Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal
Volume:25 Issue: 4, Apr 2023

Current studies have demonstrated the anti-cancer effects of paeonol in some tumors; however, itseffect on gliomas remains unknown.

This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor effect of paeonol in human glioma tissues and cells including its effect and connection with apoptosis and oxidative stress in gliomas.

Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8)was used to detect the antiproliferative effect of paeonol in human U251 glioma cells. Transwell and colony-forming assays were employed to assess the effect of paeonol on the ability of invasion and colony formation of U251 cells. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), and catalase activity (CAT) were measured to evaluate the effect of paeonol on oxidative stress in U251 cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-q) PCR and western blot were utilized to detect caspase-3 expression levels. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining detected the effect of paeonol on U251 cell apoptosis.

Paeonol decreased cell viability, as well as the proliferation, invasion,and colony formation ability of U251 cells. Paeonol reduced MDA content and increased the activities of SOD, CAT, and T-AOC in U251 cells. Caspase-3 expression was lower in human glioma tissues than in normal tissues of the human brain. Paeonol promoted U251 cell apoptosis as revealed by TUNEL staining results and the significant up-regulation of caspase-3 expression in U251 cells.

These results indicated that paeonol has anti-tumor and pro-apoptotic effects in gliomas via oxidative stress regulation and the caspase-3 pathway. Our study, therefore, provides new ideas for the clinical treatment of gliomas.

Vaccination and observing hygienic measures were rendered necessary due to the spread of the Covid-19.Yet, in spite of the effective and immunizing role of vaccines in the past, hesitancy about undergoing vaccination against Covid-19 has become a global issue.

The present study aimed to investigate the barriers and facilitators of Covid-19 vaccine injections from the perspective of people in Yazd in 2022.

The present study was a population-based cross-sectional study conducted on 572 people over 12 years of age in Yazd, Iran, using cluster sampling (46 head clusters of health centers). To collect data, a researcher-made questionnaire was applied, which measuredbarriers and facilitators of Covid-19 vaccine injection.The mean score of the questionnaire was above 70, indicating more attitude, trust, and willingness.

Based on the findings, 406 (70.7%) participants were female, 457 (79.6%) were married, and 232 (40.4%) were housewives. The mean age of the subjects was 39.1±14.7 years. In total, 277 (48.4%) participants had a positive attitude toward Covid-19 vaccination, 224 (39.2%) had trust in the vaccine, and 21(3.8%) showed willingness to injection, indicating an overall low attitude, trust, and willingness toward the injection of Covid-19 vaccine.There was a significant relationship between willingness to inject the vaccine and education (P=0.048). A strong correlation was also found between attitude and trust in vaccination, with a coefficient of 0.811 (P<0.001).

A positive attitude and trust in Covid-19 vaccination were observed at an average level, and willingness to be vaccinated was at a low level.Considering the role of the three variables of education, gender, and the type of a person’s occupation, planning should be done to improve people’s attitude, trust, and willingness to inject the vaccine by focusing on the above variables.

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the most common malignant gastrointestinal cancer. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the major cause of cancer recurrenceand cancer drug resistance. Silibinin, as an herbal compound, has anticancer properties.

The present study aimed to evaluate the antiproliferative effects of silibinin on HT29 stem-like cells (spheroids).

In this study, antiproliferative and apoptotic properties of Silibinin encapsulated in Polymersome Nanoparticles (SPNs) were evaluated by MTT assay, propidium iodide(PI)/AnnexinV assay, cell cycle analysis, and DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining. The expression of some miRNAs and their potential targets was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

IC50 of SPNs was determined at 28.13±0.78μg/ml after 24 h. SPNs (28μg/ml) induced apoptosis by 32.36% in HT29 cells after 24 h. DAPI staining indicated a decrease instained nuclei after SPNs induction.SPNs treatment increased the expression of miR-34a, as well as P53, BAX, CASP9, CASP3, and CASP8. The downregulation of miR-221 and miR-222 was observed in SPNs treated cells. Moreover, SPNs decrease the expression level of CD markers inHT29 spheroids (cancer stem cells) compared to untreated spheroids.Spheroids were completely destroyed after 72 h treatment with SPNs (28μg/ml).

As evidenced by the obtained results, SPNs can be used as an effective anticancer agent in multi-layer (cancer stem cells) and mono-layer cancerous cells with the upregulation of tumor suppressive miRs and genes, as well as downregulation of oncomiRs and oncogenes.

Post-acute COVID-19syndrome involves the persistence of the patient’s symptoms due tothe residual inflammation of the acute phase.

In the current study, we aimed to evaluate medication intervention to accelerate the improvement of prolonged respiratory symptoms in this phase.

Thirty-four patients, aged 20-50 years, in the recovery phase of COVID-19, were enrolled, who still suffered from respiratory problems even two weeks after being discharged from Rasool Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran. They were divided into three groups based on the type of treatment for eliminatingthe remaining symptoms: hydroxychloroquine (HCQ, 200 mg twice daily for four weeks), clarithromycin (500 mg twice daily for four weeks), and control (receiving a placebo similar to the last two groups). At the beginning and end of the treatment, patients’dyspnea and cough were assessed using Medical Research Council and visual analog scale (VAS), respectively, their laboratory tests were checked, and they took a 6-min walk test.

At the end of the treatment,the VAS of cough was 0.74 in the HCQ group, which was higher than that in the clarithromycin group. In addition, dyspnea decreased in theHCQ and clarithromycin groups by 64% and 40%, respectively,compared to the control group. Furthermore, there was a significant relationship between residualdyspnea at the end of the treatment and the severity of initial lung involvement in the acute phase.

Based on these findings, it can be concluded that HCQ was more effective in reducing dyspnea, compared to clarithromycin, in the recovery phase, especially in patients with milder lung involvement in the acute phase. Additionally, clarithromycin was found to be more effective in improving coughs.

The rapid development and production of COVID-19 vaccines have raised concerns about their safety and efficacy, which have contributed to vaccine hesitancy among some people.

This study aimed to determine the opinions and attitudes of medical students about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine hesitancy.

Nine hundred seventy-seven volunteer students from three medical faculties participated in this study, and data were collected via an online survey. A questionnaire consisting of 40 items and four parts, including sociodemographic information, COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine rejection, and vaccine hesitancy was used for data collection. In the questionnaire, the students wereasked about their desire to be vaccinated, whether they want to be vaccinated for their families, vaccination indecision or rejection, and the reasons for not wanting to be vaccinated.

Among the students, the rate of vaccine rejection was 15.4% (n=150), and the rate of vaccine hesitancy was 18.9% (n=185). While 65.7% (n=642) wanted to be vaccinated against COVID-19, the rate of those who wanted their families to be vaccinated was 54.1% (n=529). Age and being in the preclinical period positively affected the vaccination decision, while a history of COVID-19 and being affected by vaccine technology negatively influenced the decision to be vaccinated. The vaccine acceptance rate was significantly higher in men than in women (P=0.002), in preclinical students than in clinical year students (P=0.049), and in those without a history of COVID-19 than in those who had COVID-19 (P<0.001).

The attitudes of medical students toward COVID-19 vaccines were positive. However, considering that some students were hesitant to be vaccinated or against vaccination, we think it would be beneficial to integrate positive attitude development programs into the medical education curriculum.

Untreated chronic dacryocystitis (CD) can lead to serious ocular complications.

This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of modified endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) in the treatment of CD and the effects on ocular surface, inflammatory response, and immune function of patients.

Aretrospective cohort study was conducted to examine the clinical data of 110 patients (110 eyes) with CD who visited The First People's Hospital of Wenling, China, from July 2018 to February 2021, and they were divided into a conventional group (62 patients and 62 eyes underwent conventional DCR) and modified group (48 patients and 48 eyes received modified endoscopic DCR). The perioperative indexes, efficacy, and complications of the two groups were compared, and the changes in ocular surface, inflammatory response, and immune function of the patients before and 3 months after the surgery were observed.

Theintraoperative bleeding, hospitalization cost, and 12-h postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) score were lower, while the operative time and hospitalization time were shorter in modified group than in the conventional group (P<0.05). The totaltreatment efficacy was higher (91.67%) in the modified group than in the conventional group (72.58%), and the recurrence ratewas lower in the modified group (4.17%) than in the conventional group [16.13%, P<0.05]. The ocular surface symptom scores, Schirmer I test, tear break-up time, degree of tear overflow scores were lower in the modified group than in the conventional groupat 3 months postoperatively (P<0.05); soluble interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, CD8+ levels werelower,and CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+ levels were higher in the modified group than in the conventional group at 3 months postoperatively (P<0.05). At 3 months postoperatively, the scores of activity impairment, general health, and visual status on the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire were higher in the modified group than those in the conventional group (P<0.05). The overall complication rate in the modified group (8.33%) was not different from that in the conventional group [14.52%, P>0.05].

ModifiedDCR has the advantages of short operation time, less trauma, less pain and fewer complications, and is conducive to improving ocular surface function, reducing inflammatory response, and improving immune function and quality of life of patients.

The risk perception of the COVID-19 disease has a direct impact on vulnerability and preventive behaviors. Considering the special position of medical students in society, this research aims to assess the risk perception among medical students.

The present study aimed to investigate the medical students’ risk perception in regard to COVID-19 Diseases.

A descriptive-analytical study was conducted in 2020-2021 through an online self-report questionnaire. The data were collected by the Iranian questionnaire on COVID-19-associated risk perception. The questionnaire consisted of two parts the demographics (11 options) and a part for the COVID-19-related risk perception (20 options). The questionnaire included the dimensions of the cognitive factors (5 items), beliefs (6 items), political factors (4 items), social factors (3 items), and cultural factors (2 items). Scoring was done on a 5-point Likert scale (1=Absolutely disagree to 5=Absolutely agree).

A total of 392 students completed the COVID-19-associated risk perception questionnaire. Undergraduateswith 278 (71.6%) comprised the majority of the students participating in the study, 237 (60.6%) had the experience of being infectedwith COVID-19 disease, 262 (66.8%) of the students participated in taking care of the COVID-19 patients, and 242 (61.7%) of the students experienced the COVID-19 incurred death of friends and relatives. The majority of the students, 268 (68.4%) were ranked at the moderate level in terms of the student risk perception of COVID-19. The total mean score of the students' risk perception was 72.98 ± 6.55. Moreover, cognitive dimension was the highest mean score of the risk perception dimensions among the students.

The medical students' risk perception of COVID-19 disease was ranked moderate. Considering the main role of medical students in taking care of hospitalized patients and preventing the disease from spreading in the community, the managers of the educational system are required to plan for promoting the students' risk perception.

Considering the scope of the epidemic of the COVID-19 pandemic and the psychological consequences known to be associated with infection, it seems necessary to provide a screening tool for determining the presence of psychological symptoms among the population in the healthcare sector for prevention and timely provision of psychological interventions.

This study aimed to design and standardize a comprehensive screening test and assess clinical aspects of psychological symptoms associated with COVID-19.

This is a descriptive survey-based study. The study was permitted in two phases. The statistical population included all physicians, nurses, and staff who worked in COVID-19 care wards of hospitals in Ardabil (Iran) in 2021 and were in direct contact with these patients. A total of 200 participants in Phase I and 98 in Phase II were selected via the purposive sampling method. An initial researcher-made questionnaire was used to assess the psychological symptoms of the participants in eight and seven categories in Phase I and Phase II, respectively. The data were analyzed using SPSS26 and R software.

Delphi method and second-order confirmatory factor analysis verified the validity of the questionnaire. Findings related to measuring the reliability of the questionnaire in phase I showed that although the questionnaire was reliable based on inter-rater and intra-rater, the test-retest reliability method based on Cohen's kappa coefficients showed no reliability for items 12 and 49-54. In phase II, the unreliable items were removed and the study was permitted to be conducted again with new samples. The results of intra-rater reliability also demonstrated that an intraclass correlation coefficient for each of the seven scales of the questionnaire was greater than 0.75. In addition, the results of inter-rater reliability showed that Cronbach's alpha coefficient for each scale of the questionnaire was greater than 0.70. Furthermore, high amounts of sensitivity and specificity as well as high area under the receiver operating characteristic curve verified the good accuracy of the final questionnaire.

Based on the findings, it can be said that the final proposed questionnaire with seven scales (55 items) was a tool with good validity, reliability, and accuracy to assess the psychological symptoms associated with COVID-19. However, since the participants of this study consisted of only medical personnel, the generalization of the results to the general population needs further investigation.