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Objective: Nanoparticles include primary particles with at least one of their dimensions being less than 100 nm. The goal of this research was to determine the possible protective role of Nigella sativa (NS) against toxic effects mediated by titanium oxide nanoparticle (TNP).Materials and Methods: 30 adult mice (10 males and 20 females) were used. After mating, the pregnant female mice were randomly divided into 4 study groups (n=5 mice in each group). From the 13th day of gestation until delivery, the mice were given TNP and NS. After delivery, 10 newborn male mice were selected from each group and kept under standard conditions until puberty according to the previous grouping (4 groups). The epididymis of each mouse was removed and the sperm was collected for the evaluation of in vitro fertilization and testis for histopathology and spermatogenesis of in vitro fertilization of first-generation mice.Results: No significant difference was observed between the NS group and the control group (p>0.05). In the TNP, a degree of epithelial lysis and a significant decrease in sperm motility was observed (p

Background: Sleep health is a relatively new term in the sleep literature and an emerging concept in sleep medicine. Lack of attention to health sleep, leads to an increase in the incidence of various physical, mental, and immune disorders against infectious diseases.Methods: This Narrative review study was conducted in September 2021. Studies and articles published in PubMed Databases, Web of Science, and Google search engine from 1983 to January 2021 were included in the study. All reviews and cross-sectional studies found through the keywords, including Sleep, sleep Health, Sleep Hygiene, Underlying diseases, COVID-19, and coronavirus, were reviewed regardless of the publicationlanguage.Results: According to the collected evidence, sleep deprivation is one of the main causes of underlying diseases, and people with underlying diseases are most vulnerable to COVID-19. Also, East Asian countries such as China, Japan, and South Korea, with more scientific production in the field of healthy sleep, compared to EU member states, can protect themselves from diseases caused by unhealthy sleep and have lower mortality rate of COVID-19 infection.Conclusion: given the vulnerability of underlying diseases to coronavirus, one of the most important functional areas and preventive factors in the occurrence of the underlying diseases that should be considered is sleep health. Encouraging and promoting sleep health is also important as a protective factor in preventing and managing COVID-19 infectious diseases. Sleep health might also be one of the important factors playing a role in the vulnerability of COVID-19 in different societies.

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), on 11 March 2020. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) combine the impact of morbidity and mortality, allowing for comprehensive comparisons of the population. The purpose of this study was to estimate DALYs due to COVID-19 in Iran for the first 2 years of the pandemic.MethodsDALYs were estimated as the sum of Years of Life Lost (YLLs) and Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) associated with COVID-19 in Iran from 19 February 2020 to 20 March 2022. The life expectancy for COVID-19 YLL estimations was based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 study.ResultsThere were 15,639,243 outpatients and 1,170,602 hospitalized confirmed cases, of which 120,965 deaths were as a direct result of COVID-19. DALYs were estimated to be 2,376,552. Overall, YLL contributed to 99.34% of the DALYs, while the remaining 0.66% was attributed to YLD.ConclusionCOVID-19 had a significant impact on population health in Iran during the first 2 years of the pandemic; this study provides a comprehensive depiction of COVID-19’s burden and is helpful for comparing its impact with other diseases in the population and across populations.

Abstract Introduction Initial methods which used human tissues as reconstruction materials caused different problems including rejection, limited shapes and infection. In 1970s, PHDPE (Medpor®) was introduced by its exclusive advantageous including no donor site morbidity, easily shaped and the minimal foreign body reaction. Hereby, we report our experience of using Medpor® in facial reconstruction especially in frontal reconstruction and orbital rim with a large sample size. Methods This study was a prospective cohort study. Surgical techniques included using Medpor® in reconstruction of lamina papiracea (LP) (15 patients), frontal bone (15 patients), orbital rim (18 patients) and open rhinoplasty (8 patients). All interventions on LP were performed by endoscopic procedures. All frontal operations were carried out by bicoronal incision. In orbital defects, we used subciliary incision. Results From all 56 patients, 1 case had primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) of maxillary sinus. In that case, reconstruction of inferior orbital rim was not successful and extrusion was occurred after radiotherapy. In rhinoplasty and other experiences no extrusion or infection were detected within the next 1 to 3 years of follow up. There were not any palpable and visible irregularities under the skin in our experiences. Conclusions In this study the patients did not experience any complications during the follow up periods and the satisfaction was remarkable. Gathering these data gives rise to future review studies which can provide more organized evidences for replacing classic reconstructive methods by the presented material.

Abstract Background Although Helicobacter Pylori (HP) was detected in some cases of chronic laryngitis, the results were not confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). By this time, it has not been found in laryngeal lesions by in house PCR, the most sensitive method for detecting the genome tracks. Regarding the previous results and also few numbers of studies about the presence of HP in benign laryngeal lesions, specifically by PCR, we aimed to investigate the presence of HP in benign laryngeal lesions by in-house PCR. Methods The samples were taken from 55 patients with benign laryngeal lesions and frozen in −20°C. One milliliter (ml) of lysis buffer was added to 100 mg (mg) of each sample and the tube was placed in 56°C overnight. Then DNA extraction was carried out. Results To find HP DNA, in-house PCR was performed that revealed 5 positive results among 55 patients with benign laryngeal lesions. Of them, 3 were polyp, 1 was nodule and 1 was papilloma. Conclusion Although the number of positive results was not a lot in this study, it was in contrast with previous studies which could not find any HP tracks in benign laryngeal lesions by other methods. More studies about the prevalence of HP in benign laryngeal lesions improve judging about the effect of this infection on benign laryngeal lesions.

Introduction and purpose: Cancer is one of the main health challenges in numerous countries. It is the second leading cause of death globally and the third in Iran. In 2020, 19 million new cases and 10 million deaths from cancer were reported worldwide. This study aimed to investigate cancer mortality and morbidity rates in Behbahan City, southeast Khuzestan. Methods: The required data for this descriptive study were collected from pathology, hospital, and death registry centers in Behbahan between 2014 and 2019. Necessary variables were gathered according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer standards, and tumor characteristics were coded according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition. The data were analyzed in SPSS26 software using descriptive statistics, negative binomial regression, and rank-order clustering analysis. Results: A total of 1,676 patients were identified, 52.5% of whom were male. The most common cancers in men were skin, prostate, and lung, while they were breast, skin, and blood in women. The annual incidence rate was 130.0 per 100,000 people (134.2 in men and 126.2 in women). The mean incidence and mortality rates increased with age (P0.05). Moreover, 606 deaths due to cancer were reported, of which 60.7% were men, and 29.7% were under 60 years old. Conclusion: Considering the upward trend of the elderly population and an increase in cancer incidence at older ages, cancer prevention interventions are necessary.

Background: Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) detergent is widely used in tissue decellularization to produce scaffolds for tissue engineering. Despite its strong decellularization, this substance has relatively high toxicity and causes changes in tissue composition. Sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) is a new poly anionic detergent that is less toxic than SDS but weaker than it. The present study aimed to decellularize the intestinal tissue using SDS and SLES solutions, forming a cell scaffold, and examining scaffolds obtained from this tissue. Methods: Eighteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. The intestines of all rats were removed after anesthesia. In the first group (controls), rats’ intestines were placed in a 10% formalin solution. In the second group, intestines were decellularized using an SLES solution. In the third group animals’ intestines were decellularized using an SDS solution. To evaluate decellularization, samples were stained with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Alcian blue staining for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), and Masson’s trichrome for collagen fibers. A confocal Raman microscope was used to compare collagen, lipid, GAG, and genetic content. Results: Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the nucleus and DNA were removed in the decellularized scaffolds by SDS or SLES. The SLES group, compared to the SDS group, showed fewer changes in the epithelial tissue, and muscle layers in both scaffolds were well preserved. The results of confocal Raman microscopy showed that tryptophan, lipid, glycogen, and protein were broken down by both detergents; however, the residual amount of glycogen was the same in both substances, but disulfide bonds of proteins, hydroxyproline, and lipids in the decellularized intestine with SLES were mostly preserved. Conclusion: Both substances were suitable for intestinal decellularization and removed the overall structure of intestinal tissue, but SLES retained collagen and GAG content better than SDS.

In order to decrease medical errors and improve organized, targeted education pre- and post-graduation, we intended to detect 10 most important concepts that neuro-otologists believe family physicians and general practitioners must know. A multi-center study based on Delphi’s method was designed and conducted in three stages. Of 31 topics gathered by expert panel, 10 top priorities were ranked based on 50 neuro-otologists’ opinion over the country. Early diagnosis and management of sudden sensorineural hearing loss, foreign body removal from external ear canal, proper management of otitis extern, and management of emergency situations in chronic otitis media gained the highest scores among all. Also, some topics, such as managing serous and acute otitis media, differentiating peripheral vs. central vertigos, and early hearing screening at birth were among top topics, contrary to others, such as surgery in only hearing ears, or hearing losses after COM surgeries. Almost all of the top-ranked topics are among critical/organ saving, or most prevalent medical concerns in all of the world. Sudden deafness, complicated COM, and mis-diagnosing vertigo may be organ/life threatening, while foreign bodies or inflammations of external ear, acute or serous otitis media, and congenital hearing loss are among the most prevalent medical problems worldwide, with numerous malpractices in their diagnosis and management. Regarding educational and practical priorities should be considered a basic step in neurotology field, and targeted programming policies.

AbstractIntroduction:Recent advances have led to the development of sialendoscopy, an accurate, minimally invasive procedure with high diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities in treating sialolithiasis. This study aimed to evaluate the results and complications of sialendoscopy in patients suffering from sialoadenitis.Materials and Methods: This study was a prospective interventional case series study on patients with sialoadenitis due to sludge or stone formation preoperatively confirmed by sonography or computed tomography (CT) scanning. Diagnostic sialendoscopy was performed, and the presence of stenosis, sludge, or stones inside the gland or duct was examined, and surgery was done. During follow-up time (18.8 ± 7.4 months), recurrence of symptoms, the need for reoperation, and postoperative complications were also assessed.Results: The sialendoscopy was performed in 51 patients, including 55 glands. Forty-five Patients (88.2%) reported pain relief, and 46 patients (90.2%) reported that the treatment using sialendoscopy was better than conservative methods. The duct restenosis also occurred in one patient requiring open surgery. In assessing the main factors predicting the need for reoperation, the site of involvement (parotid versus submandibular glands) and the size of the stone were identified as the main determinants. The best cut-off value for stone size in predicting reoperation requirement was 7.0mm, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 85.7%.Conclusion: Intraoperative sialendoscopy is a successful diagnostic and therapeutic tool with minimal postoperative complications in salivary gland duct involvement patients.

Atlanto-occipital dislocation (AOD) is an injury to the upper cervical spine that occurs after trauma. This injury is associated with a high mortality rate. According to studies, 8%–31% of deaths caused by accidents are due to AOD. Due to the improvement in medical care and diagnosis, the rate of related mortality has decreased. Five patients with AOD were evaluated. Two cases had type 1, one case had type 2, and two other patients had type 3 AOD. All patients had weakness in the upper and lower limbs and underwent surgery to fix the occipitocervical junction. Other complications in patients were hydrocephalus, 6 nerve palsy, and cerebellar infarction. All patients improved in follow-up examinations. AOD damage is divided into four groups: anterior, vertical, posterior, and lateral. The most common type of AOD is type 1 and the most instability is type 2. There are neurological and vascular injuries due to pressure on regional components; vascular injuries are associated with high mortality rate. In most patients, their symptoms improved after surgery. AOD requires early diagnosis and immobilization of the cervical spine along with maintaining the airway to save the patient's life. It is necessary to consider AOD in cases with neurological deficits or loss of consciousness in the emergency unit because earlier diagnosis could cause a wonderful improvement of the patient's prognosis.

Introduction: Thalassemia is a genetic disease with an autosomal recessive pattern. Prenatal diagnosis (PND) and termination of pregnancy in the case of fetus infection is the best way to prevent this disease. This study was performed with aim to evaluate the incidence rate and causes of new cases of major β-thalassemia (MBT) after implementing the national prevention program in Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This was descriptive and analytical study on health system research. Information of patients (Date of birth, status of other siblings) and carrier couples (year of marriage, kinship relationship, performing screening at the time of marriage, history of surveillance, and causes of the birth of beta-thalassemia patient) was obtained from the data available in the Health Department of Kerman Universities of Medical Sciences from 2011 to 2019. Data were analyzed by SPSS (Version 24) using Fisher's exact test. Results: The 9-year incidence rate in the whole region was 0.55 per 10,000 live births. The success rate of the program in the whole region was 84.37%. Fifteen patients were born between 2011 and 2019. The most important cause of MBT incidence was the lack of identification of thalassemia couples and their lack of awareness about their condition (46.6%). Nine (60%) of the patients' parents had consanguineous marriages. There was no statistically significant relationship between causes of new cases of MBT and the level of education and occupation of the patients' parents (P>0.05). Conclusion: Although the implementation of the prevention program has significantly reduced the number of new cases of MBT, appropriate planning to improve the quality of counseling services and carrier couples care and increase the level of awareness and change the attitude of target groups to eliminate the incidence of the disease is necessary.

Background and Objectives: Hypocalcemia is one of the most common neonatal disorders that has a good prognosis if treated promptly and diagnosed correctly. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypocalcemia and associated factors in premature infants in Jiroft, southeastern Iran. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the cases of infants born in the spring and summer of 2019 in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Jiroft, southeastern Iran, were examined by the census method. The required information was extracted from the infants' files and entered into SPSS24 software for analysis. Results: Based on the results of the study, out of 78 hypocalcemic premature neonates admitted to Imam Khomeini Hospital, 42 (53.8%) were boys and 36 (46.2%) were girls. Thirty-six (46.2%) infants had a birth weight of between 1,500 and 2,000 g, and 42 (35.8%) infants were born between 35 and 37 weeks of age. Most preterm infants (60.3%) had a diabetic mother. Moreover, the number of female preterm hypocalcemic infants with a weight of 2,000 to 2,500 g was higher than their male counterparts. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that prematurity, weight less than 2,000 g, and maternal diabetes were the factors affecting hypocalcemia in preterm infants that should be considered in public health programs.

T he World Health Organization, defines health literacy as cognitive and social skills increasing the motivation and ability of individuals to acquire information to promote and maintain their health (Tugut et al., 2021). Nowadays, food literacy, as a subset of health literacy are receiving serious attention worldwide (Vamos et al., 2021). Food literacy has been defined as a vital element in improving food insecurity and increasing food knowledge and skills with the aim of improving healthy eating behavior, which leads to reducing food hygiene inequalities (Steils and Obaidalahe, 2020).

Objective: Research findings on the relationship between vitamin D and suicide are not consistent; therefore, the objective of the present paper is to assess the relationship between vitamin D and suicide behaviors using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: A search strategy was developed using keywords including “Vitamin D”, “Vitamin D deficiency”, “suicide” "attempted suicide", "completed suicide”, “Suicide, Attempted”, “Suicidal Ideation.” We searched databases including Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar by July 7, 2022. We examined the titles, abstracts, and full texts of the articles to select eligible ones. To pool the results of the selected studies, we used the random-effect method and mean difference as the effect size. The quality of the articles was evaluated by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Moreover, heterogeneity and bias of reporting were evaluated by the I2 statistic and Egger's and Begg's tests, respectively. Results: Out of 149 studies retrieved in the databases, 11 studies were included in the final phase. Among these, the pooled findings of seven studies included in the meta-analysis phase showed that low levels of vitamin D are related to increased probability for suicide behaviors (P < 0.05). Moreover, subgroup analysis showed a significant relationship between vitamin D and suicide ideation and suicide attempt (P < 0.05). In addition, the I2 statistic indicated moderate heterogeneity (58%) and Egger's and Begg's tests did not show any evidence of publication bias (P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study provides evidence in favor of the relationship between vitamin D and suicide behaviors. It suggests that insufficient levels of vitamin D play a role in suicidal behaviors. However, it should be noted that further and stronger evidence is needed to establish this role. Finally, incorporating vitamin D-rich foods into the diet or taking vitamin D supplements is recommended to reduce the risk of suicide.

BackgroundDisasters can lead to large human casualties, destruction of property and economic and environmental resources. The purpose of the present study was to answer the question whether the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) is effective in predicting behaviors related to the harmful effects of natural disasters in the households of southern Iran.Materials and methodsThis quantitative and cross-sectional study was conducted on 528 households in Jiroft city. Sampling was done by combined method (the combination of cluster, simple random, proportional and systematic random sampling). A total of 528 households were included. The tools for collecting data were demographic information and a researcher-made questionnaire related to PMT constructs and preventive behaviors from the harmful effects of natural disasters. Data was analyzed using SPSS v21 software, and the necessary analyzes (descriptive tests, chi-square, one-way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation test) were performed at a significance level of 0.05. Using Amos v 21 software, the predictors of safety behaviors were determined using path analysis.ResultsThe results showed 51.7% lived in the city and 62.1% of residential buildings were of brick without markings. There is a significant difference between preventive behaviors and direct exposure to disasters (p

To investigate the effects of nutrient restriction and one-carbon metabolite (OCM) supplementation (folate, vitamin B12, methionine, and choline) on fetal small intestine weight, vascularity, and cell proliferation, 29 (n = 7 ± 1 per treatment) crossbred Angus beef heifers (436 ± 42 kg) were estrous synchronized and conceived by artificial insemination with female sexed semen from a single sire. Then, they were allotted randomly to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with the main factors of nutritional plane [control (CON) vs. restricted feed intake (RES)] and OCM supplementation [without OCM (−OCM) or with OCM (+OCM)]. Heifers receiving the CON level of intake were fed to target an average daily gain of 0.45 kg/day, which would allow them to reach 80% of mature BW by calving. Heifers receiving the RES level of intake were fed to lose 0.23 kg/heifer daily, which mimics observed production responses in heifers that experience a diet and environment change during early gestation. Targeted heifer gain and OCM treatments were administered from d 0 to 63 of gestation, and then all heifers were fed a common diet targeting 0.45 kg/d gain until d 161 of gestation, when heifers were slaughtered, and fetal jejunum was collected. Gain had no effect (p = 0.17) on the fetal small intestinal weight. However, OCM treatments (p = 0.02) displayed less weight compared to the −OCM groups. Capillary area density was increased in fetal jejunal villi of RES − OCM (p = 0.02). Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) positivity ratio tended to be greater (p = 0.08) in villi and was less in the crypts (p = 0.02) of the RES + OCM group. Cell proliferation decreased (p = 0.02) in villi and crypts of fetal jejunal tissue from heifers fed the RES + OCM treatment compared with all groups and CON − OCM, respectively. Spatial cell density increased in RES − OCM compared with CON + OCM (p = 0.05). Combined, these data show OCM supplementation can increase expression of VEGFR2 in jejunal villi, which will promote maintenance of the microvascular beds, while at the same time decreasing small intestine weight and crypt cell proliferation.

Although recent progress in medicine has substantially reduced cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)-relatedmortalities, current therapeutics have failed miserably to be beneficial for all patients with CVDs. A wide array ofevidence suggests that newly-introduced cell-free treatments (CFT) have more reliable results in the improvementof cardiac function. The main regeneration activity of CFT protocols is based on bypassing cells and using paracrinefactors. In this article, we aim to compare various stem cell secretomes, a part of a CFT strategy, to generalize theireffective clinical outcomes for patients with CVDs. Data for this review article were collected from 70 published articles(original, review, randomized clinical trials (RCTs), and case reports/series studies done on human and animals)obtained from Cochrane, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, Elsevier, and Google Scholar) from 2015 to April 2020using six keywords. Full-text/full-length articles, abstract, section of book, chapter, and conference papers in Englishlanguage were included. Studies with irrelevant/insufficient/data, or undefined practical methods were excluded. CFTapproaches involved in growth factors (GFs); gene-based therapies; microRNAs (miRNAs); extracellular vesicles (EVs)[exosomes (EXs) and microvesicles (MVs)]; and conditioned media (CM). EXs and CM have shown more remarkableresults than stem cell therapy (SCT). GF-based therapies have useful results as well as side effects like pathologicangiogenesis side effect. Cell source, cell′s aging and CM affect secretomes. Genetic manipulation of stem cellscan change the secretome’s components. Growing progression to end stage heart failure (HF), propounds CFT asan advantageous method with practical and clinical values for replacement of injured myocardium, and induction ofneovascularization. To elucidate the secrets behind amplifying the expansion rate of cells, increasing life-expectancy,and improving quality of life (QOL) for patients with ischemic heart diseases (IHDs), collaboration among cell biologist,basic medical scientists, and cardiologists is highly recommended.

The lack of any definitive treatment or prevention of COVID-19 disease has created a lot of stress and anxiety in societies. This study aimed to evaluate the resilience and anxiety of COVID-19 in nurses of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Jiroft and their relationship with demographic variables from April to August 2020. The present study is descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional. To select the statistical sample, the census method was used so that 80 nurses working in different wards of the hospital were selected and included in the study. The resilience measurement tool is the Connor-Davidson Resilience Questionnaire (CD-RIS). COVID-19 anxiety was assessed using a comprehensive national questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics Chi-square, Independent two-sample parametric t-test, and ANOVA through SPSS 20. The level of COVID-19 anxiety in nurses was moderate (19.3±11.64) and the rate of resilience was low (36.7±16.65). There is a statistically significant difference between resilience in nurses and age (p = 0.003). There was no statistically significant relationship between the rate of resilience in nurses and gender (p = 0.13), the unit of service (p = 0.87), marital status (p = 0.98), work experience (p = 0.06), and the level of education (p = 0.63). There was no statistically significant relationship between anxiety in nurses and age (p = 0.53), gender (p = 0.59), the unit of work (p = 0.48), marital status (p = 0.90), work experience (p = 0.40), and level of education (p = 0.60). The results of multivariate analysis showed that, work experience, and place of work have a statistically significant relationship with resilience and anxiety of COVID-19 in nurses, respectively (p

The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of parturition and different stages of milk production on Cardiac Troponin I activity (CTnI) and other cardiac markers. A total of 42 healthy dairy cattle with an average body weight of 520±17 kg and an average parity of 2.4±0.7 were randomly selected from a commercial dairy farm. Through a clinical examination and ECG recording conducted by a veterinarian, blood samples were collected from all cattle’s coccygeal vein one month before parturition (dry period), one week after parturition (early lactation), and 10 weeks after parturition (peak of the lactation). Dairy cows in the experimental group were observed closely before and during parturition and in the postpartum period. Biochemical parameters, including Cardiac Troponin I activity (CTnI), Creatine kinase (CK), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were analyzed at three-time intervals. Regarding time intervals, there were no significant differences among the cattle in terms of CTnI, CK, LDH, AST, parturition, and different stages of milk production. It was found that the effect of late-stage gestation and different lactation periods on cardiac biomarkers in dairy cows was not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-Defensins are cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that play an important role in the innate immune defense of bovines. They are constitutively expressed in mammary glands and induced differently in response to pathogens. Their expression is influenced by various factors, including hormones, plant-derived compounds, and dietary energy imbalance. The toll-like receptors (TLRs)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway plays a crucial role in β-defensin induction, while alternative pathways such as mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and epigenetic regulation also make substantial contributions. β-Defensins exhibit bactericidal activity against a wide range of pathogens, including two major mastitis pathogens, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), primarily through membrane disruption. β-Defensins have low cytotoxicity to host cells and demonstrate immunomodulatory properties, and pathogens also display minimal resistance to these AMPs. Given the increasing concern in antimicrobial resistance, the potential of β-defensins as natural antimicrobials has garnered considerable attention. This article provides an overview of the characteristics of bovine β-defensins, their expression pathways, their mode of action, and factors influencing their expression in the mammary glands of cattle. Additionally, it identifies the current gaps in research within this field and suggests areas that require further investigation. Understanding the regulation and function of β-defensins offers valuable insights to develop effective strategies for strengthening the immune system of mammary glands, reducing the reliance on synthetic antimicrobials, and explore novel natural antimicrobial alternatives.

Introduction: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most common inherited metabolic disease in Iran that can be prevented by prenatal diagnostic tests (PND). This study was performed aimed to determine the incidence of PKU and the effect of implementing a prevention program on reducing its incidence in the population covered by Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This was a descriptive study on health system research. All PKU carrier couples and patients covered by Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2019 were studied. Data were obtained from the national form of epidemiological study of genetic diseases and genetic surveillance form from the Deputy Minister of Health. Frequency tables and graphs were used to describe the information. Results: In this study, 68 patients and 63 carrier couples were covered and 37 (60.6%) carrier couples were at risk of having a sick child and all of them were under the care of health care centers. For 91.9% of them and 61.9% high-risk relatives, the type of gene mutation was determined. PND tests were performed on 28 (87.5%) pregnant women. Seven affected fetuses were diagnosed, all of which were aborted with parental consent. 32 high-risk couples (86.5%) used safe method of contraception. The 13-year incidence of PKU in the whole region was 1.13 and the expected incidence was 1.36 per 10,000 live births. Conclusion: Implementation of prevention program had an effect on reducing the incidence of PKU. The high frequency of consanguineous marriages can affect the high incidence of PKU. It is necessary to identify the patient's relatives who are at risk of having a sick child (consanguineous marriage), refer them to a genetic counseling center and determining their status can be effective in reducing the incidence of the disease.

Abstract Purpose Osteoarthritis (OA) as a progressive destructive disease of articular cartilage is the most common joint disease characterized by reduction of joint cartilage thickness, demolition of cartilage surface and new bone formation. To overcome these problems, the purpose of the current research was to evaluate and compare the in vivo effects of synovial membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cell (SMMSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and conditioned medium (secretome) on collagenase II-induced rat knee osteoarthritis (KOA) remedy. Methods For the first step, SMMSCs were isolated and characterized. Also, secretome was collected from SMMSCs culture. Furthermore, PRP was collect from the rat heart venous blood. Second, two injection of collagenase II with an interval of 3 days was performed in the knee intra-articular space to induce osteoarthritis. Two weeks later, animals were randomly divided into 6 groups. Control group without treatment, positive group: taken an intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injection (0.1 ml), treatment groups taken an intra-articular injection of; treatment 1: SMMSCs (5 × 106), treatment 2: SMMSCs (5 × 106)/secretome (50 µl), treatment 3: SMMSCs (5 × 106)/PRP (50 µl), and treatment 4: SMMSCs (5 × 106)/ secretome (50 µl)/ PRP (50 µl). Three months later, rats were killed and the following assessments were executed: radiography, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry. Results Our findings represented that a combination of the SMMSCs/secretome/PRP had a considerable effect on glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and collagen II contents, articular cartilage preservation, compared with other groups. In addition, combination of the SMMSCs with PRP and secretome showed the lowest expression of mmp3, while SOX9 had the highest expression in comparison with other groups. Also, SMMSCs-injected groups demonstrated better results compared with positive and control groups. Conclusions Injecting a combination of the SMMSCs/secretome/PRP resulted in better efficacy in terms of joint space width, articular cartilage surface continuity and integrity, sub-chondral bone and ECM constituents such as collagen II. Indeed, transplantation of this combination could be considered as a preliminary therapy for clinical trial study in the future.

Osteoporosis is a chronic multifactorial condition that affects the skeletal system, leading to the deterioration of bone microstructure and an increased risk of bone fracture. Platelet-derived biomaterials (PDBs), so-called platelet concentrates, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), have shown potential for improving bone healing by addressing microstructural impairment. While the administration of platelet concentrates has yielded positive results in bone regeneration, the optimal method for its administration in the clinical setting is still debatable. This comprehensive review aims to explore the systemic and local use of PRP/PRF for treating various bone defects and acute fractures in patients with osteoporosis. Furthermore, combining PRP/PRF with stem cells or osteoinductive and osteoconductive biomaterials has shown promise in restoring bone microstructural properties, treating bony defects, and improving implant osseointegration in osteoporotic animal models. Here, reviewing the results of in vitro and in vivo studies, this comprehensive evaluation provides a detailed mechanism for how platelet concentrates may support the healing process of osteoporotic bone fractures.