Objective:To determine the prevalence of Anaplasma marginale (A.marginale) and Anaplasma ovis from sheep and goat in different highland pasture in west of lran.Methods:From July 2015 to October 2015,370 blood samples of sheep and goat were collected fiom different regions in Hamedan province,Iran.The DNA extracted fiom blood and subsequently,16S rRNA and MSP4 genes were analyzed by nested-PCR,semi nested-PCR and RFLP methods.Results:In the PCR assessment,overall 27.5％ (102/370) of sheep and goat were positive for Anaplasma ovis and A.margiule infection,which was lower than reports from tropical and subtropical regions of lran.Statistical analysis (the Chi-square test) did not show any significant relation between infection and variables such as location,tick infestation age and sex (P ＞ 0.05).No significant correlation between the altitude and the Anaplasma species infection was found (Mann-Whitney test:P ＞ 0.05).However,Anaplasma infection in goat significantly is more than the sheep (P =0.008).Conclusions:The ecological changes affect the frequency and distribution of Anaplasma species.Furthermore,our results indicate that sheep as potential reservoirs ofA.marginale.

BACKGROUND: The Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire-50 (NOSACQ-50) was developed by a team of Nordic occupational safety researchers based on safety climate and psychological theories. The aim of this study was to develop and validate the Persian version of NOSACQ-50 and assess the score of safety climate on a group of workers in a steel company in Iran. METHODS: The Persian version of NOSACQ-50 was distributed among 661 employees of a steel company in Qazvin Province (Iran). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis were used to determine the dimensions of the questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach α coefficient. Pearson correlation test was applied to investigate the correlation between different dimensions. RESULTS: The results of EFA showed that the Persian version of NOSACQ-50 consisted of six dimensions. The Cronbach α coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.94. The mean score of safety climate in all dimensions was 2.89 (standard deviation 0.60). CONCLUSION: The Persian version of NOSACQ-50 had a satisfactory validity for measuring safety climate in the studied Iranian population.
Climate* ; Iran ; Occupational Health ; Psychological Theory ; Steel*

OBJECTIVES: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that occurs worldwide, with a wide range of complications in immunocompromised patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among patients undergoing hemodialysis in Iran. METHODS: We searched English and Persian databases for studies reporting T. gondii seroprevalence in Iranian hemodialysis patients through December 31, 2017. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies containing 1,865 participants (1,048 patients and 817 controls) met the eligibility criteria. ImmunoglobulinG (IgG) antibodies against T. gondii were found in 58% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46 to 70) of hemodialysis patients and 40% (95% CI, 31 to 50) of healthy controls, while immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were found in 2% (95% CI, 0 to 6) of hemodialysis patients and 0% (95% CI, 0 to 1) of healthy controls. The meta-analysis showed that hemodialysis patients were significantly more likely to be seropositive for IgG (odds ratio [OR], 2.04; 95% CI, 1.54 to 2.70; p < 0.001) and IgM (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.23 to 5.22; p < 0.001) antibodies against T. gondii infection than healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS The current study revealed a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in hemodialysis patients. Since hemodialysis patients are immunocompromised and T. gondii can cause serious clinical complications, we recommend that periodic screenings for T. gondii infection should be incorporated into the routine clinical care of these patients.

OBJECTIVES: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that occurs worldwide, with a wide range of complications in immunocompromised patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among patients undergoing hemodialysis in Iran. METHODS: We searched English and Persian databases for studies reporting T. gondii seroprevalence in Iranian hemodialysis patients through December 31, 2017. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies containing 1,865 participants (1,048 patients and 817 controls) met the eligibility criteria. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against T. gondii were found in 58% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46 to 70) of hemodialysis patients and 40% (95% CI, 31 to 50) of healthy controls, while immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were found in 2% (95% CI, 0 to 6) of hemodialysis patients and 0% (95% CI, 0 to 1) of healthy controls. The meta-analysis showed that hemodialysis patients were significantly more likely to be seropositive for IgG (odds ratio [OR], 2.04; 95% CI, 1.54 to 2.70; p < 0.001) and IgM (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.23 to 5.22; p < 0.001) antibodies against T. gondii infection than healthy individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The current study revealed a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in hemodialysis patients. Since hemodialysis patients are immunocompromised and T. gondii can cause serious clinical complications, we recommend that periodic screenings for T. gondii infection should be incorporated into the routine clinical care of these patients.
Antibodies ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Iran* ; Mass Screening ; Parasitic Diseases ; Prevalence* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis*

BACKGROUND: The numerous side effects and chemo-resistance of conventional chemical drugs in the treatment of malignancies have led to consideration of the anti-cancer properties of natural products. In the present study, we aimed to explore the apoptotic effect of two natural components, resveratrol and prednisolone, on the T acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell line, CCRF-CEM. Our findings suggested the incorporation of these natural agents into drug regimens to treat patients with ALL. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the effect of different doses of resveratrol (15, 50 and 100 µM) and prednisolone (700 µM) on BAX (apoptosis promoter) and BCL2 (apoptosis inhibitor) expressions following 24 and 48 hours of treatment on CCRF-CEM cells, using real-time PCR, and on apoptosis induction using flow cytometry. RESULTS: The results showed a time- and dose-dependent increase in BAX expression and a decrease in BCL2 expression. Apoptosis was induced in CCRF-CEM cells treated with resveratrol and prednisolone for 24 and 48 hours. Combined resveratrol and prednisolone treatment showed synergistic effects on the overexpression of BAX and the downregulation of BCL2. The drug combination had a greater influence on apoptosis induction compared with either drug administered alone after 48 hours of treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that resveratrol exhibited a remarkable efficacy to improve the influence of glucocorticoids drugs, especially prednisolone, to induce apoptosis in the CCRF-CEM cell line.
Apoptosis* ; Biological Products ; Cell Line* ; Down-Regulation ; Flow Cytometry ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Prednisolone ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVES: Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease that occurs worldwide, with a wide range of complications in immunocompromised patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii among patients undergoing hemodialysis in Iran.METHODS: We searched English and Persian databases for studies reporting T. gondii seroprevalence in Iranian hemodialysis patients through December 31, 2017. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied.RESULTS: A total of 10 studies containing 1,865 participants (1,048 patients and 817 controls) met the eligibility criteria. ImmunoglobulinG (IgG) antibodies against T. gondii were found in 58% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46 to 70) of hemodialysis patients and 40% (95% CI, 31 to 50) of healthy controls, while immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were found in 2% (95% CI, 0 to 6) of hemodialysis patients and 0% (95% CI, 0 to 1) of healthy controls. The meta-analysis showed that hemodialysis patients were significantly more likely to be seropositive for IgG (odds ratio [OR], 2.04; 95% CI, 1.54 to 2.70; p < 0.001) and IgM (OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.23 to 5.22; p < 0.001) antibodies against T. gondii infection than healthy individuals.CONCLUSIONS: The current study revealed a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in hemodialysis patients. Since hemodialysis patients are immunocompromised and T. gondii can cause serious clinical complications, we recommend that periodic screenings for T. gondii infection should be incorporated into the routine clinical care of these patients.
Antibodies ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Iran ; Mass Screening ; Parasitic Diseases ; Prevalence ; Renal Dialysis ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis

Purpose: This study aimed to assess incidental abnormal findings in the paranasal sinuses and anatomical variations of the ostiomeatal complex (OMC) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Materials and Methods: MRI scans of 616 patients (mean age, 44.0±19.4 years) were evaluated. Prior to obtaining the MRI scans, a checklist of patients’ clinical symptoms was filled out after obtaining their consent. The Lund-Mackay classification was used to assess the paranasal sinuses and OMC. The prevalence of abnormal findings and their associations with patients’ age, sex, and subjective symptoms were analyzed by the chi-square test, independent-sample t-test, and analysis of variance. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: Abnormal findings in the paranasal sinuses were detected in 32.0% of patients, with a significantly higher prevalence in males (P<0.05), but no significant association with age (P>0.05). Epithelial thickening and retention cyst were the most common abnormal findings in the paranasal sinuses. According to the Lund-Mackay classification, 93% of the study population had normal sinuses (score<4). Concha bullosa and paradoxical concha were detected in 15.3% and 3.4%, respectively, with no significant association with the presence of septal deviation or Lund-Mackay classification (P>0.05). Conclusion Considering the relatively high prevalence of abnormal findings in the paranasal sinuses, it appears that clinical symptoms alone are not sufficient to diagnose sinusitis. A more accurate strategy would be to assess radiographic images of the paranasal sinuses and use a classification system. Sinusitis should be suspected in patients receiving a high score in this classification.

Objective: Diabetes mellitus is associated with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Studies have shown that citicoline and benfotiamine can improve memory and learning through different mechanism of actions. The aim of this study was to compare the individual effects of benfotiamine (100, 200, 300 mg/kg) and citicoline (50, 100, 250, 500 mg/kg, gavage) and their co-administration on memory impairments in diabetic mice. Methods: Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ, 140 mg/kg, intraperitoneal) and benfotiamine and/or citicoline were administered for three weeks. Memory was evaluated using the object recognition task (ORT) and passive avoidance test (PAT). Results: Results from ORT shows that citicoline at 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg and benfotiamine at 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg and their combination (benfotiamine at 100 mg/kg added to citicoline at 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg) are equally effective in reversing the memory loss induced by STZ (p ＜ 0.001). PAT results demonstrate that citicoline at 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg and benfotiamine at above doses did not improve the latency time when administered separately, but benfotiamine at a fixed dose of 100 mg/kg in the presence of citicoline at 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg increased the latency time and improved memory significantly. Conclusion In conclusion, in PAT, co-administration of benfotiamine and citicoline was more effective than either alone in improving memory. Regarding ORT, although benfotiamine added to citicoline improved memory notably, the difference between combination therapy and single-drug therapy was not considerable.

Objective: Alzheimer’s disease is a popular neurodegenerative disorder which is growing in the elderly people. Exposure to environmental pollutant like aluminum could trigger or accelerate its involved mechanisms like tau phosphorylation. The current study will evaluate the effect of alone or co-administration of Citicoline or/and magnesium on the aluminum chloride induced memory impairment. Methods: Male albino mice were randomly divided into different groups (n = 7). Memory impairment was induced via orally administration of 300 mg/kg Aluminum Chloride for 28 days. Based on respective group, animals received 100, 250, 500 mg/kg of Citicoline or 50, 100, 150 mg/kg of Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), intraperitoneally. In co-administration, 50 mg/kg of MgSO4 injected concomitantly with 100, 250, or 500 mg/kg of Citicoline. Rivastigmine (2 mg/kg intraperitoneally) was used as a positive control. Memory was evaluated using the Object Recognition Task (ORT) and Passive Avoidance Test (PAT). Results: The studied doses of Citicoline or MgSO4 when administered individually showed significant increase in the discrimination index in ORT and latency time in the PAT compared to the Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) treated group. Concomitant injection of 50 mg/kg MgSO4 with the different doses of Citicoline strongly increased the above indices values in comparison to each alone. Conclusion The findings show, individual administration of Citicoline or MgSO4 inverted the AlCl3-induced memory impairment in a dose independent manner. The addition of MgSO4 to the Citicoline showed a synergistic effect in the PAT and likely additive effect in the ORT.

Objective To determine the prevalence of Anaplasma marginale (A. marginale) and Anaplasma ovis from sheep and goat in different highland pasture in west of Iran. Methods From July 2015 to October 2015, 370 blood samples of sheep and goat were collected from different regions in Hamedan province, Iran. The DNA extracted from blood and subsequently, 16S rRNA and MSP4 genes were analyzed by nested-PCR, semi nested-PCR and RFLP methods. Results In the PCR assessment, overall 27.5% (102/370) of sheep and goat were positive for Anaplasma ovis and A. marginale infection, which was lower than reports from tropical and subtropical regions of Iran. Statistical analysis (the Chi-square test) did not show any significant relation between infection and variables such as location, tick infestation age and sex (P > 0.05). No significant correlation between the altitude and the Anaplasma species infection was found (Mann–Whitney test: P > 0.05). However, Anaplasma infection in goat significantly is more than the sheep (P = 0.008). Conclusions The ecological changes affect the frequency and distribution of Anaplasma species. Furthermore, our results indicate that sheep as potential reservoirs of A. marginale.