Curcumin is the effective ingredient of turmeric, sometimes used as a painkiller in traditional medicine. It has extensive biological properties such as anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant activities. SARS‐CoV‐2 is a betacoronavirus developing severe pneumonitis. Inflammasome is one of the most important components of innate immunity, which exacerbates inflammation by increasing IL‐1β and IL‐18 production. Studies on viral infections have shown overactivity of inflammasome and thus the occurrence of destructive and systemic inflammation in patients. NLRP3 inflammasome has been shown to play a key role in the pathogenesis of viral diseases. The proliferation of SARS‐CoV‐2 in a wide range of cells can be combined with numerous observations of direct and indirect activation of inflammasome by other coronaviruses. Activation of the inflammasome is likely to be involved in the formation of cytokine storm. Curcumin regulates several molecules in the intracellular signal transduction pathways involved in inflammation, including IBB, NF‐kBERK1,2, AP‐1, TGF‐β, TXNIP, STAT3, PPARγ, JAK2‐STAT3, NLRP3, p38MAPK, Nrf2, Notch‐1, AMPK, TLR‐4 and MyD‐88. Due to anti‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammasome properties without any special side effects, curcumin can potentially play a role in the treatment of COVID‐19 infection along with other drug regimens.

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disease in which increased platelet destruction and thrombocytopenia are diagnostic features. In fact, the exact pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown, but genetic changes can be a potential factor in the development of ITP. In this study, the relationship between polymorphisms with platelet destruction has been studied, which leads to decreased platelet count. Relevant literature was identified by a PubMed search (2000–2016) of English language papers using the terms ‘ITP’, ‘polymorphism,’ and ‘immune system’. The majority of genetic changes (polymorphisms) occur in immune system genes, including interferon (IFN)-γ gene. These changes lead to the dysfunction of immune system and production of pathogenic antibodies against platelet surface glycoproteins such as glycoprotein IIb/IIIa, which eventually result in the destruction of platelets and increasing disease severity. In addition, IFN-γ as well as factors and cytokines involved in megakaryopoiesis, including stem cell factor and interleukin-3 (IL-3), leads to the differentiation of megakaryocytes and platelet release. Considering the fact that IFN-γ is a factor of inflammation and thrombocytopenia, coexistence of this cytokine with thrombopoietin, stem cell factor, and IL-3 results in megakaryocytes differentiation and platelet production, which can be effective to reduce disease severity and increase the platelet counts.

Background: Strongyloidiasis, one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), can be fatal in immunocompromised patients. Available data onStrongyloides stercoralisinfection in high-risk patients in Iran are limited. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence ofS. stercoralisinfection and associated risk factors among high-risk patients as well as to evaluate the sensitivity of the diagnostic tests used in the diagnose ofS. stercoralisinfection.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed from 2019 to 2020 among 300 high-risk patients in Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran. Patients with autoimmune diseases, uncontrolled diabetes, HIV/AIDS, cancer, organ transplant, hematological malignancy, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were examined using direct smear examination, formalin-ether concentration, Baermann funnel technique, agar plate culture, and ELISA test. Since agar plate culture was considered the reference diagnostic test, culture-positive samples were confirmed by PCR amplification and the sequencing of the nuclear18SrDNA (SSU) hypervariable region (HVRIV) of the parasite.Results: The prevalence ofS. stercoralisinfection was 1%, 1.3%, 2%, 2.7%, and 8.7% using direct smear examination, formalin-ether concentration, Baermann funnel technique, agar plate culture, and ELISA test, respectively. All culture-positive samples were confirmed bySSU-PCR. According to the results, the most sensitive test was ELISA, with 100% sensitivity, followed by the Baermann funnel technique with the sensitivity of 75%. Direct smear examination, formalin-ether concentration technique, and Baermann funnel technique had the highest PPV (100%) while the ELISA test had the highest NPV (100%). Significant eosinophilia was observed in the patients whose culture test was positive (7/8;P < 0.05). In the present study, the majority of the positive cases by the agar plate culture had a history of prolonged exposure to soil and of asthma and COPD and were > 60 years old.Conclusions: Given that the ELISA test had the highest NPV, the screening of all high-risk patients forS. stercoralisinfection in endemic areas is recommended prior to starting corticosteroid therapy with the ELISA test. The results indicate the importance of paying attention to patients with unknown eosinophilia in endemic areas. Ivermectin should be available to strongyloidiasis patients in the endemic areas.

Background. Infection with intestinal parasites is widespread worldwide, especially in developing countries. Intestinal parasites are known as one of the leading causes of diarrhea in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised subjects, but cancer patients are highly susceptible to contamination, and it can be deadly for them. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in immunocompromised patients in Ahvaz. Material and Methods. In this descriptive cross-sectional pilot case-control study, fecal samples were collected from 52 children with malignancies hospitalized in Baqaei2 hospital in Ahvaz. A questionnaire including demographic information, type of cancer, type of gastrointestinal symptoms, and laboratory diagnosis was completed for each patient. The collected specimens were examined by direct smear, Logul staining, and concentration. Result. The 52 stool samples were collected, 46 were female and 54 male. The age range of children enrolled in the study was from 4 months to 16 years. Of these stool samples, 38.38 were infected with a variety of parasitic intestinal infections (helminths and protozoa). In this study, protozoan parasites, Blastocystis (23), Chilomastix mesnili (1.92), Endolimax nana (7.7), and Entamoeba coli (1.92), and helminth infection, Strongyloides stercoralis (3.84), were observed and statistical analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and parasitic infection in children with cancer. Conclusion. Blastocystis and Endolimax nana are the most prevalent gastrointestinal parasitic protozoans that infect individuals admitted to Baqaei2 Hospital of Ahvaz, Iran. Since parasitic intestinal infections in immunocompromised patients lead to fatal diarrhea, children with parasitic infections must be carefully identified and treated.