The prevalence of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) variants in patients with breast cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and its high mortality has become one of the biggest health problems globally. Several studies have reported an association between breast cancer and ATM gene variants. This study aimed to demonstrate and analyze the relationship between ATM gene polymorphisms and breast cancer prevalence rate. A systematic literature review was undertaken using the following databases: Medline (PubMed), Web of sciences, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane, Ovid, and CINHAL to retrieve all cross-sectional studies between January 1990 and January 2020, which had reported the frequency of ATM variants in patients with breast cancer. A random-effects model was applied to calculate the pooled prevalence with a 95% confidence interval. The pooled prevalence of ATM variants in patients with breast cancer was 7% (95% CI: 5-8%). Also, the pooled estimate based on type of variants was 6% (95% CI: 4-8%; I square: 94%; P: 0.00) for total variants¸ 0% (95% CI: 0-1%; I square: 0%; P: 0.59) for deletion variants, 12% (95% CI: 7-18%; I square: 99%; P: 0.00) for substitution variants, and 2% (95% CI: 4-9%; I square: 67%; P: 0.08) for insertion variants. This meta-analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between ATM variants in breast cancer patients. Further studies are required to determine which of the variants of the ATM gene are associated with BRCA mutations.

Effect of myricetin on the gene expressions of NOX3, TGF-ß1, prestin, and HSP-70 and anti-oxidant activity in the cochlea of noise-exposed rats.

OBJECTIVES: Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases in industrialized countries and can be affected by various environmental and genetic factors. This study was designed to examine the effect of myricetin in preventing this disorder. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: Non-exposed, noise exposure only, noise exposure with vehicle, noise exposure with myricetin 5 mg/Kg, and noise exposure with myricetin 10 mg/kg. All animals were sacrificed after last noise exposure. The left cochlea was dissected from each rat. It was used for mRNA expression analysis (NOX3, TGF-ß1, prestin, and HSP-70). Blood samples were collected to assess superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, 1, 1 diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) measurements. RESULTS: Real time-PCR assay revealed that noise decreased NOX3 and increased TGF-ß1, prestin, and HSP-70 gene expressions. Administration of myricetin at the dose of 5 mg/kg, but not at 10 mg/kg, significantly reversed these changes. Noise also increased MDA levels and decreased SOD and DPPH scavenging activities. Myricetin at the doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg also reversed these changes. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that myricetin at the dose of 5 mg/Kg was able to reverse noise-induced abnormalities in gene expression and oxidant/anti-oxidant balance. It is a possibility that myricetin via enhancement of anti-oxidant activity induced these effects.

Principal Component Analysis of Time-Related Changes of Some Essential Mineral Contents of Canned Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) in Different Filling Media.

The kinetic reaction for changes in some essential mineral contents (iron, zinc, calcium, sodium, and copper) of silver carp canned in sunflower oil, soybean oil, olive oil, and brine as filling media was assessed after a short- (1 year) and long-term storage (3, 5, and 7 years). The mineral nutrition value of cans was also determined to take into account the changes in estimated daily intake (EDI) of elements during storage and then clustered by principal component analysis (PCA). Results revealed that the reduction of trace elements in brine was higher than in other filling media due to formation of insoluble metal hydroxide. No changes were detected in the mineral content of cans after 1-year storage in comparison to fresh cans, while the content and daily intake of zinc, iron, calcium, copper, and sodium were significantly decreased in all filling media after 3, 5, and 7 years of storage. The first-order reaction model was detected for reduction of mineral contents in filling medium. Post-storage daily intake of iron, sodium, calcium, zinc, and copper was 0.06 up to 0.18, 1.9 up to 9.7, 1.8 up to 9.1, 0.02 up to 0.10, and 0.004 up to 0.02 mg/day/person, respectively. Filling medium had significant effects on estimated daily intake of zinc, sodium, calcium, and copper in long-term sorted cans. PC1 and PC2 explained 93.7% of the total variance of the dataset, contributing 68.7 and 20.5%, respectively.

Can quality of life questionnaires be used in diabetics to assess the relation between HbA1c and patients' domain aspects?

Over the past few decades, quality of life (QOL) has become an important concept in medical researches and treatments. Different meaningful reasons are given for this development. In the current research two standard questionnaires for evaluating of QOL were selected. First one, was a questionnaire from The World Health Organization (WHOQOL-BREF 26) and the second one, The Iranian Diabetics' Quality of Life (IRDQOL). The goal of this study is to assess the relation between different domains of these questionnaires and HbA1c in diabetics. A random sample of Iranian adult outpatient diabetics (n=76) was selected and they completed the WHOQOL and IRDQOL assessment instruments. In addition HbA1c was measured in these patients by calorimetric method. Comparisons were made between scores of "questionnaires' domains" and "HbA1c". Data analysis was carried out by the use of T-test, Spearman correlation coefficient, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and non-parametric statistical methods including Spearman correlation coefficient. Data analysis shows Psychological domain score in IRDQOL is lower than in WHOQOL and it is significant (P<0.0001). Physical domain score in IRDQOL is lower than WHOQOL and it is significant (P<0.0001). In WHOQOL questionnaire, analysis data showed when the patient's age increased, physical and psychological domain's score decreased. There is probably no relation between questionnaire domains and HbA1c in diabetics. Based on the findings in this research, there was obviously almost no difference between the two questionnaires for checking the QOL, but in IRDQOL spiritual domain is a very unreliable domain.

Stopping insulin and achieving a good metabolic control in a heavy drinker five months after stopping alcohol.

In this case study, we describe a 25 year-old male who showed the symptoms of diabetes after a period of heavy drinking. (HbA1c=13%). Treatment was started with 120 units of insulin. After stopping alcohol consumption and taking an appropriate diet, insulin was tapered down. Five months after the start of treatment, insulin was stopped (HbA1c=5%). The results showed that he was in a good metabolic control after 18 months (HbA1c=5.9%).

The association between antenatal anxiety and fear of childbirth in nulliparous women: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine the association of state and trait anxiety with fear of childbirth to explore whether there was any support for the hypothesis that state and trait anxiety are risk factors for the fear of childbirth or not. METHODS: In this prospective study, 156 pregnant women referred to the health centers of Qom. The study samples selected using simple random sampling method. Anxiety and fear of the childbirth in nulliparous women were measured using Spielberger's state-trait anxiety inventory and childbirth attitudes questionnaire (CAQ) at gestational age of 28 and 38 weeks respectively. The data were analyzed using Pearson correlation, t-test, logistic regression and software SPSS(16). RESULTS: Pearson correlation test indicated a positive and statistically significant association between fear of childbirth scores and state and trait anxiety (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that state and trait anxiety at gestational age of week 28(th) increased the risk of fear of childbirth (odds ratio [OR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69-4.35) (p = 0.03) ([OR] 2.8, 95% [CI] 1.17-6.80) (p = 0.02) respectively. It also indicated that state and trait anxiety increased the risk of fear of childbirth at gestational age of week 38(th) ([OR] 2.7, 95% [CI] 1.03-6.80) and ([OR] 5.4, 95% [CI] 1.75-16.76) (p = 0.04) (p = 0.003) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results support this possibility that state and trait anxiety could be considered as risk factors for the fear of childbirth. Hence, considering other included biological and medical factors, measurement and control of psychological factors in pregnancy is recommended.

A randomized controlled trial of the effects of applied relaxation training on reducing anxiety and perceived stress in pregnant women.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of applied relaxation training on reducing anxiety and perceived stress among pregnant women. A randomized controlled trial with a prospective pretest-posttest experimental design was used. One hundred ten primigravid women (mean age = 23.8 years) in their second trimester (mean of gestational age = 17.8 weeks) were randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received routine prenatal care with applied relaxation training, and the control group received only routine prenatal care. State/trait anxiety was measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and perceived stress was measured with the Cohen Perceived Stress Scale. There were significant reductions in state/trait anxiety and perceived stress for the experimental group compared with the control group after the intervention. The findings suggest beneficial effects of relaxation on reducing anxiety and perceived stress in pregnant women. Teaching relaxation techniques could serve as a resource for improving maternal psychological health.