Govaresh
Volume:9 Issue: 3, 2005

Introduction and

Omeprazole is a gastric parietal cells proton pump inhibitor that is also active against H. pylori in vitro. This study was designed to examine the neutralization of H. pylori cytotoxicity on Vero cells by omeprazole micronized in strains isolated from gastritis, ulcer, cancer and Barrett's ulcer, to determine whether omeprazole can inhibit vacuolation of the Vero cells induced by cytotoxin of H. pylori or by urease. The effect of omeprazole on motility of H. pylori was assessed using concentrations lower than MIC.

The antimicrobial activity of omeprazole micronized was studied by determining the MICs for 15 H. pylori strains. Water extract of the bacteria (concentrated culture supernatant) and different concentrations of omeprazole were added to Vero cells in culture. Also extracted urease from H. pylori strains with urea (10 mM) and omeprazole were added to Vero cells in culture. The inhibitory effect of omeprazole on motility of H. pylori was tested in semi-solid medium.

MIC of omeprazole micronized was 20 µ|g/ml. Omeprazole could inhibit induced vacuolation by the water extract of H. pylori strains in Vero cells. It could also inhibit vacuolation induced by urease. Inhibition of vacuolation strains was assessed microscopically and by the neutral red method. It was also found that omeprazole inhibits the motility of H. pylori strains at concentrations lower than MIC.

The results of this study suggest that omeprazole micronized could neutralize the vacuolation effect of H. pylori cytotoxin on Vero cells probably by targeting v-type ATPase. The bacterial motility was also inhibited by low concentrations of omeprazole. The results of this study considers omeprazole micronized as an effective drug which targets important virulence factors of H. pylori including vacuolating cytotoxin, urease, and motility.

Introduction and

In order to prevent liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in later life, it is essential to prevent Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in infants. Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, hepatitis B still continues to be a significant health problem. The aim of this study is to reveal the efficacy of passive and active immunoprophylaxis for preventing perinatal transmission of the hepatitis B virus in Iran.

In this cohort study with historical controls, 823 children of the HBsAg positive mothers were evaluated. There were 637 cases who had received neither Hepatitis B (HB) vaccine nor hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG), 125 persons received only HB vaccine and 60 neonates that we administered them HB vaccine and HBIG together.

The prevalence of HBsAg in cases who have received neither vaccine nor HBIG and aged › 16 years (group1) or ≤ 16 years (group 2), cases who have received vaccine alone (group 3), and in cases who have received both vaccine and HBIG (group 4) was 56.1%, 40.3%, 12.6%, and 3.6%, respectively. The prevalence of HBsAb had a significant descending rate in groups 4 (85.7%), 3 (68.8%), 2 (33.3%), and 1 (21.8%) respectively.

The addition of HBIG to recombinant vaccine will significantly increase the protection against HBV infection in comparison with HB vaccine without HBIG. After focusing on the vertical route for many years, and implementing strategies such as vaccination and HBIG injection to neonates of HBsAg positive mothers, nowadays it seems that we should pay more attention to horizontal way of HBV transmission in Iran.

A 42-year-old male with history of HCV, presented with cutaneous lesions which were initiated from 2 weeks ago. Lesions presented with tenderness and red bulla in anterior aspect of left leg. The lesion gradually began to rupture and desquamation. Patient had similar lesions during the last year. Hyperpigmentation in old lesions was seen. Porphyria cutanea tarda was suspected. Diagnosis was confirmed with high urinary levels of uroporphyrinogen.