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Abstract Background/aims One of the opportunistic pathogens which cause serious problems in the human immune system is Toxoplasma gondii, with toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) seen in patients affected by it. The treatment of these patients is limited, and if not treated on time, death will be possible. Methods In this study, the effects of the treatment with different doses of fluconazole (FLZ) in combination with the current treatment of acute toxoplasmosis on reducing the mortality rate and the parasitic load in the murine model in vivo were studied. The mice were treated with different doses of fluconazole alone, sulfadiazine, and pyrimethamine plus fluconazole. A day after the end of the treatment and 1 day before death, the mice’s brains were collected, and after DNA extraction and molecular tests, the parasite burden was detected. Results This study showed that a 10-day treatment with 20 mg/kg of fluconazole combined with sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine 1.40 mg/kg per day affected acute toxoplasmosis and reduced the parasitic load significantly in brain tissues and also increased the survival rate of all mice in this group until the last day of the study, in contrast to other treatment groups. These results also indicate the positive effects of combined therapy on Toxoplasma gondii and the prevention of relapse. Conclusions Reducing the parasitic burden and increasing the survival rate were more effective against acute toxoplasmosis in the combined treatment of different doses of fluconazole with current treatments than current treatments without fluconazole. In other words, combination therapy with fluconazole plus pyrimethamine reduced the parasitic burden in the brain significantly, so it could be a replacement therapy in patients with intolerance sulfadiazine.

Objective(s): Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles are remarkably potent drug nanocarriers due to their intrinsic capacity for elevated drug loading, biocompatibility, stability. This study focused on the development of iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles by the green synthesis method and PEGylated method, utilizing Eriobotrya japonica leaf extract. Methods: The physicochemical parameters were determined using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and cytotoxicity test methods. Eventually, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was utilized to coat the surface and ensure the stability of the final nanomedicine formulation. Results: The DLS evaluation of iron oxide nanoparticles revealed an average hydrodynamic size of 155 nm. FESEM showed that the network of spherical with small building blocks was formed by the green synthesis method and coated with polyethylene glycol. The X-ray Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analysis reveals a significant percentage of carbon (C), oxygen (O), as well as some sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl), and iron (Fe). The FTIR analysis verified the existence of acidic O-H and alkene, C-H, C-N, and C-O functional groups compared to the bare nanoparticle. The cytotoxicity test investigation indicated that the inhibitory concentrations (IC50) toxicity of iron oxide nanoparticles, obtained by the green synthesis method on the MCF-7 cell line, was 1763 µg/ml. Conclusions: These nanoparticles exhibited a favorable dispersion index, efficient incorporation of plant extract fractions into the nanoparticle network, and minimal toxicity in the final product. Consequently, these nanoparticles are wellsuited for biomedical research and drug delivery applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Zinc is one of the main and essential elements in pregnancy that its deficiency in this period causes disorders of the maternal and fetal immune system and disorders of the metabolic systems in pregnant women, and its deficiency is often observed in pregnant women. In this study, the effect on pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GDM) compared to pregnant women without gestational diabetes (NGT) will be discussed. Methods: In this study, fresh blood samples were taken from 50 pregnant women with gestational diabetes and 50 pregnant women without gestational diabetes. Blood samples were taken from both groups in the third trimester of pregnancy and then the obtained values were analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry for Plasma zinc level (FAAS). Zinc levels in pregnant women with gestational diabetes were higher in comparison with pregnant women with nongestational diabetes (93.4±77.57µmol/dl vs 66.35±53.74 µmol/dl). Conclusion: This study showed No significant differences between GDM and NGTwomen in the serum zinc levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes toxoplasmosis in humans and warmblooded animals. In this study, we explored the risk factors and seroprevalence of Toxoplasma infection among cancer patients and patients with blood cell disorders in Iran. We collected serum samples from each participant include 600 clinically healthy individuals, 127 patients with different types of cancer, 294 patients with red blood cell disorders, and 101 patients with white blood cell disorders and tested for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG and IgM) using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kits and analyzed the results statistically. Out of the 1122 participants, seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis among all patients with different disorders, patients with white blood cell disorders, patients with red blood cell disorders and patients with different types of cancer 9.97%, 17.82%, 11.57% and 7.09% were reported respectiveiy. Awareness campaign to educate blood cell disorders patients regarding contact with pets is salient to the reduction of the Toxoplasma burden. In addition, it is pertinent to screen patients with cancers to rule out Toxoplasma infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, is widespread across the world. It causes congenital disease and abortion in humans and domestic animals. One of the major concerns in parasitology, thus, is an effective vaccine development to control Toxoplasmosis. Materials and Methods: In the present research, a nano-liposomal vaccine containing soluble antigens (SA) was designed to evaluate the immunity and protective efficacy against T. gondii infection in BALB/c mice. Soluble antigens (SA) were achieved from tachyzoites, encapsulated in the liposome, and investigated via scanning electron microscope. Three times with 2-week intervals, BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously with different formulations. The level of protection against infection was assessed through the percent survival survey of BALB/c mice after challenge with tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain; also, the type of generated immune response was determined by evaluating the generation of cytokine (IFN-γ, IL-4) and titration of IgG isotypes. Results: The immunization with liposome DSPC+ SA and liposome DSPC+ Imiquimod + SA induced a substantial increase in anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibody as compared to the PBS group (P<0.05). The IgG2a and IFN-γ secretion highest levels were seen with liposome DSPC+ Imiquimod + SA more than the control group (P<0.01) and (P<0.0001), respectively. After challenge with tachyzoites, less mortality was detected in the immunized mice by liposome DSPC + Imiquimod + SA that was meaningfully different (P<0.01) in comparison to other groups. Conclusion: Vaccination with liposome DSPC + Imiquimod + SA showed more survival rate and cellular immune reaction against T. gondii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel coronavirus SARS-coV-2, which emerged in Wuhan in November 2019, has increasingly spread, causing a global pandemic that infected more than 444 million people, resulting in severe social and economic ramifications, and claimed more than 6,010,000 lives by March 5, 2022. The pandemic attracted global attention with consequential multiple economic, social, and clinical studies. Among causes of poor clinical outcomes of the disease are therapeutic challenges, leading to spirals of studies in search of better therapeutic alternatives. Despite the worsening circumstances of the pandemic, no drug has yet shown remarkable efficacy in the clinical management of COVID-19 patients in large-scale trials. Many potential therapeutic strategies, including the use of nucleotide analogs, chloroquine phosphate, arbidol, protease inhibitors (lopinavir/ritonavir), plasma, monoclonal antibodies, plastic antibodies based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs), traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), nanomaterials, vaccine, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), have emerged with various degrees of successes. Remdesivir and dexamethasone have now been licensed based on the results of randomized controlled trials. Baricitinib, the Janus kinase (JAK) 1/2 inhibitor, is also an attractive candidate due to its properties as a potent anti-inflammatory agent and its hypothesized offtarget antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2. Besides, human plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients is theoretically expected to be safe and effective for both therapy and post-exposure prophylaxis. In light of the literature, the correlation between the reduction of C5aR1/C5aR2 and the IL6-IL6R axis, using the available anti-IL6R mAb would be crucial. Moreover, MSCs are a potential therapeutic choice for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The coronavirus spike (S) protein that mediates the process of the infection via binding of host cells to the virus receptor is an essential focus for vaccine development. Importantly, with the number of patients increasing daily, there is an urgent need for effective therapeutic intervention. In this review, we expatiated on several strategies deployed for the treatment of COVID-19 infection., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)