International Journal of Enteric Pathogens
Volume:11 Issue: 3, Aug 2023

 Blastocystis sp. is an opportunistic worldwide protozoan that is life-threatening in immunocompromised individuals; several efforts were performed against Blastocystis sp. in in vivo and in vitro conditions to find an alternative for metronidazole (MTZ).

 The aim of the present study was to survey the cytotoxic effects of peptide mCM11 (modified CM11) and MTZ on ST1 and ST3 of Blastocystis sp. in vitro.

 In the present study, after the culture of the parasite (in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium [DMEM] and Caco-2 cell lines), the anti-parasitic effect of different concentrations of either MTZ (1.25-80 μg/mL) or mCM11 (1-128 μg/mL) for 24, 48, and 72 hours was evaluated via a 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and flow cytometry.

 A dose-time-dependent decrease in cell viability was detected after cell line and parasite exposure. The cytotoxic effect of the peptide on cell lines increased during 24, 48, and 72 hours, and the greatest anti-parasitic effect was observed at the highest concentration (128) after 72 hours. In addition, the ST3 showed more sensitivity to the mCM11.

 The findings of the current research about the mCM11 peptide were promising compared to MTZ, and by further optimizing the peptide, better effects can be imagined for it, so that it can be a potential alternative to MTZ. However, more studies with a case-control design seem to be necessary in in vivo conditions.

 Pneumococcus causes various infections, some of which are life-threatening, including pneumonia, meningitis, otitis media, bacteremia, and sinusitis. Currently, more than 95 serotypes have been identified.

 The purpose of this study was to isolate and determine Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with suspected meningitis using the multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

 A total of 864 CSF samples were taken from children with suspected meningitis who were admitted to Imam Ali Hospital of Karaj for one year (January 2019 to January 2020). To collect positive S. pneumonia samples, the lytA gene was traced using specific primers and PCR techniques.

 The results of this study indicated that only 16 patients have a pneumococcal infection (1.85%), of whom 50% have encapsulated pneumococci. Furthermore, serotypes 38 (12.5%), 7F (12.5%), 23F (25%), and 6A/B (50%) were the most common serotypes causing invasive pneumococcal infections in the included samples.

 Among the techniques for serotyping S. pneumoniae, the multiplex PCR technique is known as a fast, easy, and low-cost method that can serotype a large number of samples. The results also showed that the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine can cover at least 50% of the strains that cause invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs), which are life-threatening, especially in children. Therefore, it is suggested that the healthcare administrators of Iran design and implement a public vaccination program.

 Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal that can harm major organs in humans, and its high serum levels can cause poisoning. In Iran, one of the major causes of Pb poisoning is opium consumption because drug dealers combine opium with henna, a plant extract color; Pb is added to this plant for the fixation of its color. Considering that henna makes opium heavier, it costs more, and none of the users can differentiate opium from henna as their color is the same. According to the statistics of the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, 2.3% of people between the ages of 15 and 60 are drug addicted, of whom 69% to 94% have opiate addiction. Regarding these issues, it seems necessary to study the serum level of Pb in Iranian addicts.

 The status of the serum Pb level and Pb poisoning symptoms among opium addicts was investigated in this study.

 In this study, all addicted patients were selected based on their history of using opium who were referred to the emergency department of Shahid Rajaei Hospital in Karaj (Center of Alborz province in Iran) and were evaluated between March 2016 and September 2016. Blood samples were collected from patients to measure serum Pb levels with atomic absorption by a Perkin device (USA) and evaluate basophilic stippling of red blood cells (RBCs) in a peripheral blood smear under a light microscope. The clinical signs and symptoms of patients were evaluated in several fields. They included neurological problems (including headache, memory impairment, sensory impairment, muscle weakness, seizure, and decreased consciousness), gastrointestinal (GI) problems (including constipation, nausea and vomiting, abdominal colic pain, and anorexia), and general signs and symptoms (including myalgia, fatigue, and the presence of a Pb line on the gum).

 During the study, 75 patients with opium addiction were enrolled, including 67 (89.3%) males and 8 (10.7%) females. The mean age of patients entering the study was 52 years. Of these patients, only one case (1.3%) used opium by inhalation, and the remaining 74 cases (98.7%) had oral addiction. The mean serum Pb level among these patients was 57.7 μg/dL (the lowest and highest levels were 0.2 and 193 μg/dL, respectively). Of these 75 patients, the serum level of 15 cases (20%) was less than 15 μg/dL, and that of 60 (80%) cases was greater than 15 μg/dL. Of all the patients, the one who had the highest serum levels of Pb (193 μg/dL) went through a seizure, lost consciousness, and died. In general, GI signs and symptoms were more common among patients than any other signs and symptoms.

 The findings of this study could reveal the most common complications of Pb poisoning in addicted patients, but no relationship was found between rare complications and Pb poisoning level.

Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, continues to be a major global health concern. The emergence of drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium highlights the urgent need for new antimalarial agents.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimalarial activity of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from Artemisia persica and Artemisia spicigera against Plasmodium berghei in albino mice.

In this study, the hydroalcoholic extracts of the aerial parts of A. spicigera and A. persica were investigated for their effects on parasitemia in mice. Fifty mice were randomly divided into two categories with five groups, with each group receiving either the extract of A. spicigera, A. persica, or a control treatment.

Both extracts of A. persica and A. spicigera inhibited parasitemia on average by 75% and 83.5%, respectively. There was a significant increase in parasitemia at 150 mg/kg of A. persica compared with the negative control group on day 4 (P<0.05). Significant internment of parasitemia was illustrated at 75 mg/kg of A. spicigera in comparison to the negative control group on day 4 (P<0.05).

The findings elucidated that hydroalcoholic extracts of A. persica and A. spicigera plants have the antiplasmodial action to suppress P. berghei infection in mice.

 The COVID-19 pandemic is significant due to its global impact on public health and life situations. It has led to widespread infections and strained healthcare systems, causing significant loss of life. The pandemic has underscored the urgent need for effective measures to control its spread and protect communities worldwide.

 The main goal of this research was to evaluate the clinical symptoms, risk factors, and manifestations linked to COVID-19 among the vaccinated healthcare worker (HCW) population under study.

 The study population comprised HCWs with respiratory symptoms who received three doses of vaccination homogeneously. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing was conducted on nasopharyngeal and nasal swab samples using a one-step RT-PCR. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay also evaluated immunoglobulin G antibody levels.

 Among the most commonly reported symptoms, general fatigue, fever, and cough were the most prevalent, divided by vaccine type. Furthermore, among the associated risk factors, concerns about transmission to other family members, anxiety, and depression were found to be prominent.

 The study findings highlight that the vaccine type is associated with clinical manifestations. Additionally, the result reveals the significant contribution of occupational roles to the experiences of HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings emphasize the need for tailored support systems to address the diverse challenges faced by HCWs, such as concerns about transmission, anxiety, and occupational stress.

Blastocystis is known as a mysterious polymorphic single-celled protozoan that can infect humans and various animals. Despite its worldwide isolation from people with gastrointestinal complications, its exact pathogenicity is in an aura of ambiguity. However, drug treatments, and the most prominent of them, metronidazole (MTZ), are prescribed as the first line of treatment. Various clinical complications, such as neurotoxic symptoms, kidney and heart failure, and the like, have been defined for MTZ. A large body of research has been performed to find a safer alternative with a preference for materials of a natural nature and is still ongoing. Recently, interest has grown in the potential use of plant derivatives for antiparasitic purposes. Among them, some plants have shown significant effects on different species and subtypes of Blastocystis in in vitro and in vivo conditions. The present mini-review has attempted to draw a more comprehensive picture of different forms of anti-Blastocystis plants from previous studies and provide an idea-generating content for future studies.