Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume:29 Issue: 1, Jan-Feb 2022

Many research studies have investigated the antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles and herbal extracts on pathogenic bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles in combination with L. angusifolia leaf extract against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using response surface methodology. To evaluate the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles and L. angusifolia extract at different pH values against E.coli and S. aureus, the response surface methodology was used along with a central composite design. Agar well diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity.   The results showed that the antibacterial activity of the combination of silver nanoparticles and L. angusifolia extract on E.coli (15.4 - 23.6 mm) was greater than that on S. aureus (11.7 – 21.6 mm). In addition, the antibacterial activity of the silver nanoparticles against E. coli and S. aureus was higher than that of L. angusifolia extract. The pH values had no effect on the antibacterial activity of the silver nanoparticles and L. angusifolia extract. The findings of this study showed that the combination of silver nanoparticles and L. angusifolia extract could be used as a possible source of effective antibacterial agent in infections.

Placenta has a strategic role in fetal/maternal exchange. A healthy placenta is essential for normal fetal development. Avoiding consumption of some foods and vegetables is suggested during pregnancy due to the risk of placental disorders. Celery is a high consumed vegetable that some studies concern about its adverse effect on pregnancy. The present study focused on its consumption side effects in different trimesters of gestation on mouse placenta. Duration of pregnancy in mice is three weeks. Five groups of 5 mice were considered. Groups I, II and III received celery hydro-alcoholic extract only during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd weeks of pregnancy, respectively and group IV received it during all the weeks of gestation. The 5th group was considered as control and just received placebo. The biometrical sizes of placenta (weight, length and diameter) were measured and histopathological analysis was done. Celery consumption decreased the weight of placenta in groups II, III and IV. Also, placental length and diameter decreased in groups I and IV. Histopathological examination showed decrease of placenta trophoblastic giant cells and increase of trophoblast glycogen cells in the basal layer. Generally, morphological and pathological changes in the 4th group showed more deviations from the control group. Basal and Labyrinth layer thickness decreased in the experimental groups. Also, hyperaemia was observed in labyrinth layer of the experimental groups. Due to the decrease of placenta biometrical sizes and histo-pathological adverse effects, it is advised that celery should be used with more precaution, during pregnancy.

Implant therapy has become an integral part of dental practice. However, surgical accidents and complications by placing implants may occur. So knowledge of bone morphology is mandatory for correct implant direction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological parameters of mandibular concavities using Cone-beam Computed Tomography. In this study, 100 cone-beam computed tomography images were assessed on cross-sectional view. The mandible morphology 2 mm above the inferior alveolar canal was classified into the convex (C), parallel (P) and undercut (U) type, based on the presence of lingual concavity and the shape of alveolar ridge. The prevalence of each group and the lingual concavity characters, including the depth and the angulation were determined by the measurements of selected anatomic landmarks. Data analysis was performed through SPSS26 and using Pearson correlation, t- test and Chi-Square test. The significance level was set at 0.05. One hundred subjects (mean age: 38.89± 12.10, range of 19-63 years) were studied. The U type was the most prevalent, accounting for 51% of the study population. The mean undercut depth and angulation at the level 2 mm above the inferior alveolar canal were respectively 3/22 ± 0.92 mm and 50.42 ±4.75 degree. Concavity depth and its angle showed no significant correlation with age, gender, edentulous area and type of ridge. The anatomic location and the degree of the lingual concavity presented in this article added more information about implant treatment planning at mandibular premolar and molar regions.

The science has focused on the development of nanoparticles based on the green chemistry methods. Iron nanoparticles, are of particular interest due to their fast reaction and high efficiency for the treatment of cancer cells without damage to healthy cells. In this research, iron oxide nanoparticles were synthesized using cytoplasmic extract of Lactobacillus fermentum and their cytotoxicity were investigated against MCF-7 cell and HEK293 normal cell. Cytoplasmic extract of Lactobacillus fermentum was prepared using freeze thaw method. The achieved extract was added to an equal volume of ferrous sulfate III solution at a concentration of 10-3 molar and incubated for 3 weeks in the presence of 5% carbon dioxide XRD and TEM analyses were performed in order to determine the size and shape of the nanoparticles. The cytotoxic effects of the nanoparticles against cancer and normal cells were studied using MTT test. The change of solution color to black was a first sign of the production of Fe3O4 nanoparticles. XRD and TEM confirmed the production of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles and determined that the nanoparticles were spherical in shape and had the average particle size of 10-15 nm. A comparison of the toxicity of the synthesized nanoparticles on the two cell lines showed a significant decrease of the survival rate of MCF-7 cells compared to normal HEK 293cells with increasing Fe3O4 nanoparticles concentration. The use of cytoplasmic extract of Lactobacillus fermentum for the production of iron oxide nanoparticles could be considered as an effective biological method in green synthesis of nanoparticles.

Core muscles play an important role during sports activities and these muscles control trunk stability via appropriate contraction. This study aimed to investigate the effect of immediate respiratory muscle sprint-interval training (RMSIT) on the activity of the selected trunk muscles and lumbopelvic motor control in athletes with chronic low back pain (CLBP).

A double-blind randomized controlled trial design was used for this study. The study population, 48 young athletes aged 18-25 years with CLBP, was randomly divided into training (n = 24) and control groups (n = 24). The study procedure was explained to the subjects. RMSIT was performed by the training group using a spirometer. The training program included six sets of 30-second breathing exercises. Surface electromyography of the selected local (transverse abdominis, multifidus) and global (erector spinae, rectus abdominis) muscles of the trunk and lumbopelvic motor control and patients’ perceived low back pain in pre- and post-tests were recorded in both groups.

The results showed that the activity of the transverse abdominis and co-contraction of local muscles significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) in the training group during static and dynamic overhead squat and single-leg squat. In addition, lumbopelvic stability in the right and left side significantly improved in the training group.

RMSIT can improve local muscle activity and co-contraction of local muscles activity in athletes with CLBP. Moreover, these training can improve lumbopelvic stability.

The present study aimed at evaluating the association between the -429T/C and -374T/A polymorphisms of RAGE (Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products) gene promoter and diabetic nephropathy as well as examining its possible application as candidate markers of diabetic nephropathy among the population of Qazvin, Iran.

In this study, the diabetic patients were divided into the two groups of with or without nephropathy. The frequency of genotype and allele were determined using TETRA-Primer ARMS-PCR. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test and correlation of polymorphisms, odds ratio (OR), and FAMHAP software were used for haplotype analysis.

Based on our data, the CC genotype of -429T/C polymorphism may play a protective role against the development of nephropathy (OR=0.586, 95%; CI: 0.158-2.167) while, the AA genotype may be associated with increased risk of the disease (OR=1.889, 95%; CI: 0.454-7.854). Allele’s analysis revealed that the C allele of -429T/C polymorphism maybe protective against the appearance of nephropathy (OR=0.794, 95%; CI: 0.48-1.314) whereas, the A allele may be related to increased risk for nephropathy (OR=1.452, 95%; CI: 0.783-2.695). Haplotype analysis demonstrated that there was no significant correlation between the two -429T/C and -374T/A SNPs (χ2=5.125, p value=0.135). However, it was found that the CA haplotype may have a protective effect against the development of nephropathy (OR=0.48, 95%; CI: 0.14-1.64) while, the TA haplotype may increase the risk of the disease (OR=2.06, 95%; CI:1.01-4.23).

Overall, no correlation between the -374T/A and -429T/C polymorphisms and the haplotypes in RAGE gene and the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy, was established.

Human herpesvirus-8 is the infectious etiology of endothelial origin in tumours with blood disorders. However, in some cirrhotic patients, no etiology can be identified, and such cases are known as cryptogenic cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to determine frequencies of infection with this virus in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis.

In the present case-control study, 67 patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis were enrolled. After the collection of plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from the studied patients and also 70 healthy blood donors as the control group, DNA extraction was performed. All the participants were tested for viral antibodies and DNA with Enzyme Immunoassay and nested-PCR, respectively.

The mean age of the studied patients was 43.8 ± 14.7 years (ranged 14–71 years), and 47 ones were male (70.1%). Out of the 67 patients, 11 ones (16.4%) were positive for antibodies, and DNA was found in plasma samples of 3 patients (4.5%), whereas the viral DNA was detected in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples of 5 participants (7.5%). Among 70 healthy blood donors as the control group, 3 participants (2.9%) were positive for antibodies and viral DNA was not detected in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples.

Based on the results of this study, the prevalence of infection in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis is higher than that in the general population. According to these results, it seems that infection with this virus should be considered in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis. However, more evidence is needed to prove this.

Recent evidences revealed that some genetic factors strongly predict occurrence of lamotrigine (LTG)-related skin reactions. The present study aimed to assess the association between some human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B alleles and risk of LTG-related skin reactions among a sample of epileptic patients. Totally, 36 epileptic patients expressing LTG-related skin reactions and 70 sex- and age-matched healthy individuals were enrolled into this case-control study. Blood samples were collected from all participants and genomic DNA was extracted by salting-out method. HLA-B alleles were determined using standard sequence specific primer-PCR (SSP-PCR) technique. Of the 31 HLA alleles assessed in our survey, the frequencies of HLA-B*38 and HLA-B*40 were significantly higher in epileptic patients with LTG-related skin reactions when compared to the control group. In term of gender, the frequency of HLA-B*40 allele was significantly higher in the epileptic men with LTG-related skin reactions, whereas the frequency of HLA-B*38 allele was significantly higher in the epileptic women with LTG-related skin reactions than controls with the same gender. Moreover, the frequency of HLA-B*38 allele in patients with high grade of LTG-related skin side effects was significantly higher than patients with low grade of LTG-related skin side effects. These results indicated possible association between HLA-B*40 and HLA-B*38 alleles and LTG-induced skin lesions in Iranian epileptic patients. HLA-B*40 and HLA-B*38 alleles might be differentially expressed in male and female epileptic patients with LTG-induced skin lesions.

Cases of snakebites especially with an elapidae are considered as a medical emergency. However, in some cases of elapidae envenomation, bite signs might be unpredictable.Case: Dorsal surface of the second finger of a 39-year-old man was bitten by N. Naja Oxiana less than half hour before his admission. On arrival, patient had clear bilateral ptosis, mydriasis, reduced light reflex of pupils and sialorrhea. Other muscles power had no problem. The patient was agitated due to suffocation secondary to respiratory muscle paralysis, during half hours of hospitalization. He was intubated and mechanically ventilated. He was treated by antivenom, 10 vials as attack dose, 5 vials as repeated dose that was repeated three times and 2 vials every 8 hours as maintenance dose. He received antibiotic for local superinfection. Although, he did not receive any acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, he was extubated 48 hours later. The patient was discharged on the 7th day in good general condition with oral antibiotic prescription and no complication except local cellulitis. In conclusion, for efficient treatment of patients bitten with elapidae, we need to find the best course of treatment using the adequate antivenom as fast as possible.

Two cases are presented with corneal ectasia after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). Case 1 is a 24-year-old man with manifest refractions of -6.0 DS, -3.0 DC, axis 180° in the right eye and -4.50 DS, -4.0 DC, axis 160° in the left eye respectively with a symmetric bow-tie pattern bilaterally, without any evidence of keratoconus on corneal topography preoperatively. Ectasia occurred 10 months after surgery in the right eye.Case 2 is a 20-year-old man with an attempted correction of −6.25 DS, -2.25 DC, axis 30° in the right eye, and −6.25 DS, −2.25 DC, axis 150° in the left eye. Thinnest central corneal thickness was 498µm and 499µm in the right and left eyes, respectively. Total ablation depth was 137 µm in the right eye and 136 µm in the left eye. 38 months after surgery ectasia developed in the left eye. Two patients had no family history suspicious for keratoconus.Copyright: 2021 The Author(s); Published by Kerman University of Medical Sciences. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Due to the advances in the treatment of patients with beta thalassemia major, their lifespan has increased, and hence, they are exposed to various morbidities including malignancies. In this study, a 4-year-old male child with beta thalassemia major who received regular blood transfusions every four weeks at thalassemia center is described. As he complained of abdominal pain, abdominal ultrasound was performed. The results showed ileocolic intussusception. He underwent surgery by a general surgeon, but there was no follow-up and the patient did not revisit the surgeon. Two months later, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist visited the patient who exhibited symptoms of fever, pallor, weakness, abdominal pain, and abdominal distension. Bone marrow aspiration was done under local anesthesia because the patient suffered from bone pain, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. It was found that bone marrow was infiltrated with more than 90% vacuolated lymphoblast, which confirmed Burkitt leukemia (ALL L3). Flow cytometry analysis also confirmed this diagnosis.

Bayesian mixture cure rate frailty model is a model used in survival analysis by controlling frailty when the fraction of cured individuals exists. The present study was performed as the first systematic review in survival analysis with cure fraction. The aim of this systematic review was to study and evaluate the related studies on Bayesian mixture cure rate frailty model. Also, this model was used to demonstrate its importance and applicability in determining the variables affecting the survival of patients with gastric cancer.

This systematic review was done based on the PRISMA guideline by considering related searching keywords in PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Also, Bayesian mixture cure rate frailty model was used to analyze gastric cancer data.

In the beginning, 882 studies related to survival analysis of cure rate model were found. Finally, by reading the full-text, only 4 related studies were found based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. In these studies, semi-parametric models and parametric model with Weibull distribution were used for time-to-event data. Also, based on the results of the model, significant and affective variables on the survival of patients with gastric cancer were found.

According to the results of this study, in the cure model, choice of proper distribution for the frailty variable and baseline distribution can influence the results. It was also found that place of residence, chemotherapy, morphology, and metastasis are effective variables on survival of patients with gastric cancer.

Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent female cancers in developing countries. It seems that breast cancer affects Iranian women a decade earlier than women from developed countries, however, there is not enough evidence for this hypothesis. ‏

This repeated cross-sectional study was carried out on 6057 Iranian women, living in Isfahan province, using historical data from 2001 to 2013 and 506,095 British women in the same period. The UK breast cancer data came from the ONS website (www.ons.gov.uk) on request for the period of 2001 to 2013. The weighted mean age of women with breast cancer was compared between Iran and the UK by the independent t-test using STATA 14 at a 5% significance level.

The age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) in Iran (Isfahan) increased from 22.0 to 68.0 per 100,000 populations from 2001 to 2013. ‏The corresponding ASR in the UK increased from 152.4 to 169.8 per 100,000 population. The standardized mean age of breast cancer was 50.5 years‏ (SD=12.6) and‏ 63.6‏ years (SD=14.0) in Iranian and British women, ‏ respectively.

These findings imply that Iranian women were, on average, diagnosed with‏ breast cancer a decade earlier than English women. Therefore, screening for breast cancer should begin at lower ages for Iranian women.