Background: Actinomycetes are a well-known group of bacteria that produce critical metabolites. This study aimed to identify the bioactive actinomycetes from soil samples that exhibit antifungal activity against Candida species isolated from the blood of patients with candidemia. Materials and Methods: Twelve soil samples from southwestern Iran were cultured on starch casein agar to isolate actinomycetes. The antifungal activity of the isolates was screened using a modified overlay agar technique. Five Candida species isolated from candidemia patients (Candida albicans, C.glabrata, C.lusitania, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis) were tested using well diffusion agar assays. Seven actinomycetes with the strongest anticandidal activity were identified by 16S rDNA gene sequencing and compared to gene sequences in the NCBI database using the BLAST program. Results: Of the 52 actinomycete isolates, seven demonstrated significant antifungal potency against Candida isolates. Sequencing identified four actinomycete genera: Crossiella, Streptomyces, Saccharothrix, and Amycolatopsis. Crossiella cryophila showed the strongest inhibition against Candida parapsilosis, with a halo diameter of 42.5 ± 13 mm. Streptomyces exhibited a weaker inhibitory effect across all tested Candida species, with its highest activity against C. parapsilosis (a halo diameter of 35 ± 17.3 mm, P ≤ 0.05). Amycolatopsis alba displayed the weakest antifungal effect against C. lusitaniae compared to other Candida species (P ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: This study reports the presence of novel actinomycetes in Iranian soil that can produce anti-Candida compounds. These isolates hold promise for potential therapeutic applications in treating patients with candidemia.
Background: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is one of the prognostic factors reflecting the balance between systemic inflammation and immunity in the body. This study aimed to compare the impact of laryngoscopy on hemodynamic status and NLR after induction of anesthesia with etomidate, propofol, and ketamine. Materials and Methods: This triple-blind, prospective clinical trial was conducted in 2022 on 90 laryngoscopy candidates. The patients were assigned to three groups of 30. For anesthesia, 0.3 mg/kg of etomidate in the first group, 2.5 mg/kg propofol in the second group, and 2 mg/kg of ketamine in the third group were injected slowly, and the patient underwent ventilation with 100% oxygen for at least 3 minutes; then, laryngoscopy, followed by intubation, was carried out. Blood samples were collected before intubation, immediately after recovery, 20 minutes later, 1 hour later, and at the end of recovery and transmitted to the laboratory. Results: Changes in systolic blood pressure (P = 0.02), diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.01), and mean arterial pressure were significantly higher in the propofol group (P = 0.01). The heart rate (P = 0.56) and oxygen saturation level (P = 0.62) were similar between the three groups. Changes in the mean lymphocyte (P < 0.001) as well as changes in the NLR (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the ketamine group (P < 0.001). Changes in the neutrophil mean values showed no significant differences (P = 0.24) as the incidence of complications, such as nausea, vomiting, and headache in the three groups. Conclusion: The present study indicated that etomidate had hemodynamic stability and reduced changes in the mean values of lymphocyte, neutrophil, and NLR compared to ketamine and propofol.
Background: Barbaloin (BAR) is a naturally occurring bioactive anthracycline derived from the leaf exudates of aloe plants with a variety of biological and pharmacological properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of BAR against cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and the possible underlying mechanisms. Materials and Methods: Middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by reperfusion was used to induce cerebral I/R injury in rats, and BAR was administered intraperitoneally after the onset of ischemia. Results: We found that BAR remarkably improved neurological scores, reduced brain infarct volume, and inhibited neuronal apoptosis in cerebral I/R rats. Furthermore, BAR upregulated Bcl-2 protein levels and downregulated cleaved caspase-3, Bax, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the ischemic cortex. I/R injury-induced increases in malondialdehyde content, and decreases in glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly attenuated by BAR administration. In vitro, BAR pretreatment inhibited the release of proinflammatory cytokines (iNOS, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6) and reduced protein levels of iNOS and nuclear expression of nuclear factor-κB p65 in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells. Conclusion: Taken together, our data suggest that BAR possesses neuroprotective effects against cerebral I/R injury through antiapoptotic, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of ocular residual astigmatism (ORA) on refractive and visual outcomes following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in myopic astigmatism patients. Materials and Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was performed on patients who underwent PRK. Patients were evaluated for refractive error, visual acuity, and keratometry before and six months after surgery. To calculate the ORA, vectorial differences between corneal plane refractive astigmatism and keratometric astigmatism were established. Results: Two hundred and six eyes from 206 patients including 117 females (56.8%), with a mean age of 32.32 ± 7.03 years were enrolled. The mean ORA was 0.79 ± 0.35 D. There was a negative correlation between cylinder magnitude (r = −0.24, P = 0.002), percentage of success of astigmatism surgery (r = −0.17, P = 0.01), and ORA. Patients with against-the-rule (ATR) astigmatism had high ORA (P = 0.01). The mean age was higher in patients with a high ORA; however, these differences did not reach a significant level (P = 0.07). Conclusion: We found comparable visual outcomes between eyes with low and high ORA that were treated with PRK. Patients with ATR astigmatism had more ORA and the success of astigmatism surgery was lower in patients with a higher ORA.
Background: Several studies have been published on the coexistence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and COVID-19, raising the question of whether SARS-CoV-2 plays a role in GBS pathogenesis or is just a coincidence. In this research, we discuss GBS characteristics in COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional, multi-center study was performed on patients who were hospitalized in one of two GBS referral hospitals in Isfahan Providence between March 2020 to March 2022. All confirmed GBS and COVID-19 patients with no other known risk factor for GBS and no more than 28 days of COVID-19 treatment were entered into the trial. Results: Totally, 45 patients were collected. The most prevalent EDX pattern was AIDP (57.8%). As compared to demyelinating injuries, axonal injuries were significantly more associated with lung involvement (P value: 0.022), higher GBS disability score (P value: 0.034), poorer response to treatment (P value: 0.021), higher serum inflammatory level, and older onset (P value: 0.013). The average period between the onset of COVID-19 and the onset of GBS symptoms was 18.07 ± 9.88 days. 46.3% of patients developed GBS within the first two weeks of COVID-19, a condition known as a para-infection. The axonal injury was significantly more prevalent in these individuals (P value: 0.045). Conclusion: An earlier onset of neurological symptoms and para-infection conditions is associated with an increase in the frequency of axonal-type variations and, as a result, a poor prognosis. The majority of evidence in COVID-19-related GBS patients points to an autoimmune process.
