Chitosan Nanogel Design on Gymnema sylvestre Essential Oils to Inhibit Growth of Candida albicans Biofilm and Investigation of Gene Expression ALS1, ALS3

Chitosan (CS) is a polycation with a pka of about 6.3 with a charge density dependent on pH and the %DA-value which can interact with polyanions to form complex and gels. Nanoparticles (CNPs) in addition can increase the antifungal potential of bioactive compounds like essential oils by increasing cellular interactions between them and the fungal as a result of the very small size that enhances cellular uptake. In this study, was set to investigate the encapsulation of the Gymnema sylvestre essential oils (G.EOs) using Chitosan and Myrestic acid made Nanogel in order to enhance its antifungal activity and stability to the oil against C. albicans strain (ATCC 10231). To procedure this, the self-assembled process of Chitosan and Myrestic acid Nanogel (CS-MA) through the 1- ethyl - 3- (3 dimethyl aminoprophyl) carbodiimide (EDC) was designed. Its physicochemical properties were determined by Fourier Transforms Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and microscopic methods by Atomic force microscopy (AFM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 18.7 to 37.5 µg/ml and 2.3 to 4.6 µg/ml and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) at 75 µg/ml and 5.38 µg/ml using by broth micro dilution (BMD) method for G. sylvestre oils (G.EOs) and oil-loaded Nanogels (G.OLNPs) were measurement. The susceptibility of C. albicans biofilm to fractions was examined by 2,3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[8phenylamino) carbonyl] - 2H - tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT) quantitatively.The concentration of G.OLNPs required to inhibit 50 % biofilm formation was 4.68 µg/ml, while that to remove 90 % biofilm growth was 18.07 µg/ml. In addition, it was observed that cell uptake of G.OLNPs was much higher compared with free G.EOs. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis was performed to determine the effect of sub-MIC concentrations of G.EOs and G.OLNPs on expression of the biofilm–related gene ALS1 / ALS3, and indicated the G.OLNPs down-regulated the expression of hypha-specific gene ALS3. Furthermore, the data strongly suggested that G.OLNPs more effective suppressed C. albicans planktonic cells and reduction biofilm biomass

The correlation between the cerebroplacental ratio and fetal arterial blood gas in appropriate-for-gestational-age fetuses: A cross-sectional study

Background: The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) is an important index for predicting adverse pregnancy outcomes in small-for-gestational-age and appropriate-forgestational-age fetuses. Objective: To find out whether there is an association between the CPR level and the blood cord gases analysis in appropriate for gestational age fetuses. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 347 pregnant women at the gestational age of 37-40 wk. Patients had an appropriate-for-gestational-age fetus confirmed from their first ultrasonography results. Participants were divided into two groups based on their CPR, measured before delivery. Finally, after delivery, arterial blood gas level and the incidence of emergency cesarean section, intrapartum fetal distress and neonatal intensive care unit admissions were compared between the two groups. Results: Fifty-four (15.6%) cases had a CPR below the detection limit of the assay. The incidence of fetal distress, emergency cesarean section, neonatal hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit, and pH < 7.2 were significantly lower in women with CPR ≥ 0.67 multiples than in women with a CPR < 0.67 multiples of the median. Conclusion: The third-trimester CPR is an independent predictor of stillbirth and perinatal mortality and morbidity. The role of UA/MCA Doppler and the CPR in assessing the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes should be evaluated prospectively. Key words: Umbilical cord blood, Color Doppler ultrasonography, Gestational age

The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy on happiness and mental health of nursing students

Background and aims: Cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy are known as two common methods to promote happiness and mental health. This research aimed to investigate the effectiveness cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy in improving happiness and mental health of nursing students who referred to counseling center in Islamic Azad university of Mashhad Branch. Methods: This research was a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design. The statistical population included all nursing girl students who referred to counseling center in Islamic Azad university of Mashhad Branch in 2014 year. 45 girl students were selected by convenience sampling and randomly assigned to three groups (each group 15 students) included experimental and control groups. The experimental groups educated by cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy in 10 sessions (each session for 70 minutes). All of groups completed the questionnaires of happiness (Argyle and Lu) and mental health (Goldberg and Hillier) as the pre-test and post-test. Data were analyzed using SPSS software and multivariate analysis and covariance methods. Results: The findings showed the happiness post-test mean of cognitive behavioral, schema therapy and control groups was (3.78±1.19), (3.67±1.12), and (1.96±0.65) respectivly. Also, the post-test mean of mental health in cognitive behavioral, schema therapy and control groups was (3.23±0.91), (3.12±0.87), and (1.68±0.70) respectivly. Moreover, there was a significant difference among experimental groups, cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy with control groups (P<0.005). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that both cognitive behavioral therapy and schema therapy methods can increase happiness and mental health in nursing students. So, it suggests that therapists use these methods to improve happiness and mental health in students

Actinomycosis in Iran: Short Narrative Review Article.

Actinomycosis is an indolent, slowly progressive infection caused by anaerobic or microaerophilic bacteria, primarily of genus Actinomyces, which colonize the mouth, colon and vagina. Mucosal disruption may lead to infection virtually at any sites in the body. The aim of this study was to underline different features of actinomycosis and to represent total data about etiologic agents, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches these infections. From a total of 38 case reports or series, ninety one cases were obtained by using of relevant articles reported as recorded cases in Iran (1972 to 2012). Analyzed data represented 21 cases of oral-servicofacial (23.1%), 7 cases of thoracic (7.7%), 17 cases of abdominal (18.7%), 21 cases of disseminated forms (23.1%) and 25 cases of others (27.5%). Findings indicated more common of these infections in men (61.5%). Actinomyces naeslundii (21 cases) was found as the most common causative agents in comparison with A. Israeli (15 cases), A. viscosus (3 cases) and A. bovis (1 case). The most patients had been successfully treated with penicillin although some cases needed surgery along with antibiotic therapy. Since some clinical features of actinomycosis are similar to malignancies, so the differential diagnosis of invasive forms must be considered. This report emphasizes on the importance of differential diagnosis of actinomycosis from similar diseases by clinicians

Comparison between molecular methods (PCR vs LAMP) to detect Candida albicans in bronchoalveolar lavage samples of suspected tuberculosis patients

With the increase of patients suffering from immune deficiency infections also increased pulmonary fungi even in people with defective immune system can cause fatal and lethal candidiasis. The timely diagnosis of pulmonary candidiasis is one of the problems that has been detected. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and Loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method optimized on the basis of α INT1 gene and then sensitivity and specificity were evaluated. LAMP is a novel nucleic acid amplification technique with high specificity and sensitivity which has been done under isothermal condition. Samples were the bronchoalveolar lavage suspected of tuberculosis (TB) reviews for TB disease negative have been reported. DNA extraction carried out by standard phenol/chloroform method on samples and PCR test and LAMP was done. PCR and LAMP testing was performed on samples and products of 441 bp were amplified and observed with agarose gel electrophoresis. At the end of the LAMP reaction, SYBR Green was used for identifying negative and positive results. Among the 60 quantities sera, only 7 cases were PCR positive but 8 cases were LAMP positive. In comparison, between LAMP and PCR, the LAMP technique in spite of its simplicity, high sensitivity and specificity, could be an appropriate replacement for PCR

Clinical, epidemiological, and mycological features of patients with candidemia: Experience in two tertiary referral centers in Iran

Background and purpose: Candidemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy and those hospitalized with serious underlying diseases. Here, we investigated the epidemiological, clinical, and mycological features of candidemia in Tehran, Iran. Materials and methods: A prospective observational study of all patients diagnosed with candidemia was performed at two referral teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran, from February to December 2018. Demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, risk factors, clinical symptoms, and laboratory analyses of candidemic patients with positive culture were mined. Candida isolates were molecularly identified by sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). The antifungal susceptibility testing for fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, amphotericin B, caspofungin, micafungin, and anidulafungin against the isolates was performed using CLSI broth microdilution reference method (M27-A3). Results: A total of 89 episodes were identified, with an incidence of 2.1 episodes/1000 admissions. The common underling disease were malignancy (46%), renal failure/dialysis (44%), and hypertension (40%). The overall crude mortality was 47%. C. albicans (44%) was the most frequent causative agent, followed by C. glabrata (21%), C. parapsilosis complex (15%), C. tropicalis (11%), and C. lusitaniae (3.5%). All the isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B. The activity of all four azoles was low against non-albicans Candida species, especially C. tropicalis. Conclusion: The increase in non-albicans Candida species with reduced susceptibility to antifungal drugs might be alarming in high-risk patients. Therefore, accurate knowledge of predisposing factors and epidemiological patterns in candidemia are effective steps for managing and decreasing the mortality rate in candidemia.This study has been funded and supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Grant no. 99-2-99-48944).S

Corrigendum: Comparison of 21-Plex PCR and API 20C AUX, MALDI-TOF MS, and rDNA Sequencing for a Wide Range of Clinically Isolated Yeast Species: Improved Identification by Combining 21-Plex PCR and API 20C AUX as an Alternative Strategy for Developing Countries

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00021.]

In-vitro Activity of 10 Antifungal Agents against 320 Dermatophyte Strains Using Microdilution Method in Tehran

Abstract Dermatophyte fungi are the etiologic agents of skin infections commonly referred to as ringworm. These infections are not dangerous but as a chronic cutaneous infections they may be difficult to treat and can also cause physical discomfort for patients. They are considered important as a public health problem as well. No information is available regarding the efficacy of antifungal agents against dermatophytes in Tehran. Therefore, in this study we evaluated the efficacy of 10 systemic and topical antifungal medications using CLSI broth microdilution method (M38-A). The antifungal agents used included griseofulvin, terbinafine, itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, clotrimazole, ciclopirox olamine, amorolfine and naftifine.Fifteen different species of dermatophytes which were mostly clinical isolates were used as follows; T. mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, E. floccosum, M. canis, T. verrucosum, T. tonsurans, M. gypseum, T. violaceum, M. ferruginum, M. fulvum, T. schoenleinii, M. racemosum, T. erinacei, T. eriotrephon and Arthroderma benhamiae. The mean number of fungi particles (conidia) inoculated was 1.25 ×10⁴ CFU/mL. Results were read after 7 days of incubation at 28 °C. According to the obtained results,itraconazole and terbinafine showed the lowest and fluconazole had the greatest MIC values for the most fungi tested. Based on the results, it is necessary to do more research and design a reliable standard method for determination of antifungal susceptibility to choose proper antibiotics with fewer side effects and decrease antifungal resistance and risk of treatment failure

COVID-19 Associated Mucormycosis::A Review of an Emergent Epidemic Fungal Infection in 3 Era of COVID-19 Pandemic

At a time when the COVID-19's second wave is still picking up in countries like India, a number of reports describe the potential association with a rise in the number of cases of mucormycosis, commonly known as the black fungus. This fungal infection has been around for centuries and affects those people whose immunity has been compromised due to severe health conditions. In this article, we provide a detailed overview of mucormycosis and discuss how COVID-19 could have caused a sudden spike in an otherwise rare disease in countries like India. The article discusses the various symptoms of the disease, class of people most vulnerable to this infection, preventive measures to avoid the disease, and various treatments that exist in clinical practice and research to manage the disease