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Accelerated wound healing with resveratrol‐loaded decellularized pericardium in mice model
No full textOne of the key objectives of regenerative medicine is the design of skin tissue engineering scaffolds to promote wound healing. These scaffolds provide a fresh viewpoint on skin injury repair by emulating body tissues in their structure. A suitable platform for cellular processes can be provided by natural scaffolds made from decellularized tissues while retaining the primary components. Resveratrol (RES), which has qualities like angiogenesis, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory, is also useful in the healing of wounds. In this investigation, RES-loaded decellularized sheep pericardium scaffolds were created and tested on full-thickness wounds in a mouse model. According to the in vivo findings, the groups in which the wound was treated with decellularized pericardium (DP) had better wound healing than the control group and showed more production of angiogenic and anti-inflammatory substances. The secretion of these factors was greater in RES‐loaded decellularized pericardium (DP-RES) than in the scaffold without RES, and the macroscopic and histological data supported this. Therefore, the use of decellularization scaffolds with substances like RES for the regeneration of skin wounds can be further researched and evaluated in the preclinical stages
Intelligent berberine-loaded erythrocytes attenuated inflammatory cytokine productions in macrophages
No full textErythrocytes are impressive tools for drug delivery, especially to macrophages. Therefore, berberine was loaded into erythrocytes using both hypotonic pre-swelling and endocytosis methods to target macrophages. Physicochemical and kinetic parameters of the resulting carrier cells, such as drug loading/release kinetics, osmotic fragility, and hematological indices, were determined. Drug loading was optimized for the study using Taguchi experimental design and lab experiments. Loaded erythrocytes were targeted to macrophages using ZnCl2 and bis-sulfosuccinimidyl-suberate, and targeting was evaluated using flow cytometry and Wright–Giemsa staining. Differentiated macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, and the inflammatory profiles of macrophages were evaluated using ELISA, western blotting, and real-time PCR. Findings indicated that the endocytosis method is preferred due to its low impact on the erythrocyte’s structural integrity. Maximum loading achieved (1386.68 ± 22.43 μg/ml) at 1500 μg/ml berberine treatment at 37 °C for 2 h. Berberine successfully inhibited NF-κB translation in macrophages, and inflammatory response markers such as IL-1β, IL-8, IL-23, and TNF-α were decreased by approximately ninefold, sixfold, twofold, eightfold, and twofold, respectively, compared to the LPS-treated macrophages. It was concluded that berberine-loaded erythrocytes can effectively target macrophages and modulate the inflammatory respons
Multiple sclerosis and personality traits: associations with depression and anxiety
No full textBackground: Depression and anxiety are commonly observed in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). There is a growing body of literature supporting the hypothesis that personality traits can influence the mood disorders. This study aimed to investigate the personality traits and their relationships with depression and anxiety among pwMS. Methods: 234 pwMS were involved in this cross-sectional study. Personality traits, depression, and anxiety were assessed using the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. Pearson's correlation coefficient and generalized linear model were employed to evaluate the relationships between demographic and clinical characteristics, NEO-FFI, and HADS subscales. Results: In pwMS, longer disease duration was significantly associated with lower level of conscientiousness (β = − 0.23, p = 0.008) and agreeableness (β = − 0.2, p = 0.01). Moreover, higher expanded disability status scale (EDSS) of pwMS had a significant relationship with higher level of neuroticism (β = 0.89, p = 0.01). Increased level of neuroticism was significantly correlated with lower level of extraversion (r = − 0.28, p < 0.001), openness (r = − 0.37, p < 0.001), agreeableness (r = − 0.31, p < 0.001), and conscientiousness (r = − 0.45, p < 0.001). PwMS with higher level of conscientiousness showed more extraversion (r = 0.23, p < 0.001), openness (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), and agreeableness (r = 0.41, p < 0.001). Elevated level of neuroticism was significantly associated with higher level of anxiety (β = 0.47, p < 0.001) and depression (β = 0.11, p < 0.001) among pwMS. Conclusion: The co-occurrence of depression and anxiety is probably associated with neuroticism among pwMS. Additionally, the impact of personality traits extends to influencing key disease aspects such as physical disability and disease duration in MS
Relationships between job stress, post-traumatic stress and musculoskeletal symptoms in firefighters and the role of job burnout and depression mediators: a bayesian network model
No full textIntroduction: Job stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and negative psychological outcomes in firefighters can be caused, or aggravated, by their work. These mental disorders can impart musculoskeletal symptoms. This study aimed to investigate relationships between musculoskeletal and psychological disorders in a population of firefighters using a Bayesian network model. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted in 2022, included 2339 firefighters who completed questionnaires during their rest periods. The questionnaires comprised of demographical information, the Occupational Stress Questionnaire-HSE, the PTSD Checklist, Maslach Burnout Inventory, Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression scale (CES-D), and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. GeNIe academic software was used to analyze the Bayesian network. Results: High job stress and high PTSD each increased the probability of musculoskeletal symptoms by 34%. When combined, high job stress and high PTSD increased the probability of musculoskeletal symptoms by 37%. Among the mediator’s burnout and depression, depression had the highest association with musculoskeletal symptoms. Conclusions: Job stress and PTSD can increase musculoskeletal symptoms and are influenced by psychological mediators (like burnout and depression). Adopting preventive and therapeutic measures to mitigate job stress and PTSD, mitigate and rehabilitate WMSD, and manage associated mediators are critical for the mental and physical health of firefighter
Evaluating clinical communication skills of medical students, assistants, and professors
No full textBackground: The skill of communicating with the patient is one of the basic clinical skills and part of the necessary competencies for medical doctors. The present study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and performance (KAP) of medical students, assistants, and professors of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences regarding clinical communication skills with patients. Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the hospitals of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in Iran. The study included a total of 289 participants, consisting of 51 professors, 72 assistants, 90 external staff, and 76 interns who work at these hospitals. The participants were selected through a convenience sampling method. The data-gathering tools used included a questionnaire to collect demographic characteristics, a researcher-made questionnaire to assess knowledge, a communication skills attitude questionnaire, and a communication skills survey questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and frequency, as well as statistical tests that included one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation test. The significance level for the study was considered to be 0.05. Results: The mean scores of knowledge of professors were higher compared to other groups (P = 0.002). All participating groups had a positive attitude toward learning communication skills. There were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of the communication performance of the study groups (P < 0.001). There was a positive relationship between positive attitude and communication performance, and a significant negative relationship was observed between negative attitude and communication performance. Conclusion: The results indicate the relatively favorable attitude and performance of the groups and their low knowledge. It is suggested that the doctor-patient communication skills courses be included as one of the necessary courses in the medical education curriculum
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effect of statins on osteoporotic fractures
No full textIntroduction: Statins can increase bone density and improve osteoporosis. As fractures are the worst outcome of osteoporosis, our study aimed to investigate the relationship between statins and osteoporotic fractures using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using the PRISMA checklist to draft this article. ProQuest, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched to access sources without time restrictions until November 10, 2023. Data analysis was performed using STATA 14 software. Results: About 12 studies showed that statins generally reduced osteoporotic fractures (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.94). The association between statins and osteoporotic fractures in case-control studies (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.76, 1.11), RCT studies (OR: 1.67; 95% CI: 0.86, 3.26), and cohort studies (OR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.59, 0.83) was observed. The likelihood of osteoporotic fractures with the use of pravastatin (OR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.87, 1.07), fluvastatin (OR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.75, 1.03), atorvastatin (OR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.76, 1.10), rosuvastatin (OR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.08), and simvastatin (OR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.92, 1.03) was noted. Additionally, statins led to a reduction in vertebral fractures (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.86) but showed no effect on the hip region (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.60, 1.01). In the groups of 30–364 cumulative defined daily doses (cDDD) (OR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.65, 1.08) and ≥365 cDDD (OR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.25, 1), no significant association was observed between statins and osteoporotic fractures. Conclusion: Overall, statins resulted in an 18% reduction in the risk of osteoporotic fractures
The effect of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hemodialysis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials
No full textObjective: Anemia is a common condition in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are commonly used to treat anemia in these patients. However, concerns have been raised regarding their potential effects on blood pressure. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to investigate the relationship between ESAs and changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hemodialysis patients. Method: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis based on clinical trial studies published in various databases, including Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar, between 1980 and the end of 2022. We evaluated the quality of articles using the Jadad scale checklist and analyzed the data using Stata 15 software. Results: Our meta-analysis included 34 clinical trial studies. The results showed a significant increase in both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after the consumption of ESAs compared to before consumption. The mean difference in SBP was 4.84 mmHg (95% CI: 2.74–6.94; p-value < 0.001) and in DBP was 4.69 mmHg (95% CI: 2.67–6.71; p-value < 0.001). No publication bias was observed. Our meta-regression analysis showed that sample size, quality assessment score, and geographical location of the study were significant factors related to observed heterogenicity in to mean difference of SBP (p-value ≤ 0.20). For DBP, the sample size, quality assessment score and follow-up duration were significant variables (p-value ≤ 0.20). Conclusion: Based on the findings of our study, it appears that receiving ESAs is associated with a significant increase in both SBP and DBP in hemodialysis patients, with an increase of about 5 mmHg
Comparison of Short-Term Complications of Hemostatic Powders and Surgical on Posterior Bladder Bleeding During Hysterectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial
No full textBackground & Objective: As bleeding is a serious complication during and after hysterectomy, this paper aims to compare the short-term outcomes of ChitoHem and Surgicel use in posterior bladder bleeding during hysterectomy. Materials & Methods: In the present clinical trial, 46 patients who were candidates for abdominal hysterectomy in Hajar Hospital in Shahrekord, were randomly divided into two groups. In group A, superficial cauter and Surgicel were used and in group B, superficial cauter and ChitoHem were used to control bleeding. Hematocrit and hemoglobin levels were determined before, and six and 12 hours after surgery. Drain discharge volume, time to stop bleeding and bleeding volume were also determined. The pain was determined by the VAS scale at the time of recovery, 48 hours postoperatively, and one and three months postoperatively. Data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software. Results: Based on repeated-measures test, the mean of hemoglobin in the studied times showed a significant difference, so that in six and 12 hours after surgery they were significantly less than the ones before surgery, but their mean was not significantly different between the two groups. The mean pain score one month after surgery in group B was significantly lower than group A (P <0.001). The mean volume of drainage and clotting time in group B were significantly lower than group A (P <0.01). The mean volume of intraoperative bleeding, the frequency of vaginal bleeding and cuff-related complications were not significantly different in the two groups. Conclusion: The results of the present study show that ChitoHem is probably effective in reducing bleeding during hysterectomy surgery
Exosome-loaded decellularized tissue: Opening a new window for regenerative medicine
No full textMesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSCs-EXO) have received a lot of interest recently as a potential therapeutic tool in regenerative medicine. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) known as exosomes (EXOs) are crucial for cell-cell communication throughout a variety of activities including stress response, aging, angiogenesis, and cell differentiation. Exploration of the potential use of EXOs as essential therapeutic effectors of MSCs to encourage tissue regeneration was motivated by success in the field of regenerative medicine. EXOs have been administered to target tissues using a variety of methods, including direct, intravenous, intraperitoneal injection, oral delivery, and hydrogel-based encapsulation, in various disease models. Despite the significant advances in EXO therapy, various methods are still being researched to optimize the therapeutic applications of these nanoparticles, and it is not completely clear which approach to EXO administration will have the greatest effects. Here, we will review emerging developments in the applications of EXOs loaded into decellularized tissues as therapeutic agents for use in regenerative medicine in various tissue
Efficacy of foliar application of Chlorella vulgaris extract on chemical composition and biological activities of the essential oil of spearmint (Mentha spicata L.)
No full textThe microalgal have an essential role in agriculture, where they are used as biofertilizers. This study aimed to determine the effect of C. vulgaris extract on the chemical composition and biological activities of the Essential Oil (EO) of Mentha spicata. The extract of C. vulgaris was prepared and applied at three different concentrations (50, 75, and 100 %). The EOs of M. spicata were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The DPPH radical scavenging capability and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) techniques were used to assess the antioxidant activity of EOs. The antimicrobial activity of EO was evaluated using the microdilution method against Staphylococcus aureus. The results of GC-MS analysis of EOs identified 46 components, with Carvone (77.5–65.4 %), Limonene (10.31–6.9 %), β-elemene (1.56–0.98 %), and Caryophyllene (10.92–4.77 %) being the predominant constituents. From the highest concentration ranged from 100 % C. vulgaris extract to control respectively, yield and EO content ranged from 171.24 to 131.74 g/m2 and 0.34 to 0.18 %, respectively; Antioxidant activity by DPPH and FRAP methods varied from 1.56 to 4.45 mg/mL, and 405.63 to 68.68 μMFe2+/g, respectively; the Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) ranged from 2.4 to 9.6 mg/mL in various treatments. The results indicated that the C. vulgaris extract significantly increased the yield, EO%, Carvone, Limonene, and antioxidant and antibacterial activities compared to the control. The extract of C. vulgaris showed promise as a biofertilizer to enhance the yield, chemical composition, and biological activities of M. spicata