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Background and aims: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder of phenylalanine (Phe) metabolism. Mutations in the phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) gene are the main reason for the incidence of PKU. To date, more than 1180 variants have been detected in the PAH gene. Given that the distribution pattern of mutations in the PAH gene is specific to each population, the present study was conducted to detect exon 4 mutations and adjacent flanking regions of the PAH gene in northern Iran. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, in which 24 unrelated PKU patients in Taleghani Hospital in Gorgan were enrolled for a one-year period. After extraction of genomic DNA from leukocytes, identification of exon 4 mutations and adjacent flanking regions was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing techniques. Results: In this study, IVS4+1G>A mutation was detected in one allele (2.08%) among 48 alleles. Moreover, IVS4+47C>T and IVS3-22C>T polymorphisms were observed in 12 alleles (25%) and eight alleles (16.7%), respectively. Conclusion: In the present study, IVS4+1G>A mutation was only found in 2% of chromosomes. Hence, different mutations are responsible for PKU disease in the north of Iran, and further studies are recommended to identify all mutations in the PAH gene in the region.

Background and aims: To identify the pattern and causes of death and to deal with them are among the most appropriate strategies to increase human life expectancy. The pattern of death in society must be identified to cope with the causes of premature deaths. The aim of this study was to epidemiologically investigate the causes of death in people aged 5-14 years in northeastern Iran. Methods: Data on the deaths of people aged 5-14 years from Khorasan Razavi province during 2013- 2019, drawn from the Causes of Mortality Classification System of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, were used to conduct the study. Results: Data on 2084 deaths were examined, of which 824 (40.04%) occurred in girls. The number of deaths was 976 (53.83%) and 1108 (46.17%) in the age group of 5-9 and 10-14, respectively. Traffic accidents, cancers, external causes (unexpected events), and circulatory system diseases were found as the main causes of death. Among the cancers, lymphoid leukemia, malignant brain tumors, and myeloid leukemia (18%, 12%, and 7%, respectively) were the most common cancers, leading to death. In rural areas, unexpected events (20%) were the leading cause of death, followed by traffic accidents and cancers (19% and 13%, respectively). Conclusion: Overall, the mortality rate in children aged 5-14 years due to traffic accidents and unexpected events (suffocation, burns, and the like) seems to be substantially higher in Iran compared to some developing countries and some neighboring countries such as Turkey. Given the possibility of taking preventive measures in this regard, it is necessary to develop policies to reduce the mortality rate in the age group.

There is a strong and ever-escalating need for sterilization tools that are effective against a broad range of pathogenic microorganisms. To address this issue, this study evaluates the inactivation potential of arc and pulsed spark plasma discharges on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Candida albicans microorganisms. Our results show that the electrical discharge plasma systems are effective in the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms. The inactivation of the considered strains was greatly affected by the type of microorganisms. Higher viability losses of the pathogenic strains were observed in bacterial strains than in the fungal strains. Moreover, in the case of fungal strains, the population of C. albicans was decreased the most, followed by Trichophyton mentagrophyte, while the population of Microsporum canis was decreased the least. Besides, the arc discharge system was compared with the pulsed spark discharge system. It can be obtained from the results that the pulsed spark discharge treatment successfully enhanced the reduction of the pathogenic cells more than the arc discharge treatment. The higher efficiency of the pulsed spark discharge is due to the generation of discharge streamers on the water surface. The SEM analyses showed that electrical discharge plasmas produced serious damage to pathogenic eukaryotic and prokaryotic microorganisms. Also, the plasma-induced changes in pH values and temperature values were measured. The pulsed spark discharge-treated samples have more significant changes in pH value while arc discharge-treated samples have larger temperature changes.

Background: Despite global efforts to treat and alleviate the outcomes of COVID-19, no consensus has been reached regarding the optimal approach. Some nutrients have been known to be vital for the integrity of the immune system. Although limited interventional studies support this idea, the findings of some cross-sectional and case studies have been encouraging. Aim: The present study will seek to determine the effectiveness of nutritional interventions on the outcomes of COVID-19. Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar will be searched for articles published from October 1st, 2019, to January 12th, 2022. Different study designs, both randomized and nonrandomized trials, cross-sectional or cohort studies, and pre and post-interventions will be included. Screening, selection, and extraction of data as well as quality assessment of included studies, will be carried out by two separate reviewers. Any potential conflicts will be resolved through discussion. An appropriate risk of bias assessment tool will be used to appraise the included studies. Then, the results will be synthesized and pooled for meta-analysis. If the meta-analysis is not performed, the reason will be provided. After summarizing the results and providing conclusions, the specific features associated with effective interventions will be presented based on the power of each study.

Lung cancer is one of the common types of malignant disorders and the most prevalent cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Few studies have examined the association of dietary inflammatory index (DII) with lung cancer and findings from these studies are conflicting. Moreover, no study has examined this association in the Middle East. Therefore, the current case-control study was conducted to examine the association between DII and lung cancer among Iranian adults. We recruited 140 pathologically confirmed cases of lung cancer and 140 healthy controls who were matched with cases in terms of age. Dietary intakes were assessed using a 142-item Willett-format dish-based semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. DII scores were calculated using the method developed by Shivappa et al. Overall, we found a significant positive association between DII and lung cancer so that after controlling for potential confounders, individuals in the highest tertile of DII scores had 2.03 times more odds of lung cancer compared to those in the lowest tertile (OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.02-4.01). This significant positive association was also seen in men, but not in women. In conclusion, adherence to a pro-inflammatory diet was associated with increased odds of lung cancer in adults, particularly in male adults.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) may lead to several changes in the skin, and some of these may influence the skin impedance spectrum. In the present study we have developed a prototype solution for skin impedance spectroscopy at selected skin sites (big toe pulp, heel and toe ball) that was tested in a pilot study on five patients with DPN and five healthy controls. At the big toe, most of the controls had markedly lower impedance than the DPN group, especially in the range of 1-100 kHz. The separation between the groups seems to be weaker at the heel and weakest at the toeball. The results may indicate that monitoring of the skin impedance spectrum may be a method for detection of skin changes associated with DPN, encouraging further studies with the big toe sensor in particular.

Increased exposure to advertising of unhealthy food products is one of the main risk factors for the increased prevalence of childhood obesity and non-communicable diseases. This scoping review aimed to investigate the characteristics and effects of food advertisements targeted at children in Iran and review the existing regulations on food marketing targeted at children in the country. In this study, we searched Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google, and Google scholar, in addition to Iranian scientific search engines, including Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (Iran.doc), Scientific Information Database (SID), Iranmedex, Magiran, and Civilica up to December 2020 to find any literature about food marketing to children in Iran and current related regulations and policies in the country. A total of 23 eligible studies were selected for this review. Most of the studies had focused on television as the media to assess. The main food products advertised with reference to children included: Salty snacks, including cheese puffs, chips, cheese fish snacks, puffed corn, and sweet snacks such as ice creams, cakes/biscuits/cookies and candies, beverages/drinks/soft drinks/fruit juices, dried fruits and fruit rolls, and chocolates. Strategies that most commonly used in marketing foods to children in Iran were emotional appeals, misleading messages/claims, use of music and known characters to children, as well as conveying happiness and/or security. The main reported violation of food regulations included using obese children, either as consumers or presenters of the product. In Iran the advertising of unhealthy food products for the general population is banned; however, it is weakly implemented. There are a limited number of regulations that have addressed children explicitly in this regard. The main barriers identified in partial implementation of regulations included weakness in scientific criteria, legal enforcement guarantee, poor intersectoral collaboration, inadequate infrastructures, and poor monitoring. Policies and regulations in food marketing need to clearly address children as an important audience. It is suggested future policies focused on children cover all forms of food marketing and consider all types of persuasive food marketing strategies targeted at children.

BACKGROUND: The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is the method of choice for dietary assessment in epidemiological studies. FFQs focusing on mixed-dishes and simple food items are useful where mixed-dishes are an essential part of food consumption. OBJECTIVE: Regarding the fact that the nature of the Iranian diet is mixed-dish, the present study aimed to design and assess the validity and reproducibility of a dish-based semi-quantitative FFQ in the Iranian adult population. METHODS: A list of 302 food items was collected from four geographical areas around Iran. The validation study was conducted on 97 healthy adults. The FFQ was introduced at the beginning of the study and 10 months after; two three-day food records were collected during the study. Also, biomarkers including 24-hour urinary potassium and nitrogen, serum retinol, and alpha-tocopherol were measured. RESULTS: A 142-food-item FFQ was concluded. The correlation coefficient between the second FFQ and the second three-day food record ranged from 0.225 to 0.323 for macronutrients and 0.128 to 0.476 for micronutrients. The percentile agreements (same or adjacent quartile) between the two methods were more than 60% for all nutrients. The intraclass correlation coefficient between FFQs (except for vitamin E) ranged from 0.363 to 0.578. The correlation coefficient between the second FFQ and the second biomarker assessment was 0.241 for protein.

Background: The relation between long-term dietary intake and diseases is well known. There are several methods to determine long-term dietary intake. The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is used in studies to assess habitual dietary intake over a long term period. Dietary intake varies according to cultural differences, so an FFQ must be designed and validated for the target population. This protocol study aims to explain the development and validation of a semi-quantitative FFQ for the Iranian population that includes mixed dishes and single food items. Methods: The initial list of food items were extracted from interviews and expert opinion. An expert panel of ten nutritionists calculated the content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) of food items to finalize the FFQ. One hundred twenty eligible participants were included in the study. They completed the FFQ two times, with a ten month interval. They recorded their food intake for three days in the 2nd and 10th months of the study. In the 4th and 10th months, serum retinol and alpha-tocopherol, and 24-hour urinary potassium and nitrogen were measured. Result: Covering typical Iranian mixed dishes is the main advantage of this study. Given that the questionnaire is valid and reproducible, it can be used in epidemiologic studies. Conclusion: The current study developed a dish-based Iranian FFQ based on mixed food.

The tight junction membrane protein claudin 1 and the adherens junction protein E-cadherin play critical roles in cell–cell communication and in cell signaling. As a result, their protein levels and distribution in cancer have been a focus of cancer researchers in recent years. The loss of sensitivity to contact inhibition and the establishment of invasive properties in cancer are thought to be a result of the mislocalization of these membrane proteins to the cytoplasm. However, reports on their distribution and levels have been inconsistent. It is therefore critical that the techniques used to determine the cellular localization of these proteins be both consistent and reliable. This study was undertaken to determine the optimal fixation method, methanol or formalin, for the detection of claudin 1 and E-cadherin by immunofluorescence in five different human breast cancer cell lines. Both methods exhibited staining of the cell membrane and cytoplasm, but the strongest and most distinct signals were obtained using methanol fixation. Interestingly, cell-specific differences were also observed that appeared to be associated with levels of claudin 1 and E-cadherin as seen by Western blotting. Therefore, when evaluating cellular localization of the junction proteins claudin 1 and E-cadherin, expression level and cell type differences must be considered

Voltage-gated Ca2+ (Cav) channels consist of a pore-forming Cavα1 subunit and auxiliary Cavα2-δ and Cavβ subunits. In fibroblasts, Cavβ3, independent of its role as a Cav subunit, reduces the sensitivity to low concentrations of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3). Similarly, Cavβ3 could affect cytosolic [Ca2+] in pancreatic β-cells. Here, we deleted the Cavβ3-encoding gene Cacnb3 in insulin-secreting rat β-(Ins-1) cells using CRISPR/Cas9. These cells were used as controls to investigate the role of Cavβ3 on Ca2+-signalling, glucose-induced insulin secretion (GIIS), Cav-channel activity and gene expression in wild-type cells in which Cavβ3 and the IP3-receptor were co-immunoprecipitated. Transcript and protein profiling revealed significantly increased levels of insulin transcription factor Mafa, CaMKIV, neuroendocrine convertase1 (Pcsk1) and nitric oxide synthase-1 (NOS-1) in Cavβ3-KO cells. In the absence of Cavβ3, Cav-currents were not altered. In contrast, CREB activity, the amount of MAFA protein and GIIS, the extent of IP3-dependent Ca2+ release and the frequency of Ca2+-oscillations were increased. These processes were decreased by the Cavβ3 protein in a concentration-dependent manner. Our study shows that Cavβ3 interacts with the IP3-receptor in isolated β-cells, controls IP3-dependent Ca2+-signalling independently of Cav channel functions, and thereby regulates insulin expression and its glucose-dependent release in a cell-autonomous manner.

Objectives Polymethyl methacrylate as the most common material used in denture bases has some problems. The aim of this study was to introduce a new nanocomposite of PMMA to improve flexural strength and antifungal properties. Materials and Methods In this experimental study, AgSiO2 nanoparticles were prepared, and their characteristics were confirmed by scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques. Then the nanoparticles in the weight ratio of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7% were incorporated to heat-cured PMMA and the control group included no nanoparticles.To measure the flexural strength before and after thermocycling three-point bending test was used. Eight samples per group with dimensions of 65 × 10 × 2.5 mm were used. Antifungal activity against Candida albicans (PTCC 5027) was investigated through colony count method. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS at significance level of p-value ≤0.05. Results The mean flexural strength in groups 0.1, 0.3, and 0.7% was significantly higher than the control. After thermocycling flexural strength of the control group was significantly lower than 0.3 and 0.5% groups. As the concentration of nanoparticles increased the antifungal activity improved (p < 0.05). Conclusion Addition of nanoparticles AgSiO2 improved flexural strength and antifungal characteristics of PMMA.

Background Nutritional inadequacy, especially micronutrients, is still a serious concern among children in developing countries. Dietary diversity score (DDS) has been recommended as a proxy for nutritional adequacy. The present study aims to develop a questionnaire to assess the dietary diversity among 24–59 months children in Iran; also, the validity of the dietary diversity score as an indicator of nutritional status among the children will be assessed. Methods In order to design the questionnaire, the Food and Agriculture Organization Guideline for measuring individual dietary diversity will be applied. According to the guideline, foods are categorized into nine groups, then dietary diversity score will be calculated by summing the number of food groups. In order to evaluate the efficacy of this questionnaire in predicting the nutritional status of the children, the relationship between dietary diversity score calculated by the questionnaire with nutritional adequacy, serum retinol and anthropometric indicators will be compared. Discussion DDS can be a valuable indicator for predicting the adequacy of macronutrients and micronutrients specially in children. It is also significantly related to the mean probability of adequacy (MPA).

Background This study aimed to develop a conceptual framework to better understand food and nutrition literacy and its dimensions and components among Iranian children. Methods The study included three sub-studies. First, two qualitative studies were conducted to explore experts’ and students’ perspectives and experiences regarding the topic. A comprehensive qualitative literature review was then conducted to identify food/nutrition literacy definitions and its components in the relevant literature. The data of the above three sub-studies were compiled as text data and were analyzed utilizing MAXQDA2010 software. Results Two main domains, including cognitive and skill domains, emerged from the data analysis. The cognitive domain consisted of food- and nutrition-related knowledge included four subcategories “nutrition knowledge”, “lifestyle knowledge”, “food safety knowledge”, and “knowledge of food and its preparation”) as well as “food and nutrition understanding”. The skill domain consisted of three dimensions: “functional”, “interactive”, and “critical” food and nutrition literacy. Conclusions The developed framework highlights the importance of integrated application of all dimensions of food and nutrition literacy among this population group. It can assist policymakers and curriculum developers in assessing education curricula and developing effective strategies for teaching and learning to increase students’ food and nutrition literacy.

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh profitabilitas terhadap agresivitas pajak dan pengaruh profitabilitas terhadap agresivitas pajak dengan capital intensity sebagai variabel moderasi. Populasi yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah perusahaan industri pertambangan batu bara yang telah terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia tahun 2014-2018. Peneliti menggunakan metode purposive sampling dengan total sampel 40 sampel dari 17 perusahaan yang telah terpilih. Hasil penelitian menujukkan bahwa capital intensity dapat memoderasi pengaruh profitabilitas terhadap agresivitas pajak. Dan juga profitabilitas berpengaruh terhadap agresivitas pajak. Kata kunci: Profitabilitas, Capital Intensity, dan Agresivitas Pajak

OBJECTIVE: In recent years many researchers applied cold plasma for wound healing. The cold plasma is irradiated on the surface of wound. In this paper the effect of irradiation of cold plasma on the skin for healing of injured tissue which is located inside body, such as tendon, is evaluated. METHODS: The male, white New Zealand, (20-week-old) were selected. Aloxan injection induced for diabetes induction and a week later the blood glucose level was measured. The standard tendon injury was created. The rabbits was divided in 3 groups. Control group, Plasma treated group at 5 kv, plasma treated group at 10 kv. Cold plasma was applied to the rabbits for 21 days. RESULTS: After 21 days the tendon tissue were considered histologically. The results show that inflammatory cells were significantly lower in the tendon treated with cold plasma at 10 kv than the others, which confirms that cold plasma treatment reduce the inflammation phase. Cold plasma treatment led to increase neovascularation and collagen production. CONCLUSION: The results of this study confirm that the cold plasma treatment of skin has positive effect on healing of tissue inside body.

Background Food and nutrition literacy is a key factor in shaping healthy dietary behaviors and may result in decreasing decrease the prevalence of overweight. Empirical research on food and nutrition literacy and its outcomes is limited, especially among children and adolescents. Thus, this study investigates the link between Food and Nutrition Literacy (FNLIT) with eating behaviors, academic performance, and overweight in 10–12 years old students in Tehran, Iran. Methods This study was performed through two phases: 1) Proposing a conceptual model of the relationship between FNLIT and its determinants and outcomes, based on the existing evidence and previous models, and 2) Testing the proposed FNLIT model through a cross-sectional study on 803 primary school students (419 boys and 384 girls, from 34 public and 10 private primary schools), aged 10–12 years using structural equation modeling. Demographic, socio-economic, and household food security characteristics were collected by interviewing the students and their mothers/caregivers using a questionnaire. FNLIT was measured by a self-administered, locally designed, and validated questionnaire. Results The fit indices suggested a reasonably adequate fit of the data to the hypothesized model (χ2/df = 2.03, p The finding also revealed the fully mediating role of Food Choice Literacy (FCL) in the relationship between demographic factors and healthy eating behaviors. Our study also found that Interactive Food and Nutrition Literacy (IFNL) protected unhealthy eating behaviors, and FCL predicted healthy eating behaviors in children. Conclusion Our study draws attention to FNLIT, especially the skills domain, including IFNL, FCL, and FLL, as the most important determinant of healthy eating behavior, academic performance, and weight status in school-age children reduces social inequalities in children’s development. To ensure an adequate level of FNLIT, educators should assess and plan to enhance food literacy skills in children and adolescents.

Sterilization of saffron packaging and maintaining the quality of saffron content are the main priorities in saffron preservation. Common modalities do not offer lasting saffron preservation and it is urgent to develop novel packaging approaches from renewable resources and prevent packaging waste. Here, simultaneous decontamination and quality maintenance of saffron is demonstrated, for the first time, through the synergistic application of nano-clay-loaded carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanocomposites (CNCs) and cold plasmas (CP). Compared to the separate uses of CP and CMC/PVA/nano clay, our results confirm the synergies between CP and CMC/PVA/nano clay cause complete inactivation of Escherichia coli bacteria, while not significantly affecting the concentrations of the essential saffron components (safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin). Overall, the CP-treated CMC/PVA/nano clay fosters saffron preservation, through contamination removal and quality maintenance of the food product. The synergistic application of CP and CMC/PVA/nano clay thus represents a promising strategy for packaging, sterilization, and preservation of high-value food products.

Background The pandemic of the newly emerged coronavirus infection and its related disease, Covid-19, has influenced various aspects of human life including dietary habits. This study aimed to examine changes in dairy products consumption during Covid-19 lockdown period in a huge sample of Iranian households. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study using a web-based electronic self-administered questionnaire designed to detect any changes in the consumption frequency of dairy products in the Iranian households during Covid-19 lockdown. Results A total of 21,290 households were enrolled. During Covid-19 epidemic lockdown, about 29%, 26% and 7% of the households had decreased their consumption frequency of milk, yogurt and cheese, respectively. The female-headed households were 21% more likely to decrease their consumption of milk, compared with male-headed households (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.4). The households residing in food insecure provinces were 29%, 20% and 45% more likely to decrease their consumption of milk, yogurt and cheese as compared with those living in the food secure provinces. About 37%, 25.3%, 19.4% of those households who reported a decrease in consumption of dairy products had fully omitted them. Conclusion We found considerable decrement of dairy products consumption, especially milk and yogurt, in a high proportion of the studied households. Inadequate intake and, in some households, omission of dairy products can potentially bring about serious health outcomes with heavier economic burden. Further studies to track these changes over time and to evaluate their health consequences are warranted.

In this paper the effect of irradiation of cold plasma on the skin for healing of injured tissue, which is located inside a body (such as tendon), is evaluated. Cold plasma was applied to the rabbits skin after suturing and continued for 21 days. After 21 days the tendon tissue was considered histological. The results show that cold plasma treatment led to reduction of the inflammatory cells and acceleration of the recovery phase by increase neovascularization and collagen production. At the non-touching cold plasma production of ultraviolet, neutral radicals, and electric fields led to some effect on cells. To find the effect of electric fields, ultra violet, and reactive oxygen species, the indirect plasma treatment compared to direct treatment. To produce indirect plasma, a grounded mesh was put as a second electrode. The results of this study confirm that the cold plasma treatment of skin has positive effect on healing of tissue inside a body. The electric fields has no effect on the healing process. Results of this study show that reactive oxygen species is the parameters that causes healing.

Background This study was undertaken to analyze and compare Eastern Mediterranean (EM) countries in achievement of WHO nutrition global targets for children growth indicators by 2025. Methods A total of 108 national surveys from 20 countries in EM region were analyzed to estimate the prevalence of stunting and wasting and 93 surveys to estimate the prevalence of overweight/obesity in children. These data were obtained from national surveys included in the WHO Global Database on Child Growth and Malnutrition. Results In EM region, the prevalence of childhood stunting was estimated to have a 38% decline from 2000 (34.7%) to 2025 (21.2%). Only three countries in EM region (Iran and Jordan, Saudi Arabia) were anticipated to achieve the expected WHO target by 2025. From 2000 to 2020, the prevalence of wasting decreased from 6.9 to 5.3. Six countries were presumed to achieve the expected WHO target by 2025. Nine countries will presumably have overweight rates >5% (Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia) in 2025 whereas five countries will have overweight rates above 10% (Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Syrian Arab Republic and Tunisia). Conclusion Despite descending trends of child stunting and wasting and a secular trend of child obesity in EM region, it is expected that WHO targets will not be achieved by 2025. A diverse socio-economic condition in EM countries necessitates different action plans. International determination, political commitment and, above all, involvement of the families are needed to achieve 2025 targets for child stunting, wasting and overweight/obesity.

Background: The present study aimed to determine the relationship of anxious attachment style with catastrophizing, fear of pain, and hypervigilance. Methods: The study sample consisted of 210 students at Tabriz University, Iran, with recent acute pain or the lack of pain experience selected by the convenience sampling method. The subjects responded to the Relationship Scales Questionnaire, Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Fear of Pain Questionnaire, and Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient and structural equation modeling. Results: The findings indicated a significant positive relationship between the subscale of anxious attachment and the variables of catastrophizing, fear of pain, and vigilance to pain, as well as a relationship among the variables. Moreover, the modeling showed a structural relationship between anxious attachment and studied variables. Conclusions: Anxious attachment style acts as a vulnerability factor and a predictor of chronic pain in individuals without pain experience. It means that facing catastrophic pain in people with anxious attachment styles can lead to the fear of pain and hypervigilance.

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.

Plasma technology as an eco-friendly efficient strategy has gained much attention in various industries, especially in food, medicine, and agriculture. This study aimed to explore the cold plasma-mediated changes in growth, anatomy, expression of a WRKY1 transcription factor, and transcription rates of four key genes involved in the biosynthesis of cannabinoids (pharmaceutically valuable secondary metabolites) in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.). The seeds were treated with cold plasma (dielectric barrier discharge; 0.84 W cm−2; exposure times of 0, 40, and 80 s). The plasma treatment of 40 s increased biomass in both shoot and roots by an average of 57%, whereas the treatment at 80 s delayed growth and reduced it by 48%. Seed priming with plasma up-regulated the WRKY1 transcription factor (mean = 11.55 folds). Besides, the plasma treatments induced the expression of olivetolic acid cyclase by 42 folds. Furthermore, the plasma-primed seedlings also exhibited higher expression rates of olivetol synthase by 19 folds. With a similar trend, exposure to plasma stimulated transcription of cannabidiolic acid synthase by 12.4 folds. Up-regulations in Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase also occurred following seed priming with plasma by 25.6 folds. Seed priming with plasma exhibits high potency to up-regulate expressions of genes involved in the productions of secondary metabolites, like cannabinoids. These results imply that the plasma reception and signal transduction can alter expressions of genes at the transcriptional level through which plasma priming may improve plant protection and secondary metabolism.

Monitoring a biological tissue as a three dimensional (3D) model is of high importance. Both the measurement technique and the measuring electrode play substantial roles in providing accurate 3D measurements. Bioimpedance spectroscopy has proven to be a noninvasive method providing the possibility of monitoring a 3D construct in a real time manner. On the other hand, advances in electrode fabrication has made it possible to use flexible electrodes with different configurations, which makes 3D measurements possible. However, designing an experimental measurement set-up for monitoring a 3D construct can be costly and time consuming and would require many tissue models. Finite element modeling methods provide a simple alternative for studying the performance of the electrode and the measurement set-up before starting with the experimental measurements. Therefore, in this study we employed the COMSOL Multiphysics finite element modeling method for simulating the effects of changing the electrode configuration on the impedance spectroscopy measurements of a venous segment. For this purpose, the simulations were performed for models with different electrode configurations. The simulation results provided us with the possibility of finding the optimal electrode configuration including the geometry, number and dimensions of the electrodes, which can be later employed in the experimental measurement set-up.

In this research, the influence of γ-irradiation on the optical and structural properties of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles was studied. The MgO nanoparticles were irradiated with doses 100 Gy, 1 kGy, 10 kGy and 20 kGy from 60Co source. The as-synthesized samples of MgO nanoparticles prepared by the sol-gel technique were analyzed by XRD which suggested the double phase; cubic and hexagonal structures of the material. The crystal defects that produced in the cubic and hexagonal lattice were studied before and after 60Co γ-irradiation in a gamma cell by different dose rates in order to report the changes in structural properties of the MgO nanoparticles. The irradiated and un-irradiated samples were characterized by XRD and UV–Vis. The XRD pattern of MgO nanoparticles is showed that the crystal size of MgO nanoparticles being increased with increasing the γ-ray dose rate. For optical absorption, the UV–Visible absorption spectra of MgO nanoparticles are showed that when the dose rate is increased, the value of band gap is decreased. Also, the experimental values of the mass attenuation coefficient of MgO nanoparticles have been calculated before and after γ-irradiation by using the gamma spectroscopy method. Therefore, the results are showed that γ-ray irradiation has various effects on structural, morphological and optical properties.

Background Fast foods, though very popular, are commonly known as unhealthy foods. However, coronavirus pandemic may have influenced on food choices of the general population. This study investigated the changes in fast food consumption during epidemic lockdown 2020. Materials and Methods This study was part of a nationwide survey having been conducted using a web‐based electronic self‐administered questionnaire. The questionnaire link was extensively distributed among the whole population both through popular social media platforms and by nutrition and health workers of health offices and medical universities of all provinces. The questionnaire included questions about socio‐demographic characteristics, changes in frequency of fast food consumption as compared with before pandemic, and the reasons for these changes. Results A total of 21,290 households took part in the study of whom 89.8% were male‐headed, and almost 74% were from urban areas. Decrease in fast food consumption was reported by 74.8%, while increase in fast food consumption was reported by 2% of the households during the COVID‐19 quarantine. Among those who decreased their fast food consumption, about 82% had completely omitted them from their food baskets. Fear of contamination of fast foods by coronavirus and increase in the number of people at home were the most and the least frequent reasons for decreasing fast food consumption, respectively. Conclusion Fast food consumption has dramatically decreased during the lockdown period in Iranian households. Though it may be considered a pleasant offshoot of disastrous COVID‐19 epidemic, the foods replaced fast foods in Iranian households and the overall health consequences warrant further studies., The result of this study showed that fast food consumption has dramatically decreased during the lock‐down period in Iranian households. Fear of contamination of fast foods by coronavirus and increase in the number of people at home were the most and the less frequent reasons for decreasing fast food consumption, respectively.

Background The COVID-19 epidemic has affected diverse issues of life including economy, health and nutrition. This nationwide study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the epidemic lockdown-induced socio-economic changes on animal source proteins and cereals intakes of Iran population for the first time. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study using a web-based electronic self-administered questionnaire. A questionnaire was designed with the aim of detecting any changes in the dietary pattern of the Iranian household following coronavirus epidemic. Results A total of 21,290 households participated in the study. Approximately 33%, 24%, 14.2% and 7% of the households had decreased the weekly consumption of red meat, white meat, eggs and rice/bread, respectively, following COVID-19 epidemic. The results of ordered logistic regression showed that the female-headed households, as compared with male-headed ones, were 30% more likely to decrease their weekly consumption of white meat (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.5). About 8.6% of the households had reduced all three major dietary sources of animal protein. Close to half of the households (46.9%) who decreased their intake of the animal protein sources had increased their intake of rice or bread, too. The major reasons for these changes were decrease of income and job loss. Conclusion In conclusion, animal protein food consumption decreased during epidemic lockdown but the amounts of rice and bread, as the major sources of dietary energy, have increased. These changes, if persist long enough, can seriously affect micronutrient status of the whole population. Early nutritional interventions for needy families are warranted.

The present study aimed to assess the relative validity and reliability of a modified Food and Nutrition Literacy (M-FNLIT) questionnaire in primary school children in the city of Mashhad. The study was conducted in four phases. In the first step, the content and face validity of the questionnaire were evaluated by Delphi consensus as well as interviewing the students. Then, construct validity was examined using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The internal consistency and reliability of the questionnaire were also assessed using Cronbach α and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), respectively. Finally, a receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to detect the cut-off scores of the M-FNLIT scale. Findings of two rounds of Delphi showed satisfactory levels of Content Validity Ratio: 0·72 and 0·92, Content Validity Index (CVI): 0·92 and 0·98, respectively. The results of CFA for domains and subscales of the M-FNLIT questionnaire including cognitive domain (understanding food and nutrition information and nutritional health knowledge) and skill domain (functional, food choice, interactive, and critical skills) indicated acceptable fit indices. M-FNLIT subscale-specific Cronbach α values ranged between 0·68 and 0·8 and ICC was 0·95 (95 % CI 0·93, 96). The final questionnaire included forty items (thirty-six Likert-type and four true-false items). FNLIT scores were categorized as low (≤ 58), medium (> 58–< 81), and high (≥ 81). The M-FNLIT questionnaire has a good level of validity and reliability to measure food and nutrition literacy in primary school children. The questionnaire can be applied in the evaluation of nutritional interventions in this age group.

BACKGROUND: This is the first study that conducted to the effect of cold plasma on the healing of gingival wound in diabetic rabbits. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Eighteen healthy rabbits is purched from pastor institute. The aloxan was injected to the rabbits. After induction of anesthesia the gum tissue is removed. The rabbits were treated by the plasma jet for 3, 5 and 10 days each day 30 s and they were considered histological. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: After 3 days the plasma jet treatment, the production of collagen and fibroblast and migration of epithelial cells is observed. As can be seen from the results after 5 days the cold plasma treatment the increase of neovascularation, collagen and inflammatory infiltration is seen in gum tissue. Formation of granulation tissue is seen after 10 days the plasma jet treatment. CONCLUSION: The cold plasma treatment is an effective way for gingival wound treatment. Cold plasma treatment resulted in reduction of inflammatory phase and accelerates the recovery phase by increase neovascularation and collagen production.

Water deterioration and depletion are accompanied by population growth and fast urbanization, posing major environmental problems. The prevalence of water-borne infections remains high, making it critical to discover effective ways of disinfecting water thoroughly. The main methods for inactivating a wide spectrum of harmful bacteria are chemical, physical, electrochemical, and radical. Conventional decontamination methods not only fail to completely disinfect water but also have several drawbacks, including the generation of disinfection byproducts; the complexity of disinfection reactor design; high energy consumption; and high running expenses. As a result, a versatile approach should be developed to overcome the limitations of current decontamination methods while also being efficient against a variety of diseases. Plasma-based water treatment has recently emerged as a possible alternative to traditional approaches. Plasma has proven to be more effective than conventional oxidants and disinfectants, both directly and indirectly. Plasma-related effects vary depending on the type of discharge, device settings, and process parameters. Electrical discharges are one of the most effective water treatment treatments. To this end, two plasma discharges, i.e., arc and pulsed spark discharge, are used for the treatment of synthetic contaminated water with microorganisms, which can be used for naturally contaminated surface water. Our results revealed that in comparison to arc discharge, pulse spark discharge produces more extreme acidic conditions by lowering the pH of water samples as well as a more reactive environment, which results in greater antibacterial efficacy. Furthermore, water samples treated with arc discharge had greater temperatures than water samples treated with pulse spark discharge, indicating that temperature was not a critical effector in the plasma-based sterilizing process.

BACKGROUND Food and Nutrition Surveillance (FNS) is an essential and practical tool for providing timely information at specified times for policy making. This study aimed to explore policymakers' expectations and perception on establishment of the FNS in Iran before its establishment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data in this qualitative study were gathered through documents review (23 relevant documents) and seventeen semi-structured interviews with key informants in the field of food and nutrition at the national and provincial level selected through purposive and snowball sampling. Data were content analysed using MAXQDA (2010). FINDINGS Most of the participants defined the FNS as a continuous monitoring system. They expected the FNS to identify and recognize food and nutrition problems; to create a common language and provide an inter-disciplinary cooperation. From the participants' point of view the most important barriers to establishing of the FNS included lack of cooperation and resistance at different levels, lack of support and partnership among the stakeholders, lack of justification and awareness of the stakeholders, mismanagement and misuse of data, inattention to infrastructure. CONCLUSIONS Most of the stakeholders believed that the FNS was supposed to monitor food and nutrition status continuously to provide timely and accurate information for policy making.

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Sensing and biosensing methods are very broad fields of research that have a great impact on health, environmental quality control, and food quality. The aim of this chapter is limited to (bio)sensor technologies developed in the very last year exactly for screening quality control of vegetables and fruits. The chapter covers the fundamental principles and types of electrochemical (bio)sensors designs that are testified for vegetables and fruits-specific applications. Furthermore, the integration of nanotechnology into electrochemical biosensors design was also investigated.

Background: Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are widely used in large studies worldwide. They usually seek to rank people according to their usual food intake rather than a specific period of time. In the present study, we aimed to develop a dish-based, semi-quantitative FFQ to seek habitual diet of general population aged 9 to 65 years in Tehran. Methods: To develop the FFQ, four main steps were taken. At the beginning a list of commonly consumed Iranian foods and mixed dishes was prepared. To prevent excessive questionnaire length, some food items were grouped. Then, reference portion sizes were defined for each mixed dish in the list. The portion sizes were defined either based on the most common food portions reported in existing data or based on conventional portioning. In the third step the frequency response for consumption of food items and mixed dishes were determined. In the last step, recipes were developed for mixed dishes based on several data sources, including previous surveys. Finally, the content validity of the questionnaire was evaluated by the expert panel. Results: The final food list of the FFQ comprised 142 food items and mixed dishes in six major food groups, including dairy products, breads, mixed dishes, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables, and miscellaneous food items and beverages. Nine frequency response options for all food items varying from "never or less than once per month" to "more than 6 times a day" were considered. A portion size was included for each item, whether food items or mixed dishes. Conclusion: As Iranian food recipes are typically characterized by various ingredients it is very difficult for the respondent to recall the amount and type of the ingredients. Likewise, information about cooking methods beside ingredients of foods are important to estimate their nutritive values, which can be explored only through asking about consumption of mixed dishes. The current FFQ was developed to overcome the mentioned problems. It can be applied in nationwide studies in which foods and/or nutrients are predominant determinant of health and/or diseases.

BACKGROUND Hospitalization may seriously affect patients’ nutritional status and may ‎occasionally be accompanied by malnutrition development or aggravation. Food intake is ‎often altered during hospitalization, which is tightly connected to malnutrition. On the other ‎hand, a huge amount of plate food wasted by patients, in addition to its health consequences, ‎has enormous economic and environmental expenses for governments and societies. OBJECTIVE This ‎investigation aims firstly to assess the nutritional status of the patients hospitalized in general ‎wards and secondly to evaluate the quantity and financial burden of patients’ food waste ‎along with its possible nutritional outcomes.‎ METHODS A mixed-method study is performed in three general hospitals in Tehran. Adult ‎inpatients with eligibility criteria are recruited to the study from medical and surgical ‎wards. Anthropometric and demographic data are collected and energy and protein intakes ‎are extracted from a 24-hour food recall. Plate food wastes of eligible patients are weighed ‎in breakfast, lunch, and snacks during one day. Then, the economic cost of food waste is ‎calculated for each meal, patient, and ward. Nutritional status is determined through the ‎following methods: 1. Subjective criteria (Mini Nutritional Assessment and Subjective ‎Global Assessment tools) for malnutrition; 2. Measuring serum albumin, pre-albumin and ‎total protein for protein status; 3. Measuring serum retinol and 25-hydroxycalciferol assay ‎to assess certain micronutrient status (vitamins A and D); and 4. Examination of serum β-‎carotene, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, and highly sensitive C-reactive ‎protein to determine oxidative stress and inflammatory status. Also, a qualitative study is ‎conducted to evaluate the possible reasons for wasting food in these hospitals.‎ RESULTS ----- CONCLUSIONS This study will provide appropriate data regarding the health and economic burden ‎of food waste in studied hospitals. These data are especially useful to healthcare authorities ‎and policymakers for planning efficient solutions to decrease food waste and to improve ‎patients' nutritional status. ‎

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between household food insecurity (HFI) with food and nutrition literacy (FNLIT) in a sample of Iranian children. This cross sectional study was performed on 315 children aged 9 to 12 years recruited from the primary schools throughout Mashhad, Iran. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess the HFI. Also, overall FNLIT score and its sub-categories were evaluated using a validated 40-item questionnaire. Results The prevalence of HFI in the total sample was about 56%. Also, almost 14% of students had a low FNLIT score. Food insecure children had significantly lower levels of FNLT and some subscales including nutrition knowledge, food choice literacy, and food label literacy than the food-secure subjects, moreover, they had a higher likelihood of having low FNLIT score (OR = 2.89, CI 1.03–8.09; p = 0.04). In conclusion, there is a negative association between HFI and FNLIT in children. Further studies to confirm this finding are needed.

Background: Hospitalization may seriously affect patients’ nutritional status and may occasionally be accompanied by malnutrition development or aggravation. Food intake is often altered during hospitalization, which is tightly connected to malnutrition. On the other hand, a huge amount of plate food wasted by patients, in addition to its health consequences, has enormous economic and environmental expenses for governments and societies. This investigation aims firstly to assess nutritional status of the patients hospitalized in general wards and secondly to evaluate the quantity and financial burden of patients’ food waste along with its possible nutritional outcomes.Methods: A cross-sectional study is performed on 171 adult inpatients with eligibility criteria from medical and surgical wards of three general hospitals in Tehran. Nutritional status of patients is evaluated through the following methods: 1. Assessment of malnutrition using subjective criteria (Mini Nutritional Assessment and Subjective Global Assessment tools); 2. Assessment of protein status using determination of serum albumin, pre-albumin and total protein; and 3. Assessment of certain micronutrient status notably vitamins A and D using serum retinol and 25-hydroxycalciferol assay. Also, oxidative stress and inflammatory status are evaluated using examination of serum β-carotene, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde and highly sensitive C-reactive protein. Anthropometric and demographic data are collected and energy and protein intakes are extracted from a 24-hour food recall. Plate food wastes for selected patients are weighed in breakfast, lunch and snacks for one day. Then, economic cost of food waste is calculated for each meal, patient and ward. Finally, the possible reasons for wasting food in these hospitals will be evaluated through conducting a qualitative study.Discussion: Findings of this study will provide appropriate data regarding health and economic burden of food waste in studied hospitals. These data are especially useful to healthcare authorities and policy makers for planning efficient solutions to decrease food waste and to improve patients' nutritional status.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the relationship between household food insecurity (HFI) with food and nutrition literacy (FNLIT) in a sample of Iranian children. This cross sectional study was performed on 315 children aged 9 to 12 years recruited from the primary schools throughout Mashhad, Iran.The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess the HFI. Also, overall FNLIT score and its sub-categories were evaluated using a validated 40-item questionnaire.Results The prevalence of HFI in the total sample was about 56 %. Also, almost 14 % of students had a low FNLIT score. HFI was inversely associated with overall FNLIT score (β= - 0.12, p= 0.006), as well as nutritional health knowledge (β= - 0.08, p=0.01), and food label literacy (β= - 0.15, p< 0.001). Furthermore, food-insecure children had a higher likelihood of having low FNLIT score (OR = 2.89, CI: 1.03-8.09; p = 0.04) than the food-secure subjects. In conclusion, there is a negative association between HFI and FNLIT in children. Further studies to confirm this finding are needed.

Background: Obesity is among the most important health challenge, with an increasing incidence in current century. It is considered as an important factor lead to social unacceptability. Almost in all societies women are more careful and sensitive about their beauty and appearance than men. The purpose of this study was to assess perceived barriers to weight- loss programs among women with obesity in Shiraz.Method: This qualitative study was conducted using eight semi-structured focus group discussions (FGDs) among 48 women and seven in-depth interviews with key informants. All eligible participants for FGDs were selected through a public call in Shiraz. Results: Dietary, socio-cultural, supportive- psychological and economic issues were identified as the main barriers to weight-loss programs.Conclusion: Data collected from the individual and group interviews provided extensive information on the strengths and weaknesses of dietary programs. The results of this study can be used to improve the services for obese and overweight people as well as expanding the knowledge of dietitians for developing more efficient weight-loss programs.

Background Depression is a major contributor to disability-adjusted life years (DALY) lost in the world. Dietary patterns are widely used to investigate diet–disease relations. In the current study, the relationship between dietary patterns and depression was investigated. Besides, the role of serum vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and total antioxidant capacity as potential mediatory variables was studied. Methods It was an individually matched case–control study in which 330 depressed and healthy subjects were recruited for the extraction of dietary patterns; psychiatrists diagnosed major depressive disorder, using the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Serum vitamin D and aforementioned biomarkers were measured for a number of randomly selected depressed and healthy individuals. We conducted mediatory analysis by regression models. Results Healthy and unhealthy dietary patterns were associated with the lower and higher odds of depression (OR 0.39, CI 0.17–0.92 and OR 2.6, CI 1.04–6.08), respectively. A significant relationship between serum vitamin D with depression after adjusting for potential confounders was observed as well (OR 0.93, CI 0.87–0.99). According to the mediatory analysis the unhealthy dietary patterns were related to depression via altering the serum vitamin D concentration. Conclusion This study showed that vitamin D deficiency mediates the relationship between unhealthy dietary patterns and depression. However, to get a clearer result further prospective studies are required.

Objective This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of a dish-based, semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (DFFQ) for epidemiological studies in Iran. The DFFQ included 142 items (84 foods and 58 mixed dishes) which was filled in by 230 adults (110 men). All participants completed two separate DFFQs with a 6 months interval as well as six 24-h recalls, each month. Dietary biomarkers and anthropometric measurements were made. The validity was evaluated by comparing the DFFQ against 24-h dietary recalls and dietary biomarkers, including serum retinol and beta-carotene. Reliability was evaluated using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and validity was determined by unadjusted and energy adjusted correlation coefficients (CC), de-attenuated CC, and cross-classification analyses. Results ICC for reliability ranged between 0.42 and 0.76. De-attenuated CC for the FFQ and the 24-h recalls ranged between 0.13 and 0.54 (Mean = 0.38). The de-attenuated CC between the DFFQ and plasma levels of retinol and beta-carotene were 0.58 (P = 0.0001) and 0.40 (P = 0.0001), respectively. Cross-classification analysis revealed that on average 73% were correctly classified into same or adjacent quartiles and 5% were classified in opposite quartiles.