Publications by authors named "Ilad Alavi-Darazam"

Background: Hydatid cysts are caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm parasite Echinococcus granulosus, leading to a rare but significant zoonotic infection. This disease is primarily observed in regions with prevalent agricultural and livestock practices. While the liver, lungs, and brain are most affected, spinal involvement is notably rare.

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  • The systematic review investigates Tuberculosis-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (TB-HLH), focusing on its epidemiology, clinical features, and treatment outcomes, highlighting the challenges in diagnosis and management due to the interplay of both conditions.!* -
  • The review analyzed 185 articles with 213 patients, finding a 39% overall mortality rate, with older age and comorbidities linked to higher mortality risks; dual treatment with anti-tuberculosis therapy and HLH-specific therapies reduced mortality compared to anti-tuberculosis therapy alone.!* -
  • The study emphasizes the importance of early detection and treatment of TB-HLH in at-risk populations, stating that future research should aim for multicenter studies to establish
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Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major opportunistic pathogen responsible for a wide range of infections. The emergence of antibiotic resistance in this pathogen poses a significant public health challenge. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis of studies conducted in Iran to determine the frequency of key antibiotic resistance mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and their association with multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant strains or pandrug-resistant strains.

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  • This study analyzed 331 patients with primary brain abscesses (PBAs) from 39 centers in 16 countries, focusing on infection causes, risk factors, and mortality outcomes over a 12-year period.
  • Study results showed that the majority of patients were middle-aged men (average age 46.8), with symptoms like headaches and fever; Gram-positive cocci were the most common pathogens.
  • Key factors influencing mortality at 42 days included intravenous drug use and malignancy, while factors affecting 180-day mortality included temporal lobe involvement and the presence of unidentified bacteria.
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  • - The COVID-19 pandemic led to a rise in cases of mucormycosis, particularly in India, prompting a study to analyze factors affecting mortality in COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) among patients in mainly Asian and some African countries.
  • - The study included 162 CAM patients, primarily older males, with a high prevalence of diabetes and rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis; results indicated a 39% mortality rate influenced by advanced age, use of rituximab, and diabetic ketoacidosis as significant risk factors.
  • - Findings suggest that surgical debridement improves survival rates, and combining antifungal treatments with surgery significantly enhances outcomes for CAM patients.
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Unlabelled: The recurrent COVID-19 infection, despite global vaccination, highlights the need for booster doses. A heterologous booster has been suggested to enhance immunity and protection against emerging variants of concern of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this report, we aimed to assess the safety, and immunogenicity of COReNAPCIN, as a fourth booster dose after three doses of inactivated vaccines.

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Introduction: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the safety of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) compared to other antifungal agents for secondary prophylaxis.

Method: We conducted a comprehensive search across international databases and reference lists of articles to compile all relevant published evidence evaluating the efficacy and safety of L-AMB versus other antifungals (NLAMB) for secondary prophylaxis against invasive fungal infections. Pooled estimates were calculated after data transformation to evaluate mortality, breakthrough infections, and the frequency of adverse effects, including hypokalemia and nephrotoxicity.

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Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) accounts for about 1% of all tuberculosis cases and about 5% of extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases. However, it poses major importance because approximately half of those affected die or become severely disabled. Herein, the successful treatment of an 11-month-old boy with progressive limb weakness, fever, developmental retardation, and loss of consciousness due to tuberculosis, was reported.

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Background: It remains unclear which formulation of the corticosteroid regimen has the optimum efficacies on COVID-19 pneumonia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of 2 different regimens in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19: Methylprednisolone at a dose of 1 mg/kg every 12 hours (low-dose group) and 1000 mg/day pulse therapy for 3 days following 1 mg/kg methylprednisolone every 12 hours (high-dose group).

Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, patients with mild to moderate ARDS due to COVID-19 were randomly assigned to receive either low-dose (n = 47) or high-dose (n = 48) intravenous methylprednisolone regimens.

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Background: Mucormycosis is an aggressive opportunistic fungal infection that afflicts patients with severe underlying immunosuppression, uncontrolled hyperglycemia and/or ketoacidosis, iron overload, and occasionally healthy patients who are inoculated with fungal spores through traumatic injuries. The epidemiology of mucormycosis has changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, with mucormycosis becoming the most common and the fatal coinfection.

Methods: In a retrospective, cross-sectional study, 82 hospitalized patients with a definite diagnosis of mucormycosis were reported from 2007 to 2021 in a referral, tertiary care center in Tehran, Iran.

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The Human monkeypox virus (mpox) belongs to the Poxviridae family, characterized by double-stranded DNA. A 2022 outbreak, notably prevalent among men who have sex with men, was confirmed by the World Health Organization. To understand shifting prevalence patterns and clinical manifestations, we conducted a systematic review of recent animal and human studies.

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Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and life-threatening hematologic disease segregated into familial (primary) and acquired (secondary) subtypes. Hyperinflammation and HLH occur when the immune system fails to clear activated macrophages and histiocytes. Infections, malignancies, and rheumatologic disorders are the major triggers leading to HLH.

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Background: Post-Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) condition, known as "post-COVID syndrome," is associated with a range of complications persisting even after recovery. Among these complications, cognitive dysfunction, including memory impairment, has been relatively common observed, impacting executive function and quality of life. To date, no approved treatment exists for this specific complication.

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Background: In severe COVID-19 cases, a hypercoagulable state may occur. Antiphospholipid syndrome-related auto-antibodies (APSRAs) contribute to coagulopathy, but their role in COVID- 19 remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of positive APSRAs and their effect on clinical outcomes in confirmed COVID-19 patients.

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Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is an uncommon and severe infection that tends to affect both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts. To gain insights into the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of CM in Iran, this study evaluated patients with subacute or chronic meningitis referred to 15 Iranian hospitals. Relevant clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients were analyzed.

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Background: Scientists have believed that a number of risk factors, especially viral infectious agents, can be related to respiratory diseases. Due to the pandemics in 2019, and have attracted the attention of different kinds of research. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the prevalence of these viruses.

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Objectives: Bacteraemia during the course of neutropenia is often fatal. We aimed to identify factors predicting mortality to have an insight into better clinical management.

Methods: The study has a prospective, observational design using pooled data from febrile neutropenia patients with bacteraemia in 41 centres in 16 countries.

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  • The study investigates the clinicopathological characteristics and mortality predictors in patients with peritoneal tuberculosis (TBP) using data from 38 medical centers across 13 countries.
  • A total of 208 TBP patients were analyzed, with common comorbid conditions including HIV, diabetes, and chronic renal failure; 34 (16.3%) of these patients died from TBP.
  • Key mortality risk factors identified include HIV positivity, cirrhosis, advanced age, and specific symptoms, leading to the development of a pioneering mortality predicting model to identify high-risk patients.
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Background And Objectives: Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began, several vaccines have been manufactured to subside it. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of side effects after injecting common COVID-19 vaccines available in Iran.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional study was accomplished on Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Tehran, Iran) employees during January and September 2022.

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Background: We previously reported that impaired type I IFN activity, due to inborn errors of TLR3- and TLR7-dependent type I interferon (IFN) immunity or to autoantibodies against type I IFN, account for 15-20% of cases of life-threatening COVID-19 in unvaccinated patients. Therefore, the determinants of life-threatening COVID-19 remain to be identified in ~ 80% of cases.

Methods: We report here a genome-wide rare variant burden association analysis in 3269 unvaccinated patients with life-threatening COVID-19, and 1373 unvaccinated SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without pneumonia.

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Background: Recently, a few studies based on anti-factor Xa activity levels have propounded doubtful and sub-prophylactic levels by the usual dose of enoxaparin in surgical and critically ill patients. In this study, we assessed two doses of enoxaparin in adult non-critically ill patients.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned into two groups of intervention and control.

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Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a serious challenge for physicians. The aim of the present study was to consider epidemiology and dynamics of FUO in countries with different economic development. The data of FUO patients hospitalized/followed between 1st July 2016 and 1st July 2021 were collected retrospectively and submitted from referral centers in 21 countries through ID-IRI clinical research platform.

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Background: Granulomatous hypophysitis is a rare disease that presents with chronic inflammation of the pituitary gland. In this study, we reported a case of granulomatous hypophysitis associated with a pituitary abscess.

Case Presentation: A 39-year-old woman presented with a 2-year history of infertility.

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Vancomycin is a narrow therapeutic window glycopeptide antibiotic that acts against Gram-positive bacteria. As it is renally eliminated, therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended for vancomycin, especially in case of kidney function alteration. Augmented renal clearance (ARC), defined as a creatinine clearance of more than 130 ml/min, is a risk factor for sub-therapeutic concentrations of vancomycin.

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