Background: Pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, while being effective against toxoplasmosis, are limited by significant adverse effects. On the other hand, 2-isopropyl-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone has been identified as a key bioactive compound. Moreover, studies on thymoquinone (TQ) have demonstrated its cytotoxic activity, inhibiting the growth of various cancer cell lines, including those of the ovary, prostate, colon, pancreas, osteosarcoma, and breast, as well as leukemia cells. This study sought to determine how TQ affected the tachyzoite type of Toxoplasma gondii. Materials and Methods: Different TQ concentrations (6.25–400 µM) were prepared in microtiter plates for this experiment. The tachyzoite test was used to assess parasite mortality. Flow cytometry was performed to determine whether T. gondii tachyzoites underwent apoptosis. Specifically, 2×10^5 tachyzoites were exposed to TQ at concentrations of 50 µM, 100 µM, and 200 µM, following the kit’s instructions. Results: Light microscopy revealed that TQ had lethal and damaging effects on T. gondii. Based on 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, 400 µM of TQ exhibited the most toxic effects on macrophages. Furthermore, the MTT assay determined a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (CC50 ) for macrophages. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that the percentages of total apoptosis in parasites exposed to 50 µM, 100 µM, and 200 µM TQ were 51.3%, 64.9%, and 70.8%, respectively. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that TQ is toxic to T. gondii and induces apoptosis in this parasite. This work provides supporting evidence for the use of TQ in antiparasitic assays.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by the malignant proliferation of monoclonal plasma cells in the bone marrow. Generally, it is a malignancy of older people, and its presentation before the age of 40 is rare. In addition, the incidence of MM during pregnancy is very rare. This case study reports a 38-year-old woman with a 1.5-year history of bone pain and diagnosis of immunoglobulin G and a kappa light-chain myeloma (Durie-Salmon stage IIIA, International Staging System III) and poor cytogenetic prognosis (del 11p, 46XX). The treatment plan included four courses of bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone were planned as her treatment. At the end of the third course, it was revealed that she was in the 9th week of pregnancy, but her treatment continued as before because of refusing abortion and changing treatment modality. Despite continuing this treatment, a healthy boy was born without any malformations. Even in the next four-year follow-up, her son had normal growth and development. Regarding the contraindication of bortezomib during pregnancy, some data demonstrated that receiving bortezomib during pregnancy had no teratogenic effects on the fetus. This case study aimed to present this issue as well. Perhaps the declaration of bortezomib contraindication during pregnancy will become less in the future.

<strong data-sider-select-id="e0ba6517-9e2c-4620-8827-36ac66373c0f">Background: As an inflammatory process, the emergence of autoimmunity in COVID-19 is likely through molecular mimicry. In autoimmune hypersensitivity-III, immune complex (IC) formation leads to complement activation, inflammation amplification, and tissue damage. Having accumulated IC, lesions in organs such as the lung with tiny vessels are formed, and the complement is depleted. As a systemic disease, COVID-19 has similar therapies and laboratory findings with hypersensitivity-III. <strong data-sider-select-id="09e60b77-93f6-4c2f-b1e8-fa341b0790ee">Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate complement level, serum electrophoretic pattern, and anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) in COVID-19 patients. <strong data-sider-select-id="55fd5e75-5740-416a-8241-47d724fa5d6c">Materials and Methods: Blood was collected, and complement component 3 (C3), C4, 50% hemolytic complement (CH50), anti-GBM level, as well as serum electrophoresis were evaluated. <strong data-sider-select-id="5792ee88-f1ad-4772-83e6-41da9ca0927f">Results: C3/C4 levels were normal in 70% and increased in 30% of the subjects. Albumin was normal in 76.67% and decreased in 23.33% of the patients. Furthermore, alpha-1 and alpha-2 were normal in 33.33% and 53.33% of the patients, but their levels increased in 66.67% and 46.67% of patients, respectively. Moreover, gamma-band was normal in 70% and increased in 30% of the participants. Additionally, all of the subjects had normal beta-band, CH50, and anti-GBM. <strong data-sider-select-id="5b52d788-9f72-4772-b070-52de86d41206">Conclusion: The possibility of autoimmune hypersensitivity-III in the lung and kidneys is not understood. Furthermore, alpha band may be a candidate red flag showing changes from moderate to severe forms of the disease.

Blastocystis is known as a mysterious polymorphic single-celled protozoan that can infect humans and various animals. Despite its worldwide isolation from people with gastrointestinal complications, its exact pathogenicity is in an aura of ambiguity. However, drug treatments, and the most prominent of them, metronidazole (MTZ), are prescribed as the first line of treatment. Various clinical complications, such as neurotoxic symptoms, kidney and heart failure, and the like, have been defined for MTZ. A large body of research has been performed to find a safer alternative with a preference for materials of a natural nature and is still ongoing. Recently, interest has grown in the potential use of plant derivatives for antiparasitic purposes. Among them, some plants have shown significant effects on different species and subtypes of Blastocystis in in vitro and in vivo conditions. The present mini-review has attempted to draw a more comprehensive picture of different forms of anti-Blastocystis plants from previous studies and provide an idea-generating content for future studies.

Background: The root smoke of Costus arabicus L. (Qust-e Shirin) has been used in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) for rhinorrhea and catarrh, especially with infectious origin. Objectives: This study aimed to inspect potential anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) activities of chemical compositions of this smoke through a docking study. Materials and Methods: Based on our previous study on the chemical compositions of C. arabicus root smoke, the chemical structure of components was revealed by GC-MS. In this study, these structures were generated in HyperChem software, and an energy-minimization procedure was performed for the molecules. For the docking study, the Hex software was used. Docking was performed using the Protein Data Bank (PDB) structure of the COVID-19 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) (PDB ID: 6M71) enzyme which was obtained from PDB bank, water molecules were removed, Coleman charge was added, and non-polar hydrogens were merged. Then, docking was performed. Results: The result indicated the energy of each interaction between molecules and enzymes. The lower the energy, the higher the probability of interaction will be. The best molecule was 6H-quindoline which has the best total energy among the molecules. The next molecule was 5-methoxy-alpha methyl tryptamine with -210.82 kcal energy. Their similar structure in indole moiety suggests that this fragment can play a crucial role in attachment to the enzyme and can be kept intact in future designs against COVID-19 inhibitors. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study showed that C. arabicus root smoke may be effective in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further in vitro and in vivo studies on the activity of the smoke and its constituents against COVID-19 would be fruitful.

There are frequent epidemiological and experimental proofs to propose that Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax infections are ignored factors for the development of dental and periodontal diseases. For a more comprehensive review, the present study was designed and conducted, including a systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases for retrieving related reports up to December 01, 2019. Finally, 48 studies (a total of 70 datasets), including 30 datasets with case-control designs (1711 patients and 614 controls) and 40 datasets with cross-sectional designs (a total of 7257 participants) met the eligibility criteria. Based on the random-effects model, the pooled prevalence of protozoan infections in dental and periodontal patients was estimated to be 25.2% (95% CI, 21.2-29.8%; 2210/8968). In case-control designed studies, the prevalence of protozoan infections in dental and periodontal patients (35.8%, 614/1711) was found to be significantly higher than in controls (14.4%, 198/1371; OR: 4.15, 95% CI: 2.92-5.92). In addition, E. gingivalis (OR: 3.81, 95% CI: 2.36-6.14) and T. tenax (OR: 5.08, 95% CI: 2.81-9.20) were significantly higher in dental and periodontal patients compared to the controls. Our results demonstrated an apparently significant association between these protozoan infections in dental and periodontal patients. In conclusion, more standardized experimental designs are proposed using the animal model, and longitudinal (cohort) studies support the association between these protozoan infections in dental and periodontal patients to understand whether E. gingivalis and T. tenax infections are a co-factor in the development of dental and periodontal patients.

Background: Escherichia coli is known to inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of poultry and other animals. E. coli infection can cause major economic losses in poultry production. The development of resistance to the commonly used antimicrobials in the treatment of such infection can be a setback in the poultry sector. Objective: This study was carried out to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of E. coli isolated from chickens in Imo State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Twelve poultry farms were selected across the 3 senatorial zones of the state using purposive random sampling. A total of 120 cloacal samples were collected from chickens using sterile swabs. The samples were streaked onto MacConkey agar (MCA) and incubated at 37o C overnight. Pink colonies on the MCA were streaked onto eosin-methylene blue agar, incubated for 24 hours at 37o C, and confirmed by indole, methyl red, Voges-Proskauer, and citrate (IMVIC) tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out using disc diffusion technique, and the inhibition zone diameter was measured and recorded as resistant or susceptible. Results: Twenty isolates out of the 120 samples were identified as E. coli. Twenty isolates were highly resistant to 5 antibiotics out of 10 antibiotics used. Antibiotic resistance patterns were as follows: amoxicillin (AMP) (95%), cephalothin (CEP) (90%), nalidixic acid (NA) (85%), trimethoprim (SXT) (85%), cefoperazone (PEF) (80%), ampicillin (AMP) (70%) ofloxacin (OFX) (15%), ciprofloxacin (CIP) (10%), gentamicin (CN) (10%), and streptomycin (S) (10%). Sixteen resistance patterns were recorded with AMC-SXT-AMP-CEP-NA-PEF being the most prevalent. Conclusion: This study shows that multi-drug resistant E. coli strains are present in poultry farms in Imo State.

Background: Glioma is a type of the primary tumors that progresses in the spinal cord and brain. Probiotics have probably a protective impact against the disease, especially when treated as a microbial flora in the gut. Objectives: Given the effective role of microbiota in body function, this study aimed to investigate the frequency of Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Enterococcus faecalis in patients suffering from glioma compared to healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: To achieve our study objectives, 20 patients with glioma tumors as well as 20 healthy individuals were enrolled. Stool samples were taken from the subjects and stored at minus 20 degrees after processing. Real-Time PCR technique was employed to assess the change in the copy number of L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, and E. faecalis in patients with glioma in comparison to healthy individuals. Results: The results showed significant difference between the population of L. plantarum in the patients and healthy individuals (P=0.0004). The patients with glioma were in the 35-60 age range and the mean age of healthy individuals was 45 years (P=0.48). Conclusion: It was concluded that L. plantarum had potential for tumor induction.

Background: F Escherichia albertii is generally recognized as a human pathogen with a limited number of strains. It has also been identified as a cause of mortality among birds. The clinical significance and prevalence of E. albertii are somewhat unknown. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to isolate and identify E. albertii as a causative agent of respiratory infections in broilers. Materials and Methods: During a three-month period (Winter 2018), 200 samples of the air sacs of 100 chickens with suspected colibacillosis were collected. Routine biochemical tests were performed and suspected isolates of E. albertii were selected for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: A total of 68 suspected samples of E. albertii and Escherichia coli were isolated. Further, E. coli was detected in all the suspected samples using species-specific sequences of E. coli (uidA) and E. albertii (mdh and lysP). Conclusion: Escherichia albertii was not identified as a cause of respiratory infection in broilers.

Background: The re-emergence of gram-negative bacilli (GNB) as the predominant cause of bacteraemia remains a major concern, given the increasing trend of antimicrobial resistance among this group of organisms. Prompt and effective empirical antibiotic treatment is vital for preventing adverse outcomes; therefore, a good knowledge of the local bacteria profile is required. Objective: This study was designed to aid the establishment of local antibiogram and empirical treatment for GNB bacteremia in patients referred to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 230 blood samples were obtained from inpatients in different units/departments from December 2017 to November 2018. The blood cultures were processed using BACTEC 9060 automated blood culture system, and the isolates were identified using MICROBACT 12E identification kits (Oxoid, UK) at the microbiology laboratory of UPTH. Susceptibility and resistance tests were done according to CLSI guidelines. Relevant information was obtained from the laboratory request forms and patients’ clinical files. Results: The prevalence of GNB in the study was 28.9% (71/246). The distribution of GNB bacteraemia was as follows: surgical unit (26.8%), special care baby unit (SCBU) (23.9%), intensive care unit (ICU) (21.1%), and paediatric ward (8.5%). The most common source of bacteraemia was pneumonia (35.2%) followed by puerperal sepsis (15.1%) and urinary tract infection (UTI) (15.1%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequently isolated gram-negative bacillus (26.6%). The overall resistance rate of extended spectrum lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL) producers, carbapenemase producers, and multi-drug resistant (MDR) organisms was 32.4%, with Acinetobacter baumannii (50%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (27.3%) exhibiting the highest level of resistance to carbapenems. Conclusion: This study showed a high MDR rate among GNB causing bacteraemia in patients at UPTH. An urgent review of the current antimicrobial prescription policy and infection control measures is recommended.