جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه "infections" در نشریات گروه "پزشکی"

Increased serum concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers in patients indicate a strong association between COVID-19 and inflammation. However, the association between diet-related inflammation and COVID-19 has been less investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the inflammatory scores of the diet are associated with the severity of COVID-19 disease and the probability of hospitalization of patients. 

The authors conducted a cross-sectional study involving 141 patients with COVID-19. The empirical dietary inflammatory pattern (EDIP) and dietary inflammation scores (DIS) were calculated based on a 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The association between serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers and diet-related inflammation was also investigated.

74 inpatients and 87 outpatients participated in this study. Higher DIS scores were significantly associated with an increased risk of COVID-related hospitalization (Tertile3 vs. tertile1: OR = 3·62; 95 % CI 1·43 to 9·14, P=0·008 after fully adjustment). This association with EDIP was also observed, but it was not significant.

The data from this provide evidence that a pro-inflammatory diet was associated with higher risk of hospitalization due to high severity of COVID-19

Obesity is a major health issue linked to conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Infectobesity suggests that certain microorganisms may contribute to obesity. Human adenovirus serotypes, particularly Human adenovirus type-36 (HAdV-36), Human adenovirus type-5 (HAdV-5), and Human adenovirus type-37 (HAdV-37), are thought to influence body fat regulation. This study investigates the relationship between Immunoglobulin G (IgG) positivity for HAdV-5 and HAdV-37 and obesity, aiming to provide data on the infectious etiology of obesity.

Blood samples separated into serums from obese (BMI ≥30) and non-obese (BMI 18.5-25) individuals were tested for HAdV-5 and HAdV-37 seropositivity using ELISA kits and seropositivity rates between the groups were compared.

HAdV-37 antibody positivity was significantly higher in obese patients (39/48) compared to the control group (24/42) (p=0.011). For HAdV-5, antibody positivity was similar in both groups (26 individuals each) with no significant difference (p=0.461). No significant gender-related differences were found for either serotype.

The study suggests HAdV-37 may be associated with obesity, while no such relationship was found for HAdV-5. There was no gender association for either serotype. These results align with existing literature on HAdV-37, but further research is needed to confirm the link between adenoviruses and obesity and explore potential treatment options.

Common parasites that can cause gastrointestinal diseases in humans include Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia. These parasites are abundant in Iraq’s Southern Governorates, while exact statistics on prevalence rates may be lacking. Inadequate sanitation, contaminated drinking water, and poor personal hygiene all help to transmit these parasites. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of E. histolytica and G. lamblia in the Southern Governorates.

From January 2022 to December 2022, this study conducted a retrospective cohort study using the data from patients seeking medical care in hospitals and health centers in Iraq’s Southern Governorates. Microscopic inspection verified the diagnosis. The data were analyzed using the age groups, gender, season, and geographic dispersion.

G. lamblia was significantly outnumbered by E. histolytica across each province. Wasit Governorate has the most E. histolytica at 26.6%, whereas Maysan has 8.4% G. lamblia. All the seasons showed a greater incidence of E. histolytica, while spring showing the biggest variation (27.1%). E. histolytica outnumbered G. lamblia in all age groups, particularly among children aged 1–4 (31.3% vs. 3.6%) years. Males were more likely than females to have E. histolytica (58.96%) and G. lamblia (41.04%).

Through microscopic examination, this study detected G. lamblia and E. histolytica infections in 2000 patients. Geographical location, age, and gender all had an impact on the incidence of those diseases, which differed throughout the Southern Governorates of Iraq.

Given the alterations in definitions and the varied, at times entirely contradictory results, the need for new studies regarding the factors influencing the occurrence of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) is increasingly felt. This study aims to investigate the role of prophylactic antibiotics in reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) in low-risk patients.

In this clinical trial, 120 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy as per the inclusion criteria. Between September 2021 and May 2022, within the Department of Surgery at Birjand Medical University, candidates slated for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were systematically allocated into two distinct groups: one receiving prophylactic antibiotics and the other not. The principal outcome measured was the incidence of postoperative infectious complications. Data were analyzed in SPSS (Version 23) software using Mann-Whitney, t-test, Fisher's Exact, and Chi-square tests. The level of significance was set to P <0.05.

A total of 120 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, divided into two groups: 59 received preoperative prophylactic antibiotics (Antibiotic Group, AG) and 61 did not (No Antibiotic Group, NAG), with no significant differences in clinical characteristics like gender, age, body mass index (BMI) and operation times. Surgical site infection (SSI) occurred in two patients (3.4%) in the AG and four patients (6.7%) in the NAG, with no significant overall difference in SSI incidence between the groups (P=0.679). The study found no significant differences in preoperative WBC, hemoglobin, or creatinine levels between patients with and without SSI, indicating similar preoperative conditions across both groups.

The outcomes of our study revealed no substantial disparities between patients administered prophylactic antibiotics and those not during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LCC). Consequently, the utilization of prophylactic antibiotics in elective LCC is not requisite for low-risk patients.

Patients with acute stroke are vulnerable to infectious diseases due to low consciousness, aspiration, dysphagia, and underlying conditions. Zinc and selenium play critical roles in boosting the immune system. This study aimed to compare serum zinc and selenium levels in patients with stroke before and after infection.

The present prospective study was conducted on patients with stroke in Hamadan, west of Iran, from 2019 to 2020. Serum levels of zinc and selenium were measured before and after infection in patients with stroke. The calculated sample size for this study was 78 patients. A paired t-test was used to compare the mean zinc and selenium levels. The linear regression model was used to assess the association of clinical and para-clinical factors with the change in the serum level of selenium after infection. The level of statistical significance was 0.05.

The mean (±SD) age of participants was 71.33±14.27 years, and 55.1% of the participants were female. The mean (±SD) serum zinc levels before and after infection were 80.4±7.6 µg/dL and 74.3±7.9 µg/dL, respectively, indicating a significant difference (P<0.001). These values for selenium were 118.1±42.8 µg/dL and 78.4±29.4 µg/dL, respectively (P<0.001). There was a significant association between sepsis and decreases in the levels of selenium (-28.86 µg/dL, 95% CI: -56.13, -1.59) and zinc (-9.84 µg/dL, 95% CI: -16.12, -3.56).

Based on our results, the levels of zinc and selenium in patients with stroke significantly decrease after infection compared to before infection.

Microemulsions (MEs) and nanoemulsions (NEs) are dispersions of two immiscible liquids which are usually transparent/translucent. Several reports are available on uses of MEs/NEs to increase efficacy of the loaded active ingredient(s) in topical dosage forms. This review aims to describe brief applications of MEs/NEs in common skin diseases as well as skincare products. Advantages of MEs/NEs in comparison with the traditional bulk form, including their improved efficacy and safety, have been discussed to highlight the importance of use of such delivery systems. The review briefs mechanism of action of MEs/NEs in enhancing delivery of the cargo. Furthermore, applications of MEs/NEs in common skin diseases including infectious rashes, pigmentation disorders (hyperpigmentaion and hypopigmentation), wound healing, skin cancers and scaling patches and plaques/papulosquamous disorders (psoriasis, atopic dermatitis and acne) have been discussed. MEs/NEs in skin care products have also been reviewed here.

 Preterm birth is a heterogeneous condition with multiple underlying causes, and periodontal diseases are one of them. Approximately 900000 preterm births are reported in Pakistan each year. Oral infections such as periodontitis during pregnancy are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight and preterm births. However, different studies have reported contradictory findings. We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the association of preterm birth with oral infection in pregnancy.

 We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study on 400 postpartum pregnant women in Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. Only women within the age bracket of 18‒40 years were recruited. Data were collected by an interview-based structured questionnaire. The extent and severity index were used to assess the periodontal health of participants. Frequency tables were generated, and the chi-squared test was used to determine associations between different categorical variables.

 The mean age of the participants was 25.8±4.9 years. Approximately 87.5% of the women had generalized periodontitis. Approximately 68% of mothers had moderate severity of periodontitis. The extent index showed no notable difference between the preterm and full-term birth groups. In contrast, the severity index displayed a statistically significant difference between the preterm and full-term birth groups.

 The majority of women had generalized periodontitis. The severity index demonstrated a significant association between maternal periodontitis and preterm births. There was no association between the age of mothers and preterm births. Complications in pregnancy were not associated with preterm births.

Leishmania spp. protozoa cause leishmaniasis by infecting macrophages. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), such as H19, Metastasis Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1 (MALAT), HOX Antisense Intergenic RNA (HOTAIR), and TNF and HNRNPL Related Immuno-regulatory lncRNA (THRIL), play a role in macrophage polarization and gene regulation. Additionally, leukocytes can synthesize and respond to melatonin, yet the regulatory role of melatonin in Leishmania major-infected macrophages is not well understood.

This study aimed to assess the impact of melatonin on the expression of lncRNAs like H19, MALAT, HOTAIR, and THRIL, as well as on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in L. major-infected macrophages.

Leishmania major promastigotes and U937 cell lines were cultured. Macrophages were infected with the promastigotes and subsequently treated with melatonin at concentrations of 3, 10, 30, and 100 nM for durations of 4, 24, and 48 hours. The expression levels of the lncRNAs and NOS activity were measured using quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (q-PCR) and spectrophotometry, respectively.

Melatonin treatment (100 nM) significantly increased the expression of H19 compared to the control after 48 hours (P = 0.002). There was also a significant upregulation of MALAT and HOTAIR in macrophages treated with 3 nM melatonin compared to controls after 48 hours (P = 0.02 and P = 0.003, respectively). Additionally, THRIL expression significantly increased in the melatonin group (10 nM) compared to the control after 4 hours of treatment (P = 0.003). An increase in NOS activity was observed in the melatonin group (100 nM) compared to the control at 4 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours (P = 0.034, P = 0.011, and P = 0.014, respectively).

The findings suggest that melatonin may enhance the expression of H19, THRIL, MALAT, and HOTAIR, as well as NOS activity in macrophages infected with L. major. The upregulation of these lncRNAs by melatonin could potentially improve the macrophages' ability to combat L. major infection.

Candida species can produce a variety of clinical manifestations, and several non-albicans species of Candida, including Candida auris, have been linked to the rise of invasive fungal infections with high rates of treatment failure. Nosocomial outbreaks and high mortality rates in healthcare institutions across the globe have been associated with C. auris, an emerging infectious yeast that was initially discovered in the ear canal of an elderly Japanese patient in 2009. The fact that C. auris has been found on six continents after it was initially isolated has raised serious concerns among scientists and healthcare practitioners.  At present, healthcare facilities lack defined protocols for the effective prevention and control of C. auris infections, as well as appropriate treatment alternatives. This leads to frequent therapeutic failures and complicates the eradication of C. auris infection in healthcare facilities. Studies on C. auris in South India are often limited, and healthcare workers urgently need to be made aware of infections caused by it in order to assess its impact and possible implications for the healthcare system. This study aimed to report seven patients hospitalized in our center who developed C. auris infections with varying clinical manifestations.

 Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children and adolescents. Identifying the incidence and severity of this infection in individuals under the age of 18 can assist in improving the treatment and prevention process.

The present study aimed to evaluate the frequency of M. pneumoniae infection in young patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Three major databases (Medline (via PubMed), Embase, and Web of Science) were searched for research about M. pneumoniae infection in children. STATA (version 14) software was used to interpret the data.

Seventy-seven studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria to evaluate the prevalence of M. pneumoniae infection among children. The prevalence of this infection in young patients was 22.5%. The results revealed that children and adolescents in the age range of 10‒18 years old had the highest prevalence of M. pneumoniae (23.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI]=6.7‒39.4), followed by the 5‒10-year-old age group (21.6%, 95% CI=17.9‒25.3] and the under 5-year group (20.9%, 95% CI=16.7‒25.1).

The global rate of M. pneumoniae infection has been gradually increasing since 2001. Finally, more extensive studies on the prevalence of M. pneumoniae infections in children throughout the world are needed to assess its exact prevalence and antibiotic resistance trend.

Newborns as a vulnerable population are exposed to congenital and acquired infections during and after birth. There are several reports of the isolation and reporting of infectious agents (IAs) in early life of newborns with respiratory manifestations, and the present comprehensive study provides a snapshot of the current global situation of the prevalence of IAs in newborns with respiratory symptoms.

A systematic search was conducted in main databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, and Google scholar. The pooled prevalence of infectious agents (IAs) in newborns was estimated using comprehensive me- ta-analysis software based on random effects model.

Out of 44 inclusive studies (50 datasets) for IAs in newborns, the pooled prevalence was estimated to be 12.2% (95% CI: 6.40-22.0%) and the highest and lowest prevalence of IAs was related to the Brazil (78.2%, 95% CI: 31.0-96.6%), and UK (0.01%, 95% CI 0.01-0.01%) respectively.

The high prevalence of IAs in newborns emphasizes considers the necessary measures to prevent respiratory infections.

Based on reported evidence of an outbreak incidence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Qom province, this study aimed to evaluate the environmental risk factors in the outbreak of avian influenza infection in this province to provide essential data for developing effective interventions in infection control.

The cross-sectional method was predicted and implemented in two specific phases. In the primary phase of the study, the necessary criteria were extracted using a questionnaire. In another part of the study, the characteristics and spread of the infection in Qom province were evaluated by DotMapper software.

From a total of 175 investigated farms, 95 farm units (54%) were infected and were positive for AI. The results showed that at least one of the environmental risk factors was not controlled in 86% of laying poultry farms and 66% of broiler poultry farms, according to the questionnaire. The findings of statistical analyses for the evaluation of environmental risk factors affecting AI infection in poultry farm units indicate that sanitary land disposal of infected poultry carcasses, waste and manure of birds (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02), complete quarantine and installation of warning signs in contaminated areas (OR = 0.55), the existence of facilities and performance decontamination, as well as the use of effective disinfectants for the disinfection of ventilators, disinfection of poultry vehicles, and equipment and manure of birds (OR = 0.33) have a considerable association with AI infection on poultry farms in Qom province.

Our findings revealed that control and monitoring of environmental risk factors as part of an effective surveillance system for the AI virus are key processes for the propagation and contribute to the spread of the infection.

 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifestations are highly diverse, potentially affecting nearly all organ systems during or after infection. Given the importance of a thorough assessment of COVID-19.

 Our study aimed to investigate any new onset or worsening lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients infected with COVID-19.

 In this cross-sectional study, 88 COVID-19 patients completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Overactive Bladder and the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score Questionnaires (OABSS). The patients assessed stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and difficulty voiding.

 Our study revealed that urinary symptoms were the only initial symptom for 28 (31.8%) of the patients or part of the initial symptoms. Furthermore, new onset of OAB symptoms was noted in 35 (39.8%) patients; worsening of pre-diagnosed OAB symptoms was noted in 4 (4.5%) patients; new onset SUI was reported in 17 (32.7%) women, and voiding dysfunction was reported in one woman and two men. There was no significant difference in demographic characteristics, laboratory tests, and lung involvement between patients with and without LUTS (P > 0.05). However, new onset or worsening LUTS significantly (P < 0.001) affected the quality of life.

 This study demonstrated that LUTS could be the only symptom or one of the initial symptoms of COVID-19. Therefore, physicians should consider COVID-19 as a differential diagnosis in patients presenting with these symptoms.

With the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many people were affected worldwide.This study evaluated patients’ characteristics and skin diseases at a Dermatology Emergency Unit (DEU) of a university skin hospital in Tehran, Iran, during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also compared the results with those of a previous study performed at the same DEU in 2017. The data of all patients presented to the DEU during the first four months of the pandemic in Iran (February to June 2020) were studied, and variables such as age, sex, complaints, and finaldiagnosis were collected. A total of 3,745 patients (50.3% male) were studied. Infections (32.4%), dermatitis (20.5%), and urticaria (16.8%) were the most prevalent diagnoses in both genders. Infections were significantly more frequent in males (P < 0.001), while urticaria was more common in females (P < 0.001). The highest number of visits occurred between 12:00–18:00 (34.0%) and most patients were between 18–44 years old (48.8%). With the growing number of COVID-19 cases, the DEU of our skin hospital was involved as part of the medical community in screening COVID-19 patients. Compared to the previous study, the general framework of common causes of DEU visits was very similar to that of the non-pandemic era, although a significant increase in the proportion of dermatitis cases was observed. Likewise, the proportion of non-skin complaints was significantly higher, reflecting the public concern about the COVID-19 pandemic.

The present study aimed to compare the clinical outcome as well as laboratory and clinical profiles of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with and without diabetes.

The present study is a retrospective study that included 266 non-diabetic and 259 diabetic patients who were admitted to a tertiary healthcare center in South India between March 2021 to April 2021.The objective of the study was to compare the clinical outcome and laboratory profiles of COVID-19 patients with and without diabetes. Patients aged 18 years or above, diagnosed with COVID-19 by either RT-PCR and/or HRCT chest as well as diagnosed to be diabetic or non-diabetic were included in the study. After observing inclusion and exclusion criteria, the study included patients whose medical records were scrutinized, and data was analyzed using SPSS v 28.0 and the continuous variables were expressed in mean, standard deviation, minimum and maximum value. The categorical variables are expressed in frequency and percentage. Comparison was done using binomial test and Mann-Whitney U test while association was tested using Fischer exact test.

Primary outcomes show that higher number of patients with diabetes (84.94%) presented with abnormal Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and this difference was found to a statistically significant (p<0.001). Hypertension was the most common comorbidity among both diabetic (46.72%) and non-diabetic (33.52%) patients and it was shown to be associated with clinical outcome and oxygen requirement (p<0.001). A significant difference was observed in the mean score of age, total count, IL-6 and number of days admitted between COVID-19 subjects of both groups with the mean being higher in the group of patients with diabetes (p<0.001).

The results of the present study reinforce available evidence that IL-6 levels can be used to ascertain progression, morbidity, and mortality to ensure proper management of COVID-19 patients and that diabetes state results in higher total count, IL-6 and number of days admitted.

The ongoing global health crisis caused by the infectious coronavirus disease, known as COVID-19, is attributed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The pandemic has significantly impacted people of all ages and nationalities and has spread across all continents, with an initial focus on Asia and subsequently reaching Europe. The objective of this study was to analyze the progression of COVID-19 in Europe in contrast to other continents around the world by examining the pandemic's trajectory across different geographic areas, allowing us to gain insights into the effectiveness of containment measures, and identifying potential patterns of virus spread.

The data source was a curated dataset provided by Our World in Data (OWD), regularly updated during the COVID-19 pandemic. The dataset consisted of 207,316 records with 67 attributes, covering 244 locations, including countries from six continents. These attributes encompassed a wide range of COVID-19-related metrics, such as cases, deaths, testing, vaccinations, and demographic indicators. This comprehensive comparative study specifically focused on the European continent data from January 01, 2020, to August 08, 2022.

The analysis revealed distinct groups of European countries with different experiences with the virus. First, some countries were found to be severely affected by the virus, grappling with higher case numbers and mortality rates. On the other hand, some countries were able to successfully manage the virus spread. Additionally, there was a group with significant case numbers but relatively lower mortality rates. Finally, certain countries effectively limited the virus transmission while maintaining low mortality rates.

As the pandemic continues, it is essential to emphasize the significance of international data to develop comprehensive strategies against severe health crises. Evaluating different outcomes across continents and within specific regions could provide crucial insights to guide future control measures. However, the fight against COVID-19 is far from over, necessitating ongoing research and cooperation on a global scale.

COVID-19 is a respiratory disease pandemic and a major global health problem that can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Previous studies have shown an inverse link between toxoplasmosis and COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the association between COVID-19 and toxoplasmosis infection.

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, samples were taken from 360 patients, 50% of whom were men and 50% were women. Of the patients, 180 were determined to be COVID-19-positive by the ELISA kit, and 180 were in the control group. Some demographic characteristics, such as sex, age range, and occupation, were also recorded.

This study was conducted on 180 COVID-19-positive patients, of whom 26.7% were in the 16-30-year age group, 25.1% were self-employed, and 31.7% had anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Among the 180 control patients, 21.1% had antibodies for T. gondii. Of the 57 patients who were co-infected with both COVID-19 and toxoplasmosis, men had higher infection rates (63.2%) than women (36.8%). There was a significant relationship between co-infections with COVID-19 and toxoplasmosis with occupation, but not with age.

The study found that people with toxoplasmosis infection have a 1.73 times higher risk of contracting COVID-19. The findings suggest that infectious agents could be a predisposing factor, possibly due to changes in cytokine levels.

The management of critically-ill individuals in intensive care units (ICU) is complex. Immobility, pharmacological treatments, and reduced perfusion lead to compromised skin integrity, predisposing to complications like infections and allergies. The presence of dermatological disorders (DDs) may influence management strategies, the patient’s quality of life, duration of ventilation, length of hospitalization, and rate of mortality. Hence, it is critical to analyze the predictors of DDs among ICU inpatients.

To determine the prevalence of DDs in ICUs, classify them, and analyze their associated parameters.

Patients admitted to Medicine/Neonatal/Paediatric ICUs were enrolled in this hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted over two months at a tertiary care hospital. Patients with pre-existing DDs not leading to admission were excluded. The screening was initiated within 48 hours of admission, continued daily throughout the ICU stay, and terminated on discharge from the ICU, in the case of patient death or at the end of the data collection period. Requisite information was recorded using a predesigned proforma.

Out of 688 patients screened, 129 were found to have 136 skin lesions, with an overall prevalence of 18.9%; MICU had the highest prevalence (22.7%), followed by NICU (17.3%) and PICU (12%). Skin lesions were classified into seven major categories. A significant association was found between the type of dermatological disorder and age, the presence of comorbidity, and the route of admission (P-value < 0.05).

This study identified modifiable predictors associated with DDs among ICU inpatients. Infectious disorders constituted the foremost category in children, and iatrogenic disorders were predominant in adults. More comprehensive prospective studies are needed to fully understand the impact of DDs on the prognosis and outcome of ICU patients.