Serum uric acid levels on admission and prognosis of acute coronary syndrome: a bi-institutional report

Objective: This study aimed to determine the association between the baseline serum uric acid (SUA) level and the short-term outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods: In this retrospective, bi-institutional study, patients with a diagnosis of ACS were recruited and followed-up for 30 days regarding the development of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs). The associations between the SUA level upon admission and cardiovascular morbidities and patient prognosis were examined using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 145 patients with ACS, with a mean age of 67.5±12.2 years, were recruited in this study. The rates of cardiovascular risk factors were higher in patients with elevated SUA levels. A cumulative MACCE was reported in 42 (29%) patients (19.5% in normal individuals and 39.7% in patients with elevated SUA levels, respectively; P=0.007). Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, an on-admission SUA level above 6.9 mg/dL could discriminate patients with MACCE from those without MACCE during 30 days of follow-up (AUC=0.637; 95% CI: 0.553–0.715), with 64.3% sensitivity and 66% specificity. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, an elevated SUA level was associated with an increased risk of MACCE (odds ratio, 15.353; 95% CI: 2.026–116.328). Conclusion: In patients with ACS, an elevated baseline SUA level was associated with a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and morbidities, as well as an increased risk of MACCE in a short-term follow-up.&nbsp

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel node biopsy in a patient with upper limb Merkel Cell Carcinoma: a case report and brief review of literature

Sentinel node mapping is an integral part of regional lymph node staging in many solid tumors and plays an important role in surgical oncology. This technique has been used with excellent results for non-melanoma skin cancers including Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). In the current study, we reported our first MCC patient who underwent successful sentinel node mapping. We also reviewed the available literature regarding the prognostic significance of sentinel node mapping in cN0 MCC patients.Sentinel node mapping is an integral part of regional lymph node staging in many solid tumors and plays an important role in surgical oncology. This technique has been used with excellent results for non-melanoma skin cancers including Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). In the current study, we reported our first MCC patient who underwent successful sentinel node mapping. We also reviewed the available literature regarding the prognostic significance of sentinel node mapping in cN0 MCC patients

Knowledge, attitude and practice of urban and ruarl households towards principles of nutrition in Iran: results of NUTRIKAP Survey.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of urban and rural households toward principles of nutrition in Iran. Methods: The study population was Iranian households who live in rural and urban areas in all provinces of the country. The sampling method at households’ level in each province was single stage cluster sampling with equal size clusters. The incumbent data was collected by a structured questionnaire and through the interview with the eligible subject in each household. Results: A total of 14,136 Iranian households were selected as total sample size, 9,149 urban households, and 4,987 rural households. Around 57.2% of urban and 49.5% of rural households was aware of food groups. Respectively in urban and rural households, about 35.1% and 39.7% had correct knowledge toward roles of food groups. Approximately 41.5% and 39.9% of households had accurate knowledge about reason of food eating in urban and rural areas, respectively. The results showed that 79.6% of them had favorable attitudes. The most of the households consumed red meat and poultry weekly whereas fish was eaten rarely. Fruits, vegetables and dairy were consumed daily in the most of households. Sugar intake was daily in the most of households and cream and butter intake was weekly. Conclusion: The most of households had moderate knowledge and good attitudes. Practice of families about food consumption was good. The results of this study can be used for proper intervention for improving of health society

Docetaxel Enhances the Expression of STING Protein in PC3 Cells, and cGAMP Attenuates this Effect

Background: The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist (cGAMP) kills the cancer cells through the activation of the innate immune system. PC3 cells are high in BTK and low in STING. In this study, the effect of adding STING agonist, cGAMP, to docetaxel investigated. Materials and Methods: PC3 cells were treated with docetaxel, cGAMP, and a combination of the docetaxel and cGAMP. Cell toxicity was evaluated by MTT assay, and changes of STING, IRF3, BTK, and DDX41 genes’ expression were quantified by the real-time PCR. STING protein was also detected by Western blotting. Results: The IC50 of docetaxel was 31.1 nM, and cGAMP did not change it significantly but decreased docetaxel toxicity about 30%. Docetaxel increased IRF3, BTK, and DDX41 gene expression significantly, and STING protein about 5 folds. By adding cGAMP to docetaxel STING, IRF3, and BTK, expression decreased several folds. Conclusion: In this in vitro study, cGAMP potentiated docetaxel’s effects and alleviated it

Cathodic synthesis of Al-Ce-Mn Oxide nanohybride powder with improved surface for effective removal of fluoride from aqueous media

Al-Ce-Mn oxide samples were synthesized by the cathodic electrochemical method at current densities of 5, 15, and 35 mAcm-2. The XRD, SEM, and EDX techniques were used for the characterization of samples. The SEM images show that at high current density the one-dimensional(nanowire) structure and at low current density two-dimensional (nanosheet) structure were obtained. Moreover, the particle sizes are decreased with increasing the current density. The samples were applied for the uptake of fluorine (F-) ions from solutions. The influence of the contact time, initial fluoride concentration, and solution pH on the adsorption was investigated. The results showed more than 80 % of F-  ions were uptake from solution during the three hours initial contact times and the uptake capacity has little change at pH below 6 and it has a sharp decline with increasing solution pH. The kinetic data were well fitted to the pseudo-second-order model and the equilibrium adsorption data was well described by the Langmuir isotherm model.  The adsorption capacity was 48 mg/g at pH 6 and room temperature

Induction of apoptosis and modulation of homologous recombination DNA repair pathway in prostate cancer cells by the combination of AZD2461 and valproic acid

Cancer therapies using defects in homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair pathway of tumor cells are not yet approved to be applicable in patients with malignancies other than BRCA1/2-mutated tumors. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of combination therapy of a histone deacetyl ase inhibitor, valproic acid (VPA) and a novel PARP inhibitor AZD2461 in both PC-3 (PTEN-mutated) and DU145 (PTEN-unmutated) prostate cancer cell lines. The Trypan blue dye exclusion assay an d the tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT) assay were performed to measure the cytotoxicity while combination effects were assessed based on Chou-Talalay's princi- ples. Flow-cytometric assay determined the type of cell deat h. The real-time PCR analysis was used to evaluate the alterations in mRNA levels of HR-related genes while their protein levels were measured using the ELISA method. γ -H2AX levels were determined as a marker of DNA damage. We observed a synergistic relationship between VPA and AZD2461 in all affected fractions of PC-3 cells (CI1.1). Annexin-V staining analysis revealed a significant induction of apoptosis when PC-3 cells were treated with VPA+AZD2461 ( p<0.05 ). Both mRNA and protein levels of Rad51 and Mre11 were significantly decreased in PC-3 cells co-treated with VPA+AZD2461 while enhanced H2AX phosphorylation was found in PC-3 cells after 12 and 24 hours of co-treatment ( p<0.05 ). Our findings established a preclinical rationale for selective targeting of HR repair pathways by a combination of VPA and AZD2461 as a mechanism for reducing the HR pathway sufficiency in PTEN -mutated prostate cancer cells

Nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice of Iranian households and primary health care staff: NUTRIKAP survey

The aim of this study is to determine knowledge, attitude and practice of Iranian households and health staff on nutrition at province level. The sampling method in NUTRIKAP survey for households in each province is singlestage cluster sampling and the size of clusters is equal. The sampling method for health staff in each province is stratified random sampling. Samples are selected from physicians, health experts, health technicians, nutritionists and health assistants (Behvarz). Overall, 14136 people in 57 clusters in each province and 480 health staff over the country participate in this survey. The necessary data will be gathered by the structured questionnaire and the interview with the eligible person in each household. Data gathering from health staff will be carried out by selfadministered questionnaire. The results of this study can help the bureau of community nutrition to provide the proper interventions to improve nutritional health of households

Factors Associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in Patients with Surgically Treated Distal Radius Fracture

Background: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is an important common complication after surgical treatment for distal radius fracture. Recognition of the related factors is important to reduce the burden of the problem. Herein, the contributing factors for CRPS after distal radius fracture surgery are studied.   Methods: In this cross-sectional comparative study, 250 patients admitted to the orthopedics ward in Sina Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 2017 to 2020, were enrolled. The contributing factors for CRPS after distal radius fracture surgery were determined in them. Results: The CRPS was seen in 17 cases (6.8%). 9 percent of male and 1.9 percent of female patients were diagnosed with CRPS. This showed a significant difference in the Fisher test (P = 0.028). The mean pain severity by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was higher in CRPS cases, that showed a significant difference by the Mann-Whitney test (P = 0.001).   Conclusion: According to the obtained results, it may be concluded that CRPS was seen in seven percent of patients under surgery for distal radius fracture and was related to the male gender and higher pain severity.

Screening of suitable ionic liquids as green solvents for extraction of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from microalgae biomass using COSMO-RS model

Omega-3 poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have many health benefits including reducing the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Recently, the use of ionic liquids (ILs) in lipid extraction from microalgae provides the potential to overcome common drawbacks, offers several other benefits. To date, very limited researches are available to focus on extracting microalgae lipid and PUFA in particular by using ILs. The objective of current work is to screen the potential ILs that can be applied in EPA extraction. In this study, fast ILs screening was performed with the help of a conductor like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) and the ILs with higher capacity values for use in extraction of EPA were compared. According to the results, the highest capacity for EPA extraction among 352 screened cation/anion combinations belongs to [TMAm][SO4]. It is expected to achieve a higher yield of EPA once applying this combination as the solvent in the process of extraction. ILs with small anions were observed to have higher capacities, as well possessing higher charge density compared to larger ones, and therefore, they are more preferable for extraction purposes. Moreover, shorter alkyl chain cations are preferred when using imidazolium-based IL, which agrees with experimental data

Ionic liquid method for the extraction of lipid from microalgae biomass: a review

Microalgae are an alternative source of renewable energy and high-value products for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, etc., due to rich in carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and high-density lipoproteins. Existing methods for cell disruption and extraction are costly and suffered from low proficiencies. Ionic liquids are proven to be an environmentally friendly substitute to conventional volatile organic solvents. They have been used in extracting different types of biomass, including microalgae. This article reviews the potential of ILs in extracting biomolecules, lipid, and omega-3, from microalgae biomass. The physicochemical properties of ILs, including viscosity, density, and melting point, their advantages and limitation, as well as toxicity and recyclability of ILs in lipid processing, are discussed