Repository of Research and Investigative Information Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
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Assessment of reliability and validity of the Persian version of the Parkinson's Anxiety Scale (P-PAS)
No full textAnxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric manifestations in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). They generally affect one-third of patients and greatly impact their quality of life. There have been several scales for diagnosing anxiety disorders. However, none were created distinctively for PD and lacked the diagnostic qualities for PD patients. The Parkinson's Anxiety Scale (PAS) was created to address this issue, and it has demonstrated good psychometric features since. In this study, our aim was to assess the validity and reliability of the Persian adaptation of PAS (P-PAS). The study included 52 patients from Shohada-e-Tajrish Hospital's Movement Disorders clinic. During their visits, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and P-PAS were collected. Demographical data and disease history were obtained from the hospital dataset. Two weeks later, the P-PAS was taken from the patients for the second time by phone. Thirty-one (59.6) of our patients were men. The mean age of the patients was 63.79. The majority (59.6) of the patients had a Hoehn and Yahr stage of 2. Disease duration had a median of 5 years and a range of 1 to 23 years. Cronbach's alpha was 0.839. The intra-class correlation between the two P-PAS was 0.777. P-PAS had a correlation of 0.866, 0.785, and 0.508 with BAI, HADS-Anxiety (HADS-A), and HADS-Depression (HADS-D), respectively. P-PAS exhibited acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability. It demonstrated good divergent and convergent validity. P-PAS is a reliable and valid scale for use in clinical settings
Response to Letter to the Editor regarding, "Evaluation of accuracy of deep learning and conventional neural network algorithms in detection of dental implant type using intraoral radiographic images: A systematic review and meta-analysis"
No full textInvestigating combined hypoxia and stemness indices for prognostic transcripts in gastric cancer: Machine learning and network analysis approaches
No full textINTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer (GC) is among the deadliest malignancies globally, characterized by hypoxia-driven pathways that promote cancer progression, including stemness mechanisms facilitating invasion and metastasis. This study aimed to develop a prognostic decision tree using genes implicated in hypoxia and stemness pathways to predict outcomes in GC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GC RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed to compute hypoxia and stemness scores using Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA) and the mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi). Hierarchical clustering identified clusters with distinct survival outcomes, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between clusters were identified. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified modules and hub genes associated with clinical traits. Overlapping DEGs and hub genes underwent functional enrichment, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, and survival analysis. A prognostic decision tree was constructed using survival-associated shared genes. RESULTS: Hierarchical clustering identified six clusters among 375 TCGA GC patients, with significant survival differences between cluster 1 (low hypoxia, high stemness) and cluster 4 (high hypoxia, high stemness). Validation in the GSE62254 dataset corroborated these findings. WGCNA revealed modules linked to clinical traits and survival, with functional enrichment highlighting pathways like cell adhesion and calcium signaling. The decision tree, based on genes such as AKAP6, GLRB, and RUNX1T1, achieved an AUC of 0.81 (training) and 0.67 (test), demonstrating the utility of combined scores in patient stratification. CONCLUSION: This study introduces a novel hypoxia-stemness-based prognostic decision tree for GC. The identified genes show promise as prognostic biomarkers, warranting further clinical validation
Risk Factors for Complications in Reconstructing Congenital Femoral Deficiency
No full textBACKGROUND: Congenital femoral deficiency (CFD) is a rare condition, often associated with other skeletal anomalies that make the management more difficult. This study aimed to present the risk factors associated with complications in reconstruction of CFD. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study on patients with CFD who underwent femoral reconstruction between 2002 and 2022, from a single center. The preoperative demographic data, lengthening characteristics, complications, and the predisposing conditions were documented. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients (24 Aitkin A and 10B CFD cases) had 39 lengthening procedures. Twelve cases had simultaneous leg lengthening for associated fibular hemimelia. The mean achieved length was 10.15 +/- 3.89 cm, with 72.73 +/- 56.19 months follow-up. Although each procedure had 1.8 +/- 1.02 complications, 35.8 bowing of regenerate bone and 28.2 fracture; 17.9 hip and 7.7 knee instability were some of the major ones. Hip instability observed in 7 (17.9) corelated with Aitken type of CFD, preoperative acetabular index, femoral length discrepancy, and achieved length. Bowing in regenerate bone and poor bone consolidation of 15.4 correlated with simultaneous tibial and femoral lengthening ( P = 0.018) and higher initial leg-length discrepancy ( P = 0.006). The age at reconstruction did not correlate with the number of complications or healing index ( P = 0.68, P = 0.15). Five cases received second-time lengthening. Spanning the knee with fixator during lengthening had no notable association with knee instability. CONCLUSION: Femoral reconstruction in CFD is a challenging but effective task, with joint instability, bowing, fracture, and poor consolidation as potential adverse effects that correlate with simultaneous fibular hemimelia treatment besides the achieved length
Gene markers generating polygenic resistance in melon-Fusarium wilt-FOM1.2 interaction pathosystem
No full textDeveloping melon genotypes with resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Melonis-(FOM) race1.2 is a major goal in any breeding program. In this study, we identified the role of 11 gene markers that contribute to polygenic resistance during the FOM1.2-melon interaction. qRT-PCR analysis elucidated upregulation of candidate marker genes AMT, DXPR, Fom-2, GLUC, GalS, GRF3, MLO, PRK, RuBlsCo, TLP and WRKY in resistant 'Shante-F1' and 'Khatouni', and susceptible 'Shante-T' and 'Shahabadi' at 7, 14 and 21 days post-inoculation (dpi). We also studied changes in defence-related enzyme activity: chitinase (CHI), beta-1,3-glucanase (GLU) and peroxidase (POX) in melon roots. AMT, GLUC and DXPR transcripts were upregulatied in leaf and root tissues of the resistant 'Shante-F1' and 'Shahabadi'. Transcript levels for GalS and GRF3 increased 6.77- and 6.83-fold in roots of 'Shante-F1' at 7 dpi, whereas in PRK, TLP and WRKY theye increased by 7.84-, 5.15- and 12.26-fold at 14 dpi, respectively. However, transcript levels increased by 5.18-fold for Fom-2 and 8.46-fold for MLO at 21 dpi. Also, RBC transcript level peaked at 14 dpi with 4.9-fold increase in leaves of resistant genotypes, whereas AMT increased 2.94-fold at 21 dpi, and GLUC and DXPR increased 7.11- and 2.91-fold at 14 dpi in 'Shante-F', respectively. Defence-related-enzyme activity was also upregulated three-fold in resistant varieties. The dynamic shifts in the melon transcriptome induced by FOM1.2 emphasize that resistance mechanisms are predominantly regulated through signalling pathways involving CHI, GLU, and POX defence response. Surprisingly, the AMT gene, basically resistant to downy mildew, Pseudoperonospora cubensis; GLUC, MLO and PRK resistant to powdery mildew (Sphaerotheca fusca); TLP and WRKY resistant to Phytophthora blight (Phytophthora capsici); and GRF3 and RBC resistant to root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) were upregulated in resistant genotypes, indicating a dual role of these genes in resistance to more than one disease at a time
Cardiovascular protective effects of cinnamic acid as a natural phenolic acid: a review
No full textPhenolic acids derived from plants have beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Cinnamic acid (CA) is a crucial phenolic acid that can form numerous hydroxycinnamic derivate found in many food groups. We review current data on the cardiovascular pharmacology of CA with a focus on CVD and their risk factors including hyperlipidaemia, obesity, hyperglycaemia, cardiomyopathy and myocardial ischaemia, vascular dysfunction, oxidative stress and inflammation. Both in vivo and in vitro laboratory studies demonstrate the lipid-lowering, anti-obesity, anti-hyperglycemic, cardio-protective and vasorelaxant activities of CA. The protective impacts of CA against CVD occur by inhibiting inflammatory, oxidative, and apoptotic pathways, regulating the genes and enzymes involved in glucose and lipid metabolisms, and promoting vasodilation. This review showed that the most studied and prominent effects of CA are anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-diabetic properties. In conclusion, intake of plant foods rich in CA may reduce CVD risk especially through regulating blood glucose and lipids levels
Medicinal Chemistry of Antisense Oligonucleotides for Therapeutic Use in SARS-CoV-2: Design Strategies and Challenges for Targeted Delivery
No full textBACKGROUND: The evolution of novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains with greater degrees of infectivity, resistance to vaccine-induced acquired immunity, and more severe morbidity have contributed to the recent spread of COVID-19. In light of this, novel therapeutic alternatives with improved effectiveness and fewer side effects have become a necessity. Despite many new or repurposed antiviral agents recommended for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) therapy, this objective remains unfulfilled. Under these circumstances, the scientific community holds the significant responsibility to develop classes of novel therapeutic modalities to combat SARS-CoV-2 with the least harmful side effects. OBJECTIVE: Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASOs) are short single-stranded oligonucleotides that allow the specific targeting of RNA, leading to its degradation. They may also prevent cellular factors or machinery from binding to the target RNA. It is possible to improve the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ASOs by chemical modification or bioconjugation, which may provide conditions for customization of a particular clinical target. This study aimed to outline the potential use of ASOs in the treatment of COVID-19 disease, along with the use of antisense stabilization and transfer methods, as well as future challenges and limitations. METHODS: We have reviewed the structure and properties of ASOs containing nucleobase, sugar, or backbone modifications, and provided an overview of the therapeutic potential, delivery challenges, and strategies of ASOs in the treatment of COVID-19. RESULTS: The first-line therapy for COVID-19-infected individuals, as well as the development of oligonucleotide- based drugs, warrants further investigation. Chemical changes in the oligonucleotide structure can affect the biological processes. These chemical alterations may lead to enhanced potency, while changing the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. CONCLUSION: ASOs can be designed to target both coding and non-coding regions of the viral genome to disrupt or completely degrade the genomic RNA and thereby eliminate SARS-CoV-2. They may be very effective in areas, where vaccine distribution is challenging, and they may be helpful for future coronavirus pandemics
Diagnostic Accuracy of MRI and CT Scan Features in Differentiation of Pediatric Ependymoma from Medulloblastoma
No full textObjectives The study aims to compare the diagnostic accuracy of MRI and CT scan features in differentiating medulloblastoma from ependymoma, two similar pediatric brain tumors. Materials & Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on all pediatric patients with posterior fossa tumors admitted to teaching hospitals affiliated with Isfahan University of Medical Sciences from 2017 to 2022. Forty-three patients with posterior fossa tumors were identified, and seven patients were excluded due to diagnoses other than medulloblastoma or ependymoma. Tumor morphology on MRI, tumor density on CT scan, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values were assessed to differentiate medulloblastoma from ependymoma. Results Histopathologic diagnosis was medulloblastoma in 21 patients (60) and ependymoma in 14 patients (40). Mean ADC values in medulloblastoma and ependymoma cases were 0.67 +/- 0.19 (range= 0.50-1.25) and 1.22 +/- 0.29 (range=0.67-1.72), showing a significant statistical difference between the two groups (p-value=0.000). The ADC cut-off point of 0.9825 was associated with 90 sensitivity and 92.9 specificity for differentiation of ependymoma from medulloblastoma. Conclusion While tumor morphology on MRI and other studied parameters are unreliable for differentiating medulloblastoma and ependymoma, ADC values may provide a potential diagnostic tool. Further studies are needed to confirm the utility of DWI and other advanced MRI techniques in differentiating these tumors
