Dual Brønsted acidic-basic function immobilized on the 3D mesoporous polycalix [4]resorcinarene: As a highly recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of spiro acenaphthylene/indene heterocycles

In this study, a novel dual Brønsted acidic-basic nano-scale porous organic polymer catalyst, PC4RA@SiPr-Pip-BuSO3H, was synthesized through various steps: preparation of a 3D network of polycalix, modification with (3-chloropropyl)-trimethoxysilane, then functionalization of polymer with piperazine and n-butyl sulfonic acid under the provided conditions. The catalyst characterization was performed by FT-IR, TGA, EDS, elemental mapping, PXRD, TEM, and FE-SEM analyses, confirming high chemical stability, activity, recoverability, and excellent covalent anchoring of functional groups. So, the designed catalyst was utilized for preparing spiro-acenaphthylene and amino-spiroindene heterocycles, providing good performance with a high yield of the corresponding products. Accordingly, this catalyst can be used in different organic transformations. Necessary experiments were conducted for the recyclability test of the polymeric catalyst, and the results showed the PC4RA@SiPr-Pip-BuSO3H catalyst can be reused 10 times without any decrease in its activity or quality with excellent stability. The structure of resultant spiro heterocycles was confirmed using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and FT-IR.

Predictors of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events after percutaneous coronary intervention in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the predictors of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACE/MACCE) in older adults who underwent PCI.

METHODS

Three databases, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, were searched for observational studies considering the out-of-hospital MACE/MACCE in adults ≥ 60 years old with coronary artery disease (acute or chronic) who underwent PCI. Studies were eligible if they had determined at least two statistically significant predictors of MACE/MACCE by multivariable analysis. We used the QUIPS tool to evaluate the risk of bias in the studies. Random-effects meta-analysis was utilized to pool the hazard ratios (HRs) of the most reported predictors.

RESULTS

A total of 34 studies were included in the review. Older age (HR = 1.04, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.03-1.06, P-value < 0.001), diabetes (HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.22-1.53, P < 0.001), history of myocardial infarction (MI) (HR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.37-2.57, P < 0.001), ST-elevation MI (STEMI) at presentation (HR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.37-2.18, P < 0.001), reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.52-2.65, P < 0.001), successful PCI (HR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.27-0.47, P < 0.001), eGFR (HR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.97-1.00; P-value = 0.04) and left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease (HR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.52-2.84, P < 0.001) were identified as predictors of MACE.

CONCLUSION

We identified older age, diabetes, history of MI, STEMI presentation, lower LVEF, and LMCA disease increased the risk of MACE/MACCE after PCI in older adults. Meanwhile, higher eGFR and successful PCI predicted lower adverse events risk. Future studies should focus on a more robust methodology and a precise definition of MACE.

REGISTRATION

PROSPERO (CRD42023480332).

Cohort profile: the PERSIAN Dena Cohort Study (PDCS) of non-communicable diseases in Southwest Iran

PURPOSE

This study conducted in Dena County is a population-based cohort study as part of the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in Iran (PERSIAN). The specific objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of region-specific modifiable risk factors and their associations with the incidence of major non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

PARTICIPANTS

This PERSIAN Dena Cohort Study (PDCS) was conducted on 1561 men and 2069 women aged 35-70 years from October 2016 in Dena County, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, Southwest Iran. The overall participation rate was 82.7%.

FINDINGS TO DATE

Out of 3630 participants, the mean age was 50.16 years, 2069 (56.9%) were women and 2092 (57.6%) were rural residents. Females exhibited higher prevalence rates of diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver, psychiatric disorders, thyroiditis, kidney stones, gallstones, rheumatic disease, chronic lung disease, depression and osteoporosis compared with males (p<0.05). Furthermore, the urban population showed elevated rates of diabetes, thyroiditis, kidney stones and epilepsy, whereas psychiatric disorders and lupus were more prevalent in rural areas (p<0.05). According to laboratory findings, 418 (13.0%), 1536 (48.1%) and 626 (19.3%) of the participants had fasting blood sugar >126 mg/dL, low-density lipoprotein >100 mg/dL and haematuria, respectively; most of them were female and urban people (p<0.05).

FUTURE PLANS

PDCS will be planned to re-evaluate NCD-related incidence, all-cause and cause-specific mortality every 5 years, along with annual follow-up for 15 years. Some examples of additional planned studies are evaluation of genetic, environmental risk, spirometry and ECG tests.

The effect of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hemodialysis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

OBJECTIVE

Anemia is a common condition in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are commonly used to treat anemia in these patients. However, concerns have been raised regarding their potential effects on blood pressure. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to investigate the relationship between ESAs and changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hemodialysis patients.

METHOD

This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis based on clinical trial studies published in various databases, including Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar, between 1980 and the end of 2022. We evaluated the quality of articles using the Jadad scale checklist and analyzed the data using Stata 15 software.

RESULTS

Our meta-analysis included 34 clinical trial studies. The results showed a significant increase in both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) after the consumption of ESAs compared to before consumption. The mean difference in SBP was 4.84mmHg (95% CI: 2.74-6.94; p-value<0.001) and in DBP was 4.69mmHg (95% CI: 2.67-6.71; p-value<0.001). No publication bias was observed. Our meta-regression analysis showed that sample size, quality assessment score, and geographical location of the study were significant factors related to observed heterogenicity in to mean difference of SBP (p-value≤0.20). For DBP, the sample size, quality assessment score and follow-up duration were significant variables (p-value≤0.20).

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings of our study, it appears that receiving ESAs is associated with a significant increase in both SBP and DBP in hemodialysis patients, with an increase of about 5mmHg.

Exploring health literacy categories among an Iranian adult sample: a latent class analysis

General and electronic health literacy are important factors engaging in healthy behaviors and maintaining good health. The present study explored demographic factors associated with general and electronic health literacy in the Iranian adult population. Via stratified cluster sampling, trained interviewers visited adult residents in Qazvin Province, Iran between January, and April 2022. The participants (N = 9775; mean age = 36.44 years; 6576 [67.3%] females) completed the Health Literacy Instrument for Adults (HELIA) assessing health literacy and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) assessing electronic health literacy. Demographic data, including age, gender, educational level, marital status, and living location (city or rural), were collected. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to classify the participants into different health literacy/electronic health literacy levels. The relationships between health literacy/electronic health literacy levels and demographic factors were examined using χ2 or analysis of variance. The LCA used HELIA scores to suggest five classes of health literacy and eHEALS scores to suggest three classes of electronic health literacy. For general and electronic health literacy, similar relationships were with demographic factors: females as compared with males had better general/electronic health literacy; younger people as compared with older people had better general/electronic health literacy; higher educational level was associated with better general/electronic health literacy; and city residents as compared with rural residents had better general/electronic health literacy. In conclusion, Iranian governmental agencies may wish to target on males, older adults, people with low educational level, and rural residents to improve their health literacy.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and cardiovascular mortality: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 17 studies and 372,156 hemodialysis patients

Introduction

Prior studies on the association between erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients have yielded conflicting findings. We aimed to clarify this relationship through a systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence.

Methods

We comprehensively searched major databases for observational and interventional studies on ESA use and cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients published from 1980 to September 2023. Pooled risk ratios (RR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects models. Sources of heterogeneity were explored through subgroup analyses and meta-regression. The study data were analyzed using Stata 15 software.

Findings

Upon conducting the initial search, we extracted 792 articles and, after screening and considering the research criteria, 17 studies with 372,156 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, ESA use was associated with a 27 % increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (RR 1.27, 95 % CI: 1.15-1.40, p < 0.001). This risk varied by geographical location, with RRs of 1.27 (95 % CI: 1.14-1.41; p-value≤0.001) for America, 1.33 (95 % CI: 1.12-1.58; p-value = 0.001) for Asia, and 1.23 (95 % CI: 1.02-1.49; p-value = 0.028) for Europe. Importantly, a gender disparity was revealed, with studies involving a higher proportion of males showing greater risks (RR 1.51, 95 % CI: 1.25-1.83, p < 0.001) than female-predominant studies (RR 1.08, 95 % CI: 0.86-1.36, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis indicates ESA use is associated with heightened cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients, especially in males. These findings have implications for optimizing dosing strategies while balancing efficacy and safety. Further research is warranted, particularly randomized controlled trials, to establish definitive ESA dosing guidelines.

Investigating the relationship between erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and mortality in hemodialysis patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

In recent years, various studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and mortality in hemodialysis patients, who showed contradictory results. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between ESAs and mortality in hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

The current study is a systematic review and meta-analysis based on observational and interventional studies published in the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases between 1980 and the end of 2022. Jadad scale checklist and Newcastle Ottawa scale were used to evaluate the quality of articles. The study data were analyzed using Stata 15 software.

RESULTS

In the initial search, 3933 articles were extracted, and by screening and considering the research criteria, 68 studies were finally included in the meta-analysis. According to the meta-analysis results, the risk ratio (RR) of overall mortality in hemodialysis patients receiving ESAs was equal to 1.19 (95% CI: 1.16-1.23, P ≤ 0.001). The RR of mortality in patients aged 60 years and under was equal to 1.33 (1.15-1.55, P ≤ 0.001), in the age group over 60 years was equal to 1.13 (1.10-1.16, P ≤ 0.001), in randomized clinical trial studies was equal to 1.06 (0.80-1.40, P = 0.701), in cohort studies was equal to 1.20 (1.16-1.25, P ≤ 0.001), in American countries was equal to 1.19 (1.10-1.29, P ≤ 0.001), in Asian countries was equal to 1.15 (1.10-1.19, P ≤ 0.001), and in European countries was equal to 1.18 (1.05-1.34, P = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

The results of the study show that receiving ESAs is associated with a 19% increase in the risk of overall mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Comparing P53 expression and genome-wide transcriptome profiling to Comet assay in lymphocytes from melanoma patients and healthy controls

This study compared the expression of TP53 in lymphocytes from malignant melanoma (MM) patients with positive sentinel nodes to healthy controls (HCs) following exposure to various doses of UVA radiation. The Lymphocyte Genome Sensitivity (LGS) assay indicated significant differences in DNA damage in lymphocytes between MM patients and HCs. qPCR data demonstrated an overall 3.4-fold increase in TP53 expression in lymphocytes from MM patients compared to healthy controls, following treatment with 0.5 mW/cm2 UVA radiation. Western blotting confirmed that p53 expression was increased in MM lymphocytes following UVA exposure compared to healthy individuals. Genome transcriptome profiling data displayed differences in gene expression between UVA-treated lymphocytes from MM patients and HCs. Peripheral lymphocytes from MM patients are more susceptible to the genotoxic effects of UVA compared to healthy individuals. Our previous studies showed that UVA exposure of various intensities caused significant differences in the levels of DNA damage between lymphocytes from cancer patients compared to HCs through the LGS assay. The present study's results provide further credibility to the LGS assay as a screening test for cancer detection. Peripheral lymphocytes could be a promising blood biopsy biomarker for staging of carcinomas and prevention of carcinoma progression at early stages.

Investigating the Association of MTHFR C677T Gene Polymorphism with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion Among Azerbaijani Women from Northwest Iran

Background: Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), defined as two or more succeeding abortions during 20 weeks of gestation, affects 3-5% of pregnancies. Several studies have found that most women with RSA had at least one (and sometimes two copies) of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T variant. Materials and Methods: The study involved 118 women who had two or more spontaneous abortions (SAs) as the case group and 118 women who had at least one live birth but no SA as the control group. Clinical features such as age, body mass index (BMI), medication received, family history of abortion, and thrombophilia were investigated. Real-time PCR was used for genotyping subjects for MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism. Results: Significant differences in age, BMI, and medication received characters have been shown between those in the patients' group. For the MTHFR C677T gene, the genotypes for the patients' group were 36%, 60%, and 4%, whereas the genotypes for the control group were 30%, 58%, and 12%. In addition, the C and T allelic frequencies were 59% and 41% in the healthy control group and 67% and 33% in the patients' group, respectively. A significant association was found between the TT genotype and RSA. A 3.84-fold increased risk of RSA was associated with the TT genotype (odds ratio = 3.84, confidence interval: 1.28-10.93, p-value = 0.02). Conclusions: In this study, homozygosity for the T allele was significantly lower in the RSA-affected than in healthy women, whereas heterozygosity did not vary substantially between the two groups, which was in line with other studies.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its association with oral health: First results from the Kurdish cohort study

Aims

Investigate the association between oral and dental health (ODH) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adults aged 35-70 years.

Methods

The study utilized data from the enrollment phase of Dehgolan prospective cohort study in the west of Iran. A cross-sectional assessment was conducted on a total of 3996 participants, involving a comprehensive oral examination and the assessment of their oral hygiene behavior (ODH). MetS was defined according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Logistic regression used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

MetS was more prevalent among those who not daily brushing and flossing. Participants with missing teeth (MT) show higher prevalent of MetS. Being female, lower age, illiteracy, family history of diabetes, low physical activity, and salt at table were independently associated with increase odds of MetS (p < 0.05). Odds of MetS were significantly decreased with use flossing (OR = 0.75; CI = 0.60-0.93), decayed (OR = 0.83; CI = 0.72-0.97), filled (OR = 0.84; CI = 0.71-0.99), and increased with MT (OR = 1.45; CI = 1.16-1.81) as long as adjusted for ODH factors. When other potential confounder such as sociodemographic, personal and nutritional habits were adjusted, daily flossing was the only factor that still statistically decreased (OR = 0.79; CI = 0.62-0.99) the odds of MetS.

Conclusion

Daily flossing was the only factor that independently associated with MetS. Relationship of other ODH factors with Mets were confounded by sociodemographic characteristics of the participants.

The association between dietary pattern and visceral adiposity index, triglyceride-glucose index, inflammation, and body composition among Iranian overweight and obese women

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between dietary patterns, derived through latent class analysis (LCA), with visceral adiposity index (VAI), Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG), inflammation biomarkers, and body composition in overweight and obese Iranian women. For this cross-sectional study, dietary exposure was assessed using a validated 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary patterns were derived through LCA. Binary logistic was performed to test the associations of dietary patterns with VAI, TyG, inflammation biomarkers, and body composition. Health centers in Tehran, Iran. 376 obese and overweight women, aged > 18 years. Two dietary patterns were identified using LCA modeling: healthy and unhealthy. Women in the unhealthy class were characterized by higher consumption of fast food, sweetened beverages, grains, unhealthy oils, butter and margarine, and snacks. Compared with the healthy class, the unhealthy class was associated with an increased risk of higher fasting blood sugar (FBS) (OR = 6.07; 95% CI: 1.33-27.74, P value = 0.02), c-reactive protein (CRP) (OR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.05-2.80; P value = 0.02), and lower fat free mass index (FFMI) (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.35-0.88, P value = 0.01), after adjusting for confounders. We found that adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with decreased FFMI and increased FBS and CRP using LCA, but not with the rest of the variables. Further studies should be conducted to confirm the veracity of these findings.

CRISPR Typing of Clinical Strains of Salmonella spp. Isolated in Tehran, Iran

Background

Salmonella is one of the most leading causes of food-born infection and death among infants and people with the poor immunity system. Because Salmonella spp. have diversity in the genome composition and pathogenicity, access to rapid identification and genotyping is necessary to control of salmonellosis. The CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) typing is a genotyping method that checks these variable sequences in the bacterial genome in a specific species. This study aimed to differentiate Salmonella strains using CRISPR region.

Methods

Salmonella isolates, previously identified via standard microbiological and molecular tests, were subjected to the study. Bacterial DNA was extracted and PCR was done using specific primers. The different PCR products were sequenced and the repeats patterns were used to identify additional or degenerate repeat clusters in the CRISPR region. All different sequences were analyzed using CRISPRtionary tool for dendrogram generation using the binary file.

Results

Overall, 119 strains of various Salmonella serovars were used. The result showed unique CRISPR and diversity in spacer both in sequence and the number. Analysis of the extracted sequence and band patterns illustrated that, except for S. infantis, both S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium isolates were classified as a separate cluster.

Conclusion

CRISPR genotyping could provide serotype/spacers dictionary and it is performed at low cost and high speed in comparison to the other typing methods. Therefore, the assessment of CRISPR and spacer content can be considered as a powerful and practical discriminatory method for subtyping of Salmonella isolates.

DMAP-Catalyzed [4+3] Spiroannulation of Pyrazolone-Derived Morita-Baylis-Hillman Carbonates with N-(o-Chloromethyl)aryl Amides to Forge Spiro[pyrazolone-azepine] Scaffolds

A novel DMAP-catalyzed [4+3] spiroannulation of pyrazolone-derived Morita-Baylis-Hillman carbonates with N-(o-chloromethyl)aryl amides was developed. This reaction led to the assembly of medicinally relevant pyrazolone and azepine nuclei into a structurally new spirocyclic scaffold, and a diverse array of spiro[pyrazolone-azepine] products were afforded in good to excellent yields (up to 93%) with a wide substrate scope (23 examples) under mild conditions. Moreover, a gram-scale reaction and product transformations were conducted, which further increased the diversity of products.

Efficient utilization of red mud waste via stepwise leaching to obtain α-hematite and mesoporous γ-alumina

Utilizing the red mud sustainably is now a challenging issue. Red mud due to its wide production, presence of some radioactive elements, high alkalinity, and salinity, has a dramatic potential to contaminate soil and groundwater. Notwithstanding its drawbacks, Red mud consists several elements, including Ca, Al, Ti, Si, and Fe, in various mineral forms. In this study, stepwise leaching was applied as a proper method to separate and purify the main valuable elements using available and affordable HCl. The pre-leaching step under optimized conditions using HCl (0.2 M) at room temperature for 2 h removed 89% of the calcium content from red mud. To selectively remove the solid silica, the residue was treated with concentrated HCl (3.0 M, L/S of 20 mL/g) at 95 °C, resulting in the dissolution of iron and aluminum content with up to 90% efficiency. After precipitation of the Fe³⁺ and Al³⁺, they were characterized using FT-IR, BET, EDS, XRD, SEM and TEM monographs, confirming the formation of nanosized hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) and mesoporous gamma alumina (γ-Al₂O₃). Consequently, inexpensive red mud was converted into highly valuable nano-sized metal oxides using simple, sustainable techniques and cheap reagents. Moreover, this technique generates the lowest amounts of waste during the leaching process and all reagents can be recycled for further uses, making this method a sustainable utilization.

Tungstic acid-functionalized polycalix[4]resorcinarene as a cavity-containing hyper-branched supramolecular and recoverable acidic catalyst in 4H-pyran synthesis

In this study, tungstic acid immobilized on polycalix[4]resorcinarene, PC4RA@SiPr-OWO₃H, as a mesoporous acidic solid catalyst was synthesized and investigated for its catalytic activity. Polycalix[4]resorcinarene was prepared via a reaction between formaldehyde and calix[4]resorcinarene, and then the resulting polycalix[4]resorcinarene was modified using (3-chloropropyl)trimethoxysilane (CPTMS) to obtain polycalix[4]resorcinarene@(CH₂)₃Cl that was finally functionalized with tungstic acid. The designed acidic catalyst was characterized by various methods including FT-IR spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental mapping analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalyst efficiency was evaluated via the preparation of 4H-pyran derivatives using dimethyl/diethyl acetylenedicarboxylate, malononitrile, and beta-carbonyl compounds, confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The synthetic catalyst was introduced as a suitable catalyst with high recycling power in 4H-pyran synthesis.

Predicting the COVID-19 mortality among Iranian patients using tree-based models: A cross-sectional study

Background and Aims

To explore the use of different machine learning models in prediction of COVID-19 mortality in hospitalized patients.

Materials and Methods

A total of 44,112 patients from six academic hospitals who were admitted for COVID-19 between March 2020 and August 2021 were included in this study. Variables were obtained from their electronic medical records. Random forest-recursive feature elimination was used to select key features. Decision tree, random forest, LightGBM, and XGBoost model were developed. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, F-1 score, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-AUC were used to compare the prediction performance of different models.

Results

Random forest-recursive feature elimination selected following features to include in the prediction model: Age, sex, hypertension, malignancy, pneumonia, cardiac problem, cough, dyspnea, and respiratory system disease. XGBoost and LightGBM showed the best performance with an ROC-AUC of 0.83 [0.822-0.842] and 0.83 [0.816-0.837] and sensitivity of 0.77.

Conclusion

XGBoost, LightGBM, and random forest have a relatively high predictive performance in prediction of mortality in COVID-19 patients and can be applied in hospital settings, however, future research are needed to externally confirm the validation of these models.

Effect of deep gray matter atrophy on information processing speed in early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

BACKGROUND

Cognitive dysfunction, including reduced Information processing speed (IPS), is relatively common in multiple sclerosis(MS). IPS deficits have profound effects on several aspects of patients' life. Previous studies showed that deep gray matter atrophy is highly correlated with overall cognitive impairment in MS. However, the effect of deep gray matter atrophy on IPS deficits is not well understood. In this study, we evaluated the effects of deep gray matter volume changes on IPS in people with early relapse-remitting MS (RRMS) compared to healthy control.

METHODS

In this case-control study, we enrolled 63 case with RRMS and 36 healthy controls. All patients were diagnosed within 6 years. IPS was evaluated using the Integrated Cognitive Assessment (ICA) test. We also performed a 1.5T MRI to evaluate deep gray matter structures.

RESULTS

People with RRMS had lower accuracy in the ICA test (p = .01). However, the reaction time did not significantly differ between RRMS and control groups (p = .6). Thalamus volume was significantly lower in the RRMS group with impaired IPS compared to the RRMS with normal IPS and control groups (p < 10-4). Other deep gray matter structures were not significantly different between the RRMS with impaired IPS group and the RRMS with normal IPS group.

CONCLUSION

Some people with MS are impaired in IPS even in the early stages of the disease. Thalamic atrophy affected IPS in these patients, however atrophy in other deep gray matter structures, including caudate, putamen, globus pallidus, hippocampus, amygdala, accumbens, and cerebellum, were not significantly correlated with IPS impairment in early RRMS.

The relationship of genetic risk score with cardiometabolic risk factors: a cross-sectional study

Background & aims

For more than eight decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has remained the leading cause of death in the world. CVD risk factors are multifaceted, with genetics and lifestyle both playing a role. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between a genetic profile risk score for obesity GRS and cardio-metabolic risk factors in overweight and obese women.

Methods

The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 391 overweight and obese women. The genetic risk score was created by combining three single nucleotide polymorphisms [MC4R (rs17782313), CAV-1 (rs3807992), and Cry-1 (rs2287161)]. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and some blood parameters were measured by standard protocols.

Results

A significant association between the GRS and some of cardiometabolic risk factors variables such as body mass index (β = 0. 49, 95%CI = 0.22 to 0.76, p < 0.001), waist circumference (β = 0. 86, 95%CI = 0.18 to 1.54, p = 0.01), body fat mass (β = 0. 82, 95%CI = 0.25 to 1.39, p = 0.005), %body fat (β = 0. 44, 95%CI = 0.06 to 0.82, p = 0.02), and hs-CRP (β = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.78, p = 0.005) was observed in crude model. After adjustment for confounding factors (age, BMI, and physical activity), a significant positive association was observed between BMI (p = 0.004), WC (p = 0.02), body fat mass (p = 0.01), %BF (p = 0.01), hs-CRP (p = 0.009), and GRS. In addition, we discovered a significant negative association between the GRS and BMC (= -0.02, 95%CI = -0.05 to -0.001, p = 0.04). But other variables did not show any significant association with GRS among obese and overweight women.

Conclusion

We found a significant positive association between GRS, including MC4R (rs17782313), CAV-1 (rs3807992), and Cry-1 (rs2287161) and cardiometabolic risk factors among overweight and obese Iranian women.

Evaluation of thermosensitive chitosan hydrogel containing gefitinib loaded cellulose acetate butyrate nanoparticles in a subcutaneous breast cancer model

In the present study, gefitinib loaded cellulose acetate butyrate nanoparticles (Gnb-NPs) were prepared and then incorporated into thermo-sensitive chitosan/β-glycerophosphate hydrogels for intratumoral administration in mice bearing breast cancer. Accordingly, Gnb-NPs were prepared using the solvent evaporation process and optimized by applying a two-level fractional factorial design. Properties of NPs, including particle size, zeta potential (ZP), polydispersity index (PdI), encapsulation efficiency (EE) % and drug loading (DL) %, were investigated; the optimized Gnb-NPs were then loaded in chitosan hydrogels (Gnb-NPs-Hydrogel). The formulated Gnb-NPs-Hydrogel was assessed in terms of gelling time, release behavior, injectability, swelling and degradation behavior. The anti-cancer efficacy of Gnb-NPs-Hydrogel was evaluated in vitro against the 4 T1 breast cancer cell line and in vivo in breast tumor bearing mice. The optimized formulation showed spherical particles with the size of 156.50 ± 2.40 nm, PdI of 0.20 ± 0.002, ZP of -4.90 ± 0.04 mV, EE of 99.77 ± 0.09 % and DL of 20.59 ± 0.05 %. Incorporating Gnb-NPs into the hydrogel led to the decrease of the drug release rate. Gnb-NPs-Hydrogel displayed a greater cytotoxic effect in comparison to the free Gnb and Gnb-Hydrogel in 4 T1 cancer cells. Furthermore,intratumorallyinjectedGnb-NPs-Hydrogel showed the strongest antitumor efficacy in vivo. The superior performance of Gnb-NPs-Hydrogel, thus, demonstrated its potential for the treatment of breast cancer.

Upgrade Rates of Pure, Radiology-Pathology Concordant Lobular Neoplasia Diagnosed on Breast Core Needle Biopsy: Is Surgical Excision Warranted?

OBJECTIVE

To determine upgrade rates of lobular neoplasia (LN) to malignancy and evaluate factors that may predict upgrade.

METHODS

From 5/1/2003 to 12/30/2015, breast lesions diagnosed as LN (atypical lobular hyperplasia [ALH] or classic lobular carcinoma in-situ [LCIS]) on core biopsy that underwent surgical excision or at least 2 years imaging follow-up were identified. A subspecialty trained breast radiologist and pathologist reviewed imaging and pathology slides to confirm diagnosis and to determine if LN represented the target lesion, part of the target lesion, or an incidental finding. Imaging features, original BI-RADS final assessment category, biopsy method, biopsy device and final pathologic diagnosis were documented. Cases with both ALH and LCIS were classified as LCIS for analysis. Reason for biopsy of BI-RADS 2-3 was patient or referring physician preference. Upgrade rates to malignancy were determined for all cases.

RESULTS

In this study 73.7% (115/156) lesions were ALH and 26.3% (41/156) were LCIS+/-ALH. Surgical excision and imaging follow-up were performed in 71.2% (111/156) and 28.8% (45/156), respectively. Upgrade rates for ALH and LCIS were 0.0% (0/115) and 7.3% (3/41), respectively. Cancer developed at a site separate from core biopsy in 1.7% (2/115) ALH and 7.3% (3/41) LCIS cases. We found no association of upgrade rate with biopsy type, BI-RADS or target/part of target lesion versus incidental.

CONCLUSION

Our study supports consideration of excision for LCIS, given 7.3% upgrade rate. Conversely, imaging surveillance might be appropriate following diagnosis of ALH alone.

Effect of assertiveness program on the drug use tendency, mental health, and quality of life in clinical students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences

BACKGROUND

Students on campus are exposed to drug abuse and mental health disorders due to various challenges and motivating factors. This issue requires attention to interventions based on coping skills training. The present study was conducted with the aim to investigate the effect of an assertiveness program on the drug use tendency, mental health, and quality of life in clinical students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in 2020.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a quasi-experimental study. Seventy clinical students (nursing, midwifery, and intern students) attending Ayatollah Kashani and Hajar teaching hospitals of Shahrekord were included into the study and randomly assigned into an intervention group and a control group. The assertiveness training program was implemented for eight 1-h sessions (one session per week for 2 months) for the intervention group, while the control group received no programs. Both study groups completed drug tendency questionnaire, depression, anxiety and stress scale, and quality of life questionnaire in pretest, posttest, and 2-month follow-up. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (v22), analysis of variance repeated measures, and t-test.

RESULTS

The mean scores of drug use tendency (P = 0.26), stress (P = 0.31), anxiety (P = 0.29), depression (P = 0.43), and quality of life (P = 0.33) showed no statistically significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the pretest, but the scores of the drug use tendency, stress, anxiety, and depression were statistically lower and the score of quality of life was statistically higher than that of the control group in the posttest and 2-month follow-up (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings of the study showed that assertiveness skill training as a preventive program can reduce the students' tendency to addiction and improve their mental health and quality of life. Considering the effectiveness of the program, planners and policymakers can use it to plan for reducing the youth tendency to drugs.

45 A permutation test for validation of genomic estimated breeding values

Previous studies have shown that the accuracy of Genomic Estimated Breeding Value (GEBV) as a predictor of future performance is higher than the traditional Estimated Breeding Value (EBV). The purpose of this study was to estimate the potential advantage of selection on GEBV for litter size (LS) compared to selection on EBV in the Canadian swine dam line breeds. The study included 236 Landrace and 210 Yorkshire gilts born in 2017 which had their first farrowing after 2017. GEBV and EBV for LS were calculated with data that was available at the end of 2017 (GEBV2017 and EBV2017, respectively). De-regressed EBV for LS in July 2019 (dEBV2019) was used as an adjusted phenotype. The average dEBV2019 for the top 40% of sows based on GEBV2017 was compared to the average dEBV2019 for the top 40% of sows based on EBV2017. The standard error of the estimated difference for each breed was estimated by comparing the average dEBV2019 for repeated random samples of two sets of 40% of the gilts. In comparison to the top 40% ranked based on EBV2017, ranking based on GEBV2017 resulted in an extra 0.45 (±0.29) and 0.37 (±0.25) piglets born per litter in Landrace and Yorkshire replacement gilts, respectively. The estimated Type I errors of the GEBV2017 gain over EBV2017 were 6% and 7% in Landrace and Yorkshire, respectively. Considering selection of both replacement boars and replacement gilts using GEBV instead of EBV can translate into increased annual genetic gain of 0.3 extra piglets per litter, which would more than double the rate of gain observed from typical EBV based selection. The permutation test for validation used in this study appears effective with relatively small data sets and could be applied to other traits, other species and other prediction methods.

Association of a novel homozygous mutation in the HMGCS2 gene with an HMGCSD in an Iranian patient

BACKGROUND

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) synthase 2 gene (HMGCS2) encodes a mitochondrial enzyme catalyzing the first reaction of ketogenesis metabolic pathway which provides lipid-derived energy for various organs during times of carbohydrate deprivation, such as fasting. Mutations in this gene are responsible for HMG-CoA synthase deficiency (HMGCSD). The aim of present study was to investigate the association of mutation in the HMGCS2 gene with HMGCSD in a patient with atypical symptoms.

METHODS

The clinical and genetic features of an 8-months-old girl with HMGCSD were evaluated. Molecular genetic testing was conducted using whole-exome sequencing (WES) in order to identify potential disease-causing mutation. The WES finding was confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the target sequence carried out for the patient and her parents. The PCR products were subjected to direct sequencing using forward and reverse specific primers corresponding to the HMGCS2 gene.

RESULTS

A novel homozygous missense mutation (c.266G>A p.Gly89Asp) was detected in the HMGCS2 gene. Sanger sequencing along with co-segregation analysis of all family members confirmed this novel pathogenic germline mutation. The mutant gene was found to be pathogenic by bioinformatics analysis.

CONCLUSION

To our best knowledge, this is the first report of HMGCSD in Iran which would expand our knowledge about the mutational spectrum of the HMGCS2 gene and the phenotype variations of the disease.

The effects of the Fordyce's 14 fundamentals for happiness program on happiness and caregiver burden among the family caregivers of patients with epilepsy: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Caregiving to patients with epilepsy (PWE) is often very stressful for family caregivers and puts a heavy caregiver burden (CB) on them. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Fordyce's fourteen Fundamentals for Happiness Program on happiness and CB among the family caregivers of PWE.

METHODS

This randomized controlled trial was conducted on seventy family caregivers of PWE. Participants were purposively recruited from the Comprehensive Health Center in Shahrekord, Iran, and randomly allocated to either an intervention or a control group. Participants in the control group received conventional health-related educations in four one-hour group sessions, while participants in the intervention group received the Fordyce's fourteen Fundamentals for Happiness Program in eight one-hour group sessions. Happiness and CB in both groups were assessed at three time points, namely before, immediately after, and two months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using the SPSS program (v. 18.0).

FINDINGS

There were no significant differences between the control and the intervention groups regarding participants' demographic characteristics and their pretest mean scores of happiness and CB (P > 0.05). The mean scores of happiness and CB in the control group did not significantly change (P > 0.05), while the mean score of happiness significantly increased and the mean score of CB significantly decreased in the intervention group across the three measurement time points (P < 0.05). Consequently, the mean score of happiness in the intervention group was significantly greater than the control group and the mean score of CB in the intervention group was significantly less than the control group at both posttests (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The Fordyce's fourteen Fundamentals for Happiness Program is effective in significantly increasing happiness and reducing CB among the family caregivers of PWE. Healthcare providers and policy makers can use this program to reduce problems among these family caregivers.

Biometric changes of skin parameters in using of microneedling fractional radiofrequency for skin tightening and rejuvenation facial

BACKGROUND

Fractional radiofrequency (RF) has been used for skin rejuvenation and tightening by dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons in recent years.

METHODS

Twenty female patients (mean age of 51.9 years) with Fitzpatrick III to VI skin phototypes who desired to undergo skin lift/tightening received six sessions of fractional microneedle RF treatment and were assessed at baseline and then 3 months after the last session for biometric characteristics using a Colorimeter, Visioface 1000D, Tewameter, Cutometer, Mexameter, and Sebumeter and a skin ultrasound imaging system to evaluate the transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin pores, color, melanin content, erythema, sebaceous content, and thickness and density of the epidermis and dermis. Patient satisfaction with visual analog scale (VAS) was also measured.

RESULTS

The results showed that skin pores and spots decreased significantly. TEWL also decreased significantly (by 18.44%). Meanwhile, skin density increased significantly (R7, by 44.41%). The ultrasonographic assessments showed that both the density and thickness of the dermis and epidermis were increased. The changes in the other parameters were not significant.

CONCLUSION

FR increases the density and thickness of the dermis and thus also increases the collagen content and decreases skin pores and TEWL.

Transient unilateral oculomotor palsy in idiopathic intracranial hypertension: An interesting case

The article's abstract is not available.

Indirect exchange interaction between magnetic impurities in one-dimensional gapped helical states

We investigate theoretically indirect exchange interaction between magnetic impurities mediated by one-dimensional gapped helical states. Such states, containing massive Dirac fermions, may be realized on the edge of a two-dimensional topological insulator when time-reversal symmetry is weakly broken. We find that the indirect exchange interaction consists of Heisenberg, Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya, in-plane and out-of-plane Ising terms. These terms decay exponentially when the Fermi level lies inside the bandgap whereas the Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya term has smallest amplitude. Outside the bandgap, the massive helical states modify oscillatory behaviors of the range functions so that the period of oscillations decreases near the edge of band in terms of energy gap or Fermi energy. In addition, the out-of-plane Ising term vanishes in the case of zero-gap structure. Also, the oscillation amplitude of out-of-plane Ising term increases versus energy gap but it decreases as a function of Fermi energy. While the oscillation amplitudes of other components remain constant as functions of energy gap and Fermi energy. Analytical results are also obtained for subgap and over gap regimes. Furthermore, the effects of electron-electron interactions are analyzed.

Identification of Two Novel Mutations in the ATM Gene from Patients with Ataxia-Telangiectasia by Whole Exome Sequencing

Background

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is one of the most common autosomal recessive hereditary ataxia presenting in childhood. The responsible gene for AT designated ATM (AT, mutated) encodes a protein which is involved in cell cycle checkpoints and other responses to genotoxicity. We describe two novel disease-causing mutations in two unrelated Iranian families with Ataxia-telangiectasia.

Methods

The probands including a 6-year-old female and an 18-year-old boy were diagnosed with Ataxia-telangiectasia among two different Iranian families. In this study, Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) was employed for the detection of genetic changes in probands. The analysis of the co-segregation of the variants with the disease in families was conducted using PCR direct sequencing.

Results

Two novel frameshift mutations, (c.4236_4236del p. Pro1412fs) and (c.8907T>G p. Tyr2969Ter) in the ataxia telangiectasia mutated ATM gene were detected using Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES) in the probands. These mutations were observed in two separate A-T families.

Conclusion

Next-generation sequencing successfully identified the causative mutation in families with ataxia-telangiectasia. These novel mutations in the ATM gene reported in the present study could assist genetic counseling, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and prenatal diagnosis (PND) of AT.

The Effect of Group Counseling Based on Quality of Life Therapy on Stress and Life Satisfaction in Family Caregivers of Individuals with Substance Use Problem: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Family caregivers of people with substance abuse are exposed to psychological problems that diminish their life quality and satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to diagnose the efficacy of quality-of-life intervention on stress and life satisfaction of family caregivers of individuals with substance use problem. This is a randomized controlled trial conducted on 80 family caregivers of individuals with substance use problem in the process of withdrawal who were referred to a psychiatric center in southeastern Iran (2018). The intervention group received seven sessions of quality-of-life group counseling every other day based on predetermined content. Twelve weeks post-intervention, data were collected from the control and intervention groups using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). The results were analyzed through statistical tests. After group counseling based on quality of life, the mean stress score in the family caregivers of the intervention group (11.50 ± 4.36) was significantly lower than in those of the control group (14.67 ± 4.93) (p = 0.003). Also, in the posttest, the mean score of life satisfaction in the intervention group (24.75 ± 4.28) was significantly higher than that of the control group (19.57 ± 7.33) (p = 0.001). Group counseling based on quality of life exerted a significantly positive impact on reducing the severity of stress and improving life satisfaction among family caregivers of individuals with substance use problem. Therefore, it is highly recommended that healthcare service providers incorporate this counseling approach in substance use withdrawal programs so as to increase the well-being and mental health of family caregivers.

The protective effect of thymoquinone on tert-butylhydroquinone induced cytotoxicity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

2-tert-Butyl-4-hydroquinone (TBHQ) is used for inhibition of oxidative rancidity in the food industry. However, this antioxidant can stimulate cytotoxicity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Thus, potential protective effects of thymoquinone (TQ) against TBHQ-induced cytotoxicity were investigated. Cytotoxicity was evaluated via MTT, flow cytometry, DAPI staining and DNA fragmentation methods. The obtained results revealed that treatment of HUVECs with TQ enhanced the cell viability rate and it had potential to reduce the cytotoxicity effect of TBHQ in cells. Also, in a combined regime of TQ and TBHQ, apoptosis was reduced compared to the cells treated with TBHQ (p < 0.05). Similarly, TQ had a protective effect on DNA and chromatin fragmentation of the cells treated with TBHQ. Finally, it can be concluded that TQ could be used as a protective agent against cytotoxicity induced by TBHQ in HUVECs.

The Relationship Between Tendency to Computer Games and the Mental Health of Junior High School Students of Shahr-e Kord, Iran

Background and aims: Given that computer games have positive and negative functions and may affect the mental health of individuals, the present research aimed to study the relationship between the tendency to playing computer games and the mental health of junior high school students in Shahr-e Kord. Methods: The current cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 245 boy and girl junior high school students of Shahr-e Kord in 2016. The participants were selected using a random cluster sampling method. The required data were collected using questionnaires of demographic variables, the standard 28-item General Health Questionnaire, and an author-made questionnaire on the tendency to computer games. Finally, the data were statistically analyzed using descriptive and analytic tests in SPSS-18. Participation in the study was voluntary. Results: The results showed that 31.8% of the students aged 14 years old. In addition, the tendency to computer games was higher in girls (0.027) and their level of mental health was lower compared to boys (P=0.032). There was a significant relationship between the tendency to computer games and the age of the students (P=0.023). Eventually, age (P=0.025) and gender (P=0.09) represented a significant relationship with the mental health of the students. Conclusion: Based on the low level of mental health in girls, it is necessary to pay special attention to the symptoms of depression and anxiety and social functions in adolescents, control the time spent on playing the computer games, plan carefully for their leisure time, direct adolescents toward reading books, and promote their health using educational patterns.

The use of brain stimulation in the rehabilitation of walking disability in patients with multiple sclerosis: A randomized double-blind clinical trial study

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex of the lower limb has been exploited in the treatment of patients with stroke and spastic lower limb paresis. We examined this stimulation efficacy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related walking disability. Methods: In a single-center randomized doubleblind clinical trial study, 13 patients with MS and walking disability and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 3 to 6 were randomized to the real and sham stimulation groups. In the real tDCS stimulation, 7 patients received anodal 2.5 mA stimulation at 1 cm anterior to the Cz point for 30-minute daily sessions in 7 consecutive days. The other group received sham stimulation with the same protocol. The primary outcome of the trial was change in the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25-FW) from before to after the stimulation. We also assessed the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12). We employed linear mixed effects model to examine the efficacy of tDCS stimulation on changing the outcomes. Results: On average, patients who received real tDCS stimulation walked faster after 7 sessions of stimulation [Estimate = -2.7, standard error (SE) = 1.3, P = 0.049], while walking speed of sham stimulation recipients did not change. For every session of stimulation, recipients of real tDCS stimulation spent 2.7 seconds less for walking the 25 feet. Real tDCS stimulation was not effective in improving MSWS-12 scores. Conclusion: tDCS stimulation of the lower limb motor cortex speeded up patients with MS in walking, but without improvement in patients’ mobility in daily activities.  

Balance Disorders and Their Related Factors Among the Elderly in the Northern Rural Areas of Iran

Background: Aging is a natural and physiological process. Moreover, balance disorders frequently occur in the elderly and cause many morbidities in this population. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate balance disorders and their related factors in the healthy elderly population of the rural areas of Guilan province, in the north of Iran. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 425 individuals over 65 years old were selected by random cluster sampling method from the villages of Rasht, the capital city of Guilan province. After obtaining written consent, the subjects were examined for balance disturbance through gait and balance adjusted scale (GABS) index. The obtained results were reported as frequency. We applied the Mann-Whitney U test and non-parametric regression analysis for non-normally distributed dependent variables. The obtained data were analyzed in software version 18. Results: The Mean±SD score of GABS was 10.07±8.00 [median (IQR):7(10.5)]. A total of 425 individuals were selected, but 413 completed the research (218 males and 195 females). In total, 73.1% of the subjects reported at least one disorder among the investigated parameters, and 45.2% mentioned a disorder in at least one of the studied parameters in medical history. By modified GABS; 42.2% of the subjects reported disorders in at least one of the investigated parameters. Conclusion: Nearly half of the elderly population in the rural areas of the north of Iran suffer from balance disorder. This data was obtained by their medical history and physical examinations.

The use of brain stimulation in the rehabilitation of walking disability in patients with multiple sclerosis: A randomized double-blind clinical trial study

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the primary motor cortex of the lower limb has been exploited in the treatment of patients with stroke and spastic lower limb paresis. We examined this stimulation efficacy in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related walking disability. Methods: In a single-center randomized double-blind clinical trial study, 13 patients with MS and walking disability and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 3 to 6 were randomized to the real and sham stimulation groups. In the real tDCS stimulation, 7 patients received anodal 2.5 mA stimulation at 1 cm anterior to the C_z point for 30-minute daily sessions in 7 consecutive days. The other group received sham stimulation with the same protocol. The primary outcome of the trial was change in the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25-FW) from before to after the stimulation. We also assessed the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12). We employed linear mixed effects model to examine the efficacy of tDCS stimulation on changing the outcomes. Results: On average, patients who received real tDCS stimulation walked faster after 7 sessions of stimulation [Estimate = -2.7, standard error (SE) = 1.3, P = 0.049], while walking speed of sham stimulation recipients did not change. For every session of stimulation, recipients of real tDCS stimulation spent 2.7 seconds less for walking the 25 feet. Real tDCS stimulation was not effective in improving MSWS-12 scores. Conclusion: tDCS stimulation of the lower limb motor cortex speeded up patients with MS in walking, but without improvement in patients' mobility in daily activities.

The use of laser-based diagnostics for the rapid identification of infectious agents in human blood

AIMS

To investigate the use of a laser-based method of detection as a potential diagnostic test for the rapid identification of infectious agents in human blood.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, the successful differentiation of blood spiked with viruses, bacteria or protozoan parasites to clinically relevant levels is demonstrated using six blood types (O+, O-, AB+, A+, A-, B+) using blood from different individuals with blood samples prepared in two different laboratories. Experiments were performed using various compositions of filters, experimental set-ups and experimental parameters for spectral capture.

CONCLUSIONS

The potential for developing a laser-based diagnostic instrument to detect the presence of parasites, bacteria and viruses in human blood capable of providing analysis results within minutes was demonstrated.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

There is an ongoing need for clinical diagnostics to adapt to newly emerging agents and to screen simultaneously for multiple infectious agents. A laser-based approach can achieve sensitive, multiplex detection with minimal sample preparation and provide rapid results (within minutes). These properties along with the flexibility to add new agent detection by simply adjusting the detection programming make it a promising tool for clinical diagnosis.

Nigella sativaand its Derivatives as Food Toxicity Protectant Agents

Exposure to food toxins generate multiple adverse health effects. Heavy metals, antibiotics residue, mycotoxins, pesticides and some food additives are examples of the most important food toxins. The common mechanism of toxicity and carcinogenicity effects of food toxins is the generation of oxidative stress that leads to DNA damages. Moreover, based on epidemiologic evidence unhealthy eating habits and food toxicities are associated with cancers occurrence. Therefore, application of bioactive food additives as harmless or safe components in food industry is expensive. Nigella sativa L. is a broadly used herb-drug for various diseases all over the world and has been used as preservative and food additive. Based on various studies N. sativa has shown various pharmacological activities including therapeutic efficacy against different human diseases and antioxidant anti-inflammatory effects against environmental toxins. N. sativa decreases the adverse health effects induced by mentioned food toxins via modulating the action of antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase catalase and act as reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers in different organs. Besides, N. sativa and thymoquinone (TQ) have protective effects on food products through removal and inhibition of various toxic compounds. Therefore, in the present review we will describe all protective effects of N. sativa and its main constituents, TQ, against food induced toxicities.

The Relationship Between Perceived Stress Level and Consumption of Fast Foods Among Female Students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences

Background and aims: Nowadays, with the advancement of science and technology, lifestyle has changed and fast foods are being commonly consumed. Due to their special circumstances, university students are susceptible to stress, anxiety, and bad nutritional patterns and, because of the consumption of high amounts of fat and salt and physical inactivity, are at increased risk of overweight and obesity. Therefore, the present research was conducted to study the relationship between the consumption of fast foods and perceived stress level among female students of Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences. Methods: The present research was a descriptive-analytical study conducted on female students of different faculties and majors in Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences in the academic year 2016-2017. From the study population, 152 students were selected as the samples using random cluster sampling method. Data were collected using a demographic information questionnaire (age, major, parents’ education level, education level, and place of residence), a standard 14-item scale for the measurement of perceived stress level, and a checklist to record the frequency of fast foods consumption in university and home or dormitory (daily, weekly, and monthly). Data analysis was conducted using descriptive and analytical tests (chi-squared, independent t test, and Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlation coefficients) in SPSS 18. Participation in the study was voluntary. Results: Results showed 45.4% of participants aged 18-20, 16.4% of whom were studying in public health, and 85.8% were BSc students. The mean scores of perceived stress and fast foods consumption were 51.36±13.52 and 12.42±5.42, respectively. There was a significant relationship between age and perceived stress (P=0.000), and between mother’s education level and perceived stress (P=0.011). There was no significant relationship between the mean score of perceived stress and fast foods consumption in participants (P=0.072) Conclusion: Considering the level of perceived stress and fast foods consumption in university students, it is necessary to apply effective patterns and theories of health education and promotion and also to direct attention to interpersonal and environmental factors to reduce stress and encourage healthy eating habits.