Role of Non-coding RNAs on the Radiotherapy Sensitivity and Resistance in Cancer Cells.

Radiotherapy (RT) is an integral part of treatment management in cancer patients. However, one of the limitations of this treatment method is the resistance of cancer cells to radiotherapy. These restrictions necessitate the introduction of modalities for the radiosensitization of cancer cells. It has been shown that Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), along with modifiers, can act as radiosensitivity and radioresistant regulators in a variety of cancers by affecting double strand break (DSB), wnt signaling, glycolysis, irradiation induced apoptosis, ferroptosis and cell autophagy. This review will provide an overview of the latest research on the roles and regulatory mechanisms of ncRNA after RT in in vitro and preclinical research.

An exploration of the characteristics of COVID-19 patients referred to a central cardiology hospital with acute coronary syndrome.

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical features of COVID-19 patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). After obtaining patients' demographic and clinical data, ECG and transthoracic echocardiography were performed for all 228 patients. On average, patients aged 63.23 years. The most common underlying disease was hypertension (59.2%). The most common ECG abnormalities in COVID-19 patients with ACS were ST-T changes and pathological Q wave, and 12.3% experienced atrial fibrillation. According to the Multiple logistic regression analysis, a significant relationship between on admission tachycardia and left ventricular ejection fraction with in-hospital mortality was found (OR = 24.06, 95% CI: 4.63-125.11, OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.087-0.98).

The effect of heparin administration time on thrombolysis in myocardial infarction flow grade in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: In the clinical setting of patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), there are controversies about the role of early heparin administration on the patients' outcome and the patency of the infarct-related artery (IRA). In this randomized clinical trial, we sought to investigate the effect of heparin administration time on the thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade of patients with STEMI treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). METHODS: Eligible individuals were randomly assigned to two groups: early heparin administration (90 IU/kg) in the emergency department (group A, n = 92) and late heparin administration in the Cath lab (group B, n = 77). All demographic and clinical information and on admission examinations were documented. Clinical outcomes, 40-day mortality, and left ventricular (LV) function improvement in follow-up were also collected. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 57.1 ± 8.8 and 57.5 ± 7.5 years in groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.232). The history of hypertension (HTN) (34.8% vs. 53.2%, P = 0.016) and diabetes (14.1% vs. 29.9%, P = 0.013) was significantly lower in group A. The LV ejection fraction (LVEF) changes were significant before and after the intervention within each group. However, this change was not significantly different between the groups (P = 0.592). Post-intervention complications did not differ between the two groups (P > 0.05). In the proportion of cases with TIMI flow grade less than 2 in the IRA, no significant differences were observed between the groups. [P = 0.092 for left anterior descending (LAD) and P = 0.086 for left circumflex artery (LCX)]. CONCLUSION: Although heparin administration in patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI is safe and effective, the effect appears not to be time-dependent.

Dietary diversity and food security status among heart failure patients in the north of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Dietary diversity score (DDS) is an indicator for assessing nutritional adequacy. Food security is another important measure in nutrition field which can be associated with several cardiovascular risk factors. Considering the importance of nutrition in heart failure (HF) patients, this study was designed to evaluate the DDS and food security of patients with HF. METHODS: A total of 200 HF patients were enrolled. DDS was evaluated using valid and reliable food frequency questionnaire and was calculated by scoring food intakes as 5 main groups. Household food insecurity access scale was applied to assess food security status. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests and multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 65 (standard deviation: 12) years and 59% of patients were male. Median of DDS was 1.96 (range: 0.29 to 6.12). Adjusted odds of greater DDS (> = median of 2) was 2.58 times higher for patients without hypertension than for patients with hypertension (95%CI: 1.31-5.08, P = 0.006). Also, odds of greater DDS were more in ex-smokers' patients when compared to non-smokers (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 2.70, 95%CI: 1.27-5.75, P = 0.010), patients with supplement use (AOR: 2.42, 95%CI: 1.16-5.05, P = 0.019), patients with lower total cholesterol level (AOR: 1.01, 95%CI: 1.00-1.02, P = 0.051), and patients with higher ejection fraction (AOR: 1.03, 95%CI: 1.00-1.05, with borderline. P = 0.073). About 57% of patients had experienced degrees of food insecurity as mild (26%), moderate (16%) and severe (15%). On the other hand, women (AOR: 1.90, 95%CI: 0.90-3.71, with borderline P = 0.061) and patients with middle (AOR: 3.48, 95%CI: 1.79-6.76, P < 0.001) or high (AOR: 20.32, 95%CI: 2.56-161.19, P = 0.004) socio-economic status were more likely to be food secure or mild insecure. Also, no relation between DDS and food security was found (r = - 0.08, P = 0.262). CONCLUSION: This study found that HF patients had a low DDS and more than half of the patients were food insecure to some extents.

Using gold nanostars modified pencil graphite electrode as a novel substrate for design a sensitive and selective Dopamine aptasensor.

For the first time, gold nanostars (GNS) were applied for electrostatic and covalent immobilizing a thiol modified Dopamine aptamer on the pencil graphite electrode and signal amplification. Dopamine aptamer was immobilized on the gold nanostars through electrostatic interaction between negatively charged phosphate groups of aptamer and positively charged gold nanostars and AuS well known covalent interaction. In the presence of Dopamine in the test solution, the charge transfer resistance (RCT) on the electrode surface increased with the increase of the Dopamine concentration due to specific interaction between Dopamine aptamer and Dopamine molecules, which made a barrier for electrons and inhibited the electron-transfer. So, the proposed approach showed a high sensitivity and a wide linearity to Dopamine in the range from 1.0 (±0.1) to 100.0 (±0.3) ngL-1 (ppt) with detection and quantification limits of 0.29 (±0.10) and 0.90 (±0.08) ngL-1 (ppt), respectively. Finally, the sensor was successfully used for determination of Dopamine in biological (human blood plasma and urine) samples. The results open up the path for manufacturing cost effective aptasensors for other biomedical applications.

Hydatid cyst of the parotid gland.

Primary hydatid cyst of the parotid gland is extremely rare, even in the endemic areas. A 23-year-old woman presented with slowly progressive swelling in the right periauricular region. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head and neck revealed a round, well-demarcated water-density mass in the right parotid gland. At the operation, the cystic mass replacing most of the superficial part of right parotid gland was demonstrated. Superficial parotidectomy was carried out. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid disease. CT scan is a valuable imaging method for diagnosis of parotid cystic lesions; however, other acquired and congenital cystic lesions of parotid gland may have similar appearance and should be differentiated. Where the incidence of the disease is high, hydatid cyst of parotid gland should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lesions causing swelling of the parotid area.

Hydatidosis of the pelvic cavity: a big masquerade.

We report and discuss a case of primary hydatidosis of the pelvic cavity in a woman who presented with severe weight loss and abdominal pain. This unusual presentation was initially considered as a tumor process until surgical exploration and microscopic studies confirmed the diagnosis. The gynecologists should be aware of possibility of primary hydatid cyst of the pelvic cavity and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic pelvic masses, especially in areas where the disease is endemic.