Long-term health complications of chemical weapon exposure: a study on Halabja chemical attack survivors (Iraqi Kurds).

OBJECTIVE: In 1988, the Iraqi government used a range of chemical weapons (CWs) against the Iraqi Kurds of Halabja. Here, we aim to investigate the long-term health consequences in exposed survivors as they are not sufficiently studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted from November 2019 to May 2020 assessing the health status of all exposed Halabja chemical attack survivors compared to non-exposed people from the same area. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Two hundred thirty survivors and 240 non-exposed participants were enrolled in this study, with control participants matched to age, gender, and occupation. Among the survivors, females were more prevalent. The respiratory system was the most common single exposure route (83, 36.1%), with 138 (60%) of the survivors being exposed by multiple routes. The vast majority (88.7%) of survivors had activities of daily living (ADL) impairment. There was female predominance in mild and moderate cases, with more males in severe cases (p < 0.01). Respiratory and cardiac diseases were significantly more common in the survivors compared to the controls (p < 0.001). Survivors with multiple CW exposure routes had significantly higher rates of ADL impairment (p < 0.001) and cardiac disease, respiratory diseases, and miscarriage (p < 0.01), than those with a single exposure route. CONCLUSION: In this study comparing CW survivors with a local control population, a single, high-dose exposure to CWs was associated with significant increases in chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions, in addition to high rates of ADL impairment. Similar studies are needed in other, more recent CW survivor cohorts.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation along with endurance physical activity on lipid profile in metabolic syndrome patients: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin D supplementation along with endurance physical activity on lipid profile among metabolic syndrome patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a parallel randomized placebo controlled trial, 70 metabolic syndrome patients, were randomly assigned into three groups. Biochemical tests were assessed as baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: The mean vitamin D levels was increased significantly in both vitamin D and vitamin D plus physical activity groups (P value < 0.05). No significant change was observed in the placebo group. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in total cholesterol and LDL-C in vitamin D plus physical activity group (P value < 0.05). No significant differences in changes of triglycerides and HDL-C among the three groups (P value > 0.05). While, in vitamin D group a decreased in total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C and increase in triglycerides were observed, but did not reach a statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Daily supplementation of vitamin D for 12 weeks, along with moderate endurance physical activity, significantly increase vitamin D concentration and induce a significant reduction in lipid profile in metabolic syndrome patients.

Comparative effects of vitamin D and vitamin C supplementations with and without endurance physical activity on metabolic syndrome patients: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin D and C levels have inverse relation with the metabolic syndrome components and they are used as antioxidant supplements during enduring metabolic activities. In the present study, we hypothesized that the intake of vitamin D and/or C with endurance physical activity might reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A randomized control study recruited 180 participants of both genders, aged between 30 and 50 years. The participants were assigned into six groups receiving different doses of vitamin D or vitamin C with or without physical activities. Data were collected over a period of 3 months, and the results were analyzed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Variations in the effect of the supplements on various body variables including: Fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure, showed that vitamin D has more influence compared to vitamin C. However, vitamin D and C supplements do not have any effect on weight when consumers are undergoing endurance physical exercise. But vitamin C consumer group has more effect in waist circumference, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein, as compared to vitamin D consumer group. CONCLUSION: We conclude that, consumption of vitamin D or vitamin C supplements may improves the life of metabolic syndrome patients. However, the combination of physical activities and vitamin supplements maximize the effect, and this combination should be recommended.Trial registration WHO-ICTRP IRCT20161110030823N2. Registered 01 February 2018. http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=IRCT20161110030823N2.

FLYWCH1, a Novel Suppressor of Nuclear ß-Catenin, Regulates Migration and Morphology in Colorectal Cancer.

Wnt/ß-catenin signaling plays a critical role during development of both normal and malignant colorectal cancer tissues. Phosphorylation of ß-catenin protein alters its trafficking and function. Such conventional allosteric regulation usually involves a highly specialized set of molecular interactions, which may specifically turn on a particular cell phenotype. This study identifies a novel transcription modulator with an FLYWCH/Zn-finger DNA-binding domain, called "FLYWCH1." Using a modified yeast-2-hybrid based Ras-Recruitment system, it is demonstrated that FLYWCH1 directly binds to unphosphorylated (nuclear) ß-catenin efficiently suppressing the transcriptional activity of Wnt/ß-catenin signaling that cannot be rescued by TCF4. FLYWCH1 rearranges the transcriptional activity of ß-catenin/TCF4 to selectively block the expression of specific downstream genes associated with colorectal cancer cell migration and morphology, including ZEB1, EPHA4, and E-cadherin. Accordingly, overexpression of FLYWCH1 reduces cell motility and increases cell attachment. The expression of FLYWCH1 negatively correlates with the expression level of ZEB1 and EPHA4 in normal versus primary and metastatic colorectal cancer tissues in patients. Thus, FLYWCH1 antagonizes ß-catenin/TCF4 signaling during cell polarity/migration in colorectal cancer. IMPLICATIONS: This study uncovers a new molecular mechanism by which FLYWCH1 with a possible tumor suppressive role represses ß-catenin-induced ZEB1 and increases cadherin-mediated cell attachment preventing colorectal cancer metastasis.

Surgical management of Stenson's duct injury by using double J stent urethral catheter.

BACKGROUND: Parotid duct or gland injury can be caused by assault with a knife, bottle, electrical-saw, road traffic accident, or rarely gunshot and fractures of the facial skeleton. The injury can be in the form of laceration, ductal exposure, total cutting, or crushing of the duct. These conditions are difficult to diagnose because of complex anatomy and variable forms of the injury. A successful management of parotid duct injuries depends on early diagnosis and appropriate intervention; improper surgery may lead to complications such as sialocele or salivary fistula CASE REPORT: A 27-years-old man was presented to the maxillofacial unit, complaining of bleeding over the right side of his face after accidental exposure to a chain-saw three hours before admission. On examination, a 6cm deep lacerated wound was found over the right buccal area, suspecting facial nerve-buccal branch and parotid duct injury. Under general anesthesia the parotid duct injury diagnosed, microsurgical anastomosis of the cut-ends of the parotid duct performed using the double J catheter. Sutures and JJ stent removed seven and twenty postoperative days respectively. After a proper supportive treatment a complete healing of the duct was obtained with normal amount of saliva. CONCLUSIONS: Herein, we described an easy yet efficient technique in management of parotid duct injury using a JJ stent which is often used for urethra. We think that use of JJ stent is a valuable technique to be used in the diagnosis and surgical repair of the parotid duct during traumatic facial and/or parotid injuries.

Cten is targeted by Kras signalling to regulate cell motility in the colon and pancreas.

CTEN/TNS4 is an oncogene in colorectal cancer (CRC) which enhances cell motility although the mechanism of Cten regulation is unknown. We found an association between high Cten expression and KRAS/BRAF mutation in a series of CRC cell lines (p = 0.03) and hypothesised that Kras may regulate Cten. To test this, Kras was knocked-down (using small interfering (si)RNA) in CRC cell lines SW620 and DLD1 (high Cten expressors and mutant for KRAS). In each cell line, Kras knockdown was mirrored by down-regulation of Cten Since Kras signals through Braf, we tested the effect of Kras knockdown in CRC cell line Colo205 (which shows high Cten expression and is mutant for BRAF but wild type for KRAS). Cten levels were unaffected by Kras knockdown whilst Braf knockdown resulted in reduced Cten expression suggesting that Kras signals via Braf to regulate Cten. Quantification of Cten mRNA and protein analysis following proteasome inhibition suggested that regulation was of Cten transcription. Kras knockdown inhibited cell motility. To test whether this could be mediated through Cten, SW620 cells were co-transfected with Kras specific siRNAs and a Cten expression vector. Restoring Cten expression was able to restore cell motility despite Kras knockdown (transwell migration and wounding assay, p<0.001 for both). Since KRAS is mutated in many cancers, we investigated whether this relationship could be demonstrated in other tumour models. The experiments were repeated in the pancreatic cancer cell lines Colo357 & PSN-1(both high Cten expressors and mutant for KRAS). In both cell lines, Kras was shown to regulate Cten and forced expression of Cten was able to rescue loss of cell motility following Kras knockdown in PSN-1 (transwell migration assay, p<0.001). We conclude that, in the colon and pancreas, Cten is a downstream target of Kras and may be a mechanism through which Kras regulates of cell motility.