Journal of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences

Investigating the Exosomes’ Compositions: An Inevitable Necessity in Cancer Treatment

Alireza Khanahmad, Mohammad Hossein Khazaee-Nasirabadi — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 08:27:59 +0000

Introduction: Exosomes, small microvesicles of endosomal origin, play a pivotal role in intercellular communication and various physiological and pathological processes. All cell types, especially cancer cells, release exosomes. These vesicles can induce tumor progression, metastasis, and drug resistance by altering the tumor microenvironment and transferring their content to target cells. Exosomes contain lipids, proteins, and genetic biomolecules such as DNA, mRNA, and miRNA with their contents varying depending on cell type and disease state. Despite their role in cancer progression, exosomes also show potential as therapeutic agents. They are effective carriers for targeted drug delivery due to their high biocompatibility and low immunogenicity. However, more extensive clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of exosome-based therapies. Oncology researchers are encouraged to investigate exosome contents more precisely and design new therapeutic strategies utilizing these vesicles.

Saving a Life: Suicide Prevention

Rezvan SadrMohammadi, Somayeh Hadad Ranjbar, Reza Bidaki — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 08:28:12 +0000

Introduction: Suicide is considered as a serious and important problem in health and comprehensive health. Every year, approximately 700,000 people around the world die by suicide, which is more than those killed in war. Death by suicide is not only the loss of a life, but it also causes psychological damage to the other family members and friends. Important factors affect suicidal behavior. So much suicide is a serious public health problem. All 194 member states of the World Health Organization have signed the Comprehensive Mental Health action plan 2013-2020, which tasks governments with implementing evidence-based interventions in community settings to prevent suicide at all stages of life. In addition, the guardians of mental health also play an important role in the prevention of suicidal behavior.

Conclusion: Based on recent studies, effective treatments based on clinical evidence in the fields of psychology and psychiatry are introduced to save a life for colleagues in the field of mental health.

Prevalence of Group B Streptococcus Colonization in Pregnant Women in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mahsa Ghamari, Maryam Siroosi, Reza Beigverdi — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 08:28:06 +0000

Introduction: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) or Streptococcus agalactiae is one of the main causes of invasive infections such as meningitis and septicemia in infants. Genital colonization with group B streptococci has been related to increased risk of premature delivery, and premature infants are at greater risk of disease. There is limited information about the prevalence of rectovaginal GBS colonization in pregnant women in Iran. The aim of the present study was investigating the prevalence of group B streptococcus colonization in pregnant women in Iran.

Methods: Information of this study was attained by searching on databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science and SID using relevant keywords and without time limit. Then, the studies containing the inclusion criteria were reviewed. The data were analyzed using Comprehensive MetaAnalysis software (Biostat V3). Heterogeneity between studies was investigated with the I2 index and based on the results of heterogeneity, the random effect model was implemented in order to determine the prevalence of GBS in pregnant women.

Results: Out of 231 articles, 15 articles were included in the study. The analysis of 15 studies showed that the prevalence of GBS in Iranian pregnant women was 12.2% (95% CI: 9.9-15.1).

Conclusion: In order to prevent the invasive neonatal disease, screening for GBS colonization is recommended for pregnant women in 35–37 weeks of gestation. Regarding the lack of preventive strategies for GBS infections in Iran, national guidelines should be established to guide the obstetricians, midwives, and nurses on the prevention of GBS infections.

Sexual Function and Marital Intimacy in Mastectomized Women with Breast Cancer: Mediating Role of Body Image Concern

Mansoureh Hamzehrad, Mandana Niknam, Fatemeh Amani Kelarijani — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 08:28:18 +0000

Introduction: Mastectomy surgical method greatly affects the long-term quality of life of women with breast cancer. Mastectomy can play an important role in sexual desire and marital intimacy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of body image concern in the relationship between sexual function and marital intimacy in women with mastectomy breast cancer.

Methods: The research method was a descriptive correlation type. The population included all the patients with mastectomy breast cancer whose list was available in 2022 in hospitals and charity centers related to cancer in Tehran. 145 women who underwent mastectomy were selected by available sampling method. Research tools included Thompson and Walker's marital intimacy questionnaires, Rosen et al.'s Female Sexual function Index, and Littleton's Body Image Concern Inventory (1,2,3). Relationships between variables were done with Pearson correlation test and structural equation modeling test using SPSS version 16 and Amos version 24 software.

Results: The findings showed that Body Image Concern does not play a mediating role in the relationship between sexual function and marital intimacy of mastectomized women (P<0.05). Pearson's correlation test also showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between sexual function and marital intimacy (P<0.05) and there is a significant negative relationship between Body Image Concern and marital intimacy (P<0.05) and between sexual function and Body Image Concern no significant relationship was observed (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Psychologists can use the findings of this study to teach the nature of these women's sexual problems and seek to identify factors that help better intimacy in these women's marital relationships.

Investigation of MIRs in Amphetamine Misusers

Hossein Soltanzadeh, Zahra Hojjati Bonab — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 08:28:25 +0000

Introduction: Drug addiction is characterized by uncontrolled drug use and recurrence of need for medication. Changes in gene expression play an important role in addictive neuroplasticity, but the mechanisms by which addictive drugs regenerate brain motive circuits are unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of non-coding small RNAs that bind to the translocated regions; primers of their target mRNAs inhibit translation and suppress gene expression. This study investigated the profiles and different expression of MIR 24 and MIR 329 in the patients with amphetamine dysfunction.

Methods: This study was performed on 30 patients .of medical centers. RNA extraction was performed according to the kit. The amount of RNA extracted was evaluated by a nanodrop machine. These RNAs were then added to Poly (A) tail and then transformed into cDNA using specific primers and reverse transcriptase. Finally, their expression was quantitatively measured by qRT-PCR method compared to the control group.

Results: In the present study, the results indicated that MIR 24 gene expression was significantly increased compared to U6. The MIR 24 gene showed an increase of 9.02 (P-value: 0.049) compared to the control group in blood samples. The MIR 329 gene showed a decrease of 0.007 (P-value: 0.000) compared to the control group in blood samples.

Conclusion: The results showed that there was a significant association between miR-24 and miR-329 expression in blood samples of amphetamine users, which may be related to amphetamine abuse disorder. Used as a noninvasive diagnostic marker for the detection of amphetamine abuse disorder.

Effect of Combined Exercises on Glucose Homeostasis and Plasma Levels of Sirtuin 1 and FOXO1 in Obese Elderly Men

Maryam Safari, Ramin Shabani, Mohammad Reza Fadaei — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Aging and obesity have common symptoms, including glucose and lipid metabolism changes. Activation of sirtuin 1 and FOXO1 (Forkhead Box Protein O1) can positively affect metabolic disorders associated with aging and obesity. This research aimed to investigate 16 weeks of combined exercise on the plasma levels of sirtuin 1, FOXO1, and glucose homeostasis in obese elderly.

Methods: 40 obese elderly men with an average age of 61.90 ± 2.84 were selected and randomly divided into two experimental and control groups. The participants trained three days a week (each session 90 minutes) for 16 weeks. 48 hours before and after exercise, anthropometric characteristics and plasma values of sirtuin 1, FOXO1, fasting blood sugar, insulin, HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance), and HOMA-B (Homeostasis Model Assessment of β-Cell) were taken from the samples and measured by ELISA method. Data analysis was done using SPSS 16 software, independent and dependent t-tests at a significance level of P˂ 0.05.

Results: Levels of fasting blood sugar (P=0.04), and insulin (P=0.008) in the experimental group decreased significantly compared to the control group, while the serum levels of sirtuin1 (P=0.0001) and FOXO1 (P=0.0001) had a significant increase. Correlated t results in the experimental group showed a significant decrease in insulin, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-B (P = 0.001) and a significant increase in the serum levels of sirtuin1 (P = 0.0001) and FOXO1 (P = 0.0001) (P ˂ 0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it seems that 16 weeks of combined training has a favorable effect on improving glucose homeostasis, increasing sirtuin 1 and FOXO1 levels in elderly obese men.

Diagnosis Ability Evaluation of TMJ Condylar Disorders of Panoramic Radiographs in Senior Dental Students

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 08:28:51 +0000

Introduction: The temporomandibular joint is a unique and complex joint in the human body due to anatomical and functional reasons. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the knowledge of the senior dentistry students of Yazd Dental School about temporomandibular joint radiographic changes in panoramic images in 2022-2023.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive analytical study was conducted with the participation of 59 senior dentistry students. After obtaining the consent of the students and collecting their background information, a questionnaire containing 14 questions was presented to the students with the aim of examining the students' ability to distinguish between normal, dislocation, hypoplasia, hyperplasia, osteophyte and condylar erosion appearance. Finally, the descriptive data were presented in the form of numbers and percentages in the form of a table. Data analysis was done with SPSS version16 and T-test. The significance level of the tests was considered less than 0.05.

Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference in students' ability score according to their gender and type of entry (national-international) (P>0.05). The grade of students according to general point average (GPA) showed a significant difference (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, and considering the importance and high prevalence of TMJ disorders, senior dentistry students in Yazd City did not have acceptable knowledge about radiographic changes in the TMJ joint.

Investigating Factors Affecting Compliance of Patients Who are Candidates for Non-Surgical Periodontal Treatment Referred to Yazd Faculty of Dentistry in 2023

Fahimeh Rashidi Maybodi, Ameneh Hosseini Yekani, Ahmadreza Raeesi — Sun, 23 Jun 2024 08:29:05 +0000

Introduction: Considering the importance of periodontal supportive treatment in long-term preservation of teeth and prevention of recurrence of periodontitis, it was aimed to identify the factors affecting patients' compliance in continuing periodontal treatment.

Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted on 233 patients referred to the periodontics and oral health and community dentistry departments and were candidate for non-surgical periodontal treatment. Data were collected by researcher-made questionnaires and the association between demographic characteristics and some possible external and internal influencing factors with the patients' attendance in first follow-up was investigated.

Results: Only 39% of patients participated in the first follow-up. The patients' previous internal desire to participate in follow-up sessions had a statistically significant relationship with their compliance (P=0.001). Age, gender, education level, economic status, type of employment of patients and smoking did not show any significant relationship with following up the treatment. None of the investigated factors such as lack of time, the quality of mutual communication between the dentist and the patient, satisfaction with the treatment, providing health instructions by the dentist and explaining the consequences of not continuing the treatment to the patient did not affect the probability of the patient's adherence to continuing the treatment.

Conclusion: There is no definite factor to increase the compliance rate of patients and it is necessary to increase the patients' motivation with different intervention methods, in a way that the importance of participating in the follow-up sessions is clarified for the patients.