Background:Warm-up protocols play a crucial role in optimizing athletic performance and cardiovascular readiness in youth soccer players. This study aimed to compare the effects of six warm-up strategies on heart rate (HR) parameters and exertion levels in under-15 (U-15) soccer athletes.Materials and Methods:Seventy-two male participants were randomly (concealed participant allocation) assigned to six groups: Dynamic Warm-up (DWU), Analytical Warm-up (AWU), Analytical + Dynamic Warm-up (ADWU), Small-Sided Games Warm-up (SSGWU), Integrated Warm-up (IWU), and Small-Sided Games + Integrated Warm-up (SIWU). This randomized parallel study lasted 8 weeks, with pre- and post-tests measuring resting HR, maximal HR (MHR), average HR (AHR), RR intervals, HR variability (HRV), session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), and HR zone distributions.Results:Significant improvements (P < 0.001) were observed in resting, maximum, and average heart rates, RR intervals, HRV, and session RPE in most groups, especially DWU, SSGWU, and SIWU, indicating better cardiovascular function and reduced exertion. HR zone analysis showed significant shifts in all zones for IWU and SIWU (P < 0.001). Mixed repeated measures analysis of variance revealed significant between-group differences in post-test values for maximum HR, RR intervals, HRV, and sRPE change scores (P < 0.05).Conclusions:These findings highlight the differential impact of warm-up protocols on cardiovascular outcomes and perceived exertion. Integrated and small-sided games warm-ups showed superior benefits, suggesting their incorporation into youth soccer training could optimize physiological preparedness and performance.

Background:Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is one of the critical health conditions worldwide. Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor that suppresses peripheral conversion of androgens to estrogens, has recently been introduced as a low-cost and minimal side effects treatment for EP. We studied the use of the letrozole for the treatment of EP in comparison with methotrexate.Materials and Methods:This double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 40 women with uncomplicated EP (into two groups of 20). The letrozole group received a daily regimen of 5 mg tablets for a duration of 10 days, while the methotrexate group received treatment via a single intramuscular injection of 50 mg/m2 of body surface area.Results:The mean of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hemoglobin, and serum creatinine on the first and seventh days of treatment had no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Although a significant decrease in beta human chorionic gonadotropin level was found in each of the two groups over time (P < 0.001), there was no significant difference between the two groups on each of the fourth, seventh, and fourteenth days (P > 0.05). The level of anti-mullerian hormone in the methotrexate group with a mean of 2.22 ± 1.23 ng/mL was insignificantly higher than that of the letrozole group with a mean of 1.88 ± 0.89 ng/mL (P = 0.425). The success rate of treatment in methotrexate group was 85%, and that in letrozole group was 70%, However, the difference between the two groups was not significant (P = 0.282).Conclusion:According to the results of this study, the biochemical and hematological parameters and success treatment rate did not differ significantly between the administration of letrozole and methotrexate. Due to the occurrence of fewer side effects (although insignificant) in the administration of letrozole, it may be possible to introduce this drug as safer and less invasive than methotrexate.

Background:The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of the PD-L1 marker in ER-positive, PR-positive, and HER2-negative breast carcinoma and examine its correlation with clinicopathological factors that affect prognosis in these patients.Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional descriptive–analytical study was conducted on paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 50 invasive breast carcinoma patients. PD-L1 immunohistochemical staining was performed, and samples were examined to assess the membranous staining of tumor cells with the PD-L1 marker. ER, PR, and HER2 results were obtained from the pathology reports. The tumor proliferative index was divided into two groups: low proliferative index (<14%) and high proliferative index (= or >14%), based on the percentage of tumor cell nuclei with positive staining.Results:PD-L1 expression was negative in 44 (88%) and positive in 6 samples (12%). There was no significant difference in the mean age, tumor grade, and tumor proliferative index between the two groups (P value > 0.05). All positive PD-L1 samples belonged to the IDC tumor subtype with a mean tumor size of 6.33 ± 6.41 cm. In the negative PD-L1 group, 88.6% were IDC, 4.5% were ILC, and 6.8% were mixed tumor subtypes, with a mean tumor size of 2.79 ± 1.54 cm. Tumor subtype, tumor size, and axillary lymph node status showed no significant difference between the two groups (P value > 0.05).Conclusion:According to the results of this study, there is no relationship between the PD-L1 expression and well-known clinicopathological prognostic factors in ER-positive, PR-positive, and HER2-negative invasive breast carcinomas.

Background:Elevated levels of myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1) have been shown to counteract the proapoptotic effects of ABT-737, thereby promoting cell survival and contributing to treatment resistance in tumors. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the expression of Mcl-1 and the sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells to ABT-737.Materials and Methods:Cell toxicity was assessed through the implementation of the MTT assay. To evaluate the impact of treatments on cell proliferation, both the cell growth assay and the colony formation assay were employed. The mRNA levels of Mcl-1 and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) were measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In order to assess cell migration, the wound healing assay was utilized. The presence of apoptosis was detected through various methods, including ELISA cell death assay, caspase-3 activity assay, and Hoechst 33342 staining.Results:Combined EGCG and ABT-737 significantly reduced IC50 values and suppressed colony formation, migration, and survival in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells more effectively than either agent alone. EGCG downregulated Mcl-1 and MMP-2 mRNA expression. Critically, EGCG-mediated Mcl-1 suppression enhanced ABT-737-induced apoptosis. This synergy highlights EGCG’s role in overcoming ABT-737 resistance via Mcl-1 inhibition.Conclusions:EGCG has been shown to possess antitumor properties in breast cancer cells. Moreover, EGCG has the potential to enhance the apoptotic effects of ABT-737 by suppressing the expression of Mcl-1.

Background:Approximately 10%–15% of all breast cancer diagnoses are identified as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype known for its poor prognosis due to chemoresistance. TNBC lacks any receptors or proteins that are overexpressed, thus lacking targeted therapy. The protein LGR5, a marker for cancer stem cells and a promoter of Wnt signaling pathway activity, is notably upregulated in TNBC cases. LGR5 plays an important role in chemoresistance and tumorigenesis. Considering this, our research aim was to investigate the effect of LGR5 suppression by using specific siRNA in multicellular spheroid of the TNBC cell line and evaluation of stemness-related gene expression changes.Materials and Methods:Multicellular spheroids of the MDA-MB-231 TNBC cell line were prepared. The exosome was extracted from the human adipose mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) and confirmed. Multicellular spheroids were separately transfected with siRNA, EXO-siRNA and, treated with cisplatin alone. Gene expression was studied using qRT-PCR.Results:Our findings revealed that inhibiting LGR5 with siRNA significantly reduces LGR5 expression. Furthermore, the results indicated a notable increase in the expression of stemness markers (SOX9, OCT4, and NANOG) in samples treated with cisplatin. However, the reduction of LGR5 expression via siRNA led to a marked decrease in SOX9 and OCT4 levels, while NANOG expression remained largely unchanged.Conclusions:In summary, the results indicated that LGR5 suppression is effective in reducing stemness-related genes and may be considered a good candidate for combination therapy along with chemotherapy.

Background:Understanding the global landscape of substance use disorders (SUD) and treatment is crucial for guiding future work. This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive analysis of research published between 1902 and 2025.Materials and Methods:We systematically searched the Web of Science Core Collection (SCI-Expanded) for relevant publications within the specified timeframe. Bibliometric network analyses and quantitative analysis (keyword/country co-occurrence, trends, impact, contribution) utilized R. Data included publications, topics, institutions, countries, journals, and keywords.Results:From the 1902s to the 1963s, the number of published scientific publications was very few and scattered. With the onset of the 21st century, the growth trend accelerated, reaching 1039 publications in 2017. Key research themes identified included “Cigarette-Smoking,” “Smoker,” “Alcohol,” “Smoking-Cessation,” and “Behavioral therapy.” The United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and China were the most productive countries. The University of California, Harvard University, University of Toronto, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) have recorded the highest scientific outputs. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, Drug and Alcohol Dependence, Nicotine and Tobacco Research, and Addiction published the most articles.Conclusion:This study offers an objective overview of the global SUD and treatment research landscape (1902–2025). Our findings map publication trends, influential institutes, countries, journals, and key research themes. This provides a valuable reference for researchers, institutions, and journals to understand the current state and pinpoint areas for future investigation in this dynamic field.

Background:Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) constitutes a worldwide health issue, particularly affecting women of reproductive age. Conventional treatments have limitations and side effects, prompting the exploration of alternative therapies. Siddha system of medicine offers potential remedies with minimal side effects. This trial aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of Thiriloga Chendhuram (TC), a herbometallic preparation from Siddha medicine, in the correction of IDA. The study also seeks to understand TC’s potential mechanisms of action through comprehensive hematological and biochemical investigations.Materials and Methods:This is an open-labeled randomized controlled proof-of-concept study with an active control. From SRRI, Puducherry OPD who meet the inclusion criteria are enrolled for this trial. The study site is Siddha Regional Research Institute, Puducherry. Trial participants are randomly assigned to two groups to receive either TC or Annabedhi Chendhuram (ABC-Active Control) at a 1:1 ratio. All the quantitative outcomes will be analyzed using SPSS software.Results:This study is expected to be completed in approximately 12 months, based on recruitment. The results of the study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.Conclusion:This proof-of-concept study addresses the challenges of IDA in women of reproductive age, emphasizing the potential role of Siddha medicine and offering alternatives for managing IDA. This trial also assesses the reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) and percentage of hypochromic cells (% hypo), which offer enhanced sensitivity, specificity, and reliability for diagnosing IDA. The findings will pave the way for future large-scale trials and also contribute to innovative approaches in addressing IDA.

Sarcomas are rare cancers that occur in mesenchymal tissues. The acknowledgment of genetic factors in these heterogeneous neoplasms could cause progress in diagnoses and targeted therapy. Sarcomas have two main categories: soft tissue and bone sarcoma. These cancers have been associated with some hereditary cancer syndrome like Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. In this research, we present a pedigree with familial sarcoma. Our proband is a young woman with osteosarcoma involving her upper jawbone. The patient had a family history of many cases of sarcoma, brain tumors, especially osteosarcoma; also, we considered the association of cancer predisposing syndrome and high rate of sarcomas in this family. By means of whole-exome sequencing, one pathogenic variant of TP53 gene was recognized. Additional investigation like co-segregation analysis assessed the existence of this mutation in some of affected and unaffected family members and showed that probably this family is a case of familial Li-Fraumeni syndrome. This finding suggested that germline mutation of TP53 gene play an important role in initiating and spreading sarcoma in this family with Li-Fraumeni syndrome.

Background:Breast carcinoma (BC) ranks as one of the most prevalent illnesses among women, and a variety of factors, including inherited and environmental factors, can impact its start and progression. In this study, we tried to analyze the expression patterns of mRNAs and long noncoding RNAs and find novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of BC during a systems biology approach.Materials and Methods:Microarray analysis was performed to find novel potential BC biomarkers. Using miRWalk, lncRRIsearch, STRING, and Cytoscape, noncoding and protein interaction analysis was utilized and visualized. Pathway enrichment and gene ontology analyses were performed to find accurate biological mechanisms of selected RNAs. qRT-PCR was established on 50 tumor samples compared to 50 control samples for validation of bioinformatics analyses and understanding of the diagnosis capability of selected RNAs.Results:IGF1 expression level had a significant reduction in BC based on microarray and qRT-PCR experiments. LINC00963 and LNC01089 also have significant decreases in expression levels based on GEPIA2 and qRT-PCR. LNC01089 and LINC00963 could represent suitable BC diagnostics (depending on receiver operating characteristic analysis) and prognosis (clinicopathological analysis) biomarkers. The two mentioned lncRNAs have direct interaction with IGF1 mRNA. miR-1244-5p as a potential upregulated oncogene of BC suppresses the expression level of LNC01089, LINC00963, and IGF1.Conclusion:LINC00963 and LNC01089 could regulate the FOXO signaling pathway through direct interaction with IGF1 mRNA. miR-1244-5p might also have a critical role in FOXO regulation through suppression of IGF1 and two mentioned lncRNAs.

Totally cystic schwannomas are a rare condition described in the current case report. A 63-year-old woman with chronic lower back pain radiating to her left lower extremity was primarily managed incorrectly. Her magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed, presenting an intradural cystic mass at L2-L3 with approximately 23 × 16 × 18 mm size and characteristics of hypointense and hyperintense views on T1-weighted imaging (T1WI), and T2WI, respectively. Additionally, Gadolinium-contrasted images showed a smooth and thin rim enhancement of the cyst. These characteristics were compatible with cystic schwannoma. Accordingly, L2-L3 laminectomy was done and the tumor was excised. The pathological study approved the diagnosis. At the 16-month follow-up, the patient experienced symptom relief with no sign of recurrence. Cystic schwannomas are rare benign tumors that can cause debilitating symptoms if not promptly diagnosed and treated. Contrast-enhanced MRI is essential for diagnosing these tumors, and surgical resection is the choice of treatment.