The Effect of Hypnosis on Pain Relief During Labor and Childbirth in Iranian Pregnant Women

This study describes the effect of hypnosis on pain relief during labor and childbirth. Using a qualitative approach, 6 pregnant women were trained to use self-hypnosis for labor. Outcomes were analyzed using Colaizzi's procedure. Women described their feelings about hypnosis during labor as: a sense of relief and consolation, self-confidence, satisfaction, lack of suffering labor pain, changing the feeling of pain into one of pressure, a decrease in fear of natural childbirth, lack of tiredness, and lack of anxiety. They expressed increased concentration on the uterus and cervical muscle, awareness of all the stages of labor, and having “positive thoughts.” Births were perceived as being very satisfactory compared to their previous experiences.     

Immunomodulatory activity of a protein isolated from garlic extract on delayed type hypersensitivity

Garlic is known as a potent spice and a medicine with broad therapeutic properties ranging from antibacterial to anticancer, and anticoagulant. One major protein has been isolated and purified; it is the 14-kDa glycoprotein. This protein has shown to have immunomodulatory effects. In this study, two sources of garlic (freshly prepared and commercial tablet) were used. Both sources of garlic were augmented delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response, the optimum enhancement were detected at 20 mg/kg. Histological studies indicate that 20 mg/kg caused a hyperplasia and hypertrophy of periarteriolar lymphoid sheath of spleen and paracortical zone of lymph nodes. Partial purified fraction could increase the DTH response comparing to garlic extract, and purified protein could highly increase the DTH response comparing to both garlic extract and partial purified fraction. Garlic at all doses employed did not exhibit any effect on enhancement of antibody titer to SRBC.     

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) Infection Rate among Seronegative Hemodialysis Patients Screened by Two Methods; HCV Core Antigen and Polymerase Chain Reaction

Background

End-stage renal disease patients on chronic hemodialysis are among high risk groups for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection for whom routine HCV screening is recommended. Anti-HCV antibody (ab) testing may not be reliable to detect all infected cases because of the blunted ab response due to depressed immune state in these patients. Using a more reliable, cost-effective and non-complex HCV screening test may be necessary in this group of patients for case finding and management, and also for prevention of infection spread.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to find the prevalence of HCV infection in HCV ab negative hemodialysis patients by Real time PCR and total HCV core antigen (ag) test and comparing the results of the two tests.

Patients and Methods

From a single hemodialysis center, 181 anti- HCV ab negative patients were screened by total HCV core ag using an ELISA kit. Real time PCR was used for determination of the virus and viral load quantity.

Results

Among the 181 anti-HCV ab negative patients, 13 (7.2%) were positive for HCV core ag and 11 (6%) had detectable HCV RNA with a range of 40-336543 IU/ml by PCR. The two tests had a high measurement agreement (Kappa=0.82, P<0.001). Of the 13 patients with positive HCV core ag test results, 3 were negative for HCV RNA. Considering real time PCR for HCV RNA as the gold standard for HCV infection determination in this patient population, HCV core ag assay yielded a sensitivity of 90.9%, specificity of 98.2%, positive predictive value of 76.9% and negative predictive value of 99.4%.

Discussion

The rate of HCV infection among HCV ab negative hemodialysis patients was high. HCV core ag testing could be used as a sensitive method for HCV infection screening in this group of patients.     

Isolation of a lytic bacteriophage against extensively drug‐resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections and its dramatic effect in rat model of burn infection

Objectives Acinetobacter Baumannii is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen belonging to the Moraxellaceae family. The emergence of multidrug resistant strains of this pathogen caused many problems for hospitals and patients. The aim of the current study was to isolate, identify, and morphologically, physiologically, and in vivo analyze a new lytic bacteriophage targeting extensively drug‐resistant (XDR) A. baumannii.Materials and MethodsDifferent wastewater samples were tested for isolation of lytic bacteriophage against 19 A. baumannii isolates obtained from patients hospitalized in a hospital in Arak, Iran, from January 2019 to March 2019. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of A. baumannii strains (resistance genes including: adeA, adeB, adeC, adeR, adeS, ISAba1, blaOXA‐23, blaOXA‐24) were analyzed. The isolated phage characteristics including adsorption time, pH and thermal stability, host range, one‐step growth rate, electron microscopy examination, and therapeutic efficacy of the phage were also investigated. Therapeutic efficacy of the phage was evaluated in a rat model with burn infection of XDR A. baumannii. The lesion image was taken on different days after burning and infection induction and was compared with phage untreated lesions.ResultsThe results showed unique characteristics of the isolated phage (vB‐AbauM‐Arak1) including high specificity for Acinetobacter baumannii, stability at a relatively wide range of temperatures and pH values, short adsorption time, short latent period, and large burst size. In relation to the therapeutic efficacy of the phage, the lesion area decreased in phage‐treated groups over 14 days than in those untreated, significantly (p < 0.05).ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that isolated lytic phage was able to eliminate burn infections caused by XDR A. baumannii in a rat model. So, it may be recommended as alternative options toward to developing a treatment for extensively drug resistant Acinetobacter infections.     

Prolonging androgen sensitivity in prostate cancer – a role for COX inhibitors?

Background: Advanced prostate cancer has long been known to respond to androgen deprivation, but disease inevitably progresses to become androgen independent. Lengthening the responsive period is an important, yet underinvestigated, clinical goal. This study aims to determine whether cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitors are potentially useful agents in prolonging androgen sensitivity. Methods: The expression of COX‐2 in human prostate surgical specimens, both benign and malignant, androgen dependent and independent, was determined by immunohistochemistry. Nude mice, in which prostate cancer xenografts had been established, were castrated and randomized to receive either COX‐2 inhibitor or vehicle for 8 weeks. Time to androgen independence (AIPC), growth rate and rate of PSA rise were compared between groups. COX‐2 expression, at the mRNA and protein level, was determined in the native xenograft cell line and in tissues of varying androgen sensitivity derived from the xenografts. Results: In human tissues, COX‐2 protein was expressed in prostate epithelium and was upregulated in prostate cancer and remained upregulated after androgen ablation and in the androgen‐independent state. Tissue obtained from the LNCaP xenograft model showed variable COX‐2 expression, with some evidence of downregulation in AIPC. The addition of a COX‐2 inhibitor to castration does not lengthen the time to AIPC (P= 0.53), rate of tumour growth (P= 0.59) or rate of PSA rise (P= 0.34) in the LNCaP xenograft model. Conclusion: This study does not support a role for COX‐2 inhibitors in prolonging androgen responsiveness in prostate cancer.     

Insulin resistance in obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome: systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

We aimed at investigating whether insulin resistance (IR)/sensitivity are impaired in obese/non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obese/non-obese healthy controls. A comprehensive literature search was performed for observational, English language studies. Meta-analysis was performed with the random effects model according to the heterogeneity. Eligible studies, involving 3037 women in four groups of: 1-obese, PCOS; 2-non-obese, PCOS, 3-obese, non-PCOS and 4-Non-obese, non-PCOS were included. Based on the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) analysis, the pooled mean (95% Conf. Interval) of HOMA IR in groups 1–4 were 4.38 (3.84, 4.92), 2.68 (2.16, 3.20), 2.44 (2.06, 2.82) and 1.34 (1.06, 1.63), respectively. Meta-analysis showed that group 1 (obese, PCOS patients) statistically have the highest IR and group 4 (non-obese, non-PCOS women) have the highest insulin sensitivity. Group 2 (non-obese, PCOS patients) and group 3 (obese, non-PCOS women) were between this range and they had lower IR than group 1 (obese, PCOS) and lower insulin sensitivity than group 4 (non-obese, non-PCOS). So, there were statistical differences between all groups except between groups 2 and 3. Insulin sensitivity indexes (quickie and ISI), also confirm the IR index (HOMA-IR) results. Based on different IR/sensitivity indexes, we found no evidence of any different effects of BMI?≥?30?kg/m² on IR/sensitivity. In conclusion, PCOS status intensifies the adverse effects of obesity on IR, it has to be appropriately addressed in primary and secondary preventive cares and treatments provided for these women.     

Validation of Persian version of the Prolapse Quality-of-Life questionnaire (P-QOL)

Introduction and hypothesis  

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of a Persian translation of the Prolapse Quality-of-Life (P-QOL) questionnaire in women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP).     

Bucladesine Attenuates Spatial Learning and Hippocampal Mitochondrial Impairments Induced by 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)

Neurotoxicity Research - Neurotoxic effects of systemic administration of 3, 4- methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has been attributed to MDMA and its metabolites. However, the role of the parent...     

Delayed Effect of Dendritic Cells Vaccination on Survival in Glioblastoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Dendritic cell vaccination (DCV) strategies, thanks to a complex immune response, may flare tumor regression and improve patients’ long-term survival. This meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy of DCV for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients in clinical trials. Methods: The study databases, including PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Cochrane, were searched by two blinded investigators considering eligible studies based on the following keywords: “glioblastoma multiforme”, “dendritic cell”, “vaccination”, “immunotherapy”, “immune system”, “immune response”, “chemotherapy”, “recurrence”, and “temozolomide”. Among the 157 screened, only 15 articles were eligible for the final analysis. Results: Regimens including DCV showed no effect on 6-month progression-free survival (PFS, HR = 1.385, 95% CI: 0.822–2.335, p = 0.673) or on 6-month overall survival (OS, HR = 1.408, 95% CI: 0.882–2.248, p = 0.754). In contrast, DCV led to significantly longer 1-year OS (HR = 1.936, 95% CI: 1.396–2.85, p = 0.001) and longer 2-year OS (HR = 3.670, 95% CI: 2.291–5.879, p = 0.001) versus control groups. Hence, introducing DCV could lead to increased 1 and 2-year survival of patients by 1.9 and 3.6 times, respectively. Conclusion: Antitumor regimens including DCV can effectively improve mid-term survival in patients suffering glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), but its impact emerges only after one year from vaccination. These data indicate the need for more time to achieve an anti-GBM immune response and suggest additional therapeutics, such as checkpoint inhibitors, to empower an earlier DCV action in patients affected by a very poor prognosis.