A Survey on the Situation of Traditional Iranian Medicine and its History in Iranian Herbal Research

زمینه و هدف: ایران کشوری بزرگ و صاحب تاریخی غنی و ارزشمند است و با شرایط آب ‌و هوایی و ارتفاعی ویژه‌ای که دارد از پوشش گیاهی بی‌مانندی برخوردار است. نقش دانشمندان ایرانی پیش و پس از اسلام در رشد و تحول علم به اندازه‌ای است که حتی دانشمندان و پژوهشگران غربی که می‌کوشند یونان و غرب را مهد تمدن و علم معرفی نمایند، نمی‌توانند آن را انکار کنند. تاریخ پزشکی ایرانی به سده‌های پیش از میلاد برمی‌گردد، حتی به گفته خود دانشمندان نامی غربی تاریخ علم، پزشکی ایرانی از بنیان‌گذاران طب یونانی می‌باشد. بررسی جایگاه پزشکی سنتی ایرانی و تاریخچه آن در پژوهش‌های ایرانی گیاهان دارویی هدف این مقاله است. مواد و روش‌ها: پژوهش‌های ایرانی در زمینه گیاهان دارویی با انجام جستجویی محدود به ایران در منابع علمی معتبر مانند PubMed، Scopus و Wiley استخراج و بررسی شدند. یافته‌ها: اگرچه تلاش‌های ارزشمندی در زمینه معرفی تاریخچه پزشکی سنتی ایرانی، دانشمندان ایرانی و گیاهان دارویی ایران انجام گرفته است، اما به نظر می‌رسد این موضوعات چنانکه باید و شاید مورد توجه جدی قرار نگرفته‌اند. برای نمونه، بانک اطلاعاتی بین‌المللی گیاهان یا گیاهان دارویی ایران وجود ندارد. همچنین کتابی در جستجوی نگارنده یافت نشد که به طور خاص به معرفی گیاهان بوم‌زاد ایران یا گیاهان یک استان پرداخته باشد. نتیجه‌گیری: شناخت پزشکی سنتی ایرانی و معرفی درخور آن به شکل یک پزشکی مستقل به جامعه بین‌المللی نیازمند مدیریت و برنامه‌ریزی در سطح ملی و تلاش و توجه دانشمندان و پژوهشگران محترم ایرانی به پیشینه تاریخی پزشکی سنتی ایرانی، شناسایی و معرفی کاربردی گیاهان دارویی بوم‌زاد ایرانی است.Background and Aim: Iran, a great country with a rich valuable history, has a unique herbal coverage for its special climate. Iranian scientists had a great role in the development of science before and after the advent of Islam such that even Western scientists and researchers in their efforts to introduce Greece and Western world as the cradle of civilization and science could not disregard the great role of Iranian scientists. Persian medicine dates back to many centuries before Christ and based on western documents of the history of science, it is of founders of Greek medicine. Investigation of the situation of traditional Iranian medicine and its history in the Iranian herbal research is the aim of present article. Materials and Methods: Some sources on the scientific history of Iran were studied. Valid scientific data sourced such as PubMed, Scopus and Wiley were also searched limited to Iran. All Iranian herbal research were collected and reviewed. Findings: Although some noteworthy efforts have been made to introduce the history of Persian traditional medicine and Iranian herbal medicine, it seems that these issues have not been adequately respected. For instance, there is no international and Iranian data bank for the vegetation or herbal medicines of Iran. Furthermore, it hasn’t been found any book on endemic plants to Iran or to a province of Iran. Conclusion: The properly recognition and understanding of Iranian traditional medicine as an independent medicine to the international community needs national management and planning, as well as efforts and notions of respected Iranian scientists and researchers to the historical background of Persian medicine and to the identification and introduction of medicinal herbs endemic to Iran. Please cite this article as: Rezaei A. A Survey on the Situation of Traditional Iranian Medicine and its History in Iranian Herbal Research. Med Hist J 2017; 9(32): 71-84

A genetic variant in CDKN2A/2B locus was associated with poor prognosis in patients with 1 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is among the leading causes of cancer related death. Despite extensive efforts in identifying valid cancer prognostic biomarkers, only a very small number of markers have been identified. Several genetic variants in the 9p21 region have been identified that are associated with the risk of multiple cancers. Here, we explored the association of two genetic variants in the 9p21 region, CDKN2A/B, rs10811661 and rs1333049 for the first time in 273 subjects with, or without ESCC. We observed that patients with ESCC had a higher frequency of a TT genotype for rs10811661 than individuals in the control group, and this polymorphism was also associated with tumor size. Moreover, a CC genotype for the rs1333049 polymorphism was associated with a reduced OS of patients with ESCC. In particular, patients with a CC (rs1333049) genotype had a significantly shorter OS (CC genotype: 34.5±8.9 months vs. CG+GG: 47.7±5.9 months; p value= 0.03). We have also shown the association of a novel genetic variant in CDKN2B gene with clinical outcome of ESCC patients. Further investigations are warranted in a larger population to explore the value of emerging markers as a risk stratification marker in ESCC. Key word: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, risk marker, CDKN2A/B, polymorphis

The association between acylcarnitine and amino acids profile and metabolic syndrome and its components in Iranian adults: Data from STEPs 2016

BackgroundEvidence, albeit with conflicting results, has suggested that cardiometabolic risk factors, including obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), dyslipidemia, and hypertension, are highly associated with changes in metabolic signature, especially plasma amino acids and acylcarnitines levels. Here, we aimed to evaluate the association of circulating levels of amino acids and acylcarnitines with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in Iranian adults.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed on 1192 participants from the large–scale cross-sectional study of Surveillance of Risk Factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Iran (STEP 2016). The circulating levels of amino acids and acylcarnitines were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in individuals with MetS (n=529) and without MetS (n=663).ResultsThe higher plasma levels of branched-chain amino acids (Val, Leu), aromatic amino acids (Phe, Tyr), Pro, Ala, Glu, and the ratio of Asp to Asn were significantly associated with MetS, whereas lower circulating levels of Gly, Ser, His, Asn, and citrulline were significantly associated with MetS. As for plasma levels of free carnitine and acylcarnitines, higher levels of short-chain acylcarnitines (C2, C3, C4DC), free carnitine (C0), and long-chain acylcarnitines (C16, C18OH) were significantly associated with MetS. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that factor 3 (Tyr, Leu, Val, Met, Trp, Phe, Thr) [OR:1.165, 95% CI: 1.121-1.210, P<0.001], factor 7 (C0, C3, C4) [OR:1.257, 95% CI: 1.150-1.374, P<0.001], factor 8 (Gly, Ser) [OR:0.718, 95% CI: 0.651-0.793, P< 0.001], factor 9 (Ala, Pro, C4DC) [OR:1.883, 95% CI: 1.669-2.124, P<0.001], factor 10 (Glu, Asp, C18:2OH) [OR:1.132, 95% CI: 1.032-1.242, P= 0.009], factor 11 (citrulline, ornithine) [OR:0.862, 95% CI: 0.778-0.955, P= 0.004] and 13 (C18OH, C18:1 OH) [OR: 1.242, 95% CI: 1.042-1.480, P= 0.016] were independently correlated with metabolic syndrome.ConclusionChange in amino acid, and acylcarnitines profiles were seen in patients with MetS. Moreover, the alteration in the circulating levels of amino acids and acylcarnitines is along with an increase in MetS component number. It also seems that amino acid and acylcarnitines profiles can provide valuable information on evaluating and monitoring MetS risk. However, further studies are needed to establish this concept

Metabolomics profile and 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score

BackgroundThe intermediate metabolites associated with the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remain largely unknown. Thus, we conducted a large panel of metabolomics profiling to identify the new candidate metabolites that were associated with 10-year ASCVD risk.MethodsThirty acylcarnitines and twenty amino acids were measured in the fasting plasma of 1,102 randomly selected individuals using a targeted FIA-MS/MS approach. The 10-year ASCVD risk score was calculated based on 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines. Accordingly, the subjects were stratified into four groups: low-risk (n = 620), borderline-risk (n = 110), intermediate-risk (n = 225), and high-risk (n = 147). 10 factors comprising collinear metabolites were extracted from principal component analysis.ResultsC4DC, C8:1, C16OH, citrulline, histidine, alanine, threonine, glycine, glutamine, tryptophan, phenylalanine, glutamic acid, arginine, and aspartic acid were significantly associated with the 10-year ASCVD risk score (p-values ≤ 0.044). The high-risk group had higher odds of factor 1 (12 long-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.103), factor 2 (5 medium-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.063), factor 3 (methionine, leucine, valine, tryptophan, tyrosine, phenylalanine, OR = 1.074), factor 5 (6 short-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.205), factor 6 (5 short-chain acylcarnitines, OR = 1.229), factor 7 (alanine, proline, OR = 1.343), factor 8 (C18:2OH, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, OR = 1.188), and factor 10 (ornithine, citrulline, OR = 1.570) compared to the low-risk ones; the odds of factor 9 (glycine, serine, threonine, OR = 0.741), however, were lower in the high-risk group. “D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism”, “phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis”, and “valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis” were metabolic pathways having the highest association with borderline/intermediate/high ASCVD events, respectively.ConclusionsAbundant metabolites were found to be associated with ASCVD events in this study. Utilization of this metabolic panel could be a promising strategy for early detection and prevention of ASCVD events

Biochemical Responses of Two Soybean (Glycine max) Varieties to Aluminum Stress in Nutrient Solution

Aluminum toxicity is the most widespread form of metal toxicity to plants in soil acids, initially causing inhibition of root elongation and blocks absorption of water and nutrients. According to this fact that soybean has been widely used in industry, this study investigated the effects of aluminum toxicity on biochemical factors in two varieties of Williams and Katoul of soybean plant. The study was carried out in a randomized design with aluminium (0, 200, 500, 700 µM) treatments and four replications in hydroponic culture. Results of biochemical tests showed that aluminum reduced the content of photosynthetic pigments, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and reduced sugars in both cultivars of soybean. The proline content decreased with increasing aluminum in var. williams, but at var. katoul increased. It seems that G. max var. katoul suffers less than var. Williams. As regards, proline accumulation under Al stress to be generally higher in G. max var. katoul; hence, these results suggest that var. katoul is more resistant than var. Williams

AMELX and ENAM Polymorphisms and Dental Caries

Introduction. The variety of the genetic factors playing role in development of dental caries calls for further research in this regard. The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences between caries-free adults and adults with dental caries in terms of polymorphism of caries-related genes (AMELX and ENAM). Methods. The present case-control study was performed on 81 adults aged 18–24 years, 41 caries free, and 40 with a DMFT ≥ 4. A questionnaire containing background and demographic information (such as age, gender, time and type of latest dental check-ups, parent’s education, oral self-care, and the place of residence in the first 12 years of life) was completed by participants at the time of examination. The blood sample was taken from each participant in the EDTA tube, and PCR was performed. Gene diversity of AMELX and ENAM genes was compared between the two groups. Results. Regarding AMELX gene, in the caries-free group 33 (80.5%) and in the group with DMFT ≥ 4, 33 (82.5%) students had TT genotype, but this difference was insignificant. For ENAM gene, in the caries-free group 34 (82.9%) and in the group with DMFT ≥ 4, 39 (97.5%) students had TT genotype, but this difference was insignificant (P value = 0.048, CI 95%:0.02–1.27, and OR = 0.145). Conclusion. There was no relationship between TT and TC genotypes of single nucleotide polymorphism of AMELX and ENAM gene and susceptibility to dental caries, but with increasing sample size, there may be a relationship between SNP of ENAM gene and being caries free

Adjuvant Effects of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Flagellin on the Immunological Patterns of the HIV-1 Vaccine Candidate: Vaccine Formulations Versus Different Routes of Immunization

New strategies to increase the immune response to HIV-1 vaccine using immunological adjuvants such as Toll-like receptor agonists are needed. In this study, HIV-1 p24-Nef and conjugated form of the vaccine candidate to type-A flagellin (FLA) were injected in the BALB/c mice in different routes. Two weeks after the last immunization, lymphocyte proliferation was measured by the BrdU method. The IL-4 and IFN-gamma levels, as well as the total IgG antibody and its isotypes titer, were evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The IFN-gamma ELISPOT was also performed. Our data showed that the HIV-1 p24-Nef alone and conjugated to type-A flagellin (FLA) significantly increased lymphocyte proliferation responses as well as higher levels of cytokines and IFN-gamma producing lymphocytes and the level of humoral immune responses compared with the control groups. The cell-mediated immune responses through the subcutaneous route and humoral immune responses through the intramuscular route were significantly higher in the conjugated form than in the mere vaccine candidate. In conclusion, when the FLA as an adjuvant is constructed in the HIV-1 vaccine candidate, it could effectively improve both humoral and cellular immune responses. Furthermore, modification in the vaccine formulation could change the optimal route of vaccine inoculation

Encapsulation of Curcumin in Diblock Copolymer Micelles for Cancer Therapy

Application of nanoparticles has recently promising results for water insoluble agents like curcumin. In this study, we synthesized polymeric nanoparticle-curcumin (PNPC) and then showed its efficiency, drug loading, stability, and safety. Therapeutic effects of PNPC were also assessed on two cell lines and in an animal model of breast cancer. PNPC remarkably suppressed mammary and hepatocellular carcinoma cells proliferation (P<0.05). Under the dosing procedure, PNPC was safe at 31.25 mg/kg and lower doses. Higher doses demonstrated minimal hepatocellular and renal toxicity in paraclinical and histopathological examinations. Tumor take rate in PNPC-treated group was 37.5% compared with 87.5% in control (P<0.05). Average tumor size and weight were significantly lower in PNPC group than control (P<0.05). PNPC increased proapoptotic Bax protein expression (P<0.05). Antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression, however, was lower in PNPC-treated animals than the control ones (P<0.05). In addition, proliferative and angiogenic parameters were statistically decreased in PNPC-treated animals (P<0.05). These results highlight the suppressing role for PNPC in in vitro and in vivo tumor growth models. Our findings provide credible evidence for superior biocompatibility of the polymeric nanocarrier in pharmacological arena together with an excellent tumor-suppressing response

Evaluation of the diabetes care cascade and compliance with WHO global coverage targets in Iran based on STEPS survey 2021

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the diabetes mellitus (DM) and prediabetes epidemiology, care cascade, and compliance with global coverage targets. We recruited the results of the nationally representative Iran STEPS Survey 2021. Diabetes and prediabetes were two main outcomes. Diabetes awareness, treatment coverage, and glycemic control were calculated for all population with diabetes to investigate the care cascade. Four global coverage targets for diabetes developed by the World Health Organization were adopted to assess the DM diagnosis and control status. Among 18,119 participants, the national prevalence of DM and prediabetes were 14.2% (95% confidence interval 13.4–14.9) and 24.8% (23.9–25.7), respectively. The prevalence of DM treatment coverage was 65.0% (62.4–67.7), while the prevalence of good (HbA1C < 7%) glycemic control was 28.0% (25.0–31.0) among all individuals with diabetes. DM diagnosis and statin use statics were close to global targets (73.3% vs 80%, and 50.1% vs 60%); however, good glycemic control and strict blood pressure control statistics, were much way behind the goals (36.7% vs 80%, and 28.5% vs 80%). A major proportion of the Iranian population are affected by DM and prediabetes, and glycemic control is poorly achieved, indicating a sub-optimal care for diabetes and comorbidities like hypertension