Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are the main cause of dementia in the elderly, having no cure to date, as the currently available therapies focus on symptom remission. Most NDDs will progress ...despite treatment and eventually result in the death of the patient after several years of a burden on both the patient and the caregivers. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate agents that tackle the disease pathogenesis and can efficiently slow down or halt disease progression, with the hope of curing the patients and preventing further burden and mortality. Accordingly, recent research has focused on disease-modifying treatments with neuroregenerative or neuroprotective effects. For this purpose, it is necessary to understand the pathogenesis of NDDs. It has been shown that oxidative stress plays an important role in the damage to the central nervous system and the progression of neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, mitochondrial dysfunction and the accumulation of unfolded proteins, including beta-amyloid (Aβ), tau proteins, and α-synuclein, have been suggested. Accordingly, cellular and molecular studies have investigated the efficacy of several natural compounds (herbs and nutritional agents) for their neuroprotective and antioxidative properties. The most popular herbs suggested for the treatment and/or prevention of NDDs include Withania somnifera (ashwagandha), ginseng, curcumin, resveratrol, Baccopa monnieri, and Ginkgo biloba. In some herbs, such as ginseng, preclinical and clinical evidence are available for supporting its effectiveness; however, in some others, only cellular and animal studies are available. In line with the scant literature in terms of the effectiveness of herbal compounds on NDDs, there are also other herbal agents that have been disregarded. Picein is one of the herbal agents that has been investigated in only a few studies. Picein is the active ingredient of several herbs and can be thus extracted from different types of herbs, which makes it more available. It has shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in cellular and plant studies; however, to date, only one study has suggested its neuroprotective properties. Furthermore, some cellular studies have shown no anti-inflammatory effect of picein. Therefore, a review of the available literature is required to summarize the results of studies on picein. To date, no review study seems to have addressed this issue. Thus, in the present study, we gather the available information about the antioxidative and potential neuroprotective properties of picein and its possible effectiveness in treating NDDs. We also summarize the plants from which picein can be extracted in order to guide researchers for future investigations.
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This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate congenital malformations in infants conceived by assisted reproductive techniques (ART), compared with infants conceived spontaneously.
In this study, available ...resources searched to find relevant articles included PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, Cochrane, ProQuest, Iranmedex, Magiran, and Scientific Information Database. After extracting the necessary information from evaluated articles, meta-analysis on the articles' data was performed using Stata version 11.2.
In this study, from a total of 339 articles, extracted from the initial investigation, ultimately 30 articles were selected for meta-analysis that assessed the use of ART on the risk of congenital abnormalities and some birth complications on 5 470 181 infants (315 402 cases and 5 154 779 controls). The odds ratio (95% confidence interval CI) for low birth weight was 1.89 (95% CI, 1.36 to 2.62), preterm labor 1.79 (95% CI, 1.21 to 2.63), cardiac abnormalities 1.43 (95% CI, 1.27 to 1.62), central nervous system abnormalities 1.36 (95% CI, 1.10 to 1.70), urogenital system abnormalities 1.58 (95% CI, 1.28 to 1.94), musculoskeletal disorders 1.35 (95% CI, 1.12 to 1.64), and chromosomal abnormalities in infants conceived by ART was 1.14 (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.44), which were all statistically significant, except chromosomal abnormalities.
The risk of congenital abnormalities and some birth complications were significantly higher in ART than normal conception, while chromosomal abnormalities were not; therefore, the application of ART should be selected individually for patients by detailed assessment to reduce such risks in the population.
In today's world, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most critical health problem and research is continued on studying the associated factors. But it is not clear whether endometriosis ...increases the risk of COVID-19.
Women who referred to the gynecology clinic were evaluated and 507 women with endometriosis (case group) were compared with 520 women without endometriosis (control group). COVID-19 infection, symptoms, exposure, hospitalization, isolation, H1N1 infection and vaccination, and past medical history of the participants were recorded and compared between the groups using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 21.
Comparison between the groups represent COVID-19 infection in 3.2% of the case group and 3% of the control group (P = 0.942). The control group had a higher frequency of asymptomatic infection (95.7% vs. 94.5%; P < 0.001) and fever (1.6% vs. 0%; P = 0.004), while the frequency of rare symptoms was more common in the case group (P < 0.001). The average disease period was 14 days in both groups (P = 0.694). COVID-19 infection was correlated with close contact (r = 0.331; P < 0.001 in the case group and r = 0.244; P < 0.001 in the control group), but not with the history of thyroid disorders, H1N1 vaccination, traveling to high-risk areas, and social isolation (P > 0.05).
Endometriosis does not increase the susceptibility to COVID-19 infections, but alters the manifestation of the disease. The prevalence of the disease may depend on the interaction between the virus and the individual's immune system but further studies are required in this regard.
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This study aimed to compare the effect of ovarian suspension and hyaluronic acid gel to prevent re-adhesions after laparoscopic endometrioma surgery.
This randomized clinical trial was conducted at ...Rasoul-e-Akram and Pars Hospitals, Tehran, Iran, 2016-18. Fifty patients with bilateral endometrioma and pelvic adhesions, the candidates of laparoscopic surgery, were included. In each patient, at the end of ovarian cystectomy and adhesiolysis, one of the ovaries was randomly sutured to the abdominal wall, and the HYAcorp Endogel covered the other; the adhesion rate was compared between the groups by ultrasonography, three-month after surgery.
Mean age of patients was 32.6 years. Presurgical variables were similar between right and left ovaries and the study groups (P > 0.05). Postsurgical ultrasonography showed that ovarian soft markers, including < 1/3 ovarian adhesions (minimal adhesions) in 80.5% of ovaries of the Endogel group and 35.5% of the ovarian suspension group (P < 0.001) with higher ovarian mobility in the Endogel group (65% vs. 22%) (P = 0.001). In addition, site-specific tenderness and ovarian fading margin were lower in the Endogel group (P < 0.001). Trial registration Clinical trial registry number: IRCT2015081723666N1, 12.19.2015, Date of registration: 01/02/2016; https://en.irct.ir/trial/20174?revision=20174 . Date and number of IRB: 2015, I.R.IUMS.REC.1394.24703.
Hyaluronic acid gel can be more effective than ovarian suspension in preventing ovarian adhesions after laparoscopic treatment of endometriosis.
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The normal length of penis in preterm and term neonates is different among different nations, and is affected by various factors. The present study aimed to determine stretched penile length (SPL) ...values and cutoff level of micropenis in term and preterm Iranian neonates, for the first time.
All male neonates born in two general hospitals of Tehran (Akbarabadi, and Rasoul hospitals), center of Iran, with gestational age of 28-42 weeks were included and their SPL and penile circumference (PC) were examined on the first 3 days after birth by the same physician. Birth weight (BW), and height, gestational age, type of delivery, mother's age, twin/multiple pregnancy, drug, and medical history of mother during pregnancy were recorded and cutoff levels of two variables were calculated based on the collected variables for different gestational ages.
Among a total of 587 neonates, 203 neonates were born term and 384 preterm. Mean ± SD of neonates' BW were 2,682.51 ± 739.30 (850-4800) gr. Mean ± SD of their SPL was 22.48 ± 3.34 mm; 25.92 ± 1.54 mm in term and 20.66 ± 2.50 mm in preterm infants (
= 0.001). Mean ± SD of PC was 6.71 ± 1.31 mm; 8.14 ± 0.48 in term and 5.96 ± 0.92 in preterm infants (
= 0.001). SPL and PC were significantly correlated with type of delivery, number of parity, gestational age, BW, and crown-heel length, head circumference (
< 0.001).
This study suggested that SPL in male neonates was 22.48 mm and PC was 6.71 mm, both correlated with gestational age and BW. Due to the ethnical variety of this cutoff points and lack of an appropriate study in Iran, these cutoff points can be used by all physicians as a reference for Iranian newborns (term and preterm), in order to prevent misdiagnosis of micropenis and genital disorders.
Hyperinsulinemia, diagnosed by laboratory tests, should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to prevent fatal complications such as neurological damage. Patients who are resistant to medical ...therapy should be treated surgically. Minimally invasive surgery, a newly developed approach, is a good choice among surgical procedures to avoid unnecessary extensive pancreatectomy. Here, a 12-year-old boy is presented with diagnosis of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia who had recurrent attacks of hypoglycemia and seizures from infancy. Because of his unresponsiveness to medical therapy and his family's preference, he underwent laparoscopic pancreatectomy to reduce morbidity and hospital stay. Two years postsurgical follow-up revealed a normo-glycemic state.
Thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) is the main transporter of thyroid hormones in human serum, encoded by the gene TBG (SERPINA7), located in long arm of X-chromosome (Xq21-q22). Deficiency of SERPINA7 ...(serum protease inhibitor, clade A alpha-1 antiproteinase, antitrypsin, member 7) leads to inherited TBG deficiency. Several mutations have been reported in the coding and noncoding regions of SERPINA7 in association with TGB deficiency.
Automated chemiluminescence immunoassays were used to determine TSH, free and total T4 and T3 (fT4, TT4, TT3) and TBG. Direct DNA sequencing identified the mutation in SERPINA7.
We present a 3 and 4/12year old boy, born premature, who was mismanaged as hypothyroidism before referral to our center, and was diagnosed with TBG deficiency at our center with a hemizygous substitution in exon 1, position c.347T>A, leading to replacement of isoleucine for arginine in position 96 (considering the first 20 amino acid signal peptide).
This known mutation, reported as the first SERPINA7 mutation in Iran, emphasizes the point that endocrinologists should pay more attention to inherited TBG to prevent unnecessary treatment.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background: Nowadays, new methods are emerging each month for a better operation with fewer complications. Laparoscopic surgery have remarkable advantages, Compared to open, such as smaller incision, ...less manipulation of the digestive system, less postoperative pain, fewer wound complication and faster discharge from the hospital. Therefore it is preferred by patients and surgeons and is replacing the traditional open surgical methods. However, any operation causes significant panic for patients and lack of knowledge about the surgical method is found to cause poor surgical outcomes, such as recovery time after the surgery we evaluated the effect of preoperative education on the recovery time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy candidates. Methods: This randomized clinical control trial was performed at Imam Khomeini and Alborz Hospitals in Karaj from February 2010 till January 2011. Using randomized sampling method, 100 female candidates for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were divided into two equal groups of case and control. The case group received detailed information about operating room’s condition, surgical equipment, anesthesia method, advantages and disadvantages of laparoscopic procedures, and patient’s role in self-care at recovery, whilst the control group received no education before the surgery. The two groups were compared regarding recovery time based on Aldrete modified checklist and mean time to reach the Aldrete consciousness score of 9 and the incidence of nausea was assessed among them. Results: The analysis showed that there was a significant difference between the mean time to reach Aldrete consciousness modified checklist score of 9 between the case and control group (18.04±3.87 vs. 29.66±5.44, respectively, P<0.001), therefore the case group had shorter recovery time than the control group. 10 of the case group (20%) and 3 of the control group (6%) had nausea after recovery (P=0.037, OR=0.255 (CI 95%: 0.066-0.992)). Conclusion: Preoperative education of patients can significantly decrease the recovery time after laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to include the preoperative education in routine care of laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients for better surgical outcomes.
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The importance of assessing precocious puberty, especially in boys, is not only due to the great complications it has for the affected patients, but also to the fatal underlying diseases. Therefore, ...children with central precocious puberty should first undergo neuroimaging. In this case study, we present a 9.5-year-old boy who was referred to Rasoul-e-Akram Medical Center with increased intracranial pressure, nausea/vomiting, and severe headache having begun three months earlier. The development of secondary sexual changes had started two years earlier, and had been neglected. His testes, penis, and pubic hair were at the fourth Tanner stage. He had elevated luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones. Microscopic evaluation confirmed low-grade pilocytic astrocytoma WHO grade 1. Emergency brain surgery was conducted in which the brain was decompressed, and chemotherapy was started postoperatively. Two years after the surgery, he remains under chemotherapy, with obvious sexual maturation and a height of 154 cm. Training families and medical staff efficiently can help prevent the late diagnosis and treatment of precocious puberty and, as a result, help patients in their social life.
Gender identity disorder (GID) is associated with various adverse health outcomes as well as psychiatric problems. Quality of life (QOL) in patients after surgery is an important issue, as some cases ...report dissatisfaction and regret after surgery. The present study compared QOL in female-to-male (FTM) GID patients before and after gender reassignment surgery (GRS) in an Iranian population. In the present study, 42 natal female patients with Gender Disorder diagnosis, who were referred to the Fertility Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences for GRS from December 2014 to December 2015, were prospectively recruited.
The demographic characteristics, including age, body mass index (BMI), occupational and marital status, educational level, and family support were recorded. Then, participants were asked to complete the Persian version of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire under supervision of the researcher, once at baseline and once 6 months after surgery.
The changes in SF-36 scores and association with the demographic variables were then evaluated using SPSS 16 at significance level of 0.05. Mean age of patients was 34.17 ± 5.58 years with a mean BMI of 43.14 ± 6.91 kg/m2 . Most were single (54.8%), had primary school education (50.5%), and acceptable family support (59.5%). Total mean score of QOL significantly improved from 26.43±6.81 to 37.52 ± 8.67 (P < 0.001), 6 months after surgery and also in all domains (P < 0.001), although the increase in emotional problem was not statistically significant (P = 0.05).
In conclusion, as the results of the present study highlight, FTM GD patients have a low QOL before surgery that is significantly improved after surgery.
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