Comparison of Lidocaine-triamcinolone Injection with and without Magnesium Sulfate in Ankle Joint Osteoarthritis

Background: Currently available pharmacological therapies for osteoarthritis mainly target palliation of pain and include analgesics, intra-articular therapy, and topical treatment. We aimed to evaluate the effect of the concomitant use of magnesium sulfate in addition to a combination of triamcinolone and lidocaine. Methods: To evaluate the changes in pain factor levels, sixty patients with ankle osteoarthritis were randomly divided into two control (Triamcinolone + Lidocaine) and intervention (Triamcinolone + Lidocaine + Magnesium sulfate) groups (n= 30, each group). In both groups, patients were injected with 80 mg triamcinolone and 0.5 cc of 2% lidocaine, while in the intervention group, 500 mg of magnesium sulfate was added to the injecting solution, and in the control group, an equivalent volume of 0.9% normal saline was added to the injecting solution. Patients were monitored after one week and one month and each completed the visual analog scale (VAS) and American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) pain score questionnaires in addition to their demographic characteristics. The results were evaluated based on the design of the questionnaire and data were analyzed employing SPSS software, version 21, and using independent ttest. Results: AOFAS and VAS scores were significantly different between the intervention and control groups within one week after treatment (p value= 0.018) but AOFAS and VAS scores after one month were not significantly different. Conclusion: Using magnesium sulfate was effective in controlling the pain caused by ankle osteoarthritis at short intervals

Evaluation of a novel SARS‐CoV‐2 rapid antigenic test diagnostic value in respiratory samples; is the reported test accuracy similar to values in the real‐world? A cross‐sectional study

Abstract Background and Aims Although reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay was introduced as the gold standard to detect SARS‐CoV‐2, the method was known to be time‐consuming besides the requirement for an equipped laboratory. This survey aims to investigate a novel SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen test as a diagnostic tool in COVID‐19 patients to overcome these limitations in addition to evaluating COVID‐19 population characteristics. Methods A retrospective cross‐sectional study was carried out during the first semester of 2021, and about 1070 nasopharyngeal samples were collected to compare the E‐Health Barakat Company SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen rapid test results with RT‐PCR reports as the reference method. Results Totally 537 participants were included in this study for employing RT‐PCR and the antigen test sequentially. The novel antigen rapid test sensitivity is considered 21.09% in the real world, though 81% in the manufacturer's instruction has been mentioned. Moreover, the most revealed manifestations were found respiratory symptoms and fatigue sensations. Conclusion This study is the first one on evaluating the SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen test in our country. Although the novel antigen assay was found quick and easy to perform, the test performance was very disappointing. The extensive false‐negative results made it an inappropriate candidate for mass screening

The effect of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes on the prostate, bladder, and renal cancer cell lines

Abstract We aimed to explain the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-exosomes) on gene expressions of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Four different cell lines were employed, including ACHN, 5637, LNCaP, and PC3, as well-known representatives for renal, bladder, hormone-sensitive, and hormone-refractory prostate cancers, respectively. Cell lines were exposed to diverse concentrations of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes to find IC50 values. Percentages of apoptotic cells were evaluated by Annexin/P.I. staining. Micro Culture Tetrazolium Test assessed proliferative inhibitory effect; and prostate biomarker (KLK2), EMT (E-cadherin and Snail), angiogenesis genes (VEGF-A/VEGF-C), apoptosis genes (BAX/BCL2, P53) and Osteopontin variants (OPNa/b, and c) mRNA levels were studied by realtime PCR method. All 5637, LNCaP, and PC3 following treatment with exosomes illustrated specific responses with changes in expression of different genes. The increased TP53 and decreased BCL2 expressions were seen in 5637, LNCaP, and PC3. In PC3, OPNb and OPNc have raised more than P53; in LNCap, the increase was in VEGF-c. In 5637 cells, more than TP53 and BCL2 changes, two other genes, VEGFa and B.A.X., have decreased, suggesting exosomes’ anti-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic effects. The kidney tumor cell line saw no significant gene expression change in ten targeted genes. MSC-exosomes therapy has augmented some interesting antitumor effects on prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer cell lines. This effect which originates from exosomes’ potency to persuade apoptosis and prevent the proliferation of cancer cells simultaneously, was more substantial in bladder cancer, moderate in prostate cancer, and mild in renal cancer