Left ventricular intra-myocardial dissection after myocardial infarction

Left ventricular (LV) intra-myocardial dissection or dissecting hematoma is a rare complication of myocardial infarction that could occur in the acute phase, during remodeling process and even after coronary revascularization. LV intra-myocardial dissection has a high mortality, and the best management strategy remains controversial. Here, we present a case of dissection of left ventricle late after anterior myocardial infarction diagnosed by multimodality imaging.     

Resuming Breast Imaging Services in the Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Safety and Beyond

As the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic begins to stabilize, different medical imaging facilities not directly involved in the COVID-19 epidemic face the dilemma of how to return to regular operation. We hereby discuss various fields of concern in resuming breast imaging services. We examine the concerns for resuming functions of breast imaging services in 2 broad categories, including safety aspects of operating a breast clinic and addressing potential modifications needed in managing common clinical scenarios in the COVID-19 aftermath. Using a stepwise approach in harmony with the relative states of the epidemic, health care system capacity, and the current state of performing breast surgeries (and in compliance with the recommended surgical guidelines) can ensure avoiding pointless procedures and ensure a smooth transition to a fully operational breast imaging facility.     

Interactive effects of Salicylic acid and nitric oxide in alleviating zinc toxicity of Safflower (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carthamus tinctorius</Emphasis> L.)

The purpose of this study was to assess the possible protective role of exogenous salicylic acid (SA), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a donor of nitric oxide, and their combination on 21-day-old safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seedlings grown under zinc (Zn) stress. The results revealed that exposure to 500?µM ZnSO₄.7H₂O for 10 days markedly reduced the root and shoot dry weights in Zn-treated plants, while the application of SA, SNP and specially SA?+?SNP significantly increased the root and shoot dry weights in seedlings subjected to Zn stress. Addition of SA, SNP and SA?+?SNP interestingly reduced root-to-shoot translocation of zinc and increased significantly the level of glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate (ASC) in leaves of Zn-stressed plants. The Zn-treated plants supplemented with SA and SNP revealed an improved activity of ascorbate-glutathione cycle enzymes and those enzymes which are involved in glyoxalase system as compared to the plants treated with Zn only. However, no significant relationship was found between SA or SNP supplementation and glutathione S-transferase activity in Zn-stressed plants. These findings demonstrate that exogenous application of SA or SNP could ameliorate the negative effects of Zn on safflower plants probably by stimulation of antioxidant defense and glyoxalase systems.     

Development of a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for determining of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in trivalent measles-mump-rubella (MMR) vaccines

A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using polyclonal antibody, was developed and compared with the commercial kit for detecting and estimating of BSA content in Measles-Mump-Rubella (MMR) vaccine samples in detection limit of nanogram level. The test depends on the capturing and detecting of BSA antigen by the polyclonal antibody. Initially, a detection range of 0-64 ng/ml was established, could be used for estimation of BSA content according to WHO requirement (50 ng/ml) in MMR vaccines. Comparative analysis of the test results for 85 MMR vaccine samples obtained with the commercial kit gave a sensitivity of 58.8% and a specificity of 97%. A high correlation (r = 0.94) was observed between BSA sandwich ELISA and commercial kit for BSA content in MMR samples. However, variations in values also were observed for the two assays. These variations may have been due to difference of upper limit of detection range of BSA content in commercial kit (32 ng/ml) and new sandwich ELISA (64 ng/ml) as well as the use of a different polyclonal antibody. In concerning the cutoff value for the WHO requirement and employment of standard solution of 64 ng/ml in developing assay, it would be adequate to use this test for assessing BSA content in viral vaccines same as MMR vaccines.     

Structural characterization of polysaccharide‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles produced by Staphylococcus warneri,isolated from a thermal spring

The biocompatible‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles (IONs) have attracted a great interest because of their various applications in biological science and medicine. In most cases, the toxic effect of naked iron oxide nanoparticles is completely cleared by adding a biocompatible coating, such as polysaccharides, polyethylene glycol (PEG), or biosynthesis of biocompatible‐coated IONs using microorganisms such as bacteria. In the present study, polysaccharide‐coated iron oxide nanoparticles were produced by a strain of Staphylococcus warneri isolated from a thermal spring. For identification of the isolated bacterium, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was done. Characterization of the nanoparticles was performed for the first time, using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray crystallography (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), and 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)?2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results indicated that the spherical iron oxide nanoparticles were coated by a polysaccharide (13.6%), which provided a large negative charge of ?91 mV and very low saturation magnetization of around 0.28 emu/g. The result of MTT assay on MOLT‐4 cell lines showed that the percentage of viability was between 95.6% and 68.9% in the 10–100 µM of nanoparticle concentrations with a high IC ₅₀ value, which makes it appropriate for biomedical applications such as cancer therapy.     

Th1 immune response to Plasmodium falciparum recombinant thrombospondin‐related adhesive protein (TRAP) antigen is enhanced by TLR3‐specific adjuvant,poly(I:C) in BALB/c mice

Sporozoite‐based malaria vaccines have provided a gold standard for malaria vaccine development, and thrombospondin‐related adhesive protein (TRAP) serves as the main vaccine candidate antigen on sporozoites. As recombinant malaria vaccine candidate antigens are poorly immunogenic, additional appropriate immunostimulants, such as an efficient adjuvant, are highly essential to modulate Th1‐cell predominance and also to induce a protective and long‐lived immune response. In this study, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid [poly(I:C)], the ligand of TLR3, was considered as the potential adjuvant for vaccines targeting stronger Th1‐based immune responses. For this purpose, BALB/c mice were immunized with rPfTRAP delivered in putative poly(I:C) adjuvant, and humoural and cellular immune responses were determined in different immunized mouse groups. Delivery of rPfTRAP with poly(I:C) induced high levels and titres of persisted and also high‐avidity anti‐rPfTRAP IgG antibodies comparable to complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)/incomplete Freund’s adjuvant (IFA) adjuvant after the second boost. In addition, rPfTRAP formulated with poly(I:C) elicited a higher ratio of IFN‐γ/IL‐5, IgG2a/IgG1, and IgG2b/IgG1 than with CFA/IFA, indicating that poly(I:C) supports the induction of a stronger Th1‐based immune response. This is a first time study which reveals the potential of rPfTRAP delivery in poly(I:C) to increase the level, avidity and durability of both anti‐PfTRAP cytophilic antibodies and Th1 cytokines.     

Comparison of main molecular markers involved in autophagy and apoptosis pathways between spermatozoa of infertile men with varicocele and fertile individuals

Abnormal dilatation and tortuosity of the pampiniform plexus within the spermatic cord are termed varicocele which leads to impaired spermatogenesis due to heat‐related oxidative stress and cell death. Previously, it was shown that both apoptosis and autophagy pathways were activated by heat in germ cells of mouse in vivo and in vitro. But, status of these pathways is not clear in chronic state of heat stress such as varicocele. Therefore, we aimed to access sperm apoptotic markers (active caspases 3/7 and DNA fragmentation), and autophagic markers (Atg7 and LC3 proteins) as primary outcomes, and also sperm parameters and protamine deficiency as secondary outcomes between 23 infertile men with varicocele and 16 fertile individuals. Sperm parameters were assessed according to World Health Organization 2010 protocol. Apoptotic markers (active caspases 3/7 and DNA fragmentation), autophagic markers (Atg7 and LC3 proteins), and protamine deficiency were evaluated by flow cytometry, fluorescence microscope, and western blotting techniques. Mean of autophagy and apoptosis markers, and also protamine deficiency have significantly increased in infertile men with varicocele compared to fertile individuals, but autophagy and apoptosis markers did not significantly correlate with each other. In conclusion, it seems that both apoptosis and autophagy pathways are independently active in spermatozoa of infertile men with varicocele.     

Risk factors for breast cancer among young women in southern Iran

Age standardized incidence rates of breast cancer in developed countries is nearly threefold higher than in developing countries. Iran has had one of the lowest incidence rates for breast cancer in the world, but during the last four decades increasing incidence rates of breast cancer made it the most prevalent cancer in Iranian women. After adjustment for age, Iranian young women are at relatively higher risk of breast cancer than their counterparts in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate some established risk factors of breast cancer in Iranian young women. A hospital-based case control study comprising 521 women with histologically confirmed, incident breast cancer and 521 controls frequency-matched by age and province of residence was conducted. Logistic regression performed to investigate associations of reproductive and anthropometric factors with breast cancer risk. In multivariate analysis, family history [odds ratio (OR): 1.61; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07-2.42], oral contraceptives (OC) usage (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.11-2.08), low parity (OR parity ≥ 3 vs. 1-2: 0.33; 95% CI: 0.23-0.49), employment (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.05-3.23) and shorter period of breast feeding (OR ≥ 37 months vs. < 37: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.44-0.84) were related to a higher risk of breast cancer in young women. This was the first study focusing on risk factors of breast cancer in Iranian young women. The trend of decreasing parity and shortened duration of breast feeding along with OC usage might partly explain the rapid rising of breast cancer incidence in Iranian young women.     

Step-by-step full mouth rehabilitation of a nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient with tooth and implant-supported prostheses: A clinical report

This clinical report presents a 46-year-old man diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma with the chief complaint of masticatory and speech deficiency because of radiation therapy. After a period of controlling post radiation caries, the patient was rehabilitated with tooth and implant supported metal ceramic restorations following surgical and endodontic intervention.