Search

Background: Sexually transmitted infections are the most common human infections that lead to severe complications. Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) are common and important cause of genitourinary tract infections. MG is a member of genital mycoplasmas which is emerging as an important causative agent of sexually transmitted infections both in males and females. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of UU and MG in pregnant women and to assess the risk factors which may contribute to the predisposition of the individuals to the infection. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, The population of 210 pregnant women admitted to the Rasoul Akram Hospital in Tehran, were selected for the study using non-random sampling. The urine specimens were collected from 194 pregnant women from May to December, 2015. The samples were transferred to the Infectious Disease Research Center of Rasoul Akram Hospital under sterile condition. Samples were exposed to DNA extraction followed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the infection. Data including sex, age, history of abortion, history of genitourinary tract infections were collected subsequently. Results: The prevalence of MG and UU infections in urine samples was 5.6%, 11.2%, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of the risk of UU was 2.08 (3.56-1.22) in women with a history of abortion and 0.70 (1.03-0.47) in women without a history of abortion. There was a significant relationship between the history of sexually transmitted diseases and the frequency of UU (P

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging global health issue, but currently no licensed vaccine achieves lasting protective immunity. Here the authors show that a ZIKV vaccine containing the envelop protein without the transmembrane domain and the precursor membrane protein can provide effective protection in mouse models.

This article reviews Hamid Dabashi’s “Can Non-Europeans Think?” (2015). It attempts to show that while Dabashi offers a powerful analysis of Iranian and Middle Eastern politics, his arguments turn to be unpersuasive when he aims to radically criticize European philosophy and enlightenment thought.

Adenoviral vectors have shown significant promise as vaccine delivery vectors due to their ability to elicit both innate and adaptive immune responses. α-defensins are effector molecules of the innate immune response and have been shown to modulate natural infection with adenoviruses, but the majority of α-defensin-adenovirus interactions studied to date have only been analyzed in vitro. In this study, we evaluated the role of α-defensin 5 (HD5) in modulating adenovirus vaccine immunogenicity using various serotype adenovirus vectors in mice. We screened a panel of human adenoviruses including Ad5 (species C), Ad26 (species D), Ad35 (species B), Ad48 (species D) and a chimeric Ad5HVR48 for HD5 sensitivity. HD5 inhibited transgene expression from Ad5 and Ad35 but augmented transgene expression from Ad26, Ad48, and Ad5HVR48. HD5 similarly suppressed antigen-specific IgG and CD8+ T cell responses elicited by Ad5 vectors in mice, but augmented IgG and CD8+ T cell responses and innate cytokine responses elicited by Ad26 vectors in mice. Moreover, HD5 suppressed the protective efficacy of Ad5 vectors but enhanced the protective efficacy of Ad26 vectors expressing SIINFEKL against a surrogate Listeria-OVA challenge in mice. These data demonstrate that HD5 differentially modulates adenovirus vaccine delivery vectors in a species-specific manner in vivo.

Periodizing Sasanian History (224-651 AD) is an important issue in studying the development and change in this important Iranian dynasty. The essential point in this periodization is a focus on legitimization methods and dominant world view in each segment of its history. The present essay will examine the ways in which Sasanian kingship was legitimized and how can this be used in a periodization of the dynasty. By dividing the Sasanian kingship into two early and late (Kayanid) holy kingships based on different methods of legitimization, and further sub-classifications, one can attempt a new periodization. The single previous study of the subject will be critically examined from a theoretical standpoint and social and economic circumstances will be taken into consideration in proposing a new theory.

The formation of marriage which is the foundation of family in both Islam and Zoroastrianism depends on certain requirements or conditions. The comparative study of these requirements or conditions shows certain similarities and differences between the two religions, and examining these issues can shed light on the common tradition and shared heritage between the two. The present essay will first study the conditions of marriage from perspective of Zoroastrianism and then compares that standpoint to the Islamic law. The study shows that there are important differences between the two religions. This research deals with one problem from the perspective of the Zoroastrianism and then examines the same problem from the Islamic point of view. Common characteristics in conditions of marriage (age, consent of the guardian, consent of the girl and boy, and their social equality) and in the marriage contact itself (offer and acceptance, representation, witnesses and bride-wealth) between the two legal systems are noteworthy.

Abstract In Zoroastrian law, there are several indications that denote to the temporary marriage as a legal institution and this can be compared to one law in Imami jurisprudence. Sunni and Imami jurists differ on the continued legitimacy of the temporary marriage which the former believes it to be continued. Temporary marriage is legitimate in the opinion of Imami jurists and it has certain conditions that need to be observed. In Zoroastrian texts, there is no separate chapter discussing this institution but based on the remaining evidence one can infer its existence and attempt a reconstruction. In the first section of this paper, this remaining evidence, direct and indirect, will be discussed and then the main points of the comparison with Imami jurisprudence will be studied taking into consideration similarities and differences. The study shows considerable similarity although the aims and conditions are different on occasions.

In this research the effect of softwood cellulose fibers surface characteristics on mechanical properties of cellulose fibers / polypropylene composite (W.P.C) was studied. The fibers were refined to modify the surface characteristics and reach four different freeness levels (11, 14, 17 and 21 °SR). Then the fibers were mixed with polypropylene using pre-determined levels of 20% fibers and 77% polypropylene and 3% MAPP and samples were made. The results revealed that refining the fibers will change the strength of the composites. Statistical analysis should that the impact of the different freeness levels statistically influenced the strength at 99% confidence level. The highest strength levels were reached using fibers with the freeness level of 14 oSR.

Author(s): Rafael A. Larocca [1]; Peter Abbink [1]; Jean Pierre S. Peron [2]; Paolo M. de A. Zanotto [2]; M. Justin Iampietro [1]; Alexander Badamchi-Zadeh [1]; Michael Boyd [1]; David [...]

Background: The genus Bordetella harbors 16 species; three of them are well-known for their high medical importance. The phylogenetic diversity of the genus is currently not very well investigated. Methods: In this study, 16S rRNA gene sequence of 16 type strains of the Bordetella species were analyzed. Also, phylogenies conducted on the same gene of 247 isolates of Bordetella species, comprising a wide physiological as well as ecological diversity and encompassing ex-type representatives of the 16 Bordetella species, were analyzed. Results: It was found that the phylogenetic diversity of the genus may be very different from that is currently assumed. Interestingly, the 16S rRNA gene signals could not resolve some species with promising bootstrap and posterior probability values as our phylogenies, using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, showed. Conclusion: Our results indicate a probable need for additional phylogenetic signals which can be provided by coding genes. Therefore, sequence data of ompA gene of Bordetella species, a critically significant genomic region in pathogenesis, was here analyzed, phylogenetically. This gene confirmed the tree topology and the phylogenetic species boundaries already revealed by the 16S rRNA gene, but showed a better discriminatory power which resolved Bordetella species with higher statistically significant values.

Background: Excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in hospitals has led to the emergence of highly resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The main mechanism of resistance of this bacterium to fluoroquinolones and carbapenems are the modification of type II topoisomerases (DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV) and alterations in the OprD porin, respectively. The aim of this study was to examine for the occurrence of mutations related to fluoroquinolone resistance of gyrA and parC genes and mutational inactivation of oprD gene of clinical isolates using DNA sequencing technique. Methods: A total of 60 P. aeruginosa isolates were collected from the hospitalized patients in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of Al-Zahra hospital located in Isfahan, Iran. The pattern of sensitivity to antibiotics was determined using CLSI disk diffusion and MIC methods. The assay was based on a DNA sequencing method using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for amplification and sequencing of the selected genes. Results: The results show that replacement of Ile for Thr-83 in gyrA was the only replacement, while other substitutions not observed. No mutations were found in parC. The most frequent amino acid alterations were E185Q, P186G, and V189T, found in five resistance isolates, However, nucleotide insertions and deletions mutations not observed. Conclusion: Our study suggested that mutation of gyrA and oprD genes may play a minor role in fluoroquinolone and carbapenem resistance and other mechanisms may contribute to the fluoroquinolone and carbapenem resistance of P. aeruginosa.

Background: The main cause of toxic shock is TSST-1 toxin which is produced by S. aureus. Finding of TSST-1 toxin in burnt children is very important to prevent TSS and its consequences. Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of gene encoding TSST-1 toxin in wound specimens by PCR. In this case-control study, 90 children who were admitted to the burn unit, were divided in two groups of 45 patients, namely febrile (cases group) and non-febrile (control group). Samplings were done from the burn wounds and were tested by PCR with specific primers of tstH gene. Finally, all data including demographic characteristics, percentage of burnt surface severity and the PCR results were analyzed, statistically. Results: The positive PCR results indicated the expression of tstH gene in 37.7% of the febrile children and 11.1% of the non-febrile children with a statistically significant difference (p