Enhancing Healthcare Outcomes and Modulating Apoptosis- and Antioxidant-Related Genes through the Nano-Phytosomal Delivery of Phenolics Extracted from Allium ampeloprasum.

The application of nano drug delivery systems, particularly those utilizing natural bioactive compounds with anticancer properties, has gained significant attention. In this study, a novel nano-phytosome-loaded phenolic rich fraction (PRF) derived from Allium ampeloprasum L. was developed. The antitumor activity of the formulation was evaluated in BALB/c mice with TUBO colon carcinoma. The PRF-loaded nano-phytosome (PRF-NPs) exhibited a sphere-shaped structure (226 nm) and contained a diverse range of phenolic compounds. Animal trials conducted on TUBO tumor-bearing mice demonstrated that treatment with PRF-NPs at a dosage of 50 mg TPC/Kg/BW resulted in significant improvements in body weight and food intake, while reducing liver enzymes and lipid peroxidation. The expression of apoptosis-related genes, such as Bax and caspase-3, was upregulated, whereas Bcl2 was significantly downregulated (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the expression of GPx and SOD genes in the liver was notably increased compared to the control group. The findings suggest that the phytosomal encapsulation of the phenolic rich fraction derived from Allium ampeloprasum L. can enhance the bioavailability of natural phytochemicals and improve their antitumor properties. The development of PRF-NPs as a nano drug delivery system holds promise for effective breast cancer treatment.

Acupuncture in the treatment of HTLV-I-associated myelopathy / tropical spastic Paraparesis.

We investigate the possible effects of acupuncture on the improvement of neurological problems in HTLV-I-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP)disease. Twenty patients with HAM/TSP were studied in this pre and post-test clinical trial. Urinary incontinence, global motor disability, spasticity, and pain severity were evaluated before, one month, and three-month after the intervention. Analyses demonstrated a significant reduction of urinary symptoms one month after acupuncture (P = 0.023). A significant improvement was observed in patients' pain and the spasticity at the upper extremity joints, one and three-month after the intervention (P < 0.05). This study suggests that body acupuncture can be used as a complementary treatment to improve HAM/TSP neurological symptoms.

Extra-striatal ptake of 99mTc-TRODAT SPECT in a erebral eningioma: A Case Report.

We reported a 71 years old woman, with history of rest and postural tremor, bradykinesia and memory problems. In her dynamic MRI, a contrast-enhanced tumor in the cerebellopontine (CP) angle was found which was compatible with a meningioma. 99mTc-TRODAT SPECT showed decreased activity in the left putamen, indicating idiopathic Parkinson disease. There was also a focus of increased activity on the right side of the skull base, which was compatible with meningioma in MRI.

Triple Therapy with Prednisolone, Pegylated Interferon and Sodium Valproate Improves Clinical Outcome and Reduces Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus Type 1 (HTLV-1) Proviral Load, Tax and HBZ mRNA Expression in Patients with HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis.

Considering that there is no effective treatment for human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, this study aimed to assess the impact of triple combination therapy-interferon-α, valproic acid, and prednisolone-on clinical outcomes, main HTLV-1 viral factors, and host anti-HTLV-1 antibody response. HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL), and HBZ and Tax mRNA expression levels were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 13 patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis before and after treatment with 180 µg pegylated interferon once a week, 10-20 mg/kg/day sodium valproate, and 5 mg/day prednisolone for 25 weeks using a TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction assay. Furthermore, anti-HTLV-1 titer, Osame Motor Disability Score, Ashworth spasticity scale, and urinary symptoms (through standard questionnaire and clinical monitoring) were assessed in patients before and after the treatment. HTLV-1 PVL and HBZ expression significantly decreased after the treatment [PVL from 1443 ± 282 to 660 ± 137 copies/10(4) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p = 0.01); and HBZ from 8.0 ± 1.5 to 3.0 ± 0.66 (p < 0.01)]. Tax mRNA expression decreased after the treatment from 2.26 ± 0.45 to 1.44 ± 0.64, but this reduction was not statistically significant (p = 0.10). Furthermore, anti-HTLV-1 titer reduced dramatically after the treatment, from 3123 ± 395 to 815 ± 239 (p < 0.01). Clinical signs and symptoms, according to Osame Motor Disability Score and Ashworth score, improved significantly (both p < 0.01). Urinary symptoms and sensory disturbances with lower back pain were reduced, though not to a statistically significant degree. Although signs and symptoms of spasticity were improved, frequent urination and urinary incontinence were not significantly affected by the triple therapy. The results provide new insight into the complicated conditions underlying HTLV-1-associated diseases.

Clinical features of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in northeast Iran.

This study aimed to introduce clinical manifestations of patients in northeast Iran with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and describe the epidemiological features, as well as risk factors for HTLV-1 infection. This is a cross-sectional study of HTLV-1 infected cases and HAM/TSP patients referred by outpatient neurology clinics as well as Mashhad Blood Transfusion Center from 2005 to 2010. The study comprises 513 cases, including 358 healthy carriers (HCs) and 145 HAM/TSP patients. The majority of carriers were male (73.5%), whereas 67.6% of HAM/TSP sufferers were female (P < 0.001). The mean age of HAM/TSP patients and HCs was 45.9 ± 13.6 and 39.5 ± 11.58 years, respectively (P < 0.001). The history of transfusion, surgery, hospitalization and cupping was observed in a significant greater number of HAM/TSP patients than the HCs (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P = 0.029, respectively). Gait disturbance was the most common complaint in HAM/TSP patients (72.4%). This research develops an HTLV-1 data registry in an endemic area such as Mashhad which can serve useful purposes, including evaluation of clinical and laboratory characteristics of HAM/TSP patients and epidemiological data of HTLV-1-infected cases.

"HTLV-I Infection" Twenty-Year Research in Neurology Department of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) types 1 and 2 belong to the Oncorna group of retroviridae, a large family of viruses, grouped initially by pathogenic features, but later revised on the basis of genome structure and nucleotide sequence. HTLV-I was the first discovered human retrovirus to be associated with a malignancy in 1980. The malignancy, first described by Uchiyama and co-workers in southwestern Japan, was named Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma (ATL) and characterized with cutaneous and respiratory involvement, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and various metabolic abnormalities such as hypercalcemia. The HTLV-I has been known to be endemic to certain parts of Iran like the province of Khorasan in the northeast since 1990, with a 2.3% prevalence rate of infection. The main manifestations of HTLV-I infection are neurologic and hematologic (such as ATL) disorders, but it has also other manifestations such as uveitis, arthritis, dermatitis, vitiligo and lymphocytic alveolitis. Its main neurologic manifestation is a chronic progressive myelopathy that is referred to HTLV-I Associated Myelopathy (HAM) in Japan and Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (TSP) in Caribbean. But other disorders such as peripheral neuropathy, polyradiculoneuropathy, myopathy, peripheral facial paresis, and so on have been reported too. In this review we wish to give some brief information on the different aspects (including epidemiology, pathogenesis and pathology, clinical findings, and treatment) of HTLV-I infection according to our twenty-year researches. The department of neurology of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences has been a pioneer in researches on HTLV-I in the last twenty years.

Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial.

UNLABELLED: Lavender essential oil has been used as an anxiolytic drug, a mood stabilizer, a sedative, spasmolytic, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, analgesic agent as well as a wound healing accelerator. We have studied for the first time the efficacy of lavender essential oil inhalation for the treatment of migraine in a placebo-controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Forty-seven patients with definite diagnosis of migraine headache were divided into cases and controls. Cases inhaled lavender essential oil for 15 min, whereas the control group used liquid paraffin for the same time period. Patients were asked to record their headache severity and associated symptoms in 30-min intervals for a total of 2 h. We matched the two groups for key confounding factors. RESULTS: The mean reduction of headache severity in cases was 3.6 ± 2.8 based on Visual Analogue Scale score. The reduction was 1.6 ± 1.6 in controls. This difference between the controls and cases was statistically significant with p < 0.0001. From 129 headache attacks in cases, 92 responded entirely or partially to lavender. In the control group, 32 out of 68 recorded headache attacks responded to placebo. The percentage of responders was significantly higher in the lavender group than the placebo group (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that inhalation of lavender essential oil may be an effective and safe treatment modality in acute management of migraine headaches.

Causes of headache in patients with a primary diagnosis of sinus headache.

Headache is a common occurrence among the general population. Although the pain could be a symptom of acute sinusitis, chronic sinusitis is not considered as a usual cause of headache. In addition, autonomic-related symptoms in the sinonasal region may be associated with vascular pain. Confusion regarding these symptoms could lead to an incorrect diagnosis of sinusitis. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at two tertiary referral centers with residency programs in otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery and neurology. The study included 58 patients with a diagnosis of "sinus headache" made by a primary care physician. Exclusion criteria were as follows: previous diagnosis of migraine or tension-type headache; evidence of sinus infection during the past 6 months; and the presence of mucopurulent secretions. After comprehensive otorhinolaryngologic and neurologic evaluation, appropriate treatment was started according to the final diagnosis and the patient was assessed monthly for 6 months. The final diagnoses were migraine, tension-type headache and chronic sinusitis with recurrent acute episodes in 68, 27 and 5% of the patients, respectively. Recurrent antibiotic therapy was received by 73% of patients with tension-type headache and 66% with migraine. Sinus endoscopy was performed in 26% of the patients. Therapeutic nasal septoplasty was performed in 16% of the patients with a final diagnosis of migraine, and 13% with tension-type headache. Many patients with self-described or primary care physician labeled "sinus headache" have no sinonasal abnormalities. Instead, most of them meet the IHS criteria for migraine or tension-type headache.