فهرست مطالب

Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research - Volume:32 Issue: 154, Sep-Oct 2024

Journal of Advances in Medical and Biomedical Research
Volume:32 Issue: 154, Sep-Oct 2024

  • تاریخ انتشار: 1403/11/15
  • تعداد عناوین: 9
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  • Saeed Dadashi, Parvin Mansouri, Asghari Majid, Farshi Susan, Fatemeh Aliasl* Pages 314-322
    Background & Objective

    Hand contact dermatitis, with a one-year frequency of up to 10% and a lifetime prevalence of nearly 15% in the general population, typically involves inflammation of the dermis and epidermis layers .The aim of this study was to investigate and emphasize the anti-inflammatory properties of flaxseed oil as well as its historical use in traditional medicine, which could help support its potential effectiveness in treating hand eczema and improving the quality of life of patients.

     Materials & Methods

    The research conducted was a triple-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 68 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate eczema. The participants were assigned to receive either 1 gram of topical flaxseed oil applied twice daily or a control cream, Eucerin, over a period of four weeks. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by measuring the severity of eczema and the quality of life of the patients before and after the intervention. This assessment was carried out using the Hand Eczema Harshness Index (HECSI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).

    Results

     Based on the gas chromatography (GC) analysis, the flaxseed oil contained 1.9 grams of linoleic acid per 100 grams of oil. There was no substantial variance in the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the two study groups. HECSI and DLQI(14.71 ± 1.89) scores significantly improved in the flaxseed oil group compared to the control group (p=0.001). This effect was particularly pronounced among patients with mild and moderate eczema (p<0.001).

    Conclusion

     Flaxseed oil can improve eczema indications and quality of life in contact dermatitis patients. However, further research with a larger sample size and comparison to topical steroids is recommended.

    Keywords: Flaxseed Oil, Dermatitis, Herbal Medicine, Persian Medicine
  • Zahra Irandegani, Roghaye Razavi, Sanaz Akhondi Meybodi, Nasim Namiranian, Mohsen Akhondi-Meybodi* Pages 323-330
    Background & Objective

     Treating hepatitis C as a serious liver disorder is often associated with many problems. Nowadays, Direct-Acting Antiviral (DAA) agents serve as a major remedy in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). With regard to the limited information on the effect of using this treatment in different genotypes of the disease in our region, this study seeks to fill the research gap by evaluating the effect of new DAAs on different HCV genotypes in the city of Yazd.

     Materials & Methods

     Fifty-one patients with different HCV genotypes were treated with Sofosbuvir (SOF) 400 mg + Daclutasvir (DCV) 60 mg and SOF 400 mg + ledipasvir (LDV) 90 regimens. The viral load was assessed in these cases 12 weeks after the end of therapy.

    Results

     In this study, the mean age of patients was 50.04 (± 10.53) years. Among the participants, the most observed genotype was type 1 (54.8%). The most current risk factor was drug use (47%). The analysis revealed that 78% of the patients had a sustained virological response (SVR). SVR rate in HCV was obtained as follows: genotype 1 (77.3%), genotype 2 (66.7%), genotype 3 (87.5%), genotype 4 (100%) and genotype 1+3 (75%).

    Conclusion

    Overall, the application of DAAs has no side effects and induces relatively good therapeutic responses. However, the responses to the drugs used in this study have been lower than those reported in similar studies worldwide.

    Keywords: Sustained Virological Response, Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents, Hepatitis C, Iran
  • Mitra Naseri, Leila Kazeminan, Elham Bakhtiari*, Paria Hebrani Pages 331-340
    Background & Objective

    Few studies have compared the concentration of trace elements and antioxidants in the serum of depressed and non-depressed as well as children on dialysis with and without anxiety.

     Materials & Methods

     A prospective cross-sectional research was conducted. Forty children undergoing dialysis were assessed to define the correlation between mean serum levels of Selenium, Zinc, Copper, Manganese, vitamin C, and vitamin E and their deficient levels with mood disorders. The Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) scorings were applied. According to Scorings, patients were divided into no depression and depression and no anxiety and anxiety disorders groups.

    Results

    Eighteen hemodialysis and 22 peritoneal dialysis patients were enrolled. The median of age was 11 years. Twenty-two patients (55%) were males. Selenium, copper, and vitamin C deficiencies were found in 32.5%, 15%, and 2.5% of patients, respectively. Anxiety and depression disorders were diagnosed in 82.5% and 67.5% of patients, respectively. No relationship between gender, modality of dialysis, duration from onset of dialysis, serum levels of hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, albumin, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, manganese, and vitamin C with anxiety and depression disorders (p > 0.05 for all). The severity of depression was higher in hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis patients (P < 0.001). The Serum level of Vitamin E significantly was higher in depressed in comparison with non-depressed cases (P=0.02).

    Conclusion

    There was no relationship between trace elements and vitamin C serum level and depression or anxiety disorders. An unreported finding was significantly higher level of vitamin E in depressed patients in comparison to those without it.

    Keywords: Dialysis, Child, Trace Elements, Depression, Anxiety
  • Mahmoud Monadi*, Mohammad Ranaee, Hossein Omranpour Bandpey, Durdi Qujeq Pages 341-349
    Background & Objective

    Using new diagnostic methods to help quickly diagnose VTE disease is important. It is well known that treatment of VTE is based on radiological methods, but the main purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between blood coagulation factor XIII( FXIII), D-dimer, and fibrinogen levels in patients with VTE.

     Materials & Methods

    Seventy patients initially suspected of having VTE were included and determined their D-dimer, fibrinogen, and (FXIII )levels. The diagnosis of VTE was based on the CT-Angiography. The blood samples were prepared from the patients during the first 6 hours of admission and before using anticoagulant.

    Results

    The mean level of D-dimer in VTE patients was higher than those without VTE (1770± 764.49 vs. 430.66± 263.98ng / ml) (p <0.001). The mean factor XIII level in patients with VTE was significantly lower than those without VTE(55.03±13.61 vs. 88.57±18.14ng / ml) (p <0.001). The mean fibrinogen level in patients with VTE was significantly lower than in non-VTE patients (140.49± 36.03 vs. 214.69± 69.73 mg/dl) (p <0.001). The cut-off value of D-dimer was 500 ng/ml, and the sensitivity and specificity were 97% and 74%, respectively. The cut-off point of fibrinogen was 168 mg/dl, with a sensitivity of and a specificity of 77% and 77%, respectively. The cut-off point of XIII was 70 ng/ml, with a sensitivity of and specificity85% and 82%, respectively.

    Conclusion

     Our findings suggest that combined measurement of serum levels of D-dimer, factor XIII, and fibrinogen can be used to confirm clinical suspicion for VTE.

    Keywords: D-Dimer, Fibrinogen, Factor XIII, Venous Thromboembolism
  • Hossein Bagherian*, Shagayegh Haghjoo, Azam Mosayebi, Pegah Noorshargh, Saeedeh Arabzades, Mehran Sharifi, Mohammad Sattari Pages 350-360
    Background & Objective

    Breast cancer is a leading cause of female mortalities worldwide. This study has used machine learning techniques to determine the most critical factors influencing the survival rate of breast cancer patients in Isfahan.

      Materials & Methods

     A list of variables influencing the survival of breast cancer patients was initially extracted from the data sets of two Isfahan hospitals for this analytical investigation, leading to the extraction of 16 critical factors based on the opinions of oncologists. In the next step, the missing values were identified and deleted or corrected, followed by converting some features into numerical ranges. Ultimately, the key variables influencing the survival rate of breast cancer patients were determined by applying 11 machine learning algorithms.

    Results

     Forward selection is more accurate than other techniques. Of the 15 input features, 13 were extracted as influential survival rates at least once using different techniques, with BC-ER-PR-HER2 ranking first among the features. The six first features, including Bc-ER-PR-HER2, lymph node dissection, behavior, primary surgery procedure, the exact number of nodes examined, and the exact number of positive nodes, were determined as the best combination for identifying breast cancer patients. Even though cancer behavior patterns differ in various societies, there are still similarities in risk factors.

    Conclusion

     Forward selection combined with principal component analysis using support vector machines, neural networks, and random forests can be the best model for breast cancer prediction. Neural networks, random forests, and support vector machines are very good at predicting breast cancer survival.

    Keywords: Breast Cancer, Survival Analysis, Data Mining
  • Naeme Mohammadi, Bahman Eslami, Bagher Seyedalipour*, Ehsan Joz Jalalian Pages 361-369
    Background & Objective

    The relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR). Polymorphisms, and diabetes remain uncertain. This study aimed to examine the potential correlation between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and rs739837 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the Mazandaran province population.

    Materials & Methods

    A case-control study was conducted, involving 100 individuals diagnosed with T2DM and 100 healthy controls, all residents of Mazandaran province. The extraction of genomic DNA and rs739837 polymorphism was genotyped using the Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.

    Results

    The data indicated a significant association between GT genotype and a decreased risk of T2DM (OR= 0.5135, 95%CI= 0.2759 to 0.9559, P=0.0355). Moreover, individuals carrying T allele showed a reduced likelihood of progressing T2DM (OR= 0.4657, 95%CI= 0.2564 to 0.8461, P=0.0121).

    Conclusion

    The findings suggested that rs739837 polymorphism in the VDR gene may serve as a protective factor against T2DM in the studied population. Further research with larger samples is needed to confirm these results across different populations.

    Keywords: VDR Gene, Rs739837, Genetic Polymorphism, T2DM
  • Saeed Nasseri, Farzane Vafaeie, _ Ebrahim Miri-Moghaddam * Pages 370-377
    Background & Objective

    Short tandem repeats (STR) are highly polymorphic genetic markers widely used in human identification. This study aimed to investigate the genetic characteristics of 21 autosomal STR loci in individuals from Eastern Iran.

    Materials & Methods

    Sixty healthy volunteers from twenty families provided buccal samples for analysis using the PowerPlex® 21 System. Various genetic and forensic parameters, including polymorphic information content, random matching probability, allelic discrimination power, paternity index, and exclusion power, were assessed.

    Results

    Five STR markers (D1S1656, D6S1043, D12S391, Penta D, and Penta E) were identified as prevalent in the Eastern Iranian population, enabling successful parentage verification. All loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, with a total of 178 alleles detected. The Penta E locus had the highest number of alleles, while TPOX had the most frequent allele. D12S391 exhibited the highest heterozygosity percentage (96.7%) among the loci analyzed.

    Conclusion

    The study confirmed the high informativeness of the 20 autosomal STR markers in individuals from Eastern Iran, supporting previous findings. These results contribute to the genetic characterization of the Eastern Iranian population and highlight the utility of these markers in forensic applications.

    Keywords: Forensic Investigation, Short Tandem Repeat, Eastern Iran, Population Genetics, Genetic Markers
  • Mahin Ganjkhani*, Marzieh Marahem Pages 378-385
    Background & Objective

     There is considerable evidence in the field of epilepsy research suggesting that melatonin may have a potential therapeutic role in the treatment of epilepsy. Investigating the effects of melatonin on neuronal electrical activity may provide valuable insight into the development of adjunctive therapies in this context. We aimed to investigate the prophylactic properties of melatonin using the intracellular recording technique in an epilepsy model of snail neurons, which exhibit epileptic behavior similar to that in human neurons.

     Materials & Methods

    To study the impact of melatonin (100 µM) on firing pattern and action potential (AP) configuration in an epileptic condition, the current clamp technique was used on Helix aspersa neurons. Recordings were made before and after administering Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) (25 mM).

    Results

     The findings demonstrated that applying melatonin to cells in normal Ringer's solution did not significantly alter the resting membrane potential (RMP) or the amplitude and duration of the AHP and AP. However, a significant decline in frequency was evident (P<0.05).  Application of melatonin after PTZ significantly decreased the firing frequency of APs while concurrently enhancing the amplitude of AHP, which had been reduced by PTZ, and hyperpolarizing the RMP.  

    Conclusion

    Our study demonstrates that melatonin has protective effects against some of the adverse impacts of PTZ on neuronal firing patterns in Helix aspersa neurons. These findings suggest that melatonin may play a crucial role in modulating neuronal excitability, which is important in epilepsy.

    Keywords: Melatonin, Pentylenetetrazole, Intracellular Recording, Helix Aspersa
  • Shahin Hassanpour*, Sahar Hajimoradi, Faezeh Malekpour Pages 386-392
    Background & Objective

     Epilepsy is one of the main neurological disorders and β-alanine has several beneficial in the nervous system.This study aimed to determine the antiepileptic effect of the β-alanine during estrous cycle in pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in rat.

     Materials & Methods

    Thirty female rats were allocated into five experimental groups as control, sodium valproate (75 mg/kg), and β-alanine (15, 30 and 45 mg/kg) during estrus cycle (proestrus, estrus, metestrus and diestrus). Puberty was determined by vaginal smears whereby animals with two normal cycles were chosen. After administration of the sodium valproate or β-alanine, PTZ injection (80 mg/kg, i.p) was done. Animals were monitored for 30 minutes with initiation time of myoclonic seizures (ITMS), initiation time of tonic–clonic seizures (ITTS), and seizures’ duration (SD) registered.  

    Results

     Based on the findings, β-alanine (30 and 45 mg/kg) significantly increased the onset time of ITMS and ITTS compared to the control group (P<0.05). β-alanine (30 and 45 mg/kg) significantly reduced SD compared to the control group (P<0.05). The antiepileptic effect of β-alanine was more prominent during metestrus and diestrus than proestrus and estrus (P<0.05).

    Conclusion

    It seems β-alanine has antiepileptic effects which are more prominent during proestrus and estrus than metestrus and diestrus.

    Keywords: Antiepileptic, Β-Alanine, PTZ, Estrus, Rat