Worldwide prevalence of microbial agents’ coinfection among COVID‐19 patients: A comprehensive updated systematic review and meta‐analysis

BackgroundTo provide information about pathogens’ coinfection prevalence with SARS‐CoV‐2 could be a real help to save patients’ lives. This study aims to evaluate the pathogens’ coinfection prevalence among COVID‐19 patients.MethodIn order to find all of the relevant articles, we used systematic search approach. Research‐based databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus, without language restrictions, were searched to identify the relevant bacterial, fungal, and viral coinfections among COVID‐19 cases from December 1, 2019, to August 23, 2021. In order to dig deeper, other scientific repositories such as Medrxiv were probed.ResultsA total of 13,023 studies were found through systematic search. After thorough analysis, only 64 studies with 61,547 patients were included in the study. The most common causative agents of coinfection among COVID‐19 patients were bacteria (pooled prevalence: 20.97%; 95% CI: 15.95–26.46; I ²: 99.9%) and less frequent were virus coinfections (pooled prevalence: 12.58%; 95% CI: 7.31–18.96; I ²: 98.7%). The pooled prevalence of fungal coinfections was also 12.60% (95% CI: 7.84–17.36; I ²: 98.3%). Meta‐regression analysis showed that the age sample size and WHO geographic region did not influenced heterogeneity.ConclusionWe identified a high prevalence of pathogenic microorganism coinfection among COVID‐19 patients. Because of this rate of coinfection empirical use of antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral treatment are advisable specifically at the early stage of COVID‐19 infection. We also suggest running simultaneously diagnostic tests to identify other microbiological agents’ coinfection with SARS‐CoV‐2.     

Aggressive fibromatosis in the submandibular region of a child

Aggressive fibromatosis is proliferation of well‐differentiated fibroblasts. Submandibular region is rare location for fibromatosis. We report a case of a rapidly growing mass in submandibular region of 5‐year‐old girl, excised surgically and ascertained to be aggressive fibromatosis on histological examination. Recovery was uneventful, and she was disease‐free in 6‐month follow‐up.     

Energy Transport along α-Helix Protein Chains: External Drives and Multifractal Analysis

Energy transport within biological systems is critical for biological functions in living cells and for technological applications in molecular motors. Biological systems have very complex dynamics supporting a large number of biochemical and biophysical processes. In the current work, we study the energy transport along protein chains. We examine the influence of different factors such as temperature, salt concentration, and external mechanical drive on the energy flux through protein chains. We obtain that energy fluctuations around the average value for short chains are greater than for longer chains. In addition, the external mechanical load is the most effective agent on bioenergy transport along the studied protein systems. Our results can help design a functional nano-scaled molecular motor based on energy transport along protein chains.     

Preparation of NiFe2O4@MIL-101(Fe)/GO as a novel nanocarrier and investigation of its antimicrobial properties

In this research, we have investigated a novel magnetic nanocomposite including NiFe₂O₄@MIL-101(Fe)/GO for the delivery of the antibiotic tetracycline (TC). Moreover, the antibacterial activity of NiFe₂O₄@MIL-101(Fe)/GO, NiFe₂O₄@MIL-101(Fe)/GO/TC and pure TC was evaluated by agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods on both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. In addition, the cytotoxicity of NiFe₂O₄@MIL-101(Fe)/GO/TC on HeLa cells was determined by an MTT assay which showed good results. The structure of the prepared nanocarrier was investigated by various spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The results of this study showed that 98% of the TC was loaded on the synthesized nanocomposite. Drug release occurred at pH: 7.4 (phosphate buffer saline) and pH: 5.0 (acetate buffer) within 3 days, resulting in 77% and 85% release of the drug, respectively.

A schematic exhibition of the synthetic procedure of NiFe₂O₄@MIL-101(Fe)/GO as TC carrier and antibacterial activities.     

Mean drop behavior in the standard liquid–liquid extraction systems on an L-shaped pulsed sieve-plate column: experiment and modeling

In this study, the effect of operating parameters on drop behavior was investigated experimentally in an L-shaped pulsed sieve-plate column (LPSPC). LPSPC offers enhanced efficiency due to a high mixing rate provided by pneumatic or hydraulic pulsation of the liquids, which makes the dispersed phase drops coalesce and break. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD) approach was applied for experimental modeling of three standard systems including toluene–water, butyl acetate–water, and butanol–water. Four parameters including pulsation intensity, interfacial tension, dispersion, and continuous phase velocities were examined in the experiments. Experimental results indicated that an increase in the pulsation intensity led to a decrease in Sauter mean diameter (SMD), and an increase in the flow rates of the phase cause an increase in SMD, although the effect of the flow rates on SMD was much lower than the pulsation intensity. Based on the obtained experimental data, new correlations have been proposed to predict SMD in two sections of the column tested by the goodness-of-fit statistics through analysis of variance. The coefficient of determination was achieved at 0.998 and 0.978 for horizontal and vertical sections, respectively, which demonstrated that the presented models estimated the experimental values very well. The optimum SMDs were obtained at 0.789 mm and 0.639 mm for the horizontal and vertical sections, respectively.

The effect of operating parameters on drop behavior was investigated experimentally in a L-shaped pulsed sieve-plate column (LPSPC).     

Evaluation of therapeutic laser influences on the healing of third-degree burns in rats according to different wavelengths

Introduction: One of the most important innovative methods for tissue repair promotion is therapeutic lasers with photobiomodulution effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of four different wavelengths of therapeutic laser (405, 532, 660 and 810 nm) on healing of third-degree burns from both clinical and pathological standpoints in rats. Materials and methods: 60 male Wistar rats were used. Animals were anesthetized and dorsal hairs were shaved and third-degree skin burns were created by use of a 95°C copper stamp. Lesions were irradiated with 1.5 J/cm² energy densities and 200 mW/cm² power densities. Results: Statistical analyses of the “wound contraction” changes between five groups during the study showed more reduction in wound size in all laser groups in comparison with the control group; but these differences were not statistically significant except between red and blue lasers on the last day of experiment. Discussion: Results of our study showed that using therapeutic lasers with green, blue, red, and infrared wavelengths may accelerate healing process. This trend is more obvious in red and infrared groups especially after acute phase, however, this effect was neither statistically nor clinically significant.     

A giant early second‐trimester placental chorioangioma associated with isolated proteinuria and histopathologically confirmed placental insufficiency,a novel association: A case report

We present a case of giant chorioangioma at 18 weeks of gestation leading to fetal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy without other evidences of fetal volume overload and late‐onset isolated proteinuria. Oligohydramnios developed at term and placental insufficiency was confirmed on histopathological examination and a nonanemic nonthrombocytopenic normal weight healthy baby was delivered.     

Synthetic Zeolites as Controlled‐Release Delivery Systems for Anti‐Inflammatory Drugs

Scientists have always been trying to use artificial zeolites to make modified‐release drug delivery systems in the gastrointestinal tract. An ideal carrier should have the capability to release the drug in the intestine, which is the main area of absorption. Zeolites are mineral aluminosilicate compounds with regular structure and huge porosity, which are available in natural and artificial forms. In this study, soaking, filtration and solvent evaporation methods were used to load the drugs after activation of the zeolites. Weight measurement, spectroscopy FTIR, thermogravimetry and scanning electronic microscope were used to determine drug loading on the systems. Finally, consideration of drug release was made in a simulated gastric fluid and a simulated intestinal fluid for all matrixes (zeolites containing drugs) and drugs without zeolites. Diclofenac sodium (D) and piroxicam (P) were used as the drug models, and zeolites X and Y as the carriers. Drug loading percentage showed that over 90% of drugs were loaded on zeolites. Dissolution tests in stomach pH environment showed that the control samples (drug without zeolite) released considerable amount of drugs (about 90%) within first 15 min when it was about 10–20% for the matrixes. These results are favorable as NSAIDs irritate the stomach wall and it is ideal not to release much drugs in the stomach. Furthermore, release rate of drugs from matrixes has shown slower rate in comparison with control samples in intestine pH environment.