The aim of this study was to analyse polar lipids of Candida species isolated from Ahwaz (Iran) by Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry (FAB MS). Nine isolates of Candida Sp. were identified by growth at 45°C, production of cblamydoconidia on cornmeal agar, colonial colour on CHROMagar Candida, germ tube production and ID 32C kits. Then polar lipids were extracted from freeze-dried cultures and analysed using FAB MS. The most intense carboxylate and PHOSPHOLIPID molecular species anions were of m/z 281 (C 18:1) and m/z 515 (PA 23:2). However, the most intense carboxylate and PHOSPHOLIPID analogues in Candida parapsilosis were 292 (Un) and 555 (PA 26:3), which differed from other yeasts. Isolates were grouped by single linkage clustering based on correlation coefficient for strain pairs calculated with carboxylate and PHOSPHOLIPID molecular species distributions. FAB MS can differentiate the C. albicans based on analysis of polar lipid distributions. These fmdings support that differentiation between C. albicans and other species is possible based on polar lipids.

Background: Increasing the AntiPHOSPHOLIPID-nephropathy (APS-N) alterations on lupus renal lesions cause renal disease progression and detoriation of prognosis. The aim of this study was to find some indicators in lupus patients that can predict the occurring of APS-N in them and can be construct the preventive treatments for prevention of more complications.Methods: In this descriptive study, the renal biopsy specimens of 66 patients with lupus nephritis, were reviewed according to new classification of lupus nephritis ISN/RPS 2003 by a nephropathologist and synchronous alterations due to APS, were studied. Results were analyzed by SPSS-12 and statistical methods, independent sample test, chi-square.Findings: The APS-N alterations were seen in 31.8% of patients. The most common class of lupus nephritis was IV. There was no significant difference between any one of the lupus nephritis class and the existence of synchronous APS-N alterations (P>0.05), between lupus nephritis and APS-N with serum Cr level at the time of renal biopsy (P=0.434) and also between the presence of anti PHOSPHOLIPID antibodies and the existence of synchronous APS-N alterations (P=0.904). The difference between clinical signs (thrombosis, ischemia) and existence of the synchronous APS-N alterations, was strongly significant (P=0.001).Conclusion: This study recommend that pathologists should be careful to diagnose and report the existence of synchronous APS-N alterations in renal biopsy specimens related to lupus nephritis patients, because these alterations help the physician to carry out proper treatment and prevent of future vascular thrombotic events in lupus nephritis patients.