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.

Therapeutic approaches for corneal neovascularization

Abstract: Angiogenesis refers to new blood vessels that originate from pre-existing vascular structures. Corneal neovascularization which can lead to compromised visual acuity occurs in a wide variety of corneal pathologies. A large subset of measures has been advocated to prevent and/or treat corneal neovascularization with varying degrees of success. These approaches include topical corticosteroid administration, laser treatment, cautery, and fine needle diathermy. Since the imbalance between proangiogenic agents and antiangiogenic agents primarily mediate the process of corneal neovascularization, recent therapies are intended to disrupt the different steps in the synthesis and actions of proangiogenic factors. These approaches, however, are only partially effective and may lead to several side effects. The aim of this article is to review the most relevant treatments for corneal neovascularization available so far.

Comparison of the effects of cows' milk, fortified soy milk, and calcium supplement on weight and fat loss in premenopausal overweight and obese women

Abstract: Background and aims Recent studies suggest that calcium metabolism and perhaps other components of dairy products may contribute to shifting the energy balance and thus play a role in weight regulation. We compared the effects of cows' milk, calcium fortified soy milk and calcium supplement on weight and body fat reduction in premenopausal overweight and obese women. Methods and Results In this clinical trial, 100 healthy overweight or obese premenopausal women were randomized to one of the following dietary regimens for 8 weeks: (1) a control diet providing a 500 kcal/day deficit, with 500–600 mg/day dietary calcium; (2) a calcium-supplemented diet identical to the control diet with 800 mg/day of calcium as calcium carbonate; (3) a milk diet providing a 500 kcal/day deficit and containing three servings of low-fat milk; (4) a soy milk diet providing a 500 kcal/day deficit and containing three servings of calcium fortified soy milk. At baseline and after 8 weeks, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were measured. Three 24-h dietary records and physical activity records were also taken. Comparing the mean differences in weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) using repeated measure of variance analysis showed that changes in waist circumference and WHR were significant among the four groups (p = 0.029 and p = 0.015, respectively). After adjustment for baseline values, changes in weight and BMI were also significant (p = 0.017 and p = 0.019, respectively). Weight reductions in high milk, soy milk, calcium supplement and control groups were 4.43 ± 1.93 (kg), 3.46 ± 1.28 (kg), 3.89 ± 2.40 (kg) and 2.87 ± 1.55 (kg), respectively. The greatest changes were seen in the high dairy group in all variables. Conclusion Increasing low fat milk consumption significantly reduces the general and central obesity beyond a low calorie diet.

Revisiting blood transfusion preparedness: experience from the Bam earthquake response.

Abstract: Blood transfusion plays a critical role in the provision of medical care for disasters due to man-made and natural hazards. Although the short-term increase in blood donations following national disasters is well-documented, some aspects of blood transfusion during disasters remain under study. The 2003 earthquake in Bam, Iran resulted in the death of >29,000 people and injured 23,000. In total, 108,985 blood units were donated, but only 21,347 units (23%) actually were distributed to hospitals around the country. Kerman Province, the site of the disaster, received 1,231 (1.3%) of the donated units in the first four days after the disaster. The Bam experience revealed crucial missteps in the development of a post-event strategy for blood product management, and led to the development of a detailed disaster preparedness and response plan that addresses issues of donation, distribution, communication, transportation, and coordination. The current plan requires the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization to convene a disaster task force immediately as the main coordinator of all disaster preparedness and response activities.

Determination of the social related factors of suicide in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract: Suicide, a social phenomenon, is a major health problem in most countries. Yet data relating to the role social factors play in the development of this condition are lacking, with some factors shrouded in greater ambiguity than others. As such, this review aimed to determine the prevalence of social-related factors resulting in suicide and to present these findings through meta-analyses, allowing for causes of heterogeneity to be examined. Scientific databases including PubMed and Science direct were searched using sensitive keywords. Two researchers reviewed the eligibility of studies and extracted data. Meta-regression with the Mantel-Haenszel method was conducted using a random effect model, in addition to subgroup analysis and Egger’s test. A total of 2,526 articles were retrieved through the initial search strategy, producing 20 studies from 16 provinces for analysis. The most frequent cause of attempted suicide among the 20 analyzed articles was family conflict with 32% (95% CI: 26–38). Other related factors included marital problems (26%; 95% CI: 20–33), economic constrains (12%; 95% CI: 8–15) and educational failures (5%; 95% CI: 3–8). Results of meta-regression analysis found that sample size significantly affects heterogeneity for the factor ‘family conflict’. Social factors such as family conflicts and marital problems have a noticeable role in Iranian suicidology.

Antineoplastic Biogenic Silver Nanomaterials to Combat Cervical Cancer: A Novel Approach in Cancer Therapeutics

Abstract: Nanomedicine is a rapidly growing and promising field to combat cancer. This study was aimed to systematically review the original published articles to evaluate the efficacy of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against cervical cancer cells through in vitro investigations. The articles were selected through the online databases, including Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest, and Web of Science for the articles published up to 31 August 2019. Sixty-five articles were found eligible to enter into our study. Our finding revealed that a vast 92.3% of articles stated the significant cytotoxicity of biogenic AgNPs against cervical cancer cells, while 7.7% of articles represented no cytotoxicity against cervical cancer cells. The proposed molecular mechanisms of anticancer activity of biogenic AgNPs against cervical cancer cells included the release of silver cations from AgNPs in the cell culture medium, generation of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), induction of apoptosis pathways, and DNA damage. This study provided significant preliminary evidence from the anticancer potential of biogenic AgNPs against cervical cancer cells. Future molecular studies will elucidate the exact molecular mechanisms of biogenic AgNPs-induced cytotoxicity in cervical cancer cells.