A Post-Marketing Surveillance Study to Evaluate the Safety Profile of AlvotereⓇ (Docetaxel) in Iranian Patients Diagnosed with Different Types of Cancers Receiving Chemotherapy

Background Docetaxel is a clinically well established antimitotic chemotherapy medication. Labeled docetaxel indications are breast cancer, gastric cancer, head and neck cancer, non–small cell lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Objective This is a Phase IV study to evaluate the safety profile of docetaxel (Alvotere; NanoAlvand, Iran) in Iranian patients diagnosed with different types of cancers receiving chemotherapy regimens with docetaxel. Methods Patients who received Alvotere as a part of their chemotherapy regimen were enrolled in this Phase IV, observational, multicenter, open-label study. Alvotere was administrated as a single agent or in combination with other chemotherapy agents. Safety parameters in each cycle were assessed, and the related data were recorded in booklets. Findings A total of 411 patients with different types of cancers were enrolled from 25 centers in Iran. The most common malignancies among participants were breast cancer (49.88%), followed by gastric cancer (22.63%). Participants’ mean age was 53.33 years, and the mean total dose used in each cycle was 132 mg. According to the results, 341 patients experienced at least 1 adverse event, that the most common was alopecia (41.12%). In total, 92 (22.38%) patients had at least 1 adverse event of grade 3 or 4, and 25 (6.08%) patients showed 54 serious adverse events, which the causality assessment for all was possibly related to Alvotere. There was a significant difference between men and women in the incidence of skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders (55.63% in women vs 41.73% in men; P = 0.009). Also, the incidence of gastrointestinal disorders, nervous system disorders, skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders, hepatic enzymes increase, and fluid retention was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in patients receiving anthracyclines in their chemotherapy regimens. Conclusions The findings of this open-label, observational, multicenter, postmarketing surveillance showed that Alvotere appears to have an acceptable safety profile in Iranian cancer patients receiving chemotherapeutic regimens. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2022; 82:XXX–XXX) © 2022 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc

GENERATING GENETIC DIVERSITY THROUGH DIALLEL CROSSES OF PROMISING POTATO CULTIVARS (Solanum tuberosum L.) AND STUDYING CULTIVAR HYBRIDS UNDER WATER DEFICIT STRESS

This research was conducted from 2017 to 2018 to produce genetic diversity and examine selected suitable hybrids concerning certain agricultural traits under normal and water-deficit stress conditions in a Zarghostar-Arta company. In 2017, four potato cultivars, namely, Luca, Banba, Esprit, and Agria, were crossed as parents via mutual hybridization based on the diallel method guided by Griffing’s method III. About 8550 true potato seeds were produced, among which 3944 seeds were germinated, and 151 hybrids were selected for culturing on a split-plot with a randomized complete block design involving three replications. The main factors of interest in the design were three irrigation levels (100%, 85%, and 70% water supply requirements), and the sub-factors were 12 populations. The highest specific combining ability for tuber yield was found in the direct cross of the ♂Luca×Esprit♀ compound under normal and mild conditions. In mild and severe stress conditions, the hybrid of ♀Luca×Agria♂ and the direct cross of the ♀Luca×Esprit♀ compound had the highest tuber yields. The general heritability of tuber yield ranged from 81.68% (in 70% available water) to 94.66% (in 100% available water), and the specific heritability ranged from 62.39% (in 85% available water) to 86.78% (in 100% available water). Additive variances in the varieties were 118.05, 46.92, and 37.49, and dominance variances were 33.82, 8.97, and 0.68 in 100%, 85%, and 70% available water, respectively

Peer Review Ethics in Iranian Scientific Journals: Evidence-Based Case Study of the Journal of Information Processing and Management (JIPM)

The present study investigates Peer Review Ethics (PRE) in scientific journals in Iran, specifically to compile the PRE statement for the Journal of Information Processing and Management (JIPM). Moreover, PRE statements of the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology (MSRT) journals were analyzed qualitatively. Then, the review process and the documents of the JIPM were analyzed. This evidence-based case study was conducted using a mixed method with three types of researchers-based, data-based, and research-based methods and focus group discussion (FGD) to validate the research findings. The findings showed that PRE elements were classified into "timeliness," "confidentiality," "bias," "conflict of interest," "research misconduct," "respectful and fair expressions," "constructive and objective feedback," and "accountability and responsibility" categories. The analysis of ethical statements of MSRT journals found that only half of the journals published PRE statements. In addition, 102 instances of violations of PRE with 15% of each review were identified in documents submitted for review in JIPM

Occult hepatitis B among Iranian hepatitis C patients

&lt;ul&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;BACKGROUND&lt;/strong&gt;: Occult hepatitis B is defined as presence of HBV DNA in tissue or serum without hepatitis B surface antigen. The aim of this study is to determine frequency of occult hepatitis B among hepatitis C patients in Tehran and compare the route of transmission and liver enzymes between positive and negative HBV DNA patients.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;METHODS&lt;/strong&gt;: In a cross sectional study, serum of 103 hepatitis C cases (79.6% men and 20.4% women) were analyzed for s, x and core genes via a nested polymerase chain reaction technique.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;RESULTS&lt;/strong&gt;: HBV DNA was detectable in serum of 20 patients (19.4%). No significant difference in age, sex and route of transmission were seen in HBV DNA positive and negative patients. In HBV DNA positive and negative groups, mean of AST was 73, 47 (p &lt; 0.05) and mean of ALT was 76 and 36 respectively (p &lt; 0.05).&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;CONCLUSION&lt;/strong&gt;: Occult hepatitis B was observed in a considerable number of hepatitis C patients in Tehran. It was associated with elevation in liver enzyme but was not related to route of transmission.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li&gt;&lt;strong&gt;KEY WORD&lt;/strong&gt;: Occult hepatitis B, hepatitis C, cirrhosis.&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt