High-Methoxyl Apple Pectin Improves Rheological Properties and Storage Stability of the Flavored Probiotic Yogurt Drinks, Compared to Pomegranate Pectin

Background and Objective: Use of pectin has attracted interests in food and nutraceutical industries, owing to its positive effects on stability of dairy drinks and potential health benefits to humans. Furthermore, demands for the production of stable fermented milk drinks during storage period is high. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess effects of apple and pomegranate pectins as stabilizers on various characteristics of probiotic yogurt drinks. Material and Methods: Apple and pomegranate pectins at concentrations of 0-0.5% (w v-1) were added to the probiotic yogurt drinks containing 2% of inulin and 12% of pomegranate juice. Then, rheological behavior, particle size distribution and stability of probiotic yogurt drinks were studied during storage. Results and Conclusion: Control (treatments with no pectin addition) and probiotic yogurt drinks containing pomegranate pectin (0.1-0.5%) showed Newtonian flow behavior and liquid-like behavior over the frequency range. Probiotic yogurt drinks with apple pectin included shear-thinning flow behavior, gel-like network at low frequencies and mean size particle of 50 mm. The highest G' and G" and stabilities during the storage were achieved in samples containing 0.5% of apple pectin. Results demonstrated that apple pectin included great potentials to be used in industrial production of probiotic yogurt drinks as it improved rheological properties and storage stability of the products. Therefore, use of 0.5% apple pectin is suggested in fermented milk drinks. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest

Indications for Corneal Transplantation at a Tertiary Referral Center in Tehran

Purpose: To report the indications and techniques of corneal transplantation at a tertiary referral center in Tehran over a 3-year period. Methods: Records of patients who had undergone any kind of corneal transplantation at Labbafinejad Medical Center, Tehran, Iran from March 2004 to March 2007 were reviewed to determine the indications and types of corneal transplantation. Results: During this period, 776 eyes of 756 patients (including 504 male subjects) with mean age of 41.3±21.3 years underwent corneal transplantation. The most common indication was keratoconus (n=317, 40.8%) followed by bullous keratopathy (n=90, 11.6%), non-herpetic corneal scars (n=62, 8.0%), infectious corneal ulcers (n=61, 7.9%), previously failed grafts (n=61, 7.9%), endothelial and stromal corneal dystrophies (n=28, 3.6%), and trachoma keratopathy (n=26, 3.3%). Other indications including Terrien′s marginal degeneration, post-LASIK keratectasia, trauma, chemical burns, and peripheral ulcerative keratitis constituted the rest of cases. Techniques of corneal transplantation included penetrating keratoplasty (n=607, 78.2%), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (n=108, 13.9%), conventional lamellar keratoplasty (n=44, 5.7%), automated lamellar therapeutic keratoplasty (n=8, 1.0%), and Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty (n=6, 0.8%) in descending order. The remaining cases were endothelial keratoplasty and sclerokeratoplasty. Conclusion: In this study, keratoconus was the most common indication for penetrating keratoplasty which was the most prevalent technique of corneal transplantation. However, deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty is emerging as a growing alternative for corneal pathologies not involving the endothelium

بررسی مقایسه‌ای ویژگی‌های بیماران گیرنده خدمات طب سنّتی با بیماران طب رایج در شهر تهران

Objective: Recent studies indicate an increase in referral of patients to Iranian traditional medicine.The aim of this study is to compare the characteristics of patients receiving traditional medicine with control group received modern medicine. Material and Methods: This was a case–control study.  Totally 202 patients (100 routine and 102 traditional medicine) enrolled. For all of them a questionnaire was filled. Questionnaire consisted of questions about demographic information, motivational advantages and disadvantages of their received medicine Results: In 65.7% in traditional group expressed their satisfaction high or very high this rate was 31% in routine practice. Mean disease duration was 61/5 and 22/3 months in traditional and modern medicine respectively. This difference was significant. In both groups, the most frequent motivation of patients to their visit were their believe to efficacy of their received medicine, but there was no significant differences in this regards. In 19.6% of traditional medicine group and in 67% in modern medicine group believed that their cost is huge. 66% of modern medicine group believe that their method have high complication whereas no one believe to it in traditional medicine group. There were 26.5% and 31% male in traditional and modern medicine group respectively, also 41.2% and 36 % had high school diploma respectively. There were no significant difference regarding job and economic status. Conclusion: Regarding new tendency toward the traditional medicine and positive view of community to it, this medicine needs proper management and scientific orientation for better use of its advantages and avoiding its probable misuses.نتیجه مطالعات جدید نشان‏دهنده افزایش روزافزون مراجعات بیماران به طب سنّتی در ایران است. هدف مطالعه حاضر بررسی ویژگی‌های بیماران دریافت‌کننده طب سنّتی و مقایسه آن با گروه کنترل دریافت‌کننده طب کلاسیک است. درمجموع، از 202 بیمار مراجعه‌کننده به طب سنّتی و کلاسیک، پرسشنامه‌ای حاوی اطلاعات دموگرافیک، انگیزه، مزایا و معایب طب دریافتی تکمیل شد. طبق نتایج به‌دست آمده میزان رضایت‌مندی بیماران از نحوه درمان‏ خود، بر اساس 5 طیف خیلی‏کم تا خیلی‏زیاد تنظیم شد. نتایج نشان دادند که رضایت بیماران به‌صورت زیاد یا خیلی‏زیاد به ترتیب در گروه طب سنّتی 65/7 درصد و در طب رایج 31 درصد بود. میانگین طول مدت بیماری در بیماران طب سنّتی 61/5 ماه و در طب رایج 22/3 ماه بود. این اختلاف، معنی‌دار بود. بیشترین انگیزه مراجعه بیماران به درمان مورد نظرشان، اعتقاد به اثربخشی آن روش بوده است که البته تفاوت معنی‌داری بین دو گروه از این لحاظ وجود نداشت. به ترتیب 19/6 درصد بیماران طب سنّتی و 67 درصد بیماران طب رایج، به زیاد بودن هزینه درمانشان باور داشتند. در این بررسی 66 درصد بیماران طب رایج، عوارض جانبی در روش مورد استفاده‌شان را زیاد می‏دانستند؛ درحالی‌که هیچ‌یک از بیماران مراجعه‌کننده به طب سنّتی چنین نظری نداشتند. از نظر ترکیب جنسی به ترتیب 26/5 درصد و 31 درصد مراجعه‌کنندگان به طب سنّتی و رایج، مرد بودند. از نظر وضعیت تحصیلی 41/2 درصد بیماران طب سنّتی و 36 درصد طب رایج دیپلمه بودند. بر اساس آزمون T مستقل این دو متغیر و هم‏چنین وضعیت شغلی و اقتصادی، در دو گروه تفاوت آماری معنی‌داری مشاهده نشد (P value>0/005). با توجه به گرایش جدید به طب سنّتی و نگاه مثبت جامعه به آن، این پدیده نیازمند مدیریت و جهت‌گیری صحیح علمی برای بهره‌مندی از منافع آن و از طرفی جلوگیری از سوءاستفاده‌های احتمالی است

Development of Perphenazine-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles: Statistical Optimization and Cytotoxicity Studies

Objective. Perphenazine (PPZ), as a typical antipsychotic medical substance, has the same effectiveness compared to atypical antipsychotic medications for the treatment of schizophrenia. Despite the lipophilic essence, PPZ encounters limited bioavailability caused by the first-pass metabolism following oral administration. In the present study, PPZ-containing solid lipid nanoparticles (PPZ-SLNs) were prepared and optimized based on different factors, including lipid and surfactant amount, to develop appropriate and safe novel oral dosage forms of PPZ. Methods. The solvent emulsification-evaporation method was utilized to form SLNs by using soybean lecithin, glycerol monostearate (GMS), and Tween 80. Statistical optimization was done by the Box-Behnken design method to achieve formulation with optimized particle size, entrapment efficiency, and zeta potential. Also, transmission electron microscopy, in vitro release behavior, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and powder X-ray diffractometry (P-XRD) studies and cytotoxicity studies were assessed. Results. Optimization exhibited the significant effect of various excipients on SLN characteristics. Our finding indicated that the mean particle size, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency of optimized PPZ-SLN were, respectively, 104±3.92 nm, −28±2.28 mV, and 83%±1.29. Drug release of PPZ-SLN was observed to be greater than 90% for 48 h that emphasized a sustained-release pattern. The DSC and P-XRD studies revealed the amorphous state of PPZ-SLN. FTIR spectra showed no incompatibility between the drug and the lipid. Performing cytotoxicity studies indicated no significant cytotoxicity on HT-29 cell culture. Conclusion. Our study suggests that PPZ-SLNs can make a promising vehicle for a suitable therapy of schizophrenia for the oral drug delivery system

The effect of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes on the prostate, bladder, and renal cancer cell lines

Abstract We aimed to explain the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-exosomes) on gene expressions of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and apoptosis. Four different cell lines were employed, including ACHN, 5637, LNCaP, and PC3, as well-known representatives for renal, bladder, hormone-sensitive, and hormone-refractory prostate cancers, respectively. Cell lines were exposed to diverse concentrations of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes to find IC50 values. Percentages of apoptotic cells were evaluated by Annexin/P.I. staining. Micro Culture Tetrazolium Test assessed proliferative inhibitory effect; and prostate biomarker (KLK2), EMT (E-cadherin and Snail), angiogenesis genes (VEGF-A/VEGF-C), apoptosis genes (BAX/BCL2, P53) and Osteopontin variants (OPNa/b, and c) mRNA levels were studied by realtime PCR method. All 5637, LNCaP, and PC3 following treatment with exosomes illustrated specific responses with changes in expression of different genes. The increased TP53 and decreased BCL2 expressions were seen in 5637, LNCaP, and PC3. In PC3, OPNb and OPNc have raised more than P53; in LNCap, the increase was in VEGF-c. In 5637 cells, more than TP53 and BCL2 changes, two other genes, VEGFa and B.A.X., have decreased, suggesting exosomes’ anti-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic effects. The kidney tumor cell line saw no significant gene expression change in ten targeted genes. MSC-exosomes therapy has augmented some interesting antitumor effects on prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer cell lines. This effect which originates from exosomes’ potency to persuade apoptosis and prevent the proliferation of cancer cells simultaneously, was more substantial in bladder cancer, moderate in prostate cancer, and mild in renal cancer

Long-term systemic effects of metabolic bariatric surgery: A multidisciplinary perspective

Background: Obesity is a global health crisis with profound implications on various body systems, contributing to a series of comorbidities. Metabolic Bariatric Surgery (MBS) has emerged as an effective treatment option for severe obesity, with significant weight reduction and potential systemic physiological alterations. Objectives: This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the long-term effects of MBS on a wide array of body systems, including the heart, liver, kidneys, reproductive system, skin, lungs, digestive tract, pancreas, and blood, as well as related cancers of these organs. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in academic databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus) for observational studies and reviews published between July 2000 and December 2023, investigating the association between MBS and the subsequent function of different organ systems. High-quality studies were prioritized to ensure reliable evidence synthesis. Results: MBS has demonstrated favorable outcomes in reducing cardiovascular disease risk, improving cardiac function, and alleviating heart failure symptoms. It has also been associated with improved respiratory function, remission of obstructive sleep apnea, and reduced cancer incidence and mortality. Additionally, MBS has shown benefits in managing gastrointestinal disorders, enhancing glycemic control, and promoting pancreatic beta-cell regeneration in type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, some methods of MBS are associated with a higher risk of cholelithiasis, GERD, and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Conclusion: MBS has far-reaching systemic effects beyond weight loss, offering potential long-term benefits for various organ systems and comorbidities associated with obesity. For many patients with severe obesity, the potential benefits of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (MBS) can outweigh the associated risks. However, careful evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional is crucial to determine candidacy and ensure a successful outcome. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the long-term impacts and tailor personalized treatment approaches