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Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), produced by Clostridium botulinum, have been used for the treatment of various central and peripheral neurological conditions. Recent studies have suggested that BoNTs may also have a beneficial effect on pain conditions. It has been hypothesized that one of the mechanisms underlying BoNTs' analgesic effects is the inhibition of pain-related receptors' transmission to the neuronal cell membrane. BoNT application disrupts the integration of synaptic vesicles with the cellular membrane, which is responsible for transporting various receptors, including pain receptors such as TRP channels, calcium channels, sodium channels, purinergic receptors, neurokinin-1 receptors, and glutamate receptors. BoNT also modulates the opioidergic system and the GABAergic system, both of which are involved in the pain process. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these effects can provide valuable insights for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for pain management. This review aims to summarize the experimental evidence of the analgesic functions of BoNTs and discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which they can act on pain conditions by inhibiting the transmission of pain-related receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to review the literature regarding the relationship between pre- and post-transplant hypo-Albuminemia with various renal transplant-related infections. Materials and Methods: In a systematic review, we included the following keyword in the search: (Albumin*) AND (infection*) AND ("renal transplant" OR "renal transplantation" OR "renal transplants") OR ("kidney transplant" OR "kidney transplantation" OR "kidney transplants") OR "kidney grafting") with investigating databases including ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science to May 2023. All adult patients who had renal transplantation were included. Albumin levels of infected (bacterial, fungal, or viral) patients and the type of infection should be reported in the included studies. The search strategy used in this review was reported by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses literature search extension (PRISMA-S). To conduct Meta-analyses, Stata version 17 was used. Also, DerSimonian-Laird random-effects models were used for this study. In our study, heterogeneity was quantified with I2 and t2 statistics. inconsistency across studies is quantified by I2 statistics, and the impact of heterogeneity on the meta-analysis is assessed by this quantification. Results: Overall, 18 studies were found to be reporting measures of association including risk ratio, odds ratio, and, hazard ratio. Among them, 10 and 8 studies were reporting bacterial and viral types of infection. The combined risk ratios were not statistically significant, in either type of infection. The mean (SD) of ages for bacterial and viral infections were found to be 45.3 (6.4) and 50.5 (7.6) years old, respectively. Conclusion: Hypoalbuminemia is not related to post-transplantation infections, and it seems that with adherence to proper pretransplant screening of recipients, vaccination, and post-transplant surveillance and prophylaxis, the impact of infections may be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), derived from Clostridium botulinum, have been employed to treat a range of central and peripheral neurological disease. Some studies indicate that BoNT may be beneficial for pain conditions as well. It has been hypothesized that BoNTs may exert their analgesic effects by preventing the release of pain‐related neurotransmitters and neuroinflammatory agents from sensory nerve endings, suppressing glial activation, and inhibiting the transmission of pain‐related receptors to the neuronal cell membrane. In addition, there is evidence to suggest that the central analgesic effects of BoNTs are mediated through their retrograde axonal transport. The purpose of this review is to summarize the experimental evidence of the analgesic functions of BoNTs and discuss the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which they can act on pain conditions. Most of the studies reviewed in this article were conducted using BoNT/A. The PubMed database was searched from 1995 to December 2022 to identify relevant literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men, which is the second leading cause of cancer-related death. The prevalence of prostate cancer in Iran is lower than in Western and European countries. Objectives: Our study presents an updated incidence rate of prostate cancer in Iran and its provinces, displays its trends, and adds its spatial distribution to the literature. Methods: We investigate the age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) per annum of prostate cancer from 2003 to 2016 in Iran, using the data of the cancer registration available by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Crude incidence rates were calculated by dividing incident cases by the population of the whole country and each province which was available on the website of Iran Statistic Center. Age standardization was done by the World Health Organization (WHO) standard population and presented according to age and province. Results: The crude number of incident prostate cancer cases in Iran was 49188 between 2003 and 2016. Age-standardized incidence rate of prostate cancer showed an increasing trend from 4.46 in 2003 to 18.44 per 100 000 in 2016. Mazandaran (29.57 per 100 000 in 2008) and Esfahan (27.5 per 100 000 in 2016 and 26.51 per 100 000 in 2015) were provinces with the highest reported ASIRs, while Sistan and Baluchestan province had the lowest mean of ASIR(1.59 per 100 000) in the period of the study. Conclusions: The incidence of prostate cancer displays an increase of more than 4 times at the end of the study period. However, the increase in coverage of data recording and greater access to diagnostic tests during these years are effective in the reported ASIRS, but the steep slope in the incidence trend of prostate cancer compared to other cancers in Iran shows its capacity to become one of the health problems that underscore the necessity of implementation of control and prevention programs, especially in high-incidence provinces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the advances in the diagnosis and treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), it remains one of the most deadly urological cancers. At present, using immune checkpoint inhibition and their combination with antiangiogenic therapy is the standard of care in patients with advanced RCC. Unfortunately, a considerable part of tumour‐bearing hosts does not benefit from this type of treatment. However, our knowledge about the detailed role of mucin‐domain containing‐3 (TIM‐3) in the RCC cells is little, and further studies are required in this field, but its significant expression in the RCC microenvironment makes this receptor a promising target for designing new monoclonal antibodies alone or in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors for RCC immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retroperitoneal masses are a rare condition that may be discovered incidentally in routine abdominal imaging. These lesions are commonly asymptomatic but may be associated with intestinal obstruction and rarely presented with acute abdomen. They may originate from the retroperitoneal organs, including the genitourinary or gastrointestinal tract, or originate primarily from retroperitoneal space, such as retroperitoneal fat, muscle, nervous system, and lymphatic system. The malignant masses are more common than benign masses, and sarcoma is the most malignant tumor in this space. We present a case with the hilar lesion of the left kidney that was managed with laparoscopic resection. The laparoscopy revealed that the mass completely enclosed the left renal hilum, but the mass was excised without any complication. The final pathologic report revealed a benign mesenteric cyst. Although most of the retroperitoneal mass had a malignant etiology, in cystic lesions in the renal hilar area, the benign mesenteric cyst may keep in mind the differential diagnosis of a mass in this anatomic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klippel–Feil syndrome (KFS) is a congenital skeletal disorder with classic clinical triad consisting of short neck, low hairline, and limitation of neck movement. In addition to skeletal deformities, diagnosed cases of KFS may have other anomalies such as cardiac, neurologic, and genitourinary disorder. We report a case of KFS with associated anomalies such as short neck, limitation of neck movement, scoliosis of cervical spine, and dextrocardia who received successful cadaveric kidney transplantation. This article aims to present kidney transplantation as option of treatment in KFS patient with ESRD and emphasize on the difficulty in airway management of this patient. Klippel–Feil syndrome is a skeletal disease with fusion of cervical vertebrae. During surgery, attention should be paid to the difficulty in airway management and the importance of being prepared for it using video laryngoscopy. Because anatomy of vessel and bladder were normal, technique of kidney transplant surgery was routine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To describe our technique of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) in patients with mesh-repaired flank incisional hernia. Polypropylene mesh which is used for fascia strengthening in hernia repair elicits intense inflammatory reaction and the consequent fibrosis alters the characteristics of abdominal wall. Thus, prior history of flank hernia repair with mesh may result in percutaneous nephrolithotomy failure.Materials and Methods: Demographic data, renal stones characteristics, and any complication during surgery and follow-up of patients who were treated by PNL during 2011 to 2020 and had mesh in their flank region were collected.Results: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy was performed without any problem in 8 patients with guide of ultrasonography.Conclusion: Based on our experience, ultrasound-guided PNL is feasible and hypothetically superior to fluoroscopy in such circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]