Background and aims Thalassemia syndromes are the most common hemoglobinopathy globally related to blood transfusion and iron overload in the body. Splenectomy, excessive iron overload, and repeated exposure to antigens in blood transfusions can cause severe damage to the patient's immune system making the patient prone to frequent infection. This study evaluates the immune system status and infection rate in beta‐thalassemia major patients receiving iron chelators. Methods This descriptive cross‐sectional study was performed in Rasoul‐e‐Akram Hospital on patients with a beta‐thalassemia major who had iron overload due to frequent blood transfusions. The percentage of lymphocyte markers was determined by flow cytometry. Serum levels of immunoglobin were measured by nephelometric assay. Also, Nitro blue tetrazolium and dihydrorhodamine assays were used to evaluate the phagocytic function. Results Of the 106 patients participating in this study, 59 (55.7%) and 47 (44.3%) are male and female, respectively. The mean age ± SD of participants was 24.7 ± 12.1 years with 4 to 55 years. There was no significant correlation between sex, the C3 and C4 complements, the lymphocyte markers, and the immunoglobulin levels. Furthermore, all of these variables increased significantly over 30 ( p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a strong positive correlation between splenectomy and IgG immunoglobulin ( p < 0.001) and CD16 ( p = 0.005) lymphocyte marker. Conclusion Iron chelator agents effectively improve patients' immune system with thalassemia major. The increase in IgG and IgM immunoglobulins levels is due to frequent blood transfusions, which stimulate the immune system.

A gigahertz (GHz) range antenna formed by a coaxial probe has been applied for sensing cancerous breast lesions in the scanning platform with the assistance of a suction tube. The sensor structure was a planar central layer and a metallic sheath of size of 3 cm2 connected to a network analyzer (keySight FieldFox N9918A) with operational bandwidth up to 26.5 GHz. Cancer tumor cells have significantly higher water content (as a dipolar molecule) than normal breast cells, changing their polarization responses and dielectric losses to incoming GHz-based stimulation. Principal component analysis named S11, related to the dispersion ratio of the input signal, is used as a parameter to identify malignant tumor cells in a mouse model (in vivo) and tumor specimens of breast cancer patients (in vitro) (both central and marginal parts). The results showed that S11 values in the frequency range from 5 to 6 GHz were significantly higher in cancer-involved breast lesions. Histopathological analysis was the gold standard for achieving the S11 calibration to distinguish normal from cancerous lesions. Our calibration on tumor specimens presented 82% positive predictive value (PPV), 100% negative predictive value (NPV), and 86% accuracy. Our goal is to apply this system as an in vivo non-invasive tumor margin scanner after further investigations in the future.

Background: The study on the control and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, as a growing metabolic disease in the world, is important. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species in uncontrolled diabetes can play a role in the consequences of diabetes such as neuropathy and nephropathy. The presence of minerals as bioactive compounds in the diet and their role in antioxidant enzymes can play a role in reducing the oxidative effects of diabetes. Electron beam therapy as an adjunct method can be effective in reducing free radicals and oxidative stress. Objective: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electron beam therapy on glucose, oxidative markers and some minerals, as bioactive compound, in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: The study was performed on 30 volunteers with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 30 healthy volunteers as a control group. Serum samples from diabetic and control groups were assayed for glucose, hydrogen peroxide, reactive oxygen species and minerals such as iron, zinc, copper, magnesium and selenium binding protein before and after electron beam irradiation. ATP levels and NAD/NADH ratio were also evaluated. The mentioned parameters were measured by ELISA and calorimetric methods according to the relevant kit protocol. Electron beam therapy was performed using a linear accelerator. The used amount of energy was 9 MeV. The depth of treatment was 1.5 cm.Results: The results of electron beam therapy showed that the concentrations of glucose, reactive oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide, copper and iron were significantly (P value < 0.05) reduced in diabetics. Zinc levels in this group increased significantly (P value < 0.05). In control group, ATP levels were significantly (P value < 0.05) increased by electron beam therapy.Conclusion: According to the obtained results, electron beam therapy can be effective in reduction of oxidation indexes and thus reducing oxidative stress. Electron beam therapy can be effective in reducing the consequences of diabetes mellitus. Keywords: Electron beam therapy, Oxidative stress, Mineral, Type 2 diabetes mellitus