Tuberculosis is the prototype of infections that require a cellular immune response for their control. It has been shown that CD4+ T-lymphocytes are most important in the protective response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. CD8+ T-lymphocytes are also important for effective T-cell immune response. This study compares CD4+ and CD8+ baseline values in patients with different manifestations of tuberculosis. CD4+ and CD8+ in three groups of patients with tuberculosis (pulmonary, lymphadenitis, meningitis/milliary involvement) and a group of healthy volunteers were enumerated using flowcytometry. Twenty-six patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 10 with adenitis, 16 with meningitis or milliary tuberculosis and 16 healthy volunteers entered the study. Mean CD4 in meningitis/ milliary group was significantly lower than all other groups (p<0.05). Mean CD4 counts of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was also significantly lower than control group (p=0.01). Mean CD8 in meningitis/milliary group was significantly lower than control group (p=0.02). No relation was found between results of TSTs and CD4 values in three groups. CD4 depletion is an expectable phenomenon in patients with tuberculosis. This study shows that patients with more severe form of disease had the lowest number of both CD4 and CD8 cells which can be a sign of suppressed cellular immunity in these patients.

No abstract

The aim of this research was to investigate the role of the social demographic parameters of the people in charge of the facilities producing pastry, poolak (a type of coin-shaped candy) and rock candy in the consumption of food colors and to determine color type by thin layer chromatography in Shahr-e-kord city in 2011. This research was an interventional-analytical study and its target population is the people in charge of the facilities producing pastry, poolak and rock candy in Shahr-e-kord city. Social demographic data of the participants were collected using checklists and 720 samples of pastry, poolak and rock candy weighing at least 250 gr were randomly taken over a period of 10 months. With respect to color additives, the samples were analyzed by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) in four groups: natural colors permitted artificial colors, forbidden artificial colors and without colors. 48.47% contained food color and 6.52% contained forbidden artificial food color. Sunset Yellow was the color the most consumed among the colors used. Regarding the results obtained, there is a high rate of consumption of artificial colors (41.22%), sunset Yellow being the most consumed. Therefore, it is of great importance to raise the awareness and change the attitude of the people in charge in these jobs as well as the consumers with regard to the side effects of artificial colors, which can be done through the mass media and NGOs.

Concerns about traditional chemical pesticides has led to increasing research into novel mosquito control methods. This study compared the effectiveness of 2 different types of polystyrene beads for control of mosquito larvae in south-east Islamic Republic of Iran. Simulated field trials were done in artificial pools and field trials were carried out in 2 villages in an indigenous malaria area using WHO-recommended methods. Application of expanded polystyrene beads or shredded, waste polystyrene chips to pool surfaces produced a significant difference between pre-treatment and post-treatment density of mosquitoes (86% and 78% reduction respectively 2 weeks after treatment). There was no significant difference between the efficacy of the 2 types of material. The use of polystyrene beads as a component of integrated vector management with other supportive measures could assist in the control of mosquito-borne diseases in the Islamic Republic of Iran and neighbouring countries. RÉSUMÉ Les préoccupations concernant les pesticides chimiques traditionnels ont conduit à intensifier la recherche sur de nouvelles méthodes de lutte contre les moustiques. La présente étude a comparé l'efficacité de deux types de billes de polystyrène dans la lutte antilarvaire dans le sud-est de la République islamique d'Iran. Les simulations d'essais sur le terrain ont été réalisées dans des bassins artificiels alors que les essais sur le terrain ont été menés dans deux villages d'une zone où le paludisme est autochtone, avec des méthodes recommandées par l'Organisation mondiale de la Santé. L'application de billes de polystyrène expansé ou de copeaux de polystyrène recyclé sur la surface des bassins a entraîné une différence significative entre la densité des moustiques avant et après le traitement (86% et 78% de réduction respectivement après deux semaines de traitement). Il n'y avait pas de différence significative entre l'efficacité des deux types de matériaux. L'utilisation de billes de polystyrène en tant que composante de la gestion intégrée des vecteurs avec d'autres mesures d'appui pourrait contribuer à la lutte contre les maladies transmises par des moustiques en République islamique d'Iran et dans les pays voisins.‫املتوسط‬ ‫لرشق‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫املجلة‬ ‫عرش‬ ‫الثامن‬ ‫املجلد‬ ‫العارش‬ ‫العدد‬ 1043

The objective of the study is surveying microbial quality of drinking water in Kashan rural areas and determining the rural population that using safe water in terms of microbial quality in second-half of 2008. In this cross-sectional study, microbial quality of water in all rural areas was determined in 3 stages based on 3 parameters as Total Coliforms, Fecal Coliforms and Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC). The results of this study illustrates that 100.0, 47.71 and 92.99% population in under coverage and non under coverage areas of Kashan Rural Water and Wastewater Company (KRWWC) and all Kashan rural areas, respectively using safe water in terms of Fecal Coliforms and 98.4, 21.2 and 88.00% population in under coverage and non under coverage areas of KRWWC rural areas and all Kashan rural areas, respectively using safe water in terms of Total Coliforms. There is also a meaningful difference in microbial quality between under coverage and non-under coverage rural areas. The results of this study express that the fecal contamination in under coverage rural areas is excellent, but there is a bad condition in non-under coverage areas. Generally, the microbial quality in all Kashan rural areas is approximately equal to national microbial criteria. Its been also illustrated that the role of KRWWC in supplying safe drinking water in terms of microbial quality for rural population is very important.