The Effect of Intradermal Botulinum Toxin a injections on painful diabetic polyneuropathy.

Background And Aims: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) have been recently administered to improve Diabetic neuropathies; however, the efficacy of this treatment for relieving pain in painful diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) has not been studied yet. Herein, we investigated the efficacy of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) on DPN.

Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was performed in Imam Hossein Medical Center, pain clinic (Tehran, Iran).

Comparison of Hemodynamic Stability and Pain Control in Lateral and Prone Positions in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the preferred surgical treatment in many cases of kidney stones which is performed in different positions such as prone, lateral, and supine. This study was designed to evaluate whether patient position (lateral versus . prone) has an effect on the need for analgesia and onset of pain after surgery.

Antigen delivery format variation and formulation stability through use of a hybrid vector.

A hybrid biological-biomaterial antigen delivery vector comprised of a polymeric shell encapsulating an core was previously developed for antigen production and subsequent delivery. Due to the engineering capacity of the bacterial core, the hybrid vector provides unique opportunities for immunogenicity optimization through varying cellular localization (cytoplasm, periplasm, cellular surface) and type (protein or DNA) of antigen. In this work, three protein-based hybrid vector formats were compared in which the pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA) was localized to the cytoplasm, surface, and periplasmic space of the bacterial core for vaccination against pneumococcal disease.

Cancer signaling pathways with a therapeutic approach: An overview in epigenetic regulations of cancer stem cells.

One of the most important issues in cancer progression is caner stem cells (CSCs) which have illustrated that the bulk tumors can arise from a special combination of cells. Remarkably, it has been proposed to be a notable and strong factor in carcinogenesis and tumorogenesis and also is a key parameter of therapeutic resistance. In this way, recent findings have shown the key roles of epigenetic regulations in cancer development.

Anesthesia Management of Vitrectomy in a Patient with Sturge-Weber Syndrome.

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a neurocutaneous disorder, characterized by leptomeningeal angiomas involving the oral cavity, trachea, larynx, and face. Herein, we present a case of vitrectomy in a seven-year-old boy with SWS. The patient showed hemangioma on the left side of his face, as well as mental retardation and epilepsy.

Three-dimensional Printing and Augmented Reality: Enhanced Precision for Robotic Assisted Partial Nephrectomy.

Objective: To describe novel 3-dimensional (3D) printing and augmented reality (AR) methods of image data visualization to facilitate anatomic understanding and to assist with surgical planning and decision-making during robotic partial nephrectomy.

Materials And Methods: We created a video of the workflow for creating 3D printed and AR kidney models along with their application to robotic partial nephrectomy. Key steps in their development are (1) radiology examination (magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography), (2) image segmentation, (3) preparing for 3D printing or AR, and (4) printing the model or deploying the model to the AR device.

Pressing diseases that represent promising targets for gene therapy.

Over time, there has been a growing interest in the application of gene therapy within the healthcare industry as demonstrated by the nearly 3,000 clinical trials associated with gene therapy that are listed in clinicaltrials.gov. However, there are various difficulties associated with gene therapy that have limited the realization of licensed gene therapies to only a handful of treatments.

Comprehensive vaccine design for commensal disease progression.

Commensal organisms with the potential to cause disease pose a challenge in developing treatment options. Using the example featured in this study, pneumococcal disease begins with colonization, followed by triggering events that prompt the release of a virulent subpopulation of bacteria. Current vaccines focus on colonization prevention, which poses unintended consequences of serotype niche replacement.

Brain metastasis in breast cancer: a comprehensive literature review.

This comprehensive review provides information on epidemiology, size, grade, cerebral localization, clinical symptoms, treatments, and factors associated with longer survival in 14,599 patients with brain metastasis from breast cancer; the molecular features of breast cancers most likely to develop brain metastases and the potential use of these predictive molecular alterations for patient management and future therapeutic targets are also addressed. The review covers the data from 106 articles representing this subject in the era of modern neuroimaging (past 35 years). The incidence of brain metastasis from breast cancer (24 % in this review) is increasing due to advances in both imaging technologies leading to earlier detection of the brain metastases and introduction of novel therapies resulting in longer survival from the primary breast cancer.

Causes of visual impairment among patients referred to a visual rehabilitation clinic in Iran.

Purpose: Epidemiologic evaluation and investigating the causes of visual impairment in any society is a matter of concern and has a direct effect on the country's health care planning. In this study we describe causes of low vision and blindness in Iranian patients referred to rehabilitation clinics for taking vision aids.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, visual acuity was classified based on best-corrected visual acuity in the better eye according to the World Health Organization definition (blindness, visual acuity [VA] < 20 / 400; severe visual impairment, VA < 20 / 200-20 / 400; mild to moderate visual impairment, VA < 20 / 60-20 / 200).

Association between acute corneal hydrops in patients with keratoconus and mitral valve prolapse.

Purpose: To investigate the association between corneal hydrops in patients with keratoconus (KCN) and mitral valve prolapse (MVP).

Methods: This case-control study included patients with KCN with corneal hydrops who were referred to Labbafinejad Medical Center or a private clinic between March 2006 and March 2008, as the case group. The control group included group-matched individuals who were selected from patients of the same medical centers without any ophthalmic diseases.