Amitis Ramezani; Arezoo Aghakhani; Mohammad Banifazl; Zahra Boland-Ghamat; Maryam Foroughi; Latif Gachkar; Akbar hadem-Sadegh; Minoo Mohraz
Volume 7, Issue 1 , January 2012, , Pages 9-13
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Human T-cell lymphotropic viruses (HTLV) type 1 and 2 are retroviruses that share the same routes of transmission as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As a consequence of epidemiologic similarities, HIV and HTLV-1/2 co-infection is frequent. Due to the limited data, this ...
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Background and Objectives: Human T-cell lymphotropic viruses (HTLV) type 1 and 2 are retroviruses that share the same routes of transmission as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). As a consequence of epidemiologic similarities, HIV and HTLV-1/2 co-infection is frequent. Due to the limited data, this study assessed the seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 infections in HIV infected patients in Tehran, Iran.
Materials and Methods: This case-control study was carried out in 180 HIV infected patients from Iranian HIV/AIDS Research Center in Tehran and 117 matched healthy controls. The serum samples were checked with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti HTLV-1/2.
Results: A total of 180 HIV positive patients with mean age 36.9±9.2 years and 117 matched controls were enrolled in the study. All cases and controls were negative for HTLV-1/2 infection.
Conclusion: HTLV-1/2 infection is negligible in HIV infected patients in Tehran, Iran, although intravenous drug use is the most common route of HIV transmission in our study subjects.
Amitis Ramezani; Ali Eslamifar; Latif Gachkar; Zahra Pournasiri; Mohammad Banifazl; Arezoo Aghakhani; Mohammad Rabbani; Mohammad Amin Faghih; Ali Akbar Velayati
Volume 3, Issue 4 , September 2008, , Pages 186-190
Abstract
ABSTRACT Background and Objective: There have been concerns over possible association between mercury and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants. In this study we aimed to determine whether blood levels of mercury are above safe values in Iranian infants or not. Materials and Methods: A ...
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ABSTRACT Background and Objective: There have been concerns over possible association between mercury and neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants. In this study we aimed to determine whether blood levels of mercury are above safe values in Iranian infants or not. Materials and Methods: A total of 85 infants (0, 2, 4 and 6 months old) were enrolled in this study. All of them received vaccines according to Iranian immunization schedules. We measured total mercury in all blood samples by cold vapor atomic absorption. Results: The mean concentration of blood mercury in our subjects were as follows: newborns as 33.95 ± 11.86 nmol/l (with a range of 23.93-52.84), 2 months as 32.94 ± 11.76 nmol/l (with a range of 23.92-52.84), 4 months as 30.44 ± 10.44 nmol/l (with a range of 23.92-50.85) and 6 months as 37.93 ± 12.97 nmol/l (with a range of 21.43-52.34). There was not any significant difference for the mean concentration of blood mercury in those age groups. The lowest level of blood mercury detected was 21.43 nmol/l and the highest level was 52.84 nmol/l. Conclusion: The finding of this study showed that approximately 33% of the infants had blood mercury levels above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended reference dose of 5.8 μg/l (29 nmol/l). Therefore, it is needed to reduce exposure of infants to mercury from all sources including thimerosal containing vaccines (TCVs) in Iran.
Amitis Ramezani; Minoo Mohraz; Mohammad Banifazl; Latif Gachkar; Sara Jam; Ali Eslamifar; Farhad Yaghmaie; Kambiz Nemati; Arezoo Aghakhani
Volume 2, Issue 4 , September 2007, , Pages 154-158
Abstract
Background and Objective: Dyslipidemia has become a common problem in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, especially in patients on combination antiretroviral therapy. In this study we aimed to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia and metabolic abnormalities in 2 groups of HIV infected patients ...
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Background and Objective: Dyslipidemia has become a common problem in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, especially in patients on combination antiretroviral therapy. In this study we aimed to determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia and metabolic abnormalities in 2 groups of HIV infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and antiretroviral-naive patients. Patients and Methods: Forty HIV infected patients treated by HAART as a case group (6 females and 34 males) with a mean age of 40.7 ± 10 years and 15 HIV naïve as a control group (2 females and 13 males) with a mean age of 38.40 ± 8.3 enrolled in this study. The two groups were well matched in respect to age, sex and CD4 cell counts. A standardized questionnaire with epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic data was completed by physicians. Blood samples were obtained for metabolic measurements. CD4 positive cell count was measured by f lowcytometry. Results: Levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, HDL, lactate, and FBS were elevated in 24%, 37%, 3.7%, 44.4%, 29.6% and 11% of patients respectively. There was a significant difference regarding mean total cholesterol and LDL between treated group and controls (p<0.05). There was also no significant difference between treated group and controls regarding triglyceride, HDL, lactate and FBS levels. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that metabolic abnormalities are relatively common in HIV-infected patients receiving HAART. Therefore, it is recommended to screen the HIV infected patients on HAART for metabolic disorders, potential of morbidity, and possible long-term cardiovascular risk factors.
