مجله دانشکده پزشکی اصفهان
پیاپی 674 (هفته دوم امرداد 1401)

Gallstone disease is one of the most common digestive diseases in developed and developing countries. Recent studies have expressed evidence in the context of the role of nutrition in the gallstone disease etiology. Thus, the main objective of present study was to investigate dietary patterns in patients with gallstone among those admitted to Imam Reza hospital in Mashhad (Northeastern Iran).

In this case-control study conducted in 2016 in Mashhad, demographic data from of 94 patients with gallstones and 151 healthy controls matched for age, gender and socioeconomic variables was gathered via interviews and questionnaires. To determine the dietary patterns a valid and reliable 160-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used. Nutritional software Nut 4 was used to analysis FFQ. Statistical tests and questionnaire analysis were performed by Nut 4 software (α = 0.05).

Two major dietary patterns were identified: unhealthy (red meat, high-fat dairy, desserts, sugar, sweets, fast food, soft drink, snacks, sweet coffee, chowder, tea, fried potatoes, refined grains, egg, legume and potato), healthy (fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, nuts, dried fruits, dark coffee and low-fat dairy). Weight, waist circumference, and BMI had a direct relationship with gallstone.

This study showed that unhealthy dietary pattern, the consumption of TFA, SFA, legume and coffee, smoking and high body mass index increase the risk of gallstone. Moreover, healthy dietary pattern, rich sources of vitamin C, fruits and vegetables do not contribute to gallstone.

Tuberous breast disorder (TBD), is manifested usually in small or asymmetric breasts after puberty, which makes patients candidates for breast augmentation surgery. Yet, its diagnosis may be difficult due to a wide variety of diagnostic criteria and severity of the disorder. So, the aim of this study -which to our knowledge stands as the first epidemiologic study about TBD in Iran, is estimation of the relative frequency of TBD among candidates for breast augmentation surgery.

In a descriptive cross-sectional study, profiles and real-size photograms of anteroposterior and lateral views of 732 referral candidates for breast augmentation surgery aged 18 years or older to clinics of two plastic surgeons in the city of [Isfahan] over a period of 9 years were enrolled. Relative frequency of TBD and its subtypes from I to III based on Grolleau et al. criteria, patients fulfilling at least one of the described features of the TBD, and breast asymmetry were estimated among the study population.

Among the study population 78% experienced asymmetry and 28.9% were diagnosed with TBD with a distribution of 50.9%, 39.1%, and 9.9% in the groups I to III respectively. 73.9% of patients fulfilled at least one of the TBD features.

Relative frequencies of 28.9% and 73.9% for TBD and its criteria respectively, show considerable prevalence among candidates for breast augmentation surgery.

Gene therapy is a new approach that aims to modify defective genes or intracellular expression of therapeutic proteins, and this depends on the use of high-efficiency gene transfer systems. Although there have been relative successes in gene transfer through viral carriers, these methods still face limitations such as low genetic material carrying capacity, immunogenicity, and toxicity that require further research to address. An alternative method used for this purpose is to use non-viral systems and vectors. Lipids, polymers, proteins, and cationic peptides are among the most well-known non-viral systems that have received much attention due to their lower toxicity despite their lower transfection efficiency. New nano-vectors must carry the gene and protect it against degradation, overcome biological barriers, high transfection efficiencies, and gene release, and not induce toxicity and stimulate the immune system. Vectors of the new generation of chimeric nano-peptides can compress the nucleic acid molecule, accelerate the endosomal escape of the gene transferred into the cytosol, and help transport it from the cytosol to the nucleus. In this study, we review the peptide vectors that carry genetic material, focusing on the types conjugated to nanoparticles; because in this way, it will be possible to use the diagnostic and therapeutic properties of nanoparticles and take advantage of the gene-carrying peptides.