Adipose-Derived Stem Cells' Secretome Attenuates Lesion Size and Parasite Loading in Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania Major in Mice.

Background: Stem cell-derived secretome (SE) released into the extracellular space contributes to tissue repair. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of isolated secretome (SE) from adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) on Leishmania major (L. major) lesions in BALB/c mice. Methods: This experimental study was conducted at Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences (Ahvaz, Iran) in 2021. Forty female BALB/c mice were infected with stationary phase promastigotes through intradermal injection in the bottom of their tail and randomly divided into four groups (n=10 per group). The mice were given SE (20 mg/mL), either alone or in combination with Glucantime (GC, 20 mg/mL/Kg), meglumine antimoniate (20 mg/mL/Kg) for the GC group, and phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for the control group. After eight weeks, the lesion size, histopathology, the levels of Interleukin 10 (IL-10), and Interleukin 12 (IL-12) were assessed. For the comparison of values between groups, the parametric one-way ANOVA was used to assess statistical significance. Results: At the end of the experiment, the mice that received SE had smaller lesions (4.56±0.83 mm versus 3.62±0.59 mm, P=0.092), lower levels of IL-10 (66.5±9.7 pg/mL versus 285.4±25.2 pg/mL, P<0.001), and higher levels of IL-12 (152.2±14.2 pg/mL versus 24.2±4.4 pg/mL, P<0.001) than the control. Histopathology findings revealed that mice treated with SE had a lower parasite burden in lesions and spleen than the control group. Conclusion: The current study demonstrated that ADSC-derived SE could protect mice infected with L. major against leishmaniasis.

Toxoplasma gondii molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis in hemodialysis patients from Khuzestan, Southwest Iran.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis and genetic characterization of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection can make a significant influence to the prevention of the dangerous consequences of toxoplasmosis, particularly in immunocompromised people. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this investigation was to assess the frequency and genotyping of T. gondii in blood samples of patients with hemodialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the current investigation, a total of 379 blood samples were taken from subjects with hemodialysis who were referred to teaching hospital of Ahvaz in the southwest of Iran. The samples were evaluated using the Nested PCR by targeting the B1 gene, and then, sequencing and phylogenetic tree were constructed. RESULTS: T. gondii DNA was found in 112 (29.55%) of the blood samples by Nested PCR. Amplicons from T. gondii revealed high identity with GenBank sequences. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that all sequences were closely related to Type I of T. gondii. CONCLUSION: Because of the high incidence of toxoplasmosis with type I prevalent in hemodialysis patients, we recommend a systematic screening for toxoplasmosis to carry out for monitoring the possible dissemination of toxoplasmosis during hemodialysis.

Toxocara Canis Increases the Potential of Breast Cancer by Reducing the Expression of the P53 Protein.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is considered the most frequent type of cancer in women with high mortality worldwide, and most importantly, it is the second most common cancer. However, some breast cancer-related risk factors remain unknown. So, the current study was designed to evaluate the effect of Toxocara canis on the biomarkers correlated with proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, and angiogenesis in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice infected with Toxocara canis for the first time. METHODS: Mice were categorized into four groups: A) control, B) treated with 4T1+ Toxocara canis, C) treated with Toxocara canis, and D) treated with 4T1. The expression of Ki-67 and P53 was then evaluated by using the immunohistochemical technique. In addition, the levels of transforming growth factor-ß, Interferon gamma-γ, Interleukin 10, tumor necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor as well as anti- Toxocara canis IgG were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The expression of Ki-67 was significantly increased in the 4T1+ Toxocara canis group than control and Toxocara canis groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, a significant decrease in P53 was found in the 4T1+ Toxocara canis group than in the control and Toxocara canis groups (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Also, the 4T1+ Toxocara canis group significantly reduced the expression of P53 more than 4T1 tumor-bearing mice (P = 0.005). In addition, the 4T1+ Toxocara canis group had an increasing tumor necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor than controls (P = 0.004 and P = 0.002, respectively). Furthermore, a significant reduction in Interleukin 10 was found in the 4T1+ Toxocara canis group than in the control group (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that Toxocara canis could probably increase the potential of breast cancer by reducing P53 in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice infected with Toxocara canis more than other groups.

Iron ore tailings valorization through separate characterization and upgradation of different tailings streams of an Iranian iron ore processing plant.

In iron ore processing plants, different tailing streams are usually transferred to the tailings thickener for partial dewatering and finally transferred to the tailings dam as a single stream. Therefore, the mixing of different tailings streams happens. This way can challenge the process of reprocessing the tailings in the tailings dam since the mixing of different tailings streams causes more complexity in the mineralogical composition as well as the chemical composition of the tailings in the tailings dam. To solve this problem, the idea of separate characterization and separate upgradation of different tailings streams of an iron ore processing plant was carried out and a comparison was made between the results of magnetic upgradation of each tailings streams with the total tailings (i.e., the tailings in the tailings dam, which is a mixture of different tailings streams of the plant). Hence, the different tailings streams of an iron ore processing plant were sampled and characterize for total iron, FeO content, particle size distribution, mineralogical composition by X-ray diffraction (XRD), magnetic behavior by Davis tube tests, and dry solid tonnage rate. The characterization results showed that the iron grade and dominant iron ore mineral vary from one stream to another tailings stream of the iron ore processing plant. For instance, the total iron content of different tailings streams varies in the range of 18.46 to 64.68% and the dominate iron ore mineral in the Cobber tailings was hematite, but in the other tailings streams it was magnetite. The magnetic upgradation of the Cobber and Rougher tailings and also the total tailings were performed separately by the wet magnetic separation at different magnetic field intensities of 2000, 3500, 5000, and 15,000 Gauss. A concentrate with the highest iron grade of 61.79% and yield of 52.15% was produced from magnetic upgradation of the Rougher tailings, but magnetic upgradation of the total tailings produced a concentrate with the iron grade of 37% and yield of 15.2%. A comparison between the magnetic upgradation of the total tailings and the Cobber and Rougher tailings revealed that the upgradation of Rougher tailings results in a concentrate with higher iron grade and yield than the total tailings.

The Worldwide Prevalence of Herpes Simplex Virus Encephalitis and Meningitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Given the relatively high frequency of central nervous system infections and considerable mor- tality and morbidity reported to be caused by herpes simplex viruses among the other viral agents, having a clear knowledge about their epidemiological profile seems necessary. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the relative frequency and preva- lence of herpes simplex encephalitis and meningitis in patients tested for viral etiologies. A comprehensive systematic review was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, searching for studies on the prevalence and relative frequency of herpes sim- plex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 encephalitis and meningitis. Seventy-one studies were included. Overall, the prevalence of herpes simplex virus encephalitis among patients tested was 8% (95% confidence interval, 6%-11%; I2 = 98%) and the prevalence of herpes simplex virus meningitis among aseptic patients tested was 4% (95% confidence interval, 3%-7%; I2 = 95%), and a significant difference was observed by region. The results of our subgroup analysis for herpes simplex virus encephalitis revealed a prevalence of 8% for pediatric patients and ado- lescents and 12% for adults. The results for herpes simplex virus meningitis showed a prevalence of 4% for pediatric patients and adolescents and 9% for adults. We observed significant differ- ences in the frequency of herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 detection rates by region. Having high rates of missed cases due to inadequate, highly sensitive paraclinical tests performed on patients with suspected viral central nervous system infection is one of the pos- sible factors. More studies are needed to detect the possible flaws in the process of diagnosis in different regions.

Toxoplasma gondii genotyping in AIDS patients using high resolution melt analysis (HRM analysis) in Khuzestan province, southwest Iran.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a common protozoan in the Apicomplexa phylum. Several studies in Iran have demonstrated the presence of the parasite in various hosts, but no data on T. gondii genotyping in HIV patients in Khuzestan, Southwest Iran, is available. One hundred of blood samples from AIDS patients were collected and tested by real-time PCR High Resolution Melting analyses for T.gondii detection and genotyping. T. gondii was discovered in 8 out of 100 (8%) AIDS patients with dominant Type I. This study suggest that HRM method demonstrated excellent discriminating ability for T. gondii, and AIDS patients should be tested for Toxoplasma detection and genotyping to prevent parasite pathogenicity.

Toxoplasma and Risk of Spontaneous Abortion: A Meta-Analysis in A Population of Iranian Women.

Toxoplasma gondii is found as an intracellular protozoan parasite in the Apicomplexa phylum that can be transmitted to the fetus and causes miscarriage, infection, and asymptomatic neonatal disease. In the present study, we characterized the seroprevalence rate of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in a population of Iranian women with a recent a spontaneous abortion. We examined our national and international databases including Irandoc, Magiran, SID, Medlib, Scopus, PubMed, and the Science Direct. The search strategy was carried out by using keywords and MeSH terms. The statistical analysis was performed by STATA 14.2. By using the random effects model and the fixed effects model the statistical analysis was performed while the heterogeneity was ≥75 and ≤50%, respectively. We used the chi-squared test and I2 index to calculate heterogeneity among studies, and for evaluating publication bias, Funnel plots and Egger tests were used. The seroprevalence positive rate of IgG among women who had experienced abortion was observed 32% [95% confidence interval (CI): 20-45%] based on the random-effects model. The seroprevalence positive rate of IgM based on the fixed-effect model and positive IgG rate based on the random-effect model was evaluated 4% (95% CI: 3-6%) and 32% (9% CI: 3-42%) among women immediately after an abortion, respectively. According to the finding of our study, toxoplasmosis can be one of the most significant causes of abortion.

Comparison of Toxoplasmosis in Narcotic Drug-addicted and Healthy Persons in the Southwest of Iran; A Case-control Study.

INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasmosis and narcotic drug addiction are endemic in various regions of Iran. These drugs can provide situations for infections by disrupting the immune system. The current case-control study was designed to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in narcotic drugaddicted persons in comparison with healthy subjects using serology and molecular techniques in the southwest of Iran. METHODS: A total of 201 subjects (including 101 individuals with drug addiction and 100 control participants) were randomly selected. Chronic and acute toxoplasmosis was detected using the enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) IgG avidity. T. gondii immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were also determined by the ELISA. Moreover, the presence of T. gondii in blood samples was diagnosed using the nested-polymerase chain reaction (Nested-PCR). RESULTS: For T. gondii IgG, 17 (17.0%) of 100 and 39 (38.6%) of 101 cases were diagnosed in the control participants and drug-addicted people, respectively [P=0.001, OR=3.071, CI= (1.591-5.929)]. Moreover, 16 (15.8) and 5 (5.0%) cases were positive for the B1 gene in the drug-addicted patients and controls by the nested-PCR technique, respectively [P=0.019, OR=3.576, CI= (1.257-10.179)]. However, no significant differences were found between the opium (n=64) and crystal methamphetamine (n=37) groups in terms of T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies and the presence of the parasite in the blood (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The present results demonstrated that the outbreak of the infection was more frequent in narcotic drug-addicted persons than the controls using serology and molecular techniques.

Development, Characterization, and In Vitro Biological Performance of Amphotericin B and Terbinafine Microemulsions Against Leishmania major.

This study evaluated the effect of microemulsion (ME) containing Amphotericin B (AmB) alone and associated with Terbinafine (Tbf) on Leishmania major (L. major) using in vitro models. The ME formulations of these drugs were formulated and described. After evaluating their cytotoxicity on the J774A1 macrophage (MΦ), their potency against promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes models was evaluated using an in vitro MTT assay and Giemsa stain, respectively. Based on pseudo ternary phase diagrams, unloaded ME, Tbf-loaded ME (ME-Tbf), and, AmB-loaded ME (ME-AmB) with mean droplet sizes 3.4 ± 0.81, 10.05 ± 0.21, and 8.21 ± 0.46 were successfully prepared, respectively. Concerning toxicity, ME-AmB and ME-Tbf indicated lower toxicity on MΦs compared to the free drugs. The ME formulations showed considerably inhibitory effects compared to the free drug forms when the IC50 was examined. The IC50 values of AmB (59.19 ± 1.74 and 36.4 ± 3.2 µg/mL), ME-AmB (7.5 ± 0.9 and 0.8 ± 0.05 µg/mL), Tbf (234.5 ± 9 and 128.8 ± 0.28 µg/mL), ME-Tbf (26.27 ± 0.2 and 11.97 ± 0.6 µg/mL), AmB + Tbf (30.18 and 24.93 µg/mL), and ME-AmB + ME-Tbf (4.79 and 0.37 µg/mL) were estimated after 48 and 72 h, respectively.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Amphotericin B and Terbinafine Microemulsions and Their Combination on Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Comparison with the Conventional Drug Form in BALB/c Mice.

Intracellular parasitic protozoa of Leishmania sp. causes leishmaniasis. The restricted access of the drugs to affected cells in the treatment of intracellular infections such as leishmaniasis is frequently hampered. Furthermore, most of today's drugs have limited uses due to some containing toxic compounds, and drug resistance is on the rise. In the present investigation, Amphotericin B (AmB) and Terbinafine (Tbf) were loaded in microemulsion (ME) in combination and alone, and the in vivo efficacy was considered in BALB/c mice infected with Leishmania major (L. major). The wound size at the base of the mouse tail was measured, and real-time PCR was performed to quantify the parasite load after the infection challenge. The study demonstrated that the ME-AmB and ME-Tbf formulations are safe and effective compounds for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis by enhancing the effectiveness of AmB and Tbf in reducing the parasite burden.

Molecular Identification of Free-living Amoebae Isolated from Hospital Water Systems in Southwest Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Free-living amoebae are opportunistic amoebae that usually live freely in various environmental conditions, including warm water and even in water supply network pipes and reservoirs connected to water. In addition to living freely, these protozoa are able to attack the host's body when they enter a human or animal body. Therefore, it is necessary to identify their presence in water resources. So, this study aimed to identify free-living amoebae isolated from water reservoirs of hospitals in southwest Iran. METHODS: A total of 80 water samples were isolated from the hospitals of Ahvaz city, southwest Iran, and their physical and chemical parameters were measured. The samples were then put into non-food agar culture medium and stained using the Wright-Giemsa staining. Finally, the samples were identified by the PCR molecular method. RESULTS: The mean pH and turbidity values were 7.57 ± 0.03 and 3.31 ± 0.26 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU), respectively. The mean residual chlorine and electrical conductivity were 0.91 ± 0.02 and 1122.39 ± 24.31, respectively. In addition, 9 (11.25%) and 3 (3.75%) samples were contaminated with Acanthamoeba spp. and Naegleria spp., respectively. However, no positive cases of Balamuthia spp. infection were observed. Moreover, two samples were co-infected with Acanthamoeba spp. and Naegleria spp. CONCLUSION: Due to the existence of free-living amoebae in water storage tanks at hospitals, it is necessary to prevent possible contamination with these amoebae and infectious agents by using new methods of disinfection and purification of water resources.

The in vitro anti-Leishmania Effect of Zingiber officinale Extract on Promastigotes and Amastigotes of Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica

Objective: Recently, the use of pentavalent antimony compounds for Leishmaniasis treatment has been associated with disease recurrence, drug resistance, and severe side effects. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative treatment strategies. This study investigates the in vitro effects of Zingiber officinale on promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica. Methods: Promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica were cultured and mass-produced in an RPMI1640 medium enriched with other necessary compounds. The MTT colorimetric method and calculating the IC50 value were used to evaluate the anti-leishmania activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber officinale. Results: The hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber officinale inhibited the growth of Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica promastigotes in 24, 48, and 72 hours after in vitro incubation. The IC50 of hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber officinale was 56 µg/mL for Leishmania major and 275 µg/mL for Leishmania tropica promastigotes after 72 hours. The IC50 of hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber officinale was 75 µg/mL for Leishmania major and 325 µg/mL for Leishmania tropica amastigotes after 72 hours. Conclusion: The results showed that hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber officinale has cytotoxicity properties, and Leishmania tropica has a higher resistance to hydroalcoholic extract of Zingiber officinale than Leishmania major. Further research is recommended.

SARS-CoV-2 and HIV co-infection; clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment strategies: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background and aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who has a compromised immune system can be associated with more significant risks for severe complications. To date, no comprehensive study has been performed to evaluate HIV in patients with COVID-19. In the present study, we assessed the status of patients co-infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and HIV as a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic literature search strategy was conducted via reviewing original research articles published in Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases in 2019 and 2020. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA software, version 14.0 (Stata Corporation, College Station, Texas, USA), to report the prevalence of HIV among patients with COVID-19. Case reports/case series were also evaluated as a systematic review. Results: Sixty-three studies (53 case reports/case series and ten prevalence studies) were included in our study. A meta-analysis of prevalence studies showed that HIV infection among patients with COVID-19 was reported in 6 countries (Uganda, China, Iran, USA, Italy, and Spain) with an overall frequency of 1.2% [(95% CI) 0.8-1.7] among 14,424 COVID-19 patients. According to the case reports and case series, 111 patients with HIV have been reported among 113 patients with COVID-19 from 19 countries. Most of the cases were in the USA, China, Italy, and Spain. Conclusion: The small number of SARS-CoV-2-HIV co-infected patients reported in the literature makes it difficult to draw precise conclusions. However, since people with HIV are more likely to develop more severe complications of COVID-19, targeted policies to address this raised risk in the current pandemic should be considered. Our findings highlight the importance of identifying underlying diseases, co-infections, co-morbidities, laboratory findings, and beneficial treatment strategies for HIV patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The university students' viewpoints on e-learning system during COVID-19 pandemic: the case of Iran.

The outbreak of COVID-19 closed educational institutions and universities. The aim of this study was to explain the strengths and weaknesses of the e-learning system in Iranian universities of medical sciences in the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a qualitative study that was conducted with students enrolled in Iranian medical universities. Data was collected through an open-ended electronic questionnaire based on the interview guide and was analyzed through content analysis. 122 students from 46 medical universities participated in this study. 122 questionnaires from 46 universities of medical sciences were completed. From a total of 54 codes extracted from the results, seven (strengths/positive experiences) and six (weaknesses/challenges) themes were extracted, each of which had several subsets. E-learning has both visible and hidden layers in terms of advantages and disadvantages. The e-learning system is an essential tool to continue education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most students believe that e-learning was a great complement to prevent academic failure, but it cannot replicate the same efficiency of face-to-face training.

Toxoplasmosis in Treatment-Resistant Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The current study was done to evaluate the relationship between T. gondii and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in treatment-resistant patients with OCD in comparison with treatment-sensitive patients with OCD. METHODS: A total of 180 subjects were selected, including 90 patients with OCD and 90 control participants. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies against T. gondii were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Detection of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis was carried out using the ELISA IgG avidity. In addition, the presence of this parasite in blood was detected using the nested-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. RESULTS: Regarding T. gondii IgG antibodies 42 (46.7%) and 17 (18.9%) cases were detected in the patients and controls, respectively (P = 0.000). Also, 16 (17.8%) and 5 (5.6%) cases were positive for B1 gene in patients and controls, respectively (P = 0.018). The antibodies were found to be related to risk of OCD [OR (95% CI) = 3.71 (1.88-7.30); P < 0.001]. Moreover, out of 90 patients, 35 and 55 cases were resistant and sensitive to treatment, respectively, so that 24 (68.6%) out of 35 and 18 (32.7%) out of 55 were positive for the antibodies (P = 0.01) as well as 11 (31.4%) out of 35 and 5 (9.1%) out of 55 were positive for B1 gene (P = 0.010). The antibodies were also associated with risk of resistance to treatment in patients with OCD [OR (95% CI) = 3.81 (1.42-10.17); P = 0.008]. CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that toxoplasmosis was more frequent in patients with OCD than the control group. In addition, prevalence rate of toxoplasmosis in treatment-resistant patients with OCD was significantly more than that in treatment-sensitive patients with OCD.

Association of short stature and obesity with cardio-metabolic risk factors in Iranian children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-V study.

PURPOSE: The object of the present study was to examine the relationship of short stature and obesity with cardio-metabolic risk factors in children and adolescents from Iran. METHODS: Present nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted as a part of the fifth survey of CASPIAN study on 7 to 18 years old children and adolescents from 30 provinces of Iran in 2015. Short stature and excess weight were defined as age and sex-specific height lower than 5th percentile and BMI higher than 85th percentile respectively. The multivariate logistic regression model was applied to assess the aim of the study. RESULTS: A total of 3844 children and adolescents (52.4%: boys, 72.2%: urban areas) with an average age of 12.45 ± 3.04 years were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of short stature, excess weight and combined-short stature and excess weight was estimated as 15.8%, 17.6% and 2.2%. Odds of abdominal obesity in children with only short stature (OR: 2.11, 95%CI: 1.59-2.80), only excess weight (OR: 17.38, 95%CI: 13.89-21.75) and combined-short stature and excess weight (OR: 22.83, 95%CI: 13.93-37.39) were higher than children with normal-height and weight. Moreover, odds of high BP and metabolic syndrome were further in the students with combined excess weight and short stature compared to the normal-height and weight group. CONCLUSION: We found that abdominal obesity, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome in short stature and obese children and adolescents were greater than those with normal-height and weight. Further prospective evaluations are required to clarify the association between short stature and cardio-metabolic risk factors.

First Human Cosavirus Detection From Cerebrospinal Fluid in Hospitalized Children With Aseptic Meningitis and Encephalitis in Iran.

OBJECTIVE: Human cosavirus (HCosV) is a newly recognized virus that seems to be partly related to nonpolio flaccid paralysis and acute gastroenteritis in pediatric patients. However, the relationship between HCosV and diseases in humans is unclear. To assess an investigation for the occurrence of HCosV among pediatric patients involved in meningitis and encephalitis, we implemented a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay for detection and quantification of HCosV in stool specimens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, a total of 160 cerebrospinal fluid samples from September 2019 to October 2020 were collected from presenting pediatric patients with meningitis and encephalitis in a Karaj hospital, Iran. After viral RNA extraction, the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to amplify the 5'Un-Translated Region region of the HCosV genome and viral load was analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 160 samples tested, the HCosV genomic RNA was detected in 2/160 (1.25%) of samples. The minimum viral load of HCosV was 3.5 × 103 copies/mL from 4 years male patient. The maximum viral load was determined to be 2.4 × 105 copies/mL in one sample obtained from 3.5 years female patient. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first documentation of HCosV detection in cerebrospinal fluid samples that better demonstrates relation of HCosV with neurologic diseases including meningitis and encephalitis. Also, these results indicate that HCosV has been circulating among Iranian pediatric patients.

Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Toxocara canis Among Myositis Patients in the Southwest of Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Parasitic myositis is caused by some parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii) T. gondii (and Toxocara canis (T. canis). So, the aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence T. gondii and T. canis in patients with myositis and healthy individuals. METHODS: A total of 108 samples were randomly selected as the control (54 healthy individuals) and test (54 myositis patients) groups. IgG and IgM antibodies (Ab) against T. gondii and IgG Ab against T. canis were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The detection of chronic and acute toxoplasmosis was performed by the ELISA IgG avidity. The presence of T. gondii in the blood was evaluated using the nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR). RESULTS: Of 108, 33 (30.6%) cases were positive for IgG against T. gondii that 19 (35.2%) and 14 (25.9%) were observed in myositis patients and healthy individuals, respectively (P=0.296). Of 19 positive cases, 12 (63.2%) and 7 (36.8%) cases were detected as chronic and acute toxoplasmosis, respectively, while, all positive cases in the control group had chronic toxoplasmosis (P=0.013). One (1.9%) sample was positive for anti- T. gondii IgM and two (3.7%) samples were positive for IgG against T. canis by the ELISA that these positive cases were observed only in myositis patients (P=1.000 P=0.495, respectively). B1 T. gondii gene was amplified in 12 (63.2%) and 1 (7.1%) in myositis patients and healthy subjects (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that there was a relatively high prevalence of acute toxoplasmosis in myositis patients in comparison with the control subjects in the Southwest of Iran.

Comparison of the Detection of Toxocara Spp. in the Soils of Public Parks of Ahvaz (Southwest of Iran) by PCR and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP).

INTRODUCTION: The infections caused by Toxocara spp. are considered as one of the most important zoonotic diseases in the world, especially in developing countries. Human toxocariasis, particularly in children, is acquired by playing in public parks. Hence, the aim of the current study was to detect Toxocara spp. in the soils of public parks of the city of Ahvaz, southwest of Iran, using the PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) methods. METHODS: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 260 soil samples were randomly collected from the different public parks of the city of Ahvaz. After performing zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) flotation technique, the DNA samples were extracted from the isolated Toxocara spp. eggs. Lastly, the extracted DNA was used for PCR and LAMP-based molecular detection. RESULTS: Out of 260 specimens, 57 (21.9%) samples were found positive for Toxocara spp., using the PCR method, out of that 38 (14.6%) samples were positive for T. canis and 19 (7.3%) samples were positive for T. cati. Also, out of 260 specimens, 81 (31.1%) cases were positive for Toxocara species, using the LAMP method, among them 51 (19.6%) samples were found positive for T. canis and 30 (11.5%) samples were positive for T. cati. Kappa (κ) coefficient between PCR and LAMP showed a strong agreement (0.766, P-value=0.002). CONCLUSION: The obtained data showed a relatively high outbreak of Toxocara spp. in the public parks' soils of the city, using the PCR and LAMP methods. Since the parasite can cause human toxocariasis, particularly in children; thus, the health authorities of the city of Ahvaz and other similar cities, especially in developing countries, must pay more attention to the hygiene of the public parks' soils.

Curcumin as an indirect methylation inhibitor modulates the effects of Toxoplasma gondii on genes involved in male fertility.

Toxoplasma gondii is a common protozoan parasite, which infects warm-blooded mammals, including mice and humans, throughout the world. The negative effects of T. gondii infection on the human reproductive system have been documented, especially in females. However, only few studies have examined the effects of T. gondii infection on the male reproductive system. Previous research shows that T. gondii can induce DNA methylation in some gene promoters, which are key regulators of spermatogenesis. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of curcumin on the activity of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), as well as selected genes, involved in spermatogenesis in spermatogenic cells. In the spermatogenic cells exposed to T. gondii, there was a significant increase in DNMT1 and DNMT3A gene expression and a significant reduction in HSPA1A, MTHR, and DAZL gene expression, compared to the controls. The present results showed that curcumin could regulate changes in T. gondii-mediated gene expression. The effect of T. gondii on DNMT activity was also investigated in this study. A 40 % increase in DNMT activity was observed due to T. gondii infection. However, DNMT activity was restored by treatment with 20 µM curcumin for eight hours. The results revealed that T. gondii increases the NF-κB activity, compared to the control group. The increase in NF-κB activity, induced by T. gondii, was inhibited by curcumin. In conclusion, T. gondii, by increasing DNMT expression and activity, leads to an increase in NF-κB activity in cells. On the other hand, curcumin reduced DNA methylation, induced by T. gondii, owing to its NF-κB-inhibiting properties. Therefore, curcumin, as a hypomethylating agent, can be potentially used to alleviate the negative effects of T. gondii on the male reproductive system.