Background: Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common metabolic diseases in the world. Recently, willingness to use alternative treatments to control and reduce blood sugar levels has noticeably increased. The general objective of this study is to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of the active ingredient of Berberis (Berberine) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled placebo trial, 84 patients with type 2 diabetes were evaluated. The patients were divided in 2 groups (42 each). In addition to their previous drugs, new diet, and life style each group received Berberine capsules 500 mg or placebo twice daily for 4 weeks. At baseline, weight, height, blood pressure, and BMI were calculated for all patients. Fasting plasma glucose, post-meal plasma glucose, fructosamine, lipid profile, fasting blood insulin levels, BUN, creatinine, and liver enzymes were taken from all patients before the study and after 4 weeks. HOMA-IR and HOMA-β% were calculated.

Background This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of Legionella species in the respiratory samples of patients with pneumonia symptoms from Ahvaz, Iran by culture and the real-time PCR of 23S-5S rRNA gene spacer region. Methods and results A total of 123 clinical respiratory samples including 63 pleural aspirates, 57 bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and 3 sputum were collected from 65 males and 58 females with pneumonia symptoms. All samples were cultured on the Modified Wadowsky-Yee (MWY) agar. The Legionella species was identified by routine bacteriological tests. The presence of the 16S-23S rRNA spacer region gene was investigated by real-time PCR. The Legionella species were differentiated by sequencing of 16S-23S rRNA gene. A total of 2 (1.6%) BAL specimens were positive for Legionella species by culture method. No Legionella spp. were identified in pleural aspirates and sputum samples by the culture method. Using real-time PCR, 9 (7.3%) samples including 6 BAL, 1 sputum, and 2 pleural aspirates were positive for legionella species. These species were detected in 3 (5.2%) females and 6 males (9.2%). The results of sequencing showed that eight species were L. pneumophila while one was L. cherrii. Also, the 2 isolates that were identified by culture method, were confirmed as L. pneumophila by sequencing. Conclusions The results showed that using the real-time PCR has a more efficacy for detecting of Legionella species in respiratory samples. Also, L. pneumophila was the most prevalent species circulating in the southwest region of Iran. So, periodic monitoring programs is recommended to prevent epidemics due to this bacterium. KeywordsLegionella pneumophila • 16S-23S rRNA gene • Real-time PCR • Iran * Atosa Ghorbani

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Background: With the spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, complications, coagulation symptoms, and pancytopenia caused by the disease were observed in patients. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the incidence of pancytopenia and disease prognosis in hospitalized Covid-19 patients. Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was performed on 51 Covid-19 patients with pancytopenia and 109 patients without pancytopenia referred to a referral hospital in Ahvaz (Iran) in 2021. We used descriptive and analytical statistics such as the independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test. Results: During the one-year study period, 51 out of 1839 hospitalized Covid-19 patients (2.8%) were diagnosed with pancytopenia. The mean number of hospitalization days and the number of breaths, in the group of patients with pancytopenia (7.1±5.6 days and 22.84±9.2 per minute, respectively) were significantly higher than the group without pancytopenia (3.8 ±1.8 days and 19.8±3.6 per minute, respectively) (P <0.05). In the group of patients with pancytopenia compared to the group without pancytopenia, we observed 13.7% vs. 0% of unconsciousness, 31.4% vs. 12.8% of severe lung involvement, 25.5% vs. 4.6% need for intubation, and 27.5% vs. 6.4 % death (P <0.05).

Introduction: The emergence of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in late December 2019 and its rapid global spread has led World Health Organization (WHO) to introduce it as a very dangerous pandemic. People with underlying disease and a history of organ transplantation are at higher risk for COVID-19 disease compared with healthy people. Objectives: In the present study, clinical and laboratory manifestations in the patients with COVID-19 with a history of kidney transplantation has been investigated. Patients and Methods: This study conducted on 103 COVID-19-positive kidney transplant patients as a descriptive epidemiological study. Clinical and laboratory symptoms of hospitalized renal transplanted patients have been assessed. Statistical analysis of the collected data conducted using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 22). Results: This study consisted of 103 COVID-19 patients with a history of kidney transplant, of which 64 males (62.1%) and 39 females (37.9%) with an average age of 48.5 ± 13.1 years. The most common clinical manifestations were headache (67%) and shortness of breath (66%). Elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) has been observed in 100%, 98.1% and 93.2% of patients, respectively. In 12.6% and 41.7% of patients, the degree of lung involvement was above 75% and 50%-75%, respectively. Moreover, 79.6% of patients has been discharged after improved, while 20.4% of patients died. Conclusion: We found, kidney transplantation may increase COVID-19-related mortality when compared to COVID-19-related mortality in the general population.