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.
Arezoo Aghakhani; Ali Eslamifar; Mehdi Razzaghi Abyaneh; Mohsen Vazir-Nezami; Habibollah Moghadasi; Amitis Ramezani; Masoomeh Shams-Ghahfarokhi; Ali Khameneh; Mohammad Ali Shokrgozar; Ali Akbar Amir-Zargar; Zahra Deljoodokht
Volume 3, Issue 3 , June 2008, , Pages 135-149
Abstract
Background and Objective: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common chronic diseases. In the past decades, there has been an increase in fungal infections of sinuses and fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) has been diagnosed more frequently. Knowing the fungal flora and its prevalence in ...
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Background and Objective: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is one of the most common chronic diseases. In the past decades, there has been an increase in fungal infections of sinuses and fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) has been diagnosed more frequently. Knowing the fungal flora and its prevalence in CRS patients will allow a better understanding of this disease, permitting a correct diagnosis, treatment and formulating its prognosis. This study was performed to assess the fungal flora and its prevalence in CRS patients. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study fungal cultures were obtained from nasal and paranasal sinuses mucus of 100 patients suffering from CRS and 40 controls who did not show any evidence of CRS .In addition, in CRS patients, paranasal sinuses mucus and tissue were histologically investigated for evidence of eosinophilic granulocytes and fungal elements besides fungal culture. Results: Fungal cultures of nasal mucus were positive in 62.5% and 60% of cases and controls respectively. Positive fungal cultures of paranasal sinuses mucus were seen in 49% of cases and 5% of controls. Aspergillus was the most frequent, followed by Penicilium and Cladosporium in both nasal and paranasal sinuses mucus culture. Eosinophilic mucin was found in 90% of CRS patients. Conclusion: Our data showed that fungal infection is frequent in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Based on our results, Aspergillus was the most frequent isolated fungus in CRS patients.