Pulmonary fungal co-infection prevalence among Iranian patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Tuberculosis (TB) is further aggravated if it is accompanied with fungal co-infection. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of pulmonary fungal co-infection among Iranian patients with pulmonary TB using a systematic review and meta-analysis. The present study was a review of cross-sectional studies on the prevalence of pulmonary fungal co-colonization among Iranian patients with pulmonary TB with regard to the PRISMA Protocol. To this end, the articles published online in English and Persian were searched on the main databases and gateways such as Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, MEDLINE, PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, Magiran, Irandoc, and Scientific Information Databases. The reviews of the literatures published online from 2000 to the end of 2018 were included in the study. The keywords used for searching through the databases were pulmonary fungal co-infection with pulmonary TB, pulmonary mycosis co-infection with pulmonary TB, pulmonary fungal colonization/agents with pulmonary TB, AND Iran. Finally, the collected data were analyzed by Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. The analyses showed that the prevalence of fungal co-infection among patients with pulmonary TB varied from 12.3-68.8%, and that the combined prevalence of fungal co-infection among patients with pulmonary TB was 17.4%. Amongst the fungi involved in co-infection with TB, Candida spp. was the most predominant with the prevalence of 6.9%, followed by Aspergillus spp. (3.2%). Moreover, the highest prevalence of Aspergillus spp. was observed for Aspergillus fumigatus (1.6%). The most frequent Candida spp. was Candida albicans with a frequency of 6%. The findings showed that the combined prevalence of fungal co-infection among Iranian patients with pulmonary TB was high. In this regard, among the fungi involved in co-infection with TB, Candida spp. was the most frequent

shRNA-mediated downregulation of α-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase inhibits migration and invasion of cancer cell lines

Objective(s): Extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of many kinds of glycoproteins containing glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) moiety. The research was conducted based on the N-Acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) degradation of ECM components by α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (Nagalase) which facilitates migration and invasion of cancer cells. This study aims to investigate the effects of Naga-shRNA downregulation on migration and invasion of cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: In this study, MCF-7 cell line (human mammary carcinoma cell line) and A2780 (human ovarian carcinoma cell line) were used. The level of normalized Naga expression and Nagalase protein were evaluated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay/western blotting, respectively. Migration and invasion were determined using transwell assays, and statistical analysis was carried out by ANOVA test. Results: Response to transduction by shRNA compared to the control group, migrative and invasive properties of the transfected cells were significantly inhibited. Conclusion: These results indicate that Nagalase may have an important role in migration and invasion of cancer cells and can be considered as a candidate for further studies

Evaluation of the Effects of Novel Educational Methods on Learning and Retention of the Course of Hereditary Diseases and Genetic Counseling

Background & Objective: Due to the disadvantages of teaching through lectures, the need for their replacement with active and collaborative learning methods is strongly felt. Students of public health, due to employment in the health network, have an important role in screening for genetic disorders. This study aimed to change teaching methods to increase retention of practical contents in the minds of undergraduate students of public health after graduation. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 20 public health students of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The course of hereditary diseases and genetic counseling was taught with a new method that combines traditional and modern (the use of blogs, PowerPoint, discussion in small groups on clinical issues, and developmental quizzes) teaching methods. A year after the final exam, an exam and survey were held. The results of the survey and student’s grades were analyzed using paired t-test in SPSS software. Results: Average scores of the final exam and 1-year reexamination were 17.25 and 11.10, respectively and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.004). However, the students stated that they remembered more than 86% of the topics covered in class to some extent. Among the students, 45% and 14% believed this to be due to developmental quizzes and problem-based learning, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the components of students’ satisfaction from teaching between the two mentioned time periods (P = 0.196). Conclusion: Continuous developmental quizzes, due to repetition of course content at short intervals, and problem-based learning in small groups, due to promoting dynamism of mind and increasing motivation to remember because of participation in debates, cause the students to remember more and for a longer period. Key Words: Formative assessment, Problem-based learning, Retention, Students, Genetic disorde

Effect of melatonin on male offspring testis and sperm parameters in BALB/c mice after exposing their mother to METHamphetamine during pregnancy and lactation

Objective(s): Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant that has harmful effects on all organs,  the nervous system, cardiovascular system, and reproductive system. Since many METH consumers are young people of reproductive age, it poses a risk to the next generation of METH consumers. METH can pass through the placenta and is also secreted into breast milk. Melatonin (MLT) is the primary hormone of the pineal gland that regulates the circadian cycle, and it is also an antioxidant that can mitigate the effects of toxic substances. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of melatonin against the detrimental effects that METH has on the reproductive system of male newborns, whose mothers consumed METH during pregnancy and lactation.Materials and Methods: In the current study, 30 female adult balb/c mice were divided into three groups: control group, vehicle group that received normal saline, and the experimental group that received 5 mg/kg METH intraperitoneally during gestation and lactation. After lactation, the male offspring of each group were randomly divided into two subgroups, one of which received 10 mg/kg melatonin intragastrically for 21 days (corresponding to the lactation period of the mice) (METH-MLT) and the other did not (METH -D.W). After treatment, the mice were sacrificed and testicular tissue and epididymis were obtained for the following tests.Results: The diameter of seminiferous tubules, SOD activity, total Thiol groups concentration, catalase activity, sperm count, and PCNA and CCND gene expression were significantly increased in the METH-MLT group compared with the METH-DW. Apoptotic cells and MDA level ameliorated in the METH-MLT group compared with METH-D.W, and testicular weight had no notable change.Conclusion: The current study represents that consumption of METH during pregnancy and lactation can have adverse effects on the histological and biochemical factors of testis and sperm parameters of male newborns,  which can be mitigated by taking melatonin after the end of the breastfeeding period

Promising role for Gc-MAF in cancer immunotherapy: from bench to bedside

Immunotherapy has been used for years in many types of cancer therapy. Recently, cancer immunotherapy has focused on mechanisms which can enhance the development of cell-mediated immunity. Anticancer medications are administered to inhibit immunosuppressive factors such as nagalase enzyme, which is produced by neoplastic cells and destroys macrophage activating factor (Gc-MAF). Anti-neoplastics medications can also enhance immune-cell activity against tumors. Such medications show great potential in cancer immunotherapy using natural human mechanisms against neoplasms

Isolation Methods of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Mice; a Systematic Review

Bone marrow (BM) has been regarded as the primarily source of hematopoietic stem cells for many years. Recent researches have shown BM contains not only hematopoietic but also heterogeneous non-hematopoietic stem cells. Till now, similar or overlapping isolation strategies of primitive non-hematopoietic stem cells in BM were named by different investigators and hence were assigned different names (e.g. mesenchymal stem cells, or multipotent adult progenitor cells) from alternative sources and different animal species. The differentiation potential of these cells to mesenchymal lineages has generated a great deal of interest in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. Murine Mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) are appropriate models for preclinical investigations on human cell therapies. The isolation of BM-derived mMSCs is discussed as an unresolved issue in mesenchymal stem cells researches. The objective of the present review is the description of multiple methodological approaches to isolate mMSCs

Investigating the Relationship between IL-6 Gene (Rs1800795) Polymorphism and Chronic Periodontitis in an Iranian Population: IL-6 Gene Polymorphism and Chronic Periodontitis

Objectives Chronic periodontitis is the most common type of periodontitis and a multifactorial disease in which a set of factors such as microbial plaque, environment, systemic conditions and genetics play a role in its development. Periodontal destruction occurs due to the host's immune response to microbial stimulation, which can lead to tooth loss. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the correlation between IL-6 gene polymorphism (rs1800795) and chronic periodontitis in an Iranian population. Method This case-control analytical study was conducted on 54 patients with chronic periodontitis and 66 healthy individuals referred to the dental clinics of Shahid Beheshti, Zanjan, and Mashhad universities of medical sciences. After clinical examination and classification of subjects, blood samples (10 cc) were taken. The genomic DNA was extracted using salting-out method. The desired variant was amplified using PCR-RFLP method. Reaction products were analyzed after electrophoresis with 1% agarose gel. Data were analyzed with Pearson's chi-square and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium tests, and P<0.05 was considered as the significant level. Results The frequency of GG, GC, and CC genotypes was 41%, 44%, and 15%, in the patient group, and 36%, 42%, and 21%in the control group, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the distribution of any of the inheritance patterns (P>0.05). Conclusion The present study showed no relationship between IL-6 gene polymorphism (rs1800795) and chronic periodontitis in the studied population

Investigating the Association between rs4986790 Polymorphism of TLR4 Gene and Chronic Periodontitis in an Iranian Population: TLR4 Gene Polymorphism and Chronic Periodontitis

Objectives Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease in terms of etiology, including microbial, environmental, systemic, and genetic factors, and the host's immune response causes periodontal destruction. The present study was done to investigate the association between rs4986790 polymorphism of the TLR4 gene with chronic periodontitis in an Iranian population. Method The present case-control study was conducted on 120 people, including two groups of control (n=66) and patient (n=54) in 2022. A periodontist evaluated the periodontal condition of the people, 5 milliliters of blood sample was taken from participants, gene sequence was determined using the PCR-RFLP method, and statistical analysis was performed using the chi-square test to determine the association between the disease and the mentioned polymorphism. Results 64 participants (53.33%) were male, and the rest were female. The frequency of the A allele was 89% in the patient group and 90% in the control group, and the frequency of the G allele was 11% in the patient group and 10% in the control group. Also, the frequency of AA and AG genotypes was 78% and 22% in patients, and 80% and 20% in the control group, respectively (P=0.65). There was no statistically significant association between the genders, the presence of a specific allele or genotype with the occurrence of the disease. The odds ratio (OR) of the developing periodontitis in the heterozygous group compared to the homozygous group was calculated to be 0.78% (P=0.65). Conclusion There was no association between TLR-4 gene polymorphism and chronic periodontitis in the studied population. Keywords TLR4 Receptor; Chronic periodontitis; Single nucleotide polymorphism