shahrokh izadi

Intestinal parasitic infections are still a considerable global public health problem. We aimed to determine the frequency of intestinal parasitic infections among people referring to the central laboratory of Meshkin Shahr City, Ardabil Province, Iran.

In this cross-sectional survey, 460 fecal samples were collected randomly from persons referred to the central laboratory of Meshkin Shahr City, from January to June 2022. The samples were examined by direct wetmount, Trichrome and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining, formalin ethyl acetate sedimentation, and agar plate culture.

The frequency of intestinal parasites was 15.7% (72 out of 460 cases), with some people with numerous intestinal parasites. The frequency of protozoan infections (13.9%) was higher than the helminthic infections (2.6%). Blastocystis spp. (8.1%) was the most prevalent detected intestinal protozoan. Entamoeba coli (5.7%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (2.2%), Giardia lamblia (1.5%), Fasciola spp. (0.2%), and Hymenolepis nana (0.2%) were other detected parasites.

In- spite of betterment of the health condition in Iran and reduction of parasitic infection, intestinal parasitic infections are still a considerable public health issue in some parts of Iran.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a hereditary kidney disease that can affect several organs. The clinical course of the disease varies among patients; some never become symptomatic, and others reach end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in the 5th decade of their life.

This historical cohort study was conducted on ADPKD patients to investigate kidney and patient survival rates and related risk factors in Iran. Survival analysis and risk ratio calculation were performed using the Cox proportional hazards model, Kaplan– Meier method, and log-rank test.

Among the 145 participants, 67 developed ESKD, and 20 died before the end of the study period. Developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) at the age of ≤ 40, baseline serum creatinine level (SCr) of more than 1.5 mg/dL, and cardiovascular disease increased the risk of ESKD by 4, 1.8, and 2.4 times; respectively. Patient survival analysis revealed a fourfold increase in mortality if the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) declined more than 5 cc/min annually and if CKD was diagnosed at the age of ≤ 40. Vascular thrombotic events or ESKD in the course of disease increased the risk of death by approximately 6- and 7-fold, respectively. Kidney survival was 48% by the age of 60 and 28% by the age of 70. Patient survival was 86.05% at the age of 60 and 67.99% at the age of 70. Additionally, men had a significantly better renal function and survival than women.

Elevated baseline SCr and cardiovascular disease can increase ESKD risk in ADPKD patients. A rapid decline in GFR, ESKD development, and vascular thrombotic events increase the risk of death, but early CKD can affect both.

Mosquito-borne diseases are serious health problems in many countries around the world, and the widespread distribution of their vectors has a major impact on the transmission and spread of these diseases. Mosquitoes play a key role in transmitting arboviruses such as West Nile, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya, Sindbis, Zika, Rift Valley Fever, Batai virus, Usutu virus, East Horse Encephalitis (EEE), and West Nile Virus (WNV), and also some suspected emerging viral agents, such as SARS-CoV-2 (causative agent of COVID-190) and the Zika Virus in the world.There are several methods for mosquitoes larval control. An important challenge in mosquitoes control programs is their resistance to different groups of insecticides. The ultrasonic device is a novel and natural friendly approach for controlling insecticide resistance mosquitoes.

In this study, Ultrasonic TI-H5 device of Elma Company were used against 4th instar larvae of Culex pipiens under laboratory condition. Different variables including; Electrical power (50,100,200, 250 watts), exposure times (1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15 minutes) at two frequencies of 35, and 130 Kilohertz were employed.

Mortality of 4th instar larvae at 35 KH and different exposure time with specific Electronic power was 100%. In 130 KH with increasing exposure time, the mortality was increased.

Insecticides are one of the causes of environmental and water pollution. Also, due to the resistance of mosquitoes to insecticides, the new safe, cost-effective and effective method in integrated pest management programs is the control of mosquito larvae using ultrasonic waves.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients is considered as a diagnostic and prognostic marker. MSI is a consequence of mismatch repair deficiency which is evaluated using the different microsatellite markers on the whole genome. In this pilot study, the diagnostic value of a novel triplex panel including three mononucleotide markers has been evaluated in comparison to the standard Promega kit for MSI testing in CRC patients with Amsterdam II criteria.

DNA extracted from tumors and normal Formalin‑Fixed Paraffin‑Embedded (FFPE) tissues of index cases from 37 HNPCC (Hereditary non‑polyposis colorectal cancer) families were evaluated for MSI state. Primer design for three markers, including BAT25, ACVR2, and TGFBR2, was performed using 19 nucleotides of the M‑13 phage. The instability of each marker was assessed through fragment analysis in comparison with Promega kit markers for all patients. The sensitivity and specificity of each marker have been calculated.

The comparative evaluation of MSI in both tumors and normal adjacent FFPE tissues demonstrated a separate sensitivity as 100%, 83.3%, and 76.9% for BAT25, ACVR2, and TGFBR2, respectively, and 100% sensitivity in the form of a triplex. Moreover, the specificity for each of these three markers in MSI testing was estimated as 100%, separately and in the form of the triplex in comparison with the Promega pentaplex standard Kit.

A high sensitivity and specificity for the novel triplex panel in MSI‑testing were estimated among Iranian patients. More studies are recommended to confirm this panel as a diagnostic kit for MSI testing.

Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may lead to the cytokine storm syndrome which may cause acute respiratory failure syndrome and death. Our aim was to investigate the therapeutic effects of infliximab, intravenous gammaglobulin (IVIg) or combination therapy in patients with severe COVID-19 disease admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

In this observational research, we studied 104 intubated adult patients with severe COVID-19 infection (based on clinical symptoms, and radiographic or CT scan parameters) who were admitted to the ICU of a multispecialty hospital during March 2020 in Tehran, Iran. All cases received standard treatment regimens as local protocol (Oseltamivir + hydroxychloroquine + lopinavir/ritonavir or sofosbuvir or atazanavir ± ribavirin). The cases were grouped as controls (n = 43), infliximab (n = 27), IVIg (n = 23) and combination (n = 11).

There was no significant difference between controls and treatment groups in terms of underlying diseases or the number of underlying diseases. The mean age (SD) of cases was 72.42 (16.06) in the control group, 64.52 (12.965) in IVIg, 63.40 (17.57) in infliximab and 64.00 (11.679) in combination therapy; (P = 0.047, 0.031 and 0.11, respectively). Also, 37% in the infliximab group, 26.1% in IVIg, 45.5% in combination therapy, and 62.8% in the control group expired (all P < 0.05). Hazard ratios were 0.31 in IVIg (95% CI: 0.12-0.76, P = 0.01), 0.30 in infliximab (95% CI: 0.13-0.67, P = 0.004), 0.39 in combination therapy (95% CI: 0.12-1.09, P = 0.071).

According to the findings of this study, it seems that infliximab and IVIg, alone or together, in patients with severe COVID-19 disease can be considered an effective treatment.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and genotype of Cryptosporidium spp. in different groups of immunocompromised patients admitted to the referral hospitals in center of Iran during 2015–2016.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 346 immunocompromised patients (HIV+/AIDS, Lymphoma, Leukemia and organ transplants) in referred hospitals from central parts of Iran including Isfahan, Markazi, Yazd and Chaharmahale Bakhtiari provinces. Stool samples were analyzed for Cryptosporidium species, modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining techniques followed by the semi-nested PCR and DNA sequencing methods.

The total rate of Cryptosporidium spp. was 3.46% (12/346) in the patients, however, the prevalence of the parasite, was 4.6% (4/87) in HIV+/AIDS patients, 3.6% (6/168) in patients with blood malignancy and 2.1% (2/91) in organ transplant recipients. The SSU rRNA gene of Cryptosporidium spp. in all microscopic-positive samples was effectively amplified by the semi-nested PCR and DNA sequences, exposed the existence of two Cryptosporidium species, including C. hominis 91.6% (11/12) and C. parvum 8.3% (1/12).

The predominance of C. hominis in the present study may be certifies the importance of anthroponotic transmission of cryptosporidiosis in center of Iran.

We aimed to design a different method of drug delivery for increased transfer of the choice drug (meglumine antimoniate) within the host cells. Therefore, listeriolysin O (LLO), a bacterial product which is a member of pore-forming peptides was used as an enhancer factor with meglumine antimoniate in order to facilitate the transition of the drug across macrophage membrane.

LLO was produced in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2016, by expressing the hlyA gene in Escherichia coli and purified using affinity chromatography. Cytotoxicity of the purified protein was investigated in an in vitro model of macrophage Leishmania infection.

LLO was cytotoxic against murine macrophage cells (J774-A1) and amastigote forms of L. major (MRHO/IR/75/ER). It was less toxic to macrophages (CC50=2.56 μg ml-1 ±0.09) than to the parasites (IC50=1.72 μg ml-1 ±0.07). Moreover, non-cytotoxic concentration of LLO (0.006 ug ml-1) potentiated the cytotoxicity induced by low dose concentration of meglumine antimoniate. Very little dose of meglumine antimoniate was needed when combined with the LLO (IC50=12.63 μg ml-1 ±0.13) in comparison with the cytotoxicity induced when the drug is used alone (IC50=46.17 μg ml-1 ±0.28).

The combination of pore-forming proteins with anti-leishmanial agents could increase the advantage of anti-leishmanial drugs. Since lower concentrations of anti-leishmanial drugs can reduce undesirable side effects of chemotherapy trials carried out in animal models and then in humans with this system.

In the printing industry, workers are occupationally exposed to an extensive variety of chemical solvents, including toluene and xylene. Biological monitoring is an essential tool for assessing occupational health risk.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate occupational exposure to toluene and xylene, as well as the biomarkers of exposure, in workers of the printing industry.

The hippuric acid (HA) and o-, m- and p-methyl hippuric acids (o-, m-, p- MHAs) as the biomarkers of occupational exposure to toluene and each of the three xylene isomers, respectively, were determined in the urine samples of 84 subjects, including 44 printing workers and 40 non-exposed subjects.

The mean concentrations of toluene (37.64 ± 24.09 ppm) in the breathing zone of workers were higher, and the mean level of each of the three isomers of xylene (o-, m-, and p-xylene) was less than the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) threshold limit values (TLVs). In addition, the levels of urinary HA, o-MHA, and m- and p-MHA in the exposed group were 0.15 ± 0.04, 0.11 ± 0.01, and 0.19 ± 0.07 g g-1 creatinine, respectively. Printing workers showed a significant increase in the levels of urinary HA compared to the non-exposed subjects (P < 0.001). The correlation analysis demonstrated significant correlations between the intensity of the occupational exposure to toluene and xylene and the level of exposure biomarkers in the urine.

The results indicated that although all the urinary biomarkers of exposure were below the Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) recommended by ACGIH, the levels of the urinary metabolites of toluene and xylene were increased in printing workers. Therefore, monitoring of occupational exposure to toluene and xylene is helpful in the following-up of affected workers in the printing industry.

Current research findings demonstrate that acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine, has beneficial effects on several acute and chronic infectious and inflammatory diseases. Acupuncture promotes tissue healing and regulates immune response in various disease conditions. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease caused by protozoan from genus Leishmania. Acupuncture is supposed to accelerate healing of CL because of common mechanisms involved in the cure of the CL lesions.

60 BALB/c mice were experimentally infected with L. major strain MRHO/IR/75/ER and divided into three groups: (1) Treatment group received acupuncture 2 times a week for 5 weeks(10 sessions) with intraperitoneal diazepam as a sedative agent. (2) Diazepam control group only received diazepam the same as the treatment group. (3) Control group did not receive any intervention. Size of the lesions was measured before the experiment, on session 5 and 10 and 4 weeks after the experiment. Parasite burden was evaluated by microscopic assay as well as quantitative real‑time polymerase chain reaction technique.

Size of the lesions decreased significantly on session 5 in treated group in comparison with session 0 (P = 0.02) while the size of the lesions increased significantly in two control groups on session 5 and 4 weeks after treatment (P = 0.04 and P = 0.01 respectively). Mean parasite burden did not show a significant difference between or within groups on session 0 and 10 by any methods.

This investigation showed that acupuncture decreased size of the CL lesions by session 5 in the BALB/c mice model, but did not cause a significant reduction in parasite burden.