Unveiling the role of long non-coding RNA MALAT1: a comprehensive review on myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction (MI) stands at top global causes of death in developed countries, owing mostly to atherosclerotic plaque growth and endothelial injury-induced reduction in coronary blood flow. While early reperfusion techniques have improved outcomes, long-term treatment continues to be difficult. The function of lncRNAs extends to regulating gene expression in various conditions, both physiological and pathological, such as cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this research is to extensively evaluate the significance of the lncRNA called Metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) in the development and management of MI. According to research, MALAT1 is implicated in processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and inflammation in the cardiovascular system. This investigation examines recent research examining the effects of MALAT1 on heart function and its potential as a mean of diagnosis and treatment for post- MI complications and ischemic reperfusion injury.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome elevates the distress of sexual pain in Iranian women with infertility.

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction may lead to sexual distress in women with infertility, while polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may escalate this distress. This study aimed to investigate the role of PCOS in the relationship between sexual dysfunction and sexual distress in Iranian women with infertility. METHODS: The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Female Sexual Distress Scale-Revised (FSDS-R), and Depression and Anxiety modules of the DASS-21 were cross-sectionally investigated in 190 women with infertility (103 women with PCOS and 87 women without PCOS). RESULTS: There were negative correlations between sexual function domains and sexual distress (P < .001) in the total sample. Moderation analysis revealed that higher levels of impaired desire, arousal, and pain elevated sexual distress in the PCOS group. After adjusting for depression and anxiety, only the association between sexual pain and sexual distress was moderated by PCOS condition (P = .008). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that impaired sexual function is associated with increased levels of sexual distress in infertile female patients. Importantly, comorbid PCOS renders patients susceptible to sexual distress where sexual pain is increased. Further research may shed light on the physiological, psychological, and relational aspects of sexual pain and associated distress in infertile female patients with comorbid PCOS.

Surgical Treatment versus Conservative Management of Splenic Rupture: Outcomes and Risk Factors.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the outcome and risk factors in operative and non-operative management of splenic injury. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with traumatic splenic injuries who were hospitalized in Kashani Hospital (Isfahan, Iran) from 2017 to 2019. The studied variables were extracted from the medical records of the enrolled participants. The outcomes such as mortality complications and risk factors were compared based on treatment methods. Results: A total of 240 patients were investigated. The mean age of the patients was 29.8±12.2, with 180 (77.5%) patients being men. 154 (64.2%) patients underwent operative treatment. The mortality rate was 18.9% and 4.6% among operative and non-operative groups (p<0.001). Complications were observed in 11.5% and 46.1% of non-operative and operative groups, respectively (p<0.001). Operative treatment inversely correlated with mortality (p<0.001) and complications (p<0.05). Splenic injury severity was correlated positively with mortality (p<0.001) and negatively with complications (p<0.001). Unstable hemodynamic status was positively correlated with complications (p<0.001). Age had a positive correlation with mortality (p<0.001) and complications (p<0.001). Male sex had a negative correlation with complications (p<0.001). GCS score and admission were positively correlated with mortality (p<0.001). There was no statistically significant correlation between correlated injuries and outcomes (p≥0.05). Conclusion: Patients who received surgery had higher rates of mortality and complications. However, after controlling for confounders, operative treatment was found to be inversely correlated with mortality and complications.

MicroRNA-155 and exosomal microRNA-155: Small pieces in the cardiovascular diseases puzzle.

MicroRNAs (miRs, miRNAs) are known to have a part in various human illnesses, such as those related to the heart. One particular miRNA, miR-155, has been extensively studied and has been found to be involved in hematopoietic lineage differentiation, immunity, viral infections, inflammation, as well as vascular remodeling. These processes have all been connected to cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, diabetic heart disease, coronary artery disease, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. The impacts of miR-155 depend on the type of cell it is acting on and the specific target genes involved, resulting in different mechanisms of disease. Although, the exact part of miR-155 in cardiovascular illnesses is yet not fully comprehended, as some studies have shown it to promote the development of atherosclerosis while others have shown it to prevent it. As a result, to comprehend the underlying processes of miR-155 in cardiovascular disorders, further thorough study is required. It has been discovered that exosomes that could be absorbed by adjacent or distant cells, control post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by focusing on mRNA. Exosomal miRNAs have been found to have a range of functions, including participating in inflammatory reactions, cell movement, growth, death, autophagy, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition. An increasing amount of research indicates that exosomal miRNAs are important for cardiovascular health and have a major role in the development of a number of cardiovascular disorders, including pulmonary hypertension, atherosclerosis, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Herein the role of miR-155 and its exosomal form in heart diseases are summarized.

Evaluation of expression level of BANCR, MALAT1 and FER1L4 and their target genes in coumarin-treated AGS cell line.

Because long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can affect several interconnected processes, its value as a predictive marker for gastric cancer has been demonstrated. Coumarin - a natural compound known to contain some beneficial antitumor qualities - was tested for its effects on AGS gastric cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the expression level of selected cellular lncRNAs (BANCR, MALAT1 and FER1L4) and their target genes (PTEN, p-PI3K and p-AKT) in coumarin-treated AGS cell line. The expressions of the three lncRNAs: BANCR, MALAT1 and FER1L4, as well as their specified targets, PTEN, PI3K and AKT, were measured by qRT-PCR. To gauge the impact of coumarin on the AGS cells, a MTT assay was utilized. A Western blot has been employed to assess variations in PTEN, p-PI3K, and p-AKT expression. The experiment's results showed that AGS viability diminished with increasing doses of coumarin. Compared to the control cells, the cells exposed to coumarin had showed reduced levels of mRNAs which are known targets of the lncRNA BANCR. At the same time, levels of lncRNAs MALAT1 and FER1L4 within coumarin group have been higher comparing to those within control group. Additionally, the Western blot analysis revealed that the coumarin-treated cells expressed lower levels of p-PI3K, PTEN as well as p-AKT compared to control group. This information points to coumarin being a possible option in a treatment regimen for gastric cancer due to its ability to affect lncRNAs and the molecules they target.

Comparison of the physiotherapy with and without focus on the scapulothoracic joint on pain, range of motion, functional disability, quality of life, and treatment effectiveness of patients after arthroscopic shoulder rotator cuff tendon repair: A randomized controlled trial with short-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tears are prevalent shoulder injuries, significantly affecting shoulder stabilization and patient quality of life. Despite rehabilitation efforts post-arthroscopic surgery, the efficacy of scapular-focused exercises remains uncertain with limited supportive evidence. PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the immediate and short-term effects of emphasizing scapulothoracic joint rehabilitation in addition to conventional physiotherapy on pain, range of motion (ROM), function, quality of life, and treatment effectiveness in patients after shoulder arthroscopic rotator cuff tendon repair (ARCR). STUDY DESIGN: Two arms, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial, with concealed allocation METHODS: This parallel-group randomized controlled trial, with concealed allocation, was conducted in a clinic setting on 28 participants aged 30-75 years, exhibiting progressive degenerative full-thickness tears of rotator cuff muscles and undergoing ARCR, provided the tear size was small or medium. Participants were randomly allocated to receive 21 sessions of conventional rehabilitation (n = 14) or comprehensive rehabilitation (with a focus on scapula training; n = 14) in 12 weeks (reporting of intervention complied with Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) and Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) Guideline). Pain (as primary outcome), ROM, functional disability, quality of life, and treatment effectiveness were assessed both pre- and post-intervention, along with a 3-month follow-up. Participants, assessors, and statistician were blinded to group assignment. For the reporting of the RCT, the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) has been used. RESULTS: Trial was completed with 28 participants and no dropouts. The analysis of variance revealed statistically significant group-by-time interaction (p < 0.05) for all outcome measures except for active ROMs (p > 0.05). Multiple comparison analysis showed statistically significant between-group differences (p < 0.05) at 3-month follow-up with large effect size (>0.8 Hedges' g) for all outcomes (mean differences: visual analog scale: 1.3, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons: -17.3, Shoulder Pain and Disability Index: 17.6, Western Ontario Rotator Cuff: -19.5, QuickDASH: 17.8), except for extension ROM (passive ROM: confidence interval = -25.4 to 0.56; active ROM: confidence interval = -20.0 to 6.0). The differences in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and Western Ontario Rotator Cuff were also clinically significant based on their minimally clinical important difference cutoff points. For the Global Rating of Change scale, more participants stated "much improved" in the comprehensive group than in the conventional. No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive rehabilitation, compared to conventional physiotherapy, has shown a statistically and clinically significant difference in improving pain, ROM, functional disability, quality of life, and treatment effectiveness in patients after ARCR.

Evaluation of expression pattern of cellular miRNAs (let-7b, miR-29a, miR-126, miR-34a, miR-181a-5p) and IL-6, TNF-α, and TGF-ß in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) is a critical clinical and biological extracellular matrix systemic disorder. Despite the unknown nature of PEX etiopathogenesis, it is proven to be associated with various genes and factors. The present research focused on analyzing the expression of miR and inflammatory cytokines in PEX. Serum and aqueous humor (AH) were collected prior to cataract surgery or trabeculectomy from 99 participants (64 with PEX glaucoma, and 35 controls). Real-time PCR was used for assessing the expression pattern of some miRNAs namely let-7b, miR-29a, miR-126, miR-34a, and miR-181a-5p. ELISA was carried out to explore the transcription of some inflammatory cytokines such as TGF-ß, TNF-α, and IL-6. The indication of our results was a significant enhancement in the expression of let-7, miR-34a, and miR-181a-5p in PEX in contrast to the control group. Notwithstanding a significant suppression in miR-29a, and miR-126 expression levels in PEX in contrast to the control group. Analysis of ROC curve revealed that miR-29a and miR-34a are able to act as useful markers in order to discriminate the PEX group from the PEX negative subjects which were determined as the control group. According to the results obtained, the mean levels of TGF-ß, TNF-α, and IL-6 upregulated among PEX subjects in contrast to control samples. In conclusion, our findings indicated that the selected cytokines alongside the selected miRNAs could be introduced as a biomarker panel in the diagnosis of PEX.

Impact of polyphenols on heart failure and cardiac hypertrophy: clinical effects and molecular mechanisms.

Polyphenols are abundant in regular diets and possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Regarding the inadequacy of the current treatments in preventing cardiac remodeling following cardiovascular diseases, attention has been focused on improving cardiac function with potential alternatives such as polyphenols. The following online databases were searched for relevant orginial published from 2000 to 2023: EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy aimed to assess the effects of polyphenols on heart failure and keywords were "heart failure" and "polyphenols" and "cardiac hypertrophy" and "molecular mechanisms". Our results indicated polyphenols are repeatedly indicated to regulate various heart failure-related vital molecules and signaling pathways, such as inactivating fibrotic and hypertrophic factors, preventing mitochondrial dysfunction and free radical production, the underlying causes of apoptosis, and also improving lipid profile and cellular metabolism. In the current study, we aimed to review the most recent literature and investigations on the underlying mechanism of actions of different polyphenols subclasses in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure to provide deep insight into novel mechanistic treatments and direct future studies in this context. Moreover, due to polyphenols' low bioavailability from conventional oral and intravenous administration routes, in this study, we have also investigated the currently accessible nano-drug delivery methods to optimize the treatment outcomes by providing sufficient drug delivery, targeted therapy, and less off-target effects, as desired by precision medicine standards.

Telecytology validation: is there a recipe for everybody?

INTRODUCTION: Telecytology offers a suitable solution to the cost and time efficiency questions on rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE). An increasing number of institutions are adopting new telecytology systems to meet the increasing ROSE requests, although there is no agreement on the details of how a telecytology validation study needs to be conducted. We propose a standardized approach for telecytology validation studies that could be done in a variety of practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive cases from 6 months prior were chosen to reflect a case mix comparable to real life. A fellow assessed the slides at the ROSE site while 6 cytopathology faculty convened in a conference room with a television screen, and noted the adequacy, diagnostic category, and specific diagnoses. All participants were blinded to the original adequacy assessment and final diagnoses. For each case, evaluation time and the slides counts were noted. RESULTS: Fine-needle aspiration specimens from 52 patients were included in the study. Of these, 13 cases were used in the first "test" session. The adequacy concordance rates ranged between 92.3% and 100%, with an overall concordance rate of 94.8%. The diagnostic category concordance rates ranged between 90.3% and 95.5%, with an overall concordance rate of 91.9%. The specific diagnosis concordance rates ranged between 84.6% and 92.9%, with an overall concordance rate of 88.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Validation of telecytology requires a standardized approach just like any other new technology. In this study, we propose an efficient and accurate method for cytopathology departments of various case volumes to conduct telecytology validation studies.

Hip Arthroplasty and its Revision in a Child: Case Report and Literature Review.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the leading cause of hip replacement in young children. However, arthroplasty in this population is challenging with several concerns about quality of the growing bone, young age for revision surgery, and difficulties in potential several revisions. In this study we introduce a case of a 12-year old who is one of the youngest patients to undergo revision hip arthroplasty. The index operation was done as a hybrid replacement, cemented for stem and press fit for acetabular component. Two years later revision was done with severe femoral deficiency. This second procedure was challenging but with short-term promising results. So we reviewed the literature for arthroplasty in this young population regarding recent findings and trends. According to the literature survival of the prosthesis is longer with a cemented acetabular component and press fit stem; however, there are evidences that show poor outcome of joint replacement after the first revision in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients.