Association of interleukin-17A and chemokine/vascular endothelial growth factor-induced angiogenesis in newly diagnosed patients with bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: The human interleukin-17 (IL-17) family comprises IL-17A to IL-17 F; their receptors are IL-17RA to IL-17RE. Evidence revealed that these cytokines can have a tumor-supportive or anti-tumor impact on human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to assess the expression of CXCR2, IL-17RA, and IL-17RC genes at the mRNA level as well as tissue and serum levels of IL-17A, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß) in patients with bladder cancer (BC) compared to control. RESULTS: This study showed that gene expression of IL-17RA, IL-17RC, and CXCR2 in the tumoral tissue of BC patients was significantly upregulated compared with normal tissue. The findings disclosed a significant difference in the serum and tissue concentrations of IL-17A, VEGF, and TGF-ß between the patient and the control groups, as well as tumor and normal tissues. CONCLUSION: This study reveals notable dysregulation of CXCR2, IL-17RA, and IL-17RC genes, alongside changes in IL-17A, VEGF, and TGF-ß levels in patients with BC than in controls. These findings indicate their possible involvement in BC development and their potential as diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Status epilepticus and coma leading to death in a boy caused by Medium-chainacyl-coA dehydrogenase deficiency.

Medium-chain acyl-coA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of fatty acid ß- oxidation, which is inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. The enzyme plays a role in hepatic Ketogenesis, which is a significant source of energy during prolonged fasting. There is no metabolic screening program except for phenylketonuria (PKU) and hypothyroidism in Iran, and such screening is exclusively implemented in the case of babies with unprovoked seizures and hypoglycemia and previous unexplained sibling deaths. In this paper, we report a case of a seven-year-old boy who presented with afebrile serial seizures leading to coma and death. IN this regard, metabolic screening tests were used to determine the exact cause of encephalopathy and the final diagnosis.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of LevetiracetamPlus Iron in Comparison With Iron Alone in Controlling and Reducing the Frequency of Breath-Holding Spells in Children Aged 6 Months to 5 Years.

OBJECTIVE: A breath-holdingspell (BHS) is defined as an apnea attack following an initial stressful event like anger, sadness, and fear, a painful event like falling or head trauma or any stressful psychology event. This study was designed to assessthe comparative efficacy of levetiracetam plus iron and iron alone in reducingthe BHS frequency in children aged 6 months to 5 years. MATERIALS &METHOD: This study was designed asa double-blinded randomized clinical trial. Sixty patients aged 6 months to 5 years were assigned into two groups, withthe first group (A) receiving onlyiron and the second group (B)receiving levetiracetam plus iron. At the end of the study, the efficacy of therapywas analyzed comparatively in these groups. RESULTS: In this study, the mean number of attacks was 3.94 ± 2.69 before treatment and 1.71 ± 1.99after treatmentin the group A,while it was 6.39 ± 5.7 before treatment and 0.37 ± 1.03after treatment in the group B.The mean number of attacksafter treatment was lower in group B than in group A. In fact, there was a significant difference between the two groups in terms of the number of attacks after treatment (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Levetiracetam plus iron is more effective than iron alone in reducing BHSs in children aged 6 months to 5 years.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in infertile men with varicocele.

OBJECTIVES: An enlargement of the spermatic vein is known as a varicocele. Research studies suggest that immune system mediators such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors including VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and VEGFR3 can play a role in angiogenesis and inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis and correspondingly suppress spermatogenesis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to measure the expression of VEGF and its receptors in infertile men with varicocele. MATERIALS & METHODS: To meet the research objectives, a total number of 30 infertile male patients affected with varicocele (Grade 3) and 30 healthy fertile male subjects without any varicocele or urogenital tract disorder were enrolled in the study. The varicose and normal veins were obtained from the patients along with the blood flowing in these spermatic veins during surgery. Also, peripheral blood samples were collected from the mentioned patients and healthy subjects. The serum levels of VEGF were also measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and subsequently mRNA level of VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3, B Cell Lymphoma-Associated X (Bax), and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) genes were measured using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. RESULTS: The findings of this study revealed that VEGFR2 gene expression in varicose veins was significantly increased compared with normal veins in varicocele patients (P < 0.001) and Bax/Bcl2 ratio reduced in varicose veins when compared to normal veins of the patients (P < 0.05). Our findings also showed a significant rise in the serum levels of VEGF in the peripheral blood and varicose vein bloodstream compared with those in healthy subjects (P < 0.0001). Moreover, a significant difference was observed in the serum levels of VEGF in the peripheral blood and varicose vein blood of patients suffering from varicocele (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: According to the results of this study, VEGF/VEGFR2 axis might act in the survival of endothelial cells of varicocele vein through inhibition of apoptosis and stimulation of angiogenesis. Additionally, increased VEGF in the testis can probably play a role in suppressing spermatogenesis and varicocele-based infertility.

Relationship Between Anthropometric Findings and Results of Corticosteroid Injections Treatment in Chronic Plantar Heel Pain.

BACKGROUND: Chronic plantar heel pain (CPHP) is one of the common, disabling, and painful problems in the foot. Obesity is one of the known causes of CPHP. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the body mass and the treatment of chronic plantar heel pain. METHODS: In a cohort study, 80 CPHP patients, including 16 men and 64 women, who referred to orthopedic clinic from 2014 to 2016, were investigated. All the patients were initially treated by corticosteroid injections. A total of 80 studied patients were classified according to their body mass index (BMI) in 3 groups: obese, overweight, and ideal weight. Their pain severity, symptoms recurrence, and foot performance were examined. RESULTS: The severity of morning pain was 6.6 ± 1.2 in the obese patients while it was 5.6 ± 1.7 and 5.9 ± 1.7 in overweight and ideal weight patients, respectively, which had significant difference (P = 0.005). In 57% of obese patients, symptoms recurrence was observed; this rate was 12% and 5.3% in overweight and ideal-weight patients, which showed significant difference (P = 0.001). Obese people had higher relative risk of CPHP recurrence (OR = 7.52, 95% CI = 4.28 to 16.53, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: High BMI is a strong risk factor in recurrence of chronic plantar heel pain. There is a strong relationship between the BMI of the patients and the severity of pain in the morning.

A Comparison between Moderate- and High-dose Furazolidone in Triple Regimens for Helicobacterpylori Eradication in Iran.

BACKGROUND Furazolidone has been used as an alternative for clarithromycin or metronidazole in Helicobacterpylori (H.pylori) eradication regimens. In Iran, 14-day Furazolidone-containing quadruple regimens have shown promising eradication rates, but short-course, low dose therapies are always attractive. Therefore, we designed a study to compare the efficacy of two 10-day triple regimens containing moderate and high dose furazolidone for H.pylori eradication. METHODS Two hundred and ten patients with peptic ulcer disease who were naïve to H.pylori treatment were included. They were randomized into 2 groups: 105 patients received omeprazole 20mg, amoxicillin 1000mg, and furazolidone 200mg(OAF-400), all twice a day for ten days.And the remaining 105 patients received omeprazole 20mg twice a day, amoxicillin 1000mg twice a day and furazolidone 200mg three times a day for ten days(OAF-600). Urease breath test was performed 8 weeks after the treatment to confirm H. pylori eradication. RESULTS The intention-to-treat eradication rate was 76.19% in group OAF-400 and 80.95% in group OAF-600 (pp=0.38). Per protocol eradication rates were 81.63% and 89.47%, respectively (p= 0.11).Severe adverse effects were reported by 8.6% of the patients in group OAF-400 and 5.7% of the patient in group OAF-600 (p=0.1). However, the total side effects (including mild, moderate, and severe ones) were significantly more prevalent in the OAF-600 group (p=0.001). CONCLUSION None of our triple furazolidone-based regimens (moderate- and high-dose) could achieve the standard eradication rate, and therefore, cannot be considered as a suitable option for first-line treatment.