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Chamaecyparis lawsonia, which brings beauty in parks and green space, is attacked by a variety of pathogenic agents specially fungi. In this study, some Chamaecyparis lawsonia available in parks that had disease symptoms were sampled. After sample collection, in order to isolate fungal pathogens, cuts of the infected plant tissues were placed on PDA (potato dextrose agar) and later were put on WA (water agar) for identifying. Then test of pathogenicity of these isolates on Chamaecyparis lawsonia was done inside the box with plastic stopper. To do this, cuts of colonies of 4 day fungi obtained on PDA medium were put on leaves. The final evaluation was performed after 10 days. This experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with 3 replications and 7 treatments. The results showed that isolated fungi are in 2 groups as following: Alternaria franseriae and Alternaria tenuissima. According to the results, both species were pathogenic on host. Totally, A. franseriae showed more disease severity compared to A. tenuissima on C. lawsonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Along with the constant increase in world population and consequently, the growing need to provide cellulose, as the most abundant organic substance in nature to produce cellulose products, concerns regarding the possible contamination of these products might cause skin, and genital and urinary infections. The aim of this study is to determine the possible microbial contamination of these products supplied in the city of Tehran. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive study on 200 samples of unexpired cellulose products including napkins, nappies, sanitary napkin, and cardboard boxes to carry sweets. Fifty samples were obtained in the city of Tehran during six months from September 2011 to February 2012. Microbial contamination was investigated according to the procedure proposed by the Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran. Results: The results obtained indicate that 18 samples (9%) exceeded the level allowed for aerobic bacteria and molds in one gram of specimens. Besides, 16 samples (8%) were contaminated with at least one of the following bacteria: Streptococcus Group D, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. A total of 34 samples (17%) could not be consumed. The least and the most contaminated products were sanitary napkins (0.5%) and cardboard boxes to carry sweets (5%), respectively. Conclusion: The presence of pathogenic bacteria in cellulose products that could cause skin, and genital and urinary tract infections asks for more control over such sanitary products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Cancer is now one of the major causes of death across the globe. Peptidylprolyl cis/trans isomerase, NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1), has recently emerged as a critical factor in various cancers. Numerous studies have shown that PIN1 is highly expressed in several cancer types and is significantly associated with the prognosis of patients with a certain type of tumor such as gastric cancer. Meanwhile, some studies have indicated that infection with Helicobacter pylori significantly increases the risk of developing duodenal and gastric ulcer disease and gastric cancer. In this article, we propose that PIN1 can play a vital role in the prognosis of Helicobacter pylori infection-associated with peptic ulcer disease and can be effective in order to provide the best cure and the choice for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horticultural inputs have various potential environmental impacts, which can be simultaneously evaluated by using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method. It is considered an appropriate evaluation tool to analyze ecosystems through recognizing, quantifying, and appraising resources depleted and released within the environment. Accordingly, in this work, environmental damages of horticultural crops are evaluated by using LCA technique and CExD analysis under different cropping systems including citrus, hazelnut, kiwifruit, tea, and watermelon in Guilan province of Iran. By applying LCA method and ReCiPe2016, three environmental indicators including human health, ecosystem and resources of the horticultural crops are determined. Functional unit is considered as 10 ton of horticultural crops yield. From the environmental viewpoint, On-Orchard emission and nitrogen fertilizer have the highest emissions in all systems, whilst more pollution is generated in hazelnut production than those in other horticultural crops. Results in CExD show that, amongst all studied horticultural crops, the hazelnut production entails higher energy amount. A comparison of environmental impacts and energy forms show that citrus production is the best, owing to the lowest values of emissions among horticultural productions. As such, this crop is suggested for horticultural crop cultivation. Generally, it can be concluded that modeling of citrus cropping system for other crops, utilization of organic fertilizers, replacement of worn out equipment and improvement of irrigation system can attain more sustainable horticultural production. Image 1 • Exergoenvironmental LCA damages of horticultural crops are investigated in Iran. • Hotspots of environmental burdens belong to On-Orchard emission and nitrogen. • Hazelnut has the most total weighted damage category among horticultural crops. • CExD results show that non-renewable, fossil had higher energy content in all crops. • Citrus is exergoenvironmental friendly among horticultural crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to comprehensively optimize energy usage and determine mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agricultural and horticultural crops of Guilan Province, Iran. For this purpose, required data are collected from eggplant, garlic, tea, hazelnut, kiwifruit and tangerine producers through questionnaires. In this study, GHG emissions are investigated under both On-Farm and Off-Farm sectors. Data envelopment analysis method is employed for the optimization of GHG emissions and energy flow. The highest and lowest energy consumption are related to tea and kiwifruit production, respectively. Results show that kiwifruit and eggplant have the highest scores in technical efficiency whilst tangerine and tea have the highest values in pure technical efficiency. The largest amount of energy is saved in kiwifruit orchards with 8316.29 MJ ha−1. Nitrogen fertilizer and diesel fuel have the topmost energy saving potential in most crops. Kiwifruit orchards have the highest potential for mitigation of GHG gas emissions (520.79 kg CO 2 eq. ha−1). Results show that an appropriate usage of nitrogen fertilizer and replacement by organic fertilizer will mitigate GHG emissions as well as energy consumption. It can be concluded that GHG emissions can be mitigated by energy optimization in all the studied crops. • Energy and GHG of agricultural and horticultural crops surveyed comprehensively. • On-Farm and Off-Farm emissions are considered in GHG analysis. • Total energy consumption is optimized by about 20% via DEA method. • GHG reduction related to energy optimization is computed to be about 20%. • Kiwifruit is determined as energy-environmental friendly crop by DEA optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, 2‐aminopyridine functionalized magnetite nanoparticles were chemically synthesized and used for removing Cd2+ ions from aqueous solutions. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive analysis of X‐rays (EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The SEM results showed the synthesized magnetite nanoparticles have particle size around 26 nm. The effects of several variables including solution pH and volume, adsorbent mass, ionic strength and contact time on the Cd2+ adsorption were studied in batch experiments and finally the optimum conditions for adsorption were obtained. The kinetic data were investigated by pseudo‐ first‐order, pseudo‐ second‐order, intraparticle diffusion and Elovich kinetic models and data were described reasonably by pseudo‐ second‐order model (R2 = 0.9996) with qe = 2.31 mg g−1. Adsorption data were analyzed using Langmuir, Freundlich and Temkin isotherm models. The results indicated that the data were well fitted to the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 = 0.9907). After study the possible interference effect of foreign ions on Cd2+ removal, the applicability of the proposed nanoparticles for adsorption from real samples confirmed the successfully removal of Cd2+ ions with removal efficiency higher than 92%. The obtained results showed that the synthesized nanoparticles as a reusable adsorbent can act as a good choice for Cd2+ removal with an easy procedure. Propylaminopyridine magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4@PAP) were synthesized and used for removing Cd2+ ions from aqueous solutions. The structure of nanoparticles were characterized by FT‐IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, TGA and VSM. The effects of several variables including solution pH and volume, adsorbent mass, ionic strength and contact time on the Cd2+ adsorption were studied in batch experiments and finally the optimum conditions for adsorption were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute esophageal necrosis is a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, usually caused by hypo perfusion. In this report, we present a 34-year-old male patient suffering from acute esophageal necrosis presenting as hematemesis in a patient with Diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis is rarely reported as a cause of acute esophageal necrosis and it is vital to diagnose it in a patient with Diabetic Ketoacidosis as a potential cause of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein C (PC) is a vitamin K-dependent factor that plays a crucial role in controlling anticoagulant processes and acts as a cytoprotective agent to promote cell survival. Several mutations in human PC are associated with decreased protein production or altered protein structure, resulting in PC deficiency. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms in human PC to prioritize and confirm the most high-risk mutations predicted to cause disease. Of the 340 missense mutations obtained from the NCBI database, only 26 were classified as high-risk mutations using various bioinformatic tools. Among these, we identified that 12 mutations reduced the stability of protein, and thereby had the greatest potential to disturb protein structure and function. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed moderate alterations in the structural stability, flexibility, and secondary structural organization of the serine protease domain of human PC for five missense mutations (L305R, W342C, G403R, V420E, and W444C) when compared to the native structure that could maybe influence its interaction with other molecules. Protein-protein interaction analyses demonstrated that the occurrence of these five mutations can affect the regular interaction between PC and activated factor V. Therefore, our findings assume that these mutants can be used in the identification and development of therapeutics for diseases associated with PC dysfunction, although assessment the effect of these mutations need to be proofed in in-vitro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intra-abdominal adhesions are fibrous bands that develop after abdominal surgery or inflammation and cause mortality and morbidity following surgeries. This study aimed to assess the effects of bupivacaine, saline and two doses of lidocaine, after peritoneal lavage and to compare their effects in reducing abdominal adhesions in rat. Methods: In a blinded, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 50 female rats were anaesthetised and the parietal peritoneum was scratched to induce punctate bleeding. The rats were randomly assigned to five groups: saline, lidocaine 2% (3 and 6 mg/kg), bupivacaine 0.25% (2 mg/kg) and control (no irrigation). The peritoneal cavity was irrigated with the appropriate solution during laparotomy. Two weeks later, re-laparotomy was performed. The quantity, quality, severity and scores of adhesions were recorded and compared. Results: The quantity and quality of adhesions were significantly higher in the control group than in the lidocaine (6 mg/kg) and bupivacaine groups. The quality of the adhesions was higher in the normal saline group than in the lidocaine (6 mg/kg) and bupivacaine groups. The severity of adhesions between the lidocaine 3 and 6 mg/kg groups and between the lidocaine 3 mg/kg and saline groups was lower than that in the control group. Conclusion: Using lidocaine (6 mg/kg) and bupivacaine lavage in first laparotomy reduces abdominal peritoneal obstruction because of the formation of adhesion bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CHEK2 gene is known as a tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer (BC), which plays a role in DNA repair. The germ line mutations in CEHK2 have been associated with different types of cancer. The present study was aimed at studying the association between CHEK2 mutations and BC. Peripheral blood was collected from patients into a test tube containing EDTA, and DNA was extracted from blood samples. Then, we analyzed mutations including 1100delc, IVS2+1>A, del5395bp, and I157T within CHEK2 gene in patients with BC and 100 normal healthy controls according to PCR-RFLP, allelic specific PCR, and multiplex-PCR. Although IVS2+1G>A mutation within CHEK2 gene was found in two BC patients, other defined mutants were not detected. For the first time, we identified CHEK2 IVS2+1G>A mutation, one out of four different CHEK2 alterations in two Iranian BC patients (2%). Also, our results showed that CHEK2 1100elC, del5395bp, and I157T mutations are not associated with genetic susceptibility for BC among Iranian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is determination of exergoenvironmental efficiency for using solar technologies in sunflower oil production in Iran. Accordingly, the applications of photovoltaic and photovoltaic/thermal systems were evaluated for both agricultural and industrial phases of sunflower oil production. Energy results reveal that 1 ton of sunflower oil consumes and produces about 180,354 and 39,400 MJ energy, respectively. About 86% of total energy consumption belongs to agricultural phase and electricity with 32%, has the highest share of total energy consumption. IMPACT 2002+ method and cumulative energy demand of life cycle assessment are applied to 3 defined scenarios including Present, photovoltaic and photovoltaic/thermal. Results indicate that total amounts of climate change in Present scenarios is 24537.53 kg CO 2 eq.. The highest share of human health (90%), ecosystem quality (90%) and climate change (50%) in all scenarios belongs to direct emissions. Results also illustrates that total cumulative energy demand of Present, photovoltaic and photovoltaic/thermal scenarios are about 177,538, 99,054 and 132,158 MJ 1TSO−1, respectively. Furthermore, the most contribution of non-renewable resources and fossil fuels belongs to electricity (37%), nitrogen (52%) and photovoltaic/thermal panels (39%) in Present, photovoltaic and photovoltaic/thermal scenarios, respectively. Finally the photovoltaic scenario is the best environmental-friendly scenario. [Display omitted] • Energy, life cycle and cumulative energy demand are examined for sunflower oil. • Photovoltaic and photovoltaic/thermal systems are simulated to generate energy. • Electricity found as the most energy consuming input followed by nitrogen. • More than 95% of cumulative energy demand belongs to non-renewable fossil. • Photovoltaic system is the best scenario in terms of energy-environmental emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Energy and life cycle assessment of walnut are computed by IMPACT 2002+. • MOICA is used to optimize output energy and total weighted damages. • Gasoline and On-Orchard emissions are the most effective factors in energy and LCA. • MOICA can save total energy and damages by about 19316 MJ ha−1 and 1.47 Pt. • Gasoline and ecosystem quality have most potential in saving by MOICA. Although the agricultural sector is an important source of bioenergy production, this production can be considered sustainable when energy consumed and environmental emissions are optimal. As such, the assessment of energy flow, environmental emissions of walnut orchards in Alborz province of Iran and their simultaneous optimization by multi-objective imperialist competitive algorithm are the main goals of this investigation. Input-output energy analysis, IMPACT 2002+ method of life cycle assessment, and multi-objective imperialist competitive algorithm are used in the energy-environmental evaluation for optimization in this study. Results ascertain that energy uses of the entire output and input are computed to be 31,015 and 27200 MJ ha−1, respectively and that gasoline with 40% is the dominated consumer of energy. Moreover, energy use efficiency is 0.88, which indicates energy inefficiency in walnut production. Environmental results shows that On-Orchard emissions with a share more than 50% in ecosystem quality, human health, and climate changes and gasoline in resources category are the main hotspots. Multi-objective optimization illustrates that the reduction in total energy is 19316 MJ ha−1 (about 62%) and gasoline with 58% is the most energy saving input among all. On the other hand, the total weighted emission decreases by about 1.47Pt (about 40%). Generally, results reveal that timely maintenance can help orchardist attain close to optimal condition. Furthermore, the application of imperialist competitive algorithm not only can offer optimum pattern of walnut production, but also be extended to the world for different crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Supervisors continuously need to decide when to provide clinical opportunities for unsupervised patient care to facilitate residents' development in the complex clinical learning context. The aim of this study is to explore residents' and supervisors' views and understanding of the influence of clinical supervision on affording a balanced support-autonomy from the cognitive apprenticeship (CA) theoretical lens., Methods: Residents and supervisors, representing all disciplines, participated in five focus groups and four semi-structured individual interviews. Purposive and convenience sampling methods were used for recruiting participants. The reflexive thematic analysis approach was used for inductive data analysis., Results: A total of 15 residents and 8 supervisors participated in this study. All agreed that CA teaching methods can be applied across all levels. Participants experienced changes in their supervision methods and supervisor-resident interactions at different levels of training. They related the selection of supervision to task-, resident- and supervisor-related factors. Learning facilitating factors in clinical learning environment were identified and suggestions to enrich residents' learning experiences were also reported., Conclusion: The current study found that a one-size-fits-all paradigm may not be effective for clinical supervision. It contributes to our understanding of how the CA model may be used to guide supervisor behaviour and how such practices can be modified to residents' level of development and competencies., (© 2024 The Author(s). European Journal of Dental Education published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Purpose: To compare the prosthetic outcomes of screw-retained monolithic zirconia (Zr) single crowns supported by either narrow-diameter (3.3 mm) or standard-diameter (4.1 mm) tissue-level titanium-zirconia (TiZr) implants in posterior sites., Materials and Methods: A total of 18 participants, each with a missing molar or premolar tooth requiring an implantsupported single crown, were randomly assigned to either the test or control group. All participants received screwretained monolithic Zr single crowns supported by single tissue-level TiZr implants. Test group participants received narrow-diameter implants (3.3 mm), whereas control group participants received standard-diameter implants (4.1 mm). A modified version of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) criteria was used to assess the prosthetic outcome across 12 parameters after 1 year of function. Data were analyzed descriptively, and statistical analysis was performed using a statistical software (SPSS, Version 28.0; IBM) with the level of significance set at P < .05., Results: Of the 18 single crowns delivered, 16 were available for review at the 1-year follow-up, including 7 in the test group and 9 in the control group. Patient characteristics and crown site distribution were similar, with no significant differences observed between the two groups (chi-square test; P < .05). There were no crown failures, meaning a crown survival rate of 100% was achieved after 1 year. The prosthetic outcome based on USPHS criteria was comparable between the two groups with no significant differences observed (chi-square test; P < .05). There were 19 prosthetic events in total (10 in the test group and 9 in the control group), with no significant differences between the groups (chi-square test; P < .05). Loss of proximal contact was the dominant event, with a total of eight events (three in the test group and five in the control group). Patient satisfaction after 1 year was high in both treatment groups, with no significant differences detected., Conclusions: Screw-retained monolithic Zr single crowns supported by either narrow- or standard-diameter tissue-level TiZr implants in posterior sites have comparable prosthetic outcomes after 1 year. Long-term results from well-designed trials are still needed to validate the findings of the present study.

Background/objective: Nutritionists play a crucial role in guiding individuals toward healthier lifestyles through personalized meal planning; however, this task involves navigating a complex web of factors, including health conditions, dietary restrictions, cultural preferences, and socioeconomic constraints. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) offers a valuable framework for structuring these multi-faceted decisions but inconsistencies can hinder its effectiveness in pairwise comparisons., Methods: This paper proposes a novel hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization-Simulated Annealing (PSO-SA) algorithm to refine inconsistent AHP weight matrices, ensuring a consistent and accurate representation of the nutritionist's expertise and client preferences. Our approach merges PSO's global search capabilities with SA's local search precision, striking an optimal balance between exploration and exploitation., Results: We demonstrate the practical utility of our algorithm through real-world use cases involving personalized meal planning for individuals with specific dietary needs and preferences. Results showcase the algorithm's efficiency in achieving consistency and surpassing standard PSO accuracy., Conclusion: By integrating the PSO-SA algorithm into a mobile app, we empower nutritionists with an advanced decision-making tool for creating tailored meal plans that promote healthier dietary choices and improved client outcomes. This research represents a significant advancement in multi-criteria decision-making for nutrition, offering a robust solution to the inconsistency challenge in AHP and paving the way for more effective and personalized dietary interventions.

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder with polygenic etiology. Genetic risk variants for Alzheimer's disease differ among populations. Thus, discovering them in each population is clinically important. A total of 118 patients and 97 controls for VDR rs11568820 and 88 patients and 100 healthy controls for MTHFR C677T polymorphism were genotyped to evaluate the association of these polymorphisms with late-onset Alzheimer's disease in the Iranian population, along with their impacts on the response to Rivastigmine treatment. The VDR C allele was significantly associated with Alzheimer's disease and provided protection against it (P = 0.003, RR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.04-1.24), while the T allele increased susceptibility (P = 0.003, RR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.23-3.02). These results were also considerable upon excluding the effect of APOE ε4 allele. The Prevalence-corrected Positive Predictive Value was 1.71% for the VDR CC genotype and 4% for the VDR CT genotype, indicating lower and almost twofold higher chances of developing Alzheimer's disease, respectively. No significant correlation was observed between MTHFR C677T and Alzheimer's disease. Based on our pharmacogenetic study, MTHFR T allele carriers lacking APOE ε4 allele showed a better response to Rivastigmine treatment after a 2-year follow-up. Moreover, patients with VDR CC genotype displayed milder Alzheimer's disease, particularly when coincided with the APOE ε4 allele. The VDR rs11568820 polymorphism affects both Alzheimer's disease risk and the response to Rivastigmine in Iranian patients. Also, MTHFR C677T polymorphism may play a role in the response to Rivastigmine, through a pathway that needs to be elucidated in future studies., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: So far, different studies have endeavored to evaluate the position and dimensions of mental foramen and canal using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images with various results. This study aimed to assess the anatomical variations of the mental foramen and canal utilizing CBCT images., Material and Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we investigated CBCT scans of 355 patients (710 terminal branches of mental canal and foramen) who were referred to a private dental and maxillofacial radiology center in Babol, during 2020-2022. We recorded different anatomical variations of mental foramina and canals on left (n=355) and right (n=355) mandibles., Results: Most of the mental canals had a distal opening (n=334, 47.0%). The distance between the mental foramen and the lower mandibular border was greater on left mandible (13.92±3.73 mm) than on the right mandible (12.25±3.94 mm) ( p <0.001). On left mandible, the vertical diameter of the mental foramen, as well as the distance between the mental foramen and the lower mandibular border, were significantly greater in men than in women. On right mandible, the distance between the mental foramen and the upper alveolar crest edge, as well as the distance between the mental foramen and the lower mandibular border, were significantly greater in men versus women. Finally, on right mandible, the vertical diameter of the mental foramen was significantly greater in subjects aged >45 years compared with those aged ≤45 ( p =0.024)., Conclusions: There were notable variations in the morphological characteristics of the mental foramen and canal, which should be considered by clinicians. Key words: Mental foramen, mental canal, cone-beam computed tomography., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Medicina Oral S.L.)

Interactions between the gut microbiota and host immunity are sophisticated, dynamic, and host-dependent. Scientists have recently conducted research showing that disturbances in the gut bacterial community can lead to a decrease in some metabolites and, consequently, to behaviors such as depression. Exposure to stressors dropped the relative abundance of bacteria in the genus Bacteroides while soaring the relative abundance of bacteria in the genus Clostridium , Coprococcus , Dialister , and Oscillibacter, which were also reduced in people with depression. Microbiota and innate immunity are in a bilateral relationship. The gut microbiota has been shown to induce the synthesis of antimicrobial proteins such as catalysidins, type C lectins, and defensins. Probiotic bacteria can modulate depressive behavior through GABA signaling. The gut microbiome produces essential metabolites such as neurotransmitters, tryptophan metabolites, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that can act on the CNS. In the case of dysbiosis, due to mucin changes, the ratio of intestinal-derived molecules may change and contribute to depression. Psychotropics, including Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001, Clostridium butyricum CBM588, and Lactobacillus acidophilus, have mental health benefits, and can have a positive effect on the host-brain relationship, and have antidepressant effects. This article reviews current studies on the association between gut microbiota dysbiosis and depression. Comprehensively, these findings could potentially lead to novel approaches to improving depressive symptoms via gut microbiota alterations, including probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Background: Finding new compounds to accelerate wound healing is critical today. Humic substances or fulvic acid each have anti-inflammatory properties., Aims and Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of poultice 0.5% containing humic and fulvic acids on wound healing in male rats., Materials and Methods: An animal model was arranged by making a full-thickness skin wound was created in each rat. Animals were randomly divided into control, sham, and treatment groups. To investigate the effect of humic and fulvic acids combining poultice, the wound area and histological analyses of the number of inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, and angiogenesis were evaluated for 21 days., Results: The animals in the treated group showed higher wound healing percentage, angiogenesis, and fibroblast distribution compared with the control ( P < 0.001). Moreover, the topical administration of humic and fulvic acids 0.5% poultice decreased the mean number of inflammatory cells significantly than the other groups ( P < 0.001)., Conclusion: The topical administration of a poultice containing humic and fulvic acid accelerated wound healing by increasing angiogenesis and fibroblast and reducing inflammatory cell distribution in a rat model., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery.)

Background: Humic derivatives have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties., Aim: This study aimed to assess the experimental wound-healing effect of 0.5% humic acid gel., Materials and Methods: A full-thickness skin wound was created on the dorsal side of 24 Sprague Dawley male rats (220-250 g). The animals were then randomly divided into the control, sham, and experimental groups. Skin wounds were bandaged daily using sterile gauze dipped in normal saline, carboxymethylcellulose, and 0.5% humic acid for 21 days. The wound-healing rate was evaluated grossly and histologically at various time intervals post-injury., Results: Wound-healing percentage was significantly higher in the gel treatment group at all time points ( P < 0.05). The mean number of inflammatory cells was significantly lower in the humic acid gel group than in the other groups ( P < 0.001). Moreover, the number of new vascular cells and fibroblasts were significantly increased in the humic acid gel compared to the control ( P < 0.001)., Conclusion: These data confirmed that 0.5% humic acid gel accelerates wound healing, probably by anti-inflammatory effects, as well as by promoting vascular and fibroblast proliferation. Therefore, the humic acid gel may be used to improve wound care., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery.)

Diabetes management requires constant monitoring and individualized adjustments. This study proposes a novel approach that leverages digital twins and personal health knowledge graphs (PHKGs) to revolutionize diabetes care. Our key contribution lies in developing a real-time, patient-centric digital twin framework built on PHKGs. This framework integrates data from diverse sources, adhering to HL7 standards and enabling seamless information access and exchange while ensuring high levels of accuracy in data representation and health insights. PHKGs offer a flexible and efficient format that supports various applications. As new knowledge about the patient becomes available, the PHKG can be easily extended to incorporate it, enhancing the precision and accuracy of the care provided. This dynamic approach fosters continuous improvement and facilitates the development of new applications. As a proof of concept, we have demonstrated the versatility of our digital twins by applying it to different use cases in diabetes management. These include predicting glucose levels, optimizing insulin dosage, providing personalized lifestyle recommendations, and visualizing health data. By enabling real-time, patient-specific care, this research paves the way for more precise and personalized healthcare interventions, potentially improving long-term diabetes management outcomes.

Eating, central to human existence, is influenced by a myriad of factors, including nutrition, health, personal taste, cultural background, and flavor preferences. The challenge of devising personalized meal plans that effectively encompass these dimensions is formidable. A crucial shortfall in many existing meal-planning systems is poor user adherence, often stemming from a disconnect between the plan and the user's lifestyle, preferences, or unseen eating patterns. Our study introduces a pioneering algorithm, CFRL, which melds reinforcement learning (RL) with collaborative filtering (CF) in a unique synergy. This algorithm not only addresses nutritional and health considerations but also dynamically adapts to and uncovers latent user eating habits, thereby significantly enhancing user acceptance and adherence. CFRL utilizes Markov decision processes (MDPs) for interactive meal recommendations and incorporates a CF-based MDP framework to align with broader user preferences, translated into a shared latent vector space. Central to CFRL is its innovative reward-shaping mechanism, rooted in multi-criteria decision-making that includes user ratings, preferences, and nutritional data. This results in versatile, user-specific meal plans. Our comparative analysis with four baseline methods showcases CFRL's superior performance in key metrics like user satisfaction and nutritional adequacy. This research underscores the effectiveness of combining RL and CF in personalized meal planning, marking a substantial advancement over traditional approaches.

Heavy metal accumulation changes the immune system and leads to oxidative damage in aquatic animals. The present study evaluated the correlation between heavy metal accumulation, with immunological and oxidative stress parameters, in various species in the aquatic environment of Western Iran. Fresh samples included fish (trout and carp) and shrimp obtained from Sanandaj aquaculture. After blood sampling and serum isolation for immunological study, meat sections of these animals were used to measure heavy metal concentrations to determine the oxidative stress and immunological parameters. The highest concentrations of Pb (0.82 ± 0.10), As (0.53 ± 0.18), Hg (0.47 ± 0.08), and Zn (28.77 ± 1.88) (µg/g) were found in trout, while the lowest accumulation of heavy metals except for Cd (0.24 ± 0.11) and Se (1.57 ± 0.42) (µg/g) were observed in shrimp. The antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (1.89 ± 0.13) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (1.96 ± 0.62) U/mg showed the highest concentrations in shrimp and lowest in the trout. Significant negative correlations were found between these enzymes with As and Pb in trout and carp. A significant positive correlation was determined between Se and Zn with GPx and a negative correlation with malondialdehyde (MDA) in shrimp. Immunological biomarkers indicated the concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-Ƴ were higher in fish than in shrimp, and the lowest IgM level was obtained in Shrimp. Increased Pb and Cd showed a significant relationship with increased IL-6 and TNF-α in trout compared to shrimp and carp. An increase in As and Se concentration beyound maximum permissible limits (MPL) were recorded in fish and shrimp, while a Zn level less than MPL was recorded. The target hazard quotients (THQ) and target cancer risk (TR) values of non-essential heavy metals were obtained under acceptable ranges. We suggest reducing the As and Pb content under aquaculture farms and increase in the amount of Zn through diets to keep healthy immunological and physiological conditions for aquatic species in the west of Iran., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The response to warfarin, as an oral anticoagulant agent, varies widely among patients from different ethnic groups. In this study, we tried to ascertain and determine the relationship between non-genetic factors and genetic polymorphisms with warfarin therapy; we then proposed a new warfarin dosing prediction algorithm for the estimation of drug sensitivity and resistance in the Iranian population., Methods: Overall, 200 warfarin-treated patients with stable doses were recruited, the demographic and clinical characteristics were documented, and genotyping was done using a sequencing assay., Results: The outcomes of our investigation showed that the genetic polymorphisms of VKORC1(-1639 G > A), CYP2C9*3, CYP2C9*2, amiodarone use, and increasing age were found to be related to a significantly lower mean daily warfarin dose. In contrast, the CYP4F2*3 variant and increased body surface area were linked with an increased dose of warfarin in the Iranians. Our descriptive model could describe 56.5% of the variability in response to warfarin. This population-specific dosing model performed slightly better than other previously published warfarin algorithms for our patient's series. Furthermore, our findings provided the suggestion that incorporating the CYP4F2*3 variant into the dosing algorithm could result in a more precise calculation of warfarin dose requirements in the Iranian population., Conclusions: We proposed and validated a population-specific dosing algorithm based on genetic and non-genetic determinants for Iranian patients and evaluated its performance. Accordingly, by using this newly developed algorithm, prescribers could make more informed decisions regarding the treatment of Iranian patients with warfarin., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences.)

Background: Cytochrome P450 4F2 (CYP4F2) enzyme is a member of the CYP4 family responsible for the metabolism of fatty acids, therapeutic drugs, and signaling molecules such as arachidonic acid, tocopherols, and vitamin K. Several reports have demonstrated that the missense variant CYP4F2*3 (V433M) causes decreased activity of CYP4F2 and inter-individual variations in warfarin dose in different ethnic groups. However, the molecular pathogenicity mechanism of missense V433M in CYP4F2 at the atomic level has not yet been completely elucidated., Methods and Results: In the current study, we evaluated the effect of the V433M substitution on CYP4F2 using 14 different bioinformatics tools. Further molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to assess the impact of the V433M mutation on the CYP4F2 protein structure, stability, and dynamics. In addition, molecular docking was used to illustrate the effect of V433M on its interaction with vitamin K1. Based on our results, the CYP4F2*3 variant was a damaging amino acid substitution with a destabilizing nature. The simulation results showed that missense V433M affects the dynamics and stability of CYP4F2 by reducing its compactness and stability, which means that it tends to change the overall structural conformation and flexibility of CYP4F2. The docking results showed that the CYP4F2*3 variant decreased the binding affinity between vitamin K1 and CYP4F2, which reduced the activity of CYP4F2*3 compared to native CYP4F2., Conclusions: This study determined the molecular pathogenicity mechanism of the CYP4F2*3 variant on the human CYP4F2 protein and provided new information for understanding the structure-function relationship of CYP4F2 and other CYP4 enzymes. These findings will aid in the development of effective drugs and treatment options., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Aims: The hypermethylation of CpG islands in the promoter of tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs) leads to silencing the transcription of tumor suppressors, which lead to the development of cancer. The hypermethylation of CXX1 and CDH1 genes, as TSGs, plays an essential role in the development of various types of cancer, i.e., colorectal and gastric cancer. This study aims at evaluating the expression level of CXX1 and CDH1 genes and the methylation status of CXX1 CpG island's promoter in breast cancer (BC)., Materials and Methods: In this study, the expression level of the CXX1 and CDH1 genes and the promoter methylation status of the CXX1 gene were evaluated in 30 paraffin-embedded tissue blocks of malignant BC and 18 benign breast lesions, using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and methylation-specific (MS)-PCR assays, respectively., Results: The CXX1 gene was downregulated in the malignant tissues due to the hypermethylation of the CpG islands in the promoter, compared to the control group (P = 0.031). The downregulation of CDH1 gene expression was observed in the patient group compared to control, but this reduction was not statistically significant. The results show that the risk of BC is increased with aging (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the benign breast lesions (controls) had more mobility in comparison with the malignant breast tumors (P < 0.001). In the malignant samples, the size of the mass was larger than control's mass samples (P = 0.006)., Conclusions: In the pathophysiological state of BC, the aberrant DNA hypermethylation in CpG island of CXX1 promoter is responsible for the reduction of its expression level in BC patients.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting cognitive function. A number of allelic genes from HLA complex have shown variable associations with AD in different populations. In this study, we investigated the association of DQB1*06:00/x, DRB1*04:00/x, DRB1*15:00/x, and B*07:00/x genotypes with AD and their relevance to the efficacy of rivastigmine treatment in the Iranian population. Our findings suggest that DQB1*06:00/x genotype offers strong protection against AD (P = 0.0074), while B*07:00/x genotype imposes a significant susceptibility for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (SAD) (P = 0.009). Interestingly, B*07:00/x genotype does not show any apparent associations with familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). Our studies also suggest a pharmacogenetic relationship between drug treatment and presence of a particular genotype in the Iranian LOAD patient population. The Clinical Dementia Rating analysis showed that LOAD patients carrying DRB1*04:00/x genotype tend to display a downward trend in the disease severity and symptoms after 2-year follow-up with rivastigmine treatment. Moreover, in our total patient population, the carriers of DQB1*06:00/x and B*07:00/x alleles have better and worse responses to rivastigmine respectively. We also measured the clinical relevance of the testing for these genotypes employing prevalence-corrected positive predictive value (PcPPV) formula. The PcPPV of testing for DQB1*06:00/x in the Iranian LOAD patients was 1.17% which means that people carrying this genotype have half of the probability of the absolute risk for developing LOAD, whereas the PcPPV of testing for B*07:00/x was 4.45% for SAD, which can be interpreted as a doubling chance for developing LOAD among the Iranian population carrying this genotype. These results also suggest that DQβ1 peptide containing positively charged AAs histidine 30 and arginine 55 and HLA class I β chain containing negatively charges aspartic acid 114 and glutamic acid 45,152 in their binding groove plays important roles in protection against and susceptibility for LOAD respectively.

Today, the demand for health-oriented systems to facilitate and improve treatment processes is growing. For different information systems with different structures and technologies to be able to communicate with each other, a single gateway is required. The gateway acts as an interface between information systems and unifies protocols, rules, and standards related to communication processes. Health-related systems need a unique regulator that explains data models, coding, and data exchange structures. Moreover, the gateway has control over information systems and the data transmitted between them. In this paper, we explain an integrated gateway of health information exchange named DITAS which is a bridging point between health-related systems.

E-health plays a crucial role in E-government by proposing healthcare services based on information technology. However, the way to administer these services by using E-health solutions is one of the challenging issues. One of these significant challenges is how one integrates heterogeneous healthcare information of the different point of care systems. This paper introduces the Iranian integrated care electronic health record using the information gathered from several point-of-care systems in healthcare enterprises in Iran. This service-oriented architecture has a remarkable characteristic - its accessibility to medical knowledge and medical concepts through archetypes and ontology, respectively. The Ministry of Health and Medical Education of the Islamic Republic of Iran has designed and implemented this national architecture.

Background: Hydatid cyst is a zoonotic infection caused by Echinococcosis granulosus . Primary single-intramuscular hydatid disease is rare, even in endemic regions of the world. Here we report the case of exceptional thigh mass due to a hydatid cyst in an Iranian man. Case presentation: An 86-year-old man, initially presented to Velayat teaching hospital surgery clinic in May 2017 with a single right-thigh mass, but physical examinations of other organs were unremarkable. Based on sonographic findings, the differential diagnosis was hydatid cyst. He underwent surgical resection of the cyst. Histopathological results confirmed the diagnosis. There was no evidence of recurrence of the lesion during the 23-month follow-up. Conclusion: Increase thigh mass due to a hydatid cyst is a rare event. In endemic regions with the presence of hydatid cysts, especially physicians of surgical clinics have to consider differential diagnosis of hydatid cysts in unusual locations in case of such a lesion., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Samiee-Rad et al.)

Research to identify and develop compounds that facilitate wound healing is important, especially for hard-to-heal chronic wounds., Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of orally administered propolis (a resinous substance found in beehives), alone and in combination with silver nanoparticles (SNPs), on the wound healing process in male rats., Methods: Forty (40) male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 10 each: 1 control group received no treatment, and 3 study groups received a daily dose of 1) propolis (100 mg/kg), 2) propolis + 30 ppm SNPs, or 3) propolis + 60 ppm SNPs. Healing rate was determined by wound surface area reduction on days 4, 6, 8, and 10 post-surgery. On day 12 after wound creation, histological changes of wound healing, including number of new vessels, inflammatory cells (neutrophils, eosinophils, and mast cells) and fibroblasts were counted based on morphology using a 400x objective lens, and collagen deposition density was determined using hematoxylin and eosin and trichrome staining, respectively. The histological scores were based on a 0 to 4 scale from lowest to highest amount of improving tissue status and were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, Tukey test, Kruskal-Wallis test, t test, and Mann-Whitney U test to examine differences among the groups. Significance was set at P <.05., Results: The rate of wound healing was significantly different between the control and the treated groups on days 4, 6, 8, and 10 (percent change was not assessed on day 12) post-surgery, especially in the propolis + 30 ppm SNPs group compared to the control group. This difference was more significant on days 6 (wound healing percentage [WHP]: 75% and 45%) and 8 (WHP: 88% and 65% ) post-surgery (P <.001). Mean neutrophil count on day 12 was highest in the control (34.8 ± 2.97) and lowest in the propolis + 30 ppm SNPs group (16.55 ± 2.12). The number of eosinophils on day 12 was considerably higher in the control group (1.05 ± 4) compared to those in the propolis group (3 ± 0.70), propolis + 30 ppm SNPs group (60/0 ± 1/1), and propolis + 60 ppm SNPs group (0.5 ± 0.52) (P <.001). Mean propolis + 30 ppm SNPs scores for epithelialization and granulation tissue formation were 3 and 4, respectively; in the propolis + 60 ppm SNPs, scores were 2 and 3, respectively; in the propolis alone group scores were 2 and 3, respectively (statistical significance not computed for semiquantitative values). The highest fibroblast count was in the propolis + 30 ppm SNPs group (114.44 ± 3.90) compared to control group (73.2 ± 2.8); P <.001). The difference in collagen fiber density scores was also significant: 1.2 ± 0.42 in the control and 3.66 ± 0.50 in the propolis + 30 ppm SNPs group; (P <.001). The mean of collagen fiber density in the propolis + 60 ppm SNPs group was 2.63 ± 0.51., Conclusion: Oral propolis alone and in combination with 30 ppm SNPs appears to provide anti-inflammatory effects and increase fibroblast proliferation and collagen deposition in experimental wounds, which may explain the observed differences in healing. Propolis + 60 ppm SNPs appears to have a cytotoxic effect. Research confirming these results and that examines toxicity levels in animals and humans is needed.

Ultrasound therapy can be utilized to manage chronic wounds, including venous leg ulcers (VLUs). A randomized, controlled clinical study was conducted to compare the effectiveness of standard treatment and standard treatment plus either high-frequency ultrasound (HFU) or noncontact low-frequency ultrasound (NCLFU) on VLU outcomes. Ninety (90) outpatients (47 men, 43 women, average age 38.3 [SD 11.5] years) were randomized into the standard care (n = 30), HFU (n = 30), or NCLFU group (n = 30). Standard care included multilayered compression bandaging (40 mm Hg of pressure at the ankle graduated to 17 mm Hg to 20 mm Hg below the knee), nonadherent dressing, and regular debridement. Standard care dressing changes and ultrasound therapy were provided three times per week for 3 months or until healed. HFU delivers high-intensity (0.5-1 W/cm2), high-frequency (1-3 MHz) ultrasound for 5 to 10 minutes; and NCLFU delivers low-intensity (0.1-0.8 W/cm2), low-frequency (40 kHz) ultrasound for 4-10 minutes. After 3 months, patients continued to be followed until healed. Wound size, wound pain, and lower leg edema were assessed at baseline and after 2 and 4 months. Data were analyzed using Student's t-test, ANOVA, chi-square, or Fisher's exact test. P <0.05 was considered significant. Initial wound measurements were 9.60 cm2 (SD 5.54), 9.86 cm2 (SD 3.95), and 10.01 cm2 (SD 4.58) for the standard treatment, HFU, and NCLFU groups, respectively; after 4 months, measurements were 4.28 cm2 (SD 2.80), 3.23 cm2 (SD 2.39), and 2.72 cm2 (SD 2.16), a statically significant difference (P = 0.04). All wounds were healed after an average of 8.50 (SD 2.17), 6.86 (SD 2.04), and 6.65 (SD 1.59) months in the standard treatment, HFU, and NCLFU groups, respectively (P = 0.001). Differences in the amount of edema and pain rating scores were also significant at the 4-month, follow-up visit (P <0.05). Outcomes of both methods of ultrasound therapy were better than standard care alone, and some differences between the two ultrasound therapy groups were observed, but they were not statistically significant.

Background: The most prevalent topical treatment for partial thickness burns is silver sulfadiazine 1% (SSD). Recent studies have shown that the healing of partial thickness burns is delayed with the use of SSD. One of the potential burn dressings is sucralfate., Objectives: With this study the authors have aimed to analyze comparatively the effects of sucralfate and SSD on second degree burn wounds in rats., Material and Methods: Forty-eight male rats were divided into three equal groups. A burn model was constituted on the back of all rats. The burned areas in the first, second and third groups were covered daily with sucralfate, SSD and cold cream (control), respectively. At the end of the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day, the rats were anesthetized and the burned skin tissue samples were collected for histopathological examination., Results: At the end of the study, the epidermis and horny layer was completely formed in the SSD and sucralfate group; however the appendix of skin was just formed in the sucralfate group. Also the percentage of wound healing was calculated at 76%, 91% and 100% respectively in the control, silver sulfadiazine and sucralfate groups., Conclusions: Sucralfate is known to have multiple beneficial effects on wound healing. Using topical sucralfate accelerates the burn wound healing process in comparison with both the control and SSD groups and can be used as an adjunctive or alternative agent in the future.