ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to evaluate whether elderberry (EB) effectively reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in hippocampal cells to modify seizure damage. Seizure was induced in rats by the injection of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). In the Seizure + EB group, EB powder was added to the rats' routine diet for eight consecutive weeks. The study included several behavioral tests, immunohistopathology, Voronoi tessellation (to estimate the spatial distribution of cells in the hippocampus), and Sholl analysis. The results in the Seizure + EB group showed an improvement in the behavioral aspects of the study, a reduction in astrogliosis, astrocyte process length, number of branches, and intersections distal to the soma in the hippocampus of rats compared to controls. Further analysis showed that EB diet increased nuclear factor-like 2 expression and decreased caspase-3 expression in the hippocampus in the Seizure + EB group. In addition, EB protected hippocampal pyramidal neurons from PTZ toxicity and improved the spatial distribution of hippocampal neurons in the pyramidal layer and dentate gyrus. The results of the present study suggest that EB can be considered a potent modifier of astrocyte reactivation and inflammatory responses.
ABSTRACT
The objective of this scoping review was to review survey instruments for Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) and provide recommendations to construct a tool for PROMs specifically for breast cancer patients who have undergone surgery, to overcome the limitations of existing validated tools. A total of 924 articles were screened. Nine articles were selected based on the eligibility criteria. We found that PROMs' data collection along with advancements in the treatment of breast cancer and the resultant improved clinical outcomes, there is a growing appreciation and focus on improving patients' quality of life (QoL). Previous studies have shown that the assessment of PROMs is linked to a positive effect on patients' symptoms of distress, quality of life, acceptance, and satisfaction. Several PROMs tools have been validated for use in cancer survivors. However, it is unclear whether existing tools are appropriate for use in breast cancer patients who have undergone surgical treatment. Hence, we conducted a scoping review. Following a review of the current PROM related to breast cancer and the necessity to build specialized PROMs related to the outcomes of breast cancer surgery, we provide recommendations for the development of a comprehensive tool to overcome the limitations of existing PROMs tools.
ABSTRACT
Backgrounds: The pandemic of COVID-19 has created a global public health crisis. ICU patients with COVID-19 are prone to infections of bacterial and/or fungal origins due to several risk factors. Consequently, the current study was conducted to evaluate the frequency, demographic characteristics, underlying conditions, and etiologic agents of fungal and bacterial co-infections of the respiratory tract among ICU patients with COVID-19 in Iran. Materials and methods: From May to October 2020, sputa and endotracheal aspirates were collected from ICU patients hospitalized with COVID-19 who also were suspected of bacterial and/or fungal co-infections according to inclusion criteria. The etiologic agents of bacterial co-infections were identified using the Vitek 2 identification method. For fungal identification, all samples were analyzed by direct microscopy using KOH 10% and culture. Furthermore, all isolates were subjected to sequencing method. Results: A total of 73 lung specimens were obtained from patients who met the inclusion criteria. Of these, in 15 cases (20.54%) fungal and/or bacterial co-infections were confirmed. Males were more infected (73.33%) and all of them were between 49 and 79 years. Candida albicans (n = 8, 61.53%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 5, 38.46%) were the most frequent etiologic agents related to fungal and bacterial co-infections, respectively. Pneumonia (n = 15, 100%) and diabetes mellitus (n = 8, 53.33%) were documented as the most prevalent underlying conditions. In the current study, 3 out of 15 patients (20%) died. Conclusion: The frequency of bacterial co-infections of the respiratory tract in ICU patients hospitalized with COVID-19 was relatively high. According to the results, one of the causes of death of these patients could be a secondary infection.
