Combination effect of cytochrome P450 1A1 gene polymorphisms on uterine leiomyoma: A case-control study

Uterine leiomyoma (UL) is an estrogen-dependent neoplasm of the uterus, and estrogen metabolizing enzymes affect its progression. This study aimed to evaluate the association between two single-nucleotide polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) gene and UL risk. The study consisted of 105 patients with UL and 112 healthy women as controls. Ile462Val (A/G) and Asp449Asp (T/C) polymorphisms of CYP1A1 gene were analyzed by DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods, respectively. The findings indicated no association between Ile462Val (A/G) and Asp449Asp (T/C) polymorphisms of CYP1A1 gene and UL (p < 0.05). However, the combination effect of TT/AG genotypes of the Asp449Asp (T/C) and Ile462Val (A/G) polymorphisms was associated with 4.3-fold higher risk of UL. In addition, haplotype analysis revealed that TG haplotype of the Asp449Asp (T/C) and Ile462Val (A/G) polymorphisms could increase the UL risk nearly 4.9-fold. Asp449Asp (T/C) and Ile462Val (A/G) polymorphisms of CYP1A1 gene were not associated with UL susceptibility; however, the combination of the TT/AG genotypes and TG haplotype could increase the UL risk

Assessment of Effectiveness and Adverse Effect of New Combination Chemotherapy (irinotecan, cisplatin, and dexamethasone) in Relapse and Refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma

Background: Chemotherapy with adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD regimen) cannot cure all patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and adverse effect of a new regimen consist irinotecan, cisplatin, and dexamethasone (ICD) in relapsed and refractory Hodgkin lymphoma as the second to fifth line of treatment. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study in 26 relapsed or refractory patients with Hodgkin lymphoma receiving at least the first-line chemotherapy regimen (ABVD) and (ICD) as salvage therapy in Thaleghany Hospital from 2012 to 2018. This regimen consisted of irinotecan 65mg/m2 D1, D8, cisplatin 30mg/m2 D1, D8, and dexamethasone 40mg D1, 2, 8, and 9 was administered every 3 weeks for 6 cycles.  Treatment was discontinued in cases of disease progression or severe toxicity. Response to treatment was evaluated after two cycles. Patients with complete and partial remission were candidate high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Twenty-four patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of 22 patients was 31.5 (19-67) years. Seven patients (29.1%) were in the first recurrence, and 17 (70.8%) were in the second or subsequent recurrence. Results: According to this study, three patients (12.5%) had complete response, 13 (45%) had partial response, four (16.6%) had stable disease, and four (16.6%) had progressive disease. Nine patients (37.5%) received high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell support after ICD regimen. None of the cycles of chemotherapy were delayed due to treatment-related adverse event. Overall survival after six months in all patients was 91%, and mortality rate was 8.3% at the end of the study. Conclusion: The goal of salvage chemotherapy in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin Lymphoma is achieving CR or PR preparation patients for stabilization with BMT. Thus, we recommend ICD as one of the most effective protocols with overall response rate of 66% in this population.  

Synthesis of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on Cu-Fe nano-catalyst substrate

Considering the importance of metal nano catalysts, this research tries to apply sputtered nanoparticles as catalyst for growing carbon nanotubes and studies the effect of metals in modifying the catalytic property. One and bilayer Cu and Fe thin films were placed inside a quartz tube reactor to synthesis carbon nanotubes using acetylene gas as carbon source and argon gas for cooling down the reactor from 850 °C to room temperature. By scanning electron microscope images distribution of diameter of multi walled carbon nanotubes has recorded. The amounts of ID/IG obtained from Raman spectroscopy analysis showed the best quality of carbon nanotubes for Cu-Fe bilayer. Both analyses indicate the improve of catalytic effect of one transition metal by another one. On the other hand, multi walled carbon nanotubes are confirmed by both Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy images. Keywords: Transition metal nano catalyst, TCVD, MWCNT, Raman spectroscop

Prevalence of Sleep Disturbance and Potential Associated Factors among Medical Students from Mashhad, Iran

Study Objectives. A very limited number of studies have evaluated the prevalence of sleep problems, and related factors, in Iranian medical students. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of sleep disturbance and potential associated factors among medical students of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 315 medical students chosen by stratified random sampling participated in the academic year 2018-2019. The Pittsburgh Instrument and DASS-21 questionnaire were used to evaluate sleep quality and anxiety, depression, and stress, respectively. Also, demographic, educational, and socioeconomic information was collected. SPSS 16 software was used for data analysis. Results. Out of 300 students who completed the questionnaires, 165 (55%) were male, with a mean age of 21.94±2.28 years old. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 51.3%. We did not find significant associations among age, sex, and poor sleep quality. Concurrent psychological symptoms such as stress, depression, and anxiety were significantly associated with sleep disorders. After adjusting variables in the multivariable regression model, depression (OR=2.81, 95% CI: 1.35-5.87; p=0.006) and the number of hours spent on using smartphones in 24 hours (OR=1.13, 95% CI: 1.02-1.25; p=0.01) were significantly associated with poor sleep quality among medical students. Conclusion. The prevalence of poor sleep quality among medical students was high, and we found that increased use of smartphones during the day and depression were associated with sleep disorders

Evaluation of HTLV-1 activity in HAM/TSP patients using proviral load and Tax mRNA expression after In Vitro lymphocyte activation

Objective(s):HTLV-1 is the first human retrovirus that has been recognized and is associated with HAM/TSP and ATLL. Studies have shown that less than five percent of HTLV-1 infected carriers develop HAM/TSP or ATLL and about ninety-five percent remain asymptomatic. Therefore, the proviral load with Tax may affect cellular genes such as cytokines and oncogenes, as well as involve in pathogenicity. Materials and Methods:Thirty HAM/TSP patients, thirty HTLV-1 healthy carriers, and MT-2 cell line were evaluated for HTLV-1 activity. PBMCs were isolated and activated using PMA and ionomycine. Real-time PCR and TaqMan methods were performed using specific primers and fluorescence probes for Tax expression and proviral load assessment. Β2microglobulin (β2m) and albumin were used as controls in Tax expression and in proviral load, respectively. Results: An insignificant increase in Tax expression was observed in rest PBMCs of HAM/TSP patients compared to healthy carriers. However, after lymphocyte activation there was a significant increase in Tax expression in HAM/TSP patients (P=0.042). The Proviral load in patients was significantly higher than in carriers. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between Tax mRNA expression in activated PBMCs and proviral load (R=0.37, P=0.012). Conclusion: Although proviral load had been addressed as a valuable index for monitoring HTLV-1 infected subjects, the results of this study demonstrated that Tax expression in activated PBMCs along with proviral load assessment in HAM/TSP patients are a more reliable factor for determining the prognosis and monitoring healthy carriers and HAM/TSP patients

Combination effect of cytochrome P450 1A1 gene polymorphisms on uterine leiomyoma: A case-control study

Uterine leiomyoma (UL) is an estrogen-dependent neoplasm of the uterus, and estrogen metabolizing enzymes affect its progression. This study aimed to evaluate the association between two single-nucleotide polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) gene and UL risk. The study consisted of 105 patients with UL and 112 healthy women as controls. Ile462Val (A/G) and Asp449Asp (T/C) polymorphisms of CYP1A1 gene were analyzed by DNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods, respectively. The findings indicated no association between Ile462Val (A/G) and Asp449Asp (T/C) polymorphisms of CYP1A1 gene and UL (p < 0.05). However, the combination effect of TT/AG genotypes of the Asp449Asp (T/C) and Ile462Val (A/G) polymorphisms was associated with 4.3-fold higher risk of UL. In addition, haplotype analysis revealed that TG haplotype of the Asp449Asp (T/C) and Ile462Val (A/G) polymorphisms could increase the UL risk nearly 4.9-fold. Asp449Asp (T/C) and Ile462Val (A/G) polymorphisms of CYP1A1 gene were not associated with UL susceptibility; however, the combination of the TT/AG genotypes and TG haplotype could increase the UL risk

Rotylenchus castilloi n. sp. (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae), a new species with long stylet from northern Iran

Talezari, Atefeh, Pourjam, Ebrahim, Kheiri, Ahmad, Liébanas, Gracia, Aliramaji, Farzad, Pedram, Majid, Rezaee, Saeed, Atighi, Mohammad Reza (2015): Rotylenchus castilloi n. sp. (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae), a new species with long stylet from northern Iran. Zootaxa 3931 (1): 88-100, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3931.1.

Effects of neurofeedback on the short-term memory and continuous attention of patients with moderate traumatic brain injury: A preliminary randomized controlled clinical trial.

PurposeThere are some studies which showed neurofeedback therapy (NFT) can be effective in clients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) history. However, randomized controlled clinical trials are still needed for evaluation of this treatment as a standard option. This preliminary study was aimed to evaluate the effect of NFT on continuous attention (CA) and short-term memory (STM) of clients with moderate TBI using a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT).MethodsIn this preliminary RCT, seventeen eligible patients with moderate TBI were randomly allocated in two intervention and control groups. All the patients were evaluated for CA and STM using the visual continuous attention test and Wechsler memory scale-4th edition (WMS-IV) test, respectively, both at the time of inclusion to the project and four weeks later. The intervention group participated in 20 sessions of NFT through the first four weeks. Conversely, the control group participated in the same NF sessions from the fifth week to eighth week of the project.ResultsEight subjects in the intervention group and five subjects in the control group completed the study. The mean and standard deviation of participants' age were (26.75&nbsp;±&nbsp;15.16) years and (27.60&nbsp;±&nbsp;8.17) years in experiment and control groups, respectively. All of the subjects were male. No significant improvement was observed in any variables of the visual continuous attention test and WMS-IV test between two groups (p&nbsp;≥&nbsp;0.05).ConclusionBased on our literature review, it seems that our study is the only study performed on the effect of NFT on TBI patients with control group. NFT has no effect on CA and STM in patients with moderate TBI. More RCTs with large sample sizes, more sessions of treatment, longer time of follow-up and different protocols are recommended

Effects of neurofeedback on the short-term memory and continuous attention of patients with moderate traumatic brain injury: A preliminary randomized controlled clinical trial

Purpose: There are some studies which showed neurofeedback therapy (NFT) can be effective in clients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) history. However, randomized controlled clinical trials are still needed for evaluation of this treatment as a standard option. This preliminary study was aimed to evaluate the effect of NFT on continuous attention (CA) and short-term memory (STM) of clients with moderate TBI using a randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT). Methods: In this preliminary RCT, seventeen eligible patients with moderate TBI were randomly allocated in two intervention and control groups. All the patients were evaluated for CA and STM using the visual continuous attention test and Wechsler memory scale-4th edition (WMS-IV) test, respectively, both at the time of inclusion to the project and four weeks later. The intervention group participated in 20 sessions of NFT through the first four weeks. Conversely, the control group participated in the same NF sessions from the fifth week to eighth week of the project. Results: Eight subjects in the intervention group and five subjects in the control group completed the study. The mean and standard deviation of participants' age were (26.75 ± 15.16) years and (27.60 ± 8.17) years in experiment and control groups, respectively. All of the subjects were male. No significant improvement was observed in any variables of the visual continuous attention test and WMS-IV test between two groups (p â¥Â 0.05). Conclusion: Based on our literature review, it seems that our study is the only study performed on the effect of NFT on TBI patients with control group. NFT has no effect on CA and STM in patients with moderate TBI. More RCTs with large sample sizes, more sessions of treatment, longer time of follow-up and different protocols are recommended. Keywords: Neurofeedback, Brain injuries, Attention, Short-term memor