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Background: Thyroid disorders are the most common cause of endocrine dysfunction among women of childbearing age. It is well-established that hypothyroid dysfunction can have significant adverse effects on pregnancy and fetal development. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of thyroid disorders among antenatal women and assess the maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women with hypothyroid disorders.
Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the antenatal clinic of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in association with the Biochemistry Department. After obtaining written informed consent, antenatal women aged 18-40 years were included in this study, regardless of their gestational period. Venous blood samples were collected from the antecubital vein, and thyrotropin, free triiodothyronine (free T3), and free thyroxine (free T4) levels were measured. Hypothyroid antenatal women were monitored throughout their pregnancies to evaluate maternal and fetal outcomes.
Results: Among the participants in this study, 149 antenatal women had thyroid disorders, with a prevalence rate of 12.6%. Subclinical hypothyroidism, overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism, and overt hyperthyroidism were observed in 6.9%, 3.2%, 1.8%, and 0.7% of cases, respectively. Maternal complications included oligohydramnios (5.8%), preeclampsia (13.3%), and preterm delivery (5%), while fetal complications included low birth weight (20.8%), hyperbilirubinemia (9.1%), and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions (13.3%).
Conclusion: A high prevalence (12.6%) of thyroid disorders, particularly hypothyroidism (10.1%), among pregnant women, emphasizing the importance of routine thyroid testing for all antenatal individuals.

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Background: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease pandemic and a major global health problem that can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Previous studies have shown an inverse link between toxoplasmosis and COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the association between COVID-19 and toxoplasmosis infection.
Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, samples were taken from 360 patients, 50% of whom were men and 50% were women. Of the patients, 180 were determined to be COVID-19-positive by the ELISA kit, and 180 were in the control group. Some demographic characteristics, such as sex, age range, and occupation, were also recorded.
Results: This study was conducted on 180 COVID-19-positive patients, of whom 26.7% were in the 16-30-year age group, 25.1% were self-employed, and 31.7% had anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. Among the 180 control patients, 21.1% had antibodies for T. gondii. Of the 57 patients who were co-infected with both COVID-19 and toxoplasmosis, men had higher infection rates (63.2%) than women (36.8%). There was a significant relationship between co-infections with COVID-19 and toxoplasmosis with occupation, but not with age.
Conclusion: The study found that people with toxoplasmosis infection have a 1.73 times higher risk of contracting COVID-19. The findings suggest that infectious agents could be a predisposing factor, possibly due to changes in cytokine levels.

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Background: Cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery problems, are the main causes of death. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of NOs and NOX2 in coronary artery patients after aerobic exercise and omega-3 intake.
Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental study in which 32 men with coronary artery disease in the age range of 55 to 65 years were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups: control, exercise, omega-3, and omega-3 + exercise. The training program consisted of 8 weeks of intermittent running training, 3 sessions per week, with an intensity of 55 to 65% of the subjects' heart rate reserve and with an emphasis on gradual overload. Subjects consumed 1000 mg of omega-3 daily.
Results: There was a significant increase (P <0.0001) in the mean expression of the NOS gene in the exercise + omega-3 group compared to the control group. The mean ratio of NOX gene expression changes in the exercise group, omega-3, and the combination of exercise + omega-3 was significantly reduced compared to the control group (P <0.0001).
Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, the ability of exercise and omega-3 supplementation to reduce the level of oxidant stress and increase homeostasis control in coronary artery insufficiency shows an important molecular mechanism that underlies the benefits of these interventions.

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Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common types of infections affecting people in community and hospital settings. Bacteria are the leading cause of UTIs, followed by fungi. 39% of all healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affecting all age groups are UTIs, causing high morbidity and mortality rates. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of causative organisms is changing due to improper antibiotic use. The study was conducted to determine the microbiological profile of both community and HAIs and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern.
Methods: Clean-catch, mid-stream urine samples collected in the universal wide-mouthed sterile containers were transported to the laboratory. Samples were processed by standard conventional microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility was done using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar plates.
Results: The most common causative organisms among gram-negative bacteria were E coli (26.05%), followed by Klebsiella spp (20.37%), and Enterococcus spp (12.81%) was more common among the gram-positive bacteria. Non-albicans Candida (64.10%) were more commonly isolated than Candida albicans (35.90%). E coli was highly susceptible to nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin, and Klebsiella spp and Enterococcus spp were similarly highly susceptible.  Antibiotic resistance was more common among bacteria isolated in HAIs.
Conclusion: In both settings, E coli was the most common causative organism. The incidence of non-albicans Candida species has increased in comparison to Candida albicans. Antimicrobial susceptibility to empirical 3rd-generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones has drastically decreased. Hospital-acquired UTIs are a rising threat to the healthcare system and community. Based on hospitals’ antimicrobial policy formulated by studying antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, empirical treatment should be chosen.
 

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Background: Pyogenic infection is a significant cause of morbidity. Infection with multidrug-resistant strains poses a major difficulty in the treatment. The study was conducted to know the bacteriological profile of pyogenic infections and their antibiotic susceptibility.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital from October 2021 to March 2022. Isolates from pus specimens were subjected to an antibiotic sensitivity test using the Kirby-Bauer method as per CLSI 2021.
Results: Out of 752 samples, etiology could be revealed in 510 (68.4%) specimens. Enterobacterales dominated the profile, with K pneumoniae isolated in the maximum number of specimens. Staphylococcus aureus was the culprit in 14% of the cases. Non-fermenters were isolated in 17% of the cases. Methicillin resistance in S aureus was 67%. Gram-positive cocci showed high sensitivity to linezolid. For both Piptaz and carbapenem, Enterobacterales and non-fermenters showed around 50% and 60% susceptibility, respectively.
Conclusion: Continuous surveillance of the aetiologic agents of pyogenic infections and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern needs to be done to design and implement the antibiotic policy for the infection in our set-up.

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ABSTRACT 
Background and objectives: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are potential candidates for the mucosal vaccine. Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), as a potent superantigen exotoxin is associated with widespread dietary poisoning and induction of toxic shock syndrome. Also, cholera toxin is the most important virulence factor in Vibrio cholera pathogenicity. CTB, a well-known immune adjuvant, enhances immunity and is mainly used to produce recombinant vaccines as antigen immunization enhancers. This study aimed to produce recombinant Lactobacillus Plantarum as a candidate vaccine against Vibrio cholera producing Cholera toxin and Staphylococcus aureus producing enterotoxin SEB. Methods:  A gene sequence encoding  SEB, devoid of superantigenic activity, and CTB were successfully designed, synthesized, cloned, and then expressed in a secreted form in the Lactobacillus Plantarum. The recombinant protein containing His-Tag was purified by Ni-NTA Agarose ion-exchange chromatography column.  The purified protein was confirmed by Western blotting. Results: The result of this study demonstrated the expression of this recombinant protein in the Lactobacillus Plantarum system by pnz7021 expression vector. The protein electrophoresis showed that the molecular weight of recombinant fusion protein was 52 kDa. Western blot analysis also confirmed the production of recombinant protein. The use of recombinant vaccines has received a great deal of attention today. LP-pnz7021–SP-rseb-ctxB can be used as a suitable candidate in recombinant vaccines against Vibrio cholera producing Cholera toxin and Staphylococcus aureus producing enterotoxin SEB.