Expression levels of circulatory mir-185-5p, vascular endothelial growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor target genes in endometriosis

Background: Using blood-based biomarkers such as microRNAs (miRNAs) may allow particularly effective and minimally invasive diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Objective: We evaluated the differential expression of circulating miRNA-185-5p (miR- 185-5p), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) target genes between endometriosis and healthy women. Materials and Methods: 25 women with a history of endometriosis (grad III-IV) diagnosed by laparoscopy as the case group and 25 women without endometriosis underwent laparoscopy for ovarian cysts or pelvic pain as the control group were enrolled in this case-control study. Blood samples were obtained, and total RNA was used for high-throughput small RNA sequencing, and this was confirmed by means of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: miRNA expression profiling using non-coding RNA sequencing revealed that one miRNA including miR-185-5p was significantly down-regulated in the case group compared with the controls. The qRT-PCR results showed significant downregulation of the expression level of miR-185-5p (p < 0.01) in the plasma of the case group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed the area of miR-185-5p under the ROC curve for endometriosis diagnosis was 0.919 (p < 0.001). The RT-PCR results demonstrated that there was no significant difference in the expression of VEGF and PDGF mRNA of blood samples in the cases compared to the control group (PDGF, p = 0.09 and VEGF, p = 0.36). Conclusion: The low expression of miR-185-5p in the plasma of women with endometriosis could be employed as an important non-invasive biomarker for early detection and screening of endometriosis by blood samples. Key words: Biomarker, miRNA, Diagnosis, Endometriosis, Angiogenesis

Improvement in Cardiac Function following Transplantation of Human Umbilical Cord Matrix-Derived Mesenchymal Cells

Objectives: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal cells (hUCM) can be easily obtained and processed in a laboratory. These cells may be considered as a suitable source in the repair of heart failure diseases. We, therefore, examined whether these cells may contribute to heart regeneration following an acute experimental myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: MI-induced animals received 5 ! 10 6 hUCM cells, 5 ! 10 6 5-azacytidine-treated cells (dhUCM), or PBS alone, subepicardially. A group of animals with MI and no other former intervention served as controls. dhUCM cells were assessed for F-actin, myogenin and troponin-I expression. Re-sults: dhUCM cells appeared as binucleated cells with extensive cytoplasmic processes. These differentiated cells were F-actin and myogenin positive. Thirty days after LAD ligation, left ventricular ejection fraction and the percentage of fractional shortening improved significantly in cell-receiving animals. In addition, the amount of scar tissue was significantly reduced in hUCM and dhUCM groups compared to MI group (p ! 0.05). These parameters were comparable between hUCM and dhUCM groups. Histopathological evaluations revealed that some engrafted cells adjacent to and remote from the MI area expressed troponin-I, F-actin and connexin43. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated the potential therapeutic use of either differentiated or undifferentiated hUCM cells in treatment of heart failure conditions

Congenital rubella syndrome in Iran

BACKGROUND: Congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) can be prevented with appropriate vaccination programs. The prevalence rates of rubella and CRS in Iran are unknown; therefore, the risk of exposure in pregnant women is not clear. The prevalence of CRS in the pre-vaccine period can be estimated by evaluating the proportion of children in the population with sensorineural hearing loss attributable to rubella. METHODS: This was a case-control study to estimate prevalence of CRS in Tehran (Iran) by evaluating the proportion of children with sensorineural hearing loss attributable to rubella. The study used rubella antibody titer as an indicator, and compared the prevalence of rubella antibody between children with and without sensorineural hearing loss. Using these findings, the proportion of cases of sensorineural hearing loss attributable to rubella was estimated. RESULTS: A total of 225 children aged 1 to 4 years were entered into the study (113 cases and 112 controls). There was a significant difference between cases and controls with regard to rubella antibody seropositivity (19.5% vs. 8.9%, respectively, odds ratio = 2.47, 95% CI = 1.04–5.97). The proportion of sensorineural hearing loss cases attributable to rubella was found to be 12%, corresponding to a CRS prevalence of 0.2/1000. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CRS was approximately 0.2/1000 before rubella vaccination in Iran, Moreover; the results suggest that implementation of appropriate rubella vaccination programs could potentially prevent about 12% of cases of sensorineural hearing loss in Iranian children. This data could potentially be used as baseline data, which in conjunction with an appropriate method, to establish a surveillance system for rubella vaccination in Iran. An appropriate surveillance system is needed, because the introduction of a rubella vaccine without epidemiological data and an adequate monitoring program could result in the shifting of rubella cases to higher ages, and increasing the incidence of CRS

Electrical stimulation with non-implanted electrodes for overactive bladder in adults

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Assessment of Factors Affecting Quality of Life of Elderly Clients Coveraged Bye Health Centers of Southern of Tehran

Objectives: The world population is aging rapidly because of rising life expectancy and deacrising fertility rate.with increasing longevity and special aging problems attention and evaluation the quality of life of elderly for health promotion would be significant importance Methods & Materials: this study is a descriptive and analytical study carried out to investigate the quality of life of elderly clients coveraged bye health centers of southern of tehran, in 2010-2011.132 elderly clients were selected by using the cluster randomised sampling from 5health centers. in this study a short form standard questionnaire (sf36)was used for evaluation diverse domains of life quality scores. we also measured some other personal characteristics through demographic questionnaire. data were analyzed with descriptive and analytic statistics by spss software. Results: the mean score of physical domains of quality of life which was 54.42&plusmn;24.42 and emotional domain of quality of life was 55.19&plusmn;24.04. mean age was 67.97&plusmn;6.86. research showed age had meaninful reverse relationship to quality of life (P=0.000, r=-0.4), men had higher quality of life scores than women.education level was directly related to all domains of life quality (P=0/000). married persons and who they lived with childerns or others had the higher quality of life scores than singles (divorced, widow) (P<0.001). and physical activity was directly related to quality of life (P=0.000). but statistically significant differences were not found between the mean score of quality of life and BMI. (physical domain: P=0.59-emotional domain: P=0.127). notsmokers had higher quality of life scores than smokers. (P<0.05). Conclusion: total score of quality of life of elderly was moderate (54.81). therrefore attention and try to improving the quality of life of elderly clients is essential

dictors of preoperative Anxiety Among Surgical Patients in Iran: An Observational Study

Background: Patients undergoing surgery experience significant anxiety in the preoperative period. The aim of the present study was to identify the level of preoperative anxiety among Iranian patients in surgery clinics and its predictive factors.&#x0D; Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire was used to assess the patients’ preoperative anxiety. Results were analysed using the Chi-square test and binary logistic regression analysis.&#x0D; Results: 246 patients were randomly selected, 222 of which were finally included in our analysis. In this study, the state and trait anxiety levels were moderate and low, respectively. Both state and trait anxiety levels were significantly higher among females (p-value 0.03 and 0.009, respectively). Also, patients with higher education had higher state and trait anxiety levels (p-value 0.001 and &lt;0.001, respectively). Patients undergoing aesthetic surgeries had significantly higher state anxiety levels compared to other surgeries (p-value 0.04). Interestingly, the history of surgery was not significantly associated with state anxiety (p-value 0.96). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, marital status, and education were the most predictive factors for state anxiety. These factors along with the place of residence were also predictive for trait anxiety (p-value &lt;0.05).&#x0D; Conclusion: Since these predictive factors are not amenable to change before elective surgery, identification of patients with higher anxiety levels is essential. Further studies investigating preoperative anxiety a few days prior to surgery in the Iranian population should be warranted.</jats:p

Investigating the association between polymorphism of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor gene and ovarian response in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

Aim : The aim of the study was to investigate the association between follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene polymorphism at Position 680 and the outcomes of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in infertile women. Materials and Methods : One hundred and eight patients under 35 years of age who underwent IVF-ET procedures were included in this study. The hormonal profile and treatment of all patients were analyzed and FSHR polymorphism was examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Women from all groups were classified based on polymorphisms at Position 680, occupied either by asparagines (Asn) or serine (Ser) as Asn/Asn, Asn/Ser, and Ser/Ser genotype. Result : Our study showed that all patients in the Asn/Asn group were normal responders and in the Asn/Ser group 64.8% were normal responders and 21.1% and 14.1% were poor and hyper responders respectively. In the Ser/Ser group we did not have normal responders and 46.7% of these patients were poor responders and 53.3% were hyper responders. Conclusion : FSH receptor polymorphism is correlated with response to ovarian stimulation

Relationship between life style-related factors with cardiac ischemia among inpatients: A case-control study

Introduction: More than seventeen millions people die due to cardiovascular diseases which account for one third of death worldwide. Half of 60% of all mortality caused by acquired diseases throughout the world is due to heart disorders and this ratio will augment to 73% by 2020. It is known that individual lifestyle has a great influence on the well-being of cardiovascular system. Seven of the top ten etiologies leading to death are related to the pattern of lifestyle. This study explored various lifestyle-related factors affecting ischemic conditions. Method: This study was performed as a case control investigation on 65 subjects along with 65 controls who were all admitted at Sevome Shaaban hospital in Damavand town of Iran. All data ) demographic and life-style variables) were gathered, using three different types of questionnaire obtained from each person. p< 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Age, marriage status, smoking, physical activities, diet and mental health condition were shown to have a significant effect on ischemia (P <0.001). Insufficient physical activities, fatty and low fiber food as well as impaired psychology conditions were among the risk factors that contributed to Ischemic heart disease. Conclusion: Insufficient physical activities, fatty and low fiber food as well as impaired psychology conditions were among the risk factors that contribute to ischemic heart disease