Depilatory Agents intoxication and factors contributing to its mortality: a 9-year review

Poisoning with depilatory agents is a rather uncommon entity in western countries. In this study, we describe poisoning with a corrosive arsenic-based depilatory agent (CABD) and factors related to its mortality in a poisoning center in Tehran. In a retrospective study, the medical records of all patients with CABD intoxication who attended the emergency ward of Loghman-Hakim hospital, the only poisoning center in Tehran, over a 9-year period between 2000 and 2009 were reviewed. The majority of patients were men (78.7%, n = 122 vs. women: 21.3%, n = 33). The mean age was 35.55 ± 16.68 years. Mean time of arrival to hospital was 3.63 hours (SD = 4.07). The mortality rate was 5.8% and increased significantly with higher amounts of ingestion and delay in arrival to hospital. CABD poisoning may be lethal if not treated promptly and correctly. Restriction or, if not practical, reduction of harmful components of this substance should be considered.     

Topical Moltkia coerulea hydroethanolic extract accelerates the repairof excision wound in a rat model

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a hydroethanolic extract of Moltkia coerulea ointment (MCO) on thehealing of excision wound in a rat model.Methods: Circular surgical full thickness excision wound, with 314 mm2 size, was induced in theanterior-dorsal side of each rat. Three different doses of MCO (1%, 3% and 6%) were administrated. On Day 3, 7, 14 and 21, the tissue was sampled and immune cells, fibroblasts and fibrocytes distribution per one mm2 of wound area, collagen density and re-epithelialization were analyzed. Moreover, the total flavnoid, phenols and anti-oxidant potential of the MCO were evaluated. Ultimately, the percentage of wound contraction in different groups was compared with each other.Results: Hydroethanolic extract of MCO significantly (p<0.05) increased wound contraction percentage. The animals in medium and high dose MCO-treated groups exhibited remarkably (p<0.05) higher fibroblast and fibrocyte distribution and significantly (p<0.05) lower immune cells infiltration. On Day 7 after injury, MCO up-regulated neovascularization in a dose-dependent way.Conclusion: Our data showed that MCO shortened the inflammation phase by provoking the fibroblastproliferation. Moreover, MCO promoted the healing process by up-regulating the angiogenesis andprovoking the structural cells proliferation as well as increasing the collagen synthesis, cross-linking, and deposition.     

Serum insulin level,HOMA-IR and prostate cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AimsThis meta-analysis study was performed to assess serum insulin level and insulin resistance status in prostate cancer patients in observational studies.Materials and methodsA systematic literature search was performed for observational studies in Scopus, PubMed, Ovid and ISI Web of Science up to July 2017.ResultsFrom 2070 publication were searched firstly, only 10 studies with 9 and 6 arms included for the meta-analysis assessing serum insulin level and HOMA-IR status in prostate cancer patients, respectively. Pooled effects analysis showed that the Fasting insulin level was significantly higher in men with prostate cancer compared to control group (WMD = 2.12 μ IU/ml, 95%CI; 0.26, 3.99; P = 0.02). Sub-group analysis showed that the elevation in serum insulin level takes place only in patients with ages more than 65 years old (WMD = 3.88 μ IU/ml, 95%CI; 2.28, 5.48; P < 0.001). HOMA-IR was no significantly different between study groups. However, the difference got statistically significant after sub-grouping patients based on their age (WMD = 1.37, 95% CI; 0.61, 2.12; P < 0.001).ConclusionIn conclusion, the results of this meta-analysis study showed higher fasting serum insulin and HOMA-IR levels especially in patients with ages more than 65 years..     

A novel insight to the functional role of Stathmin 1 in IgE-mediated activation of RBL-2H3 cells

IgE-mediated cell signaling, induced by cross-linking of high affinity receptor for IgE (FcεRI) in the presence of antigen (Ag), is a well known mechanism described for mast cell activation in allergy and hypersensitivity reactions, which induces a spectrum of cellular responses such as secretion and up-regulation of cell surface FcεRI. Although for several years IgE binding to FcεRI was considered to be a passive sensitization process, the outcomes of several recent studies have revealed a variety of different cellular responses to IgE binding compared to IgE plus Antigen binding. The present study applied a functional proteomics-based approach to investigate mast cell signaling events and provided new insights to FcεRI-mediated cell signaling in RBL-2H3.1 cells, and may point to the activation of alternative signaling pathways in response to IgE or IgE plus Ag. Comparative analysis by 2-D PAGE of RBL cells activated with IgE plus Ag for three and four hours compared to non-activated cells was followed by mass spectrometric protein identification and provided evidence for the induction of Stathmin 1 (STMN1) gene expression in response to IgE plus Ag activation.Complementary SDS-PAGE analysis showed a distinct up-regulation of STMN1 induction in response to challenge with IgE plus Ag compared to sensitization with IgE only. Phosphoproteomics analysis gave evidence for significant increase at phosphorylation of STMN1 on ser16 after 1min, though a slight rise at 5 min, and on ser38 after 1 and 5min sensitization with IgE and a similar result was observed for 1min IgE plus Ag-activation. IgE plus Ag-activation was also found to induce the phosphorylation of ser38 to a greater extent than sensitization with IgE. In contrast, IgE alone was more effective than IgE plus Ag at inducing phosphorylation of ser16. Collectively this study provides further insights into the role of stathmin 1 in FcRI-mediated activation of cells of mast cell lineage and might shed light on the diverse response of these cells to IgE or IgE plus Ag.     

Antioxidant Effects of Brown Algae Sargassum on Sperm Parameters: CONSORT-Compliant Article

The occurrence of oxidative stress during the sperm freeze-thaw cycles affects the sperm parameters and eventually leads to a decrease in its reproductive potential. Sperm protection against oxidative reactions during freezing is done by antioxidants. Since the selection of a suitable sperm cryopreservation bank is effective in maintaining acceptable reproductive potential and motility of sperm during cryopreservation.This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant effects of different doses of the extract of brown algae Sargassum on oxidative stress and frozen human sperm parameters.We conducted a randomized controlled trial on the semen samples from 11 healthy men in the age group of 25 to 36 years. The samples were collected by masturbation after 3 to 5 days of abstinence from ejaculation. The specimens were divided into 3 equal parts, including 1 control group and 2 experimental groups.The 2 experimental groups were frozen using the rapid solidification technique with Sargassum extract at doses of 250 and 500 μg/mL.Motility and morphology of sperms were measured using a computer system and CASA software and the amount of reactive oxygen species was determined using Oxisperm kit.Sargassum extract significantly decreased the amount of reactive oxygen species (P < 0.005) and at doses of 250 and 500 μg/mL, significantly increased the overall motility (P < 0.006) and progressive motility (P < 0.007) after solidification, but did not affect the normal morphology of sperms.The addition of ethanol extract of Sargassum prevents reactive oxygen species production during the solidification process and improves sperm motility at doses of 250 and 500 μg/mL.     

Ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block vs procedural sedation by propofol and fentanyl for anterior shoulder dislocations

Background

Few studies were performed to compare ultrasound guided brachial plexus block with procedural sedation for reduction of shoulder dislocations in the Emergency Department (ED). This study was done to provide further evidence regarding this comparison.

Antimicrobial properties of Teucrium polium against some clinical pathogens

ObjectiveTo explore the antibacterial effect of the alcoholic extracts of aerial parts of Teucrium polium, native in Iran on some pathogenic bacteria.MethodsAntibacterial activity of ethanolic extract (50 to 400 mg/mL) and methanolic extract (400 and 600 mg/mL) was evaluated by disc diffusion method.ResultsThe ethanolic extract results showed that Bacillus anthracis was the most sensitive species, while Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis were more resistant than others. In the case of the methanolic extract, Bordetella bronchiseptica was the most sensitive and Proteus mirabilis and Arcanobacterium pyogenes were the most resistant species. The hydroalcoholic extract of Teucrium polium had a relatively satisfactory effect on Salmonella typhi. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi was 40 mg/mL and Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bacillus anthracis was 10 mg/mL. The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) against Bacillus anthracis was 10 mg/mL while against other species were not found (>200 mg/mL). The methanolic extract had also synergistic effect with methicillin, vancomycin against Staphylococcus aureus and with novobiocin against Salmonella typhi.ConclusionsThese results suggest that this plant contains relatively good antibacterial activity and it can be used as a source of antiseptic compounds for medicinal uses.     

4-anilino-5-carboxamido-2-pyridone derivatives as noncompetitive inhibitors of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase

A new series of MEK1 inhibitors, the 4-anilino-5-carboxamido-2-pyridones, were designed and synthesized using a combination of medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, and structural elucidation. The effect of variation in the carboxamide side chain, substitution on the pyridone nitrogen, and replacement of the 4'-iodide were all investigated. This study afforded several compounds which were either equipotent or more potent than the clinical candidate CI-1040 (1) in an isolated enzyme assay, as well as murine colon carcinoma (C26) cells, as measured by suppression of phosphorylated ERK substrate. Most notably, pyridone 27 was found to be more potent than 1 in vitro and produced a 100% response rate at a lower dose than 1, when tested for in vivo efficacy in animals bearing C26 tumors.     

First National Report on Aminotransaminases’ Percentiles in Children of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): the CASPIAN-III Study

Background

By the current global obesogenic environment, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is becoming an important health problem in the pediatric age group.

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the first age-and gender-specific percentiles and upper limit normal limit (ULN) of alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) among a nationally-representative sample of children and adolescents in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The second objective was to determine the linear association of obesity indexes and age with serum ALT and AST levels.

Patients and Methods

This nationwide study was conducted among a representative sample of 4078 students aged 10-18 years, who were selected by multistage random cluster sampling from 27 provinces of Iran. ALT and AST were measured on fresh sera. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as an index of generalized obesity, and waist- to- height ratio (WHtR) as an index of abdominal obesity. The age- and gender-specific percentiles of ALT and AST were constructed, and the 95th percentile of each enzyme was considered as the ULN. Gender-specific linear regression analysis was employed to examine the association of BMI or WHtR with the levels of ALT and AST.

Results

Data of ALT and AST were available for 4078 (2038 girls) and 4150 (2061 girls),respectively. Participants had a mean (SD) age of 14.71 (2.41).The ULN of ALT for boys, girls,and the total individuals were 36.00; 38.00; and, 37.00 U/L, respectively. In both genders, ALT and AST had linear association with age. The association with BMI was significant for ALT in both genders and for AST only in boys, the association of ALT with WHtR was significant in both genders; the corresponding figures were not significant for AST.

Conclusions

The findings of the current study confirmed the current ULN value of 40 U/L commonly used for the pediatric age group. The linear association of indexes for generalized and abdominal obesity with ALT underscores the importance of timely prevention and control of childhood obesity.     

Vitamin D Status and Risk of Breast Cancer in Iranian Women: A Case–Control Study

Objective: Considering the rising incidence of breast cancer and high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Iran, this case–control study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum concentration and intake of vitamin D and risk of breast cancer.

Methods: A total of 135 incident breast cancer cases at the Cancer Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were matched with 135 controls by age and menopausal status. A validated and reliable 168-item food frequency questionnaire was completed by participant interviews. To determine the vitamin D content of foods we used the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nutrient database. To analyze the food frequency questionnaires we used the data collected in the Iranian Household Food Pattern Study, conducted by the National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute and the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture. Five-milliliter blood samples were collected to measure serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method.

Results: Women in the fourth quartile of serum 25(OH)D level had 3 times lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to those in the first quartile. In the adjusted model the inverse relationship remained significant (odds ratio [OR] = 0.269; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.122–0.593). In the stratified model by menopausal status the inverse association was only seen in premenopausal women (OR = 0.25; 95% CI, 0.094–0.687).

Dietary intake of vitamin D was inversely associated with risk of breast cancer (OR fourth quartile [Q4] vs first quartile [Q1] = 0.39; 95% CI, 0.196–0.784; p = 0.008). After adjusting for the confounding factors, this inverse association remained significant.

Conclusion: Results from this case–control study support the protective effect of higher serum concentration of 25(OH)D against breast cancer. Moreover, dietary but not total intake of vitamin D was associated with decreased risk of breast cancer.