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Mesenchymal stromal cells in bone marrow niche of patients with multiple myeloma: a double-edged sword
No full textMultiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological malignancy defined by the abnormal proliferation and accumulation of plasma cells (PC) within the bone marrow (BM). While multiple myeloma impacts the bone, it is not classified as a primary bone cancer. The bone marrow microenvironment significantly influences the progression of myeloma and its treatment response. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in this environment engage with myeloma cells and other bone marrow components via direct contact and the secretion of soluble factors. This review examines the established roles of MSCs in multiple facets of MM pathology, encompassing their pro-inflammatory functions, contributions to tumor epigenetics, effects on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), influence on reprogramming, chemotherapy resistance, and senescence. This review investigates the role of MSCs in the development and progression of MM
Investigation of relationship between occupational exposure to aerosol and sleep problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textThere are various occupational and industrial activities that are associated with the production of suspended particles. Little is known about sleep disturbance caused by exposure to aerosol exposure. Presented systematic review and meta-analysis study aimed to investigate the impact of various aerosols during occupational exposure on sleep. A systematic search in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Medline databases was performed until 20 February 2024. Three sets of keywords and their possible combinations were used in the search algorithm. To evaluate the quality and risk of bias in studies, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tools and risk of bias in non-randomized studies of exposure (ROBINS-E) instruments were applied, respectively. The pooled values were also computed by meta-analysis. Based on inclusion/exclusion criteria, 23 articles were entered into the review. 9 out of 11 articles with high quality (81.82 percent), 8 out of 9 articles with moderate quality (88.89 percent), and 2 out of 3 articles with low quality (66.67 percent) indicated that aerosol exposure had a meaningful negative effect on sleep among workers in various occupations. Among articles, 69.6% (N = 16) were given a high risk of bias rating, 13.0% (N = 3) were rated as moderate risk of bias, and 17.4% (N = 4) were rated as low risk of bias. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that the pooled value of the prevalence in the cross-sectional, cohort, and case control studies was 42.35 (95%CI [34.55, 50.16]), 10.82 (95%CI [6.76, 14.87]), and 35.70 (95%CI [13.96, 57.45]), respectively. Also, the results of the meta-analysis showed that the pooled values of the odds ratio in the cross-sectional and cohort studies were 1.82 (95% CI [1.43, 2.21]) and 1.73 (95% CI [1.49, 1.96]), respectively. Totally, most studies indicated that various sources of occupational aerosol exposure significantly affected sleep among employees
Modulation of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress by Echinacea purpurea extract: Therapeutic potential in maternal separation-induced autism spectrum disorder
No full textBackground: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is defined by ongoing problems in social interaction and communication and repetitive, constrained behavior patterns. The link between oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation with ASD has been shown in previous studies. E. purpurea is well-known for its potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pharmacological properties. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of E. purpurea hydroalcoholic extract on autistic-like behaviors following a mouse model of maternal separation (MS) stress, focusing on possible anti-neuroinflammation and antioxidative stress. Methods: 70% hydro-ethanolic extract was macerated from the aerial parts of E. purpurea. Standardization was done by determining the amount of chicoric acid in the extract using the UHPLC method. Then, behavioral analysis was done on 75 male mice that underwent MS. Mice were treated with normal saline or 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg of the extract. Sociability behaviors and stereotyping behaviors have been evaluated. Also, their total antioxidant capacity (TAC), nitrite levels, and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in the hippocampus. In addition, the expression of inflammatory factors, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), NLRP3, and TLR4, has been determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Data were analyzed after collection using PRISM statistical software. Results: Our findings indicated that MS caused autistic-like behaviors in mice (increased sociability index and social preference index) and increased repetitive behaviors (increased number of buried marbles). These autistic-like behaviors are associated with increased MDA, nitrite, over-expression of inflammatory genes, decreased MDA, nitrite, over-expression of inflammatory genes, and decreased TAC in the hippocampus. E. purpurea extract significantly reversed these adverse effects of MS. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that E. purpurea extract might reduce autistic-like behaviors in MS by attenuating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress states
Protective effects of cedrol against transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat
No full textBackground: The natural compound cedrol possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We sought to assess the neuroprotective effect of cedrol in an animal model of transient global ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Method: To induce transient global cerebral I/R injury, bilateral carotid arteries were temporarily occluded for 20 min. A total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided in to 5 groups; The control and global I/R groups, and the treatment groups that received cedrol at doses of 7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg/day for a week, following the global I/R induction. The passive avoidance test was used for assessing memory function, and then hippocampal tissues were collected to assess levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol, nitric oxide (NO), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), along with the concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Result: Our findings revealed that global I/R injury impaired rats’ performance in the passive avoidance test and increased levels of MDA and NO. Moreover, it decreased the total thiol level, SOD activity, and BDNF level in the hippocampus. Administration of cedrol significantly improved memory function, reduced oxidative stress, NO level and increased BDNF level in the hippocampus. Conclusion: The results indicate that cedrol has neuroprotective properties in global I/R by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing the levels of BDNF
Determining the required data elements to develop the information management system for Iranian traditional medicine
No full textBackground: Currently, there is no agreed-upon data collection tool for comprehensively structured documentation of Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) from the information management perspective. As ITM practice varies significantly from current medicine in diagnosis and treatment approaches, it is not appropriate to use data platforms or information systems developed for current medicine. Consequently, the collected data are non-comparable, reducing the verdicts’ generalization. Therefore, this research aims to create a minimum data set (MDS) for unified reporting of ITM diseases and interventions. Methods: This multi-phased method study was performed from December 30, 2022 to March 20, 2023. The first phase involved a literature review, the second phase utilized the Delphi technique, and the third phase focused on validating the MDS-ITM. A list of potential data items was prepared after searching scientific databases, and grey literature, as well as reviewing existing information systems, forms, and websites related to ITM. A modified Delphi technique, including a two-round survey, was then employed. A panel of 34 individuals with clinical and research experience in ITM, was selected via purposeful sampling to rate the importance of candidate data items for inclusion in the ITM-MDS using a 5-point Likert scale. Items with an agreement level of 80% or more were deemed acceptable for inclusion in the final ITM-MDS. Finally, the content validity of the developed MDS was assessed using the content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) criteria. Results: Consensus was reached on an ITM-MDS containing 291 items grouped into seven categories: Patient admission, past medical history, six principles of health preservation, objective signs, subjective symptoms, examination of body systems, and care plans. Conclusions: The development of this MDS will enable ITM care settings to exchange information and share resources more easily. It also provides an inclusive dataset and structured documentation of medical records. This MDS can contribute to delivering high-quality care and improving clinical decision-making
A novel approach for the co-delivery of 5-fluorouracil and everolimus for breast cancer combination therapy: stimuli-responsive chitosan hydrogel embedded with mesoporous silica nanoparticles
No full textBackground: Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women globally, with traditional therapies often limited by challenges such as drug resistance and significant side effects. Combination therapies, coupled with nanotechnology-based co-delivery systems, offer enhanced efficacy by targeting multiple pathways in cancer progression. In this study, we developed an injectable, stimuli-responsive nanosystem using a chitosan hydrogel embedded with mesoporous silica nanoparticles for the co-administration of 5-fluorouracil and everolimus. This approach aims to optimize controlled drug release, enhance the synergistic anticancer effect, and overcome challenges associated with co-loading different therapeutic agents. Methods: Various techniques were employed to characterize the nanoparticles and the hydrogel. Cell uptake, apoptosis, and proliferation of 4T1 breast cancer cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and Resazurin assay, respectively. The Balb/C mice model of breast cancer, which received the therapeutical nanoplatforms subcutaneously near the tumoral region was used to examine tumor size and lung metastases. Results: The results revealed that the nanoparticles had a suitable loading capacity and high cellular uptake. The drug release was pH-sensitive and synergistic. By incorporating nanoparticles into the hydrogel, the cell death rate and apoptosis of 4T1 breast cancer cells increased significantly, due to the synergistic effects of co-delivered drugs. Additionally, the combination treatment groups showed a significant reduction in tumor size and lung metastasis compared to the monotherapy and control groups. Conclusions: These findings underscore the potential of the nanocomposite used to develop a novel co-delivery system to enhance therapeutic outcomes, reduce side effects, and provide a promising new strategy for future cancer treatments
Circular RNA, A Molecule with Potential Chemistry and Applications in RNA-based Cancer Therapeutics: An Insight into Recent Advances
No full textNon-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are functional RNA molecules that do not code for proteins. Among these, circular RNAs (circRNAs) represent a recently identified class of endogenous ncRNAs with a pivotal role in gene regulation, alongside short ncRNAs (e.g., microRNAs or miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). CircRNAs are characterized by their single-stranded, covalently closed circular structure, which lacks polyadenylated tails and 5'-3' ends. This unique circular conformation makes them resistant to exonuclease degradation, rendering them more stable than linear RNAs, such as mRNAs in human blood cells, which highlights their potential as biomarkers. Both linear and circular RNAs are derived from pre-mRNA precursors. However, while linear RNAs are produced through conventional splicing, circRNAs are primarily formed through a process known as reverse splicing. CircRNAs can be categorized into five basic types: exon circRNAs, circular intronic RNAs, exon–intron circRNAs, intergenic circRNAs, and fusion circRNAs. These molecules have been shown to significantly influence key hallmarks of cancer, including sustained growth signaling, proliferation, angiogenesis, resistance to apoptosis, unlimited replicative potential, and metastasis. This article will delve into the biogenesis and functions of circRNAs, explore their roles in cancer, and discuss their potential applications as therapeutic options and diagnostic biomarkers
Medical education research quality (MERSQ) checklist development: Are searches of BEME and non-BEME reviews standard?: A mixed method study
No full textEven though there has been a lot of research in medical education, the quality of it has not increased similarly. This study aimed to provide a valid and reliable user-friendly tool for evaluating search strategies in medical education systematic reviews. This mixed study was conducted in 2019 to 2021, including 3 phases: systematic search, developing a medical education research quality (MERSQ) checklist, and evaluation of the search quality of best evidence in medical education collaboration (BEME) and non-BEME reviews. Three hundred nineteen items were retrieved from the systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Psychinfo, ERIC, and Google Scholar. Following ensuring acceptable criteria, 30 items were included in comprehensiveness or reproducibility guarantees. The results showed that the instrument had an the intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.922 (P=.002), the reproducibility guarantee had 0.903 (P=.003), and the comprehensiveness guarantee had 0.926 (P=.006). We also calculated inter-rater reliability and internal consistency using Cronbach alpha of 0.827 (P<.001) and an instrument the intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.978. Using MERSQ, the overall search quality (41.75 vs 31.25, P=.009), reproducibility (22 vs 14.50, P=.004), and comprehensive score (18.75 vs 15.75, P=.880) of BEME studies were higher than non-BEME ones. Moreover, we found only 30% of studies completed searching documents. The search strategy query concerning the selection of synonym terms received the lowest score among studies. This study led to the development of a valid and reliable checklist for evaluating the search quality of medical education systematic reviews. Utilizing the MERSQ checklist, we found that BEME studies had higher quality than non-BEME ones, making the results from BEME studies more reliable
Exploring the Beliefs and Experiences of Residents of Endemic Areas of Isfahan Regarding the Nature of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Its Control: A Qualitative Study
No full textBackground and purpose: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major health priority in many tropical regions of the world. Understanding the beliefs and experiences of individuals in endemic areas is essential, as an in-depth understanding of these beliefs can inform the design of educational interventions tailored to the local context. Therefore, the present qualitative study aimed to explore the beliefs and experiences of residents in endemic areas of Isfahan regarding the nature of cutaneous leishmaniasis and its control. Materials and methods: This qualitative study was conducted in endemic areas of Isfahan province in 2020. The participants were individuals living in the region from various age, educational, occupational, and ethnic groups. To increase the strength of the data, additional individuals who were somehow related to this issue, including district officials, health center personnel, and school teachers, were also included in the study. Purposive sampling continued until data saturation was reached. A total of 34 interviews (3 group discussions and 31 individual interviews) were conducted. After conducting the interviews, categories and sub-categories were identified through content analysis. Results: Data analysis led to the identification of two main categories: The first category concerned misconceptions related to the nature of cutaneous leishmaniasis, with two subcategories: concepts about the cause of the disease and concepts about the carrier of the disease. The second category concerned misconceptions about the control of the disease, with two subcategories: concepts about prevention and concepts about treatment. Conclusion: This study identified misconceptions about cutaneous leishmaniasis and its control, which can be taken into consideration in developing educational programs aimed at effectively correcting beliefs and ultimately controlling cutaneous leishmaniasis
Healthy eating behaviors may be associated with lower risk of premature coronary artery disease: A multi-center case-control study
No full textBackground: Despite some evidence on individual eating habits in relation to cardiovascular disease, little is known about the combination of common eating habits in relation to premature coronary artery disease (PCAD). Objective: We investigated the association between a combined eating habits score (EHS) and PCAD risk. Methods: In this case-control study, 2022 patients with PCAD and 1063 healthy control were recruited. Women aged between 18 and 70 and men aged between 18 and 60 years were eligible. PCAD was defined as 75% or more stenosis in a single coronary artery disease or at least 50% in the left main coronary artery. Eating habits were assessed through interview and higher scores represent healthier behaviors. Results: Participants in the fourth quartile of EHS had 22% lower risk of PCAD than those in the first quartile (95% CI: 0.61, 0.99; P = 0.024). Not adding salt at the table (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.66, 0.97; P = 0.023), low-salt meals (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57, 0.99; P = 0.022), and slow eating (OR = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.71; P < 0.001) were associated with lower risk of PCAD while more water drinking (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07, 2.27; P = 0.013), and increased meal frequency (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.09, 3.13; P = 0.025) were linked with increased risk of PCAD. Conclusion: Healthy eating behaviors score, particularly low salt intake and slow eating were associated with lower risk of PCAD. However, higher meal frequency and more water drinking were associated with increased risk of PCAD. Well-designed prospective cohort studies are required