Publications by authors named "Mohammad J Ashraf"

Mustard gas keratopathy (MGK), a complication of exposure to sulfur mustard, is a blinding ocular surface disease involving key cellular pathways, including apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Recent studies indicate that cellular senescence contributes to the pathophysiology of mustard gas toxicity. This study aimed to assess senescence and stress-related pathways-particularly mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling-in nitrogen mustard (NM)-induced corneal injury.

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Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are considered a valuable option to treat ocular surface disorders such as mustard keratopathy (MK). MK often leads to vision impairment due to corneal opacification and neovascularization and cellular senescence seems to have a role in its pathophysiology. Herein, we utilized intrastromal MSC injections to treat MK.

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Purpose: Different approaches to delivery of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) for ameliorating corneal injuries have been investigated. This study was aimed to compare the efficacy of intrastromal and subconjunctival injection of human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hBM-MSCs) in a corneal epithelial injury model.

Methods: Twenty-four C57BL/6J mice underwent total corneal and limbal epithelial debridement.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study investigated the presence of human parvovirus B19 (B19V) in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) among Iranian patients, finding B19V DNA in 36.1% of the examined tumors.
  • * The research involved analyzing HNSCC specimens using advanced techniques and also included control samples from healthy individuals, revealing a significant difference in B19V positivity between patients and controls.
  • * Results suggested a strong association between B19V presence in tumor tissues and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, emphasizing the need for further research to understand B19V's role in HNSCC development.*
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Mustard agents are vesicants that were used in warfare multiple times. They are potent alkylating agents that activate cellular pathways of apoptosis, increase oxidative stress, and induce inflammation. Eyes are particularly susceptible to mustard exposure with a wide range of ocular surface damage.

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Introduction: There have been some reports of the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and mucormycosis. This study aims to compare the hospitalization rates and clinical characteristics of mucormycosis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology: In this retrospective study, we compared the hospitalization rate of mucormycosis patients in Namazi hospital in Southern Iran for two periods of 40 months.

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Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as promising candidates for developing novel therapeutics for a wide range of pathologies, including ocular disorders, due to their ability to deliver a diverse array of bioactive molecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, to recipient cells. Recent studies have shown that EVs derived from various cell types, including mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), retinal pigment epithelium cells, and endothelial cells, have therapeutic potential in ocular disorders, such as corneal injury and diabetic retinopathy. EVs exert their effects through various mechanisms, including promoting cell survival, reducing inflammation, and inducing tissue regeneration.

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Primary malignant lymphoma of the salivary glands is a very rare entity, and primary parotid Hodgkin's Lymphoma (HL) is even rarer. It is rare in the initial evaluation to suspect a parotid tumor. Thus, it is important to keep lymphomatous involvement in mind when facing parotid masses in differential diagnosis.

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Purpose: Mustard gas (MG) is a potent blistering and alkylating agent that has been used for military and terrorism purposes. Ocular surface injuries are common after exposure to MG. This review provides an update on the pathophysiology, ocular surface complications, and treatment options for MG-related ocular injuries.

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Background: A crucial role for the immune system has been proposed in the establishment and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In this study, we investigated the cytokine and regulatory profiles of T cells in tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) of patients with HNSCC.

Results: The frequencies of CD4TNF-α and CD4TNF-α negatively were associated with poor prognostic factors such as LN involvement (P = 0.

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Background: Fungal species are responsible for 40%-50% of all microbial keratitis cases. Due to the low amount of extracted DNA in ocular Formalin-fixed Paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, selecting a reliable molecular method is a substantial issue in this field.

Methods: Sixty-six samples were collected via the penetrating keratoplasty (PK) technique.

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Objective: The prognostic importance of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) in the tumor microenvironment of various cancers is increasingly recognized. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD45RO + TILs and their relation to histopathological features in larynx squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: Formalin-Fixed and Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) samples from 63 primary larynx squamous cell carcinoma patients were immunostained for CD3, CD4, CD8, and CD45RO expression.

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Objective: Salivary gland tumors (SGTs) show some aggressive and peculiar clinicopathological behaviors that might be related to the components of the tumor microenvironment, especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-associated proteins. However, the role of MSCs-related proteins in SGTs tumorigenesis is poorly understood. This study aimed to isolate and characterize MSCs from malignant and benign tumor tissues and to identify differentially expressed proteins between these two types of MSCs.

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Background: Fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) encompasses a various spectrum of diseases. Histopathology is the "reference method" for diagnosing FRS, but it cannot determine the genus and species. Moreover, in more than 50% of the histopathologically proven cases, the culture elicited no reliable results.

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Background: Mucormycosis is a rare and invasive fungal infection, affecting almost exclusively immunocompromised individuals. Immunosuppressive effects of corticosteroids which are widely prescribed in COVID-19 patients might be a predisposing factor for opportunistic infections even though the other factors should also be considered. .

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to find SARS-CoV-2 RNA in eye samples of patients who died from severe COVID-19.
  • Samples were collected from the conjunctiva, aqueous humor, and vitreous humor of deceased patients and tested using RT-PCR.
  • The results showed detectable viral RNA in 3.4% of samples, with positive findings in 1 conjunctival and 2 vitreous humor samples, indicating the potential for ocular involvement in severe COVID-19 cases.
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Purpose: Corneal regrafts sometimes needed to restore the transparency after graft failure. The aim of the study is five years epidemiologic and histopathological evaluation of corneal regrafts.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all corneal regrafts during 5 years (2012-2016) were assessed in the Khalili Ophthalmology Center at Shiraz city.

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High-risk human papillomaviruses (hr-HPVs) are the key risk factors implicated in the development of a significant proportion of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). We aimed to investigate the distribution of hr-HPV types and HPV16 lineages in a sample of patients with HNSCC and the possible association between HPV status and the expression of P16INK4A and NF-κB in Iranian HNSCC patients. We examined 108 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) histologically confirmed primary SCC tissue specimens of different head and neck anatomical sites.

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Background: Orbital mucormycosis is a rare but potentially severe and troublesome invasive fungal infection that could be occurred even in healthy individuals. The initial clinical presentation is similar to bacterial pre-septal or septal cellulitis, especially in early stages.

Case Presentation: Herein, we describe the successful management of a series of five cases presenting with orbital mucormycosis in previously healthy children.

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Purpose: To determine the association between conjunctival epithelial dysplasia (squamous intraepithelial neoplasia) and its melanosis (microscopic non-proliferative melanin pigmentation) in conjunctival biopsies.

Methods: In this retrospective case series, histopathological slides from all conjunctival biopsies obtained in Khalil Hospital affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences for a period of 6 years (April 2009-July 2015) were reviewed. After considering the exclusion criteria (non-melanotic pigmentation, melanocytic proliferations, and squamous cell carcinoma), conjunctival biopsies were divided histopathologically into two groups of dysplastic and non-dysplastic.

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Statement Of The Problem: Paxillin is a major cytoskeletal protein aberrantly deregulated in various human cancers and involved in tumor growth and invasion. However, the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of paxillin in salivary gland tumors (SGTs) is still unclear.

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between paxillin expression and clinicopathological features of patients with SGTs.

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Research on the role of B cells in the development and modulation of antitumor immunity has increased in recent years; however, knowledge about B cell phenotype and function in tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) is still incomplete. This study aimed to investigate changes in the phenotypic profile of B cells in TDLNs of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) during disease progression. Mononuclear cells were isolated from TDLNs and stained with antibodies for CD19 and other B cell-related markers and analyzed by flow cytometry.

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Introduction: Glypican-3 (GPC3) is involved in regulation of cell proliferation and morphogenesis. It is abundant in embryonic tissue, but limited in most adult tissues. GPC3 deletion or mutation can disturb the balance between cell apoptosis and proliferation, which may result in tumorigenesis.

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Purpose: To report a case of prolonged conjunctivitis as the manifestation of Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).

Methods: A 37-year-old man presented with prolonged conjunctivitis which had persisted for one month. He was taking medication for his conjunctivitis without any response.

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Background: CDK6 is the key factor in regulation of the cell cycle and essential for passage into the G1 phase. It also plays an important role in the development of various tumors. In this cross-sectional study expression of the CDK6 protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and healthy oral mucosa of controls was assessed to determine relations with malignant transformation and clinicopathologic factors.

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