Efficacy of a Persian herbal medicine compound on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A randomized clinical trial.

Background: The global attention to the capacities of traditional medicine for alleviating the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 has been growing. The present trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a Persian herbal medicine formula among patients with COVID-19. Methods: The present trial was conducted in Afzalipour hospital, Kerman, Iran, from June to September 2020. Hospitalized COVID-19 patients were randomly divided into intervention (Persian herbal medicine formula + routine treatment) or control (only routine treatment) groups. The intervention group received both capsule number 1 and 2 every 8 hours for 7 days. Capsule number 1 contained extract of the Glycyrrhiza glabra, Punica granatum, and Rheum palmatum, and the second capsule was filled by Nigella sativa powder. Participants were followed up to 7 days. The primary outcome was the number of hospitalization days, while cough, fever, and respiratory rate, days on oxygen (O2) therapy, and mortality rate were considered as the secondary outcomes. Results: Eighty-two patients were enrolled to the study, while 79 cases completed the trial and their data were analyzed (mean age: 59.1 ± 17.1 years). Based on the results, the Persian medicine formula decreased the mean hospitalization days, so that the mean difference of length of hospitalization as primary outcome was 2.95 ± 0.43 days. A significant clinical improvement was observed regarding dyspnea, need for O2) therapy, and respiratory rate in the intervention group. No adverse effects were reported. Conclusion: The present study supported the use of the Persian medicine formula as an adjuvant therapy for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Study registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (www.irct.ir): IRCT20200330046899N1. Study registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (www.irct.ir): IRCT20200330046899N1.

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Iranian children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance is associated with longer hospitalizations, higher treatment costs, and increased morbidity and mortality rates. PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Iranian children. METHODS: International databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, and Iranian databases, including Scientific Information Database (www.sid.ir), Magiran, and Iranian Database for Medical Literature (idml.research.ac.ir), were systematically searched for articles published between January 2000 and August 2019. Sources of heterogeneity were determined using subgroup analysis and meta-regression. RESULTS: Overall, 343 studies were identified; of them, 20 were included in the meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence. The pooled prevalence of MRSA was 42% (95% confidence interval [CI], 29-55) among culture-positive cases of S. aureus, 51% (95% CI, 39-62) in hospitalized children, and 14% (95% CI, 0.05-27) in healthy children. CONCLUSION: The overall pooled prevalence of MRSA in children was 42%. Appropriate infection control measures and effective antibiotic therapy are needed.

The SDF-1α3'A genetic variation is correlated with susceptibility of asthma in Iranian patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Chemokine/receptor axis is a predominant actor of clinical disorders. They are key factors of pathogenesis of almost all clinical situations including asthma. Correspondingly, CXCL12 is involved in the immune responses. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the association between gene polymorphism at position +801 of CXCL12, known as SDF-1α3'A, and susceptibility to asthma in Iranian patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this experimental study, samples were taken from 162 asthma patients and 189 healthy controls on EDTA. DNA was extracted and analyzed for CXCL12 polymorphisms using PCR-RLFP. The demographic information was also collected in parallel with the experimental part of the study by a questionnaire which was designed specifically for this study. FINDINGS: Our results indicated a significant difference (P < 0.0001) between the A/A, A/G, and G/G genotypes and A and G alleles of polymorphisms at position +801 of CXCL12. We also showed an elevated level of CXCL12 circulating level in Iranian asthma patients. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that SDF-1α3'A (CXCL12) polymorphism plays a role in pathogenesis of asthma. It can also be concluded that circulatory level of CXCL12 presumably can be used as one of the pivotal biological markers in diagnosis of asthma.

Association of -592 region of IL-10 polymorphisms with asthma in south-eastern Iranian patients.

BACKGROUND: Cytokines are considered important factors for the pathogenesis of asthma as they play a key role in the regulation of immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between this disease and polymorphisms in the -592 region of the IL-10 gene. METHODS: This study was carried out on 100 asthmatic patients and 100 healthy controls. PCR-RFLP was applied to examine the polymorphisms in the -592 region of the IL-10 gene. RESULTS: Our results showed a significant difference between patients and controls in terms of genotypes and alleles of the -592 region of the IL-10 gene. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, it can be concluded that the IL-10 promoter polymorphisms may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of asthma.

Lack of association between chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) δ32 mutation and pathogenesis of asthma in Iranian patients.

BACKGROUND: Chemokines and their receptors are clinically important mediators, as the chemokine receptors are expressed on almost all immune cells. They play pivotal roles in pathogenesis of almost all clinical situations including asthma. Correspondingly, MIP-1α (CCL3), MIP-1ß (CCL4), and RANTES (CCL5) are among the important chemokines involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. These chemokines bind to the CCR5 (their related receptor) on the cell surfaces. Attachment of related chemokine ligands to CCR5 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma; hence, this study aimed to analyze δ32 mutations in CCR5 in asthmatic patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This experimental study was undertaken on 162 asthmatic patients and 200 healthy controls during February to June 2008 at Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences. The Gap-PCR method was applied to analyze the δ32 mutation in the CCR5 gene, and demographic data (eg, age, sex, occupation, socio-economic status) were collected using a questionnaire. RESULTS: The findings of this study indicated that none of the asthmatic patients exhibited δ32 mutation in CCR5 chemokine receptor while only 3 (1.5%) of controls had the heterozygotic form of this mutation. DISCUSSION: Several research groups analyzed δ32 mutations in CCR5 in different diseases, including asthma. Some investigations reported a significant relation between asthma and δ32 mutations in CCR5, but there are also many reports which failed to find a relation between asthma and this mutation. Based on the results of this study and others, it seems that the δ32 mutation does not affect the pathogenesis of asthma.