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This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the risk of inadequate prenatal care and pregnancy outcome among incarcerated pregnant individuals in the United States. PubMed/MedLine, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov and Web of Science were searched from inception up to March 30th, 2022. Studies were included if they reported the risk of inadequate prenatal care and/or pregnancy outcomes among incarcerated pregnant individuals in the United States jails or prisons. Adequacy of prenatal care was quantified by Kessner index. The random-effects model was used to pool the mean differences or odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using RevMan software. Nine studies were included in the final review. A total of 11,534 pregnant individuals, of whom 2,544 were incarcerated while pregnant, and 8,990 who were matched non-incarcerated pregnant individuals serving as control group, were utilized. Compared to non-incarcerated pregnancies, incarcerated pregnant individuals were at higher risk of inadequate prenatal care (OR 2.99 [95% CI: 1.60, 5.61], p

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still a world-class challenge. Inflammation, especially its severe form with excess release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (cytokine storm) which is a life-threatening condition, is among the most important suspects involved in COVID-19 pathogenesis. It has been shown that cytokine storm could cause notable morbidities such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) which leads to hypoxia which is significantly associated with mortality of patients with COVID-19. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) which activates following ARDS-induced hypoxia plays a crucial role in pathogenesis of cytokine storm. The expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1 β (IL-1β), and IL-6 which are key elements of cytokine storm are by nuclear factor κβ (NFκB). Interestingly, during the hypoxia, HIF-1α activates NFκB to induce expression of pro-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory factors. These released factors starts a autocrine/paracrine loop and causes deterioration of their etiological pathways of expression: cytokine storm and ARDS. To sum up, it seems HIF-1α is an important target to hit to ameliorate the mentioned pathways. Herein, we suggest perfluorocarbons (PFCs) which are among the organofluorine compounds as a possible co-treatment to reduce hypoxemia and then hypoxia. These substances are known for their high gas solving potential that make them able to be used as a synthetic artificial blood product. Due to the potential of PFCs to affect the fountain of important physiopathological pathway such as inflammation a hypoxia through affecting NFκB, they could be considered as multi-target co-treatment for ARD individuals with COVID-19. It is highly suggested to evaluate this hypothesis in following researches.

Blood vessel development is one of the most prominent steps in regenerative medicine due tothe restoration of blood flow to the ischemic tissues and providing the rapid vascularizationin clinical-sized tissue-engineered grafts. However, currently tissue engineering technique isrestricted because of the inadequate in vitro/in vivo tissue vascularization. Some challenges likeas transportation in large scale, distribution of the nutrients and poor oxygen diffusion limit theprogression of vessels in smaller than clinically relevant dimensions as well in vivo integration.In this regard, the scholars attempted to promote the vascularization process relied on the stemcells (SCs), growth factors as well as exosomes and interactions of biomaterials with all of themto enable the emergence of ideal microenvironment which is needed for treatment of unhealthyorgans or tissue regeneration and formation of new blood vessels. Thus, in the present reviewwe aim to describe these approaches, advances, obstacles and opportunities as well as theirapplication in regeneration of heart as a prominent angiogenesis-dependent organ.

Regarding the risk of antibiotic therapy during pregnancy, any medication given to the mother should be according to the indications due to the risk of possible side effects. Antibiotics are one of the most important groups of these medications to be considered. Along with direct antibiotic-induced side effects, indirect pathways also affect the fetus through the maternal changes. According to the data, different cytokines including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) are involved in both term and preterm parturition. These cytokines could trigger expression of different substances such as prostaglandins (PGs), their receptors, and PGs synthetizing molecules with already proven roles in parturition. Moreover, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α knocked -out mice have delayed parturition and lower levels of PGs compared to the wild types. The earlier -mentioned cytokines are able to induce matrix metalloproteinases and are also involved in parturition. Certain antibiotics have been shown capable of inducing inflammation cascade directly. Both in -vivo and in -vitro studies in human have also demonstrated this inflammation as elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines especially IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α. This increase has been observed both in the presence and the absence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Moreover, antibiotics can induce endotoxemia in healthy cases which finally leads to the pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Regarding the role of mentioned pro-inflammatory cytokines in both term and preterm parturition, it seems that non-indicated use of antibiotics during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm labor.

Background Rapamycin has been known as an anti-cancer agent that affects different malignancies such as glioblastoma and prostate cancer. However, there are few studies concerning rapamycin effects on the cervical cancer cells. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the possible effect of rapamycin on a cervical cancer cell line and explored the possible mechanism(s) and pathway(s) for this agent. Materials and methods To do so, HeLa cells as cervical cancer cell line were used and treated with different concentrations of rapamycin under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Then, cell viability assays, Western blot, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QR-PCR), acridine orange and acridine orange/propidium iodide staining were performed to evaluate rapamycin effect on the mentioned cell line. Results The results showed that autophagy and apoptosis-related genes increased significantly in rapamycin-treated HeLa cells compared to controls. Moreover, cervical cancer cell death by rapamycin-induced autophagy in hypoxia was greater than normoxia compared with controls. In this study, it was showed that autophagy induction by rapamycin can mediate programmed cell death of cervical cancer cells, especially in hypoxic condition. Conclusion These findings provide a new evidence that rapamycin may inhibit hypoxic HeLa cell proliferation through the trigger of programmed cell death, facilitating the development of novel anti-cancer therapy.

Adhesive Capsulitis (AC) is a self-limiting disease of the shoulder joint characterized by progressive painful restriction of theshoulder’s motion. This study aimed to search the findings on AC in non-contrast MRI. Although AC is a clinical diagnosis,imaging can provide helpful data for earlier diagnosis and treatment. It seems that some findings are specific and sensitive foraccurate diagnosis and staging of AC such as coracohumeral ligament thickening, joint capsule edema, and rotator intervalinfiltration. Non-contrast MRI can provide an abundance of information on AC and help clinicians make a more definitivediagnosis, stage the disease, and choose better treatment plans.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease with an unknown aetiology. Although there is no definite treatment for this disease using proper prescribed medications, mortality and morbidity ratios could be decreased. The present study attempted to investigate adherence to medical treatment in patients suffering from SLE and to evaluate the related factors which influence adherence in order to improve patients’ prognoses. In this cross-sectional study, 132 patients with SLE who referred to the rheumatology clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital (Tehran, Iran) over the period of 2012-2013 wereexamined using a questionnaire. The applied questionnaire included two parts; the first part pertained to adherence to medication treatments (CQR: compliance questionnaire rheumatology), and the second part was related to the factors involved in adherence to medication treatments. The obtained data were analyzed using the Chi-Square test and processed by SPSS16.0 software.In this research, the mean adherence to drug treatment was calculated to be 72.48%. Among the variables of age, marital status, salary, education, distance from the clinic (accessibility), disease duration, level of patient activity, main medications consumed, and side effects, the only significant association was found between adherence level and lack of side effects due to SLE (p

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still an emergency in many countries. Herein, we report treatment with human placental-derived mesenchymal stromal cells transfusion (hPD-MSCT) in a critically ill infant diagnosed with COVID-19. A 28-day-old male infant with a history of pneumonia was referred to our center with decreased SpO

Background Among pathways involved in the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), impaired endothelial cell (EC) function and angiogenesis have been discussed less frequently than others such as cytokine storm. These two do play parts in the development of various clinical manifestations of COVID-19 including acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and the hyper-coagulation state. Methods This narrative review attempts to gather recent data on the possible potential of cannabidiol in the treatment of COVID-19 with an eye on angiogenesis and endothelial dysfunction. Keywords including cannabidiol AND angiogenesis OR endothelial cell as well as coronavirus disease 2019 OR COVID-19 AND angiogenesis OR endothelial dysfunction were searched among the databases of PubMed and Scopus. Results Cannabidiol (CBD), as a therapeutic phytocannabinoid, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two types of seizures. Due to the potent anti-inflammatory properties of CBD, this compound has been suggested as a candidate treatment for COVID-19 in the literature. Although its potential effect on ECs dysfunction and pathologic angiogenesis in COVID-19 has been overlooked, other than cytokines like interleukin 1β (IL-β), IL-6, IL-8, and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) that are common in inflammation and angiogenesis, CBD could affect other important factors related to ECs function and angiogenesis. Data shows that CBD could decrease pathologic angiogenesis via decreasing ECs proliferation, migration, and tube formation. These activities are achieved through the suppression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Moreover, in an animal model, ARDS and sepsis responded well to CBD treatment. Conclusion Altogether and considering the current use of CBD in the clinic, the conduction of further studies on CBD administration for patients with COVID-19 seems to be useful.

Objectives So far, various etiologies have been stated for Intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) with a wide variety of pathways involved in their pathogenesis. Among these pathways, impaired angiogenesis, inflammation, and oxidative stress are among the most important ones. Curcumin has raised notable attention due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity in different in-vitro studies and clinical trials. The present study aimed to investigate the possible potentials of Curcumin for pregnancies complicated by IUGR through different physiological mechanisms. Methods A narrative review study was conducted (Iran; 2020). The implemented Mesh-based keywords were “Curcumin” OR “Turmeric” AND “Therapeutic effect” AND “Side effect” OR “Adverse effect” OR “Teratogenic effect” OR “Teratogenicity” AND “Pregnancy” AND “Intra-uterine growth restriction” OR “Intra-uterine growth retardation” AND “Inflammation” AND “Oxidative stress” AND “Angiogenesis”. Cochrane Library, PubMed, Up to date, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were used as academic search engines. Results Reviewing the included studies showed the dual effects of curcumin on angiogenesis depend on the type of angiogenesis: physiological or pathological. Interestingly, the present study evaluated the current knowledge on the effects of curcumin on IUGR demonstrating acceptable potentials. Also, we tried to gather studies that had evaluated the safety of curcumin during pregnancy. Conclusion Gathering all the data, it seems curcumin could be an acceptable candidate for future animal and human studies on IUGR., Intra-uterine growth restriction; Curcumin; Pregnancy; Inflammation; Oxidative stress; Angiogenesis.

Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) still is a global emergency. According to the studies, pregnant women are of the at risk populations and any underlying disease(s) might even worsen their condition. The aim of this study is reporting a complex case of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) during pregnancy who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 as well as suspicion of HELLP syndrome. Case presentation A 24-year-old woman with a platelet count of 6000/mL and resistance to conventional therapies was referred. A day after starting 0.5 g/day of methylprednisolone for her, fever and a decrease in SpO2 presented. According to the paraclinical investigations, COVID-19 was diagnosed and the conventional COVID-19 treatments started for her (the methylprednisolone pulse stopped). Due to the increased liver enzymes and low platelet count, with suspicion of HELLP syndrome, cesarean section surgery was performed which resulted in a healthy neonate. Then, the methylprednisolone pulse was restarted for and she developed an increase in the platelet count. Conclusion It is not clear how COVID-19 and pregnancy affected the patient’s condition and the underlying disease; however, it seems the delivery and/or restarting the methylprednisolone pulses caused improvement in her condition.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the possible association between different factors such as age, sex, antibiotic consumption duration, angiogenesis and pain and “acceleration of wound healing” in pilonidal sinus patients after treating with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Methods: In this clinical trial, 110 patients were randomly divided into treatment arm and control group. After surgery, control group underwent classic wound dressing and the treatment arm experienced PRP gel therapy. Before achieving complete healing, wound incisional biopsy was performed in order to evaluate angiogenesis. During the study, other data such as pain and antibiotic consumption duration were also collected. Wound healing time of pilonidal sinus disease was analyzed using Extended and Stratify Cox model. Data were analyzed using R and STATA software. p

Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) is now widely used in both malignant and non-malignant hematologic diseases as a treatment strategy. Using this approach, a controversial group of donors is children weighing 20 kg or less. The aim of this study was to evaluate results of allogeneic and autologous PBSCT and also the efficacy of our suggested alternative method for a custom prime in cell harvesting of this group. All the participants’ demographic and laboratory data were collected before apheresis. A total of 37 individuals participated in this study of which 12 and 25 of them were categorized in autologous and allogeneic groups respectively. For the apheresis procedure, a central venous access was used as well as the custom prime method with some changes. Apheresis details, as well as CD34 and CD3 cell counts in the allogeneic and autologous groups, were calculated. In this study, 91.9% (N = 34) of all individuals achieved the minimal amount of cells for PBSCT (2 × 106 CD34+ cells/kg) in one session. On the other hand, 12% (N = 3) of donors in the allogeneic group achieved the minimal threshold in 2 apheresis sessions. During the leukapheresis a total processed blood volume/total blood volume ratio (TPBV/TBV) was calculated as 4.64 ± 1.06 and 5.18 ± 0.73 fold in the allogeneic and autologous groups respectively. The mean of harvested CD34 cells in allogeneic and autologous groups was 5.28 ± 3.47 × 106 and 3.57 ± 2.9 × 106 cells/kg respectively. Likewise, in the allogeneic group, the mean of the harvested CD3 cell count was 339 ± 141 × 106/kg. Also, the median day of white blood cell (WBC) engraftment was 14 and 13 for allogeneic and autologous groups respectively. Furthermore, the median day of platelet engraftment was 19.5 for both allogeneic and autologous groups. Among the recipients of the allogeneic group, acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) was detected in 56% (N = 14) of patients and this was also correct for chronic GVHD. Taken together, it was shown, despite the probable complications of peripheral blood stem cell apheresis in donors weighing less than 20 kg; that it is possible to perform this procedure without any complication during the leukapheresis.

Purpose: To evaluate ocular movement disorders after scleral buckling surgery (SBS) for retinal detachment. Methods: In this prospective, observational, case series, 206 patients (206 eyes) with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment who underwent SBS and investigated at the strabismus ward of Farabi Eye Hospital in Iran between November 2011 and November 2014 were assessed. Patients were followed from 6 to 36 months after SBS to evaluate for strabismus. Logistic regression analysis test and SPSS software version 20 were used for statistical analysis. Results: From 206 patients, 56.8% were male, and 33.2% were female. For scleral buckle in 44.7% of patients, silicone band and tire (SBT) was used, and in 55.3%, a sponge. Among all patients, seven (3.39%) exhibited ocular movement disorder. There was no significant relation between type of buckle (P = 0.65) or the location of buckle (P = 0.56) and movement disorder. Conclusion: Ocular movement disorder is one of the main complications after SBS without specific association between the type and location of exoplanet. Keywords: Scleral buckling, Ocular movement disorders, Retinal detachment, Strabismus

Background: Wounds and their healing process are among the most crucial medical issues, especially in the field of dermatology and surgery that imposes notable costs to the health care system. Materials and Methods: Wound healing requires specific fundamental steps, such as angiogenesis and inflammation. Angiogenesis is controlled by different cytokines such as Hypoxia-Inducible Factor α (HIF-α), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α), and Matrix MetalloProteinases (MMPs).Results: Celecoxib, an inhibitor of Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), is widely used in medicine and different fields. This medication can inhibit angiogenesis via suppressing all mentioned cytokines. Thus, suppression of angiogenesis by celecoxib, especially in chronic wounds, may result in the poor or delayed healing. Conclusion: Authors suggest complementary clinical studies to evaluate the possible role of celecoxib on the wound healing focusing on angiogenesis.

ImportancePrimary studies proposed that aberrant maternal antiviral immunity and/or giving birth in quarantine, such as during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, may be associated with the risk of neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) in offspring.ObjectivesTo evaluate the associations of birth and being raised during the COVID-19 pandemic with risk of NDI among infants and to assess the association of gestational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 with risk of NDI.Data SourcesPubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and preprint servers were systematically searched from inception to March 25, 2022.Study SelectionStudies evaluating the neurodevelopment of infants born during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Studies using Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3), were used for quantitative meta-analysis.Data Extraction and SynthesisFollowing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses, a random-effects model meta-analysis was used to pool the proportion and odds ratios (ORs) of overall NDI, as well as each developmental domain on ASQ-3 with the corresponding 95% CI.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was the risk of overall NDI among infants screened during the pandemic vs prepandemic. The secondary outcome was the comparison of NDI by ASQ-3 domain among infants born to women with known gestational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 vs no exposure.ResultsA total of 8 studies were included, including 21 419 infants (11 438 screened in pandemic and 9981 in prepandemic period). NDI was present in 330 of 8992 infants (7%; 95% CI, 4%-10%) screened during the COVID-19 pandemic from January 2020 to January 2021. Among the pandemic cohort, the prevalence of NDI among infants with gestational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was 77 of 691 (12%; 95% CI, 6%-18%). Compared with the prepandemic cohort (2015-2019), the pandemic cohort was more likely to have communication impairment (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.37-2.11; P P Conclusions and RelevanceIn this systematic review and meta-analysis examining the association between COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of NDI, findings suggest that overall neurodevelopment in the first year of life was not changed by either being born or raised during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic or by gestational exposure to SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, the first year of life during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of maternal infection, was significantly associated with the risk of communication delay among the offspring.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been led to a pandemic emergency. So far, different pathological pathways for SARS-CoV-2 infection have been introduced in which the excess release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (such as interleukin 1 β [IL-1β], IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α [TNFα]) has earned most of the attentions. However, recent studies have identified new pathways with at least the same level of importance as cytokine storm in which endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction is one of them. In COVID-19, two main pathologic phenomena have been seen as a result of EC dysfunction: hyper-coagulation state and pathologic angiogenesis. The EC dysfunction-induced hypercoagulation state seems to be caused by alteration in the levels of different factors such as plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen, soluble thrombomodulin, and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI). As data have shown, these thromboembolic events are associated with severity of disease severity or even death in COVID-19 patients. Other than thromboembolic events, pathologic angiogenesis is among the recent findings. Furthermore, over-expression/higher levels of different proangiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hypoxia-inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1α), IL-6, TNF receptor super family 1A and 12, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) have been found in the lung biopsies/sera of both survived and non-survived COVID-19 patients. Also, there are some hypotheses regarding the role of nitric oxide in EC dysfunction and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in SARS-CoV-2 infection. It has been demonstrated that different pathways involved in inflammation are generally common with EC dysfunction and angiogenesis. Altogether, considering the common possible upstream pathways in cytokine storm, pathologic angiogenesis, and EC dysfunction, it seems that targeting these molecules (such as nuclear factor κB) could be more effective in the management of patients with COVID-19., Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image

The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in clinical features and laboratory parameters in critically ill pregnant women with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) compared to moderate and severe pregnant women with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) but without ARDS. This was a retrospective multicenter study of all pregnant women with COVID-19 diagnosed with ARDS between February 15, and May 1, 2020 in nine level III maternity centers in Iran (ARDS group). The control COVID-19 pregnant women were selected from 3 of 9 level III maternity centers between March 15 and April 20, 2020. Univariate statistics were used to look at differences between groups. Cluster dendrograms were used to look at the correlations between clinical and laboratory findings in the groups. A value of p n = 26) 89.7% and severe: (n = 3)10.3%). The mean maternal age (35.6 vs. 29.4 years; p = .002) and diagnosis of chronic hypertension (20.0% vs. 0%, p = .034) were significantly higher in the ARDS group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in their presenting symptoms. The ARDS group had a significantly higher prevalence of tachypnea (66.6% vs. 10.3%, p = .042) and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) p = .004) at presentation. Relative lymphopenia (lymphocyte ratio < 10.5%, 66.6% vs. 17.2%, p = .002), lymphocytes to leukocytes ratio (11.3% vs. 17.7%, p = .010), and neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) >7.5 were significantly different between the two groups (all p < .05). Our data demonstrate that symptom-based strategies for identifying the critically ill pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 are insufficient; however, vital signs and laboratory data might be helpful to predict ARDS in critically ill COVID-19 pregnant patients.

This study aimed to evaluate the primary symptoms, comorbidities, and outcomes of inpatients with confirmed reverse transcription–PCR (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 infection among 2077 suspected/diagnosed cases of COVID-19. Based on the results of Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) logistic regression, age, and suggestive chest X-ray (CXR) findings for SARS-CoV-2 infection, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, chronic lung diseases, and intensive care units admission had significant associations with positive RT-PCR results for COVID-19 infection. Also, the highest area under the curve (AUC) was related to cough (AUC = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.51–0.56), dyspnea (AUC = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.50–0.54), and abnormal CXR (AUC = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.50–0.54), as significant predictors. This study showed that some symptoms including cough and dyspnea, as well as abnormal CXR, could be proper predictors of positive RT-PCR result for SARS-CoV-2 infection. It seems that patients with underlying disease(s), such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and chronic lung diseases, had a higher probability to have positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 infection than those with no underlying disease(s).

The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection which has been known as Coronavirus diseases 2019 COVID-19 has become an endemic emergent situation by the World Health Organization. So far, no successful specific treatment has been found for this disease. As has been reported, most of non-survivor patients with COVID-19 (70%) had septic shock which was significantly higher than survived ones. Although the exact pathophysiology of septic shock in these patients is still unclear, it seems to be possible that part of it would be due to the administration of empiric antibiotics with inflammatory properties especially in the absence of bacterial infection. Herein, we have reviewed possible molecular pathways of septic shock in the patients who have received antibiotics with inflammatory properties which mainly is release of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF- α) through different routes. Altogether, we highly recommend clinicians to look after those antibiotics with anti-inflammatory activity for both empiric antibiotic therapy and reducing the inflammation to prevent septic shock in patients with diagnosed COVID-19.

Multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS) is an inflammatory eye disease of the outer retina, retinal pigmented epithelium, choroid presenting with photopsia, loss of vision, and temporal scotoma. The patient was a 31-year-old female with a history of vision loss since 11 days ago (left eye). At presentation, best-corrected Snellen visual acuity was 20/140 in the Snellen chart. We decided to treat her with short time corticosteroid therapy (0.75 mg/kg/day prednisolone which was tapered in 3 weeks) for any possible rapid recovery of vision. The visual acuity of the involved eye was improved to 20/25 and 20/20, one week and three weeks after starting treatment respectively. Thus, it seems that short-term oral steroids might be an alternative method of management for patients with MEWDS.

Introduction: Date palm pollen (DPP) is the male reproductive soft powder from date flowers widely used as the valuable dietary supplement to fortify the size of testis and ovarian to increase the power of sex. This part of date palm significantly exhibited anti-diabetic, anti-inflammation and protective effects against male and female infertility. Though the anticancer activity of date fruits was previously reported, the DPP anti-angiogenic effects were not reported, and as the first study, its inhibitory effects were examined in the current study. Methods: The DPP soft powder was collected to prepare its hydro-alcoholic extract to examine its anti-angiogenic activity in an in vitro model. At different concentrations, the cytotoxicity of the prepared extract was examined on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using lactate dehydrogenase method. Cell proliferation was determined using the MTT assay and cytodex-3D model in collagen gel was used to assay its possible anti-angiogenic activity. The expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Finally, molecular docking simulation was used to highlight the possible role of DPP polyphenols to interact with the associated receptors. Results: The prepared hydro-alcoholic extract exhibited significant anti-angiogenic activity in a dose-dependent manner and decreased the endothelial cell proliferation. The calculated IC50 value for the examined extract in angiogenesis model was 260 µg·mL, respectively. Also, the expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes were significantly decreased. Docking simulation results unveiled that the isolated DPP polyphenols have the affinity to interact with ctDNA, VEGF and its receptors. Conclusion: The DPP is the new source of non-toxic anti-cancer agents to use as a dietary supplement in the pre-treatment of cancer.

Pilonidal disease (PD) is a chronic situation which may cause pain, discomfort, inflammation, discharges, and inability to do daily routines. Among two main methods of surgery, open healing is preferred by surgeons since it associates with lower risk of recurrence; however, it could complicate the wound condition by delaying the healing process. For this meta-analysis, a search in Medline, Embase, and Scopus was performed in June 2017 with no restrictions placed on the publication date or languages. Then, time to healing was considered as the effect size and all the data from trials were extracted. The heterogeneity and the variation in pooled estimation were assessed using Cochran's Q test and I-squared, respectively. Meta-regression was used to examine the relationship between the effect size and year, studies' sample sizes, proportion of male gender and age with the cause of heterogeneity. From 11 selected articles finally 4 met our inclusion and exclusion criteria with the total number of 484 patients. Using a fixed-effect model, pool effect was detected 0.642 (95% CI: 0.485-0.798). A homogeneity of pooled effect size estimate for the studies was also found (Cochran Q test, p-value = 0.844, I-square = 0.0%). Moreover, results of meta-regression showed no statistically significant association between the effect size and patients' mean age, year of publication, total sample size, and sex proportion (0.51