Background and Purpose:Rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) is a rare disease with acute and fulminant manifestation. This infection is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Herein, we reviewed the manifestations, underlying conditions, medical treatments, and surgical interventions in ROCM patients admitted to a tertiary referral center in northern Iran over a seven-year period.Materials and Methods:In a retrospective analysis, 15 cases of ROCM were identified from 2007 to 2013 in Bu Ali Sina Hospital, Sari, Iran. All the ROCM cases were clinically diagnosed and confirmed by histopathological and/or mycological examination. The relevant demographic data, clinical, ophthalmic, and neurologic manifestations, underlying conditions, medical treatments, and surgical interventions were recorded and analyzed.Results:The mean age of the patients was 54±11 years (age range: 28–70 years); 26.7% of the patients were male and 73.3% female (male: female ratio of 1: 2.7). Uncontrolled diabetes was noted in at least 86.7% (13/15) of the cases. The maxillary sinuses were the most frequently involved sites (66.7% of the cases) followed by the ethmoid sinus. Amphotericin B in combination with surgical debridement was used in the treatment of 80% of the cases. Furthermore, 73.3% of the patients who were diagnosed early and underwent medical and extensive surgical debridement of the infected tissues survived.Conclusion:Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus is considered to be the main predisposing factor for ROCM. To prevent and reduce mortality rate of this acute disease, early diagnosis based on clinical findings and biopsy is recommended.

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The present study showed that tinea capitis is mainly due to the anthropophilic species, and the most common species were T. tonsurans and T. violaceum. Owing to the high frequency of anthropophilic species, future studies may be useful in the development of preventive and educational strategies to reduce healthcare expenditure.

Introduction / objectives: The cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There are evidences of involvement of immune system in pathogenesis of this disease. We investigated the presence of various vasculitis-associated auto-antibodies and complement levels in a series of patients with COVID-19 infection admitted to our hospital.Methods: Forty patients with severe or critical type of COVID 19 were evaluated for symptoms, signs and laboratory tests of vasculitis syndromes including rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-nuclear antibody (ANA), anti dsDNA, c and p anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (c ANCA and p ANCA) and complement levels. Descriptive statistics methods were used to describe the clinical / laboratory findings.Results: Forty patients with severe to critical illness were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the patients was 48.5 ± 9.8 years. All patients had pulmonary involvement in lung CT scan. Lymphopenia in 19 (47.5%), raised creatinine in 8(20%) and hyperbilirubinemia in 19(47.5%) of patients were seen. Vasculitis laboratory test results included: RF in 2 patients, ANA in 3 patients and ANCA in one patient. 17(42.5%) of patients had hypocomplementemia in one or more complement tests. Of the four patients who were expired, three had a decrease in complement.Conclusion: In 17 of patients (42.5%) we detected low complement levels. A decrease in complement levels may predict a critical state of the disease. Therefore, measuring its levels may be helpful in making earlier decisions to initiate disease-suppressing treatments, including corticosteroids and IVIG.

Conclusively, the upregulation of WNTt16 gene expression in tumoral tissues was impressive and the P value was 0.005 and the SE range was 0.064-142.154.