The Epidemiology of Gender Dysphoria in Iran: The First Nationwide Study

Archives of Sexual Behavior - Gender dysphoria (GD) is defined as a persistent and distressful incongruence between one’s gender identity and one’s at-birth-assigned sex. Sex...     

The effect of non-specific tight junction modulators on the transepithelial transport of poorly permeable drugs across airway epithelial cells

The epithelial barrier in the respiratory system is a major obstacle for drug delivery to the systemic circulation in the lung. Epithelial barrier hinders the transport of large macromolecules or polar drugs. Essential components of this epithelial fence are physical intercellular structures termed tight junctions. Therefore, modulating tight junctions can enhance paracellular transport across epithelial barrier. In this study, the effect of some of non-specific tight junction modulators (TJMs); (Sodium (Na) decanoate, oleic acid and ethyleneglycol-bis-(β-aminoethyl ether)-N, N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA)) with established effect on intestinal tight junctions was evaluated for its effects on bronchial epithelial cells (Calu-3 cells). It was demonstrated that the effect of TJMs especially Na decanoate resulted in a reversible opening of tight junctions evidenced by the decrease in the transepithelial resistance. It was also demonstrated that this reduction of TEER upon exposing the epithelial cells to the TJMs resulted in a significant increase in Flu-Na (paracellular marker) and PXS25 (anti-fibrotic compound) transepithelial transport through this barrier. In conclusion, among the investigated non-specific TJMs, Na decanoate fulfilled the requirements of an effective, non-toxic and reversible tight junction modulator for Calu-3 lung epithelial cells.     

Comparison of Serum Total IgA Levels in Severe and Mild COVID-19 Patients and Control Group

Journal of Clinical Immunology - The present study aimed to compare serum total IgA levels between severe and mild COVID-19 patients’ groups and the control group. In this cross-sectional...     

Evaluation of the efficacy of topical sucralfate on healing haemorrhoidectomy incision wounds and reducing pain severity: A randomised clinical trial

The healing of haemorrhoidectomy wounds is a main concern of surgeons and patients. Various modalities can improve the quality of wound care after surgery. Antibiotics and topical agents, such as solutions and ointments, have been evaluated. The current research investigates the effects of sucralfate ointment on wound healing (epithelialisation) and postoperative pain after open haemorrhoidectomy. This trial involves two groups of randomly collected patients (n = 40) who underwent open haemorrhoidectomy surgery by the Milligan‐Morgan method. A 10% topical sucralfate ointment was applied to the investigated group''s wounds, while the control group patients used Vaseline as a placebo. The present work measured the two outcomes as follows: pain severity by a Visual Analogues Scale (VAS) score and epithelialisation by a surgeon''s visual inspection. During the postoperative phase, the mean VAS was 3.70 for the investigated group and 6.90 for the control group. On the average, the completion of epithelialisation for the investigated group was on day 13 as opposed to day 20 for the control group. The topical application of sucralfate ointment on post‐haemorrhoidectomy wound is an effective method for the promotion of healing, also lessens the severity of pain, and reduces the need for analgesics.     

Allele specific PCR with microfluorometry: application to the detection of del F508 mutation in cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: A simple and practical screening method, allowing the mass detection of targeted DNA mutations, was developed by combined use of allele specific PCR (ASP) and subsequent fluorogenic intercalation to the amplicon. METHODS: Crude DNAs were extracted from dried blood spots (DBS) by a simple boil method. Highly specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification was achieved by adopting Taq DNA polymerase (Amersham Pharmacia) modified with TaqStart Antibody (Clontech). A fluorogenic DNA intercalator, SYBR Green I (Molecular Probes), was directly added to the PCR products and the resultant fluorescence was measured by a conventional fluorometric microplate reader, microfluorometry (MFL). RESULTS: The most common mutation in cystic fibrosis (CF), del F508, was successfully detected with clear differentiation as homozygotes (n=4) and heterozygotes (n=9) from control subjects (n=18). Fluorescence intensities, with mean+/-S.D. in arbitrary unit, were 895+/-249, 900+/-184 and 257+/-53, respectively. Those from control newborns (n=352) were 250+/-27 with the range of 188-475. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed ASP/MFL provides a simple, objective and economical detection of known mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The usefulness of this method was clearly shown in the detection of del F508 in CF.