Search

In the current study, we evaluated the impacts of organic and chemical fertilizers as well as the foliar application of growth regulators on quantitative traits and seed oil content of safflower grown in northwestern Iran. The experiment was done as a split-plot (3 × 5), and the main plot was assigned to different fertilizers, including organic fertilizer (FYM: farmyard manure 20 t ha-1 ), full chemical fertilizer (FCF) and no fertilization "control" (NF). The sub-plots were allocated to foliar spray treatments, which included control (no-spray application; S0), choline (S1), chitosan (S2) and salicylic acid (S3). The results showed that the application of fertilizers significantly affected the oil and protein content of the seed. However, the effect of FYM was more prominent than FCF on oil qualitative characteristics. A significant positive correlation was observed between oil content, protein content, and some fatty acid composition such as oleic acid, arachidonic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid. The highest values of the previously mentioned traits were obtained using FYMS1, FCFS1 and FYMS3. This trend was also clearly obvious in the content of linoleic acid as the main fatty acid in safflower oil. Among the foliar spraying treatments, the most improving effect was obtained with the use of choline. In conclusion, improving soil conditions through the application of FYM and appropriate amounts of chemical fertilizers is one of the most important agronomic management measures to improve the oil quality of safflower seeds.

People generally seek a better life, so most of them migrate to countries and places that help them improve their standard of living or escape from political turmoil and wars. Still, migration may constitute a set of effects on migrants and the countries to which they go. Migration affects some individuals by making it difficult for them to adapt to the nature of life in the new region, especially with the emergence of cultural and social differences, and also many immigrants do not find anything but difficult jobs that take long working hours and low wages complex migration affects countries with high population density, which leads to an increase in the unemployment rate poverty and the emergence of many political and economic consequence. This study seeks many factors and reasons that lead to immigration from the southern and capital of Iraq to Erbil city. The researchers built his information by ddistributing200 questioner and obtained 186 Usable with ignoring 14 nonusable. The result observed that there is no significant correlation between the independent variable (internal migration) and the dependent variable (economic geography), depending on the value of the statistical significance (0.05), whose value was more significant than the level of significance (0.05), and this indicates that internal migration has nothing to do with the changes taking place in economic geography.

Background: Trochanteric bursitis is an inflammation of the greater trochanteric bursa which is a recurrent source of lateral hip pain. Objective: To assess the diagnostic value of 6 clinical tests that can be used to diagnose trochanteric bursitis and utilize ultrasound as an imaging modality to confirm the diagnosis. Patients and Methods: This Cross-sectional study included 85 consecutive patients who had been experienced lateral hip pain in the greater trochanteric area for at least 6 weeks with at least one of the following features: pain on lying on the affected side, pain while climbing stairs or when sitting. Six clinical tests on examination that elicit pressure on the greater trochanteric region were performed to evaluate their value to diagnose trochanteric bursitis and then ultrasound was utilized to confirm the diagnosis. Results: A total of 85 participants were enrolled in the study. Tenderness to deep palpation was the most accurate sign in predicting the diagnosis, with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 81.8%. There were no significant differences between its results and the ultra-sonographic findings (p=0.500). Regarding the other tests, there were significant differences between their results and the results of ultrasound (p< 0.001). Conclusion: Tenderness to deep palpation of the greater trochanter, combined with ultrasound imaging modality, is likely to have the best diagnostic value for evaluation of trochanteric bursitis in patients complaining of lateral hip pain around the greater trochanter region.

Ensieh Ghasemian Lemraski,1 Hossein Jahangirian,2 Maryam Dashti,1 Elaheh Khajehali,3 Soheila Sharafinia,4 Roshanak Rafiee-Moghaddam,2 Thomas J Webster2 1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran; 2Department of Chemical Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; 3Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran; 4Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, IranCorrespondence: Ensieh Ghasemian Lemraski; Hossein Jahangirian Email e.ghasemian@ilam.ac.ir; kamran.jahangirian@gmail.comPurpose: Today, the development of wounds and their side effects has become a problematic issue in medical science research. Hydrogel-based dressings are some of the best candidates for this purpose due to their ability to keep the wound bed clean, as well as provide proper moisture, tissue compatibility and an antimicrobial effect for wound healing. On the other hand, copper and its compounds have been used experimentally for many years in studies as an antimicrobial substance. Various studies have been performed determining the antimicrobial properties of this element, during which significant effects on infection have been shown.Methods: Chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol/copper nanofibers were successfully prepared by incorporating Cu onto a polymer electrospun using an electrospinning technique. A double-layer nanofiber composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) and chitosan incorporated with Cu nanoparticles as a protective layer and a second layer composed of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers which was adjacent to the damaged cells was prepared. The prepared nanofiber was characterized by TGA, FT-IR, TEM, SEM-EDS, and X-ray powder diffraction. The antimicrobial efficiency of the nanofibers was demonstrated through biological tests on some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Finally, the prepared hydrogel formulations were prepared to evaluate their effect on the healing process of rat open wounds.Results: In this study, data from SEM, TEM, EDS, and XRD confirmed the formation of uniform fibers with nanodiameters and the presence of Cu nanoparticles onto the electrospun nanofibers. The antibacterial activity of copper was observed against all of the selected bacteria, but the Gram-positive bacteria were more sensitive compared to Gram-negative bacteria.Conclusion: According to the obtained results, the hydrogel wound dressing prepared in this research can be effective in caring for open wounds in the early stages of wound healing and preventing the occurrence of prolonged open wounds.Keywords: antimicrobial, healing, hydrogel, copper, nanofiber, chitosan

A global network of journalistic networks has transformed investigative journalism over the past two decades, adding layers of collaboration to what was previously an individual pursuit. A recent case of collaborative investigative reporting at its best was a worldwide effort to reveal breaches of tax haven information, through the Panama Papers (2016). As a result of these remarkable accomplishments, study on multi countries partnership is rising. However, it's still unclear how this combining of facilities, connections and time has influenced day-to-day operation. Newsrooms in developing and heritage newsrooms are navigating their patterns and duties while creating new investigative journalistic practices. The Guardian, a mainstream media firm that has worked at both the domestic and international levels, and Bureau Local, a society/neighborhood journalism co-op, are all given as examples. These actors use a language of justification to explain the differences between the old and the new. While "new" ideas become more common with time, notions like cooperation are also becoming element of decision making process, and information and information development take place within the conventional context of reporting.

Negar Firouzabadi,1– 3 Maryam Dashti,1 Ali Dehshahri,4 Ehsan Bahramali5 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 2Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 3Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran; 4Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; 5Digestive Disease Research Center, Digestive Disease Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranCorrespondence: Negar FirouzabadiDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranTel +98-917-314-5303Fax +98-713-2424128Email nfirouzabadi@yahoo.comObjective: The IL-33/ST2 pathway plays a fundamental role in the cardiovascular system and can be considered as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment or prevention of cardiovascular diseases. ST2, as an interleukin (IL)-1 receptor family member, has transmembrane (ST2L) and soluble (sST2) isoforms. sST2 neutralizes IL-33 and thereby inhibits the cardioprotective role of IL-33/ST2L signaling pathway. Increase in sST2 level is associated with weak cardiac output and can be a predictor of mortality in heart failure (HF). Thereby, we hypothesized that there may be a relationship between the cardioprotective effects of carvedilol and sST2 and IL-3 in HF patients.Methods: sST2 and IL-33 were measured in serum of 66 individuals; 22 healthy volunteers and 44 suffering from HF; among whom 25 patients received carvedilol and the other 19 patients did not receive any β-blockers.Results: Lack of association between serum levels of IL-33 and sST2 was observed between HF patients and healthy individuals (2.4466 ± 0.69 vs 2.6748 ± 0.33 and 3416.6 ± 1089.1 vs 2971.6 ± 792.5, respectively). Our results indicated no significant difference between sST2 and IL-33 levels in HF patients who did not receive beta-blockers and patients receiving carvedilol (P=0.59 and P=0.97).Conclusion: Our results showed a lack of association between serum levels of IL-33 and sST2 and HF. Moreover, the results do not confirm the cardioprotective mechanism of carvedilol by means of IL-33/sST2 pathway.Keywords: heart failure, IL-33, sST2, carvedilol, β-blocker, biomarker

Mahnaz Mohammadi Kian, 1, 2 Mahdieh Salemi, 1, 2 Mohammad Bahadoran, 3 Atousa Haghi, 1, 4 Nasrin Dashti, 5 Saeed Mohammadi, 1, 2 Shahrbano Rostami, 1, 2 Bahram Chahardouli, 1, 2 Davood Babakhani, 1 Mohsen Nikbakht 1, 2 1Hematology Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2Hematologic Malignancies Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran; 4Young Researchers & Elite Club Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; 5Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranCorrespondence: Mohsen NikbakhtHematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranTel +982184902639Fax +982188004140Email m-nikbakht@sina.tums.ac.irNasrin DashtiDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranTel +989123583690Email dashti@tums.ac.irIntroduction: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of blood disorder that exhibits uncontrolled growth and reduced ability to undergo apoptosis. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a family member of transcription factors which promotes carcinogenesis in most human cancers. This effect on AML is accomplished through deregulation of several critical genes, such as B cell lymphoma-extra-large (BCL-XL) which is anti-apoptotic protein. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of curcumin (CUR) and thalidomide (THAL) on apoptosis induction and also the alteration of the mRNA expression level of STAT3 and BCL-XL mRNA on AML cell line compounds.Methods: The growth inhibitory effects of CUR and THAL and their combination were measured by MTT assay in U937 and KG-1 cell lines. The rates of apoptosis induction and cell cycle analysis were measured by concurrent staining with Annexin V and PI. The mRNA expression level of STAT3 and BCL-XL was evaluated by Real-Time PCR.Results: CUR inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in both KG-1 and U937 cells and this effect increased by combination with THAL. The expression level of STAT3 and BCL-XL was significantly down-regulated in KG-1 cells after treatment by CUR and THAL and their combination.Conclusion: Overall, our findings suggested that down-regulation of STAT3 and BCL-XL mRNA expression in response to CUR and THAL treatment lead to inhibition of cell growth and induction of apoptosis.Keywords: acute myeloid leukemia, curcumin, thalidomide, STAT3, Bcl-xL

An important tool in the field of topological data analysis is persistent homology (PH), which is used to encode abstract representations of the homology of data at different resolutions in the form of persistence barcode (PB). Normally, one will obtain one PB from a digital image when using a sublevel-set filtration method. In this work, we built more than one PB representation of a single image based on a landmark selection method, known as local binary patterns (LBP), which encode different types of local texture from a digital image. Starting from the top-left corner of any 3-by-3 patch selected from an input image, the LBP process starts by subtracting the central pixel value from its eight neighboring pixel values. Then, each cell is assigned with 1 if the subtraction outcome is positive, and 0 otherwise, to obtain an 8-bit binary representation. This process will identify a set of landmark pixels to represent 0-simplices and use Vietoris–Rips filtration to obtain its corresponding PB. Using LBP, we can construct up to 56 PBs from a single image if we restrict to only using the binary codes that have two circular transitions between 1 and 0. The information within these 56 PBs contain detailed local and global topological and geometrical information, which can be used to design effective machine learning models. We used four different PB vectorizations, namely, persistence landscapes, persistence images, Betti curves (barcode binning), and PB statistics. We tested the effectiveness of the proposed landmark-based PH on two publicly available breast abnormality detection datasets using mammogram scans. The sensitivity and specificity of the landmark-based PH obtained was over 90% and 85%, respectively, in both datasets for the detection of abnormal breast scans. Finally, the experimental results provide new insights on using different PB vectorizations with sublevel set filtrations and landmark-based Vietoris–Rips filtration from digital mammogram scans.

Background and objective: Compounds having imine or azomethine (–C=N–) functional group are known as Schiff bases. Schiff bases compounds are found to be an active pharmacophore for the design and development of various bioactive lead compounds. In this study, several new Schiff base compounds have been synthesized and characterized. Methods: Williamson ether synthesis process has been used to synthesize -alkyloxy and substituted benzyloxy of benzaldehyde. Differently substituted ether benzaldehydes used to react with 4-amino-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydro-3H-pyrazol-3-one in one hand and 1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-amine on the other hand to produce Schiff base compounds. Results: Synthesized ether derivative compounds (3a-e) were converted to new series of Schiff bases (4a-e and 5a-e) by condensation of equal molar amounts of compounds (3a-e) with different heterocyclic amines dissolved in absolute ethanol. All synthesized compounds were confirmed by (IR, 1H-NMR, and 13CNMR) spectroscopy. All synthesized compounds were evaluated for antibacterial activities in vitro against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion: All compounds were purely synthesized, and all compounds were indicated growth inhibition against Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively with different inhibition zones staring from 13 to 33 mm.

Background and Aim: Sperm cryopreservation is a common technique used for management of male infertility. But this method has detrimental effects on sperm DNA and chromatin quality. Evaluation of different markers associated with the health of genetic material of sperm is beneficial for determination of the fertility of sperm. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of sperm chromatin condensation on frozen-thawed sperm DNA integrity in normozoospermic men. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, 30 semen samples from normozospermia men were cryopreserved for two weeks with a common technique used in most infertility centers, at -196 ° C and then thawed. Samples before and after freezing were evaluated for abnormal chromatin condensation, DNA denaturation and DNA fragmentation by toluidine blue (TB) staining, acridine orange (AO) staining and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test respectively. Results: Before freezing, we found a significant correlation only between abnormal chromatin condensation (evaluated by TB) and DNA denaturation (assessed by AO) (p < 0.05). While after cryopreservation correlation was found between abnormal chromatin condensation and DNA denaturation and fragmentation (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Abnormal chromatin condensation can make DNA susceptible to denaturation and fragmentation.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to measure the changes in malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) after repeated-sprint activity (RSA), as the indicators of physiological oxidative stress response, followed by cold water immersion (CWI). Materials and Methods: Twenty trained men were assigned to take part in this study. After performing repeated-sprint activity, 10 participants immersed in the cold water (14°C), and 10 participants passively sat on a chair at room temperature. Blood sampling was performed before and after repeated-sprint activity, after cold water immersion or passive rest, and after 24 hours. Result: The repeated-sprint activity increased the serum levels of protein carbonyl (t = 3.97, P = 0.001) and malondialdehyde (t = 9.54, P < 0.001). Cold water immersion had a significant effect on serum protein carbonyl levels after repetitive activities; and the results of mean differences indicated a significant reduction immediately (5.92) and 24 hours after recovery (12.93), compared to before recovery. Moreover, the results indicated a significant reduction in protein carbonyl 24 hours after recovery (7.01), compared to immediately after recovery. However, the results of repeated measures analysis of variance on the measurement stages showed that only the time effect (P < 0.001) was significant; but the group effect (P = 0.572), and the interaction of the measurement steps with the group (P = 0.915) were not significant. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that repeated-sprint activity resulted in increased oxidative stress, but cold water immersion did not have more impact than passive rest.

Background: The incidence of thyroid disorders is more prevalent in type 1 diabetes compared to type 2 diabetes, due to associated autoimmune disorders. Physiological and biochemical interconnection between type 1 diabetes mellitus and autoimmune thyroid disease is now stimulating subject of study. Objectives: The objective was to assess the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction among type 2 diabetic Kurdish females and to explore the correlation between metabolic syndrome components and autoimmune thyroid abnormality. Materials and Methods: The study included 60 type 2 diabetic Kurdish females and 30 sex- and age-matched controls. All patients in the study were exposed to anthropometric characteristics, including HbA1c, lipid profile, serum uric acid, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine, free thyroxine, anti-thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg). Results: Primary hypothyroidism was found in 24 (40%) diabetic patients (5.67 ± 3.35 μIU/mL) versus three (10%) controls (1.76 ± 1.19 μIU/mL) (P < 0.001). Anti-TPO was found in 66.7% (367.21 ± 234.53) of diabetic patients versus 10% (31.78 ± 32.14) of controls (P > 0.001). Anti-Tg was found in 60% (499.98 ± 358.14) of diabetic patients versus 0 (53.27 ± 36.23) controls (P > 0.001). A significant positive relationship was estimated between both TPO antibodies and Tg antibodies and TSH (P = 0.05 and P = 0.001, respectively) in diabetic patients. Conclusion: Autoimmune thyroid disorder is more prevalent in Kurdish women with type 2 diabetes than nondiabetic women, and thus points to a role of autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.

Abstract Background The accuracy of spelling in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is a critical factor for efficient clinical care, research, and ensuring patient safety. The Persian language, with its abundant vocabulary and complex characteristics, poses unique challenges for real-word error correction. This research aimed to develop an innovative approach for detecting and correcting spelling errors in Persian clinical text. Methods Our strategy employs a state-of-the-art pre-trained model that has been meticulously fine-tuned specifically for the task of spelling correction in the Persian clinical domain. This model is complemented by an innovative orthographic similarity matching algorithm, PERTO, which uses visual similarity of characters for ranking correction candidates. Results The evaluation of our approach demonstrated its robustness and precision in detecting and rectifying word errors in Persian clinical text. In terms of non-word error correction, our model achieved an F1-Score of 90.0% when the PERTO algorithm was employed. For real-word error detection, our model demonstrated its highest performance, achieving an F1-Score of 90.6%. Furthermore, the model reached its highest F1-Score of 91.5% for real-word error correction when the PERTO algorithm was employed. Conclusions Despite certain limitations, our method represents a substantial advancement in the field of spelling error detection and correction for Persian clinical text. By effectively addressing the unique challenges posed by the Persian language, our approach paves the way for more accurate and efficient clinical documentation, contributing to improved patient care and safety. Future research could explore its use in other areas of the Persian medical domain, enhancing its impact and utility.

Sex-biased psychophysiology, behavior, brain function, and conditions are extensive, yet underlying structural brain mechanisms remain unclear. There is contradicting evidence regarding sexual dimorphism when it comes to brain structure, and there is still no consensus on whether or not there exists such a dimorphism for brain white matter. Therefore, we conducted a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis along with global volume analysis for white matter across sex. We analyzed 384 T1-weighted MRI brain images (192 male, 192 female) to investigate any differences in white matter (WM) between males and females. In the VBM analysis, we found males to have larger WM, compared to females, in occipital, temporal, insular, parietal, and frontal brain regions. In contrast, females showed only one WM region to be significantly larger than males: the right postcentral gyrus in the parietal lobe region. Although, on average, males showed larger global WM volume, we did not find any significant difference in global WM volume between males and females.

Mediterranean semi-arid regions in northwestern Iran receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration and are characterised by excessive heat and terminal drought stress. Exogenous application of some nanoparticles and growth regulators appears to alleviate the adverse effects of abiotic stress and improve plant performance. In the present paper, an attempt is made to evaluate the effects of foliar application of salicylic acid (SA), glycine betaine (GB), ascorbic acid (AA), nano-silica (nSiO2) and nano titanium dioxide (nTiO2) suspensions on growth and yield components of sunflower (cv. Azargol) in the semi-arid highland region of Maragheh, Iran. Plants were grown under rain-fed conditions with supplemental irrigation applied three times during the reproductive growth stages of growth. The results revealed that foliar application of SA considerably improved head diameter, chlorophyll content of plant leaves, and days to flowering, while it delayed physiological maturity for a fairly long time. Evaluation of the achene yield component indicated that application of GB significantly increased the weight of achenes when compared with other treatments. The percentage of empty achenes was considerably affected by treatments, the lowest percentage of hollow achenes being recorded for plants sprayed with GB, followed by ones sprayed with AA and nTiO2. The percentage of oil in sunflower achenes was substantially increased by foliar application of nano particles, the highest oil percentage being recorded in plants treated with nTiO2. The results also showed that the highest number of achenes per head, greatest kernel weight, and largest achene size were obtained by spraying with nanoparticle suspensions. Although all treatments improved the achene yield, the effect of nTiO2 was most prominent. The results of the present experiment support the conclusion that foliar application of nanoparticles may alleviate adverse environmental factors and improve the performance of plants in semi-arid regions.

Abstract Objective The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare education is inevitable. Understanding the proficiency of generative AI in different languages to answer complex questions is crucial for educational purposes. The study objective was to compare the performance ChatGPT-4 and Gemini in answering Virology multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in English and Arabic, while assessing the quality of the generated content. Both AI models’ responses to 40 Virology MCQs were assessed for correctness and quality based on the CLEAR tool designed for evaluation of AI-generated content. The MCQs were classified into lower and higher cognitive categories based on the revised Bloom’s taxonomy. The study design considered the METRICS checklist for the design and reporting of generative AI-based studies in healthcare. Results ChatGPT-4 and Gemini performed better in English compared to Arabic, with ChatGPT-4 consistently surpassing Gemini in correctness and CLEAR scores. ChatGPT-4 led Gemini with 80% vs. 62.5% correctness in English compared to 65% vs. 55% in Arabic. For both AI models, superior performance in lower cognitive domains was reported. Both ChatGPT-4 and Gemini exhibited potential in educational applications; nevertheless, their performance varied across languages highlighting the importance of continued development to ensure the effective AI integration in healthcare education globally.

Abstract Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide with low survival rates and poor outcomes. The treatment landscape for PC is fraught with obstacles, including drug resistance, lack of effective targeted therapies and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The resistance of PC to existing immunotherapies highlights the need for innovative approaches, with the TME emerging as a promising therapeutic target. The recent advancements in understanding the role of macrophages, this context highlight their significant impact on tumor development and progression. There are two important types of macrophages: M1 and M2, which play critical roles in the TME. Therapeutics strategies including, depletion of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), reprogramming TAMs to promote anti-tumor activity, and targeting macrophage recruitment can lead to promising outcomes. Targeting macrophage-related pathways may offer novel strategies for modulating immune responses, inhibiting angiogenesis, and overcoming resistance to chemotherapy in PC treatment.

Abstract Background and Objectives Zygomycosis, a severe form of fungal infection, is classified into two categories: Mucorales and Entomophthorales. Within the Entomophthorales category, Basidiobolomycosis is a rarely recognized genus that can have significant health implications. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, which includes the use of antifungal medication and surgical procedures, are vital for enhancing the prognosis of patients. The objective of this study is to investigate the response to treatment in patients hospitalized due to basidiobolomycosis. Methods We carried out a retrospective study, in which we analyzed data from 49 patients who were diagnosed with Entomophthorale, Zygomycosis, and Basidiobolomycosis at Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, between the years 1997 and 2019. The data included parameters such as demographic information, clinical symptoms, imaging findings, treatment methods, and patient outcomes. Results Out of 49 patients, 24 children, predominantly male (83.3%), were definitively diagnosed with basidiobolomycosis. The ages of the patients ranged from 1 to 16 years, with an average of 5.75 years. The most frequently observed clinical manifestations included abdominal pain (70.8%), fever (54.2%), hematochezia (41.7%), vomiting (20.8%), and anorexia (16.7%). Half of the patients exhibited failure to thrive (FTT), while abdominal distension was present in 25% of the cases, and a palpable abdominal mass was found in 37% of the patients. The primary treatment strategy incorporated surgical interventions complemented by a comprehensive antifungal regimen. This regimen included medications such as amphotericin B, cotrimoxazole, itraconazole, potassium iodide, and voriconazole. These were mainly administered in a combination therapy pattern or as a monotherapy of amphotericin B. Twenty-two patients were discharged, while two patients died due to complications from the disease. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the prevailing treatment modalities generally involve surgical intervention supplemented by antifungal regimens, including Amphotericin B, Cotrimoxazole, Potassium Iodide, and Itraconazole.

Abstract Background The development of heart failure is a turning point in the natural course of aortic stenosis (AS). Pulmonary oedema and elevated left ventricular pressure (LVP) are cardinal features of heart failure. Evaluating pulmonary oedema by lung ultrasound involves taking the upper hand with a bedside noninvasive tool that may reflect LVP. Aim We sought to assess the correlation between sonographic pulmonary congestion, invasive LV pre-A pressure, and echocardiographic LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in symptomatic AS patients receiving transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Methods Forty-eight consecutive patients with severe AS and planned transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) were enrolled. LVEDP was estimated to be normal or elevated using the ASE/EACVI algorithm and transmitral Doppler indices, the E/A ratio, the E/e′, and the left atrial volume index. Invasive LV pre-A pressure was used as a reference, with > 12 mm Hg defined as elevated. Results Forty-eight patients (25 women (52%), mean age 75 years, standard deviation (SD) ± 7.7 years) were enrolled in the study. We detected severe B-lines (≥ 30) in 13 (27%) patients and moderate B-lines (15–30) in 33 (68.6%) patients. The number of B-lines increased significantly with the severity of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classes (Fig. 1). The B-line count was 14 ± 13 in NYHA class I patients, 20 ± 20 in class II patients, and 44 ± 35 in class III patients (p 12, with a mean pressure of 26 mmHg, a minimum of 13 mmHg, and a maximum of 45 mmHg, with an SD of 7.85. Conclusion Assessing lung ultrasonic B-lines is a straightforward and practical approach to identifying pulmonary oedema in AS patients. The number of B-lines correlated with the E/E’ ratio and the functional status of patients but did not correlate with invasive LVEDP or LVEF. All patients had elevated LVEDP that correlated with E/E’.

Context: Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV) types is associated with high-grade cervical abnormalities. Aims: The aim of the study was to find most hr-HPV types causing persistent infection in abnormal cytological samples using Aptima HPV testing and discuss the compatibility of the Gardasil 9 vaccine in targeting most types. Settings: The study was conducted in a cytology laboratory in a tertiary hospital. Design: This is a retrospective observational study. Methods and Materials: Cytology and HPV Aptima test reports were obtained for abnormal cervical samples for a 6-year period. Statistical Analysis Used: Pearson Chi-square test. Results: Reports of 2834 abnormal cervical samples were analyzed. Aptima testing was positive in 21% of samples, including 92% of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 76.4% of the high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), 52% of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 40% of adenocarcinoma (ADC), and 21% of atypical squamous cells that cannot exclude HSIL (ASC-H). The Aptima other hr-HPV group was most common (60%), HPV16 was 26%, HPV18/45 was 9.6%, and double HPV infection was 4.3%. HPV16 was the most common infection in HSIL+ cases. HPV infection was most common in age groups (30–39) and (40–49), and a shift to age groups (50–59) and ≥60 was seen in HSIL+ cases. Conclusions: This study is the first of its kind in correlating age with hr-HPV and cytology findings in the Middle East and adds to previous knowledge related to the prevalence and Aptima testing of HPV. The outcome could be used as a baseline for the Gardasil 9 vaccine and for the assessment of its effectiveness after three or five years from initiation.

The porosity and permeability distribution in four layers of the Cretaceous Ilam Formation was simulated using optimized artificial intelligent algorithms based on conventional logging data of 50 wells in Mansuri oil field in Iran. First, the neutron porosity, interval transit time and density wireline logs in five key wells with core data were used as input parameters to calculate porosity and permeability of the reservoirs using backpropagation artificial neural network (BP neural network) and Support Vector Regression methods, and based on the correlation between the calculated results and the core tested results, BP neural network method was taken to do the physical property calculation. Then, the porosity and permeability distribution of the four layers were modeled using kriging geostatistical algorithms. The results show that Layers 2.1 and 2.2 are high in porosity, Layers 1, 2.1 and 2.2 are high in permeability, while Layer 3 is not reservoir; and the porosity and permeability are higher in the north and lower in the south on the whole. Key words: reservoir, physical property modeling, BP neural network, Support Vector Regression, Mansuri oil field, Zagros region

This paper undertakes an interdisciplinary study of the short story “Dash Akol” and the movie adapted from it. “Dash Akol” is a short story written by a famous Iranian author Sadeq Hedayat in 1932. Hedayat’s “Dash Akol” was made into a movie in 1971 by Masoud Kimiai. There are some discrepancies between the short story “Dash Akol” and the movie, triggering a number of significant implications. This article discusses these discrepancies along with Hedayat’s and Kimiai’s narrative techniques. To this end, it applies Genett’s (1988) Narrative Discourse and his three main narrative methods: narrating, characterization, and focalization. Meanwhile, it brings in Rimmon-Kenen’s (2002) strategy to study characters, and Stam and Burgoyne and Flitterman-lewis (2005) to show the ways in which the movie has deviated from the story. In terms of characterization, it studies traits such as, action, speech, naming and setting.

This paper undertakes an interdisciplinary study of the short story “Dash Akol” and the movie adapted from it. “Dash Akol” is a short story written by a famous Iranian author Sadeq Hedayat in 1932. Hedayat’s “Dash Akol” was made into a movie in 1971 by Masoud Kimiai. There are some discrepancies between the short story “Dash Akol” and the movie, triggering a number of significant implications. This article discusses these discrepancies along with Hedayat’s and Kimiai’s narrative techniques. To this end, it applies Genett’s (1988) Narrative Discourse and his three main narrative methods: narrating, characterization, and focalization. Meanwhile, it brings in Rimmon-Kenen’s (2002) strategy to study characters, and Stam and Burgoyne and Flitterman-lewis (2005) to show the ways in which the movie has deviated from the story. In terms of characterization, it studies traits such as, action, speech, naming and setting.

Introduction: Alternative punishments of imprisonment, which are called as a new approach of the penal system to fight against the negative consequences of prison, have many effects and consequences that need to be investigated. Therefore, in this study, while examining the types of alternative punishments, the moral and social effects of the implementation of these punishments have been explored. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted using an analytical-descriptive method. In this study, in order to provide an appropriate answer to the question presented, by referring to the theoretical bases (books) and articles published in the ISC, Magiran, Civilica, SID and Ensani in the years 2011 to 2023 and with the method of extracting the existing legal provisions, the effectiveness of this type of punishment was also criticized in reaching the intended goals. Conclusion: The results of this study show that with the implementation of such punishments, the level of public trust, the growth of morals and social capital in the society will also improve. Therefore, the implementation of these punishments, while reducing the criminal population of prisoners and reforming them, provides better implementation of social justice and improvement of public trust, emotional and financial support for the families of criminals

Direct and indirect releases of large quantities of surfactants to the environment may result in serious health and environmental problems. Therefore, surfactants should be removed from water before release to the environment or delivery for public use. In the present work, the removal of anionic surfactants, benzene sulfonate (BS), p-toluene sulfonate (TS) and 4-octylbenzene sulfonate (OBS) from water by adsorption onto Amino modified mesoporous carbon (AMC) were studied. The AMC surface chemistry and textural properties was characterized by nitrogen adsorption, XRD and FT-IR analyses. Experiments were conducted in batch mode with the variables such as amount of contact time, solution pH, dose of adsorbent and temperature. Finally, the adsorption isotherms of anionic surfactants on mesoporous carbon adsorbents were in agreement with a Langmuir model. AMC has shown higher anionic surfactants adsorption capacity than the untreated mesoporous carbon, which can explain by strong interaction between anionic surfactant and cationic surface of adsorbent.

Abstract The time it takes for an ecosystem to recover from a disturbance is a key to environmental management. Conventionally, recovery is defined as a return to the pre‐disturbance state, assuming ecosystem stationarity. However, this view does not account for the impact of external forces like climate change, imposing non‐stationarity and trends. Alternatively, the counterfactual approach views recovery as the state the ecosystem would have achieved if the disturbance had not occurred, accounting for external forces. Here, we present a simple method to estimate the counterfactual recovery time. By implementing our method to the greening of the Arctic region, we showed that counterfactual greening recovery is twice as long as conventional recovery over the region. We argue that the well‐documented greening of the region acts as an external force, leading to such a large difference. We advocate for embracing the counterfactual definition of recovery, as it aligns with realistic decision‐making processes.

The objective of the current study is to investigate the effectiveness of specifically the Support Vector Machine (SVM) and the k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN) models for sea level prediction. The SVM and kNN models are compared using the predicted data determined by the machine learning model’s performance. Thirteen models were trained precisely and properly throughout the machine learning process. The results showed that SVM models provide good performance during the training process and attained relatively poor performance during testing process. On the other hand, the KNN model showed consistent performance for both training and testing process. Regarding the effectiveness of different kernels of the SVM algorithm, the Radial Basis Function (RBF) kernel is the most suitable, which provides the finest analysis for the sea level rise dataset and acceptable values for RSME, MAE, and R2.

Introduction: This study examines the efficacy and safety of three COVID-19 booster vaccines including mRNA-based vaccines (BNT162b2 (BioNTech/Pfizer) and/or mRNA-1273 (Moderna)), Non-Replicating Viral-Vector vaccines (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AstraZeneca) and/or Ad26. COV2.S (Johnson & Johnson)), and Protein Subunit vaccine (SpikoGen) in immunosuppressed patients. Methods: Relevant articles were systematically searched using medical subject heading (MeSH) and keywords “COVID‐19” and “booster dose” or “booster vaccine” or ‘’fourth dose” in the online databases of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. To identify eligible studies, a two-phase screening process was implemented. Initially, three researchers evaluated the studies based on the relevancy of the title and abstract. Results: A total of 58 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. The findings suggest that booster doses offer greater protection against the disease than the primary dose. The study also compared various vaccine types, revealing that viral vector and nucleic acid vaccines outperformed inactivated vaccines. Results indicated that individuals receiving booster doses experienced superior outcomes compared to those without boosters. Vaccination against COVID-19 emerged as the most effective preventive measure against infection and symptom severity. Elevated antibody levels post-booster dose vaccination in the population signaled robust immune responses, underscoring the benefits of supplementary vaccine doses. Conclusion: This systematic review highlights preliminary evidence supporting the immunologic outcomes and safety of COVID-19 vaccine boosters in enhancing immune responses against SARS-CoV-2. However, further research is needed to determine optimal timing intervals between primary vaccination series and boosters while considering global equity issues and variant-specific considerations.

Introduction: In traditional medicine, saffron is used as a drug for treating many diseases. However there are many documents and evidences concerning its abortive and teratogenic effect especially in high doses. Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of saffron decoction consumption on pregnant mice and their offspring. Methods: In this study, 20 female mice after breeding and observation of vaginal plaque, randomly and equally divided into two groups. During pregnancy, animals were housed under the same environmental and nutritional condition while the test group received 0.5% saffron decoction as their drinks instead of tape water for control group. The pregnant mice were weighted during pregnancy and after delivery. Following the parturition, the number of live kids, their weight and sex and any pretended obvious abnormality were assigned. Results: The duration of pregnancy period and the number of live kids in test group were significantly less than control group while the mean infant’s weight in test group was more than control group. There was obvious one-eye blindness in 4 kids from saffron consumed group. In the case of mother's weight and sex ratio of live kids there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: This study indicated that saffron has a specific teratogenic effect on visual system and causes preterm labor and reduces the number of live infants which may be due to its abortive effect. Keywords: Saffron, Pregnancy, Infant, Teratogen, Mice

"n Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: Gall stone is an important health problem in the world for which different risk factors have been characterized. Gall stone and cardiovascular disease have common risk factors. Homocysteine is accepted as one of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. We aimed to study the effect of homocysteine level on gall stone formation. "n"nMethods: 54 patients with gall stone-related diseases and 54 patients without stone (control group) were studied from January 2007 to December 2008. Control group consisted healthy subjects with ultrasound proven normal gallbladder. Serum homocysteine level was checked in both groups. Homocysteine level of equal or more than 15 mmol/l was considered as abnormally high. "n"nResults: Cases included 43 women (79.6%) and had mean age of 50.76±15.23 years. Homocysteine level was significantly higher in patients with gallstone in comparison to control group (p=0.014). Risk of gall stone increased 3.4 times in persons who have homocysteine level equal or greater than 15mmol/l (p=0.019). The mean level of homocysteine was higher in men than women (p=0.03). The mean level of homocysteine did not differ significantly in patients with simple gallstone and patients with gallstone-related inflammation disorders (cholecystitis, cholangitis, and pancreatitis). Additionally, one unit increase in BMI level was associated with 1.12 times increase in the risk for gall stone formation (p=0.035)."n"nConclusion: The homocysteine level is increased in patients with gall stone-related diseases. Homocysteine may be considered as a risk factor of gall stone formation.

Zinc (Zn) deficiency has been reported in 40-78% of hemodialysis (HD) patients and may be associated with anemia and pruritus and probably limiting the expression of renal osteodystrophy. This study was designed to explore possible correlation between serum zinc concentration and anemia, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) concentration and pruritus severity in HD patients. During a case-control study, the serum Zn concentration of patients on main-tenance HD was compared with those of the healthy controls and with the cut-off point of 70 mcg/dL as the risk of Zn deficiency. The mean serum Zn concentration in patients on main-tenance HD was significantly lower than that of the control group; however, it was not different with the cut-off point of 70 μg/dL. No correlation between serum Zn concentration and hema-tologic indices was detected. A significant positive correlation between serum Zn concentration and erythropoietn dose was noted. No correlation was found between serum Zn concentration and PTH level or pruritus severity. In conclusion the results of this study showed that zinc concentrations were lower in HD patients compared to controls, however, the effects of routine supplementation of zinc to control anemia, serum PTH level or pruritus severity are yet doubtful.

Background: Surgery is still the best way for treatment of esophageal cancer. The increase in life expectancy and the rising incidence of esophageal tumors have led to a great number of elderly candidates for complex surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of advanced age (70 years or more) on the surgical outcome of esophagectomy for esophageal cancer at a single high-volume center. Materials and Methods: Between January 2000 and April 2006, 480 cases with esophageal cancer underwent esophagectomy in the referral cancer institute. One hundred sixty-five patients in the elderly group (70 years old or more) were compared with 315 patients in the younger group (< 70 years). All in-hospital morbidity and mortality were studied. Results: The range of age was 38-84 years, with a mean of 58.7. The mean age of the elderly and younger groups was 74 and 53.2, respectively. In the younger group, 70 patients (22.2%) and in the elderly group, 39 patients (23.6%) were complicated ( P 0.72).The most common complications in the two groups were pulmonary complications (9.8% in younger and 10.3% in elderly) ( P 0.87). Rates of anastomotic leakage and cardiac complications were also similar between the two groups. Hospital mortality rates in younger and elderly patients were 2.8% and 3%, respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups in morbidities and mortality ( P -value > 0.05). Conclusions: With increased experience and care, the outcomes of esophagectomy in elderly patients are comparable to young patients. Advanced age alone is not a contraindication for esophagectomy.

Schistosomiasis (also known as bilharzia, bilharziasis, bilharziosis or snail fever) is a human disease syndrome caused by infection from one of several species of parasitic trematodes of the genus Schistosoma. The three main species infecting humans are S haematobium, S japonicum, and S mansoni. S japonicum is most common in the fareast, mostly in China and the Philippines. We present an unusual case of S japonicum in a 32-year-old Filipino woman who had schistosomal ova studding the peritoneal cavity and forming a mass in the right iliac fossa.

Background: The damaging effect of exposure to loud noise on the structures of internal ear has been studied from many years ago. The effect of drill-generated noise on the non-operated ear is one of the problems that are less discussed. This study aims to evaluate the hearing loss that occurs in the non-operated ear in patients who undergo mastoidectomy by use of PTA (pure tone audiometery) and DPOAE (distortion product otoacoustic emission). Materials and Methods: In this descriptive- analytic study, 49 patients who underwent mastoidectomy in Amir-Alam and Iman Khomeini hospitals, were evaluated for noise trauma generated by drilling on the non-operated ear. Patients were between 9-55 years old (mean age= 29) and they consisted of 25 males and 24 females. The patient's preoperative state were measured by PTA and DPOAE on the opposite ear also the postoperative state were re-evaluated by PTA and DPOAE. Results: As a result, in 4 cases a significant change in PTA thresholds were observed, while two of them showed recovery after one month. Seven cases showed significant change in DPOAE amplitudes, of whom five cases recovered later. Conclusion: In conclusion, the drill-induced hearing loss on the non-operated ear occurs in a few patients and it is often reversible.

As a part of the host-defense system of many organisms, defensins are considered a suitable option for treating infection agents. Using the molecular dynamics simulation, this work studied the effects of two important human antimicrobial peptides, human β-defensin 2 and human α-defensin 5 on the SARS-CoV-2 membrane. The results demonstrate that defensin peptides notably alter the bilayer membrane's structure and physicochemical activity leading to a hydrophobic mismatch that impacts transmembrane protein channel function. This study elucidates the antiviral mechanisms of defensins and their therapeutic potential, offering valuable insights for researchers in virology and public health seeking novel medications.

Kimura's disease (K.D) is an uncommon, benign, chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology and pathogenesis involving subcutaneous tissue; presenting as a tumor like lesion with a predilection for the head and neck region. If parotid gland is affected clinically it is often confused with parotid tumor with lymph node metastasis. It is difficult to diagnosis before tissue biopsy and fine middle aspiration (FNA) has only limited value. There is no evidence of malignant transformation and occasional spontaneous resolution occurs. Various treatment modalities have been suggested in the management of this condition but none is proved best and recurrence is common. we describe a 33 - year- old man with KD who presented with left parotid mass.

BACKGROUND: There are no nationwide studies on mortality after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) among foreign-born populations that include detailed information about country of birth and information about socioeconomic position. The objective was to investigate the risk of mortality after CABG considering socioeconomic position, sex and country of birth. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included all 72 333 patients undergoing a first isolated CABG in Sweden, during 1995 - 2007 of whom 12.7% were foreign-born. The patients were classified according to educational level, sex, and country of birth and were followed up to December 2007. We estimated the risk of short and long term mortality after CABG in a multivariable model adjusted for age, calendar year of surgery, diabetes, educational level, and waiting time for surgery. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated based on the Cox proportional hazard model. FINDINGS: There were 15,284 deaths during the follow-up, 10.4% of whom were foreign-born. The foreign-born patients were 3 to 4 years younger than Sweden-born patients at the time of CABG surgery. There were no significant differences in overall early or late mortality between foreign-born and Sweden-born men and women after CABG. All-cause mortality differed in between regions and was highest in foreign-born men from Eastern Africa (HR 3.80, 95% CI 1.58-9.17), China (HR 3.61, 95% CI 1.50-8.69), and in Chile (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.01-4.47). Patients with low level of education had worse survival compared to those with longer than 12 years of education irrespective of sex and country of birth. This difference was more pronounced among foreign-born women (HR 1.50, 95% CI 1.00-2.33). CONCLUSION: This national study showed higher CABG mortality in patients from lower socioeconomic position. Early and late mortality did not differ after isolated CABG in foreign-born and Sweden-born patients.

In this article, an active electrically small Horn antenna for very high frequency (VHF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF) frequencies is presented. The proposed horn antenna has a height of 5 cm and a diameter of 4.28 cm which can cover 6-12 GHz without a special active circuit with the VSWR of less than 2. A Non-foster Active Adaptation Circuit is used to reduce the antenna input frequency from 164 MHz to 880 MHz. Good matching is visible between the simulation results and the measurement of the antenna reflection coefficient with the active matching circuit. The proposed structure has more than 137 % bandwidth. With the proposed active antenna, the problem of non-portability of VHF and UHF Horn antenna antennas has been solved. Finally, by analyzing the time domain, the stability of the circuit is examined, and the results of the stability test show that the system, including the antenna and the circuit, is stable. The antenna and the matching circuits are simulated by CST microwave studio and advanced design system, respectively.

Background & Aims Oral presentation skills play an important role in the personal, academic and professional success. It is the most common method of educational assessment in higher education settings. This study aims to determine the oral presentation competency of nursing students from Ardabil university of medical sciences (AUMS). Materials & Methods This is a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted in 2023 on 274 nursing students from AUMS, who were selected using a convenience sampling method. The data collection tool were a demographic form and Chiang’s oral presentation evaluation scale (OPES). The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 20, using independent t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Results The total score of OPES was 58.81±7.75. The scores of the dimensions of accuracy in content, effective communication, and clarity of speech was 4.01±0.348, 3.72±0.658, and 4.02‌±‌0.673, respectively. Competency was higher in Persian speaking students than in Azari-speaking students. Also, students with a history of more oral presentation and reading of public speaking books obtained higher scores. Conclusion Considering the importance of oral presentations for nurses, it is recommended that nursing professors in AUMS and the educational system in Iran pay more attention to promote this skill in Azeri-speaking nursing students.

Introduction: COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2, commonly presents with symptoms such as fever and shortness of breath but can also affect other organs. There is growing evidence pointing to potential eye complications. In this article, we aim to systematically review the ocular manifestations of COVID-19. Methods: We conducted a systematic review to explore the ocular manifestations of COVID-19. We searched online databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science up to September 4, 2023. After a two-stage screening process and applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, eligible articles were advanced to the data extraction phase. The PRISMA checklist and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) were used for quality and bias risk assessments. Results: We selected and extracted data from 42 articles. Most of the studies were cross-sectional (n = 33), with the highest number conducted in Turkey (n = 10). The most frequent ocular manifestation was conjunctivitis, reported in 24 articles, followed by photophobia, burning, chemosis, itching, and ocular pain. Most studies reported complete recovery from these manifestations; however, one study mentioned visual loss in two patients. Conclusion: In general, ocular manifestations of COVID-19 appear to resolve either spontaneously or with supportive treatments. For more severe cases, both medical treatment and surgery have been employed, with the outcomes suggesting that complete recoveries are attainable.

This study delves into the therapeutic potential of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), a cancer known for its complex pathogenesis and resistance to conventional treatments. The research specifically explores the impact of BHB on cell viability, autophagy induction, and lipid metabolism in Caki-1 cells. The findings reveal that BHB significantly reduces ccRCC cell viability, particularly under low-glucose conditions. The combination of glucose and BHB treatment activates autophagy pathways, as evidenced by increased expression of autophagy-related genes (Beclin-1, LC3IIβ, and ATG5) and decreased expression of P62 after 48 and 72 hours. Moreover, the combined therapy enhances lipid metabolism, as indicated by elevated expression of PGC-1α and UCP-1, along with upregulation of ACSL3 and CPT1A, which are associated with lipid droplet formation and facilitate lipid breakdown within cells. The study concludes that BHB holds promise as a therapeutic agent for ccRCC, targeting abnormal lipid metabolism, inducing autophagy-mediated cell death, and promoting fat browning. The results suggest potential avenues for precision-guided nutritional therapies in ccRCC treatment, highlighting the innovative role of BHB in addressing the challenges posed by this cancer.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most frequent endocrine disorders. The PCOS manifest by hyperandrogenism, hypertension and cholesterol and lipoprotein improper profiles. Changing the life style, e.g. increasing physical activities is the first approach in controlling PCOS. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four women affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) after medical screening were divided in to two groups: Experimental group (n = 12) and control group (n = 12), with the average age, weight, height, BMI and WHR of 26.87 ± 4.43 years, 75.71 ± 10.65 kg. 159.29 ± 6.44 cm, 29.86 ± 3.22 kg/m 2 and 91.75 ± 5.86 respectively. First the body composition such as BMI, WHR, percent body fat, weight and body fat mass were measured. In fasting blood samples the level of HDL, LDL, VLDL, triglyceride and cholesterol were measured. Then the experiment group underwent the effect of an aerobic exercise program. After 12 weeks, all the measured variables before intervention the test were re-measured. Correlated t-test was used for comparing the two groups before and after intervention the test and independent t-test was used for comparing the two groups (P < 0.05). Results: The results showed that after 12 weeks of exercise, BMI, WHR, fat rate, weight and fat mass and triglyceride had significant reduction and HDL had significant increase. But no significant changes happened in LDL, VLDL, and cholesterol levels. Conclusion: Reducing the weight by aerobic exercise in obese women and affected by PCOS can correct lipoprotein profile and improving health.

Adopting the Tools of Liberalism and Clash of Civilizations theories of international relations, and the vertical-horizontal media typology, this study examines the perceptions of 25,800 Arabs as expressed in a survey exploring their perceptions of violence against the United States, American citizens as “good,” President Donald Trump’s foreign policy in the Middle East, increasing economic relations with the United States, welcoming American foreign aid, and finally favoring diplomatic relationships with Israel. This study also looks at religiosity, the effectiveness of U.S. foreign aid, and the media sources influencing those perceptions. The findings suggest that religious activities and duties relating to Allah positively influence those perceptions while religion as ideology and politics negatively influence them. If the U.S. intentions in providing aid to Arabs are perceived to be benevolent and charitable, civic organizations and ordinary people are beneficiaries of aid, the United States is more likely to be seen in a positive light than if aid is perceived to benefit Arab governments. Of vertical media, newspapers have the strongest effects while TV and radio have little or none. Horizontal media have a mid-range effects. The study discusses the results in relation to implications for policy makers.