Context:Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global public health problem and a major etiology of chronic liver disease, which may develop into cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Genotypes of HCV indicate the route of acquisition, the clinical outcome, response to treatment, prognosis and control strategies.Objectives:The aim of this study was to estimate the overall prevalence and trend of HCV genotypes or subtypes in IranData Sources:A literature review was done for papers reporting HCV genotypes in Iranian patients in PubMed, Magiran, IranMedex, Scientific Information Databank, and Google scholar databases.Study Selection:Data were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.Data Extraction:Data were abstracted by two independent authors. Data were analyzed based on random-effects model using the Meta R. Pooled statistical software. Prevalence of HCV genotypes in cities and provinces of Iran with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated.Results:Fifty-three articles published between 1999 and 31 June 2014 including 22952 HCV infected individuals were included in the meta-analysis. Subtype 1a was predominant with a rate of 39% (95% CI: 34-44%); followed by subtype 3a, 32% (95% CI: 26-39%); subtype 1b, 13% (95% CI: 10-15%); genotype 4, 5.18% (95% CI: 3.27-7.5%); and genotype 2, 3.6% (95% CI: 1.6-8.3%). Untypeable HCV had a rate of 0.11% (95% CI: 0.07-0.16%).Conclusions:The most frequent subtypes of HCV in Iran were 1a, 3a and 1b, respectively. This frequency differed in various provinces of Iran and fluctuated with time. It is important to determine the distribution of HCV genotypes in different geographical areas and its trend with time for epidemiological and patients’ management purposes.

Background:Mycoplasma infections are suggested as etiology of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) infection and spontaneous abortion among pregnant women.Materials and Methods:In this case-control study that was conducted from August 2012 to January 2013, totally, 109 women were included with spontaneous abortion with gestational ages of 10-20 weeks (Cases), and 109 women with normal pregnancy with gestational ages between 20-37 weeks (Controls) in Sanandaj, Iran. Using specific primers and extracted DNA from endocervical swabs, a PCR test was conducted for detection of M. hominis infection in women. For comparison of qualitative and quantitative variables, independent Fisher tests were used and p<0.05 was considered significant.Results:The total frequency of M. hominis infection was 6 (2.75%) in women. The frequency of M. hominis infection was 2 (1.83%) in the case group (spontaneous abortion) and 4 (3.66%) in the control group, respectively. In both case and control groups, no association was seen between M.hominis infection and spontaneous abortion (OR=0. 49, CI 95%: 0.08-2.73, p=0. 683). Conclusion:M. hominis was positive in the genital tract of some pregnant women, but it was not associated with spontaneous abortion. However, to prevent adverse pregnancy outcomes in women, foetus and neonate, routine screening and treatment for the genital Mycoplasma is recommended.

ObjectivesMycoplasma genitalium infections are suggested as causes of a number of pathological outcomes in pregnant women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of M. genitalium infections among pregnant women and its association with spontaneous abortion.MethodsIn this case–control study we included 109 women with spontaneous abortion with a gestational age of 10–20 weeks (patients), and 109 women with normal pregnancy with a gestational age of 20–37 weeks (controls) in Sanandaj, Iran. Using specific primers and extracted DNA from endocervical swabs, a polymerase chain reaction was conducted for the detection of M. genitalium infection in both groups.ResultsThe frequency of M. genitalium infection in patient and control groups was one (0.91%) and three (2.75%), respectively. In both control and patient groups using Fisher test, no association between mycoplasma infection and spontaneous abortion was seen.ConclusionM. genitalium may be positive in the genital tract of some pregnant women but was not associated with spontaneous abortion. Further powerful studies with larger sample sizes are needed for the determination of a possible role of M. genitalium in pregnancy outcomes and spontaneous abortion.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) can infect the epithelium of the esophagus, but so far there is no reliable and comprehensive evidence about the prevalence and association of HPV with esophageal cancer in Iran, as high incidence region. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and association of HPV with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Iran. Methods: Relevant English and Persian articles published up to Aug 2017 and indexed in databases were reviewed. Frequency of HPV genotypes in ESCC cases and controls was surveyed according to regions of Iran. Data were meta-analyzed with random effects models using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Results: Overall, 14 studies were eligible including 1444 samples (1062 ESCC cases and 382 controls). HPV was positive in 269 (25.32%) of 1062 ESCC cases and in 65 (17.01%) of 382 controls. Total prevalence of HPV in both groups was estimated 0.256 (95%CI, 0.208%-0.310%). The prevalence of HPV-16 and HPV-18 was estimated 0.121 (95%CI: 0.087-0.183) and 0.046 (95%CI; 0.023-0.088), respectively. The difference in HPV prevalence in different regions of Iran was statistically significant (Q=18.20, df =4, P=0.001). In 6 case-control studies, the pooled odds ratio was estimated 1.99 (95%CI; 0.916-4.315). Conclusion: High-risk HPVs were observed in ESCC cases and controls from different regions of Iran. The odds ratio indicates that the HPV infection in ESCC cases was approximately 2 fold more than the controls. More case-control studies in other populations with larger sample size are necessary.

Introduction. Biofilm formation is one of the main virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. This study is aimed at investigating the presence of genes involved in biofilm formation in clinical P. aeruginosa isolates. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 112 P. aeruginosa isolates. The biofilm formation assay was performed on all isolates. Antimicrobial resistance was determined by the disk diffusion method, and the presence of genes was detected by polymerase chain reaction. Isolates were typed with Rep-PCR. Results. The results of biofilm formation demonstrated that 85 strains (75.9%) were biofilm producers, and 27 strains (24.1%) were nonproducer isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern in biofilm-positive and biofilm-negative isolates obtained from hospitalized patients showed a high rate of antibiotic resistance to amoxicillin with 95.7% and 92.3%, respectively. Based on PCR amplification results, the frequency of genes involved in biofilm formation among all isolates was as follows: algD (78.6%), pelF (70.5%), pslD (36.6%), Ppgl (0%), and PAPI-1 (77.6%). Rep-PCR typing demonstrated that 112 P. aeruginosa isolates were classified into 57 types according to 70% cut-off. The predominant type was A which contained 15 isolates. Moreover, 7 isolates were clustered in genotype B, followed by C type (6), D (4), E (4), F (4), G (4), H (3), I (3), J (3 isolates), and 12 genotypes, each containing two isolates. Also, 35 isolates were distributed in scattered patterns and showed single types. Conclusion. Study results showed significant association between biofilm formation and resistance to antibiotics such as ceftazidime and meropenem. Analysis of Rep-PCR patterns indicated that the evaluated isolates were heterogeneous, relatively.