 (47.34) of the study group was higher compared to standardized cutoff point (23) of the Iranian community. Also, it was found that 38 participants (38%) suffer from PTSD. The results of this study showed that academic education in the PTSD group was less than that in the non-PTSD group (P=0.03). In addition, in multivariate analysis it was found that only education level of the veterans and their wives were effective on the mental health score (adjusted P=0.036 and 0.041, respectively). The mean score of depression and psychosocial activity subscale in patients at higher education level was lower than patients at lower education level (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study found that sulfur mustard (SM) exposure can be effect on mental health even 25 years after exposure. Therefore, the psychological state should be more considered in chemical injured veterans and it is important that providing more mental health centers for this community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Cryptosporidium spp. is a major cause of diarrhea in developing countries, mainly affecting people with compromised immune systems in general and HIV-infected individuals with low CD4 + T-cell counts in particular. This infection is self-limiting in healthy persons; however, it can be severe, progressive and persistent in those who are immunocompromised. There are few published studies concerning cryptosporidiosis and Cryptosporidium genotypes in Iranian immunocompromised patients and none of them describe risk factors. This study was undertaken to identify prevalence, genotypes and risk factors for cryptosporidiosis in immunocompromised patients. Three fecal samples were obtained at two day intervals from each of the 183 patients and processed with modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining methods and 18S rRNA gene amplification and sequencing. The overall infection prevalence was 6%. Cryptosporidium parvum was identified in isolates from five HIV-infected patients, one patient who had undergone bone marrow transplantation and one with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Cryptosporidium hominis was identified in isolates from two HIV-infected patients and two patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia. According to univariate analysis, the statistically significant factors were diarrhea (OR = 21.7, CI = 2.83-78.4, P= 0.003), CD4 + lymphocytes less than 100 cells/mm3 (OR = 41.3, CI = 13.45-114.8, P < 0.0001), other microbial infections (OR = 7.1321.7, CI = 1.97-25.73, P = 0.006), weight loss (OR = 73.78, CI = 15.5-350, P < 0.0001), abdominal pain (OR = 10.29, CI = 2.81-37.74.4, P= 0.001), dehydration (OR = 72.1, CI = 17.6-341.5, P < 0.0001), vomiting (OR = 4.87, CI = 1.4-16.9, P= 0.015), nausea (OR = 9.4, CI = 2.38-37.2, P < 0.001), highly active antiretroviral therapy (OR = 0.089, CI = 0.01-0.8, P= 0.015) and diarrhea in household members (OR = 7.37, CI = 2.04-26.66, P= 0.001). After multivariate analysis and a backward deletion process, only < 100 CD4 + T-lymphocytes/mm3 maintained a significant association with infection. The authors recommend that this infection should be suspected in patients with diarrhea, weight loss and dehydration in general and in diarrheal individuals with < 100 CD4 + T-lymphocytes/mm3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract- Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important life-threatening nosocomial pathogen and plays a prominent role in serious infections in burned patients. The current study was undertaken to characterize P. aeruginosa strains isolated from burned patients in Tehran, Iran. The study was conducted in a major burn center in Tehran, Iran in 2007. A total of seventy specimens obtained from different clinical origin with positive culture results for P. aeruginosa were included in the study. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed according to the standard CLSI guideline. The relationship between the strains was also determined using antimicrobial drug resistance pattern analysis and plasmid profiling. All strains were multi drug resistant. The percentage of resistance to tested antibiotics was: imipenem 97.5%, amikacin 90%, piperacillin 87.5%, ceftizoxime 72.7%, gentamicin 67.5%, ciprofloxacin 65%, ceftriaxone 60%, and ceftazidime 57.5%. Thirteen resistant phenotypes were recognized, R3 (TET, IPM, AMK, CIP, PIP, GM, CAZ, CRO, CT) was the predominant resistance pattern seen in 27.5% of isolates. Results obtained from E- test showed that 100% of P. aeruginosa strains were resistant to cefoxitin, 97% to cefotetan, 93% to ticarcillin, 89% to ticarcillin/clav, 76% to gentamicin and imipenem, 63% to piperacillin, 49% to tetracycline, and 20% to meropenem. Nine different plasmid profiles were observed among the strains. The current study showed an increase rate of resistance for some antibiotics tested among P. aeruginosa strains isolated from burned patients in Tehran. A combination of antibiotic susceptibility testing and profile plasmid analysis, which are relatively cheap and available methods, showed to be useful to characterize the clinical strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from burned patients in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]