Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS) is a medical school in Khuzestan Province of Iran.Located in southwestern Iran in the city of Ahvaz, the university was established as a College of Medicine administered by the Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in 1955, which itself was a revived reincarnation of the ancient Academy of Gundishapur that existed in the same area in antiquity. The university separated and fell under the Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran in 1986.The university has 3 campuses in Ahvaz, Behbahan, and Abadan, and is constituted of 9 Schools, offering doctorate degrees in science and medicine in 27 fields.The university administers 8 public hospitals in the city of Ahvaz, and 20 other hospitals in the surrounding areas, as well as dozens of clinics scattered across the province.
Mitochondrial complex III (CIII) deficiency, resulting from abnormalities in its subunits or assembly factors, presents with diverse clinical manifestations. LYRM7-associated CIII deficiency is rare and typically presents with progressive neurodegeneration. We report a case series of LYRM7-associated CIII deficiency in two brothers, highlighting inflammatory demyelinating-like presentations, intrafamilial variability, and atypical disease progression. We present an investigational case series highlighting continuing challenges in diagnosing and managing LYRM7-associated mitochondrial complex III deficiency. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed for diagnostic evaluation, followed by confirmatory Sanger sequencing and literature review of previously reported cases. Two brothers from a consanguineous family presented with ataxia, visual impairment, and progressive neurological deterioration including spasticity, seizures, cognitive decline, and motor weakness. Patient 1 (P1) experienced recurrent ataxic episodes beginning at 7 years of age, initially suspected to represent an inflammatory demyelinating disorder, while patient 2 (P2) demonstrated a more aggressive disease course with rapid neurological deterioration and early mortality at 8 years of age. Neuroimaging revealed cystic white matter changes suggestive of mitochondrial leukodystrophy and longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) in both patients, differing from typical inflammatory demyelinating patterns. Genetic testing confirmed a pathogenic LYRM7 variant. Notably, intrafamilial clinical variability and the inflammatory-like presentation in P1- including LETM and optic neuritis mimicking neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)- distinguished our cases from previously reported patients. These findings expand the phenotypic spectrum of LYRM7-associated CIII deficiency and highlight diagnostic challenges. This case series expand the clinical spectrum of LYRM7-associated complex III deficiency and highlights relapsing inflammatory-like presentations as a potential diagnostic pitfall. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering mitochondrial disorders in children presenting with recurrent demyelinating-like episodes, atypical progression, or familial patterns. Early genetic diagnosis is essential for accurate diagnosis, counseling, and management of mitochondrial disorders.
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The survival rate after hepatectomy as the first line of treatment for HCC depends on various factors. This study evaluated the association of the ABO blood group and Rh with overall survival (OS) and Recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate after hepatectomy. Methods This multicenter retrospective cohort study reviewed the medical files of 639 HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy from 2010 to 2022 in three medical centers affiliated with the Iran University of Medical Sciences. Patient data, including demographic, clinical, tumor characteristics, and post-surgery outcomes, were collected by referring to the patient’s medical profiles. The Cox proportional hazard investigated the relationship between ABO blood group type and OS and RFS rate after hepatectomy. Results The five-year OS and RFS rates were 25.4% and 18.7%, respectively. The five-year OS (Lok rank:40.89, P:0.001) and RFS rate in patients with blood type A were significantly lower than in non-A patients. (Lok rank:10.8, P:0.001) The multivariate Cox analysis showed that blood type A, age < 45 years, tumor size > 5 cm, Poor tumor differentiation, presence of metastasis, The number of involved lymph nodes ≤ 2, and serum Alpha-Fetoprotein)AFP( level ≥ 400 were significantly related to the decreased survival rate of HCC patients after hepatectomy ( P < 0.05) There was no significant association between Rh with OS and RFS ( P > 0.05). Conclusion Blood group type A, compared to non-A, can be associated with decreased OS and RFS rates in patients with HCC after hepatectomy.
Background: Mesenchymal stem cell-derived conditioned medium (MSCCM) contains bioactive factors that provide neuroprotection in cases of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic potential of rat adipose-derived MSC-CM (rAD-MSC-CM) and chicken embryo liver-derived MSC-CM (cLD-MSC-CM) following global cerebral IR injury in male rats. Material and Methods: We harvested rAD-MSC-CM from the adipose tissue surrounding the epididymis of Wistar rats and cLD-MSC-CM from the liver tissue of 10- day-old chicken embryos. To induce global cerebral ischemia, we utilized a four-vessel occlusion (4VO) model in rats. After inducing ischemia, the conditioned media were administered via intravenous injection 30 minutes post-reperfusion. We evaluated the cognitive and non-cognitive functions of the animals using standard behavioral tests. Additionally, we assessed blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, brain water content (BWC), oxidative-antioxidative status, and conducted histopathological analyses of the hippocampal tissue in the IR rats. Results: Our findings demonstrated that treatment with both rAD-MSC-CM and cLDMSC- CM significantly improved memory function, reduced anxiety- and depressionlike behaviors, and enhanced exploratory activities. These behavioral improvements correlated with decreased BBB permeability and BWC, reduced oxidative stress, and mitigated histopathological changes in the hippocampal tissue. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that both rAD-MSC-CM and cLD-MSC-CM offer protective benefits against IR injury, likely owing to their antioxidant properties.
Background Preterm labor (PTL) is a common and serious pregnancy disorder that can cause long-term neurological issues in the infant. There are conflicting studies concerning whether sildenafil citrate (SC) reduces preterm labor complications. Therefore, the meta-analysis aimed to examine the clinical outcomes in women with threatened PTL who received nifedipine plus SC therapy versus only nifedipine. Methods For the original articles, six databases were searched using relevant keywords without restriction on time or language until January 13, 2024. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB) and the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Nonrandomized Studies (RoBANS) were both used to assess the risk of bias in randomized and non-randomized studies, and GRADE determined the quality of our evidence. Meta-analysis of all data was carried out using Review Manager (RevMan) version 5.1. Results Seven studies with mixed quality were included in the meta-analysis. The study found that combining nifedipine and SC resulted in more prolongation of pregnancy (MD = 6.99, 95% CI: 5.32, 8.65, p < 0.00001), a lower rate of delivery in the 1st to 3rd days after hospitalization (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.76, p < 0.00001), a higher birth weight (252.48 g vs. nifedipine alone, p = 0.02), and the risk ratio of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was significantly lower (RR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.76, p < 0.00001) compared to nifidepine alone. The evidence was high for prolongation of pregnancy, delivery rate 24–72 h after admission, and NICU admission, but low for newborn birth weight. Conclusions Given the effectiveness of SC plus nifedipine in increased prolongation of pregnancy and birth weight, lower delivery in the 1st to 3rd days after hospitalization, and NICU admission, Gynecologists and obstetricians are suggested to consider this strategy for PTL management, although additional article rigor is required to improve the quality of the evidence.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), classified as a lymphoid neoplasm under the WHO 5th Edition Haematolymphoid Tumours system, is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of immature B-cell precursors. Nanotechnology-based therapies are promising for hematologic malignancies because they modulate cellular pathways and improve drug delivery without directly targeting apoptotic proteins. This study investigates the effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), known for their anti-cancer and oxidative stress-mediated cytotoxic properties, and ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone with reported anti-leukemic activity, on apoptosis-related gene expression in NALM-6 B-cell progenitor ALL cells. Cells were treated with ciprofloxacin (25 µg/mL) or Ag-NPs (4 µg/mL), alone or combined, for 48 h, followed by MTT assay for viability, Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry for apoptosis, and real-time PCR analysis of BAX, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), and Caspase-3 expression (normalized to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase [GAPDH]). Ciprofloxacin significantly increased pro-apoptotic BAX and Caspase-3 expression (p = 0.0001, p = 0.0113) while reducing anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 (p = 0.0013); Ag-NPs produced moderate apoptotic effects, whereas combination treatment enhanced apoptosis (31.0
