Golestan University of Medical Sciences
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Association of problematic Internet use and oral health-related quality of life among medical and dental students
No full textBackground: The Internet as a communication tool is an essential component of daily life. Nowadays, problematic Internet use (PIU) has led to various psychosocial problems that can indirectly lead to oral diseases due to neglect of healthy behaviors. Also, college students are a large proportion of Internet users. The present study aimed to determine the association between problematic Internet use and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among medical and dental students. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on medical and dental students in the first and second years of education (basic sciences courses) at the Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, between January and July 2020. The data collection process was carried out in the following sequence: questionnaire on demographic characteristics (age, gender, marital status, academic field, and year); Problematic Internet Use Questionnaire (PIUQ); and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Results: Among 268 medical and dental students, 171 students (63.81) 95% confidence interval: 58.02%- 69.60% had problematic Internet use. The mean PIU score in the first-year was significantly higher than the second-year students. In addition, 65% of single students and 25% of married subjects were dealing with PIU. The statistical difference between mean OHIP scores among PIU students (12.5 ± 2.9), with average Internet usage (7.39 ± 6.6), was significant. The Spearman correlation coefficient between PIU and OHIP was 0.309 and significant (P-value < 0.000001). It indicates that students with higher PIU showed higher OHIP scores. Conclusion: The present study showed that problematic Internet use was significantly associated with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among first and second-year medical and dental students. Thus, the students with problematic Internet use experienced a poorer oral health-related quality of life than average Internet users. Furthermore, appropriate preventive and interventional strategies need to be developed to encourage rational use of the Internet to protect the users' oral health, especially among medical and dental students. © 2021, The Author(s)
Frequency of Complications Following Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Tehran Sina Hospital, 2011-2019
No full textBackground and purpose: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) is a localized enlargement of infrarenal abdominal aorta. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a surgical method introduced for AAA repair. This study, for the first time in Iran, investigated the complications and mortality rate associated with EVAR. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, medical records were reviewed and all patients admitted to Sina Referral Hospital with infra renal abdominal aortic aneurysms who underwent elective EVAR between 2011 and 2019 (n=130) were studied. Results: There were 121 complete files, including those of 104 (85.9) men and 17 (14.1) women. The mean age of patients was 70.56±9.4. Renal complications were the most frequent systemic complication after elective EVAR (n=15, 12.6). Cardiac complications (n=10, 8.4), respiratoty complications (n=6, 5), cerebral complications (n=3, 2.5), and deep vein thrombosis (n=2, 1.7) were also reported. There was no graft infection. More than half of the procedure-related complications occurred in 6 months of surgery (n= 29, 24). Conclusion: Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm especially in patients with comorbidities has acceptable results in short term and long term surveillance. © 2022, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved
Apelin�13 protects against memory impairment and neuronal loss, Induced by Scopolamine in male rats
No full textThe present study aimed to evaluate the effects of Apelin�13 on scopolamine�induced memory impairment in rats. Forty male rats were divided into five groups of eight. The control group received no intervention; the scopolamine group underwent stereotaxic surgery and received 3 mg/kg intraperitoneal scopolamine. The treatment groups additionally received 1.25, 2.5 and 5 µg apelin�13 in right lateral ventricles for 7 days. All rats (except the control group) were tested for the passive avoidance reaction, 24 h after the last drug injection. For histological analysis, hippocampal sections were stained with cresyl violet; synaptogenesis biochemical markers were determined by immunoblotting. Apelin�13 alleviated scopolamine�induced passive avoidance memory impairment and neuronal loss in the rats� hippocampus (P<0.001). The reduction observed in mean concentrations of hippocampal synaptic proteins (including neurexin1, neuroligin, and postsynaptic density protein 95) in scopolamine�treated animals was attenuated by apelin�13 treatment. The results demonstrated that apelin�13 can protect against passive avoidance memory deficiency, and neuronal loss, induced by scopolamine in male rats. Further experimental and clinical studies are required to confirm its therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative diseases. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
The long and short non-coding RNAs modulating EZH2 signaling in cancer
No full textNon-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a large family of RNA molecules with no capability in encoding proteins. However, they participate in developmental and biological processes and their abnormal expression affects cancer progression. These RNA molecules can function as upstream mediators of different signaling pathways and enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is among them. Briefly, EZH2 belongs to PRCs family and can exert functional roles in cells due to its methyltransferase activity. EZH2 affects gene expression via inducing H3K27me3. In the present review, our aim is to provide a mechanistic discussion of ncRNAs role in regulating EZH2 expression in different cancers. MiRNAs can dually induce/inhibit EZH2 in cancer cells to affect downstream targets such as Wnt, STAT3 and EMT. Furthermore, miRNAs can regulate therapy response of cancer cells via affecting EZH2 signaling. It is noteworthy that EZH2 can reduce miRNA expression by binding to promoter and exerting its methyltransferase activity. Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) are synthetic, short ncRNAs capable of reducing EZH2 expression and suppressing cancer progression. LncRNAs mainly regulate EZH2 expression via targeting miRNAs. Furthermore, lncRNAs induce EZH2 by modulating miRNA expression. Circular RNAs (CircRNAs), like lncRNAs, affect EZH2 expression via targeting miRNAs. These areas are discussed in the present review with a focus on molecular pathways leading to clinical translation. © 2022, The Author(s)
Designing and Launching Health Observatory Dashboard of Islamic Republic of Iran
No full textBackground: Health observatory dashboard can assist in promoting the quality of academic and governmental services by generator high-quality information. The aim of this research is to describe the stages of designing and launching the national public health dashboard. cMethods: This study was conducted with a qualitative approach and designing a web application using C#, ASP.NET and JQuery languages. The required data were gathered via 2 sources: (1) reviewing existing documents, and (2) gathering expert opinions. Results: The dashboard is developed in 3 sections, including a conceptual model of the indicators, a page for selecting the indicators, and metadata of each indicator. The indicators are demonstrated in 3 classes based on data sources (surveys and routine data collection), health effects (mortality, morbidity, risk factors, service coverage, social factors affecting health, health system functions, financial protection, population indicators, and macro indicators), as well as a plan, including the health reform plan. The page for selecting the indicators includes 190 major indicators encompassing the 3 mentioned areas. The metadata of each indicator includes the indicator name, its definition, its last figure, its source, the section for descriptive and comparative diagrams (the indicator's trend, provincial distribution, and international comparison of the indicator), and policy options. Conclusion: The Health Observatory System of Iran has been launched. The credibility of this system and user satisfaction depends on implementation of the health observatory calendar, qualitative control of the path of the recorded data, and national determination of policymakers. © 2022 Iran University of Medical Sciences. All Rights Reserved
A recombinant adenoviral vector with a specific tropism to CD4-positive cells: a new tool for HIV-1 inhibition
No full textGene therapy can be an option to overcome the side effects of chemotherapy and prevent the development of drug-resistant HIV viruses in HIV-infected patients. The need to develop a safe and efficient vector for gene transfer is always necessary and an appropriate option might be adenovirus (Ad). The use of Ad vectors in gene delivery applications is limited due to the semi-specific tropism. A strategy to overcome this tropism limitation may be the modification of the fiber protein domain involved in the viral binding to cells. Therefore, we designed an Ad5 vector with a specific tropism to CD4 + cells containing an expression system limited to HIV-infected cells. We replaced the knob region of Ad5 fiber protein with the extracellular region of the HIV-1 envelope. We also used a specific Tat-inducible promoter to express two anti-HIV-1 shRNAs. Tropism of recombinant Ad5 was assayed by a comparison of the shRNA expression level in CEM and PBMC cells (as CD4 + cells) and HEK293 cells (as CD4 cells). HIV-1 inhibition was assayed by the determination of p24 antigen in the HIV-infected CEM cells transduced with the recombinant Ad5 vector. Our results showed that the shRNA expression was significantly higher in CEM and PBMC cells than HEK293 cells when transduced with recombinant Ad5 vector. This new Ad5 vector also inhibited HIV-1 proliferation in a Tat-inducible manner. Our new recombinant Ad5 vector has a specific tropism to CD4-positive cells that can effectively suppress the HIV-1 replication. Graphical abstract: Figure not available: see fulltext. © 2021, Controlled Release Society
Silver nanoparticles modify the hypothalamic�pituitary�interrenal axis and block cortisol response to an acute stress in zebrafish, Danio rerio
No full textThe present study aimed at assessing the effects of exposure to silver nanoparticle (AgNP) and a subsequent acute stress on the expression of various genes involved in the hypothalamus�pituitary�interrenal (HPI) axis in zebrafish, Danio rerio. The fish were exposed to 0 (Control), 0.1 (LC), 0.4 (MC), and 1.2 (HC) mg Ag/L (as AgNP) over a 2-week period, followed by an acute air exposure stress. The whole body cortisol and the expression of selected genes in the fish brain and kidney were analyzed, before and after the acute stress. The results showed that AgNP increased basal cortisol levels and the expression of corticotropin releasing factor, prohormone convertase 1, pro-opiomelanocortin, and melanocortin 2 receptor; however, it suppressed/inhibited whole body cortisol, brain corticotropin releasing factor responses, pro-opiomelanocortin, and the kidney melanocortin 2 receptor responses to the acute stress. AgNP down-regulated the expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, but it intensified the gene expression in response to the acute stress. Before the acute stress, LC treatment exhibited an up-regulation in Cytochrome P450-11A-1 expression, but MC and HC treatments induced down-regulation. After the acute stress, the AgNP-exposed fish exhibited decreased Cytochrome P450-11A-1 expressions, compared with the Control. Exposure to AgNP significantly increased Cytochrome P450-11B expression. However, after the acute stress, LC treatment exhibited an up-regulation, but MC and HC treatments exhibited down-regulation in the Cytochrome P450-11B gene expression. In conclusion, AgNP suppressed cortisol response to stress, which appears to be a consequence of alterations in the HPI axis at the transcriptomic levels. © The Author(s) 2022
The Circulation of Common Respiratory Viruses and Their Co-infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Before and After Coronavirus Disease of 2019 Vaccination
No full textBackground: Respiratory viruses play important roles in respiratory tract infections; they are the major cause of diseases such as the common cold, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, etc., in humans that circulate more often in the cold seasons. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many strict public health measures, such as hand hygiene, the use of face masks, social distancing, and quarantines, were implemented worldwide to control the pandemic. Besides controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, these introduced measures might change the spread of other common respiratory viruses. Moreover, with COVID-19 vaccination and reducing public health protocols, the circulation of other respiratory viruses probably increases in the community. Objectives: This study aims to explore changes in the circulation pattern of common respiratory viruses during the COVID-19 pan-demic. Methods: In the present study, we evaluated the circulation of seven common respiratory viruses (influenza viruses A and B, rhi-novirus, and seasonal human Coronaviruses (229E, NL63, OC43, and HKU1) and their co-infection with SARS-CoV-2 in suspected cases of COVID-19 in two time periods before and after COVID-19 vaccination. Clinical nasopharyngeal swabs of 400 suspected cases of COVID-19 were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and seven common respiratory viruses by reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Our results showed common respiratory viruses were detected only in 10 and 8 of SARS-CoV-2-positive samples before and after vaccination, respectively, in which there were not any significant differences between them (P-value = 0.14). Moreover, common viral respiratory infections were found only in 12 and 32 of SARS-CoV-2-negative specimens before and after vaccination, respectively, in which there was a significant difference between them (P-value = 0.041). Conclusions: Our data showed a low rate of co-infection of other respiratory viruses with SARS-CoV-2 at both durations, before and after COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, the circulation of common respiratory viruses before the COVID-19 vaccination was lower, probably due to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), while virus activity (especially influenza virus A) was significantly in-creased after COVID-19 vaccination with reducing strict public health measures. © 2023, Author(s)
Assessment of the diagnostic performance of various screening tools for bipolar disorder: a meta-analysis
No full textBackground: Various studies have shown that about 40�50 of patients with bipolar disorder (BD) are undiagnosed at the time of referral and are often treated as depression. The present meta-analysis was conducted to determine the diagnostic accuracy of psychometric properties of the bipolarity index (BI) in people with BD. Methods: We systematically searched databases including, Scopus, ISI Web of Sciences (WOS), Pubmed/Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO using standard search terms. Results: Two hundred and ninety-six records were found through the initial search. Of 679 articles, 25 duplicated studies were found and 70 were omitted due to the irrelevant titles and abstracts. The rest 450 were entered the full-text screening, of which 186 were excluded due to pre-defined inclusion criteria. Ultimately, 15 studies on 6525 patients were included. Our findings showed that the pooled sensitivity of BI in the diagnosis of BD was 0.82 (95CI: 0.81�0.83, P < 0.0001, I2 = 99), while the pooled specificity also was 0.73 (95CI: 0.72�0.74, P = 0.000, I2 = 99). The BI was significantly more accurate than the other tests with a pooled DOR of 47.2 (95CI: 12.01�85.52, P = 0.0000, I2 = 99.2). Conclusion: BI appears to be a useful screening instrument with suitable psychometric properties to identify BD compared to both the MDQ and the HCL-32. Consequently, patients detected by the BI should be confirmed through diagnostic interviews. Thus, more studies are needed to explore the optimal cut-off values of BI among screened populations during long-term follow-up, since a considerable portion of individuals primarily diagnosed with major depressive disorders could have BD. © 2022, The Author(s)