AIM: To identify various risk factors that may play a significant role in the development of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction(CNLDO).METHODS: This observational case-control study included a case group of 122 children less than two years of age with CNLDO who underwent probing and irrigation treatment at the ophthalmology department of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran, from June 2022 to June 2024. A control group of 122 age-matched children without CNLDO was also included for comparison. Data was collected from the children's medical records. RESULTS:The study found a significant correlation between the occurrence of CNLDO and several maternal factors, such as preeclampsia, the use of levothyroxine, hypothyroidism, having more than three pregnancies(gravidity >3), natural pregnancy, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Additionally, in children, factors, such as oxygen therapy, anemia, reflux, jaundice, and a family history of CNLDO in first-degree relatives were associated with CNLDO, and maternal preeclampsia and hypothyroidism were found to significantly increase the risk of developing CNLDO in children.CONCLUSION: Given that CNLDO affects both premature and full-term children, the present findings may potentially facilitate the early identification of children and infants at risk of nasolacrimal duct obstruction, thereby preventing the onset of chronic dacryocystitis.

Purpose: Curcumin as a potent anti-inflammatory and cancer-prevention molecule was labeled with n.c.a 177Lu. The combi-nation of 177Lu as a theranostic agent and curcumin as an anti-cancer can be considered for nuclear medicine. Methods: First, n.c.a 177Lu (specific activity = 48 Ci/mg) was prepared using the extraction chromatography method. Then,semi-empirical quantum chemical calculations were applied to get a deeper insight into the complexation reaction between Lu+3 and curcumin ligand. UV-Vis spectrophotometry was used for the determination of the metal-to-curcumin ratio. Sub-sequently, a mixture of (111–333 MBq) n.c.a 177Lu, 50 µL curcumin solution in ethanol, and 450 µL acetate buffer at pH = 5was incubated for 1  h at 95 ºC. The Lu-curcumin complex chemical structure was characterized using IR spectroscopy.Finally, the prepared complex was analyzed by different quality control tests. Results: Complexometry using UV-Vis studies showed a 1:2 ratio for Lutetium: curcumin complex which is in agreement with theoretical calculations. The IR-spectra analysis also confirmed the complex formation. The radiochemical purity of n.c.a 177Lu -curcumin was more than 95% as determined by radio-TLC. The stability of up to 48 h was observed for theprepared complex in serum. The partition coefficient was calculated for the compound (logP = -0.31). Evaluating biodistri-bution in tumoral mice exhibited high tumor uptake (%ID/gtissue = 2.03). Conclusion The promising results showed that n.c.a 177Lu-curcumin can be considered as a possible radiopharmaceutical agent for therapeutic applications.

Background: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a widely utilized technique for assessing thyroid nodules; however, its inherent non-diagnostic rate poses diagnostic challenges. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic efficacy of FNA, core needle biopsy (CNB), and their combined application in the assessment of thyroid nodules. Methods: A total of 56 nodules from 50 patients was analyzed using both FNA and simultaneous CNB. The ultrasound characteristics were categorized according to the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems classification system. The study compared the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of FNA, CNB, and the combination of the two techniques. Results: The concordance between FNA and CNB was notably high, with a kappa coefficient of 0.837. The sensitivity for detecting thyroid malignancy was found to be 25.0% for FNA, 66.7% for CNB, and 83.3% for the combined FNA/CNB approach, with corresponding specificities of 84.6%, 97.4%, and 97.4%. The accuracy of the FNA/CNB combination was the highest at 94.1%. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that both CNB and the FNA/CNB combination offer greater diagnostic accuracy for thyroid malignancy compared to FNA alone, with no significant complications reported. Integrating CNB with FNA findings may enhance management strategies and treatment outcomes for patients with thyroid nodules.

Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of death all over the world. Therapeutic options applied to the patients include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.However, far advanced disease often leads to chemoresistance and toxicity. Innovative therapies are needed to address these challenges. Melatonin has the potential to prevent and treat cancer, as it has been revealed in numerous clinical studies. Melatonin is a nontoxic agent that is mostly produced in the pineal gland, inducing various mechanisms of action such as the induction of apoptosis, antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and metastasis-inhibitory effects. Therefore, melatonin increases therapeutic sensitivity when combined with conventional medication in breast cancer. Melatonin (3-20 mg/day) may reduce breast cancer cell growth in preclinical studies and enhance chemotherapy efficacy. Small human trials suggest potential benefits, but larger studies are needed. Higher doses (≥20 mg/day) are sometimes used alongside chemotherapy. This manuscript reviews research that has demonstrated the antitumor properties of melatonin, thereby focusing on its actions on angiogenesis, apoptosis, metastasis, and antiproliferative properties. We also discuss recent advances in the understanding of the actions of melatonin on epigenetic mechanisms (especially DNA methylation) and telomere length. The data in this review were obtained from journal articles up to May 2024.Regarding the study, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect were used as engines to search for open access. We searched the ISI, Pubmed and Scopus as valid external databases, and as internal databases, ISC and Iran medex. By finding mean keywords such as ‘breast cancer’, ‘estrogen’, ‘melatonin’, ‘cell death’, ‘cell proliferation’, ‘telomerase’ and ‘DNA methylation’, we reached to the formula with maximum collectivity in searching, then equivalent terms were found by Mesh database. The review also covers recent clinical investigations of melatonin in breast cancer.

Purpose: We evaluated the effectiveness of early start of long-acting insulin during management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in pediatric patients. Methods: Patients with DKA were randomly assigned to receive either a traditional DKA management protocol or concurrent administration of subcutaneous (SC) long-acting insulin alongside intravenous insulin during DKA treatment. The primary outcomes were duration of insulin infusion and adverse effects of the intervention, mainly hypoglycemia and hypokalemia. Results: For this study, 100 pediatric patients with DKA were enrolled, 50 in each group (group I received the conventional DKA management and group II received conventional DKA management plus SC long-acting insulin once daily). Patients in group II showed a significant reduction in both duration and dose of insulin infusion compared to group I, with a median (interquartile range) of 68.5 hours (45.00–88.25 hours) versus 72 hours (70.25–95.5 hours) (P=0.0001) and an insulin dose of 3.48±1.00 units/kg versus 4.04±1.17 units/kg (P=0.016), respectively. Concurrent administration of SC long-acting insulin with intravenous insulin during DKA treatment was associated with a decreased risk of hypoglycemia (number of hypoglycemia events: group I, 22 events; group II, 12 events, P=0.029), with no increased risk of hypokalemia compared to the control group (number of hypokalemia events: group I, 12 events; group II, 19 events, P=0.147). Conclusion The current study showed that coadministration of SC long-acting insulin in addition to the usual insulin infusion during DKA management in the pediatric population can lead to a shorter duration of insulin infusion. In addition, this approach is not associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia or hypokalemia. Moreover, coadministration of long-acting insulin may be associated with a decreased incidence of hypoglycemia.

Purpose: Curcumin as a potent anti-inflammatory and cancer-prevention molecule was labeled with n.c.a 177Lu. The combi-nation of 177Lu as a theranostic agent and curcumin as an anti-cancer can be considered for nuclear medicine. Methods: First, n.c.a 177Lu (specific activity = 48 Ci/mg) was prepared using the extraction chromatography method. Then,semi-empirical quantum chemical calculations were applied to get a deeper insight into the complexation reaction between Lu+3 and curcumin ligand. UV-Vis spectrophotometry was used for the determination of the metal-to-curcumin ratio. Sub-sequently, a mixture of (111–333 MBq) n.c.a 177Lu, 50 µL curcumin solution in ethanol, and 450 µL acetate buffer at pH = 5was incubated for 1  h at 95 ºC. The Lu-curcumin complex chemical structure was characterized using IR spectroscopy.Finally, the prepared complex was analyzed by different quality control tests. Results: Complexometry using UV-Vis studies showed a 1:2 ratio for Lutetium: curcumin complex which is in agreement with theoretical calculations. The IR-spectra analysis also confirmed the complex formation. The radiochemical purity of n.c.a 177Lu -curcumin was more than 95% as determined by radio-TLC. The stability of up to 48 h was observed for theprepared complex in serum. The partition coefficient was calculated for the compound (logP = -0.31). Evaluating biodistri-bution in tumoral mice exhibited high tumor uptake (%ID/gtissue = 2.03). Conclusion The promising results showed that n.c.a 177Lu-curcumin can be considered as a possible radiopharmaceutical agent for therapeutic applications.

Purpose: Curcumin as a potent anti-inflammatory and cancer-prevention molecule was labeled with n.c.a 177Lu. The combi-nation of 177Lu as a theranostic agent and curcumin as an anti-cancer can be considered for nuclear medicine. Methods: First, n.c.a 177Lu (specific activity = 48 Ci/mg) was prepared using the extraction chromatography method. Then,semi-empirical quantum chemical calculations were applied to get a deeper insight into the complexation reaction between Lu+3 and curcumin ligand. UV-Vis spectrophotometry was used for the determination of the metal-to-curcumin ratio. Sub-sequently, a mixture of (111–333 MBq) n.c.a 177Lu, 50 µL curcumin solution in ethanol, and 450 µL acetate buffer at pH = 5was incubated for 1  h at 95 ºC. The Lu-curcumin complex chemical structure was characterized using IR spectroscopy.Finally, the prepared complex was analyzed by different quality control tests. Results: Complexometry using UV-Vis studies showed a 1:2 ratio for Lutetium: curcumin complex which is in agreement with theoretical calculations. The IR-spectra analysis also confirmed the complex formation. The radiochemical purity of n.c.a 177Lu -curcumin was more than 95% as determined by radio-TLC. The stability of up to 48 h was observed for theprepared complex in serum. The partition coefficient was calculated for the compound (logP = -0.31). Evaluating biodistri-bution in tumoral mice exhibited high tumor uptake (%ID/gtissue = 2.03). Conclusion The promising results showed that n.c.a 177Lu-curcumin can be considered as a possible radiopharmaceutical agent for therapeutic applications.

Purpose: We evaluated the effectiveness of early start of long-acting insulin during management of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in pediatric patients. Methods: Patients with DKA were randomly assigned to receive either a traditional DKA management protocol or concurrent administration of subcutaneous (SC) long-acting insulin alongside intravenous insulin during DKA treatment. The primary outcomes were duration of insulin infusion and adverse effects of the intervention, mainly hypoglycemia and hypokalemia. Results: For this study, 100 pediatric patients with DKA were enrolled, 50 in each group (group I received the conventional DKA management and group II received conventional DKA management plus SC long-acting insulin once daily). Patients in group II showed a significant reduction in both duration and dose of insulin infusion compared to group I, with a median (interquartile range) of 68.5 hours (45.00–88.25 hours) versus 72 hours (70.25–95.5 hours) (P=0.0001) and an insulin dose of 3.48±1.00 units/kg versus 4.04±1.17 units/kg (P=0.016), respectively. Concurrent administration of SC long-acting insulin with intravenous insulin during DKA treatment was associated with a decreased risk of hypoglycemia (number of hypoglycemia events: group I, 22 events; group II, 12 events, P=0.029), with no increased risk of hypokalemia compared to the control group (number of hypokalemia events: group I, 12 events; group II, 19 events, P=0.147). Conclusion The current study showed that coadministration of SC long-acting insulin in addition to the usual insulin infusion during DKA management in the pediatric population can lead to a shorter duration of insulin infusion. In addition, this approach is not associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia or hypokalemia. Moreover, coadministration of long-acting insulin may be associated with a decreased incidence of hypoglycemia.

Breast cancer is one of the most common causes of death all over the world. Therapeutic options applied to the patients include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.However, far advanced disease often leads to chemoresistance and toxicity. Innovative therapies are needed to address these challenges. Melatonin has the potential to prevent and treat cancer, as it has been revealed in numerous clinical studies. Melatonin is a nontoxic agent that is mostly produced in the pineal gland, inducing various mechanisms of action such as the induction of apoptosis, antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and metastasis-inhibitory effects. Therefore, melatonin increases therapeutic sensitivity when combined with conventional medication in breast cancer. Melatonin (3-20 mg/day) may reduce breast cancer cell growth in preclinical studies and enhance chemotherapy efficacy. Small human trials suggest potential benefits, but larger studies are needed. Higher doses (≥20 mg/day) are sometimes used alongside chemotherapy. This manuscript reviews research that has demonstrated the antitumor properties of melatonin, thereby focusing on its actions on angiogenesis, apoptosis, metastasis, and antiproliferative properties. We also discuss recent advances in the understanding of the actions of melatonin on epigenetic mechanisms (especially DNA methylation) and telomere length. The data in this review were obtained from journal articles up to May 2024.Regarding the study, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect were used as engines to search for open access. We searched the ISI, Pubmed and Scopus as valid external databases, and as internal databases, ISC and Iran medex. By finding mean keywords such as ‘breast cancer’, ‘estrogen’, ‘melatonin’, ‘cell death’, ‘cell proliferation’, ‘telomerase’ and ‘DNA methylation’, we reached to the formula with maximum collectivity in searching, then equivalent terms were found by Mesh database. The review also covers recent clinical investigations of melatonin in breast cancer.

Background: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a widely utilized technique for assessing thyroid nodules; however, its inherent non-diagnostic rate poses diagnostic challenges. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic efficacy of FNA, core needle biopsy (CNB), and their combined application in the assessment of thyroid nodules. Methods: A total of 56 nodules from 50 patients was analyzed using both FNA and simultaneous CNB. The ultrasound characteristics were categorized according to the American College of Radiology Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data Systems classification system. The study compared the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of FNA, CNB, and the combination of the two techniques. Results: The concordance between FNA and CNB was notably high, with a kappa coefficient of 0.837. The sensitivity for detecting thyroid malignancy was found to be 25.0% for FNA, 66.7% for CNB, and 83.3% for the combined FNA/CNB approach, with corresponding specificities of 84.6%, 97.4%, and 97.4%. The accuracy of the FNA/CNB combination was the highest at 94.1%. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that both CNB and the FNA/CNB combination offer greater diagnostic accuracy for thyroid malignancy compared to FNA alone, with no significant complications reported. Integrating CNB with FNA findings may enhance management strategies and treatment outcomes for patients with thyroid nodules.