Effects of Cytokine Therapy for Treatment and Prophylaxis of Hydatidosis in Experimental Animal Model (Mice)

Background: We aimed to use of IL-12 and IFN-γ for prevention and treatment of hydatidosis in experimental animal models. Methods: This experimental study was conducted in Ahvaz City, southwest of Iran in 2017.  Forty female BALB/C mice with 6-8 wk old were divided into four groups (two group test and two group control). The mice were challenged with 2000 protoscolices and a combination of IL-12 (10 µg/kg) and IFN-γ (25 µg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally daily one week at the time of challenging (prevention group) and three months after challenging (treatment group). After four months, the mice were euthanized and the number, size, and weight of the cysts were measured in all studied groups. Pathologic slides were prepared from cyst wall for pathologic changes study. Results: There issignificant reduction in number, size, and weight of cysts in test groups. Conclusion: Cytokine therapy is effective methods especially for prevention of cyst formation and to treat non-operable cases. Further study of combination of chemotherapy and cytokine therapy should be investigated

Importance of the inter-electrode distance for the electrochemical synthesis of magnetite nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization, computational modelling, and cytotoxicity

Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles, are promising inorganic nanomaterials for future biomedical applications due to their low toxicity and unique magnetic properties. However, the synthesis of these particles can often be expensive, energy intensive, and non-scalable, requiring the addition of surfactants to stabilize the material to control the particle size and avoid agglomeration. We wish to report a simple, green, surfactant-free electrochemical synthesis of these materials using a closed aqueous system at ambient temperature. Particle diameter, between 19 and 33 nm, was controlled by simply modifying the distance between the electrodes. These magnetite nanoparticles were then fully characterized using both spectroscopy and microscopy. Vibrational magnetometry indicates that as the size of the particle decreases, the magnetic hysteretic gap decreases, although for samples below 25 nm no inter-sample difference was observed. To support this experimental data, we carried out a Density Functional Theory (DFT) analysis of magnetite containing more than three iron atoms in the cluster, an essential proposition as magnetite contains three distinct iron species. These calculations were used to support the experimental observations, and closely reproduced both the experimental IR spectrum, and the XRD pattern. In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed dose responsive behavior for the nanoparticles, and demonstrated that they are non-Toxic at clinically relevant concentrations; below 200g/mL we observed no toxicity in a 48-hour standard assay. This work represents the first DFT based simulation of this detailed magnetite cluster, and demonstrates that this sustainable synthetic method is capable of producing nanomaterials with a physical and biological profile that might make them suitable for biomedical applications

The Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Quercus brantii and Artemisia aucheri Boiss Against Trichomonas vaginalis In vitro

Objective: Trichomoniasis is the most common sexually transmitted protozoan infection worldwide. Metronidazole is widely considered as the drug of choice for treating of trichomoniasis but considering its potential side effects, we aimed to assess the therapeutic influences of hydro-alcoholic extracts of Quercus brantii and Artemisia aucheri Boiss as alternative medications against Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis). Methods: The trophozoites were cultured in TYI-S-33 medium at a density of 5x105 trophozoites/mL. Subsequently, they were incubated with varying concentrations of the plant extracts (32, 64, 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 μg/mL) and metronidazole (16, 32, 64, 125, 250, and 500 μg/mL), as the positive control. The number of trophozoites in each well plate was quantified after 2, 4, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours using trypan blue staining. Finally, the viability of the parasite was assessed by vital methylene blue staining. Results: The hydro-alcoholic extracts of Q. brantii and A. aucheri Boiss at concentrations of 125, 250, 500, and 1,000 μg/mL demonstrated significant efficacy against the parasite. Our findings indicated that the minimum effective concentrations were 125 μg/mL and hydro-alcoholic extracts of Q. brantii and A. aucheri Boiss have the ability to effectively eliminate T. vaginalis after 48 and 72 hours of treatment. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that hydro-alcoholic extract of Q. brantii and A. aucheri Boiss can induce death in T. vaginalis. However, further complementary in vivo studies are needed to assess the components of these plants in the treatment of T. vaginalis

Seroepidemiology of Strongyloides stercoralis amongst immunocompromised patients in Southwest Iran

Strongyloidiasis is a life-threatening parasitic infection, especially in immunosuppressed patients, with death often occurring within several days. The disease has a worldwide distribution and is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate seroepidemiology of Strongyloides infection amongst immunocompromised patients in Southwest Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst a population of immunocompromised patients who were referred to health care or hospital referral centres in Ahvaz, Southwest Iran. Serum samples were tested by an enzyme immunoassay for anti-IgG Strongyloides antibody. Anti-Strongyloides stercoralis antibody was detected in 39 of 270 immunocommpromised cases, yielding a prevalence of 14.4%. No significant differences were indicated in terms of gender, age, or type of immunocompromised disorder with anti-Strongyloides stercoralis antibody levels. In conclusion, our results demonstrated high seroepidemiology of infection with this parasite in the region. Therefore, it appears immunocompromised patients should be tested for this infection using sensitive tests. However, current research underscores that strongyloidosis must not be neglected, and further assessments in high risk population are warranted