مجله طب جنوب
سال بیست و ششم شماره 4 (مهر و آبان 1402)

Polyomavirus BK is one of the life-threatening infections in kidney transplant recipients. The activation of this virus can eventually lead to the loss of the graft. There are very few studies on the expression level of BK virus microRNAs. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the function of BK virus microRNAs and their effect on host cell microRNAs’ expression level. BK virus encodes two microRNAs, namely miR-B1-3p and miR-B1-5p. Therefore, it is crucial to study these microRNAs as markers of viral infection and their regulation. So far, there is no approved drug or vaccine to treat BK virus infection. Consequently, understanding the relationship between BK virus and host cell microRNAs is integral to the control of infection in kidney transplant patients.

In this study, ten tissue samples from kidney transplant recipients with symptoms of BK virus nephropathy, ten urine samples from kidney transplant patients without active BK virus infection, and 20 healthy individuals were included. The expression level of the studied microRNAs was measured in all the samples using SYBR Green Real-time PCR.

The results showed that the expression level of the studied microRNAs, including miR-B1-3p, miR-B1-5p, miR-155, miR-520, miR-10b, miR-30a in the tissue samples of kidney transplant patients with BK virus nephropathy symptoms were significantly increased compared to kidney transplant patients without active BK virus infection.

The assessment of some microRNAs, such as miR-520, miR-30a, and miR-B1-3p/5p, may assist in the prediction and prevention of BKPyV activation in KTRs, particularly in urine samples.

Adiponectin is one of the specific hormones of adipose tissue that plays an important role in insulin sensitivity, and low levels of adiponectin are associated with atherosclerosis and coronary artery diseases. Considering the controversial role of adiponectin in coronary artery diseases, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between adiponectin and evidence of coronary artery diseases in conventional single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who were sus-pected of coronary artery disease who referred to a nuclear medicine department in a 6-month period for MPI. The correlation of serum adiponectin level was compared with these parameters as well as with fac-tors such as age, gender and coronary artery disease risk factors.

In this study, 172 patients with suspected coronary disease referring for nuclear cardiac scan were included. The mean age of the patients was 57.83±10.64 years with a range of 28-87 years. The re-sults of our study showed that the serum levels of adiponectin were not significantly different between the patients with normal and abnormal nuclear scans, but the level of this hormone was significantly lower in women and in patients with diabetes. Also, none of the quantitative parameters of MPI had any signifi-cant relationships with serum adiponectin.

The present findings showed that there is no significant correlation between nuclear imaging parameters and serum levels of adiponectin, but the level of this hormone was significantly lower in the patients with diabetes and in women.

In proton therapy, it is imperative to take the distribution of both the physical absorbed dose and the biological dose into account. Therefore, phenomenological models and a biophysical model such as microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM) have been developed for the biological dose calculation.

In order to determine the most accurate model for Chinese hamster V79 cell line, this study carried out comparisons between the linear term of the cell survival curve (α) and the dose parameter per 10% of the cell survival fraction (D10), calculated using phenomenological models and a biophysical model as a function of linear energy transfer (LET) and kinetic energy of proton beams as well as published experimental data. This research also calculates the biological dose with several phe-nomenological models and MKM as a function of depth in the water phantom.

The results show that the α and D10 values of proton beams calculated with MKM are more con-sistent with the biological radiation data than those calculated with the phenomenological models. Of the phenomenological models, the calculation data from McNamara model are in better consistency with the experimental data than the other phenomenological models.

The ability of MKM to properly predict the biological dose distribution of proton beams with continual innovations and modifications showcases the importance of applying the correct model in treatment planning systems.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is considered one of the most common types of infection in children. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is one of the major risk factors of UTI leading to renal scarring. Cur-rently, two diagnostic methods are used for the evaluation of VUR, including voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) and radionuclide cystourethrography (DRNC). The present study examines the prevalence and intensity of VUR using direct radionuclide cystography (DRNC) in children referred to the Nuclear Medi-cine Division of Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz, Iran.

The referred patients were studied by DRNC in filling, post filling, voiding and post voiding phases if there was confirmed VUR or not. Furthermore, VCUG, sonography and urine cul-ture had been performed for all the patients prior to our investigation. Both dynamic and static imaging were performed from the bladder, ureters and kidneys. The results were studied by a nuclear medicine physician to assess VUR and grade it. 

The prevalence of VUR among all 300 patients was calculated to be 29.3%. Most of the cases of VUR were unilateral (63.6%), among which involvement of the left kidney (42%) was significantly more frequent (p=0.022). The most common grade in the cases with unilateral involvement was grade B, and in those with bilateral involvement, grade C. The highest frequency of VUR was observed in the age group below 1 year (10%, n=30), followed by 1-4 years and 5-8 years, each with the frequency of 8.67% (n=26).  There was no significant difference in terms of frequency of VUR based on age (p=0.198).

Our study showed that there is no significant association between VUR and urine culture results, but there is significant association between sonography/clinical findings and VUR. Moreover, the results demonstrated that DRNC is more sensitive than VCUG in the detection of VUR.

Retracted articles have increased significantly in number. Orthopedic researchers should not use the results of retracted articles in their papers. The purpose of this research is to identify the reasons for citing retracted orthopedic articles by researchers.

This study was conducted with a descriptive-survey approach. Retraction Watch was used to extract the articles. For each of the articles, Google Scholar was used to identify the citing authors. Web of Science and Scopus databases were used to collect and review the scientometric indicators of the journals. Databases and journal websites were utilized to check the open-access status of the articles. A standard questionnaire was sent to the authors by email. Statistical analysis was used to investigate the relationship between the articles’ citation and open access to them.

A total of 796 articles were retrieved, showing an increase in recent years. These articles are mostly published in top quartile journals. A large number of the researchers were not aware of the retraction status of their cited articles and also did not have a strategy to check the sources of their articles. Most of the authors stated that the reviewer or editor did not give them a warning about the retracted article. The researchers declared that the article has been used in their discussion section. There was a significant relationship (p-value=0.002) between the citation frequency and access type of retracted orthopedic articles.

Authors should pay more attention to the ethical principles of research in order to prevent the spread and publication of retracted articles. Authors should not cite retracted orthopedic articles in their papers, as this is dangerous for the patients’ health.