Background: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 receptor (IGFBP-3R) (Transmembrane protein 219 [TMEM219]) binds explicitly to IGFBP-3 and exerts its apoptotic and autophagy signalling pathway. Constructing a Henrietta Lacks (HeLa) h6-TMEM219 cell characterize the therapeutic potent of TMEM219 that could interrupt the IGFBP-3/TMEM219 pathway, in cancer treatment and destructive cell illnesses such as diabetes and Alzheimer's. Materials and Methods: First, to develop stable overexpressed HeLa h6-TMEM219 cells, and Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) with high IGFBP-3R expression, the purchased pcDNA3.1-h6-TMEM219 plasmid was transformed and integrated using CaCl2 and chemical transfection reagents, respectively. The pcDNA3.1-h6-TMEM219 transfection and protein expression was evaluated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blotting, and flow cytometry. Following the induction of h6-TMEM219 expression, a protein was purified using Ni-NTA chromatography and evaluated by the sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Results: The 606 base pairs sequence in PCR outcomes confirmed successful pcDNA3.1-h6-TMEM219 transformation in E. coli BL21 and integration into the HeLa genome. The analysis of protein samples from induced E. coli BL21 and purified protein demonstrate a band of approximately 22 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Moreover, besides western blot analysis, flow cytometry findings illustrate approximately 84% of transfected HeLa cells (HeLa h6-TMEM219) overexpressed h6-TMEM219 on their surface. Conclusion: We designed a new experiment in the h6-TMEM219 expression procedure in both eukaryotic and prokaryotic hosts. All of our results confirm appropriate transformation and transfection and importantly, approve h6-TMEM 219 membrane expression. Finally, the HeLa h6-TMEM219 cells and the newly purified h6-TMEM219 leverage new studies for molecular diagnostic studies and characterize the therapeutic agents against IGFBP-3/TMEM219 signalling pathway in devastating illnesses in vitro and in vivo.

Background: CA125 is the most used tumor marker for ovarian cancer monitoring and diagnosis. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity to predict malignancy in women with adnexal tumors using CA125 measurement and ultrasound criteria before the pathological examination. Materials and Methods: This observational diagnostic study was conducted on 300 patients with obvious diagnosis of adnexal mass consists of ovarian masses, fallopian tubes, and masses within the broad ligament referring to Alzahra and Beheshti Hospitals from 2018 to 2019. Ultrasound examinations were done before surgery and malignancy risk was investigated by the ADNEX criterion. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio (likelihood ratio [LR]+ and LR−), and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Results: From 284 patients, 260 masses were categorized in benign, 18 were in borderline, and 18 masses were malignant. The mean age of patients with malignant tumors was significantly higher than the others (P = 0.01). Differences in the level of CA-125 were not statistically significant (P = 0.78). Furthermore, the proportion of ascites in the malignant group (16.3%) was significantly higher than the others (P = 0.003). The AUC in ADNEX model (cutoff ≥9%) for differentiation of benign and malignant tumors was 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69–0.80) with a sensitivity of 0.63 (95% CI: 0.41–0.81) and a specificity of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.74–0.84). Receiver operating characteristic analysis for CA-125 revealed that this variable is not capable for discrimination between benign and malignant tumors as the AUCs of the aforementioned variable were 0.60, 0.60, and 0.52 for the whole patients, premenopause, and postmenopause categories. Conclusion: CA-125 marker, along with other ultrasound findings, can be more accurate in identifying the malignancy of the adnexa tumor.

Background: Tenascin-C (TNC) is a large glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix which associated with poor clinical outcomes in several malignancies. TNC over-expression is repeatedly observed in several cancer tissues and promotes several processes in tumor progression. Until quite recently, more needs to be known about the potential mechanisms of TNC as a key player in cancer progression and metastasis. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we performed a bioinformatics analysis of breast and colorectal cancer expression microarray data to survey TNC role and function with holistic view. Gene expression profiles were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal samples and cancer biopsy samples. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of the DEGs with CluePedia plugin of Cytoscape software were constructed. Furthermore, after PPI network construction, gene-regulatory networks analysis was performed to predict long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs associated with TNC and cluster analysis was performed. Using the Clue gene ontology (GO) plugin of Cytoscape software, the GO and pathway enrichment analysis were performed. Results: PPI and DEGs-miRNA-lncRNA regulatory networks showed TNC is a significant node in a huge network, and one of the main gene with high centrality parameters. Furthermore, from the regulatory level perspective, TNC could be significantly impressed by miR-335-5p. GO analysis results showed that TNC was significantly enriched in cancer-related biological processes. Conclusions: It is important to identify the TNC underlying molecular mechanisms in cancer progression, which may be clinically useful for tumor-targeting strategies. Bioinformatics analysis provides an insight into the significant roles that TNC plays in cancer progression scenarios.

The emerging of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates globally. One of the most prominent characteristics of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is lymphopenia, which is in contrast to other viral infections. This controversy might be explained by the evaluation of impaired innate and adaptive immune responses, during the SARS-CoV-2 infection. During the innate immune response, poly-ADP-ribose polymerase hyperactivated due to virus entry and extensive DNA damage sequentially, leading to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+ depletion, adenosine triphosphate depletion, and finally cell death. In contrast to the immune response against viral infections, cytotoxic T lymphocytes decline sharply in SARS-CoV-2 infection which might be due to infiltration and trapping in the lower respiratory tract. In addition, there are more factors proposed to involve in lymphopenia in COVID-19 infection such as the role of CD38, which functions as NADase and intensifies NAD depletion, which in turn affects NAD+–dependent Sirtuin proteins, as the regulators of cell death and viability. Lung tissue sequestration following cytokine storm supposed to be another reason for lymphopenia in COVID-19 patients. Protein 7a, as one of the virus-encoded proteins, induces apoptosis in various organ-derived cell lines. These mechanisms proposed to induce lymphopenia, although there are still more studies needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms for lymphopenia in COVID-19 patients.

Background: Mortality due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has dramatically diminished because of performing life-saving interventions. This study aims to assess the metabolic risk factors and heart healthy lifestyle following the first episode of ACS under percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) treatment after the 6-month follow-up. Materials and Methods: This is a longitudinal study conducted on 40 patients who underwent PCI because of the first episode of ACS. The patients' information including age, weight, abdominal circumference, smoking, functional capacity, patients' metabolic equivalent of task (METS), and laboratory tests including triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), creatinine, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and hemoglobin A1C were recorded before discharge and reassessed after 6-month follow-up. Results: The patients were dominantly male (92.5%) with an average age of 56.8 ± 7.11 years. Physical activity and functional capacity (METS) significantly improved within 6 months (P = 0.019). BMI significantly improved; however, although the abdominal circumference decreased, it was not significant (P = 0.28). The number of smokers (P = 0.12) and the daily number of smoked cigarettes (P = 0.37) nonsignificantly decreased within 6 months. However, HDL-C (P = 0.013) and LDL-C (P = 0.027) changes were not desirable. TG, FBS, and blood pressure did not statistically significant change (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Although BMI, physical activity, and METS remarkably improved, waist circumference decreased nonsignificantly and lipid profile got worse paradoxically. Although this population is limited for generalization, this study shows that we require further schedules to improve ACS secondary prevention practice in our community.

Background: Thyroid hormones are essential to maintain the tissue's metabolism throughout the life. Thyroid hormones exert their effects on physiology and almost all body functions. Carrot is a rich source of iodine and carotenoids that can interfere in the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Materials and Methods: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of carrot consumption on T4 levels and its effect on memory, nerve conduction velocity (NCV), animal weight, and finally, on water and food intake in Wistar rats. In this study, 24 male rats were used and divided into three groups: Control, Ca 200 mg/kg, and Ca 400 mg/kg. Results: The results indicated that carrot consumption at Ca 200 mg/kg treated group increased the level of serum T4 and induced hyperthyroidism. Animal weight in both treated groups did not change compared to the control group (P > 0.05). Water and food consumption, and the level of T4 in Ca 200 mg/kg group increased when compared to the control group (P < 0.05). NCV in both treated groups was not significantly different in comparison with the control group (P > 0.05). Spatial memory and passive avoidance memory in both treated groups significantly decreased compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Carrot consumption, via increases the synthesis of thyroid hormones, creates hyperthyroidism, but due to induced moderate hyperthyroidism did not impact on weight. Moderate hyperthyroidism induced appetite and memory impairment. Then increased food intake or effect of hyperthyroidism on metabolism increased water intake.

Background: Sacroiliac pain is one of the causes of low back pain, representing with discomfort and tenderness in the sacroiliac joint. Interventional procedures might be beneficial in cases unresponsive to medical treatments. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of intra-articular corticosteroid injections in patients with sacroiliac pain. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial performed in 2017–2018 in Kashani Hospital, Isfahan, on patients with low back pain and formerly diagnosed with sacroiliac pain. Patients were recruited based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Corticosteroid injections were performed for patients. Patients were visited within 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 months after interventions, and pain and disabilities of patients were assessed using the numerical rating scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Questionnaire. Results: A total number of 27 patients entered our clinical trial. We showed that the mean NRS score among patients before interventions was 8.01 ± 0.96. Assessments of disability score also indicated that the mean disability scores was 41.48 ± 7.48. Our data also indicated that there was a significant reducing trend in both NRS and disability score after interventions (P < 0.001 for both items). Conclusion: Intra-articular steroid injection is associated with significantly reduced pain and disability in patients with sacroiliac pain. Previous studies evaluated variable methods and reported that this method has high values and significant advantages compared with other techniques which were in line with our results.

Background: The aim of this study was determination of the effect of the transversus abdominis plane block (TAP block) with ropivacaine 0.5% in relieving postoperative pain after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. Materials and Methods: The population of the double-blinded clinical trial study included 200 women candidates for elective laparoscopic gynecologic surgery who referred to Al-Zahra and Beheshti hospitals in Isfahan during 2016–2018. In the TAP block group in addition to standard general anesthesia, an anesthetic drug Ropivacaine (Naropin, 0.5%) was injected at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg between transverse abdominal muscle and internal oblique muscle facia. And in control group just received standard general anesthesia. Hence, the severity of pain and nausea and vomiting is recorded at the time of recovery, at 30 min, 2, 4, 6, 12, and 48 h after the surgery. Results: The results of this study showed that in all periods of time (30 min, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h after the surgery), mean pain score in TAP block group was lower than control group (P < 0.001). Hence that, in the 48 h after the surgery, the pain score in the TAP block group with a mean of 0.46 ± 0.50 was significantly lower than the control group with a mean of 1.06 ± 0.68 (P < 0.001). Nausea and vomiting between the two groups were no significant differences. There was no decrease in narcotic use or length of stay among those who received the TAP block. Conclusions: TAP block with ropivacaine 0.5% had a significant role in reducing postoperative pain of laparoscopic surgery.

Background: This study aimed to compare the efficacies of four anesthetic induction drugs (thiopental, propofol, midazolam-thiopental, and etomidate-propofol) on cardiovascular response during laryngeal mask airway (LMA) placement in eye surgery. Materials and Methods: The present clinical trial study included 128 patients who were candidates for ophthalmic surgery in four groups. Patients in the first group were given a combination of midazolam (0.04 mg/kg) with thiopental (2.5 mg/kg) (Group T + M). We administered propofol alone (2.5 mg/kg) to patients in the second group (Group P). The third group received a combination of etomidate (0.1 mg/kg) with propofol (1 mg/kg) (ET + P group) and patients in the fourth group received thiopental drug (5 mg/kg) alone (Group T). Then, the stability of patients' hemodynamic parameters before anesthesia was evaluated and compared immediately after anesthesia, 1, 3, and 5 min after LMA placement. Results: There was no significant difference between the four groups in changes in oxygen saturation level (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the difference between decreased systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure over time was not significant in 5 min in both Groups T + M and T (P > 0.05). In addition, the stability of these two groups was higher than the other two groups (P < 0.05) and the most unstable group was Group P. The changes pulse rate in the P group were significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, thiopental and Midazolam can be used as an effective induction compound to facilitate LMA insertion with higher hemodynamic stability compared to propofol alone, propofol and etomidate, and thiopental alone.