20 research outputs found
Casual role of infectious agents in cancer: An overview
No full textCancer is a complex group of diseases with multiple eventual causes. The underlying causes are not fully known. Thus, learning more about the known causes of cancer is an important issue. Moreover, among these factors, infection and its association to cancers is controversial. Although, it seems that the genome instability of the cells can initiate cancer development. The purpose of this review was to present the role of infection in the development of cancer. Infectious agents, such as hepatitis B (HBV) and C viruses (HCV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human papillomavirus (HPV), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and Streptococcus bovis (S. bovis) contribute to the pathogenesis of different cancers. These cancers include hepatocellular carcinoma, Burkitt's lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, cervical cancers, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Kaposi sarcoma, adenocarcinoma and lymphoma. Screenings of infectious diseases in cancer patients may open up areas of research in the identification of optimizing cancer control strategies. 
Talking Away the Crisis? The E3/EU-Iran Negotiations on Nuclear Issues. College of Europe EU Diplomacy Paper 6/2007, November 2007
No full textThe E3/EU-Iran negotiations on nuclear issues have been ongoing since summer 2003 with the aim to find a balance between Iran’s desire to establish a peaceful nuclear enrichment programme and satisfying the safeguards of the international community against the possible development of a nuclear weapons programme. This paper provides an analysis of these negotiations and draws the conclusion that the E3, and later the E3/EU, have entered the negotiations with Iran without a clear strategy or alternative outcomes, focusing only on ‘getting what they want’. It argues that in order to reach a mutually acceptable solution, the E3/EU needs to take a more pro-active stand in preparing the pre-negotiations and negotiations. It will be important to find a common formula. The E3/EU needs to create a win-win situation and end the crisis before it is too late
Clinical diagnosis challenges in Zika virus infection
No full textDear Editor,
Will Zika virus (ZIKV) infection as a mosquito-borne illness with symptoms similar to flu difficult to diagnose?
To answer this question, we need to know this infectious disease well and its clinical symptoms. So, first we need to point to the mentioned case. ZIKV is an emerging viral infection in the Flaviviridae family, transmitted by Aedes aegypti.
At present according to the reports of health organizations, this infection has spread throughout the USA, the Pacific Islands, and the Southeast Asia. This flu like infection causes mild symptoms resolved in two weeks, like fever, headache, rash, myalgia, redness, and conjunctivitis (1).
Thus, the temperature is usually low grade fever (within 38.0°C) and skin rashes are likely immune-mediated and pruritic in many cases which begin within 1–4 days onset. Definitely, the complicated features comprising Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and fatal encephalitis in adults, an abnormally small head size (microcephaly) in newborn infants, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) were documented (2).
There are many flu like illnesses, which may make clinicians doubtful in the diagnosis of ZIKV infection. Among these diseases can be referred to such terms as herpes simplex virus (HSV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), hepatitis C, Lyme disease, Q fever, dengue fever (DF), measles, and so on.
In other words, it is confirmed that these common clinical presentations of ZIKV infection performed to be very similar to some arboviral diseases, like as Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Dengue virus (DENV) infection, as a result, a confounding diagnosis. Consequently, a study that was conducted in 2015 revealed 224 dengue cases screened for ZIKV infection, seven patients had positive results for ZIKV infection(3).
Several in vitro studies suggested cross-reactivity between antibody responses in dengue virus (DENV) as an arthropod‑borne virus and a member of the genus Flavivirus, and Zika virus(4). Even few research studies suggest that dengue virus enters to cells with Tyro 3, Axl, and Mertk (TAM) and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM), and these receptors are engaged in ZIKV infection (5). Although other studies showed the differences between these infections that they are very helpful in solving the misdiagnosed problem.
Rashes in ZIKV infection are more likely to occur in the first week than dengue infection. In the event, rashes regularly appear during recovery phases of dengue disease. Contrary to dengue, hemorrhagic episodes and abnormality in laboratory findings as thrombocytopenia occur less frequently in ZIKV.
It has shown that different types of edema are more common in ZIKV infections than in DENV illness. In general, people with ZIKV infection, unlike dengue fever, less likely develop severe illnesses and need to be hospitalized. As a consequence, it can be concluded that diagnosis of ZIKV infection and the complete and accurate verification is a great challenge due to low-level viremia and cross- reactivity related to immune system functions. On the other hand, detection of this infection is best during the early-phase, though, diagnosis is seriously problematic at this stage because the disease occurs in this phase asymptomatically (3).
As a result, the best and the most reliable things are the careful evaluation of infection regarding clinical and paraclinical (hematologic) parameters alongside the use of RT-PCR with high specificity and sensitivity as the gold standard for ZIKV detection. Meanwhile, RT-PCR is effective in serum, saliva and semen in 1-2 weeks post infection. Moreover, it is recommended to use acute and recuperating samples for better diagnosis (5).
The use of molecular tests such as Trioplex Real-Time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommended specially for those who have recently traveled to regions with risk of Zika and even show some symptoms of a disease such as Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and DENV(5)
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): What we need to know
No full textCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): What we need to kno
Study the incidence of complications of BCG vaccine in infants of Babol, Mazandaran (2011-2013)
No full textBackground: BCG vaccination which is administered to prevent tuberculosis is sometimes associated with serious complications. This study aimed to determine the incidence of complications of BCG vaccination in Babol.
Methods: All infants who received BCG vaccination between 2011-2013 in health centers of Babol entered the study. Data regarding complications of vaccine were extracted according to the National Inventory of babies. All complicated cases were confirmed by the Academic Committee to review the adverse consequences of the vaccine.
Results: Among the 15984 vaccinated neonates, 150 (0.93%) cases presented lymphadenitis. 46.5% were females and 53.5% were males 43% were rural residents and 57% were urban residents. No cases of lymphadenitis including 1% of lymphadenitis with abscess formation were recovered without treatment. Disseminated infection occurred in 3 cases of immune deficient patients who responded to the treatment. Most complications occurred during 4 months after vaccination.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the prevalence of lymphadenitis in Babol was higher than the standard of WHO. This may be attributed to type and vaccine storage and injection technique. These findings justify further training of health-center workers
Spontaneous relapse in patients with inactive chronic hepatitis B virus infection
No full textBackground: Chronic hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) may reactivate during the course of the disease and is called spontaneous relapse. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of relapse of hepatitis in subjects with inactive HBV carriers.
Methods: This follow-up study was performed on 785 patients with inactive HBV carriers that were followed-up at six month intervals. The presence of serum HBsAg and anti-HBe, without HBeAg, HBV DNA levels <2000 IU/ml with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels was defined as inactive carriers. Patients who developed ALT ≥80 IU/L with HBV DNA levels ≥2000 IU/ml were considered as spontaneous relapse.
Results: Seven hundred- eighty five cases (441 males, 344 females) of chronic HBV infected individuals were followed-up. The mean age at the entrance of the study was 30.5±11.8 years. The mean follow-up duration was 5.9±5 years. Relapse was seen in 35 (4.5%) cases, in 27 out of 441 (6.1%) males and in 8 out of 344 (2.3%) females and in 4.2% subjects ≥ 30 years versus in 4.7% cases of under 30 years (p>0.05). The development of relapse in males was higher than females (hazard ratio 2.53, 95% CI 1.2-5.6, p=0.021), but age ≥30 or < 30 years did not have effect (hazard ratio1.21, 95% CI 0.62-2.36, p=0.58).
Conclusions: The results show that spontaneous relapse of hepatitis may develop during the course of chronic HBV infection. We suggest that all patients with chronic hepatitis B, regardless of their age, be examined for the possibility of relapse
HBV DNA in the Plasma and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Chronic HBV Infected Individuals Who Became HBsAg-Serocleared or Seroconverted
No full textVital role of chest CT in diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
No full textIn December 2019, a new virus called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causing severe acute respiratory syndrome emerged in Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread to other areas of China and other regions of the world. Since it was a discovery, COVID-19 has spread to several countries and to this date, affecting about 2,329,651 people and caused about 160,721 deaths. Since most COVID-19 infected cases were diagnosed with pneumonia and characteristic chest computed tomography (CT) scan patterns, radiological examinations have become an important tool in early diagnosis. Nowadays, CT findings combined with normal blood cells (WBCs), lymphopenia and a history of epidemiological exposure have been used as criteria for clinical diagnosis of COVID-19. It is noteworthy that reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test is still gold standard for the diagnosis. This review focuses on role of chest CT in the clinical evaluation of disease progression and more accurate diagnosis
Neurologic manifestations in patients with COVID-19: A case series
No full textBackground: There are very few reports about the neurological complications of COVID-19.We describe two COVID-19 patients with neurologic presentations. Case Presentation: Herein we present neurological manifestations in 2 hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The patients showed most common symptoms of COVID-19 along with common conflicts in CT scans of lung such as ground-glass opacities (GGOs). First case revealed two episodes of generalized tonic–clonic seizures; brain CT scan in second patients revealed an extensive hypodense lesion in the left cerebellar hemisphere. All cases received supportive care, antibiotics, and antiviral medications. All cases were discharged with a good general condition. Conclusion: The current case series report the association between neurological involvements and COVID-19. Clinicians should be aware of neurologic symptoms in the setting of COVID-19, which might even be the first presentations of this infection
