Introduction: Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite. It's primary host are cats and in man infection occurs mainly by ingestion of raw or underdone meat and vegetables. The most significant infections in humans are congenital and during first semester of pregnancy cause abortion. Immunologic methods are the most common way to establish the diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of IgG and IgM anti-toxoplasma antibodies in women at the age of marriage in Urmia city.Material and Methods: Serum of 300 women at the age of marriage at No.9 health centre were studied and anti-toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies were determined by ELISA and IFA techniques. Results: Anti-toxoplasma IgG antibodies were found positive in 98 (32.8%) and 11 samples (3.7%) equivocal results. Anti-toxoplasma IgM found positive in 12 (4%), and negative in 286 (96%), no equivocal result was obtained for IgM. The speciemens were examined by IFA techniques, the IgG titre in 65 samples was 1/400, 13 samples 1/800, 12 samples 1/600, 4 samples 1/3200 and 4 samples showed negative results. Discussion: The positive results were indicated that toxoplasmosis still can cause problem specially in pregnant women. There were not statistical significant difference between those from rural and urban areas. As a result the control of disease in both areas is recommended.

Introduction: This research aimed determining the levels of cortisol, immunoglobulins and major serum cytokines, following Ramadan fasting, as immune response indexes. Materials and Methods: For this before and after Ramadan fasting study, twenty-five students residing at the dormitory of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences were selected. All cytokines levels (IL-1a, TGF-b, TNF- a, IFN-a, IFN-g) were determined by the ELISA method, Immoglobulines were determined by the Radial Immunodiffusion (SRID) technique and cortisol levels were measured by EIA too. Results: While IFN-g a showed a considerable increase after Ramadan fasting (P<0.01), IFN-a and TNF-a had decreased (P≥0.5 and <0.02 respectively). Serum level of TGF-b increased but not significantly  (P>0.3); cortisol also increased after one month of fasting (P<0.05). Serum IL-1α had a non-significant decrease (P≥0.5). Although IgG & IgM levels showed no significant increase, IgA levels showed significant decrease [P<0.5].Conclusion: Our data revealed that Ramadan fasting increased IFN-g, while decreasing TNF-a and IgA levels; ramadan fasting can probably increase T-Cell function, lower the inflammatory appreance rate and affect immunoglobulin production.

Background & Purpose: Salt and pepper change is the retinal change that occurs in human retina and its cause is not entirely known. In the present study, the retina of patients infected with Giardia lamblia living in Tehran was examined for presence of "salt and pepper" retinal change. Methods& Patients: 50 girdiasis patients were selected as study group and 50 healthy individuals as control group. The retina of two groups was tested by ophthalmologist. White blood cells and eosinophila percentage were counted in haematology lab. For measurements of IgA and IgG Levels, SRID technique, and for IgE level, ELISA technique was applied. Results & Conclusion: The results indicated, six patients of study group showed "salt and pepper" retinal change in their eyes. When the patients treated with metronidazole, the ocular change disappeared in three of them. In addition, eosinophila percentage, IgA, IgE and IgG levels in the infected patients were found increased significantly in comparison with control group. Meanwhile, among patients with ocular change and without ocular change the differences of eosinophila percentage and IgE levels were found significant, According to IgA and IgG levels, no significant difference between two groups were observed.    

Imaging of infection and inflammation is an important issue in nuclear medicine as it may have relevant implication for the management of patients with infections or inflammatory diseases. In this regard the synthesis of human polyclonal immunoglobulin G (IgG) radio labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) by a novel method, via a nicotinamide hydrazine derivative, was performed. The biological behavior, stability and its high specific activity make this radiopharmaceutical a suitable reagent for radio labeling of proteins and peptides. In this article the method for synthesis of a sterile and apyrogen 99mTc-HYNIC-hIgG kit is presented. The preparation of the kit consists two steps, in the first step 740 MBq pertechnetate was added in Kit No.1, which contains SnCl2 and tricine. After 5 minutes the aliquot in Kit No.1 was added to Kit No.2, which contains HYNIC-hIgG. 99mTc-HYNIC-hIgG complex is stable in cysteine and serum with a labeling efficiency more than 90% after one hour.

Introduction: Cryoglobulinemia is a kind of IMMUNOGLOBULINE that form in various conditions. These imunoglobulines, precipitate in cold environment and restore to soluble state upon rewarming. Nowadays, strong association between cryoglobulines and hepatitis C has been proposed.Methods: This is a descriptive-analytic study in which we included all documented cases of hepatitis C infection who referred to Shahid Sadoughi Hospital from May 2004 to December 2005. Their sera were assessed for cryoglobulines. Results were analyzed by SPSS software and using Chi-square and t-test.Results: Fifty patients entered the study while 8 persons (15%) were positive for cryoglobulines. No statistically significant correlation was shown between positive cryoglobulinemia and age, sex, mode of acquiring infection, liver enzyme titer, HBs antigen and anti-HIV antibody.Conclusion: Regarding the clinical significance of cryoglobolinemia in developing different clinical syndromes, it is recommended to evaluate cryoglobulines in high risk groups, especially patients with hepatitis C.

Acute leukemia is the most common malignancy in children accounting for approximately one-third of all childhood cancers. Modern treatment protocols lead to complete remission (CR) in a considerable proportion of patients with lymphoproliferative disorders. However, many of these patients ultimately relapse, showing that in spite of clinical CR still significant amounts of residual malignant cells persist. Various protocols like cytogenetic, molecular and immunological techniques that are more sensitive than morphology are increasingly used to assess and quantify minimal residual disease (MRD). These techniques produce different levels of sensitivity allowing detection of MRD between 10-2-10-6. In this study we have assessed the feasibility of fluorescent PCR in MRD detection and quantification using IMMUNOGLOBULINE heavy chain (IgH) gene rearrangement. Bone marrow samples obtained from 40 patients with precursor-B cell ALL after induction, consolidation, reconsolidation and intensification therapy. Analysis of clonally rearranged IgH gene carried out by CDR3 amplification in presence of an internal competitor with known copy number. After induction therapy 53% of the patients who were considered to be in clinical remission phase still had detectable MRD. After consolidation therapy 43% of the patients were MRD positive. Subsequent to maintenance-2 or intensification therapy still in 30% of patients MRD was observed.

Objective(s): Injuries and realed wounds are one of the most common causes of admission in emergency departments. In this study the national protocol for tetanus prevention is compared with Eliza as the golden standard for detecting immunity of person.Methods: In a cross sectional study 200 individuals with wound admitted at Imam Hussein hospital (a teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran) were assessed and questionnaires were filled in based on physician decision as protocol recommended and also the result of Eliza. Agreement of physician decision and Eliza result has been evaluated by Kappa index. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios and accuracy were also detected for different methods of vaccine and immunoglobulin administration.Results: Immunoglobulin was administered for 30 percent of persons and vaccine for 23.5 percent. Kappa index for agreement between protocol administration and real administration in emergency department was 0.307 for immunoglobulin and 0.136 for vaccine (p<0.05). It was 0.081 (P>0.05) and 0.199 (P<0.001) for agreement of protocol administration and Eliza and 0.008 and 0.054 (P>0.05) for agreement of administration in emergency depertment and Eliza respectively.For IMMUNOGLOBULINE sensitivity was 0.33, specificity 0.24, positive predictive value 0.25, negative predictive value 0.82, positive likelihood ratio 1.38, negative likelihood ratio 0.88 and accuracy 0.68. For vaccine sensitivity was 0.82, specificity 0.52, positive predictive value 0.29, negative predictive value 0.92, positive likelihood ratio 2.2, negative likelihood ratio 0.35 and accuracy 0.58.Conclusion: The sensitivity, specificity, predictive value, likelihood ratio and accuracy for national protocol are not enough for using in emergency department. It seems that there is need for another reliable and valid substitute method.

Introduction. Mutagenesis, carsinogenesis and cytotoxicity effects on body tissues are side effects of sulfur mustard which in turn, causes the bone marrow and lymphoid system dysfunction. Previous investigation in 31 Iranian chemical casualties, indicated the presence of persistant atypical lymphocytes and the decrease of T lymphocyte subsets and surface markers. The present study was performed to evaluate the changes of B lymphocyte surface markers in the above mentioned group and compare the changes with two other control groups. Methods.The first control group consisted of 30 chemical casaulities with the same clinical conditions and the same history of exposure to mustard but absence of atypical lymphocytes in their blood, and the second control group were consisted of 30 completely normal indivduals. Monoclonal antibodies congugated to fluoroscein isothiocyanate were used to determine B lymphocyte markers.The monoclonal antibodies used in this study were against human IMMUNOGLOBULINE δ and µ heavy chain, λ and κ light chains, anti human HLADR and anti human CD10. The tests were performed on 100 ml of peripheral blood, using flow cytometer model EPICS®XL.Results. In comparsion with normal controls, k and λ light chains showed a significant decrease (P<0.001) while HLADR showed a significant increase (P<0.001) in the two groups of poison gas injury. No significant difference could be seen in µ and δ chain. Two patients of victims group with atypical lymphocytes were CD10 positive. Discussion. Results of this investigation on B lymphocyte markers, suggests the increasing risk of neoplasuc or Iymphopro fife rative disorder with B cell origin, in chemical casaulties with mustard gas.

A 35-year-old man was referred to our center because of low grade fever, vomiting, yellow sclera, and tenderness in the upper-right quadrant of his abdomen. Laboratory tests showed a white blood cell (WBC) of 7100/μL, a platelet of 184,000/μL, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of 4 mm/h, an alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of 525 U/L, an aspartate aminotransferase AST of 142 U/L, a total bilirubin level of 4.23 mg/dL, and a direct bilirubin level of 3.16 mg/dL. Viral hepatitis markers, IMMUNOGLOBULINE M antibody to cytomegalovirus (anti-CMV IgM), Ebstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgM, and immunologic markers of autoimmune hepatitis were negative. The patient was diagnosed with acute hepatitis. Alkaline phosphatase was in the normal range throughout the course of the disease. Because of the patient's occupation as a butcher and his history of eating semi-cooked sheep testes, serologic tests of brucellosis were conducted; the tests came out positive. We were concerned about the hepatotoxicity of standard regimens; therefore, we started treatment with streptomycin and ciprofloxacin regimens. Although liver enzyme had fallen and fever discontinued, the total and direct bilirubin concentrations in the patient's serum both increased in spite of using 2 weeks of the abovementioned drug regimen. The elevation of bilirubin could have been due to drug hepatotoxicity. Alternatively, a regimen containing ciprofloxacin may have not have been efficient enough and may have had effects on the direct bilirubin concentration. Fortunately, within 8 weeks, progressive recovery was noticed. Brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of fever and hepatitis for those who live in endemic areas, especially if his/her job was at high risk for acquiring brucellosis. We recommend taking a careful occupational and behavioral history for patients with acute hepatitis syndrome. We assumed that ciprofloxacin was not suitable for brucella hepatitis treatment and also it may cause liver damage. The most appropriate treatment is a standard regimen containing doxycycline.

ENGLISH: Cholera, a life-threatening disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholera, remains a concern in developing countries. The present study investigated the immunogenicity and protective immunity of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and combination of OMV and killed whole cells (WC) of a local strain isolated from the last outbreak in Iran in addition to reference and local strains of V. cholerae El Tor O1 in comparison to Dukoral vaccine in mice model. The protein content, morphology, and size of extracted OMVs were evaluated by electrophoresis and microscopic analyses, respectively. The serum titers of total immunoglobulin G (IgG), IgG1, IgG2a, and immunoglobulin A (IgA) in addition to secretory IgA and total IgG in different mice groups were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, fluid accumulation (FA) assay regarding the resistance to live strain of V. cholerae in ligated ileal loops was carried out to determine immunogenicity by OMV or combination of OMV and WC in comparison to that reported for Dukoral vaccine. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of purified OMVs indicated protein profiles within the range of 34-52 kDa. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the spherical shaped vesicles of 50-200 nm. The results of ELISA showed significant titers of systemic and mucosal immune anti-OMV IgGs in immunized BALB/c mice with different vaccine regimens. Additionally, a notable increase in the FA ratio was demonstrated in this study. The obtained results of the present study revealed that the WC-OMV combination of local strain can induce a high level of antibody response indicating more protection than OMV or WC separately. Moreover, it can be considered an effective immunogen against V. cholerae. FRENCH: Ré sumé : Le cholé ra, une maladie potentiellement mortelle causé e par la bacté rie Gram-né gatif Vibrio cholera, reste une pré occupation dans les pays en dé veloppement. Dans cette é tude, l'immunogé nicité et l'immunité protectrice des vé sicules de membrane externe (VME) ainsi que la combinaison des VME et de cellules entiè res tué es (ET) ont é té examiné es. A cet effet, une souche locale isolé e de la derniè re é pidé mie en Iran a é té utilisé e en plus des souches de ré fé rence et locales de V. cholerae. El Tor O1, et leur efficacité a é té comparé auvaccin Dukoral chez des souris modè les. La teneur en proté ines, la morphologie et la taille des VME extraits ont é té é valué es par é lectrophorè se et analyses microscopiques, respectivement. Les titres sé riques d'IMMUNOGLOBULINE totale G (IgG), IgG1, IgG2a et IMMUNOGLOBULINE A (IgA) ainsi que des IgA sé cré toires et des IgG totales ont é té dé terminé s par dosage immuno-enzymatique (ELISA) dans les diffé rents groupes de souris. De plus, un test d'accumulation de liquide (AF) concernant la ré sistance à la souche vivante de V. cholerae dans les anses ilé ales ligaturé es a é té ré alisé pour comparer l'immunogé nicité causé e par les VME ou une combinaison des VME et des ET avec celle rapporté e pour le vaccin Dukoral. L'é lectrophorè se sur gel de polyacrylamide-dodé cyl sulfate de sodium des VME purifié s montrait des bandes de proté ines dans la plage de 34 à 52 kDa. De plus, la microscopie é lectronique à transmission a mis en é vidence des vé sicules sphé riques de 50 à 200 nm. Les ré sultats de l'ELISA ont montré des titres significatifs d'IgG anti-VME, indiquant une ré ponse immunitaire systé mique et mucosale chez les souris BALB/c immunisé es avec diffé rents sché mas de vaccination. De plus, une augmentation notable du ratio AF a é té dé montré e dans cette é tude. Les ré sultats de cette é tude ont ré vé lé que la combinaison ET-VME d'une souche locale peut induire un niveau plus é levé d’ anticorps comparé e à l’ utilisation des VME ou ET sé paré ment. Cette combinaison peut ê tre considé ré comme un immunogè ne efficace contre V. cholerae.