Introduction: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by the JC virus (JCV). Case Presentation: A 47-year-old woman with no history of any underlying diseases was hospitalized at our center with a loss of consciousness and aphasia. The investigation of the patient’s history revealed that she had been hospitalized in another hospital a month earlier due to right hemiparesis and dysarthria. Brain imaging was repeated that revealed demyelinating lesions. The laboratory studies showed a positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serology. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for JCV turned out positive and the diagnosis of PML was established. Conclusions: Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy should always be considered as an important differential diagnosis in patients with demyelinating brain lesions and HIV testing should be considered in these patients, as well.

Background: Toxocariasis is a zoonotic and telluric disease caused by the Toxocara species mostly in tropical areas. The relationship between toxocariasis and asthma has always been a subject of discussion. Objectives: This study evaluated the seroepidemiology of Toxocara among asthmatic children. Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 150 children aged 3 - 12 years with asthma presentations, who were referred to Dr. Sheikh Hospital of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from April 2017 to March 2018. Serum samples were tested for the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive sera were confirmed by the Western Blotting (WB) method. Results: Out of 150 asthmatic patients, Toxocara immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody responses were observed in two (1.3%) patients by ELISA and one (0.6%) patient by both ELISA and WB. Moreover, none of the patients was detected as hypereosinophilia. Conclusions: It seems there is no significant relationship between Toxocara infection and asthma in Northeastern Iran. These findings suggest the need for WB immunodiagnosis and ELISA using Toxocara antigens to improve human toxocariasis diagnosis in patients with asthma.

Background: Nanobacteria-like structures (NLSs) or calcifying nanoscale particles (CNPs) are novel ambiguous entities. As their names imply, they are tiny creatures (100 to 500 nanometers). Compared to ordinary bacteria, they can exhibit some unbelievable properties such as resistance to conventional antibacterial procedures. Form a scale point of view, these microorganisms are much smaller than ordinary bacteria and are preserved from the outer environment by their rigid apatite shell. The above-mentioned protective properties of nanobacteria are responsible for a dangerous in vivo calcification procedure causing pathological infectious diseases. Objectives: The main goal of this study was to identify and isolate the nanobacteria from patients with atherosclerosis. Methods: Human vascular tissues were assessed for the presence of NLSs in atherosclerotic plaques at Sina Hospital, Tehran, Iran. All 40 samples obtained from patients as the wastes of surgery showed crystallization in vitro after about 10 days. Crystallization was seen also in filtered media. The precipitates of media were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results: NLSs were seen in all samples by SEM. After confirming the NLSs presence, they were characterized by TEM, XRD, and SEM/EDAX. Conclusions: The NLSs are observed in patients with atherosclerosis.

Background: The high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) have been identified as one of the main causes of genital cancers over the recent years, therefore their accurate diagnosis plays an important role in controlling cancer and maintaining the community health. Objectives: Since a primary diagnosis of this virus is not possible through serologic methods and cell culture, the present study has been conducted with the aim to identify and determine the frequency of oncogenic types of HPV from paraffin block samples using PCR. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, which was carried out in 2017, a total amount of 97 genital samples coated in paraffin were collected from precancerous and cancerous lesions. Their DNA was extracted using special kits, and PCR and post PCR techniques were applied using specific primers. Results: 58 samples (59.8%) showed positive results in terms of the presence of HPV DNA, which indicated a high frequency for HPV. Moreover, 56.9% of HPV genotypes were classified under high-risk and 43.1% under low-risk categories, out of which HPV-16 (22.2%), HPV-11 (19%) and HPV-6 (12.7%) had the highest frequencies, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study show that HPV could be considered as the main factor responsible for the changes in genital tissues is men and women, which have the potential to develop cancer. Furthermore, the involvement of various types of this virus in creating simultaneous and multiple infections further emphasizes the significance of screening and constant control of this virus.

Background: Pathogenicity O island 122 (OI-122) associated with the severity of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) disease. Objectives: The aim of this study was the characterization of OI-122 in Iranian EPEC isolates. Methods: The distribution patterns of OI-122 were investigated in 42 EPEC strains by detection of OI-122 genes and serogrouping, multi locus VNTR (MLVA) typing, and phylogenetic grouping. Results: The complete OI-122 was identified in 18.75% of tEPEC and in 3.8% of aEPEC strains, an incomplete OI-122 with various combinations of genes was found in 75% of tEPEC and 30.76% of strains aEPEC, and OI-122 genes were absent in 6.25% of tEPEC and 65.3% of aEPEC strains. nleB (52.4%) was the most frequently detected, and the prevalence of pagC, efa1/lifA, and sen genes were 19%, 16.7%, and 14.3%, respectively. The most common phylogenetic group among tEPEC and aEPEC strains were B1 (68.75% and 80.76%, respectively). The common serogroups among EPEC isolates were O128, O111, O55, O127, and O44, and 45.2% of the isolates were untypeable. Forty-one MLVA types among 42 EPEC strains were classified into 7 clonal complexes. Conclusions: The diverse distribution of OI-122 genes among MLVA clonal groups provides evidence for dynamic evolution regarding the OI-122 pathogenicity island in tEPEC and aEPEC strains. The results also indicate that the acquisition of OI-122 gene contents occurs in a modular manner.

Background: Nowadays, nanocarriers are used for leishmaniasis treatment due to development of drug resistance and several side effects with conventional therapeutics. Objectives: In this study we aimed to evaluate in vivo effects of four synthesized nanodrugs including amphotericin B-nanochitosan (AK), betulinic acid-nanochitosan (BK), amphotericin B-dendrimer (AD), and betulinic acid-dendrimer (BD) in the treatment of Leishmania major infection (L. major) in mice model by using pathological analyses to choose the most effective nanodrug in leishmaniasis. Methods: The four nanodrugs efficacy in the improvement of L. major lesion in a mice model was evaluated by using pathological analyses including measurement of organs size and parasite number. Additionally, the nanodrugs toxicity was evaluated by measurement of various blood factors. Results: The histopathological results of the present study showed that BK, at the dose of 20 mg/kg, and AK, at the dose of 10 mg/kg, were more effective in decreasing the parasite number in the kidney, liver, and spleen. Moreover, BK20 mg/kg and AK10 mg/kg decreased the organs size significantly while AD50 mg/kg and BD40 mg/kg were less effective. However, none of the four nanodrugs had increased the blood factors and they were not toxic. Conclusions: Overall, the pathologic findings of various mice organs treated with different formulations showed that AK10 mg/kg and BK20 mg/kg were more effective in recovery of L. major's pathological effects in comparison to AD50 mg/kg and BD40 mg/kg. Therefore, it seems that AK and BK, in this mentioned dosage, could be considered as a proper candidate for treatment of leishmaniasis.

: High mortality herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSVE) presents with fever, headache, changes in personality, focal neurologic findings, and epileptic attacks. It causes common destruction in brain parenchyma with necrotic, inflammatory and hemorrhagic lesions, and neuron losses. Central nervous system vasculitis during HSV infection can develop strokes especially related to both hemorrhagic and ischemic reasons. Ramsay-Hunt syndrome (RHS) is characterized by the re-activation of the latent varicella zoster virus (VZV) in the geniculate ganglion of the facial nerve; it presents with peripheral facial nerve paralysis. Neurogenic pulmonary edema is the situation of respiratory failure occurring hours after the serious neurogenic incident without other reasons causing lung edema, which is developed by increase in sympathetic activity, and progressed by increase in alveolar and interstitial fluid. In the current study, a patient with developed neurologic pulmonary edema with ischemic stroke status as a result of cerebral hematoma and middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischemia following HSVE was followed up and a patient that developed anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and MCA territory infarction after RHS was mentioned.