Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor with a poor prognosis that can be very difficult to cure, and the current treatment options have no optimal outcomes. Hence, it is essential to find new treatment modalities. Histologically, this tumor has high microvascular density that makes it desirable for vascular target agent drugs. Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is a novel antigen with unique features that expresses in the vascular endothelium of some malignant tumors. Materials and Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from sixty patients who underwent GBM tumor resection from 2012 to 2016 were evaluated for the expression of PSMA by immunohistochemistry. Sections were also assessed for the extent and intensity of endothelial staining in tumor microvessels and for clinicopathologic factor correlation. Results: A considerable PSMA expression level was detected in 66% of the cases, and the intensity was strong and moderate in 63%. There was no significant correlation neither between PSMA expression with tumor site, presence of necrosis, and endothelial proliferation nor with age and sex. Conclusion: The expression of PSMA in GBM, as observed in the current study, may suggest a new role of PSMA-targeted therapy and indicate more investigations focused on complementary treatment strategies that specifically target tumor vasculature.

Background: Constipation is an intestinal syndrome that can be created alone or in the context of another disease in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Given the role of sennosides in increasing the transfer rate of materials from the large intestine, we aimed to compare the effect of senalin with bisacodyl on the treatment of constipation in patients admitted to ICUs. Materials and Methods: In this randomized, double-blind study, 70 patients admitted to the ICU were divided into two groups. The senalin recipient group received senalin with a dose of 500 mg daily for 3 days. The bisacodyl recipient group received bisacodyl with a dose of 10 mg daily for 3 days. Results: The mean of defecation frequency during the 2^nd day of treatment of constipation was significantly higher in the group receiving bisacodyl than in the senalin group (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of fecal consistency in any of the study days (P < 0.05). The prevalence of complications in the 3^rd day of treatment was significantly higher in bisacodyl group than in the senalin group (P = 0.04). Conclusion: Given the lack of difference in the efficacy of two drugs, fecal consistency, daily defecation frequency and fewer complications of senalin compared to bisacodyl, it s eems that this drug can be used as an appropriate treatment for constipation in patients admitted to ICUs.

Background: Resistin is peptides that signal the functional status of adipose tissue to the brain and other target organs. It causes insulin resistance and affects the vascular endothelial dysfunction. However, the function and relation between resistin in endothelin-1 (ET-1), which leads to the endothelial dysfunction in humans are enigmatic. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study of 76 participants (38 metabolic syndrome patients and 38 healthy participants), biochemical and clinical parameters, including lipid profile, fasting glucose, resistin, ET-1, C-reactive protein (CRP), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and hypertension were determined and compared between the two groups. Results: Multiple linear regression analysis was performed with age- and sex-adjusted plasma resistin levels, FMD, and ET-1 as the dependent variables. Analysis showed that weight, body mass index, triglycerides (TGs), and ET-1 were statistically significant correlated with serum resistin. FMD has negative significantly correlated with weight (r = −0.491, P = 0.001), waist circumference (r = −0.491, P = 0.001), waist-to-hip ratio (r = −0.0444, P = 0.001), and ET-1 (r = −0.075, P = 0.050), but it has significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = 0.290, P = 0.016), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.275, P = 0.023), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (r = −0.266, P = 0.050), and ET-1, but it has significantly correlated with SBP, DBP, and HDL-C. ET-1 is significantly correlated with TGs (r = −0.436, P = 0.006), total cholesterol (r = 0.452, P = 0.004), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.454, r = 0.004), and resistin (r = 0.282, P = 0.050), whereas it has negative significantly correlated with HDL-C (r = 0.346, P = 0.034), FMD (r = −0.075, P = 0.050. Conclusion: In this study, results shown plasma ET-1 and resistin are suggested as risk factors for the development of endothelial dysfunction and with further study, it is possible that can diagnose the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the early stages.

Background: To date, there is no standard approach to manage and to improve central sleep apnea (CSA). The most applicable therapeutic approaches are positive airway pressure therapy (PAP), bi-level PAP therapy (BIPAP), supplemental O₂ and servo ventilation, or a combination of two approaches. Given the high prevalence of heart disease (HF) and/or concomitants of other diseases and opioid use worldwide; it seemingly requires evaluation of patients' conditions in response to each abovementioned approach to select the most effective approach. Materials and Methods: This longitudinal cross-sectional study included 64 CSA patients who had undergone continuous PAP (CPAP), CPAP + O₂, and BiPAP. Hence, if a patient was nonresponsive to a treatment, the next was applied. If the patient was nonresponsive to all approaches, oxygen alone was administered. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS. Results: The study of 64 CSA patients showed that frequencies of response to CPAP, CPAP + O₂, and BiPAP were 42.2%, 20.3%, and 28.1%, respectively. While 9.4% of patients with histories of congestive heart failure (CHF) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) who were older than others and with the highest apnea-hypopnea index, were nonresponsive to all approaches. CPAP therapy showed more appropriate results in patients with CHF and IHD. Furthermore, patients with the history of opioid use showed the most positive results in response to CPAP and BIPAP. Conclusion: The results suggest that CPAP and BIPAP are, respectively, the most effective therapeutic approaches to CSA in patients with the histories of HF and opioid use, but CPAP + O₂ could be reliable in some conditions as well. Therefore, it may require further studies to be clarified.

Background: Different morbidity conditions are globally reported from different nations for premature infants. The aim of this study was to identify the relative frequency of some of the most important complications of prematurity in a population of about 1000 of very low birth weight (VLBW; i.e., infants with weight of <1500 g) premature infants in our city and publish the results of the project at the level of the urban community of Isfahan in order to use it for further decisions. Materials and Methods: Demographic characteristics and information of prematurity complications of 1000-registered VLBW premature infants were collected and analyzed. Results: The mean gestational age and birth weight were 30.19 ± 2.26 weeks and 1223.96 ± 227.77 g, respectively. Seven hundred and ninety-eight individuals (79.69%) had respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) which also had the most prevalence frequency, whereas the number of newborns who had chronic lung disease was 80, with the lowest prevalence of 8.01%. The prevalence of infantile mortality was 3.10%. Conclusion: Regarding advances in medical technologies and caring system, the mortality rate for premature neonates, even VLBW infants, has decreased significantly and survival rates are grown. Alongside the low death rates, managing complications related to prematurity period should be considered more, especially caring for respiratory management should be considered remarkably since RDS stands as the most prevalent disease among them. Efforts also should be made to reduce the number of diseases that worsen the prognosis, such as intraventricular hemorrhage.

Background: Duloxetine is used for treating depression and anxiety. The current study evaluated the effects of duloxetine against methamphetamine withdrawal-induced anxiety, depression, and motor disturbances and methamphetamine use-induced cognitive impairments. Materials and Methods: Ninety-six adult male rats were used for two independent experiments. Each experiment consisted of Groups 1 and 2 which received normal saline (0.2 ml/rat) and methamphetamine (10 mg/kg) respectively, Groups 3, 4, and 5 received both methamphetamine and duloxetine at doses of 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg, respectively. Groups 6, 7, and 8 received 5, 10, and 15 mg/kg of duloxetine, respectively. All administrations were performed for 21 days. In experiment 1, elevated plus maze (EPM), open-field test (OFT), forced swim test (FST), and tail suspension test (TST) were used to examine anxiety and depression in animals during withdrawal period. In experiment 2, Morris water maze (MWM) test was used to assess the effect of methamphetamine use followed by duloxetine treatment, on learning and memory. In the experiments, the expression of cyclic AMP response element binding (CREB) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) proteins were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In the first experiment, duloxetine at all doses attenuated methamphetamine withdrawal induced-depression, anxiety, and motor disturbances in FST, OFT, EPM, and TST. In the second experiment, duloxetine at all doses attenuated methamphetamine use-induced cognitive impairment in MWM. In both experiments, duloxetine activated cAMP, CREB, and BDNF proteins' expression in methamphetamine-treated rats. Conclusions: Duloxetine can protect the brain against methamphetamine withdrawal-induced mood and motor disturbances and can also inhibit methamphetamine-induced cognitive impairment, possibly via cAMP/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway.