Advanced biomedical research最新文献

Background: Opioid addiction is a major public health problem that causes impairments in cognitive and oxidative processes. The present study has been designed to investigate the therapeutic potential of aerobic exercise, combined with herbal supplements (Rosa Canina L, Matricaria recutita, and Berberis), on oxidative stress and spatial learning during morphine withdrawal.

Materials and methods: This trial consisted of 45 male C57BL/6 mice, divided into nine groups, with the induction of morphine dependence. Herbal supplements were combined with aerobic exercises for a 4-week intervention. Spatial learning was analyzed using the Morris Water Maze test; oxidative stress biomarkers were measured as superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total oxidative status (TOS); and gene expression levels of proenkephalin (PENK), prodynorphin (PDYN), and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: Morphine-dependent mice exhibited impaired spatial learning and elevated oxidative stress. Herbal supplements and aerobic exercise, separately, enhanced spatial learning and antioxidant capacity, but the most significant benefits were seen when combined in reducing escape latency and improving SOD and TOS levels. Gene expression analysis revealed that the combination treatment brought PENK, PDYN, and NRF2 levels closer to those of the control group, suggesting synergistic neuroprotective effects.

Conclusions: The combination of herbal supplements and aerobic exercise is promising in reducing oxidative stress and improving cognitive recovery during morphine withdrawal. These findings point to a holistic approach in addressing opioid addiction and may inform future clinical applications in improving rehabilitation outcomes and quality of life among affected individuals. Further research is needed to optimize these interventions for broader application.

Background: Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders in the world. About 10-15% of LBP patients develop chronic symptoms. Proprioceptive deficiency is one of the possible mechanisms for LBP chronicity, and females are more susceptible than males. We can use an unstable sitting balance or Wobble Board Training (WBT) for proprioceptive training of low back. Lumbar postural control is separated from lower limb postural control in this position. So, we aimed to study the effect of proprioceptive exercises in a sitting position on LBP patients, as it wasn't specified in this position until now.

Materials and methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 40 women with Chronic Non-Specific Low Back Pain (CNSLBP) and a mean age of 40.37 ± 4.79 were randomly allocated into the control or intervention group subsequently after checking the inclusion criteria. Participants in the control group were treated with Conventional Physical Therapy (CPT), and participants in the intervention group were treated with CPT + WBT in the sitting position. Pain and disability index were evaluated in both groups before treatment, immediately, and 4 weeks after treatment.

Results: The results show that the pain and disability index improved after treatment in both groups, but the intervention is not significantly effective on either the pain (P = 0.81) or the disability index (P = 0.15).

Conclusion: WBT in a sitting position is not significantly effective in treating women with CNSLBP.

Background: A severe pro-inflammatory feedback is the main reason for novel coronavirus (COVID-19)-related complications. Here we intended to investigate the potential involvement of toll-like receptors (TLRs)3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 in the etiopathogenesis of COVID-19.

Materials and methods: mRNA expression of TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 were evaluated in blood samples from 30 COVID-19-infected patients and 30 healthy controls by means of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach.

Results: The mRNA expressions of TLR3 (P = 0.038) and TLR9 (P = 0.009) significantly increased in patients with COVID-19 compared with healthy controls. Additionally, the mRNA expression of TLR3 was significantly higher in the male than in female COVID-19 patients (P = 0.020). Experiments indicated that the mRNA expression of TLRs was not significantly different between symptomatic and non-symptomatic COVID-19 subjects. Furthermore, no correlation was detected between mRNA expression of TLRs and patient's clinicopathological data.

Conclusion: It seems that TLR3 and TLR9 are involved during COVID-19 infection and might take part in the inflammatory outcome of the patients.

Zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) remains a significant public health challenge in Iran, which reported an incidence rate of 15.8 cases per 100,000 individuals in 2019. Among the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, Iran bears a disproportionate burden of this neglected tropical disease, with 18 out of its 31 provinces affected. ZCL is especially prevalent in rural and semiurban areas, where ecological and environmental factors create suitable conditions for disease transmission. Rodent reservoirs, particularly Meriones species, and specific vectors, such as Phlebotomus sandflies, play critical roles in the epidemiology of ZCL in Iran. Recent studies have highlighted dynamic changes in the distribution of ZCL in Iran, with newly identified hotspots in regions such as Beyza district (Fars province), Isfahan, and Razavi Khorasan. These shifts are attributed to climate change, urbanization, and altered land use patterns, which influence vector habitats and reservoir dynamics. Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the spread of ZCL, redirecting health priorities and increasing the vulnerability of already high-risk areas. The interplay between these ecological factors underscores the importance of understanding localized transmission patterns. Despite the growing prevalence of ZCL, research remains limited in its focus on epidemiological aspects specific to Iran. This review aims to address this gap by examining the geographic distribution, reservoirs, vectors, and ecological drivers of ZCL within Iran. By identifying high-risk provinces and emerging trends, such as those in Fars, Isfahan, and Razavi Khorasan, this study provides a foundation for designing targeted control strategies. Effective interventions, informed by these findings, are crucial in mitigating the future burden of ZCL, particularly as vector habitats are expected to expand due to climatic changes.

Background: The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the effect of Carica papaya on periodontal disease in the adult population.

Materials and methods: A systematic search was performed using the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane library databases up to June 2021 using related keywords for randomized clinical trials that evaluated the effect of Carica papaya on gingival index (GI), plaque index (PI), and papilla bleeding index (PBI) in the intervention group compared to control group.

Results: A total of five eligible studies involving 206 participants were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. GI score significantly decreased in the intervention group at the end of the treatment compared to the baseline (ES = -0.64; 95% CI = -0.85--0.42; I² = 90.4%; P < 0.001). Furthermore, patients in the intervention group had significantly lower GI (weighted mean difference = -0.28; 95% CI = -0.45--0.10; I² = 98.2%; P < 0.001) and PI (weighted mean difference = -0.36; 95% CI = -0.59--0.14; I² = 99.3; P < 0.001) scores compared with control individuals. However, no significant difference observed between the two groups regarding PBI score.

Conclusion: Despite study limitations, this systematic review and meta-analysis highlighted the effective role of oral care products containing Carica papaya for the treatment of periodontal diseases by improving indices like GI and PI.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a serious public health problem worldwide. The existing therapy options for IBD are limited and can cause severe difficulties, and thus require more research on alternative therapeutic techniques. Pramipexole is a dopamine receptor agonist with anti-inflammatory effects that was recently discovered. Given the importance of dopaminergic pathways in ulcerative colitis inflammation, we tested pramipexole's efficacy in a rat colitis model in this study.

Materials and methods: Colitis was induced by administering 3% acetic acid intrarectally. Rats were randomly assigned to one of six groups: normal, colitis control, dexamethasone (1 mg/kg; i.p.), and pramipexole (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg; i.p.). In intestinal samples, macroscopic and microscopic lesion ratings, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1 beta), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were evaluated.

Results: Compared to the colitis control group, pramipexole (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) substantially reduced macroscopic and microscopic intestinal damage, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, and MPO activity. Furthermore, the indices mentioned above were considerably lower in the dexamethasone treatment group compared to the colitis control group.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that pramipexole has favorable benefits in treating experimental colitis; however, further research is required to determine its clinical value as an IBD therapeutic agent.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) significantly impairs mobility and quality of life in elderly patients. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a well-established surgical intervention to alleviate severe pain and improve knee function. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of TKA on pain severity and knee joint function in patients aged 60-70 years.

Materials and methods: This quasi-experimental study included 40 patients who underwent TKA at a teaching hospital between August 2021 and February 2023. Pain severity and knee function were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Knee Society Score (KSS), respectively. Assessments were performed preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively.

Results: The study included 31 women and 9 men, with a mean age of 65.20 ± 3.46 years and an average BMI of 28.7 ± 3.4 kg/m². A significant reduction in pain was observed, with mean VAS scores decreasing from 8.40 preoperatively to 3.05 at 6 months postoperatively (P < .001). Knee function improved markedly, with the KSS scores increasing from 36.13 preoperatively to 75.75 at 6 months (P < .001). Both pain intensity and knee function showed significant improvements at each time point, with continued benefits observed over time.

Conclusions: TKA significantly reduced pain and improved knee joint function in elderly patients. These findings support the effectiveness of TKA as a treatment for knee osteoarthritis, highlighting its potential to enhance the quality of life in the elderly population. Further research is recommended to explore the long-term outcomes and factors that influence patient satisfaction.

Background: This study was designed to investigate the various extracts of Allium giganteum in term of their cytotoxic effects on gastric and colon cancer cell lines and then fractionation of extract with the most desired effects on cancer cells in comparison to the normal cell line.

Materials and methods: The A. giganteum air-dried bulbs were extracted in four solvents including aqueous, butanol, chloroform: methanol (9:1), and dichloromethan extracts. Evaluating the cytotoxicity of extracts were done by MTT assay against HT-29, KATO-III, and HUVEC cell lines. The extract with The most cytotoxicity on cancer cells and lower toxicity on normal cell line was subjected to the fractionation by MPLC using a RP-18 silica gel column and in the next stage and the cytotoxicity of resulted fractions were determined by MTT assay.

Results: Chloroform: methanol extract was the safest extract on HUVEC cells with great cytotoxic effects against cancer cell lines (IC50 17.3 and 23 µg/mL, for KATO-III and HT-29, respectively). The results of MTT assay for 7 fractions of the chloroform: methanol extract showed that 5^th fraction (E) was the most cytotoxic fraction (IC50 9 and 11.2 µg/mL for HT-29 and KATO-III, respectively). TLC and NMR analysis of the fractions suggested the presence of steroidal saponins as the main constituents.

Conclusion: Significant cytotoxic effects of Allium giganteum was established against GI cancer cell lines especially fractions rich in steroidal saponins. So, these fractions are attractive candidate for the isolation and identification of effective ingredients.

Background: Prompt and precise bilirubin assessment is critical for the appropriate intervention in neonatal jaundice management. Various healthcare settings have adopted transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) devices for this purpose. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between TcB readings obtained from five distinct body regions and total serum bilirubin (TSB) levels.

Materials and methods: The research encompassed 202 neonates exhibiting clinical signs of jaundice, admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and general wards of Beheshti Hospital in Isfahan. The cohort included neonates of both genders with a gestational age of 30 weeks or more. Measurements of TcB were performed using the MBJ20 jaundice detector probe on the forehead, sternum, auricle, wrist, and interscapular region, and these were then compared with the TSB levels.

Results: The study included a balanced sample of 202 newborns, with an equal distribution between males and females. The mean gestational age was 34.19 ± 2.63 weeks; the average birth weight was 2083 ± 692.18 grams, and the TSB level was 9.95 ± 2.68 mg/dl. The findings revealed a robust, direct, and meaningful correlation between the TcB and TSB levels across all the sites examined. Notably, the correlation was statistically more pronounced at the sternum and forehead.

Conclusion: The study confirms that noninvasive TcB assessment at two specific sites-the sternum and forehead-using the MBJ20 bilirubinometer, provides significant congruence with the TSB levels determined by clinical laboratory techniques in both term and preterm neonates. Measurements at the sternum are marginally more precise than those at the forehead.

Background: This study aims to assess tetracycline chemical pleurodesis through tube thoracostomy in prevention of spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with normal computed tomography (CT) scans following their first episode of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP).

Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective, double-blinded, census clinical trial involving 66 patients with spontaneous pneumothorax, referred to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences affiliated Hospitals. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. Tube thoracostomy was embedded for all patients. The first group was treated with tetracycline 2 g, 5 mL of lidocaine 2%, and 50 mL of normal saline injected through an embedded thoracostomy tube. The second group was performed with the same procedure without tetracycline injection. Thereafter, patients were followed up for 12 months.

Results: This study was conducted on 32 (48.5%) cases and 34 (51.5%) controls. SPS recurrence occurred in 16 patients, with the following distributions: 14 males (P value = 0.627), 14 controls (P value = 0.001), and 12 smokers (P value = 0.207). Tetracycline pleurodesis correlated with a significantly lower recurrence rate (odds ratio [OR] =12.16; P value = 0.014).

Conclusion: Tetracycline chemical pleurodesis via thoracostomy tube in patients with first episode of PSP may significantly decrease the rate of recurrence. However, further large-scale clinical trials are needed to establish this effect.