The Effect of Curcumin on the Expression of INFγ, TNF-α, and iNOS Genes in PBMCs Infected with [MRHO/IR/75/ER].

Background: Leishmaniasis, caused by the Leishmania parasite, is one of the most important tropical neglected diseases. The urgent search for effective, inexpensive, and preferably herbal anti-leishmanial agents, is needed.

Objective: Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound derived from turmeric that is well known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-cancer activity.

Anti-toxoplasma and Cytotoxic Activities of Holothuria leucospilota Extract and TiONPs In vitro and In vivo.

Background: An impressive treatment for toxoplasmosis is the combinatory use of sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine. However, both the drugs involve significant side effects and toxicity for the host. Therefore, the discovery of new anti-toxoplasma medications with high efficacy and less to no side effects is urgently needed.

Comparison of diagnostic methods (wet mount, trichrome staining, formol-ether, PCR, and xenic in vitro culture) for the detection of Blastocystis in stool samples in Urmia educational hospitals, the Northwest of Iran.

Blastocystis spp. is known as a common intestinal protozoan parasite in human and animals. The parasite has a worldwide distribution and is frequently detected in faecal samples in clinical parasitology laboratories.

Association of Toxoplasma gondii infection with cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study among patients with heart failure diseases in Urmia, North-West of Iran.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Infection with T. gondii is one of the most common parasitic diseases in humans and other warm-blooded animals with global distribution and generally, one-third of human populations are estimated to be contaminated with this parasite.

Screening of Cystic Echinococcosis and Toxocariasis in Urmia Municipal Workers, Northwest Iran.

Background: Echinococcus granulosus and Toxocara spp., the causative agents of hydatid cyst and toxocariasis in humans and animals, are zoonotic infections with medical and veterinary significance respectively.

Aim: Herein, we aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of toxocariasis and cystic echinococcosis in Urmia municipal workers (gardeners and sweepers) in 2018 using ELISA assay.

Prevalence of IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Blood Donors at Urmia Blood Transfusion Organization, Iran.

Objective: The importance of toxoplasmosis lies in its global spread, opportunistic nature, and causative role in abortion or irreparable adverse effects on infants of infected pregnant women. Toxoplasma gondii has different transmission routes to humans, including blood transfusion. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of IgG and IgM antibodies specific for T.

Evaluation of the alum-naloxone adjuvant activity against experimental murine leishmaniasis due to .

Leishmaniasis is caused by intracellular parasites of species, which are transmitted by the bite of the sandfly. Recovery and protection against the infection depends on the induction of a strong Th1 type of immune response. Vaccination of mice with the opioid antagonist naloxone can promote the activation of the Th1 responses.

Antileishmanial and Immunomodulatory Activity of Allium sativum (Garlic): A Review.

Leishmaniasis is caused by an obligate intracellular protozoa belonging to Leishmania genus. The current drugs for treatment of leishmaniasis possess many disadvantages; therefore, researchers are continuously looking for the more effective and safer drugs. The aim of this study is to review the effectiveness, toxicities, and possible mechanisms of pharmaceutical actions of different garlic extracts and organosulfur compounds isolated from garlic against Leishmania spp.

A novel adjuvant, the mixture of alum and naltrexone, augments vaccine-induced immunity against Plasmodium berghei.

We previously showed that the mixture of naltrexone (NLT), a general opioid antagonist, and alum, acts as an effective adjuvant in enhancing vaccine-induced T helper 1 (TH1) humoral immune responses against Toxoplasma gondii. Here, we tested the efficacy of the mixture of NLT and alum in the induction of immunity in response to blood stages of Plasmodium berghei (BSPb) as a model vaccine. BALB/c mice were divided into five vaccination groups.

Identification of Echinococcus granulosus Strains in Isolated Hydatid Cyst Specimens from Animals by PCR-RFLP Method in West Azerbaijan - Iran.

Background: The aim of this study was DNA extraction from protoscolecses of Echinococcus granulosus and identification of these strains in West-Azerbaijan Province, north western Iran.

Methods: Thirty one livestock isolates from sheep and cattle were collected from abattoirs of the province. To investigate the genetic variation of the isolates, after DNA extraction by Glass beads-phenol chloroform method; PCR-RLFP analysis of rDNA-ITS1 was performed using three different restriction enzymes of Taq 1, Rsa 1 and Alu 1.

A novel adjuvant, mixture of Alum and naltrexone, elicits humoral immune responses for excreted/secreted antigens of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites vaccine in Balb/c murine model.

Objective: The excreted-secreted antigens (ESA) from the tachyzoites seem to play a key role in immunity against Toxoplasma gondii. The aim of this study is to investigate whether Alum-NLT mixture, as a new adjuvant, can induce humoral immunity in response to excreted secreted antigens (ESA) of Toxoplasma gondii as a model vaccine or not.

Methods: Six- to eight-week-old female Balb/c mice were divided into five groups.

Comparison of four methods for DNA extraction from Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces.

Objective: Cystic echinococcosis caused by the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, is a global zoonotic infection which is economically important and constitutes a major threat to public health in many countries, especially in Middle Eastern countries. Strain characterization is essential for the establishment of a preventive and control strategy in every endemic area. Before all molecular studies, it is necessary to achieve DNA of the parasite.

Effect of different concentrations of hypertonic saline at different times on protoscoleces of hydatid cyst isolated from liver and lung.

Objective: Most surgeons inject scoloidal materials into the cyst before or after its removal, since any contamination to normal sites will cause re-growth of the same cyst. The aim of this study was to determine the lethal effect of hypertonic saline at different doses and different times on protoscolexes of lung and liver.

Methods: The livers and lungs of killed animals with hydatid cyst disease were gathered from Urmia Industrial Abattoirs.

Role of iron supplementation in promoting maternal and fetal outcome.

Background: The data comparing daily versus intermittent iron supplementation during pregnancy remain controversial. This study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of daily versus two different intermittent iron supplementation regimes on hematologic markers and birth outcomes in nonanemic pregnant women.

Methods: Two hundred and ten women with singleton pregnancies, no known disease, and hemoglobin levels >11.

Production of experimental hydatid cyst in the eye, peritoneum and liver of BALB/c mice.

As the main treatment for this infection is surgery, the surgery team personnel are at the risk of the protoscoleces released from the hydatid cysts (HC) of patients. The first goal of this study was to determine the probability of the production of ocular HC in mice due to the fluid of the aspirated protoscoleces from the sheep liver with HC. The second goal of this study was to produce HC in the peritoneum and liver, in order to gather more information for future studies on hepatic and peritoneal HC treatment procedures.