Background and Objective: Tuberculin skin test (TST) is the standard method for diagnosis of latent tuberculous infection. Positive results of TST (significant induration) may be seen in persons with latent M. tuberculosis infection and negative results of this test may be seen in patients with active tuberculosis. After performing TST false positive reactions may be seen with nontuberculous mycobacterial infections or false negative results may be encountered in anergic patients with tuberculosis disease. Quantiferon TB Gold test (QFT) is a new diagnostic test which assays the amount of released interferon gamma from peripheral blood lymphocytes in response to M. tuberculosis antigens. The purpose of this study was to determine the degree TST and QFT correlation.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study carried out on 72 nurses of two internal medicine and infectious diseases wards of Imam Reza and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Kermanshah located in West of Iran, during 2009.58 of nurses were vaccinated with BCG vaccine and none of them had any immune compromising condition. TST was performed by intradermal injection of 0.1 ml of standard tuberculin test (5 TU) and QFT was performed 48 hours then after using peripheral whole blood. The amount of released interferon gamma from lymphocytes in response to antigens were measured by ELISA method.Results: Three of nurses excluded and this study was done on 69 nurses. Overall the degree of Agreement of TST and QFT was 63.7% (P=0.69 and Kappa=0.139). The degree of discordance between these tests in PPD negative but QFT positive persons was 15.94% and in PPD positive but QFT negative persons was 20.3%. The sensitivity and specificity of QFT was 41.67% and 75.56% respectively. The degree of Agreement of TST and QFT in vaccinated and unvaccinated nurses was 63.8% (Kappa=0.143) and 66.67% (Kappa=0.54) respectively.Conclusion: There was no significant difference between QFT and TST in diagnosing latent tuberculous infection.

Introduction: Indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test is one of the most common serologi61 tests for toxoplasmosis. Some of Toxoplasma seroepidemiological studies used this test in Iran. Review the studies which were performed by this test in different areas of the country with different climates, shows according to main way of transmission of Toxoplasma gondii in Iran, performing the test needed consideration. It seems that these probable contradictions are due to mistakes of the test procedure in some of the laboratories.Objective: This study was performed to determine the Agreement rate of IFA toxoplasmosis test among 4 laboratory centers.Materials and Methods: The study is a multicenter evaluation. With the consideratiorof et hical values, serums were prepared from 100 subjects' who had referred for pre-marriage examinations to Qazvin medical community center in the year 2006. Each serum divided to four parts and in each laboratory was examined for specific IgG anti-Toxoplasma antibodies with the IFA test. The tests in each center were performed according to common protocol of that center. The sera in all laboratories were examined at 1:20, 1:100, 1:200 and above. The titration ³1:20 was considered as positive. The kappa coefficient between each 2 centers was calculated.Results: The seropositivity rates of IgG-IFA Toxoplasma test in the 4 centers were 72%, 44%, 34% and 23%. The kappa coefficient in comparing with 2 centers, for upper limit was 0.36 and for the lower limit was 0.16.Conclusion: In the present study, the Agreement rates among the four centers were very lower than our expect it seems that, performing this test in some of laboratories in country accompanied with some defects that should be corrected. Therefore, we recommend to survey separately.

The pathogenetic mechanism of nasal polyps remains unknown, although allergy has been cited as an important factor in the etiology of nasal polyposis. Currently there is no definite histological criterion for differentiation of allergic from inflammatory nasal polyp. However, in a few studies, tissue eosinophil count has been used for this. This study aimed to find out the Agreement rate of skin prick test and tissue eosinophil count in patients with nasal polyposis. Twenty five patients (18 males, 7 females) with nasal polyp were enrolled in this study. For each patient tissue sample from polyp material was taken for histopathological investigation. Moreover, skin prick test was performed for each patient using eleven common aeroallergens.Skin prick test was positive in 48% of the patients. Tissue eosinophil count of more than 50% was found in 75% of skin prick positive and in 69.2% of skin prick negative patients. Also tissue eosinophil count of more than 50% was found in 69.2% of patients with typical allergic symptoms as well as 75% of patients without allergic symptoms. No Agreement was found between skin prick tests and tissue eosinophil counts in patients with nasal polyp. Also no difference was found between the tissue eosinophil counts in allergic and non allergic patients. Considering these results, it can be concluded that having a high tissue eosinophil count in patients with nasal polyp does not indicate that the polyp is allergic.

Background: Considering the fact that more than one third of the world’s population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, identifying individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is vital for controlling TB. Tuberculin skin test (TST) and IFN-gamma release assays are practical methods used for screening people with LTBI. Due to the insufficiency of data on endemic tuberculosis region and the need for evaluation of these methods in a high-risk population, this study was performed in Zahedan.Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was carried out on 75 individuals, including 21 health care workers (HCWs) as well as 54 family members of patients with active TB. IFN-g release assay and TST were also carried out on the participants.Results: Of the 75 participants, 26 had positive IFN-g release assay results and 49 persons showed negative results. TST was also performed and 12 participants did not show up for taking the results. Among the remaining 63 participants, 60.31% had more than 10 mm indurations. The results in 32.25% of the participants were positive for both IFN-gamma release assay and skin test, whereas 34.92% of the participants presented negativete strresults for both IFN-gamma release assay and skin test. The Agreement between these two tests was 66.67 % (P=0.001, K=0.36, 95% Confidence Interval).Conclusion: The results showed a weak Agreement between the two tests.

Introduction: Identification of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection is important in kidney transplant candidates. Due to the absence of a gold standard, both tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon‑ gamma release assays (IGRA) are used to screen patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the Agreement of these two tests in patients undergoing renal transplantation. Materials and Methods: Two hundred kidney transplant candidates at a referral center in 2014– 2017 were included in this study. TST and Quantiferon‑ Gold (QFT‑ G) tests were performed for all patients before transplantation. In case of a positive result in any of the tests, patients were administered a 9‑ month prophylaxis treatment using isoniazid. Cohen’ s kappa coefficient (k) test was used to determine the Agreement between the two tests. Results: The mean age of patients was 40. 72 ± 18. 33. Nine (4. 5%) patients had positive TST and 16 (8%) had positive IGRA. Concordance of the two tests was evaluated as medium (κ = 0. 44 and P < 0. 001). No association was found between the underlying causes of renal failure and skin test positive or IGRA. The tests showed a poor Agreement among diabetics, candidates of re‑ transplantation, and those who were on dialysis for longer than a year (κ < 0. 20). Conclusion: TST or IGRA can be used to screen TB in kidney transplant candidates with a moderate Agreement. However, we suggest using both TST and QFT‑ G in diabetics, re‑ transplant candidates, and those on dialysis for >1 year.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to survey the Agreements between the energy expenditure prediction equations with the criterion model in the exhaustive treadmill test protocols in active young men.Methods: Fifty active young men were selected as subjects (Mean ± SD Age 21.04 ± 2.069 yrs., Height 176.78 ± 4.484 cm, Weight 70.11 ± 5.825kg) and completed exhaustive treadmill test protocols. Bioenergetical variables during exhaustive protocols using respiratory gas analysis were collected at an interval of ten seconds. To estimate the energy cost and bioenergetical variables, ACSMv, Vander Walt, Pandolf, Léger and Epstein predictive equations for walking and running were considered. Bland-Altman graphical model and Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) statistical tests were used to evaluate the absolute Agreement of the methods.Results: The results suggest that the Leger equation for running have high Agreement with the criterion model (±1.96; CI=95% -21.2 to 2.4 ml/kg/min; ICC=0.89) And ACSM walking and running equations have middleAgreement with the criterion model (Walking: ±1.96; 95% CI=-8.1 to +4.7ml/kg/min, ICC=0.4837; Running: ±1.96; 95% CI=-27.6 to -3.3 ml/kg/min, ICC: 0.4535).Conclusions: According to study results it could be concluded that the Leger equations for running and relatively ACSM walking and running equations estimating of VO2 among Iranian active young men can be used as an accurate alternative for the criterion method.

Producion of efficient antimicrobial drugs against to common human pathogens is one of the most important challenges in the field of medical microbiology. Continuous screening of clinical isolates and survey of antimicrobial resistance pattern is critical.Today, disk diffusion and dilution methods are known as the common antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods. Disk diffusion method does not render dependable results in determination of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern because this method is semi quantitative. MIC determination by microdilution and macrodilution techniques and recent method “E-test”, have given interpretable results to researchers. Microdilution and macrodilution methods are also time consuming, expensive and error- prone methods. Whereas E-test method is one of the means by which we will be able to determine susceptibility pattern of known species in low cost and short time. In this survey, constructing and printing of E-test, coating of antibiotic on O.H.P film and quality control of constructed E-tests were performed according to M7 A7 CLSI Standard. In this study quality of required materials for E-test Production were suitable. Evaluation of constructed strips was performed using standard strain of staphylococcus aureus and reproducibly of results was appreciated.

Contact dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease due to contact with different substances and caused by two mechanisms: allergy and irritation. Contact dermatitis is a common skin disease and the most common occupational dermatosis. Differentiating between allergic and irritant contact dermatitis is essential in the identification of etiologic factor(s) and hence, its control and prognosis. This differentiation can be done only by patch test. Unfortunately, this simple, safe and useful test is always neglected. We review the basics of patch test, the method of performance, reading and interpretation of its results, possible side effects and results of studies done with patch test in different countries.