The role of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in the induction of cancer: a systematic review of insight into their mechanisms.

Environmental pollution caused by persistent organic pollutants (POPs) has increased the challenge for the scientific communities. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), classified as POPs, are widely applied in various materials as brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Because of the nature of these chemical compounds including toxicity, stability, and capability to bioaccumulate and biomagnify, PBDEs have posed a great challenge and risk to human health and wildlife. Therefore, the side effects of exposure to PBDEs as ubiquitous pollutants in the environment on cancer progression were investigated using a systematic review (SR) survey. To achieve this goal, forty studies were considered after defining the search terms and inclusion criteria, and/or exclusion criteria; the eligible records were collected from the international bibliographic databases. Based on the findings of the reviewed records, environmental exposure to the BFRs including PBDEs has a positive association with different mechanisms that induce cancer progression. However, the findings of the reviewed studies were not totally consistent with the mode of action and side effects are yet to be fully elucidated. Several articles have reported that BFRs can be carcinogenic and induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition via different mechanisms. The main mode of action involved in the environmental exposure to BFRs and the risk of cancer progression is endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress (OS). Generally, the imbalance of antioxidant mechanisms, reactive nitrogen species (RNSs) and reactive oxygen species (ROSs), during damage in cells, and stress caused OS, which increases tumorigenesis via multiple mechanisms, such as DNA damage, inflammation, and angiogenesis.

Woman with Pregnancy and Lactation-Associated Osteoporosis (PLO).

Osteoporosis is a disease known to reduce bone density and to damage bone microarchitecture leading to increased fracture risk. Osteoporosis is one of the most common diseases among the middle aged and elderly people that impose high costs on the community. So far, despite rare cases of pregnancy and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) reported in Iran, it can be treated with accurate diagnosis. Patient Introduction. A 24-year-old woman was referred to the outpatient rheumatologic clinic after the cesarean section during the first pregnancy with severe back pain. In the thoracolumbar radiographs, a loss of vertebral height in the T11 to L5 vertebra was recognized. Other complaints were abdominal pain and anemia. In order to evaluate the gastrointestinal disease and celiac, the patient underwent gastrointestinal and hematologic workup. Ultimately, secondary causes of the osteoporosis were excluded. Based on the patient's clinical course, imaging finding, and exclusion of other causes of osteoporosis, the patient was diagnosed with PLO. Conclusion. Clinicians should be aware of PLO as rare complication of pregnancy. The situation should be particularly considered in females offering from new onset back pain in the third trimester of pregnancy or breastfeeding period.

Ultrasonographic findings of rheumatoid arthritis patients who are in clinical remission.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to recognize the findings of ultrasonography (US) in remitted rheumatic arthritis (RA) patients for detection subclinical arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted during 2016 in a rheumatology center. A total of 70 patients with remitted RA were included in the study. Sonography was performed on all 70 patients who did not show any clinical arthritis in clinical examination to find synovitis and effusion were evaluated with gray scale and hyperemia with power Doppler US. RESULTS: Nearly 44.3% (n = 31) of our patients had positive sonography results including 20% synovitis, 21.4% hyperemia, and 18.6% (n = 13) effusion. A total of 1960 joints of 70 patients were evaluated, in which 3.2% (n = 63) of joints had positive sonography findings including 1.2% synovitis, 1.5% hyperemia, and 1.1 with effusion. CONCLUSION: US can diagnosis subclinical arthritis in patients with remitted RA who does not show any joint involvement in clinical examination.

Comparison clinical and metabolic effects of metformin and pioglitazone in polycystic ovary syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women. PCOS comprises a broad spectrum of anomalies, including hyperandrogenism, chronic anovulation, obesity, and infertility. Insulin resistance and its compensatory hyperinsulinemia play a key role in the pathogenicity of PCOS. This study compares the effects of 2 types of insulin sensitizer drugs, metformin and pioglitazone, on clinical, metabolic, and endocrine characteristics of women with PCOS. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 56 women with PCOS (ages 20-49 years) were treated orally with either metformin (500 mg 3 times daily) or pioglitazone (30 mg daily) for 3 months. Clinical (body weight, blood pressure [BP], and body mass index) and laboratory indices (fasting blood sugar [FBS], serum triglyceride [TG], cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, insulin, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone [DHEA]) were measured before and after therapy. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and McNemar's tests. RESULTS: Significant decreases were seen after treatment with metformin in extent of hair loss (P = 0.008), wrist circle (P = 0.011), weight (P = 0.047), diastolic BP (P = 0.023), and DHEA (P = 0.035). A significant decrease in TG was seen with pioglitazone treatment (P = 0.047). In both groups, significant decreases in acne, menstrual disturbance, FBS, and serum insulin were seen. CONCLUSION: There is a significant amelioration of endocrine and metabolic indices with pioglitazone in PCOS patients. Although we were not able to recommend one treatment regime over the other, pioglitazone offers a useful, alternate treatment in women with PCOS who are not able to tolerate metformin.