Ivermectin: An Effective Remedy Against Various Diseases: A Literature Review

Introduction: Ivermectin is a member of avermectins family which was discovered in 1967in Japan. The contribution of this drug to animal and human health was so prominent thatthe researchers who found the drug were awarded a Noble prize in 2015. With the advent ofCOVID-19,lot of interest has shifted more towards ivermectin usage in treating the COVID-19alone or in combination with other medicines as synergism. Since its introduction, ivermectinhas helped to control many parasitic diseases of animals and humans. For many years after itsdiscovery, ivermectin was considered to be only a parasitic agent, but as scientists continue toevaluate this drug, they discover more healing aspects.Materials and Methods: For this review, we searched keywords from international databasesincluding PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Scopus. The keywords were ivermectin,anticancer, anti-inflammation, antibacterial, antivirus, antiparasitic, and mechanism of action.Results: Several studies have shown that ivermectin has a very powerful antiparasitic,antibacterial, and antiviral activity and it can also be used as an anticancer and anti-inflammatoryagent.Conclusion: The collected data showed that ivermectin can be used to control and preventmany pathogenic agents and it can also be repurposed for the treatment of COVID-19

The frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities in idiopathic oligospermia and azoospermia infertile men in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province: a cross-sectional study

Background and aims: Infertility is one of the main health issues in families worldwide. In addition, there is a complex correlation between genetics and infertility and chromosomal abnormalities are found in 8% of infertile males. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities among idiopathic oligospermia and azoospermia infertile men who were treated in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the records of a total of 100 participants were evaluated retrospectively. The patients who were under careful physical and para-clinical (i.e., hormonal, ultrasound, and spermiogeram) examinations were enrolled in the study. Chromosomal analysis was carried out on the cultures of peripheral blood lymphocytes by Giemsa (G) banding. Eventually, 10 well-spread metaphases were analyzed by G-banding. Result: The chromosome abnormality frequency, the numerical type, and the structural type were 13%, 3%, and 10%, respectively. Among patients with azoospermia, two cases had Klinefelter syndrome with karyotype. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that structural abnormalities are more prevalent than numerical abnormalities in infertile men who were treated in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. This indicates the importance of cytogenetic examination and the relevance of its achievements to the patient’s management in infertility clinics. Therefore, the cytogenetic test is proposed for infertile men, in particular in those who endure azoospermia. Keywords: Chromosomal abnormality, Male infertility, Oligospermia, Azoospermi

Kimura's disease with eosinophilic panniculitis - treated with cyclosporine: a case report

Kimura's disease is a rare, benign, slow growing chronic inflammatory swelling with a predilection for the head and neck region and almost always with peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE levels. Here, we report a 25-year-old male patient with asthma, Reynaud phenomenon, eosinophilic panniculitis, bilateral inguinal lymphadenopathy and peripheral blood eosinophilia

Low Anterior and Very Low Anterior Resection in Patients with Rectal Cancer with or without Diverting Colostomy: A Comparison

Introduction: In colorectal cancer surgery, diverting colostomy after low anterior resection (LAR) and very low anterior resection (VLAR) operations is an issue of great significance to the surgeons. This study set out to compare the results of operation in patients with rectal cancer, undergoing VLAR and a type of LAR of the rectum, with or without diverting colostomy. Materials and Methods: 100 patients with rectal cancer undergoing VLAR and LAR, with or without diverting colostomy at a tertiary care hospital (Imam-Hossein Medical Center) were prospectively assessed from March, 2011 to February, 2015. Demographic data, radiotherapy history, and surgery-related data such as duration as well as post-operative complications were collected and analyzed. Results: Of 100 patients, 50 underwent VLAR or LAR without diverting colostomy, and 50 underwent surgical resection with diversion. The age, male to female ratio, and history of radiation were not different in the two groups (P>0.05). The surgery was successful for 47 (94%) patients without diverting colostomy and for 48 patients (96%) with diverting colostomy. The age, gender, history of radiotherapy, and surgery duration did not affect the surgery success rate (P > 0.05), which is fairly significant. The two groups showed no significant difference in surgical outcomes and complications (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Contrary to popular belief, the surgery success rate and complications were not significantly different in the group without diverting colostomy and the group with diverting colostomy. VLAR and LAR without diverting colostomy are recommended. &nbsp

Assessment of Health Literacy and Self-care Behaviors among Patients Discharged from COVID-19 Wards

Introduction: The rapid outbreak of the new COVID-19 virus has become an international health challenge. Confronting the prevalence of this pathogenic virus requires, in the first step, health literacy and self-care on people’s part. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out over three months. A total of 67 patients discharged from a COVID-19 ward were selected randomly. Data were collected using a validated researcher-made questionnaire on health literacy and self-care. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Results: Sixty-seven patients (mean age: 45.32 ± 9.39; age range: 29 - 87) were assessed. The majority were male (64.2%), married (79.1%), illiterate (44.8%), and homemaker or unemployed (37.3%). The overall mean score of health literacy and self-care was moderate. The results of the Pearson correlation test showed a significantly positive association between overall health literacy and its components as well as the total self-care and its components among the patients studied (p <.001). Conclusion: Since self-care increases with health literacy among COVID-19 patients, it demands educational interventions in this area to improve health literacy

Lower expression of miR-218 in human breast cancer is associated with lymph node metastases, higher grades, and poorer prognosis.

Breast cancer is considered as the most prevalent malignancy in women worldwide. Despite emergence of several prognosticators for better management of patients, there are still limitations for their clinical application due to the complexity of breast tumors, and therefore, new biomarkers for better prognosis of clinical outcomes would be of the great essence. MicroRNAs are highly conserved small non-coding regulatory RNAs involved in post-transcriptional regulating of gene expression during different cellular mechanisms. Accumulating studies suggest that miR-218 plays a multifunctional role in various cancer types and different stages. Here, to address prognostic significance of miR-218 in breast cancer, we investigate the expression profile of miR-218 and B-cell-specific Moloney murine leukemia virus integration site 1 ( BMI1) gene, as one of the putative targets of miR-218, in 33 paired breast tumors and their adjacent normal tissues with respect to the clinicopathological features of patients using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The correlation of both miR-218 and BMI1 gene expression with overall survival of breast cancer patients was also examined recruiting OncoLNC data portal. Finally, to better understand biological function of miR-218 in breast cancer, we performed in silico Gene Ontology and signaling pathway enrichment analysis on miR-218 targetome. According to our data, significant elevation of the expression of miR-218 and downregulation of BMI1 were observed in clinical breast cancer specimens compared with normal tissues ( p < 0.0001). The lower expression of miR-218 was associated with lymph node metastases, higher grades, and poorer prognosis (logrank p = 0.00988), whereas no significant difference in overall survival was observed between patients with higher and lower expression of BMI1 (logrank p = 0.254). These findings suggest that miR-218 expression profiling might be clinically applicable as a prognostic biomarker in breast cancer. In addition, our in silico enrichment analyses revealed that the association of miR-218 expression with breast cancer prognosis might be through its involvement in endocytosis and gap junction biological pathways

Melatonin’s Effect in Febrile Seizures and Epilepsy

How to Cite This Article: Mahyar A, Ayazi P, Dalirani R, Gholami N, Daneshi-Kohan MM, Mohammadi N, Ahmadi MM, Sahmani AA. Melatonin’s Effect in Febrile Seizures and Epilepsy Iran J Child Neurol. 2014 Summer;8(3): 24-29. AbstractObjectiveRecognition of risk factors for febrile seizures (FS) and epilepsy is essential. Studies regarding the role of melatonin in these convulsive disorders are limited.This study determines the relationship between serum melatonin levels and FS and epilepsy in children.Materials &amp; MethodsA population of 111 children with simple FS, complex FS, and epilepsy (37 children per group, respectively) were included as case groups. In addition, 37 febrile children without seizures comprised the control group. Serum melatonin levels were measured and compared between all groups.ResultsThe serum melatonin levels in the simple, complex FSs, and epilepsy groups were 2, 2.4, and 2 pg/ml, respectively. The serum melatonin level in the control group was 2.1pg/ml.Moreover, there were no significant differences observed while comparing the case groups.ConclusionThe present study reveals that there is no association between serum melatonin level and simple or complex FS and epilepsy. It appears that melatonin plays no significant role in these convulsive disorders. ReferencesBanerjee TK, Hazra A, Biswas A, Ray Jet al. Neurological disorders in children and adolescents. Indian J Pediatr2009; 76:139-46.Salehi Omran MR, Khalilian E, Mehdipour E, Ghabeli JA. Febrile seizures in North Iranian children: Epidemiology and clinical feature, Journal of Pediatric Neurology2008, 6: 39-43.Shinnar S, O’Dell C. Febrile Seizures, Pediatr Ann 2004, 33: 394-402.Millar JS. The child with febrile seizure, Pediatrics for parents 2006.24:12-14.Fetvei A. Assessment of febrile seizures in children, Eur J Pediatr2008, 167:17-27.Mikati MA. Seizures in Childhood In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, Schor NF, St. Geme III JW, Behrman RE. Nelson textbook of pediatrics. 19th ed. Phila: Saunders, 2011:2013-2039.Camfield PR, Canfield CS. Epilepsy. In: Swaiman KF, Ashwal S, Ferriero DM, editors. Pediatric neurology: principles and practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Mosby, 2006:981-8.Chang BS, Lowenstein DH. Epilepsy, N Eng J Med 2003, 13:1257-1266.Aydin A, Ergor A, Ergor G, Dirik E. The prevalence of epilepsy amongst school children in Izmir, Turkey, Seizure 2002; 11: 392–396.10.Jan MM, Girvin JP. Febrile seizures. Update and controversies. Neurosciences (Riyadh) 2004; 9:235-42.French JA. Febrile seizures: possible outcomes. Neurology2012; 28; 79:e80-2.Guo JF,Yao JF. Serum melatonin levels in children with epilepsy or FS, Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi2009, 11:288-90 (Medline).Reiter RJ. Melatonin: clinical relevance, Best Pract. Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003, 17: 273-285.Seithikurippu R, Perumal P, Trakh I, Srinivasan V, Spence DW, Maestroni GJM, Zisapel N, Cardinali DP. Physiological effects of melatonin Role of melatonin receptors and signal transduction pathways, Prog Neurobiol 85, 2008: 335-353.Ardura J, Andres J, Garmendia JR, Ardura F. Melatonin in epilepsy and FS.J Child Neurol 2010; 25:888-91.Ganesh R, Janakiraman L, Meenakshi B. Serum zinc levels are low in children with simple FS compared with those in children with epileptic seizures and controls.Ann Trop Paediatr 2011; 31:345-9.Bazil CW, Short D, Crispin D, Zheng W. Patients with intractable epilepsy have low melatonin, which increases following seizures. Neurology 2000; 55:1746-8.Yalyn O, Arman F, Erdogan F, Kula M. A comparison of the circadian rhythmsand the levels of melatonin in patients with diurnal and nocturnal complexpartial seizures. Epilepsy Behav 2006;8:542-6.Schapel GJ, Beran RG, Kennaway DL, McLoughney J, Matthews CD. Melatonin response in active epilepsy. Epilepsia 1995; 36:75-8.Ekmekcioglu C. Melatonin receptors in humans: biological role and clinical relevance,Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy 2006,60: 97-108.Tan DX, Manchester LC, Hardeland R, Lopez-Burillo S, et al. Melatonin: a hormone, a tissue factor, an autacoid, a paracoid, and an antioxidant vitamin. J Pineal Res 2003; 34:75-8.Allegra M, Reiter RJ, Tan DX, Gentile C, et al. The chemistry of melatonin’s interaction with reactive species.J Pineal Res 2003; 34:1-10.Rodriguez C, Mayo JC, Sainz RM, Antolin I, et al. Regulation of antioxidant enzymes: a significant role for melatonin. J Pineal Res 2004; 36:1-9.Tan DX, Reiter RJ, Manchester LC, Yan M.T et al. Chemical and physical properties and potential mechanisms: melatonin as a broad spectrum antioxidant and free radical scavenger, Curr Top Med Chem2002, 2:181-197.Molina-Carballo A, Munoz-Hoyos A, Sanchez-Forte M, Uberos-Fernandez J,Moreno-Madrid F, Cuna-Castroviejo D. Melatonin increases following convulsive seizures may be related to its anticonvulsant properties at physiological concentrations, Neuropediatrics 2007; 38:122–5.Molina-Carballo A, Acuña-Castroviejo D, Rodríguez- Cabezas T, Muñoz-Hoyos A. Effects of febrile and epileptic convulsions on daily variations in plasma melatonin concentration in children. J Pineal Res 1994; 16: 1-9Rao ML, Stefan H, Bauer J. Epileptic but not psychogenic seizures are accompanied by simultaneous elevation of serum pituitary hormones and cortisol levels. Neuroendocrinology 1989; 49:33-9.Fauteck J, Schmidt H, Lerchl A, Kurlemann G, Wittkowski W. Melatonin in epilepsy: first results of replacement therapy and first clinical results. Biol Signals Recept 1999; 8:105–10.Peled N, Shorer Z, Peled E, Pillar G. Melatonin effect on seizures in children with severe neurologic deficit disorders. Epilepsia 2001; 42:1208–10.Coppola G, Iervolino G, Mastrosimone M, La TG, et al. Melatonin in wake-sleep disorders in children, adolescents and young adults with mental retardation with or without epilepsy: a double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial. Brain Dev 2004; 26:373-6

General Health Subcomponents and Marital Satisfaction: Examining a Correlation during COVID-19

Introduction: COVID-19 is known as a general health threat. General health can play a significant role in marital adjustment and satisfaction and thus the strength of the family foundation. The current study aimed to determine the correlation between families’ general health subcomponents and marital satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khaf, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 90 married people using the convenience sampling. The study instruments involved a demographics form, a general health questionnaire, and a marital satisfaction questionnaire. Data analyses were performed in SPSS statistical software ver. 22, using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey’s post hoc tests. The level of significance was set at p &lt;.05. Results: Among the general health subcomponents, the highest mean score belonged to depression (12.80 ± 4.65) and the lowest to social dysfunction (12.04 ± 4.24). The general health score was 49.70 ± 17.35, and the marital satisfaction mean score was 123.13 ± 34.02. Marital satisfaction was negatively and significantly associated with general health (r = -.71) as well as the subcomponents of somatic symptoms (r = -.64), anxiety (r = -.71), social dysfunction (r = -.66), and depression (-.067) (p &lt;.001). Conclusion: As COVID-19 depression and anxiety have the most significant impact on individuals’ general health and marital satisfaction, healthcare managers and policymakers are advised to consider solutions to these disorders in families. As such, they can contribute to spouses’ general health and marital satisfaction and thus strengthen the family foundation

Investigating the effect of brand extensions on brand mental image (Case study: Distribution branches of Minoo Foodstuffs in Mazandaran)

The aim of the present paper is to study the effect of brand extensions on brand mental image distribution branches of Minoo Foodstuffs in Mazandaran during 2013. In this paper, the effects of the related variables were studied such as the effects of mental image of Initial Brand and its fitness with the perceived one based on the brand extensions approach, its fitness with the mental and its effect between initial and final mental image, the effect of mental fitness based on the brand extensions approach and also the brand extensions approach based on the final mental and the perceived fit based on the brand extensions approach. This paper is a functional and measuring study based on its aim and method, respectively. The method used for collecting data is field as well a standardized questionnaire in the papers of Martinez et al. There are 24 questions in this questionnaire, which were arranged in the form of Likert Scale. The statistical method in this paper is structural equations which were analyzed by Lisrel software. In this paper, 7 hypotheses were presented as all of them were confirmed except 5th one