Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences最新文献

{"title":"Insulin Resistance and Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Narrative Review of Molecular Mechanisms.","authors":"Dedi Ardinata, Tengku Ibnu Alferraly, Ariyati Yosi, Muhammad Aron Pase","doi":"10.30476/ijms.2025.106644.4091","DOIUrl":"10.30476/ijms.2025.106644.4091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although the association between diabetes and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is well recognized, the specific role of insulin resistance (IR) as an independent driver of cSCC pathogenesis remains underexplored. This review synthesized emerging evidence on the ultraviolet (UV)-independent molecular mechanisms by which IR promotes cSCC initiation and progression. Hyperinsulinemia activates the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R), which triggers both the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt) pathways, stimulating keratinocyte proliferation and suppressing apoptosis. In parallel, hyperglycemia-driven formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and oxidative stress cause deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage and impair tumor suppressor functions, notably that of tumor protein p53 (TP53). The resulting reactive oxygen species (ROS) activate nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), establishing a chronic inflammatory milieu that remodels the tumor microenvironment through cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and by upregulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). These processes collectively facilitate the malignant transformation of actinic keratosis (AK) to invasive cSCC. The analysis in the present study identified novel therapeutic targets and reaffirmed the importance of further studies on microbiome interactions and lifestyle interventions for IR-associated cSCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":14510,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"51 7","pages":"467-480"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13451531/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148697489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Primary Leiomyosarcoma of the Superior Vena Cava: A Rare Case Report.","authors":"Andrey Ryabov, Stansilav Cygelnikov, Oleg Pikin, Oleg Aleksandrov, Vladimir Bagrov, Aleksandr Gusev, Evgeniy Toneev, Viktoriya Surkova, Aznaur Dotdaev","doi":"10.30476/ijms.2026.109892.4532","DOIUrl":"10.30476/ijms.2026.109892.4532","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Leiomyosarcoma of the superior vena cava (SVC) is an exceptionally rare vascular tumor. Fewer than 20 cases were reported worldwide. Because of the nonspecific nature of the presenting symptoms and their deep mediastinal location, a pre-operative diagnosis is often difficult or impossible. A 63-year-old woman presented with progressive facial and upper-limb edema. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a hyper vascular intraluminal mass originating in the SVC and extending towards the right atrium. Percutaneous biopsy was considered unsafe due to the risk of hemorrhage. Therefore, radical surgical resection of the SVC and brachiocephalic veins with xenopericardial patch reconstruction was performed. Histological and immunohistochemical examination confirmed a grade two leiomyosarcoma. No adjuvant therapy was given. At 8-month follow-up, there was no evidence of recurrence. Primary SVC leiomyosarcoma is a rare and diagnostically challenging condition. Pre-operative biopsy is often not feasible, and radical <i>en bloc</i> resection with vascular reconstruction remains the cornerstone of treatment, offering the best chance of recurrence-free survival. Histopathological confirmation is required to establish the diagnosis, and the role of adjuvant therapy remains uncertain.</p>","PeriodicalId":14510,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"51 7","pages":"523-527"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13451530/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148697491","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating a Medical Toxicology Rotation into a Psychiatry Residency Program in Iran: Addressing an Urgent Educational Gap.","authors":"Seyed Mostafa Mirakbari","doi":"10.30476/ijms.2025.109184.4434","DOIUrl":"10.30476/ijms.2025.109184.4434","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14510,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"51 7","pages":"528-529"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13451473/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148697512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mortality Patterns and Trends in Fars Province, Iran (2015-2024): A Retrospective Analysis of Death Records.","authors":"Owrang Eilami, Ali Sam, Nahid Abolpour, Mehrab Sayadi, Ali Namjoo Moghadam, Ali Mobaien, Zahra Taghados, Alireza Goudarzi, Elham Ahani, Abdolkhalegh Keshavarzi","doi":"10.30476/ijms.2026.109415.4494","DOIUrl":"10.30476/ijms.2026.109415.4494","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Provincial mortality profiles are essential for local prevention and health-service planning. However, they are reported less frequently than national summaries in Iran. We described cause-of-death patterns and temporal changes in Fars Province from 2015 to 2024, including the disruption during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed death registration records from the Fars provincial civil registration system, including age, sex, residence status, place of death, and an underlying cause coded using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), 10^th revision, and mapped to major cause groups. We summarized distributions by key strata and assessed temporal patterns using annual counts and within-registry proportions. Trend tests and multivariable logistic regression evaluated associations of calendar year and pandemic period with major cause groups, while unsupervised clustering summarized mortality profiles among non-neonatal records.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After cleaning, 199,107 records were included. Diseases of the circulatory system accounted for 45.4% of deaths, followed by respiratory diseases, neoplasms, and external causes. All-cause deaths rose sharply in 2020-2021, with concurrent increases in respiratory and infectious causes. Cause composition varied by residence status and place of death, and clustering distinguished younger external-cause deaths from older disease-dominant profiles.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Mortality in Fars Province during 2015-2024 was dominated by circulatory diseases, with heterogeneity by demographic and contextual factors and a major pandemic-era increase in deaths. The findings supported prioritizing cardiovascular risk reduction and timely acute care, targeted injury prevention for younger groups, strengthened rural access to prevention and emergency services, and preparedness for future infectious surges.</p>","PeriodicalId":14510,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"51 7","pages":"492-504"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13451475/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148697537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Types of Percentages in Different Studies and Their Applications in Medical Research.","authors":"Elaheh Sanjari, Hadi Raeisi Shahraki","doi":"10.30476/ijms.2025.109356.4462","DOIUrl":"10.30476/ijms.2025.109356.4462","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14510,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"51 7","pages":"530-532"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13451532/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148697584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Surface-Engineered Selenium Nanoparticles with L-Asparagine and Tartaric Acid: Therapeutic Efficacy Against Breast Cancer and Bacterial Infections.","authors":"Abdolrazagh Marzban, Khadije Salari Nejad, Maryam Zand, Masumeh Jalalvand, Hamed Esmaeil Lashgarian","doi":"10.30476/ijms.2026.108826.4394","DOIUrl":"10.30476/ijms.2026.108826.4394","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs), compared to other forms of selenium, have shown promising antioxidant and anticancer properties with lower toxicity. However, SeNPs precipitate and aggregate in aqueous solutions due to their high surface energy. To overcome this limitation and improve stability, solubility, and enhance biological efficacy, we functionalized them with L-asparagine/tartaric acid (Asn-Tar). This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties of SeNPs conjugated to Asn-Tar on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study was conducted at Lorestan, Iran, in 2023. SeNPs were synthesized using a co-precipitation method and then coated with Asn-Tar. Structural characterization was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, and Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. Antioxidant activity was assessed. For biological evaluation, an <i>in vitro</i> experimental design was employed. Cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and normal fibroblast cells at various pH levels was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay with three independent replicates per concentration (n=3). Antimicrobial activity against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains, was evaluated in triplicate using broth microdilution and well diffusion methods. Quantitative data are presented as mean±SD. Statistical significance was determined using Student's <i>t</i> test and one-way ANOVA, with P<0.05 considered significant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The synthesized Asn-Tar/SeNPs nanocomposite exhibited a spherical morphology with an average size of 460.8 nm, a negative zeta potential (-9.37±0.44 mV), and successful coating was confirmed by FTIR and XRD. The nanocomposite demonstrated dose-dependent antioxidant activity, with an IC₅₀ of 22.73±1.55 µg/mL in the DPPH assay. It exhibited potent and selective cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells (IC₅₀=3.47±0.28 µg/mL) compared to normal fibroblast cells (IC₅₀=5.91±0.34 µg/mL; P=0.0051). The nanocomposite retained approximately 50% of its cytotoxic activity at acidic pH (4.5). Furthermore, it showed strong antimicrobial activity, with inhibition zones up to 36.9±1.2 mm against <i>Staphylococcus saprophyticus</i> and MIC values as low as 0.035 mg/mL against <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The produced Asn-Tar/SeNPs nanocomposite exhibited potent antimicrobial, selective cytotoxicity, and antioxidant properties. Our findings confirm the potential of these Asn-Tar/SeNPs nanocomposites for targeted therapy of breast cancer.</p>","PeriodicalId":14510,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"51 6","pages":"403-416"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13309735/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of Lymph Node Invasion and Associated Risk Factors in Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.","authors":"Seyedali Momeni, Mohsen Ayati, Erfan Amini, Seyed Hassan Inanloo, Mohammad Hamidi Madani, Ehsan Hajiasadi, Farzeen Ghaderpanah, Mohammad Reza Nowroozi","doi":"10.30476/ijms.2026.108036.4273","DOIUrl":"10.30476/ijms.2026.108036.4273","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the most common malignancies among men worldwide, with lymph node invasion (LNI) serving as a critical prognostic factor influencing treatment decisions and outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of LNI and investigate associated risk factors in a cohort of intermediate-risk PCa patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cross-sectional study included intermediate-risk PCa patients treated at Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 2019 to 2024, who underwent radical prostatectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND). Data were extracted from hospital clinical documents and compared between patients with and without LNI. The primary outcome was the prevalence of LNI, while the secondary outcome aimed to identify associated demographic, clinical, and pathological risk factors. Statistical tests such as univariate logistic regression and ROC curve analysis were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This study found a 12.10% prevalence of LNI. Univariate analysis revealed significant associations between LNI and advanced clinical stage, higher Gleason score, greater core involvement, and elevated total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (OR=1.33), with all P<0.05. In multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for confounders, only PSA remained an independent predictor. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis confirmed PSA's moderate diagnostic accuracy for LNI (area under the curve [AUC]=0.685, P<0.001), with an optimal cut-off of 16.52 ng/mL, 65% sensitivity, and 68% specificity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results indicated that only total PSA remained an independent predictor. This finding highlighted total PSA as a key biomarker for assessing LNI risk in intermediate-risk PCa patients. Additionally, total PSA demonstrated moderate diagnostic accuracy in predicting LNI, supporting its clinical utility in risk stratification and decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":14510,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"51 6","pages":"417-425"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13309732/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex Differences in the Effects of L-Menthol on Nociception in the Hot Plate Test and Acetic Acid Writhing Test in BALB/c Mice.","authors":"Maryam Ahmadnasr, Batool-Faegheh Baha'addiny Baigy Zarandi, Mohammad Reza Panjehshahin, Azar Purkhosrow, Shayan Bahadoori","doi":"10.30476/ijms.2026.108853.4397","DOIUrl":"10.30476/ijms.2026.108853.4397","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sex differences can influence the effects of opioid and non-opioid analgesics. This study evaluated the antinociceptive effects of L-menthol in male and female mice.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This experimental study was conducted in 2024 at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (Shiraz, Iran). Forty-two BALB/c mice (21 males, 21 females) were randomLy allocated into three groups of seven mice receiving intraperitoneal injection of vehicle 2 mL/Kg, L-menthol 2.5 mg/Kg, and L-menthol 5 mg/Kg. Chemical and thermal nociception were assessed using the acetic acid-induced writhing and the hot plate tests (55 ℃, with a cut-off point of 30 seconds). The number of abdominal writhing counted for 20 min, and the percent of maximum possible effect (%MPE) calculated from the hot plate test response were used as acute pain indexes, respectively. Possible side effects and motor coordination were assessed using video behavior recording and the rotarod test, respectively. Data were analyzed by ANOVA, Tukey's <i>post hoc</i> test, McNamar's, and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>L-menthol 2.5 (P<0.001) and 5 mg/Kg (P<0.001) showed significant antinociceptive effects in both male and female mice in the acetic acid and hot plate tests compared to the control groups. L-menthol 5 mg/Kg in the hot plate (P=0.027) and L-menthol 2.5 and 5 mg/Kg in the acetic acid (P<0.001) tests produced higher antinociceptive effects in males than in females. No significant differences were observed in the rotarod performance and other behavioral tests across groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>L-menthol produced sex dependent antinociceptive effects in mice, highlighting the importance of considering biological sex in clinical pain research.</p>","PeriodicalId":14510,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"51 6","pages":"437-444"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13309733/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345279","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Testicular Torsion: Time to Care and Ethnicity.","authors":"Rodrigo Maselli Thomé Garcia, Gloria Mas Tedrus, Vania Aparecida Leandro-Merhi, Rogerio Barros, José Luís Braga de Aquino","doi":"10.30476/ijms.2025.107251.4168","DOIUrl":"10.30476/ijms.2025.107251.4168","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14510,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"51 6","pages":"464-466"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13309736/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Practical and Implementation Challenges of Three Important Psychometric Indices.","authors":"Farzan Madadizadeh, Sajjad Bahariniya","doi":"10.30476/ijms.2025.107691.4222","DOIUrl":"10.30476/ijms.2025.107691.4222","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":14510,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences","volume":"51 6","pages":"460-463"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13309729/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148345277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}