Animal studies indicate that gonadal steroids have prominent neuroprotective effects in several models of experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). Neuromedin U (NMU) and neuromedin S (NMS) are regulatory peptides involved in inflammatory and stress responses, and modulation of the gonadotropic axis. Since steroid hormone levels change during the estrous cycle, we sought to determine whether variations in ovarian hormones would affect blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and brain levels of NMS, NMU, and neuromedin S receptor 2 in experimental TBI. Two groups (proestrus and nonproestrus) of female rats underwent diffuse TBI. At 24 hrs after TBI, results showed a significantly decrease in BBB permeability in traumatic-proestrus animals (TBI-P) in comparison to traumatic nonproestrus (TBI-NP) rats. Western blot analyzes demonstrated an enhanced expression of prepro-NMS in TBI-P compared with that in the TBI-NP group. Likewise, TBI-P rats exhibited significantly higher NMUR2 gene expression compared with those of TBI-NP, whereas no significant difference in brain NMU content was seen between sham and traumatic animals. Our findings indicate that diffuse TBI induces an increase in prepro-NMS and neuromedin S receptor 2 expression in traumatic-proestrus rats which may mediate the anti-edematous effects of gonadal hormones in proestrus rats following trauma.

Animal studies indicate that gonadal steroids have prominent neuroprotective effects in several models of experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). Neuromedin U (NMU) and neuromedin S (NMS) are regulatory peptides involved in inflammatory and stress responses, and modulation of the gonadotropic axis. Since steroid hormone levels change during the estrous cycle, we sought to determine whether variations in ovarian hormones would affect blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and brain levels of NMS, NMU, and neuromedin S receptor 2 in experimental TBI. Two groups (proestrus and nonproestrus) of female rats underwent diffuse TBI. At 24 hrs after TBI, results showed a significantly decrease in BBB permeability in traumatic-proestrus animals (TBI-P) in comparison to traumatic nonproestrus (TBI-NP) rats. Western blot analyzes demonstrated an enhanced expression of prepro-NMS in TBI-P compared with that in the TBI-NP group. Likewise, TBI-P rats exhibited significantly higher NMUR2 gene expression compared with those of TBI-NP, whereas no significant difference in brain NMU content was seen between sham and traumatic animals. Our findings indicate that diffuse TBI induces an increase in prepro-NMS and neuromedin S receptor 2 expression in traumatic-proestrus rats which may mediate the anti-edematous effects of gonadal hormones in proestrus rats following trauma.
Neuropeptides ; Receptors, Neuropeptide

BACKGROUND: Lack of proper control of acute postoperative pain often leads to lingering or chronic pain. Several studies have emphasized the role of beta-blockers in reducing postoperative pain. Esmolol is a selective short-acting beta-blocker that produces few side effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of intravenous intraoperative esmolol on postoperative pain reduction following orthopedic leg fracture surgery. METHODS: In a clinical trial, 82 patients between 20-65 years of age with tibia fractures and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I & II who underwent surgery were divided into two groups. Group A received esmolol and group B received normal saline. Postoperative pain was measured at three time points: entering the recovery unit, and at 3 h and 6 h following surgery, using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). A P value of < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Mean VAS scores at all three time points were significantly different between the two test groups (P = 0.02, P = 0.0001, and P = 0.0001, respectively). The consumption of pethidine was lower in group A than in group B (P = 0.004) and the duration of its effect was significantly longer in time (P = 0.026). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous intraoperative esmolol is effective in the reduction of postoperative pain following leg fracture surgery. It reduced opioid consumption following surgery and delayed patient requests for analgesics.
Analgesics ; Chronic Pain ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity* ; Meperidine ; Orthopedics* ; Pain Management* ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; Tibia ; Tibial Fractures ; Visual Analog Scale

The genus Sarcocystis is not usually considered as an important enteric pathogen in immune compromised patients. It might be expected that species for which humans are the final host (Sarcocystis hominis and Sarcocystis suihominis as well as possibly others) would be encountered increasingly often in immunodeficient persons. This study aimed to address how to detect and differentiate Sarcocystis oocysts and/or sporocysts from enteric protozoans in the diarrheal samples of immunodeficient patients in Shiraz, Iran. Diarrheal samples of 741 immunodeficient patients with recurrent persistent or chronic diarrhea were examined by microscopy and molecular biological analysis. Oocysts-positive samples were 68 Cryptosporidium spp., 9 Cystoisospora belli (syn. Isospora belli), 2 Cyclospora cayetanensis, and 15 microsporidia (Enterocytozoon bieneusi). Sarcocystis-like sporocysts found from a woman were identified as Sarcocystis cruzi through 18S rDNA amplification and phylogenetic analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of S. cruzi from a human.
Cryptosporidium ; Cyclospora ; Diarrhea ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Female ; Humans ; Iran* ; Isospora ; Microscopy ; Microsporidia ; Oocysts* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence* ; Sarcocystis*

Examining the trend of anthropometric indices in children and adolescents in each region can be highly beneficial in providing effective strategies to improve the status of their growth. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the trend of anthropometric indices in students from primary to high school in the west of Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and health certificates for anthropometric information of primary school students, and current anthropometric measurements with scale for high school students. Then, all of the data were analyzed in AnthroPlus and SPSS software. Of the 731 students, 350 were female and 381 were male. Mean height Z-score to age showed a significant reduction from primary to high school (from +0.0386 to −0.27416), and mean body mass index Z-score to age showed a significant increase (from −0.3916 to +0.1826). Prevalence of stunting and overweight/obesity in high school was 1.4 and 2.5 times higher than primary school, respectively, but the prevalence of wasting reduced by 2.3 fold. Girls were more affected by the increased trend of obesity and stunting compared to boys. Nutritional transition was evident in students. Healthcare policy-makers should design and implement a comprehensive health strategy to deal with this situation, especially in girls.
Adolescent ; Anthropometry ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Growth Disorders ; Humans ; Iran* ; Male ; Obesity ; Prevalence

MSC-based therapy is providing a cure for degenerative diseases with unmet medical need and usually iliac crest bone marrow (ICBM) are being applied in clinics. Alternative sources, including adipose tissue and reamer/irrigator/ aspirator hold great potential for isolating MCSs. Here, we compared original MSCs features of adipose tissue (Ad-MSCs) and bone marrow of long-bone (RIA-MSCs) or iliac crest, and the expression of chemokine receptors (including CXCR4, CX3CR1, CXCR6, CXCR2, CCR1 and CCR7) in these three sources, which are important in the context of homing. We further investigated the role of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis as a key player in motility of different population of MSCs using Transwell migration assay. All cells exhibited typical MSCs characteristics. However, different MSCs sources expressed different levels of chemokine receptors. Generally, the expression of these chemokine receptors was decreased with increasing passage (P) number from 2 to 3. Interestingly, it was observed that the CXCR4 expression and migration capacity in Ad-MSCs is significantly higher than ICBM and RIA-MSCs in P2. Although our data showed that CXCR4 had highest expression in P2 Ad-MSCs, but it dramatically declined following sub-culturing in the P3. Hence, to improve homing of MSCs by means of chemokine/their receptors axis, the source of isolation and passage number should be considered for clinical applications.
Adipose Tissue ; Bone Marrow ; Receptors, Chemokine* ; Stem Cells

OBJECTIVEThe effect of rs4331426 polymorphism in the Chr18q11.2 locus on pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) risk was evaluated.

METHODSThis case-control study included 208 PTB patients and 204 healthy subjects. Genotyping of the rs4331426 variant was conducted using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTSThe frequencies of genotypes AA, AG, and GG polymorphisms were 83.1%, 15.9%, and 1.0% in the PTB group and 84.3%, 15.2%, and 0.5% in the control group, respectively. The frequency of the minor (G) allele was 8.9% in the PTB group and 8.1% in controls. Neither genotype nor allele frequencies of the rs4331426 variant showed statistically significant differences between PTB and controls. In addition, stratification by sex showed no significant association between the rs4331426 variant and PTB risk in males or females.

CONCLUSIONIn conclusion, the results of this study do not support an association between the rs4331426 polymorphism and risk of PTB in an Iranian population.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Iran ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; epidemiology ; genetics

A case-control study was carried out that involved 203 individuals diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and 203 healthy subjects. Genotyping of TLR1 rs5743551 and rs5743618 polymorphisms was done using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragments length polymorphism assay. We found that TLR1 rs5743551 variant affected the risk of PTB in the codominant (OR=3.28, 95% CI=1.98-5.45, P<0.0001, GA vs. GG; OR=1.86, 95% CI=1.05-3.28, P=0.033, AA vs. GG) and dominant (OR=2.69, 95% CI=1.67-4.34, P<0.0001, GA+AA vs. GG) inheritance models tested. The A allele was associated with a higher risk of PTB than the G allele (OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.01-1.75, P=0.049). The TG genotype of the rs5743618 variant significantly increased the risk of PTB compared to the risk associated with the TT genotype (OR=3.29, 95% CI=1.82-5.97, P<0.0001). The G allele was associated with a higher risk of PTB than the T allele (OR=3.00, 95% CI=1.69-5.31, P=0.0001). Our findings revealed that TLR1 rs5743551 and rs5743618 polymorphisms affected the risk of PTB in an Iranian population sample. Additional studies with larger sample sizes and involving subjects of different ethnicities are required to validate our present findings.
Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Toll-Like Receptor 1 ; genetics ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; epidemiology ; genetics

Objective: To evaluate different doses of ivermectin in adult patients with mild COVID-19 and to evaluate the effect of ivermectin on mortality and clinical consequences. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial was performed at five hospitals. A total of 180 mild hospitalized patients with COVID-19 confirmed by PCR or chest image tests were enrolled and allocated to six arms including hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice per day, placebo plus hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice per day, single dose ivermectin (200 μg/kg), three low interval doses of ivermectin (200, 200, 200 μg/kg), single dose ivermectin (400 μg/kg), and three high interval doses of ivermectin (400, 200, 200 μg/kg). The primary endpoint of this trial was all-cause of mortality or clinical recovery. The radiographic findings, hospitalization and low O