Search

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the possible relationship between the COVID-19 with laboratory-confirmed CL-registered cases with a history of scar compared with healthy volunteer participants. METHODS: This case-control retrospective study was conducted in southeastern Iran with a high anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) burden. RESULTS: Overall, n=1,010 cases of CL consisting of n=479 male and n=531 female were analyzed for probable infection with SARS-CoV-2. Altogether, in the case group, two men and one woman (0.3%) were afflicted with a mild form of COVID-19 disease, and none of them were hospitalized or died. In contrast, out of n=2,020 healthy participants, n=57 (2.9%) contracted laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, including mild (66.7%), hospitalized (26.3%) and critical and death (3.5%, each). There was a strong negative association between CL infection and COVID-19. The burden of COVID-19 in CL-cured participants significantly reduced the morbidity (OR=0.12, CI: 0.03 - 0.30 and P

Background and Purpose The goal of this study was to systematically review the utility of serum biomarkers in the setting of ischemic stroke (IS) to predict long-term outcome. Methods A systematic literature review was performed using the PubMed and MEDLINE databases for studies published between 1986-2018. All studies assessing long-term functional outcome (defined as 30 days or greater) following IS with respect to serum biomarkers were included. Data were extracted and pooled using a meta-analysis of odds ratios. Results Of the total 2928 articles in the original literature search, 183 studies were ultimately selected. A total of 127 serum biomarkers were included. Biomarkers were grouped into several categories: inflammatory (32), peptide/enzymatic (30), oxidative/metabolic (28), hormone/steroid based (23), and hematologic/vascular (14). The most commonly studied biomarkers in each category were found to be CRP, S100β, albumin, copeptin, and D-dimer. With the exception of S100β, all were found to be statistically associated with >30-day outcome after ischemic stroke. Conclusions Serum-based biomarkers have the potential to predict functional outcome in IS patients. This meta-analysis has identified CRP, albumin, copeptin, and D-dimer to be significantly associated with long-term outcome after IS. These biomarkers have the potential to serve as a platform for prognosticating stroke outcomes after 30 days. These serum biomarkers, some of which are routinely ordered, can be combined with imaging biomarkers and used in artificial intelligence algorithms to provide refined predictive outcomes after injury. Ultimately these tools will assist physicians in providing guidance to families with regards to long-term independence of patients.

Background and Objective:Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly prevalent malignancy leading to death across the world. However, patient survival is greatly affected following a diagnosis of diabetes. The purpose of this research was to study the correlation between diabetes and controlling risk factors with the survival rate of colorectal cancer patients. Materials and Methods:This retrospective follow‐up study was done on 356 patients with colorectal cancer, who had been diagnosed during 1999-2013. Notably, the patients were selected using systematic random sampling. The patients were allocated into two groups according to the history of diabetes and its absence. The survival rate of the patients was assessed during the follow-up period up to 2018. Results:In colorectal cancer patients, the diabetes prevalence was 11%. The mean survival rate in patients with CRC and non-colorectal non-diabetic was 5.541±0.227 years and in diabetic patients was 0.508 ±5.246 years. No significant difference was apperceived in the survival rate of the diabetic and non-diabetic patients (P = 0.57). The risk of mortality in patients with CRC who were not treated with insulin increased and their survival decreased (P= 0.05). In metastatic stage of lymph nodes, it was 0.314 higher in patients with the metastasis to distant regions (P = 0.000). Conclusion:Based on the results, training diabetic patients regarding effective therapies in controlling risk factors, hyperglycemia, and screening for rapid diagnosis of CRC are essential to improve health and increase survival rate in diabetic patients.

The novel coronavirus, which began spreading from China Wuhan and gradually spreaded to most countries, led to the announcement by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, as a new pandemic. The most important point presented by the World Health Organization about this disease is to better understand the risk factors that exacerbate the course of the disease and worsen its prognosis. Due to the high majority of cardio metabolic risk factors like obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia among the population over 60 years old and higher, these cardio metabolic risk factors along with the age of these people could worsen the prognosis of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) and its mortality. In this study, we aimed to review the articles from the beginning of the pandemic on the impression of cardio metabolic risk factors on COVID-19 and the effectiveness of COVID-19 on how to manage these diseases. All the factors studied in this article, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and obesity exacerbate the course of Covid-19 disease by different mechanisms, and the inflammatory process caused by coronavirus can also create a vicious cycle in controlling these diseases for patients.

Dental caries is known as a major oral health problem induced by Streptococcus . and Lactobacillus as primary contributing microorganisms responsible for this condition. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of Green tea/ Green coffee Bean Extracts and Chlorhexidine Gluconate on Streptococcus mutans count. The study was conducted among 90 preschool children aged from 4 to 6 years. Statistical analysis was done using the Shapiro-Wilk test, Friedman test, Chi-square test, paired sample t-test, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Mann-Whitney U test at a signi icance level of 0.05. The results demonstrated a signi icant difference in the mean of salivary S. mutans count after administration of CHG (p-value=0.001) and GT (p-value=0.02) between three different times. The study results indicate the bene icial effects of Green Tea/ Green Coffee Bean extracts and Chlorhexidine Gluconate on salivary Strepto- coccus mutans count.

Targeting inhibitory receptors on T cells in the tumor sites can promote effective anti-tumor immunity in bladder cancer. Unfortunately, the main dilemma is that a large number of patients remain refractory to CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 blockade therapies. T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (Tim-3) is an inhibitory receptor expressed on T cells and innate immune cells. Both in vivo and in vitro data from patients with advanced cancers support the role of Tim-3 inhibition in satisfactory anti-tumor immunity. In bladder cancer, the expression level of Tim-3 significantly increases with advanced pathological grade and T stage. Therefore, rationality implies that designing novel monoclonal antibodies reactive with Tim-3 alone or in combination with other checkpoint inhibitors may indicate a favorable response in bladder cancer. Here, we aimed to investigate the possibility of targeting Tim-3 as a novel anti-cancer treatment for bladder cancer.

Background: Chronic diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), as one of the hot topics in the literature, have frequently been associated with sexual dysfunction. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of mindfulness psycho educational group intervention on improving the sexual function of women with MS. Methods: To this end, 350 women with MS from Isfahan province, who had medical records in Kashani Hospital and Isfahan MS Center, were first screened out by the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), among whom the ones scored below 28 were clinically diagnosed with sexual dysfunction. Then 47 patients with sexual dysfunction were randomly assigned to experimental (N=24) and control (N=23) groups using the simple random sampling method. The experimental group received five sessions of Mindfulness-Based Group Psychotherapy; however, the control group received no treatment. The two groups were assessed by a pre-test, post-test, and two follow-ups (one and two months after the end of the intervention, respectively), and MANCOVA was used to analyze the data in SPSS software 16. Results: According to the results, mindfulness-based psycho educational group therapy was effective in improving the sexual function of women with MS in all the six domains (namely desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction, and pain) and the total FSFI score (p≤.05)). Conclusion: The findings revealed the effectiveness of psycho educational group intervention in improving the sexual function of women with MS. Accordingly, clinicians and therapists working with this group of women are recommended to include mindfulness in their interventions.

Background Traditional and complementary medicines (TC demographic characteristics, disorders diagnosis, and information related to T&CM. Results During the past year 36.5 % of GI patients had used at least one T&CM therapy. Of individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and constipation, T&CM therapies were used by 51 %, 27 %, 6.74 %, and 13.5 %, respectively. There was a direct relationship between the duration of the disorders and the use of T&CM, with longer duration resulting in more T&CM use (P = 0.008). Logistic regression analysis indicated that individuals ≥ 60 years old were more likely to use T&CM use (P = 0.019), while high level of education showed reverse significant relationship (P = 0.002). Herbal medicine was the most frequently used T&CM therapy, with the most popular herbs were Shirazi thyme (Zataria multiflora - 60.7 %) and yellow chamomile (Cota tinctoria- 20.2 %). Most T&CM users (72 %) reported the effectiveness of T&CM in management of gastrointestinal conditions. However, 78.7 % of the patients had not consulted their physicians prior to their utilization of T&CM. Conclusion Given the high frequency of use of T&CM in patients with GI disorders, patients and health care providers have to be educated to prevent the potential complications and guide effective and appropriate T&CM use.

Breast cancer (BC) as a leading cause of cancer death among women, exhibits a wide range of genetic heterogeneity in affected individuals. Satisfactory management of BC depends on early diagnosis and proper monitoring of patients’ response to therapy. In this study, we aimed to assess the relation between the expression patterns of blood-based microRNAs (miRNAs) with demographic characteristics of the patients with BC in an attempt to find novel diagnostic markers for BC with acceptable precision in clinical applications. To this end, we performed comprehensive statistical analysis of the data of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the blood miRNome dataset (GSE31309). As a result, 21 miRNAs were selected for experimental verification by quantitative RT-PCR on blood samples of 70 BC patients and 60 normal individuals (without any lesions or benign breast diseases). Statistical one-way ANOVA revealed no significant difference in the blood levels of the selected miRNAs in BC patients compared to any lesions or benign breast diseases. However, the multi-marker panel consisting of hsa-miR-106b-5p, −126-3p, −140-3p, −193a-5p, and −10b-5p could detect early-stages of BC with 0.79 sensitivity, 0.86 specificity and 0.82 accuracy. Furthermore, this multi-marker panel showed the potential of detecting benign breast diseases from BC patients with 0.67 sensitivity, 0.80 specificity, and 0.74 accuracy. In conclusion, these data indicate that the present panel might be considered an asset in detecting benign breast disease and BC.

OBJECTIVES: The rapid rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across the elderly has attracted much attention in Iran due to the high rate of population aging in the country. The current survey intended to evaluate the prevalence of and factors associated with five NCDs in the elderly residents of Birjand, a metropolis of South Khorasan, Iran. METHODS: Following an observational design, 1820 elderly dwellers of Birjand aged ≥ 60 years residing in urban or rural areas were explored. Data on the target NCDS and socio-demographic features, health behavioral factors, and objective assessment of height and weight were collected using interviews. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, and cancer was 55.2% (1004/1819), 25.5% (463/1819), 1.0% (18/1807), 4.4% (80/1810), and 1.8% (33/1816), respectively. There was no gender difference concerning the prevalence of COPD, whereas the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and cancer was higher in women than men. Stroke was conversely higher in males than females. The common correlations of the five main NCDs were locality of residence and low body mass index (BMI). Rural residents had higher odds of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and lower odds of stroke. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and stroke were associated with a low BMI. Gender, age, and occupation were found to be associated with some of the NCDs. Retired and housewives had more chance to have hypertension and diabetes mellitus than the unemployed elderly. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrated that hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and stroke are the three prevalent NCDs among elders in the area and warrant a specific focus on reducing the burden of diseases and aligning healthcare services to prepare the whole needs of this population.

BACKGROUND Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a neurocutaneous disorder that results in a predisposition to the growth of multiple tumors in the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and the skin. The clinical manifestations of neurofibromatosis are associated with loss of neurofibromin expression which causes the upregulation of the RAS pathway. Although neurofibromatosis type 1 can be diagnosed based on the National Institutes of Health criteria, sometimes the diagnosis is difficult, in cases where the characteristic features do not develop. Moreover, other RAS-related disorders may present with significantly overlapping clinical features. AIMS To determine the clinical and molecular genetic characteristics of Turkish patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS For the genetic analysis of 27 Turkish families clinically diagnosed with NF1 between 1990 and 2019, we used a multi-step process consisting of next-generation sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and array-comparative genomic hybridization. RESULTS In this study, we identified 11 novel and 11 previously reported single-nucleotide variants in 22 families. Whole gene deletions were detected by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis in 3 families. Of those, array comparative genomic hybridization analysis defined a 17q11.2 deletion in 4 patients from 2 families and 1.2-Mb involving 1 unrelated patient. All patients with a deletion had facial dysmorphism, suggesting a peculiar phenotype in this group. We could not find any pathogenic variant in the 2 families that met the National Institutes of Health criteria. CONCLUSION The novel pathogenic variants identified in this study broaden the spectrum of pathogenic variants in NF1 and provide better clinical characterization of NF1. RNA-seq experiments are recommended in patients who meet the National Institutes of Health diagnostic criteria for NF but have not identified any variants in nextgeneration sequencing, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, or array-comparative genomic hybridization analysis.

Available evidence suggests a favorable association between adherence to a plant-based diet and disease prevention, but data on the link between such dietary intakes and cancer are scarce. We examined the association between the overall plant-based diet (PDI), healthy plant-based diet (hPDI), and unhealthy plant-based diet (uPDI) and risk of glioma. This case–control study was conducted on 128 newly diagnosed glioma patients, and 256 hospital-based controls. Cases were diagnosed by pathological test and controls were selected from hospitalized people in orthopedic and surgical wards. Dietary intakes were assessed using a validated Block-format 123-items food frequency questionnaire. Scores of plant-based dietary patterns were calculated using the method suggested by Satija et al. After controlling for potential confounders, individuals with higher scores of PDI (OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32–0.91, P-trend P-trend P-trend = 0.02). Adherence to PDI and hPDI was associated with a lower odds of glioma, while greater adherence to uPDI was directly associated with the likelihood of glioma. Further prospective cohort studies are needed to examine our findings.

IntroductionIt remains a matter of debate whether traditional concepts regarding the nature of food affect the development and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS).To date, there are limited studies that have investigated the association between MS and dietary patterns based on the categories of food nature (hot, cold, or balanced) defined in traditional medicine.MethodThis case-control study was conducted from October 2019 to February 2020. In total, 60 patients diagnosed with MS within the preceding 6 months and referred to our neurology outpatient clinic were included in our case group. The control group included 180 patients who were referred to the same center for general or orthopedic surgery. Dietary intake was assessed in both groups through a reliable and valid semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Data were assessed using principal component analysis.ResultsThe mean age of the participants was 44.9 ± 17.33 years. The analysis showed that four food patterns were distinguished (eigenvalue > 1), namely “additives and cold-natured foods”, “hot and balanced foods and nuts”, “dairy and legumes”, and “hot and balanced starches”. These food patterns explained 57.8% of the total variance.After adjusting all confounding factors, individuals in the highest quartile and medium quartile of “additives and cold-natured foods” had an elevated MS risk compared with the lowest quartile (OR = 7.21, 95%CI = 2.01–12.38 and OR = 3.37, 95%CI = 1.02–11.35, respectively). Furthermore, individuals in the highest quartile of the “hot and balanced foods and nuts” group were protected against MS compared with its lowest quartile (OR = 0.28, 95%CI = 0.08–0.90). Moreover, a protective effect against MS was seen in the highest quartile of the “hot and balanced starches” group relative to its lowest quartile (OR = 0.34, 95%CI = 0.12–0.98). No significant association was found between “dairy and legumes” and the risk of MS.ConclusionThis study revealed that dietary patterns based on the traditional concept of food nature might be associated with the risk of developing MS. This represents the first work in this area, so further research is recommended.

This study aimed to assess the associated-risk determinants for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) compared to patients without DM. This case–control study was performed between 2017 and 2019 in southeastern Iran. Overall, 206 participants were selected from patients with DM without CL (11.2%), patients with CL without DM (6.2%), and DM patients concomitance with CL (27.6%) as case groups and healthy individuals as a control group 64 (76%). These cases were compared for parasitological, immunological, biochemical, and hematological parameters. The findings demonstrated that parasitological factors regarding the number, duration, and size of the lesion in CL patients showed a significant difference among patients with and without DM (p

Purpose: The use of amniotic membrane has been suggested in the treatment ofinfectious keratitis for its intrinsic anti-infective properties probably mediated by its antiinflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) along with ciprofloxacin to cure the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis. Methods: In total, 28 rabbits were selected and divided in four groups as follows: group 1 as control, group 2 with amniotic membrane, group 3 with ciprofloxacin, and group 4 with amniotic membrane combined with ciprofloxacin. About 0.05 cc suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 27853 ATCC was injected into corneal stroma. Results: The results showed groups of AMT, AMT + ciprofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin had 0% perforation while the control group had 85.6%. Average infiltration of 5.5 mm was observed in ciprofloxacin group, 5 mm in AMT + ciprofloxacin group, 24 mm in AMT group, and finally 23.75 mm for control. Amniotic membrane showed to be effective in prevention of cornea perforation as well as remission of Pseudomonas keratitis. There was no significant difference between ciprofloxacin groups in comparison with ciprofloxacin + AMT group. However, regarding the anti-inflammatory effect, the process of improvement of inflammation in ciprofloxacin + AMT group was faster. Conclusion: Transplantation of amniotic membrane in the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis treatment remarkably prevents the disease and it can be used to control its process.

The reports show that rutin has good potentials as an anticancer agent; however, rutin has poor bioavailability due to its low aqueous solubility. The present study was aimed at preparing and evaluating physicochemical properties as well as the anticancer activities of rutin nanocrystals (RNs). RNs were prepared via the ultrasonication method. The prepared nanocrystals then were physicochemically characterized by the conventional techniques. The cytotoxic effect of RNs and free rutin on the HN5 head and neck squamous carcinoma cell line was assessed. The HGF1-PI1 cells as normal oral cells were treated by RNs. Cells were also exposed to rutin and RNs to determine their effects on the expression of caspase-8, caspase-9, Bcl-2, and Bax genes. The prepared RNs have a mean particle size of 75 ± 0.16 nm and quasispherical morphology. Rutin displayed no significant cytotoxic effect on HN5 cells to 2000 μM. However, RNs displayed a cytotoxic effect with IC50 of 30.51 μM and 27.34 μM in 24 and 48 h incubation times, respectively ( p < 0.05 ). RNs had cytotoxic effect 100 times more than rutin on HN5 cells. There was no significant cytotoxic effect on HGF1-PI1 treated by RNs in 24 and 48 h. The expression of Bcl-2 mRNA was significantly decreased in attendance of RNs compared to the control group ( p < 0.05 ). The increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was revealed within IC50 of RNs in 24 h. Our results confirm that the anticancer effect of RNs is significantly more than that of rutin. The activation of the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway of RNs occurred via modulation of Bcl-2 and Bax expression. These results suggest that RNs may be useful in the development of a cancer therapy protocol.

Oxidative stress plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Long term exposure to increased levels of pro-oxidant factors can cause structural defects at a mitochondrial DNA level, as well as functional alteration of several enzymes and cellular structures leading to aberrations in gene expression. The modern lifestyle associated with processed food, exposure to a wide range of chemicals and lack of exercise plays an important role in oxidative stress induction. However, the use of medicinal plants with antioxidant properties has been exploited for their ability to treat or prevent several human pathologies in which oxidative stress seems to be one of the causes. In this review we discuss the diseases in which oxidative stress is one of the triggers and the plant-derived antioxidant compounds with their mechanisms of antioxidant defenses that can help in the prevention of these diseases. Finally, both the beneficial and detrimental effects of antioxidant molecules that are used to reduce oxidative stress in several human conditions are discussed. This work was supported by the CONICYT PIA/APOYO CCTE AFB170007.

Background: Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic disorder caused by a defect in the secretion or function of insulin. Arginine is an amino acid that is lower in these patients. Octopine is an arginine derivative. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effect of opine on glucose and stress oxidative indices in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods: In this study, 16 male mice were divided into two groups including diabetic and non-diabetic controls and 16 male mice in two experimental groups. The first experimental group received opine treatment at 50 mg and second experimental group received opine treatment at 100 mg of opine for 3 weeks. Diabetes was induced in diabetic rats through intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg of Streptozotocin. Blood samples were enrolled from mice in fasting status and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured by thiobarbituric acid method, glucose levels using Pars-Azmoon Company Kit, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity using Randox (England) kits. Results: The opine consumption had no significant effect on serum glucose and MDA, while 50 mg opine treatment significantly increased the activity of SOD and GPX enzymes in comparison with diabetic rats. Conclusion: The consumption of octopine had no improving effect on blood glucose levels but it improved antioxidant status in diabetic rats.

A 16-year-old hemophilia-A patient presented with symptomatic atrial septal defect (ASD). Managing bleeding during cardiovascular surgeries is a significant challenge, even for none-hemophilic patients, due to heparin administration, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) coagulopathy and surgical complications. This essay is an effort to discuss ASD, CPB effects on the coagulation system, and highlight some approaches to lower bleeding in hemophilic patients with congenital heart disease.

Due to its vast therapeutic potential, the plant-derived polyphenol curcumin is utilized in an ever-growing number of health-related applications. Here, we report the extraction methodologies, therapeutic properties, advantages and disadvantages linked to curcumin employment, and the new strategies addressed to improve its effectiveness by employing advanced nanocarriers. The emerging nanotechnology applications used to enhance CUR bioavailability and its targeted delivery in specific pathological conditions are collected and discussed. In particular, new aspects concerning the main strategic nanocarriers employed for treating inflammation and oxidative stress-related diseases are reported and discussed, with specific emphasis on those topically employed in conditions such as wounds, arthritis, or psoriasis and others used in pathologies such as bowel (colitis), neurodegenerative (Alzheimer’s or dementia), cardiovascular (atherosclerosis), and lung (asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) diseases. A brief overview of the relevant clinical trials is also included. We believe the review can provide the readers with an overview of the nanostrategies currently employed to improve CUR therapeutic applications in the highlighted pathological conditions.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the correlation between early sexual intercourse and its consequences among men who inject drugs (MWID) in Iran. In this cross-sectional survey, 2399 subjects who inject drugs were recruited using facility-based sampling from ten cities in 2014. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data regarding the participants’ sexual and drug-related practices. Early sexual intercourse was defined as having sex before the age of 18 years old. Among the study samples, 2333 subjects were men and 2027 of them reported a lifetime history of their sexual intercourse. Totally, 1978 (97.6%) MWID reported their age at the time of their first sexual intercourse. The prevalence of early sexual intercourse was estimated as 32.9%. Using the multivariable logistic regression, it was shown that early sexual contact is significantly associated with age

Endometriosis is defined as a common gynecologic and inflammatory disease. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) gene and its protein level might play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. The present study aimed for the first time to assess the associations between endometriosis risk and − 509 C/T (rs1800469) variant of the TGF-β1 gene as well as TGF-β1 mRNA expression in eutopic endometrium tissue of patients with and without endometriosis among a group of Iranian women. Genotyping was carried out in 100 endometriosis patients (cases) with confirmed histological diagnosis of endometriosis and 197 non-endometriosis subjects (controls). The expression level of TGF-β1 mRNA was determined using Real-Time PCR assay in 15 eutopic endometrium tissue of women with endometriosis and 15 healthy controls. There was a significant association for allele and genotype frequencies of rs1800469 variant and endometriosis. No significant difference for TGF-β1 expression was observed between eutopic endometrium of patients and healthy group. Also, evaluation of TGF-β1expression across the menstrual cycle showed the same level of TGF-β1 among case and control subjects. Our investigations indicated enough evidence for the effect of TGF-β1 genetic variant on endometriosis risk in an Iranian population. Furthermore, we could not find any relations between TGF-β1 mRNA expression and susceptibility to endometriosis.

Benign fibrous histiocytoma of the para nasal sinus is a rare tumor of this region which originates from mesenchymal cells. A 9-year-old girl presented with gradually enlarging mass above the medial canthus over 3 months. Orbital computerized tomography scan showed a round well-differentiated homogeneous mass in the anterior ethmoidal sinus. Histology and immunohistochemistry analysis after excision revealed proliferation of spindle-shaped fibroblasts in storiform pattern and histiocytes without mitosis and anaplasia. After 9 months from surgical excision, recurrence occurred which resulted in total excision again. This is the first reported case of benign fibrous histiocytoma involving the ethmoid sinus in Iranian people. Rare sinus tumor should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sinus tumors.

Androgen deprivation therapy remains the backbone therapy for the treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). In recent years, several treatments, including docetaxel, abiraterone + prednisone, enzalutamide, and apalutamide, have each been shown to demonstrate survival benefit when used upfront along with androgen deprivation therapy. However, treatment selection for an individual patient remains a challenge. There is no high level clinical evidence for treatment selection among these choices based on biological drivers of clinical disease. In August 2020, the Prostate Cancer Foundation convened a working group to meet and discuss biomarkers for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, the proceedings of which are summarized here. This meeting covered the state of clinical and biological evidence for systemic therapies in the mHSPC space, with emphasis on charting a course for the generation, interrogation, and clinical implementation of biomarkers for treatment selection.

Objective To test the hypothesis that factor eight inhibitor bypassing activity (FEIBA) can be used to control bleeding following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation without increasing the 14-day composite thrombotic outcome of pump thrombus, ischemic cerebrovascular accidents, pulmonary embolism, and deep venous thrombosis. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Academic hospital. Participants Three hundred nineteen consecutive patients who underwent LVAD implantation (December 1, 2009 to December 30, 2018). Intervention FEIBA administered to control perioperative hemorrhage. Measurements and Main Results The 82 patients (25.7%) in the FEIBA cohort had more risk factors for perioperative hemorrhage, such as lower preoperative platelet count (169 ± 66 v 194 ± 68 × 103/mL, p = 0.004), prior cardiac surgery (36.6% v 21.9%, p = 0.008), and longer cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (100.3 v 75.2 minutes, p = 0.001) than the 237 controls. After 16.6 units (95% CI: 14.3-18.9) of blood products were given, 992 units (95% CI: 821-1163) of FEIBA were required to control bleeding in the FEIBA cohort. Compared to the controls, there were no differences in the 14-day composite thrombotic outcome (11.0% v 7.6%, p = 0.343) or mortality rate (3.7% v 1.3%, p = 0.179). Multivariate logistical regression identified preoperative international normalized ratio (odds ratio [OR]: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.04-1.62) and CPB time (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.20) as risk factors for 14-day thrombotic events, but FEIBA usage was not associated with an increased risk. Conclusions In this retrospective cohort study, the use of FEIBA (∼1,000 units, ∼13 units/kg) to control perioperative hemorrhage following LVAD implantation was not associated with increases in mortality or composite thrombotic outcome.

Background: Polypharmacy can negatively affect the life of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients. There is little evidence on the associated factors of, and patterns of polypharmacy among T2DM patients in developing regions. The aim of this study is to determine the population-based prevalence of polypharmacy, its associated factors, and pattern in southern Iran. Methods: We used baseline data from the Pars Cohort Study (PCS). Age-standardized prevalence of polypharmacy and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated. Association of polypharmacy with demographic and socio-economic factors, anthropometric measures, serum biomarkers, physical activity, cigarette and tobacco smoking, and multimorbidity was assessed by applying multivariable Poisson modeling. Prevalence ratio (PR) and its CI were estimated. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system was used for drug classification. Results: Totally, 874 previously diagnosed T2DM patients with a mean age of 56.3±9.2 participated in the study. The estimated age-standardized prevalence for men and women was 17.2% (CI: 12.0–22.0) and 34.1% (CI: 33.2–39.4), respectively. The prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular disorders among the study population was 39%, 58% and 20%, respectively. Having more than four comorbidities (PR, 3.90; CI, 2.39–6.34), central obesity (PR, 2.66; CI, 1.03–6.84), and female gender (PR, 1.49; CI, 1.14–1.97) were associated with polypharmacy. Also, 56.0% of patients and 23.0% of elder patients (>59 years old) reported using anti-diabetic agents. Conclusion: Polypharmacy was low among T2DM patients. More than 75% of the elder population were not on anti-diabetic medications. Polypharmacy was higher among patients with multiple comorbidities, central obesity, lower physical activity, lower socio-economic status, younger age at diagnosis, and longer duration of T2DM.

Background: Severe early childhood caries is the most important dental problem among children younger than three years of age. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between time and manner of weaning and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed in Kerman, Iran, in 2020. The study population consisted of 130 mothers and their children aged 18 to 30 months with and without S-ECC who visited the health centers in Kerman. Clinical examinations of the children's teeth were carried out with a dental mirror by a trained dentist after drying the surfaces of the maxillary incisors. The presence or absence of S-ECC was marked in a relevant checklist. Then, the mothers were asked to answer questions about the way they feed their children and the weaning method used in case of weaning off their children. Finally, data was analyzed using t-test in SPSS version 16. Results: The mean age of the children was 24.4±4.7 months, and 52% of them were girls. Most of the mothers had used the traditional methods to wean their children. The mean age at weaning was 23.8 months. There was a significant relationship between the age at which the child was weaned and S-ECC. In other words, children with S-ECC were significantly older at weaning than those children without S-ECC (p

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the SARS-COV-2 disease pandemic on March 9, 2020. With the advent of this disease, another health burden was added to about 37.9 million people in the world who are infected with HIV and are suffering from various diseases. These people may be at serious risk of COVID-19. Information about the effects of COVID-19 on people living with HIV, is limited. Case Presentation: We reported a 61-year-old man who was a known case of HIV from 6 years ago that was being treated with HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). He also had a history of Hodgkin’s lymphoma from 4 years ago who underwent autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) 2 weeks before given referral to our hospital. He complained of weakness, anorexia, and fever. RT-PCR for SARS-COV-2-RNA was positive in his nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and treated with atazanavir. After one week, the patient discharged in a good general state. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, it is the first report of COVID-19 infection in an HIV positive patient after BMT in Iran. Despite his immunodeficiency, COVID-19 disease had mild manifestations and he had a good prognosis. We hope that our report and that of others can remain promising to doctors and HIV patients cross fingers for COVID-19 recovery.

Cardiomyocytes can adapt their size, shape, and orientation in response to altered biomechanical or biochemical stimuli. The process by which the heart undergoes structural changes—affecting both geometry and material properties—in response to altered ventricular loading, altered hormonal levels, or mutant sarcomeric proteins is broadly known as cardiac growth and remodeling (G&R). Although it is likely that cardiac G&R initially occurs as an adaptive response of the heart to the underlying stimuli, prolonged pathological changes can lead to increased risk of atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and sudden death. During the past few decades, computational models have been extensively used to investigate the mechanisms of cardiac G&R, as a complement to experimental measurements. These models have provided an opportunity to quantitatively study the relationships between the underlying stimuli (primarily mechanical) and the adverse outcomes of cardiac G&R, i.e., alterations in ventricular size and function. State-of-the-art computational models have shown promise in predicting the progression of cardiac G&R. However, there are still limitations that need to be addressed in future works to advance the field. In this review, we first outline the current state of computational models of cardiac growth and myofiber remodeling. Then, we discuss the potential limitations of current models of cardiac G&R that need to be addressed before they can be utilized in clinical care. Finally, we briefly discuss the next feasible steps and future directions that could advance the field of cardiac G&R.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is the most important emerging pathogen since it was discovered in late 2019, infecting millions of people worldwide. The human body's defence against this new viral respiratory infection depends on the immune response of each person with a crucial impact on the appearance of clinical signs. Therefore, it is important to identify endogenous molecules with a fundamental role in severe pulmonary inflammation associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The impact of high mobility group proteins (HMGBs) in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was recently proposed. There is also recent evidence that HMGBs, particularly HMGB1–2, play important roles in the replication of viral genomes. Moreover, HMGB1–4 proteins appear to be associated with inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of many other viral diseases and disorders, including lung disease, ischemia-reperfusion-injury, sepsis, coagulopathy, trauma, neurological disorders, and cancer. This article presents the possible roles of HMGB1 in SARS-CoV-2 replication and its involvement in the pathogenesis of clinical severe pulmonary manifestations;these data can be useful in further virologic studies and the finding of new potential therapeutic targets in COVID-19.

Purpose: In metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) low serum androgens prior to starting abiraterone acetate (AA) is associated with more rapid progression. We evaluated the effect of AA on androgens in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) metastases and associations of intratumoral androgens with response. Experimental Design: We performed a phase II study of AA plus prednisone in mCRPC. The primary outcome was tissue testosterone at 4 weeks. Exploratory outcomes were association of steroid levels and genomic alterations with response, and escalating AA to 2,000 mg at progression. Results: Twenty-nine of 30 men were evaluable. Testosterone in metastatic biopsies became undetectable at 4 weeks (P < 0.001). Serum and tissue dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) remained detectable in many patients and was not increased at progression. Serum and tissue DHEAS in the lowest quartile (pretreatment), serum DHEAS in the lowest quartile (4 weeks), and undetectable tissue DHEAS (on-therapy) associated with rapid progression (20 vs. 48 weeks, P = 0.0018; 20 vs. 52 weeks, P = 0.0003; 14 vs. 40 weeks, P = 0.0001; 20 vs. 56 weeks, P = 0.02, respectively). One of 16 men escalating to 2,000 mg had a 30% PSA decline; 13 developed radiographic progression by 12 weeks. Among patients with high serum DHEAS at baseline, wild-type (WT) PTEN status associated with longer response (61 vs. 33 weeks, P = 0.02). Conclusions: Low-circulating adrenal androgen levels are strongly associated with an androgen-poor tumor microenvironment and with poor response to AA. Patients with CRPC with higher serum DHEAS levels may benefit from dual androgen receptor (AR)-pathway inhibition, while those in the lowest quartile may require combinations with non–AR-directed therapy.

Limited data are available linking dietary factors to glioma. The current study was conducted to investigate the association between Dietary Acid Load (DAL) and odds of glioma in Iranian adults. This case-control study was done on 128 newly diagnosed patients with glioma and 256 healthy controls in Tehran, Iran. A validated detailed food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary intakes of participants. DAL was estimated using the protein to potassium ratio (Pro: K). Glioma was diagnosed based on pathological tests. A detailed questionnaire including several non-dietary confounders was also completed. Participants in the highest tertile of DAL score had a non-significant higher odds of glioma as compared to those in the lowest tertile (OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 0.88-2.57), which remained after controlling for some potential confounders (OR: 1.66; 0.70-3.91). After further adjustment for dietary intakes of meats and processed meats, legumes and nuts, fruits, salt tea, and coffee, those in the top tertile of DAL score were significantly more likely to have glioma than those in the bottom tertile (OR: 3.09; 95% CI: 1.06, 8.99

Cancers are complex diseases orchestrated by a plethora of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Research spanning over several decades has provided better understanding of complex molecular interactions responsible for the multifaceted nature of cancer. Recent advances in the field of next generation sequencing and functional genomics have brought us closer towards unravelling the complexities of tumor microenvironment (tumor heterogeneity) and deregulated signaling cascades responsible for proliferation and survival of tumor cells. Phytochemicals have begun to emerge as potent beneficial substances aimed to target deregulated signaling pathways. Isoflavonoid genistein is an essential phytochemical involved in regulation of key biological processes including those in different types of cancer. Emerging preclinical evidence have shown its anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Testing of this substance is in various phases of clinical trials. Comprehensive preclinical and clinical trials data is providing insight on genistein as a modulator of various signaling pathways both at transcription and translation levels. In this review we have explained the mechanistic regulation of several key cellular pathways by genistein. We have also addressed in detail various microRNAs regulated by genistein in different types of cancer. Moreover, application of nano-formulations to increase the efficiency of genistein is also discussed. Understanding the pleiotropic potential of genistein to regulate key cellular pathways and development of efficient drug delivery system will bring us a step towards designing better chemotherapeutics.

Background: Filament aggregating protein (Filaggrin) is a skeletal cell component that provides a protective function for the epidermis. Mutations of the filaggrin gene (FLG) cause a loss of filaggrin protein. These mutations are seen in 50% of atopic dermatitis (AD). The aim of the study was to investigate the polymorphisms and mutations of the FLG in Iranian childrenwith AD.Materials and methods: This project was a case-controlled study with 25 children diagnosed with AD as the case group and 25 healthy children as the control group. Demographic data, clinical manifestations, and filaggrin single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and mutations were recorded. Blood samples were collected for the immunoglobulin E (IgE) assay and complete blood count tests.Results: We found a significant association between the presence of polymorphism (rs66831674) and patients’ age, and polymorphism (rs41267154) and early onset of AD. We found no significant differences between the FLG polymorphisms with respect to the severity of AD, ethnicity, concurrent allergic diseases, eosinophilia, and IgE serum levels.Conclusion: Interestingly, FLG variants (rs66831674 and rs41267154) were associated with age and early onset of AD. However, additional studies are required to confirm these results on a large scale of Iranian population. Moreover, establishing a cohort prospective study is suggested to assess the progression of other atopic disorders based on FLG polymorphisms.

There are conflicting reports on the efficacy of exercise in chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Exercise in water or aquatic activity (AA) can have additional advantages. We sought to evaluate the clinical effects of AA in CVI in a randomized prospective open label fashion.A total of 201 patients with advanced CVI were randomized to receive AA vs no such treatment. In the Aquatic Group (AG), 91 patients reached the 24-month follow-up point, and in the Control Group (CG), 90 patients did. The primary efficacy end point was a predefined reduction of ≥4 points in the modified Venous Clinical Severity Score (VCSS) at 3 months. Instruments of venous disease severity and quality of life were compared at baseline, 3 months, and 24 months between and within the two groups. These included the modified VCSS, Villalta score, leg and thigh circumference, the Physical Health Component of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and the Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study Quality of Life/Symptom scores. Aquatic activity consisted of a minimum of 15 minutes of walking in a swimming pool at 1 m/s, 3 times/wk for 3 months.The primary end point of 4-point reduction in the modified VCSS at 3 months was reached in 28% of AG and 3% of CG (odds ratio = 12.08; 95% confidence interval: 3.51, 41.59; P .001). Comparison of changes in secondary end points from baseline to 24 months between AG and CG demonstrated the following: modified VCSS -4.08 ± 2.08 vs -1.15 ± 1.26, Villalta score -4.00 ± 2.68 vs -1.01 ± 1.34, thigh circumference -3.40 ± 1.78 cm vs -1.40 ± 2.55 cm, leg circumference -1.27 ± 1.34 cm vs -0.49 ± 1.21 cm, Physical Health Component of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey 3.82 ± 2.36 vs 1.16 ± 1.18, Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study Quality of Life 3.35 ± 1.67 vs 1.30 ± 1.43, and Venous Insufficiency Epidemiological and Economic Study Symptom 3.53 ± 1.71 vs 1.23 ± 1.26 (P .001 for all comparisons; ± denotes mean ± standard deviation).The addition of AA to the treatment of patients with advanced CVI is safe and effective, leading to a significant improvement in clinical status and quality of life. These beneficial changes occur rapidly within 3 months of initiation of AA and are continued at a slower rate of improvement from 3 months to 2 years.

Epilepsy is a related chronic neurological condition of a predisposition for recurrent epileptic seizures, with various manifestations and causes. Although there are antiepileptic drugs, complementary natural therapies are widely used. The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze the antiepileptic/anticonvulsant pharmacological properties of plant-food derived bioactive molecules. In this regard, a systematic review of the PubMed database was made based on the inclusion criteria. Natural compounds/herbs with scientifically proven antiepileptic properties were selected. Experimental pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo have shown that flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids may have anticonvulsant mechanisms similar to the new generation antiepileptic drugs. The relationships of structure-anticonvulsant effect, pharmacological models, seizure-inducing factors and response, effective dose were also analyzed and discussed. The results of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies analyzed in this systematic review support the clinical importance of plant-food-derived bioactive molecules for the complementary treatment of epilepsy. Thus, are opened new perspectives to develop new natural anticonvulsant drugs.

The effect of a novel beta coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes and the neonatal prognosis is not fully documented yet. Case Presentation: In this article, we describe a patient presented with frequent seizure and blurred vision 6 days after delivery without symptoms and laboratory data in favor of preeclampsia/eclampsia and evaluations consistent with Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome. Also, there was mild clinical and radiological evidence of COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: In conclusion, as pregnancy is a high-risk state, pregnant women may be more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 infection and also pregnancy complications.

PURPOSE The Genomic Prostate Score (GPS), performed on biopsy tissue, predicts adverse outcome in prostate cancer (PCa) and has shown promise for improving patient selection for active surveillance (AS). However, its impact on treatment choice in high-risk populations of African Americans is largely unknown and, in general, the effect of the GPS on this difficult decision has not been evaluated in randomized trials. METHODS Two hundred men with National Comprehensive Cancer Network very low to low-intermediate PCa from three Chicago hospitals (70% Black, 16% college graduates) were randomly assigned at diagnosis to standard counseling with or without a 12-gene GPS assay. The primary end point was treatment choice at a second postdiagnosis visit. The proportion of patients choosing AS was compared, and multivariable modeling was used to estimate the effects of various factors on AS acceptance. RESULTS AS acceptance was high overall, although marginally lower in the intervention group (77% v 88%; P = .067), and lower still when men with inadequate specimens were excluded ( P = .029). Men with lower health literacy who received a GPS were seven-fold less likely to choose AS compared with controls, whereas no difference was seen in men with higher health literacy ( Pinteraction = .022). Among men with low-intermediate risk, 69% had GPS values consistent with unfavorable intermediate or high-risk cancer. AS choice was also independently associated with a family history of PCa and having health insurance. CONCLUSION In contrast to other studies, the net effect of the GPS was to move patients away from AS, primarily among men with low health literacy. These findings have implications for our understanding of how prognostic molecular assays that generate probabilities of poor outcome can affect treatment decisions in diverse clinical populations.

We present a patient with idiopathic intracranial calcifications with simultaneous involvement of sclera, choroid, optic nerve, and trochlear apparatus. A 70-year-old woman with bilateral decreased vision was referred to our hospital. Ocular examinations revealed sclerochoroidal mass beneath superotemporal vascular arcade in macular area. Orbital CT scan shows bilateral calcification of dural optic nerve sheath and posterior wall of the globe as well as calcification in the trochlear apparatus and brain. Ultrasound showed highly reflective echogenic lesion with shadowing. OCT revealed rolling topography with thinning of the overlying choroid and outer nuclear layer as well as absence of the external limiting membrane and inner segment-outer segment junction. Slight irregular thickening of the retinal pigment epithelium is present. It is the first case of simultaneous bilateral dural optic nerve sheath and sclerochoroidal calcification.

This research investigated the effect of co‐supplementation of selenium with zinc on weight control and the inflammatory and oxidative status in relation to obesity. Male Wistar rats (N = 32) were randomly divided into four groups after induction of obesity model: 1) “Zn” was supplemented with zinc sulfate (15 mg/kg BW), 2) “Se” supplemented with selenium as sodium selenate (0.5 mg/kg BW), 3) “Zn + Se” which received Zn (15 mg/kg BW) + Se (0.5 mg/kg BW), and 4) “HFD” as the control group. The intervention was done for eight weeks. At the end of treatment, serum and tissue level of Zn, Se, SOD, GSH‐Px, MDA, leptin, TNF‐α, and IL‐6 was evaluated. Weight and food intake were significantly reduced in the Se group(p, This article revealed that co‐supplementation of selenium and zinc may have a synergistic effect in the reduction of oxidative and inflammatory markers. Regarding the effect of zinc on inflammatory factors and lipid peroxidation, leptin can play a mediating role.

Introduction: Due to the global burden of measles, many measures have always been taken to control and eradicate this disease. However, epidemics of this disease still sometimes occur in some parts of the world and Iran. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of measles cases in the south of Kerman Province during 2014-2015. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 326-suspected cases of measles using a checklist and review forms. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16. Results: During the years of 2004 and 2005, out of the total number of suspected cases (n=326), 23% were laboratory confirmed. The highest percentage of measles was in the age group of 1 to 4 years (45.3%) and above 10 years (30.7%) and the highest cases of measles were among males (61.3%). Most cases of definite measles were in people without a history of vaccination (61.3%), in Iranians (81.3%) and in rural areas (73.3%). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, there is a need to pay attention to additional immunization in remote areas and in places of gathering of foreign nationals. The highest prevalence of measles were among people who did not have a history of measles vaccination, it seems that the measles vaccination program has not been very successful in the cities covered by the Jiroft University of Medical Sciences. It is recommended that additional studies be performed to determine the risk factors for measles.

Several randomized clinical trials have investigated the effect of dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on metabolic syndrome risk factors in adults. However, the results of these studies were conflicting. Therefore, our aim was to assess the effect of dietary AGEs on metabolic syndrome risk factors. We searched the PubMed-MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Databases, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Embase databases for papers published up to October 2019 that investigated the effect of dietary AGEs on metabolic syndrome risk factors. From the eligible trials, 13 articles were selected for inclusion in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was determined by I(2) statistics and Cochrane Q test. Pooled results from the random-effects model showed a significant reduction for insulin resistance [weighted mean difference (WMD): −1.204; 95% CI: −2.057, −0.358; P = 0.006], fasting insulin (WMD: −5.472 μU/mL; 95% CI: −9.718, −1.234 μU/mL; P = 0.011), total cholesterol (WMD: −5.486 mg/dL; 95% CI: −10.222, −0.747 mg/dL; P = 0.023), and LDL (WMD: −6.263 mg/dL; 95% CI: −11.659, −0.866 mg/dL; P = 0.023) in the low-AGEs groups compared with the high-AGEs groups. There were no changes in the other components of the metabolic syndrome. The results of this review suggest that a diet with a low AGEs content has beneficial effects on insulin resistance, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, and LDL. Moreover, following a diet low in AGEs may be a helpful strategy to decrease the burden of metabolic syndrome risk factors in adults and particularly in patients with diabetes.

Hypovitaminosis D which is a frequent problem in overweight and obese individuals, seems to interfere with cells responsible for control of glycemic status. Therefore, the current research intended to study the impact of supplementation with vitamin D on insulin homeostasis among healthy obese and overweight individuals.The current study was conducted among obese or overweight individuals who had hypovitaminosis D. After separation of participants into two groups, one group received vitamin D pearls (50,000 IU/weekly) for eight weeks, whereas another group received a placebo over the same period. Next, the level of vitamin D, fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin, Homeostasis Model Assessment 2 for Insulin Resistance (HOMA2-IR), Function of β-cell (HOMA2-β), and Insulin Sensitivity (HOMA2-S) and lipid profile of participants were evaluated.Overall, 67.2% of the participants were female. No considerable difference was observed concerning biochemical parameters among the study groups at baseline. After eight weeks, the mean (SD) level of vitamin D was significantly lower in the placebo group than those in the vitamin D group. (38.6 ± 8.1 vs. 14.9 ± 6.4; P0.001). The patients who received vitamin D had significant lower levels of FBS (P0.001), fasting insulin (P0.001), HOMA2-IR (P0.001), and HOMA2-β (P = 0.03), than the placebo group. The HOMA2-S was significantly enhanced in vitamin D group, while it reduced in another group (P0.001). However, no considerable decrease was found in triglyceride, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein or low-density lipoprotein.Supplementation with vitamin D improved sensitivity to insulin and pancreatic function of β cells of healthy overweight and obese adults.

The bioprinting technique with specialized tissue production allows the study of biological, physiological, and behavioral changes of cancerous and non-cancerous tissues in response to pharmacological compounds in personalized medicine. To this end, to evaluate the efficacy of anticancer drugs before entering the clinical setting, tissue engineered 3D scaffolds containing breast cancer and derived from the especially patient, similar to the original tissue architecture, can potentially be used. Despite recent advances in the manufacturing of 3D bioprinted breast cancer tissue (BCT), many studies still suffer from reproducibility primarily because of the uncertainty of the materials used in the scaffolds and lack of printing methods. In this review, we present an overview of the breast cancer environment to optimize personalized treatment by examining and identifying the physiological and biological factors that mimic BCT. We also surveyed the materials and techniques related to 3D bioprinting, i.e, 3D bioprinting systems, current strategies for fabrication of 3D bioprinting tissues, cell adhesion and migration in 3D bioprinted BCT, and 3D bioprinted breast cancer metastasis models. Finally, we emphasized on the prospective future applications of 3D bioprinted cancer models for rapid and accurate drug screening in breast cancer.

Graphical abstract, Background Heterocyclic compounds have always been used as a core portion in the development of anticancer drugs. However, there is a pressing need for developing inexpensive and simple alternatives to high-cost and complex chemical agents-based catalysts for large-scale production of heterocyclic compounds. Also, development of some smart platforms for cancer treatment based on nanoparticles (NPs) which facilitate Fenton reaction have been widely explored by different scientists. Magnetic NPs not only can serve as catalysts in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds with potential anticancer properties, but also are widely used as smart agents in targeting cancer cells and inducing Fenton reactions. Aim of Review Therefore, in this review we aim to present an updated summary of the reports related to the main clinical or basic application and research progress of magnetic NPs in cancer as well as their application in the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds as potential anticancer drugs. Afterwards, specific tumor microenvironment (TME)-responsive magnetic nanocatalysts for cancer treatment through triggering Fenton-like reactions were surveyed. Finally, some ignored factors in the design of magnetic nanocatalysts- triggered Fenton-like reaction, challenges and future perspective of magnetic nanocatalysts-assisted synthesis of heterocyclic compounds and selective cancer therapy were discussed. Key Scientific Concepts of Review: This review may pave the way for well-organized translation of magnetic nanocatalysts in cancer therapy from the bench to the bedside.

Background: Tinea pedis is one of the commonest skin infections of interdigital toe webspace as well as feet skin and may affect the nail or the hand. It is caused by dermophytes fungi especially Trichophyton species. Direct contact with a contaminated environment or animal is the main mode of transmission. Tinea pedis is more frequent among adults than children and more among those with the previous infection with the disease, diabetes mellites, abnormally increased sweating, and the disease is common among individuals who wear unventilated (occlusive) footwear. Tinea pedis is more often in men than females 2-4 times. Aim of the study: To study the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of tinea pedis disease. Methods: Descriptive study was conducted on patients attending the dermatology outpatient clinic in Tikrit Teaching Hospital, Tikrit, Iraq. The study was done during the period from 1st November 2018-10th June 2019. The sample included (680) persons. The cases were diagnosed clinically and by a direct microscope. The demographic information of patients was obtained according to a certain design questionnaire. The study was done to reveal the epidemiology of tenia pedis disease among affected patients. Results: The frequency of tinea pedis cases among the study sample was (48/ 680) (7%). It has been documented that there is no significant association as a result of the difference in gender, body weight, positive family history, history, presence of fungal skin disease, and presence of nail trauma. Otherwise, there is a significant association as a result of the presence of the young age group, diabetes mellitus, and history of wearing occlusive shoes. Conclusion: The frequency of tinea pedis disease among the study sample was (7%). There was a significant association between age group and the presence of diabetes mellitus disease and wearing occlusive shoes.

Introduction Airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) is a characteristic feature of asthma. The aim of this study was to compare the impulse oscillometry (IOS) and spirometry to methacholine for AHR detection among individuals with clinically hyper-reactive airway disease suggestive of bronchial asthma and baseline spirometry were normal. Materials and methods Adults with symptoms suggestive of AHR and normal baseline spirometry test were selected. The short protocol of methacholine challenge test (MCT) was performed for all subjects using IOS and spirometry simultaneously. The primary endpoint was to compare the methacholine dosage causing a 20% drop in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), with methacholine dosage that causing 40% increasing the baseline respiratory resistance at 5 hertz (R5), as measured by IOS. Result A total of 235 participants were analyzed, 184 (78.2%) had positive test results with R5, while 81 (34.4%) had positive MCT results with FEV1.The sensitivity and specificity of MCT with R5were 87.3%, 64.6%, and MCT with FEV1 were 39.1%, 85.4%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was greater at lower doses of MCT at R5, (AUROC: 0.653; p= 0.01). Conclusions The results showed higher sensitivity, negative predictive value, and earlier response of the short protocol of MCT with IOS, compared to MCT with spirometry. Our study suggested the utility of IOS in addition to conventional spirometry as a method of choice in MCT for detection of AHR.

Objective:A year after the emergence of a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as a new crisis in respiratory infections, there remain many uncertainties and unknowns about SARS-CoV-2 and the disease it causes, called coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Although COVID-19 is known as a respiratory disease, some atypical manifestations have been seen, different from those seen in other types of viral respiratory infections. This paper aims to describe designing, launching, and implementing a data collection system for all respiratory diseases, with a focus on SARS-CoV-2 from the onset of this pandemic.Method:The current registry is designed in compliance with the standard Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines, along with the declaration of Helsinki principles.Results:A respiratory disease registry, with an emphasis on COVID-19 and other co-infections, was developed. Data consisted of demographic, clinical, and supporting information about SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viral diseases.Conclusion:It is hoped that the current data registry will facilitate patient evaluation and improve the outcomes of cases of respiratory infection defined by a particular condition, disease, or exposure. Moreover, the registry can harmonize data about the treatment, outcomes, and well-being of patients who receive care over time, and identify best practices.

Due to safety, easy accessibility, noninvasively and cost-effectiveness of ultrasound imaging, this technology becomes one of the main contributors for analyzing thyroid nodules. However, interpretation of ultrasound images is a challenging task that subjects to the radiologist’s prior medical knowledge and observational skills. There is a significant need for reliable, objective, and automated approaches for the meaningful assessment of ultrasound images. Many areas of machine learning including computer vision and image processing have been revolutionized by the recent advances in the field of deep learning. The current study systematically reviews the existing literatures and evaluates technical characteristics of the deep learning applications on the ultrasound images of thyroid nodules. In this review, all of the included studies have been published from 2017 to 2020 indicating the recent growing interest in the utilization of deep learning-based techniques for assessment of ultrasound images of thyroid nodules. Although deep learning has demonstrated potential for analyzing thyroid nodules’ ultrasound images, this review highlights several existing barriers that need to be addressed in future works such as dealing with data limitation, generating public and valid datasets, and determining standard evaluation metrics. This survey outlines several methods (e.g., data augmentation and transfer learning) recently proposed to address similar challenges in other fields. Furthermore, to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the deep learning models, utilization of complementary information with multi-modal images are suggested. The protocol of this systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42020168346).