The trends of transfusion-transmitted infection prevalence in Iranian blood donations suggest that most of the safety measures employed in recent years in Iran have been effective.

Assessment of the quality of donor selection and safety of the blood supply can be estimated by monitoring the prevalence of the serologic markers of infectious disease in screening tests. In the present study, changes in rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are studied in the period 1998-2007 in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO). Prevalence of serological marker of HBV infection [hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)] was evaluated in blood donations in Iran as well as for Fars province representing a low prevalence, and Sistan-Baluchestan (S&B) province as a high prevalence region throughout 1998-2007. For assessing frequency of infection, the prevalence of HBsAg per 100 000 donations and 95% confidential intervals (95% CIs) is calculated. P value is estimated by chi(2) test. A total of 14 599 783 donations were collected during 10 years. The overall HBsAg prevalence rates declined from a 1.79% (1789/100 000 donations) in 1998 to 0.41% (409/100 000 donations) in 2007 in Iran. In Fars province, HBsAg prevalence decreased from 0.89% in 92 999 donations in 1998 to 0.34% in 148 014 donations in 2007 and in S&B province, the rate of HBsAg has gone down from 3.74% in 44 036 donations in 1998 to 1.15% in 56 057 donations in 2007. The frequency of HBV infection entering the blood supply has decreased over this period as a result of improvement in donor recruitment and selection, usage of software in transfusion services and possibly decreasing HBV infection prevalence in general population.

Lack of adherence to Hygiene protocols by dentists and those who conduct cosmetic invasive procedures are major causes of HBV infection in Kermanshah and should be more closely supervised. We recommend to read this article by health policy makers, gastroenterologists, hepatologists, infectious especialists and Internists. Background: hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health problem that affects billions of people worldwide. The lack of information on HBV prevalence among the general population is an obstacle to formulate effective policies to reduce the burden of viral hepatitis. Objectives: This population based serological survey was conducted in Kermanshah province to determine the local prevalence and risk factors of HBV infection. Patients and Methods: 1979 healthy subjects were selected from all districts of Kermanshah province (in the west of Iran) using random cluster sampling. Subjects between 6 and 65 years of age were included with mean age of 35 ± 13. Serum samples were tested for HBcAb, HBsAg and anti-HDV antibody. To carry out lab tests the third generation of ELISA was used. Various risk factors were recorded and multivariate analysis was performed. Results: The prevalence of HBsAg and HBcAb in Kermanshah was 0.75% (95% CI 0.44; 1.21) and 8.28% (95% CI 7.13; 9.56), respectively. One case of HDV-Ab was found. Predictors of HBsAg or HBcAb in multivariate analysis were: old age, being male, history of tattooing and history of dental procedure. Conclusions: approximately 8% and less than 1% of general population in Kermanshah are HBcAb seropositive and active carriers of HBV infection, respectively. Age, sex and history of tattoo and dental procedures are major risk factors of HBV seropositivity in this province.

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Microvesicles are released by different cell types and shuttle mRNAs and microRNAs which have the possibility to transfer genetic information to a target cell and alter its function. Acute myeloid leukemia is a malignant disorder, and leukemic cells occupy all the bone marrow microenvironment. In this study, we investigate the effect of leukemia microvesicles on healthy umbilical cord blood hematopoietic stem cells to find evidence of cell information transferring. Leukemia microvesicles were isolated from acute myeloid leukemia patients and were co-incubated with healthy hematopoietic stem cells. After 7 days, cell count, hematopoietic stem cell-specific cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, colony-forming unit assay, and some microRNA gene expressions were assessed. Data showed a higher number of hematopoietic stem cells after being treated with leukemia microvesicles compared with control (treated with no microvesicles) and normal (treated with normal microvesicles) groups. Also, increased levels of microRNA-21 and microRNA-29a genes were observed in this group, while colony-forming ability was still maintained and high ranges of CD34 + , CD34 + CD38 − , CD90 + , and CD117 + phenotypes were observed as stemness signs. Our results suggest that leukemia microvesicles are able to induce some effects on healthy hematopoietic stem cells such as promoting cell survival and some microRNAs deregulation, while stemness is maintained.

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Background COVID‐19 first appeared in Iran on 19 February 2020, and then spread rapidly over the country. In this article, we review the action plan of the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization with respect to this disease. Method and materials We collected data on blood donations and RBC inventory for the first 8 weeks of the outbreak. We also evaluated the trend of blood donations and RBC inventory and compared them with the data of the past year. We include a summary of actions taken by the National Committee on Management of COVID‐19 outbreak. Results Blood donations decreased from 33 275 to 23 465 units during the first 2 weeks of the outbreak with a corresponding decrease in the RBC inventory. But after that, donations gradually increased from 23 465 to 29 665 units. RBC inventory levels improved at the same time. Then, the Iranian New Year’s holiday resulted in another downward trend. After the holiday, blood donations revived, along with the RBC inventory. Discussion Although it appears that this virus cannot be transmitted through transfusion, changes in lifestyle had a significant impact on reducing blood supply. Following implemented measures, we saw an upward trend in blood donations and an adequate supply of RBC units in blood centres, helped by a reduction in demand by hospitals. Blood centres need to be more prepared to manage future viral disasters, especially in case of transfusion‐transmissible infections.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate the antitumor effectiveness of electrochemotherapy with cisplatin combined with suboptimal radiotherapy doses. Tumor radiosensitization was evaluated on large invasive ductal carcinoma tumors in Balb/C mice.Materials and methodsTumors of an average volume of 630 mm3 were treated with cisplatin, electric pulses, radiotherapy, electrochemotherapy, alone as well as in appropriate combinations. Tumors were irradiated with Cobalt-60 γ-rays at doses 3 Gy and 5 Gy in combination with electrochemotherapy using cisplatin. Controls included each of the treatments alone as well as the combination of the radiotherapy with electric pulses alone or with cisplatin alone. Antitumor effectiveness was evaluated by tumor growth delay, tumor-doubling time, inhibition ratio and the objective response rates.ResultsAs anticipated, electrochemotherapy was more effective than the treatment with cisplatin alone or the application of the electric pulses alone. When treatments were combined with tumor irradiation at either 3 or 5 Gy, the combination with electrochemotherapy was more effective: at 5 Gy, 2 animals out of 8 were in complete remission 100 days later. In general the higher 5 Gy dose of γ-radiation was more effective than the lower one of 3 Gy.ConclusionsThe results of our study demonstrate that irradiation doses, 3 Gy or 5 Gy, increase the antitumor effectiveness of electrochemotherapy with cisplatin on invasive ductal carcinoma tumors. Good antitumor results were achieved in experimental tumors with a size comparable to clinical lesions, demonstrating that this three-modality combined treatment is useful for the treatment of large lesions even at sub-optimal radiotherapy doses.