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Facilitators and barriers to self-management in Iranian men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a qualitative study
No full textIntroduction Self-management, as the most common method of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management, is not an isolated behaviour, but a set of physical, social, cultural, psychological and existential factors affecting it. Aim This study aimed to explore the facilitators and barriers to self-management in men with COPD in the unique social, cultural, political and economic context of Iran. Methods This paper reports part of the findings of a qualitative grounded theory study aimed at exploring the process of self-management in Iranian men with COPD, which was conducted in Iran from January 2019 to July 2023. Participants included men with COPD, their family members and pulmonologists. The selection of participants in this research began with the purposeful sampling method. Data was collected using semistructured interviews. Data collection continued until the data saturation was achieved. A total of 15 interviews were conducted with nine patients, three family members of patients and three pulmonologists. The data was analysed using the constant comparative analysis method. Results The findings of this study showed that knowledge, education, experience, family involvement and financial support are the factors that facilitate self-management. Factors related to deficits include lack of education, lack of treatment support, family cooperation deficit, financial problems, medication obtaining problems and factors related to disease impacts include specific nature of the disease, residual effect, comorbidity and factors related to negative patients characteristics include false beliefs, poor self-efficacy, feeling shame and non-adherence are barriers to self-management in men with COPD. Conclusion Based on results of this study, healthcare providers and health planners can strengthen the factors that facilitate self-management and weaken or remove the barriers to self-management, so that these patients use self-management strategies with maximum capacity to control the disease
Alteration in expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells could be considered for estimating the severity of coronary artery stenosis
No full textBackground and aims: Atherosclerosis is one of the main reasons why people die from cardiovascular disease. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis may have been aided by the deregulation of cellular and molecular events in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). This study aimed to investigate the alteration of the expression of matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) in PBMCs of subjects who underwent angiography.
Methods: Following a thorough clinical examination and anthropometric assessments, 90 individuals were divided into two groups: 56 coronary artery disease (CAD) participants (subjects with coronary artery stenosis≥50%) and 34 non-CAD participants (subjects with coronary artery stenosis≤30%). Then, this study evaluated fasting serum glucose (FSG), total cholesterol (Chol), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride (TG). Next, the severity of coronary artery stenosis was recorded. Additionally, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess the gene expression of MMP-9. MMP-9 protein level was also assessed using western blot techniques. The overexpression of MMP-9 and elevated level of FSG were positively associated with coronary artery stenosis.
Results: Our results revealed that MMP-9 was upregulated both at the level of transcription and translation. Moreover, the upregulation of MMP-9 had a significant positive correlation with the severity of coronary artery stenosis.
Conclusion: Significant correlation between the overexpression of MMP-9 and coronary artery stenosis confirms our hypothesis that the upregulation of MMP-9 in PBMCs has an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis before monocyte recruitment and its subsequent processes.
Keywords: Matrix metalloproteinase-9, Atherosclerosis, Coronary Stenosis, Peripheral blood mononuclear cel
Effect of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors on insulin resistance; a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textAim Recent studies have indicated that Sodium-GLucose co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors (SGLT2Is) may increase insulin sensitivity (IS); however, these results are heterogeneous and need to be systematically assessed. Method We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Ovid, and ProQuest using a predefined search query. Randomized clinical trials on SGLT2Is with a passive control group or metformin controlled group were included. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analysis was performed separately on studies with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) population and studies with non-T2DM population and also for passive- and active-controlled studies using standardized mean difference (SMD) as the measure of the effect size. Subgroup analysis was performed according to different types of SGLT2Is. Meta-regression analysis was performed according to the dose and duration of intervention. Results Twenty-two studies (6 on non-T2DM population) with a total of 1421 (243 non-T2DM) patients were included. Six studies (3 on T2DM and 3 on non-T2DM) were controlled by metformin, and others were passively controlled. SGLT2Is could significantly increase IS in T2DM patients (SMD = 0.72 [0.32-1.12]). SGLT2Is could reduce insulin resistance in non-T2DM population, but this was not significant. SGLT2Is were not inferior to metformin in reducing insulin resistance. Subgroup analysis indicated that dapagliflozin could significantly increase IS, but empagliflozin was not associated with significant improvement in IS. Meta-regression analysis indicated no effect for dose but duration of SGLT2I administration on IS. Conclusion SGLT2Is, particularly dapagliflozin, could increase IS. These results need to be consolidated by further studies
Translation, Cultural Adaption, and Validation of the Persian Version of the Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool
No full textIntroduction: The Pediatric Eating Assessment Tool (PediEAT) is a parent-report tool to assess feeding problems in children aged six months to seven years. This study aims to translate and adapt the PediEAT tool to Persian and determine its psychometric properties.Methods: The PediEAT was translated and culturally adapted following guidelines for health-related instruments. Face and content validity was assessed using an expert panel. To evaluate Psychometric properties using a sample of 160 children without feeding problems and 43 children with diagnosed feeding problems. Using known-groups validation to compare PediEAT scores between children with and without feeding problems. In criterion validity, using pediatricians' opinions as a criterion. To calculate Internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. After two weeks, temporal stability was assessed with 40 parents who repeated the PediEAT tool.Results: Face and content validity showed that all tool items had CVI and kappa coefficients higher than 0.8. Known group validity showed that the total and subscale scores significantly differed between children with and without feeding problems (p .74). Test-retest reliability was acceptable (ICC = 0.987, p <0.001).Conclusions: The PediEAT-Persian version is a valid and reliable tool for assessing symptoms of problematic feeding in Persian children aged six months to 7 years
Eugenol-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles enhance the sensitivity of cisplatin against AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line
No full textGastric cancer is one of the most common cancers with a high mortality rate worldwide. Eugenol possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) have been promising carriers for drug delivery. This study aimed to investigate the synergism effect of free eugenol/eugenol-MSN and cisplatin on the AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line. In this study, MSN was synthesized and loaded with eugenol. Cultured AGS cells were treated with different concentrations of free eugenol/eugenol-MSN individually and in combination with cisplatin. MTT assay, scratch assay, and flow cytometry were employed to assess cell viability, migration, and apoptosis. The antioxidant properties of free eugenol/eugenol-MSN and their effect on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were evaluated. Real-time PCR was used to study the effect of free eugenol/eugenol-MSN on the expression of metastatic pathway genes such as MMP2, MMP9, and KRAS, and some genes involved in apoptosis including caspase 3, caspase 8, and caspase 9. A synergism effect of free eugenol/eugenol-MSN and cisplatin (CI < 1) was observed. Combination therapies were significantly more effective in cell growth reduction, migration inhibition, and apoptosis induction than single treatments. Free eugenol has more potential in DPPH radical scavenging, and eugenol-MSN has more potential in increasing SOD activity. The relative expression of caspase 3, caspase 8, and caspase 9 genes in the treated cells increased compared to the control group, and the expression of MMP2, MMP9, and KRAS oncogenes decreased significantly. Eugenol loading in MSN leads to increasing the sensitivity of cisplatin against gastric cancer
Post-traumatic growth and perceived social support in young adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textObjectives: Pandemics would certainly have a negative impact on mental health. Positive modifications as well as negative alterations have been documented in earlier viral pandemic according to previous investigations. Teenagers face a variety of challenges during adolescence. Adolescents may become more concerned if this time coincides with other worries. This study aims to investigate the positive changes that occur in a young adolescent’s life after COVID-19 pandemic, and to see how they relate to perceived social support. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on adolescents who were randomly selected from high schools in Kerman, Iran 2020 during the COVID-19. the sample size was 108 and for sampling wes used multi-stage random sampling at the end the data was analyzed by Pearson correlation test. Demographic information, the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory short form (PTGI-SF) were used to collect data. The data were subjected to descriptive and analytical statistical tests (Pearson correlation) using SPSS software version 24. Results: Statistically a positive correlation was found between the PTG total score and young homeschooled adolescents, parents working remotely, income loss and COVID-19 experience. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, a positive association was found between perceived social support and PTG total scores in young adolescents. There were also substantial positive connections between the MSPSS subscales and the PTGI overall score. Conclusion: Based on the findings, an overall growth in all areas of PTG was observed during the COVID-19 among young adolescents. Perceived social support scores have a positive and significant relationship with COVID-19 effects. In the crises we face throughout life, intimate family members and friends play a significant supporting role in adapting to these situation
Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes for managing graft-versus-host disease: An updated view
No full textGraft-versus-host disease (GvHD) is the most common complication after stem cell transplantation, and also it is one of the primary limiting factors for the use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in the treatment of hematologic cancers. GvHD, a systemic inflammatory disease, is caused by donor T cells recognizing the recipient's foreign antigens. In addition, an immune dysregulation, caused by autoreactive immune cells, complicates potent inflammatory process following HSCT. While there is no one approved treatment method for GvHD, corticosteroids are the most common first-line treatment. Exosomes are biological vesicles between 30 and 120 nm in diameter, which carry various biologically active molecules. They are known to play a key role in the paracrine effect of mesenchymal stem cells with therapeutic and tissue repair effects, including an immunosuppressive potential. Exosomes are unable to replicate themselves but because of their small size and fluid-like structure, they can pass through physiological barriers. Exosome are relatively easy to prepare and they can be quickly sterilized by a filtration process. Administration of exosomes, derived from mesenchymal stem cells, effectively reduced GvHD symptoms and significantly increased HSCT recipients' survival. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome therapy reduced clinical symptoms of GvHD in patients after HSCT. Studies in patients with GvHD described that that mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes inhibited the release of IFN-γ and TNF-α by activated natural killer (NK cells), thereby reducing the lethal function of NK cells and inflammatory responses. Current review provides a comprehensive overview about the use of mesenchymal stem cells and their derived exosomes for the treatment of GvHD
LncRNA MALAT1 signaling pathway and clinical applications in overcome on cancers metastasis
No full textIn spite of its high mortality rate and difficulty in finding a cure, scientific advancements have contributed to a reduction in cancer-related fatalities. Aberrant gene expression during carcinogenesis emphasizes the importance of targeting the signaling networks that control gene expression in cancer treatment. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are transcribed RNA molecules that play a role in gene expression regulation, are a recent innovative therapeutic approach for diagnosing and treating malignancies. MALAT1, a well-known lncRNA, functions in gene expression, RNA processing, and epigenetic control. High expression levels of MALAT1 are associated with several human disorders, including metastasis, invasion, autophagy, and proliferation of cancer cells. MALAT1 affects various signaling pathways and microRNAs (miRNAs), and this study aims to outline its functional roles in cancer metastasis and its interactions with cellular signaling pathways. Moreover, MALAT1 and its interactions with signaling pathways can be promising target for cancer treatment
Validity of eighteen empirical heat stress indices in predicting the physiological parameters of workers under various occupational and climatic conditions
No full textIntroduction: Thermal strain indices have been developed to assess the risk level of heat strain on workers in occupational settings. To date, no comprehensive study has validated these indicators. The present study aims to investigate the validity of eighteen empirical heat stress indices in predicting the physiological parameters of workers under various occupational and environmental conditions. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 201 male employees working in warm environments. First, Individual and background information was collected. After participants had rested for 30 min, their heart rate and tympanic temperature were measured. People then returned to their workplace and started their routine work. At the end of 90 min, workers' heart rate and tympanic temperature were measured again. Additionally, researchers estimated their metabolic rate and clothing thermal insulation. Environmental parameters were also collected including dry temperature, wet temperature, globe temperature, relative humidity and air flow speed at 30, 60 and 90 min time points. Additional information was recorded to calculate environmental indicators. Then, the values of each of the environmental indicators were calculated. Finally, the validity of each index was evaluated under these different conditions. Results: Results showed that highest regression coefficients with tympanic temperature were CET (0.6822), TSI (0.6697), WBGT (0.6692), and ESI (0.6415) indices, respectively. The greatest regression coefficients with heart rate belonged to TSI (0.4687), OT (0.4545), CET (0.4449), and Teq (0.4449) indices, respectively. Based on these results, the highest diagnostic accuracies of ROC curves for tympanic temperature were related to indices of WBGT, CET, and HI with AUC of 0.913, 0.912, and 0.910, respectively. Conclusion: In total, the results showed that the two indices of WBGT and CET have the strongest validity among the empirical indices. However, each of these empirical indices has the best accuracy under specific conditions. Therefore, the development of new indices is required for the precise assessment of heat strain under various condition
Unveiling the antimicrobial potential of oxidized graphene derivatives: Promising materials for advanced wound dressings and antibacterial surfaces
No full textThis study investigates the influence of oxygen-containing functional groups resulting from varying degrees of oxidation on the antimicrobial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties of graphene oxide (GO). Four GO derivatives with different oxidation degrees (GO1.5, GO2, GO3, and GO6) were prepared and analyzed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–visible spectroscopy. EDS results showed a progressive decrease in the C/O ratio from GO1.5 to GO6, indicating that GO6 had the highest concentration of oxygen-containing chemical groups. The cytotoxic effects of these compounds were evaluated using the MTT colorimetric assay on the 3T3 cell line. After 72 h, GO6 exhibited significantly superior biocompatibility across various concentrations. Furthermore, antimicrobial activities were assessed through Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal/Fungicidal Concentration (MBC/MFC), Antibiofilm, and Time-Kill tests against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (StaA) and Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PseA) bacteria, as well as Candida albicans (CanA) fungus. Notably, all tested compounds demonstrated significant efficacy against StaA, PseA and CanA. GO6, with higher levels of hydrophilic functional groups and oxidation, exhibited highly enhanced antibacterial effects compared to GO1.5, GO2, and GO3. While previous research has explored generic GO's antimicrobial characteristics, our study uniquely delves into the relationship between GO's degree of oxidation and its antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic effects. This study confirms that, compared to generic GO materials, highly oxidized GO (GO6) holds the potential to be a highly efficient antibacterial agent, reinforcing its relevance for medical applications in combating pathogenic microbes