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Abstract Introduction. Upper cross syndrome is one of the most common disorders of the upper part of body, often associated with abnormalities of forward head, forward shoulders, elevated and protracted of scapula, and increased thoracic kyphosis. Conducting research on upper cross syndrome, especially in girls, is of highly significant, considering this issue and lack of examination of complications and consequences of this syndrome; therefore, this study aims to compare the balance and proprioception of the shoulder joint in girls with and without upper cross syndrome. Method The statistical population included two groups of 10-12-year-old female students, i.e., healthy and those with upper cross syndrome in the city of Khalkhal in Iran in 2022–2023. A total of 60 girl children were included in this study. The subjects were screened using a checker board and after quantitative evaluations of posture, they were assigned into two groups: healthy group (No. 30) and the one suffering from upper cross syndrome (No. 30). Forward head and forward shoulder angle were assessed using photography and kinovea software, kyphosis angle using Goniometer-pro app, static and dynamic balance using BESS and Y tests, also proprioception at angles of 45- and 80-degrees external rotation of the shoulder joint through photography and kinovea software. Data were analyzed through independent t-test in SPSS software version 26 at the significance level of 0.05. Results Healthy girls were in a better position in all variables of static balance (1.14 95% CI: [0.96, 1.70], p = 0.001), dynamic balance (0.81, 95% CI: [0.73,1.24], p = 0.001), proprioception of external rotation of shoulder joint at 45- (0.78, 95% CI: [0.64, 1.14], p = 0.001) and 80-degrees (0.89, 95% CI: [0.59, 1.34], p = 0.001) angles than those with upper cross syndrome. Conclusion It can be concluded that upper cross syndrome causes a decrease in balance and proprioception of the shoulder joint in female students; therefore, along with correcting the abnormalities, special attention should be paid to strengthening and improving these components. It is recommended for rehabilitation professionals to apply exercise training programs to improve the balance and proprioception and correct of the upper cross syndrome: that the strengthening of these components prevents musculoskeletal disorders. Implications for clinical practice • It is recommended for rehabilitation professionals to apply exercise training programs to improve the balance and proprioception of individual with upper cross syndrome. • It is recommended for rehabilitation professionals to apply exercise training programs to correct of the upper cross syndrome in order to prevents musculoskeletal disorders.

The pattern recognition receptor (PRR), which drives innate immunity, shields the host against invasive pathogens. Fish and other aquatic species with poorly developed adaptive immunity mostly rely on their innate immunity, regulated by PRRs such as inherited-encoded toll-like receptors (TLRs). The discovery of 21 unique TLR variations in various aquatic animals over the past several years has sparked interest in using TLRs to improve aquatic animal’s immune response and disease resistance. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the latest investigations on the various characteristics of TLRs in aquatic animals. It emphasizes their categorization, insights into 3D architecture, ligand recognition, signaling pathways, TLRs mediated immune responses under biotic and abiotic stressors, and expression variations during several developmental stages. It also highlights the differences among aquatic animals’ TLRs and their mammal counterparts, which signifies the unique roles that TLRs play in aquatic animal’s immune systems. This article summarizes current aquaculture research to enhance our understanding of fish immune systems for effective aquaculture -related disease management.

Background: The World Health Organization has introduced two sets of child growth standards for growth assessment. These reference values may not be suitable for use in other populations. Therefore, this study aimed to determine specific Z scores in the population covered by Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on data obtained from the evaluation of height, weight, and head circumference of children aged from 0 to 18 months visiting the healthcare centers of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from March 2018 to March 2021. A total data of 128,472 children were extracted from the Electronic Health Records (SinaEHR®) and included in the study. Finally, the collected data were analyzed using Minitab and SPSS software (version 16). Results: The L, M, and S parameters were used to calculate Z scores for weight, height, and head circumference. These Z scores were then compared to standard deviation values ​for each age from our study and international standards to determine any differences. Our study found that mean weight scores were 0.16 kg higher than the CDC standard and 0.34 kg higher than the WHO growth standard. Conclusion: The provision of this exclusive reference to children's growth indicators not only allows for a more accurate evaluation but also provides the possibility of comparison with other populations using their specific growth charts. It seems that one of the best plans is to compare growth charts with international populations and national growth charts, which due to the electronization of the entire processes of the health system, is more possible than ever.

Background: Food security is one of the basic needs of humans and is regarded as a priority in the development goals of all countries. This study aimed at an epidemiological assessment of food security in healthcare centers affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS). Methods: In this analytical cross-sectional study, information on food security, body mass index (BMI), physical activity, education, smoking, hypertension, domestic violence, psychological status, and demographic characteristics were extracted using SINA health records. A total of 60625 mothers referring to MUMS healthcare centers were studied from May 2017 to June 2019. Food security was measured using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Multinominal logistic regression was run to assess the relationship between study variables and food security adjusted for important potential confounders. Results: The mean age of participants was 42.01±14.3 years. Also, 64.7% (N=39209) of the participants had food security; 25.3% (N=15321) suffered from mild food insecurity; 6.7% (N=4044) suffered from moderate, and 3.4% (N=2051) suffered from severe food insecurity. Physical activity, BMI, education, nationality, smoking, and psychological distress were significantly associated with odds of severe food insecurity in comparison to normal food security (P

Abstract Background Violence against women is one of the most widespread, persistent and detrimental violations of human rights in today’s world, which has not been reported in most cases due to impunity, silence, stigma and shame, even in the age of social communication. Domestic violence against women harms individuals, families, and society. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence and experiences of domestic violence against women in Semnan. Methods This study was conducted as mixed research (cross-sectional descriptive and phenomenological qualitative methods) to investigate domestic violence against women, and some related factors (quantitative) and experiences of such violence (qualitative) simultaneously in Semnan. In quantitative study, cluster sampling was conducted based on the areas covered by health centers from married women living in Semnan since March 2021 to March 2022 using Domestic Violence Questionnaire. Then, the obtained data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. In qualitative study by phenomenological approach and purposive sampling until data saturation, 9 women were selected who had referred to the counseling units of Semnan health centers due to domestic violence, since March 2021 to March 2022 and in-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted. The conducted interviews were analyzed using Colaizzi’s 7-step method. Results In qualitative study, seven themes were found including “Facilitators”, “Role failure”, “Repressors”, “Efforts to preserve the family”, “Inappropriate solving of family conflicts”, “Consequences”, and “Inefficient supportive systems”. In quantitative study, the variables of age, age difference and number of years of marriage had a positive and significant relationship, and the variable of the number of children had a negative and significant relationship with the total score and all fields of the questionnaire (p

Background: Research activities promote the appreciation for evidence-based medicine (EBM), quality patient care and clinical competence of resident physicians. We decided to investigate the research background of Iranian neurological surgery residents and their attitude toward research through a survey. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on Iranian neurological surgery resident physicians between February and April 2020. We provided an online survey, including 13 questions, using Google form and then sent the link to survey via WhatsApp application. Following the first post, two more reminders were sent to the groups after 2 and 4 weeks. Results: Responses were received from 89 respondents from which about 88% used to spend two hours or less per week for research. Almost equal numbers of resident physicians chose academic position (n=43) or private practice (n=39) as their future job. Only seven respondents stated immigration for assumed future job position. Clinical research (47%) was the most frequent type of research done by participants and clinical research education (43.2%) during medical school was the most common way of obtaining research experience. Agreement with doing research during residency program (45.6%) was more than disagreement (22.4%) and neutral attitude (32%). Conclusion: There is a low tendency among Iranian neurological surgery residents for conducting research projects during their programs. Lack of a proper research curriculum, heavy clinical duties and consequent shortage of time as well as insufficient encouraging points, are the main reasons. Designing a research plan for residency programs may successfully increase the research involvement rate.

This research aims to identify the factors that affect the export of steel products and then prioritize them using the Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method. This industry has a crucial role in various countries and the company involved in the case study is one of the three largest steel exporters in Iran. In our study, 56 effective factors have been extracted and classified after a review of the literature in the area of export and marketing, especially the export and marketing of steel products. For identifying the factors affecting the steel products export, the Delphi method was used. This method identified 26 effective factors. In the third part of the study, these effective factors were prioritized using Shannon’s entropy and the WASPAS method in combination. As a result, we have recognized three factors that are the most important to affect the export of steel products: problems and questions of export, transport aspects, and skills/knowledge.

Background and Objectives: Cancer incidence and recurrence, antibiotic resistance, and overuse of antibiotics have become a global concern. The purpose of this study was to identify and isolate bacteria from the skin of the Rana ridibunda, Iranian swamp frog, which has produced antimicrobial compounds, and investigate its cytotoxic activity on the breast (MCF7) and glioblastoma (U87) cancer cell line. Materials and Methods: An antibiotic-producing bacterium was isolated from the frog skin. The bacterium was identified based on 16S rDNA sequencing and biochemical and morphological characteristics. Antimicrobial activity of the culture supernatant was examined by disc diffusion and MIC methods. Cytoplasmic and cell wall extracts of bacteria were prepared by sonication. SDS-PAGE was then used to examine protein contents of them. The cancer cell lines were treated with cytoplasmic and cell wall extracts at different concentrations. The effects of cytotoxicity were assessed by MTT assay at 24 and 48 h intervals. Finally, the results were analyzed by SPSS. Results: The isolated bacterium was identified as a new strain of Bacillus atrophaeus. MIC and disc diffusion methods showed that the Bacillus atrophaeus antimicrobial activity was broad spectrum. MTT assay showed IC50 values 30 μg/ml and 20 μg/ml for U87 and MCF7 cells after 24-48 h exposure, respectively. Conclusion: The cytoplasmic extracts of Bacillus atrophaeus has anticancer potential and can be used as an alternative or complementary candidate in the treatment of cancer. Further in vivo and in vitro mechanistic studies are suggested to confirm the biological activities.

Let X be an arbitrary topological space. F(X) denotes the set of all real-valued functions on X and C(X)F denotes the set of all f ∈ F(X) such that f is discontinuous at most on a finite set. It is proved that if r is a positive real number, then for any f ∈ C(X)F which is not a unit of C(X)F there exists g ∈ C(X)F such that g ≠ 1 and f = gr f. We show that every member of C(X)F is continuous on a dense open subset of X if and only if every non-isolated point of X is nowhere dense. It is shown that C(X)F is an Artinian ring if and only if the space X is finite. We also provide examples to illustrate the results presented herein.

Background and Objectives: DNA extraction is an important step of any molecular experiment. DNA could not be easily extracted from members of actinomycetes by the usual methods of lysis. Due to the low efficiency of the conventional DNA extraction methods, development of an effective technique for DNA extraction of actinobacteria in emergency cases seems to be necessary. Since most of the DNA extraction techniques and commercial kits are not efficient enough to extract DNA from actinobacteria, this study was conducted to improve an efficient method obtained from conventional one to extract DNA from this group of bacteria. Materials and Methods: DNA extraction was performed using five methods (an improved method, Invisorb Spin Plant Mini Kit, EZ-10 Spin Column, Sarrbrucken method (HZI, Germany) and Kirby Bauer's method). To evaluate the quantity and quality of extracted genomic DNA, UV absorbance of all samples and efficiency of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were evaluated. Results: Overall, the results revealed that the highest quantity (up to 4000 ng/µl) and good quality of DNA was obtained using introduced DNA extraction method. Conclusion: Results indicated that recently introduced improved method was more efficient for extraction of DNA from actinobacteria for DDH (DNA–DNA hybridization) test and for those require the high concentration of DNA.

BACKGROUND: Ascites syndrome is one of the most important metabolic disorders in growing broiler chickens world-wide. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effect of broccoli in comparison to ascorbic acid on controlling pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) in broiler chickens. METHODS: A total of 144 one-day old chicks were randomly divided into four groups. Each group included 36 chicks with three replicates of 12 birds. Experimental treatments were control, ascorbic acid (500 mg/kg dietary), and two levels of broc-coli (0.5% and 1% dietary broccoli powder). Growth performance, hematocrit or packed cell volume (PCV), heterophil to lymphocyte (H:L) ratio, right ventricle to total ventricle weight ratio (RV:TV), serum biochemical factors, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity, as well as humoral and cellular immune responses were evaluated. RESULTS: Growth performance parameters improved in experimental treatments compared to control, even though it was not statistically significant. The RV:TV ratio in treatment groups was lower than control, and it was significant in ascorbic acid and broccoli 1% (p ≤0.05). H:L ratio decreased in treatment groups than control (p ≤0.05). Nitric oxide and HDL-C levels increased at both broccoli levels than control (p ≤0.05), but LDL-C and triglyceride levels decreased (p ≤0.05). Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity were lower and higher in treatment groups than control, respectively (p ≤0.05). There were no significant changes in other parameters. CONCLUSIONS: This research showed that addition of broccoli to the diet of broiler chickens, through improving anti-oxidant parameters, increasing serum nitric oxide levels, and decreasing blood pressure, blood lipids, RV:TV ratio, and mortality, could be effective to prevent PHS.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Considering its long process of the treatment and significant influence on the health of patients, we aimed to investigate the functional and symptom scales of quality of life and the factors affecting patients with breast cancer during chemotherapy. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 94 women with breast cancer visiting Imam Reza Healthcare Center in Mashhad, who were in the course of chemotherapy, selected through convenience sampling. To investigate the functional and symptom scales of the quality of life, EORTC QLQ-BR23 was used. Data was analyzed via multiple linear regression model and significance level was considered as 0.05. Results: In functional scales, the highest and lowest score were obtained for sexual functioning (38.12±18.55) and future perspective (17.73±19.98), respectively. In the symptom scales, the highest and lowest score belonged to upset by hair loss (28.39±25.66) and breast symptoms (6.74±10.39), respectively. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that education had a negative effect on body image, menopause had a positive effect on sexual function, and tumor size had a negative effect on breast symptoms. Conclusion: Breast cancer deserves serious consideration as it affects different aspects of quality of life. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to take some measures for early diagnosis, achieve better therapeutic methods, use supportive therapy to decline the symptoms of the disease, and promote the functional level of women with breast cancer.

Introduction: Myxobacteria are Gram-negative Deltaproteobacteria with rod-shaped vegetative cells, aerobic organotrophs that exhibit unique group behavior. Materials and Methods:The myxobacterial strain Mx18Zk was isolated from intestinal tract of earth worm of GhaemshahrCounty in Mazandaranprovince and the extraction of the fermented broth culture was prepared with organic solvent extraction method. Methanol extract tested for potential antimicrobial activity against11 various human pathogens. Finally the rest of methanol extract fractionated by HPLC and tested again against sensitive pathogens. Results: Strain Mx18Zk significantly inhibited growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Chromobacterium violaceum, therefore was used for further characterization. Analysis of morphological, biochemical, 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic tree indicated that this strain with 100 % homology belongs to the genus Corallococcus macrosporus . The methanol extract was subjected to HPLC fractionation against sensitive pathogens. The active extracts studied by LC-MS and its results compared by previously identified myxobacterial secondary metabolites deposited in Myxobase database of HZI. LC/MS analysis resulted in the identification of Myxochromids and unknown Myxovirescins, Myxalamides antibiotics in methanol extract of the strain Mx18Zk. Discussion and conclusion: On the basis of results, isolated strain was active against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Chromobacterium violaceum and100 % homology was belong to the genus Corallococcus macrosporus. LC/MS analysis resulted in the identification of Myxochromids and unknown Myxovirescins, Myxalamides antibiotics in methanol extract of the strain Mx18Zk.

A novel myxobacterial strain ZKHCc1 1396T was isolated in 2017 from a soil sample collected along Chalus Road connecting Tehran and Mazandaran, Iran. It was a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain that displayed the general features of Corallococcus, including gliding and fruiting body formation on agar and microbial lytic activity. Strain ZKHCc1 1396T was characterized as an aerobic, mesophilic, and chemoheterotrophic bacterium resistant to many antibiotics. The major cellular fatty acids were branched-chain iso-C17:0 2-OH, iso-C15:0, iso-C17:1, and iso-C17:0. The strain showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Corallococcusterminator CA054AT (99.67%) and C. praedator CA031BT (99.17%), and formed a novel branch both in the 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenomic tree. The genome size was 9,437,609 bp, with a DNA G + C content of 69.8 mol%. The strain had an average nucleotide identity (ANI) value lower than the species cut-off (95%), and with the digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) below the 70% threshold compared to the closest type strains. Secondary metabolite and biosynthetic gene cluster analyses revealed the strain’s potential to produce novel compounds. Based on polyphasic taxonomic characterization, we propose that strain ZKHCc1 1396T represents a novel species, Corallococcus soli sp. nov. (NCCB 100659T = CIP 111634T).

Background. Successful anesthesia is a major concern during pulpotomy treatment. The aim of this study was to compare the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block using 2% lidocaine and buccal infiltration using 4% articaine for pulpotomy of mandibular primary second molars. Methods. This randomized cross-over clinical trial was performed on 23 children (5‒8 years of age) from July through November 2016, referred to the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, who needed pulpotomy treatment in both mandibular primary second molars. The patients’ feeling during injection and their behavior during pulpotomy and postoperative complications were registered. Wilcoxon signed ranks test was used for analysis of data. A significant level of differences was taken as P≤0.05. Results. Patients’ feeling during injection and postoperative complications did not significantly differ between the two groups (P>0.05). Patients’ behavior during pulpotomy was significantly better in the articaine group (P=0.004). Conclusion. Articaine buccal infiltration can be used successfully in pulpotomy of mandibular primary second molars.

Objective: Aggregation of the TAU proteins in the form of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain is a common risk factor in tauopathies including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Several strategies have been implemented to target NFTs, among which chaperones, which facilitate the proper folding of proteins, appear to hold great promise in effectively inhibiting TAU polymerization. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the chaperone Artemin on TAU aggregation in vitro. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, recombinant TAU- or Artemin proteins were expressed in E.coli bacteria, and purified using ion-exchange and affinity chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to run the extracted proteins and check their purity. Heparin was used as an aggregation inducer. The interaction kinetics of TAU aggregation and disassembly was performed using thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence analysis and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Results: Ion-exchange and affinity chromatography yielded highly pure TAU and Artemin proteins for subsequent analyses. In addition, we found that heparin efficiently induced TAU fibrillization 48 hours post-incubation, as evidenced by ThT assay. Importantly, Artemin was observed to effectively block the aggregation of both physiologic- and supraphysiologic TAU concentrations in a dose-dependent manner, as judged by ThT and CD spectroscopy analyses. Conclusion: Our collective results show, for the first time, that the chaperone Artemin could significantly inhibit aggregation of the TAU proteins in a dose-dependent manner, and support Artemin as a potential potent blocker of TAU aggregation in people with AD.

Background: In medical sciences, commitment to lifelong learning has been expressed as an important element. Today, due to the rapid development of medical information and technology, lifelong learning is critical for safe medical care and development in medical research. JeffSPLL is one of the scales for measuring lifelong learning among the staff of medical sciences that has never been used in Iran. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the factor structure and reliability of the Persian version of JeffSPLL among Persian-speaking staff of universities of medical sciences in Iran. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study, methodologically, that was conducted in 2012-2013. In this study, 210 staff members of Birjand University of Medical Sciences were selected. Data collection tool was the Persian version of JeffSPLL. To investigate the factor structure of this tool, confirmatory factor analysis was used and to evaluate the model fit, goodness-of-fit indices, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), the ratio of chi-square to the degree of freedom associated with it, comparative fit index (CFI), and root mean square residual (RMR) were used. To investigate the reliability of tool, Cronbach's alpha was employed. Data analysis was conducted using LISREL8.8 and SPSS 20 software. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis showed that RMSEA was close to 0.1, and CFI and GFI were close to one. Therefore, four-factor model was appropriate. Cronbach's alpha was 0.92 for the whole tool and it was between 0.82 and 0.89 for subscales. Conclusion: The present study verified the four-factor structure of the 19-item Persian version of JeffSPLL that included professional learning beliefs and motivation, scholarly activities, attention to learning opportunities, and technical skills in information seeking among the staff. In addition, this tool has acceptable reliability. Therefore, it was appropriate to assess lifelong learning in the Persian-speaking staff population.

BACKGROUND: Some studies showed that smoking follows an upward trend in Asian countries as compared with other countries. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of cigarette smoking on cardiovascular diseases and risk factors of atherosclerosis in patients with hypertension. METHODS: This study was conducted on 6123 men residing in central Iran (Isfahan and Markazi Provinces) that participated in Isfahan Healthy Heart Project (IHHP). Subjects were randomly selected using cluster sampling method. All the subjects were studied in terms of their history of cardiovascular disease, demographic characteristics, smoking, blood pressure, physical examination, pulse rate, respiratory rate, weight, height, waist circumference, and blood measurements including LDL-C, HDL-C, total cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood sugar and 2-hour post prandial test. RESULTS: While 893 subjects suffered from hypertension, 5230 subjects were healthy. The hypertension prevalence was 2.5 times more in urban areas compared to rural areas that showed a significant difference as it increased to 3.5 times smoking factor was considered. The prevalence of risk factors of atherosclerosis and also cardiovascular complications in patients with hypertension were significantly higher than healthy people. Furthermore, they were higher in smokers with hypertension and those exposed to the cigarette smoke than nonsmokers. CONCLUSION: Smoking and passive smoking had an increasing effect on the prevalence of risk factors of atherosclerosis and consequently the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypertension. Keywords: Hypertension, Cigarette Smoking, Cardiovascular Disease, Risk Factor.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is one of the leading causes of mortality all around the world. Obesity is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In this respect, we decided to examine the effect of the subgroups of weight on cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done in 2006 using the data obtained by the Iranian Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) and based on classification of obesity by the World Health Organization (WHO). In this study, the samples were tested based on the Framingham risk score, Metabolic Measuring Score (MMS) and classification of obesity. Chi-square and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 12514 people with a mean age of 38 participated in this study. 6.8% of women and 14% of men had university degrees (higher than diploma). Obesity was seen in women more than men: 56.4% of women and 40% of men had a Body Mass Index of (BMI) ≥ 25 Kg/m2. 13% of the subjects had FBS > 110 and13.9% of them were using hypertensive drugs. In this study, we found that all risk factors, except HDL cholesterol in men, increased with an increase in weight. This finding is also confirmed by the Framingham flowchart for men and women. CONCLUSION: One of every two Americans, of any age and sex, has a Body Mass Index of (BMI) ≥ 25 Kg/m2. Obesity associated CVD and other serious diseases. Many studies have been done in different countries to find the relationship between obesity and CVD risk factors. For example, in the U.S.A and Canada they found that emteropiotic parameters, blood presser and lipids increased by age(of both sexes). Moreover, another study done in China, which is a country in Asia like Iran, shows that BMI has an indirect effect on HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride. This data is consistent with the results of the current study. However, In China they found that this relationship in men is stronger than women, but our study reveals the opposite. Keywords: Body Mass Index (BMI), Overweight, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Framingham Risk Score, Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: Hypertension prevention and control are among the most important public health priorities. We evaluated the impacts of a workplace intervention project "Stop Hypertension in Mobarakeh Steel Company" (SHIMSCO) on controlling hypertension in industrial workers. Methods: The study was carried out in Mobarakeh Steel Company in Isfahan among 7286 male workers and employees. All individuals were evaluated for the presence of hypertension (HTN). According to examinations, 500 subjects with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg, and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg, and/or those using antihypertensive medications were confirmed to have HTN and thus included in this study. They were questioned for sociodemographic characteristics, past medical history and medication use. They received an educational program including healthy lifestyle and self-care recommendations of HTN management and control as well as training for accurate blood pressure measurement and home monitoring for two years. SBP, DBP, weight, height and routine lab tests were measured for all hypertensive subjects before and after the interventions. Paired t-test, generalized estimation equation (GEE) and ordinary linear regression (OLR) were used for statistical analysis in SPSS. Results: The comparison of SBP and DBP before and after the educational program showed significant reductions in both parameters (-7.97 ± 14.72 and -2.66 ± 9.96 mmHg, respectively). However, a greater decrease was detected in case of DBP. GEE showed SBP and DBP to decrease about -0.115 and -0.054 mmHg/month. OLR also revealed reductions of 4.88 and 2.57 mmHg respectively in SBP and DBP upon adding each antihypertensive drug. Conclusion: SHIMSCO, a 3-year interventional project in workplaces, was effective in reducing SBP and DBP among hypertensive employees and workers. We conclude that implementing simple educational programs in worksites can improve the management and control of hypertension and perhaps other chronic diseases. Keywords: Hypertension, Worksite, Industrial, Blood Pressure, Control

The pattern recognition receptor (PRR), which drives innate immunity, shields the host against invasive pathogens. Fish and other aquatic species with poorly developed adaptive immunity mostly rely on their innate immunity, regulated by PRRs such as inherited-encoded toll-like receptors (TLRs). The discovery of 21 unique TLR variations in various aquatic animals over the past several years has sparked interest in using TLRs to improve aquatic animal’s immune response and disease resistance. This comprehensive review provides an overview of the latest investigations on the various characteristics of TLRs in aquatic animals. It emphasizes their categorization, insights into 3D architecture, ligand recognition, signaling pathways, TLRs mediated immune responses under biotic and abiotic stressors, and expression variations during several developmental stages. It also highlights the differences among aquatic animals’ TLRs and their mammal counterparts, which signifies the unique roles that TLRs play in aquatic animal’s immune systems. This article summarizes current aquaculture research to enhance our understanding of fish immune systems for effective aquaculture -related disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel myxobacterial strain ZKHCc1 1396T was isolated in 2017 from a soil sample collected along Chalus Road connecting Tehran and Mazandaran, Iran. It was a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain that displayed the general features of Corallococcus, including gliding and fruiting body formation on agar and microbial lytic activity. Strain ZKHCc1 1396T was characterized as an aerobic, mesophilic, and chemoheterotrophic bacterium resistant to many antibiotics. The major cellular fatty acids were branched-chain iso-C17:0 2-OH, iso-C15:0, iso-C17:1, and iso-C17:0. The strain showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Corallococcusterminator CA054AT (99.67%) and C. praedator CA031BT (99.17%), and formed a novel branch both in the 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenomic tree. The genome size was 9,437,609 bp, with a DNA G + C content of 69.8 mol%. The strain had an average nucleotide identity (ANI) value lower than the species cut-off (95%), and with the digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) below the 70% threshold compared to the closest type strains. Secondary metabolite and biosynthetic gene cluster analyses revealed the strain's potential to produce novel compounds. Based on polyphasic taxonomic characterization, we propose that strain ZKHCc1 1396T represents a novel species, Corallococcus soli sp. nov. (NCCB 100659T = CIP 111634T). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: DNA extraction is an important step of any molecular experiment. DNA could not be easily extracted from members of actinomycetes by the usual methods of lysis. Due to the low efficiency of the conventional DNA extraction methods, development of an effective technique for DNA extraction of actinobacteria in emergency cases seems to be necessary. Since most of the DNA extraction techniques and commercial kits are not efficient enough to extract DNA from actinobacteria, this study was conducted to improve an efficient method obtained from conventional one to extract DNA from this group of bacteria. Materials and Methods: DNA extraction was performed using five methods (an improved method, Invisorb Spin Plant Mini Kit, EZ-10 Spin Column, Sarrbrucken method (HZI, Germany) and Kirby Bauer's method). To evaluate the quantity and quality of extracted genomic DNA, UV absorbance of all samples and efficiency of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were evaluated. Results: Overall, the results revealed that the highest quantity (up to 4000 ng/µl) and good quality of DNA was obtained using introduced DNA extraction method. Conclusion: Results indicated that recently introduced improved method was more efficient for extraction of DNA from actinobacteria for DDH (DNA-DNA hybridization) test and for those require the high concentration of DNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The overall incidence of breast cancer is different all over the world and even within a nation. The present study aims to investigate the stratum-specific incidence trends of breast cancer in southern Iran. Methods In this retrospective cohort study, the data of Fars Population-Based Cancer Registry was used during 2001–2018. New cancer cases with ICD-O-3 codes C50.0 to C50.9 were categorized based on age group, morphology, and topography. Age-specific incidence rates of breast cancer were calculated during 2001–2018. Annual overall and truncated age-standardized incidence rates and their 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) were also calculated. Afterward, the Annual Percentage Changes (APCs) of the age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates of breast cancer during 2001–2018 were calculated using Joinpoint regression software. Results An increasing trend was observed in the incidence of breast cancer among women during 2001–2018 (APC of age-standardized incidence rates: 9.5 (95% CI: 7.5, 11.5)).However, the trend was increasing less during the recent years. The APC of age-standardized rates decreased from 15.03 (95% CI: 10.4, 19.8) in 2007 to 6.15(95% CI: 4.0, 8.4) in 2018. The most common morphology of breast cancer was invasive ductal carcinoma (77.3% in females and 75.1% in males) and its trend was similar to the general trend of different types of breast cancer. The most common site of breast cancer was the upper outer quadrant. Most breast cancer cases were female and males accounted for 2.45% of the cases. Among females, 40–55 was the most prevalent age group. Conclusion The incidence of breast cancer among women living in southern Iran showed an increasing trend from 2001 to 2018. However, the rate of increase exhibited a milder slope during the more recent years. Based on the higher prevalence of breast cancer in the 40–55 age group observed in the present study, it offers valuable insight into the potential reduction of the breast cancer screening age from 50 to 40 years for healthy Iranian women. However, before implementing such a policy change, it is crucial to conduct additional studies that specifically examine the cost-effectiveness, as well as the potential benefits and risks associated with this alteration.

Background and Objectives: Cancer incidence and recurrence, antibiotic resistance, and overuse of antibiotics have be- come a global concern. The purpose of this study was to identify and isolate bacteria from the skin of the Rana ridibunda, Iranian swamp frog, which has produced antimicrobial compounds, and investigate its cytotoxic activity on the breast (MCF7) and glioblastoma (U87) cancer cell line. Materials and Methods: An antibiotic-producing bacterium was isolated from the frog skin. The bacterium was identified based on 16S rDNA sequencing and biochemical and morphological characteristics. Antimicrobial activity of the culture supernatant was examined by disc diffusion and MIC methods. Cytoplasmic and cell wall extracts of bacteria were prepared by sonication. SDS-PAGE was then used to examine protein contents of them. The cancer cell lines were treated with cytoplasmic and cell wall extracts at different concentrations. The effects of cytotoxicity were assessed by MTT assay at 24 and 48 h intervals. Finally, the results were analyzed by SPSS. Results: The isolated bacterium was identified as a new strain of Bacillus atrophaeus. MIC and disc diffusion methods showed that the Bacillus atrophaeus antimicrobial activity was broad spectrum. MTT assay showed IC50 values 30 µg/ml and 20 µg/ml for U87 and MCF7 cells after 24-48 h exposure, respectively. Conclusion: The cytoplasmic extracts of Bacillus atrophaeus has anticancer potential and can be used as an alternative or complementary candidate in the treatment of cancer. Further in vivo and in vitro mechanistic studies are suggested to confirm the biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Considering its long process of the treatment and significant influence on the health of patients, we aimed to investigate the functional and symptom scales of quality of life and the factors affecting patients with breast cancer during chemotherapy. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 94 women with breast cancer visiting Imam Reza Healthcare Center in Mashhad, who were in the course of chemotherapy, selected through convenience sampling. To investigate the functional and symptom scales of the quality of life, EORTC QLQ-BR23 was used. Data was analyzed via multiple linear regression model and significance level was considered as 0.05. Results: In functional scales, the highest and lowest score were obtained for sexual functioning (38.12±18.55) and future perspective (17.73±19.98), respectively. In the symptom scales, the highest and lowest score belonged to upset by hair loss (28.39±25.66) and breast symptoms (6.74±10.39), respectively. The results of multiple regression analysis showed that education had a negative effect on body image, menopause had a positive effect on sexual function, and tumor size had a negative effect on breast symptoms. Conclusion: Breast cancer deserves serious consideration as it affects different aspects of quality of life. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to take some measures for early diagnosis, achieve better therapeutic methods, use supportive therapy to decline the symptoms of the disease, and promote the functional level of women with breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background and Aims Cancer registry profiles provide an insight into the trend of cancer in a specific region. The present study aimed to report the cancer incidence in Fars during 2015−2018, based on the cancer registry of Fars province. Methods The present population‐based study electronically gathered new cancer patient's data from all pathology, radiology, radiotherapy, chemotherapy departments, and mortality data of Fars province. This electronic connection was first established in 2015, in Fars Cancer Registry database. After data gathering, all duplicated patients are removed from the database. The Fars Cancer Registry database includes data such as gender, age, cancer ICD‐O code, and city from March 2015 to 2018. Furthermore, the death certificate only (DCO%) and microscopic verification (MV%) were calculated using SPSS software. Results A total of 34,451 patients with cancer were registered in the Fars Cancer Registry database during these 4 years. Among these patients, 51.9% (n = 17,866) were male, and 48.1% (n = 16,585) were female. Furthermore, the mean age of patients with cancer was about 57.3 ± 19 (60.50 ± 19 in males, 53.86 ± 18 in females). In men, prostate, skin (non‐melanoma), bladder, colon and rectum, and stomach are the most common cancers. Also, in women, breast, skin (non‐melanoma), thyroid gland, colon and rectum, and uterus were the most common cancers in the studied population. Conclusion Overall, breast, prostate, skin (non‐melanoma), colon and rectum, and thyroid cancers were the most common cancers among the studied population. Healthcare decision‐makers could make evidence‐based policies to decrease cancer incidence based on the reported data.

Abstract Schizophrenia is a severe, disabling psychiatric disorder with unclear etiology. Family-based, twins, and adoption studies have shown that genetic factors have major contributions in schizophrenia occurrence. Until now, many studies have discovered the association of schizophrenia and its comorbid symptoms with functional polymorphisms that lie within serotonin reuptake pathway genes. Here, we aimed to investigate the association of three variable number tandem repeats (VNTR) functional polymorphisms in MAOA and SLC6A4 with schizophrenia in the Iranian population. Two hundred and forty-one subjects with schizophrenia and three hundred and seventy age and sex-matched healthy controls were genotyped for MAOA promoter uVNTR, 5-HTTLPR, and STin2 polymorphisms. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with locus-specific primers and running the PCR product on agarose 2.5% gel electrophoresis. Finally, the statistical inference was performed using R programming language and Haploview software. MAOA promoter uVNTR analysis of allele frequency showed no differences between schizophrenia subjects and healthy controls in both males and females and no significant differences were observed between female cases and female controls in MAOA promoter uVNTR 4 repeat frequency. Also, there were no differences between Schizophrenia and healthy control groups in 5-HTTLPR allele and genotype frequency but, 5-HTTLPR S allele carriers are significantly more frequent among cases. In addition, STin2.12 repeats were significantly more frequent among schizophrenia patients. Genotype comparison suggested that 5-HTTLPR S allele and STin2.12 repeat carriers were significantly more frequent among schizophrenia cases and being STin2.12 repeat carrier significantly increase the risk of schizophrenia occurrence. Besides, analysis of haplotype showed stronger linkage disequilibrium between 5-HTTLPR and STin2 haplotype block in cases than controls. These results suggest that SLC6A4 functional polymorphisms potentially could play a possible role as risk factors for the incidence of schizophrenia.

Abstract Background The importance of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in spermatogenesis is crucial and intrinsic factors and extrinsic signals mediate fate decisions of SSCs. Among endogenous regulators, microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical role in spermatogenesis. However, the mechanisms which individual miRNAs regulate self- renewal and differentiation of SSCs are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of miRNA-30a-5p inhibitor on fate determinations of SSCs. Methods SSCs were isolated from testes of neonate mice (3–6 days old) and their purities were performed by flow cytometry with ID4 and Thy1 markers. Cultured cells were transfected with miRNA- 30a-5p inhibitor. Evaluation of the proliferation (GFRA1, PLZF and ID4) and differentiation (C-Kit & STRA8) markers of SSCs were accomplished by immunocytochemistry and western blot 48 h after transfection. Results Based on the results of flow cytometry with ID4 and Thy1 markers, percentage of purity of SSCs was about 84.3 and 97.4 % respectively. It was found that expression of differentiation markers after transfection was significantly higher in miRNA-30a- 5p inhibitor group compared to other groups. The results of proliferation markers evaluation also showed decrease of GFRA1, PLZF and ID4 protein in SSCs transfected with miRNA-30a-5p inhibitor compared to the other groups. Conclusions It can be concluded that inhibition of miRNA-30a-5p by overexpression of differentiation markers promotes differentiation of Spermatogonial Stem Cells.

Objective: To investigate the effects of soft agar on in-vitro proliferation of neonate mouse spermatogonial stem cells co-cultured with Sertoli cells. Methods: Tissues of neonate NMRI male mice testes were used for harvesting spermatogonial stem cells and Sertoli cells. After cell harvest, flow cytometry using promyelocytic leukemia zinc-finger (PLZF) protein antibody was used to assess the purity of the cells. The isolated testicular cells were cultured in the absence (the control group) or presence of soft agar-coated dishes (the experimental group) supplemented with leukemia inhibitory factor and glia cell line–derived neurotrophic factor for two weeks. Alkaline phosphatase activity was assessed in the colonies formed after two weeks of culture by alkaline phosphatase staining. On day 14 of culture, the expression levels of DNA-binding protein inhibitor (ID-4) and PLZF genes in the undifferentiated cells were evaluated by the detection of PLZF protein antibody using real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry techniques. The number and diameter of the colonies of spermatogonial stem cells were assessed by ImageJ software. Results: In the experimental group, the number and the diameter of colonies significantly increased as compared with those in the control group (P

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant effect of quercetin on cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) contents and apoptosis of cryopreserved mouse spermatogonial stem cells (mSSCs). Methods: mSSCs were isolated from neonate mice and cultivated in culture medium containing 30 μΜ quercetin for 48 h and then frozen for 2 weeks. After thawing, MTT assay was carried out to analyze the cell viability. Moreover, intracellular ROS levels were measured by flow cytometery and apoptosis was evaluated by detection of phosphatidylserine externalization assay and also real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Pre-treatment of mSSCs by 30 μΜ quercetin significantly decreased intracellular ROS content and apoptotic cell numbers and improved viability of mSSCs. Moreover, the gene expression of Bcl-2 and Bax significantly increased and decreased respectively after the freeze-thawing process. Conclusions: Pre-treatment of mSSCs with quercetin can improve cell viability and reduce apoptosis during freeze-thawing process. It can be a promising way to improve the quality and efficiency of cryopreservation protocols used in fertility preservation strategies.

There is little information available about the effects of early-life parental stress on the reproductive potential of the next generation. The aim of this study is to examine the reproductive potential of male mice whose parents experienced maternal separation stress. In the present study, male first-generation offspring from parents were undergone of maternal separation (MS) were examined. Sperm characteristics, histological changes in testis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, expression of apoptotic and inflammatory genes and proteins were assessed. Findings showed that MS experienced by parents significantly decreased the morphology and viability of spermatozoa. Furthermore, significant changes in testicular tissue histology were observed. Increased production of ROS, decreased glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations, and affected the expression of genes and cytokines involved in inflammation. Finally, the mean percentage of caspase-1 and NLRP3 (NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3) positive cells was significantly higher in first-generation group. MS experienced by parents may negatively affect the reproduction of first generation offspring.

Leukocytospermia and hematospermia are defined as the presence of abnormally high white blood cell and red blood cell concentration in the semen, respectively. Numerous etiologies and various implications on fertility have been identified. In a small proportion of men, the presence of white blood cells or red blood cells can adversely affect sperm quality by the production of reactive oxygen species. Several methods have been used to assess the presence of white blood cells and red blood cells in samples, such as identification of round cells, immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibodies, the Endtz test, the peroxidase test, and flow cytometry or microscopy. In addition, techniques have been identified to separate sperm samples from white blood cells and red blood cells for cryopreservation to improve outcomes in assisted reproductive technology. In this review, laboratory and clinical management of leukocytospermia and hematospermia are discussed. Currently available diagnostic methods and treatment options are outlined, and available optimal cryopreservation techniques for samples with white blood cells or red blood cells are summarized.

Background & Objective: The plan of integration of medical schools into the health system was adopted in 1985 and one of its consequences was the creation of the teaching hospital The aim of this study was to investigate the problems and challenges of managing teaching hospitals Methods: This qualitative phenomenological study was conducted through interviews with 16 health experts about the integration of medical education and the problems of the management of teaching hospitals in 2014 In this study the data gathering tool was interviews In order to approve the credibility and confirmability of the text it was transcribed and the resulting analysis was distributed among the professors participating in this study and their corrective recommendations and comments were applied Data were analyzed through the analysis framework techniques Results: The findings of this study included 6 main codes and 20 subcodes regarding the problems of teaching hospitals The main codes included the weaknesses of the integration of education and health the strengths of the integration of education and health management problems of teaching hospitals weaknesses of the separation of education and health strengths of the separation of education and health and organizational communications Conclusion: Management of teaching hospitals compared with treatment hospitals is very difficult Many of the problems in hospitals are due to the lack of sufficient power of the director and the head of the hospital Thus these problems can be reduced by the delegation of authority to the hospital managers

Objective: Due to the restricted potential of neural stem cells for regeneration of central nervous system (CNS) after injury, providing an alternative source for neural stem cells is essential. Adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) are multipotent cells with properties suitable for tissue engineering. In addition, alginate hydrogel is a biocompatible polysaccharide polymer that has been used to encapsulate many types of cells. The aim of this study was to assess the proliferation rate and level of expression of neural markers; NESTIN, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) in encapsulated human ADSCs (hADSCs) 10 and14 days after neural induction. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, ADSCs isolated from human were cultured in neural induction media and seeded into alginate hydrogel. The rate of proliferation and differentiation of encapsulated cells were evaluated by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, immunocytoflourescent and realtime reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyzes 10 and 14 days after induction. Results: The rate of proliferation of encapsulated cells was not significantly changed with time passage. The expression of NESTIN and GFAP significantly decreased on day 14 relative to day 10 (P

We have evaluated the ever changing epidemiology of cancers in Fars province, Iran since the re-establishment of Fars cancer registry. Based on the collected data from all related sources in Fars province from 2007-2010 we calculated the cancer age-standardized rates per 100,000 person-years (ASRs). The results are presented as incidence rates of cases by site according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O), sex, age, crude rate, and ASRs. In women the total ASR was 41.70 per 100,000 from 1985-1989 which had increased to 55.50 and 95.46 during 1998-2002 and 2007-2010. The incidence of breast cancer in women during 2007-2010 was about two and four times higher than 1998-2002 and 1985-1989. The incidence of colorectal cancer in women during 2007-2010 was about three and five times higher than 1998-2002 and 1985-1989. In men the total ASR was 62.9 per 100,000 in 1985-1989 that increased to 64.50 and 101.48 during 1998-2002 and 2007-2010. Although stomach cancer was the most common cancer among men during 1985-1989 and 1998-2002, but in recent study bladder cancer was the most common cancer among men in Fars province. The incidence of colorectal cancer in men during 2007-2010 was about three times higher than 1998-2002 and 1985-1989. This study shows growing incidence of cancer in southern Iran. The colorectal cancer in both genders had increased and its pattern is similar to western countries. In men, bladder and prostate cancers had a growing rate and the incidences of these cancers in the present study were greater than stomach cancer.

Background: Domestic violence (DV) against women is often hidden, repeated and prolonged. DV is both a direct and an indirect risk factor for physical and mental health problems, and is associated with increased health care utilization. Husbands' violence against wives not only affects the person and her family, but the society as a whole. Methods: In a cross sectional case series study, 100 women of Bushehr Province with the experience of DV were evaluated in 1999. A questionnaire was filled out by interview. Physical abuse, emotional abuse, and controlling behavior aspects of DV were evaluated. Results: All the subjects had experienced the three types of DV. The duration of DV was more than two years in more than half of the participants. 50.6 % of them had experiences of severe and very severe violence. Social isolation (38%), headache (50%), nightmares (25%), misbehavior with children (39%), and irritability (32%) were the most common sequelae. Being fearful of losing their children (23%), shamed by what is happening to them (19%) and low information level (17%) were the most common reasons that they hid their condition regarding DV. Conclusion: The present study indicates the severity and long duration of domestic violence, including symptoms of physical and psychological diseases, in the studied subjects in Bushehr Province.