Ahmad Ameri

Objectives: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse effect of various anticancer regimens with different sensory-motor abnormalities in patients. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of using Costus sp. oil as a palliative treatment in such patients. Design: This was a pilot randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical study. Settings/Location: Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Subjects: Patients 18-80 years of age undergoing chemotherapy treatment recently or during the last 6 months were enrolled after meeting the inclusion criteria...

PURPOSE: The COVID-19 outbreak is affecting people worldwide. Many infected patients have respiratory involvement that may progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of low-dose whole-lung radiation therapy in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this clinical trial, conducted in Iran, we enrolled patients with COVID-19 who were older than 60 years and hospitalized to receive supplementary oxygen for their documented pneumonia...

AIM: The aim of this study is to construct and evaluate Pseudo-CT images (P-CTs) for electron density calculation to facilitate external radiotherapy treatment planning. BACKGROUND: Despite numerous benefits, computed tomography (CT) scan does not provide accurate information on soft tissue contrast, which often makes it difficult to precisely differentiate target tissues from the organs at risk and determine the tumor volume. Therefore, MRI imaging can reduce the variability of results when registering with a CT scan...

Known as a main neural MAP (microtubule associated protein), tau protein contributes to stabilizing microtubules involved in cellular transmission. Tau dysfunction is mainly associated with neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). In these patients, all the six tau isoforms, which are in hyperphosphorylated form, are first aggregated and then polymerized into neurofibrillary tangles inside the brain. Tau protein detected in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is significantly correlated with AD and is well recognized as a hallmark of the disease...

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have revealed the increasing importance of sagittal spinopelvic alignment. Knowing the values of sagittal spinopelvic parameters, which are affected by ethnicity, is essential in the normal asymptomatic population. In the current study, these parameters were measured in a sample of asymptomatic Iranian population. METHODS: Seventy asymptomatic participants without complaint of musculoskeletal problems were enrolled. They had no complaint about musculoskeletal problems...

Objectives: Internal fit of implant frameworks is an important factor determining the long-term success of dental implant restorations. This in-vitro study aimed to evaluate dimensional changes of implant-supported zirconia frameworks fabricated by two computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems from scanning to sintering. Materials and Methods: A master model of a three-unit fixed partial denture was fabricated with two implant abutments...

AIMS: The telomerase-based therapy of cancer has received a great deal of attention due to the fact that it is expressed in almost all of the cancer cells while it is inactivated in most of the normal somatic cells. Current investigation was aimed to examine the effects of namely telomerase inhibitor, the MST-312, as a chemically modified derivative of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), on human multiple myeloma cell line U-266. MAIN METHODS: U-266 cells were cultured and then treated by MST-312...

Deposition of functionalized nanoparticles onto solid surfaces has created a new revolution in electronic devices. Surface adsorbates such as ionic surfactants or additives are often used to stabilize such nanoparticle suspensions; however, little is presently known about the influence of such surfactants and additives on specific electronic and chemical functionality of nanoparticulate electronic devices. This work combines experimental measurements and theoretical models to probe the role of an ionic surfactant in the fundamental physical chemistry and electronic charge carrier behavior of photodiode devices prepared using multicomponent organic electronic nanoparticles...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy in volumetric measurements obtained on an experimental model using an intraoral scanner and a gravimetric method. Three identical partial dentate maxillary acrylic models with three fabricated alveolar defects, in anterior and posterior regions, were scanned using an intraoral scanner (20 scans/defects). The defects differed in terms of size and distance of neighbouring teeth. As references, replicas of each defect were created using a dimensional stable silicone impression material...

Purpose: To evaluate awareness of female cancer patients about fertility impairment following cancer treatment. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Imam Hossein Hospital between March 2014 and July 2015. Women of childbearing age with cancer who were treated in an oncology clinic and referred for follow-up were asked to fill out the questionnaire designed for this purpose. The process of filling out the questionnaire was managed by a resident of clinical oncology during patient interviews...

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) isotropic map (p-map) with current radiographically (T2 /T2 -FLAIR) methods based on abnormal hyper-signal size and location of glioblastoma tumor using a semi-automatic approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with biopsy-proved diagnosis of glioblastoma participated in this study. T2 , T2 -FLAIR images and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were acquired 1 week before radiotherapy...

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the pretreatment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) heterogeneity parameters and their alterations, after one cycle of induction chemotherapy, can be used as reliable markers of treatment response to induction chemotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients were recruited and received induction chemotherapy (IC). Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed prior to, during, and after IC. The first-order ADC histogram parameters at the intra-treatment time-point were compared to the baseline time-point in the metastatic lymph nodes (LNs)...

CONTEXT: Using this source model, the Monte Carlo (MC) computation becomes much faster for electron beams. AIMS: The aim of this study was to present a source model that makes linear accelerator (LINAC) electron beam geometry simulation less complex. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: In this study, a tabulated square-shaped source with transversal and axial distribution biasing and semi-Gaussian spectrum was investigated. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A low energy photon spectrum was added to the semi-Gaussian beam to correct the bremsstrahlung X-ray contamination...

BACKGROUND: Xerostomia is one of the most common side effects of radiation therapy among patients with head and neck cancers (HNC). However, conventional medicine lacks an effective treatment for radiation-induced xerostomia. OBJECTIVE: Synthesizing the traditional use of Alcea digitata and Malva sylvestris with their known beneficial effects from recent studies, we evaluated the efficacy of the herbs in the quality of life (QOL) of HNC patients with radiation-induced xerostomia...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin injection in the patients with type 1 Duane syndrome and identify the predictive factors for success. METHODS: Sixteen patients with esotropic type 1 Duane syndrome without history of ocular surgery were selected for this interventional case series. The botulinum toxin was injected in the medial rectus of all patients. Visual acuity, dry refraction, cyclo-refraction, ocular motility, and amount of deviation were measured...

To investigate whether excision repair cross complementing-group1 (ERCC1) expression status could serve as a bio-predictor of response to platinum-based induction chemotherapy for head and neck cancers (HNCs) patients with a diagnosis of epithelial HNC were studied retrospectively. Paraffin embedded tumor samples of the patients were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to determine ERCC1 expression status and its correlation with response to platinum-based induction chemotherapy was investigated...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate of and predictive factors for successful treatment of restrictive myopathy in thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) using botulinum toxin injection. METHODS: Twenty patients with restrictive myopathy of TAO were enrolled in the study. Abnormal thyroid function test results were not a prerequisite for inclusion. In each extraocular muscle 25 units of botulinum toxinA were injected. The success rate, calculated at 2 years or last follow-up before surgery, was defined as proportion of the cases with esotropia of <10(Δ), vertical deviation of <5(Δ), and no diplopia in primary position and downgaze for at least 1 year...

BACKGROUND: Loss of retinal ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness has been shown in different optic neuropathies. In this study, we evaluated the capability of GCIPL analysis by optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect early neuronal loss during the time course of nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). METHODS: Twenty-four patients with unilateral NAION participated in this prospective, comparative study. Affected and unaffected eyes underwent spectral domain OCT measurement of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), total macula, and GCIPL thicknesses...

BACKGROUND: Evidences about survival of the patients with head and neck squamous cell carsinoma (HNSCC) have been scant in our region. OBJECTIVES: The aim of current study was to determine clinico-pathological and treatment-related factors, influencing outcome of these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have reviewed all patients with a new diagnosis of HNSCC admitted between 2008 and 2014 in "Jorjani Cancer Center", Tehran, Iran...

PURPOSE: To develop a Persian version of the Adult Strabismus Questionnaire (AS-20) and use the new questionnaire to evaluate the effect of strabismus surgery on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS: The Persian version of the AS-20 was developed with the help of Beaton and colleagues' guidelines. The reliability of the final version was tested with the test-retest and internal consistency methods. The construct and criterion (concurrent) validity were also tested for the questionnaire...