International Journal of Medical Laboratory
Volume:10 Issue: 2, May 2023

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is a polymorphic fungus that exists as a natural flora in the skin and mucosal surfaces of the body. However, under certain conditions, such as immunodeficiency, mucosal damage, antibiotic use, and cancer, this fungus can cause superficial and systemic infections. C. albicans is the most common opportunistic pathogenic fungus in humans and causes 60% of mucosal infections and 40% of candidemia cases. Several pathogenic factors have been identified that contribute to the pathogenic potential of this fungus. Among these factors, we can mention: hypha production, attachment, and biofilm formation, secretion of hydrolase enzymes, acquisition of micronutrients, adaptation to oxygen and nitrogen deficiency conditions, and growth at temperatures above 37 °C. This review article will investigate the pathogenic factors of C. albicans and their regulatory factors. For this purpose, articles published in national and international scientific databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Elsevier databases, IranMedex, Scopus, SID, and Science Direct, were used. Keywords such as: “Candida,” “Fungi,” “Pathogenesis,” and “Virulence” were used to find the articles.

Ferroptosis is a type of cell death associated with excess intracellular iron and lipid peroxidation, distinct from other types of cell deaths by function and morphology. The role of ferroptosis in autoimmune disorders, which are related to inadequate removal of dead cells and debris, and infectious disorders like bacterial and viral infection have been discussed vastly. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive update on the role of ferroptosis in autoimmune and infectious diseases and suggests that targeting ferroptosis may have therapeutic potential for treating these diseases.

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), an epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), has spread worldwide since it was first identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, leading to outbreaks of epidemics. Due to the increasing spread of this disease, definitive treatment and approved vaccines have not been found for it. In this study, we reviewed recent articles on the effect of vitamins (including vitamins A, B, and E) for treating coronavirus. This result suggests that some dietary supplements such as vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, etc.) have antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Dietary supplements consisting of vitamins and individual dietary habits can therefore be used as adjunctive therapy along with antiviral drugs in the treatment of COVID-19 disease.

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is brought on by hereditary impairments in the von Willebrand factor (VWF). It has been determined that most of the molecular abnormalities are present in exon 28 of the VWF gene qualitative variations. In this regard, investigating mutations in exon 28 of the VWF coding gene can help identify the VWD type and can be used to manage patients by using appropriate strategies.

10 suspected VWD type 2B patients were investigated for the genotype of exon 28. Routine coagulation tests were performed for the patients. Molecular sequencing was also used for the evaluation of mutations in exon 28. Determining the tertiary structure of VWF can aid in understanding its functional residues and interactions. The nsSNVs’ pathogenicity was examined utilizing potent bioinformatics methods. Step-by-step testing of the high-risk mutations was done using SIFT, PolyPhen-2, I-Mutant 2.0, PHD-SNPg, and SNPs&GO. Then, the secondary structure, amino acid conservation, and feature of amino acids were investigated via Protparam, Cofactor, Interprosurf, ConSurf, NetSurfP-2.0, and HOPE.

N1231T, V1229G, V1316M, and P1266Q missense mutations in VWF were detected. 3D structure of VWF predicted and evaluated. Putative conserved domains were identified. P1266Q and V1316M amino acid substitutions are predicted as “Not tolerated substitution” damaging and Disease, while V1229G and N1231T amino acid substitutions are predicted as “tolerated substitution” benign and Neutral.

V1316M and P1266Q amino acid substitutions were determined as high-risk mutations using powerful bioinformatics tools in VWD patients.

Diagnosing hematologic malignancies requires implementing several tests. This study aims to evaluate the chromosomal changes in patients with myeloid disorders and compare the results of flow cytometry and cytogenetics with the initial diagnosis performed by the oncologist.

115 patients with myeloid disorders, 57.2% males and 42.8% females with a mean age of 50.3 years, previously diagnosed by an oncologist based on the clinical features, complete blood count, and peripheral blood smear interpretations, were considered. Moreover, flow cytometry and cytogenetic analysis were implemented on the bone marrow samples.

Cytogenetic results showed that 30% of patients with myeloid disorders had abnormal karyotypes. 77% of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, 65% of acute myeloid leukemia, and 30.7% of chronic myeloid leukaemia indices showed normal karyotypes, and the others resulted in common and uncommon abnormalities, including the translocation (13;17), 92, XXYY, and del (4q). Considering the flow cytometry and karyotype results, the improved diagnoses were made for 41 patients who had not been diagnosed initially.

This study showed that, in some cases, an initial diagnosis is inconsistent with the flow cytometry and karyotype analysis results. Also, the flow cytometry results may differ from the karyotype depending on the case. Therefore, combining the results obtained by the cytogenetic investigation, flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and molecular testing is preferable to provide a comprehensive report for the appropriate disease diagnosis and prognosis.

The composition of the Microbiota can be influenced by various lifestyle and environmental factors, including diet. We designed a study to investigate the improving effects of plant extract, the combination of turmeric, ginger, boswellia, and cat’s claw on the abundance of key members of the gut microbiota, Bacteroidetes, Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii), Firmicutes and Bifidobacterium in mice treated with advanced glycation end products (AGE) rich high-fat diet (HFD).

Eighteen 2-month age male C57BL/6 mice were adopted to a regular diet for 1 week and then fed with an HFD or regular diet. After 8 weeks of diet, animals received plant extract concurrently with HFD for 8 weeks. Stools were taken, DNA of stool samples was extracted, and qPCR of 16s rDNA universal primers was performed. Then the effect of plant extract on dysbiosis induced by AGE-rich HFD was accessed.

Our results revealed the frequencies of Bacteroidetes (p=0.001), A. muciniphila (p= 0.0005), F. prausnitzii (p<0.0001), and Bifidobacterium (p= 0.0008) were reduced, whereas the frequency of Firmicute was increased in the AGE-rich HFD group. A significant increase in the F/B ratio was observed in the HFD group than in the regular diet group (p= 0.0003). plant extract reduced the F/B ratio and improved gut microbiota homeostasis. 

Plant extract restored gut microbiota patterns in HFD-treated mice. It seems more studies are required to prove the application of plant extracts for modulating the gut microbiota as a promising new biomarker with potential for therapeutic applications.

The genus Gongylonema infects the upper digestive tract of birds, mammals, and humans. Livestock parasites, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, have caused irreparable damage, including death, reduced products, and economic losses. The present study aimed to reveal the prevalence and morphological and morphometric study of Gongylonema spp. isolated from the esophagus of slaughtered sheep in Sari, northern Iran.

Esophagi of 340 sheep were collected from Sari's industrial slaughterhouse during the summer and autumn of 2021 (summer=115, autumn= 225). After longitudinal cutting, the surfaces of the esophageal mucosa were carefully checked under the light. The prevalence of infection was estimated, and the morphometric and morphological characteristics of the isolated worms were investigated using a calibrated light microscope and camera lucida.

The prevalence of infection was 7.6% (26 isolates), which was estimated for summer and autumn 12 out of 115 (10.4%) and 14 out of 225 (6.2%), respectively. A comparison of morphological features of nematodes in this study with Gongylonema morphological criteria showed that all of them were Gongylonema pulchrum.

In the present study, a moderate gongylonemiasis infection was estimated in the sheep from Sari's industrial slaughterhouse. Morphological examination of the retrieved worms showed characteristic morphologies of Gongylonema pulchrum. To clarify the status of the infection, several morphological and molecular studies should be performed on different types of intermediate and final hosts of the parasite in different parts of the country.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is humans’ most common erythrocyte enzyme defect. About 400 million people are estimated to be affected by this disorder worldwide. Antimalarial drugs, especially primaquine, and other oxidative stress, can cause hemolytic complications in G6PD deficient individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in Kerman City in southern Iran.
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 2016 to 2021. Blood samples were taken from all patients with symptoms of G6PD deficiency who were referred to a general hospital in Kerman City in southern Iran. The G6PD enzyme activity was measured qualitatively by fluorescent spot test.
A total of 6369 patients were included in this study. G6PD deficiency was seen in 424 (6.7%) subjects. Of 424 patients, 359 (84.7%) were severely G6PD deficient, and 65 (15.3%) patients exhibited partial deficiency. G6PD deficiency was seen in 324 (9.3%) males and 100 (3.4%) females (p < 0.001).
The results of our study confirmed the existence of G6PD deficiency in a significant percentage of patients in Kerman City. Therefore, many people in this city are exposed to hemolytic complications if they use antimalarial drugs and other oxidative substances. According to our results, testing G6PD deficiency and monitoring the potential primaquine toxicity in patients who receive primaquine are highly recommended.