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Objective: The aim of the present study was to explain the structural model of quality of life based on early maladaptive schemas and the mediating role of self-care in women with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This research is classified as descriptive-correlational using structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all women with type 2 diabetes in Tehran who visited healthcare centers during 2021. The sample comprised 350 women with type 2 diabetes in Tehran in 2021, selected through convenience sampling based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Questionnaire, the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form, and the Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and Pearson correlation statistical methods with SPSS.22 and AMOS.22 software. Findings: The results showed the fit indices were PCFI=0.655, PNFI=0.661, CMIN/DF=2.90, RMSEA=0.089, IFI=0.917, CFI=0.914, and GFI=0.903, indicating a good fit of the proposed model with the data. The highest coefficient (-0.47) was attributed to the pathway from the domain of impaired autonomy and performance to quality of life. Conclusion: The coefficient of determination for the quality of marital relationship variable in the proposed structural model was 0.889, indicating that exogenous variables could predict 89% of the variations in quality of life, which is a strong prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer‐related deaths in the world. Sorafenib is the first‐line treatment of HCC. Although sorafenib has positive effects on the survival of patients, novel therapeutic strategies are needed to extend survival and improve the efficacy of sorafenib. This study combines sorafenib with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a new approach to enhance the efficacy of sorafenib. Material and methods: A subcutaneous xenograft model of HCC, established by human HepG2 cell lines, was implanted into the flank of nude mice and was used to evaluate tumor growth after treatment with sorafenib alone or in combination with MSCs. The aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels were measured for safety assessment. Histopathological studies were performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemistry tests were performed to evaluate proliferation (Ki67) and angiogenesis (CD34). The TUNEL assay was used to detect apoptosis and measure the expression of major inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1a, IL‐10, and TNF‐α) with real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Result: Sorafenib, in combination with MSCs, strongly inhibited tumor growth in the xenograft model. Furthermore, the combination therapy significantly inhibited HCC cell proliferation, decreased tumor angiogenesis, and induced apoptosis and maintained antitumor‐associated anti‐inflammatory effects of MSCs. Conclusion: This combination therapy strategy could be used as a new therapeutic approach to the treatment of HCC that significantly improves upon the results achieved using sorafenib as monotherapy. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have antitumor properties. MSC, in combination with sorafenib, can exert an enhanced level of antiproliferative, angiogenic, and immunoregulatory effects and significantly improve the results achieved using sorafenib as monotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death. sorafenib is used as a standard therapy to treat HCC. mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have also been used to suppress HCC. Here we investigate the development of a xenograft model of liver cancer to study the homing of hpMSC-GFP cells, tumor kinetics and molecular characterizations of HCC. Methods: To create xenograft models of HCC, HepG2 cell lines were inoculated into the flanks of 9 nude mice bilaterally. Animals were then divided into three groups: the first group received hpMSC-GFP systemically, the second received intra-tumoral hpMSC-GFP and the third received PBS. The first two groups were sacrificed after 72 hours of MSCs injection but the third group was followed up for forty days. One tumor from each animal was then transferred to formalin buffer for H&E staining and immunohistochemistry analysis (KI67 and CD34), and the other tumor was used for ex-vivo imaging. Blood samples were taken from all subjects before sacrificing them. Results: Histopathological fidelity of heterotopic HePG2 xenograft models to human HCC tumors was demonstrated. Biochemical evaluation suggested the health of the animal’s liver and kidneys. Ex-vivo imaging illustrated homing of more hpMSC-GFP cells in tumor tissues derived from the group receiving intra-tumoral hpMSC-GFP. Conclusion: A standard method was used to inoculate tumor cells and the intervention was shown to be safe to liver and kidneys. Local injection of MSCs can be used as cell therapy to fight neoplasms., (Creative Commons Attribution License)