Advances in Medical Mycology (Iran)

Several international and national guidelines have been proposed for the treatment and prevention of invasive candidiasis/candidemia (IC/C) in both neonatal and pediatric patients. This article is a review of the current guidelines, recommendations, and expert panel consensus of a number of associations and conferences on the prevention and management of IC and candidemia in both pediatric and neonatal patients. The investigated resources included the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the European Conference on Infection in Leukaemia, the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, the German Speaking Mycological Society/Paul-Ehrlich Society for Chemotherapy, as well as the Canadian, Middle Eastern, and Australian guidelines...

Background and Purpose: Candida endocarditis is an infrequent disease with a high mortality rate, which commonly occurs in immunosuppressed patients with cardiac valve replacement. We reported a 70-year-old woman diagnosed with Candida prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE). This study also involved a review of all published cases of Candida PVE from 1970. Case report: Herein, we reported a 70-year-old woman with the history of severe mitral stenosis and myelodysplasia syndrome...

Background and Purpose: Candida albicans is a prevalent human fungal pathogen that can cause a wide spectrum of diseases, from superficial mucosal infections to systemic disorders, in patients with impaired immunity. Glabridin is a pyranoisoflavan originally extracted from root extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra . Glabridin can also mediate apoptosis in yeast cells by changing the mitochondrial membrane potential, activation of caspase-like proteases, and DNA cleavage. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of action of glabridin in C...

Background and Purpose: Denture stomatitis is a chronic inflammation disease of the oral mucosa, which is specified by erythematous lesions mainly in the upper palate. Nystatin as a polyene, a class of antifungal agents, is one of the effective drugs to treat denture stomatitis. Considering the expansion of utilizing herbal drugs to cure many kinds of diseases, the present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Camellia sinensis (green tea), which has the most chemical and influence similarity with nystatin, against denture stomatitis...

Background and Purpose: Aflatoxin is known as one of the most important mycotoxins threatening human life. This toxin is produced by Aspergillus species, which is the common cause of agricultural product contamination. The use of organic compounds has been always considered for the inhibition of fungal growth and toxin production. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of vitamin C on the rate of fungal growth, aflR gene expression, and toxin production...

Background and Purpose: Fungal contamination in damp places in buildings has become an increasing problem worldwide. Dampness facilitates the growth of fungi, which can cause adverse effects not only on the buildings but also on their occupants. The aim of this study was to identify indoor mold species in the buildings of Kerman province, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this study, 110 samples were obtained from surfaces of damp indoor areas in buildings randomly selected in Kerman province...

Background and Purpose: Purpureocillium lilacinum (previously known as Paecilomyces lilacinus ) and Paecilomyces variotii cause hyalohyphomycosis. Case report: In this study, we present a case of multiple subcutaneous abscesses of the lower limbs due to Purpureocillium lilacinum in a patient with myasthenia gravis and uncontrolled diabetes. Subcutaneous involvement of the lower limbs with this fungus is an unusual presentation. Pus aspirate collected on multiple occasions revealed hyaline septate hyphae under microscopic examination and Purpureocillium lilacinum grew on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar ...

Background and Purpose: Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a rare and serious disease causing acute renal failure. Diabetes is a major risk factor for this infection. Case report: Herein, we present the case of a 55-year-old female patient with diabetes and EPN caused by Candida albicans . The infection was complicated with endophthalmitis and endocarditis. The results of antifungal susceptibility analysis showed that C. albicans was resistant to fluconazole and susceptible to amphotericin-B and itraconazole...

Background and Purpose: Candida -associated denture stomatitis is one of the most common forms of oral candidiasis among denture wearers. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the antifungal effects of home-generated ozonated water on the adhesion of the C.  albicans attached to the surface of the denture base acrylic resins. Materials and Methods: For the purpose of the study, different concentrations of C. albicans were added to the tubes containing acrylic resin blocks, and then incubated for 2 h at 35°C...

Background and Purpose: Herbal toothpastes are more secure and efficacious and less poisonous due to containing natural chemicals as compared with the synthetic toothpastes. The present study aimed to formulate a polyherbal toothpaste using accessible medicinal plants in Iran and evaluate its efficiency in the protection of oral hygiene and prevention of dental caries. Materials and Methods: The developed toothpaste was made of the leaf extracts of Artemisia dracunculus , Satureja khuzestanica (Jamzad), and Myrtus communis (Linn), combined at four different dilutions, namely 1:4 (25%), 1:1 (50%), 3:4 (75%), and (100%), with sterile distilled water...

Background and Purpose: Candidemia is one of the most important fungal infections caused by Candida species. Infections and mortality caused by Candida species have been on a growing trend during the past two decades. The resistance of yeasts to antifungal drugs and their epidemiological issues have highlighted the importance of accurately distinguishing the yeasts at the species level. The technique applied for yeast identification should be fast enough to facilitate the imminent initiation of the appropriate therapy...

Background and Purpose: Catheter-related blood circulation infection is the most dangerous and serious side-effects of vascular catheters, which leads to the enhancement of the costs, mortality, and hospital stay duration, especially in the Intensive Care Unit. Regarding this, the aim of the current study was to identify the prevalence of catheter-induced candidemia in the Tehran Heart Center, a heart hospital in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on patients admitted to Tehran Heart Center for a minimum of 7 days during 18 months...

Background and Purpose: Aflatoxins are naturally produced by some species of Aspergillus, such as A. flavus and A. parasiticus . Aflatoxins reportedly have carcinogenic effects on human, poultry, and livestock, and therefore could be linked to severe human illnesses. Aflatoxin biosynthesis pathway involves different clustered genes, including structural, regular, and unassigned genes. The present study was conducted to detect aflR, aflP, and aflD as three important genes contributing to aflatoxin B1 production cycle in Aspergillus species isolated from the feedstuffs of animal husbandry...

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18869/acadpub.cmm.2.2.2.].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.29252/cmm.3.4.6.].

Background and Purpose: Cryptococcus. magnus is a non- Cryptococcus neoformans species isolated from certain plants, soil, air, and arctic glaciers. Case report: This report describes a case of a 23-year-old Iranian female with pruritus and vaginal irritation. Conventional tests and molecular analysis of the samples of vaginal discharge were performed. The mentioned analyses revealed Cryptococcus magnus as the causative agent of vaginal infection. The minimum inhibitory concentration analysis revealed that this species is susceptible to itraconazole, fluconazole, ketoconazole, and amphotericin B...

Background and Purpose: Candida parapsilosis is a common cause of candidemia in children and patients with onco-hematological diseases, septic arthritis, peritonitis, vaginitis, and nail and skin infections. Regarding this, the present study was condcuted to evaluate intra- and inter-species variation within beta-tubulin DNA sequence of C. parapsilosis complex in order to establish the utilization of this gene in the identification and phylogenetic analysis of the species. Materials and Methods: A total of 23 isolates representing three different species of C...

Background and Purpose: There are controversial findings regarding the efficacy of antifungal drugs in the treatment of a ruptured eardrum following fungal infections. Regarding this, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of the co-administration of antifungal and antibacterial agents in the treatment of otomycosis with tympanic membrane perforation. Materials and Methods: This analytical, clinical trial was conducted on 87 patients with otomycosis showing no bacterial elements in the direct observation and culture...

Background and Purpose: Candida dubliniensis is closely related to the most pathogenic and prevalent yeast, namely C. albicans. Candida species can opportunistically overgrow in vulnerable individuals and cause a variety of diseases. The current study aimed to identify and isolate C. dubliniensis species present in the Candida albicans species complex identified in the oral cavity of drug abusers. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 53 strains of C...

Background and Purpose: To the best of our knowledge, no information is available regarding the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis in gynecological practices. The goal of this study was to analyze the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and the drugs prescribed for the treatment of this condition in women followed in gynecological practices in Germany. Materials and Methods: All the women followed in 262 gynecological practices between November 2014 and October 2016 were included in this study...