Comparison of the Modulated Effects of Tretinoin and Calcitriol Treated Mesenchymal Stem Cell Supernatant on Macrophage Functions

Background: According to a number of studies, calcitriol and tretinoin are able to regulate differentiation as well as the growth and of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Nevertheless, the relationship between the supernatant of macrophage and mesenchymal stem cells is still under investigation. In the present work, a comparison is made between the modulated impacts of calcitriol and tretinoin treated mesenchymal stem cell supernatant on macrophage functions. Materials and Methods: The isolation of mesenchymal stem cells was done using mouse bone marrow and the various concentrations of calcitriol (200 and 400 nM) and tretinoin (25, 50, and 100 nM) were used to pulse MSCs for 48 h. Macrophages were then applied to co-culture the supernatant of MSCs for 4 hr. Consequently, macrophages were assessed for respiratory burst. Results:  Based on the obtained results, supernatant of bone marrow‐derived MSCs pulsed with calcitriol and tretinoin can have the potential for decreasing the respiratory burst of macrophages considerably in comparison with the control group.  Conclusion: The anti‐inflammatory M2 macrophage polarization can be accelerated using calcitriol and tretinoin by mesenchymal stem cells

Mental Health Status and its Related Factors in Elderly People Residing in Nursing Homes of Mashhad, Iran

Background: Iranian society is facing the phenomenon of aging and attention to this vulnerable group is necessary. The aim of this study was to assess mental health status and its related factors among elderly people living in nursing homes in Mashhad. Methods: This cross- sectional study was conducted in 2015 on 203 over 60 years old elderly people living in Mashhad nursing homes. Data were collected through a demographic information questionnaire and general health questionnaire (GHQ-28). Data analysis was performed through SPSS19 and using Chi-square, Independent t- test, Mann-Whitney and Logistic Regression. Results: The mean of the GHQ-28 score was 27.24±9.94. Based on the GHQ-28 cut off-point, 130 (%64) of the participants had mental health problems. Mental health had a significant relationship with having chronic diseases (P=0.005), the number of their visitings (P=0.03) and somehow with the number of returnings to home (P=0.05). But, there was no significant relation between mental health score and age, gender, marital status, education, number of children, having an independent income or salary and length of stay in nursing homes (P<0.05). Conclusion: The elderly people living in nursing homes of Mashhad do not have a good mental health status. Since having chronic diseases, the number of their visitings and returnings to home are the most important determinants of their mental health, their families and health policy makers should pay more attention to these items

Gingival microleakage in class II composite restorations using different flowable composites as liner: an in vitro evaluation

Introduction: One of the main disadvantages of composites is marginal microleakage; using flowable composites as a liner beneath composite restorations has been recommended to reduce microleakage. The aim of this study was to assess the microleakage of class II restorations with different flowable composites liners. Materials &Methods: 45 extracted premolars teeth with class II cavity preparation (90 cavities) were divided into five groups and filled as follows: 1.control group: hybrid composite (Z250) 2. Z250+surefil SDR flow 3.Z250+filtek supreme xt flow composite 4.Z250+Grandio flow 5.Z250+Tetric flow. Mesial and distal cavities were filled using snowplow and layering technique, respectively. After that, the samples were immersed in 0.5% fuchsin solution and sectioned. Gingival microleakage was then graded. Data were analyzed using Kruskal Wallis and Mann Whitney U test. Results: There was no significant difference between the snowplow and layering methods. Microleakage of Tetric flow and Grandio flow liners was significantly higher than the control group. Other flowable composites showed no significant difference in comparison with the control group. Conclusion: In the present study, the results indicated that the flowable composites were not effective on reducing gingival microleakage

Synergistic effects of Bacillus coagulans and Newcastle disease virus on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell proliferation

Background and Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common type of cancer that has a high death rate and is becoming more common in developed countries. Currently, there are several treatment options available for CRC patients, and clinical trials are being conducted to improve conventional therapies. This study investigates the combined impact of Bacillus coagulans (B.C) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) on the growth of human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT29 cell line). Materials and Methods: The HT29 cell line was cultured under controlled laboratory conditions. They were treated with Fluorouracil (5-FU), NDV, and B.C., after which various assessments were conducted to determine the effects of these treatments. These assessments included MTT assay for cytotoxicity, evaluation of cell viability, and measurement of caspase 8 and 9 activity levels. The significance of the data was determined at a threshold of P<0.05 following analysis. Results: The usage of NDV and B.C significantly increased cell death and reduced cell growth in the HT29 cell line, when compared to the control group. Moreover, the combined application of NDV and B.C along with 5-FU exhibited a synergistic effect in decreasing the proliferation of HT29 cells. Additionally, the results indicated that intrinsic apoptosis pathway was activated by B.C and NDV. Conclusion: It appears that utilizing oncolytic viruses (OV) and bacteria in conjunction with chemotherapy drugs could potentially aid in reducing the growth of colorectal cancer cells. However, further research is necessary, including animal studies, to confirm the efficacy of this treatment method

Antiphospholipid antibodies and COVID-19 mortality and thrombotic events; A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction:Among various proposed pathologic mechanisms during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, overproduction of autoantibodies is not widely studied. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are target proteins that have affinity toward charged phospholipids. APLs are thought to have pro-thrombotic potentials that increase during thromboembolism. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum aPLs level and COVID-19 mortality, severity, and thrombotic events.Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on all open access published articles in Medline, Scopus and Google Scholar. Studies evaluating individuals over the age of 18 years who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and had positive aPLs; and provided data on mortality or thrombotic events were included. Results: Of the initially identified 512 articles, 22 studies (overall 1462 patients) were finally included in the analysis. The prevalence of positive aPLs was 48.1%. Among the 372 patients with positive aPLs, 156 patients (41.9%) had severe COVID-19 that indicated a significant relationship between COVID-19 severity and aPLs positivity (p<0.05). The prevalence of thrombotic events in aPLs positive patients was 26.3% that indicated a significant relationship between aPLs positivity and the development of thrombotic events (p=0.03). APLs positivity was related to anytime mortality in COVID-19 patients (p=0.01).Conclusion: The present review demonstrated that aPLs are linked to COVID-19 severity and thrombotic events but not short-term mortality. Further studies with longer follow up periods are warranted

Epidemiological characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in IRAN: A single center study.

BackgroundAn outbreak of COVID-19 in Iran has spread throughout the country. Identifying the epidemiological characteristics of this disease will help to make appropriate decisions and thus control the epidemic. The aim of this study was characterization of the epidemiological features of COVID-19 in Iran.MethodsIn this retrospective study, data related to the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to Baqiyatallah Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 19 February 2020 to 15 April 2020 have been analyzed and reported. Patient characteristics including age, gender and underlying diseases were investigated. Data were collected through patient records. Sex ratio, Case Fatality Rate (CFR) and daily trend of cases were also determined. A multiple logistic regression analysis was also performed to assess affecting factors on mortality.ResultsFrom February 19, 2020 to April 15, 2020, 12870 patients referred to the hospital emergency department, of which 2968 were hospitalized with COVID-19 diagnosis. The majority of cases were in the age group of 50 to 60 years of old. The male-to-female ratio was 1.93:1. A total of 239 deaths occurred among all cases for an overall CFR of 1.85% based on the total number of patients (both outpatient and inpatient) and 8.06% among hospitalized patients. Out of all patients 10.89% had comorbidity. Diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, chronic Kidney diseases and cancer were the most common comorbidities with 3.81, 2.02 , 1.99 , 1.25, 0.60 and 0.57 %, respectively. Male gender (OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.08-1.96), older age (OR=1.05, 95% CI: 1.04-1.06) and having underlying diseases (OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.04-2.24) were significantly associated with mortality.ConclusionsThe results of this study showed that Male gender, older age and having comorbidities were significantly associated with the risk of death among COVID-19 patients. It is important to pay special attention to male elderly patients with underlying diseases

Mammography in Rural Areas of Iran: A Qualitative Study for Designing a Social Marketing Intervention

Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer leading to death in women. So, early detection and treatment of it is very important and increase the patient survival. Mammography is one of the most effective methods for diagnosis of the breast cancer. We aimed to study for designing a social marketing intervention in rural areas of Bojnourd, Iran to propagate using mammography among women. Method: In this qualitative study, 46 women in four focus group discussions (FGD) discussed their views and ideas about mammography. All discussions were voice-recorded and written by two note takers. Using ATLAS.ti5.2 software, the collected data were analyzed. Results: Five main themes including mammography in general, barriers to doing mammography, appropriate communication methods and channels and opinion leaders for them to do this exam, were extracted. Conclusion: Designing a social marketing-based intervention can be useful for propagation of using mammography among women. Keywords: Breast cancer, Mammography, Qualitative study, Social marketing, Rural wome

Evaluation of aerobic bacterial etiology and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of diabetic foot infections in Rasht, the North or Iran

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are one of the most frequently occurred complications of patients with poor-controlled diabetes mellitus. Diabetic foot infection (DFI) is increasing as a common problem and more than half of DFUs will be eventually infected. Here, we aimed to evaluate aerobic bacterial etiology and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of DFIs. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Razi educational and remedial Hospital in the North of Iran. From March to August, 2020 patients who were diagnosed as diabetic foot ulcer and attended to Razi hospital included in the study. In this study samples were collected from infected areas of diabetic foot ulcers. Standard microbiological methods were used to identify the isolates. The disc diffusion method was used to determine antimicrobial susceptibility on Mueller-Hinton agar following the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations. Thirty-one patients enrolled in this study. They included 17 females (54.8%) and 14 males (45.2%). The mean age of patients was 62.8 years, ranging from 40 to 93 years old. Totally, six types of aerobic bacteria were isolated from patients. The most prevalent type was Escherichia coli (41.9%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (16.1%). The most effective antibiotic against Gram-negative bacteria were aminoglycosides. While, Staphylococcus aureus isolates mostly susceptible to tested antibiotics. Also, none of the isolated S. aureus were methicillin-resistance. The results of antimicrobial sensitivity showed that aminoglycosides might be suitable agents for empirical therapy in Iran. Regular monitoring of culture and sensitivity reports is required to select drugs for empiric treatment