Internal Medicine Today
Volume:28 Issue: 4, 2024

Chemokine receptor type 5 is recognized as the main co-receptor in HIV infection. Many studies have shown that the deletion of 32-base pairs (bp) of both alleles of CCR5 leads to the reduction or elimination of the expression of this gene in immune cells and the natural resistance to HIV infection. This study aims to determine the frequency of delta 32 mutations in healthy people, referring to the health center of Gonabad City, Iran, to focus on finding new treatment methods for the treatment of HIV. 

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, after obtaining ethical approval and informed consent, blood samples were collected from 293 healthy people along with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid anticoagulant. Genomic DNA extraction was carried out by the kit, and the investigation of delta 32 (∆32) mutation of the CCR5 gene was investigated via the polymerase chain reaction method. 

Our results showed that out of 293 people who referred to the health center, 269 people (91.8%) had a healthy gene without mutation (188 bp), 15 people (5.1%) had heterozygous mutations (188 bp and 156 bp), and 9 people (3.07%) had a homozygous mutation on both alleles of CCR5 (156 bp). 

Based on the results, the homozygous mutation rate of Gonabad Region, Iran, in the studied community is higher compared to similar studies, and more epidemiological and molecular studies are needed for better conclusions.

COVID-19 is a viral disease that has plagued all countries as a pandemic. The range of the disease varies from mild and asymptomatic to severe and fatal. Individuals with COVID-19 have several clinical and paraclinical symptoms. In this study, gastrointestinal symptoms and laboratory findings related to the COVID-19 virus were studied in patients referred to Allameh Bahloul Gonabadi Hospital (Gonabad, Iran).

In this descriptive/cross-sectional study, using a simple random sampling method, 235 patients with COVID-19 and gastrointestinal symptoms admitted to Allameh Bahloul Gonabadi Hospital in Gonabad from 2019 to 2021 were selected and examined in terms of gastrointestinal symptoms and laboratory findings due to COVID-19 virus. 

The mean age of the patients was 59.62±20.12 years, among which 48.1% were male and 51.9% were female. The most important gastrointestinal symptoms associated with COVID-19 were nausea (45.1%), vomiting (16.6%), anorexia (14.5%), abdominal pain (14.0%), and diarrhea (8.9%) respectively. Increase in lactate dehydrogenase (96.6%), aspartate transaminase (75.7%), prothrombin time (46.8%), international normalized ratio (42.8%), and decrease in white blood count (25.7%), platelet count (23%), and lymphocytes (68.5%) were the most important laboratory findings of COVID-19 positive patients. Lung involvement (94.7%), weakness and lethargy (87.7%), body aches (83.8%), and shortness of breath (76.6%) were the most common complaints of patients with COVID-19 and 83.8% of patients were C-reactive protein.

Gastrointestinal signs and symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and anorexia were common complaints in patients with COVID-19. Some chemical biomarkers, including white blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, partial thromboplastin time, international normalized ratio, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, and serum ferritin were altered in patients with COVID-19. An increase or decrease in each of the blood cells, inflammatory factors, and enzymes indicates the involvement and complication of a specific organ or tissue in the body. Lung involvement is the most obvious, which can be seen with a computerized tomography scan.

This study aims to investigate the effect of spinal nerve ligation (SNL) after a period of combined training on the expression of some genes that are involved in the calcium flow in the plantaris muscle of male Wistar rats. 

A total of 16 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, namely the control-SNL (n=8) and combined training-SNL (n=8). The animals in the training group participated in a training program for 6 weeks. After this period, the protocol of spinal SNL was performed on the research groups for 4 weeks. Finally, the rats were dissected and the plantaris muscle was removed. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to measure the mRNA expression of STIM1, ORAI1, and MG29 genes. 

In the combined training-SNL group, an increase in the expression of STIM1 (P=0.01), ORAI1 (P=0.002), and MG29 (P=0.02) was observed when compared to the control-SNL group. 

The results of the present study showed that SNL reduces the expression of STIM1, ORAI1, and MG29 in the plantaris muscle. Meanwhile, combined training before SNL has a compensatory effect in this regard.

Mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene are the main reason for phenylketonuria (PKU). The multiplicity of mutations in the PAH gene, which leads to PKU, makes the diagnosis of pathogenic mutations impossible in many cases. In these cases, polymorphic markers in the PAH gene, such as the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) are used to determine the carriers in PKU families. This study aims to investigate the allele frequency of this marker in the PKU population of Guilan Province, Iran.

During one year, 25 unrelated PKU patients were identified from different areas of Guilan Province. After extracting DNA from patients’ blood, VNTR containing fragments of the PAH gene were assessed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-sequencing method.

PCR products related to PAH VNTR alleles produced 380, 500, and 530 base pairs fragments. They were related to 3, 7, and 8 copies of the repeat units, respectively. In addition, these repetitions had a frequency of 6(12%), 6(12%), and 33(66%), respectively. Also, this study demonstrated that PKU patients in Guilan Province, Iran had VNTR3/VNTR3, VNTR3/VNTR8, ND/VNTR8, VNTR7/VNTR7, VNTR8/VNTR8, and ND/ND genotypes in the PAH gene.

This study is the first report on the genetic structure of the PKU population using PAH VNTR alleles in Guilan Province, Iran. Given the population diversity in Iran, it is necessary to study the frequency and distribution of VNTR alleles in different parts of the country.

Lifestyle changes, such as dietary modifications and exercise, are highly recommended for managing dyslipidemia. This study aims to investigate the combined effects of high-intensity circuit training along with vitamin D and calcium supplementation on body fat and plasma lipid profiles in overweight elderly.

A total of 47 elderly subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups based on their body mass index as follows: Vitamin D and calcium supplementation+high-intensity circuit training group (D+Ca+T: n=12); high-intensity circuit training+placebo (T+P: n=13); vitamin D and calcium supplementation (D+Ca: n=12); and control group (CON: n=10). The subjects in the D+Ca group respectively received vitamin D and Ca supplements at 50 000 IU per week and 1000 mg per day for 8 weeks. Meanwhile, the subjects in training groups exercised 3 times per week for 8 weeks. The subjects in the D+Ca+T group participated in both treatments. The control group was instructed to maintain their regular daily routine throughout the study period. Body fat and blood lipid levels were assessed at the beginning of the study and after the 8-week intervention. 

The D+Ca+T, T+P, and D+Ca groups exhibited significant reductions in body fat percentage (P≤0.05), while no significant changes were observed in the control group. Additionally, total cholesterol, triglycerides, High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly improved in the D+Ca+T, T+P, and D+Ca groups (P≤0.05), with no significant changes observed in these variables in the control group.

The results showed that high-intensity circuit training, vitamin D, and calcium supplementation would positively affect body fat and blood lipid profiles in overweight elderly. Moreover, vitamin D and calcium supplementation were especially effective when combined with exercise training.

Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) is a membrane receptor expressed on the surface of T and B lymphocytes, monocytes, natural killers, and dendritic cells. In cancer, the PD-1/PD-L1 system prevents the proliferation of T lymphocytes and causes the release of cytokines and cytotoxicity, which leads to the apoptosis of tumor-specific T cells, thereby preventing the immune response to cancer cells. 

In this study, the extracellular part of the humanized PD-1 protein was cloned and expressed, and the protein was injected as an antigen into a camel (Camelus dromedarius) to obtain a camel polyclonal antibody against PD-1 protein. 

The obtained results indicate the proper expression of the protein in the prokaryotic system. Also, using various tests, such as ELISA and western blot, it was confirmed that the polyclonal antibody obtained from camel can identify PD-1 protein. 

This study showed that because of the advantages, such as the ability to bind multiple epitopes, camel polyclonal antibodies can be used in antibody-based research for effective and strong molecular applications to detect PD-1 receptors.

Diabetes is a widespread chronic disease that, in addition to affecting the individual’s clinical condition, imposes high costs on societies worldwide. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy on the resilience, psychological flexibility, and glycemic control of diabetic patients.

This research was practical in purpose and semi-experimental in method with a pre-test/post-test design with a control group. The statistical population comprised all people with diabetes who were referred to Sayad Hospital in Gorgan City, Iran, in 2022. From this statistical population, 30 patients were selected via the available sampling method and randomly divided into an experimental (n=15) and a control group (n=15). The experimental group was trained in dialectical behavior therapy, while the control group did not receive any psychological intervention during the implementation of the research. The research tool was the Connor and Davidson resilience questionnaire (2003) and the Dennis psychological flexibility questionnaire (2010). Research data were analyzed by multivariate covariance analysis using the SPSS software, version 24.

The Mean±SD of the post-test total score of resilience, psychological flexibility, and glycemic control in the experimental group were respectively 80.60±20.62, 91.00±25.64, and 198.10±26.52. These numbers were respectively 77.20±22.86, 75.60±22.29, and 204.30±30.18 for the control group. Dialectical behavior therapy had a significant effect on the resilience, flexibility, and glycemic control of diabetic patients (P<0.05).

By performing mindfulness exercises and emotional experience modulation, dialectical behavioral therapy training has led to the promotion of mental health, improvement of resilience skills, and flexibility of diabetic patients. Therefore, this method can be used as a new approach to increase the self-care skills of patients with diabetes in health-related centers.

Aims TORCH syndrome is responsible for 2% to 3% of all congenital anomalies caused by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), rubella virus (RV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). The current study aims to determine the prevalence of TORCH infection in women in Mashhad City, Iran. 
Methods & Materials This cross-sectional study was conducted on 417 patients who were referred to 3 laboratories in Mashhad City, Iran. The laboratory data were collected from ​April 2016 to March 2020 to detect the specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) against the TORCH syndrome. 
Findings The specific IgG antibodies were found to be positive for CMV in 402 cases (96.4%), RV in 394 cases (94.5%), and T. gondii in 80 cases (19.2%). Moreover, 7 (1.6%) of the participants were found to be positive for anti-CMV IgM, 6 (1.4%) for anti-IgM RV, and 8 (1.9%) for anti-IgM T. gondii. In addition, the relationship between age and anti-T. gondii IgG in the age group of 37-47 years was 6. 44 times higher than the age group of 17-27 years. The relationship between age and anti-CMV IgG in the age group of 27-37 years was 4.13 times higher than in the age group of 37-47 years. 
Conclusion All women in their reproductive age should be regularly screened for TORCH syndrome to prevent congenital TORCH syndrome.