Evaluation of expression ratio of HOXB13:IL17BR in patients with breast cancer by qRT-PCR method using SYBR Green dye

Background and aims: Studies have shown that a HOXB13:IL17BR expression ratio index predicts clinical outcome in ER-positive, lymph node-negative breast cancer patients that treated with adjuvant tamoxifen. All of these experiments were conducted with qReal Time RT-PCR using TaqMan probes. The aim of this study was to determine the ratio using SYBR Green I qReal Time RT-PCR. Methods: In this case- control study, expression levels of HOXB13:IL17BR was measured in 40 paired formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded primary breast tumor specimens. After extracting RNA from the tissues, cDNA synthesis and amplification with the polymerase chain reaction to obtain the optimum annealing temperature, the expression levels was measured by SYBR Green I qReal Time RT-PCR. To determine and normalize the expression levels, BestKeeper software was used to obtain the BestKeeper Index using the geometric mean of expression levels of housekeeping genes. Comparison of mean expression of genes between tumoral and non-tumoral tissues was performed by t-test and association between patient grouping (high/low risk) and time for disease free survival was assessed by Fisher`s Exact test. Results: HOXB13:IL17BR expression value did not show significant difference between tumoral and non-tumoral tissues. The results showed that there was a direct and significant association between patient grouping (based on HOXB13:IL17BR ratio) and disease free survival status. Conclusion: Results in the current study showed that in spite of using SYBR Green dye (instead of TaqMan probes), there is still a significant correlation between HOXB13:IL17BR ratio and disease free survival status

Current approaches for combination therapy of cancer: The role of immunogenic cell death

Cell death resistance is a key feature of tumor cells. One of the main anticancer therapies is increasing the susceptibility of cells to death. Cancer cells have developed a capability of tumor immune escape. Hence, restoring the immunogenicity of cancer cells can be suggested as an effective approach against cancer. Accumulating evidence proposes that several anticancer agents provoke the release of danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that are determinants of immunogenicity and stimulate immunogenic cell death (ICD). It has been suggested that ICD inducers are two different types according to their various activities. Here, we review the well-characterized DAMPs and focus on the different types of ICD inducers and recent combination therapies that can augment the immunogenicity of cancer cells

Length-length and Length-weight relationships in Astacus leptodactylus in Bandar Anzali region

Different length - weight relationship in 1000 male and 201 female of freshwater crayfish were studied and it was revealed that the length - length relationship is best described through linear regression, while weight - length relation is best described through a multimodel one. The "r" coefficient was over 90% in all cases. It was also shown that the average length of the females was more than the males, but the average weight of the males was more than the females. The percentage of males and females with total length more than 102 mm were 63.7% and 72.1% respectively

Health literacy and its influencing factors in Iranian diabetic patients

Acknowledgements We would like to present our special thanks to all participants of this study. This study was supported by the Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism (IEM) in Iran University of Medical Sciences.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Study Guides : Effective Tools to Improve Self-Directed Learning Skills of Medical Students

We would like to thank the participants for contribution in this study.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Rapid screening of diabetic polyneuropathy : Selection of accurate symptoms and signs in an outpatient clinical setting

Authors would like to thank Ms. Ameneh Ebrahim Valojerdi for her great help in preparation of this manuscript.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Qualitative Analysis of the Content Found in Online Discussion Boards for Urethral Stricture Disease and Urethroplasty.

ObjectiveTo describe the patient experience and chief concerns with urethroplasty to improve physician understanding and patient education. Online discussion boards allow patients with urethral stricture disease (USD) to connect with other USD patients. It is unknown how men use these web resources and what information is available about urethroplasty.MethodsThree online forums featuring urethroplasty were identified by Google search. Thematic analysis categorized the content of posts using manually applied codes, with inter-rater reliability and descriptive statistics generated by Dedoose (Los Angeles, CA).ResultsA total of 140 unique posters contributed 553 posts to the forums. Posts were categorized as information support (n = 651), issues posturethroplasty (n = 470), own experience preurethroplasty (n = 336), feelings towards other posters (n = 312), what to expect posturethroplasty (n = 265), feelings after urethroplasty (n = 228), and considerations before urethroplasty (n = 134). Experience navigating the healthcare system with USD (n = 141) and weak urine stream (n = 70) were the most frequent preurethroplasty complaints. Postoperative pain (n = 164) was the most frequent issue. Patients expressed more positivity (n = 126) and satisfaction (n = 120) than negativity (n = 33) with urethroplasty.ConclusionPatients participated in online discussions to share experiences with USD and urethroplasty, receive emotional support, and find answers. Men were more often satisfied than not with their urethroplasty outcomes, with 88% of postoperative feelings coded as positive or satisfied compared to negative. This study provides physicians with insight into the experiences of patients and how to best educate them

Attitude and Belief of Healthcare Professionals Towards Effective Obesity Care and Perception of Barriers : An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Funding Information: This work was supported by the Iran University of Medical Sciences.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Evaluation of protective effects of non-selective cannabinoid receptor agonist WIN 55,212-2 against the nitroglycerine-induced acute and chronic animal models of migraine: A mechanistic study

Aim: Migraine is a neurological debilitating disorder. Previous studies have shown that cannabinoid receptor agonists have analgesic effects in various models of pain. In this study, therefore, we investigated anti-nociceptive effects of WIN 55,212-2, and the role of either CB1 or CB2 receptors in nitroglycerine (NTG)-induced animal model of migraine. Methods: The present study was conducted on both male and female rats receiving NTG (10 mg/kg, i.p.) to induce acute (single dose of NTG) and chronic (repetitive doses of NTG) models of migraine. Additionally, three groups received WIN 55,212-2 (0.33, 1, 3 mg/kg, i.p.) 45 min before behavioral tests. Additionally, AM251 and AM630 (CB1 and CB2 receptor antagonist, respectively, 1 mg/kg, i.p.) were used to evaluate the possible involvement of CB1 and CB2 receptors during the protective effects of WIN 55,212-2. Key findings: We found that NTG (10 mg/kg, i.p.) in both acute and chronic models increased sensitivity to pain. In acute model, we found that WIN 55,212-2 (almost high doses) decreases the level of pain mainly through CB1 receptor due to CB1 antagonist abrogates its protective effects, however, in formalin test CB2 receptors also had crucial roles in both phases at 3 mg/kg of WIN 55,212-2. In chronic model, WIN 55,212-2 (0.33, 1 and 3 mg/kg) significantly attenuated NTG-induced hyperalgesia through both CB1 and CB2 receptors. Significance: Our data supported the argument that activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors by WIN 55,212-2 may be considered a new medication for migraine, however in lack of each receptor leads to different responses from deletion to the reduction of analgesic effects. © 2019 Elsevier Inc

Obstetric and perinatal outcomes of singleton pregnancies conceived via assisted reproductive technology complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus : a prospective cohort study

Peer reviewedPublisher PD