Journal of Studies in Medical Sciences
Volume:36 Issue: 2, May 2025

Congenital hypothyroidism, characterized by insufficient thyroid hormone production at birth, significantly impacts neonatal growth and development. This deficiency can impair neonatal growth and development. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism in Iranian neonates through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, SID, and Magiran up to January 2025 to identify relevant studies. Manual searches of key review articles and primary studies were also performed. Only studies published in Persian or English were included. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale checklist was used to assess the risk of bias in the selected studies. Data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (version 3).

Thirty-nine studies, comprising 3,124,702 neonates, were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis showed a congenital hypothyroidism prevalence of 2 per 1000 live births (95% CI: 0.002–0.003; p < 0.05). The prevalence was 3 per 1000 live births in both males (95% CI: 0.002–0.004; p < 0.05) and females (95% CI: 0.002–0.004; p < 0.05). No significant publication bias was observed (p > 0.05).

The elevated prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism in Iran highlights the necessity for enhanced screening programs, early diagnostic protocols, intervention, and allocation of necessary resources are essential for the effective management of congenital hypothyroidism prevalence.

Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) secreted by cells have become important agents of communication between cells. EVs promote tissue repair by transferring their molecular contents to target cells, influencing signaling pathways, metabolic functions, and gene expression. Recent studies indicate that numerous extracellular proteins interact with the surface of EVs dynamically, forming a layer referred to as the protein corona. The protein corona interacts with cell-surface receptors and enhances the specific absorption of EVs, thus affecting their therapeutic efficacy. The wide range of biomolecules can interact with the EVs’ surface, and the thickness of these coronal proteins is significantly different within biological fluids, impacting EVs’ kinetics, docking, uptake, biodistribution, and finally cell signaling. The elimination of the coronavirus protein from EVs remains a primary challenge and requires further study. Understanding the properties of the corona protein and eliminating it will be vital for optimizing cell-free therapies, opening new opportunities for progressing regenerative medicine. This review discusses the biogenesis of EVs and the formation of the protein corona. In addition, this review sheds light on the protein corona of EVs as a key factor influencing the function of EVs.

Methionine, an essential sulfur-containing amino acid, plays a critical role in detoxification via methylation and must be obtained through the diet, as humans cannot synthesize it. This study aimed to identify the met gene and analyze the kinetics of methionine synthesis in soil-derived thermophilic bacteria.

Two hundred soil samples were collected from tree-adjacent areas along Khordin Boulevard, Tehran. After heat treatment and culturing, isolates underwent microscopic, biochemical, and molecular characterization. DNA was extracted using a specialized kit, and the met gene was identified via multiplex PCR and gel electrophoresis. Gene expression was quantified using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) under three temperatures (25°C, 35°C, 45°C) with ammonium nitrate (nitrogen source) and glucose (carbon source). Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA using SPSS v.22 and reported as mean ± SD at a significance level of p < 0.05.

Bacilli accounted for 30% of isolates from Tehran’s urban soil. The met gene was detected in only 6.66% of bacilli. Significant differences in met expression were observed between treated and control groups across all temperatures and nutrient conditions (p < 0.05). The most excellent suppression of met expression occurred at 45°C (2.342-fold decrease), while 25°C showed the least reduction (1.649-fold). Glucose and ammonium nitrate synergistically reduced expression (1.914- and 1.834-fold, respectively).

Temperature and carbon/nitrogen sources modulate met gene expression, thereby influencing methionine synthesis in soil bacilli. Optimal suppression occurred at 45°C with a combination of glucose/ammonium nitrate, suggesting environmental regulation of this metabolic pathway. In contrast, the lowest suppression of met expression was observed at 25°C.

Nowadays, the use of natural and alternative therapies for the prevention and treatment of cancer, including probiotics such as lactic acid bacteria, has gained increasing attention. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer, pro-apoptotic, and antioxidant effects of lactic acid bacteria isolated from camel milk in Mashhad on liver cancer, as well as their impact on the expression of BAX and BCL-2 genes using the Real-time PCR method.

Camel milk samples were collected from Mashhad, and the isolated strains were identified using biochemical tests. The anticancer, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant effects of the isolated LAB were evaluated using laboratory tests, including the MTT assay and the DPPH radical scavenging method. The effect of isolated LAB on BAX and BCL-2 gene expression in HCC cells was investigated using real-time PCR.

Eight Lactobacillus strains with probiotic properties were identified. Two strains, A4 and A8, had the highest probiotic activity. The DPPH radical scavenging activity for A4 was between 2–23% and for A8 between 2–19%. Strains A4 and A8 showed time- and dose-dependent toxicity on HepG2 hepatocytes. The IC₅₀ values for the strain A4 were 30.66 μg/mL at 48 hours and 51.89 μg/mL at 72 hours, while for the strain A8, they were 32.03 μg/mL at 48 hours and 67.29 μg/mL at 72 hours, respectively. Caspase activity increased in hepatocytes after treatment with A4 and A8.

The findings of this study demonstrated the anticancer, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant effects of LAB isolated from camel milk in Mashhad on liver cancer cells and their influence on BAX and BCL-2 gene expression.

The antiviral drug Paxlovid has been approved for the treatment of COVID-19 in adult patients. This study aimed to investigate the potential effects of Paxlovid administration on liver morphogenesis in rat embryos.

Pregnant rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10 per group): a control group (vehicle), experimental group one (Paxlovid 60 and 100 mg/kg), experimental group two (Paxlovid 200 and 300 mg/kg), and experimental group three (Paxlovid 1000 mg/kg). The Animals were treated daily via oral gavage. Maternal body weight was recorded on gestational days seven, 14, and 21. On gestational day 17, blood samples were collected from five animals in each group at five different time points. Paxlovid concentrations in the serum samples were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography.

The results showed no structural changes in liver tissue. However, the maternal body weight on day 21 of pregnancy was significantly lower in experimental group one compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Fetal weight in all three experimental groups was significantly reduced compared with the control group. In addition, crown–rump length and abdominal circumference in experimental groups one and two were significantly decreased compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Measurement of systemic drug concentration indicated that experimental group two had the highest level of drug absorption, while experimental group three showed the lowest absorption.

Overall, our findings indicate that although Paxlovid, at the investigated doses, may affect maternal weight and fetal growth parameters, it does not induce morphological or histological abnormalities in the fetal rat liver.

Phenylketonuria is among the most common inherited metabolic disorders and, if not diagnosed and treated promptly, can result in severe disability. Since 2006, neonatal screening for Phenylketonuria has been implemented in Iran. This study aimed to investigate the demographic, clinical, and paraclinical characteristics of children with PKU in West Azerbaijan Province.

This descriptive cross-sectional study included all children diagnosed with Phenylketonuria through the national newborn screening program between 2012 and 2021. Data on demographic, paraclinical, anthropometric, and neurological features were collected using a researcher-designed checklist and analyzed with SPSS version 21.

Of 130 identified cases, data from 46 children were analyzed. The mean age was 76.6 months, and 56.5% of the participants were female. A family history of Phenylketonuria was reported in 4.3% of cases, while 33.1% were born to consanguineous parents. Good dietary adherence was observed in 69.6% of patients. The mean phenylalanine level was 5.8 ± 4.2 mg/dL, with 41.3% exceeding the normal range. Anemia was present in 17.4% of cases, elevated AST in 15.2%, and ferritin deficiency in 4.3%. No patients exhibited motor or speech delay or seizures.

Although the national screening program has facilitated early diagnosis, challenges persist in maintaining optimal phenylalanine levels and ensuring dietary adherence in some patients. Continuous follow-up, family education, and careful monitoring of nutritional and biochemical status are critical to preventing complications.

Poisoning is one of the common causes of visits to emergency departments. Opioids and methadone are among the leading causes of unintentional poisoning, particularly in children, leading to a high burden of pediatric emergency admissions. This study was conducted to evaluate methadone poisoning, clinical manifestations, and laboratory findings.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed using a census approach on the medical records of 107 children hospitalized due to methadone poisoning at Shahid Motahari Educational and Medical Center, Urmia, between 2019 and 2024. Data were collected using a checklist including demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, and laboratory findings. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26 through descriptive statistics and frequency distribution (absolute and percentage).

The mean age of the patients was 41 ± 52 months, with 62.6% falling within the age range of 13–59 months. A total of 59.8% were presented within less than 12 hours, 57% were boys, 81.3% of poisonings were accidental, and 64.5% were poisoned with methadone syrup. Clinical symptoms included miosis in 72.9%, decreased level of consciousness in 78.5%, seizures in 2.8%, respiratory arrest in 10.3%, intubation in 8.4%, and death in one case (0.9%). Laboratory findings showed metabolic acidosis in 35.5%, anemia in 59.8%, hyperglycemia in 43%, and positive urinary methadone in 71%. Naloxone was administered in 95.7% of patients.

Parental education on preventing accidental methadone ingestion, timely referral to medical centers in case of poisoning symptoms, and training provided by addiction treatment centers on safe storage of methadone are effective strategies in reducing methadone poisoning among children.