The Roles of Plant-Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR)-Based Biostimulants for Agricultural Production Systems

The application of biostimulants has been proven to be an advantageous tool and an appropriate form of management towards the effective use of natural resources, food security, and the beneficial effects on plant growth and yield. Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are microbes connected with plant roots that can increase plant growth by different methods such as producing plant hormones and molecules to improve plant growth or providing increased mineral nutrition. They can colonize all ecological niches of roots to all stages of crop development, and they can affect plant growth and development directly by modulating plant hormone levels and enhancing nutrient acquisition such as of potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and essential minerals, or indirectly via reducing the inhibitory impacts of different pathogens in the forms of biocontrol parameters. Many plant-associated species such as Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Streptomyces, Serratia, Arthrobacter, and Rhodococcus can increase plant growth by improving plant disease resistance, synthesizing growth-stimulating plant hormones, and suppressing pathogenic microorganisms. The application of biostimulants is both an environmentally friendly practice and a promising method that can enhance the sustainability of horticultural and agricultural production systems as well as promote the quantity and quality of foods. They can also reduce the global dependence on hazardous agricultural chemicals. Science Direct, Google Scholar, Springer Link, CAB Direct, Scopus, Springer Link, Taylor and Francis, Web of Science, and Wiley Online Library were checked, and the search was conducted on all manuscript sections in accordance with the terms Acinetobacter, Arthrobacter, Enterobacter, Ochrobactrum, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Serratia, Streptomyces, Biostimulants, Plant growth promoting rhizobactera, and Stenotrophomonas. The aim of this manuscript is to survey the effects of plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria by presenting case studies and successful paradigms in various agricultural and horticultural crops.

The free-viewing matrix task: A reliable measure of attention allocation in psychopathology

Aberrant attention allocation has been implicated in the etiology and maintenance of a range of psychopathologies. However, three decades of research, relying primarily on manual response-time tasks, have been challenged on the grounds of poor reliability of its attention bias indices. Here, in a large, multisite, international study we provide reliability information for a new eye-tracking-based measure of attention allocation and its relation to psychopathology and age. Data from 1567 participants, across a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses and ages, were aggregated from nine sites around the world. Of these, 213 participants also provided retest data. Acceptable overall internal consistency and test-retest reliability were observed among adult participants (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86 and r(213) = 0.89, respectively), as well as across all examined psychopathologies. Youth demonstrated lower internal consistency scores (Cronbach's alpha = 0.65). Finally, the percent dwell time index derived from the task statistically differentiated between healthy participants and participants diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, major depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These results potentially address a long-standing reliability crisis in this research field. Aberrant attention allocation patterns in a variety of psychiatric disorders may be targeted with the hope of affecting symptoms. The attention allocation index derived from the matrix task offers reliable means to measure such cognitive target engagement in clinical contexts.

Comparison of push-out bond strength of endodontic sealers after root canal drying with different techniques

OBJECTIVES

An ideal endodontic sealer should bond to both dentin and root-filling material. This study aimed to assess the push-out bond strength (PBS) of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA)-Fillapex, Endoseal MTA, AH26, and Sure-Seal Root to root dentin after root canal drying with different techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This in vitro study was conducted on 160 extracted mandibular premolars. After root canal preparation, the teeth were randomly divided into four groups (n = 40) of drying with ethanol, paper point, air vacuum, and control (wet canal). Each group was divided into four subgroups (n = 10) for use of AH26, Sure-Seal Root, MTA-Fillapex, and Endoseal MTA sealers. The mean PBS was measured by a universal testing machine. The mode of failure was determined under a stereomicroscope. Data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Games-Howell tests.

RESULTS

The maximum mean PBS was equally recorded in ethanol and paper point groups, and was significantly higher than that of control and air vacuum groups (p < .001). In the use of AH26 sealer, the mean PBS in drying with ethanol was significantly higher than all other methods (p < .05). The mean PBS in drying with a paper point was also significantly higher compared with control and air vacuum methods (p < .05). In the use of Sure-Seal, the mean PBS in drying with a paper point was significantly higher than other methods (p < .05). The mean PBS in drying with ethanol was significantly higher than that in control and air vacuum methods (p < .001). In the use of MTA-Fillapex and Endoseal-MTA, the technique of drying had no significant effect on PBS. Adhesive and mixed failures were the most common in all drying groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Drying with ethanol and paper point enhanced the PBS of sealers to root dentin.

Chemical compositions, yield and antioxidant activity of the essential oil of hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) under intercropping with fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.)

The effect of intercropping of hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis L.) from Lamiaceae with a medicinal legume, that is, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on the hyssop essential oil was investigated. The highest herbage and essential oil yields of hyssop were produced from sole cropping and also intercropped hyssop with fenugreek (3:1 ratio); however, the highest antioxidant activity was obtained from the intercropped hyssop with fenugreek (1:3 ratio). The highest contents of the major constituents in the hyssop essential oil such as cis- and trans-pinocamphone and β-pinene were obtained from sole cropped of hyssop and the intercropping of hyssop with fenugreek (3:1 ratio). In conclusion, the intercropping of hyssop with fenugreek can increase biodiversity and efficiency of using resources. Therefore, this strategy could be considered in order to recommend in simultaneous production of secondary metabolites in the herbs like hyssop in an agricultural land.

Eating disorder-specific rumination moderates the association between attentional bias to high-calorie foods and eating disorder symptoms: Evidence from a reliable free-viewing eye-tracking task

Cognitive theories of eating disorders implicate Attentional Bias (AB) towards food-related information in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Empirical evidence for this proposal, however, has been inconsistent, and the measures used to examine AB to food-related stimuli typically showed poor reliability. The aim of the current study was twofold. Firstly, we aimed to examine the psychometric properties of a newly devised eye-tracking task for the assessment of AB in the context of eating disorders. Secondly, we examined the role of Eating Disorder-specific (ED-specific) rumination as a potential moderator of the association between attentional bias to food images and eating disorder symptoms. One hundred and three female students were recruited and completed an eye-tracking task comprising 21 matrices that each contained 8 low-calorie and 8 high-calorie food images. Each matrix was presented for 6 s. First fixation location, first fixation latency, and total dwell time were assessed for low and high-calorie food images and the dwell-time based AB measure showed good reliability based on Cronbach's alpha, McDonald's Omega, and split-half method. In addition, the results revealed that the ED-specific rumination plays the hypothesized moderating role. Specifically, while participants with high levels of ED-specific rumination exhibited a positive association between AB to high-calorie foods and eating disorder symptoms, this association was not present among participants with lower levels of ED-specific rumination. The employed free-viewing task seems a reliable measure of AB to food-related stimuli, and the moderation analysis emphasizes the critical role of ED-specific rumination for eating disorder symptoms. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

Rumination-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background:

Chronic pain remains or reappears for more than 3 to 6 months, and it is influencing 20% of the global population. The pain catastrophizing affects pain intensity and psychological conditions of patients with chronic pain. Rumination-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (RFCBT) targets rumination as the key component of pain catastrophizing. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of RFCBT on depression, anxiety, and pain severity of individuals with chronic low back pain (LBP).

Materials and Methods:

In a randomized controlled trial, 30 patients aged between 20-55 years with diagnosed chronic LBP were chosen by convenience sampling and randomly allocated into intervention and control groups. All patients used their prescribed medications for pain management, but the intervention group received 12 weekly sessions of RFCBT, which was manualized psychotherapy to change unconstructive rumination to constructive rumination. Depression Anxiety and Stress scale-21 and chronic pain grade questionnaire were administered as pre-tests and re-administered after 3 and 6 months as post-test and follow-up assessments, respectively.

Results:

RFCBT significantly reduced depression (F1=23.01, P=0.001), anxiety (F1=25.7, P=0.001) and pain severity (F1=7.17, P=0.012) in patients with chronic LBP.

Conclusion:

RFCBT may offer benefits for treating patients with chronic low back pain when added to their usual pharmacological treatment. This benefit may be the result of targeting rumination as the key element of pain catastrophizing.

Enhanced nutrient uptake in salt-stressed Mentha piperita using magnetically treated water

The improvement of the growth and quality of medicinal plants under stress is of significance, worldwide. The hypothesis was to alleviate salinity stress in Mentha piperita by enhancing nutrient uptake using magnetically treated water, which to our knowledge has not been previously investigated. The objective was to test the effects of magnetized water (using alternating magnetic fields) (main plots, M1-M4 representing control, 100, 200, and 300 mT, respectively), salinity (subplots, S1-S4 representing control, 40, 80, and 120 mM NaCl, respectively), and growth medium (sub-subplots, X1-X4 representing coco peat, palm, coco peat + perlite, and palm + perlite, respectively) on M. piperita nutrient uptake in the greenhouse. The M treatments, especially the 100 and 200 mT levels, significantly increased plant N (1.08%, S3M4X1), P (0.89%, S3M3X1), K (3.23%, S3M3X1), Ca (53.6 mg/kg, S4M4X4), and Mg (39.63 mg/kg, S3M3X2) concentrations (compared with control at 0.71, 0.49, 2.4, 26.63, 1.63) even at the highest level of salinity. Magnetically treated water also significantly enhanced plant Fe and Zn concentration to a maximum of 750 μg/kg (M4S3X1) and 94.67 μg/kg (S4M4X3), under salinity stress, respectively. The single and the combined use of organic and mineral media significantly affected plant nutrient uptake, especially when used with the proper rate of M treatment. If combined with the proper growth medium, the magnetized water may be more effective on the alleviation of salt stress in Mentha piperita by enhancing nutrient uptake.

Traditional herbal medicines to overcome stress, anxiety and improve mental health in outbreaks of human coronaviruses

Mental health condition is including depression and anxiety, and they may impact wellbeing, personal relationships and productivity of both genders. Herbal medicines have been used to treatment of anxiety and depression symptoms for centuries. SARS, MERS and COVID-19 are related to coronavirus types. SARS (sever acute respiratory syndrome, China, 2002), MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome, Saudi Arabia, 2012), and SARS-CoV-2 (2019-2020) are the main coronavirus outbreaks. Both anxiety and depression are more serious to be considered and improved for all general public during fight with these diseases. In this mini-review article, we have mentioned the key role some of the most important plants and herbs for treatment of stress and anxiety and improve mental health against SARS and SARS-CoV-2 on the basis of traditional Asian medicine, especially traditional Chinese and Persian medicine.

Althaea officinalis improves wound healing in rats: a stereological study

Althaea officinalis (AO) is reported to have the ability to activate fibroblasts as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Herein, we investigated the effects of this herbal medicine on wound healing in rat models by using stereological methods. In this experiment, 48 male Wistar rats were divided into four groups randomly (n = 12): the control group with no treatment, the gel-base treated group, 5% and 10% AO-gel treated groups. The treatments were administered every 24 hours. Wound closure rate, volume densities of collagen bundles, hair follicles, and vessels, vessel's length density and mean diameter, and fibroblast populations were estimated. Fibroblast populations, hair follicles, and mean diameter of vessels in the dermis of AO-treated groups were noticeably higher than those of control and base groups. Also, collagen bundles synthesis was significantly higher in the AO10%-treated group compared to the control and base groups. According to our research and previous studies, AO has the potential to be considered as an alternative medicine in wound healing treatment; however, further clinical investigations are suggested.

Pepermint (Mentha piperita L.) growth and biochemical properties affected by magnetized saline water

Due to the limitation of suitable water for crop production in the world, recycling water is among the most proper methods enhancing water efficiency and availability. One modern method, which is of economic, health, and environmental significance, and may improve water properties for plant use is water magnetization. Medicinal plants are of nutritional, economic and medical values and their growth decreases under salinity stresses. This research was hypothesized and conducted because there is not any data, to our knowledge, on the use of magnetized salty water affecting the growth and biochemical properties of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.). The experiment was a split plot design with three replicates. The main plots consisted of magnetic fields at control (M1), 100 mT (M2), 200 mT (M3), and 300 mT (M4), the sub-plots consisted of salinity treatments (NaCl) at control (S1), 4 dS/m (S2), 8 dS/m (S3), and 12 dS/m (S4), and the growth media including cocopeat (X1), palm (X2), cocopeat + perlite (V/V = 50, X3) and palm + perlite (V/V = 50, X4) were located in the sub-sub-plots. Different plant growth and biochemical properties including plant fresh and dry weight, plant menthol, menthone, chlorophyll and proline contents were determined. Analysis of variance indicated the significant effects of experimental treatments and their interactions on the growth and biochemistry of peppermint. Different magnetic fields significantly increased plant growth, and interestingly with increasing the salinity level the alleviating effects of magnetic field on salinity stress became more clear (significant interaction between salinity and magnetic field treatments). Cocopeat was the most efficient growth medium. At the third level of salinity (8 dS/m) just the two levels of 100 and 200 mT increased plant menthol concentration. Treatments M3S2X4 and M1S1X1 resulted in the highest (38%) and the least menthol percentage (13%), respectively. Treatments S2 and M2 and M3 significantly increased plant menthone concentration, especially in the growth media of X1 and X3. However, at the third level of salinity, M3 and M4 were the most effective treatments. The highest (25.8%) and the least (1.2%) concentrations of menthone were related to treatments M3S2X4 and M2S4X1, respectively. The results indicated that it is possible to alleviate the stress of salinity on peppermint growth and improve its biochemical (medicinal) properties using magnetized salty water, although proline concentration was not much affected by the magnetic field.

Broadband near-perfect terahertz absorber in single-layered and non-structured graphene loaded with dielectrics

In this work, we have done an extensive study on broadband near-perfect absorbers consisting of single-layered and non-structured graphene loaded with periodical arrays of dielectric bricks, including square and elliptical bricks. We also propose and investigate circular cylinder, rectangular brick, and racecourse dielectric structure. Moreover, the calculated ${z}$z component of the electric field enables us to understand the physical mechanism of resonance absorption. Furthermore, we also studied and proposed a new absorber with periodical arrays of stepped rectangle dielectric structure. We could achieve a broadband absorption from 1.6 to 4.2 THz, with a bandwidth of 2.6 THz and absorption over 90%. The proposed absorber is also tunable; the tunability of the terahertz (THz) broadband absorber is achieved via changing the external gate voltage to modify the Fermi energy of graphene. Also, we compared the results and absorption spectra of different dielectric structures. This THz metamaterial structure can be used in different THz applications such as cloaking, sensing, detection, and imaging.

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) biochemical properties and seed components affected by potassium fertilization under drought conditions

The seed yield and healthy oil in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), as an important industrial crop, decrease under stress. There is not much investigation, to our knowledge, on the use of potassium fertilization, a regulator of plant water potential, affecting the biochemical properties and seed components of sunflower under drought stress. Accordingly, such parameters were investigated in a split-split plot field experiment, conducted in two different field sites (Natanz (Nt) and Eghlid (Eg), Iran), using potassium fertilization (subplots, 0, 150 and 300 kg/ha) and six drought levels (main plots) in four replicates. Although stress significantly affected sunflower biochemical properties and seed components in the two fields, the effects of stress were more pronounced in the Eg site (significant interaction of field and drought). The plant alleviated the stress by increasing the proline, oleic and linoleic acid concentrations, however, potassium fertilization also increased plant tolerance further under stress by enhancing such components compared with control. Interestingly, the Eg site was more responsive to the potassium fertilization (significant interaction of field and fertilization), as the fertilizer resulted in a higher rate of plant biochemical properties and seed components. The use of potassium fertilization at 300 kg/ha (K3) was the most effective treatment in the alleviation of stress. Interestingly, under drought stress, potassium contributed to the enhanced quantity and quality of sunflower by increasing seed components, and enhancing the biochemical properties of the plant, which can also improve crop physiological mechanisms. The results can further increase our understanding related to the effects of potassium fertilization on the yield and physiology of sunflower under drought stress. Such results are of economic, environmental and health significance.

Free-viewing multi-stimulus eye tracking task to index attention bias for alcohol versus soda cues: Satisfactory reliability and criterion validity

Cognitive -motivational models point to attention bias (AB) as an important factor in the persistence of problematic drinking behavior. Unfortunately, the measures that have been used to examine AB in addiction typically showed poor psychometric properties. To bring research on AB a critical step further it would be crucial to develop tasks with acceptable reliability and construct validity. Recently, Lazarov and colleagues (2016) developed a multi-stimulus free-viewing task (participants were free to look at any part of the screen and there was no secondary task involved) that showed excellent psychometric properties in the context of social anxiety as well as depression. We, therefore, adapted this task and examined its psychometric quality within the context of alcohol use. Participants with varying levels of alcohol use (N = 100) were presented with 54 matrices each containing 8 alcoholic and 8 non-alcoholic drinks. Each matrix was presented for 6 s. First fixation (100 ms) location and latency and total dwell time were assessed for alcohol and soda pictures. Assessment of AB, craving, and alcohol use (problems) was repeated after 3-8 days. Specifically, the dwell-time based AB-measure showed excellent internal reliability and considerable stability. Supporting the validity of the current AB-measures, it was found that participants with higher scores on craving and alcohol problems (i) dwelt longer on alcohol stimuli, and (ii) more often showed a first fixation on alcohol, whereas (iii) stronger craving was associated with shorter latency of first alcohol fixations. The AB-measure showed promising psychometric properties. Thus, this free-viewing eye-tracking task seems a welcome new tool for being used in future research on AB in addiction.

Rubella Immunity in Pregnant Iranian Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Rubella infection within the first trimester of pregnancy may lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes. The present study was conducted to evaluate the immunity against rubella among the pregnant Iranian women. The steps of meta-analyses were conducted based on the MOOSE protocol and results were reported according to the PRISMA guideline. To review the associated English and Persian literature, a comprehensive search was conducted among the international databases such as Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Embase, Cochrane library, Web of Science and Google Scholar search engine as well as Iranian databases, until April 1, 2018 using the following medical subject headings (MeSH) keywords: 'Pregnant', 'Gestational', 'Prenatal care', 'Complications of pregnancy', 'Pregnancy', 'Rubella infection', 'Prevalence, 'Epidemiology', 'Immunity', 'Immunization', 'Antibody', 'Immunogenicity' and 'Iran'. Cochran's Q test and I2 index were used to investigate heterogeneity in the studies. Random effects model was used to estimate the rate of rubella immunity. The obtained data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Ver.2. Fifteen studies constituting 7,601 pregnant Iranian women met the inclusion criteria. The overall pooled rubella immunity rate was 90.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 86.1-93.1]. Rubella immunity rates were respectively 88.6% (95% CI: 80.6-93.6) and 91.5% (95% CI: 88.1-93.9) before and after national vaccine program. Rubella immunity rates were 91.4% (95% CI: 87.8-94.0) and 87.2% (95% CI: 74.3-94.1) based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and haemagglutination-inhibition (HAI) methods, respectively. There was no significant association between rubella immunity and vaccination program (P=0.398), diagnostic methods (P=0.355), geographic regions (P=0.286), quality of the studies (P=0.751), occupation (P=0.639), residence (P=0.801), and year of the studies (P=0.164), but it was significantly associated with age (P<0.001). Despite high rubella immunity among the pregnant Iranian women, anti-rubella antibody screening is recommended for all women of childbearing age.

The association between anemia and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

The association between anemia and postpartum depression (PPD) has been reported to be controversial in different studies. Therefore, this study aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of anemia and PPD.

Methods

This review study was conducted according to the MOOSE protocol and results have been reported according to the PRISMA guideline. We searched epidemiologic studies published until January 2018 in nine English databases including Scopus, PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EBSCO and Google Scholar using English MeSH keywords. The heterogeneity of the studies was assessed using the Cochran's Q test and I² index. Data were analyzed using a random effects model and comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) software version 2.

Results

In the 10 studies, the association between postpartum anemia and PPD was significant (heterogeneity test: P<0.001, I²=74.62%), and RR=1.887 (95%CI: 1.255-2.838, P=0.002). In 8 studies, anemia during pregnancy significantly increased the risk of postpartum depression (heterogeneity test: P=0.116, I²=36.422%), RR=1.240 (1.001-1.536, P=0.048). The subgroup analysis of postpartum anemia and PPD was not significant for the variables of quality of studies, study design, and the period of evaluating depression and anemia. The subgroup analysis of anemia during pregnancy and PPD was not significant for the period of evaluating depression. Publication bias did not affect the results of the studies.

Conclusion

Meta-analysis results showed anemia during pregnancy and after pregnancy that significantly increased the risk of postpartum depression. Therefore, prevention, identification and treatment of anemia in pregnant women seem necessary.

Antibacterial Effects of Hydro-alcoholic Extract of Pennyroyal, Cinnamon and Rhubarb on Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus: An In-vitro Study

Background: Medicinal plants have been used for many different purposes in the past. These plants may produce antimicrobial metabolites that affect the natural growth of microorganisms. The aim of this research was to study the antibacterial properties of rhubarb, cinnamon and pennyroyal on Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Materials and Methods: In this study, the effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of pennyroyal, cinnamon and rhubarb on Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae was investigated after their collection and extraction process. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of this extract on bacteria were also measured. Results: The MIC of hydro alcoholic extract of pennyroyal was above 400 mg/ml for both Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Also the MBC has been reported 400 and 500 mg/dL, respectively. The MIC of cinnamon extract for Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were reported 250 and higher and 500 and higher, respectively. Also, the MBC was reported 500 and 600 mg/ml, respectively. Klebsiella pneumoniae was resistant to rhubarb plant extract, and the MIC and the MBC for Staphylococcus aureus were reported 200 mg/ml and higher and 400 mg/ml and higher, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that the hydro alcoholic extract of cinnamon, pennyroyal and rhubarb has anti bacterial effect against Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus.

The prevalence of depression and anxiety in Iranian patients with diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

This study aims to estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety among Iranian patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) through meta-analysis.

METHODS

This is a systematic review article based on MOOSE and PRISMA guidelines. Review of the literature was done using databases including Magiran, Barakat Knowledge Network System, SID, RICST, IranDoc, PubMed/Medline, Science Direct, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and the Google Scholar search engine without time limit until December, 2018. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using Cochran's Q test and I² index. Data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software version 2 according to a random-effects model. P-values less than 0.05 were considered as the significance level.

RESULTS

The analysis consisted of 44 studies including 10,349 Iranian patients with DM. The prevalence of depression was estimated to be 61.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 56.6-66.7). The lowest and highest prevalence of depression based on regions was in the North (56.7% [95%CI: 44.9-67.8]) and the East (64.2% [95%CI: 30.7-87.9]), respectively. The depression prevalence in females and males was 63.9% (95%CI: 54.0-72.8) and 46.3% (95%CI: 36.4-56.4), respectively, The prevalence of mild, moderate, severe and highly severe depression was estimated to be 24.4% (95%CI: 21.0-28.2), 19.1% (95%CI: 15.2-23.9), 11.4% (95%CI: 8.6-14.9), and 4.6% (95%CI: 3.4-6.1), respectively. In eight studies, the prevalence of anxiety in Iranian patients with DM was estimated to be 64.5% (95%CI: 42.0-82.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Depression and anxiety are more prevalent among Iranian patients with DM compared with developed countries. Therefore, regular psychiatric consultation is required for the early diagnosis and treatment of depression and anxiety in these patients.

The association between gestational diabetes and postpartum depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Postpartum period is a critical period for mothers, which is often accompanied by increased risk of depression. Many studies have evaluated the relationship between gestational diabetes (GDM) and postpartum depression (PPD), but contradictory results have been reported. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between GDM and PPD.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted based on PRISMA Guideline. We searched all the relevant epidemiological studies in international databases of Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, and Google scholar search engine using the MeSH Keywords in English without time limit until 2018. The heterogeneity of the studies was calculated using the I² index and Cochran's Q test. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were extracted from each study. The results of the study were analyzed using the random effects model and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software Version 2.

RESULTS

A total of 18 studies with a sample size of 2,370,958 were reviewed. Meta-analysis results showed that GDM significantly increased the risk of PPD, and RR was 1.59 (95% CI: 1.22-2.07, p = 0.001). The RR for 15 cohort studies, 2 cross-sectional studies and 1 case-control study was 1.67 (95% CI: 1.22-2.28), 1.37 (95% CI: 0.91-2.05), and 1.29 (95% CI: 0.98-1.68), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

GDM can be a risk factor for PPD. Therefore, PPD examination in pregnant women with GDM seems to be necessary.

Workplace Violence Against Iranian Nurses: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Nurses are exposed to workplace violence more than other healthcare professionals. This study aims to examine the prevalence of different types of workplace violence against Iranian nurses. A systematic review and meta-analysis were designed according to the PRISMA statement. To avoid bias, all stages of the research were done independently by two researchers. Eligible studies were retrieved from comprehensive search of several electronic databases included Magiran, Barakat Knowledge Network System, IranDoc, Regional Information Center for Science and Technology (RICST), Scientific Information Database (SID), Iranian National Library, PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Science Direct, ISI Web of Knowledge, CINAHL, and Google Scholar until April 2017. A random effects model was applied to combine studies. Data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 2. In 26 studies, 10,858 nurses entered the meta-analysis process. The mean age and work experience of the nurses were 33.5 ± 7.5 and 10.85 ± 10.1 years, respectively. The prevalence of workplace verbal, physical, sexist, and racist violence and threat against Iranian nurses was 80.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] [74.2, 86.0]), 24.8% (95% CI [17.4, 34.0]), 6.7% (95% CI [4.9, 9.2]), 14.6% (95% CI [10.1, 20.7]), and 44% (95% CI [30.1, 58.8]), respectively. The prevalence of verbal and physical violence against the emergency department nurses was 89.7% (95% CI [69.4, 97.1]) and 21.0% (95% CI [12.6, 32.9]), respectively. The highest prevalence of verbal, physical, sexist, and racist violence was from patient's relative (42.3%, 95% CI [30.7, 54.7]), patients (12.6%, 95% CI [5.9, 25.0]), healthcare workers (5.1%, 95% CI [2.4, 10.4]), and patients (2.3%, 95% CI [0.9, 5.4]), respectively. Given the high prevalence of violence against the nurses in Iran, it is highly necessary to take certain intervention measures and design new policies.

The association between Selenium and Prostate Cancer: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background:

Evidence of relationship between selenium and prostate cancer has been inconsistent. The present meta-analysis was conducted to determine relationship between selenium and prostate cancer.

Methods:

A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA). We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EBSCO and Google scholar search engines and the reference lists of the retrieved papers for relevant data, without any limitation regarding language or time until 2016. Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated using Q test and I² Index. Finally, a random effects model was used for combining results using STATA software version 11.1. P<0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

Thirty-eight studies including 36,419 cases and 105,293 controls were included in the final analysis. The pooled relative risk (RR) of relation between selenium and prostate cancer was 0.86 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]:0.78-0.94). Sub-group analyses based on case-control, cohort, and RCT studies gave values of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.80-1.00), 0.77 (95% CI: 0.52-1.14) and 0.90 (95% CI: 0.74-1.09), respectively. RRs based on serum, plasma and nail samples were 0.69 (95% CI: 0.51-0.95), 0.85 (95% CI: 0.61-1.17), 0.66 (95% CI: 0.41-1.05), respectively. According to 10 studies, investigated the relation between advanced prostate cancer and selenium in which the RR was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.52-0.87).

Conclusions:

This meta-analysis indicated that selenium most probably has a protective role against development of prostate cancer and its progression to advanced stages. Therefore, selenium supplementation can be proposed for prevention of prostate cancer.

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in Pregnant Iranian Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Several studies have been conducted regarding the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, and Ureaplasma urealyticum in pregnant Iranian women. However, it is necessary to combine the previous results to present a general assessment. We conducted the present study based on systematic review and meta-analysis studies according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). We searched the national and international online databases of MagIran, IranMedex, SID, MedLib, IranDoc, Scopus, PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Google Scholar search engine for certain MeSH keywords until June 16, 2017. In addition, heterogeneity, sensitivity analysis, subgroup analysis, and publication bias were performed. The data were analyzed using random-effects model and Comprehensive Meta-Analysis version 2 and P value was considered lower than 0.05. The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in 11 surveyed articles that assessed 2864 pregnant Iranian women was 8.74% [95% confidence interval (CI): 5.40-13.84]. The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis was estimated 5.73% (95% CI: 2.09-14.73) and 13.55% (95% CI: 11.23-16.25) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively which the difference was not significant (P=0.082). The lowest and highest prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis was estimated in Tehran province [4.96% (95% CI: 2.45-9.810)] and Ardabil province [28.60% (95% CI: 20.61-38.20)], respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Meta-regression for the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis based on year of the studies was significant with increasing slope (P=0.017). According to the systematic review, the prevalence of Mycoplasma hominis and Urea plasma urealyticum indicated 2 to 22.8% (from 4 articles) and 9.1 to 19.8% (from 3 articles), respectively. There was no evidence of publication bias (P value for Begg and Eggers' tests was 0.161 and 0.173, respectively). The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis is high among pregnant Iranian women. Screening pregnant women as part of preventive measures seem necessary considering the potential for maternal and fetal complications.

The Effect of Yoga on Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Women

Background:

In recent decades, several medical and scientific studies on yoga proved it to be very useful in the treatment of some diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of yoga on stress, anxiety, and depression in women living in Ilam, Iran.

Methods:

This study is a quasi-experimental study with pre-post test. To collect data, the questionnaire of DASS-21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21) was used. For eligible samples, hatha yoga exercises and training sessions were held for 4 weeks (3 time/weeks; 60-70 min each) by a specialist. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.

Results:

52 women with a mean age of 33.5 ± 6.5 were included for analysis. Depression, anxiety, and stress decreased significantly in women after 12 sessions of regular hatha yoga practice (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Yoga has an effective role in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Thus, it can be used as complementary medicine.

Vitamin D status in Iranian pregnant women and newborns: a systematic review and meta-analysis study

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency is a common health problem worldwide. The present study was conducted to assess the vitamin D status in Iranian pregnant women and newborns.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane, Web of Science, CINAHL, Magiran, Iranmedex, SID, Medlib, IranDoc databases, and Google Scholar were searched until 2017. The data were combined using random effects model. p < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

In 23 studies including 6,127 Iranian pregnant women were eligible for inclusion. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency based on cutoff points of 10, 20, and 30 ng/ml was estimated to be 42.42% (95%CI: 26.90-57.93), 55.84% (95%CI: 31.75-79.93) and 80.82% (95%CI: 71.20-90.45), respectively. The mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration was estimated to be 15.69 ng/ml (95%CI: 14.39-17.00) in pregnant women. The mean 25(OH)D concentration was estimated to be 14.97 ng/ml (95% CI: 10.63-19.31) in Iranian newborns. The difference in mean 25(OH)D concentration between pregnant women and their newborns was significant (p = 0.0002).

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D status in Iranian pregnant women and newborns are critical. Therefore, paying attention to the issue of vitamin D deficiency in this group should be a health priority in Iran.

The relation of maternal hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy on preterm birth: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The clinical consequences of hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy such as preterm birth are not still clear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the relation of clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy and preterm birth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this meta-analysis, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis were utilized. Searching the cohort studies were done by two researchers independently without any restrictions on Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL, Cochrane, EBSCO and Google Scholar databases up to 2017. The heterogeneity of the studies was checked by the Cochran's Q test and I2 index. Both random and fixed-effects models were used for combining the relative risk and 95% confidence intervals. Data were analyzed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 2.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies were included in the meta-analysis. The relative risks of the clinical hypothyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism and hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy on preterm birth was estimated 1.30 (95% CI: 1.05-1.61, p=0.013, involving 20079 cases and 2452817 controls), 1.36 (95% CI: 1.09-1.68, p=0.005, involving 3580 cases and 64885 controls) and 1.31 (95% CI: 1.04-1.66, p=0.020, involving 1078 cases and 44377 controls), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of preterm birth was higher among mothers with clinical and subclinical hypothyroidism or hypothyroxinemia during pregnancy compared to euthyroid mothers, and these relations were significant. Therefore, gynecologists and endocrinologists should manage these patients to control the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth.

Light response of sunflower and canola as affected by plant density, plant genotype and N fertilization

Crop response to light is an important parameter determining crop growth. Three field (split plots) experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of plant density, plant genotype and N fertilization on the light absorption and light extinction of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) and canola (Brassica napus L.). A detailed set of plant growth, light absorption and crop yield and oil related parameters were determined. Light was measured at noon during the sunny days with clear sky. In experiment I, although the plant density (PD) of 14 resulted in the highest rate of sunflower light absorption (31.37%) and light extinction (0.756), the highest rate of grain yield and grain oil yield was resulted at PD12 at 3639 and 1457.9kg/ha, respectively; as well as by genotype SUP.A. In experiment II (canola), PD80 resulted in the highest rate of light absorption (13.13%), light extinction (0.63), grain yield (2189.4kg/ha) and grain oil yield (556.54kg/ha). This was also the case for Genotype H. In experiment III (canola), although N150 resulted in the highest rate of light absorption (10.74%) and light extinction (0.48), the highest rate of grain yield (3413.6kg/ha) and grain oil yield (891.86kg/ha) was resulted at N100 as well as by Genotype H401. Results indicate how light properties, crop growth and yield of sunflower and canola can be affected by plant and environmental parameters, which are also of practical use by farmers.

Epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii among blood donors in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Asymptomatic Toxoplasma gondii transmitted from blood donors to receiving patients has become a concern. Numerous articles have been published on the epidemiology of T. gondii in blood donors in Iran and a systematic review of the results shows quite different findings, hence this study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii in Iranian blood donors using meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched for epidemiological studies that were published until July 2016 in eight English databases including: Scopus, PubMed, Ovid, Science Direct, Cochrane, Web of Science, Springer, Wiley Online Library, and four Iranian databases: Magiran, Iranmedex, SID and Medlib as well as Google Scholar. To estimate pooled estimator, regarding high heterogeneity and significance of I² index, Random effects model was used. Data analysis was conducted using Review Manager Ver5.3.5 and P<0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

Among 10 studies with a sample size of 4538 Iranian blood donors, the seroprevalence of T. gondii was calculated to be 34.4% (CI95%: 24.9-43.9). The rate in males and females was 33.36% (CI95%: 19.92-46.81) and 37.63% (CI95%: 20.81-54.45), respectively. The seroprevalence of IgM and IgG antibodies among blood donors were 2.74% (CI95%: 0.55-4.92) and 31.84% (CI95%: 20.61-43.08), respectively. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was significantly associated regarding blood group (P=0.04), but this relation was not significant with blood transfusion (P=0.62).

CONCLUSION

The results of this review indicate a high seroprevalence of T. gondii (about one-third) in Iranian blood donors and emphasizes the importance of screening the seroprevalence of T. gondii of donated blood in Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization.

Developing and Integrating Advanced Movement Features Improves Automated Classification of Ciliate Species

Recent advances in tracking technologies such as GPS or video tracking systems describe the movement paths of individuals in unprecedented details and are increasingly used in different fields, including ecology. However, extracting information from raw movement data requires advanced analysis techniques, for instance to infer behaviors expressed during a certain period of the recorded trajectory, or gender or species identity in case data is obtained from remote tracking. In this paper, we address how different movement features affect the ability to automatically classify the species identity, using a dataset of unicellular microbes (i.e., ciliates). Previously, morphological attributes and simple movement metrics, such as speed, were used for classifying ciliate species. Here, we demonstrate that adding advanced movement features, in particular such based on discrete wavelet transform, to morphological features can improve classification. These results may have practical applications in automated monitoring of waste water facilities as well as environmental monitoring of aquatic systems.

Evaluation of maternal and foetal outcomes in pregnant women hospitalized in Kermanshah Hospitals, Iran, owing to burn injury, 2003-2008

This study addresses maternal and foetal complications in pregnant women hospitalized for burn injuries in 2003-2008. It was a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study, carried out in pregnant women hospitalized in the burn ward of Imam- Khomeini Hospital, Iran, in 2003-2008 (burn injury rate, 1.88%, 39 cases; mean age, 23.51 ± 4.78 yr). The pregnant woman death rate was 66.7%: 26 patients died because of burn complications and 13 patients (23.3%) survived. The causes and circumstances of the fatalities are reported. There was a statistically significant relationship between burn severity and foetal and maternal mortality rates (p < 0.02). Burn severity was not statistically related to premature delivery and mode of delivery. The factors affecting prognosis and the maternal and foetal death rates were the total burn area, continuous clinical surveillance of the mother and foetus, and employment of appropriate treatment protocols.