Trichomonas vaginalis Pathogenesis: a Narrative Review

In the latest articles which were published during 2013-2014, Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis) was mentioned as a neglected sexual transmission disease (STD), while the exact mechanism of its pathogenesis has not been cleared yet. Although trichomonasiasis is easy curable, there is concern that resistance to drug are increasing. This common infection as concerning the important public health implications needs more research to be done for understanding the diagnosis, treatment, immunology and pathogenesis. In this review we searched all valuable and relevant information considering the pathogenesis of T. vaginalis. We referred to the information databases of Medline, PubMed, Scopus and Google scholar. The used keywords were the combinations of T. vaginalis and words associated with pathogenicity. This review discusses the host-parasite interaction and pathogenicity of this parasite

What is the Role of the Anti-Parasitic Drugs in the Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019?

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a rapidly emerging viral infection causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The first report of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, originated in Wuhan, China, in early December 2019 . Currently, there are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved drugs for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. A great deal of effort is ongoing to find effective therapeutics and preventive measures against this transmissible virus with high mortality. As result, available data are limited, and there are minimal randomized controlled trial (RCT) data on the efficacy of antiviral or immunomodulatory agents for the treatment of COVID-19 . Most of the treatment protocols are based on observational studies and anecdotic reports

Which Test to Perform for Cystic hydatic Diagnosis and When?

Echinococcosis is one of the 17 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) recognized by the World Health Organization. The two major species of medical importance are Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis (1).There are many studies about diagnostic method of hydatidosis, but there is still the question that which test to perform and when

Postmastectomy locoregional recurrence and recurrence-free survival in breast cancer patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>One essential outcome after breast cancer treatment is recurrence of the disease. Treatment decision is based on assessment of prognostic factors of breast cancer recurrence. This study was to investigate the prognostic factors for postmastectomy locoregional recurrence (LRR) and survival in those patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>114 patients undergoing mastectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy in Cancer Institute of Tehran University of Medical Sciences were retrospectively reviewed between 1996 and 2008. All cases were followed up after initial treatment of patients with breast cancer via regular visit (annually) for discovering the LRR. Cumulative recurrence free survival (RFS) was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method, with univariate comparisons between groups through the log-rank test. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>The median follow up time was 84 months (range 2-140). Twenty-three (20.2%) patients developed LRR. Cumulative RFS rate at 2.5 years and 5 years were 86% (95%CI, 81-91) and 82.5% (95%CI, 77-87) respectively. Mean RFS was 116.50 ± 4.43 months (range, 107.82 - 125.12 months, 95%CI). At univariate and multivariate analysis, factors had not any influence on the LRR.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Despite use of adjuvant therapies during the study, we found a LRR rate after mastectomy of 20.2%. Therefore, for patients with LRR without evidence of distant disease, aggressive multimodality therapy is warranted.</p

Blastocystis: Emerging Protozoan Parasite with High Prevalence in Iran

Background: Blastocystis is a zoonotic protozoan parasite habit in intestinal tract of humans and wide range of animals. Because of the mysterious nature and unknown or less-known aspects of Blastocystis, comprehensive information about epidemiology of this parasite is not available. The objective of this study was to investigate the available parasitology studies during the last decade in Iran and determine the prevalence of Blastocystis and its position among other intestinal parasites. As well as, investigate the effective factors in its prevalence.Materials and Methods: All available studies related to the prevalence of intestinal parasites in Iran during the recent decade were collected using information databases. After determinant the mean prevalence of each parasite, the most common parasites, and effective factors on their prevalence were assessed and analyzed.Results: Different studies showed that the most common intestinal parasite at this period of time was Blastocystis spp. with 14.6% prevalence rate. Additionally, in 44.5% of cases Blastocystis spp. allocated the first and in 100% of cases, the first to third rank of the most common intestinal parasites in Iran. Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba coli were in the next category.Conclusion: To our knowledge, the present study is the first survey in which the Blastocystis spp. introduces as one of the most common intestinal parasites in human. Various factors, including the low sensitivity of routine diagnostic methods, hosts multiplicity, easy transportation and unknown impressive factors are effective in the increased prevalence of this parasite. The results of this study could improve the attitude of teachers and researchers towards Blastocystis spp

Evaluating strategies for implementing industry 4.0: a hybrid expert oriented approach of B.W.M. and interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy T.O.D.I.M.

open access articleDeveloping and accepting industry 4.0 influences the industry structure and customer willingness. To a successful transition to industry 4.0, implementation strategies should be selected with a systematic and comprehensive view to responding to the changes flexibly. This research aims to identify and prioritise the strategies for implementing industry 4.0. For this purpose, at first, evaluation attributes of strategies and also strategies to put industry 4.0 in practice are recognised. Then, the attributes are weighted to the experts’ opinion by using the Best Worst Method (BWM). Subsequently, the strategies for implementing industry 4.0 in Fara-Sanat Company, as a case study, have been ranked based on the Interval Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy (IVIF) of the TODIM method. The results indicated that the attributes of ‘Technology’, ‘Quality’, and ‘Operation’ have respectively the highest importance. Furthermore, the strategies for “new business models development’, ‘Improving information systems’ and ‘Human resource management’ received a higher rank. Eventually, some research and executive recommendations are provided. Having strategies for implementing industry 4.0 is a very important solution. Accordingly, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods are a useful tool for adopting and selecting appropriate strategies. In this research, a novel and hybrid combination of BWM-TODIM is presented under IVIF information

Imported Malaria in an Iraqi Immigrant to Iran: Relevance for the Maintenance of Elimination Status

Background: Effective malaria control strategies require an accurate understanding of the epidemiology of locally transmitted Plasmodium species. Emerging evidence indicates that migrants from malaria endemic regions are at risk of delayed presentation of Plasmodium spp. and malaria infection.Cases Report: We reported a case of P. vivax malaria occurring after arrival in Iran. Patient was originally from Iraq. A 48-year-old male patient who was hospitalized with fever attacks, chills, and headache after arriving from Iraq to Tehran.Conclusion: In this patient, new prevention and screening strategies should be studied and blood safety policies adapted. Thus, ultimate elimination of malaria in Iran will require national malaria control program to adopt policy and practice aimed at all human species of malaria since neighbor country are still face to problem to control of malaria

Studying Psychological and Organizational Factors’ Roles on Occupational Accidents among Nurses and Nursing Aids in Qom, Iran

It is clear that safety in healthcare centres in both fields of staffs and patients is under influence of various factors and needs considering organizational and psychological variables. This study aimed to find the effects of organizational citizenship behaviour (OCB), patient safety climate (PSC) and fatalism on occupational accidents among nurses and nursing aids in one of the non-governmental hospitals in Qom, 2017. Two hundred people from the study population were selected by simple random sampling method and entered the study. A researcher-made demographics questionnaire, Williamson et al. questionnaire for fatalism and valid questionnaires for PSC and OCB were tools to gather data. The relationship between the variables was analyzed using ANOVA and T-test through SPSS V20 and structural equation was done by AMOS V8.8. One hundred and seventy-seven questionnaires out of 200 ones were entered into the analysis phase. Women with 104 (58.8%) were the most frequent and 71.8% of participants were married. Participants had an average age of 34.2(±9.37) years. Reliability of the questionnaires was acceptable. Analysis depicted effects of fatalism on occupational accidents (β=0.15), the patient safety climate on OCB (β=0.13), and OCB on occupational accidents (β=-0.13) (

Nanomedicine: The Novel Weapon against Parasitic Infections

Due to the side effects of drugs and resistance to the used chemicals in the treatment of tropical diseases such as malaria, leishmaniosis, trypanosomiasis and Schistosomiasis, which millions of people around the world are infected, nowadays nanomedicine usage with the production of nanofibers and nanoparticles (nanopowders, nanocrystal or nanocluster). The particles with a diameter of less than 100 nanometers is considered as a special treatment in parasitic diseases1,2. Due to the intracellular nature of some parasites, their treatment is a major challenge for researchers to develop new drugs. Findings show that Chitosan nanoparticles and metals such as silver, gold, and metal oxides have a lethal or inhibitory effect on various parasites, including giardiasis, leishmaniosis, malaria, or toxoplasma and insect larvae1.&nbsp; The effects of drug release from chitosan nanofibers have also been performed in various external and internal evaluations on lesions caused by Leishmania major and the therapeutic effect of gold and silver nanoparticles on malaria and their concomitant use with bioresonance waves on leishmaniasis2,4. The main purpose of using nanoparticles is to use it as a drug delivery system and to release the drug agent in order to affect the specific site. Recently, the use of particle systems such as nanomedicine as a physical tool to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of various types of drug molecules in vivo is being developed1,4. The endocytic pathway transfers nanoparticles to the site of pathogens. The breakdown of these substances by lysosomal enzymes releases drugs into the phagocytic or lysosomal vesicle, or this process is released into the cytoplasm by a diffusion phenomenon. Specific transmission depends on the physical and chemical nature of the molecules1. In recent years, the use of nanoparticles for the treatment of parasitic diseases has considered, although limited research has conducted in this regard (Table 1). Finally, it can be concluded that according to recent findings on the inhibitory and long-term effects of nanofibers and nanoparticles on different parasites with less side effects than conventional drugs, more effective and less side effects drugs can be developed. Useful vaccines have also been developed to control parasitic diseases

Prevalence of HIV Infection among Hemodialysis Patients

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) belongs to human retrovirus family and transmitted by blood transfusion and blood products. 36.9 million People were living with HIV infection worldwide in 2014 approximately1, during which 2 million (1.9–2.2 million) new infections with HIV had occurred. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients treated by hemodialysis (HD) are more susceptible for infection by human immunodeficiency virus infection. Renal failure can be an associated condition or could be a direct consequence of HIV infection2,3. Advanced HIV disease which is indicates by a low CD4 cell count is development of renal diseases subsequently4, however many other causes now may cause renal failure in patients with HIV, including drug-induced toxicity, hypertensive nephroangiosclerosis, and diabetes5. HIV infection and hemodialysis have same consequences such as cardiovascular diseases, immunosuppression, anemia, weight loss, and osteodystrophy6,7.Compared with rate of infection with other viral infection such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV), the risk of HIV infection among hemodialysis patients is lower as the contact with contaminated sources.Although intensive HIV research has been done for 20 years, we have a little knowledge about mortality risk factor in ESRD on HIV-infected patients. Hemodialysis patients who have HIV-infected are assumed to a high risk for death4.The finding the current study demonstrated the prevalence of HIV in hemodialysis patients which was conducted in 5 hemodialysis centers in Tehran province, Iran, in the 2016. All the enrolled participants were informed about study and written informed consent was obtained. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Among 360 patients, 213 (59.17%) of patients were men and 147 (40. 83%) were females; the mean age of patients was 53.43. HIV Ab was negative in all cases. This result has been confirmed in other studies as well8. The highest frequency for duration of dialysis is 1-5 years.Nowadays viral transmission via hemodialysis routes is controlled and limited since more effective screening of blood donor. Screening and early diagnosis of kidney disease will improve outcomes in patients with HIV infection.Considering all of these evidences, further studies are recommended strongly to evaluate the real prevalence of HIV in these patients