International Journal of Medical Laboratory

Seroprevalence of Human T-lymphotropic Virus Infections among Pregnant Women in Urmia, Northwest Iran

Zakieh Rostamzadeh Khameneh, Sima Oshnouei — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 05:45:55 +0000

Introduction: The human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-1/2 is a retrovirus that can cause adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, tissue-necrotizing lymphadenitis, and tropical spastic paraparesis. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HTLV infection in pregnant women receiving care in Urmia, sited in northwest Iran.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 86 pregnant women in Urmia between May and September 2014. Following interviews and blood sample collection, the participants were screened for IgG antibodies against HTLV-1/2 using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

Results: The average age of the participants was 25.56 ± 5.30 years, with 3 individuals (3.49%) reporting a history of blood transfusion and 18 patients (20.93%) having experienced previous abortions. Serological testing did not reveal any evidence of HTLV-1/2 infection in the study population.

Conclusion: While screening for HTLV-1/2 infection in pregnant women holds significance, it appears that during the study period, this issue was not recognized as a major health concern among pregnant women in Urmia. This observation aligns with findings from other research in Iran, where awareness and emphasis on HTLV-1/2 screening in pregnant populations remain relatively low.

Evaluation of Lipid Peroxidation, Nitric Oxide Metabolites, and Plasma Total Homocysteine Concentration in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 05:49:39 +0000

Introduction: Numerous factors contribute to the advancement of progressive kidney damage in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Among these, oxidative damage plays a significant role in the progression of CKD. The reactions involving free radicals are recognized as a crucial element that can exacerbate oxidative damage in patients with CKD. However, the precise mechanisms underlying oxidative damage remain incompletely understood. Consequently, this study aimed to explore oxidative and other associated biochemical parameters.

Materials and Methods: This case-control study included 38 male and 23 female patients, with mean ages of 58.9 ± 15.9 and 62.13 ± 13.43 years, respectively. At the same time, 40 healthy male and 22 healthy female individuals with an average age of 60.33 ± 10.62 and 59.3 ± 6.64, respectively, were selected as the control group who had no history of any diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, infection and kidney disease. Research variables including malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide metabolites (nitrite/nitrate), and homocysteine (Hcy) concentration were measured in both case and control groups. Statistical analysis was done according to the obtained results.

Results: There was a significant increase in homocysteine concentration in CKD patients compared to the control (P = 0.001). Nitrite and nitrate metabolites exhibited a substantial reduction in patients when compared to the control group (P = 0.001). On the other hand, malondialdehyde (MDA) showed a significant increase in patients compared to controls (P = 0.01).

Conclusion: The findings indicate that homocysteine levels, lipid peroxidation, and alterations in nitric oxide may significantly contribute to the progression of oxidative damage in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may also influence the disease’s pathogenesis.

A Bibliometric Study of Articles Published in the International Journal of Medical Laboratory

Ismael Mostafavi , Somaye Dehghani-Sanij — Sun, 16 Feb 2025 05:59:38 +0000

Introduction: This study undertakes the first bibliometrics analysis of the past 10 years of the International Journal of Medical Laboratory (IJML), covering the articles published from 2014 to 2023. The study's focus is to describe the characteristics of scientific outputs by analyzing the performance and conceptual trends of IJML.

Materials and Methods: This applied study examines all articles published in the IJML journal through all its 32 issues by 2023. Keywords and authors' scientific collaboration network analysis were performed through bibliometrics and social network analysis, using Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, and statistical software.

Results: 288 articles were published in the IJML journal, by 1315 authors from 116 universities and research institutes from 2014-2023. “Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique”, “Bacteria,” and “Neoplasms” were the most valuable body of information identified based on the keyword visualization and density maps. There was no significant relationship between title length and abstract views or fulltext downloads (p = 0.514,
p = 0.362, respectively). However, a significant correlation exists between abstract views and fulltext downloads (p = 0.0001). Statistical correlation coefficients for the top 50 organizations show a strong positive correlation among the number of authors, submissions, and acceptances (p = 0.0001).

Conclusion: The paper identified the leading trends of the IJML journal in terms of papers, authors, institutions, and keywords. There was a moderate variety according to the distribution and scope of the contents published. Analyzing the journal’s trends and current research helps policymakers foster innovation and collaboration in medical laboratory science research

A Review of COVID-19-associated Fungal Infections

Ali Kamali , Mehdi Taheri Sarvtin — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Acute respiratory coronavirus 2, the causative agent of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has been among the most important pathogens driving the healthcare delivery system in the past few years. Immunosuppressive drugs are used to treat this disease, and perhaps the nature of this disease has increased opportunistic infections in these patients. This study aims to investigate the number of fungal infections in patients with COVID-19. For this reason, keywords such as: “COVID-19”, “Aspergillus”, “fungi”, “Candida”, “Cryptococcus,” “Pneumocystis,” and “Mucorales” were searched. According to the investigation that was carried out, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, Pneumocystis, Mucorales, and Candida were among the fungi that were investigated in patients with COVID-19. Lung damage, immunosuppression, need for oxygen therapy, steroid therapy, and hospitalization in intensive care units were known predisposing factors for fungal infections in these patients.

Liver Involvement in Childhood Cancers: Clinical and Laboratory Insights

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 03:39:12 +0000

Introduction: Liver involvement is observed in various malignancies and is characterized by abnormal liver function tests, imaging findings, or clinical signs linked to the liver. This study aimed to evaluate hepatic manifestations in childhood malignancies.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study analyzed hepatic manifestations in children under 18 with malignancy admitted to the pediatric oncology ward between April 2016 and April 2020.

Results: Among the 130 patients studied, 82 (63%) were male, and 48 (37%) were female. The mean age was 5.9 ± 4.31 years. Patients with hepatoblastoma, lymphoma, and leukemia exhibited the highest rates of abnormal liver enzyme levels. Elevated aspartate aminotransferase levels were most frequently noted in patients with hepatoblastoma (83.3%), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (58.3%), and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (32.7%). Similarly, elevated alanine aminotransferase levels were highest in patients with hepatoblastoma (50%), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (16.7%), and acute myeloblastic leukemia (22.2%). Hepatomegaly was the most common liver-related clinical sign, occurring in 41.5% of patients.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that clinical and laboratory liver involvement is highly prevalent among children with malignancies. Such involvement can provide insights into disease progression and play a critical role in treatment planning.

microRNAs in T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Roles and Contributions to Treatment Response

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 03:46:23 +0000

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy induced by the proliferation of immature T-cell precursors. Even with the development of multi-agent chemotherapy, treatment failure, and relapse remain the most important challenges because of drug resistance. miRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that modulate the expression of target mRNAs at the post-transcription level. They play significant roles in many biological processes, including tumorigenesis, differentiation, and apoptosis. Recent research has underlined the contribution of specific miRNAs to the pathogenesis of T-ALL and drug resistance. In the present review, the therapeutic potential of miRNA modulation in T-ALL disease will be discussed according to their role in disease biology, mechanisms of resistance, and possible strategies for clinical application

Cartilage-Specific Protein Expression in Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Treated with Pomegranate Seed Extract and Soybean/Avocado in Fibrin Scaffolds

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 03:50:47 +0000

Introduction: Due to the lack of repair of cartilage lesions, tissue engineering tries to produce cartilage using cells, scaffolds, and growth factors. Pomegranate seed extract (PSE) and unsaponifiable soybean/ avocado (ASU) are plant compounds that effectively maintain the extracellular cartilage matrix. In this study, we tried to investigate the effects of PSE on the process of chondrogenesis and compared it with the effects of ASU in this process.

Materials and Methods: Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) were transferred to fibrin scaffolds in the third passage in three groups (control, PSE, and ASU) for chondrogenic differentiation. After 14 days, Western blotting evaluated the samples for cell survival by (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) assay production of collagen type II and collagen type X.

Results: Evaluation of MTT results in different groups showed that the survival rate in the two groups of PSE and ASU was significantly lower than the control group (p ≤ 0.05). Quantitative western blotting showed that the production of collagen type II protein in both groups significantly increased compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.05). Quantitative analysis of collagen type X protein production showed that the production of this protein in the PSE group was significantly reduced compared to the ASU group.

Conclusion: PSE and ASU are two important factors in inducing chondrogenesis in hADSCs in fibrin scaffold. ASU's impact on chondrogenesis of hADSCs in fibrin scaffold is greater than that of PSE.

Combined Impact of Wheat Germ Oil and Music Therapy on Testicular Damage Caused by Acute and Chronic Immobility Stress in Male Rats

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 04:06:29 +0000

Introduction: There is increasing evidence that stress exposure leads to a series of male reproductive system disorders. Wheat germ oil is one of the richest vitamin E and α-tocopherol sources, which have antioxidant properties. Music therapy is appropriate for stress reduction in a variety of mental and medical healthcare centers. This study proposed to evaluate the effect of wheat germ oil and music intervention on testis tissue changes induced by acute and chronic immobility stress in male rats.

Materials and Methods: Thirty-five male rats, each weighing 230 ± 20 g, were randomly divided into seven groups: 1) control, 2) acute stress, 3) chronic stress, 4) acute stress + wheat germ oil, 5) chronic stress + wheat germ oil, 6) acute stress + music, and 7) chronic stress + music. Following the intervention period, the rats were euthanized, and blood and testicular tissues were collected. Body weight, sperm parameters, spermatogenesis indices, morphological and morphometric changes, oxidative stress markers, and serum testosterone levels were assessed.

Results: Chronic stress led to significant reductions in body weight, sperm parameters (including count, motility, and viability), spermatogenesis indices, and morphometric indices. Additionally, oxidative stress levels increased, while catalase activity and testosterone levels decreased. However, these adverse effects were mitigated in groups treated with wheat germ oil and exposed to music, resulting in the normalization of these parameters.

Conclusion: This study reveals that immobility stress enhances testicular damage indices, but the use of wheat germ oil and hearing the music improves these parameter