Adjunctive treatment of myxopapillary ependymoma

Myxopapillary ependymoma are rare tumors and optimal therapeutic strategy is remained controversial. The main treatments for myxopapillary ependymoma tumors include surgery and radiotherapy. Hence, the present study aimed to review adjuvant treatment of myxopapillary ependymoma, focusing on spinal myxopapillary ependymoma. The information sources of all articles were the English authoritative databases including PubMed, Web of science, Scopus, Science direct and Google scholar. In this review study, the keywords including adjuvant, treatment, myxopapillary and ependymoma were selected from MeSH medical library. Related articles were published from 2000 to 2020. Given radiation tolerance in the spinal cord is 10-15 lower than that of the brain, it also should be noted that with increased dose and scope of therapeutic field, the corresponding risks are increased, as well. Also, chemotherapy has never been used as the primary treatment approach. Radiotherapy s value is considered while involving with sensitive areas where chemotherapy is also recommended. Gross total resection is the preferred primary treatment. © 2021 Page Press Publications. All rights reserved

Beneficial Endocrine but Adverse Exocrine Effects of Sitagliptin in the Human Islet Amyloid Polypeptide Transgenic Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes: Interactions With Metformin

ObjectiveWe sought to establish the extent and mechanisms by which sitagliptin and metformin singly and in combination modify islet disease progression in human islet amyloid polypeptide transgenic (HIP) rats, a model for type 2 diabetes.Research design and methodsHIP rats were treated with sitagliptin, metformin, sitagliptin plus metformin, or no drug as controls for 12 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, insulin sensitivity, and beta-cell mass, function, and turnover were measured in each group.ResultsSitagliptin plus metformin had synergistic effects to preserve beta-cell mass in HIP rats. Metformin more than sitagliptin inhibited beta-cell apoptosis. Metformin enhanced hepatic insulin sensitivity; sitagliptin enhanced extrahepatic insulin sensitivity with a synergistic effect in combination. beta-Cell function was partially preserved by sitagliptin plus metformin. However, sitagliptin treatment was associated with increased pancreatic ductal turnover, ductal metaplasia, and, in one rat, pancreatitis.ConclusionsThe combination of metformin and sitagliptin had synergistic actions to preserve beta-cell mass and function and enhance insulin sensitivity in the HIP rat model of type 2 diabetes. However, adverse actions of sitagliptin treatment on exocrine pancreas raise concerns that require further evaluation

Microfacies et microfaunes du Permien au Jurassique au Kuh-e Gahkum, Sud-Zagros, Iran

The Permian, Triassic and Jurassic microfacies and Foraminifera of the Kuh-e Gakhum, S-Zagros, Iran are described, and those of the Triassic compared with the microfacies and microfauna of the same interval in the Central Alborz, N-Iran. The taxonomic significance of the enrollment of the Hemigordiopsidae Nikitina, 1969, is discussed and the definition of the genus Hemigordius Schubert, 1908, emended.</p

Assessment of educational needs of patients and their families after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery at discharge and one month later

Introduction:It is necessary to give the essential educations to the patients and their families during hospitalization and after discharge. We conducted this study with objective of determining educational needs of patients undergoing CABG and their families at discharge and one month later. Materials and Methods: This research is a survey study. 60 patients and 60 members of their family who were selected by simple randomization. Data were collected by questionnaire. The questionnaire was prepared in two parts; questions about disease and demographic characteristics and specific educational needs about wound care, activity and rest, drugs, nutrition and other needs of patients and their family. The data were collected in two stages: at discharge and one month later and analyzed with SPSS software. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods (t test, &amp;#61539; test and variance analysis) were used to analyze the data. Results: At discharge, most of the patients and their families had respectively moderate and high levels of educational needs. Both groups had moderate educational needs about rest and activity, drugs use (general educational needs), nutrition and other needs. Patients have low but their families have high educational needs about drugs use (special educational needs). At one month after discharge, most of the patients and their families had moderate educational needs in all of the mentioned categories. The t statistical test didn’t show significant correlation between educational needs at discharge and one month later in patients and families. The &amp;#61539; test showed significant differences between educational needs of the patients and their families (p=0.036) at discharge but didn’t show such a difference one month after discharge (p= 0.558). Results showed a significant relationship between educational needs and level of education. Conclusion: Since most educational needs of the patients and their families concern the uses of drugs and wound care, and also most patients were unable to count their pulse, we suggest nurses pay more attention to these problems and give the essential training to the patients and their families

Evaluation of mRNA Expression Profile of ABCG2/BCRP in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Introduction: Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the main obstacle against treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). ATP-binding cassette transporters function is mentioned as one of the most effective factors on MDR development. Though, there are many evidences on interference of ABCG2/BCRP, one of the outstanding members of this superfamly, in MDR occurrence, the expression effect of this gene on blasts of ALL patients is unknown yet. Methods: In this study, we used Real-Time PCR technique in order to investigate the relative expression of ABCG2/BCRP mRNA in 1-17 year old children with ALL. Peripheral or bone marrow blood samples from 28 new case leukemic and 15 control children were investigated with cooperation of Seyyedo-Shohada hospital in Isfahan,. Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) was evaluated as quality of patient response to chemotherapy. Results: Profile of ABCG2/BCRP mRNA expression did not have any significant difference in new case ALL patients in comparison with control children. On the other hand, comparison of two groups of MRD+ and MRD- patients showed no difference in ABCG2/BCRP expression level. The level of ABCG2 expression was not associated with immunophenotype of ALL or known prognosis factors for this type of leukemia. Conclusion: Results of this study showed no effect of ABCG2/BCRP expression level on MDR development in ALL. Accordingly, clinical value of ABCG2/BCRP expression profile determination was rejected as the prognosis value for childhood ALL in our geographical area

Quantitative expression of phospholipase C zeta, as an index to assess fertilization potential of a semen sample.

BACKGROUND: Failed fertilization post-ICSI has been mainly attributed to the sperm's inability to induce oocyte activation. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) is considered to be one of the factors for the induction of oocyte activation. The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the expression of PLCζ in globozoospermic men or those with previously low or failed fertilization in comparison with fertile men or those with high fertilization potential. In addition, the relationship between expression of PLCζ and that of other sperm markers was evaluated. METHODS: Real-time PCR was carried out to evaluate relative expression of PLCζ mRNA. Chromatin maturity and acrosin activity were assessed by CMA3 staining and a colorimetric method. RESULTS: The expression of PLCζ was significantly lower in globozoospermic men (P&lt; 0.01, n= 8) or individuals with previously low or failed fertilization (P&lt; 0.01, n= 36) in comparison to fertile men (n= 24). In addition, a significant difference was observed between globozoospermic (P&lt; 0.01) and individuals with previously low or failed fertilization (P= 0.003) in comparison to high fertilization individuals (n= 17). Expression of PLCζ was not correlated with either chromatin maturity or acrosin activity. However, a significant correlation was observed between the percentage of fertilization and relative expression of PLCζ (r= 0.4, P&lt; 0.01). CONCLUSION: In this study, for the first time, we have shown that assessment of relative expression of PLCζ may provide a useful marker for the ability of sperm to induce oocyte activation after ICSI

A systematic methodology to estimate added sugar content of foods

© 2015 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved. Background/objectives:The effect of added sugar on health is a topical area of research. However, there is currently no analytical or other method to easily distinguish between added sugars and naturally occurring sugars in foods. This study aimed to develop a systematic methodology to estimate added sugar values on the basis of analytical data and ingredients of foods.Subjects/methods:A 10-step, stepwise protocol was developed, starting with objective measures (six steps) and followed by more subjective estimation (four steps) if insufficient objective data are available. The method developed was applied to an Australian food composition database (AUSNUT2007) as an example.Results:Out of the 3874 foods available in AUSNUT2007, 2977 foods (77%) were assigned an estimated value on the basis of objective measures (steps 1-6), and 897 (23%) were assigned a subjectively estimated value (steps 7-10). Repeatability analysis showed good repeatability for estimated values in this method.Conclusions:We propose that this method can be considered as a standardised approach for the estimation of added sugar content of foods to improve cross-study comparison.Link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Burial History Reconstruction and Thermal Modelling at Kuh-E Mond, SW Iran.

At the Kuh-e Mond anticline (Fars Province, SW Iran) and in nearby offshore structures,large volumes of natural gas are reservoired in the Permian ? Early Triassic DehramGroup while heavy oil has been discovered in the Cretaceous Sarvak and Eocene JahrumFormations. In this paper, we use data from six exploration wells and from nearby surfaceexposures to reconstruct the burial history at Kuh-e Mond. Regional observations showthat the thick sedimentary fill in this part of the Zagros Basin was subjected to intensetectonism during the Zagros Orogeny, with a paroxysmal phase during the late Mioceneand Pliocene. Thermal modelling and geochemical data from Kuh-e Mond and adjacentfields allows possible hydrocarbon generation and migration mechanisms to be identified.Maturities predicted using Lopatin?s TTI model are in accordance with maturities obtainedfrom vitrinite reflectance measurements.We show that formations which have source potential in the nearby Dezful Embayment(including the Pabdeh, Gurpi, Gadvan and Kazhdumi Formations) have not reached theoil window in the Mond wells. Moreover, their organic carbon content is very low as theywere deposited in oxic, shallow-water settings. Underlying units (including the Ordovicianand Cambrian) could have reached the gas window but contain little organic matter.Silurian shales (Sarchahan Formation), which generate gas at Kuh-e Gahkum andKuh-e Faraghan (north of Bandar Abbas) and in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in theMiddle East, are absent from the Mond structure.The absence of source rocks suggests that the gas and heavy oil accumulations at Kuh-eMond and at nearby fields have most probably undergone long-distance lateral migrationfrom distant source kitchens