Disseminated mycobacterium genavense infection with central nervous system involvement in an HIV patient: a case report and literature review.

Background: Immunodeficient patients, particularly HIV patients, are at risk of opportunistic infections. Nontuberculous mycobacteria can cause severe complications in immunodeficient patients.

Case Presentation: We describe a 57-year-old HIV patient, primarily presented with coughs and constitutional symptoms, with a unique Mycobacterium genavense abdominal, pulmonary, and central nervous system infection, accompanied by intracranial masses.

Correlation of clinical, laboratory, and short-term outcomes of immunocompromised and immunocompetent COVID-19 patients with semi-quantitative chest CT score findings: A case-control study.

Background: As the effects of immunosuppression are not still clear on COVID-19 patients, we conducted this study to identify clinical and laboratory findings associated with pulmonary involvement in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients.

Methods: A case-control of 107 immunocompromised and 107 immunocompetent COVID-19 patients matched for age and sex with either positive RT-PCR or clinical-radiological findings suggestive of COVID-19 enrolled in the study. Their initial clinical features, laboratory findings, chest CT scans, and short-term outcomes (hospitalization time and intensive care unit [ICU] admission) were recorded.

Vitamin D deficiency and oral candidiasis in patients with HIV infection: A case‒control study.

Background: Oral candidiasis is a common opportunistic infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In addition, most of these patients suffer from vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D levels and oral candidiasis in patients with HIV infection.

Clinical and mycological implications of cryptococcal meningitis in Iran.

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.

Tenofovir alafenamide plus dolutegravir as a switch strategy in HIV-infected patients: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Currently, two-drug antiretroviral regimens are emerging fields in life-long treatment in people living with HIV.

Objectives: This randomized non-inferiority open-label controlled trial was designed to compare the 48-week efficacy and safety of tenofovir alafenamide plus dolutegravir versus the standard triple therapy in virologically suppressed people living with HIV. To the best of our knowledge this combination has not been studied before.

Discordant immune response among treatment experienced patients infected with HIV-1: Crosstalk between MiRNAs expression and CD4+ T cells count.

Background: One of the problems with treating HIV-infected patients with ARVs is that the treatment can reduce viral load and does not increase the number of CD4 cells (immunological discordance). There are still challenges to treating HIV-positive patients.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the expression level of 18 miRNAs involved in the proliferation and differentiation of CD4 T cells in a target (discordant immune response) and a control (immune response) group.

Comparing efficacy and safety of tocilizumab and methylprednisolone in the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19.

Objectives: This study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of methylprednisolone and tocilizumab in the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19.

Methods: During a prospective cohort study, hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 received intravenous methylprednisolone (250-500 mg daily up to three doses), weight-based tocilizumab (maximum 800 mg, one or two doses as daily interval) or dexamethasone (8 mg daily). The primary outcome was time to onset of clinical response.

Efficacy of a multiple-indication antiviral herbal drug (Saliravira®) for COVID-19 outpatients: A pre-clinical and randomized clinical trial study.

Background: The scientific researches on COVID-19 pandemic topics are headed to an explosion of scientific literature. Despite these global efforts, the efficient treatment of patients is an in-progress challenge. Based on a meta-study of published shreds of evidence about compounds and their botanic sources in the last six decades, a novel multiple-indication herbal compound (Saliravira®) has been developed.

The Persistence Time of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Prospective Study.

Background: In late December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), spread to almost all countries worldwide. The outbreak of this virus has been confirmed on 19th February, 2020, in Iran.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the time of viral RNA clearance in swab and serum samples of COVID-19 patients having received different medications.

Prevalence, Demographic Correlates, and Medical Correlates of Cognitive Impairment Among Iranian People Living With HIV: A Cross-sectional Survey Study.

While taking antiretroviral therapy, 30%-60% of people living with HIV (PLWH) experience neurocognitive impairment (NCI). To determine NCI prevalence among Iranian PLWH, by the computerized Vienna Test System, 63 adults living without HIV and 63 Iranian PLWH aged 18-50 years ( M = 35.3, SD = 7.

Comparing efficacy and safety of different doses of dexamethasone in the treatment of COVID-19: a three-arm randomized clinical trial.

Background And Objectives: Corticosteroids are commonly used in the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The goals of the present study were to compare the efficacy and safety of different doses of dexamethasone in the treatment of patients with a diagnosis of moderate to severe COVID-19.

Methods: Hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of moderate to severe COVID-19 were assigned to intravenous low-dose (8 mg once daily), intermediate-dose (8 mg twice daily) or high-dose (8 mg thrice daily) dexamethasone for up to 10 days or until hospital discharge.

Predictors of the chest CT score in COVID-19 patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Since the COVID-19 outbreak, pulmonary involvement was one of the most significant concerns in assessing patients. In the current study, we evaluated patient's signs, symptoms, and laboratory data on the first visit to predict the severity of pulmonary involvement and their outcome regarding their initial findings.

Methods: All referred patients to the COVID-19 clinic of a tertiary referral university hospital were evaluated from April to August 2020.

Predictors of the prolonged recovery period in COVID-19 patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The clinical course of COVID-19 may vary significantly. The presence of comorbidities prolongs the recovery time. The recovery in patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms might take 10 days, while in those with a critical illness or immunocompromised status could take 15 days.

Safety and effectiveness of high-dose vitamin C in patients with COVID-19: a randomized open-label clinical trial.

Background: Vitamin C is an essential water-soluble nutrient that functions as a key antioxidant and has been proven to be effective for boosting immunity. In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of adding high-dose intravenous vitamin C (HDIVC) to the regimens for patients with severe COVID-19 disease.

Methods: An open-label, randomized, and controlled trial was conducted on patients with severe COVID-19 infection.

Comparing outcomes of hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 following treatment with hydroxychloroquine plus atazanavir/ritonavir.

Background: The role of the antiviral therapy in treatment of COVID-19 is still a matter to be investigated. Also efficacy and safety of antiviral regimens were not compared according severity of the disease. In this study the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine plus atazanavir/ritonavir was compared in patients with moderate and severe COVID-19.

CT-scan findings of COVID-19 pneumonia based on the time elapsed from the beginning of symptoms to the CT imaging evaluation: a descriptive study in Iran.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was initially detected in Wuhan city, China. Chest CT features of COVID-19 pneumonia have been investigated mostly in China, and there is very little information available on the radiological findings occurring in other populations. In this study, we aimed to describe the characteristics of chest CT findings in confirmed cases of COVID-19 pneumonia in an Iranian population, based on a time classification.

A Randomized Clinical Trial of the Efficacy and Safety of Interferon β-1a in Treatment of Severe COVID-19.

To the best of our knowledge, there is no published study on the use of interferon β-1a (IFN β-1a) in the treatment of severe COVID-19. In this randomized clinical trial, the efficacy and safety of IFN β-1a were evaluated in patients with severe COVID-19. Forty-two patients in the interferon group received IFN β-1a in addition to the national protocol medications (hydroxychloroquine plus lopinavir-ritonavir or atazanavir-ritonavir).

Prevalence of COVID-19-like Symptoms among People Living with HIV, and Using Antiretroviral Therapy for Prevention and Treatment.

Background: COVID-19 has spread globally with remarkable speed, and currently, there is limited data available exploring any aspect of the intersection between HIV and SARSCoV- 2 co-infection.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of clinical symptoms associated with COVID-19 among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Tehran, Iran.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Correction to: Psychometric properties of the scale for non-adherence to antiretroviral medication (NAME) among HIV-infected patients.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s13690-019-0382-9.].

HIV drug resistance among naïve HIV-infected patients in Iran.

Background: Antiretroviral (ARV) therapy extends life for persons living with HIV. Antiretroviral treatment (ART) has been rapidly expanding coverage around the world, including in Iran. However, ART drug resistance also rapidly develops with expanding use and limits effectiveness and treatment options.

Prevalence of cryptococcal antigen positivity among HIV infected patient with CD4 cell count less than 100 of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Background And Objectives: Cryptococcal meningitis is one of the main opportunistic infections associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Despite the present and increasingly availability of specific treatment for cryptococcosis, the mortality rate of this infection is still high, particularly in patients with advanced immunsupression and advanced cryptococcal diseases.

Materials And Methods: This Prospective Cohort study was conducted at Imam Khomeini hospital in Tehran, Iran.

Antiretroviral Drug Resistance Mutations among HIV Treatment Failure Patients in Tehran, Iran.

Background: This study aimed to determine drug resistance mutations in patients with virological failure and find correlation between HIV drug resistance test and viral load.

Methods: Blood sample was collected from 51 patients who suspicious treatment failure in the center of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran in 2015. Viral voluntary counseling and testing load test was done and the patients with viral load above 1000 copies choose for detection of drug resistance mutations by genotyping method (29 patients).