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The primary aim of this study was to assay the influence of dietary Ca sources and levels on performance, egg quality indices, and selected blood variables of laying hens. A total of 192 Bovanz commercial layers were distributed to 6 dietary treatment groups with 4 replicates and 8 birds in each replicate. The experimental diets were iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous, but they were different in the concentrations of available phosphorus and total calcium (0.29 and 3.8% or 0.31 and 4.0%, respectively) and in the origination of applied calcium (limestone A, limestone B, and oyster shell). Although the amounts of calcium and phosphorus were different among the diets, the ratio between them was the same in all diets. The results indicated that dietary treatments had not any significant effect on feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg weight, egg mass, and body weight gain of hens. Egg quality indices were not influenced by dietary treatments in both egg sampling, except for eggshell weight and shell weight ratio, which decreased as a reduction of the dietary Ca level in the second period. The rate of broken, soft-shell and unmarketable eggs laid by the hens fed a diet containing lower Ca was increased. There was no significant effect of dietary Ca source and concentration on blood Ca and P, while serum ALP activity decreased significantly with increasing the amount of calcium in the diet. There was also, no interaction between Ca source and concentration for any of these parameters. Although all Ca sources applied in this experiment could supply the hens with sufficient Ca, the rate of unmarketable eggs decreased by using a higher concentration of Ca.

Background and Objective: Non-surgical retreatment is the first choice for the treatment of persistent periapical diseases and failure of conventional treatments. Given the necessity of proper removal of gutta-percha and bioceramic root canal sealer for the success of retreatment, the aim of this study was to compare Ultrasonic (Ultra X) and M3 Max file techniques. Methods: This laboratory study was conducted on 36 extracted human premolars that met the inclusion criteria (single-rooted, single-canal premolars, similar in root diameter, oval canal, with no branching and anatomical complexity). Two-dimensional radiographs were obtained to examine the root canals and standardize their diameters, and then, in order to standardize the samples, the crowns of the teeth were cut with a double-sided diamond disc at low speed. The canals were prepared with M3 rotary files and obturated with gutta-percha and bioceramic root canal sealer using the single cone technique. The teeth were placed in an incubator for one week, and root retreatment was performed using M3 files. The samples were randomly divided into three groups of 12 based on activation of irrigation solution, including the control group (side-vented needle as a comparison), the ultrasonic irrigation group, and the M3 Max activation group. The teeth were then divided into two halves, mesial and distal, and the area of residual filling material to total root area was examined in apical, middle, and coronal sections using a stereomicroscope and Image J software. Findings: The results showed that in all three sections examined, the percentage of residual material in the control group (29.83±10.73% in the apical section, 19.19±11.13% in the middle section, and 6.94±3.51% in the coronal section) was significantly higher than Ultra X and M3 Max groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the use of ultrasonic and M3 Max techniques can significantly remove residual root canal filling material and lead to successful root canal retreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One way to better appreciate the value of rangelands with the purpose of developing better policies and make sustainable use of these resources is to determine the monetary valuation of the ecosystem services of these rangelands. Thus, the present study aimed to estimate the economic values of provisioning and regulating services of Rig Ishaqabad Rangeland in Kerman Province, Iran. To this end, samples of the soil and vegetation cover of the region were taken. Following conduction of various experiments, the type and texture of the soil and its content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrients, the soil erosion coefficient, and the amount of carbon absorption for each vegetation type were determined. Then, the monetary values of forage production, carbon absorption, oxygen production, soil production, nutrient absorption, and erosion prevention were estimated using the Revealed Preference Approach. According to the findings, in 2019, the total economic value of the rangeland's services was USD 0.54 million; and the values of provisioning and regulating services were USD 260,102.85 and 283,841.77, respectively. In addition, the economic value of vegetation types of Artemisia sieberi-Denderostellera lessertii (Ar si-De Le), Denderostellera lessertii- Peganum harmala (De le-Pe ha), Cousinia congesta (Co co), Calligonum polygonoides- Astragalus sp (Capo-As sp), Artemisia Sieberi-Peganum harmala (Ar si-Pe ha) were USD 115,466.42, 159,045.6, 54,815.14, 85,220.66, and 129,396.78, respectively. Based on the results, the De le-Pe ha vegetation type was of the highest value with a value of 49.07 US dollars per hectare. The calculated monetary values can be a useful tool in determining the long-term rental rate of this rangeland and determine the amount of investment to preserve or restore it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Periapical surgery is a reliable method for treating teeth with periapical lesions for which conventional root canal treatment methods are not effective. The aim of this study is to investigate the results of periapical surgical treatment after a follow-up period of one to five years and the factors related to the success rate of the treatment. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, complete clinical and radiographic examinations were performed on 128 patients who underwent periapical surgery in the endodontics department of Mashhad Dental School. The success of the treatment was evaluated based on radiographic and clinical criteria for three groups: recovered, recovering and non-recovering. The patients were examined in terms of the relationship between the success rate of periapical surgery and the variables of age, gender, type of tooth, type of jaw, presence of post, type of coronal restoration and the presence of preoperative symptoms. Findings: From a total of 128 patients, 64 patients including 35 women and 29 men were studied. The results showed that the number of successful treatments is higher in women and in anterior teeth, although their difference was not statistically significant. In the age range of 11 to 30 years, all treatments were successful, with a treatment success rate of 89% in the recovered and recovering groups. In addition, there was no statistically significant difference in the success rate of periapical surgery in terms of factors such as the type of jaw, the presence or absence of a post, the presence of symptoms before treatment, and the type of tooth restoration. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that periapical surgery can be considered as an effective treatment method for patients. In addition, factors such as age, gender, type of jaw, presence or absence of post, presence of symptoms before treatment and type of tooth restoration do not have a significant effect on the treatment result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): The current study reports the production and biocompatibility evaluation of a ternary nanocomposite consisting of HA, PLA, and gelatin for biomedical application. Materials and Methods: Hydroxyapatite nanopowder (HA: Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) was produced by burning the bovine cortical bone within the temperature range of 350-450 °C followed by heating in an oven at 800. Synthesis of the ternary nanocomposite was carried out in two steps: synthesis of gelatin-hydroxyapatite binary nanocomposite and addition of poly lactic acid with different percentages to the resulting composition. The crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), while major elements and impurities of hydroxyapatite were identified by elemental analysis of X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Functional groups were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Morphology and size of the nanocomposites were evaluated using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Biocompatibility of nanocomposites was investigated by MTT assay. Results: XRD patterns verified the ideal crystal structure of the hydroxyapatite, which indicated an appropriate synthesis process and absence of disturbing phases. Results of FTIR analysis determined the polymers' functional groups, specified formation of the polymers on the hydroxyapatite surface, and verified synthesis of nHA/PLA/Gel composite. FESEM images also indicated the homogeneous structure of the composite in the range of 50 nanometers. MTT assay results confirmed the biocompatibility of nanocomposite samples. Conclusion: This study suggested that the ternary nanocomposite of nHA/PLA/Gel can be a good candidate for biomedical application such as drug delivery systems, but for evaluation of its potential in hard tissue replacement, mechanical tests should be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the use of acrylamide and Alyssum campestre seed gum (ACSG) to create hydrogel composites with enhanced electrical and mechanical properties by incorporating titanium carbide (TiC). The composites were analyzed through techniques such as FTIR, SEM, TEM, TGA, swelling, rheology, tensile, electrical conductivity, antibacterial, and MTT assays. XRD analysis showed that 0.5 % TiC NPs were exfoliated in the hydrogel, while 1 % was intercalated. SEM images showed that ACSG created a semi-interpenetrating polymer network with interconnected cavities averaging 9.1 μm, which reduced to 3.6 μm with 0.5%TiC and 51.8 nm with 1%TiC due to increased crosslinking density. TGA results confirmed hydrogel stability at autoclave temperatures. Rheological testing revealed that the hydrogel exhibited a maximum resistance of 317 kPa. The addition of 1 % TiC enhanced its electrical conductivity to 1.5 × 10 -2 S/cm, making it suitable for applications in cardiac tissue engineering. MTT assays confirmed the hydrogel's biocompatibility and demonstrated its superior antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus compared to Escherichia coli. The AM/ACSG/TiC hydrogel is a promising material for cardiac tissue engineering because of its adjustable mechanical properties, excellent electrical conductivity, and strong compatibility with cell cultures. The addition of ACSG improves the hydrogel's rheological behavior, which is crucial for promoting effective cell growth., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest 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, (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Osteoporosis is a widespread chronic condition. Although standard treatments are generally effective, they are frequently constrained by side effects and the risk of developing drug resistance. A promising area of research is the investigation of extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, which play a crucial role in bone metabolism. Exosomes, in particular, have shown significant potential in both the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. EVs derived from osteoclasts, osteoblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, and other sources can influence bone metabolism, while exosomes from inflammatory and tumor cells may exacerbate bone loss, highlighting their dual role in osteoporosis pathology. This review offers a comprehensive overview of EV biogenesis, composition, and function in osteoporosis, focusing on their diagnostic and therapeutic potential. We examine the roles of various types of EVs and their cargo-proteins, RNAs, and lipids-in bone metabolism. Additionally, we explore the emerging applications of EVs as biomarkers and therapeutic agents, emphasizing the need for further research to address current challenges and enhance EV-based strategies for managing osteoporosis., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest 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., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Cancer-derived circulating components are increasingly considered as candidate sources for non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. This study aimed to investigate the expression of tumor-educated platelet (TEP) long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and determine whether it could be served as a potential tool for CRC diagnosis., Materials and Methods: Relative quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of three cancer-related platelet-derived lncRNAs CCAT1, HOTTIP, and XIST in 75 CRC patients and 42 healthy controls. Quantitative data were analyzed by SPSS (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) for comparison of cancer and non-cancer individuals. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was further performed to assess the diagnostic values of lncRNAs within the CRC patients., Results: The expression levels of lncRNAs colon cancer associated transcript 1 (CCAT1) ( P = 0.006) and HOXA transcript at the distal tip (HOTTIP) ( P = 0.049), but not X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) ( P = 0.12), were significantly upregulated in CRC patients compared to healthy individuals. However, there were no significant correlations between platelet lncRNAs and clinicopathological characteristics, including sex, age, tumor location, differentiation, and size (all at P > 0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the lncRNA CCAT1 was 0.61 (sensitivity, 71%; specificity, 50%)., Conclusion: TEP lncRNA CCAT1 is detectable in the circulation of CRC patients and could be considered as a potential diagnostic biomarker., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics.)

Background: Acetabulum fractures pose significant challenges in orthopedic trauma due to anatomical complexity and the potential for iatrogenic injury to surrounding structures. The study aims to compare the outcomes of two surgical approaches, the ilioinguinal approach (IA) and the modified Stoppa approach (MSA), in managing acetabular fractures., Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 50 patients with anterior acetabular fractures. Demographic characteristics and perioperative data were collected, and the patients were categorized based on the applied surgical approach, either IA or MSA. Statistical tests were used for data analysis., Results: The MSA group showed significantly lower intraoperative blood loss compared to IA (MSA: 404.36 ± 151.94 ml, IA: 650.92 ± 136.33 ml, Δ = 246.56 ml, P < 0.001). The mean procedure duration for MSA was 141.88 ± 27.12 min, compared to 172.24 ± 32.69 min for IA (P = 0.37). The incidence of soft tissue infection (MSA: 8 %, IA: 8 %) and sciatic nerve injury (both 0 %) exhibited no significant differences (P > 0.99). Postoperative assessments, Harris Hip Scores (MSA: 90.08 ± 6.26, IA: 89.29 ± 6.64, P = 0.66) and Modified Merle d'Aubigné Scores (MSA: 14.86 ± 1.37, IA: 15.23 ± 1.16, P = 0.40), showed no substantial variance between groups., Conclusion: The study suggests that the MSA approach demonstrated superiority, particularly due to significantly less intraoperative blood loss. Further comprehensive studies are recommended to validate and generalize these findings., Competing Interests: There are no conflicting interests that might influence the impartiality of the research documented., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Professor P K Surendran Memorial Education Foundation.)

In this paper, Laguerre Gaussian (LG) beams with different topological charges are used for excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) through a graphene layer inserted in the Otto-configuration. By utilizing the angular spectrum representation (ASR) and Lorenz-gauge vector potential, an explicit analytical expression is derived for the electromagnetic fields of the reflected beam. At the optimal excitation state of graphene SPPs, the reflected beam exhibits a distinctive field profile characterized by two identical crescent-shaped lobes separated by a vertical strip with null intensity. Furthermore, in the absence of external magnetic field, the orbital angular momentum (OAM) spectrum of the reflected beam at the optimal excitation of SPPs reveals the annihilation of central OAM mode and the generation of two equal OAM sidebands, regardless of the incident OAM topological charge. Furthermore, the phase distributions of electric field of the reflected beam confirm the existence of OAM sidebands in the vicinity of optimal SPPs excitation. As the system is taken away from the optimal excitation of SPPs by introduction of an external magnetic field or increasing the chemical potential or increasing the incident angle, both central and sideband modes appear in the OAM spectrum of the reflected beam. In this case, when the topological charge of the incident wave increases, the weight of central OAM mode decreases while the weight of sidebands increases. In contrast, in the presence of external magnetic field, at the optimal excitation of SPPs, both central OAM and sidebands modes exist in the reflected beam such that the weight of central modes increases with the external magnetic field. This effect is also confirmed by plotting the phase distributions of the reflected beam at different external magnetic fields and for different incident topological charges. Therefore, the manipulation of graphene plasmons characteristics leads to the control of OAM sideband generation.

Osteoporosis, a prevalent bone disorder influenced by genetic and environmental elements, significantly increases the likelihood of fractures and bone weakness, greatly affecting the lives of those afflicted. Yet, the exact epigenetic processes behind the onset of osteoporosis are still unclear. Growing research indicates that epigenetic changes could act as vital mediators that connect genetic tendencies and environmental influences, thereby increasing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Within these epigenetic factors, certain types of RNA, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have been recognized as key regulatory elements. These RNA types wield significant influence on gene expression through epigenetic regulation, directing various biological functions essential to bone metabolism. This extensive review compiles current research uncovering the complex ways in which miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs are involved in the development of osteoporosis, especially in osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Gaining a more profound understanding of the roles these three RNA classes play in osteoporosis could reveal new diagnostic methods and treatment approaches for this incapacitating condition. In conclusion, this review delves into the complex domain of epigenetic regulation via non-coding RNA in osteoporosis. It sheds light on the complex interactions and mechanisms involving miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs within osteoblasts and osteoclasts, offering an in-depth understanding of the less explored aspects of osteoporosis pathogenesis. These insights not only reveal the complexity of the disease but also offer significant potential for developing new diagnostic methods and targeted treatments. Therefore, this review marks a crucial step in deciphering the elusive complexities of osteoporosis, leading towards improved patient care and enhanced quality of life., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors affirm that there are no identified conflicting financial interests or personal affiliations that could potentially influence the conclusions presented in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

In this paper, different neural network-based methods are proposed to improve the achievable information rate in amplitude-modulated soliton communication systems. The proposed methods use simulated data to learn effective soliton detection by suppressing nonlinear impairments beyond amplifier noise, including intrinsic inter-soliton interaction, Gordon-Haus effect-induced timing jitter, and their combined impact. We first present a comprehensive study of these nonlinear impairments based on numerical simulations. Then, two neural network designs are developed based on a regression network and a classifier. We estimate the achievable information rates of the proposed learning-based soliton detection schemes as well as two model-based benchmark schemes, including the nonlinear Fourier transform eigenvalue estimation and continuous spectrum-aided eigenvalue estimation schemes. Our results demonstrate that both learning-based designs lead to substantial performance gains when compared to the benchmark schemes. Importantly, we highlight that exploiting the channel memory, introduced by solitonic interactions, can yield additional gains in the achievable information rate. Through a comparative analysis of the two neural network designs, we establish that the classifier design exhibits superior adaptability to interaction impairment and is more suitable for symbol detection tasks in the context of the investigated scenarios.

One of the most frequent environmental contaminants, benzene is still widely used as an industrial solvent around the world, especially in developing nations, posing a serious occupational risk. While the processes behind the toxicity of benzene grounds are not fully understood, it is generally accepted that its metabolism, which involves one or more reactive metabolites, is crucial to its toxicity. In order to evaluate the many ways that benzene could influence gene regulation and thus have an impact on human health, new methodologies have been created. The pathophysiology of the disorder may result from epigenetic reprogramming caused by exposure to benzene, including changes in non-coding RNA (ncRNA) markers, according to recent studies. We are interested in the identification of hazardous regulatory ncRNAs, the identification of these ncRNAs' targets, and the comprehension of the significance of these interactions in the mechanisms behind benzene toxicity. Hence, the focus of recent research is on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), and some of the more pertinent articles are also discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Stereolithography (SLA) additive manufacturing is a method of manufacturing capable of generating complex geometric shapes with extremely high accuracy. Classic SLA uses UV curable resins, particularly polylactic acid (PLA), for part generation, but recent research has focused on utilizing this technology for the generation of various composite materials. There has been success in manufacturing composite materials using this technology, but little research has been performed on the generation of carbon-fiber-reinforced composite materials. Carbon fiber stereolithography (CF-SLA) is often overlooked due to carbon fiber's natural inability to bond with PLA. To overcome this boundary, surface modification techniques were used on chopped carbon fibers to achieve greater bonding. Here, two modification techniques were explored: a sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactant addition and nitric acid (HNO 3 ) etching. These methods were used to functionalize and prepare the surface of chopped carbon fiber (CF) for bonding with cured PLA resin. Treated fibers were dispersed in generic PLA resin, and tensile test specimens were printed for examining the reinforcement potential of the two treatment methods. Additional complexities arise during printing with fibers including fiber alignment, accumulation, and fiber fallout. To address these issues, a novel in-process mixing method was developed to maintain fiber dispersion. A two-level three-factor factorial design was performed for both treatment methods to determine optimal printing parameters. Through mechanical testing, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and contact angle measurements, the accompanying material property changes were characterized to further develop the field of fiber-reinforced liquid crystal display (LCD) additive manufacturing. After testing, it was found that composites created with SDS nanoparticle modification were stronger than both the acid etched fiber sample and plain PLA. Specifically, SDS surface treatment resulted in a 15% increase in modulus and maximum strength of the sample, mainly by enhancing the interlayer bonding between CF and PLA.

Recent developments in sequencing technology and analytical approaches have allowed researchers to show that the healthy gut microbiome is very varied and capable of performing a wide range of tasks. The importance of gut microbiota in controlling immunological, neurological, and endocrine function is becoming well-recognized. Thereby, numerous inflammatory diseases, including those that impact the gastrointestinal system, as well as less obvious ones, including Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cancer, gestational diabetes (GD), type 1 diabetes (T1D), and type 2 diabetes (T2D), have been linked to dysbiotic gut microbiota. Microbiome engineering is a rapidly evolving frontier for solutions to improve human health. Microbiome engineering seeks to improve the function of an ecosystem by manipulating the composition of microbes. Thereby, generating potential therapies against metabolic, inflammatory, and immunological diseases will be possible through microbiome engineering. This essay first provides an overview of the traditional technological instruments that might be used for microbiome engineering, such as Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT), prebiotics, and probiotics. Moreover, we will also discuss experimental genetic methods such as Metagenomic Alteration of Gut microbiome by In situ Conjugation (MAGIC), Bacteriophage, and Conjugative plasmids in manipulating intestinal microbiota., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

The presence of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene compounds (BTEX) in the breathing air outside and inside buildings is one of the most significant problems related to human health today. This study was performed to determine the concentration of BTEX pollutants in indoor environments. PhoCheck was used to detect the concentration of BTEX compounds. In this study, the concentration (BTEX pollutant) was assessed in four indoor spaces, including restaurants, laundries, hair salons, and photocopying centers. The results showed that the average concentration of all four searched compounds was higher than the recommended limit of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The results of carcinogenic risk assessment by benzene and ethylbenzene compounds show 2153 × 10 -4 and 913 × 10 -5 respectively. The HQ values for toluene and xylene were 1.397 and 0.505, respectively, indicating that exposure to toluene alone may have adverse effects on human health, while exposure to xylene alone has no adverse effects. The hazard index (HI) for toluene and xylene pollutants was higher than one. An HI value higher than one means that the two contaminants toluene and xylene in the air we breathe may have adverse effects on human health. As a result, the necessary control measures should be taken to prevent the unfavorable effects of these two pollutants., 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., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Segmenting deep brain structures from magnetic resonance images is important for patient diagnosis, surgical planning, and research. Most current state-of-the-art solutions follow a segmentation-by-registration approach, where subject magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) are mapped to a template with well-defined segmentations. However, registration-based pipelines are time-consuming, thus, limiting their clinical use. This paper uses deep learning to provide a one-step, robust, and efficient deep brain segmentation solution directly in the native space. The method consists of a preprocessing step to conform all MRI images to the same orientation, followed by a convolutional neural network using the nnU-Net framework. We use a total of 14 datasets from both research and clinical collections. Of these, seven were used for training and validation and seven were retained for testing. We trained the network to segment 30 deep brain structures, as well as a brain mask, using labels generated from a registration-based approach. We evaluated the generalizability of the network by performing a leave-one-dataset-out cross-validation, and independent testing on unseen datasets. Furthermore, we assessed cross-domain transportability by evaluating the results separately on different domains. We achieved an average dice score similarity of 0.89 ± 0.04 on the test datasets when compared to the registration-based gold standard. On our test system, the computation time decreased from 43 min for a reference registration-based pipeline to 1.3 min. Our proposed method is fast, robust, and generalizes with high reliability. It can be extended to the segmentation of other brain structures. It is publicly available on GitHub, and as a pip package for convenient usage., (© 2022 The Authors. Human Brain Mapping published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

We aimed to examine whether anthropometric indices, dietary factors, and nutrient intakes of women with and without breast cancer (BrCa) are associated with the oxidative balance score (OBS). This case-control study was carried out among 253 patients with BrCa and 267 healthy subjects aged >18 years. The OBS was calculated by using the following 13 dietary and non-dietary anti- and prooxidant components: dietary antioxidants (selenium, fiber, β-carotene, vitamin D, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folate), dietary prooxidants (iron and saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids), and nondietary anti- (physical activity) and prooxidants (smoking and obesity). The binary logistic regression was used to determine the association OBS with BrCa. After adjusting for potential confounders in the final model, there was evidence that the odds of BrCa decreased with increasing categories of the OBS (OR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.28 - 0.98; P-trend = 0.021). When we made stratified analysis by menopausal status, OBS was inversely associated with odds of BrCa in premenopausal women after adjusting for potential confounders. No significant association was found between OBS and odds of BrCa among post-menopausal women. Our data suggest that OBS scores were associated with decreased BrCa risk in the overall population.

Evidence suggests the role of changing traditional lifestyle patterns such as Paleolithic to modern lifestyle in the incidence and epidemic of chronic diseases. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the association between Paleolithic diet (PD) and risk of Breast Cancer (BC) in adult Iranian women. This matched case-control study included 253 women with BC and 267 healthy women aged >18 years. PD score was evaluated using a validated 168-item quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Conditional logistic regression model was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs), and dose-response was investigated. Mean of PD score was 39.00 ± 6.39. Among the food groups of the PD components, BC patients significantly had lower consumption of healthy food groups as vegetables, fruits, fish, and nuts, higher intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages as well as grains and starches. After adjustment for potential confounders, comparing the highest quartile of PD scores with the lowest quartile, a decrease in the risk of BC was observed for all women (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.13-0.53), as well as those premenopausal (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.11), and postmenopausal (OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05 - 0.56). Our findings show that adherence to the PD pattern significantly reduces the risk of BC in the population studied. However, prospective studies are needed to further investigate this association.

In this study, we assessed the performance characteristics of five different magnetorheological micropump designs, two of which were our proposed designs, while others were from the existing designs in the literature. Comparisons have been performed based on physics-based simulations, and the fully coupled magneto-solid-fluid interaction simulations were carried out in COMSOL Multiphysics software. For a fair and meaningful comparison, both the material and geometric properties were kept the same, and the simulations were run for one complete pumping cycle. The results showed that the proposed flap and duckbill valve models could pump 1.09 µL and 1.16 µL respectively in 1 s, which was more than the rest of the existing micropump models. Moreover, at 0.5 s, when the magnetic flux density was maximum, the flap and duckbill valve models could pump almost twice as fluid as some of the existing valve models did. The results also demonstrated that the flap and duckbill valve models were nearly five times faster than some of existing models. In conclusion, the proposed two micropump models could propel more net fluid volume than the existing micropump designs, experienced low leakage during the contraction and expansion phase, and had faster response times. We believe that the present study provides valuable insights for future micropump designs, which have an extensive range of application areas, ranging from insulin dosing systems for T1D patients to artificial organs to transport blood and from organ-on-chip applications to micro-cooling systems.

According to studies, there are many inconsistencies in how IGF-1 levels change after bariatric surgery compared to before surgery, as well as its effects. These discrepancies can be attributed to various factors such as age, body mass index (BMI), and duration of intervention. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the level of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) after bariatric surgery. A systematic review and meta-analysis based on the PRISMA guidelines was conducted from inception until 2021. From 1871 articles initially selected, 24 studies with 28 treatment arms met the eligible criteria and were included. Pooled findings from the random-effects model indicated that IGF-1 levels increased significantly [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 8.84 ng/ml; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30-17.39; p = 0.043] after bariatric surgery compared to before surgery. No significant heterogeneity was noted among the studies (Cochran Q test, p = 0.90, I 2  = 0.0%). In subgroup analysis, bariatric surgery significantly increased IGF-1 levels at age <40 years but not at age ≤40 years. Bariatric surgery is capable of increasing the IGF-1 levels compared to the period prior to surgery but with a modest clinical magnitude., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Objective: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that can cause severe disability and impair the quality of life (QoL)., Methods: In the current cross-sectional, case-control study, we investigated personality traits, anxiety and depression levels, in 101 patients in the case group and 202 individuals as a control group. The personality traits of the participants were collected via the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) questionnaire. We evaluated the level of anxiety and depression based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire., Results: Our study showed in patients with disease duration above 1 year, the rates of agreement (29.78), anxiety (8.83), and depression level (6.39) were significantly higher than the control group (27.19, 6.47, and 4.97, respectively). Although patients with disease duration below 1 year showed a higher level of agreement and conscientiousness (29.65 and 34.35, respectively) than controls (26.6 and 30.86, respectively). The level of anxiety and depression in patients with a disability index above 4.5 was significantly higher than patients with a disability index below 1. Patients with a disability index below 1 showed a higher rate of extraversion and agreement and conscientiousness (31.47, 31.53, and 35.07, respectively) than controls (25.5, 26.23, and 3033, respectively). In addition, patients with a disability index above 4.5 showed a higher level of agreement (35.64), conscientiousness (35.5), anxiety (9.64), and depression (7.5) than controls (25.96, 30.71, 6.96, and 4.71, respectively)., Conclusions: In conclusion, anxiety and depression levels were much higher among MS patients compared with controls and the severity of these conditions correlate with the score of the disability index. Therefore, a complete comprehension of these conditions by the neurologist could be vital in improving patients' QoL and increasing compliance and adherence to pharmacological therapy., (© 2022 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

In this study, we propose a duckbill valve microfluidic pump that relies on an electromagnetic actuation mechanism. An FEA/CFD-based approach was adopted for the design of the device due to the coupled electromagnetic-solid-fluid interactions in the device. The simulation methodology was confirmed with the previously published data in the literature to ensure the accuracy of the simulations. The proposed optimum duckbill valve micropump can pump 2.45 µL of fluid during the first 1 s, including both contraction and expansion phases, almost 16.67% more than the basic model. In addition, the model can pump a maximum volume of 0.26 µL of fluid at the end of the contraction phase (at 0.5 s) when the magnetic flux density is at maximum (0.027 T). The use of a duckbill valve in the model also reduces the backflow by almost 7.5 times more than the model without any valve. The proposed device could potentially be used in a broad range of applications, such as an insulin dosing system for Type 1 diabetic patients, artificial organs to transport blood, organ-on-chip applications, and so on.

The aim of this study was to compare the antioxidant potential of the yogurt and kefir produced from ewe, camel, goat, and cow milk. The antioxidant activity of the samples was assessed by measuring total phenolic content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical reducing capacity during 20-day storage at 4 ºC. Kefir and yogurt prepared from ewe and camel milk had significantly higher antioxidative potential than samples made from goat and cow milk (P < 0.05). Ewe kefir (74.55-80.11 mg GAE 100 mL -1 ) showed the highest TPC followed by cow kefir (65-73.15 mg GAE 100 mL -1 ), camel kefir (61.2-69.91 mg GAE 100 mL -1 ) and goat kefir (58.31-73.5 mg GAE 100 mL -1 ) ( P  < 0.05). Camel yogurt possesses the highest TPC (56.5-68.25 mg GAE 100 mL -1 ) followed by ewe (40.32-46.5 mg GAE 100 mL -1 ), cow (29.5-35.5 mg GAE 100 mL -1 ) and goat (20.03-26.85 mg GAE 100 mL -1 ) yogurt ( P  < 0.05). According to DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS results, the antioxidant activity of samples was as follows in descending order: ewe kefir, camel kefir, ewe yogurt, camel yogurt, cow kefir, goat kefir, goat yogurt, cow yogurt., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-021-05139-9., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2021.)

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is the result of an abnormal immune response in the body that leads to the destruction of exocrine glands, primarily the ocular and salivary glands, resulting in xerophthalmia and xerostomia. We describe a case of a 55-year-old female who presented to the clinic with abnormal liver function tests, identified on routine blood work. After an extensive workup, the patient was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and SS. AIH occurs in a small number of patients with primary SS, and there is little research available on the overlap of these two autoimmune disorders. In this report, we will present some of the challenges in diagnosing AIH and identifying SS as the underlying diagnosis. Because of the ambiguous clinical picture, diagnosis of AIH can be difficult, especially in the setting of concomitant autoimmune disorders., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2022, Caretti et al.)

Background: Previous evidence suggests a link between diet quality and breast cancer (BrCa); however, the link between the Lifelines Diet Score (LLDS)-a fully food-based score that uses the 2015 Dutch Dietary Guidelines-and risk of BrCa has not yet been evaluated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to observe the relationship between adherence to an LLDS and risk of BrCa in Iranian adults., Methods: In the hospital-based case-control study, 253 patients with BrCa and 267 non-BrCa controls were enrolled. Individual's food consumption was recorded to calculate LLDS using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. In adjusted models, the association between the inflammatory potential of the diet and the risk of BrCa was estimated by using binary logistic regression., Results: Compared with control individuals, BrCa patients significantly had higher waist circumference (WC), first pregnancy age, abortion history, and number of children. In addition, the mean intake of vitamin D supplements and anti-inflammatory drugs in the case group was significantly lower than the control group. Furthermore, after adjusted potential confounders, individuals in the highest vs. lowest quartiles of LLDS showed statistically significant lower risk of BrCa in overall population (OR: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.11-0.43; P trend <0.001), premenopausal (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.10-0.68; P trend = 0.003), and post-menopausal women (OR: 0.20; 95% CI: 0.06-0.60; P trend = 0.015)., Conclusion: Findings of this study reflected that higher LLDS decreased risk of BrCa, but need further investigation in later studies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Mohammad Hassan Sohouli et al.)

Patients with chronic pain often complain about memory impairments. Experimental studies have shown neuroprotective effects of Carbamylated erythropoietin (Cepo-Fc) in the treatment of cognitive dysfunctions. However, little is currently known about its precise molecular mechanisms in a model of inflammatory pain. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate neuroprotective effects of Cepo-Fc against cognitive impairment induced by the inflammatory model of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA). Carbamylated erythropoietin was administrated Intraperitoneally (i.p) on the day CFA injection, continued for a 21-days period. After conducting the behavioral tests (thermal hyperalgesia and novel object recognition test), western blot and ELISA were further preformed on days 0, 7, and 21. The results of this study indicate that Cepo-Fc can effectively reverse the CFA induced thermal hyperalgesia and recognition memory impairment. Additionally, Cepo-Fc noticeably decreased the hippocampal microglial expression, production of hippocampal IL-1β, and hippocampal apoptosis and necroptosis induced by the inflammatory pain. Therefore, our findings suggest that neuroprotective effects of Cepo-Fc in the treatment of pain related recognition memory impairment may be mediated through reducing hippocampal microglial expression as well as IL-1β production., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly developing worldwide with a high mortality rate. In this meta-analysis study, the effect of influenza vaccination on the prevention of COVID-19 and its consequences in patients were investigated. The systematic search for this study was performed from November 2019 to 25 November 2020, in the databases of Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Ebsco, Cochrane and medRxiv. Search terms used included COVID-19, coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, covid, influenza, flu, grippe and vaccine. The present study examined the association between influenza vaccination and COVID-19 including COVID-19 infection, mortality, hospitalisation and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Finally, the pooled estimates for different outcomes were calculated by the software for statistics and data science (STATA) version 15 and I 2 was used to determine the heterogeneity. By analysing the data of articles, the pooled estimates of these data indicated that influenza vaccination could lower probability of COVID-19 infection up to 24% (OR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.65, 0.91), of death up to 32% (OR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.42, 1.11), of the hospitalisation up to 25% (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.46; 1.23) and of admission to ICU up to 29% (OR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.40, 1.27). Influenza vaccination can help decrease the COVID-19 infection and reduce hospitalisation and the need for ICU and mortality rates., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest None., (© Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia, 2021.)

There is substantial and promising evidence on the health benefits of consuming broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. The most important compound in broccoli, glucoraphanin, is metabolized to SFN by the thioglucosidase enzyme myrosinase. SFN is the major mediator of the health benefits that have been recognized for broccoli consumption. SFN represents a phytochemical of high interest as it may be useful in preventing the occurrence and/or mitigating the progression of cancer. Although several prior publications provide an excellent overview of the effect of SFN in cancer, these reports represent narrative reviews that focused mainly on SFN's source, biosynthesis, and mechanisms of action in modulating specific pathways involved in cancer without a comprehensive review of SFN's role or value for prevention of various human malignancies. This review evaluates the most recent state of knowledge concerning SFN's efficacy in preventing or reversing a variety of neoplasms. In this work, we have analyzed published reports based on in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies to determine SFN's potential as a chemopreventive agent. Furthermore, we have discussed the current limitations and challenges associated with SFN research and suggested future research directions before broccoli-derived products, especially SFN, can be used for human cancer prevention and intervention.

Lipid goal achievement and statin consumption were estimated at extreme/very-high/high/moderate and low cardiovascular risk categories. In the cross-sectional study, 585 patients treated with statin therapy referring to the heart clinic of Birjand were recruited. Patients were classified and examined LDL-C values and the proportion reaching targets according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guideline. Three patterns of statin use (high/moderate/low-intensity statin therapy) in all patients were examined and attainments of LDL-C goal in cardiovascular risk groups have been demonstrated. Over half the populations (57.6%) were in the very-high CVD risk group. The results showed that the proportion of patients meeting total LDL-C goal values according to the guidelines was 43.4%. The frequency of patient had achievement LDL goal lower in high-intensity pattern (N = 13, 2.3%), compared with moderate (N = 496, 86.1%) and low-intensity patterns (N = 67, 11.6%). In general, LDL-C goal achievement was greatest with moderate-intensity statin use. LDL-C reduction after statin consumption was estimated about one-third of the studied population. It seems likely that the achievement of a therapeutic target for serum lipids such as LDL-C improved is far more cost-effective and would be able to reach the target LDL as well changing the type and intensity of statins.

Introduction: Although the maxillary first molar (MFM) has been frequently subjected to stress analysis in endodontic investigations, the available data about the effect of its oblique ridge are quite sparse. The aim of this study includes evaluating the effect of the residual oblique ridge on the stress distribution after preparing conservative access cavities., Methods: Based on the cone-beam computed tomographic data, the model of an intact MFM and 5 cavity designs were prepared for endodontic treatment, which were consequently filled with gutta-percha and dental resin composite (6 total models). All models were subjected to 4 types of occlusal loading; finite element analysis via ABAQUS CAE software (Dassault Systemes, Vélizy-Villacoublay, France) was accomplished, whereas other software programs such as (Mimics Research Materialise, Leuven, Belgium) and 3-Matic Research (Materialise) were also incorporated in different stages for detecting stress distribution., Results: The stress distribution on the MFM is not only dependent on the remaining width of the oblique ridge but also on the type of loading. The most stress on the cervical region was concentrated on the palatal root in some type of loading, whereas the least stress on the occlusal surface was recorded when the whole oblique ridge was replaced by the composite resin., Conclusions: When the occlusal contacts are occurring only on the palatal cusp, the stress distribution on the oblique ridge is noticeably affected by the cavity design., (Copyright © 2020 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

There are largely unknown associations between changes in pain behavior responses during persistent peripheral inflammation and spinal cell alteration such as apoptosis. Some evidence suggests that microglia and microglia related mediators play notable roles in induction and maintenance of central nervous system pathologies and inflammatory pain. By considering those relationships and microglia related nootrophic factors, such as the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in CNS, we attempted to assess the relationship between microglia dependent BDNF and its precursor with pain behavior through spinal cell apoptosis as well as the effect of Noopept on this relationship. Persistent peripheral inflammation was induced by a single subcutaneous injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) on day 0. Thermal hyperalgesia, paw edema, microglial activity, microglia dependent BDNF, pro-BDNF expression, and apoptosis were assessed in different experimental groups by confirmed behavioral and molecular methods on days 0, 7, and 21 of the study. Our findings revealed hyperalgesia and spinal cell apoptosis significantly increased during the acute phase of CFA-induced inflammation but was then followed by a decrement in the chronic phase of the study. Aligned with these variations in spinal microglial activity, microglia dependent BDNF significantly increased during the acute phase of CFA-induced inflammation. Our results also indicated that daily administration of Noopept (during 21 days of the study) not only caused a significant decrease in hyperalgesia and microglia dependent BDNF expression but also changed the apoptosis process in relation to microglia activity alteration. It appears that the administration of Noopept can decrease spinal cell apoptosis and hyperalgesia during CFA-induced inflammation due to its direct effects on microglial activity and microglia dependent BDNF and pro-BDNF expression., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2021 The Author(s).)

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical therapy to alleviate symptoms of certain brain disorders by electrically modulating neural tissues. Computational models predicting electric fields and volumes of tissue activated are key for efficient parameter tuning and network analysis. Currently, we lack efficient and flexible software implementations supporting complex electrode geometries and stimulation settings. Available tools are either too slow (e.g. finite element method-FEM), or too simple, with limited applicability to basic use-cases. This paper introduces FastField, an efficient open-source toolbox for DBS electric field and VTA approximations. It computes scalable electric field approximations based on the principle of superposition, and VTA activation models from pulse width and axon diameter. In benchmarks and case studies, FastField is solved in about 0.2 s,  ~ 1000 times faster than using FEM. Moreover, it is almost as accurate as using FEM: average Dice overlap of 92%, which is around typical noise levels found in clinical data. Hence, FastField has the potential to foster efficient optimization studies and to support clinical applications., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Anorexia nervosa (AN) severely impacts individual's mental and physical health as well as quality of life. In 21% of cases no durable response to conservative treatment can be obtained. The serious course of the disease in the most severely affected patients justifies invasive treatment options. One of the treatment methods increasingly used in recent years is deep brain stimulation (DBS). A 42-year-old woman suffering from chronic AN of the bulimic subtype shows a 46.9% weight gain and a subjective increase in quality of life, 12 months after bilateral nucleus accumbens (NAcc) DBS implantation. No improvement in comorbid depression could be achieved. DBS of the NAcc is a treatment option to be considered in severe AN when conventional treatment modalities recommended by evidence-based guidelines have not been able to bring lasting relief to the patient's suffering., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Bupivacaine, an amid-type local anesthetic, is widely used for clinical patients especially in pregnant women. In addition to neurotoxicity effect of bupivacaine, it can cross the placenta, accumulates in this tissue and retained in fetal tissues. Nevertheless, whether bupivacaine can cause neurotoxicity in fetus remains unclear. Hence, this study was design to investigate the effects of maternal bupivacaine use on fetus hippocampal cell apoptosis and the possible related mechanism., Methods: On day 15 of pregnancy, sciatic nerve of pregnant wistar rat (180-200 g) were exposed by lateral incision of the right thigh and 0.2 ml of bupivacaine was injected. After their delivery, we randomly selected one male offspring of every mother. On day 30 after of their birth, the rat's hippocampi were isolated for molecular studies. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of cleaved caspase-3, caspase-8 and p-Akt in fetal hippocampus., Results: Our results showed that maternal bupivacaine use caused a significant increment of cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-8 expression in fetal hippocampus compared with the sham group. In addition, maternally administered bupivacaine could significantly decrease hippocampal P.Akt/T.Akt ratio which was concurrent with an increment of cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-8 expression., Conclusion: Our data suggest that maternal bupivacaine use increases fetal hippocampal cell apoptosis markers such as caspase 8 and cleaved caspase 3, at least in part, via inhibiting the Akt activation.

Background: Lower extremity genu varum is a common deformity leading to imbalanced weight distribution on the knee joint and eventually significant disabilities due to medial compartment joint osteoarthritis. This study was aimed to assess the efficacy of a novel technique of high tibial open wedge osteotomy plus tubercle osteotomy in a follow-up study., Materials and Methods: This is a prospective census cross-sectional study conducted on 146 patients with the history of genu varus undergone high tibial open-wedge osteotomy and tubercle osteotomy since 2011. The study population was followed within 6 months regarding tibial slope angle and medial proximal tibial angle alterations and operation-related complications, including venous phlebitis, nerve, and arterial injury, deep and superficial infection, mal-, non- and delayed-union., Results: 146 patients with the mean age of 25.66 ± 4.23 years, and predominance of male gender (60.3%) were evaluated. Mean of tibia slope and MPTA before the surgical procedure was 9.38 ± 0.85 and 79.45 ± 2.11 that turned to 7.10 ± 0.84 and 89.74 ± 1.52 postoperatively, respectively ( P < 0.001). Arterial and peroneal nerve injury was not detected in any of the cases. Deep-vein phlebitis, superficial infection, and delayed-union, malunion, and nonunion were presented in 2.05%, 1.36%, and 2.05%, respectively., Conclusion: Outcomes of this study showed significant improvement in the tibia slope angle and MPTA postoperatively. Surgical-associated complications were negligible and rehabilitated by performing appropriate medical/surgical approaches. Considering the number of assessed population, HTO plus tubercle osteotomy seems an acceptable approach for genu varum treatment., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Advanced Biomedical Research.)