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Polyphenols are abundant in regular diets and possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Regarding the inadequacy of the current treatments in preventing cardiac remodeling following cardiovascular diseases, attention has been focused on improving cardiac function with potential alternatives such as polyphenols. The following online databases were searched for relevant orginial published from 2000 to 2023: EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases. The search strategy aimed to assess the effects of polyphenols on heart failure and keywords were “heart failure” and “polyphenols” and “cardiac hypertrophy” and “molecular mechanisms”. Our results indicated polyphenols are repeatedly indicated to regulate various heart failure-related vital molecules and signaling pathways, such as inactivating fibrotic and hypertrophic factors, preventing mitochondrial dysfunction and free radical production, the underlying causes of apoptosis, and also improving lipid profile and cellular metabolism. In the current study, we aimed to review the most recent literature and investigations on the underlying mechanism of actions of different polyphenols subclasses in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure to provide deep insight into novel mechanistic treatments and direct future studies in this context. Moreover, due to polyphenols' low bioavailability from conventional oral and intravenous administration routes, in this study, we have also investigated the currently accessible nano-drug delivery methods to optimize the treatment outcomes by providing sufficient drug delivery, targeted therapy, and less off-target effects, as desired by precision medicine standards.

Telecytology offers a suitable solution to the cost and time efficiency questions on rapid onsite evaluation (ROSE). An increasing number of institutions are adopting new telecytology systems to meet the increasing ROSE requests, although there is no agreement on the details of how a telecytology validation study needs to be conducted. We propose a standardized approach for telecytology validation studies that could be done in a variety of practices.Consecutive cases from 6 months prior were chosen to reflect a case mix comparable to real life. A fellow assessed the slides at the ROSE site while 6 cytopathology faculty convened in a conference room with a television screen, and noted the adequacy, diagnostic category, and specific diagnoses. All participants were blinded to the original adequacy assessment and final diagnoses. For each case, evaluation time and the slides counts were noted.Fine-needle aspiration specimens from 52 patients were included in the study. Of these, 13 cases were used in the first "test" session. The adequacy concordance rates ranged between 92.3% and 100%, with an overall concordance rate of 94.8%. The diagnostic category concordance rates ranged between 90.3% and 95.5%, with an overall concordance rate of 91.9%. The specific diagnosis concordance rates ranged between 84.6% and 92.9%, with an overall concordance rate of 88.1%.Validation of telecytology requires a standardized approach just like any other new technology. In this study, we propose an efficient and accurate method for cytopathology departments of various case volumes to conduct telecytology validation studies.

Introduction: Fusarium species are hyaline saprophytic fungi that are frequently found in the soil, air, and water. They can cause severe systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. Clinical manifestations depend on the way of entry of the mold and host immune system status. The main ways of entrance are the airways, skin, and mucosal membranes. Disseminated fusariosis often occurs in patients with hematological disorders, patients with cancer, and solid organ transplant recipients. Case Presentation: Herein we report a case of Fusarium fungemia in a patient with adrenocortical carcinoma from Isfahan, Iran. The patient was a 41-year-old female with stage III adrenal cortical carcinoma. Despite antifungal therapy with liposomal amphotericin B, the patient passed away 6 days after admission. Internal transcribed spacer region sequencing applied for species identification and its sequence deposited in the GenBank (accession number: MK880379). Conclusions: Since the ideal strategies against invasive fungal infections remain uncertain and the mortality rate is high, we recommend primary prophylaxis with a broad-spectrum antifungal agent for vulnerable patients particularly those admitted to high-risk units such as oncology, hematology, and transplant units.

Amelanotic melanoma (AM) of the heel is a very rare subtype of malignant melanoma in which the tumour cells, unlike other types of melanoma, are characterised by little or no melanin pigmentation. AM resembles many benign dermatological complications that often lead to late diagnosis of lesions, poor prognosis, and occasionally misdiagnosis at an early stage of the disease. We report a case of a 73-year-old man with a heel ulcer who was admitted to Al-Zahra Hospital (Isfahan, Iran). Chronic osteomyelitis was considered the primary diagnosis, and several courses of antibiotics were prescribed for the patient. The ulcer failed to improve after 9 months' of therapy, and because of an increase in the size of the ulcer and the growth of two tumours in the right heel, a biopsy of the lesion was conducted. The pathology report confirmed invasive AM. The present report emphasises the necessity to biopsy all skin lesions, even with low clinical significance, to avoid wrong subsequent treatments, prevent a delay in diagnosis, reduce misdiagnosis, and improve the survival rate of patients.

Background: A human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-based lentiviral vector (LV) pseudotyped by a variant of rabies envelope glycoprotein, FUG-B2, has previously been prepared and used in transfection of hippocampal CA1 ("Cornu Ammonis" area 1) neurons. This study aimed to verify reactive gliosis and neuronal damage after injection of the vector into the rat hippocampus. Methods: HEK 293T cells were transfected with transfer (fck-Jaws-GFP-ER2), envelope (FUG-B2), and packaging (pMDLg/pRRE, pRSV-Rev) plasmids, and the vector was injected into CA1 of the rat hippocampus. After one week, transduction efficiency, and the number of neuronal and astroglial cells were determined in CA1 and CA3 by double staining of the brain slices. Results: Hippocampal cells were successfully transfected as 92.7% of CA1 and 95.8% of CA3 neuronal cells expressed GFP. The frequency of neuronal and astroglial cells in CA1 and CA3 of the vector-injected rats remained unchanged compared to those in the control and the saline-injected rats. Furthermore, no morphological change was found in hippocampal astrocytes and neuronal cells. Conclusion: The HIV-1-based LV pseudotyped by FUG-B2 is safe and does not cause neuroinflammation and neuronal loss once directly delivered into the rat hippocampus.

Background and Objectives: Traffic accidents are the most important cause of trauma and mortality in communities. Due to the limited information in this field about Isfahan, a metropolitan in the center of Iran, this study investigates and identifies the epidemiological characteristics of fatal traffic accidents in this city. Methods: This is a case–control study conducted on hospitalized patients due to traffic accidents in 2016-2017. Lethal accidents (n = 189) were considered cases, and a group of survivors (n=189) was the control. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the population were gathered, and compared between the cases and controls. Logistic regression assessment was applied to determine the factors associated with death. Results: Logistic regression assessments revealed that facial and head trauma, chest trauma, abdominal trauma, pelvic trauma, lower extremity trauma, surgical procedure requirement within 12 hours after the accident and intubation were the prognostic factors associated with fatality. Conclusions: According to the findings of this study, mortality due to accidents was independently associated with facial and head, chest, abdominal, pelvic and lower extremity traumas, intubation requirement, and surgery within the first 12 h after the accident. Besides, aging was inversely associated with the chance of survival following a road accident.

Background The trisynaptic circuit (entorhinal cortex-dentate gyrus-CA3-CA1) is a key unidirectional network in the hippocampus. Damage to the hippocampus interrupts this circuit and causes neurological disorders. Efficient delivery of therapeutic genes into this network is of great interest with respect to treating trisynaptic circuit pathologies. Methods We generated a lentivector system pseudotyped by a variant of rabies glycoprotein, FUG-B2. The efficiency of the vector in the retrograde transduction of the rat hippocampal neurons (i.e. the entorhinal cortex from the dentate gyrus, the dentate gyrus from CA3, and CA3 from CA1) was examined by direct injection of the vector into the dentate gyrus, CA3 and CA1. To distinguish transduction of the neuronal and glial cells, as well as selective retrograde gene transfer, double-staining of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) expressing cells with the specific neuron biomarker NeuN (neuronal nuclear protein) and the specific glia biomarker GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) was performed across the network. Results The transgene was successfully introduced into the circuit. More than 80% of the neuronal and glial cells at the injection sites preserved GFP expression during the 2-month period after vector injection. Importantly, GFP was expressed selectively in almost 80.0% of the presynaptic neuronal cells by retrograde axonal transport of the vector. Conclusions The FUG-B2-based vector system can efficiently introduce the transgene into the rat hippocampal neurons both directly and indirectly through retrograde monosynaptic movement. This efficient and long-lasting gene delivery might provide a tool for treating neurological disorders originating in hippocampal circuits.

Recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa; NovoSeven, Novo Nordisk, Copenhagen, Denmark) is used to control bleeding in patients with hemophilia. A generic version of FVIIa was developed by AryoGen (Tehran, Iran). This study compared the composition and functional activities of AryoSeven and NovoSeven. Each product was compared at equigravimetric (1 mg/mL) stock solution for protein content. The proteomic profile was obtained using surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis was carried out to determine the protein profile and Western blotting was performed using a polyclonal rabbit antihuman FVIIa antibody. The FVIIa-related antigen was also measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Functional assay included the prothrombin time correction in FVII-deficient plasma. The protein content was comparable in 2 products and the mass spectra analysis showed a single peak at 50 kDa in all products. The SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting studies were comparable. Both products exhibited similar coagulant properties in different assays.

Introduction - Conventional oral anticoagulant drugs produce their effects by suppressing the synthesis of functional forms of clotting factors II, VII, IX and X. Excessive inhibition of these fact...

Introduction: A vermiform appendix in an inguinal hernia, inflamed or not, is known as Amyand’s hernia. Here we present a case with Amyand’s hernia. Case Presentation: A 63-year-old Caucasian man with a perforated vermiform appendix in the hernia sac (acute suppurative appendicitis), presented an incarcerated right groin hernia and underwent simultaneous appendectomy and hernia repair. Conclusions: A surgeon repairing hernia may encounter unexpected intraoperative findings, like Amyand’s hernia. It is important to be always prepared for such conditions and apply the appropriate treatment.

Aortic dissection occurs when the layers of the aorta separate as a result of extra luminal cavity of blood through an intimal tear. Dissection limited to the abdominal aorta is rare. Unfortunately, the appropriate management of dissecting aneurysm of abdominal aorta is not documented yet. A 43 years old man was admitted to Al-zahra hospital in Isfahan with sudden onset of periumbilical abdominal pain. CT scan confirmed infrarenal dissection of abdominal aorta. Performing laparotomy, aorta was repaired using bifurcate collagen-coated Dacron graft. Surgical intervention with synthetic graft is recommended in patients with dissecting aortic aneurysm of infrarenal segments where the extent of dissection is limited and accessible.Keywords: Aneurysm, Aortic dissection, Aortic aneurysm abdominal surgery.

A new membrane system has been developed by BP for refinery and chemical plant olefin purification and recovery. This facilitated transport system, coupled with distillation, offers lower capital and operating costs than conventional distillation alone. Initial results on lab scale hollow fiber devices indicate membrane flux ranging from 8.75×10−6 to 8×10−5 m3/m2/sec (2.5 to 23 scfd/ft2) and selectivities from 150 to 300. Pilot plant experiments on propylene/propane and ethylene purge gas recovery over three to six months duration show membrane stability and product purity of 98.5% or greater using refinery grade propylene feed. Hybrid system optimization data for membranes and distillation indicate that using a side draw from the distillation tower provides advantages in terms of membrane area, purity of feed to the membrane, and low per-pass recovery coupled with high overall propylene recovery. Membrane performance data under various conditions will also be presented. In addition to performanc...

Background: Short bowel syndrome is arbitrarily defined as the presence of less than 200 cm of residual small bowel in adults. Most of the patients are dependent to total parenteral nutrition (TPN), rather than high cost, it has many complications such as sepsis. The surgical procedures are associated with intestinal obstruction and their efficacy needs to be defined. This study was performed to implant small intestinal mucosa in colonic submucosal bed in order to find a new treatment for the patients suffering from short bowel syndrome and dependent to TPN. Methods: This study was experimental and performed in Torabinejad Research Center in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2008. Eight Persian male cats was studied and during laparotomy a 1 × 1 cm mucosal patch of terminal ileum was implanted in submucosa of the colon. After 14 days, second laparotomy was done and the colon was examined hystologically. Findings: In 7 cats, colonic mucosal structure was seen in the site of the patch (87.5%) and in 1 cat, ileal mucosal structure was seen (12.5%). Conclusion: According to the results, implantation of small intestinal mucosa in colonic submucosal bed was unsuccessful but possibly it may be a new alternative treatment for short bowel syndrome.

To evaluate the efficacy of melatonin in preventing postoperative pericardial adhesions, 12 single breed dogs were randomized equally into experimental (melatonin) and control groups. After ketamine anesthesia, a vertical midsternal incision was done and the parietal pericardium of the inferior site of the heart was opened vertically. To promote adhesion formation, abrasions were created on both parietal and visceral pericardial surfaces in an area of 2 cm2 with two vertically reciprocal movements of dry gauze. In the melatonin group, 5% ethanol plus 10 mg/kg melatonin in 10 ml NaCl and, in control group, 10 ml NaCl dilution vehicle containing 5% ethanol was instilled intra-pericardium on to the abrasion sites. After a 6-week recovery period, the animals were evaluated for grading of adhesion formation by an examiner blinded to the groups. The extent of adhesions was graded from 0 (no adhesion) to 3 (total involvement of the traumatized area). The results showed that adhesion scores were significantly lower in melatonin group (1.00+/-0.63) compared with controls (2.66+/-0.51); P=0.001. We conclude that melatonin administration effectively reduced postoperative pericardial adhesions in dogs. The use of melatonin in the prevention of pericardial adhesion formation in human subjects warrants further investigations.

Introduction Recombinant factor VIIa (NovoSeven® Copenhagen, Denmark) is used in the management of bleeding in patients with hemophilia. A generic biosimilar version of NovoSeven® is also developed for same indication (AryoSeven™, AryoGen, Tehran-Iran). The two products exhibit comparable compositional and biochemical profile. To compare the activation profile of NovoSeven® and AryoSeven™, two commercially available protein complex concentrates (PCCs) were used. The activation profiles were studied utilizing SDS- gel electrophoresis profile and immunoblotting using anti-rabbit recombinant thrombin antibody. Materials & Methods NovoSeven®, AryoSeven™, Profilnine® SD (Grifols Biologicals Inc. USA), and Beriplex® (CSL Behring Canada, Inc.) were obtained commercially. Recombinant human thrombin antibodies were generated in rabbits. Recothrom® was commercially obtained (Zymogenetic, Seatle,Wa- USA and Medicine Company ,Parsippany, NJ –USA). Tissue factor RecombiPlasTin 2G was obtained from Instrumentation Laboratory Company (Bedford- USA). NovoSeven® and AryoSeven™ were diluted with saline to make working solution of 1mg/ml. Further dilutions were made with saline to obtain 0.5 µg/ml, 1.25µg/ml, and 2.5µg/ml rFVIIa preparations. To make working solution of PCCs, PCCs were diluted to 10 U/ml in saline. The sample mixtures contain 2U/ml PCCs, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 µg/ml rFVIIa, and with RecombiPlasTin 2G at 1:5 ratio. The samples mixtures incubated in 5, 15, and 30 minutes at 37°c. SDS-PAGE (Pierce Biotechnology) and immunoblotting carried against Recothrom®. Results Profilnine® SD activated by RecombiPlasTin 2G resulted in conversions of prothrombin to prethrombin and thrombin at 5 to 30 minutes incubation time as evident by the generation of distinct bands at 50kDa and 36 kDa. However, addition of rFVIIa at final concentration range of 0.25 and 0.5µg/ml to the same mixture resulted in total conversion of prothrombin to thrombin at 30 minutes with a doublet bands at 36 kDa. Recombinant FVIIa alone failed to generate thrombin in native Profilnine® SD at 5 to 30 minutes as evident by the absence of 36 kDa band in the SDS-PAGE and Immunoblotting studies. Further studies comparing NovoSeven® and AryoSeven™ (FC: 0.1µg/ml) in the activated Profilnine® SD resulted in a comparable and progressive generation of thrombin at 5 and 15 minutes incubation time. At 5 and 15 minutes residual prethrombin bands were noted which was less intense at 15 minute incubation time in both rFVIIa preparations. Although rFVIIa alone unable to generate thrombin in native Beriplex®, the presence of rFVIIa in activated Beriplex did not change the activation profile. Activated Beriplex® by RecombiPlasTin 2G resulted in complete conversion of prothrombin to thrombin at 30 minutes incubation time. A complete generation of thrombin was noted in both activated PCCs in the presence of rFVIIa at final concentrations of 0.25µg/ml and 0.5µg/ml. At 5 minutes residual prothrombin and prethrombin bands were noted in the presence of rFVIIa at final concentration of 0.1µg/ml. However, at 15 minutes prothrombin bands were completely disappeared and prethrombin bands were less intense at same concentration of 0.1µg/ml of rFVIIa. The results obtained by Western blot analysis confirmed the differential activation of Profilnine® SD and Beriplex®. However, both the NovoSeven® and AryoSeven™ exhibited similar activation profiles. Conclusions These results indicate that the activation of PCCs by both AryoSeven™ and NovoSeven® result in comparable generation of thrombin. Furthermore, while both rFVIIa produced similar activation profile, PCCs based differences in the activation profile were noted. These studies provide an in vitro profiling of the effects of activated FVIIa on the generation of thrombin and related enzymes to demonstrate biosimilarity of the branded and generic versions of these haemostatic products. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Background: Appendicitis is the most common cause of acute abdomen often hard to be diagnosed that leads to high incidence of negative laparotomy. Therefore, clinical methods for the diagnosis of appendicitis with high sensitivity are necessary. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of Lanwei acupuncture point for acute appendicitis. Methods: 150 patients admitted to Alzahra and Kashani hospitals, Isfahan, Iran, with suspected appendicitis were entered the study. The patients were examined using the tests Mcburney and Lanwei and then, went to the operating room and the appendix was assessed by pathologist. Finally, the results of pathology were compared with the results of Mcburney and Lanwei tests using t, chi-square test and ANOVA tests. Findings: For Lanwei test, the sensitivity, specificity, false positive and false negative values were 22.6%, 23.5%, 77.4% and 76.5%, respectively, with the accuracy of 22.7%. But Mcburney test, the sensitivity, specificity, false positive and false negative values were 95.5%, zero, 100% and 4.5%, respectively, with the accuracy of 84.7%. Conclusion: The Lanwei test did not have high agreement with the results of pathology other clinical criteria of diagnosiing such as Mcburney test.