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Background: Protein-energy malnutrition is regarded as one of the public health problems in developing countries as a result of poor feeding due to poverty. This study was conducted to compare protein quality of two samples of commercial weaning food, Cerelac (based on dry milk, wheat and banana containing probiotic Bifidobactriumlactis) and Ghoncheh (based on dry milk, wheat, and honey), in rats. Materials and Methods: This experimental study was conducted on 64 male rats aged 23 days in 8 groups under 8 diets, including 2 test diets (Cerelaccontaining probiotic Bifidobactriumlactis and Ghoncheh), 1 standard diet (casein), 1 basal diet (protein free) for true protein digestibility and apparent digestibility study, 2 test diets, 1 standard diet, and 1 basal diet for net protein ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and food efficiency ratio study. Results: The contents of true protein digestibility for casein, Cerelac, and Ghoncheh were 93.77, 84.23 and 89.82, respectively and the results were significant in all of the groups (p<0.001). The content of net protein ratio for casein, Cerelac, and Ghoncheh was 4.38, 4.1 and 3.17, respectively and the results were significantin all of the groups (p=0.009). The contents of protein efficiency ratio for casein, Cerelac, and Ghoncheh were 3.05, 2.59, and 2.01, respectively and the results were significant in all of the groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that the protein value of Cerelaccontaining Bifidobactriumlactis was higher than Ghoncheh.

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Background: Increased insulin resistance, inflammatory factors and parameters of oxidative stress are associated with the development of diabetes complications. This study was designed to determine the beneficial effects of synbiotic Gaz on insulin resistance, inflammatory factor and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods: This randomized crossover double-blinded controlled clinical trial was performed among 62 diabetic patients aged 35-70 y. Subjects were randomly assigned to consume of either the synbiotic (n=62) or control Gaz (n=62) for 6 weeks. A 3-week washout period considered. The synbiotic Gaz was consisted of a probiotic viable and heat-resistance strain Lactobacillus sporogenes (1×107 CFU), 0.04 g inulin and 0.05 g stevia per 1 g as sweeteners' substances. Control Gaz (the same substance without probiotic bacteria and prebiotic inulin) was. Patients were received synbiotic and control foods in a 7 g package thrice a day. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and after 6-week intervention to measure insulin resistance, hs-CRP and biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Results: Consumption of synbiotic Gaz, compared with control, resulted in a significant decrease in serum insulin (p=0.02) and hs-CRP levels (p=0.008). Supplementation with synbiotic Gaz led also to a significant increase in plasma total glutathione (p<0.0001) compared to the control.

Conclusion: In conclusion, consumption of synbiotic Gaz for 6 weeks resulted in decreased levels of serum insulin, hs-CRP and increased levels of plasma total glutathione.

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Background: Cancer stem cells are subpopulation of cancer cells that show self-renewal potential and the capacity to differentiate into diverse populations comprising a tumor. One of the characteristics of CSCs is their ability to form floating spheroids under anchorage-independent conditions in a serum-free media. The aim of this study was isolation of colon cancer stem cells by sphere formation assay and characterization of them in human colonic adenocarcinoma HT-29.

Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, colon CSCs markers including CD44 and EPCAM in spheroid and HT-29 cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression levels of stemness genes in both spheroid and HT-29 cells were investigated using real-time PCR. Tumorigenic potential of spheroid cells was evaluated using in vivo xenografts assay.

Results: Our data showed over 92% of spheroids were CD44+/EpCAM+, while HT-29 cells only have expressed 37% of CD44/EpCAM markers. In compared with the HT-29 cells, expression levels of ‘‘stemness’’ genes, like Sox2, Oct4, Nanog, C-myc, and Klf4 were significantly increased in spheroid cells (p< 0.05). Further, As little as 2500 spheroid cells were sufficient to obtain tumor growth in nude mice, while 1x106 of HT-29 cells was needed to form tumor.

Conclusion: Our data suggest that spheroid formed by colon cancer cell lines highly enriched in CSCs and showed increasing expression of stemness genes and tumorigenic in nude mice.

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Background and Aim: The new Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak initiated from China in late December 2019, has posed a great global health threat. Since patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases are at high risk of COVID-19, this study aims to investigate the prevalence, severity, clinical manifestations, and mortality rate in COVID-19 patients with underlying diseases compared to those without underlying diseases.
Methods & Materials: This study was performed on 1408 patients with COVID-19 admitted to Golestan, Hajar, Khanevadeh and Besat hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Required data including disease prevalence, severity, clinical manifestations and mortality rate in patients with and without underlying diseases were collected and then analyzed using statistical tests in SPSS software, considering a significance level of P<0.05.
Ethical Considerations: This study was approved by the AJA University of Medical Sciences (Code: IR.AJAUMS.REC.1399.091). Ethical principles have been observed in accordance with the guidelines of the National Ethics Committee and the COPE regulations.
Results: Patients were 912 men (64.8%) and 496 women (35.2%) aged 18-98 years (Mean age= 57.8 years). Results reported that 27% of patients were intubated and 21.9% were died. Blood oxygen level in 53.7% of patients was less than 93 mg/dL; 36.1% had a history of hypertension, 24.1% had a history of diabetes, and 21.7% had a history of cardiovascular disease.
Conclusion: The severity, clinical manifestations, and mortality rate of COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension are significantly different compared to those without underlying diseases.