Role of CRISPR-Cas systems and anti-CRISPR proteins in bacterial antibiotic resistance.

The emergence and development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is a serious threat to global public health. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are often located on mobile genetic elements (MGEs). They can be transferred among bacteria by horizontal gene transfer (HGT), leading to the spread of drug-resistant strains and antibiotic treatment failure.

The association between anthropometric indices and ischemic heart disease: a large-scale cross-sectional study on the Iranian population.

This study aimed to evaluate the superiority of anthropometric indices compared to others for predicting ischemic heart disease (IHD) or cardiometabolic risk factors. This study was a cross-sectional analysis of the Pars Cohort Study data. In total, 9229 Valashahr inhabitants aged 40-75 were included in the analysis.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease among an Iranian Adult Population with Ethnic and Genetic Diversity: Results of the PolyIran-Liver Study.

Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a rising global public health concern. It has been demonstrated that its prevalence and characteristics vary by region and racial/ethnicity. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of MAFLD and its characteristics among Turkmen and non-Turkmen ethnic groups in a multiethnic population region of Iran.

One-carbon metabolism biomarkers and upper gastrointestinal cancer in the Golestan Cohort Study.

Incidence of esophageal and gastric cancer has been linked to low B-vitamin status. We conducted matched nested case-control studies of incident esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC; 340 case-control pairs) and gastric cancer (GC; 352 case-control pairs) within the Golestan Cohort Study. The primary exposure was plasma biomarkers: riboflavin and flavin mononucleotide (FMN) (vitamin B2), pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) (B6), cobalamin (B12), para-aminobenzoylglutamate (pABG) (folate), and total homocysteine (tHcy); and indicators for deficiency: 3-hydroxykyurenine-ratio (HK-r for vitamin B6) and methylmalonic acid (MMA for B12).

Prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Iran: A cross-sectional analysis from the PERSIAN cohort.

Background: This study assessed the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in a general adult population in Iran. The association between GERD and various factors was also evaluated.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on 163,018 individuals aged over 35 who were enrolled in the PERSIAN cohort.

Safety of Endoscopy in Cirrhosis.

Background: Endoscopic procedures are among the most commonly performed medical procedures and the serious adverse event rate is reported to be 1-3 adverse events per 1000 procedures.

Aims: Here, we have examined the safety of endoscopy specifically in cirrhotic populations.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective case (cirrhosis)-control (non-cirrhosis) study of the outcomes of patients undergoing endoscopy in a large academic medical center.

The interplay between microRNAs and Nrf2 signaling in human cancers.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), as a class of nonprotein-coding RNAs, post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of target genes by base pairing to 3'-untranslated regions (3'-UTRs). Nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) has been identified as a critical component of the antioxidant defense mechanism. Dysregulation is associated with chemoresistance and radioresistance in cancerous cells.

Interaction of the tumor suppressor SMAD4 and WNT signaling in progression to oral squamous cell carcinoma.

SMAD4 is a tumor suppressor mutated or silenced in multiple cancers, including oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Human clinical samples and cell lines, mouse models and organoid culture were used to investigate the role that SMAD4 plays in progression from benign disease to invasive OSCC. Human OSCC lost detectable SMAD4 protein within tumor epithelium in 24% of cases, and this loss correlated with worse progression-free survival independent of other major clinical and pathological features.

AGA Clinical Practice Update on Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia: Expert Review.

Description: In this Clinical Practice Update (CPU), we will Best Practice Advice (BPA) guidance on the appropriate management of iron deficiency anemia.

Methods: This expert review was commissioned and approved by the AGA Institute Clinical Practice Updates Committee (CPUC) and the AGA Governing Board to provide timely guidance on a topic of high clinical importance to the AGA membership, and underwent internal peer review by the CPUC and external peer review through standard procedures of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. These Best Practice Advice (BPA) statements were drawn from a review of the published literature and from expert opinion.

The Effect of I Therapy on the Eradication of in Patients with Thyroid Disorders: A Preliminary Study.

The leading cause of gastritis and its complications is Radioactive iodine (I) accumulates significantly in the stomach after consumption. On this basis, we decided to determine whether different doses of I in the stomach would be effective in eradicating the infection. All patients with hyperthyroidism or differentiated thyroid carcinoma who were referred for I treatment were invited to the study.

Prevalence of the CRISPR-cas system and its association with antibiotic resistance in clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates.

Background And Objective(s): CRISPR-Cas is a prokaryotic adaptive immune system that protects bacteria and archaea against mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as bacteriophages plasmids, and transposons. In this study, we aimed to assess the prevalence of the CRISPR-Cas systems and their association with antibiotic resistance in one of the most challenging bacterial pathogens, Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Materials And Methods: A total of 105 K.

Overt gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cancer: Clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) between cancer patients (CP) and non-cancer patients (NCP).

Methods: This was a prospective study of patients admitted with overt GIB between 2013 and 2021. GIB etiology, management and outcomes including rebleeding and mortality, were compared between CP and NCP, and among patients with different types of cancer.

Impact of blood transfusion on mortality and rebleeding in gastrointestinal bleeding: an 8-year cohort from a tertiary care center.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of blood transfusion (BT) on mortality and rebleeding in patients with gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and whether BT at a threshold of ≤7 g/dL may improve these outcomes.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted in patients admitted with GIB between 2013 and 2021. Antithrombotic (AT) use and clinical outcomes were compared between transfused and non-transfused patients, and between those transfused at a threshold of ≤7 vs.

Is it time to reduce the length of postgraduate training for physician-scientists in internal medicine?

Physician-scientists play a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge and patient care, yet the long periods of time required to complete training may impede expansion of this workforce. We examined the relationship between postgraduate training and time to receipt of NIH or Veterans Affairs career development awards (CDAs) for physician-scientists in internal medicine. Data from NIH RePORTER were analyzed for internal medicine residency graduates who received specific CDAs (K08, K23, K99, or IK2) in 2022.

Cytomegalovirus Infection in Adult Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Literature Review.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is classified within the order and is prevalent in 50%‒80% of the general population. Most carriers experience this infection without noticeable clinical symptoms. HCMV causes a lifelong latent infection that can be reactivated due to immune disorders and inflammation.

Clinical Phenotype and Disease Course of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Iran: Results of the Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC).

Background: Data on the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the Middle East are scarce. We aimed to describe the clinical phenotype, disease course, and medication usage of IBD cases from Iran in the Middle East.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of registered IBD patients in the Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC) from 2017 until 2022.

Antioxidative and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Plant-derived Hypoglycemic Medicines: An Systematic Review.

Background: The activation of oxidative stress and inflammatory conditions has been associated with acceleration in diabetes (DM) onset and complications. Despite various anti-DM medications, there is a growing trend to discover inexpensive and effective treatments with low adverse effects from plants as one of the promising sources for drug development.

Objective: This study aimed to systematically investigate the simultaneous anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of plant-derived hypoglycemic medicines in diabetic experimental models.

Combination of IFN-gamma with STING agonist and PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade: a potential immunotherapy for gastric cancer.

Suppression of the cGAS-STING pathway is an immune escape mechanism in cancer cells. The critical role of this pathway in gastric cancer (GC) is not fully understood. Herein, we evaluated the effect of the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), STING agonist, PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade, and their combination on the cGAS-STING pathway in GC.