Pomegranate seed extract reduces ischemia induced anxiety in male rats

Introduction: Ischemia-associated depression and anxiety may occur due to brain damage caused by oxidative stress. A number of reports indicated that treatment with herbal plant extracts with antioxidant properties could lead to a significant reduction in Ischemic complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behaviors of ischemic rats through animal models of anxiety and exploratory behavior (open field) to determine the efficiency of pomegranate seed extract (PGSE) as antioxidant.Methods: In this study, 21 male Wistar rats (250 ± 20 g) were randomly divided into 3 groups with 7 in each: 1) Control; 2) Ischemic; 3) Ischemic plus PGSE (14 days). In order to create ischemia/hypoperfusion, carotid arteries were ligatured and cut bilaterally. Then, plus maze and open-field tests were used for the measurement.Results: Ischemic rats showed a significant increase in anxiety or decrease approach and reduction locomotor activity compared to control group. Fourteen days administration of PGSE significantly improved the immobilization and ischemia-induced anxiety.Conclusion: PGSE exhibits therapeutic potential for anxiety and depression, which is most likely related, at least in part, to its antioxidant and free radical scavenging actions

Gene polymorphisms and prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review

Background: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are associated with variable prognosis even with similar clinical characteristics and treatments. Gene polymorphisms have been suggested as prognostic factors for HNSCC which can justified this variable prognosis. So, the aim was to review literatures on gene polymorphisms and prognosis of HNSCCs. Materials and methods: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Web of science, SCOPUS, Google Scholar and Cochrane library databases to find all related articles published up to December 2021 in the field of gene polymorphisms and HNSCC prognosis. Results: Of 1029 initial searched articles, 71 articles were selected for inclusion in this systematic review. About 93 genes and 204 polymorphisms have been discussed in these articles. Among the most studied polymorphisms, the XRCC1 Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp polymorphisms were not associated with survival in most studies; the ERCC1 C19007T polymorphism had no significant association in any of the studies. Different gene polymorphisms of glutathione s-transferase family, including GSTM1 deletion, GSTT1 deletion and GSTP1 A313G, were not associated with survival in included studies. There are conflicting results regarding the association between polymorphisms such as ERCC2 A35931C, Asp312Asn, ERCC5 rs1047768 and rs17655 with HNSCC prognosis. Less studied polymorphisms, such as hOGG1 rs1052133 or the VEGF rs699947, were generally not associated with HNSCC prognosis. Conclusion: Reviewed articles reported varied and contradictory results regarding the association of gene polymorphisms and HNSCC prognosis, which necessitates further studies along with meta-analysis on the results of such studies.

Gene polymorphisms and risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review

Background: Exposure to the same environmental factors in different people have resulted in different susceptibility to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which suggests genetic variation may be a risk factor for the development of HNSCC. So, the aim was to review literatures on the association between gene polymorphisms and risk of HNSCCs. Materials and methods: This systematic review included all articles on the impact of gene polymorphisms on risk and susceptibility to HNSCC published till September 2021 using PubMed, Web of science, SCOPUS, Google Scholar and Cochrane library databases. Results: Of 1163 initial searched articles, 77 articles were eligible to include in this review. Studies were categorized based on gene functions. In each category, studied gene polymorphisms related to growth control genes, cell cycle control, apoptosis, DNA repair genes, carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, alcohol-metabolizing genes, antioxidant gene, inflammatory cytokine, transcription factor, tumor immunity, folate metabolism, and tumor suppressor gene were discussed separately. Among the polymorphisms that are often significantly associated with HNSCC risk are: GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, CYP2D6 *4, XRCC1 Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln, ERCC1 C8092A, XPD  Lys751Gln, XRCC3 Thr241Met, P53 codon 72 and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms. Conclusion: Varied and contradictory results have been reported in different studies regarding the association of gene polymorphisms with HNSCC risk. To conclude about this association and to overcome these contradictions, it is necessary to use the results of existing meta-analyses or to perform new or updated meta-analyses.

Effect of Beloved Person’s Voice on Chest Tube Removal Pain in Patients undergoing Open Heart Surgery: Fuzzy Logistic Regression Model

Chest tube removal pain is one of the important complications after open heart surgery. The removal of a chest tube is a painful and frightening experience and should be managed with as little pain and distress as possible. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of beloved person’s voice on chest tube removal pain in patients undergoing open heart surgery. 128 patients were randomly assigned to two groups: one group listened to beloved person’s voice during the procedure, and the other did not. Since pain was measured by linguistic terms, a fuzzy logistic regression was applied for modeling. After controlling for the potential confounders, based on fuzzy logistic regression, the beloved person’s voice reduced the risk of pain. Therefore, using beloved person’s voice could be effective, inexpensive and safe for distraction and reduction of pain

False-positive defects on exercise 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT imaging, but not on dipyridamole 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT imaging, in a patient with right bundle branch block (RBBB)

False-positive findings with myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI)have frequently been identified in the presence of left bundlebranch block (LBBB) and tend to lower the accuracy of MPI inindividuals with normal coronary angiographs. Pharmacologicstress is recognized as the preferred method for MPI in patientswith LBBB. In contrast, very few studies have evaluated the effectof right bundle branch block (RBBB) on MPI, and there isno consensus regarding the selection of pharmacologic versusexercise stress during MPI for the RBBB patient. In this study,we present a 45-year-old man with RBBB, who has a normal coronary artery angiography, but who showed abnormal myocardialperfusion with exercise MPI, and normal perfusion ondipyridamole MPI. The aim of the study is to stimulate awarenessthat the stress method selected for patients with RBBB canpotentially interfere with the accuracy of the data

Comparative Evaluation of Immunohistochemical Expression of Endothelin A Receptor between Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Normal Oral Mucosa

Background: Recent research has provided evidences indicating the importance of endothelin axis in carcinogenesis. According to our knowledge, there are little information about endothelin A receptor (ETA) expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). So, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of ETA in OSCC and normal oral mucosa (NOM). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, studied group composed of paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 21 OSCCs and 20 NOMs. Four micron sections were prepared from tissue blocks and stained with ETA antibody using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Percentage of stained cells and staining intensity were compared between OSCC and NOM groups and also between different grades of OSCC using Mann-Whitney, Chi-Square and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests. Results: In OSCC group, all cases showed positive staining for ETA while in NOM group, 17 cases showed no staining. Comparison of the percentage of stained cells and staining intensity for ETA revealed a significant difference between OSCC and NOM groups (P<0.001). There was also a significant difference between different grades of OSCC with respect to the percentage of stained cells (P=0.01) so that with increase in grade, ETA expression was also increased. Conclusion: The results of this study support the role of ETA receptor in carcinogenesis process and progression of OSCC

Myofibroblasts in calcifying odontogenic cyst and dentigerous cyst

Introduction:Calcifying odontogenic cyst (COC) is an odontogenic cyst that sometimes shows aggressive behavior, while dentigerous cyst (DC) always has a benign nonaggressive course. There are evidences that myofibroblasts are involved in invasion and their role in biologic behavior of odontogenic cysts has been less understood. So, the aim of the present study was to compare the role of myofibroblasts in COC and DC. Methods:In this cross-sectional study, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of 20 COCs and 20 DCs were studied. Four-micron sections were prepared from tissue blocks and stained with α-SMA antibody using immunohistochemistry. Percentages of myofibroblasts were semi quantitatively classified into negative (50% of cells were positive). Percentage of myofibroblasts was compared between COC and DC groups using t-test and Chi-Square statistical tests. Results:Means of myofibroblasts percentages in COC and DC groups were respectively 35±33 and 32±30 that did not show significant difference between COC and DC groups (P=0.76). There was not any significant difference between COC and DC groups with respect to semi quantitative classification of percentage of myofibroblasts (P=0.62). Conclusion:Myofibroblasts probably do not play a significant role in different biologic behaviors of calcifying odontogenic and dentigerous cysts

The association of increased stomach wall radiotracer uptake with prolonged use of Omeprazole capsules on myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT

Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is widely used in routinepractice for diagnosis and risk stratification of coronary arterydisease (CAD). Intense curvilinear activity in the stomach wallof a patient was seen on MPI raw data. This phenomenon was completely dissimilar to the familiar intraluminal gastricreflux of sestamibi. This observed activity could have resultedin false-positive or false-negative artifacts — and inaccurate diagnosis — of the inferior wall of the left ventricle after MPI processing. On further exploration, the current researchers found that the patient had a history of 10-year Omeprazole capsule consumption. The authors present this infrequent case of intense stomach uptake to stress the related clinical and diagnostic implications with the aim to stimulate acute awareness of possible, unexpected infringements on image quality that could potentially interfere with accurate interpretation of the data

Comparative evaluation of the frequency of myofibroblasts between oral and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas

Introduction: Differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts is an initial and very important event in tumor genesis. Myofibroblasts produce proteinases that stimulate invasion in cancers. Due to the more malignant potential of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) compared to cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) , the aim of the present study was to compare myofibroblasts between OSCC and CSCC to understand whether myofibroblasts can help more malignant potential of OSCC compared to CSCC or not. Materials &Methods: This cross-sectional study included 40 cases of OSCC and CSCC and 20 cases of normal skin and normal oral mucosa. Then, 4-micron sections of paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of studied groups were stained immunohistochemically with α-SMA antibody. Mean percentage of myofibroblasts was calculated in invasive fronts of OSCCs with CSCCs and also in normal samples and staining intensity of cells for α-SMA marker and distribution pattern of myofibroblasts were determined. Results: The differences of average percentage of myofibroblasts in OSCC and CSCC compared to normal groups were significant (Pvalue= 0.007 and Pvalue=0.003 respectively), but when we compared OSCCs and CSCCs, the difference was not significant. Also, there were no significant differences between OSCC and CSCC with regard to staining intensity and pattern. Conclusion: Different biologic behavior of OSCC compared to CSCC doesn’t depend on myofibroblasts and other factors can be involved

Use of pristine papaya peel to remove Pb(II) from aqueous solution

In this study, Carica papaya agro-waste (papaya peel) was employed for Pb(II) uptake from single-solute solutions. The papaya peel-derived (PP) adsorbent namely as raw-PP was employed in sets of batch experiments to evaluate its Pb(II) uptake capacity. To assess the surface characteristics of the adsorbents, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) coupled with energy disperse X-ray (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis were utilized. The removal amount of Pb(II) using the adsorbent was determined by atomic adsorption spectrometry (AAS). The effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration of Pb(II) and adsorbent dosage were investigated throughout batch processes. The pH value=3 for the Pb(II) adsorption process using the raw-PP was observed as optimum solution pH. The optimum initial concentration of Pb(II) in the solution for raw-PP adsorbent found to be 100 mg/L where the amount of Pb(II) removed was 33.82 mg/g. At the agitating time of 90 min, the adsorption processes using the developed adsorbent reached equilibrium utilizing dosages of 50 mg of raw-PP as an adsorbents. The experimental results obtained using the raw-PP exhibits the high capability and metal affinity of papaya peel waste with removal efficiency percentage of > 85 %. The evaluation results show that the equilibrium adsorption of Pb(II) was best expressed by Freundlich isotherm model (R2 > 0.99). The experimental results confirmed that raw-PP potentially can be employed as low cost adsorbent for Pb(II) uptake from aqueous solutions. The study suggests that future chemical modification of PP may offer increasing of its metal removal capacity