Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders) - Volume 21, Issue 5, 2021

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is on the rampage claiming over 297000 lives globally. Disease severity and mortality rates are higher in patients with underlying diabetes mellitus. Till date, there exists no effective vaccine or therapy against COVID-19. However, with limited clinical data, HCQ is being used for treatment and prophylaxis in patients with COVID-19. HCQ is also used as an anti-diabetic drug and has bee Read More

In December 2019 in China, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Corona Virus - 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (also 2019 nCoV) was first discovered. Later, WHO declared that SARS-CoV-2 was responsible for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The round, elliptical or pleomorphic shape of the 2019-nCoV is 60–140 nm in diameter. It comprises a single stranded genome of RNA that comprises 29891 nucleotides, a lipid shell and spike Read More

The emergence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in named as corona virus disease 19(covid-19) caused by the novel corona virus SARS-CoV-2 has caused hundreds of thousands of mortalities across the world, while the mortality rate is in millions, leading it to be declared as a global pandemic. Numerous research activities are undergoing to reveal the disease and etiological features of covid-19. In this review, Read More

Foot infections, being one of the major complications, account for nearly 15% of people with diabetes, and increase their risk for amputation in lower extremities. Though various factors contribute to the development of diabetic foot infection, poor glycemic control poses a greater risk paving the way for a number of micro-organisms to colonize the wound. In order to restore the lost granulation tissue at the ulcer site, t Read More

Background: In recent years, more attention has been focused in the practice of both crude extract of medicinal plants, and the screening plant-derived compounds as substitute scolicidal agents during hydatid cyst surgery. The present study was designed to review the protoscolicidal effects of some Iranian herbal medicines against hydatid cyst protoscoleces. Methods: English databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, W Read More

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly discovered multi-organ disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Currently, there are no official guidelines on the pharmacological treatment of COVID-19. Lopinavir/ritonavir is a licensed antiviral treatment against HIV and has shown activity against other coronaviruses. Objective: In this study, we review the evidence of the use of lopinavir/ri Read More

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is recognized as a majority opportunistic nosocomial pathogen causing hospital-acquired infection worldwide. The increasing prevalence of extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDRAB) has become a rising concern in healthcare facilities and has impeded public health due to limitation of therapeutic options and are associated with high morbidity and mortality as Read More

Aims and Objectives: In patients infected by HIV-1, some cellular biomarkers such as microRNAs have an important function in the suppression or progression of the disease. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the expression of mir-221, mir-29a, mir-155, and mir-146a in HIV-1 infected patients. Methods: The miRNAs of 60 HIV-1 infected patients (sample group) and 20 healthy controls (normal group) were extracted fro Read More

Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is a common health problem that affects different aspects of a person's life. Degeneration of the intervertebral disc is a major cause of LBP. Interleukin- 17 (IL-17) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine. In contrast, interleukin-10 (IL-10) prevents the occurrence of immune over-stimulation by inhibiting inflammation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of these cytokines in LB Read More

Background: The dog tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic parasite affecting humans and livestock across the globe. Basic research on the molecular biology and genetics of E. granulosus improves our understanding of the biology and potential drug targets in various developmental stages of E. granulosus in both definitive and intermediate hosts. There has been increasing interest in the identification Read More

Background: Acute diarrhea is a major public health problem, particularly in developing countries. Shigellosis is one of the substantial causative agents of microbial dysentery and still has a remarkable prevalence, particularly in areas with poor hygienic infrastructures. The probable existence of the deadly Shiga toxin (Stx) protein in some Shigella strains would manifest life-threatening clinical symptoms of the infection. Method Read More

Introduction: Hepatitis E infection is commonly known as acute and self-limiting hepatitis, and therefore, less attention is paid to it, whereas hepatitis E virus is a major cause of fulminant hepatitis in pregnant women and its infection during pregnancy is associated with maternal and fetal mortality. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in pregnant women in Ilam city is unknown. The aim of the present study was to investi Read More

Background: With the introduction of sofosbuvir-based regimens, high cure rates and decreased duration has been achieved. Several studies showed variances in SVR rates between different genotypes, with lower rates of SVR among cirrhotic patients. The aim of our study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of sofosbuvir-based antiviral regimens for the treatment of HCVinfected Egyptian cirrhotic patients. Method Read More

Introduction: Hydatidiosis is a serious parasitic disease in humans and livestock, worldwide. Echinococcus granulosus shows notable genetic variation among intermediate hosts. Several genotypes of the worm have been reported from different parts of Iran, but no information on the parasite genotypes status in the study region is available. The current study investigated the presence of different genotypes of E. granu Read More

Background: Bone Tuberculosis of the skull base as well as maxillofacial and oral cavity involvement can rarely and only occur in about 3% of the cases with systemic diseases or in case of pulmonary involvement. Case Presentation: A 37-year-old patient with fever and swelling in his face and neck referred to our center. After MRI and CT scan, it was revealed that multiple erosions and destructions are seen in the Hard Palate b Read More

Early recognition of iliopsoas abscess is important for limiting morbidity and mortality. Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains an important cause of iliopsoas abscess in developing countries and most patients are initiated on empirical anti-tubercular therapy. In this context, methicillin- sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) as a cause of iliopsoas abscess is rare in India. Four cases were diagnosed with pyogenic iliopsoas absces Read More