Attribution of ghrelin to cancer; Attempts to unravel an apparent controversy

Ghrelin is an endogenous peptide hormone mainly produced in the stomach. It has been known to regulate energy homeostasis, stimulate secretion of growth hormone, and mediate many other physiologic effects. Various effects attributed to ghrelin contribute to many aspects of cancer development and progression. Accordingly, a large body of evidence has emerged about the association of ghrelin with several types of cancer in scales of cell-line, animal, and human studies. However, existing data are controversial. This controversy occurs in two main domains: one is the controversial results in local effects of ghrelin on different types of human cancer cell-lines; the second is the apparent disagreement in the results o

Oral Cancer: Epidemiology, Prevention, Early Detection, and Treatment

One of the most common types of cancer is head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancers are the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the most common cancer in developing countries. Oral cancer, which is a subset of head and neck cancers, refers to any cancerous growth in the oral cavity. Risk factors for oral cancer include age, malnutrition, genetic factors, family history, X-rays, papilloma virus, alcohol, smoking, tobacco, which three last are the strongest risk factors. The destructive link between tobacco products and human cancers stems from a powerful combination of two factors - nicotine and carcinogens. The highest incidence of tobacco related oral cancer is seen in low and middle income countries. The chance of curing oral cancers increases if they are diagnosed and treated early. At least three-quarters of all oral cancers can be prevented by quitting smoking and drinking alcohol. Screening programs can be valuable in patients from high-risk groups (smokers and alcoholics) or in patients with a previous diagnosis of cancer outside the head and neck

Sublethal effect of nanosilver on the structure of gill of Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus caspicus) fingerlings

Widespread use of nanosilver can be led the contamination of aquatic environment and impact on living organisms such as fishes. We investigated histopathological changes in the gills tissue of Caspian roach fingerlings after two weeks exposure to sublethal concentrations of nanosilver. Following one and two weeks exposure, necrosis, shortening of secondary lamellae, edema, destruction of epithelial lamella, shortening of secondary lamellae, epithelial lifting and curling of secondary lamellae were observed in gill tissues. This observation showed that exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of nanosilver is caused damages in the gill tissues of Caspian roach. The results demonstrated direct correlation of gill tissue damage and toxin exposure i.e. increasing nanosilver concentration is caused more tissue damage. Hence, histopathological changes of gill can considered as a proper indicator for nanosilver contamination of aquatic environments

Acute and chronic toxicity of ammonia in Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, fingerlings

In the present study, susceptibility of Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, to un-ionized ammonia (UIA) was studied. Fish with an average weight of 5.52±0.45 g were exposed to different concentrations of un-ionized ammonia (UIA) to determine median lethal concentration (96-h-LC50). The fish were exposed to six different concentrations of UIA (control, 0.16, 0.31, 0.62, 0.94 and 1.25 mg/l UIA). The control group was not challenged with ammonia (0.0008 mg/l UIA). The results showed that the 96-h-LC50 of UIA in Persian sturgeon was 0.46 mg/l. According to 96-h-LC50,mid-term exposure to sub-lethal UIA was examined. In the chronic examination, the fish were exposed to different levels of sub-lethal ammonia; control (0.0008 mg/l UIA), 10% of LC50 (0.05 mg/l UIA), 5% of LC50 (0.025 mg/l UIA) and 1% of LC50 (0.005 mg/l UIA) for 30 days. Final length, final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, daily weight gain and body weigh index decreased significantly in the fish exposed to 0.05 and 0.025 mg/l UIA. According to the results, conversion ratio and condition factor indices were higher in the fish exposed to 0.005 mg/l UIA and control group compared with the fish exposed to 0.05 and 0.025 mg/l UIA

The Examination of the Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention based on the Planned Behavior Theory on Improving Pubertal Health Behavior in Female High School Students

Background: Puberty is a period of psychological, physical, mental, emotional and social growth that stability and development of personality occurs in this period. This study aimed to determine the effect of planned behavior theory on improving pubertal health behavior in female first grade high school students. Materials and Methods:  A quasi-experimental intervention was conducted in female high school in Khamir city, Iran in 2015. One of the schools were randomly assigned to the control group and other to the experimental group. Using the formula sample, 60 students were selected from each school. Samples were evaluated in two stages through pre-test and two months later via post-test by administered questionnaire including questions about demographic characteristics and structures of planned behavior theory. The content of training was presented through lecture group discussion with teaching aids such as booklet and pamphlet. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: The intervention group mean age at first menstrual period was 12.30 ± 0.84 years old and for control group was 12.25 ± 0.79 years old. The results showed that two months after the intervention, health behaviors, subjective norms, behavioral intention, perceived behavioral control, and attitude, were significantly higher than pre- intervention (

Effect of Behavioral Intention Model-based Education on Decrease the Rate of Caesarean Delivery among Pregnant Women

Caesarean section is considered as a major surgery which is accompanied by several complications. The present study aimed to determine the effect of behavioral intention model-based educational intervention on reducing the caesarean section among pregnant women. The present interventional study was conducted on 100 primiparous women in the third trimester of pregnancy who were covered by the health and treatment centers of Fasa city, placed in Fars province, Iran. The subjects were selected through simple random sampling and divided into an intervention and a control group. After the pre-test, the intervention group underwent exclusive training based on the behavioral intention model. Then, both groups took part in the post-test and the data were analyzed using paired t-test, independent t-test, and chi-square tests. The results of the study revealed a significant difference between the two groups regarding knowledge, evaluation of the outcomes, attitude, and intention (P<0.001). The results of the chi-square test also showed a significant difference between the two groups regarding their performance (P<0.001). According to the results, the present intervention was effective in increasing the pregnant women’s knowledge, evaluation of outcomes, attitude and strengthening their intention as well as performance. Thus, this model and other systematic trainings are suggested to be used for pregnant women in order to decrease the rate of caesarean section.

Evaluating the Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Plan on Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Introduction: Cardiovascular surgeries are among the conventional surgeries aimed at increasing the survival rate and improving the quality of life of patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life of patients undergoing Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.Methods: This was a semi-experimental study performed on 160 patients undergoing CABG surgery. The rehabilitation program was carried out for 13 weeks (three sessions per week) in 40 sessions, six weeks after the CABG surgery. The MacNew standard questionnaire and the general health questionnaire (S-f 36) were completed before the beginning of rehabilitation sessions as well as after completion of these sessions by patients.Results: According to the results, the quality of life of patients significantly increased in the physical and emotional areas after the rehabilitation program. The results also indicated that there was a significant difference between various levels of research in the physical functioning variables, dysfunction due to physical health, dysfunction due to emotional health, energy/fatigue of individuals, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain, and general health.Conclusions: The present results indicated the improved quality of life of patients in all the areas after cardiac rehabilitation intervention, compared to before that. Therefore, paying more attention to cardiac rehabilitation is necessary due to its positive effects on increasing the quality of life of patients

Outcome of Vaginal Progesterone as a Tocolytic Agent: Randomized Clinical Trial

Vaginal progesterone has a potential beneficial effect in postponing of preterm labor by suppression of prostaglandins cascades. Although different studies evaluated the use of progesterone for preterm birth, the exact effect of which on prolongation of pregnancy remains unclear. Seventy two women who underwent preterm labor were managed by magnesium sulfate. Then they were randomly assigned to continue pregnancy either by applying vaginal progesterone (400 mg) until delivery or without using any drug. Gestational age mean at the time of delivery (P = 0.039) and postponing delivery mean time (P = 0.048) were significantly higher in progesterone group. Comparison of neonatal outcomes between two groups of patients showed meaningful benefits of progesterone in increasing of neonatal weight, reduction of low birth weight babies, and lowing neonate admitted in NICU