Effect of astigmatism and spherical equivalent correction on contrast sensitivity

AIM:To investigate the effect of astigmatism and spherical equivalent(SE)correction on contrast sensitivity(CS).METHODS:In this cross-sectional study,103 visually normal subjects aged 18 to 36y with bilateral regular astigmatism in range of 1.00 diopter cylinder(DC)to 4.00 DC and normal best-corrected visual acuity(20/20)were recruited.Binocular CS was assessed by linear sine-wave gratings at 1.5,3,6,12,and 18 cycles per degree(cpd),before correction of astigmatism,after full correction of astigmatism by cylindrical spectacle lenses,and after SE of refractive error.The repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni test were used to compare the effects of astigmatism correction on logCS.RESULTS:Totally 39 patients were male and 64 patients were female with the mean age of 28.25±5.38y.The average degree of astigmatism in right and left eye was 2.03±0.83 and 2.10±0.78,respectively.Increases in uncorrected astigmatic power correlated with decreases in the logCS,especially at high spatial frequencies.A statistically significant difference in logCS was found between these three cases:before correction of astigmatism,after SE of refractive error,and after full correction of astigmatism by cylindrical spectacle lenses at all frequencies(P<0.001),except at 18 cpd.At 18 cpd,there was no statistically significant difference between logCS before and after SE of refractive error(P=1.0).Also,there was no statistically significant difference in mean CS between with-the-rule(WTR)and against-the-rule(ATR)astigmatism,before correction of astigmatism,after correction of astigmatism with cylindrical lenses,and after SE of refractive error.CONCLUSION:Binocular astigmatism defocus decreases CS depending on the degree of astigmatism power;correction of this will improve patent’s quality of vision.Although high astigmatism refractive error(more than 2.00 DC)that is fully corrected by cylindrical spectacle lenses doesn’t increase the CS to the maximum value,especially at higher spatial frequencies(12 and 18).Also SE refractive error effects on improving CS in low astigmatism power(less than 2.00 DC),especially at lower spatial frequencies.

Targeted anti-tumor synergistic effects of Myc decoy oligodeoxynucleotides-loaded selenium nanostructure combined with chemoradiotherapy on LNCaP prostate cancer cells

In the present study,we investigated the synergistic effects of targeted methotrexate-selenium nanostructure containing Myc decoy oligodeoxynucleotides along with X-irradiation exposure as a combination therapy on LNCaP prostate cancer cells.Myc decoy ODNs were designed based on the promoter of Bcl-2 gene and analyzed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics assays.ODNs were loaded on the synthesized Se@BSA@Chi-MTX nanostructure.The physicochemical characteristics of nanostructures were determined by FTIR,DLS,UV-vis,TEM,EDX,in vitro release,and hemolysis tests.Subsequently,the cytotoxicity properties of them with and without X-irradiation were investigated by uptake,MTT,cell cycle,apoptosis,and scratch assays on the LNCaP cell line.The results of DLS and TEM showed negative charge(−9 mV)and nanometer size(40 nm)for Se@BSA@Chi-DEC-MTX NPs,respectively.The results of FTIR,UV-vis,and EDX showed the proper interaction of different parts and the correct synthesis of nanoparticles.The results of hemolysis showed the hemocompatibility of this nanoparticle in concentrations less than 6 mg/mL.The ODNs release from the nanostructures showed a pH-dependent manner,and the release rate was 15%higher in acidic pH.The targeted Se@BSA@Chi-labeled ODN-MTX NPs were efficiently taken up by LNCaP cells by targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen(PSMA).The significant synergistic effects of nanostructure(containing MTX drug)treatment along with X-irradiation showed cell growth inhibition,apoptosis induction(~57%),cell cycle arrest(G2/M phase),and migration inhibition(up to 90%)compared to the control.The results suggested that the Se@BSA@Chi-DEC-MTX NPs can potentially suppress the cell growth of LNCaP cells.This nanostructure system can be a promising approach for targeted drug delivery and chemoradiotherapy in prostate cancer treatment.

A 10-year review and epidemiology of animal bite cases in Gerash city, south of Iran: A retrospective cross-sectional study

Objective:To determine the temporal trend and epidemiology of animal bite cases in Gerash City,Iran.Methods:This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 630 cases of people with animal bites between 2011 and 2021 in Gerash City.The collected data were analyzed using Chi-square test.Results:The mean age of victims was(30.9±17.5)years.80.54%Of victims were male,39.70%were self-employed,and 64.60%were adults(≥18 years).Most cases of bites occurred in 2019(91 cases),2020(74 cases)and 2021(87 cases),and most of the bites were related to the upper limbs(62.70%).Most of the wounds were superficial(78%),most of the biting animals were domestic animals(91.74%),and most of the victims had Iranian nationality(97.62%).Conclusions:Given the increasing trend of animal bites in Gerash City,health authorities should carry out basic measures such as education and awareness among the public,especially at-risk groups such as adult males.Additionally,since most cases of bites are due to dogs,it seems necessary to plan for vaccination of dogs,especially those with owners.

Anti-proliferative effects of a small molecule inhibitor of CDKAT7519 on chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells through haltingthe transition of cells from G2/M phase of the cell cycle

Pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia(CML)has mostly been studied with regard to the oncogenic role of BCR/ABL fusion,however,recent disclosures have declared that the challenges with the treatment of CML patients would not be resolved until the role of other aberrancies is ignored.Given the involvement of cyclin-dependent kinases(CDKs)in the pathogenesis of CML,the present study aimed to investigate the effects of a multi-CDK inhibitor AT7519 on BCR/ABL-harboring CML-derived K562 cells.Our results showed that AT7519 effectively reduced the survival of K562 and induced its anti-proliferative effect through the induction of G2/M arrest due to elevated p21 and p27.The resulting data also revealed that either direct or indirect suppression of c-Myc using specific c-Myc inhibitor 10058-F4 and selective PI3K inhibitor CAL-101 resulted in a superior cytotoxicity,suggesting that the activation of PI3K pathway could attenuate antileukemic effects of the inhibitor,at least partly,through a c-Mycdependent mechanism.To the best of our knowledge,to date,no study has addressed the effect of autophagy on CML cell response to AT7519,and,herein,we proposed for the first time that the suppression of autophagy boosted AT7519 cytotoxicity against K562.Overall,we suggested that selective CDK inhibitor AT7519 exerted antileukemic effect against CML cells and propose a novel therapeutic application for the inhibitor either as a single agent or in combination with c-Myc and/or PI3K inhibitors.

Effect of axial length and anterior chamber depth on the peripheral refraction profile

AIM:To evaluate the effect of axial length(AL)and anterior chamber depth(ACD)on peripheral refractive profile in myopic patients compared to emmetropic participants.METHODS:This cross-sectional study was conducted in right eyes of 58 participants of whom 38 were emmetropic and 20 were myopic.Central and peripheral refraction were measured at 10°,20°,and 30°eccentricities in nasal and temporal fields using an open-field autorefractor.The Lenstar LS900 was used to measure ACD and AL.The participants were divided into three groups of short(<22.5 mm),normal(22.5-24.5 mm),and long eye(>24.5 mm)according to AL and three groups of low ACD(<3.00 mm),normal ACD(3.00-3.60 mm),and high ACD(>3.60 mm)according to ACD.RESULTS:The mean age of the participants was 22.26±3.09 y(range 18-30 y).The peripheral mean spherical refractive error showed a hypermetropic shift in myopic and emmetropic groups although this shift was more pronounced in the myopic group.The results showed significant changes in the spherical equivalent,J0,and J45 astigmatism in all gazes with an increase in eccentricity(P<0.001).The pattern of refractive error changes was more noticeable in long and short eyes versus normal AL eyes.Moreover,the pattern of peripheral refractive changes was much more prominent in the high ACD group versus the normal ACD group and in the normal ACD group versus the low ACD group.CONCLUSION:Peripheral refraction changes are greater in participants with AL values outside the normal range and deeper ACD values compared to participants with normal AL and ACD.

Epidemiological aspect of retinoblastoma in the world: a review of recent advance studies

·AIM: To collect and present updated evidence about epidemiological aspects of retinoblastoma(Rb) in the world.·METHODS: A comprehensive search without the time and language restrictions was conducted in international databases, including MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Pub Med. The search keywords were “retinoblastoma” OR “retinal Neuroblastoma” OR “retinal glioma” OR “retinoblastoma eye cancer” OR “retinal glioblastoma”.·RESULTS: The worldwide incidence of Rb is 1 in 16 000-28 000 live births, but was higher in developing compared to developed countries. Several attempts for improving early detection and treatment had increased the Rb survival rate from 5% to 90% in developed countries over the past decade, but its survival was lower in developing countries(about 40% in low-income countries) and the majority of mortalities occurred in developing countries. The etiology of Rb could be viewed as genetics in the heritable form and environmental and lifestyle factors in the sporadic form. Some environmental risk factors such as in vitro fertilization;insect sprays;father’s occupational exposure to oil mists in metal working, and poor living conditions might play a role in the occurrence of the disease. Although ethnicity might affect Rb incidence, sex has no documented effect and the best treatment approaches were now ophthalmic artery chemosurgery and intravitreal chemotherapy.·CONCLUSION: Determining the role of genetics and environmental factors helps to accurately predict the prognosis and identify the mechanism of the disease, which can reduce the risk of tumor development.

Bone marrow microenvironment: The guardian of leukemia stem cells

Bone marrow microenvironment (BMM) is the main sanctuary of leukemic stem cells (LSCs) and protects these cells against conventional therapies. However, it may open up an opportunity to target LSCs by breaking the close connection between LSCs and the BMM. The elimination of LSCs is of high importance, since they follow cancer stem cell theory as a part of this population. Based on cancer stem cell theory, a cell with stem cell-like features stands at the apex of the hierarchy and produces a heterogeneous population and governs the disease. Secretion of cytokines, chemokines, and extracellular vesicles, whether through autocrine or paracrine mechanisms by activation of downstream signaling pathways in LSCs, favors their persistence and makes the BMM less hospitable for normal stem cells. While all details about the interactions of the BMM and LSCs remain to be elucidated, some clinical trials have been designed to limit these reciprocal interactions to cure leukemia more effectively. In this review, we focus on chronic myeloid leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia LSCs and their milieu in the bone marrow, how to segregate them from the normal compartment, and finally the possible ways to eliminate these cells.

Distribution and associated factors of intraocular pressure in the older population:Tehran Geriatric Eye Study

AIM:To determine the distribution and associated factors of intraocular pressure(IOP) in an Iranian elderly population 60 years of age and above.METHODS:The present report is part of the Tehran Geriatric Eye study(TGES),a population-based cross-sectional study that was conducted on the residents of Tehran 60 years of age and above.The sampling was performed using multistage stratified random cluster sampling methods from 22 districts of Tehran,Iran.Demographic and history information,blood samples,and blood pressure were collected from all participants.Ocular examinations included measurement of uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity,objective and subjective refraction,and slit-lamp biomicroscopy.The IOP was measured using Goldmann applanation tonometry(GAT).Corneal imaging and ocular biometry were performed using Pentacam AXL.RESULTS:The data of 3892 eyes of 2124 individuals were analyzed for this report.The mean age of the study participants was 66.49±5.31y(range:60 to 95y).The mean IOP was 15.2 mm Hg(95%CI:15.1 to 15.4),15.3 mm Hg(95%CI:15.1 to 15.5) and 15.1 mm Hg(95%CI:15.0 to 15.3) in all participants,males,and females,respectively.Of the study participants,1.3% had an IOP of ≥20 mm Hg.The mean IOP increased from 15.1 mm Hg in the age group 60-64y to 16.3 mm Hg in the age group ≥80y.According to the final multiple GEE model,the IOP was statistically significantly higher in men than in women.All the studied age groups,except for the 75-79-year-old age group,had significantly higher IOP compared to the 60-64-year-old age group.The IOP was significantly higher in underweight compared to other body mass index groups.Moreover,the IOP had a statistically significant direct relationship with the mean corneal power(mean CP),central corneal thickness(CCT),and systolic blood pressure.CONCLUSION:The present study presents the distribution of IOP in an Iranian elderly population.A higher IOP(within the range 14 to 17 mm Hg) is significantly associated with older age,male sex,high systolic blood pressure,increased mean CP,and CCT.These factors should be considered in the clinical interpretation of IOP.

Combinational therapy with Myc decoy oligodeoxynucleotides encapsulated in nanocarrier and X-irradiation on breast cancer cells

The Myc gene is the essential oncogene in triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC).This study investigates the synergistic effects of combining Myc decoy oligodeoxynucleotides-encapsulated niosomes-selenium hybrid nanocarriers with X-irradiation exposure on the MDA-MB-468 cell line.Decoy and scramble ODNs for Myc transcription factor were designed and synthesized based on promoter sequences of the Bcl2 gene.The nanocarriers were synthesized by loading Myc ODNs and selenium into chitosan(Chi-Se-DEC),which was then encapsulated in niosome-nanocarriers(NISM@Chi-Se-DEC).FT-IR,DLS,FESEM,and hemolysis tests were applied to confirm its characterization and physicochemical properties.Moreover,cellular uptake,cellular toxicity,apoptosis,cell cycle,and scratch repair assays were performed to evaluate its anticancer effects on cancer cells.All anticancer assessments were repeated under X-ray irradiation conditions(fractionated 2Gy).Physicochemical characteristics of niosomes containing SeNPs and ODNs showed that it is synthesized appropriately.It revealed that the anticancer effect of NISM@Chi-Se-DEC can be significantly improved in combination with X-ray irradiation treatment.It can be concluded that NISM@Chi-Se-DEC nanocarriers have the potential as a therapeutic agent for cancer treatment,particularly in combination with radiation therapy and in-vivo experiments are necessary to confirm the efficacy of this nano-drug.

Recombinant vaccines:Current updates and future prospects

Recombinant technology-based vaccines have emerged as a highly effective way to prevent a wide range of illnesses.The technology improved vaccine manufacturing,rendering it more efficient and economical.These vaccines have multiple advantages compared to conventional vaccines.The pandemic has heightened awareness of the advantages of these vaccine technologies;trust and acceptance of these vaccines are steadily growing globally.This work offers an overview of the prospects and advantages associated with recombinant vaccines.Additionally,it discusses some of the challenges likely to arise in the future.Their ability to target diverse pathogen classes underscores their contributions to preventing previously untreatable diseases(especially vector-borne and emerging diseases)and hurdles faced throughout the vaccine development process,especially in enhancing the effectiveness of these vaccines.Moreover,their compatibility with emerging vaccination platforms of the future like virus-like particles and CRISPR/Cas9 for the production of next-generation vaccines may offer many prospects.This review also reviewed the hurdles faced throughout the vaccine development process,especially in enhancing the effectiveness of these vaccines against vector-borne diseases,emerging diseases,and untreatable diseases with high mortality rates like AIDS as well as cancer.

Correlation between critical thinking and emotional intelligence:a national crosssectional study on operating room nursing students in Iran

Objective:According to the World Federation of Medical Education,critical thinking should be part of the training of medical and paramedical students.Professionals can improve the quality of care of patients after surgery by having or acquiring this skill in health care.Also,Emotional intelligence is introduced as an impor tant and effective factor on the professional performance and mental health of healthcare professionals.Thus,the present study was designed and implemented to determine the relationship between emotional intelligence and critical thinking among operating room nursing students of medical sciences universities in Iran.Methods:This cross-sectional study was done on 420 operating room students in 10 top medical sciences universities of Iran in 2022.The sampling method in this research was multistage sampling.The data collection instruments included demographic characteristics,Rickett's critical thinking,and Bradberry-Greaves'emotional intelligence questionnaires.After receiving the ethics code,data collection was done for 2 months.For data analysis,descriptive and inferential analyses including independent t-tests,analysis of variance,and Pearson correlation were used.The collected data were analyzed by SPSS 18(IBM Corporation,Armonk,New York,United States).P-value<0.05 was considered significant.Results:The mean age of the students participating in this study was 23.02±3.70 years,with women constituting 67.4%of them.The results of data analysis indicated that the mean total score of critical thinking and emotional intelligence was 124.10±37.52 and 114.12±43.63,respectively.A direct significant correlation between critical thinking and emotional intelligence(r=0.459,P-value<0.001)and a significant relationship between gender and emotional intelligence(P-value=0.028)were found.Conclusions:Based on the present study results,educational managers in the Ministry of Health are suggested to consider suitable educational programs for improving critical thinking and emotional intelligence to enhance the quality of care provided by students in operating rooms.

Axial length and anterior chamber indices in elderly population: Tehran Geriatric Eye Study

AIM:To determine the normative distribution of axial length(AL),anterior chamber depth(ACD),anterior chamber volume(ACV),anterior chamber angle(ACA),and some of their associated factors in subjects aged 60 and over.METHODS:In this cross-sectional study,160 clusters were sampled using multi-stage cluster sampling in Tehran,Iran.After a preliminary interview,the participants underwent optometric examinations including visual acuity and refraction measurement followed by slit lamp biomicroscopy.Finally,ocular imaging was done using the Pentacam AXL to measure AL,ACD,ACV,and ACA.RESULTS:A total of 4519 eyes of 2436 participants were evaluated,of whom 58.0%(n=1412)were female.The mean age of the subjects was 67.32±6.05y(range:60-95y).The mean AL,ACD,ACV,and ACA was 23.22 mm(23.18-23.27 mm),2.61 mm(2.59-2.62 mm),126.56 mm3(125.08-128.04 mm3),and 30.61°(30.3°-30.92°),respectively.In the multivariable model,after adjusting for the effect of both eyes,the longest and shortest AL was seen in myopic and hyperopic subjects,respectively.AL,ACD,ACV and ACA were significantly larger in men compared to women(P<0.001).Except ACA,other evaluated parameters showed an inverse correlation with age(P<0.001),however,this correlation was insignificant for AL(P=0.623).CONCLUSION:Normative value of AL,and other biometric parameters are specific for each ethnicity,age and sex group.Any alteration in these parameters and their effect on refraction should be considered in this age group,especially in case of cataract surgery.

CoolClot,a novel hemostatic agent for controlling life-threatening arterial bleeding

BACKGROUND:Uncontrolled bleeding is the first leading cause of preventable death in the battlefield and the 2nd cause of mortality in civil accidents.Incompressible hemorrhage control is among the interventions that drastically increase the survival rate in wound individuals.We have previously shown that a certain mixture of bentonite and zeolite minerals can significantly decrease the bleeding in rats.METHODS:In this study,nine healthy hybrid dogs were selected and after induction of anesthesia with ether,either arterial puncture by a needle or arteriotomy was performed on both groin regions of the dogs.For control arteries(either the right or left femoral artery),only pressure by sterilized gauze was performed,while for the femoral arteries of the opposite side,our invented hemostatic agent,namely CoolClot,was topically used before applying the pressure.In the second stage of the study,to assess the coagulation time,blood samples were collected from 10 volunteer students.RESULTS:CoolClot significantly decreased the bleeding time in animals whose femoral arteries were cut or punctured.In the human phase of the study,the mean coagulation time in control blood samples was 253.4+44.1 seconds,whereas it was 149.5+50.0,162.3±74.6 and 143.4±114.6seconds,respectively in blood samples treated with bentonite,zeolite and CoolClot(P<0.05).CONCLUSIONS:As controlling bleeding after a life-threatening arterial damage is critical for increasing the chance of survival,the results obtained in this study indicate the significant efficacy of CoolClot in shortening the bleeding time.Our experiments also indicate that CoolClot can significantly reduce the clotting time in human blood samples.

Cytokine changes and embryo attachment in mouse endometrial cells following treated with peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)expressing ectopic hCG,and hCG-activated PBMCs

Objective:To compare the effect of human chorionic gonadotropin(hCG)-producing peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)and PBMCs activated by hCG in vitro and expressions of related immune genes in mouse implantation.Methods:hCG-producing PBMCs(transfected PBMC)and PBMCs activated by hCG in vitro were introduced into isolated mouse endometrial cells,while cell cultures were divided into four groups:the control,PBMC,transfected,and activated PBMC groups.The expression of studied genes(IL-1β,IL-6,Lif,and Vegf)was evaluated and blastocyst attachment on the cocultured cells(isolated endometrial cells and PBMC cells)was monitored in all four groups.Results:Data showed that expression decreased in the PBMC group compared to the treated PBMC(transfected and activated PBMCs)and increased in transfected PBMC compared to the activated PBMC.Attachment and migration of blastocysts were dramatically enhanced in the transfected PBMC group compared to the activated PBMC group(P<0.05).Conclusions:Use of hCG-producing PBMCs(transfected PBMC)has more influence on endometrial receptivity.

Healthcare intelligence risk detection systems

Background: Today, in healthcare field that is changing rapidly, decision-makers encounter with ever-increasing inquiries on clinical and administrative information to realize customers’ legal and clinical requirements. Therefore, making decisions on healthcare has changed into a vital, complex and unstructured issue. The present paper mainly focuses on describing decision-making advantages, possible risk to improve efficiency of decision-making on healthcare, and especially medical procedures. Methods: The present research is a review study, which has been carried out by searching through the authentic scientific sources, including Pubmed, Google scholar, Iranmedex, and other information sources. While defining care intelligence, here, we introduce Knowledge Discovery Database, the Clinical Support Systems, and Intelligence Risk Detection Model and provide the conceptual model. Other issues studied in this paper include the Risk Possibility Assessment Technique, Risk Possibility Detection using knowledge management techniques, and expert systems. Results & Conclusion: Modeling the Intelligence Support System is necessary for designing Real-Time Risk Detection Information Systems in clinical measures. As taking medical procedures involves complex decision-makings and possibility of high risk, operational application of the techniques derived from knowledge and data mining models under study will play a crucial role in increasing possibility of success of the measure and promoting safety of patients.

Smoking Cessation in the Middle East after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention. Results from the First Jordanian Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Registry (JoPCR1)

Background: Cigarette smoking (CS) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the Middle East. Little is known about the rate of SC in patients following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the clinical and angiographic features and one-year outcome among quitters compared with persistent smokers. Methods and Results: Of 2425 patients enrolled in a prospective multicenter PCI registry, 1055 (43.5%) were smokers (mean age 53.7 + 5.7 years) and 94% were males. PCI was indicated for ACS in 862 patients (82%). The rate of CS was 33%, 30% and 31%, at 1, 6 and 12 months after discharge, respectively. Compared with persistent smokers, quitters were more likely to have diabetes (50.4% vs. 42.0%;p = 0.028), low left ventricular ejection fraction (18.1% vs. 9.3%;p = 0.0004), and heart failure (15.4% vs. 9.0%;p = 0.0008). There were no differences between quitters and persistent smokers in age, gender, or severity of coronary lesions. Assessing the major complications and cardiovascular events during the index admission and at one year in non-smokers, quitters and persistent smokers showed that the incidence rates of in-hospital major bleeding events and cardiovascular deaths differed significantly among the three groups of patients (p-value = 0.017 for major bleeding, and 0.012 for cardiovascular death). The rates of these two complications were significantly higher among non-smokers compared to quitters and persistent smokers, and the rate of major bleeding was almost double in quitters compared to persistent smokers. Moreover, the three groups differed significantly in the rates of major bleeding, cardiovascular death and coronary revascularization after one year of follow-up. The incidence rates of major bleeding and cardiovascular death after one year were the highest among non-smokers followed by quitters and persistent smokers. The rate of coronary revascularization was significantly higher in quitters compared to non-smokers and persistent smokers. Conclusion: The rate of CS among Middle Eastern patients who undergo PCI is around 30%. Comprehensive secondary prevention strategy in such patients should include an effective smoking cessation program that extends beyond hospital discharge. Larger studies that extend the follow-up for several years are needed to document a positive impact of SC on improving cardiovascular outcome.

Role of Fibrinogen-like Protein 1 in Tumor Recurrence Following Hepatectomy

Partial hepatectomy is a first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.Within 2 weeks following partial hepatectomy,specific molecular pathways are activated to promote liver regeneration.Nevertheless,residual microtumors may also exploit these pathways to reappear and metastasize.Therapeutically targeting molecules that are differentially regulated between normal cells and malignancies,such as fibrinogen-like protein 1(FGL1),appears to be an effective approach.The potential functions of FGL1 in both regenerative and malignant cells are discussed within the ambit of this review.While FGL1 is normally elevated in regenerative hepatocytes,it is normally downregulated in malignant cells.Hepatectomy does indeed upregulate FGL1 by increasing the release of transcription factors that promote FGL1,including HNF-1α and STAT3,and inflammatory effectors,such as TGF-β and IL6.This,in turn,stimulates certain proliferative pathways,including EGFR/Src/ERK.Hepatectomy alters the phase transition of highly differentiated hepatocytes from G0 to G1,thereby transforming susceptible cells into cancerous ones.Activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway by FGL1 allele loss on chromosome 8,a tumor suppressor area,may also cause hepatocellular carcinoma.Interestingly,FGL1 is specifically expressed in the liver via HNF-1α histone acetylase activity,which triggers lipid metabolic reprogramming in malignancies.FGL1 might also be involved in other carcinogenesis processes such as hypoxia,epithelial-mesenchymal transition,immunosuppression,and sorafenib-mediated drug resistance.This study highlights a research gap in these disciplines and the necessity for additional research on FGL1 function in the described processes.

Diagnosis of choroid plexus papilloma: Current perspectives and future directions

Choroid plexus papilloma(CPP)is a rare,slow-growing,and typically benign brain tumor that predominantly affects children.CPP is characterized by well-defined circular or lobulated masses in the ventricles,leading to symptoms related to increased intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus.CPP diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical presentation,imaging findings,and histological examination.The World Health Organization(WHO)classification categorizes choroid plexus tumors into CPP(Grade Ⅰ),atypical CPP(aCPP,Grade Ⅱ),and choroid plexus carcinoma(CPC,Grade Ⅲ).This article reviewed current diagnostics modalities and explored the emergence of new diagnostic methods for CPP.Research on molecular markers and genetic alterations associated with CPP is ongoing,and some potential markers have been identified.These results offered insights into potential therapeutic targets and personalized treatment approaches for CPP.Advancements in radiomics and liquid biopsy hold promise for improving diagnostic accuracy and monitoring treatment outcomes for choroid plexus tumors.Radiomics can provide quantitative data from imaging studies,whereas liquid biopsy can analyze tumor-derived genetic material and molecular markers from body fluids,such as cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)and blood.The rapidly evolving fields of molecular and genetic research and novel diagnostic methods require continuous updates and advancements before their application in clinical practice.We hope that these advancements will lead to earlier and more precise diagnoses,better treatment options,and improved outcomes in patients with CPP and other brain tumors.

Post-discharge follow-up of patients with spine trauma in the National Spinal Cord Injury Registry of Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic:Challenges and lessons learned

Purpose:The purpose of the National Spinal Cord Injury Registry of Iran(NSCIR-IR)is to create an infrastructure to assess the quality of care for spine trauma and in this study,we aim to investigate whether the NSCIR-IR successfully provides necessary post-discharge follow-up data for these patients.Methods:An observational prospective study was conducted from April 11,2021 to April 22,2022 in 8 centers enrolled in NSCIR-IR,respectively Arak,Rasht,Urmia,Shahroud,Yazd,Kashan,Tabriz,and Tehran.Patients were classified into 3 groups based on their need for care resources,respectively:(1)non-spinal cord injury(SCI)patients without surgery(group 1),(2)non-SCI patients with surgery(group 2),and(3)SCI patients(group 3).The assessment tool was a self-designed questionnaire to evaluate the care quality in 3 phases:pre-hospital,in-hospital,and post-hospital.The data from the first 2 phases were collected through the registry.The post-hospital data were collected by conducting follow-up assessments.Telephone follow-ups were conducted for groups 1 and 2(non-SCI patients),while group 3(SCI patients)had a face-to-face visit.This study took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.Data on age and time interval from injury to follow-up were expressed as mean±standard deviation(SD)and response rate and follow-up loss as a percentage.Results:Altogether 1538 telephone follow-up records related to 1292 patients were registered in the NSCIR-IR.Of the total calls,918(71.05%)were related to successful follow-ups,but 38 cases died and thus were excluded from data analysis.In the end,post-hospital data from 880 patients alive were gathered.The success rate of follow-ups by telephone for groups 1 and 2 was 73.38%and 67.05%respectively,compared to 66.67%by face-to-face visits for group 3,which was very hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.The data completion rate after discharge ranged from 48%-100%,22%-100%and 29%-100%for groups 1-3.Conclusions:To improve patient accessibility,NSCIR-IR should take measures during data gathering to increase the accuracy of registered contact information.Regarding the loss to follow-ups of SCI patients,NSCIR-IR should find strategies for remote assessment or motivate them to participate in follow-ups through,for example,providing transportation facilities or financial support.

Assessing preventive health behaviors from COVID-19:a cross sectional study with health belief model in Golestan Province,Northern of Iran

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a new viral disease that has caused a pandemic in the world.Due to the lack of vaccines and definitive treatment,preventive behaviors are the only way to overcome the disease.Therefore,the present study aimed to determine the preventive behaviors from the disease based on constructs of the health belief model.Methods:: In the present cross-sectional study during March 11–16,2020,750 individuals in Golestan Province of Iran were included in the study using the convenience sampling and they completed the questionnaires through cyberspace.Factor scores were calculated using the confirmatory factor analysis.The effects of different factors were separately investigated using the univariate analyses,including students sample t-test,ANOVA,and simple linear regression.Finally,the effective factors were examined by the multiple regression analysis at a significant level of 0.05 and through Mplus 7 and SPSS 16.Results: The participants’mean age was 33.9±9.45 years;and 57.1%of them had associate and bachelor's degrees.Multiple regression indicated that the mean score of preventive behavior from COVID-19 was higher in females than males,and greater in urban dwellers than rural dwellers.Furthermore,one unit increase in the standard deviation of factor scores of self-efficacy and perceived benefits increased the scores of preventive behavior from COVID-19 by 0.22 and 0.17 units respectively.On the contrary,one unit increase in the standard deviation of factor score of perceived barriers and fatalistic beliefs decreased the scores of the preventive behavior from COVID-19 by 0.36 and 0.19 units respectively.Conclusions: Results: of the present study indicated that female gender,perceived barriers,perceived self-efficacy,fatalistic beliefs,perceived interests,and living in city had the greatest preventive behaviors from COVID-19 respectively.Preventive interventions were necessary among males and villagers.