Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences最新文献

Endometriosis, a complex gynecological disorder characterized by ectopic endometrial-like tissue, affects over 10% of women, causing chronic pain and infertility. Despite extensive research, its pathophysiology remains incompletely understood, with proposed mechanisms including inflammation, hormonal dysregulation, and retrograde menstruation. Given ethical and practical challenges in human studies, animal models are essential for investigating endometriosis pathogenesis and evaluating therapeutic interventions. This review examines hormone-related animal models of endometriosis, comparing induction methods (autotransplantation, xenotransplantation, and spontaneous models) and their applications in studying sex steroid hormones (SSH) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. We analyzed 158 studies (2010-2024) from PubMed Central/Medline, focusing on SSH and HPG axis involvement. A novel scoring system was developed to assess the model's suitability based on species, induction method, pharmacological effects, hormonal/genetic evaluations, histological confirmation, feasibility, ethics, and cost. Non-human primate models, particularly spontaneous and hormone-induced baboon models, scored highest due to their physiological resemblance to humans. However, rodent models remain widely used due to practicality. Our findings highlight the need for improved preclinical models to enhance translational research, ultimately aiding in the development of targeted therapies for endometriosis. This comprehensive analysis provides a framework for selecting optimal animal models in future endometriosis research.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen that causes various infections and exhibits antibiotic resistance and virulence factors, requiring alternative therapies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nanocurcumin on gene expression of S. aureus isolates from burn wounds in Iraqi patients, focusing on inhibiting resistance and virulence genes.

Methods: From March 2023 to May 2024, burn wound samples from Iraqi patients yielded 110 S. aureus isolates. Identification was conducted by Gram staining, biochemical assays, and culture techniques. Fifty isolates were randomly selected for antibiotic susceptibility testing using the VITEK 2 Compact System. Ten isolates showing the highest resistance to multiple antibiotics were selected for molecular characterization via Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (Multiplex PCR) to detect fnbA, icaA, icaB, ftsZ, hla, pvl, femA, and mecA genes. The ten isolates were then divided into two groups a treatment group exposed to nanocurcumin and an untreated control group. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) of nanocurcumin was determined using the broth microdilution method in a 96-well plate. The 16S rRNA gene served as an internal control for evaluating the molecular effects. A two-tailed t test was used to assess the significance of gene expression differences.

Results: All 110 isolates were confirmed as S. aureus. The 50 selected isolates were resistant to cefoxitin, amoxicillin, benzylpenicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, piperacillin/tazobactam, cloxacillin, oxacillin, and azithromycin. MecA gene was detected in all isolates. Among the ten tested, femA, icaA, hla, and ftsZ were present in 70%; pvl in 50%; icaB in 20%; and fnbA in 10%. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), showed significant downregulation of icaA, hla, pvl, femA, and mecA in treated isolates. No significant changes were seen in fnbA and ftsZ.

Conclusion: Nanocurcumin inhibits S. aureus virulence and resistance genes, reducing biofilm formation and toxin production, but lacks effect on fnbA and ftsZ, requiring further research.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global health burden and one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, affecting up to 74 million people annually. It profoundly impairs mental health, quality of life, and daily functioning. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of nanoherbal compounds from Paraboea leuserensis using combined in silico and in vivo approaches in a rat model of TBI.

Methods: In the in silico phase, bioactive compounds from Paraboea leuserensis leaves identified by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) were screened through molecular docking to assess their binding affinity and pharmacokinetic properties. For the in vivo study, 30 male Wistar rats were allocated into six groups: G0 (normal control), G+(TBI control), MP (TBI+methylprednisolone 30 mg/Kg BW), and treatment groups PL100, PL200, and PL300 (TBI+nanoherbal extract at 100, 200, and 300 mg/Kg BW, respectively). Antioxidant activity was evaluated through superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) assays. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test (P<0.05) using GraphPad Prism.

Results: GC-MS analysis revealed bioactive compounds with favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Molecular docking showed strong interactions of 9-octadecen-12-ynoic acid methyl ester with ERK2 and CCR2, while 9-octadecenoic acid (Z) displayed notable binding to JNK3. In vivo, PL100 (P<0.01), PL200 (P<0.001), and PL300 (P<0.0001) significantly enhanced SOD activity and reduced MDA levels compared to the TBI control.

Conclusion: Both in silico and in vivo findings highlight the neuroprotective potential of Paraboea leuserensis, with PL300 showing the most pronounced antioxidant effect in TBI-induced rats.

Background: The shift from traditional office visits to internet-based care has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing reliance on telemedicine platforms. This growth has led to more health-related electronic data and heightened risks of unauthorized access, making it essential to prioritize information confidentiality issues. This study aims to reveal the disclosure of confidential information on a Persian televisit website.

Methods: In this observational case study, we gathered public health-related electronic data from a Persian televisit website in 2022. SAS software was used to harvest messy data about patients and doctors and create a structured dataset. Meanwhile, Microsoft Excel and RStudio software programs were used for data visualization. A hashing algorithm was applied to encode personal information, preventing the identification of individuals.

Results: Our study showed how public web data about 263 patients and 194 doctors, harvested from the target website, can be used to reveal patients' private information. Using such data, we explored the patient-doctor interaction patterns. With access to the patients' identifiable information, we recognized the identity of the clients who received internet-based care services and their possible diseases.

Conclusion: This analysis revealed that exposure of patients' confidential information could compromise their identities and underlying medical conditions. This highlights the need for a national framework to ensure the security of health-related electronic data. Health authorities should enforce comprehensive laws, while the owners of televisit websites should implement privacy by design principles into the development of such platforms to prevent the disclosure of sensitive information.

Background: L- glutamate- induced neurotoxicity is linked to neuronal loss in neurodegenerative diseases and stroke. Annexin A5 (ANXA5) is a cytosolic protein that binds calcium in eukaryotic organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of a recombinant ANXA5 against L-glutamate-induced cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction in SH-SY5Y cells.

Methods: ANXA5 was expressed in E. coli and subsequently purified using affinity chromatography. The effect of L-glutamate (0-300 mM) alone or in combination with ANXA5 (0-5µg/mL) on the viability of the SH-SY5Y cells was assessed using the MTT assay. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) dissipation was detected by rhodamine 123 staining and the flow cytometry method. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, and NF-E2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf-2) genes were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. GraphPad Prism 8.0 was used to analyze the data using either one-way ANOVA or the Kruskal-Wallis test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The findings revealed that L-glutamate reduced the cell viability of SH-SY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.001) (IC50=165 mM). Moreover, treating SH-SY5Y cells with 165 mM of L-glutamate increased MMP dissipation, enhanced Bax expression, and reduced the expression of Bcl-2 and Nrf-2, compared to the control group. ANXA5 alone had no significant effects. However, it reversed the effects of L-glutamate on cell death, MMP dissipation, and gene expression in the SH-SY5Y cells.

Conclusion: The data suggest that ANXA5 can protect SH-SY5Y cells against glutamate-induced cell death and mitochondrial dysfunction, indicating its possible protective effect against glutamate-induced neurodegeneration.

Background: Metastases, not the primary tumor, account for most cancer-related deaths. Tumor budding, thought to represent epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), has garnered attention due to its association with invasion and migration. This study aims to assess the pathological and clinical significance of tumor budding in colorectal carcinoma and its correlation with epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, tissue samples from 101 patients (no neoadjuvant treatment) were analyzed. Tumor budding was scored using International Tumor Budding Consensus Conference guidelines and classified into Budding 1 (BD1) (1-4 buds), Budding 2 (BD2) (5-9 buds), and Budding 3 (BD3) (10+ buds) per 0.785 mm². The tissue sample was subjected to immunohistochemistry to assess EMT markers β-catenin, E-cadherin, Snail, and Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1).

Results: Tumor budding was significantly associated with advanced tumor stage (P=0.0001), deeper invasion (P=0.003), vascular invasion (P=0.001), perineural invasion (P=0.0001), and desmoplasia (P=0.010). Regional lymph node metastasis was seen in 93% of cases with tumor budding, and distant metastasis was found in eight cases (7.9%). Aberrant β-catenin expression was seen in 82 cases (81.2%), and aberrant E-cadherin in 65 cases (64.4%). Snail and ZEB1 positivity were observed in 55 (54.5%) and 32 (31.7%) cases, respectively. A significant correlation was found between aberrant β-catenin and ZEB1 (P=0.005). Although EMT markers coexisted frequently with tumor budding, no statistically significant association was observed.

Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that tumor budding is common in colorectal carcinoma and is significantly associated with advanced tumor stage, invasion, vascular and perineural invasion, and regional lymph node metastasis. Aberrant expression of EMT markers (β-catenin, E-cadherin, Snail, and ZEB1) was frequently observed, although no significant association with tumor budding was found.

Background: Burns are a common childhood injury that can affect physical health for a long time, which has an impact on quality of life. This study aimed to determine whether adding Pilates exercise to a traditional physical therapy program improves lower extremity muscle strength, functional capacity, and quality of life in burned children.

Methods: This single-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia from 2022 to 2023. A simple randomization method was followed in this study. The control group (n=30) received a traditional physical therapy program, while the Pilates group (n=30) received a Pilates training in addition to the traditional physical therapy program. All participants attended the intervention 3 days a week, for 12 weeks. Measurements were made at baseline and after 3 months of the intervention. The outcome measurements included muscle strength, functional capacity, and quality of life. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, using univariate analysis of variance with Bonferroni correction.

Results: After intervention, there were statistically significant differences between groups, in favour of the Pilates group, in muscle strength, functional capacity (P<0.001), with mean difference and 95% CI was 16.73 (6.95, 26.52), quality of life physical subscale (P=0.03) with mean difference and 95% CI was 6.83 (0.71, 12.96), and quality of life total scores (P=0.02) with mean difference and 95% CI was 7.17 (1.34, 13.0). However, no statistically significant difference between groups on the quality-of-life psychological subscale (P=0.48).

Conclusion: Pilates exercises in addition to a traditional physical therapy program had a positive impact on the muscle strength of the lower limb, functional capacity, and quality of life in children with burn injury compared with the traditional exercise program alone.Trial Registration Number: NCT06237361.

Background: Given limited available data and information gaps related to the effects of endurance exercise along with blood flow restriction (BFR) on the heart. This study examined the effects of low-intensity endurance exercise training (Ex) alone and BFR on blood pressure (BP), electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate variability (HRV), and heart rate recovery time (HRRT) in participants with grade 1 hypertension.

Methods: In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, 43 hypertensive participants, 50-65 years old, were randomly divided into three groups: Ex+BFR, Ex, and the control (Con) group. The training program was conducted three times weekly for 10 weeks in spring 2024 at Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Before and 24 hours after the intervention, HRV parameters, BP, ECG, and HRRT were assessed.

Results: The Ex and Ex+BFR groups showed a significant increase in Root Mean Square of Successive Differences between normal heartbeats (RMSSD) (P=0.008, P=0.002), Standard Deviation of Successive Differences (SDSD) (P=0.008, P=0.002), and the standard deviation of the Poincaré plot ratio (SD1/SD2) (P=0.0004, P=0.0002), and a reduced low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF/HF) (P=0.013 and P=0.007) compared to Con group, respectively. The Ex+BFR group demonstrated a greater positive effect on frequency-domain parameters of HRV. In addition, both the Ex and Ex+BFR groups showed a significant reduction in HRRT (P=0.0001 vs. relevant baseline), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) (P=0.0001), and prolonged PR interval (P=0.038 and P=0.035, respectively) and shortened QRS complex compared to the Con group.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that combining low-intensity endurance exercise with BFR exerts a positive effect on cardiovascular parameters such as BP, ECG, HRRT, and demonstrates superior effects on HRV compared to exercise alone in individuals with mild hypertension. A preprint version of this manuscript is available at DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5347658/v1.