Lack of Adverse Effects of Cold Physical Plasma-Treated Blood from Leukemia Patients: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common blood malignancy with multiple therapeutic challenges. Cold physical plasma has been considered a promising approach in cancer therapy in recent years. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of cold plasma or plasma-treated solutions (PTS) on hematologic parameters in the whole blood of CLL patients. The mean red blood cell count, white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet and hemoglobin counts, and peripheral blood smear images did not significantly differ between treated and untreated samples in either CLL or healthy individuals. However, both direct plasma and indirect PTS treatment increased lipid peroxidation and RNS deposition in the whole blood of CLL patients and in healthy subjects. In addition, the metabolic activity of WBCs was decreased with 120 s of cold plasma or PTS treatment after 24 h and 48 h. However, cold plasma and PTS treatment did not affect the prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, nor hemolysis in either CLL patients or in healthy individuals. The present study identifies the components of cold plasma to reach the blood without disturbing the basic parameters important in hematology, confirming the idea that the effect of cold plasma may not be limited to solid tumors and possibly extends to hematological disorders. Further cellular and molecular studies are needed to determine which cells in CLL patients are targeted by cold plasma or PTS

A validity and reliability evaluation of fear of progression questionnaire in Iranian breast cancer patients: A methodological study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Recognizing the ability to adapt coping mechanisms in response to the unique issues present in various Iranian societies underscores the importance of considering culture and religion when interacting with diverse groups of individuals. The objective of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of the fear of progression questionnaire-short form (FoP-Q-SF) in Iranian breast cancer patients. METHODS: In this methodological cross-sectional research design, 400 Iranian breast cancer patients completed the FoP-Q-SF in 2023. We assessed the characteristics, content, and both exploratory and confirmatory construct validity of the measures. To evaluate the reliability and construct validity of the FoP-Q-SF, we calculated Cronbachs α, McDonalds omega, and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 49.18 (standard deviation = 16.14) years. The results of exploratory factor analysis revealed that a single-factor structure, specifically the self-efficacy scale, accounted for 65.045% of the total variance. The findings from the confirmatory factor analysis indicated a satisfactory model fit. The reliability analysis indicated that the internal consistency and stability of the measures were acceptable. CONCLUSION: The short Persian version of the FoP-Q-SF exhibits satisfactory validity and reliability. Thus, we recommend using this questionnaire to assess the fear of disease progression among breast cancer patients in Iran

Nationwide Prevalence of Diabetes and Prediabetes and Associated Risk Factors Among Iranian Adults: Analysis of Data from PERSIAN Cohort Study

Introduction Over the past decades prevalence of diabetes has increased in Iran and other countries. This study aimed to update the prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in Iran and to determine associated sociodemographic risk factors, as well as diabetes awareness and control. Methods This is a nationally representative cross-sectional survey that included 163,770 Iranian adults aged 35-70 years, from different ethnic backgrounds, between 2014 and 2020. Diabetes was diagnosed at fasting blood sugar of >= 6.99 mmol/L (126 mg/dL), or receiving blood glucose-lowering treatment. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to detect determinants associated with prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes, as well as predictors of diabetes awareness and glycemic control. Results Sex- and age-standardized prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes was 15.0% (95% CI 12.6-17.3) and 25.4% (18.6-32.1), respectively. Among patients with diabetes, 79.6% (76.2-82.9) were aware of their diabetes. Glycemic control was achieved in 41.2% (37.5-44.8) of patients who received treatment. Older age, obesity, high waist to hip ratio (WHR), and specific ethnic background were associated with a significant risk of diabetes and prediabetes. Higher awareness of diabetes was observed in older patients, married individuals, those with high WHR, and individuals with high wealth score. Moreover, glycemic control was significantly better in women, obese individuals, those with high physical activity, educational attainment, and specific ethnic background. Conclusions The prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes is increasing at an alarming rate in Iranian adults. High proportion of uncontrolled patients require particular initiatives to be integrated in the health care system

A Case Report of Small Cell Lung Carcinoma in a Patient with Progressive Diffuse Sclerosis

Connective tissue diseases, including scleroderma, may be associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. The most common type of lung cancer associated with systemic sclerosis is adenocarcinoma or bronchoalveolar carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma is rare. This reports presents a 54-year-old non-smoker woman with a history of scleroderma who was examined due to aggravation of shortness of breath and cough for the last two months. On radiography and CT scan, a mass was seen in the sub pleural area of the upper right lobe of the right lung, and pathological examination showed small cell carcinoma of the lung. Small cell carcinoma is very rare in non-smokers, therefore, it may be associated with interstitial lung tissue disease in scleroderma

Factors Affecting Quality of Emergency Service in Iran’s Military Hospitals: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Quality is a key factor for the success of any organization. Moreover, accessing quality in the emergency department is highly significant due to the sensitive and complex role of this department in hospitals as well as the healthcare and medical treatment system. This study aimed to identify, from the perspective of medical experts and nurses serving in the military health and medical treatment system, the factors that affect the quality of emergency service provided in selected military hospitals in Iran. Methods: This qualitative research was performed in Valiaser Hospital of Tehran (Iran) in 2015, using the framework analysis method. The purposive sampling technique was used for data collection. A total of 14 participants included two emergency medicine specialists, four general physicians, two senior nurses (holding M.Sc. degrees), and six nurses (holding B.Sc. degree). Data were collected through semistructured interviews. Sampling continued until data saturation occurred. The Atlas/Ti software was employed for data analysis. Results: Four basic themes emerged as the effective factors on the quality of emergency services, namely, structural themes, process/performance themes, outcome themes, and environmental/contextual themes. Moreover, through a framework analysis, 47 subthemes were specified and summarized as indicators of the different aspects of the main themes. Conclusion: The factors affecting the quality of emergency services in Iran’s selected military hospitals are especially complicated due to the diversity of the missions involved; thus, different factors can influence this quality. Therefore, an effort should be made to tackle the existing obstacles, facilitate the identification of these effective factors, and promotion of the quality of healthcare service

Investigating the Relationship between CBC Indices and Anthropometric Indices in the Tabari Cohort Population

Background and purpose: Being Overweight is a global health problem and is related to important underlying diseases such as cardiovascular disease, malignancy, diabetes, fatty liver, etc. Over the past three decades, obesity has increased globally, especially in low-and middle-income countries. Numerous studies have shown that obesity increases the risk of developing chronic and threatening diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, blood pressure, and reduces life expectancy. On the other hand, chronic inflammation around fat cells plays an important role in obesity-related diseases. Also, changes in blood parameters are associated with increased body mass and chronic inflammation in obesity, and peripheral blood cells, such as the number of platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes, are related to the progression of various types of diseases and inflammatory conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find the relationship between blood count biomarkers and anthropometric indicators in the adult group according to the Tabari cohort data. Materials and methods In the present study, cross-sectional data from a population-based cohort study called "Tabari Cohort Study" collected from 2014 to 2016 were used. This study is part of a nationwide study called "Epidemiological Prospective Study Group in Iran (Persian Cohort)". In the first phase of the Tabari cohort study, 10,255 participants aged between 35-70 years from urban and rural areas of Sari city were registered. Exclusion criteria in this study were inflammatory diseases, autoimmunity, malignancy, cardiovascular diseases, transplantation, and receiving any type of immunosuppressive drug, and finally 9939 people including 4043 men and 5896 women were included in the study. Age, height, weight, anthropometric measurements (BMI, waist circumference), CBC parameters including leukocytes, platelets, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes), and platelet distribution width (PDW) were recorded from the participants. By using the histogram drawing method to check whether the variables follow the normal distribution to decide between parametric or non-parametric analysis, T-test and ANOVA statistical tests, and SPSS 21 software, the results were extracted. The significance level in this study was considered to be 0.05 or less. Results: Waist-to-hip ratio was associated with higher WBC (P<0.001), platelet (P<0.001), and lymphocyte percentage (P<0.001). Higher waist-to-hip ratio was associated with higher WBC (P<0.001), platelet (P<0.001), lymphocyte percentage (P<0.001), and monocyte percentage (P<0.001). Higher BMI values were associated with higher WBC (P<0.001), platelet (P<0.001), lymphocyte (P<0.001) and monocyte (P<0.001) percentages. WBC, platelet, lymphocyte, and monocyte percentage were significantly higher in people who had a higher ratio of waist circumference to height (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results showed that the relationship between anthropometric indicators and blood findings in favor of inflammatory conditions and obesity can affect indicators related to whole blood count

Investigating the Rate of Anemia Caused by Chemotherapy in Patients with Solid Tumor

Background and purpose: Anemia in cancer patients and following chemotherapy in affected patients is one of the factors affecting the health status and even the survival of patients, which should be evaluated. Considering the significant prevalence of cancer in Mazandaran province, this study was conducted to determine the incidence of anemia caused by chemotherapy and determine some factors related to it in patients with solid tumors in Imam Sari Hospital. Materials and methods: The current research is a cross-sectional study. The samples were selected from patients with solid tumors who were referred to the chemotherapy centers of Imam Sari Hospital in 2021 and 2022. The convenience sampling method was used. The inclusion criteria were patients over 18 years of age with solid tumors and the exclusion criteria were history of receiving blood in the last three months, radiotherapy, and anemia requiring treatment at the beginning of the study. CBC results of patients before and after chemotherapy cycles were recorded, and anemia was determined based on hemoglobin values. According to hemoglobin, the patients were classified into 4 categories: normal, mild anemia, moderate anemia, and severe anemia. Also, a decrease in hemoglobin (2 units or more) in the intervals between chemotherapy cycles was considered chemotherapy-induced anemia. In addition, information such as age, gender, type of cancer, and the type of chemotherapy regimen received were also recorded. Results: The total number of people who entered the study was 146, and the number of males was 91 (62.3%). The mean±standard deviation of the age of the participants was 56.8±12.7 years. Breast tumors in 56 people (38.4%), stomach in 48 people (32.9%), colorectal in 18 people (12.3%), and lung in 7 people (4.8%) were more than others. 51 people (34.9%) had Platinum-based chemotherapy, at first 39 people (26.7%) had normal hemoglobin, 80 people (54.8%) had mild anemia and 27 people (18.5%) had moderate anemia. 51.8% of patients with breast tumors, 22.2% of genitourinary tumors, and 8.8% of patients with gastrointestinal tumors had normal hemoglobin at the beginning of the study. The frequency of moderate anemia increased from 18.5% before chemotherapy to 36.1% after the third cycle of chemotherapy and 1.4 to 2.7% of patients developed severe anemia after different cycles of chemotherapy. 23 people (15.8 percent) of the examined patients had 2 or more units of hemoglobin drop after the first stage of chemotherapy, which happened in 10 people after the second stage (8.8 percent) and after the third cycle in 1 person (1.8 percent), it was observed. There was no significant relationship between 2 units or more hemoglobin drop with gender, age, tumor type, and type of chemotherapy regimen after the first cycle of chemotherapy (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that there was mild anemia in a large number of cancer patients, which increased after the first cycle of chemotherapy. Age, sex, type of tumor, and type of chemotherapy regimen had no significant relationship with hemoglobin drop in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Association between COVID-19 Infection and ABO Blood Types in Mazandaran Province, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and purpose: The association between ABO blood types and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been investigated in several studies but there are inconsistencies in results. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between ABO blood types and COVID-19 infection based on serologic results. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional seroepidemiologic study was carried out in 1504 people living in Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Blood samples were drawn to determine blood groups. Also, IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by ELISA. Data analysis was done using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses in SPSS V25. Results: The frequency of IgG positive among blood groups A, B, AB, and O was 12.7%, 11.8%, 9.4%, and 9.6%, respectively. After adjusting for suspicious confounding factors, the odds ratio of COVID-19 infection was 1.19 (95% CI:0.85-1.67) in blood group A, 1.33 (95% CI:0.94-1.87) in blood group B, 0.82 (95% CI:0.44-1.55) in blood group AB, and 0.70 (CI 95%:0.50-0.98) in blood group O based on serologic results (IgG+/IgM+). Conclusion: The odds ratio for COVID-19 was significantly lower (30%) in blood group O compared to other blood groups, so blood group O can be considered as a protective factor against COVID-19