Evaluation the intestinal level of LCN2/NGAL in patients with Clostridium difficile infection in the south of Iran

Clostridium difficile is a Gram-positive obligate anaerobic bacterium that recognized an important pathogen of humans. The present study aimed to evaluate the intestinal level of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in patients with C. difficile infection (CDI) as a disease activity marker in the south of Iran. This cross-sectional study conducted from October 2017 to June 2018 on patients referred to Nemazee and Amir Hospital in Shiraz, South of Iran. Patients less than two years old were excluded from the study. The study population was consist of 46 cases (Symptomatic patients that confirmed as a CDI), and 21 control individuals (Asymptomatic patients colonized by C. difficile). C. difficile isolates were identified by conventional microbiological producers and amplification of housekeeping gene by PCR method. The level of NGAL was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) according to the instructions of the kit manufacturer. The results showed that the level of NGAL in symptomatic patients' (case group) was higher than asymptomatic carriers (control group), 5.9 ng/mL vs. 4.1 ng/mL; however the observed difference was not statistically significant. Also, in both groups, the mean level of NGAL was significantly higher in patients with gastrointestinal diseases than others.  In summary, despite all the limitations, the results of the present study indicate that the intestinal level of NGAL is a biological indicator of intestinal inflammation, regardless of CDI. However, further study needs to elucidate the role of NGAL in inflammation caused by bacterial infections

Use of nanotechnology in the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus

Coronavirus is a beta virus that has caused a worldwide pandemic since December 2019. Many treatments such as antiviral drugs, immunosuppressive drugs, neutralizing antibodies, and monoclonal antibodies have been tested on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that most of them were effective. Given that nanotechnology-based approaches have been successful in detection and treatment of viral systems such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza A virus subtype H1N1 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), they also seem to be effective in detecting and treating COVID-19. Nanotechnology is used in various methods for early and rapid diagnosis of the disease. Nanoparticles can be used in products for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of COVID-19. These substances are very effective in the controlled delivery of antiviral drugs and biomolecules and they are also used in the manufacture of personal safety equipment, widely, and the production of anti-virus coatings for surfaces, air filters and the production of vaccines. In general, nanomaterial can play an important role in controlling the disease, based on strategies to prevent the virus from entering the host cell, inhibiting virus replication, virus delivery systems, and nano-based vaccines. Nanotechnology is a multidisciplinary tool that can offer a variety of solutions based on disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment strategies

Complications following Bacille Calmette-Guérin Vaccination in Children under the Age of 18 Months: A Multi-center Study

Background: The BCG vaccine, used since 1921 to prevent tuberculosis (TB), considered the world's most widely used vaccine. This study aimed to investigate the frequency and the type of complications associated with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination in Iranian children. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study conducted for 6months among children aged up to 18 months who presented to primary health care centers in Tehran (under supervision of all three Medical Universities of Tehran) for their routine vaccinations. All children had received BCG vaccination at birth. We investigated the occurrence of BCG complications through history taking from the parents and physical examination by the study physician. Complications categorized into four major groups: local, regional, remote, and generalized and the rate of occurrence compared between the two genders. Results: Finally, 14,095 children enrolled during the study period; 574 patients (4%) had experienced at least one complication following BCG vaccination. The most common complications were local side effects observed in 304 children (2.1%); followed by lymph node involvement detected in 270 children (1.9%). Lymph node involvement was more common in males (

IgE response to two new allergen proteins of Solanum melongena L. (eggplant)

International audienc

Determining the coverage and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccination program at the community level in children aged 12 to 17 in Tehran

Background: The vaccination is one of the acceptable and recomended solution to prevent and control of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of sinopharm vaccination in children aged 12–17 in Tehran. Methods: The case population study was performed from October 2021 to March 2022 among 1,500 children with positive PCR test reffered in Mofid Children’s Hospital in Tehran. 64 children aged 12–17 years were included. The data were collected by the hospital information system (HIS), vaccination information registration systems and questionnaire with their families. The coverage and efficacy of vaccination determined with equels commented by WHO. Results: Out of 64 children, 52 children were 12 to 15 years old (13.35±1.08), 12 children were 16 to 17 years old (16.55±0.52). 48.4% had received two doses of vaccine. The highest rate of positive PCR was observed in February 2022. Sinopharm vaccine coverage in this age group was 93.6% for the first dose and 81.1% for the second dose. Based on this information, 48.4% children in this study have received two complete doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The efficacy of the vaccine was estimated as 94.4% (95% CI 90.2 to 97.7).Conclusion: It seems the coverage of Sinopharm vaccination in the age group of 12–17 years in Tehran is favorable and has high efficacy in this age group. In order to obtain more accurate and comprehensive estimation, it is recommended to take a sample on a wider level of the community

Frequency of the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 gene in methicillin-susceptible and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from teaching hospitals in Shiraz, Iran

INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcus aureus produces a range of virulence factors such as toxic shock syndrome toxin-1. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study of 345 clinical S. aureus isolates, the presence of the tst gene was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: The study revealed 53/345 (15.4%) isolates were positive for the tst gene. The tst gene was present in 18.1% of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates and 11.6% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates (p = 0.136). CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal the remarkable risk of S. aureus infections in hospitals, regardless of methicillin-resistance status

Composition, Cytotoxic and Antimicrobial Activities of Satureja intermedia C.A.Mey Essential Oil

In this study, the essential oil (EO) constituents from the aerial parts of Satureja intermedia C.A.Mey were detected by GC and GC/MS. The antimicrobial activity of EO on oral pathogens and its cytotoxicity to human cancer cells were determined by the microbroth dilution method and the crystal violet staining method, respectively. Thirty-nine compounds were identified and the main EO constituents were γ-terpinene (37.1%), thymol (30.2%), p-cymene (16.2%), limonene (3.9%), α-terpinene (3.3%), myrcene (2.5%), germacrene B (1.4%), elemicine (1.1%) and carvacrol (0.5%). The S. intermedia EO showed a concentration-dependent decrease in viability of Hep-G2 (hepatocellular carcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) human cancer cell lines (p < 0.05). Antimicrobial screening of S. intermedia EO demonstrated slight antibacterial and antifungal activities against Streptococcus mutants, S. salivarius, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and C. glabrata. Further preclinical studies are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of S. intermedia EO as a new promising anticancer agent

Effect of Haemophilus influenzae Type b Vaccination on Nasopharyngeal Carriage Rate in Children, Tehran, 2019

Background. Haemophilus influenzae (H. influenzae) strains, which commonly reside as commensals within the human pharynx and can remain as an asymptomatic carrier, but become invasive leading to pneumonia, septic arthritis, or meningitis. The Pentavac (pentavalent vaccine, manufactured by India, SII (DTwP-HepB-Hib)) was introduced to the Iranian National Immunization Plan in November 2014. The aim of this study is to investigate H. influenzae type b (Hib) carrier rate among children under 6 years old in Tehran. Methods. This cross-sectional study was performed on 902 children including vaccinated/unvaccinated in the age of 6 months to 6 years, in Tehran. Sampling was performed from July 2019 to September 2019. Nasopharyngeal samples were taken from children by sterile swab. The PCR method was used to extract DNA. Then, all H. influenzae isolates were initially confirmed by molecular tests. BexA was used to distinguish typeable H. influenzae strains from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi). Results. A total of 902 children were enrolled in the study: 452 were female (51%). H. influenzae carriage rate was 267 (29%), of that 150 samples (16.6%) were typeable. The nasopharyngeal Hib carrier rate in the children was 2.6% (24/902). 262 cases did not receive Hib vaccine. Analysis in nonnursery’s children aged 4 to 6 (unvaccinated) years showed that the lower educational level of father, mother, and family number correlated with increased odds of colonization of children with Hib. Conclusion. Our findings showed a significant decrease (60%) in the overall Hib nasopharyngeal carriage in healthy children under six years after 5 years after the start of Hib vaccination

Iranian Pediatric COVID-19 Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics

Background. Despite the worldwide spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), information about the epidemiological and clinical patterns of this infection is still largely unknown in children. In addition, the prevalence of this disease is still very high in some parts of the world, including Iran. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the epidemiological features, laboratory and imaging findings, and the type of treatments in children with novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Method. This study is conducted from March 2020–March 2021 by using the medical records of hospitalized confirmed COVID-19 children younger than 18 years in five cities of Iran: Tehran, Ahwaz, Isfahan, Bandar-Abbas, and Khorramabad. In addition to demographic and epidemiological data, we also studied clinical signs and treatments. Results. In total 278 confirmed COVID-19 children, the average age was 5.3 years, and 59.4%were boys. A total of 37.8% had an underlying disease, in which the most common was a malignancy. The most common symptoms were fever and cough. In this group of pediatrics, some abnormal laboratory findings have been seen. GGO (Ground-Glass Opacity) had been diagnosed in 58.6% of children. 3.6% needed oxygen therapy with ventilators, and 83.09% had received antibiotic treatments with the majority of ceftriaxone. Also, 10% had got steroids. In this study, the mortality rate was 4.3%. Conclusion. In this study, most of the children who died had an underlying disease, so timely care and action is important in them. Most children admitted to our study received antibiotics and were prescribed antivirals and steroids for a smaller number. Also, a small number of children received oxygen therapy, most of whom were in the age group of 1 to 5 years