melina moshirpour

Triple-negative breast cancer is a significant global health challenge, and there's growing interest in targeting multiple pathways for treatment. Umbelliprenin, derived from herbal sources, has shown anti-tumor potential. This study aimed to assess umbelliprenin's impact on key genes related to proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis.

Umbelliprenin, which was synthesized by the Pharmaceutical Research Center (PRC) at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran, was utilized in this study. The study aimed to investigate the impact of umbelliprenin on EGF and CoCl2-induced signaling in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK pathways. Quantitative PCR was employed to assess the expression of EGFR, PI3K, AKT, mTOR, S6K, ERK1, ERK2, 4EBP1, HIF-1α, HIF-1β, VEGF, and VEGFR genes. Additionally, immunoblot assays were conducted to evaluate the levels of VEGF and HIF-1α in MDA-MB-468 cells.

The study found that umbelliprenin had cytotoxic effects, with an IC50 value of 152.5 μM. At concentrations of 10 μM and 20 μM, it upregulated genes like EGFR, VEGFR, HIF-1α, VEGF, PI3K, ERK2, and mTOR while downregulating 4EBP1. Umbelliprenin also increased VEGF protein levels. When used on EGF-stimulated cells, it enhanced VEGF and PI3K expression while inhibiting AKT, ERK2, mTOR, and antiproliferative 4EBP1 genes. Notably, VEGF and HIF-1α protein levels remained unchanged. Conversely, umbelliprenin downregulated EGFR, AKT, ERK1/2, HIF-1α, and VEGF in CoCl2-stimulated cells, while elevating 4EBP1 and reducing VEGF and HIF-1α protein levels.

Umbelliprenin inhibited MDA-MB-468 cell growth and impacted gene expression related to metastasis and angiogenesis, particularly under conditions of EGFR activation and hypoxia.

Wrist function has a significant impact on quality of life, which is why restoring normal wrist movement after surgery is so important. Due to the COVID‑19 pandemic, and the restrictions imposed on “face‑to‑face” visits, using smartphones has become more important in tracking patients. The main purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of telemedicine in following up patients who had undergone distal radius fracture operation.

From February to October 2020, 126 patients between 20 and 60 years old were randomly selected at our orthopedic trauma center. All patients were visited in person by an orthopedic surgeon in the morning (control group) and again all of them were visited online via smartphone in the evening by another orthopedic surgeon (case group). Both visits were done at regular intervals in the 2nd, 6th, and 12th weeks after surgery. Patients were evaluated for extremity function outcomes and joint range of motion.

The two groups were similar in terms of mean Patient‑Rated Wrist Evaluation score and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score and did not show a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in wrist range of motion measurements between the two groups (in‑person visits and smartphone visits) during the follow‑ups (P > 0.05).

Changes in wrist range of motion after surgery can be assessed with high accuracy using smartphone applications and this method can be considered as a proper alternative to frequent in‑person visits to evaluate postsurgical wrist condition.

Royal jelly, propolis, and bee pollen are used for different purposes all around the world according to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. Given that Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral condition accompanied by a dysregulated inflammatory response in the body, we intend to evaluate the effects of natural supplementations on the disease course. A randomized, open-label, controlled trial was conducted among 50 definitive cases of COVID-19. These patients were randomly assigned into control and intervention groups. Royal Jelly, propolis, and bee pollen were prescribed to patients in the intervention group (n = 24) in addition to conventional treatment; while the control group only received the standard treatment (n = 26). At the end of the study, functional class improved in both groups, but this change was more pronounced in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Moreover, total symptoms duration and the time to return to work were significantly reduced in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Although royal jelly, propolis, and bee pollen are not definitive treatments in COVID-19 patients, they can be used as an adjuvant treatment to limit disease symptoms and virus propagation.