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Background and purpose: Stress, especially immobility stress, is quite common and one of the most important and influential risk factors in neurological disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effect of acute and chronic immobility stress on the level of cortical and hippocampal oxidative stress indicators and memory impairment following global cerebral ischemia. Experimental approach: In this study, 48 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: 1, sham (S); 2, sham-acute stress (SSA); 3, sham-chronic stress (SSC); 4, ischemia (IS); 5, ischemia-acute stress (ISA); 6, ischemia-chronic stress (ISC). The Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed 14 days after surgery, and cortisol levels and oxidative stress factors such as malondialdehyde MDA and total thiol were measured. Findings/Results: In the MWM test, the time to find the platform (latency time) in the ISC and IS groups significantly increased compared to the S group. The time spent in the target quarter in these two groups was significantly reduced compared to the S group on the day of the probe. The results showed a significant increase in cortisol levels and malondialdehyde concentration in the ISA, ISC, and IS groups compared to the S group, but there was no significant difference in total thiol concentration. No significant difference was observed in the level of oxidative stress factors in the cortex. Conclusion and implication: Chronic immobility stress could reduce antioxidant factors in the hippocampus and exacerbate memory impairment caused by global ischemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the most common and deadly disease of all types of cardiovascular disease. Many biomarkers such as troponin, CK-MB and various microRNAs have been shown to be involved in a variety of diseases, especially cardiovascular disease. Circulating MicroRNAs may be important and early biomarkers for the prognosis of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive role of miRNA19b as a potential biomarker for AMI. Methods: In this case control method we divided 20 rats in Wistar breed (weight 250-300 g) into two groups of myocardial infarctions and healthy. Standard conditions such as a temperature of 25 ° C, enough water and food were created in the animal room of Mashhad Medical School. 150 mg of isoprenaline was dissolved in 2 ml of injected distilled water and the solution was injected subcutaneously for two days. 24 hours after the last injection, myocardial infarction was confirmed by assessment of (CK-MB and troponin). Results: Based on the findings, levels of troponin I and also CK-MB were higher in the group of rats induced myocardial infarction compared to healthy rats (P<0.001). In addition, the analyzes showed a significant up-regulation for miR-19b expression in the Treat group (P<0.001). Conclusion: These findings indicate that circulating miRNAs, especially microRNA 19b, could be excellent candidates as biomarkers for heart disease, especially EMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with lifestyle factors, including dietary patterns. A diet rich in macro- and micronutrients has been reported to reduce the risk of T2DM. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the dietary factors most closely associated with T2DM in subjects within the MASHAD cohort using a decision tree algorithm. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 9704 individuals from the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders (MASHAD), of whom 5936 participants completed a 24h dietary recall questionnaire. Macronutrients and micronutrients were estimated using Diet Plan 6 software. A decision tree algorithm was utilized to evaluate the most crucial dietary nutrient intakes concerning T2DM. Results: The algorithm showed a high specificity (81.34%) but low sensitivity (34.21%), which could predict T2DM with a low-to-moderate diagnostic ability (AUC=0.58). Based on the decision tree, eight features, including dietary potassium, total sugar, sucrose, riboflavin, thiamin, sodium, total nitrogen, and magnesium, were T2DM’s most critical dietary components. Conclusion: Based on the results, consuming sugar, salt, and vitamin B was the most critical related dietary intake to T2DM. Dietary interventions may be a cost-effective strategy for preventing T2DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age and sex need to be considered in the establishment of reference intervals (RIs), especially in early life when there are dynamic physiological changes. Since data for important biomarkers in healthy neonates and infants are limited, particularly in Iranian populations, we have determined age‐specific RIs for 7 laboratory biochemical parameters. This cross‐sectional study comprised a total of 344 paediatric participants (males: 158, females: 186) between the ages of 3 days and 30 months (mean age: 12.91 ± 7.15 months). Serum levels of creatinine, urea, uric acid, calcium, phosphate, vitamin D and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) were measured using an Alpha classic‐AT plus auto‐analyser. We determined age‐specific RIs using CLSI Ep28‐A3 and C28‐A3 guidelines. No sex partitioning was required for any of the biomarkers. Age partitioning was required for kidney function tests and phosphate. The serum concentration of urea and creatinine increased with age, while phosphate and uric acid decreased with age. Age partitioning was not required for serum calcium, vitamin D, and hs‐CRP, which remained relatively constant throughout the age range. Age‐specific RIs for 7 routine biochemical markers were determined to address critical gaps in RIs in early life to help improve clinical interpretation of blood test results in young children, including neonates. Established age partitions demonstrate the biochemical changes that take place during child growth and development. These novel data will ultimately better disease management in the Iranian paediatric population and can be of value to clinical and hospital laboratories with similar populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is an uncommon respiratory illness that is transmitted primarily by respiratory droplets or direct contact with an infected person. The COVID-19 initially appeared in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, and spread everywhere around the globe. Earlier in 2003, the coronavirus was known due to the human SARS-CoV virus, which infected 8,000 people and caused 800 deaths in southeast Asia and Canada. It should be mentioned that in 2012, another coronavirus, called Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, infected Saudi Arabia and 27 other countries. The SARS-CoV2 belongs to a family of viruses called Coronaviruses that can infect bats, birds, pigs, cows, and different mammals. Some plant extracts are shown to inhibit microorganism replication and may be utilized in medication to treat infectious and non-infectious diseases, one of which is chamomile. chamomile medicinal plant, that has 120 biologically active compounds, the most necessary of which are flavonoids, like apigenin and luteolin, that are shown to possess antiviral activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age‐ and sex‐specific reference intervals (RIs) for some biochemical tests may be useful for their interpretation, due to the variations in lifestyle and genetic, or ethnic factors. The aim of this study was to obtain RIs for some routine biochemical markers including a serum lipid profile, fasting blood glucose (FBG), aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (AST and ALT), uric acid, and body mass index (BMI) in subjects who attended primary healthcare centers. The large database of primary healthcare centers uses RIs to report results for children, adolescents, and young and old adults. RIs were obtained by using the indirect method, recommended by the CLSI Ep28‐A3 guidelines. RIs for FBG, BMI, and serum lipid profile, including triglyceride, total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in people aged 18 to 120 years, were obtained without age/sex segmentation. RIs for serum AST, ALT, and uric acid were obtained without age segmentation, though these RIs were higher in males than females. The RIs for AST, ALT, and uric acid were higher in men, while the RIs for the other variables were similar in both sexes. This is the first study reporting the use of indirect RIs for BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS) complications involves the excessive production of reactive oxygen species, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Due to Lycopene, a highly unstable structure and its significant effects on modulating the metabolic system, there is a strong need for a formula that can increase its stability. The aim of this study was to develop an approach for encapsulating Lycopene and investigate its effects on inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and liver enzymes in patients with MetS. Materials and Methods: This study is a simple randomized, double-blind, objective-based clinical trial that involved eighty subjects with MetS, who were equally and randomly assigned to two groups: one group received 20 mg of Lycopene per day for 8 weeks, and the Placebo group followed the same protocol as the Lycopene group but received a placebo instead of Lycopene. They were called Lycopene and placebo, respectively. During follow-up visits after 4 and 8 weeks, 20 ml of blood was collected for evaluation of liver enzymes and some inflammatory related markers. Results: Prior to the assignment of volunteers to their respective groups, there were no notable differences in C-reactive protein (CRP), serum liver enzymes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, or pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) between the Lycopene and placebo groups. However, our subsequent analysis revealed a significant reduction in the serum levels of CRP (P=0.001) and PAB (P=0.004) in the group that received Lycopene. Our encapsulated Lycopene treatment was not associated with a significant difference in serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) between our two groups. Conclusion: This study investigated the impact of Lycopene on individuals with MetS, revealing a noteworthy modulation effect on PAB and inflammation linked to MetS. However, no significant differences was demonstrated in serum levels of ALT, AST and ALP between the studied group (registration number: IRCT20130507013263N3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare deadly progressive neurological disease that primarily affects the upper and lower motor neurons with an annual incidence rate of 0.6 to 3.8 per 100,000 people. Weakening and gradual atrophy of the voluntary muscles are the first signs of the disease onset affecting all aspects of patients' lives, including eating, speaking, moving, and even breathing. Only 5-10% of patients have a familial type of the disease and show an autosomal dominant pattern, but the cause of the disease is unknown in the remaining 90% of patients (Sporadic ALS). However, in both types of disease, the patient's survival is 2 to 5 years from the disease onset. Some clinical and molecular biomarkers, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), blood or urine test, muscle biopsy, and genetic testing are complementary methods for disease diagnosis. Unfortunately, with the exception of Riluzole, the only medically approved drug for the management of this disease, there is still no definitive cure for it. In this regard, the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment or management of the disease has been common in preclinical and clinical studies for many years. MSCs are multipotent cells having immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, and differentiation ability that makes them a good candidate for this purpose. This review article aims to discuss multiple aspects of ALS disease and focus on MSCs' role in disease management based on performed clinical trials., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.