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  Backgrond & Objectives: Perioperartive shivering is a common complication which interferes with monitoring of patients and it increases oxygen consumption (up to 500%) which can be life-threating in patients with a low cardio pulmonary reserve. This study compared the efficiency and complications of two perioperative antishivering drugs. (Tramadol and Meperidine).

  Methods: All of the 70 patients under went cesarean section with spinal Anesthesia, were categorized in two groups of 35 persons, and treated as clinical trial, double blind with tramadol and meperidine. Then they were compared in terms of the interval between administration of drugs and stoping of shivering and their complications.

  Results : The mean age in patient were 27 years, youngest one was 17 and the oldest was 39 years. The average interval of stopping of shivering during tramadol using (2.57 min) is less than meperidine (6.24 min). The frequency of nausea and vomiting in meperidine group was more than that of the tramadol group. Regarding the incidence of pruritus and sedation after using of drug in both groups, there was no considerable difference between them. Respiratory and pulse rate changes, and decreasing of arterial oxygen saturation in post injection period to preinjection period of meperidine, didn't show any significant changes. In systolic and diastolic blood pressure changes, there was no significant change in both groups.

  Conclusion: Perioperative shivering treatment by tramadol is better than meperidine because of its faster onset of stopping of shivering and its low complications in cesarean section with spinal anesthesia.

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  Background and objectives: High incidence of postoperative shivering leads to complications such as increased oxygen consumption, intracranial & intraocular pressure and pain. Some drugs including pethedine, dexamethasone and doxapram are used for prevention of shivering. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of dexamethasone and doxapram in prevention of post-anesthetic shivering.

  Methods: This study is a double blind clinical trial including 90 patients in ASA 1 and 2 classes. The patients were under general anesthesia for elective abdominal and chest surgery with same the anesthesia techniques. Samples were randomly divided into three groups (two drug received groups and one control group). First group received dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg, the second group doxapram 0.75 mg/kg and the control group 3 ml of distilled water as injection. The visible shivering observed after each treatment. Collected data were analyzed using Chi-square, Fisher exact and ANOVA tests By SPSS 16 and p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

  Results: Our results showed a significant difference between shivering in drug received and control groups. Shivering was significantly decreased in drug received groups (p = 0 . 05) but there was no significant difference between them.

  Conclusion: This study showed that both drugs of dexamethasone and doxapram are effective in prevention of post-anesthetic shivering and can be substituted with pethedine. In addition to antishivering effect, doxapram has a respiratory stimulant effect that is, that is clinically important in postoperative stage.

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  Background & Objectives : Several studies have been conducted to explore anti-HIV drugs. Discovery and study of novel anti-HIV-1 compounds need live viruses and has serious biosafety concerns. In this research we reported a novel and safe system for assaying the cytopathic effects of HIV by using single cycle replicable (SCR) HIV-1 virions.

  Methods: To produce the SCR HIV-1 virions, pMD2G, pmzNL4-3 and pSPAX2 plasmids were co-transfected into HEK293T cells. Different amount of SCR virions were used to infect target cells (MT-2). Within the infected cells, the number of formed syncytia was counted under the light microscopy. The lethal effects of the SCR HIV virions were measured using XTT proliferation assay.

  Results: Formation of syncytia among SCR HIV infected cells was detectable 24 hours after infection. Highest amount of syncytia was seen 72 hours after infection. Increase in the amount of virions caused increasing of syncytia and the cytopathic effects of SCR HIV-1. Infection with more than 1600ng P24 SCR HIV decreased the syncytium formation and viability of all cells. The calculated IC50 (50 percent inhibitory capacity) for nevirapine and BMS806 using this method was 50nM and 30nM, respectively.

  Conclusion: SCR HIV-1 virions are replicable only for one cycle. Using these virions can improve the safety of HIV researches. Herein, we optimized the assaying of HIV induced cytopathic effects by using SCR HIV-1 (NL4-3) virions. The accuracy of this method was accepted by quantifying the anti-HIV-1 effects of nevirapine and BMS806 by (SCR) HIV-1 virions.

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Background & objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a globally widespread infection that spreads mainly through sexual contact, mother to child and intravenous drug use. The disease can vary from an asymptomatic state to advanced immune deficiency and AIDS-related opportunistic infections and complications. Patients may be diagnosed at different stages of the disease. In this study, we aimed to analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with HIV and its consequences during the past 10 years (2005-2014) in Ardabil city.
Methods: In this descriptive and case series study, patients with HIV (including live and dead patients) referring to the Ardabil behavioral counseling center were included during 2005-2014 years. The checklist containing demographic data, modes of transmission, time of diagnosis, clinical and therapeutic problems during this period, etc. was prepared for each patient. In dead patients, the causes of death as well as the interval between diagnosis and death were investigated.
Results: In this study, 60 patients with HIV were evaluated, the mean age was 42.96 years, 76.7% of patients were male and 48.2% were intravenous drug users. In 39.7% of cases, patients have probably been infected through intravenous injection and 33.3% by sexual contact. The mean CD4 + lymphocyte cell count of patients was 252 cells per ml. The most common early symptoms of the disease were fever (63.33%), aphthous stomatitis (35%) and diarrhea (28.33%). In 7 cases (50%), tuberculosis was the most common opportunistic infection. 6 patients (10%) had coinfection with hepatitis B or C. 28 patients (46.6%) died within the time of study. The median time from diagnosis to death was 44.84±39.65 months and cardiorespiratory failure was the most common cause of death among patients.
Conclusion: This study showed that most patients were middle-aged and intravenous drug use was the most common risk factors for HIV. The most common way of transmission was intravenous injection and hepatitis C and tuberculosis were the most important comorbidities, respectively. Raising community awareness about the disease, early diagnosis and appropriate care during illness are basic measures to deal with this global problem.

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Background & objectives: Impaired immune system provides favorable conditions for colonization by Acanthamoeba in the human body. In this case control study, we compared the molecular and culture methods in identifying Acanthamoeba in the nasal and oral secretions of HIV⁺/HIV^­ human.
Methods: In a current case control study, nasal and oral discharge of 53, HIV⁺ patients and 53, HIV^­ people were evaluated. The nasal and oral secretions of each patient were prepared by sterile swabs and transferred to the laboratory. All samples were cultured but only the positive samples used for molecular analysis.
Results: By cultivation method, of the 53, HIV⁺ patients, a total of 11 samples, including 5 nasal and 6 oral samples, were contaminated with Acanthamoeba. Of the 53, HIV­­ people, 3 samples of nasal discharge were contaminated with this parasite. The molecular method approved the contamination of 10 samples, including 5 oral and 5 nasal samples from HIV⁺ patients with this parasite. Statistical analysis showed the rate of infection in HIV⁺ patients was significantly different compared to HIV^­ people
Conclusion: The results of the current study showed that the rate of Acanthamoeba infection in HIV⁺ patients was higher than that of HIV^- individuals. Also, considering that in the control group (HIV- individuals) only the nasal discharge were infected with the parasite, it seems that in the case group (HIV + patients) the infection of the oral discharge with the parasites is due to the  entry of its cysts into the nose and transmission to the mouth

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Background & objectives: Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite with global distribution. Diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection with high sensitivity and specificity is very important in managing and treating this disease. The purpose of this study is serological and molecular investigation of toxoplasmosis using B1 gene in HIV- positive patients referred to hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: In this study, 660 blood samples were collected from HIV/AIDS- positive patients referred to hospitals affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences. Patient samples were examined for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii using an ELISA kit. Genomic DNA was extracted from the patient's serum, as well as peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and whole blood samples, and then Real time-PCR was performed.
Results: Although IgG antibody against Toxoplasma gondii was positive in 158 (23.9%) patients out of 660 HIV- positive patients, IgM antibody was positive in 5 (0.76%) patients. The results of Real-Time PCR showed that 7 (1.06%) patients were positive in PBMC samples, of which five patients were positive for IgM antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii while two patients had high- level Toxoplasma IgG antibody titers.
Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that the Real-time PCR method using PBMC DNA samples is a suitable method for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. This method, together with the antibody test, especially the high titer of Toxoplasma IgG antibodies, can be helpful in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.
 

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Background: Opportunistic pathogens such as Cryptosporidium, Isospora belli, Blastocystis, etc. cause various gastrointestinal and non-digestive diseases in people with HIV. These symptoms are especially severe in people with HIV who have a CD4 count of less than 200. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of parasitic infections in people living with HIV in Tabriz.
Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was performed on137 people with HIV referred to Behavioral Disease Counseling Centers in Tabriz, 2019-2021. Then, after receiving written consent, fecal samples were collected and evaluated for the detection of parasitic infections using direct methods, Ziehl-Neelsen and Trichrome Weber stain.
Results: A total of 137 stool samples were collected, including 93 males and 44 females. Most of them were in the age range of 20-60 years. The overall frequency of parasitic infections was 57.7% and the highest prevalence was related to Blastocystis 24.1% and Cryptosporidium 14.6%.
Conclusion: Due to the relatively high prevalence of parasitic infections, especially Blastocystis and Cryptosporidium in people with HIV in Tabriz, which can endanger the health of these patients, essential interventions, including personal hygiene training to control and prevent infection with these pathogens, seem to be necessary.