BackgroundHuman rotaviruses are the most important agents for severe dehydrating diarrhea in children below 5 years old. Rotaviruses (RV) is a serious public health problem in developing and developed countries.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of rotavirus infection and their genotypes in children younger than 5 years of age with acute diarrhea in Ahvaz, Iran.Materials and MethodsFor this study, 200 stool samples from children below 5 years of age with acute diarrhea were collected between October 2011 and March 2012. Initially all stool samples were tested for rotavirus antigen by ELISA, and positive samples were confirmed by RT-PCR targeting the VP6 rotavirus gene. Determination of rotavirus genotypes was carried out by performing RT-PCR for G and P types. Altogether, 15 samples were sequenced.ResultsOut of 200 stool samples, 100 (50%) had rotavirus antigen detected by ELISA and 73 (36.5%) were found positive by RT-PCR. Of the rotavirus strains identified, only 63 (86.3%) were positive for both VP7 and VP4 while 10 (13.7%) strains were found nontypeable. Rotavirus infection accounts for 36.5% of gastroenteritis cases in samples from symptomatic children. The most prevalent rotavirus genotypes were G1P [8] (80%) followed by G2P [4] (20%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that group A rotavirus is a major pathogene of acute diarrhea in Ahvaz city. The genotypes circulating are similar with those of other countries.

Background:Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is responsible for chronic, acute, and fulminant hepatitis, which are prevalent worldwide. Chronic HBV may lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Several epidemiological studies have indicated that hepatitis B virus is involved in B-cell Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL).Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between hepatitis B infection and Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.Materials and Methods:Paraffin embedded of 41 block samples including 12 (29.26%) Hodgkin and 29 (70.73%) non-Hodgkin patients were collected. Next, DNA extraction was carried out for all the samples followed by HBV DNA detection by the nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The positive HBV DNA samples were sequenced, and HBV genotypes and HBV subtypes were determined.Results:Three out of 12 (25%) Hodgkin samples and seven out of 29 (24.13%) non-Hodgkin showed positive HBV DNA results. The results of sequencing revealed that the D genotype was predominant among the positive HBV patients. Interestingly an unpredictable amino acid proline was detected in position 88 of the HBs gene, which indicates a new mutation in the “S” region of HBV DNA in patients with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.Conclusions:A high rate of 25% and 24.13% of HBV DNA was detected among patients with Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, respectively.

Background:The occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is defined as the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the sera or in the liver biopsy and the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by serological test.Objectives:The current study aimed to evaluate the occult HBV infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and determine HBV genotyping among the patients with abnormal alanine transaminase (ALT) in Ahvaz city, Iran.Patients and Methods:The sera of 120 patients, 54 (45%) females and 66 (55%) males, with abnormal ALT 40-152 IU were collected. All the patients were negative for HBsAg for more than one year. The patients` sera were tested by PCR using primers specified for the S region of HBV. Then the positive PCR products were sequenced to determine HBV genotyping and phylogenic tree.Results:Of these 120 subjects, 12 (10%) patients including 6 (5%) males and 6 (5%) females were found positive for HBV DNA by PCR, which indicated the presence of occult HBV infection among these patients. The sequencing results revealed that genotype D was predominant with sub-genotyping D1 among OBI patients.Conclusions:Occult hepatitis B infection is remarkably prevalent in Ahvaz, Iran, and should be considered as a potential risk factor for the transmission of Hepatitis B Virus throughout the community by the carriers.

Background and Aims: Achieving proper axial rotational alignment of the femoral component for varus knees is a critical step in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Trans epicondylar axis (TEA) is the most reliable reference for alignment of femoral component. Yet, nding the exact location is sometimes difcult and time consuming. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between the TEA and posterior condylar line reference (PCL) in varus knees. Besides, the other aim of this study was to nd the relationship between lateral distal femoral angle (LDFA) and femoral component external rotation (ER) measured intraoperatively. Material and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on patients who were candidates for total knee arthroplasty from May 2016 to December 2019. LDFA, VA were calculated based on hip-to-ankle (HTA) radiographs before the surgery. All patients underwent TKA through an anterior midline incision. ER was calculated by determining TEA intraoperatively. All data were entered into SPSS software for data analysis. Results: One hundred and four patients were included in the nal analysis. Nineteen patients (18.3%) were male and 85 out of 104 (81.7%) were female. (P value = 0.001). No signicant relationship between the amount of ER measured during surgery and the amount of varus angle in varus knees was observed. Furthermore, there were no correlations between ER and LDFA in varus knees. Conclusion: Adjusting femoral component in 3 degrees external rotation relative to posterior condylar line reference achieves proper rotational alignment of the femoral component in the axial plane in varus knees. Also, the lateral distal femoral angle measured preoperatively from knee radiographs is not a predictor of ER in varus knees

Background: Influenza A H1N1 virus had became a world pandemic during June 2009 to July 2010. Children are the most susceptible group to acquire influenza infection and almost half of hospitalized patients are under 18 years of age. On May 10 th 2009, The Iranian Ministry of Health launched a system to monitor and report the presence of this new virus throughout the country. Objectives: In this report we summarized the results of surveillance activity in children aged 2-17 years in a southwestern province of Iran, Khuzestan, in response to the emergence of influenza A H1N1 virus during July 2009-April 2010. Patients and Methods: A total of 232 suspected children who fulfilled the case definition criteria were included in this study. Physicians obtained nasopharyngeal swab specimens, and human influenza A H1N1 was detected, using Real time Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test according to the CDC protocol.Results: Among the 232 enrolled cases, 126 patients (54.31%) were male and 106 patients (45.89%) were female. Real time Reverse RT-PCR test revealed that 18.1% of suspected children were positive for the influenza A H1N1 virus. The most frequent symptoms among the confirmed patients were cough (34, 81%), fever (30, 71%), and myalgia (24, 57%) and five cases (12%) reported diarrhea. Conclusions: Clinical signs and symptoms presented by patients infected with the influenza A H1N1 virus were similar to those described for seasonal influenza, although with more gastrointestinal disorders.