نشریه دانشگاه علوم پزشکی خراسان شمالی
سال شانزدهم شماره 1 (بهار 1403)

Recent advances in the field of nanotechnology have led to the development of platforms for healing or repairing damaged tissues. The present study aimed to provide a bone extracellular matrix (ECM) mimetic platform made of hydroxyapatite and collagen loaded with nanopolymersomes encapsulating dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG) and decorated with BMP-2 peptide in order to accelerate and increase the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to bone tissue.

In this study, polymersome nanoparticles carrying DMOG and targeted with BMP-2 peptide were prepared. The physicochemical properties of nanoparticles were evaluated. Thereafter, it was loaded into collagen-nanohydroxyapatite scaffolds and the expression levels of osteogenic genes OCN and OPN and angiogenic genes vcam, vwf, and kdr were checked in mesenchymal stem cells.

The surface charge and particle size of the synthesized nanoparticles were reported as -6 mv and 141 nm, respectively. The nanoparticles were able to slowly release 35% of the loaded DMOG within 30 days. The results demonstrated that the expression levels of OCN and OPN genes in cells exposed to polymersomes targeted with BMP-2 peptide were 27 and 2 times more than those of non-targeted polymersomes, respectively. In addition, the expression of angiogenic genes, vwf, kdr, and vcam, displayed a significant increase in targeted polymersomes compared to the non-targeted types (11.7-, 12.8-, and 2.17-fold, respectively).

It seems that providing an environment similar to the bone ECM by combining an osteomimetic scaffold made of collagen-nanohydroxyapatite, DMOG as an angiogenic factor, and BMP-2 as the osteogenic factor can be effective in accelerating and increasing the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of high-intensity functional training on leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein 1(LRG1) levels and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors and atherogenic indicators in overweight and obese women.

In this semi-experimental study, 19 overweight and obese women were randomly divided into two groups of high-intensity functional training (n=9) and control (n=10). The participants of the training group performed high-intensity functional exercises three times per week for eight weeks. Before and after the intervention, blood samples were taken to measure LRG1 concentration and lipid profile, in addition to the calculation of atherogenic indices. Analysis of covariance test was used to analyze the data.

After eight weeks of high-intensity functional training, LRG1 concentration (P=0.027), plasma atherogenic index (P=0.000), Castelli risk index-I (CRI-I) (P=0.001), and Castelli risk index-II (CRI-II) (P=0.002) were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared to the control group. A positive and significant correlation was observed between changes in LRG1 concentration and changes in body fat percentage (r=0.437, P=0.041), plasma atherogenic index (r=0.512, P=0.025), and CRI-I (r=0.479, P=0.038). A negative and significant correlation was observed between the changes of LRG1 and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (r =-0.569, P=0.011).

Eight weeks of high-intensity functional training in overweight and obese women is effective in reducing LRG1 and improving cardiovascular risk factors and atherogenic indicators. Therefore, high-intensity functional exercises can be effective as auxiliary exercise interventions in controlling and reducing complications related to overweight and obesity

Chronic renal failure directly and indirectly changes the quality of life of the patients. To maintain the quality of life, self-efficacy plays an effective role. Investigation of the relationship among stress, quality of life, and self-efficacy can help nurses to apply suitable ways to improve the quality of life of patients. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the severity of stress and its relationship with self-efficacy and quality of life in hemodialysis patients in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Shirvan, Iran.

This cross-sectional correlational study was carried out on 77 hemodialysis patients in 2022. The research tools included demographic characteristics and quality of life questionnaire, alongside human stress and general self-efficacy measurements. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 19).

Mean age and weight of the participants were 56.5 ± 14.73 years and 66.48 ± 17.15 Kg, respectively. Moreover, 59.7% of the patients were male and 41.6% of them performed dialysis for 1-3 years. There was a significant relationship between the mean stress score and score of some dimensions of quality of life (P<0.05). However, there was no significant relationship between the mean score of stress and self-efficacy. In addition, there was no significant relationship between the average of self-efficacy score and some dimensions of quality of life (P≥0.05).

According to the results, the quality of life of hemodialysis patients improves by reducing the stress intensity. Meanwhile, people who have a higher level of self-efficacy experience less stress. Therefore, the effort of the treatment staff is to identify the aggravating factors and use suitable interventions to reduce them with the aim of improving the quality of life of patients.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L) is an ancient and unique fruit used as antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and antihypertensive. Considering oxidative stress and its relationship with convulsions and the antioxidant properties of pomegranate extract, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of ethanolic extract of Punica granatum peel on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizures in mice.

In this experimental study, male rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=8 in each group, PTZ group, and three groups received 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg of the extract). Thirty minutes after peritoneal injection of different doses of the extract, PTZ (100 mg/kg) was injected, and the mice were immediately transferred to a special cage, and the seizure parameters were evaluated for 60 minutes.

The results implicated that treating with ethanolic extract of Punica granatum peel in different doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight could delay the onset of minimal clonic seizures (MCS) caused by PTZ injection. In addition, doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg delay the onset of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) caused by PTZ injection (P<0.001 to P<0.05). The anti-seizure effects of the ethanolic extract of Punica granatum were dose-dependent; therefore, the high doses have the most prophylactic effects against MCS and GTCS seizures (P<0.05).

The results of this study showed that treatment with ethanolic extract of Punica granatum peel has an anti-seizure effect on mice, and the highest anti-seizure effect was observed in the highest dosage

Inflammatory gum disease is a complication of diabetes that can impact blood sugar control. Current treatments for diabetic patients, such as scaling and gum surgery, are invasive. The present study aimed to review the effectiveness of curcumin in improving periodontal lesions in diabetic patients.

Four databases of Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies without any time or language limitations. MeSH keywords and text words related to "curcumin," "periodontal lesions," and "diabetes" were used to search in the title-abstract field. The titles, abstracts, and full text of the studies were reviewed to identify eligible studies. The present study followed PRISMA guidelines for implementation and reporting.

Finally, 10 studies were included in the review. The results showed that curcumin can reduce free radicals and inflammatory factors, improving inflammation. Gums in diabetic patients should be scaled alone or with invasive methods.

It seems curcumin may effectively reduce gum inflammation and bone loss in diabetic patients. However, to reach a reliable conclusion, further human studies are required in this field.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most common human brain tumors. The use of temozolomide drug can be mentioned among the treatment methods. Researchers are trying to use methods to overcome resistance to temozolomide. Regarding the anticancer effects of Prosopis farcta in traditional Iranian medicine, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of the fruit hydroalcoholic extract of Prosopis farcta on the toxicity induced by temozolomide in the GBM cell line.

The T98G cell line was treated with plant extract and temozolomide. The cell survival rate was evaluated by MTT assay. The type of interaction between herbal extract and temozolomide was evaluated using the MTT test and Compusyn software. In addition, the amount of nitric oxide production in cancer cells was measured. Furthermore, the expression of the O-6-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase (MGMT) gene was evaluated by Real-time PCR.

Hydroalcoholic extract of the plant and temozolomide decreased cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The combination of extract and temozolomide had a synergistic effect in reducing cell survival. The hydroalcoholic extract and/or temozolomide caused a significant decrease in nitric oxide production and secretion (P<0.05). Considering the expression of MGMT, the hydroalcoholic extract and temozolomide significantly decreased and increased the expression of this gene, respectively (P<0.05). Simultaneous treatment caused a significant decrease in MGMT expression compared to the group treated with temozolomide (P<0.05).

The combination of Prosopis farcta fruit extract and temozolomide had synergistic antitumor potential in GBM cells. This extract could reduce cellular resistance to temozolomide through the downregulation of MGMT expression.

It has been found that a high-fat diet increases the oxidative stress of the heart, which may be effective in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a high-fat diet and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on the levels of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in heart tissue of rats.

In this experimental study, 21 male Wistar rats within the age range of 12-14 weeks were randomly assigned to three groups, including normal diet (n=7), high-fat diet (n=7), and high-fat diet+HIIT (n=7). Animals in the high-fat diet groups received a high-fat diet for 23 weeks. At the same time, the high-fat diet+HIIT group received a high-fat diet followed by performing the HIIT protocol on the treadmill three times a week in the final eight weeks. At the end of the intervention, the levels of GPX enzyme and MDA in heart tissue were assessed using the enzyme colorimetric method. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by post hoc Tukey test at the significant level of P<0.05.

The results demonstrated no significant changes in GPX (P=0.14) and MDA (P=0.214) heart tissue levels in all three groups: normal diet, high-fat diet, and high-fat diet+HIIT.

It seems that performing eight weeks of HIIT has no effect on oxidative stress markers in rats with a high-fat diet.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system and the second cause of disability in adults. The exact cause and pathogenic mechanisms behind this disease have not been yet understood. Besides T cells, B cells play a role in MS pathogenesis which has received less attention.

In the current study, the expression of long non-coding RNAs and four genes of the B cell receptor signaling pathway (CR2, BLK, BLNK, and RASGRP3) were investigated in the GSE21942 microarray dataset. Then, miRNAs targeting these genes and lncRNAs were predicted using miRWalk and DIANA-LncBase databases. Finally, the ceRNA network was constructed using desired genes, lncRNAs, and predicted miRNAs.

Seven differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified that all had high expression in MS patients compared with control subjects. Moreover, the expression levels of desired genes (CR2, BLK, BLNK, and RASGRP3) were upregulated in MS patients. Finally, the ceRNA network including one lncRNA (MALAT1), two predicted miRNAs (hsa-miR-92a-3p and hsa-miR-548a-3p), and three genes (CR2, RASGRP3, and BLK) was constructed. In this network, hsa-miR-92a-3p and hsa-miR-548a-3p target CR2, RASGRP3, and BLK genes, and MALAT1 constrains the effect of these miRNAs on desired genes through sponging them.

The constructed ceRNA network can be considered a novel mechanism of MS pathogenesis and may play a key role in MS development and progression by influencing the B cell receptor signaling pathway. Furthermore, each of the components of this network can be considered a potential therapeutic target.

Evaluation of the alignment of the trunk and lower limbs in people with forward head posture (FHP)assumes critical importance due to biomechanical connection. The present study aimed to assess the reliability of trunk, pelvis, and lower limb posture assessment in people with FHP by the photogrammetric method.

This observational study was conducted on 60 male and female participants, 32 with FHP and 28 without FHP, from students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. The mean age of participants was 23.30±2.66 years. A craniovertebral angle of 48 degrees or less is known as FHP. To evaluate intratester reliability, postural evaluation was repeated one week apart by the first examiner and one hour apart by the second examiner to assess intertester reliability. The measured angles included vertical and lateral alignment of the body, vertical alignment of the trunk and lower limbs, the horizontal alignment of the pelvis, as well as the angle of the hip and ankle joints.

The results of the intraclass correlation coefficient based on Munro's scale demonstrated that in the FHP group, the vertical straight angle of the body had the lowest (0.73), and the hip joint angle had the highest intertester reliability coefficient (0.96). Considering intertester reliability in the FHP group, the lower limb alignment was the lowest (0.88), and the hip joint angle had the highest reliability coefficient (0.97).

The evaluation of trunk and lower limb posture in people with FHP by photogrammetry can be used as a quantitative method with high reliability

The present study aimed to develop a parenting program for the mothers of children with gender dysphoria and investigate its impact on the resilience and quality of the parent-child relationship.

The research method was a semi-experimental pre-test-post-test type, with a control group and follow-up. The statistical population consisted of mothers who were referred to the Psychiatric Center of Tehran in 2023 and had a child with gender dysphoria, of whom, 30 cases were selected in an available manner and randomly categorized into the experimental and control groups. Both groups were evaluated by means of a pre-test with the short-form resilience scale (2009) and the parent-child relationship assessment questionnaire (1983). The parenting program was taught to the experimental group; then, the post-test was carried out. After three months, a follow-up test was performed.

The data were analyzed by statistical method of variance with repeated measurements and Bonferroni's post-hoc test in SPSS software (version 23). The results showed that the developed program improved resilience and the quality of the parent-child relationship in mothers of children with gender dysphoria, and this improvement was maintained until the follow-up stage (P<0.05).

According to the obtained results, the prepared parenting program can help mothers of children with gender dysphoria increase their resilience and improve their relationships with their children. Therefore,  it is suggested to use this type of intervention to work with this group of mothers, which should be included in the agenda of psychologists and relevant organizations.

The most common bacterium linked to the hospital and pneumonia-related infections is Pseudomonas aeroginosa, a known opportunistic pathogen. High mortality rates are brought on by this bacterium in hospitalized patients, immunocompromised individuals, and cystic fibrosis patients. The formation of biofilm structures has also made it more challenging to treat patients. Due to the severe side effects of the antibiotics, the lack of efficacy due to resistance, and the well-documented antibacterial effects of traditional plants, this study investigated the antibacterial properties of the combination of thyme, rosemary, and green tea. Therefore, the main purpose of the current study was to examine the antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects of the extracts of these three plants.

Pseudomonas arginosa strains were obtained from patients at Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. The efficacy of various antibiotics on different strains was studied, and bacterial strains were classified into sensitive, semi-sensitive, and resistant. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the combination of the three extracts, as well as the antibiotic of choice, was determined. The effect of the extract on the biofilm formation was also investigated.

The results indicated that the ternary composition has significant antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects; also, the combination of these three extracts has shown significant synergistic properties with each other. Further, the extracts inhibited the formation and growth of the biofilm.

Results of this study indicated that the optimum combination of the three extracts possessed a remarkable antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity. Further, we have shown the synergistic antibacterial activity of the three extracts improved in the presence of the antibiotic of choice, resulting in a decrease in the MIC value of the antibiotic.