Tehran University of Medical Sciences

About: Tehran University of Medical Sciences is a education organization based out in Tehran, Iran. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 35661 authors who have published 57234 publications receiving 878523 citations. The organization is also known as: TUMS.

MicroRNAs and exosomes in depression: Potential diagnostic biomarkers.

Abstract: Depression is known as one of important psychiatric disorders which could be associated with disability among various populations. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) and international statistical classification of diseases and related health problems (ICD-10) could be used as subjective diagnostic schemes for identification of mental disorders such as depression. Utilization of subjective diagnostic schemes are associated with limitations. Hence, it seems that employing of new diagnosis platforms is required. Multiple lines of evidence indicated that measurement of several biomarkers could be useful for detection patients with depression. Among of various types of biomarkers, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been emerged as powerful tools for diagnosis patients with depression. MiRNAs are small non-coding RNAs which act as epigenetic regulators. It has been showed that these molecules have critical roles in pathogenesis of many diseases such as depression. These molecules exert their effects via targeting a variety of cellular and molecular pathways involved in initiation and progression of depression. Hence, miRNAs could be used as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in patients with depression. Besides miRNAs, exosomes as nano- carriers could have been emerged as diagnostic biomarkers in several diseases such as depression. These vesicles are able to carry several cargos such as DNAs, proteins, mRNAs, and miRNAs to recipient cells. Here, we summarized several miRNAs involved in pathogenesis and response to treatment of depression which could be used as diagnostic biomarkers. Moreover, we highlighted exosomes as new diagnostic biomarkers for patients with depression.

The Most Important Causes of Death in Iranian Population; a Retrospective Cohort Study.

Abstract: Introduction: Health care providers and health policy managers need updated and valid information regarding causes of death (COD) for development the health care facilities, directing primary prevention, assigning funds, and promoting public health. The major causes of death and its burden have not been yet appropriately identified in Iran. Although several studies had been carried out in this area, most of them were local or performed in the past years and need to be update. Thus, the present study aimed to address the major causes of death and its burden in Iran. Methods: The present cross-sectional study was performed on graduate students and their families from February to March 2014. Through a two-stage random sampling procedure, data on 11315 subjects were obtained. The corresponding age of death, gender, and calendar year of death were inquired. All causes of death were categorized in nine groups including major cardiovascular disease, cancers, motor vehicle accidents, unintentional injuries, intentional injuries, stroke, lower respiratory infections, diabetes, and other reasons. Years of life lost (YLL) and person years of life lost were computed as the burden of diseases. Results: Totally, 11315 (50.4% male) subjects were studied. The results regarding death of relatives revealed that 360 deaths occurred (66.9% male). COD in 95 cases (26.4%) was cardiovascular diseases, 64 (17.8%) motor vehicle accidents, 41 (11.4%) cancers, 23 (6.4%) unintentional injuries, 22 (6.1%) intentional injuries, 10 (2.8%) stroke, 8 (2.2%) lower respiratory infections, 6 (1.8%) diabetes, and 91 (25.3%) other reasons. The average YLL due to all COD was 34.4±18.5. YLL for motor vehicle accidents and injuries (unintentional and intentional) were higher than cardiovascular diseases (p<0.001). In addition, person years of life lost for motor vehicle accidents were 2613.1 years. Cardiovascular diseases (2159.4 years), cancers (1321.0 years), and unintentional injuries (990.4 years) were in the next ranks. Conclusion: Based on the findings, it seems that cardiovascular diseases, motor vehicle accidents, cancers, intentional and unintentional injuries are the major causes of death in Iranian population. Most of years of life lost were due to motor vehicle accidents, cardiovascular diseases and cancers, intentional and unintentional injuries, respec