Isolation and Identification of Free Living Amoeba from Patients and Contact Lens Users in Iran.

Background: Free-living amoebae (FLA) such as Acanthamoeba spp., are considered as opportunistic and pathogenic protozoans. Acanthamoeba granulomatous encephalitis (AGE) is a serious threat for immunodeficient patients and Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) for contact lens users. We aimed to identify the presence of free living amoebae in nasal swabs of patients and contact lens users in Qazvin, Iran. Methods: During 2019, 251 nasal and oral swabs (including the pharynx and mouth) were collected from patients with diabetes, AIDS and those under periodic dialysis in Qazvin, Iran. In addition, 27 soft contact lenses were collected from the participants. Following DNA extraction, PCR and sequencing were conducted to identify the genotypes of the amoeba. Phylogenetic analysis of the identified sequences was performed using MEGA 7 software. Results: A strain of Acanthamoeba belonging to the T3 genotype was isolated from hemodialysis patients. Two specimens of Acanthamoeba with T3 genotype were isolated from keratitis patients. Conclusion: The clinicians should pay attention to the possible complication of this organism because this amoeba is potentially pathogenic for immunocompromised patients. Since the amoeba is present in environmental resources, the use of contact lenses should be accompanied by considering proper hygiene.

Chronic and progressive dopaminergic neuronal death in substantia nigra associates with a decrease in serum levels of glucose and free fatty acids, the role of interlokin-1 beta.

Human studies indicate that Parkinson's disease (PD) associates with disruption in metabolism of glucose and free fatty acids (FFA). Studies have shown that interlukin-1beta (IL-1ß) causes hypoglycemia through insulin- independent mechanisms. Here, we investigated association between dopaminergic neuronal death, as the main pathophysiological mechanism underlying PD, and serum levels of glucose, FFA and IL-1ß in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) animal model of PD. Neurotoxin of 6-OHDA was injected into medial forebrain bundle and multiple behavioral testes were carried out during eight weeks thereafter. Blood was collected before the toxin and in second and eight weeks thereafter. Then, brain of the animals was perfused to assess survival of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons in substantia nigra by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunohistochemistry. Glucose, FFA and IL-1ß levels were determined using calorimetric method and specific ELISA kits. In compare to control, 6-OHDA- treated rats had less glucose and FFA levels in the eight week and higher IL-1ß level in the both second and eight weeks. Based on severity of behavioral symptoms, 6-OHDA- treated rats were divided into two subgroups of severe and mild. Number of TH- positive cells in these subgroups was 83 and 45% less than that in control. Also, both subgroups showed less weight gain, lower glucose and FFA and higher IL-1ß in eight week. Our data indicate that moderate to severe progressive DAergic neuronal death in substantia nigra associates with a decrease in serum levels of glucose and FFA. Increase in IL-1ß production following neuronal death possibly mediated this decrease.

Prognosis of patients with tracheal intubation in the emergency department.

Background: Intubation of critically ill patients is one of the increasing emergency procedures. We designed this study to determine age and sex-related mortality rates after emergency intubation. Methods: This retrospective study collected and analyzed non-trauma intubated patients in a referral hospital from the years 2017-2019 and before the appearance of COVID-19. Patients who were intubated outside of emergency by EMS technicians were excluded. We recorded data of intubated patients, like sex, age, length of being intubated and final diagnosis. P values of less than 0.05 were significant. Results: Data of 520 non-trauma intubated patients were collected and analyzed. More than 64% of the patients were over 65 years old and had a higher mortality rate (86.7%; P < 0.001) than younger patients. The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 80%. More than three quarters of the decedents died within a week of intubation (P < 0.001). There was no significant relationship between sex and mortality rate (P = 0.535). Conclusion: Our data showed that with increased age there was a decrease in the chance of being extubated.

Evaluation of the antiparkinsonism and neuroprotective effects of hydrogen sulfide in acute 6-hydroxydopamine-induced animal model of Parkinson's disease: behavioral, histological and biochemical studies.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gaseous neurotransmitter, has neuroprotective effect. Here, we evaluated the neuroprotective activity of H2S in acute 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) animal model of Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: 6-OHDA was injected through stereotaxic surgery into medial forebrain bundle (MFB) of the right hemisphere to induce severe and fast degeneration in dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra (SN). NaHS, as donor of H2S, was daily injected at doses of 3 and 5.6 mg/kg for seven days starting a few hours before the surgery. A series of behavioral tests were carried out and then, remaining tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) was determined using immunohistfluresance staining. Striatal dopamine level and oxidative stress markers were also measured in the brain homogenates using immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: NaHS attenuated apomorphine-induced rotational activity, decreased bias swings in elevated body swing test and increased falling time in rotarod test. Our histological and biochemical data demonstrated that NaHS treatment increases the survival of TH-positive neurons in SNc and also reduces the decreasing effect of 6-OHDA on striatal dopamine level. NaHS also reduced 6-OHDA-induced malondialdehyde overproduction but had no effect on the superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity. CONCLUSION: Our results show that H2S produces significant antiparkinsonism and neuroprotective effects against 6-OHDA neurotoxicity. Since injection of 6-OHDA into MFB produces severe lesion in SN dopaminergic neurons similar to this lesion in the onset of PD in human being, our data recommend H2S as potential therapeutic target for treatment of this disease.

Involvement of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channels in the neuroprotective activity of hydrogen sulfide in the 6-hydroxydopamine-induced animal model of Parkinson's disease.

Studies have shown that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exerts a neuroprotective effect and may have a therapeutic value for treating neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective activity of H2S in vivo. Here, we evaluated the effect of glibenclamide, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel blocker, on the neuroprotective activity of H2S in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) animal model of Parkinson's disease. 6-OHDA was administered by stereotaxic surgery into the medial forebrain bundle. Sodium hydrosulfate (NaHS, 3 and 5.6 mg/kg), as a donor of H2S, alone or in combination with glibenclamide (5 mg/kg), was daily injected for 7 days starting 1-2 h before the stereotaxic surgery. After an apomorphine-induced rotational test, the number of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta was determined by immunofluorescence. The striatal dopamine level and oxidative stress markers were also measured in brain homogenates. Pretreatment with NaHS significantly attenuated 6-OHDA-induced motor asymmetry in the rotational test. Histological and biochemical evaluations demonstrated that NaHS, especially at high dose, increased the survival of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and reduced the decreasing effect of 6-OHDA on striatal dopamine levels. However, co-administration of glibenclamide reversed the antiparkinsonian and neuroprotective effects of NaHS. However, glibenclamide did not change the reducing effect of NaHS on 6-OHDA-induced overproduction of malondialdehyde. Our data show that ATP-sensitive potassium channels are involved in the antiparkinsonian and neuroprotective effects of H2S in the 6-OHDA animal model of Parkinson's disease.