Antifungal effect of atorvastatin in comparison with fluconazole on species isolated from patients undergoing head-and-neck radiotherapy.

Background: Head-and-neck radiotherapy can change oral species and lead to the development of refractory oral candidiasis resistant to the commonly prescribed antifungal medications such as fluconazole. Atorvastatin exerts an antifungal effect by inhibiting the synthesis of fungal wall ergosterol and impairing mitochondrial function. This study aimed to compare the antifungal effects of fluconazole and atorvastatin on species isolated from patients undergoing head-and-neck radiotherapy.

Correlation Between the 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine Level in the Peritoneal Solution of Patients Undergoing Peritoneal Dialysis and the Peritoneal Equilibration Test, Kt/V, Ferritin, and Albumin Levels.

Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an effective treatment  modality for advanced kidney failure, offering patients a significant  degree of independence. However, the long-term use of PD is  limited due to the degeneration of the peritoneal membrane,  resulting in reduced dialysis adequacy. Evaluating the peritoneal  membrane condition in patients with advanced kidney failure  who are undergoing PD is challenging with existing methods.

Searching the Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin -1 in Septic Children with negative Cultures: A Comparative Study in Tehran, Iran.

Background: Bacteria induced sepsis is common in infants and children. Staphylococcus aureus produces numerous exotoxins, like staphylococcal Toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST- 1), which stimulate the immune system by T cell activation and inflammation in various organs. Recent studies suggest that staphylococcal toxins, generally named super antigens (SAgs), may also have a significant role in the pathogenesis of some pediatric disorders especially in the clinical presentation of sepsis and septic shock.

Current, New and Future Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), are chronic relapsing conditions resulting from immune system activity in a genetically predisposed individual. IBD is based on progressive damage to the inflamed gut tissue. As its pathogenesis remains unknown, recent accumulating data have demonstrated that IBD is a complex and multi-factorial disorder correlated with host luminal factors, which lead to an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling.

Long-term Results of Endoscopic Balloon Dilatation for Gastric Outlet Obstruction Caused by Peptic Ulcer Disease.

BACKGROUND Gastric outlet obstructions (GOO) is a disabling complication of peptic ulcer disease (PUD). The introduction of endoscopic through the scope balloon dilatation (EBD) has eased the management but there are few reports on the long term results of this modality of treatment on patients' symptoms. METHODS Over a period of 4 years from January 2012 to December 2015 in two major referral hospitals affiliated to Shiraz university, medical endoscopy reports were reviewed retrospectively to identify those who received EBD for the treatment of GOO due to PUD .

Association of nod-like receptor protein-3 single nucleotide gene polymorphisms and expression with the susceptibility to relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a multi-protein complex that controls the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-18 and IL-1β, through caspase-1 activation. These inflammatory cytokines play an important role in the development of multiple sclerosis (MS). The inflammasome NLRP3 gene variations and expression level have been suggested to affect the immune system activity.

Clinical and electrodiagnostic findings in cyhalothrine poisoning.

Acute onset bulbar symptoms with respiratory failure and descending paralysis may occur in several neuromuscular disorders including variants of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), diphtheria, botulism and toxins. We present a 51-year-old man who presented with complains of ptosis and dyspnea following pyrethroids spraying in an enclosed area for eradication of flea. Within 5-6 days of admission limb weakness, dysphagia, dysarthria, blurred vision, diplopia, tremor and respiratory distress added to previous symptoms.

The effects of increasing PGE2 on translocation of labeled albumin into rat brain.

Under pathophysiological conditions, infiltration of leukocyte plays a key role in the progression of the neuroinflammatory reaction in the CNS. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is known to accumulate at lesion sites of the post-ischemic brain. Although post-ischemic treatments with cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors reduce blood-brain barrier (BBB) leukocyte infiltration, the direct effect of PGE2 on BBB has not been fully implemented.

Cytokines gene expression in newly diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is characterized by multiple areas of inflammation, demyelination and neurodegeneration. Infiltrating Th1 CD4+ T cells secrete proinflammatory cytokines. They stimulate the release of some cytokines, expression of adhesion molecules and these cytokines may cause damage to the myelin sheath and axons.

Toll like receptor 2 and 4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of multiple sclerosis patients.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a T cell mediated autoimmune disease with unknown etiology. Appropriate MS therapeutic strategies need thorough understanding of both disease etiology and pathogenesis mechanisms. Ligation of TLR-2 and TLR-4 stimulates the production of several cytokines leading to CNS autoimmunity and neurodegenerative diseases.

Residues of oxytetracycline in cultured rainbow trout.

Nowadays, antibiotics are widely used in aquatic animals to control and treatment of infections or as food supplement for growth increase and animal output. With increasing use of veterinary drugs in food production, there is global consideration about the consumption of antimicrobial residues in aquatic foods and their effects on human health. This study was aimed to evaluate the Oxytetracycline (OTC) residues in Rainbow trout meat in Shahre-kord (Iran) markets before and after frying.

Age related interaction of dopamine and serotonin synthesis in striatal synaptosomes.

Tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase are key rate limiting enzymes in the biosynthesis of dopamine and serotonin, respectively. Since both enzymes are active in striatum, and affected by age, this study was undertaken to investigate interaction between dopamine and serotonin synthesis in brain striatal synaptosomes of aging rat. Male Wistar rats (3 and 30 month old) were killed by decapitation and brain striatal synaptosomes were prepared by discontinuous Ficoll/sucrose gradient technique.

Accuracy of dipstick urinalysis as a screening method for detection of glucose, protein, nitrites and blood.

This study determined the reliability of dipstick urinalysis for detection of protein, glucose, blood and nitrites in non-random urine samples from 300 people aged > 50 years attending a health centre for check-up. The gold standards were fasting blood glucose for glucosuria and the sulfosalicylic acid method for urine protein. Microscopic examination of urinary sediment and urine culture were also performed for positive dipstick results for haematuria and nitrites.