Rejected

Abnormal scarring is a hyper-proliferative wound healing disorder, which causes itch, pain, psychological distress, and even limiting limb mobility. Unfortunately, no satisfactory treatment exists to date. Drug screening identifies suitable drugs or drug combinations that inhibit abnormal scarring from a large selection of candidates. However, current techniques are often laborious and technically complex. Herein, we adopt a near-infrared fluorescence probe (FNP1) for fibroblast activation protein (FAP)α, a biomarker overexpressed in skin fibroblasts derived from abnormal scars, to rapidly assess (<30 min) drug candidates for the treatment. FNP1 has high sensitivity, even detecting FAPα up-regulation with as little as 0.016 ng/mL TGFβ1, 125-fold lower than typical culture concentrations. The identified drug candidates (RepSox and Thiazovivin) show similar potent anti-scarring activity as the existing anti-scarring compounds and further suppress the expression of other scar biomarkers including connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and collagen type 1 (COL1A1).

Regional nerve blocks are commonly used to manage postoperative pain after arthroscopic shoulder procedures. The interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) is commonly used; however, because of the reported side effects of ISB, the use of a suprascapular nerve block (SSNB) has been described as an alternative strategy with fewer reported side effects.

Oxytocin is involved in modulation of many brain-mediated functions. In the present study, we investigated the central effects of oxytocin and its receptor antagonist, atosiban on inflammatory pain. The contribution of opiate receptors was explored using non-selective and selective antagonists.

Black cumin () belonging to Ranunculaceae family has a long history of medicinal use in various folk and traditional systems of medicine, including Iranian traditional medicine (ITM). These valuable medicinal seeds have been used traditionally against a variety of diseases such as dyspepsia, diabetes, headache, influenza and asthma. In addition, several scientific investigations have reported the therapeutic properties of and thymoquinone (TQ), one of the most important constituent of black cumin, for treatment of a large number of diseases, including ischemia. As there is no comprehensive review study about the anti-ischemic activity of black cumin and its mechanism of action, in the current study, we aimed to review the anti-ischemic activities of and TQ in different organ-related disorders.

We describe a case of a 31-year-old man who presented with a 3-year history of worsening upper abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting: symptoms that were resistant to medical treatment and unexplained despite a thorough diagnostic evaluation. Then, an upper gastrointestinal series with small bowel follow-through showed proximal duodenal dilation and distal decompression of the duodenum, suggestive of a partial duodenal obstruction. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a transition point in the distal duodenum. At surgery, a segmental resection of the distal duodenum with a duodenojejunal anastomosis was performed. Histopathologic examination of the specimen revealed Crohn's disease. Therefore, making the diagnosis of duodenal obstruction has significant clinical implications and, in the setting of Crohn's disease, is evidence of an underlying intestinal stricture, stenotic area, or adhesion.

infection (CDI) carries a large burden on the national public health with its high morbidity and mortality rates. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are generally at higher risk of infection, recurrence and complications. Therefore, the need for more reliable and safe therapy is necessary. Our study aims to evaluate long-term fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) outcomes in the general population compared to patients with IBD.

Contrast-induced encephalopathy (CIE) is a rare complication of coronary angiography (CAG) caused by a direct neurotoxic reaction to iodinated contrast medium. Contrast-induced encephalopathy can result in a variety of neurological symptoms following within minutes to hours after contrast injection. It manifests most frequently as transient cortical blindness, headache, or confusion. In the majority of known cases, symptoms completely resolve solely with supportive care. We present a case where CIE takes a more dramatic course.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is abundantly distributed in the mammalian nervous system. Its role in nociception arising from inflammatory and neuropathic pain conditions has been elucidated. However, its involvement in post-incisional nociception, particularly at the spinal cord level, is relatively unknown.

There has been a significant increase in the use of complementary and integrative medicine to provide long-term healing solutions in migraine headache patients. Knowing the limitations of conventional medical approach, the present study evaluated the influence of two Indian traditional systems of medicine on migraine-related disability, autonomic variables, perceived stress, and muscle activity in patients with migraine headache without aura.

Spine and spinal cord pathologies and associated neuropathic pain are among the most complex medical disorders to treat. While rodent models are widely used in spine and spinal cord research and have provided valuable insight into pathophysiological mechanisms, these models offer limited translatability. Thus, studies in rodent models have not led to the development of clinically effective therapies. More recently, swine has become a favored model for spine research because of the high congruency of the species to humans with respect to spine and spinal cord anatomy, vasculature, and immune responses. However, conventional breeds of swine commonly used in these studies present practical and translational hurdles due to their rapid growth toward weights well above those of humans.