Search

Background: Curcumin is a polyphenol compound with anticancer effects. We aimed to review the anti‐neoplastic effects of curcumin on urogenital cancers, by regulating different microRNA expressions. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in Medline (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science up to the end of August 2024. All English, in vitro, and observational studies that evaluated the effect of curcumin on preventing or treating urogenital cancers through its impact on microRNA expression were included. In vivo or silico studies were excluded. Result: A total of 2549 records were found. Finally, 25 studies were included. Twelve studies assessed the effect of curcumin on prostate cancer, six studies on ovarian cancer, three studies on cervical cancer, three studies on bladder cancer, and one study on renal cancer. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that regulate the post‐transcriptional pathways. They possess pivotal roles in different fundamental mechanisms in cells such as differentiation, migration, apoptosis, and proliferation. Curcumin exerts its anticancer effects on urogenital neoplasms by upregulating tumor suppressor microRNAs (miR‐143, miR‐145, miR‐Let‐7, miR‐101, miR‐3127, miR‐3178, miR‐1275, miR‐3198, miR‐1908, miR‐770, miR‐1247, miR‐411, miR‐34a, miR‐383, miR‐708, miR‐483, miR‐199a, miR‐335, miR‐503, miR‐10b, miR‐551a, miR‐9, miR‐203, miR‐7110, miR‐29b, and miR‐126) and downregulating oncogenic microRNAs (miR‐21, miR‐210, miR‐382, miR‐654, miR‐494, miR‐193b, miR‐671, miR‐222, miR‐23b, miR‐664, miR‐183, miR‐214, miR‐320a, miR‐23a, miR‐30a, miR‐320d, miR‐1285, miR‐32, miR‐181a, miR‐205, miR‐216a, miR‐1246, and miR‐106b). Conclusion: Cell proliferation is inhibited, and cell apoptosis is induced by curcumin in different urogenital cancers through suppressing oncogenic microRNAs or provoking tumor suppressor microRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Primary adrenal insufficiency is an uncommon condition that manifests as nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, weight loss, salt craving, and hyperpigmentation. Common cardiovascular presentations of AI are hypotension, arrhythmias, and syncope. However, acute heart failure is an uncommon presentation. Case Presentation. Here, a 26‐year‐old man was hospitalized with vasopressor‐resistant cardiogenic shock, which was finally attributed to an adrenal crisis. His past medical history was notable for Hashimoto's disease, controlled with oral levothyroxine. Conclusion. AI should be considered among patients with cardiogenic shock who are unresponsive to conventional inotropes. Additionally, a history of autoimmune diseases may increase the suspicion of AI. Although the presentation of cardiogenic shock in a patient with undiagnosed AI is considered a rarity, delay in prompt treatment can lead to life‐threatening conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a transient inflammatory disorder of the thyroid gland with a possible viral etiology. We conducted this study to estimate the pooled prevalence of thyroid autoantibodies in SAT patients. This question arose due to the varying reports on the positivity rates of thyroid autoantibodies among SAT patients. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science from their inception until March 25th, 2023. Observational studies reporting the positivity rate of thyroid autoantibodies for more than ten patients were included. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) critical appraisal checklist to assess the quality of the included studies. Pooled prevalence estimates with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the random effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed to find sources of heterogeneity. Results: Out of 1373 identified records, 32 studies involving 2348 SAT patients were included in our study. Thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were positive in 22.8% and 12.2% of patients, respectively. The Study design, mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate and mean thyroid-stimulating hormone of patients were identified as sources of heterogeneity. As our secondary objectives, we found a recurrence rate of 14.7% and permanent hypothyroidism in 11.6% of patients. Conclusion: The results of our study revealed a low TPOAb positivity rate in SAT patients, consistent with its non-autoimmune etiology. The TgAb positivity rate in SAT patients was higher than that of the general population, possibly explained by the transient release of thyroglobulin into the bloodstream during the thyrotoxic phase, leading to subsequent TgAb production. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate a notable recurrence rate and permanent hypothyroidism among SAT patients, highlighting the importance of ongoing follow-up care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Metformin is commonly prescribed to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients, but in some cases, it may not be effective even at high doses or may cause intolerable side effects. Therefore, recent studies have examined the impact of combining metformin with other antidiabetic medications. Methods. A systematic search was performed in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase up to 30 June 2023. All interventional studies that assessed the efficacy of different antidiabetic agents were included. Results. Among the 3488 records found in the primary search, 16 papers were included. Our study showed that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP4i) had the most significant impact on glycemic profile, while thiazolidinediones (TZDs) had the most influence on lipid levels. However, it was observed that patients taking only metformin experienced a greater increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1RAs) effectively modified various anthropometric measurements, such as weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. The effects of different antidiabetic drugs on hormone levels were inconclusive, although testosterone levels were more affected by GLP1RA, sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), and TZDs. None of the combined therapies showed a significant change in blood pressure. Conclusion. Since PCOS is a metabolic disorder, choosing the best combination of antidiabetic drugs in the clinical course of PCOS patients will be very important. Today, it seems that we need a new metabolic approach for better treatment of the metabolic aspects of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim. Regarding patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), there are inconsistent reports surrounding the association between length of stay (LOS) and mortality or rehospitalization following discharge. This study evaluates the association between LOS and 30-day outcomes after discharge in patients admitted with ADHF. Method. This study is performed in the context of the Persian Registry of Cardiovascular Disease/Heart Failure (PROVE/HF). We included all patients admitted with ADHF regardless of the etiology of heart failure (HF). LOS was classified in tertiles (<4 days, >4 and <6 days, and >6 days). Our outcomes were 30-day all-cause mortality and rehospitalization. Baseline characteristics and outcomes are reported according to the tertiles of LOS. A binary logistic regression and cox regression analysis were performed to evaluate the association between LOS and rehospitalization and death, respectively. Results. Between April 2019 and March 2020, 385 patients with ADHF were registered in our study. The mean length of hospitalization was 6.35 ± 5.46 days, varying from a minimum of 0 days to a maximum of 47 days. One hundred patients had a hospital stay lower than 4 days; 151 individuals had an intermediate LOS (4–6 days); and 134 were hospitalized for more than 6 days. Our analysis indicated no association between LOS and 30-day rehospitalization and death in multivariable or univariable models. Conclusion. This study found no association between LOS and rehospitalization or death in patients admitted with ADHF; however, further investigations are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurologic complications of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection have been reported commonly. Peripheric facial nerve palsy is one of the most reported neurologic problems. However, idiopathic bilateral facial palsy is a very rare complication of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Herein, we present a case of a COVID‐19 35‐year‐old man, which developed bilateral facial palsy. Idiopathic bilateral facial palsy (also known as bilateral bell's palsy) is a very rare complication of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. It has some important differential diagnosis that should rule out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol can inhibit cellular aerobic respiration pathway and causes cell hypoxia specially in optic neurons. Despite using many drugs, methanol‐induced optic neuropathy (MION) still has a poor prognosis. Here we present a case of MION which is managed by a combination of intravenous and intravitreal erythropoietin in addition to corticosteroids. Despite usage of many drugs, methanol induced optic neuropathy (MION) is still poor prognosis. Combination of intravenous and intravitreal erythropoietin in addition to corticosteroid can be an opportunity to treat MION. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Recent studies have indicated that Sodium–GLucose co-Transporter 2 Inhibitors (SGLT2Is) may increase insulin sensitivity (IS); however, these results are heterogeneous and need to be systematically assessed. Method: We searched MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Ovid, and ProQuest using a predefined search query. Randomized clinical trials on SGLT2Is with a passive control group or metformin controlled group were included. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool. Meta-analysis was performed separately on studies with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) population and studies with non-T2DM population and also for passive- and active-controlled studies using standardized mean difference (SMD) as the measure of the effect size. Subgroup analysis was performed according to different types of SGLT2Is. Meta-regression analysis was performed according to the dose and duration of intervention. Results: Twenty-two studies (6 on non-T2DM population) with a total of 1421 (243 non-T2DM) patients were included. Six studies (3 on T2DM and 3 on non-T2DM) were controlled by metformin, and others were passively controlled. SGLT2Is could significantly increase IS in T2DM patients (SMD = 0.72 [0.32–1.12]). SGLT2Is could reduce insulin resistance in non-T2DM population, but this was not significant. SGLT2Is were not inferior to metformin in reducing insulin resistance. Subgroup analysis indicated that dapagliflozin could significantly increase IS, but empagliflozin was not associated with significant improvement in IS. Meta-regression analysis indicated no effect for dose but duration of SGLT2I administration on IS. Conclusion: SGLT2Is, particularly dapagliflozin, could increase IS. These results need to be consolidated by further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have indicated that selenium deficiency may be detrimental in the context of various viral disorders, and in the case of COVID-19, several studies have reported heterogeneous results concerning the association of selenium deficiency with the severity of disease. To summarize the available data surrounding the association of body selenium levels with the outcomes of COVID-19, a systematic search was performed in the Medline database (PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Web of Science using keywords including "SARS-CoV-2," "COVID-19," and "selenium," Studies evaluating the association of COVID-19 with body selenium levels were included. Among 1,862 articles viewed in the database search, 10 articles were included after title, abstract, and full-text review. One study was further included after searching the literature again for any newly published articles. Out of 11 included studies, 10 studies measured serum selenium level, and one study investigated urinary selenium level. Three of 10 studies measured serum SELENOP level as well as selenium level. Glutathione peroxidase-3 level in serum was also assessed in one study. The reported outcomes were severity, mortality, and risk of COVID-19. Nine studies indicated that a lower serum selenium level is associated with worse outcomes. Two studies reported no significant association between serum selenium level and COVID-19. In one study, urinary selenium level was reported to be higher in severe and fatal cases compared to non-severe and recovered patients, respectively. In most cases, selenium deficiency was associated with worse outcomes, and selenium levels in COVID-19 patients were lower than in healthy individuals. Thus, it could be concluded that cautious selenium supplementation in COVID-19 patients may be helpful to prevent disease progression. However, randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm this. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sedentary behavior (SB) is considered a risk factor for musculoskeletal pain. We aimed to explore the association of sedentary behavior indicators with neck pain among children and adolescents. Methods: A comprehensive review was performed in different databases until the end of January 2022. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals were used as desired effect sizes to evaluate the association between prolonged screen time or mobile phone (MP) usage and neck pain risk. Results: Among 1651 records, 15 cross-sectional studies were included in the systematic review, and 7 reports were included in the meta-analysis. Our results suggested a significant relationship between prolonged MP use and neck pain (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.001-1.85, I2 = 40.8%, P value for heterogeneity test = 0.119). Furthermore, a marginally insignificant association was found between prolonged screen time and neck pain (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.98-1.30, I2 = 60.3%, P value = 0.01); however, after sensitivity analysis and removing one study, this association became significant (OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.03-1.64). Moreover, a significant association between prolonged sitting time and neck pain was reported in two studies. Conclusion: Available good-quality evidence reveals a significant mild association between sedentary behavior and the risk of neck pain among children and adolescents. However, longitudinal studies with objective measurement tools are warranted. In particular, potential preventive educational programs are suggested for pediatrics to reduce sedentary behavior and neck pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]