COVID-19 and Biopolitics: An Essay on Iran

In the intricate tapestry of Iran's geopolitical, cultural, and economic landscape, the COVID-19 pandemic catalysed profound changes. This essay delves into the multifaceted impact of the pandemic on Iranians' lives, dissecting the specific nuances shaped by the complex biopolitical environment. We unravel the subtle imprints of COVID-19 on the biopolitical discourse, exploring how it intricately intertwines with daily life, social interactions, and the nation's health system.

Utilizing the Microbiota and Machine Learning Algorithms To Assess Risk of Salmonella Contamination in Poultry Rinsate

ABSTRACT

Traditional microbiological testing methods are slow, and many molecular-based techniques rely on culture-based enrichment to overcome low limits of detection. Recent advancements in sequencing technologies may make it possible to utilize machine learning to identify patterns in microbiome data to potentially predict the presence or absence of pathogens. In this study, 299 poultry rinsate samples from various points in the processing chain were analyzed to determine if microbiota could inform about a sample's risk for containing Salmonella. Samples were culture confirmed as Salmonella positive or negative following modified U.S. Department of Agriculture Microbiological Laboratory Guidebook protocols. The culture confirmation result was used as a reference to compare with 16S sequencing data. Prechill samples tested positive (71 of 82) at a higher frequency than postchill samples (30 of 217) and contained greater microbial diversity. Due to the larger sample size, postchill samples were analyzed more thoroughly. Analysis of variance identified a significant effect of chilling on the number of genera (P < 0.001), but analysis of similarities failed to provide evidence for microbial dissimilarity between pre- and postchill samples (P = 0.001, R = 0.443). Various machine learning models were trained by using postchill samples to predict if a sample contained Salmonella on the basis of the samples' microbiota preenrichment. The optimal model was a random forest-based model with a performance as follows: accuracy (88%), sensitivity (85%), and specificity (90%). Although the algorithms described in this article are prototypes, these risk-based algorithms demonstrate the potential and need for further studies to provide insight alongside diagnostic tests. Combining risk-based information with diagnostic tools can help poultry processors make informed decisions to help identify and prevent the spread of Salmonella. These data add to the growing body of literature exploring novel ways to utilize microbiome data for predictive food safety.

HIGHLIGHTS

The incidence of hip fracture in Shiraz, Iran: a promising rate comparing to previous studies

We evaluate the incidence of hip fracture in 50 years old or above in southwest of Iran. Age-adjusted incidence rates of hip fracture, standardized to the 2000 US white population, were 79.55 per 10⁵ in total and 66.51 and 92.37 per 10⁵ in male and female, respectively.

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis-related hip fracture is associated with considerable morbidity, mortality, and costs in older people. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence rate of hip fracture in the capital of Fars Province, southern Iran.

METHODS

This study was conducted in Shiraz, Iran, from September 1, 2011, to August 30, 2012. All 50-year-old or above patients with hip fracture diagnosis, lived in Shiraz at least 6 months prior to hospital admission, were included in this study. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, version 18.0, and Microsoft Excel 2007 software.

RESULTS

The mean age of 608 patients was 75.95 ± 11.07 and 353 (58.3%) were female. Age-adjusted incidence rates of hip fracture, standardized to the 2000 US white population, were 79.55 per 10⁵ in total and 66.51 and 92.37 per 10⁵ in male and female, respectively. The adjusted incidence rate of neck of the femur fracture (30.62 per 10⁵ versus 23.49 per 10⁵, p = 0.61) and intertrochanteric fracture (40.48 per 10⁵ versus 28.5 per 10⁵, p = 0.74) were higher in females than males but the differences were not statistically significant. Under the age of 65 years, the incidence rate of hip fracture was significantly higher in men, but after 65 years, it was higher among women.

CONCLUSION

The rate of osteoporotic hip fracture was relatively low in southern Iran. However, by aging population, this rate will increase and health policy makers should implement targeted osteoporosis screening and management programs.

Investigating the effect of intra-articular PRP injection on pain and function improvement in patients with distal radius fracture

INTRODUCTION

Distal radius fractures are common injuries that cause pain and disability. There is a clear need for biomedical engineering research to develop novel strategies to improve functional results following intra-articular distal radius fractures. However, no pharmacotherapeutic agent has been investigated to resolve this problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can be considered a novel additional therapy to improve the outcomes of this injury.

HYPOTHESIS

Pain reduction and functional improvement can be noticed after PRP use in distal radius fracture.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A randomized trial study was designed with 30 patients who had intra-articular distal radius fractures (Frykman type 3, 4, 7, 8). Closed reduction and percutaneous pinning under guide of fluoroscopy were done for them. Fifteen cases received intra-articular autologus PRP. Patients were followed for 3 and 6 months and "patient-rated wrist evaluation" (PRWE) questionnaire was completed and range of motion of the wrist was measured.

RESULTS

The mean of pain score and the score of specific and usual activities at 3 months follow-up in the case group and in the control group were (8.33 versus 19.67), (10.66 versus 26.8), and (6.2 versus 13.4), respectively. The mean of pain score and score of specific and usual activities at 6 months follow-up in the case group and in the control group were (3.6 versus 12), (3 versus 15.7), and (1.2 versus 6.8), respectively. The case group was significantly different from the control group. The mean of loss of flexion and extension of the wrist at 3 months follow-up in the case group was significantly different from the control group as well.

CONCLUSION

PRP may have significant effect on reduction of pain and amount of difficulty in functions, including specific and usual activities after intra-articular distal radius fractures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, Therapeutic trial.

Synthesis of multiarm star copolymers based on polyglycerol cores with polylactide arms and their application as nanocarriers

Hyperbranched polyglycerol (hPG) with two different molecular weights (hPG₂₄₀₀and hPG₈₀₀₀) was used as a macroinitiator for the polymerization of lactide.

A novel use of amniotic membrane for fingertip injuries

OBJECTIVE

Fingertip injuries, which are the most common hand injury, represent management challenges for hand surgeons. Full thickness skin grafts are routinely used to cover the fingertip site, but has significant donor site morbidity. As amniotic membranes (AM) are used as a dressing substitute in burns, we decided to evaluate the efficacy of AM as a biologic wound dressing material for coverage of these injuries.

METHOD

In this clinical study, 30 patients with full-thickness zone 1 fingertip skin loss were included. The patients were divided into 2 groups using the block randomisation method. In the first group, a skin graft was used for coverage and in the second group, AM was used. All patients were operated on by the same hand surgeon between February 2012 to October 2012. The minimum follow-up period was 6 months. Two point discrimination (T.P.D), light touch, healing time, days lost from work and infection rate were evaluated and recorded.

RESULTS

This study recruited 30 patients with full-thickness zone 1 fingertip skin loss (age range 13-47 years). Fingertips in both groups were assessed. T.P.D, light touch and days lost from work were significantly lower in the AM group than in the skin graft group. Healing time was lower in the skin graft group. In the both groups, no infection was detected. Patients of both groups were satisfied of their treatment and healing progress.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed the effectiveness and safety of AM for the treatment of fingertip amputation, which can produce better sensation and functional outcomes than skin graft transplantations.

Concomitant flying lunate and scaphoid

Devastating perilunate injuries are rare, compromising of less than 10% of wrist injuries. We report a 19-year-old worker man who presented with left wrist pain and swelling after falling from a height. Not only the lunate was seen in middle third of forearm, but also proximal part of the scaphoid was in distal forearm. Open reduction and internal fixation was done via volar approach. He came back after two years with limited motion, pain, and weakness because of static scapholunate dissociation and osteonecrosis of lunate and proximal scaphoid. Despite optimal management, the prognosis of this injury is relatively poor especially if the initial trauma was severe.

Regioselective synthesis of vinylic derivatives of common monosccarides through their activated stannylene acetal intermediates

The regioselective C-2-O-acrylation and metacrylation of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranoside and methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-galactopyranoside through their corresponding organotin intermediates have been studied. Regioselectivity was achived through the formation of a tin chelate of the 2,3-diols. Thus, methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranoside and methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-galactopyranoside were reacted with dibutylstannylene to give the corresponding dibutylstannylene acetal intermediates that were then reacted in a regioselective manner with acryloyl chloride or metacryloyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine (TEA) or pyridine to give the vinylic type monomeric compounds. The monomeric products containing glucose and galactose units from each reaction were separated by column chromatography using a gradient of n-hexane and ethyl acetate as eluant. The structure of the obtained compounds were confirmed using ¹H-, ¹³C- and 2D NMR spectroscopy.

Dendrimers of citric acid and poly (ethylene glycol) as the new drug-delivery agents

Citric acid-polyethylene glycol-citric acid (CPEGC) triblock dendrimers as biocompatible compounds containing G(1), G(2) and G(3) were applied as the drug-delivery systems. Some of the small size molecules and drugs are trapped with the above-synthesized dendrimers. The guest molecules, which are hydrophobic when trapped into the suitable sites of dendrimers, are becoming soluble in aqueous solution. The quantity of trapped molecules and drugs such as 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA), pyridine, mefenamic acid, and diclofenac was measured. The drug/dendrimer complexes remained in room temperature for about 10 months and after this long time they were stable and the drugs were not released. Also, the controlled release of the above-mentioned molecules and drugs in vitro conditions was investigated. The structure definition and controlled release of the molecules and drugs were carried out using different spectroscopy methods.