Advanced Biomedical Research
Volume:13 Issue: 1, Jan 2023

The present study was to compare the professional quality of life (ProQOL) and its association with the emotional well‑being among the physicians and nurses in contact with COVID‑19 patients in Iran and France.

The study was performed on 903 nurses and physicians in contact with COVID‑19 patients in Iran and France.he subjects completed their demographics online and then answered questions addressing their job stress and emotion associated with their contact with COVID‑19 patients and ProQOL. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using the SPSS software (ver. 25).

According to the results of the present study, the degree of contact with COVID‑19 patients had a significant role in compassion satisfaction, burnout, and compassion fatigue, with the coefficient effects of 0.459, 0.688, and 0.433, respectively (P < 0.05). The emotional well‑being had a significant role in increasing compassion satisfaction (B = 0.505, P < 0.05).

According to the results of the present study, factors such as contact with a COVID‑19 patient, emotional well‑being, gender, and marital status had a significant effect on dimensions of ProQOL in both Iran and France. Considering that the entire focus of the physicians and nurses is on the health of COVID‑19 patients and they have no concentration on improving their emotional state, it seems that supporting them in terms of psychological self‑care and considering its indirect impact on the quality of professional performance are of particular significance.

Considering the preventative effect of various medications on such complications after surgery, the present study evaluated the effect of two different dexmedetomidine doses on the prevention of nausea and vomiting in discectomy surgery.

The present controlled, double‑blind clinical trial was performed on 135 patients that were candidates for discectomy surgery under spinal anesthesia, which were randomly allocated into three groups. Two different dexmedetomidine doses of 0.2 and 0.5 mcg/kg/h were intravenously administered using an infusion pump for 10 min in the first (DEX‑0.2 group) and second (DEX‑0.5 group) groups, respectively, with the third placebo group being used as a control group. Hemodynamic parameters, the severity of nausea and vomiting, and the incidence of complications were evaluated and recorded up to 24 h after surgery.

The results of the present study revealed that, 20 min after the intervention, the severity of nausea and vomiting in the control group (with the mean of 1.95 ± 1.58) was significantly higher than that of the DEX‑0.2 and DEX‑0.5 groups with the means of 1.52 ± 1.11 and 1.27 ± 0.99, respectively (P = 0.010). In addition, no significant difference was found between the two dexmedetomidine doses in terms of the severity of nausea and vomiting (P > 0.05).

According to the results of the present study, a low dose of dexmedetomidine may be a more preferable choice as a preventive drug in the incidence of nausea and vomiting in discectomy surgery due to its lower complications, further reduction of nausea and vomiting, and more desirable hemodynamic stability.

Prophylaxis could be an established strategy to potentially prevent and control infectious diseases and should be considered in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pandemic. The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine as a prophylaxis treatment strategy in the reduction of the risk of COVID‑19 among health professionals.

The health professionals were randomly assigned (1:1) to the control group without receiving any hydroxychloroquine as prophylaxis and the hydroxychloroquine group receiving a weekly hydroxychloroquine dose of 400 mg up to 12 weeks.

A total of 146 health professionals were randomly enrolled in this study between August 11 and November 11 in 2020. Among the screened health professionals, 21 (14.6%) were infected with COVID‑19 during the 12 weeks, and 14 (66.6%) out of the 21 health professionals were in the control group. Most participants with COVID‑19 had mild symptoms (62%). In addition, 9.5% (n = 2) of the participants suffered from moderate disease and 28.5% were diagnosed with severe symptoms. In the hydroxychloroquine group, 5 (7.1%) and 2 (2.8%) participants were reported with mild and moderate symptoms of COVID‑19, respectively, and 2 participants had moderate, 8 (10.9%) participants had mild symptoms, and 6 (8.2%) participants had severe symptoms in the control group, within 3 months. Severe symptoms of COVID‑19 were not observed in the hydroxychloroquine group.

This study addressed the effect and benefit of hydroxychloroquine administration for the prevention of COVID‑19 among health professionals. The improved perception of prophylaxis might highlight its important role in future COVID‑19 outbreaks to prevent hospital transmission, which is a major route of spread.

As a modifiable risk factor, nutrition plays a pivotal role in the prevention or delay of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study was aimed to investigate and compare the dominant dietary patterns in the patients with and without OSCC.

This case-control study evaluated the usual dietary intake of 80 cases and 120 controls during 2019–2020 using the 117‑item Food Frequency Questionnaire, with confirmed validity and reliability. Factor analysis was used to detect the dominant dietary patterns. Data analysis was done by SPSS (version 21) using the Chi‑square test, ANOVA, logistic regression analysis, and independent t‑test (P < 0.05).

Three dietary patterns were identified, including the western dietary pattern, health dietary pattern, and traditional dietary pattern. The odds ratio (OR) = 1.181 and confidence interval (CI) = 0.671 and 2.082 were found for the western dietary pattern, OR = 1.087 and CI = 0.617 and 1.914 were detected for the healthy dietary pattern, and OR = 0.846 and CI = 0.480 and 1.491 were reported for the traditional dietary pattern. No significant difference was found between the study groups in the dietary pattern and the risk of disease. This relationship remained insignificant after adjustment for the energy intake and confounding factors.

There was no significant relationship between adherence to healthy, traditional, and western dietary patterns and OSCC. Consumption of vegetables and nuts had a protective role against the disease, but risky behaviors such as smoking and alcohol use were directly associated with the incidence of the disease.

Today, it has been shown that it is possible for right ventricular (RV) wall motion abnormalities or RV functional disorders to occur during cancer treatment. Now, considering the effect of carvedilol on beta 1, 2, and alpha receptors and its antioxidant properties, it seems that it can prevent RV abnormalities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects of carvedilol in preventing RV dysfunction in patients with breast cancer treated with anthracyclines.

The present single‑blind clinical trial study was performed on 23 patients with breast cancer that 12 of them received only the anthracycline antineoplastic doxorubicin (Adriamycin®) chemotherapy (control group) and 11 patients received carvedilol in addition to anthracycline. To evaluate the effect of carvedilol, patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography before intervention and 2 weeks after the end of treatment with anthracyclines.

The two parameters of RV ejection fraction and RV fractional area change in the carvedilol group with a mean of 66.41% ± 8.10% and 51.85% ± 6.89% were slightly higher than the control group with a mean of 64.58% ± 6.83% and 50.48 ± 5.79%, respectively, which was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In contrast, RV S wave tissue Doppler imaging (S‑TDI) in the control group with a mean of 0.13 ± 0.02 m/s was significantly lower than the carvedilol group with a mean of 0.14 ± 0.02 m/s (P = 0.022).

According to the results of the present study, the effect of using carvedilol as a preservative on improving RV function was seen compared to the control group, although this difference was not statistically significant.

One of the most prominent global health threats is antibiotic resistance, leading to infection treatment failure. The first Iranian antibiotic awareness week campaign was initiated to improve the prudent use and wise prescription of antibiotics.

The Isfahan antibiotic awareness campaign was held from November 30 to December 6, 2019, among two targeted populations; the general population and health‑care workers by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. In this campaign held in the main squares, streets, and a city’s referral hospital, various educational methods were used to aware and sensitize the general population and medical staff about antibiotics and microbial resistance. These methods include face‑to‑face training, brochures, advertisement posters and billboards around the city, educational videos, social media messages, retraining for medical doctors and medical specialists, and interviewing in the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcast.

Two hundred and twenty general practitioners, medical specialists, and residents participated in two retraining educational conferences in Al‑Zahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. The mean score satisfaction of the two conferences was three from four. Nearly 2000 of the general population were under face‑to‑face educational programs whom after that, 83.6% had the correct answer to the questions around antimicrobial awareness.

This campaign was an excellent experience as a pilot study with appealing issues. Further, activities are required to improve engagement with the target population and determine the impact of this campaign on antibiotic consumption and prescription behavior among the public and health‑care professionals.

Given the significance of pain control in addicted patients and the prominence of not using opioids due to patient’s drug dependence, the present study aimed at comparing and evaluating the effect of intravenous fentanyl with low‑dose ketamine on pain relief in patients taking methadone and suffering from limb fractures.

The present double‑blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 100 patients taking methadone and suffering from limb fractures. The patients were divided into two groups receiving 1 μg/kg single dose of fentanyl and 0.3 mg/kg single dose of ketamine (low‑dose ketamine). Patients’ pain scores and the incidence rate of complications were recorded before the intervention, and 15, 30, and 60 min after drug administration and were then compared between the two groups.

The mean pain score of patients 15 min after the intervention was significantly lower in the low‑dose ketamine group with a mean of 2.50 ± 1.34 as compared with the fentanyl group with a mean of 7.10 ± 1.43 (P < 0.001). However, the mean pain score was not significantly different between the two groups 30 and 60 min after the intervention (P > 0.05). In addition, the incidence rate of complications was not significantly different between the two groups (P > 0.05).

According to the results of this study, low‑dose ketamine as compared with fentanyl relieves pain in the mentioned patients with a faster effect and in a shorter time although no difference can be found between the pain scores of the two groups 30 and 60 min after the intervention.

This study investigated the feasibility of channelized hoteling observer (CHO) model in computed tomography (CT) protocol optimization regarding the image quality and patient exposure. While the utility of using model observers such as to optimize the clinical protocol is evident, the pitfalls associated with the use of this method in practice require investigation.

This study was performed using variable tube current and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) level (ASIR 10% to ASIR 100%). Various criteria including noise, high‑contrast spatial resolution, CHOs model were used to compare image quality at different captured levels. For the implementation of CHO, we first tuned the model in a restricted dataset and then it to the evaluation of a large dataset of images obtained with different reconstruction ASIR and filtered back projection (FBP) levels.

The results were promising in terms of CHO use for the stated purposes. Comparisons of the noise of reconstructed images with 30% ASIR and higher levels of noise in rebuilding images using the FBP approach showed a significant difference (P < 0.05). The spatial resolution obtained using various ASIR levels and tube currents were 0.8 pairs of lines per millimeter, which did not differ significantly from the FBP method (P > 0.05).

Based on the results, using 80% ASIR can reduce the radiation dose on lungs, abdomen, and pelvis CT scans while maintaining image quality. Furthermore using ASIR 60% only for the reconstruction of lungs, abdomen, and pelvis images at standard radiation dose leads to optimal image quality.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer leading to death in women. Women with multicentric breast cancer were reported more likely to have poor prognosis. Here, we decided to study and compare the frequency distribution of multicentricity in different subtypes of breast cancer.

This is a cross‑sectional study that was performed in 2019–20 on medical records and breast pathology reports of 250 patients who undergone mastectomy due to breast cancer. Demographic data of all patients including age, along with other medical data such as menstruation condition, breast cancer grade, multicentricity status, stage, and expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptors were collected from medical records. Samples were divided into four subtypes of Luminal B, Luminal A, HER2 expressing, and basal‑like.

The mean age of patients was 50.21 ± 11.15 years. Ninety‑five patients (38%) had multicentricity and HER2 expressing (48.5%) and Luminal A(41.4%) were most common in patients with multicentricity. In addition, basal‑like group presented with least multicentricity (13.5%) among the subtypes (P = 0.008). We also showed significant increased chances of multicentricity in Luminal B (odds ratio [OR] = 3.782) (P = 0.033), Luminal A (OR = 5.164) (P = 0.002), and HER2‑expressing group (OR = 5.393) (P = 0.011).

Taken together, we showed significantly increased chances of multicentricity in patients with HER2‑expression, Luminal A, and Luminal B groups compared to basal‑like group or triple negative. These results were in line with most previous studies; however, we showed higher rates of multicentricity among our population compared to some previous reports.

Preeclampsia, a pregnancy‑specific complication, has been associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in observational studies. CMV‑specific T cell response plays a major role in viremia clearance. We explored whether CMV‑specific cell‑mediated immunity (CMI) status is associated with preeclampsia in pregnant women.

CMV‑specific CMI was assessed using CMV‑QuantiFERON (QF‑CMV) assay in plasma serum of 35 women with preeclampsia as well as 35 normal pregnant controls, retrospectively. Participants were matched for gestational age in a 1:1 ratio. The proportion of reactive results, the mean value of interferon‑gamma (IFN‑γ) level produced in mitogen and antigen tubes were compared between the cases and controls through Chi‑square and Wilcoxon rank‑sum tests, respectively. The odds ratio and confidence interval were calculated as well.

No significant differences observed between demographic characteristics of the case and control groups. The QF‑CMV assay turned reactive (QF‑CMV [ + ]) Women with preeclampsia had lower mean IFN‑γ levels in antigen tube compared with normal pregnant controls. There were no statistically significant differences in the value of mitogen tube between case and controls women with suppressed CMV‑CMI were 6.3 times more likely to have preeclampsia. This result even strengthened after adjustment for age, gestational age, and gravidity.

Our findings support an association between suppressed CMV‑specific CMI and preeclampsia

Magnesium oxide may be effective in renal insufficiency prevention after carboplatin therapy. We have evaluated magnesium oxide impression on the serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels plus glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in cancerous children.

A group of children with different cancers (n = 18) was treated with 250 mg/day magnesium oxide supplementation (MOS) and compared with a matched placebo‑treated group (n = 18). After 2 weeks, carboplatin chemotherapy started. We compared serum Cr, BUN, and GFR values before and 3 and 7 days post intervention.

Serum Cr and BUN were increased significantly 3 and 7 days after intervention in both the groups. Serum Cr and BUN were not statistically different between the MOS and placebo groups before the intervention and 3 or 7 days after carboplatin administration (P > 0.05). Three days after the intervention, the GFR reduced from 101.38 ± 14.67 to 90.11 ± 10.52 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the MOS group. Furthermore, in the placebo group, 3 days after the intervention, the GFR was reduced from 97.5 ± 9.71 to 92.33 ± 10.61 mL/min/1.73 m2 . Further, in the MOS group, after 7 days of the intervention, the GFR was reduced to 84.11 ± 12.47 mL/min/1.73 m2 . In the placebo group, after 7 days of the intervention, the GFR was diminished to 85.38 ± 10.66 mL/min/1.73 m² (P = 0.371).

The current study suggests that magnesium supplementation does not prevent carboplatin‑induced nephrotoxicity in children with malignancies. Anyway, we propose magnesium oxide supplementation for this group of pediatrics because magnesium is an essential element for cell and tissue growth, maintenance, and metabolism.

Despite recognizing the traditional coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, some secondary factors, such as opioid substance abuse, have to be considered. We aimed to assess the relationship between opioid consumption and emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) revascularization results, according to Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow and in‑hospital survival outcomes in ST‑elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients.

This case–control study was conducted on 186 patients (93 patients in each group) with acute STEMI, who were referred to Chamran Heart Center, Isfahan, Iran. Opioid addiction was diagnosed by patients’ records and confirmed by conducting an interview based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM‑IV) criteria. Patients in both groups were evaluated and compared for angioplasty results based on the TIMI flow grade and in‑hospital cardiovascular events and complications.

Ninety‑one patients (97.84%) of each group were male, and opioid‑addicted patients were younger than the non‑opioid users (52.95 9.91 vs. 57.90 12.17, P = 0.003). Among the CAD risk factors, prevalence of dyslipidemia was significantly higher in non‑opioid users, whereas cigarette smoking was higher in opioid‑addicted patients (P < 0.050). There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding pre‑ and post‑procedural myocardial infarction complications as well as mortality rate (P > 0.050). Also, there were no significant differences between the opioid and non‑opioid users regarding TIMI flow grading, and successful PCI rate based on achieving TIMI III was 60.21% versus 59.1% in opiate‑dependent and non‑opioid users, respectively (P = 0.621).

Opioid addiction has no effects on post‑PCI angiographic results and in‑hospital survival outcomes in STEMI patients which undergoing emergency PCI.

Low‑dose ephedrine and ketamine may accelerate the onset time of action of neuromuscular blocking agents. We studied the effect of ephedrine and ketamine and cisatracurium priming on endotracheal intubation conditions and the onset time of action of cisatracurium.

The study was a double‑blind clinical trial performed on American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) class 1 and 2 patients, who were candidates for general anesthesia. In total, 120 patients were entered into the study and were divided into 4 groups, E, K, E + K, and N. The first group was given 70 mcg/kg ephedrine (E group), the second group was given 0.5 ml/kg ketamine (K group), the third group was given the same amount of ketamine plus ephedrine (E + K group), and the fourth group was given the same volume of normal saline (control group); a single dose of 0.1 mg/kg cisatracurium was given, and intubating conditions were evaluated at 60 seconds after cisatracurium administration.

The mean Cooper score based on the response to laryngoscopy, the position of the vocal cords, and the movement of the diaphragm of patients in the control group with a mean of 2.53 ± 1.07 was significantly lower than in the three groups of E, K, and E + K with the means of 4.47. 1.17, 4.53 ± 1.14, and 7.63 ± 1.42, respectively (P value < 0.001). In the (E + K) group, it was significantly higher than in the two other drugs alone (P value < 0.001). The two groups of E and K alone were not significantly different from each other (P value = 0.997). The means of hemodynamic parameters were not significantly different in any of the groups (P value > 0.05).

According to the results of the present study, the use of low‑dose ephedrine and ketamine alone can improve intubation conditions. In addition, the combined use of these drugs not only had any Positive effect on patients’ hemodynamic parameters but also greatly improved intubation conditions.

Coronavirus disease 2019 has become a public health concern with a high number of fatalities. Thalidomide can target inflammatory mediators and decrease inflammation in SARS‑CoV‑2.

An open‑label, randomized controlled trial was conducted on patients with compatible lung high‑resolution computed tomography scan for COVID‑19 pneumonia and moderate involvement. Childbearing‑age women were excluded. A total of 20 patients in the control group receiving usual treatment were compared with 26 patients in the case group who in addition to the same regimen also received thalidomide. The primary outcome was time for clinical recovery (TTCR) and intensive‑care unit (ICU) admission.

From April 25 to August 8, 2020, based on the inclusion criteria, 47 patients were assigned to the study. Patients receiving thalidomide had a mean TTCR of days 5.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7–10.3), as compared with days 5.3 (95% CI, 1.7–8.9) with control (odds ratio 0.01; 95% CI, −1.58–1.59, P = 0.807). The incidence of ICU admission was 27% in the thalidomide group compared with 20% in the control group (odds ratio 3.89; 95% CI, 0.55–27.4, P = 0.425). The mean length of stay in hospital in both groups was 10 days. Progressive improvement in respiratory rate, fever, and O2 saturation during the study was seen in both groups without a significant difference between the thalidomide and control group (P > 0.05).

This study investigated the effects of thalidomide to treat moderate COVID‑19 clinical outcomes. The results established that this drug regimen did not add more effect to usual treatment for moderate COVID‑19 pneumonia.

Endotracheal intubation is the basic method of providing a safe cross‑sectional airway area and the incorrect placement can be dangerous and causes complications. So this study aimed to access the diagnostic value of color Doppler epigastric ultrasound and linear probe suprasternal notch ultrasound in comparison with standard capnography in confirmation of endotracheal tube (ETT) placement after intubation.

This diagnostic value study was conducted on 104 patients requiring intubation who were referred to the Emergency Department. After the intubation, color Doppler epigastric ultrasound and suprasternal notch ultrasound as well as the standard capnography were used to confirm the placement ETT.

The sensitivity and specificity of color Doppler epigastric ultrasound were 97.96% and 100%, for suprasternal notch ultrasound were 98.98% and 66.67%, and for combination of the both methods were 96.94% and 100% respectively that showed the significant diagnostic value in the confirmation of ETT placement (P < 0.001). The mean of elapsed time to confirm the ETT placement by the standard capnography method (17.95 ± 2.45 s) was significantly more than the two methods of epigastric ultrasound (10.38 ± 4.65 s) and suprasternal notch ultrasound (5.08 ± 4.45 s) as well as the combined method with the mean of 15.46 ± 8.31 s (P < 0.001).

The results of this study showed that although ultrasound is a potentially accurate, fast, and reliable method to confirm the endotracheal tube placement, but suprasternal notch ultrasound is considered to be a more appropriate diagnostic technique due to its higher sensitivity and less detection time compared to epigastric ultrasound and combined method.

Psoriasis (PSO) is a common chronic autoimmune skin disease with a significant psycho‑socio‑economic burden. Some antidepressants(ADs) such as fluoxetine and bupropion can induce or exacerbate PSO. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between ADs history before PSO onset, and the risk of PSO induction, in Isfahan province, Iran.

In this case–control study, 80 patients with PSO were selected by non‑probability sampling method, and 80 healthy individuals were selected using simple random sampling. They were interviewed and medical information was recorded. Chi‑square, Mann–Whitney, and Kruskal–Wallis tests for dichotomous or categorical data, and independent‑sample t test for continuous data were used. Statistical significance was taken as P ≤ 0.05.

In this case–control study, a total of 160 individuals, 80 participants in each group, were included. The mean age of the total samples was 44.8 ± 16 years. Forty‑three percent of the individuals were women. PSO familial history in the cases was significantly higher than the control group (OR = 11.94, P = 0.001). It was revealed that use of ADs by patients before PSO induction, was greater than the controls (OR = 2.78, P = 0.058).

Past history of ADs in the cases before PSO onset, was higher than the controls, indicating a possible association between ADs and the risk of PSO induction. This study can be effective to pay more attention to the possible complications of ADs and PSO risk factors. Accurate knowledge of PSO risk factors will be useful for better management and morbidity reduction.

Asherman syndrome is a controversial issue in obstetrics and gynecology without any consensus on its management and treatment. It is characterized by variable lesions inside the uterine cavity and also causes menstrual irregularities, infertility, and placental abnormalities. The study aimed to assess the platelet‑rich plasma (PRP) effect in women with intrauterine adhesions by evaluating the improvement of the menstrual cycle and intrauterine adhesion (IUA) stage.

This clinical trial study was performed on 60 women with Asherman syndrome in two groups of 30. For the first group, only hormone therapy was performed and for the second group, hormone therapy with platelet‑rich plasma after hysteroscopy. Recovery of Asherman syndrome and IUA stage was assessed at 6 to 8 weeks after hysteroscopy and compared between the two groups.

Our results demonstrated that there was no significant difference between demographic data in the two groups as well as the menstrual pattern of both groups before or after treatment (P > 0.05). Frequency distribution of IUA after the intervention in the PRP + hormone therapy group in grade I, II, and III were equal to 73.3%, 20%, and 6.7% and in the hormone therapy group were 53.3%, 26.7%, and 20%, respectively (P = 0.22). In addition, hypo menorrhea was observed in 33.3% of PRP+ hormone therapy group and 40% of the hormone therapy group with no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.71).

Hormone therapy with PRP compared to hormone therapy alone after routine surgical treatment had not a significant effect on the IUA stage, duration, and severity of menstruation.

Non‑healing diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the main complications in diabetic patients. This case reported a 65-year-old male with a neuropathic ulcer in the right foot came to Ahwaz Wound Clinic after the wound had not healed with routine treatments. In addition to the routine treatment program, we used tropical ozone therapy and autohemotherapy (blood ozone therapy) for 2 months. Zinc supplementation (50 mg) was also administered daily during the treatment. The DFU was clearly healed with diminishing inflammation and wound closing, and there were no side effects. Additionally, the C‑reactive protein level was obviously decreased during the treatment indicating effective suppression of infection. This way indicates a helpful new intervention approach to the treatment of DFU.

Candidiasis is one of the prevalent fungal infections caused by the genus Candida. The clinical manifestation ranges from mucocutaneous colonization to disseminated and fatal infections such as candidemia. Diabetes mellitus is one of the significant predisposing factors for this fungal infection. Candida spp. may release many exoenzymes such as phospholipase to debilitate the immune system and facilitate adherence and invasion of the fungus to the host cells. The aim of the present study is evaluation of phospholipase activity of Candida species isolated from candidemia and gastroesophageal candidiasis (GEC) among diabetic patients.

Eighty‑three Candida isolates were evaluated for enzyme activity by phenotypic (the precipitation zone around the colonies) and molecular methods (detection of phospholipase genes using duplex polymerase chain reaction with specific primers).

Eight out of eighty‑three clinical isolates (9.6%) were negative for phospholipase production. All phospholipase producers among candidemia and GEC isolates were categorized in high production group.

Our findings revealed no differences in phospholipase activity among isolates obtained from different body sites (blood, oesophagus and stomach); however, non‑albicans Candida species had less phospholipase activity.

During the current SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID‑19) pandemic, some reports were presented based on those nonsteroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids may exacerbate symptoms in COVID‑19 patients. According to this, we aimed to collate information available in published articles to identify any evidence behind these statements with the aim of helping clinicians on how best to treat patients. We could not find published conclusive evidence for or against the use of NSAIDs in COVID‑19 patients. Meanwhile, there appeared to be some evidence that corticosteroids may be beneficial if utilized in the early acute phase of infection, however, conflicting WHO (World Health Organization) evidence surrounding corticosteroid use in certain viral infections means this evidence is not conclusive. Given the current availability of literature, caution should be exercised until further evidence emerges surrounding the use of NSAIDs and corticosteroids in COVID‑19 patients. However, the availability of reliable information for clinicians and patients is paramount.

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm that is relatively common in the distal extremities. Primary SS of bone is an extremely rare finding. Here in this report, we present a 44‑year‑old male patient referred with bone and later bone fracture that was finally diagnosed with primary SS of thumerus. So far, 13 documented cases of primary SS of the bone have been reported. The current case is the second known case of primary SS of humerus. Our case was treated with both neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapies associated with surgical tumor removal and prosthesis implantation. Follow‑up of the case demonstrated significant remission but with late metastasis and subsequent advanced chemotherapy regimens.

The present COVID‑19 pandemic is a major threat worldwide. Health professionals being within the front line of the COVID‑19 outbreak response are at the highest risk of getting infected. Such pandemics are always associated with ill effects on mental health also.

A cross‑sectional study included all the health care professionals working in the Jumbo COVID Care Center, Mumbai. Details of health care professionals were obtained from the authority of Jumbo COVID Care Center, Mumbai. Amongst 350 health care professionals, 285 responded (Response rate: 81.42%). Aquestionnaire, consisting of 19 structured, self‑administered, and closed‑ended questions, was employed online, and information regarding age, gender, profession, etc., was collected. It was then tabulated and subjected further to an analysis.

Most health care professionals (96.1%) were aware that COVID‑19 is not only affecting physical but mental health too, also posts on social media (86.3%) are affecting mental health more than the actual disease. A total of 95.8% agreed that health care/frontline workers are at the highest risk and felt the need for psychiatrists in the present pandemic. (81.4%) They were also worried thinking about elderly people with comorbidities in their homes. (82.1%).

From the present study, it can be concluded that the present pandemic is affecting not only physical but mental health also, and there is an increased need for psychiatrists and mental health care professionals to overcome the same.

Due to the high prevalence of addiction in society and the need to its attention, various methods are used for addiction withdrawal. The side effects of some methods restrict their use and increase the risk of recurrence. One of the Iranian useful methods is consumption of opium tincture (OT) that may cause brain structure and memory defects. Hence, this study aimed the effects of different doses of OT on memory and hippocampal neurons with the use of an antioxidant such as various concentrations chicory.

In the present study, 70 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 10 groups and the effect of various doses of chicory extract and OT were assessed on memory by the passive avoidance test. The neurons and astrocyte cells numbers in dentate gyrus were investigated, using histological examination.

In passive avoidance test, the total time in dark compartment was significantly more in groups with 100 and 75 µl OT compared with control and normal saline groups (P < 0.001). Traffic number results showed that there was a significant difference between T100 and control groups (P > 0.05). Moreover, initial latency time was significantly shorter in groups with 75 and 100 µl of OT compared with control and normal saline groups (P < 0.05). However, the presence 250 mg/kg of chicory increases granular layer thickness of dentate gyrus and number of neurons.

The use of 250 mg/kg of chicory extract may be promising strategy for inducing neurogenesis and this dose could prevent neural damage.