SUMMARYThe immune responses induced against Leishmania antigens in volunteers who were vaccinated in a double-blind, randomized field efficacy trial of a preparation of autoclaved Leishmania major (ALM) mixed with a low dose of Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine (BCG) who developed either a cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesion due to exposure to infected sandfly bite(s) or did not develop a lesion during the course of the trial were studied and compared with those of non-vaccinated controls. Blood samples were also assayed from different groups including volunteers with history of CL and volunteers with previous positive or negative leishmanin skin test (LST) without a history of CL. The vaccinated volunteers had received a single dose of either ALM mixed with a low dose of BCG or the same dose of BCG alone. The LST and in vitro proliferative response (stimulation index, SI), interferon gamma (IFN-g ) production and, in a few cases, interleukin (IL)-4 production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to soluble Leishmania antigens were measured. The results indicated that volunteers who developed CL in the vaccine arm showed a slightly higher SI than cases who received BCG alone. Volunteers with history of CL and volunteers with positive LST demonstrated the strongest proliferation indices and IFN-g production. The data suggest that a single dose of ALM + BCG induces a weak Th1 response in vaccinated volunteers that is far lower than that in volunteers with prior subclinical infection or volunteers with history of CL, who are presumed to be immune.

This research was aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical impact of occult HBV infection in thalassemic patients with chronic HCV infection. In this cross-sectional study we have totally examined 60 patients suffering HBV and HCV infections by PCR and RT-PCR methods, respectively, in Kerman province of Iran. ELISA technique (RADIM, Italy) was used to detect anti-HBc, anti-HBs and HBsAg. The serum level of liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, DB, TB and ALK) were analyzed in the HCV infected patients (MAN, IRAN). Statistical analyses performed using t-test and Chi-square. We found that 27 cases (out of 60) were infected by HCV but HBV-DNA was not seen in HCV infected patients. Present findings also showed that none of samples were HBsAg positive but 9 (33%) (out of 27) HCV-RNA positive patients were anti-HBc positive and 11 (40.7%) were positive for anti-HBs. We found that SGOT, SGPT, DB, TB and ALK are above normal in 27 (100%), 19(70.3%), 12(44.5%), 15 (55.5%) and 15 (55.5%) RNA-HCV positive patients, respectively. The prevalence of hepatitis C infection is very high in thalassemic patients and based on other studies our results showed that the prevalence of HCV infection in Kerman is more than other provinces of Iran. In contrast with other studies HBV-DNA in these patients could not be detected, hence, it seems that occult HBV infection isn't frequent in Iranian thalassemic patients who suffering from chronic HCV infection.

A new series of 4-aryl-4H-chromenes bearing a 2-arylthiazol-4-yl moiety at the 4-position were prepared as potential cytotoxic agents. The in-vitro cytotoxic activity of the synthesized 4-aryl-4H-chromenes was investigated in comparison with etoposide, a well-known anticancer drug, using MTT colorimetric assay. Among them, the 2-(2-chlorophenyl)thiazol-4-yl analog 4b showed the most potent activity against nasopharyngeal epidermoid carcinoma KB, medulloblastoma DAOY, and astrocytoma 1321N1, and compound 4d bearing a 2-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazol-4-yl moiety at the 4-position of the chromene ring exhibited the best inhibitory activity against breast cancer cells MCF-7, lung cancer cells A549, and colon adenocarcinoma cells SW480 with IC(50 )values less than 5 microM. The ability of compound 4b to induce apoptosis was confirmed in a nuclear morphological assay by DAPI staining in the KB and MCF-7 cells.

Results of the present study demonstrate the cytogenetic damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of oncology department personnel. Suitable training and proper knowledge when handling anti-neoplastic drugs are emphasized to avoid potential health hazards caused by cytostatic agents.