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Background: Oropharyngeal candidiasis and antifungal drug resistance are major problems in HIV positive patients. The increased reports of antifungal resistance and expanding therapeutic options prompted the determination of antifungal susceptibility profile of Candida species isolates in Iranian patients living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the present study. Methods: One hundred fifty oral samples from Iranian HIV positive patients were obtained and cultured on CHROMagar and Sabouraud's dextrose agar. All isolates were identified according to assimilation profile, germ tube, colony color and other conventional methods. Disk diffusion testing and Broth Microdilution of six antifungal agents were performed according to the methods described in CLSI. Results: Candida albicans (50.2%) was the most frequent isolated yeast, followed by C. glabrata (22%). Non-Candida albicans species were isolated from 71 (61%) positive cultures. 25.7% of Candida albicans isolates were resistant to fluconazole (MIC≥64 µg/ml) as were 21.9% and 16.4% to ketoconazole and clotrimazole (MIC>0.125 µg/ml), respectively. Resistance to polyene antifungals including amphotericin B and nystatin, and caspofungin were scarce. 57.7% of candida glabrata isolates were resistant to fluconazole, 31% to ketoconazole and 35% to clotrimazole. Conclusion: Screening for antifungal resistant candida isolates by disk diffusion or broth dilution methods in clinical laboratories is an ideal surveillance measure in the management of oral thrush in patients with HIV/AIDS. Although nystatin is widely used in clinical practice for HIV positive patients, there was no evidence of enhanced resistance to it. Regarding no resistance to caspofungin, its administration is suggested.

"n 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1":*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";} Background: Tuberculosis with high prevalence in HIV/AIDS patients is the main reason for morbidity and mortality in these patients. About one-third of patients with HIV infection have concomitant tuberculosis. Lack of appropriate infection control on many social and economic communities will impose. Comprehensive study on the effects of anti-tuberculosis drugs in patients with HIV infecting less done, also due to the importance of reducing morbidity and mortality, reduce the cost of disease, identifying drug pharmacokinetics, the importance of completing treatment tuberculosis, this study was performed to evaluate the effects of anti- tuberculosis drugs on HIV infection and to identify the drug pharmacokinetics and so more complete tuberculosis treatment."n"nMethods: A historical cohort study was performed on patients referring to the research center for HIV/AIDS, consultation center, department of infection diseases of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran. A total number of 75 cases with HIV negative versus HIV positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and positive sputum smear in accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria were selected."n"nResults: In this study, the frequency of peripheral neuropathy 27(73%), arthralgia 31(83.8%), vomiting 18(48.6%), headache 26(70.3%), dizziness 20(54.1%), renal toxicity 4(10.8%) and of skin rash 10(27%) in patients with HIV virus infection were significantly more than HIV- negative patients. Hepatotoxicity, fever and anemia were not significantly more common in patients who infected with HIV virus. "n"nConclusion: The HIV patients, who have not received antiretroviral drugs during tuberculosis treatment, may show higher incidence of anti-tuberculosis drugs complications.

Background: The object of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial resistance pattern among common nosocomial Gram-negative bacilli isolated from patients with nosocomial infections. Methods: From June 2004 to December 2005, 380 isolates of common Gram-negative bacilli (Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter and E. coli) from 270 patients with nosocomial infections in Sina and Imam Hospitals, Tehran, Iran, were evaluated for susceptibility to Imipenem, Cefepime, Ciprofloxacine, Ceftriaxone and Ceftazidime by Disc diffusion and E-test methods. Results: The most frequent pathogens isolated were Klebsiella spp. (40%), followed by Pseudomonas (28%), Acinetobacter spp. (20%) and E. coli (12%). The most active antibiotic was imipenem (84%). 26% of all isolates were sensitive to Cefepime, 26% to Ciprofloxacin, 20% to Ceftazidime and 10% to Ceftrixone. The susceptibility rates of Klebsiella to Imipenem, cefepime, ciprofloxacin, Ceftazidime and Ceftriaxone were 91, 25, 21, 13 and 7 percent, respectively and 91, 19, 17, 21 and 21 percent, respectively, for E. coli. Among Acineto- bacter spp., the susceptibility rate was 77% for Imipenem and 21% for Ciprofloxacin. Among Pseudomonas spp., 75% of isolates were susceptible to Imipenem and 39% to Ciprofloxacin. The comparison of the resistance status of microorganisms by both Disc diffusion and E-test methods showed a clinically noticeable agreement between these two tests. Conclusions: Since antibiotic resistance among Gram-negative bacilli has increased, enforcement of policy regarding proper antibiotic use is urgently needed in order to delay the development of resistance. Although it is widely accepted that E-test is more accurate in determining the resistance of microorganisms, our study showed that the Disc diffusion test will give the same results in most occasions and is therefore still considered useful in clinical practice.

What is known and objective Depression is a debilitating complication of brucellosis and how best to treat this is a matter of debate. Inflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis of both brucellosis and depression. Therefore, we hypothesized that celecoxib could be beneficial for the treatment of depression due to brucellosis. Methods Forty outpatients with depression due to brucellosis with a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score ( HDRS) <19 participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and underwent 8 weeks of treatment with either celecoxib (200 mg bid) or placebo as an adjunctive to antibiotic therapy. Patients were evaluated using HDRS at baseline and weeks 4 and 8. Result and discussion Repeated-measures analysis demonstrated significant effect for time × treatment interaction on the HDRS score [ F (1·43, 57·41) = 37·22, P < 0·001]. Significantly greater response to treatment occurred in the celecoxib group than in the placebo group at the study end [10 patients (50%) vs. no patient (0%), respectively, P < 0·001]. No serious adverse event was observed. What is new and conclusion Celecoxib is a safe and effective treatment for depression due to brucellosis when compared with placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection is a global health problem. Failure to accurately identify cases of active MTB has serious effects on both patients and the community. Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear has poor sensitivity and culture methods have a delay ranging from 1 to 8 weeks for diagnosis. Nucleic acid amplification assays may be suitable candidates for this purpose. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective study, we evaluated Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in peripheral blood samples with PCR technique in 190 patients with pulmonary and extra pulmonary tuberculosis whom were admitted to Tehran Imam Khomeini hospitals during 2006-2010. Three ml citrated blood samples were obtained from cases. DNA extraction was performed by QIAGEN commercial kit and PCR performed with IS1081 Primer. RESULTS: Fifty six cases had extra-pulmonary tuberculosis and 134 were pulmonary. Overall sensitivity and specificity of the PCR assay was 41.1% and 95.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: MTB-PCR assay on PBMC using IS1081 primer has a low sensitivity and now can not use as a single or alternative diagnostic test for tuberculosis. However, with regard to its high specificity can use for help diagnosing of TB in cases have no enough sputum (or other specimens) to examination for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear and culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A couple of 2-inch by 2-inch right cylinder sodium iodide scintillators and an Am–Be radioisotope neutron source have been used in a neutron porosity well-logging tool to explore the variation of hydrogen contents in a prototype formation. Both Monte Carlo N-particle transport code simulation and experimental results of the near- to far-detector responses confirm the reliable sensitivity of proposed tool to the formation porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis G virus (HGV) or GB-virus type C (GBV-C) is distributed globally and is present in the volunteer blood donor population. For epidemiological studies, HGV is of interest in hemodialysis patients who are at risk of parenterally transmitted infections. The role of HGV in producing illness and hepatic disease has yet to be determined. A review of literature was performed in 2009 to summarize scientific reports on epidemiology and pathogenesis of the HGV infection and its exposure through hemodialysis.