Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services

About: Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services is a education organization based out in Tehran, Iran. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 19456 authors who have published 33659 publications receiving 365676 citations.

Programmed Cell Death, from a Cancer Perspective: An Overview

Abstract: Programmed cell death (PCD) is probably the most widely discussed subject among the topics of cancer therapy. Over the last 2 decades an astonishing boost in our perception of cell death has been seen, and its role in cancer and cancer therapy has been thoroughly investigated. A number of discoveries have clarified the molecular mechanism of PCD, thus expounding the link between PCD and therapeutic tools. Even though PCD is assumed to play a major role in anticancer therapy, the clinical relevance of its induction remains uncertain. Since PCD involves multiple death programs including programmed necrosis and autophagic cell death, it has contributed to our better understanding of cancer pathogenesis and therapeutics. In this review, we discuss a brief outline of PCD types as well as their role in cancer therapeutics. Since irregularities in the cell death process are frequently found in various cancers, key proteins governing cell death type could be used as therapeutic targets for a wide range of cancer.

Beneficial Effects of a High-Protein, Low-Glycemic-Load Hypocaloric Diet in Overweight and Obese Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Intervention Study

Abstract: Objective: The recommended composition of a hypocaloric diet for obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a high-protein, low-glycemic-load diet compared with a conventional hypocaloric diet on reproductive hormones, inflammatory markers, lipids, glucose, and insulin levels in obese women with PCOS.Methods: A total of 60 overweight and obese women with PCOS who did not use insulin-sensitizing agents were recruited and randomly assigned to 1 of the 2 hypocaloric diet groups for a single-blind clinical trial. The groups included a conventional hypocaloric diet (CHCD) (15% of daily energy from protein) and a modified hypocaloric diet (MHCD) with a high-protein, low-glycemic load (30% of daily energy from protein plus low-glycemic-load foods selected from a list) that was prescribed via counseling visits weekly during 12 weeks of study. Anthropometric assessments and biochemical measurements including reproductive hormones, inflammat...

Fast Food Pattern and Cardiometabolic Disorders: A Review of Current Studies.

Abstract: Background: There are growing concern globally regarding the alarming trend of fast food consump­tion and its related cardiometabolic outcomes including overweight and obesity. This study aimed to review the current evidences available in relation to adverse effects of fast food pattern on cardiometa­bolic risk factors. Methods: Relevant articles including epidemiological and clinical studies with appropriate design and good quality were obtained through searches of the Medline, PubMed, Scopus databases and Google scholar with related key words including "fast foods", "processed foods", "obesity", "overweight", "insulin resistance", "diabetes", "cardiovascular disease", "metabolic syndrome", "dyslipidemia" and "hypertension". Results: Fast food consumption and out-of-home eating behavior is a main risk factor for lower diet quality, higher calorie and fat intake and lower micronutrients density of diet. Frequent consumption of fast foods was accompanied with overweight and abdominal fat gain, impaired insulin and glucose homeostasis, lipid and lipoprotein disorders, induction of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Higher fast food consumption also increases the risk of developmental diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Conclusion: This review provides further evidence warning us against the irreparable effects of fast food consumption on public health especially the increasing global burden of obesity and cardiovascu­lar diseases.

Apigenin as an anticancer agent

Abstract: Apigenin is an edible plant-derived flavonoid that has been reported as an anticancer agent in several experimental and biological studies. It exhibits cell growth arrest and apoptosis in different types of tumors such as breast, lung, liver, skin, blood, colon, prostate, pancreatic, cervical, oral, and stomach, by modulating several signaling pathways. Apigenin induces apoptosis by the activation of extrinsic caspase-dependent pathway by upregulating the mRNA expressions of caspase-3, caspase-8, and TNF-α. It induces intrinsic apoptosis pathway as evidenced by the induction of cytochrome c, Bax, and caspase-3, while caspase-8, TNF-α, and B-cell lymphoma 2 levels remained unchanged in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Apigenin treatment leads to significant downregulation of matrix metallopeptidases-2, -9, Snail, and Slug, suppressing invasion. The expressions of NF-κB p105/p50, PI3K, Akt, and the phosphorylation of p-Akt decreases after treatment with apigenin. However, apigenin-mediated treatment significantly reduces pluripotency marker Oct3/4 protein expression which might be associated with the downregulation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling.

Health-promoting lifestyle and quality of life among undergraduate students at school of health, Isfahan university of medical sciences.

Abstract: Background: Health promoting lifestyle (HPL) focuses on life promotion through lifestyle which consists of six aspects of physical activity, nutrition, health responsibility, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations and stress management. This lifestyle promotes health and welfare and induces satisfaction, self-persuasion and self-improvement. Considering the importance of the way a new behavior affects life quality as a motivational factor for starting and continuing that behavior, this study aimed to determine the relationship between health-promoting lifestyle and its aspects. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on undergraduate students at School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, using a census method. Health promoting lifestyle was measured by Health Promotion Lifestyle Profile two and life quality was assessed by the Persian version of QLQ-C30 questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and inferential statistical tests in SPSS. Results: Mean age of the participants was 21.12 years old. From among six aspects of health promoting behaviors, spiritual growth and responsibility with the means of 22.01 ± 2.224 and 20 ± 2.31 had the highest and physical activity with the mean of 17.58 ± 2.9 had the lowest scores, respectively. General life quality of 40.7% students was good and only 19.8% of them had an average global life quality. The highest and lowest frequencies of health-related life quality belonged to very good (58.6%) and excellent (9%) health, respectively. Except for stress management (P = 0.05) and gender of the students, there were no significant relationships between other HPL aspects and gender. There was no statistically significant relationship between global life quality of students and nutrition, physical activity, self-health responsibility and stress management while there was a significant relationship between global life quality and spiritual growth of the students. Health-related life quality and stress management were significantly related to each other; however, no statistically significant relationship was observed between health-related life quality and nutrition, physical activity, interpersonal relations and spiritual growth. Conclusion: There is a significant relationship between adopting health promoting lifestyle and aspects of spiritual growth and stress management on the one hand and general quality of life on the other, at least among students.