Qualitative Research Ladder for Fledging Researchers A Review of Essentials of Qualitative Inquiry

In order to qualify our research, I think quantitative studies are not enough. A s a matter of fact, we need more qualitative studies especially if we are dealing with human traits and the social sciences’ studies as the numbers would not suffice. In doing so, there is a need for resear4chers to acquire a full understanding of qualitative research methodology, data collection procedures and the risks and issues related to them. For the beginners to enter in to the ocean of qualitative research areas, it seems necessary to have good sourcebooks to get a general view of this type of research and then deeply dive in the ocean of qualitative studies which needs lots of endeavor. In Essentials of Qualitative Inquiry, Maria J. Mayan (2009) provides a handy ladder for these beginning qualitative researchers to gain an introductory perspective

Assessment of Health Literacy and Self-care Behaviors among Patients Discharged from COVID-19 Wards

Introduction: The rapid outbreak of the new COVID-19 virus has become an international health challenge. Confronting the prevalence of this pathogenic virus requires, in the first step, health literacy and self-care on people’s part. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out over three months. A total of 67 patients discharged from a COVID-19 ward were selected randomly. Data were collected using a validated researcher-made questionnaire on health literacy and self-care. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Results: Sixty-seven patients (mean age: 45.32 ± 9.39; age range: 29 - 87) were assessed. The majority were male (64.2%), married (79.1%), illiterate (44.8%), and homemaker or unemployed (37.3%). The overall mean score of health literacy and self-care was moderate. The results of the Pearson correlation test showed a significantly positive association between overall health literacy and its components as well as the total self-care and its components among the patients studied (p <.001). Conclusion: Since self-care increases with health literacy among COVID-19 patients, it demands educational interventions in this area to improve health literacy

The Effects of Conditioned Medium from Bone Marrow-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on EMT Markers

Abstract Introduction: Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in colorectal cancer cell is a critical process in which cells lose their epithelial properties and obtain mesenchymal characteristics, resulting in tumor cells and metastasis. This study attempted to work on the effects of conditioned medium from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on EMT markers. Materials and Methods: In this study, HT29 was used  which is the colorectal cancer cell line. Cells were treated for 72 hours with BMSC-CM in order to induce EMT in HT29. The Real-Time PCR was used for evaluating EMT markers such as E-cadherin- β-catenin -vimentin-and transcription factors. Results: Inducing EMT in colorectal cancer cells caused morphological changes. It was manifested that E-cadherin is downregulated after induction of EMT with treated BMSC-CM. On the other hand, there were a significant increase in β-catenin, Vimentin, Snail and ZEB1 expression. Conclusion: Understanding the molecular basis of tumor metastasis is critical for colorectal cancer treatment. Findings demonstrated morphological alterations in consequence MSCs-CM activates induction of EMT. This process affects EMT markers of E-cadherina, Vimentin, β-Catenin and transcription factors of Snail and ZEB1. This model helps knowing cancer and metastasis pathway and also could be used in drug screening procedures

Association of miR-200a and miR-205 Expression with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Abstract Introduction: MicroRNAs play a critical role in EMT regulation through tightly regulating the transcription factors. EMT (Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition) in the colorectal cancer cell (CRC) is a highly controlled mechanism, contributing to the development of progressive cancer. Throughout this research, miR-200a/205 was focused as a component implicated throughout regulating the EMT process in colorectal cancer cells. In this sense, the induction of the EMT process was made using colorectal cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: The mRNA levels of E-cadherin, Vimentin, β-catenin, Zeb1, and Snail were determined using real time-PCR for characterization of the EMT process. True real time-PCR was conducted for evaluating the alteration amount of microRNAs. Results: The findings of this study verified the in-vitro EMT model being developed. The in vitro analysis revealed a negative correlation between the Zeb1 and Snail miR-200a and miR205 (P=0.001) (P=0.0001). The results of miR-200a and miR205 are regulated down in vitro. Conclusion: miR-200a and miR205 may be used as candidates in further research to prevent colorectal cancer's invasive properties via the EMT process

Comparing the Effect of Vitamin E and N-Acetylcysteine on Prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Diabetic Patients under Coronary Angiography

Introduction:  Considering the incidence of contrast  induced  nephropathy  (CIN) as well as  its  complications  and    costs,  prevention  and  reducing  the  risk  of  CIN  is  an  essential  issue.  The  present  study  aimed  to  evaluate  the  efficacy  of  vitamin  E  and  N-acetylcysteine  (NAC)  on the prevention  of  CIN  in  diabetic  patients  undergoing  coronary  angiography. Materials and Methods:  360  patients  with  diabetes  who  required  angiography,  including  patients  with  stable  angina  susceptible  to  acute  myocardial  infarction  and  patients  with  acute  coronary  syndrome  were  included  and  randomized  into  three  groups .  Group  1  received  serum  therapy  (Normal Saline)  plus  NAC  and  placebo  of  vitamin  E,  group  2  received  serum  therapy  plus  vitamin  E  and  placebo  of  NAC,  and  group  3  only  received  serum  therapy  with  two  placebos  of  NAC  and  vitamin  E.  The groups were compared considering CIN after angiography. Results:  A  total  of  93  patients  were  studied  in  group  1,  94  in  group  2,  and  113  in  group  3.  CIN  occurred  in  4  patients  (4.3%),  4  patients  (4.3%),  and  8  patients  (7.1%)  in  groups  1,  2,  and  3,  respectively  (P=0.58).  There was  a  significant  difference  in  mean  difference  of  creatinine  levels  before  and  after  study  in  groups  1  and  2  (both  P<0.001).  In  the  subgroup  of  patients  with  chronic  kidney  disease,  NAC  significantly  reduced  CIN  (P=0.03). Conclusion:  The results  suggested  efficacy  of  both  interventions,  considering  reduction  of  mean  Serum creatinine ( Scr) after  the  study,  while  lack  of  significant  difference  in  the  incidence  of  CIN  could  be  because  of  the  low  number  of  CIN  in  our  study.  The second  important  finding  of  this  study,  probably the  reduced  risk  of  CIN  in  diabetic  patients  with  chronic  kidney  disease  receiving  NAC,  recommends  the  use  of  NAC  for  prevention  of  CIN,  especially  in  this  subgroup  of  patients  undergoing  angiography

Effects of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Mouse Sperm Parameters and Testicular Tissue

Background: Iron oxide nanoparticles are commonly used for various purposes, such as biomedical, medical, and cosmetic services and research. However, there is a little information about the effects of the nanoparticles on human health. The current investigation was conducted to evaluate the adverse effects of iron oxide nanoparticles (FeNP) on the reproductive organs of mice, such as the testicular tissue and sperm cells. Methods: Twenty-eight male NMRI mice were randomly divided in four groups (N=7). The control group received only a regular diet. The experimental groups were administered FeNP in doses of 50, 150 and 300 mg/Kg intraperitoneally (IP), over four days. Epididymal sperm parameters, such as sperm number and motility were assessed by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Stereological analysis was also conducted on the histological sections. Results: The results demonstrated that FeNP (300 mg/Kg/day) caused a significant decrease in the sperm parameters, such as motility, spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, spermatid, Sertoli, Leydig cells, total length of seminiferous tubules, and testicular interstitial tissue volumes. Conclusion: In summary, FeNP affected several reproductive tissue and cellular parameters at the administered dosage. Further research is required to examine the mechanism of action of FeNP the mice reproductive system

Solitary Synchronous Pancreatic Metastasis from Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Rare Case Report

Pancreas is an organ that is hardly affected by metastasis from other primary cancers; also, pancreatic metastasis from esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an extremely infrequent entity. Metastatic esophageal cancer has a poor prognosis and the five-year survival rate is less than 5%. Here, we described a rare case of a 78-year-old woman presented with abdominal bloating, intermittent mild nausea, and loss of appetite and weight. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed ESCC in the upper part of esophagus. A mass lesion between the head and body of pancreas was detected during metastatic work-up. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration was performed, morphologic features and immunohistochemistry confirmed metastatic squamous cell carcinoma from esophagus. Definitive chemoradiotherapy with curative intent was done on both oesophageal and pancreatic lesion. Interestingly, after nine months of treatment, the patient had no issues either in esophagus or in abdomen. In conclusion, local therapy could be considered as one of the best choices to improve the overall survival in ESCC with single metastasis to pancreas

Evaluation of the acute effects of smoking on cardiac electrical function and hemodynamic indices in smokers

Background: Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Although numerous studies have evaluated the long-term consequences of smoking, few studies have assessed the short-term effects of smoking, especially on the electrical activity of the heart. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the acute effect of smoking on cardiac electrical function and hemodynamic indices in smokers. Materials: In this single-arm pretest-posttest study, 130 healthy smokers participated if they had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and were smoking daily. After considering the exclusion criteria, participants were monitored before and 10 minutes after smoking by electrocardiography (ECG) to measure QT dispersion (QTD) and P-wave dispersion (PWD), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and respiration rate (RR). Finally, the data obtained before and after smoking were compared. Results: The mean age of the participants was 40.3 ± 10.6 years (range 19 to 71 years). 55 (42.3%) participants smoked between 10-15 years and 67 (51.5%) smoked 10 to 20 pack-years. After smoking, SBP (127.3 ± 10.4 vs. 138.4 ± 12.8 mmHg), QTD (33.5 ± 9.6 vs. 43.9 ± 10.7 ms) and PWD (28.9 ± 6.6 vs. 34.5 ± 7.4 ms), HR (80.1±9.8 vs 87.6±9.9) increased significantly (P value <0.001). In other parameters, no significant differences were observed. Conclusions: Smoking is associated with an acute increase in QTD and PWD, and thus an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias (e.g. Torsade’s de pointes), atrial fibrillation, sudden death, and other heart problems

Chitosan-based nanoscale systems for doxorubicin delivery:Exploring biomedical application in cancer therapy

Abstract Green chemistry has been a growing multidisciplinary field in recent years showing great promise in biomedical applications, especially for cancer therapy. Chitosan (CS) is an abundant biopolymer derived from chitin and is present in insects and fungi. This polysaccharide has favorable characteristics, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ease of modification by enzymes and chemicals. CS‐based nanoparticles (CS‐NPs) have shown potential in the treatment of cancer and other diseases, affording targeted delivery and overcoming drug resistance. The current review emphasizes on the application of CS‐NPs for the delivery of a chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin (DOX), in cancer therapy as they promote internalization of DOX in cancer cells and prevent the activity of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) to reverse drug resistance. These nanoarchitectures can provide co‐delivery of DOX with antitumor agents such as curcumin and cisplatin to induce synergistic cancer therapy. Furthermore, co‐loading of DOX with siRNA, shRNA, and miRNA can suppress tumor progression and provide chemosensitivity. Various nanostructures, including lipid‐, carbon‐, polymeric‐ and metal‐based nanoparticles, are modifiable with CS for DOX delivery, while functionalization of CS‐NPs with ligands such as hyaluronic acid promotes selectivity toward tumor cells and prevents DOX resistance. The CS‐NPs demonstrate high encapsulation efficiency and due to protonation of amine groups of CS, pH‐sensitive release of DOX can occur. Furthermore, redox‐ and light‐responsive CS‐NPs have been prepared for DOX delivery in cancer treatment. Leveraging these characteristics and in view of the biocompatibility of CS‐NPs, we expect to soon see significant progress towards clinical translation

Interactions of Colorectal Cancer, Dietary Fats, and Polymorphisms of Arachidonate Lipoxygenase and Cyclooxygenase Genes: A Literature Review

ObjectiveGenetics and dietary factors play important roles in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the underlying mechanisms of the interactions between CRC, gene polymorphisms, and dietary fat are unclear. This review study investigated the effects of polymorphisms of arachidonate lipoxygenase (ALOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) genes in the association between CRC and dietary fat.MethodsAll the related papers published from 2000 to 2022 were collected from different databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Cochran using related keywords such as colorectal cancer, ALOX, COX, polymorphism, and dietary fat. Non-English and unrelated documents were excluded.ResultsSome single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ALOX and COX genes, such as rs2228065, rs6413416, and rs4986832 in the ALOX gene, and rs689465 in the COX gene may play significant roles in the association between the risk of CRC and dietary fats. SNPs of ALOX and COX genes may influence the effects of dietary fatty acids on the risk of CRC.ConclusionSome polymorphisms of the ALOX and COX genes may have important roles in the effects of dietary fat on the risk of CRC. If future studies confirm these results, dietary recommendations for preventing colorectal cancer may be personalized based on the genotype of the ALOX and COX genes