Arch Iran Med
-
Severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often experience hyper-inflammatory reactions, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), blood clotting, and organ damage. The most prominent immunopathology of advanced COVID-19 is cytokine release syndrome, or "cytokine storm" which is attributed to a defect of immune-regulating mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) as one of the main cells that maintain immune homeostasis. ⋯ Regulatory T cells can be one of the determinants of disease severity and prognosis in patients with COVID-19 by inhibiting rampant inflammation and preventing cytokine storms.
-
Review Case Reports
Exaggerated Mini Puberty during Early Infancy of a Preterm Girl: A Case Report and Review of Literature.
Mini puberty is the important period of infancy life that can have a serious impact on sexual development in both sexes. In the infants born very preterm and with extremely low birth weight, mini puberty changes including changes in clinical, hormonal, and imaging data are severe and long lasting, especially in girls. It can be called "exaggerated mini puberty". ⋯ We did follow up clinical and para-clinical evaluations for the infant during one year and compared the obtained data with those of similar published articles. During one year of monitoring, the case gradually grew to the normal pre-pubertal state, without any hormonal suppressive treatment. Exaggerated mini puberty is a temporary physiologic state in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants that does not require any extra hormonal and surgical interventions.
-
Review
Does Opium Consumption Have Shared Impact on Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer?
Although atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and cancer are seemingly different types of disease, they have multiple shared underlying mechanisms and lifestyle-related risk factors like smoking, unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption, and inadequate physical activity. Opium abuse is prevalent in developing countries, especially the Middle East region and many Asian countries. Besides recreational purposes, many people use opium based on a traditional belief that opium consumption may confer protection against heart attack and improve the control of the risk factors of ASCVD such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. ⋯ Moreover, there is accumulating evidence that opium consumption exerts potential carcinogenic effects and increases the risk of developing various types of cancer. We conducted a review of the literature to review the current evidence on the relationship between opium consumption and ASCVD as well as various kinds of cancer. In addition, we will discuss the potential shared pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the association between opium abuse and both ASCVD and cancer.
-
Biological drugs are manufactured via some changes made to the living organisms by genetic engineering. Notably, biological drugs are very expensive and their importation can impose economic pressure, especially on poorer countries. ⋯ On the other hand, the poor economic situation of Iran due to repeated sanctions has had a great impact on the health care system, which has prevented the allocation of sufficient financial resources in this regard. Therefore, manufacturing biosimilar drugs due to their lower cost has received much attention in various fields of treatment.
-
The emergence and fast spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threatens the world as a new public health crisis. Little is known about its effects during pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 on maternal and neonatal outcomes. ⋯ Early diagnosis of COVID-19 is crucial due to the possibility of the prenatal complications. Strict prevention strategies may reduce the risk of mother to infant transmission.