Forward layer-wise learning of convolutional neural networks through separation index maximizing

This paper proposes a forward layer-wise learning algorithm for CNNs in classification problems. The algorithm utilizes the Separation Index (SI) as a supervised complexity measure to evaluate and train each layer in a forward manner. The proposed method explains that gradually increasing the SI through layers reduces the input data's uncertainties and disturbances, achieving a better feature space representation. Hence, by approximating the SI with a variant of local triplet loss at each layer, a gradient-based learning algorithm is suggested to maximize it. Inspired by the NGRAD (Neural Gradient Representation by Activity Differences) hypothesis, the proposed algorithm operates in a forward manner without explicit error information from the last layer. The algorithm's performance is evaluated on image classification tasks using VGG16, VGG19, AlexNet, and LeNet architectures with CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, Raabin-WBC, and Fashion-MNIST datasets. Additionally, the experiments are applied to text classification tasks using the DBPedia and AG's News datasets. The results demonstrate that the proposed layer-wise learning algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art methods in accuracy and time complexity.

Magnets and children: a dangerous combination

BACKGROUND

Accidental ingestion of foreign bodies is a common problem in children. Fortunately, the gastrointestinal tract is quite resilient to foreign bodies. On the other hand, the ingestion of magnets can result in enormous morbidity. Because of their natural tendency to firmly adhere they can cause intestinal obstruction, pressure necrosis, fistula formation or perforation. With this case report, we aim to raise awareness of the risks that these magnets pose to children.

METHODS

We describe a case of intestinal perforation caused by the separate ingestion of multiple magnets from a children's toy (buckyballs, Neodymium spheres) by a two-year-old boy. A search in the Pubmed database showed some publications and varied management guidelines.

RESULTS

The boy was treated with an exploratory laparoscopy converted to a mini-laparotomy. We removed the four magnets through separate enterotomies. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. The boy was discharged on a postoperative day five and had no complications at three months follow-ups.

CONCLUSION

Accidental ingestion of multiple magnets is rare but can create a life-threatening situation in children. If the magnets are still in the stomach, endoscopic retrieval is needed. If they are beyond the stomach, in asymptomatic cases close clinical and radiographic vigilance is mandatory. When symptomatic we advise urgent removal. If treated on time, the surgical outcome is good and fast recovery is expected.

Application of Multiple Occupational Health Risk Assessment Models for Metal Fumes in Welding Process

Welding fumes have an important role to create the adverse health effects. So, the aim of this study was to use of multiple occupational health risk assessment models for metal fumes in welding process. This cross-sectional study was conducted among welding workers. Sampling of heavy metals such as Sn, Zn, Al, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr, and As was provided based on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) method 7300 and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Risk assessment was managed by four methods including Malaysia's method, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Essentials (COSHH model), Chinese OHRA standard (GBZ/T 298-2017), and EPA method. Also, Monte Carlo simulation was used to examine the uncertainties by using the Crystal Ball tool. To compare the models, the risk levels of each model were converted into the risk ratio and the SPSS 22.0 software was used to the statistical analysis. The consistency of the two occupational health risk assessment models was examined by Cohen's Kappa. Risk ration was the highest level for Cr (VI) fumes in all models. Also, carcinogenic risk was unacceptable for all examined fumes. Moreover, non-carcinogenic risk was the highest (HI > 1) for As fumes. Mont Carlo simulations suggested that exposure time (ET) had a significant effect on the risk. Also, there was a good consistency between Malaysia method/GBZ/T 298-2017 and COSHH model/GBZ/T 298-2017. Therefore, it is recommended that the engineering and administrative controls should be provided to reduce exposure.

Numerical study of bacteria removal from microalgae solution using an asymmetric contraction-expansion microfluidic device: A parametric analysis approach

Microalgae have been remarkably taken into account due to their wide applications in the biopharmaceutical, nutraceutical and bio-energy fields. However, contamination of microalgae with bacteria still appears to be a concern, adversely impacting products' quality and process efficiency. Microalgae decontamination with conventional techniques is usually expensive and time-consuming. Moreover, damage to microalgae cells is highly possible. Asymmetric contraction-expansion microchannels (Asym-CEMCs) are promising passive microfluidic devices that can overcome conventional techniques' drawbacks with their standing-out features. However, the flexibility of Asym-CEMCs performance arising from their various tunable geometrical parameters results in the fact that their performance for separating a target particle cannot be predicted without an investigation. In this work, for the first time, Asym-CEMCs were numerically studied for the removal of a very conventional bacteria, B. subtilis (1 μm), from one of the most popular microalgae, C. vulgaris (5.7 μm). The influences of the microchannel aspect ratio, length and width ratios of the expansion-to-contraction zones, and the total flow rate on the separation resolution and focusing width of the particles were investigated by a 3D numerical model. The aspect ratio had the strongest influence on the Asym-CEMC performance, however, the length ratio had no considerable effect on the results. A decrease in the aspect ratio augmented the shear-induced lift force and Dean drag force, leading to a significant separation resolution improvement. Microalgae decontamination was also enhanced by an increase in the total flow rate and expansion-to-contraction width ratio. Finally, a locally optimized Asym-CEMC with an aspect ratio of one and expansion-to-contraction width and length ratios of 4.7 and 2.07, respectively, was proposed, leading to complete microalgae decontamination with a high normalized separation resolution of 0.6. In a word, Asym-CEMCs with tailored dimensions are promising for successfully decontaminating microalgae from bacteria.

High-Efficiency Inertial Separation of Microparticles Using Elevated Columned Reservoirs and Vortex Technique for Lab-on-a-Chip Applications

The discovery of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has envisioned an excellent outlook for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Among numerous efforts proposed for CTCs isolation, vortex separation is a well-known method for capturing CTCs from blood due to its applicability, low sample volume requirement, and ability to retain cell viability. It is a label-free, passive, low-cost, and automated method, making it an ideal solution for lab-on-a-chip applications. The previous designs that employed vortex technology have shown reaching high throughput and 70% separation efficiency although it was after three processing cycles which are not desired. Inspired by our earlier design, in this work, we redesigned the chip geometry by elevating the columned reservoir height to capture more particles and consequently reduce particle-particle collision, eventually improving efficiency. So, a height-variable chip with fewer elevated columned reservoirs (ECRs) was employed to isolate 20 μm microparticles representing CTCs from 8 μm microparticles. Also, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the third axis contribution to the separation mechanism. The new design with ECRs resulted in a 14% increase in average efficiency, reaching ∼80% ± 8.3% in microparticle separation and 61% purity. Moreover, the proposed chip geometry demonstrated more than three times higher capacity in retaining orbiting particles up to 1300 in peak performance without sacrificing efficiency compared to earlier single-layer designs. We came up with an upgraded injection system to facilitate this chip characterization. We also presented an effortless and straightforward approach for purging air bubbles trapped inside the reservoirs to preserve regular chip operation, especially where there is a mismatch between channel and reservoir heights.

Genetic attributes of Iranian cystic fibrosis patients: the diagnostic efficiency of CFTR mutations in over a decade

Objectives: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most prevalent autosomal recessive disorder among Caucasians. Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene cause this pathology. We, therefore, aimed to describe the CFTR mutations and their geographical distribution in Iran. Method: The mutation spectrum for 87 families from all Iranian ethnicities was collected using ARMS PCR, Sanger sequencing, and MLPA. Results: Mutations were identified in 95.8% of cases. This dataset revealed that the most frequent mutations in the Iranian population were F508del, c.1000C>T, c.1397C>G, c.1911delG, and c.1393-1G>A. In addition, we found weak evidence for Turkey being the possible geographical pathway for introducing CFTR mutations into Iran by mapping the frequency of CFTR mutations. Conclusion: Our descriptive results will facilitate the genetic detection and prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis within the Iranian population.

Effects of occupational exposures on respiratory health in steel factory workers

Background

The steel factory work environment contains various chemical exposures that can affect indoor air quality and have impact on respiratory health of the workers.

Aims

The objective of this study was to assess potential effects of occupational exposures in steel factory workers in Iran on the respiratory symptoms, occurrence and the lung function levels.

Method

This was a cross-sectional study of 133 men working in a steel factory forming the exposed group and 133 male office workers forming the reference group from a steel company in Iran. The participants filled in a questionnaire and underwent spirometry. Work history was used both as dichotomous (exposed/reference) and a quantitative measure of exposure, the latter measured as duration of exposure in the specified work (in years) for the exposed group and zero for the reference group.

Results

Multiple linear regression and Poisson regression were used to adjust for confounding. In Poisson regression analyses, an increased prevalence ratio (PR) of all respiratory symptoms was observed in the exposed group. Lung function parameters were significantly reduced in the exposed group (p < 0.001). There was a dose-response relation between duration of occupational exposures and reduction in the predicted value of FEV1/FVC level (0.177, 95% CI -0.198 to -0.156) in all models.

Conclusion

The results of these analyses showed that occupational exposures in steel factory work increase the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and reduce lung function. Safety training and workplace conditions were found to need improvement. In addition, use of proper personal protective equipment is recommended.

Prioritizing risk factors of hazardous material road transportation accidents using the fuzzy AHP method

BACKGROUND

Annually, large amounts of hazardous materials (hazmat) are transported through the roads and this movement causes various accidents. Identifying the causes of these accidents is a critical issue for all public governments.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify the effective risk factors for hazmat road transport accidents and determine their relative weight using the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method.

METHODS

This qualitative study was conducted in 2021 in Iran and included four steps, i.e., the identification (using literature review and semi-structured interview), determination (according to the expert panel opinion), classification, and prioritization of effective factors in hazmat road transportation accidents. To prioritize and determine the relative weight of the effective factors, the fuzzy AHP technique was used.

RESULTS

In total, 159 risk factors were identified, which were classified into six factors (including road, transportation management, vehicle, cargo, driver, and weather conditions) and 24 bub-factors. The main factor (greatest relative weight) with the highest priority was the driver (0.181). The road (0.167), cargo (0.166), vehicle (0.169), transportation management (0.161), and weather conditions (0.159) were the next priorities, in that order.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated that the driver is the most important factor in causing accidents when transporting hazmat by road. The findings of this study might have the potential to decrease the frequency and consequence of accidents caused by the road transport of hazmat.

Quantitative risk assessment of respiratory exposure to acrylonitrile vapor in petrochemical industry by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency method: a cross-sectional study

Acrylonitrile is a potential carcinogen for humans, and exposure to this substance can cause adverse effects for workers. This study aimed to carcinogenic and health risk assessment of acrylonitrile vapor exposure in exposed personnel of a petrochemical complex. This crosssectional study was performed in 2019 in a petrochemical complex. In this study, to sample and determine acrylonitrile's respiratory exposure, the method provided by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH 1601) was used, and a total of 45 inhaled air samples were sampled from men workers, aged 39.43 ± 9.37 years. All subjects' mean exposure to acrylonitrile vapors was 71.1 ± 122.8 μg/m³. Also, the mean exposure index among all subjects was 0.02 ± 0.034. The non-carcinogenic risk assessment results showed that the mean Hazard quotient index was 4.04 ± 6.93. The mean lifetime cancer risk index was also 2.1 × 10^-3 ± 3.5 × 10^-3 and was in the definite risk range. Considering that both carcinogenicity and health indicators of exposure to acrylonitrile in the studied petrochemical complex are more than the recommended limits, the necessary engineering and management measures to control and manage the risk to an acceptable level are essential to improving the worker's health.

Size-dependent molecular interaction of nontraditional 2D antibiotics withStaphylococcus aureus

The application of nanomaterials for their antibacterial properties is the subject of many studies due to antibiotic resistance of pathogen bacteria and the necessity of omitting them from food and water resources. Graphene oxide (GO) is one of the most popular candidates for antibacterial application. However, the optimum condition for such an effect is not yet clear for practical purposes. To shed light on how GO and bacteria interaction depends on size, a wide range of GO flake sizes from hundreds of µm²going down to nano-scale as low as 10 N m²was produced. In anin-vitrosystematic study to inhibitStaphylococcus aureusgrowth, the correlation between GO flake size, thickness, functional group density, and antibacterial activity was investigated. The GO suspension with the average size of 0.05 µm², in the order of the size of the bacteria itself, had the best bacteriostatic effect onS. aureuswith the minimum inhibitory concentration value of 8 μg ml^-1, well within the acceptable range for practical use. The bacteriostatic effect was measured to be a 76.2% reduction of the colony count over 2 h of incubation and the mechanism of action was the wrapping and isolation of cells from the growth environment. Furthermore,in-vivoanimal studies revealed that 16 μg ml^-1of the optimum GO has efficient antibacterial performance against the methicillin-resistant strains of the bacteria with an enhanced wound healing rate and tensiometrial parameters which is important for realized targets.

Do hospital workers experience a higher risk of respiratory symptoms and loss of lung function?

Background

Hospital work environment contains various biological and chemical exposures that can affect indoor air quality and have impact on respiratory health of the staff. The objective of this study was to investigate potential effects of occupational exposures on the risk of respiratory symptoms and lung function in hospital work, and to evaluate potential interaction between smoking and occupational exposures.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 228 staff members in a hospital and 228 employees of an office building as the reference group in Shiraz, Iran. All subjects completed a standardized ATS respiratory questionnaire and performed a spirometry test.

Results

In Poisson regression, the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) among the hospital staff were elevated for cough (aPR 1.90, 95% CI 1.15, 3.16), phlegm production (aPR 3.21, 95% CI 1.63, 6.32), productive cough (aPR 2.83, 95% CI 1.48, 5.43), wheezing (aPR 3.18, 95% CI 1.04, 9.66), shortness of breath (aPR 1.40, 95% CI 0.93, 2.12), and chest tightness (aPR 1.73, 95% CI 0.73, 4.12). Particularly laboratory personnel experienced increased risks of most symptoms. In linear regression adjusting for confounding, there were no significant differences in lung function between the hospital and office workers. There was an indication of synergism between hospital exposures and current smoking on FEV1/FVC% (interaction term β = − 5.37, 95% CI − 10.27, − 0.47).

Conclusions

We present significant relations between hospital work, especially in laboratories, and increased risks of respiratory symptoms. Smoking appears to enhance these effects considerably. Our findings suggest that policymakers should implement evidence-based measures to prevent these occupational exposures.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-02098-5.

Interconnected sub-networks of the macaque monkey gustatory connectome

Macroscopic taste processing connectivity was investigated using functional magnetic resonance imaging during the presentation of sour, salty, and sweet tastants in anesthetized macaque monkeys. This examination of taste processing affords the opportunity to study the interactions between sensory regions, central integrators, and effector areas. Here, 58 brain regions associated with gustatory processing in primates were aggregated, collectively forming the gustatory connectome. Regional regression coefficients (or β-series) obtained during taste stimulation were correlated to infer functional connectivity. This connectivity was then evaluated by assessing its laterality, modularity and centrality. Our results indicate significant correlations between same region pairs across hemispheres in a bilaterally interconnected scheme for taste processing throughout the gustatory connectome. Using unbiased community detection, three bilateral sub-networks were detected within the graph of the connectome. This analysis revealed clustering of 16 medial cortical structures, 24 lateral structures, and 18 subcortical structures. Across the three sub-networks, a similar pattern was observed in the differential processing of taste qualities. In all cases, the amplitude of the response was greatest for sweet, but the network connectivity was strongest for sour and salty tastants. The importance of each region in taste processing was computed using node centrality measures within the connectome graph, showing centrality to be correlated across hemispheres and, to a smaller extent, region volume. Connectome hubs exhibited varying degrees of centrality with a prominent leftward increase in insular cortex centrality. Taken together, these criteria illustrate quantifiable characteristics of the macaque monkey gustatory connectome and its organization as a tri-modular network, which may reflect the general medial-lateral-subcortical organization of salience and interoception processing networks.

Modulation of Negative Effects of Physiological Stress on Frozen-Thawed Semen with Nutrition of Organic Selenium in Ross 308 Rooster

Current experiment was carried out in factorial 2×2 arrangement to study the effects of stress (with or without dexamethasone administration) and addition of dietary selenium (with or without selenium supplementation in the diet) in male broiler breeder on the quality of frozen-thawed sperm under oxidative stress induced by dexamethasone. A total of 24 broiler breeder roosters with the age of 28 weeks were used based on a completely randomized design with four therapeutic approaches (factorial 2×2) and six birds in each approach. The experimental treatments were: 1) basal diet without selenium supplementation and injection of saline (CON), 2) basal diet with dexamethasone injection (4 mg/kg BW, three times every other day for one week), (DEX), 3) without dexamethasone injection and supplementation with 0.3 mg/kg selenium (Sel-Plex), and 4) dexamethasone injection and basal diet supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg of diet selenium (Sel-Plex+Dex). Sperm samples were collected from roosters. Motility, progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability, malondialdehyde concentration and antioxidant parameters were evaluated in fresh and frozen-thawed semen. In spite of non-significant interaction effects, factorial analysis indicated the significant effect of every factor on different experimental parameters in fresh and frozen-thawed semen (P<0.05); The results revealed that total and progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity and viability were lower in DEX group when compared with other treatments (P<0.05). On the other hand, malondialdehyde concentration was higher in DEX group in comparison with Con, Sel-Plex and Sel-Plex+DEX groups (P<0.05). Moreover, total antioxidant capacity, level of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were lower in DEX group as compared with other treatments (P<0.05). Our findings indicated that administration of selenium in dexamethasone-receiving roosters (Sel-Plex+DEX) improved the parameters of fresh and frozen-thawed sperm; but the best results were observed in Sel-Plex treatment. Therefore, selenium supplementation in the diet of roosters without dexamethasone injection improved total motility, progressive motility, membrane integrity, viability, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase pre- and post-freezing. It can be concluded, selenium in organic forms in stressed and non-stressed rooster's diet might improve all motility and antioxidant parameters in fresh and frozen-thawed sperm.

Isolation and identification of specific bacteriophages against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumanniiin vitro

Drug resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii are also cited as one of the most important causes of community and hospital acquired infections. Phage therapy can be used as a therapeutic method for the treatment of infections caused by these bacteria. The aim of this study was to isolate bacteriophages from municipal wastewater and assess their effects against drug resistant bacterial strains. The single agar layer technique was used to investigate the bacteriolytic effect of bacteriophages. Then, the double agar layer technique was used to observe phage plaques and the transmission electron microscopy was used to study the morphology of the bacteriophages. Transparent plaque formation in a double agar layer test of methicillin-resistant S. aureus and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae indicated the lysis of bacterial cells by isolated bacteriophages. No bacteriophage against A. baumannii was isolated from municipal wastewater. The morphology of these bacteriophages was also identified by electron microscopy. The results of this study showed that bacteriophages act specifically and due to the increasing level of antibiotic resistance, phage therapy as a new treatment can open a new horizon for the treatment of multidrug resistant bacteria.

Angiogenic effects of cell therapy within a biomaterial scaffold in a rat hind limb ischemia model

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a life- and limb-threatening condition affecting 1-10% of humans worldwide with peripheral arterial disease. Cellular therapies, such as bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been used for the treatment of CLI. However, little information is available regarding the angiogenic potency of MSCs and mast cells (MC) in angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of MCs and MSCs to induce angiogenesis in a rat model of ischemic hind limb injury on a background of a tissue engineered hydrogel scaffold. Thirty rats were randomly divided into six control and experimental groups as follows: (a) Control healthy (b) Ischemic positive control with right femoral artery transection, (c) ischemia with hydrogel scaffold, (d) ischemia with hydrogel plus MSC, (e) ischemia with hydrogel plus MC and (f) ischemia with hydrogel plus MSC and MCs. 106 of each cell type, isolated from bone marrow stroma, was injected into the transected artery used to induce hind limb ischemia. The other hind limb served as a non-ischemic control. After 14 days, capillary density, vascular diameter, histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry at the transected location and in gastrocnemius muscles were evaluated. Capillary density and number of blood vessels in the region of the femoral artery transection in animals receiving MSCs and MCs was increased compared to control groups (P < 0.05). Generally the effect of MCs and MSCs was similar although the combined MC/MSC therapy resulted in a reduced, rather than enhanced, effect. In the gastrocnemius muscle, immunohistochemical and histomorphometric observation showed a great ratio of capillaries to muscle fibers in all the cell-receiving groups (P < 0.05). The data indicates that the combination of hydrogel and cell therapy generates a greater angiogenic potential at the ischemic site than cell therapy or hydrogels alone.

Prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma genitalium in men with non-gonococcal urethritis

The study in Teheran, Islamic Republic of Iran, investigated the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma species in men with non-gonococcal urethritis. Urethral swab samples were collected from 125 cases and 125 healthy men as a control group. The samples were then investigated by culture methods. The rates of detected bacteria in case and control groups were 19.2% and 7.2% for U. urealyticum, 7.2% and 0.8% for M. genitalium, and 2.4% and 1.6% for M. hominis respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between case and control groups in the prevalence of U. urealyticum and M. genitalium but not M. hominis. It is concluded that in men, U. urealyticum and M. genitalium may have an etiologic role in non-gonococcal urethritis

Evaluating size-fractioned indoor particulate matter in an urban hospital in Iran

Hospitals host vulnerable people with potentially enhanced sensitivity to air pollutants. We measured particulate matter (PM) including PM₁, PM_2.5, and PM₁₀ with a portable device in a hospital, a nearby reference building, and ambient air in Shiraz, Iran. Indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio values were calculated to infer on the origin of size-fractioned PM. The mean hospital indoor concentrations of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ (4.7 and 38.7 μg/m³, respectively) but not PM₁ were higher than in the reference building and lower than in ambient air. The highest hospital PM₁₀ mean concentrations were found in the radiotherapy ward (77.5 μg/m³) and radiology ward (70.4 μg/m³) while the lowest were found in the bone marrow transplantation (BMT) ward (18.5 μg/m³) and cardiac surgery ward (19.8 μg/m³). The highest PM_2.5 concentrations were found in the radiology (8.7 μg/m³) and orthopaedic wards (7.7 μg/m³) while the lowest were found in the BMT ward (2.8 μg/m³) and cardiac surgery ward (2.8 μg/m³). The I/O ratios and the timing of peak concentrations during the day (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) indicated the main roles of outdoor air and human activity on the indoor levels. These suggest the need for mechanical ventilation with PM control for a better indoor air quality (IAQ) in the hospital.

Vasectomy reversal: Unilateral versus bilateral vasovasostomy

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficiencies of unilateral and bilateral vasovasostomies as the vasectomy reversal procedures. A total of 95 patients with a history of bilateral vasectomy were evaluated. 42 of them had undergone unilateral surgery, and bilateral surgery had been done for the other 53 patients. Their information including the age, the time interval between the initial vasectomy to the reversal surgery and other underlying illnesses or medications was gathered. Patency rates in the unilateral and bilateral groups were 88.1% (38 patients) and 88.7% (48 patients), respectively, the difference of which was not statistically significant (p = .907). Successful pregnancies occurred in 22 (52.4%) and 29 (54.7%) patients, respectively, which did not show any statistically significant difference too (p = .713). Based on the multivariate logistic regression model, only the time interval between vasectomy and the reversal (duration of obstruction) was predictive of patency (OR = 1.112, p = .037). The outcomes of the unilateral and bilateral vasovasostomies in terms of patency and pregnancy rates were not significantly different. We suggest that performing unilateral, instead of bilateral, vasovasostomy can reduce the time of anaesthesia and surgery and save costs and consumables without having a significant negative impact on the surgical outcomes.

Multi-dimensional model for determining the leading performance indicators of safety management systems

BACKGROUND

Health and safety performance measurements aimed to provide information on the progress and current situation of organizational strategies and activities.

OBJECTIVES

We developed a model to determine and select safety key performance indicators in order to assess safety management systems.

METHODS

This study has been designed in six steps aiming at defining a model of leading performance indicators (LPIs) and selecting key performance indicators (KPIs) using the AHP method.

RESULTS

According to the results analysis, 116 structural and operational indicators were defined based on the components of the OHSAS 18001 management system. For this purpose, 19 structural, 27 operational and 33 active KPIs were selected by AHP and BN techniques.

CONCLUSION

Development of LPIs is influenced by various organizational, managerial, and operational factors. LPIs extracted from the components of the OHS-MS deployed in an organization are often passive and cannot show the changes in the safety status of a workplace in a short period. The model presented in this study was designed with an emphasis on extraction of active and operational indicators, as they were capable of detecting performance changes in construction industries.

In vitro anti-adenoviral activities of ethanol extract, fractions, and main phenolic compounds of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel

Background

Adenovirus causes a number of diseases in human, and can cause serious infection in severely immunosuppressed individuals. Despite the seriousness of adenovirus infection, there is no definitely approved anti-adenoviral therapy. Many studies have shown that compounds derived from medicinal plants have antiviral activity. Therefore, this study evaluated in vitro anti-adenoviral activity of ethanol extract, fractions, and main phenolic compounds of pomegranate peel.

Methods

The ethanol extract of pomegranate peel was prepared with maceration method and fractionated by consecutive liquid/liquid partition. The cytotoxic and anti-adenovirus activities of the extract, fractions, and main phenolic compounds (ellagic acid, punicalagin and gallic acid) were evaluated on Hep-2 cell line using MTT assay. Inhibitory effect on adsorption and post-adsorption phases of the virus replication cycle was also evaluated.

Results

Pomegranate peel extract had a desirable effect against adenovirus with IC₅₀ of 5.77 µg/mL and selectivity index of 49.9. Among the fractions and compounds, the n-butanol fraction and gallic acid had the highest anti-adenoviral activity with IC₅₀ of 2.16 µg/mL and 4.67 µM and selectivity indices of 122.5 and 10.5, respectively. The crude extract, n-butanol fraction and gallic acid inhibited the virus replication in post-adsorption phase (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Pomegranate peel extract, especially its n-butanol fraction, could serve as a new promising anti-adenovirus agent due to high inhibitory effect against adenovirus replication. The effect of the n-butanol fraction may be related to the synergistic effect or other compounds of this fraction. Further understanding of the bioassay guided isolation of natural compounds of this fraction seems essential.

Development of leading indicators for the assessment of occupational health performance using Reason's Swiss cheese model

BACKGROUND

The Swiss cheese model of accident causation is a model used in risk analysis and risk management, including aviation safety, engineering, healthcare, and emergency service organizations, and as the principle behind layered security, as used in computer security and defense in-depth. This study aimed to develop and weight the occupational health leading indicators using the Swiss cheese model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was a descriptive, cross-sectional study; occupational health performance assessment indicators were classified into five main groups of chemical, physical, ergonomic, psychosocial, and biological harmful agents. In addition, potential hazards and their prevention methods were identified using the Swiss cheese model. The leading performance measurement indicators (n = 64) were developed based on preventive methods and were weighted and rated by fuzzy analytic hierarchy process.

RESULTS

Thirty-six out of 64 indicators were related to the management measures, 25 indicators were related to exposure to harmful occupational agents, and the remaining indicators were occupational-related illnesses and diseases rate. Considering the importance and frequency of indicators, psychological agents were the most important indicators (40%) and physical agents had the greatest frequency (59%).

CONCLUSIONS

Process of indicators' development has demonstrated that the major occupational health prevention measures in the oil and gas industry are concentrated on physical, psychological, and chemical agents, respectively. Thus, to provide protection for employees against occupational diseases and improve health performance indicators, paying special attention to mentioned agents is essential in the oil and gas industry.

Fabrication and characterization of TiO2 and MWCNT coated electrospinning nanofibers for UV protection properties

This paper aimed to fabricate UV protective nanofibers by the use of specific nanoparticles. The DMF/TiO2 (Titanium dioxide), DMF/MWCNT (Multi-Walled Carbon Nano Tubes), and DMF/MWCNT+TiO2 (MWCNT: TiO2 mass ratio= 1:1) solutions were transferred into a syringe with a stainless steel needle with gauge 21. The electrospinning process was performed for 3 h at the optimized conditions. The surface morphology of nanofibers was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized to characterize functional groups of oxidized MWCNTs and investigate the successful load of nanoparticles at the fiber surface. The UV protection property of nanofibers was investigated by measuring UV rays' transmittance through the composite web. The data of Spectroscopy was used to compute the UV protection factor (UPF). (1) The effect of CNT,TiO2, and CNT+TiO2 nanoparticles on ultraviolet protection property was analyzed separately and simultaneously. (2) The different concentrations of nanoparticles, including 1,5,10, & 15 wt%, were used to fabricate UV protective nanocomposites. (3) The electrospinning condition was optimized as a 15 cm distance between the needle tip and collector, 20 KV voltage, 250 RPM drum rotation, and 1.2 ml/h feeding rate to access the best nanofibers.

Fuzzy Logic Modeling of Factors Affecting Musculoskeletal Disorders in a Steel Factory in Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to model associated factors affecting musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), using fuzzy logic in a steel factory in Iran.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on steel industry workers. A 6-part questionnaire was used, consisting of demographic characteristics, occupational stress, work-family conflict, general health, occupational postures, and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Pearson correlation was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of MSDs for 270 participants in the studied factory was 94.8%. Job stress, work-family conflict, general health, and work posture had a statistically significant relationship with MSDs (P < .05). The fuzzy model demonstrated 23.8% predictability for the actual data of the study. The defuzzification data had significant correlation with real data of MSDs.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study provided a new perspective about associated factors affecting MSDs and demonstrate that fuzzy logic can be used as a possible tool for evaluating MSDs.

Effects of supplemental fat sources and forage feeding levels on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and nitrogen utilization in dairy calves

Knowledge regarding the potential interactions between supplemental fat source and fiber level in starter diet of dairy calves is lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of supplemental saturated fat [palm fat (PLF) containing 86% palmitic acid (C16:0)] vs. unsaturated fat [soybean oil (SBO) containing 51% linoleic acid (C18:2)] and forage level on feed intake, growth performance, ruminal fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and metabolic traits in dairy calves. Forty newborn Holstein female calves (BW = 39.7 ± 1.8 kg) were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment groups (each consisting of 10 animals) in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of fat source [soybean oil vs. palm fat; 3% of starter based on DM basis] and alfalfa hay level (0 vs. 15%, on DM basis): SBO or PLF with (AH) or without (NAH) alfalfa hay. Calves had ad libitum access to water and starters throughout the study and a constant amount of milk was offered among experimental calves during the pre-weaning period. All calves were weaned on day 63 of age and remained in the study until day 73 of age. The results showed that the lowest and the highest starter intake and average daily gain during pre-weaning period was observed when calves received SBO-AH and PLF-AH, respectively. Accordingly, the lowest wither and hip heights at weaning time (day 63) and final wither height (day 73) were observed in SBO-AH group across treatments. Calves received PLF-AH had the highest weaning and final BW compared to other groups. Feed efficiency tended to be higher in PLF groups compared with SBO calves. Calves fed SBO-AH had the lowest digestibility of organic matter and neutral detergent fiber and also total short chain fatty acid concentrations in rumen compared with other groups. The SBO calves had lower urinary allantoin, urinary purine derivatives, and microbial protein synthesis than PLF calves; however, urinary nitrogen increased with SBO supplementation. In summary, the supplementation of SBO rich in C18:2 and AH during the pre-weaning period resulted in negative responses on growth performance, digestibility, and ruminal fermentation profile. Therefore, the inclusion SBO rich in C18:2 along with forage in the starter is not recommendable for young dairy calves.

Occurrence of respiratory symptoms and lung function deficits among fruit and vegetable market workers

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the potential effects of occupational exposures among fruit and vegetable market workers on the occurrence of respiratory symptoms and on the level of lung function parameters.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of 140 men working as fruit and vegetable market workers (response rate 100%) and a reference group of 77 male office workers as the reference group (response rate 55%) from Shiraz, Iran. The outcomes of interest included occurrence of respiratory symptoms assessed by a standard respiratory questionnaire and lung function assessed by spirometry.

RESULTS

In Poisson regression analyses, the exposed group showed increased prevalence ratio (PR) of wheezing (adjusted PR 5.32, 95% CI 1.40 to 20.26), after controlling for confounding. Cough (PR 3.30, 95% CI 1.16 to 9.40) and wheezing (PR 9.40, 95% CI 2.28 to 38.64) showed increased PRs among vegetable distributors. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) and FEV₁/forced vital capacity were significantly decreased among exposed workers after controlling for confounders. The absolute value of FEV₁ level was reduced significantly among fruit and vegetable carters (-0.99, 95% CI -1.68 to -0.32) and vegetable (-0.51, 95% CI -0.93 to -0.10) and fruit (-0.51, 95% CI -0.86 to -0.15) distributors in comparison with the reference group in the adjusted full model.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that fruit and vegetable market workers are at an increased risk of respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function. Workplace conditions and safety training clearly need improvement, and there is a likely role for proper use of personal protective equipment.

Evaluation of Heating and Irradiation Methods for Production of Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Tuberculin skin test, also known as the tuberculin or purified protein derivative (PPD) test, is an extensively applied diagnostic test for the detection of primary infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The production of PPD is accompanied by some difficulties that require a series of modifications in the production and purification processes. The present study aimed to determine the facilitation level of the manufacturing process by modifying evaluation methods for the production of PPD tuberculin. Mtb strains were cultured in Lowenstein-Jensen media, and the cultured strains were inoculated into the Dorset-Henley liquid medium by the biphasic medium of potato-Dorset-Henley. After incubation, flasks containing cultured strain were selected for bacterial inactivation, and the optimal gamma radiation dose(s) was determined. Tuberculoproteins were precipitated by ammonium sulfate (AS) and Trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Protein concentration was determined using the Bradford and Kjeldahl protein assay methods. Finally, the lymphocyte transformation test and potency test were performed. Based on the results, the Dorset-Henley liquid medium is suitable for the massive growth of the bacterium. The transferal of Mtb from solid to liquid medium was directly carried out without intermediate culture. It was found that during tuberculoprotein production, heating at 100&amp;deg;C for 3 h would be safe for killing mycobacterium. Furthermore, the simultaneous use of heating and gamma irradiation (8 kGgy) killed all of the mycobacteria, while doses of 1, 1.5, and 7 kGy decreased a significant number of bacterial cells. The results also indicated that the concentration of tuberculoprotein extracted by TCA precipitation method was higher than that obtained by AS precipitation. The tuberculoproteins which were produced by these two methods in the lymphocyte transformation test were not significantly different in terms of potency (P&amp;gt;0.05). Moreover, due to the high volume of produced protein, the protein measurement was more efficiently carried out by the Kjeldahl method, compared to the Bradford method. Finally, the results of the present study demonstrated that in addition to the novel approach of gamma irradiation, optimum methods are efficient and applicable in the production of PPD tuberculin.

The effects of the fiber source and xylanase supplementation on production, egg quality, digestibility, and intestinal morphology in the aged laying hen

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the fiber source (wheat bran [WB] or sugar beet pulp [SBP]) and xylanase supplementation on production, egg quality, ileal digestibility, intestinal morphology, and gastrointestinal pH in aged laying hens. A total of 540 laying hens (Lohman LSL Lite; 70 wk of lay) were randomized into 10 treatments (6 replicate cages of 9 birds) consisting of a corn soy control supplemented with 0, 3, or 6% WB or SBP with or without xylanase (100 mg of xylanase preparation per kg) for a period of 9 wk in a 5 × 2 factorial arrangement. Hens fed with the diets containing either of the levels of SBP or 6% WB had lower hen-day production, and addition of the enzyme improved hen-day production (P < 0.05), but it could not compensate for the lost production due to the higher levels of either of the fiber sources. Supplementation of 6% SBP to the control diet decreased egg mass (P < 0.05). All fiber-supplemented diets significantly decreased ADFI, which was restored on enzyme addition, with the exception of 3% WB diet. Treatments had no effects on egg weight, feed conversion ratio, egg quality, and serum and carcass traits, except for ileum weight, which was greater in hens fed with the 6% SBP diet (P < 0.05). Adding 3% SBP increased ileal DM digestibility (P < 0.05). Addition of 3% WB improved jejunal villus height, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and villus surface area (P < 0.05). Villus surface area, DM, organic matter, and protein digestibility increased as a result of enzyme supplementation (P < 0.05). Cecal pH was reduced on feeding diets containing 3% WB, containing 3% SBP, and with enzyme supplementation (P < 0.05). In conclusion, addition of 3% WB in a corn soy control diet has the potential to improve small intestine morphology in older hens without adverse effects on performance, especially if accompanied by the use of an enzyme, which simultaneously improved morphological traits and nutrient digestibility.

Cancer and non-cancer health risk assessment of occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene in a petrochemical plant in Iran

1,3-Butadiene is classified as carcinogenic to humans by inhalation. This study aimed to assess cancer and non-cancer risk following occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene. This cross-sectional study was conducted in a petrochemical plant producing acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer in Iran. Occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene was measured according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 1024 method. Cancer and non-cancer risk assessment were performed according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency method. The average occupational exposure to 1,3-butadiene during work shifts among all participants was 560.82 ± 811.36 µg m^-3. The average lifetime cancer risk (LCR) in the present study was 2.71 × 10^-3; 82.2% of all exposed workers were within the definite carcinogenic risk level. Also, the mean non-cancer risk (hazard quotient (HQ)) among all participants was 10.82 ± 14.76. The highest LCR and HQ were observed in the safety and fire-fighting station workers with values of 7.75 × 10^-3 and 36.57, respectively. The findings revealed that values of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risk in the majority of participants were within the definitive and unacceptable risk levels. Therefore, corrective measures are necessary to protect these workers from non-cancer and cancer risks from 1,3-butadiene exposure.

Metabolomics Approaches for Analyzing Effects of Geographic and Environmental Factors on the Variation of Root Essential Oils of Ferula assa-foetida L

Environmental factors shape the production and accumulation processes of plant secondary metabolites in medical and aromatic plants and thus their pharmacological and biological activity. Using an environmental metabolomics approach, we determined chemotypes and specific compounds on the basis of essential oils (EOs) from roots of 10 Iranian Ferula assa-foetida L. populations and related them to geographical, climate, and edaphic data. GC-MS revealed three distinct chemotypes characterized by (I) monoterpenes and Z-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide; (II) eudesmane sesquiterpenoids and α-agarofuran; and (III) Z- and E-1-propenyl sec-butyl disulfide. NIRS measurements indicated a similar but less distinct pattern. Structural equation models showed that EO constituents and content were directly influenced by edaphic factors (texture, pH, and iron, potassium, and aluminum content) and temperature and predominantly indirectly by latitude, longitude, and altitude. Predicting EO constituents or chemotypes by geographical, climate, and soil factors can be used in F. assa-foetida to select populations with specific EO characteristics.

A simple and rapid technique for the determination of copper based on air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction and image colorimetric analysis

In this study, a new, cheap, simple and rapid method for the determination of copper in water and food samples using air-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction and digital image decomposition into the primary colors Red (R), Green (G) and Blue (B) is introduced. In the proposed method, sodium diethyl-dithiocarbamate (Na-DDTC) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) were used as the chelating agent and extraction solvent, respectively. The digital images of the extraction phase were obtained using an Android mobile phone and analyzed using a free app (Color Grab). Then the value of the B channel was taken as the analytical signal. The effects of different parameters influencing the extraction efficiency were investigated and optimized. Under the optimal conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) were 1.5 and 5 μg L-1, respectively. The repeatability of the proposed method, expressed as the relative standard deviation (RSD), was 4.53% for intra-day (n = 8, C = 100 μg L-1) and 5.66% for inter-day (n = 5) precision. The proposed method was applied for the determination of trace amounts of copper in rice, lettuce and water samples with satisfactory results validated by the Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry technique.

High frequency of BRAF V600E mutation in Iranian population ameloblastomas

Background

Ameloblastoma is a common locally invasive but slow-growing neoplasm of the jaws with an odontogenic origin. Association between BRAF V600E mutation and clinicopathologic features and behavior of ameloblastoma remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate BRAF V600E gene mutation and expression of its related proteins with clinicopathologic parameters in conventional ameloblastoma.

Material and Methods

50 Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks were included in this study. Immunohistochemistry was done using rabbit monoclonal BRAF V600E mutation-specific antibody VE1. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was used for evaluating of BRAF V600E mutation.

Results

Expression of BRAF V600E antibody was Positive in 42 out of 50 cases (84%). 46 (92%) out of 50 specimens showed BRAF V600E mutation. There were 13 cases of recurrence (26%). 3 out of 4 cases with negative mutations did not show recurrence.

Conclusions

We report the highest frequency (92%) of BRAF V600E mutation in ameloblastomas in the Iranian population. Although there was not a significant association between BRAF V600E‑positive immunoexpression and recurrence and clinicopathologic parameters, its high frequency could emphasize its role as a therapeutic marker in the future.

Key words:Conventional ameloblastoma, BRAF V600E, recurrence.

Investigation into passing behavior at passing zones to validate and extend the use of driving simulators in two-lane roads safety analysis

A passing maneuver allows drivers to maintain their desired speed on two-lane highways. However, it entails a high risk of collision with vehicles travelling in the opposite direction. Investigating drivers' behavior while performing passing maneuvers could provide helpful information on the factors that influence this process. Driving simulators have become important tools for driving behavior research studies as they are safe, facilitate the controlled use of experimental variables, and generate detailed output data. It remains to be seen whether simulator results can be considered representative of real-life driving conditions. With respect to passing maneuvers, no study has made a comprehensive and direct comparison between drivers' passing behavior in the field and driver behavior observed in a simulated environment. In this validation study, a fixed-base interactive simulator was used to collect data from fifty-four participants (eighteen Iranians and thirty-six Italians) involved in several traffic scenarios on a two-lane rural highway segment (obtained by varying the speed of opposing vehicles, lead vehicles and headways in the opposite direction). A 3D model and its environmental characteristics were realized from the real segment which had previously been surveyed with drones to collect videos and derive data on real passing maneuvers. The results for the two-sided K-S test revealed no statistically significant difference in the accepted gap, effective accepted gap, perception reaction time, and time to collision variables between the field and the simulator at the 95 % confidence level. However, when conducting a one-sided K-S test, some statistical directional differences were found in the cases of the accepted gap and perception reaction time variables, which exhibited lower values in the field compared to the simulator again at the 95 % confidence level. Although the passing duration was statistically higher in the simulator than in the field, the shape of the two distributions was not statistically different. Analysis showed that differences in the passing duration are due to the lower passing vehicle speed and lower speed difference with the simulator than in the field, which are caused by truncating headways in the subject direction in the simulator. The cultural background of participants did not result in any discernible difference in passing behavior. The results would support a more extensive use of driving simulators in future passing behavior studies.

Evaluation of pulmonary function and respiratory symptoms among workers exposed to 1,3-Butadiene in a petrochemical industry in Iran

This study aimed to evaluate pulmonary function among workers exposed to 1,3-butadiene and was carried out in a petrochemical industry in Iran. The study participants consisted of fifty male workers with current respiratory exposure to 1,3-butadiene and fifty non-exposed workers as the control group. Exposure to 1,3-butadiene was measured according to the NIOSH 1024 method. Respiratory symptom histories were collected through the American Thoracic Society respiratory symptom questionnaire. Lung functions were evaluated using spirometry method. The results showed that exposed participants had significantly higher prevalence rates of all respiratory symptoms compared to the control group. Statistical tests demonstrated a significant difference between pulmonary function tests of exposed and non-exposed personnel. Ultimately, the results of the present study indicate that respiratory exposure to 1,3-butadiene can lead to negative effects on pulmonary functions.

Late Gastropleural Fistula after the Management of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Leakage

One of the rare but serious complications of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) with significant morbidity and mortality is gastropleural fistula (GPF). Here, we present a 34-year-old woman who underwent LSG. Due to leakage in the proximal site of the stapler line and splenic artery erosion into the site of leakage after 1 month, splenectomy and drainage catheter insertion was done. Three months later, she presented with dyspnea, fever, and lung abscess, GPF was diagnosed, and Roux-en-Y fistulo-jejunostomy was done. After 10 days, her clinical condition improved, but the patient expired due to hemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident (CVA). Therefore, GPF along with other common complications should be seriously considered in patients developing post-LSG chronic respiratory symptoms.

Comparative Analysis of Gait Speed Estimation Using Wideband and Narrowband Radars, Thermal Camera, and Motion Tracking Suit Technologies

Research has shown that cognitive and physical functioning of older adults can be reflected in indicators such as walking speed. While changes in cognition, mobility, or health cause changes in gait speed, often gradual variations in walking speed go undetected until severe problems arise. Discrete clinical assessments during clinical consultations often fail to detect changes in day-to-day walking speeds and do not reflect walking speeds in everyday environments, where most of the mobility issues happen. In this paper, we compare four walking speed measurement technologies to a GAITRite mat (gold standard): (1) an ultra wideband radar (covering the band from 3.3 GHz to 10 GHz), (2) a narrow band 24-GHz radar (with a bandwidth of 250 MHz), (3) a perception Neuron Motion Tracking suit, and (4) a thermal camera. Data were collected in parallel using all sensors at the same time for 10 healthy adults for normal and slow walking paces. A comparison of the sensors indicates better performance at lower gait speeds, with offsets (when compared to GAITRite) between 0.1 and 20% for the ultra wideband radar, 1.9 and 17% for the narrowband radar, 0.1 and 38% for the thermal camera, and 1.7 and 38% for the suit. This paper supports the potential of unobtrusive radar-based sensors and thermal camera technologies for ambient autonomous gait speed monitoring for contextual, privacy-preserving monitoring of participants in the community.

Epidemiology and outcome analysis of 3030 burn patients with an ICD-10 approach

The present study aims to document the epidemiologic features and outcomes of burn injuries in Southeastern Iran based on International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10) guidelines. This retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out at Khatam-Al-Anbiya Hospital. Patient demographics, including burn injury data and outcome data were collected from medical records and analyzed through descriptive and analytical statistics using SPSS software. A total of 3,030 burn patients were included in this study. A total of 55% of the subjects were males. The largest age group included patients aged 15-44 (61%). The majority of burns were caused by flame (70.5%), and most of them were third-degree burns (73%). Mean affected total body surface area (TBSA) was 43.98%±30.75% in all subjects and 80.85%±21.41% in the deceased individuals. Most of the burns were accidental (66.2%), and 37% of them occurred in winter. Mean hospital stay was 4.49±4.67 days (within the range of 1-113 days). A quarter of all patients admitted to the hospital died (24.9%). The number of admitted patients, mean length of stay (LOS), and the mortality rate showed a decreasing trend from 2007 to 2016. In contrast, the total mortality rate was high. The significant predictors of mortality included being female, flame burns, longer LOS, a larger TBSA, burns of higher degrees, as well as burn complications. The documentation of burn data, based on ICD-10 directives, standardizes findings from burn injury analyses and leads to the comparability of data at different national and international levels.

Modelling and optimizing of calcium and non-phytate phosphorus requirements of male broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age using response surface methodology

The skeleton is the main site of P and Ca deposition; therefore, accurate estimation of Ca and P requirements is necessary to maintaining health and optimum performance of broiler chickens. A response surface methodology (RSM) using a central composite design (CCD) was used for evaluating and optimizing of Ca and non-phytate P (NPP) requirements of broiler chickens for optimal performance, ileal nutrient digestibility and bone mineralization from 1 to 21 days of age. A total of 750 one-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly distributed into 50 cages including 9 treatments, each replicated 5 times (except central treatment with 10 replicates) and 15 birds in each cage by CCD. The dietary Ca levels of 4.3, 5.6, 8.6, 11.7 and 13.0 g/kg and NPP of 2.5, 2.9, 4.0, 5.0 and 5.4 g/kg were used for nine treatments of CCD. The results indicated that the linear and quadratic effects of NPP, quadratic effects of Ca and Ca × NPP were significant for average weight gain (AWG, P < 0.05), average feed intake (AFI, P < 0.05), feed conversion ratio (FCR, P < 0.05) and Ca and P apparent ileal digestibility (AID, P < 0.05); however, the linear effect of Ca was significant only for FCR (P < 0.05). On the other hand, tibia and toe ash were affected by NPP (linear and quadratic, P < 0.01) and Ca (quadratic, P < 0.01). The second-order polynomial regression model was significant for AWG (R2 = 0.93, P < 0.001), AFI (R2 = 0.88, P < 0.001), FCR (R2 = 0.78, P < 0.001), AID of Ca (R2 = 0.78, P < 0.001) and P (R2 = 0.88, P < 0.001), tibia ash (R2 = 0.86, P < 0.001) and toe ash (R2 = 0.85, P < 0.001). The multi-objective optimization indicated that broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age need 7.03 and 4.47 g/kg of Ca and NPP, respectively, to achieve optimal AWG, FCR, tibia and toe ash. However, the dietary Ca and NPP levels can be reduced to 6.57 and 3.95 g/kg with a slight negative impact on performance and bone mineralization, respectively. In conclusion, the findings indicate that using multi-objective optimization model such as RSM provides more information regarding optimum Ca and NPP requirements of broiler chickens, considering the complex interaction between these two minerals. While the NPP levels are in line with current recommended requirements, Ca levels are considerably lower and suggest that current recommended Ca requirements may be in excess of the needs of the broiler.

Tumor-derived urinary exosomal long non-coding RNAs as diagnostic biomarkers for bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is the sixth most common malignancy in men and 17th in women. Exosomal long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been defined as a novel biomarker for BC. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical significance of urine exosomal PVT-1, ANRIL and PCAT-1 as a biomarker in BC patients with tumors classified as T1 or T2. Exosomes were isolated from urine of BC patients and healthy donors, then characterized according to their shape, size, and exosome markers by Electron Microscopy, Dynamic light scattering, and Western blotting. Exosomal lncRNAs extraction was done to determine the expression levels of PVT-1, ANRIL and PCAT-1 by qRT-PCR. ANRIL and PCAT-1 expression was significantly higher in BC patients compared to normal subjects. To evaluate the performance of the identified lncRNAs for BC detection, we performed ROC curves analysis. The diagnostic accuracy of ANRIL and PCAT-1, measured by AUC, was 0.7229 (sensitivity = 46.67 % and specificity = 87.5 %) and 0.7292 (sensitivity = 43.33 % and specificity = 87.5 %). Transcript levels of lncRNAs in urinary exosomes are potential diagnostic biomarkers in bladder cancer.

Cell-type specific innervation of cortical pyramidal cells at their apical dendrites

We investigated the synaptic innervation of apical dendrites of cortical pyramidal cells in a region between layers (L) 1 and 2 using 3-D electron microscopy applied to four cortical regions in mouse. We found the relative inhibitory input at the apical dendrite's main bifurcation to be more than 2-fold larger for L2 than L3 and L5 thick-tufted pyramidal cells. Towards the distal tuft dendrites in upper L1, the relative inhibitory input was at least about 2-fold larger for L5 pyramidal cells than for all others. Only L3 pyramidal cells showed homogeneous inhibitory input fraction. The inhibitory-to-excitatory synaptic ratio is thus specific for the types of pyramidal cells. Inhibitory axons preferentially innervated either L2 or L3/5 apical dendrites, but not both. These findings describe connectomic principles for the control of pyramidal cells at their apical dendrites and support differential computational properties of L2, L3 and subtypes of L5 pyramidal cells in cortex.

Variation of Secondary Metabolite Profile of Zataria multiflora Boiss. Populations Linked to Geographic, Climatic, and Edaphic Factors

Geographic location and connected environmental and edaphic factors like temperature, rainfall, soil type, and composition influence the presence and the total content of specific plant compounds as well as the presence of a certain chemotype. This study evaluated whether geographic, edaphic, and climatic information can be utilized to predict the presence of specific compounds from medicinal or aromatic plants. Furthermore, we tested rapid analytical methods based on near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) coupled with gas chromatography/flame ionization (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analytical methods for characterization and classification metabolite profiling of Zataria multiflora Boiss. populations. Z. multiflora is an aromatic, perennial plant with interesting pharmacological and biological properties. It is widely dispersed in Iran as well as in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Here, we studied the effect of environmental factors on essential oil (EO) content and the composition and distribution of chemotypes. Our results indicate that this species grows predominantly in areas rich in calcium, iron, potassium, and aluminum, with mean rainfall of 40.46 to 302.72 mm·year^-1 and mean annual temperature of 14.90°C to 28.80°C. EO content ranged from 2.75% to 5.89%. Carvacrol (10.56-73.31%), thymol (3.51-48.12%), linalool (0.90-55.38%), and p-cymene (1.66-13.96%) were the major constituents, which classified 14 populations into three chemotypes. Corresponding to the phytochemical cluster analysis, the hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) based on NIR data also recognized the carvacrol, thymol, and linalool chemotypes. Hence, NIR has the potential to be applied as a useful tool to determine rapidly the chemotypes of Z. multiflora and similar herbs. EO and EO constituent content correlated with different geographic location, climate, and edaphic factors. The structural equation models (SEMs) approach revealed direct effects of soil factors (texture, phosphor, pH) and mostly indirect effects of latitude and altitude directly affecting, e.g., soil factors. Our approach of identifying environmental predictors for EO content, chemotype or presence of high amounts of specific compounds can help to select regions for sampling plant material with the desired chemical profile for direct use or for breeding.

Serogroups, and drug resistance of nontyphoidal Salmonella in symptomatic patients with community-acquired diarrhea and chicken meat samples in Tehran

BACKGROUND

Salmonella is considered as a main cause of community-acquired diarrhea in humans, however, sources of the multi-drug resistant (MDR) strains and their link with the disease are not well known.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the frequency, serogroup diversity, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella strains in poultry meat and stool samples of patients with community acquired diarrhea in Tehran.

METHODS

We compared the frequency of non-typhoidal Salmonella serogroups, the similarities of their resistance patterns to 10 antimicrobial compounds, the prevalence of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and ampicillinase C (AmpC) genetic determinants, and class 1 and 2 integrons in 100 chicken meat and 400 stool samples of symptomatic patients in Tehran during June 2018 to March 2019.

RESULTS

Salmonella was isolated from 75% and 5.5% of the chicken meats and human stool samples, respectively. The chicken meat isolates mainly belonged to serogroup C (88%, 66/75), while the human stool isolates were mainly related to serogroup D (59.1%, 13/22). The MDR phenotype and the most common rates of resistance to antibiotics, including tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TS) and azithromycin, were detected in 4.5% and 45.3%, 59% and 13.6%, 43% and 9.1%, 42% and 9.1% of the human stool and chicken meat samples, respectively. Carriage of bla _CTX, bla _SHV, and bla _PER genes in the meat isolate with ESBL resistance phenotype and bla _ACC, bla _FOX, and bla _CMY-2 among the 7 meat strains with AmpC resistance phenotype was not confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). High prevalence of class 1 and 2 integrons was characterized and showed a correlation with resistance to TS and chloramphenicol.

CONCLUSION

These findings showed a lack of association between chicken meats and human isolates due to discrepancy between the characterized serogroups and resistance phenotypes.