مجله طب جنوب
سال بیست و سوم شماره 3 (امرداد و شهریور 1399)

 MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding RNA molecules (19-24 nucleotides) that play a major role in a wide range of biological processes through post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Differential expression of miRNAs has been reported in various infectious diseases such as HIV infection. The characterization of miRNA expression profiles, especially in mammalian biofluids, which are affected by intracellular processes of different parts of the body, provides a considerable insight into pathophysiological alterations associated with host-virus interactions. Therefore, based on miR-1 bioinformatics analysis in the context of potential affected signaling pathways in HIV infection, the present study aimed to profile the expression of miR-1 in donor’s serum from HIV-positive individuals vs unaffected controls in Bushehr Blood Transfusion Center.

The enrichment analysis on predicted target genes for miR-1 was performed based on miRNA-related bioinformatics tools to achieve possible regulated pathways by this miRNA. Given the pathways affected by HIV infection and the involvement of miR-1 target genes in these signaling pathways, the miR-1 expression was evaluated in serum samples of  20 treated HIV-positive individuals, 10 patients with de novo HIV infection diagnosis, and 40 healthy subjects using qRT-PCR. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22.

The enrichment analysis for identified target genes of miR-1 revealed that target genes were significantly enriched (FDR <0.05) in the four pathways of thyroid hormone, cancer pathways, endocytosis, and phosphatidylinositol signaling system. In addition, a significant increase was observed in miR-1 expression level  (p-value <0.05) in de novo HIV infected patients compared with healthy subjects. A significant decrease was observed in miR-1 expression level (p-value <0.0001) in treated HIV-positive individuals compared with de novo HIV infected patients, as well.

Bioinformatics studies indicate that the predicted target genes for miR-1 belong to the pathways related to thyroid hormone, cancer, endocytosis, and phosphatidylinositol signaling system, which are impaired pathways in HIV infection. In addition, significantly altered expression in miR-1 in the serum of de novo HIV infected patients vs healthy subjects and treated HIV-positive individuals vs de novo HIV infected patients represents remarkable effects of the process of HIV infection and pathogenesis on miR-1 expression. Hence, the findings of this study indicate the potential use of miR-1 to better understand HIV pathogenesis, and subsequent therapeutic interventions by targeting miRNA.

Sertraline, along with its beneficial antidepressant effects, may have adverse effects on the fertility and reproductive system. In recent years, the negative effects of sertraline on body tissues have been shown to some extent. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sertraline at different doses on the histological and histometrical structure of ventral and anterior lobes of prostate in adult mice.

In this experimental study, twenty adult male mice were randomly divided into four groups: control (no treatment) and three groups receiving sertraline at doses of 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg by gavage for 42 days. First, the mice were sacrificed, then, blood samples and prostate lobes tissue were collected for histomorphological and histochemical studies.

Results showed a significant decrease in cell count of secretory units in ventral and anterior lobes in the sertraline groups, compared to that in control group (p<0.05). Epithelial thickness showed a significant decrease in ventral and anterior lobes of prostate following the administration of sertraline (20 mg/kg), compared to the control group (p<0.05). A significant dose-dependent decrease was seen in serum testosterone in sertraline groups, compared to the control group (p<0.05).

Sertraline has a negative effect on the histopathological and histometrical structure of prostate. However, further clinical studies are required to assess the negative effects of sertraline in human beings.

Myocardial Infarction (MI) is accompanied by inflammation and production of soluble inflammatory factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of CCL18 and CCL5 levels with those of resistin, adipsin, adiponectin and leptin adipokines in the sera of patients after MI.

The correlations between levels of chemokines and adipokines were investigated in 36 patients in a 6-month follow-up after MI. For each patient, the measurements were done in 3 time points T0 (first 12 hrs), T5 (fifth day of admission) and T180 (after 6 months). The clinical and demographical criteria of patients at the time of admission were also recorded.

The serum levels of CCL18 at T0 were significantly correlated with resistin levels at T180. Therefore, higher CCL18 levels at T0 were associated with higher resistin levels at T180 (r=0.413, P=0.017). Moreover, serum levels of CCL18 at T180 were significantly correlated with adipsin levels at T5. Therefore, higher adipsin levels at T5 were associated with higher CCL18 levels at T180 (r=0.213, P=0.001).
Multivariate logistic regression showed that the left ventricular ejection fraction at T0 correlated with the covariant effect of adipsin T5 and CCL18 at T180 (P=0.029).

This study showed the correlation between CCL18 and resistin levels and the effect of CCL18 on the long term production of resistin in the body. With the notion that worse prognosis is associated with higher long-term CCL18; it is possible to take advantage of the correlation between adipsin on day 5 and the increase in CCL18 as prognostic biomarkers on the first days after MI.

Individuals with diabetes mellitus are at serious risk of a wide range of cardiovascular complications. Urotensin 2 and its receptors play an important role in the development of cardiovascular diseeases through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Resveratrol is a polyphenol with antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of resveratrol on urotensin 2 and its receptors in the heart tissues of diabetic rats.

In this experimental study, 48 male Wistar rats were divided into six groups (N= 8 in each group). Resveratrol was prepared in 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose and given to the rats through oral gavage. At the end of the 60 days of treatment with resveratrol, rats’ heart tissue was collected.

The weight of diabetic rats treated with 10 and 90 mg/kg bw of resveratrol significantly increased compared with the diabetic group. Furthermore, the serum levels of FBS, lipids, MDA, CK-MB and LDH decreased in the treated diabetic rats compared with the control group. Moreover, concentration of urotensin 2 and its receptors significantly decreased in the heart tissues of the diabetic rats treated with resveratrol at the dose of 10 mg/kg bw compared with the control group.

The current study indicated that resveratrol decreased FBS, lipids, weight, MDA and cardiac enzymes. Furthermore, resveratrol significantly reduced urotensin 2 and its receptors, which indicates its moderating effect on diabetes complications.

Thyroid cancer is the most prevalent malignancy of the endocrine systemcancers. Thyroid cancer has increased faster thatn any other malignancy in recent years. Tyroid cancer has different histopathologic types, of which the most common is the differentiated type. Different factors can affect the prognosis of the patients. In this study, we investigated different factors that can affect the prognosis of these patients.

Thirty-four patients underwent the standard surgery including partial and total thyroidectomy and subsequently received 131I radioiodine 4-6 weeks after surgery. We evaluated the effects of different prognostic factors which can effect on the patients’ survival including age, gender, family history of any malignancies, history of radiation exposure, histopathological type and lab data on the ablation time including serum Tg, serum Anti Tg and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels.

A total of 34 patients, including 6 males (17.6%) and 28 (82.4%) females with a mean age of 40.8±11.6 years participated in this research. Only vascular invasion had statistically significant P-values less than 0.05, which shows the correlation between ablation success and this factor.

This study demonstrated that among different prognostic factors, only vascular invasion had a reverse relationship with ablation success. Other factors did not show statistically significant relashionships with treatment efficiency of DTC.

Breastfeeding has the highest efficacy in promoting health and preventing disorders and diseases. Cessation of breastfeeding, especially in the first six months after delivery (the critical time), has a profound effect on the emotional and physical health of mothers and children. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the exclusive breastfeeding pattern and its related factors in children in Sanandaj 2018.

This descriptive-analytical study enrolled 400 children aged 7-24 months in Sanandaj, Iran. Data were collected with a three-part questionnaire including demographic information, factors affecting the exclusive breastfeeding and child-related factors through interviews. Data were analyzed by chi-square test in SPSS software (version 21). P value <5 was considered significant.

The results showed that the prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was 71.5%. Significant relationships were found between exclusive breast feeding and the following variables: unwanted pregnancy, mother's perception of the adequacy of milk, baby’s hospitalization after birth, and skin-to-skin contact in the hospital, and breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. (p≤0.05)

Since the main reason for the reduction in exclusive breastfeeding is the fact that mother’s perception of inadequate milk and fear of baby’s hunger, breastfeeding can be promoted by designing appropriate programs for training mothers in healthcare centers in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Centers for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) play an important role in identifying, treating and preventing infections. Paying attention to equipment and human resources of these centers can increase the effectiveness of these activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of these centers in order to plan and improve the quality of services.

This descriptive cross-sectional study enrolled was carried out on 247 physician and midwifery offices and 141 service providers of sexually transmitted infections in Kerman, Shiraz, Tehran and Babol‏. These centers participated in the research by completing the checklist. The data were analyzed in Stata 11 software using descriptive statistics (frequency, frequency percentage and frequency tables).

The findings showed that about 66% of offices and 97% of institutions accepted health insurance, 93% of offices and 89% of institutions had access to a laboratory to refer patients, and 13% of offices and 67% of institutions had a monthly report of STIs. About one-third of physicians and midwives and more than two-thirds of institution officials were aware of the Ministry of Health's guidelines on STIs. Almost half of the physicians, midwives and institutions mentioned the lack of feedback from the healthcare system as the most important reason for not participating in reporting STIs. 

The following criteria should be addressed in order to improve the quality of services provided in centers for patients with STIs: continued presence of physician and midwife, easy access to laboratory and pharmacy, and admission of insured individuals.