Background and aims Thalassemia syndromes are the most common hemoglobinopathy globally related to blood transfusion and iron overload in the body. Splenectomy, excessive iron overload, and repeated exposure to antigens in blood transfusions can cause severe damage to the patient's immune system making the patient prone to frequent infection. This study evaluates the immune system status and infection rate in beta‐thalassemia major patients receiving iron chelators. Methods This descriptive cross‐sectional study was performed in Rasoul‐e‐Akram Hospital on patients with a beta‐thalassemia major who had iron overload due to frequent blood transfusions. The percentage of lymphocyte markers was determined by flow cytometry. Serum levels of immunoglobin were measured by nephelometric assay. Also, Nitro blue tetrazolium and dihydrorhodamine assays were used to evaluate the phagocytic function. Results Of the 106 patients participating in this study, 59 (55.7%) and 47 (44.3%) are male and female, respectively. The mean age ± SD of participants was 24.7 ± 12.1 years with 4 to 55 years. There was no significant correlation between sex, the C3 and C4 complements, the lymphocyte markers, and the immunoglobulin levels. Furthermore, all of these variables increased significantly over 30 ( p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a strong positive correlation between splenectomy and IgG immunoglobulin ( p < 0.001) and CD16 ( p = 0.005) lymphocyte marker. Conclusion Iron chelator agents effectively improve patients' immune system with thalassemia major. The increase in IgG and IgM immunoglobulins levels is due to frequent blood transfusions, which stimulate the immune system.

OBJECTIVE Periodontal disease is a common clinical complication and has a negative impact on the quality of life and the welfare of companion dogs. Periodontal disease occurs when pathogenic bacteria are accumulated in the gingival sulcus, which favors biofilm formation. The oral health of dogs can be significantly compromised by dental plaque accumulation. Thus, this investigation demonstrates the effect of Enterococcus faecium probiotic, dextranase enzyme, and their combination on dental biofilm in the oral cavity of dogs. ANIMALS The 30 dogs were referred to Polyclinic with no oral ulcers, severe periodontitis, and internal diseases. PROCEDURES Dextranase enzyme, E faecium probiotic, and their combination were administered in the oral cavity of dogs. Microbiological samples were obtained from tooth surfaces and gums before and after intervention with the substances. Bacterial colonies were enumerated by using a colony counter. Also, Porphyromonas gingivalis hmuY gene expression was evaluated by reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR analysis. RESULTS The total colony count of the bacterial culture indicated that the dextranase enzyme, E faecium probiotic, and their combination significantly reduced the total bacteria count in the oral cavity. Moreover, in the reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR analysis it was observed that using the combination of E faecium probiotic and dextranase enzyme decreases the hmuY gene expression of P gingivalis bacteria. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The results clearly indicated that the dextranase enzyme and E faecium probiotic could be used as preventive agents to reduce oral biofilm in dogs. Furthermore, no side effects were observed while using these substances.

Background: The current research seeks to present a comparative study of the effect of filgrastim and pegfilgrastim in the treatment of fever and neutropenia in leukemia patients. Materials and Methods: The present study is a blind randomized clinical trial. The study population is comprised of 120 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who were admitted to the hospital due to mild febrile neutropenia during 2019. Included patients were divided into two groups. Filgrastim (10 micrograms/ kilogram, daily subcutaneously) and pegfilgrastim (100 micrograms per kilogram of a subcutaneous dose) were used for groups, respectively. Fever monitored every 6 hours, and neutrophil count was performed every 48 hours. The questionnaire designed in the study included age, type of drug side effects, number of days of neutropenia, and fever cessation time. Then, the data were analyzed by SPSS software. Result:  Leukemic children with fever and neutropenia (N=120) were included in the study, which was 59 (49.1%) male and 61 (50.9%) female by the mean age of 79±44 months. The mean days of neutropenia correction in the filgrastim and pegfilgrastim groups were 5 and 4 days, respectively, which was not significantly different (p =0.08). There was no correlation between patients’ complications and types of treatments (p>0.05). Muscular pain was the most common complication observed among 4 cases and 1 case following filgrastim and pegfilgrastim administration, respectively. Furthermore, hyperleukocytosis following pegfilgrastim consumption was observed in two cases. Conclusion: There was no significant correlation between the duration until the cessation of fever and the number of neutropenia days in the two groups receiving pegfilgrastim and filgrastim. Therefore, the fever and neutropenia improve with pegfilgrastim earlier than filgrastim; besides, fewer injections, patient comfort, and less musculoskeletal pain can be observed.

Background: Hemophilia affects the patients′ life in many aspects. The major concerns are restriction on physical activities, life-threatening bleeding, arthropathy, etc., and worsening mental issues like anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate the health-related quality of life in hemophilia patients.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 147 patients with hemophilia had been referred to special patients′ clinic at Kermanshah province (IRAN) for comprehensive medical care services. The patients who met the criteria of this study were selected using counting sampling method and were assessed with the quality of life in hemophilia patients′ questionnaire (A36 Hemofilia-QoL® questionnaire).Results: Out of 147 patients with hemophilia, 139 were male and 8 were female. The mean age of the subjects was 25.85±15.54 years. The results demonstrate that the total score of 65 patients (44.2%) had poor quality, 60 patients (40.8%) had moderate quality and 22 patients (15.0%) had good quality of life. Although there was no significant correlation between hemophilia A & B with health-related quality of life, there was a good connection between age, gender, level of education, and the severity of disease with health-related quality of life. Conclusion: According to the low quality of life in relation to health in hemophilia patients, different interventions should be administrated to increase health-related quality of life in these patients.