Background and Aim: Several methods exist for assessing parasite load in leishmaniosis. However, limiting dilution assay (LDA) is one of the most reliable tests for quantifying parasite burden in experimental models. Many software programs are available for analyzing LDA results; however, they offer different outputs, which might not be suitable for reporting parasite burden. ELIDA is considered a primary tool for this purpose; nevertheless, this software is inaccessible. Thus, it is essential to identify new software to substitute for this program. Our main objective for this study is to compare the performance of two software platforms, ELIDA and SLDAssay, in assessing parasite burden in the murine leishmaniasis model and determine whether these tools can be used interchangeably. Methods: In this study, we utilized a dataset derived from our previous research to evaluate the performance of the SLDAssay software. Data analysis focused on comparing correlations and trends between the ELIDA and SLDAssay software programs across various treatment groups. Results: A robust positive correlation was found between ELIDA and SLDAssay measurements (R² = 0.9367, P < 0.0001). Both software platforms exhibited comparable patterns of infection load across all treatment groups and individual mice, effectively differentiating between therapeutic and control groups. Conclusion: The results indicate that ELIDA and SLDAssay produce comparable and dependable measurements of Leishmania Major infection burdens in murine models. These methodologies can be utilized interchangeably in research on leishmaniasis, providing flexibility in data analysis while maintaining their reliability.

Background and Aim: The association between blood groups and susceptibility to certain infectious diseases has been previously explored. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between ABO and Rh blood groups and the severity, complications, and mortality of COVID-19.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted in 2021, 632 patients aged over 18 years hospitalized with confirmed COVID-19 (positive PCR) at Masih Daneshvari Hospital were enrolled. After obtaining consent, their ABO and Rh blood groups were determined. Disease severity was classified as moderate, severe, or critical based on the lowest recorded oxygen saturation in room air. Data on the highest disease severity during hospitalization, acute renal failure, ICU admission, and mortality were collected without interfering with treatment.

Results: His most prevalent blood type was A+ (192 patients, 30.4%), while the least common was AB- (4 patients, 0.6%). Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between the A- blood group and disease severity. Specifically, 46.2% of A- patients required ICU admission, compared to 27.9% of patients with other blood groups (P-value= 0.044; OR=2.216, 95% CI: 1.005-4.890). Furthermore, the incidence of acute renal failure was significantly higher in A+ patients (19.8%) compared to others (13.6%) (P-value=0.049; OR=1.56, 95% CI: 0.999-2.455).

Conclusion: The A- blood group was associated with increased COVID-19 severity, indicated by a higher rate of ICU admission. The A+ blood group was linked to a greater incidence of acute renal failure. However, no significant relationship was found between any ABO or Rh blood group and mortality.

Background and Aim: Different approaches have been investigated to reduce pain after cesarean section. Among these measures is the use of non- pharmacological methods. Since the results of previous studies on the effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) on reducing pain after cesarean section are of low certainty, this study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of TENS on pain intensity and consumption of analgesics after cesarean section.

Methods: In this clinical trial that was conducted in 2023 and 2024, for 40 women who underwent cesarean section under spinal anesthesia, pethidine and diclofenac or pethidine and diclofenac and TENS was administered with a frequency of 80 Hz and an intensity between 0 and 80 mA. The number of prescribed analgesics and pain intensity and patient satisfaction were investigated. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16 statistical software and independent student t test, Mann- Whitney, Chi- squared and Repeated measures ANOVA statistical tests. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The data showed that the two groups had a significant difference only in the pain score in the second hour and the patients' satisfaction with the analgesia process, and the pain intensity in the other hours and the number of analgesics consumed in the two groups did not differ significantly.

Conclusion: The use of TENS after cesarean section reduces the pain in the second hour after the surgery, but it does not reduce the pain in the following hours and the use of analgesics after the cesarean section.

Background and Aim: Intrauterine adhesion (IUA), or Asherman’s syndrome, is a significant gynecological disorder characterized by fibrous scar tissue formation within the uterine cavity. It commonly results from endometrial trauma following surgical procedures or infection and is a major cause of menstrual abnormalities, including hypomenorrhea or amenorrhea, as well as infertility. Progress in developing effective therapies has been limited by the lack of
well- characterized preclinical models that adequately assess both structural damage and fertility outcomes. This study aimed to establish and characterize a reproducible mouse model of IUA that recapitulates both the pathological and functional features of the human disease.

Methods: Female NMRI mice underwent mechanical endometrial injury via uterine scraping. A balanced anesthetic protocol consisting of ketamine/ xylazine induction followed by isoflurane maintenance was used to ensure stable, long-duration anesthesia with minimal distress. Histological, molecular, and fertility assessments were performed to evaluate endometrial damage and reproductive function.

Results: Histopathological analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in endometrial thickness (p = 0.008) and gland number (p = 0.024), accompanied by extensive fibrosis
(p = 0.016), as evidenced by H&E and Masson’s trichrome staining. Molecular analyses revealed marked upregulation of type I collagen (Col-1) (p = 0.048) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) (p = 0.033), confirming a fibrotic phenotype. Functionally, fertility was severely impaired, as indicated by a substantial decrease in the number of implanted fetuses
(p = 0.011) and the live birth rate (p = 0.004) in the IUA group compared with controls.

Conclusion: This murine model reproduces the structural, molecular, and functional abnormalities associated with IUA and provides a robust platform for investigating endometrial fibrosis and evaluating novel therapeutic strategies.

Background and Aim: Diagnosis and management of acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
require a thorough and rapid evaluation of the patient's history, particularly chest pain, as it is
the most prevalent symptom. Therefore, evaluating the characteristics and description of chest
pain in patients with AMI is of utmost importance. This study focused on identifying unique
and specific features of chest pain in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction
(STEMI).
Methods: This prospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted between July
2021 and November 2022. Patients of both genders, over 20 years of age, who experienced
STEMI consecutively, were included in the study.
Results: There were 193 STEMI patients, 170 (88.1%) male and 23 female. Chest pain was
reported as the initial symptom in 175 (90.7%) patients, which was the main reason for
seeking emergency medical care. Chest pain was mostly described as pressure and weighting,
and 51.3% of patients reported pain radiation to the left hand. Chest pain was the worst pain
experience for 116 (60.4%) patients. Sweating was the most common accompanying
symptom, and neck radiation was significantly higher in women than men. There were no
significant differences in anterior vs. inferior STEMI patients regarding age, pain description,
symptom onset, radiation of pain, accompanying symptoms, and pain duration.
Conclusion: Patients experiencing STEMI typically present with chest pain as their initial
symptom and mainly as a pressure-like feeling.

Background and Aim: Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and Long COVID is a syndrome of persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. These two conditions may share common inflammatory pathways. This study aimed to compare systemic inflammatory indices between patients with endometriosis with long COVID and healthy individuals.

Methods: A cross- sectional study involving 40 participants, including 20 patients with laparoscopically confirmed endometriosis and 20 healthy individuals as a control group, was conducted. Each group was further divided into subgroups based on Long COVID, confirmed through RT-PCR and a questionnaire, resulting in four groups: a healthy control group without Long COVID (n = 10), a healthy control group with Long COVID (n = 10), an endometriosis group without Long COVID (n = 10), and an endometriosis group with Long COVID (n = 10). The immune system inflammation index (SII), neutrophil- to- lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet- to- lymphocyte ratio (PLR), immune system inflammation amount (PIV), and systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI) were calculated from blood samples. Non- parametric tests were used for the statistical analysis.

Results: The immune system inflammation index (SII) was significantly higher in patients with endometriosis and Long COVID than in patients without Long COVID (995.25 vs. 612.48; p = 0.0193). Similarly, the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) was significantly higher in the Long COVID endometriosis group than in the endometriosis- only group (168.65 vs. 99.24; p = 0.0471). Although not statistically significant, a consistent upward trend was observed in the NLR, PIV, and SIRI levels in the Long COVID endometriosis group. No significant increases in these indices were observed in healthy individuals with Long COVID.

Conclusion: Long COVID is significantly associated with increased SII and PLR in patients with endometriosis, highlighting the unique vulnerability of patients with endometriosis to pre- inflammatory complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Readily available inflammatory indices, such as the SII, can serve as useful biomarkers for monitoring the inflammatory burden in this patient population.

Background and Aim: COVID-19 is a pandemic disease that causes high rate of mortality and morbidity around the world. Except conducting many studies during this period, there is no definite treatment for COVID-19. Interferon is one of the controversial drugs for the treatment of COVID-19. In this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of interferon in the treatment of COVID-19.

Methods: In this double blind randomized clinical trial, 30 patients were treated with beta interferon in addition to the medical regimen of COVID-19 (hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day and Kaletra 400 mg) as intervention group and 30 patients were treated only with hydroxychloroquine 200 mg twice a day and Kaletra 400 mg as control group. Demographic, historical, clinical and outcome of patients were compared between the two groups.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between age, sex, smoking, past medical history, clinical manifestations, laboratory data and CT scan manifestations of patients between the two groups (P-values > 0.05). Interferon had a positive effect on prolonged QT in ECG. Patients who received interferon had shorter ICU admission time, lower mortality rate, and higher discharge rate (P-values < 0.05).

Conclusion: Interferon is an effective treatment in patients who are admitted to hospital due to COVID-19.

Background and Aim: To quantitatively examine the association between the negative outcome of infertility treatment and psychological disorders in infertile women and to determine any difference in their post- treatment mental health compared to those who had a successful cycle.

Methods: This study included sixty- one infertile women who underwent infertility treatment between December 2022 and July 2023. Their mental health status was assessed with three self- reported measurement tools before the treatment and again after identifying the pregnancy test result.

Results: Women who had a positive test result were recruited into the successful group
(n= 13), and those with a negative test were included in the unsuccessful group (n= 48). Women who had an unsuccessful treatment showed a significant increase in their levels of depression, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, and grief (P-value < 0.001). In comparison between women with successful and unsuccessful treatment, infertile women in the unsuccessful group showed higher levels of depression, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, and grief after the treatment (P-value < 0.001).

Conclusion: An unsuccessful treatment may potentially increase infertile women's psychological disorders. This suggests that addressing the psychological aspect alongside infertility treatments for infertile women may help achieve a comprehensive treatment approach.

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a rare genetic disorder that affects multiple body systems and is characterized by a triad of symptoms that impact hair, teeth, and sweat glands. Diagnosis of HED is primarily based on physical features and is confirmed through genetic testing. Currently, the available treatment options for HED are limited to general medical interventions such as the use of skincare products and prosthetic dental treatment. We present a patient with HED who exhibited typical symptoms in the face and oral cavity. The patient was treated with a topical combination therapy for severe dyskeratosis. The purpose of this report is to increase awareness of HED within the dermatology community and provide information on its diagnosis and management also early diagnosis can enable prompt intervention, relevant therapy and support.

Background and Aim: Photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as low-level light therapy (LLLT), is a new adjuvant therapy in oncology that holds promise for improving treatment outcomes by reducing side effects related to conventional therapies like chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. PBM uses selected wavelengths of light to modulate the biological processes, which induce therapeutic effects by interacting with mechanisms such as cytochrome c oxidase, increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, control of reactive oxygen species (ROS), modulation of gene expression, and anti- inflammatory responses. The current review aims to discuss the applications, benefits, challenges, and future directions of PBM in oncology.

Methods and Materials: A wide literature review was carried out in order to assess the clinical and experimental data for PBM applications in oncology. In particular, this paper will aim to understanding the mechanism, the safety concern, and its potentiality as a personalized therapeutic approach. Variability in the responses obtained in different patients due to
non- standardization of the parameters of PBM treatment, like wavelength, dosage, and treatment time, is analyzed.

Results: PBM has shown significant promise in the promotion of tissue repair and reduction of inflammation, thus being effective in the management of complications such as mucositis, dermatitis, and neuropathy. However, concerns about potential tumor stimulation effects under certain conditions raise a call for caution in its application. Variability in patient and
tumor- specific responses remains a critical barrier to standardization and broader adoption.

Conclusion: PBM could revolutionize cancer care by acting complementary to the standard treatments, improving therapeutic outcomes, and enhancing quality of life. Further research will be required to optimize protocols, address safety concerns, and establish PBM as a personalized and standard component of oncology treatment plans.

GLP-1 receptor agonists have transformed the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes nd their therapeutic implications now extend well beyond endocrinology into cardiovascular and renal medicine, with growing interest in neurological disease. Yet the rapid translation from mechanism to widespread prescription has left several important gaps in our understanding. While large cardiovascular outcome trials have confirmed cardiorenal protection and substantial weight loss, and preclinical studies suggest neuroprotective actions, the pleiotropic nature of these agents raises a central question: do these benefits arise from direct receptor-mediated effects within individual organs, or indirectly through weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and broader metabolic remodeling? Here we outline the key translational unknowns that deserve priority investigation.