BACKGROUNDNeonatal sepsis is a disease process, which represents the consequences of systemic response to bacteria entering the blood stream during the first 28 days of life. Platelet count (PLT) and indices, including mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW) and Platelet larger cell ratio (P-LCR) are considered as markers of production rate and platelet activation. They are readily available via blood tests. However, their prognostic value in neonatal sepsis has not been fully clarified and several studies reported contradictory results. This study evaluated the changes of platelet count and indices in neonatal sepsis. METHODSThis study was performed on 20 neonates with culture proven sepsis and 20 neonates with the similar age and weight but without any infectious disease served as the control group from February 2013 to June 2017 in the west of Iran. PLT, MPV, PDW, P-LCR and other infection markers (white blood cell count [WBC], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], and neutrophil percentage were also determined. This data was compared between patients and control group. RESULTSIn sepsis group, MPV, PDW and P-LCR were significantly increased (p= 0.024, p= 0.006 and p= 0.005 respectively), but WBC, Neutrophil percentage and PLT were not significantly different compared to controls. There was no significant difference in the platelet count and indices between Gram-negative and Gram-positive sepsis. CONCLUSIONSDiagnostic value of platelet indices is higher than that of WBC and neutrophil percentage. Therefore, platelet indices as inexpensive and easily available tests can be routinely performed for all neonates suspected to be in sepsis.

Introduction: Date palm pollen (DPP) is the male reproductive soft powder from date flowers widely used as the valuable dietary supplement to fortify the size of testis and ovarian to increase the power of sex. This part of date palm significantly exhibited anti-diabetic, anti-inflammation and protective effects against male and female infertility. Though the anticancer activity of date fruits was previously reported, the DPP anti-angiogenic effects were not reported, and as the first study, its inhibitory effects were examined in the current study. Methods: The DPP soft powder was collected to prepare its hydro-alcoholic extract to examine its anti-angiogenic activity in an in vitro model. At different concentrations, the cytotoxicity of the prepared extract was examined on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using lactate dehydrogenase method. Cell proliferation was determined using the MTT assay and cytodex-3D model in collagen gel was used to assay its possible anti-angiogenic activity. The expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Finally, molecular docking simulation was used to highlight the possible role of DPP polyphenols to interact with the associated receptors. Results: The prepared hydro-alcoholic extract exhibited significant anti-angiogenic activity in a dose-dependent manner and decreased the endothelial cell proliferation. The calculated IC50 value for the examined extract in angiogenesis model was 260 µg·mL, respectively. Also, the expression of VEGF, MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes were significantly decreased. Docking simulation results unveiled that the isolated DPP polyphenols have the affinity to interact with ctDNA, VEGF and its receptors. Conclusion: The DPP is the new source of non-toxic anti-cancer agents to use as a dietary supplement in the pre-treatment of cancer.

Introduction: Applications of engineered nanoparticles are rapidly increasing. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) are used in many products including those produced by pigment and cosmetic manufacturers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal exposure during pregnancy to TiO2 NPs on depressive-like behavior in the first and second generation offspring. Materials and Methods: Forty female albino mice were placed into four groups for 2 weeks. Fertile males were then added to each cage by a ratio of two males to five females. After detection of pregnancy, the mice were transferred to separate cages. The study groups were divided into four groups: the first group, served as control, did not receive any treatment; the second group received injections of normal saline; groups 3 and 4 received, respectively, 50 and 100 µl of TiO2 NP solution injections subcutaneously on days 3, 7, 10, and 14 after mating. Behavioral tests were conducted on postnatal days 21 and 40. Findings: Subcutaneous injection of 50 and 100 µl of TiO2 NPs significantly ( p < 0.05) increased the immobility time in the forced swimming test and tail suspension test (TST). No significant difference was observed in measured variables between groups receiving 50 and 100 µl of TiO2 NPs. No significant difference was also found between male and female offspring. Depression-like behavior increased in the second generation of mice in the forced swim test and TST. Conclusion: Prenatal exposure of mothers to TiO2 NPs would increase depression-like behavior in neonatal mice.

Objective COVID-19 has recently emerged as a serious threat to global health. This study examined the laboratory investigations of patients with COVID-19, with an emphasis on liver enzymes. Methods This retrospective, single-center study was performed on patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to Imam Reza Hospital, Iran from March 2020 to February 2021. Laboratory tests included a complete blood cell count, white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte/monocyte ratio, and levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase. Patient survival was among the outcome measures investigated in association with laboratory findings. Results We enrolled 77 patients with COVID-19 and 63 healthy controls. In comparison with the control group, patients with COVID-19 showed COVID-19 increased ALT, WBC, neutrophils, NLR, and PLR, and decreased platelet counts and lymphocytes. Conclusion Although elevated levels of AST, NLR, PLR, and LMR were found in patients with COVID-19, they were not linked to mortality. Given the presence of AST in other tissues, the influence of SARS-CoV-2 on the liver should be interpreted with caution.

No abstract

Objectives Hospital‐based breast cancer survival studies are scarce in western Iran. Furthermore, the relationship between breast cancer survival and clinical parameters has been extensively studied, but many of the findings come from developing countries. This paper aims to estimate the survival of hospital‐based breast cancer patients and its predictor factors. Method This retrospective analysis was conducted on 578 patients with primary breast cancer who underwent surgery between 2004 and 2020. Information was collected from medical reports by the Hospital information system in Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah, Iran. One‐, 2‐, 5‐, and 10‐year breast cancer‐specific survival has been calculated using the Kaplan–Meier process. Crude and adjusted Hazard Ratios (HR) were calculated using the Cox proportional regression model. Result One‐, 2‐, and 5‐year overall breast cancer survival were 219 (99.54%), 196 (89.09%), 159 (72.27%), and 70 (31.81%), respectively. Univariate analysis of breast cancer patients with tumor‐related variables revealed that factors such as age, menopause status, lymph node metastasis, number of lymph nodes, organ metastasis, and stage of disease were significantly associated with disease‐specific survival ( p < .05). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that metastasis (HR = 41.77, 95% CI: 15.3–114.15) and lymph node metastasis (HR = 5.26, 95% CI: 1.9–14.6) were significantly related to survival. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that survival is relatively low and is consistent with late‐stage disease diagnosis. It is believed that this is due to a poor level of awareness, lack of screening programs, and subsequent late access to treatment.

Background: Nosocomial infections are important medical concerns in developed and developing countries. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered the third leading cause of nosocomial infections following Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Objectives: The present study aimed to determine the antibiotic resistance of isolated P. aeruginosa strains in the patients admitted to Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 900 patients with positive P. aeruginosa cultures who were admitted to Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran during 2016-2018. Bacterial isolates were separated using laboratory tests, and the standard disc-diffusion method was used to assess antibiotic susceptibility based on the CLSI protocol. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 24. Results: The majority of the P. aeruginosa-positive cases were isolated from the emergency ward (44.3%), intensive care unit (21.9%), blood samples (40.4%), and urine samples (18.7%). The highest antibiotic resistance was observed against cotrimoxazole, ceftriaxone, ampicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, nitrofurantoin, nalidixic acid, cefazolin, and cefixime. In addition, ciprofloxacin and imipenem were the most effective antibiotics against P. aeruginosa with the sensitivity of 68.1% and 57.2%, respectively. Conclusions: According to the results, P. aeruginosa had high resistance against antibiotics such as cotrimoxazole and ceftriaxone. Therefore, these antibiotics should be used correctly and reasonably, and epidemiological studies in this regard should be focused on proposing national programs to prevent the further spread of antibiotic resistance.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen, which often causes asymptomatic diseases. This bacterium could cause several disorders, ranging from skin infections to life-threatening diseases. S. aureus could also develop resistance to a wide range of antibiotics. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and pattern of antibiotic resistance in isolated S. aureus in Imam Reza Hospital of Kermanshah, Iran. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 2,228 patients with a positive S. aureus culture who were admitted to Imam Reza Hospital during 2016 - 2018. In accordance with the CLSI protocol, bacterial isolates were separated using laboratory tests, and antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the standard disk-diffusion method. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 24. Results: Most of the S. aureus-positive cases were isolated from the emergency ward (43.7%), blood samples (40.1%), and urine samples (23.9%). The highest antibiotic resistance was observed against erythromycin, penicillin G, ofloxacin, cefoxitin, clindamycin, and piperacillin. With 93.3% and 81.8% sensitivity, vancomycin and teicoplanin were respectively the most effective antibiotics against S. aureus. Conclusions: According to the results, the prevalence of resistant S. aureus strains could be due to the long-term hospitalization of patients and the overuse of antibiotics in infection treatment. Therefore, proper monitoring and development of effective infection control methods are essential in these healthcare settings.