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Objectives: Dental impressions are among the potentially infectious items in dentistry. Dental impressions are invariably contaminated with saliva or blood. Such fluids may contain viral or bacterial pathogens including Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas and Prevotella. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of three different types of disinfectants on alginate impression materials after one, three and five minutes. Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, 126 circular samples of alginate impression materials were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and were then disinfected with 0.525% sodium hypochlorite, Deconex (Solarsept) and SeptiTurbo spray. Afterwards, the samples were wrapped in moist paper towels and kept in plastic bags for one, three and five minutes. Number of bacterial colonies was counted 24 hours after incubation. Negative and positive controls were included. Results: After five minutes, 0.525% sodium hypochlorite showed the highest disinfection activity against S. aurous as it eradicated over 99.98% of the bacteria. Although the disinfecting agents showed non-significant results in eradicating S. aureus, SeptiTurbo was more effective in elimination of S. aurous . The disinfection activity of different agents increased with time. Conclusion: This study revealed that alginate can be effectively disinfected with SeptiTurbo and sodium hypochlorite by the spraying technique. This study highlighted the efficacy of SeptiTurbo for eradication of S. aurous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate expression of glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor (GITR), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and IL-10 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 20 women with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) compared to 20 normal non-pregnant women (NNP) during luteal phase in the window of implantation. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed using the Taqman method for expression of GITR and SYBR Green method for expression of CTLA-4 and IL-10. Results: Expression of CTLA-4 in the NNPs (median; interquartile range; 3; 1.8–10) was significantly higher than the URSAs (0.72; 0.26–3.81,p = 0.015). Expression of GITR in the NNPs (53; 10–139) was significantly higher than the URSAs (6; 3–27,p = 0.005). However, IL-10 expression in the URSAs was significantly higher than the NNPs, did not meet a significant value. A significant correlation was found between CTLA-4 and GITR expression in the study population (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Expression of CTLA-4 and GITR were significantly down-regulated in the URSAs compared to NNPs at the window of implantation, which shows the essential role of Treg cells in creating an immunological privileged site for fetus as an allograft at the maternal–fetal interface by high expression levels of CTLA-4 and GITR during a normal pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim: To identify primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) predisposing factors in order to prevent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) progression to PSC. Background: IBD is commonly associated with PSC and there is no effective therapy for PSC except for liver transplantation. Patients and methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 447 IBD patients from IBD Clinics of Ghaem and Emam Reza Hospitals. Data were collected by interview and through a review of the patients' medical records. Patients were divided into two groups: those with IBD and PSC (IBD-PSC) and those without PSC. Variables were compared between two groups and those with statistically significant differences in IBD-PSC group were considered as predictive factors for the development of PSC. Results: The frequency of PSC in IBDs was 4.3% and all were ulcerative colitis. The mean age of patients with PSC was 39.1±11.33 years. The male to female proportion in PSCs was 3.8:1 and in IBDs was 0.9:1. There were statistically significant associations between PSC and gender, IBD duration and UC extension, mucocutaneous involvement, oral contraceptive pills (OCP) consumption, history of surgery and history of PSC in the first- degree relatives. Conclusion: PSC frequency among IBD patients in North-East of Iran was 4.3%. It is recommended to limit OCP consumption in IBD patients. Identification and modification of probable predisposing risk factors, as well as early diagnosis of PSC are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): HTLV-I and HIV virus quantification is an important marker for assessment of virus activities. Since there is a direct relationship between the number of virus and disease progression, HTLV-I and HIV co-infection might have an influence on the development of viral associated diseases, thus, viral replication of these viruses and co-infection were evaluated. Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 subjects were selected; 14 HIV infected, 20 HTLV-I infected and 6 HTLV-I/HIV co-infected subjects. The amount of viruses was measured using qPCR TaqMan method and CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes were assessed by flow cytometry. Results: The mean viral load of HIV infected subjects and HTLV-I infected individuals were 134626.07±60031.07 copies/ml and 373.6±143.3 copies/104 cells, respectively. The mean HIV viral load in co-infected group was 158947±78203.59 copies/ml which is higher than HIV infected group. The mean proviral load of HTLV-I in co-infected group was 222.33±82.56 copies/ml which is lower than HTLV-I infected group (P<0.05). Also, the mean white blood cell count was higher in coinfected group (5666.67±1146.49 cells/μl). However, the differences between these subjects did not reach to a statistical significance within 95% confidence interval level (P =0.1). No significant differences were observed regarding CD4 and CD8 positive lymphocytes between these groups. Conclusion: HTLV-I/HIV co-infection might promote HIV replication and could reduce the HTLV-I proviral load, in infected cells. Considering the presence of both viruses in Khorasan provinces, it encourages researchers and health administrators to have a better understanding of co-infection outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is the most common neurological manifestation of HTLV-I. The northeast of Iran is an endemic area for this virus. Host genetic and viral factors play important roles in developing HAM/TSP. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proviral load, and clinical features of HAM/TSP among Iranian to compare with other endemic parts of the world. Materials and Methods: In this systematic retrospective study, HTLV-I proviral load of 102 Iranian patients with HAM/TS,P and 34 healthy carriers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured using real-time quantitative PCR assay. The diagnosis of HAM/TSP was made in accordance with the World Health Organization criteria. Results: The mean HTLV-I proviral load of Iranian HAM/TSP patients (626 ± 53.031copies/104 PBMCs) was lower than other populations (in Japanese about 800 copies/104 PBMCs and in Brazilians 912.5 ± 778.6 copies/104 PBMCs). In contrast, the mean HTLV-I proviral load amongst Iranian healthy carriers (193 ± 44.375 copies/104 PBMCs) was higher than that of Japanese healthy carriers (about 140 copies/104 PBMCs), and lower than Brazilians (240.5 ± 452.8 copies/104 PBMCs according to the literatures). The most common HAM/TSP neurological symptoms among Iranian, Japanese, and Brazilian populations were gait disturbance, urinary disturbance, paresthesias, weakness, constipation, and lower back pain. The HTLV-I proviral load in HAM/TSP patients and healthy carriers was not significantly associated with age and gender. Conclusion: Differences in HTLV-I proviral load and consequently clinical manifestations among Iranian and other endemic populations might be due the differences in host genetic background and environmental conditions of these populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the primary angiogenesis regulators in solid cancers. Brain solid tumors are life-threatening diseases in which angiogenesis is an important phase of tumor development and progression. In the present study, VEGF-A and VEGF receptor (VEGF-R1) gene expression was evaluated in CNS brain tumors., Methods: VEGF-A and VEGF-R1 expression was quantified using real-time PCR on fresh biopsies of 38 supratentorial brain tumors compared to 30 non-tumoral tissues. Then, the correlations were investigated with clinic-pathological and demographic factors of the patients., Results: PCR product sequencing confirmed the validity of qRT-PCR. Although VEGF-A and VEGF-R1 expression showed increasing trends with the progression of cell proliferation in different stages of astrocytoma, VEGF-R1 did not meet the 95% confidence interval in other brain tumors. An increasing trend in VEGF-A expression and a declining trend in VEGF-R1 expression from Stage I to II were observed in meningioma. VEGF-A and VEGF-R1 expression had no significant correlation with age and gender. Although peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) in astrocytoma was significantly associated with tumor stages, VEGF-A and VEGF-R1 were not correlated with PTBE in meningioma and metastasis., Conclusion: VEGF-A is a valuable factor for the prognosis of PTBE and malignancy in astrocytoma and is helpful in monitoring treatment approaches.

Aim: To identify primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) predisposing factors in order to prevent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) progression to PSC., Background: IBD is commonly associated with PSC and there is no effective therapy for PSC except for liver transplantation., Patients and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 447 IBD patients from IBD Clinics of Ghaem and Emam Reza Hospitals. Data were collected by interview and through a review of the patients' medical records. Patients were divided into two groups: those with IBD and PSC (IBD-PSC) and those without PSC. Variables were compared between two groups and those with statistically significant differences in IBD-PSC group were considered as predictive factors for the development of PSC., Results: The frequency of PSC in IBDs was 4.3% and all were ulcerative colitis. The mean age of patients with PSC was 39.1±11.33 years. The male to female proportion in PSCs was 3.8:1 and in IBDs was 0.9:1. There were statistically significant associations between PSC and gender, IBD duration and UC extension, mucocutaneous involvement, oral contraceptive pills (OCP) consumption, history of surgery and history of PSC in the first- degree relatives., Conclusion: PSC frequency among IBD patients in North-East of Iran was 4.3%. It is recommended to limit OCP consumption in IBD patients. Identification and modification of probable predisposing risk factors, as well as early diagnosis of PSC are necessary.

Objective: To assess specific anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) antibodies, clinical status, and demographic data in pregnant women and their infants in northeast Iran., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 225 systematic randomly selected-pregnant women and their newborns attending public hospitals in Mashhad, Iran between December 2007 and January 2008. Two specialists performed clinical assessment and obtained the demographic data. The sera from mothers and the umbilical cord of infants were then collected at the time of delivery and anti-CMV antibodies, IgG, and IgM, were measured., Results: Although, all mothers and their neonates were positive for anti-CMV IgG (100%), only 6 were positive for anti-CMV specific IgM (2.6%), and their infants were negative. However, in one infant the clinical features of CMV infection were observed by radiological evaluation (CT scan) (0.4%). There was no correlation between anti-CMV IgG in neonates and number of parity, history of abortion, mothers` and neonates` blood groups, gestational age, and economical status. However, the concentration of anti-CMV IgG in neonates with normal delivery was significantly lower than with cesarean delivery (p=0.03), and in girls compared with boys (p=0.04)., Conclusion: Anti-CMV IgG transmission to neonates is associated with gender and type of delivery. Despite anti-CMV IgM showing active CMV infection in mothers, virus transmission to the fetus might not occur.