Journal of

Background and Aim: Aspergillosis are the most prevalent cause of the respiratory infections. These fungi show invasive aspergillosis(IA) in immunocompromised patients. The number of immunocompromised patients are increasing due to immunodisorder illnesses, grafts and immunosuppressor drugs, so, rapid identification methods are very important. The aim of this study was to detect the Aspergillus spp. In fluid samples by nested PCR, and compare with culture and direct smear.

Materials and Methods: Conventional detection methods such as culture and direct smear are unsensitive and time consuming. Some methods such as immunodetecting methods have high false positive and are unreliable. Nowadays, molecular methos and PCR are very helpful. These methods are both sensitive and reliable and very rapid. In this study, we used Nested PCR, culture and direct smear to detect Aspergillus spp in BAL fluid samples.

Results: This research is a descriptive-comparative study and has been done for rapid identification of fungi related to Aspergillosis such as culture, direct smear and nested- PCR. Findings of this study show that positive results by nested-PCR were more effective and sensitive than culture and direct smear.
Conclusions: We found that positive results by PCR were more effective and sensitive than two other methods.

Background and Aim: Candida species are among the most common causes of opportunistic fungal diseases. Among Candida species, Candida albicans is responsible for most infections. Having many strains, C.albicans is highly polymorph. C. dubliniensis is very similar to albicans species both morphologically and physiologically. For an infection to occur, cell wall proteins play an important role as they enable yeasts to adhere to host cells and begin pathogenesis. Therefore, we decided to extract these proteins and examine them through molecular methods of protein analysis. Finally we came up with the idea of a modified staining in our analysis.

Materials and Methods: Initially cell wall proteins of two C. albicansstrains (CBS 562 & PTCC6027) and one C. dubliniensis strain (CBS 7987) were extracted by using a solution of beta-mercaptoethanol and ammonium carbonate. After dialysis, SDS gel electrophoresis was performed on the protein extract. Bands were then visualized by using three different staining methods among which one method was modified by us.

Results: By using Coomassie Brilliant Blue staining method, proteins with molecular weight of 42, 66.2 and 200 kDa were detected. By using Silver staining method, proteins with molecular weight of 21.5, 28.5 and 37 kDa were detected. However, using combined staining methods visualized more bands resulting improved detection.

Conclusion: To answer many questions about fungal diseases, fungi cell wall proteins are necessary to be examined. A simple method to enhance such molecular studies is the use of a modified staining method that combines both Coomassie Brilliant Blue and Silver staining.

Background and Aim: Candida spp can colonize in oral cavity in immunocompromised patients and can lead to candidiasis. Because of immunocompromised condition in patients with Down syndrome, this study aimed at the colonization rate of candida spp in the mouths of such patients.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 53 patients with Down syndrome (29 males and 24 females) within the age range of 4-31 years (mean age: 11.1 years) and supported by the welfare organization, Tabriz branch.
The samples were taken from the dorsal and buccal parts of tongues using sterile swabs, and were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA+ Chloramphenicol) and corm candida agar.
Determination of candida species was based on phenotype characteristics and chlamydoconidia production in Corn Meal Agar containing Tween 80.

Results: Altogether 60 isolates of candida spp were isolated from 46 positive patients [26 males (56.52%) and 20 females (43.48%)]. C.albicans with 35 cases (66.03%) were the most frequent isolate and C.dubliniensis with 9 cases (16.98%), C.krusei with 7 cases (13.20%), C.globrata with 5 cases (9.43%) and C.tropicalis with 4 cases (7.54%) were the following ranks. In 12 patients (22.4%), there were more than one species of candida in their oral cavity.

Conclusion: Due to the immunocompromised condition in patients with Down syndrome caused by a decrease in IgA and the activity of H2O2 (main destructive agent of C.albicans), the necessity of colonization rate of Candida in such patients is recommended.

Background and Aim: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients show differences in serum levels and toxicity associated with methotrexate after its treatment. Pharmacogenetics is an important determining factor for these differences. In this study, the effect of +452 C / T and -401C / T polymorphisms of GGH gene on serum levels and toxicity associated with methotrexate was studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of +452C / T and -401C / T polymorphisms of GGH gene on methotrexate level in serum and its associated toxicity in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Furthermore, the frequency of the above polymorphisms was investigated for the first time in Iran.

Materials and Methods: The prevalence of these polymorphisms was assessed in 83 Iranian patients with ALL using PCR and RFLP. The relationship between the polymorphism and serum methotrexate levels and its toxicity was estimated by calculating the Odds Ratio.

Results: No correlation was found between +452CT polymorphism and serum levels of methotrexate and methotrexate-related toxicity. -401CT polymorphism was found to be correlated with methotrexate-related toxicity leading to thrombocytopenia (95% CI= 0.009-0.019, odds ratio=0.265) and leukopenia (95% CI = 0.021-0.042, odds ratio = 2.182) in consolidation phase of the treatment.

Conclusion: Evaluation of patients for methotrexate-related polymorphism of GGH gene may be useful in selecting the appropriate dose of methotrexate and reducing the toxic side effects associated with its administration.