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Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) refers to the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the serum or liver of individuals who tested negative for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). This study aimed to determine seropositivity for antibodies against HBV core antigen (anti-HBc) and the frequency of OBI among the HBsAg non-reactive blood donors in Mashhad, northeastern Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, serum samples of HBsAg-negative blood donors were examined for anti-HBc during June and August 2018. Anti-HBc-positive samples were tested for antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs), and those with negative results were classified as isolated anti-HBc cases. The presence of HBV DNA in the C, S, and X gene regions was assessed by a qualitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method in all HBsAg-negative samples. OBI subjects were detected by the presence of at least one HBV genomic region. Results: Of 540 HBsAg-negative donors, 29 (5.4%; 95% confidence interval: 3.6--7.6%) showed seroreactivity for anti-HBc, of whom 18 individuals were also seropositive for anti-HBs. All donors showed negative results for all three HBV genes regardless of their serum anti-HBc status. Conclusion: Based on our findings, we suggest routine screening of Iranian blood donation volunteers for serum anti-HBc and anti-HBs but not HBV DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is an endemic condition in Northeast Iran and, as such, identification of risk factors associated with the infection in this region seems to be a necessity. All the possible risk factors for HTLV-1 seropositivity among first-time blood donors were evaluated in Mashhad, Iran, during the period of 2011-2012. Blood donation volunteers were interviewed for demographic data, medical history, and behavioral characteristics and the frequencies of risk factors were compared between HTLV-1 positive (case) and HTLV-1 negative (control) donors. The data was analyzed using Chi square and t-tests. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent risk factors for the infection. Assessments were carried out on 246 cases aged 17-60 and 776 controls aged 17-59, who were matched based on their ages, gender, and date and center of donation. Logistic analysis showed low income (OR = 1.53, p = 0.035), low educational level (OR = 1.64, p = 0.049), being born in the cities of either Mashhad (OR = 2.47, p = 0.001) or Neyshabour (OR = 4.30, p < 0001), and a history of blood transfusion (OR = 3.17, p = 0.007) or non-IV drug abuse (OR = 3.77, p < 0.0001) were significant predictors for infection with HTLV-1. Lack of variability or small sample size could be reasons of failure to detect some well-known risk factors for HTLV-1 infection, such as prolonged breastfeeding and sexual promiscuity. Pre-donation screening of possible risk factors for transfusion-transmissible infections should also be considered as an important issue, however, a revision of the screening criteria such as a history of transfusion for more than one year prior to donation is strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HTLV-1 infection causes a chronic progressive debilitating neuroinflammatory disease which is called, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). One of the host defense mechanisms against viral infection is apoptosis which may control HTLV-1 infection. Therefore, we aimed to investigate this process and its interaction with viral factors in HTLV-1-infected asymptomatic carriers (ACs) compared to HAM/TSP patients. Fas, FasL, TRAIL, perforin, granzyme A, granzyme B, and granulysin gene expression and serum levels of Fas, FasL, TRAIL, and granulysin in the peripheral blood of 21 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs), ACs, and HAM/TSP patients were evaluated. Also, the level of granulysin secretion in the cell culture supernatant was measured. Finally, the correlation of the expression of these molecules with HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL), Tax, and HBZ mRNA expression was analyzed. ACs compared to HAM/TSP patients significantly over-expressed the Fas, FasL, TRAIL, perforin, and granzyme B molecules. Fas, FasL, TRAIL, and granulysin serum levels were not different among studied groups; whereas, the secretion of granulysin was significantly decreased in ACs and HAM/TSP patients compared to HCs. Also, HAM/TSP patients expressed higher levels of HTLV-1 PVL, Tax, and HBZ mRNA. In addition, in ACs, inverse correlations between the Fas, FasL, TRAIL, perforin, granzyme B, and granulysin levels with HBZ mRNA expression were seen. ACs compared to HAM/TSP patients over-expressed the apoptosis- and cytotoxicity-related molecules. It could be concluded that successful control of the HTLV-1 infection and suppression of HAM/TSP development stem from the strong apoptosis and cytotoxic activity in the peripheral blood of ACs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is a common inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa. The CD14 is a receptor for lipopolysaccharide and inhaled endotoxin which can stimulate the production of interleukins by antigen presenting cells. Accordingly, CD14 plays an important role in allergic and atopic diseases, which can be one of the etiological factors for allergic diseases. The present study investigated the association between the CD14 gene polymorphism C-159T and AR and aimed to detect the correlation between serum levels of CD14 and AR. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on two groups of participants. The experimental group consisted of 125 patients with AR referring to Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Mashhad, Iran, and the control group included 125 healthy subjects from Mashhad National Blood Center, Iran. Serum CD14 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was employed to detect C-159T gene polymorphism in the CD14 promoter region. Results: There was a significant association between CD14 C-159T gene polymorphism and AR (P<0.001). The results of the statistical analysis showed that the TT genotype could significantly increase the risk of AR (P<0.001). Additionally, a significant association was observed between C-159T gene polymorphism and the serum level of CD14 (P<0.001). Regardless of the genotypes, the serum CD14 levels were significantly higher in AR patients than in those of the participants in the controls (P=0.007). Conclusions: According to the obtained results of this study, CD14 in serum might be a potential marker for the diagnosis of AR, and in genetic levels it might be a predictive factor for the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present investigation aims to evaluate the prevalence of IgM and IgG anti-7, gondii antibodies and the associated risk factors among healthy blood donors in Mashhad city, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran. Methods: We screened a total of 500 serum samples by census method from apparently healthy blood donors of the Mashhad Blood Transfusion Organization (MBTO) for IgG and IgM anti-T gondii antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: We found that 29.6%, 25%, 1.4%, and 3.2% of tested donors were positive for anti-T gondii antibodies, only IgG antibody, both IgM and IgG, and IgM antibody alone, respectively. Several risk factors which were significantly related to T gondii seropositivity in the univariate analysis at P < 0.05 included female gender (OR = 3.222, P < 0.001), age more than 40 years (P = 0.026), and sausage/hot dog consumption (OR = 4.472, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study can be a warning for blood transfusion organizations to pay special attention to toxoplasmosis among blood donors and also design screening programs for prevention of transfusion-transmitted toxoplasmosis. sis [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Infection with the human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type-I (HTLV-I) is endemic in Mashhad, Iran. In our research we evaluated the relation between exposure to this infection and the occurrence of dermatologic manifestations. Materials and Methods: 100 blood donors, who were seropositive but asymptomatic for infection with HTLV-I, were selected as case group. They were identified by the Blood Transfusion Organization, Mashhad, Iran, via the ELISA test and documented by PCR. Another 100 blood donors, that were seronegative for HTLV-I via the ELISA test and who were matched to the case group for age, gender, and existence of systemic diseases, were considered as the controls. Dermatologic evaluations and skin biopsies were performed if deemed necessary, and the results were statistically analyzed. Results: 73% of the case and control groups were male, while 27% in each of these groups were female. The mean age in both groups was 40.96±11.94 years. The examination indicated that 58% of the case group and 37% of the control group had cutaneous manifestations (P<0.01). The most common diseases found in the case group were aphthous stomatitis, herpes labialis, and non-genital warts, while common diseases found in the control group were herpes labialis, aphthous stomatitis, and skin tag. The frequency of aphthous stomatitis, eczema, and non-genital warts in the case group were significantly more than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cutaneous diseases can be found more frequent in asymptomatic carriers of HTLV-I than those who are HTLV-I seronegative. The aphthous stomatitis, eczema, and non-genital warts are more prevalent in those infected by HTLV-I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]