Studies in Medical Sciences
Year:2024 | Volume:34 | Issue:12|Papers Count:8

Background & Aims: The Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) are a population of widely used cells in cell/gene therapy which are necessary to maintain their stemness properties to guarantee their proper function in medical applications. Platinum nanoparticles are one of the materials that have various applications in the medical world. The aim of this work was to evaluate platinum nanoparticles effect on MSCs cell cycle and Oct-4 and Sox-2 expression in vitro. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, after the synthesis of platinum nanoparticles, their dynamic shape and size were checked by TEM and their charge by DLS test. Then, the culture of mesenchymal stem cells and their survival after treatment with platinum nanoparticles (pt) were investigated. In addition, the expression levels of Sox-2 and Oct-4 genes were evaluated in cells treated with nanoparticles. Also, the effects of platinum nanoparticles on cell cycle and colony formation in stem cells were evaluated. Statistical analyzes were performed with Graph Pad Prism version 10 software. The significance level was defined as p<0. 05. Results: Based on the obtained results, the morphology of spherical nanoparticles and their size was 180 nm and their charge was +25. 8. Cytotoxicity test showed that the effects of these nanoparticles on cells are dose and time dependent. Also, in the presence of platinum, the cell cycle of stem cells underwent many changes, especially the increase in the percentage of cells in the S phase. Real-time PCR results showed that in the presence of platinum nanoparticles, there is a decrease in Sox-2 and Oct4 gene expression, which has led to a decrease in the stemness properties of mesenchymal stem cells. Also, their clonogenic potential was also weakened. Conclusion: We concluded that due to the possible negative effects of platinum nanoparticles on the stemness of MSCs, platinum nanoparticles should be used with caution in long-term medical applications. Therefore, it is suggested to reduce the dose, frequency and duration of using platinum nanoparticles as much as possible.

Background & Aim: Phenylketonuria is a type of congenital and genetic metabolic disease of autosomal recessive type, which due to the deficiency or lack of phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme, the amino acid phenylalanine is not converted to tyrosine and causes an increase of phenylalanine in the blood, especially in the brain, and as a result, causes irreversible complications including irreversible mental retardation. The aim of this study was to investigate the IQ of children with phenylketonuria identified in the national PKU screening program for children over 5 years of age. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the pediatric center of Shahid Motahari hospital in Urmia during 2011-2014. The participants in this study were selected from children with phenylketonuria who referred to the pediatric clinic of Shahid Motahari Hospital in Urmia and were included in the study. Twenty-five children were included in the study using the full number method, and the required information was extracted from the patients' files and analyzed. Results: The mean age of the studied children was 6. 32±4. 33 years and the average age of diagnosis was 30. 28±52. 24 days. The mean level of phenylalanine mg/dl was 5. 40±4. 33 and the mean IQ was 93. 56±12. 99. The results showed that 18 children (72%) have medium to high IQ. Adherence to the diet was observed in the majority of 21 patients (84%). The results of the analysis showed that IQ has a statistically significant relationship with dietary compliance and phenylalanine level (P<0. 05). Conclusion: The PKU screening program in West Azerbaijan province has been effective and we have seen a reduction in the complications of this disease. However, despite the follow-up and implementation of the program, we still see some special complications such as mental retardation, which requires the coherence and continuity of the program in order to minimize the complications caused by this disease.

Background & Aims: Gene therapy is used in various diseases such as cancer. Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide, which shows the necessity of using innovative approaches in treatment methods. The ability of artificial intelligence algorithms to process large data, complex patterns, and classify them can be used to improve the process of gene therapy in breast cancer. The aim of this article is to review the available information and emphasize the applications of artificial intelligence in targeted gene therapy for breast cancer. Materials & Methods: To carry out this study we used the articles on PubMed databases by searching for related keywords to collect information. Results: By designing artificial intelligence algorithms and analyzing very complex molecular pathways in the human body and sampling the experiences of scientists and doctors in clinical studies and simulating biological processes related to the regulation of gene expression in the human body, the effectiveness of gene carriers, control of gene delivery parameters/medicine and modeling of cells minimized the rate of medical errors and with early diagnosis of the disease and predicting the effectiveness of the medicine, it provided patient-centered treatments of the effectiveness of new treatments such as gene therapy with the least complications at the highest level. Conclusion: In recent decade, many efforts have been made to use all types of gene therapy for breast cancer patients with the least complications and the most effectiveness. Therefore, artificial intelligence is a powerful tool for optimizing early diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer. It’s combination with interdisciplinary sciences in improving the health of the society is a very interesting topic for scientists, but due to the limitations that exist for its use, such as ethical cases and high costs, it should be done with high precision and sufficient studies.

Background & Aims: The increase in susceptibility to heart diseases in old age is related with increased oxidative stress. Considering the strong antioxidant effects of prazosin, in this study we investigated the protective effect of prazosin on oxidative stress in the heart tissue of aged rats. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 18 male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (6 rats in each group): 1. young (aged 3 months), 2. aged (aged 18 months), 3. aged + prazosin. Aged animals received prazosin powder (1 mg/kg, Tocris Bioscience (Ellis ville, Mo)) diluted in saline, intraperitoneally daily for 1 month. After one month, the animals were anesthetized and their hearts were excised for the measurement of oxidative stress indices. Results: The results of this study showed that there was increased MDA (malondialdehyde) and decreased SOD (superoxide dismutase) levels in the heart of aged rats compared to youngs. The use of prazosin caused a significant decrease in the level of MDA and a significant increase in the level of SOD in the heart of aged rats. Conclusion: The use of prazosin has protective effects by reducing oxidative stress in the hearts of aged rats.

Background & Aim: Spinal cord is one of the organs at risk in esophageal cancer radiation therapy. The difference between the dose distribution due to the Treatment Planning System (TPS) and the patient's body dose is dependent on the calculation of the TPS algorithm, which is more pronounced in heterogeneities such as the Spinal cord. In this study, the dose distribution of TPS algorithm was compared with monte Carlo calculations in both homogeneous and heterogeneous tissue. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, three-dimensional planning composed of four fields were done on the CT using the CorPLAN TPS of a SIEMENS PRIMUS linac. EGSnrc monte Carlo simulation code was used for the same conditions. The dose distribution obtained from Monte Carlo simulation and TPS was compared using PDD curve and Dose Difference Percentage index that obtained from these two modes. Results: According to the results, the error rate from the TPS was less than 3% in the homogeneous tissue, whereas the error in the Spinal cord heterogeneity was significant (more than 5%). Conclusion: Results shows that the accuracy of CorPLAN TPS at homogeneous tissue is more than in the Spinal cord heterogeneity and this should be considered in the clinic. The findings also indicate that the monte carlo code can be used to simulate and evaluate the dose distribution in radiotherapy, and in cases where the practical measurement of some dosimetric parameters is impossible or difficult, this code can be used for prediction and optimization of treatment plans.

Many cytokines are crucial drivers of cancers and autoimmune conditions. These proteins bind to receptors and signal their responses through Janus kinase (JAK) and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways. Genetic variations in the JAK–STAT pathway are correlated with the increased risk of cancers, autoimmunity as well as inflammatory diseases. Targeting JAKs and STATs can be a safe and efficacious strategy for treating these diseases. Tofacitinib, as the first JAK inhibitor, is approved for rheumatoid arthritis therapy. Also, many other JAK inhibitors have been proven or are in various phases of clinical trials for various diseases. At present, small‐molecule JAK inhibitors are considered as a novel category of drugs in the treatment of cancer and immune‐mediated diseases.

Background & Aims: Today, stroke is one of the most important challenges in human health and is one of the main causes of disability in societies. The Aim of this study was to investigate the pharmaceutical history of patients with stroke. Materials and methods: In this descriptive study, the records of patients admitted with a stroke diagnosis in Imam Khomeini Hospital of Urmia were examined regarding medical history. For this purpose, the records of 200 hospitalized patients in the first six months of 2019 were recorded in terms of the drugs used and the frequency of the drug classes. In addition, the variables of age, gender, and underlying diseases were also recorded and analyzed. In this research, incomplete or unreadable files were considered as exclusion criteria. Results: Our results showed that in terms of gender, 107 patients (53/5%) were men and 93 (46/5%) were women, and in terms of age, 13 patients (6/5%) were less than 45 years old, 76 patients (38%) were in the age range of 45-65 years and 111 patients (55/5%) were over 65 years old, which shows that men with the age of 65 years were more frequent. The examination of the underlying diseases of stroke patients showed that the most common underlying diseases include high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, history of previous stroke, and ischemic heart diseases. In terms of drug history, the most used drugs were: atorvastatin, losartan, aspirin, metoprolol, and metformin. Conclusion: The most drug classes used in the studied patients include statins, angiotensin receptor blockers, antiplatelets, beta blockers, and biguanides, most of which have protective effects on strokes. Also, high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus were the most frequent disorders in the examined patients, so it is suggested that these patients be screened and controlled more to reduce the incidence of strokes in the society.

Background & Aims: Loctococcus garvieae is a common bacterium between humans and animals, and it causes various diseases such as lactococcosis in aquatic animals. The [1, 3]-Dithiine with two sulfur atoms in its structure is found in natural compounds such as garlic. Due to the antimicrobial activity of the [1, 3]-Dithiine derivatives, and magnetic nanoparticles, in this study, antibacterial effects of the derivatives of this compound against Loctococcus garvieae were evaluated. Materials & Methods: Six derivatives of [1, 3]-Dithiine and a magnetic nanoparticles containing [1, 3]-Dithiine were synthesized and antibacterial activity against Loctococcus garvieae were evaluated. Antimicrobial property was assessed using the CLSI (Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institut) standard and compared with gentamicin as a commercial drug. Results: Synthetic derivatives of [1, 3]-Dithiine and magnetic nanoparticles showed acceptable antibacterial effects based on IZD (inhibition zone diameter), MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration), and MBC (minimum bactericidal concentration) with a range of 32-2048 μg/ml. Conclusion: In the study of antibacterial activity, a direct and significant relationship between the structure of compounds and antibacterial activity was observed.