Internal Medicine Today
Volume:28 Issue: 3, 2023

In recent years, iron oxide nanoparticles have shown incredible possibilities in biomedical applications due to their non-toxic function in biological systems. Furthermore, these nanoparticles have multifunctional applications, such as antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer effects in medicine due to their magnetic properties. 

In this article, 49 articles related to iron oxide nanoparticles and their wide applications in medicine and biotechnology were collected from 1998 to 2022 through article search databases from Google Scholar, Pubmed, and Scopus.

Iron oxide nanoparticles are not only used as antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer agents but also they can be functionalized with different molecules and used to treat and diagnose cancer. Due to the adverse effects of some of these molecules, phytochemicals of plant extracts are used today as an alternative to functionalize these nanoparticles. The main advantage of iron oxide nanoparticles is the appropriate bio-distribution in the biological sample compared to other drug delivery systems. The magnetic properties of iron oxide nanoparticles in hyperthermia and contrast media in magnetic resonance imaging have attracted the attention of many researchers.

Iron oxide nanoparticles can be effective in targeted treatment and diagnosis in biomedicine. To improve anticancer and antimicrobial therapies, researchers have used these nanoparticles with different approaches. Considering the wide applications and results of iron oxide nanoparticles in medicine, this review article has been written to discuss the methods of synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles, the types of coatings used to functionalize them, and the different applications in cancer treatment and diagnosis.

Considering the adverse effects of anxiety in pregnant women during pregnancy and labor, various studies have investigated nursing and obstetric techniques as alternative treatment methods to improve mental health and reduce anxiety in pregnant women of low-risk and high-risk groups. This study aims to review the existing literature on this subject and provide a conclusion.

In this systematic review, the necessary information was gathered from the following databases from 2000 to 2022, Since Direct, Scopus, PubMed, SID, Google Scholar, and Iran Registry of Clinical Trials

A total of 99 articles (52 in Persian and 47 in English) were investigated. Of this sample, 10 studies were conducted in the high-risk group of pregnant women, and 89 studies were conducted in the low-risk group of pregnant women. Meanwhile, 23 different methods of reducing anxiety in the low-risk and high-risk groups of pregnant women during pregnancy or the first stages of pregnancy were employed. Among the articles, the relaxation method (20 articles), mindfulness (15 articles), using Quran verses and spiritual treatment based on religious teachings (14 articles), aromatherapy (11 articles), and music therapy (6 articles) were the most effective articles compared to other methods investigated by researchers.

Based on the studies, active relaxation, and progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness can be used as a practical method to reduce anxiety and improve disorders during pregnancy due to being easy and understandable. Also, the use of Quran verses and spiritual treatment based on spiritual training, considering Iranian and Islamic culture, can effectively reduce anxiety in pregnant women and play a crucial role during pregnancy and in the first stages of pregnancy.

Studies have shown that probiotic bacteria inhibit the onset and progression of carcinogenesis through different pathways. Our objective in this study was to determine the effect of probiotic bacteria on the expression of growth-related genes Rel A, IKB, and Casp3 in HT29 colon cancer cells

In this study, the Lactobacillus brevis probiotic bacteria were first cultured, and after the supply of media conditioning, they were treated on HT29 cancer cells. The bacterium’s cytotoxic effect (bacterial T cells) was investigated using a microculture tetrazolium test (MTT). DNA was extracted from the treated cells, and a DNA Ladder assay was performed. Also, the 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) test was performed to show cell apoptosis. After ribonucleic acid  (RNA) extraction and complementary DNA (cDNA) preparation to determine the mechanism of the effect of this bacterium on cellular signaling, the expression of growth-related genes Rel A, IKB, and Cas3 was measured using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

The microculture tetrazolium (MTT) test showed that L. b bacteria inhibit HT29 cells’ proliferation, induce apoptosis in these cells, and inhibit Rel A gene proliferation by increasing IKB gene expression. Also, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and DNA ladder assay following the treatment of HT29 cells regarding the mentioned bacteria showed qualitative changes in cell apoptosis. In addition, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results showed that L. b increased Casp3 gene expression in HT29 colon cancer cells (P=0.038).

Our findings indicate that L. b stimulates the apoptotic cell signaling pathway in HT29 colon cancer cells. It can be used as a new treatment strategy or therapy for colon cancer treatment.

The high prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and the high risk for diabetes in the general population is alarming. In addition, the frequency of coronary artery diseases (CAD) in patients with undiagnosed diabetes is higher than in non-diabetic patients. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of people at risk of diabetes in patients undergoing coronary artery angiography (CAG) in a university referral hospital in Guilan Province, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, data from 300 non-diabetic patients who were candidates for CAG were collected using a simple sampling method. The risk of developing diabetes was calculated according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) risk score. ADA scores higher than five were considered high risk, and ADA scores equal to 4 and lower than 4 were as moderate and low risk, respectively.

The mean age of the study population was 59.44±15.7 years. Most subjects were male (59.3%). Only 24.3% of patients were in the low-risk group while 32% were in moderate risk and 43.7% were in the high-risk group. The frequency of patients with at least two coronary artery involvement was significantly higher in the high-risk group (43.1%) than in the moderate group (34.4%), and the low-risk (22.5%) group.

A high proportion of the patients undergoing CAG were at high risk of developing diabetes. Hence, it seems essential to address cardiometabolic risk factors in coronary artery diseases (CAD) after discharge from the hospital.

Activation of inflammatory processes is necessary immediately after myocardial infarction (MI), but if it continues excessively, it can facilitate the occurrence of MI. Considering the positive effects of exercise on inflammatory pathways and their reduction, it seems to play a crucial role in improving the condition of MI patients. Accordingly, the present study investigated the effect of an incremental training rehabilitation period on serum levels of pentraxin-3 and osteoprotegerin in infarcted rats.

In this experimental study controlled with a control group, 36 Wistar rats (8 weeks old, weighing 210±26 g) were randomly divided into 3 groups, healthy, MI, and infarction-incremental training rehabilitation. MI was then induced in two infarction groups using two subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol (150 mg/kg) at 24-hour intervals. The intervention groups underwent incremental endurance training for one session (treadmill with a speed of 10 m/min and a start time of 20 minutes and reached a speed of 18 m/min and a time of 50 minutes). Serum levels of pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) were then assessed by ELISA immediately after the intervention. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc tests were used to analyze the data at the significance level of P<0.05.

The results showed that induction of MI led to a significant increase in the studied indicators (P=0.0001). Also, incremental training rehabilitation led to a significant decrease (P=0.04 and P=0.01) in the serum levels of pentroxin-3 (PTX3) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) in the samples compared to the MI group.

The present study showed that incremental training rehabilitation by reducing inflammatory markers can play a crucial role in improving the condition of patients with MI.

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disease triggered by gluten and other environmental factors, such as intestinal microbiota in genetically predisposed persons. This study aimed to evaluate the composition of the target gut microbiota population in patients with CD and to compare it with healthy individuals.

In this case-control study, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus were evaluated in the fecal samples of 20 celiac patients on a gluten-free diet (GFD) with 20 healthy individuals referred to the Celiac Disease Department, Tehran, Iran, from August 2019 to February 2020. Microbial DNA extracted from fecal samples was evaluated by specific primer pairs using the real-time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 21.

The results of the demographic information of participants regarding the gender and the mean age as well as the Marsh classification showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The comparison of intestinal microbiota between the two study groups revealed that the rate of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. was significantly lower in celiac patients compared to the control group.

The results of this study confirmed the dysbiosis in celiac patients compared to healthy subjects. In addition, changes in the gut microbiome may contribute to the pathogenesis of the CD.

Coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in modern societies. The disease is associated with the lack of physical activity and the expression of some genes involved in blood cholesterol transportation. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporters G5/G8) ABCG5 and ABCG8) is the expression of adenosine triphosphate-dependent box protein genes 5 and 8, a member of the ABC transporter family, playing a crucial role in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lipoproteins metabolism. The action of ABCG5/8 is to remove cholesterol and decrease its toxicity. The increased activity of these two factors may prevent atherosclerosis. This study aims to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic resistance training on ABCG5 and ABCG8 gene expression in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients.

The research population included 30 men voluntarily selected and randomly divided into an experimental (n=15) and control (n=15) group. The experimental group performed aerobic resistance training for eight weeks (3 sessions per week) and the control group had no exercise. The blood samples were taken 48 hours before the beginning of the first training session and 48 hours after the last training session while all subjects were fasting. Semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to measure the expression of ABCG5 and ABCG8 genes. To analyze the data, independent and paired t tests were used at the significant level of 0.05 in SPSS software, version 21. 

The present study results showed that the aerobic resistance training group experienced a significant increase in the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of ABCG5 and ABCG8 genes as a result of eight weeks of aerobic resistance training compared to the control group. 

Based on the findings of the present study, it is possible to suggest that aerobic resistance training increases the expression of ABCG5 and ABCG8 genes, and improves the cholesterol transportation process, which may improve recovery of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) patients and prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Different species of gongylonema are common parasites of rats that can be accidentally transmitted to humans and cause disease. This study aims to identify and investigate the morphology of Gongylonema neoplasticum and its zoonotic significance in Tabriz rats.

In this study, 100 rats (29 Rattus rattus and 71 Rattus norvegicus) were caught from different parts of Tabriz City in northwestern Iran using live traps. In the study areas, edible beetles are abundant and in almost all trapping areas local people complained about the presence of beetles. These beetles host the mediator of gongylonema parasites and easily infect animals, such as mice, rabbits, cats, cattle, and accidentally humans.

In this study, the esophagus and stomach of rats were carefully examined for infection with gongylonema and only one of the following species was isolated from them, Gongylonema neoplasticum.

Due to the high abundance of beetles, high levels of Gongylonema neoplasticum were not reported, which can be considered in terms of human infections. More parasitological studies should be done in different geographical regions of Iran and other countries.