Cardiac T2*MRI values showed a poor correlation with hepatic T2*MRI values and ferritin levels. Accurate assessment of cardiac iron overload in patients with BTM can only be done using the T2*MRI technique. Additionally, HFE H63D is a significant determinant factor for elevated ferritin levels in BTM patients.

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Background:Thalassemia is one of the most common monogenic disorders characterized by reduced production of globin chains. Although regular red blood cell (RBC) transfusion support is the main treatment for these patients, it may be associated with complications such as RBC alloimmunization.Aim:The study aimed to determine the incidence of alloimmunization and autoimmunization to RBC antigens in β-thalassemia major patients from Zanjan, Zanjan Province, Iran.Materials and Methods:A total of 49 β-thalassemia major patients comprising 24 females and 25 males (mean age: 18.59 ± 8.16 years; range: 2-40 years) from Northwest Iran were included in a cross-sectional study. Alloantibody screening and identification were done using 3-cell and 10-cell reagent red blood cells, respectively. Autoantibody detection was performed using direct Coomb's test.Results:The incidence of alloimmunization was 16.32% with 10 alloantibodies identified in 8 patients. The most common clinically significant alloantibody identified in alloimmunized patients was anti-Kell (K-antigen) (60%) followed by anti-Rhesus (Rh) (E, c-antigens). The rate of alloimmunization was significantly lower in patients transfused with leukoreduced RBCs compared with those transfused with nonleukoreduced RBCs (9.53% vs 57.14%, P = 0.001). There was no significant correlation between alloantibody formation and the age, gender, hemoglobin levels, number of transfused units, and splenectomy.Conclusion:Transfusion of leukoreduced and phenotypically matched red blood cells for Kell (K) and Rh (E, c) antigens may help reduce the alloimmunization rate in Iranian β-thalassemia major patients. Moreover, autoimmunization to RBC antigens was rare in our patients.

Aspergillus is a filamentous fungus of wide distribution having widespread species diversity. Among pathogenic species of Aspergillus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus are regarded as the most important pathogenic agents. The aim of this research is to study the antifungal effects of Artemisia dracunculus L, Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch, Bunium persicum, Cuminum cyminum L, Zataria multiflora Boiss, and Satureja hortensis extracts against Aspergillus Sp. The herbal extracts were prepared using maceration method. 50gr of ground plant was introduced into a 1-litre flask and macerated with 400ml of 70% ethanol for 24h and then was shaken on shaker. Afterwards, different concentrations of the extract were prepared in dimethyl sulfoxide solvent (DMSO). The extracts were filtered and sterilized. Suspension of each fungus was separately prepared with 1×10 6 CFU/ml concentration. The antifungal effects of the extracts were measured through NCCLS protocols and Broth dilution method. The control and comparison were done between the antifungal effects of the mentioned herbal extracts and Amphotericin B and Nystatin. The results indicated that the range of MIC and MFC values of these drugs was significantly higher (p≤0.05) compared to the prepared herbal extracts of different dilutions and control group of drug solvent, too. Results showed that the extracts of all herbal extracts have antifungal properties against Aspergillus sp.

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