Background Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Organized cervical screening and vaccination against human papilloma virus (HPV) have been successful interventions for prevention of invasive cervical cancer (ICC). Because of cultural and religious considerations, ICC has low incidence in Iran and many other Muslim countries. There is no organized cervical screening in these countries. Therefore, ICC is usually diagnosed in advanced stages with poor prognosis in these countries. We performed a priority setting exercise and suggested priorities for prevention of ICC in this setting. Methods We invited experts and researchers to a workshop and asked them to list important suggestions for ICC prevention in Iran. After merging similar items and removing the duplicates, we asked the experts to rank the list of suggested items. We used a strategy grid and Go-zone analysis to determine final list of priorities for ICC prevention in Iran. Results From 26 final items suggested as priorities for prevention of ICC, the most important priorities were developing national guidelines for cervical screening and quality control protocol for patient follow-up and management of precancerous lesions. In addition, we emphasized considering insurance coverage for cervical screening, public awareness, and research priorities, and establishment of a cervical screening registry. Conclusion A comprehensive approach and implementation of organized cervical screening program is necessary for prevention of ICC in Iran and other low incidence Muslim countries. Because of high cost for vaccination and low incidence of cervical cancer, we do not recommend HPV vaccination for the time being in Iran.

HPV related cervical cancer as one of the most common women cancers in developing countries. Regarding accessibility of commercial vaccines, any long or short term modality for integrating preventive immunization against HPV in a national program needs comprehensive information about HPV prevalence and its genotypes. The important role of selecting most accurate diagnostic technologies for obtaining relevant data is underlined by different assays proposed in the literature. The main objective of the present study was to introduce an in-house HPV typing assay using multiplex real time PCR with reliable results and affordable cost for molecular epidemiology surveys and diagnosis. 112 samples of formalin fixed paraffin embedded tissues and liquid based cytology specimens from patients with known different grades of cervical dysplasia and invasive cancer, were examined by this method and the result were verified by WHO HPV LabNet proficiency program in 2013. HPV was detected in 105 (93.7%) out of 112 samples. The dominant types were HPV 18 (61.6%) and HPV 16 (42.9%). Among the mixed genotypes, HPV 16 and 18 in combination were seen in 12.4% of specimens. According to acceptable performance, easy access to primers, probes and other consumables, affordable cost per test, this method can be used as a diagnostic assay in molecular laboratories and for further planning of cervical carcinoma prevention programs.

Nowadays, molecular biomarkers have critical roles for cancer diagnosis and prognosis in clinical laboratories. Human papillomaviruses are the main agents for etiology of cervical carcinoma. The present survey was conducted to evaluate the genes methylation in cervical cancer and precancerous lesions involvement with HPV genotypes. C13orf18 and C1orf166 (MUL1 or Mulan) DNA methylation as potential biomarkers and risk factors was investigated in 112 liquid based cytology and Formalin-Fixed Paraffin- Embedded tissue specimens in Iranian females with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and dysplasia. In this survey, HPV18 (61.6%) and HPV16 (42.9%) proved to be the most common HPV genotypes identified by In-House Multiplex Real Time PCR. There were no significant relationship between HPV positivity and the methylated DNA genes mentioned above (p>0.05). Our MethyLight data demonstrated that these genes could not be considered as specific, sensitive and suitable prognostic biomarkers in cervical dysplasia related HPV. It is suggested that further studies with more patients should be done on candidate methylated markers in different countries in order to plan for cervical cancer prevention.

Background: Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are frequently responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs). The high rate of carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae has become a global therapeutic concern. Objectives: The study investigated OXA-23, OXA-24, OXA-40, OXA-51, and OXA-58 genes in uropathogenic E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates. Methods: We isolated 500 uropathogenic isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae from patients at Milad Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using a strip-test method, and the carbapenem-nonsusceptoble isolates were confirmed with an automated antibiotic sensitivity testing system. The OXA genes were determined by multiplex PCR. Molecular typing was performed by multilocus variable-number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA). Results: Out of 500 isolates, 40 (8%) were detected as carbapenem-resistant, including 13 E. coli and 27 K. pneumoniae. All carbapenem-resistant isolates were ESBL-producing and resistant to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, meropenem, ceftazidime, and amoxicillin-clavulanate. Moreover, 46.1% and 26% of carbapenem-insensitive E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates carried a beta-lactamase-producing gene associated with the OXA-23-like group. Finally, E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates were divided into two and three MLVA patterns, respectively. Conclusions: This is the first report of OXA-51, 58, and 24 carbapenemases in clinical isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae from UTI patients in Iran. Significant differences were seen in OXA-51, 58, and 24 genes between carbapenem-insensitive and carbapenem-sensitive E. coli and K. pneumoniae isolates. Molecular typing suggested the vertical transmission of resistance genes.