Microbiology
Mohammadreza Salehi; Shahram Mahmoudi; Omid Rezahosseini; Sayed Jamal Hashemi; Kazem Ahmadikia; Farzad Aala; Nasim Khajavirad; Neda Alijani; Alireza Izadi; Muhammad Ibrahim Getso; Alireza Abdollahi; Arezoo Salami; Seyedeh Rana Khatami; Alireza Adibimehr; Mojtaba Hedayat Yaghoobi; Mohammadmahdi Sabahi; Behshad Pazooki; Farhad Yazdi; Jayran Zebardast; Arash Seifi; Malihe Hasan Nezhad; Masoud Mardani; Sadegh Khodavaisy
Abstract
Cerebral mucormycosis (CM) is a life-threatening manifestation of mucormycosis, an angioinvasive fungal infection caused by Mucorales. We sought to systematically review all available case reports to describe epidemiologic features, clinical manifestations, predisposing factors, and diagnostic and treatment ...
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Cerebral mucormycosis (CM) is a life-threatening manifestation of mucormycosis, an angioinvasive fungal infection caused by Mucorales. We sought to systematically review all available case reports to describe epidemiologic features, clinical manifestations, predisposing factors, and diagnostic and treatment strategies of CM. A systematic search was conducted using a combination of the following keywords: "Mucor", "Zygomycetes", "mucormycosis", "cereb*", "brain", "central nervous system", and "intracranial", separately and in combination until December 31st 2018. Data sources included PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Proquest without limiting the time of publication. We included 287 articles corresponding to 345 cases of CM. Out of the 345 cases, 206 (60%) were male with a median age of 44 years; 130 (38%) were reported from North America; 87 (25%) from Asia; and 84 (24%) from Europe. The median time from onset of symptoms to presentation was 3-7 days (65/345, 65%). The highest mortality was observed among patients with diabetes mellitus (P=0.003). Debridement of infected brain tissue was associated with improved survival in CM cases (OR 1.5; 95% CI 01.3-1.8; P<0.0001). The use of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB) was significantly associated with patients' recovery (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.2-3.4; P=0.003). The combination of L-AMB and posaconazole (12.5%) was more effective than the monotherapy treatment of CM cases (P=0.009). Clinicians should consider DM as an important risk factor for CM. Moreover, surgical debridement and antifungal combination therapy could be an effective approach in the management of CM patients.
Ali Zare-Mirzaie; Behrang Kazeminezhad; Mona Akbari Ghouchani
Abstract
Background& Objective: Increase in intra- and extracellular glucose levels can cause oxidative stress, and the prolonged imbalance between prooxidants and antioxidantscan lead to cell damage and the associated complications in patients with diabetes. Vitamin D acts as a strong antioxidant in ...
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Background& Objective: Increase in intra- and extracellular glucose levels can cause oxidative stress, and the prolonged imbalance between prooxidants and antioxidantscan lead to cell damage and the associated complications in patients with diabetes. Vitamin D acts as a strong antioxidant in the body and several studies emphasized on its important role to prevent oxidative stress in prediabetic and diabetic subjects. The current study aimed at determining and comparing the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in individuals with hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) below and above 6.5%, and its correlation with vitamin D levels. Methods: The current cross sectional study was conducted on a total of 107 patients with diabetes (HbA1c >6.5%) and 107 non-diabetic subjects (HbA1c <6.5%) referred to Rassool Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran from 2015 to 2016, as the sample population. The two groups were compared regarding their TAC and vitamin D serum levels and the association between vitamin D concentration and TAC was evaluated. Results: Age and body mass index (BMI)were significantly higher in patients with diabetes, compared with the serum levels of vitamin D and TAC (P P=0.003). In multivariate regression model, the duration of diabetes was also significantly associated with TAC level (beta coefficient=-0.82, P <0.001). Conclusion: The low serum levels of TAC and vitamin D in patients with diabetes could be indicative of oxidative stress in the presence of high blood glucose levels. Supplementation of vitamin D in patients with diabetes might be effective to control the negative impacts of the disease and decrease cells’ exposure to oxidative environment in prediabetes.
Aileen Azari Yam; Peyman Mohammadi Torbati
Volume 6, Issue 1 , January 2011, , Pages 13-19
Abstract
Background and Objective: The reliability and validity of monitors for self-monitoring of blood glucose are debated. We evaluated the analytical performance of Accu-check Active (Boehringer Mannheim, Roche) which is one of the most commonly used monitors in Iran.
Material and Methods: We compared ...
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Background and Objective: The reliability and validity of monitors for self-monitoring of blood glucose are debated. We evaluated the analytical performance of Accu-check Active (Boehringer Mannheim, Roche) which is one of the most commonly used monitors in Iran.
Material and Methods: We compared the monitor readings with the reference values by percentage of values within certain intervals of the reference method, regression analysis, and difference plot. We used operational process specification charts to determine the probability that different QC rules would detect an analytical error. In addition, we assessed the quality on the sigma scale.
Results: This meter met International Organization for Standardization’s criteria but not the American Diabetes Association’s stringent criteria. The monitor produced precise readings throughout the concentration range and results correlated closely with the reference method. The measured total error was 6.39% (less than allowable total error of 10%). The method reached 6 sigma at glucose levels of 6.66 and 18.87 mmol/L and a sigma of 3 to 4 at glucose level of 2.49. Repeatability and intermediate precision were acceptable.
Discussion: We concluded that the overall performance of this instrument is reasonable but in hypoglycemic range, multiple control rules and control materials are required to assure the desired quality is achieved.
Shahriar Ahmadpour; Hossein Haghir; Yousef Sadeghi
Volume 3, Issue 1 , January 2008, , Pages 1-4
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Hippocampal volume reduction has been reported in diabetes mellitus type 1. It is believed that hyperglycemia and oxidative stress mediate neuropathological changes in hippocampal neurons. In this study we aimed to study the effect of insulin and an antioxidant like ...
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Background and Objectives: Hippocampal volume reduction has been reported in diabetes mellitus type 1. It is believed that hyperglycemia and oxidative stress mediate neuropathological changes in hippocampal neurons. In this study we aimed to study the effect of insulin and an antioxidant like ascorbic acid on preventing volume changes of dentate gyrus and CA3 region of hippocampus. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out on male Wistar rats. Experimental diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (80 mg/kg). Control animals (C) received only saline. Six weeks later diabetic rats were divided into four groups as follows: diabetic (D), diabetic/insulin (D/Ins), diabetic/insulin + ascorbic acid (D/Ins+AA), and diabetic/ascorbic acid (D/AA). Treatments were continued for two weeks. At the end of treatment course, the hippocampi were removed and dentate gyrus and CA3 region volumes were measured using Cavalieri principle. Results: STZ diabetic rats showed a reduction in DG and CA3 volumes. The volume of DG and CA3 in D and D/AA groups showed a reduction in comparison with control group (p<0.01). However, the volumes of DG and CA3 in groups D/Ins and D/Ins+AA showed no significant difference related to control group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Our findings showed that insulin administration reverse volume reduction of dentate and CA3 region.
Mehrdad Roghani; Mohammad Taghi Joghataie; Mohammad Reza Jalali Nadoushan; Tourandokht Baluchnejadmojarad; Farshad Roghani Dehkordi
Volume 1, Issue 4 , September 2006, , Pages 135-140
Abstract
Background and Objective: Although diabetes mellitus is known to be one of the risk factors for dementia but neuropathic changes in the brain of diabetic patients have not been completely revealed. Therefore, this research study was done to evaluate structural changes in pyramidal neurons of hippocampal ...
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Background and Objective: Although diabetes mellitus is known to be one of the risk factors for dementia but neuropathic changes in the brain of diabetic patients have not been completely revealed. Therefore, this research study was done to evaluate structural changes in pyramidal neurons of hippocampal CA1 area of male diabetic rats using Golgi-impregnation method. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control and diabetic groups. For induction of diabetes, streptozotocin (STZ) was injected (i.p.) at a single dose of 60 mg/kg. At the end of 1st and 2nd months, rats were transcardially perfused and Golgi-impregnation method was used to evaluate the changes of dendritic spines in CA1 area. Results: It was found out that there was a significant reduction in mean density of pyramidal neuron dendritic spines after 1 and 2 months in diabetic group as compared to age-matched controls (p