Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2022 | Volume:33 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background & Aims: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and one of the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Accounting that the risk of colorectal cancer is associated with blood sugar indices as well as the role of CEA in the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer, this study was fulfilled to determine the relationship between serum level of CEA and HOMA2-IR in colorectal patients. Materials & Methods: In this case-control study, 40 colorectal cancer patients and 40 healthy subjects, as the control group, were included. Serum levels of CEA, insulin, and fasting blood sugar were measured in all participants. The HOMA2-IR index was calculated based on the standard formula. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Results: The mean of CEA was 7. 08±, 1. 9 in colorectal patients and 2. 21±, 1. 5 in control group, and difference between them was significant (p = 0. 003). Totally, the mean insulin among patients with CEA below 3 and CEA equal or more than 3 was 11. 06±, 6. 9 and 14. 34±, 8. 28, respectively (p = 0. 026). Also, mean FBS for two groups were 110. 67±, 42. 7 and 135. 9±, 52. 5 (p = 0. 01) and mean of HOMA2-IR for two groups were 1. 49±, 0. 98 and 2. 04±, 1. 25, (P = 0. 011), respectively. All these differences between two groups were significant. Conclusion: colorectal patients had higher levels of CEA than the control group. The mean values of all three indices of insulin, FBS و and HOMA2-IR among patients with colorectal cancer were higher in both groups of patients with CEA below 3 and patients with CEA equal or more than 3 than control group. There was strong positive correlations between CEA with insulin, FBS, and HOMA2-IR indices in colorectal patients compared to the control group.

Background & Aims: Diallyl sulfide (DAS) is an organosulfur compound derived from garlic with antioxidative and multiple protective effects. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria that is commonly used to create an animal models of Acute Kidney Dysfunction (AKI). LPS can cause renal injury by induction of oxidative stress reactions. According to the role of oxidative stress in the incidence of AKI caused by sepsis, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of DAS on acute kidney dysfunction due to LPS. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 32 male C57BL / 6 mice were divided randomly into 4 groups of control, LPS, and two LPS under treatment with DAS (50, and 200 mg/kg) groups. In two DAS treatment groups, oral administration of diallyl sulfide was performed at a single dose and one hour before injection of LPS. AKI was induced by a single dose intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg of LPS. Twenty-four hours after LPS injection, blood samples were collected via heart for BUN and creatinine analysis. Also, homogenization of kidney tissue was prepared to measure oxidative stress markers including malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite, and catalase. Results: As compared with LPS group, DAS administered at 200 mg/kg significantly reduced MDA, but reduce in nitrite and increase in catalase activity were not significant. Also, in order to improve kidney function, it significantly reduced serum BUN and creatinine levels as compared with LPS group. Conclusion: DAS can improve renal dysfunction following LPS, and its beneficial effect is through reducing oxidative stress and possible enhancement of antioxidant defence system.

Background & Aims: In the last few years, mRNA vaccines have been considered for the treatment of cancer and viral and autoimmune diseases. Several mRNA vaccine have been evaluated in the preclinical and clinical stages,these experiments have shown that mRNA vaccines elicit a long-term immune response in both animal models and humans. Due to their significant immune responses, the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines against cancers and pathogens are much higher than other vaccines that do not induce significant immune responses. The results of recent developments in various fields have provided the basis for the production of mRNA vaccines with high efficiency and effectiveness. The aim of this review article was to examine the most important developments in the field of mRNA vaccines production as well as the challenges facing this field. Materials & Methods: The present study is a review article in which, numerous articles indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar search engines were analyzed with the mRNA vaccine and viral infections keywords. Results: The results of several studies indicated that mRNA-based vaccines have the ability to induce humoral and cellular immune system responses against a wide range of infectious and non-infectious diseases. With the advances in mRNA transfer methods and increased their stability, these vaccines have been introduced as a promising, effective, and safe methods in the treatment and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases and cancers. Conclusion: The robust, long-lasting and safe immune responses observed in animal models, as well as promising data from early human clinical trials, make mRNA-based vaccination as an appropriate alternative to conventional vaccine approaches.

Background & Aims: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is one of the most important food-borne pathogens that causes staphylococcal poisoning in humans. This study aimed to isolate and identify Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in raw cow milk, phenotypic and genotypic identification of them, and determination of the resistance pattern of isolates in Urmia city, Iran. Materials &Methods: 290 samples of raw cow's milk from May to December 2016 were collected from milk storage tanks in cattle farms and milk supply places in Urmia city, Iran, and were transferred to the food hygiene laboratory under sterile and cold conditions for their isolation process. Staphylococcus aureus was transferred using the usual microbiological and biochemical methods. To confirm coagulase positive isolates, nuc gene identification method was used. In order to identify the phenotypic isolates resistant to methicillin, Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and genotypic identification of mecA gene were used. Results: 44 isolates were collected from 290 milk samples (144 samples from milk storage tanks and 146 samples from milk supply places), which from them, 14 isolates (7. 9%) were from milk storage tanks and 30 isolates (20. 5%) were from the milk supply places. The presence of Staphylococcus aureus in the samples was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Out of a total of 44 isolates, 7 isolates (16%) were resistant to Oxacillin, which from them, one isolate (7. 1%) was from the tanks and 6 isolates (20%) were from the raw milk supply centers. They were detected as Staphylococcus aureus isolates which were resistant to Methicillin. The highest level of resistance of the isolates belonged to Penicillin (59. 1%). None of the isolates showed resistance to Vancomycin, Tobramycin, and Gentamicin. From five isolates (4. 1%) which had mecA gene, 4 isolates (13. 3%) were related to milk supply centers and one isolate (7. 1%) were related to milk tanks. Discussion &Conclusion: According to the obtained results, the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA in milk supply centers is higher than that in the milk storage tanks. These results indicate secondary contamination and non-observance of hygienic principles during transportation and supply of milk.

Background & Aim: Anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor are among the markers that can be positive in brucellosis patients and even have different levels in the patients with and without osteoarticular symptoms. This study was designed and implemented with the aim of comparison of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody and rheumatoid factor levels in brucellosis patients with and without osteoarticular symptoms. Materials & methods: In this analytical-descriptive study, 106 brucellosis patients were examined. Anti-CCP antibody and RF levels were measured in patients with and without osteoarticular problems using ELISA method. The results were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software. P<0. 05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 106 patients, 68 (64. 2%) were male and 38 (35. 8%) were female. The mean age of the participants in the study was 33. 5 years, with the age range of 20 to 55 years. 69 people (65. 1%) had bone-joint symptoms, of which 72. 5% had arthralgia and 19 (27. 5%) had arthritis. About 60% of the patients with osteoarticular symptoms had spondylitis and the least involvement was observed in shoulder. Mean anti-CCP level in the patients with and without osteoarticular symptoms was 7. 9 ±,4. 9 and 5. 4 ±,2. 93 U/ml, respectively (P = 0. 02). Although the mean rheumatoid factor and ESR levels in the patients with osteoarticular symptoms was higher than those without these problems, but the difference was not significant. Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, the level of anti-CCP in brucellosis patients with involvement of the skeletal-motor system is higher than the patients without involvement of this system, which may be misdiagnosed with rheumatological diseases.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a change in brain function such as confusion, changes in consciousness, coma, epileptic seizures, or damage to emotional or motor centers caused by any blow to the head or factors that increase intracranial pressure. The most common causes of TBI are road accidents, falls from heights, and injuries during exercise. A precise and well-known mechanism for the pathogenesis of TBI has not yet been determined. Some suggested mechanisms for it included axon damage due to trauma, separation of tau protein from microtubules, increased pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ẞ,and IL-6), and altered neurotransmitter synthesis. There is no specific treatment recommendation for the disease by the FDA. The aim of this study was to analyze the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of brain trauma and the role of vitamin D in preventing and controlling the resulting injuries. In this review research, electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and SID were searched to extract information. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that easily crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and acts through nuclear and membrane receptors. Because of its role in controlling inflammatory processes, improving the growth, repairing the nerve cells, and preventing the progression of neuronal induction pathways (Taupathy, etc. ), vitamin D could be recommended for the treatment of this disease. The results of observations to date have shown that vitamin D can be effective in preventing the progression of traumatic brain injuries.

Background & Aims: Urinary incontinence is one of the prevalent hygienic problems of women that is negatively affecting physically, psycho-socially on quality of women’, s life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of stress urinary incontinence surgery by the trans-obturator tape method (minimally invasive). Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 30 women with stress urinary incontinence who underwent the TOT procedure in the in the Gynecology Department of Motaharri hospital, Urmia, Iran between August 2016-December 2017 were included. All patients underwent pre-operative clinical examination, cough-stress test in lithotomy position with full bladder, bladder sonography and postvoiding residual volume assessment. Results: The Mean ±,SD age of patients was 43. 7±, 7. 62 years, ranging from 30 to 58 years. Patient were followed at the months of 1and 6 after surgery. The average duration of the surgery was about 20 minutes. 100% of patients were completely cured and none of patients have failure of treatment or surgery complications. Conclusion: In this study, trans-obturator tape placement was found to be a safe, effective and lowcomplication method. All patients were satisfied with the surgical results. Considering the relatively small number of people studied, it is recommended to conduct more studies, especially focusing on evaluating the quality of life with standard questionnaires in the field of women's urinary problems. Also, clinical trial studies should be designed and implemented in the field of comparison of TOT with existing standard surgical methods in the treatment of female incontinence.

Background & Aims: In today's society, chemicals have many benefits and applications. One of these chemicals is Drabkin’, s solution which is used in the hematology laboratory. Drabkin’, s solution is toxic and is harmful to skin health. In this study, considering the chemical composition of vitamin C and the phytochemical properties of ginger plant, we decided to investigate the effects of the hydroalcoholic solution of this plant on the survival of normal skin and gum cells in the presence of Drabkin solution. Materials & Methods: Protective effects of ginger extract and vitamin C (doses 0. 1, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 μ, M) on the toxicity caused by Drabkin’, s solution was measured by colorimetric assay (MTT) to investigate the survival and viability of normal gingival and skin cells. Prism statistical software version 8 and one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests were used for statistical analysis. A significance level of P<0. 05 was considered. Results: The results of this study showed that high concentrations of vitamin C and ginger inhibit the toxicity of Drabkin’, s solution, so that there was a significant increase in the growth of normalized cells. Drabkin’, s solution in concentrations higher than 50 μ, M has toxicity on the studied cell lines. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the consumption of ginger extract and vitamin C in different concentrations increased the growth of normal cells of the gums and skin, and as a result, caused cell protection from the damage caused by Drabkin’, s solution.