An overview of current knowledge in biological functions and potential theragnostic applications of exosomes

Exosomes are cup-shaped structures, made of two lipid layers. Their size is in the range of 30–150 nm. Exosomes are excreted to the extracellular space and function in local and systemic cellular communication. Based on their primary origins, they can contain substantial amounts of RNA, protein, and miRNA; the horizontal transfer of these contents significantly determines the exosome's biological effects. The endosomal origins of exosomes can be deduced based on their surface protein markers. The use of exosomes as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic tool, has numerous advantages because they do not pose risks such as aneuploidy and transplant rejection. This - overview highlights the recent findings in exosome development and current knowledge in exosome-based therapies. Keywords:Extracellular vesicles, Exosomes, Clinical application

Association Between Objectively Sleep Pattern and Obesity in the Elderly

Background: Previous studies on the relationship between sleep patterns and obesity in the elderly are limited and have conflicting results. Moreover, few studies have measured sleep patterns objectively. In this study, we investigated objective sleep patterns and their relationship with obesity in the elderly in Tehran, Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 88 elderly (≥60 years old) who were members of health homes of zone 5 in Tehran, Iran, were included by simple random sampling method in 2014. Sleep patterns were objectively assessed using waist actigraphy for a mean of 4.3 ± 1.7 days). Height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured by standard methods and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Data entry and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21.Results: Mean actigraphy-assessed sleep duration, sleep efficiency (percentage of time in bed spent sleeping), and sleep latency (time required to fall asleep) were 427 ± 62 min, 71.3 ± 18%, and 14.2 ± 3.8 min, respectively. A negative relationship was found between BMI and sleep duration (r = −0.2, p = 0.03), BMI and sleep efficiency (r = −0.3, p=0.01), and WC and sleep efficiency (r = −0.2, p = 0.04). Also, a positive association was observed between BMI and sleep latency (r = 0.4, p = 0.006).Conclusions: In the elderly, actigraphy-assessed sleep duration was associated with obesity and the sleep efficiency was poor in obese participants. It seems that sleep patterns and BMI are correlated with each other. However, there is a need for prospective studies to affirm causal relationships between these constructs

Association Between Objectively Sleep Pattern and Obesity in the Elderly

Background: Previous studies on the relationship between sleep patterns and obesity in the elderly are limited and have conflicting results. Moreover, few studies have measured sleep patterns objectively. In this study, we investigated objective sleep patterns and their relationship with obesity in the elderly in Tehran, Iran.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 88 elderly (≥60 years old) who were members of health homes of zone 5 in Tehran, Iran, were included by simple random sampling method in 2014. Sleep patterns were objectively assessed using waist actigraphy for a mean of 4.3 ± 1.7 days). Height, weight, and waist circumference (WC) were measured by standard methods and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Data entry and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21.Results: Mean actigraphy-assessed sleep duration, sleep efficiency (percentage of time in bed spent sleeping), and sleep latency (time required to fall asleep) were 427 ± 62 min, 71.3 ± 18%, and 14.2 ± 3.8 min, respectively. A negative relationship was found between BMI and sleep duration (r = −0.2, p = 0.03), BMI and sleep efficiency (r = −0.3, p=0.01), and WC and sleep efficiency (r = −0.2, p = 0.04). Also, a positive association was observed between BMI and sleep latency (r = 0.4, p = 0.006).Conclusions: In the elderly, actigraphy-assessed sleep duration was associated with obesity and the sleep efficiency was poor in obese participants. It seems that sleep patterns and BMI are correlated with each other. However, there is a need for prospective studies to affirm causal relationships between these constructs

The Association between Obesity and Quality of Life among the Elderly

Background: The prevalence of obesity in the elderly is increasing worldwide. Obesity greatly impacts quality of life(QoL). The present study aimed to investigate the association between obesity and QoL among the elderly, in Tehran, Iran.Methods: This cross-sectional study (observational) was conducted in 2014 in Tehran, Iran. A total of 421 elderly people aged ≥ 60 years old were recruited using simple random sampling methods. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured by standard methods; body mass index (BMI) was calculated from height and weight. QoL was evaluated by the Persian language version of the SF-36 questionnaire.The alpha value was set at 0.05 to indicate the statistical significant level. Independent samples t-tests and Chi-square tests were used for comparing the quantitative and categorical variables, respectively. One-way ANOVA, followed by Tukeys’ post-hoc test, was used to compare mean scores of SF-36 scales between BMI groups. Pearson correlation coefficients were used for investigating the relationship between SF-36 scores and anthropometric parameters.Results: The mean age of participants was 77.6 ± 8.6 years. The frequency of obesity and overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) was 59.4% (57.2% in males and 60.6% in females). Except for the mental health scale, for all other SF-36 scale mean scores, participants with overweight or obesity had lower scores compared to their normal weight counterparts (p < 0.05). Additionally, subjects with underweight had significantly lower scores for the vitality scale (p < 0.05).Conclusions: The results of present study persist on importance of preserving normal weight on improving quality of life in elderly. Although the observed association in this study was bidirectional and prospective studies are needed to investigate the cause and effect relationship.

The Association between Obesity and Quality of Life among the Elderly

Background: The prevalence of obesity in the elderly is increasing worldwide. Obesity greatly impacts quality of life(QoL). The present study aimed to investigate the association between obesity and QoL among the elderly, in Tehran, Iran.Methods: This cross-sectional study (observational) was conducted in 2014 in Tehran, Iran. A total of 421 elderly people aged ≥ 60 years old were recruited using simple random sampling methods. Height, weight, and waist circumference were measured by standard methods; body mass index (BMI) was calculated from height and weight. QoL was evaluated by the Persian language version of the SF-36 questionnaire.The alpha value was set at 0.05 to indicate the statistical significant level. Independent samples t-tests and Chi-square tests were used for comparing the quantitative and categorical variables, respectively. One-way ANOVA, followed by Tukeys’ post-hoc test, was used to compare mean scores of SF-36 scales between BMI groups. Pearson correlation coefficients were used for investigating the relationship between SF-36 scores and anthropometric parameters.Results: The mean age of participants was 77.6 ± 8.6 years. The frequency of obesity and overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) was 59.4% (57.2% in males and 60.6% in females). Except for the mental health scale, for all other SF-36 scale mean scores, participants with overweight or obesity had lower scores compared to their normal weight counterparts (p < 0.05). Additionally, subjects with underweight had significantly lower scores for the vitality scale (p < 0.05).Conclusions: The results of present study persist on importance of preserving normal weight on improving quality of life in elderly. Although the observed association in this study was bidirectional and prospective studies are needed to investigate the cause and effect relationship.

Evaluation of isolation method in remaining of differentiation potential of perivascular human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells toward male germ cell-like

<strong>Background and aims:</strong> Infertility is one of the most common problems among couples. Generation of male germ cells from adult stem cells is a current promising priority of researchers. This study aimed to investigate the potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUMSCs) on the expression of male germ cell markers after isolating by this method. <strong>Methods:</strong> The hUMSCs was incubated with retinoic acid, testosterone, and conditioned medium (prepared from testicular cell cultures of 7-day-old mice) during 3 days. The bands were visualized and densitometry was accomplished using LI-COR Biosciences software. <strong>Results:</strong> The high expression levels of C-KIT, DAZL, PIWIL2, and DDX4 in mRNA and protein levels were observed in treated hUMSCs. <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Results of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting showed that method of isolation had no adverse effects on differentiation potential of hUMSCs

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver in a 9-year-old girl

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL) is a rare adult neoplasm. The primary treatments for UESL are total surgical resection and adjuvant multiagent chemotherapy. The current study presents a case of UESL in a 9-year-old female with abdominal pain and fever as her first symptoms. A cystic mass with solid components was discovered on sonography and computed tomography (CT) imaging. The patient underwent tumor removal surgery in addition to a liver lobectomy on the right side. The pathologist reported a single-focal cystic solid mass confined to the liver with no capsular invasion, and the final diagnosis based on the immunohistochemistry (IHC) results was UESL. The patient received chemotherapy, and she is doing well eight months after surgery with no signs of recurrence. In conclusion, large cystic hepatic lesions should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Despite the poor prognosis of UESL, aggressive surgical resection should be the most important factor in ensuring long-term survival. Keywords: Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver, Child, Case repor

Exosomes: special nano-therapeutic carrier for cancers, overview on anticancer drugs

Chemotherapy drugs are the first line of cancer treatment, but problems such as low intratumoral delivery, poor bioavailability, and off-site toxicity must be addressed. Cancer-specific drug delivery techniques could improve the therapeutic outcome in terms of patient survival. The current study investigated the loading of chemotherapy drugs loaded into exosomes for cancer treatment. Exosomes are the smallest extracellular vesicles found in body fluids and can be used to transfer information by moving biomolecules from cell to cell. This makes them useful as carriers. As the membranes of these nanoparticles are similar to cell membranes, they can be easily transported to carry different components. As most chemotherapy drugs are not easily soluble in liquid, loading them into exosomes can be a suitable solution to this problem. This cancer treatment could avert the injection of high doses of drugs and provide a more appropriate release mechanism