Journal of Inflammatory Diseases
Volume:23 Issue: 2, 2019

mTORC1 marker pathway is one of the crucial pathways for the regulation of transcription level and an essential route involved in protein synthesis in skeletal muscles. This study aimed to investigate the effect of endurance training on mTORC1 marker pathway in soleus muscle of type 2 diabetic rats. In this experimental study, 16 Sprague-Dawley male rats (Mean±SD weight: 270±20g) were obtained. After induction of diabetes (by streptozotocin administration), the rats were randomly assigned into two groups: endurance training and control. The exercise training was administered to the experimental group performed 4 days a week for 8 weeks, while the control group did not receive any training program. The study proteins were measured using western blot method. The Independent t-test analyzed the obtained data. A significant change was not observed in the total content of Akt1 proteins, P70S6K1, 4E-BP1, and P70S6K1 phosphorylation content in the experimental group compared to the control group, but the total protein content of mTOR, the phosphorylation form of Akt1 proteins, and 4E-BP1 was significantly higher in the experimental group compared to the control group. Eight weeks of endurance training can activate the Akt1/mTOR/4E-BP1 pathway in the mTORC1. Therefore, with regard to muscle atrophy in type 2 diabetic patients, endurance training can activate the mTORC1 marker pathway to regulate the transcription genes and subsequently, the expression of proteins.

Diabetes mellitus has many complications; hypoglycemia is one of them that is associated with severe signs and symptoms such as anxiety, psychosocial problems, and poor metabolic control. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting hypoglycemia fear in patients with type 2 diabetes. The present descriptive-analytic study was conducted on 360 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to Velayat Hospital in Qazvin City, Iran, in 2017. The eligible samples were recruited through a convenience sampling method. The data collection instruments were a demographic checklist and the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-II scale. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive tests, t-test, one-way ANOVA, the Pearson correlation, and regression analysis. The Mean±SD age of the patients was 58.5±14.3 years, and the majority of them were women (65.3%). The Mean±SD score of hypoglycemia fear was 22.07±8.6 which was significant in terms of gender (P=0.002), type of treatment (P<0.001), employment (P=0.05), and educational status (P=0.05). The results of single-variable regression showed that the type of treatment (P<0.001), long-term complications (P=0.002), and gender (P=0.002) were associated with hypoglycemia fear. Also, the results of simultaneous regression showed that the type of treatment was associated with hypoglycemia fear (P<0.001). The results of this study showed that the type of treatment was the most effective factor in hypoglycemia fear. Using insulin to treat diabetes strongly affect the hypoglycemia fear; therefore, it is possible to reduce the hypoglycemia fear by appropriate patients’ instructions on how to inject and monitor insulin.

labor increases the chances of cesarean section delivery and creates maternal and neonatal complications (like fetal heart rate drop).  This study aimed to investigate the effect of acupressure on sp6, He-7, LI4, and NEIMA points on the duration and outcome of delivery in nulliparous women. This randomized clinical trial was performed on 130 mothers admitted to the Maternity Ward of Razi Hospital in Qazvin City, Iran. The samples were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=64) and control groups (n=66). The intervention group received Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on four acupressure points (SP6, LI4, He-7, and NEIMA) in the unilateral upper and lower extremities during the delivery stages and the control group was received routine labor care. Durations of the first and second stages of delivery were measured using a digital clock. The obtained data were analyzed by the Chi-square, t-test, and Mann-Whitney tests. The Mean±SD age of the participants was 24.48±4 years. Acupressure intervention did not produce a significant effect on the mean duration of the first and second stages of delivery in the intervention group compared to the control group (P>0.05). Also, the outcome of delivery in the two groups did not show a significant difference (P>0.05). The application of TENS on specific acupuncture points could not reduce the length of labor stages and the outcome of childbirth. Further studies are recommended in this regard.

Thyroid cancer is one of the most common tumors of the endocrine system. Despite its low death rate, its prevalence is high. Different factors affect the incidence, recurrence, and mortality in patients with thyroid cancer.  This study aimed to determine the effective factors in the relapse and mortality rates of thyroid cancer. In this retrospective with a cross-sectional design, 631 cases of thyroid cancer with papillary and follicular pathology were assessed. They were referred to Imam Reza, Ghaem, and Sina hospitals. The effects of various demographic and clinical factors on the survival and relapse of patients were evaluated using parametric and semi-parametric model analysis. The obtained data were analyzed in R and SPSS. Most of the patients were female (74.8%). Their mean±SD age of the diagnosis was 39.74±15.7 years. Seventeen (2.7%) patients died, and 140(22.2%) patients had a recurrence. In multivariate analysis with the recurrence event, age of diagnosis, and tumor size were significant factors in the semi-parametric model, and the age of diagnosis, tumor size, and distant metastases were significant factors in the parametric model. In multivariate analysis with the death event, age of diagnosis, and weight were significant factors in the semi-parametric model, but the age of diagnosis and gender were significant factors in the parametric model (P<0.05). Clinical factors such as gender, age of diagnosis, tumor size, weight, and distant metastasis are effective factors in cancer recurrence and death. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to these factors in the treatment of patients.

Work-family conflict is a kind of role conflict created by incompatible pressures from family and work roles.  This study aimed to determine work-family conflict between medical and non-medical staffs in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This research was a descriptive-analytical study with a cross-sectional design conducted during 2016-2017. Using Krejcie and Morgan table, 366 hospital staff were selected, and out of them, 150 medical staff and 150 non-medical staff were assigned as research samples. The research tool was Carlson’s work-family conflict. The obtained data were analyzed by the Independent t-test, two-sample t-test, ANOVA test, Spearman test, and Shaffe technic. The Mean±SD score of work-family conflict was 2.72±0.58 among medical staff and 2.74±0.61 in non-medical staff expressed medium range. Only a significant correlation was found between age and work-family conflict (P=0.001). We suggest that policymakers of Iranian health care system pay more attention to the non-medical staff of the hospitals (besides the medical staff) by the improvement of their quality of work-life until no huge gap remains between these two groups.

Anxiety sensitivity is the fear of anxiety and anxiety-related symptoms that may not only affect lifestyle but also result in physical and psychological damages. The present study aimed to predict anxiety sensitivity based on the components of lifestyle in the students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. This study used a descriptive correlational design. The study population consisted of all students (2260 numbers) of undergraduate, postgraduate, and medical students of Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in the second half of the academic year 2016-2017. According to the Morgan Table, 350 samples were selected by simple random sampling method. The study data were collected by questionnaires of anxiety sensitivity and lifestyle and were analyzed by the Pearson coefficient and multiple regression.  In this study, 233 students were female, and 117 were male. Based on the results, there was a significant relationship between the components of lifestyle (belonging-social interest, coping, responsibility, need to approval, cautiousness, supportive) and anxiety sensitivity (P<0.01). Also, lifestyle predicts anxiety sensitivity. The results of multiple regression showed that lifestyle and its components (belonging-social interest, coping, responsibility, need for confirmation, cautiousness, and supportive) positively predict anxiety sensitivity. According to the study results, the anxiety sensitivity is partially predictable based on the components of lifestyle. Therefore, to prevent and decrease the level of anxiety sensitivity in students, we suggested to promote and optimize the components of their lifestyle.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subpopulation of cancer cells with self-renewal and differentiation ability. Furthermore, CSCs are resistant to chemoradiotherapy due to their high level of detoxifying enzymes, strong DNA repair abilities, and high drug efflux capacity. Therefore, CSCs are supposed to account for cancer initiation, progression, metastasis, recurrence, and therapeutic resistance. In this regard, the development of CSC targeting therapies and discoveries of drugs that can target and eradicate the CSCs has been recognized as a promising approach to improve cancer survival rate or even to cure patients with cancers. The content of this article is a review of 100 articles published in prestigious international journals. Search in Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct were conducted using keyword combinations of “cancer stem cell”, “phytochemical”, “cancer therapy”, “chemotherapy”, and “radiotherapy”. This review aims to provide an overview of CSCs properties, their molecular mechanisms, and related signaling pathways involved in their chemoradiotherapy resistance. Also, we are going to discuss some important phytochemicals and their mechanism for targeting CSCs. According to many research studies, using plant-derived compounds in the treatment of cancer can have synergistic effects on chemo-medications.  Plant-derived compounds have fewer side effects and can reduce the relapse rate of cancers by targeting cancer stem cells.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is an inflammatory disease with unknown etiology. The clinical signs and mammograms of the disease can mimic breast cancer. The present study reports a case of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis in a pregnant woman. A 26-year-old woman, who was 24 weeks pregnant, felt a mass on her left breast. Biopsy of the mass revealed no evidence of malignancy. For treatment, intravenous and oral prednisolone tablets were prescribed during the pregnancy, which was terminated without a problem under normal care.