Immunotoxicity of AFs on PBMCs may be mediated by up-regulation of key immune-surveillance molecule transcripts. The description of these effects induced by AFs on PBMCs are novel and should be taken into account when considering AF-related infectious and noninfectious diseases in areas highly exposed to AFs.

Chronic low-grade inflammation is involved in the development of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DMT2). Because of genetic inheritance, first-degree relatives of DMT2 patients are at increased risk of developing this metabolic disorder. We aimed to investigate the association of inflammation in the development of DMT2 in siblings of DMT2 patients. Twenty seven DMT2 patients and 27 healthy individuals without a family history of DMT2 were enrolled. Plasma levels of the high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and fibrinogen (FIB), as inflammatory factors were assessed in all individuals. Levels of hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, and FIB were significantly higher in DMT2 patients than in their siblings. Furthermore, all marker levels were found to be significantly higher in the siblings group than in healthy controls. Siblings of DMT2 patients are then at higher risk for DMT2 than healthy controls. Systemic inflammatory abnormalities may play an important role in the development of diabetes mellitus in siblings via endothelial dysfunction.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major public health problem with about 1.75 million new HCV cases and 71 million chronic HCV infections worldwide. The study aimed to evaluate clinical, serological, molecular, and liver markers to develop a mathematical predictive model for the quantification of the HCV viral load in chronic HCV infected patients. In this cross‐sectional study, blood samples were taken from 249 recently diagnosed HCV‐infected subjects and were tested for liver condition, viral genotype, and HCV RNA load. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and multiple linear regression analysis were used to predict the HCV‐RNA load. Genotype 3 followed by genotype 1 were the most prevalent genotypes in Mashhad, Northeastern Iran. The maximum levels of viral load were detected in the mixed genotype group, and the lowest levels in the undetectable genotype group. The log of the HCV viral load was significantly associated with thrombocytopenia and higher serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT). In addition, the log HCV RNA was significantly higher in patients with arthralgia, fatigue, fever, vomiting, or dizziness. Moreover, genotype 3 was significantly associated with icterus. A ROC curve analysis revealed that the best cut‐off points for serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were >31, >34, and ≤246 IU/L, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values for AST were 87.7%, 84.36%, and 44.6%, for ALT they were 83.51%, 81.11%, and 36%, and for ALP were 72.06%, 42.81%, and 8.3%, respectively. A mathematical regression model was developed that could estimate the HCV‐RNA load. Regression model: log viral load = 7.69 − 1.01 × G3 − 0.7 × G1 + 0.002 × ALT − 0.86 × fatigue.