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Background: Paederus dermatitis (PD) is a blistering disorder that is caused by a small insect of the genus Paederus, especially Paederus fuscipes. This study aimed to investigate the reaction of the adaptive immune system regarding the recruitment of CD3, CCR4, and CCR10 markers, which are specifically expressed on the surface of T lymphocytes. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 24 female rats were divided into two groups: the test and the negative control. In the test group, PD was induced by making insects in contact with shaved rat skin. Biopsies were obtained 24, 72, and 120 h after induction. In the negative control group, physiological saline was applied. Specimens were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining method. Antibodies against CD3, CCR4, and CCR10 were used. Distribution and staining intensities of CD3, CCR4, and CCR10 markers were estimated by the H-score index and findings were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis and Wilcoxon statistical tests. Results: Based on the results of immunohistochemistry, the expression of CD3, CCR4, and CCR10 in the test group at 24, 72, and 120 h compared to the control group showed significant increase (P = 0.0006, P = 0.001, and P < 0.0001), respectively. The peak of expression of all markers was at 72 h after exposure. Hematoxylin and eosin staining also confirmed the fact that the majority of the lymphocyte infiltration occurred at 72 h postexposure. Conclusion: The expression of CD3, CCR4, and CCR10 on cells present in PD lesions could indicate that T-lymphocytes are recruited to the site of inflammation by chemokine–chemokine receptor interactions and hence provide evidence for the response by the adaptive immune system following a PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the duration of protection conferred by the hepatitis B (HB) vaccination and the necessity of a booster dose.Methods: Immediately after the initial blood sampling, 252 youths (aged 18.8-20.5 years, 52% females) with a history of neonatal HB vaccination with one dose of the HB vaccine received a booster. Serum concentrations of antibodies against the HB surface antigen were assessed in samples collected before and 10-14 days after the booster. Seroconversion from concentrations <10 to ≥10 IU/L were defined as a positive immune response.Results: Of the 252 participants, 131 were serosusceptible and 114 responded.Conclusions: Nearly 90% of young people preserved their long-term protection; the results of this study do not support the use of an HB booster vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Chlamydia serology as a screening test for tubal infertility and to compare the results with hysterosalpingography (HSG) and laparoscopic findings. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study undertaken on 110 infertile women treated in the IVF Ward, at Emam Khomeini Hospital, Sari, Iran who underwent laparoscopy and HSG as part of their infertility workup. Prior to laparoscopy, 5 ml of venous blood was drawn for measurement of serum Chlamydia lgG antibody titer (CAT). Patients' tubal status and pelvic findings were compared with CAT, as measured by microimmunofluorescence. Results: Tuboperitoneal abnormalities were seen in 81.4% of seropositive patients versus 13.2% of women who were seronegative. In women with tubal damage, the numbers of positive CATs (≥1:32) were significantly more than in those who had a normal pelvis (66.6% vs. 6.5%, p<0.001). CAT levels were higher in patients who had bilateral hydrosalpinges, bilateral tubal occlusion and pelvic adhesions (severe damage), than those with tubal distortion and unilateral occlusion (mild damage) (p<0.05). The positive likelihood ratio for C. trachomatis antibody testing was 10.28 as compared with HSG, which had a positive likelihood ratio of 3.03. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that C. trachomatis serology is an inexpensive and non-invasive test for tubal factor infertility screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine age-specific seroprevalence rates of hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody in Savadkuh district, Mazandaran province, north of Iran, as well as to compare the collected data with earlier seroprevalence studies in the region and Iran in order to draw a proper epidemiological pattern for HAV infection in the country. Objectives: This study aimed to assess an age-specific HAV seroprevalence among 1- to 30-year old people in Savadkuh, a less developed district of Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Patients and Methods: The study participants were 984 subjects who aged from one to 30 years and were residents of rural and urban areas of Savadkuh. They were selected using cluster sampling method and divided into five age groups: 1-2.9 (316 cases), 3-6.9 (254 cases), 7-10.9 (201 cases), 11-17.9 (115 cases), and 18-30 (98 cases). Anti-HAV antibody was measured by ELISA method. Seroprevalence rates among different age groups and their relationship to residency, educational levels of parents, water supply, and waste water disposal system was analyzed using chi-squared test. Results: Overall seroprevalence rate was 19.20 % with no significant difference between rural and urban residents. The seroprevalence rates increased significantly with age: from 5.7 % in age group 1-2.9 year to 34.8 % in adolescents, and to 68.4 % among young adults (P < 0.0001); regardless of significant differences in educational levels among parents of residents in two areas it did not affect seroprevalence rates. Findings of this study and reviewing other reports from the region and the country suggest an epidemiological shift towards lower rates of anti- HAV antibody seroprevalence. Conclusions: It appears that anti-HAV antibody seroprevalence rate has been declining among Iranians and thereby more children would be susceptible to this infection. This would necessitate revising current strategies of preventative measures in Mazandaran and Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seroprevalence of anti-EBV antibodies was found to be almost 100% and 90% for multiple sclerosis patients and normal people, respectively. Furthermore, anti EBNA1 antibody which is an indicator of past EBV infection has a higher titer in the serum of Persons with MS (pwMS) compared to the EBV-infected subjects without MS. Though, this difference in anti-EBNA1 antibody titer between pwMS and non-MS controls is not a reliable marker to be used for discriminating pwMS and non-MS individuals. Some Studies have revealed specific epitopes on EBNA1 as the target for anti-EBNA1 antibodies in pwMS. Measuring antibody response against such specific epitopes can help better discriminate pwMS and non-MS individuals. This systematic review aims to obtain conclusive data from the studies which have sought to identify and map such epitopes on EBNA1. Five databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, web of Science, Scopus, and Elsevier were searched for this purpose. Overall, 12 articles were finally included. Despite different articles describing not exactly the same epitopes, most of the epitopes described are within the amino acid sequence 385–420 of EBNA1. Among these epitopes, most of the epitopes have overlapping amino acid sequences with one another. The most highly overlapping sequence is RRPFF, which encompasses the amino acid 402 to 406 of EBNA1. • Anti-EBNA1 antibodies in persons with MS mostly target specific epitopes on EBNA1 protein. • Most EBNA1 protein epitopes targeted by anti-EBNA1 from persons with MS have overlapping sequences. • Anti-EBNA1 epitopes on EBNA1 protein have cross-reactive properties with auto antigens in persons with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) causes considerable financial losses in the livestock industry and can present serious threats to pregnant women, as well as immunocompromised patients. Therefore, it is required to design and produce an efficient vaccine for controlling toxoplasmosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the protective immunity induced by RMS protein (ROP18, MIC4, and SAG1) with Freund adjuvant, calcium phosphate nanoparticles (CaPNs), and chitosan nanoparticles (CNs) in BALB/c mice. The RMS protein was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and purified using a HisTrap HP column. Thereafter, cellular and humoral immunity was assessed by injecting RMS protein on days 0, 21, and 35 into four groups [RMS, RMS-chitosan nanoparticles (RMS-CNs), RMS-calcium phosphate nanoparticles (RMS-CaPNs), and RMS-Freund]. Phosphate buffered saline (PBS), CNs, CaPNs, and Freund served as the four control groups. The results displayed that vaccination with RMS protein and adjuvants significantly elicited the levels of specific IgG antibodies and cytokines against toxoplasmosis. There were high levels of total IgG, IgG2a, and IFN-γ in vaccinated mice, compared to those in the control groups, especially in the RMS-Freund, indicating a Th-1 type response. The vaccinated and control mice were challenged intraperitoneally with 1 × 103 tachyzoites of the T. gondii RH strain four weeks after the last injection, and in RMS-Freund and RMS-CaPNs groups, the highest increase in survival time was observed (15 days). The RMS can significantly increase Th1 and Th2 responses; moreover, multi-epitope vaccines with adjuvants can be a promising strategy for the production of a vaccine against toxoplasmosis. [Display omitted] • The antibody, cytokine, and lymphocyte proliferation assays showed that the mice immunized induced stronger immune responses. • The co-administration of adjuvants especially Freund with multi-epitope RMS significantly increased the level of protection. • The survival time in mice of RMS-Freund and RMS-CaNPs groups was significantly different compared to the control groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Brucellosis is one of the most prevalent infectious diseases in Iran that is shared between humans and animals and is caused by species of Brucella. The present study aims to determine the seroprevalence of brucellosis in people suspicious of brucellosis referred to the Health Care Center of Gonbad during 2009-11. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, blood specimen was taken from patients and their serum was separated. Rose Bengal antigens, antigens of Brucella abortus strain 19 and 2ME buffer were prepared and Rose Bengal test was performed on all sera. In positive cases, to determine antibody titr, tube Wright and 2ME were performed (1.80 ≤ were considered positive). Results: Of 318, 42 (13.2%) were positive, among whom were 20 women (47.6%) and 22 males (52.4%). Having conducted the Rose Bengal test 46 (14.5%), tube Wright (1.80 ≤) 42 (13.2%) and 2ME (1.80 ≤) 34 cases (7.10%) were proved to be positive. Conclusion: The rate of Seroprevalence in the study area is indicative of high incidence of the disease. It seems a large number of communities due to lifestyle (close contact with pets and consumption of unpasteurized dairy products) are exposed to pollution. Because of occupational nature of the disease in the region, vaccination, patient care, overseeing the slaughter of livestock and the use of pasteurized dairy products are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]