Background: The most significant genital lesion caused by HPV infection is genital warts, which are benign. The importance of genital warts relates to cervical cancer risk factors. In fact, this virus has been identified as the cause of 99% of cervical cancers worldwide, necessitating non-invasive methods for disease management. Identifying an appropriate, accurate, and highly sensitive screening method is crucial. Therefore, we investigated the diagnosis of papillomavirus in women with genital warts using Pap smear and PCR. Methods: From September 2019 to August 2020, 41 vaginal swab and cervical samples from females with genital warts were assessed for HPV DNA detection by PCR and Pap smear. Results: Among 41 vaginal swab specimens from those with genital warts, 5 cases (12.12%) were detected by molecular method, while Pap smear analysis of the same 41 samples revealed 8 cases (19.5%) of abnormal findings, including 2 cases of ASC (4.9%), 6 cases (14.6%) of metaplastic cells, and 33 cases (80.4%) normal results, comprising 11 inflammatory cases (26.8%) and 22 normal cases (53.7%). Conclusion: The incidence of HPV infection in females with genital warts was 12.12% by PCR. However, conventional Pap smear screening detected 19.5% cervical dysplasia cases attributable to papillomavirus infection. The discrepancy between PCR and Pap smear results stems from the specificity and low sensitivity of the Pap smear method. Therefore, it is recommended to use the PCR diagnostic method alongside Pap smear to enhance screening quality in individuals with genital warts.

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection, particularly with cagA-positive strains, is strongly associated with severe gastrointestinal outcomes such as peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, though the strength of this association varies across populations. This study investigates the link between cagA positivity and clinical diagnoses in Iranian patients to evaluate its potential as a predictor of disease severity in a high-prevalence region. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 125 patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, of whom 36 H. pylori-positive individuals were analyzed for cagA status using PCR on gastric biopsy specimens. The association between cagA positivity and clinical diagnoses (gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastric cancer) was assessed using chi-square and logistic regression analyses in SPSS v26. Results: Of 36 H. pylori-positive patients, 63.89% were infected with cagA-positive strains. A significant association was found between cagA positivity and disease severity, with higher prevalence in peptic ulcer (78.3%) and gastric cancer (80.0%) compared to chronic gastritis (42.9%) (p < 0.05). Conclusion: cagA-positive H. pylori strains are significantly associated with peptic ulcer and gastric cancer, highlighting their role in disease severity. cagA detection may serve as a valuable biomarker for risk stratification and targeted management in high-prevalence regions

Background: Understanding the radiographic and anatomical distinctions in patients with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is crucial for effective treatment and recurrence prevention. Current study aimed to investigate the presence of Concha bullosa in CT scans of patients with AFRS compared to patients with non-fungal rhinosinusitis with polyposis (NFRP), alongside the culture of the secretions. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 86 patients with an average age of 40.91 ± 13.45 years, all suffering from nasal polyps and undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery at the Amir Alam Hospital. Participants were divided into two groups; AFRS group (n=43), and NFRP group (n=43). CT scans of the paranasal sinuses were conducted for all patients. Additionally, assessments were made for fungal cultures from Concha bullosa secretions, sinus secretions, and polyp tissue. Results: The average age of patients in the AFRS group was significantly lower than that of the NFRP group (37.3 years vs. 44.5 years, P=0.012). The incidence of Concha bullosa with secretion was higher than the ones without secretion. Notably, the AFRS group exhibited a significantly greater prevalence of Concha bullosa with secretion compared to the NFRP group (44.2% vs. 18.6%, P=0.034). In terms of fungal cultures, Aspergillus was the only positive finding in the AFRS group (13.5%, n=5) and in the NFRP group (6.1%, n=2). The species Aspergillus flavus (4.3%, n=3) was more frequently identified in fungal cultures from sinus secretions and polyp tissue among AFRS group. Conclusion: Concha bullosa is more common in the AFRS group than in the NFRP group. It suggests a potential association between fungal colonization and disease recurrence. Also, Aspergillus, especially Aspergillus flavus, are frequently found in AFRS group, pointing to the role in the disease. The findings stress the need to consider Concha bullosa when treating AFRS to enhance outcomes and lower recurrence rates

Background: This study compares the effectiveness of culture and PCR methods in detecting Neisseria gonorrhoeae , a Gram-negative bacterium causing gonorrhea, which can lead to serious health complications, especially in women, and highlights the advantages of nucleic acid amplification tests over traditional culture-based diagnosis. Methods: This study involved 70 individuals suspected of gonorrhea who referred to Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran between September and February 2022, with ethical approval and informed consent obtained from all participants. Two swab samples were collected from each individual—one for culture and one for molecular testing—and stored appropriately for microbiological and genomic analysis. Results: This study examined 70 women suspected of having gonorrhea, with a mean age of 32.32 ± 8.58 years, and found a prevalence of 30% by vaginal culture and 28.57% by PCR testing. Using PCR as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of culture for diagnosing gonorrhea were determined to be 45% and 76%, respectively. Conclusion: Of course, the differences could be due to the size of the studied populations, but the important point is the high accuracy and sensitivity of the PCR test in identifying Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which has been mentioned in most studies.

Background: Port-site infections caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) following laparoscopic surgery represent a rare yet increasingly recognized complication in modern surgical practice. These infections, driven by environmental pathogens resistant to standard sterilization methods, pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to their insidious onset and resistance to conventional treatments. Methods: This retrospective study examined 20 patients who developed infection between May 2024 and August 2024, collecting data on demographics, clinical presentations, latency periods, diagnostic outcomes, and treatment results. Results: The cohort, with a mean age of 36.5 years (range: 8–70) and 60% female predominance, most commonly presented with pus discharge (70%), with a median latency period of 39 days from surgery to symptom onset. Diagnostic efforts revealed excisional biopsy as the most effective method, yielding a 25% positivity rate, far surpassing pus swabs and aspirations at 5% each. Treatment involved prolonged combination antibiotic therapy—macrolides paired with linezolid or amikacin—resulting in complete resolution in all cases with no recurrences within a 6-month follow-up. Conclusion: These findings underscore the necessity of heightened clinical suspicion, advanced diagnostic techniques, and adherence to extended treatment protocols to manage NTM infections effectively, offering critical insights into their prevention and management in laparoscopic surgery settings.

Background: Burn injuries present a considerable global health challenge, characterised by intricate healing processes that are exacerbated by infection and impaired tissue regeneration. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option due to their regenerative, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial properties. MSCs have been shown to secrete AMPs such as LL-37 and hepcidin, which have been found to directly target pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition to this direct antimicrobial action, MSCs have also been observed to modulate immune responses through the secretion of cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-β. Their regenerative effects include the promotion of angiogenesis, re-epithelialization, and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling via growth factors such as EGF, KGF, and SDF-1. In-vitro and animal studies have demonstrated enhanced wound closure, reduced scarring, and improved antimicrobial efficacy through novel delivery systems such as hydrogels and preconditioning strategies. As demonstrated by clinical trials, the treatment has been shown to facilitate accelerated healing and reduced reliance on antibiotics. However, challenges such as the heterogeneity of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), optimisation of dosing, and safety concerns (e.g. coagulopathy, systemic inflammation) persist. Emerging technologies, including synthetic gene circuits, microbiome-targeted engineering, and bioresponsive delivery systems, offer solutions to enhance the efficacy of MSCs. Conclusion: This review emphasises the potential of MSCs to transform the management of burn wounds, while underscoring the necessity for standardised protocols and advanced engineering to surmount translational barriers

Background: Water is an important source of numerous infectious diseases in humans. The most important indicator bacteria include Escherichia coli and total coliform species. Clostridium perfringens is a general indicator of treatment efficiency. Methods: Diagnosing microbial contamination of water by culture method, in addition to high cost, has low speed and many limitations. The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) method is a promising alternative for simultaneous detection of these bacteria. In this research, we developed multiplex PCR for detection of lacZ, uidA and plc genes as an indicator of the presence of total coliforms, Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens. In the following, 33 samples of water and wastewater from Razavi Khorasan province were tested using standard culture methods and this multiplex PCR for comparison. Results: Multiplex PCR was not only confirmed by cultural results but also has more accuracy and sharpness. The results of the validation tests showed that our multiplex PCR method had a significant advantage over the conventional culture method. Conclusion: The developed multiplex PCR method demonstrated superior accuracy and efficiency compared to traditional culture techniques, offering a reliable alternative for rapid detection of waterborne pathogens

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the GeneXpert with acid-fast stain (AFB) and culture methods in patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (SPT). Methods: A total of 484 sputum and BALF (bronchoalveolar lavage fluid). Samples were analyzed from 428 individuals, of which 78.3% were men and the average age was 49.9 years. Results: The GeneXpert test had a sensitivity of 95.7% and a specificity of 43.9% for MTB culture, and a sensitivity of 91.9% and a specificity of 52.8% for a definitive diagnosis. The sample had a sensitivity of 93.7%, specificity of 69.6%, and accuracy of 82.2% for MTB culture, and sensitivity of 86.9%, specificity of 82.2%, and accuracy of 85.3% for the final diagnosis. Overall, the AFB exam had the highest diagnostic accuracy of the three tests at 85.3%. Conclusion: The study indicates that while the study's AFB test is usually used as the first diagnostic test for pulmonary TB due to its high accuracy, the GeneXpert test can be used in samples that are AFB negative, but strongly suspected for TB, because it has a higher sensitivity. Choosing the appropriate test based on the clinical context is critical for accurate diagnosis and treatment of TB.

Background: Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) which caused by a pestivirus, results in huge economic losses through abortion, weight loss, drop in milk production and even death of the affected animal. Reproductive disorders due to the virus infection are common in unvaccinated herds which are predominant causes of dairy cattle exclusion. The present study diagnosed BVD infection associated with an abortion storm in a farm following vaccination cessation. In addition, the present report investigated a variety of the disease complications other than abortion and it emphasized on the elimination of all the risk factors before any interruption in vaccination plan. Methods: The specimens were collected from 66 aborted fetuses and examined by real-time RT-PCR and histopathological methods for the presence of BVD virus. Results: Real-time RT-PCR detected BVDV in 47.14% of the aborted fetuses. The lesions of BVD were visible in the samples obtained from aborted fetuses Conclusion: In the studied herd, we could see several complications of BVD such as infertility, abortion and agalactia. Each of the disorder has significant economic losses on dairy cattle herds, so it is necessary to implement control programs such as biosecurity and monitoring before any decision to stop vaccination.

Background: Exotoxin A (ExoA) is one of the most known and important virulence factors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This toxin is the cause of ADP-ribosylation in eukaryutic Elongation Factor- 2 (EF-2), which results in the protein synthesis inhibition. Recent studies had shown immunostimulational characteristics of detoxified the ExoA. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the immunological properties of detoxified ExoA by Serum Bactericidal assay, in comparison with ELISA. Methods: The production of ExoA was done on the ExoA-producing strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA103, provided by Pasteur institute of Iran. After culture in semi-industrial scale, it was detoxified and purified by dialysis. The dialysate was injected to mice and rabbit. After 3weeks, the total sera were collected. Serum bactericidal assay & ELISA were performed. Results: The results had shown a significant increase of antibodies against detoxified ExoA of 1/16 and antibody in ELISA method. Also, this has shown more antigenecity & immunogenosity by SBA method. Conclusion: To conclude the study that has been done here, SBA has much higher advantages than ELISA, in determining the immunological properties of Exo A. Furthermore, since Exo A could act as a hapten, many other subunits from other bacteria or viruses could be conjugated on Exo A and form multi-target vaccines.