moslem bahadori

Abdulkarim Vessal, a distinguished professor of the Shiraz School of Medicine, was the founder of the “Archives of Iranian Medicine Journal” and a permanent member of the “Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences”, who finally, after five decades of efforts to promote radiology and medical journalism in Iran, passed away on February 18, 2022 in Shiraz. His demise is a great loss for the Iranian medical community, especially in Shiraz. In the present paper, his life and career are briefly reviewed.

Covid 19 caused by SARS-COV2 has spread all over the world and has caused high mortality, social and economic damage so many attempts have been made for controlling and preventing the spread of the disease. One of these activities is to carry out a general vaccination program and to establish public immunity.

This article reviewed the results of a study that was performed on 188 recovered Covid-19 cases. Various immune system parameters were assessed in 254 samples of those188 patients.

It was found that immunity was heterogeneous in different individual. In most cases the patients are immune for 6 months after recovery but some with weak immunity might become re-infected. Cellular immunity plays an important role in recovery and reducing the severity of the disease whereas antibody has less effect in recovery but is important in preventing re-infection. Antibodies against S and RBD were stable up to 6 months after recovery and similarity.

Among the 6 immune parameters studied. 3 of them were stable for 6-8 months which hopefully will be sufficient for immunity and protection.

The nucleolus is a subcellular membraneless structure of eukaryotic cells. In 1965, in a world’s southern summer summit in Uruguay, the role of the nucleolus as the site of ribosome synthesis, biogenesis, and processing of tRNA was conclusively established. Today, accumulating evidence confirm the multiple functions of the nucleolus, including tRNA precursor processing, cell stress sensing, as well as being influential in gene silencing, senescence, lifespan, DNA damage response (DDR), and cell cycle regulation. Therefore, nucleolopathy is observed in various human diseases. Modern advances have provided fundamental insights concerning how and why the nucleolus is targeted by different pathogenic organisms. Viruses are major organisms that disrupt the normal function of the nucleus and produce nucleoli proteins for facilitating the replication of viruses causing viral infections. In this review, we focus on the possible role of nucleoli upon coronavirus infections, in particular coronavirus disease 2019.

The emergence of patient-tailored medicine has changed all measurable disease outcomes. Among human diseases, cancers appear to be the most dangerous. Furthermore, lung cancers rank the first among human cancers in both morbidity and mortality. When lung cancer is clinically diagnosed, it is often too late for therapy. The absence of accurate and specific tools for early detection results in a poor prognosis for lung cancer. The discovery of microRNAs and their function in lung cancer offers a new mechanism for the detection of lung cancer cells. These molecules, derived from cancerous cells, circulate in the patient's blood. Recently, a revolutionary technique, i.e.,liquid biopsyhasshown promise in discovering these circulating microRNAs molecules in body fluids, namely peripheral blood. A liquid biopsy allows the detection and isolation of circulating tumor cells, circulating nucleotides,and cellular exosome as a source of genomic and proteomic information in cancerous patients, especially in the early stages of cancer cell development.In this review, by searching various databases,including PubMed, Google Scholar,and Scopus, we explore liquid biopsy as a novel tool and the application of miRNAs in lung cancer detection in diagnostic pathology

The pathogenesis of the COVID19 pandemic, that has killed one million nine hundred people and infected more the 90 million until end of 2020, has been studied by many researchers. Here, we try to explain its biological behavior based on our recent autopsy information and review of literature.

In this study, patients with a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) result were considered eligible for enrollment. Histopathological examinations were done on 13 people who were hospitalized in Afzalipour hospital, Kerman, Iran. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed. Tissue examination was done by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.

The most frequent co-morbidity in the patients was cardiovascular disease. The common initial symptoms of COVID-19 infection were dyspnea and cough. In all cases, the number of white blood cells was higher than the normal range. Common histopathological findings were variable degrees of vasculitis as degenerative to necrotic changes of endothelium and trafficking of inflammatory cells in the vessel wall with fibrinoid necrosis. Tissue damage included interstitial acute inflammatory cells reaction with degenerative to necrotic changes of the parenchymal cells. CD34 and Factor VIII immunohistochemistry staining showed endothelial cell degeneration to necrosis at the vessel wall and infiltration by inflammatory cells. Electron microscopic features confirmed the degenerative damages in the endothelial cells.

Our histopathological studies suggest that the main focus of the viral damage is the endothelial cells (endotheliopathica) in involved organs. Also, our findings suggest that degeneration of leukocytes occurs at the site of inflammation and release of cytokines (leukocytoclastica) resulting in a cytokine storm.

The nucleolus is an intranuclear membrane-less organelle. It is involved in ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis. When the demand for protein synthesis increases in cell growth and proliferation (e.g., tumors), the cell upregulates ribosome biogenesis. Changes in nucleolar size and number have been recognized as known features of many tumor types. Recent evidence suggests that overproduction of ribosome, decreased ribosome biogenesis, and quantitative and qualitative changes in the nucleolus function, may result in oncogenesis. Today, it is clear that the nucleolus is involved in processes other than ribosome biogenesis. Other functions of the nucleolus include detecting and responding to endogenous and exogenous stress, maintaining genome stability, and regulating cell cycle progression, telomere function, cellular senescence, gene expression, and chromatin structure. Alterations in many of these fundamental nucleolar processes may contribute to the formation of cancer cell phenotypes. This phenomenon suggests that normal nucleolar functions are a safeguard against the development of malignancies and have potential therapeutic effects, as reported in non-small-cell lung carcinoma and other malignancies.

Recently convergence science was proposed and promoted in a large report from US National Science Foundation and Department of Commerce (NSF/DOC). The report was entitled “converging technologies for improving human performance. “It was dealing with converging of four technologies as: Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Information technology and Cognitive science (NBIC). The report has gained tremendous popularity throughout the academia and scientific world. On Dec 2015 in a monthly meeting of the department of basic science of Iran Academy of Medical Science, the report of NSF/DOC on NBIC has been discussed. A working group has been established for more discussion and application in Iran. Several seminars in this regard have been performed, and presently this technology has been started as pilot in some technical universities in Iran. After US National Research Council (NCR) in the year 2014 and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on convergence in biomedicine, the concept opened a new gate to approach solving medical and health care problems; the convergence technology in biomedical sciences has become interested and gained great popularity among the working group of convergence science in academy of medical science. This technology can lead to advances in fighting chronic diseases such as cancer, dementia, psychiatric disorders, disease of aging and others. The following is summary of proposed discussions in several gathered groups of scientists in this field.

The present study deviates from previous approaches as it focuses on the concept of energy to illuminate cancer-related issues. Energy is a prerequisite for any function; cellular function is no exception, and thus, reduced energy in human cells can impair their performance. This hypothesis provides a novel view of cancer formation. It shows that a normal cell transforms into its cancerous counterpart in response to cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion. Moreover, it presents a new definition for the origin of cancer stem cells and how they can regenerate cancer. This article regards a distinct aspect of cancer that helps to differentiate various phases of its progression and shed light on some of the uncharted zones of its pathway for the first time that needs further confirmation by empirical studies.

Convergence Medicine is a new educational, research and therapeutic branch in medicine that could lead to important changes and innovations both in research and clinical care medicine. This new technology was initiated in 2014 and rapidly expanded throughout the world. Convergence Medicine was planned following Converging Technologies in Science [Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, Informatics Technology and Cognitive Science (NBIC)] in 2002. At present many universities, research and educational institutes globally take advantage of Convergence Medicine. Hopefully, by considering the aim and objectives of this new medical technology, many of the existing medical and health issues of the society and communities could be overcome in future. In this evaluation, we have paid attention to the formation of this concept from the initial stage and its associated advantages. By incorporation of Convergence Medicine in the Iranian medical society, strategic policies could be taken in various medical and medical related fields such as health care policies, research, investment in research fields, workforce policies and team work.

The nucleolus is an internuclear organelle without a visible membrane via the light microscope inside the cell nucleus. It is the main site for synthesis of ribosome as a complex machine for coordinating protein production. It forms around a specific chromosomal feature called the nucleolar organizing region (NOR) which possesses numerous ribosomal DNA (rDNA). Although the nucleolus is best known as coordinator of ribosomal biogenesis and protein synthesis, recently, there is exciting awareness both on better understanding of ribosome biogenesis and non-ribosomal nucleolar functions. A great amount of research has clearly indicated that the nucleolus has functional activities in both ribosomal and non-ribosomal conditions such as development, aging, cell cycle, gene stability, lifespan regulation, and progeria. Through recent sophisticated and advanced technologies such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, advances of knowledge in RNA species and new approaches in microscopic analysis methods, researchers have shown that perturbation in the nucleolar structure and function (nucleolar stress) have been associated with human diseases including cancer, viral infection, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss the impact of current research providing new information regarding nucleolar roles and functions in some human diseases and aging.

This is a brief look at the establishment and development of oral and maxillofacial pathology in Iran. The program of the oral and maxillofacial pathology at first was integrated into the curriculum of the Dental School of Tehran University in 1960. The Iranian Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathologists was officially founded in 1999

Parasites and parasitic diseases have been prevalent in Iran according to Iranian ancient scholars and physicians’ inscriptions dating back to 865–1496. Some protozoan diseases such as malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis have been introduced by clinical manifestations and helminthic infections by size and morphology of the worms. Scientific studies of Parasitology started in Iran from 1833, first by foreign physicians and continued from 1909 by Iranian researchers. The pioneer medical parasitologists of Iran were Dr N. Ansari and Dr. Sh. Mofidi who established the Department of Medical Parasitology in the School of Medicine, University of Tehran, 1939. Afterward, a considerable number of researchers and professors of parasitology have been active in training and research works in the fields of medical parasitology throughout the entire nation. At present, some significant parasitic diseases such as bilharsiasis and dracunculiasis are more or less eradicated and malaria is in the elimination phase. The prevalence of most helminthic infections has considerably decreased. Most of the departments of medical Parasitology in Iran are active in training MD, MSPH and PhD students. The Iranian Society of Parasitology established in 1994 is active with many eligible members and its creditable publication, the Iranian Journal of Parasitology, published seasonally since 2006. From 1833, when the scientific studies of Parasitology have started in Iran up to 2013, many researchers have been done on various fields of medical Parasitology and parasitic diseases in Iran and 2517 papers in English and 1890 papers in Persian have been published in national and international scientific journals. In addition, more than 420 books related in the field of medical parasitology field have been published in Persian language.

The history of leishmaniasis dates back to the distant past; however, its etiologic agent was unidentified until the mid-19th century. Here is an overview of some historical aspects of leishmaniasis in Iran mainly focused on the cutaneous form, from the mid-19th century onwards. In addition, short biographies of several contemporary researchers and experts of leishmaniasis and their achievements in the past decades are presented.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation that is not completely reversible by administration of inhaled bronchodilators. Many studies propose that telomere length shortening might have occurred in COPD patients. We aimed to determine the telomere length in COPD patients and compare the results of non-smoking and smoking control subjects.

In our case-control study, 84 clinically stable COPD patients were recruited on admission to Masih Daneshvari Hospital. Eighty-five healthy controls were also selected including 45 non-smokers and 40 smokers admitted for diseases other than COPD. Spirometry was done for all subjects. Telomere length was measured by quantitative real time PCR as described by Cawthon. The telomere repeat copy number (T) to single-gene copy number(S) ratio was calculated using the comparative Ct method.

The mean ±SD of age was 64.33±10.04 years in patients and 65.06 ±10.02 years in controls (P=0.693). The mean ±SD of FEV1 was 1.62±0.75 L in patients, 2.84±0.54 L in smoker controls and 2.83±0.56 L in non-smoker controls; significant differences were detected in this regard between cases and controls (P<0.001). T/S ratio was significantly lower in COPD patients (0.61±0.08) than in the control subjects (0.69±0.09) (P<0.001). However, telomere length was shorter in the patients than in controls in each age group (P<0.001). Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in telomere length between the smoker and non-smoker control subjects. Regarding the correlation between BMI and telomere length, there were no significant differences among the patients and control groups.

In conclusion, we found that telomere length in COPD patients was shorter than that in smoker and non-smoker controls, irrespective of age, sex, spirometric variables, BMI and history of cigarette smoking.

The history of early attempts of blood transfusion in Iran traces back to the 1940s; however, around three decades later in 1974, the Iranian National Blood Transfusion Service (Sazeman-e Melli-e Enteqal-e Khun-e Iran) was founded by the outstanding hematologist, Professor Fereydoun Ala. The main goals of this centralized organization were to collect blood from healthy voluntary donors, to screen the donated blood and to provide various safe blood products based on scientific and ethical standards. In due course, a new era of blood transfusion service in Iran had begun to such a degree that after more than four decades of its activity, it is now considered the best-developed blood service in the eastern Mediterranean region. Here, a brief historical account of the early blood transfusion efforts and the establishment of the modern Iranian National Blood Transfusion Service in Iran is discussed in addition to the life and career of its founder and first director, Professor Fereydoun Ala.