Sexual Function in Women with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory disease of central nervous system (CNS) and sexual dysfunction (SD) is one of the most common disabilities of MS women. The aim of this study was to determine sexual function of women with MS (multiple sclerosis). One hundred definite MS patients MS patients and fifty age-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Demographic data (sex, age), duration of the disease and disease pattern extracted from patient's  files and Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) recorded for each patient by an expert neurologist. Participants were asked to answer the valid and reliable Persian version of Beck depression inventory (BDI) and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaires. The total FSFI score and subscale scores differed significantly between the MS patients and the controls. There was a significant negative correlation between EDSS and FSFI scores (rho=-0.44, P<0.001) and significant positive correlation between EDSS and BDI (rho=0.36, P<0.001) in patients. Mean BDI and all subscales of FSFI differed significantly between patients with total FSFI score higher and lower than 26.55. Sexual dysfunction should be considered in women with multiple sclerosis

Comparison of Sleep Quality in Women with Migraine Moreover, Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and migraine are two common neurological disorders affecting women more than men. Sleep quality impairment has been reported in both diseases. The goal of this study was to compare sleep quality and depression between women with MS and migraine. Seventy women with migraine and 75 women with MS were enrolled in this study. Participants were asked to fill-out valid and reliable Persian versions of Pittsburg Sleep Questionnaire (PSQI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Mean age and duration of disease for MS group was 31.1 ± 7.6, 4.8 ± 5 and for second group 31.4 ± 5.6, 5.2 ± 4 years, respectively. Mean BDI score and number of patients with poor sleep (PSQI ≥5) were significantly higher in patients with migraine. There was significant positive correlation between PSQI and BDI scores in all participants (r=0.32, P<0.001), while correlation coefficient was 0.39, P=0.001 in patients with migraine and 0.35, P=0.002 in MS cases. Multiple linear regression analysis between the PSQI as a dependent variable and age, BDI and education level as independent variables showed that BDI is the independent predictors of PSQI in both groups. This study shows that patients with migraine suffer from poor sleep and depression more frequently than MS cases

Evaluation of radiogallium-labeled, folate-embedded superparamagnetic nanoparticles in fibrosarcoma-bearing mice

Context: Elevated expression of the folate receptor (FR) occurs in many human malignancies. Thus, folate targeting is widely utilized in drug delivery purposes specially using nano-radioactive agents. Aims: In this work, we report production and biological evaluation of gallium-67 labeled superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, embedded by folic acid ( 67 Ga-SPION-folate) complex especially in tumor-bearing mice for tumor imaging studies. Settings and Design: The structure of SPION-folate was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and foureir transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analyses. The radiolabeled SPION-folate formation was confirmed by instant thin layer chromatography (ITLC). Tumor induction was performed by the use of poly-aromatic hydrocarbon injection in rodents as reported previously. Materials and Methods: [ 67 Ga]-SPION-folate was shown to possess a particle size of ≈5-10 nm using instrumental methods followed by ITLC test. Biocompatibility of the compound was investigated using an 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay followed by stability tests and tumor accumulation studies in fibrosarcoma-bearing mice after subcutaneous (s.c.) application. Statistical Analysis Used: All values were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (mean ± SD) and the data were compared using Student t-test. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Results: [ 67 Ga]-SPION-folate was prepared by a modified co-precipitation method possessing a particle size of ≈5-10 nm using instrumental methods (>95% radiochemical purity). Biodistribution studies demonstrated tumor:blood, tumor:bone and tumor:muscle ratios of 4.23, 4.98 and 11.54 respectively after 24 h. Conclusions: Due to the nano-scale size and high-penetrative property of the developed folate-containing nano-complex, this system can be an interesting drug delivery modality with therapeutic applications and folate receptor-targeting behavior, while possessing paramagnetic properties for thermotherapy

The Development and Validation of Radiopharmaceuticals Targeting Bacterial Infection

The International Atomic Energy Agency organized a technical meeting at its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, in 2022 that included 17 experts representing 12 countries, whose research spanned the development and use of radiolabeled agents for imaging infection. The meeting focused largely on bacterial pathogens. The group discussed and evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of several radiopharmaceuticals, as well as the science driving various imaging approaches. The main objective was to understand why few infection-targeted radiotracers are used in clinical practice despite the urgent need to better characterize bacterial infections. This article summarizes the resulting consensus, at least among the included scientists and countries, on the current status of radiopharmaceutical development for infection imaging. Also included are opinions and recommendations regarding current research standards in this area. This and future International Atomic Energy Agency-sponsored collaborations will advance the goal of providing the medical community with innovative, practical tools for the specific image-based diagnosis of infection