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In this study, the effect of hybridizing glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites with nylon 6 fibers on the physical and mechanical properties of composites was investigated experimentally. The ultraviolet-cured and thermal pultrusion methods were employed for manufacturing the glass fiber-reinforced polymer and hybrid composite rods containing different volume percentages of nylon 6 fibers at low and high temperatures. The effects of the nylon 6 fibers and the pultrusion methods were investigated on the curing degree, the void content, the diameter expansion, the surface characteristics, and the quasi-static tensile and Charpy impact properties of the composite rods. The ultraviolet-cured hybrid composites showed superior mechanical properties than the thermally cured samples indicating the sensitivity of nylon 6 fibers to high-temperature curing. Moreover, the curing speed of ultraviolet-cured pultrusion was significantly higher than the thermal pultrusion. Delamination and fiber pull-out were the dominant damage mechanisms in the hybrid composites due to the low interfacial strength between the nylon 6 fibers and matrix.

Endometrial hyperplasia is one of the most serious causes of severe abnormal bleeding and also can be a precursor of endometrial carcinoma.The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of metformin and megestrol on the endometrial hyperplasia.The study was performed as a randomized clinical trial on 42 cases of histopathologically confirmed simple endometrial hyperplasia without atypia. The eligible women were randomly assigned into two groups. In metformin group, metformin was prescribed, 500 mg twice a day (1000 mg daily), for a duration of 4 weeks, and then, followed by 1500 mg daily, for 8 more weeks. In the megestrol group, megestrol was prescribed 40 mg daily for 12 weeks. At the end of the duration of the treatment, endometrial sampling was performed and the results were compared between the two groups.The women of the two groups did not have significant difference according to age, BMI and gravidity, parity and history of abortion. Overall, 18 women (81.8%) in metformin group and 12 women (60%) in the megestrol group had normal endometrial histology, after 12 weeks of treatment (p = 0.11).Metformin is comparable with megestrol for the treatment of simple endometrial hyperplasia.

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP) are one of the most common complains of the early pregnancy period and are bothersome for pregnant women. Some prefer to use herbal medicine instead of chemical agents.The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of ginger, pyridoxine (vitamin B6), and placebo for the treatment of NVP.The study was performed as a triple blind clinical trial on pregnant women suffering mild to moderate NVP between 6 and 16 weeks of pregnancy. In these women ginger, 500 mg twice daily, vitamin B6 40 mg twice daily and placebo twice daily were administered for 4 d. Rhodes questionnaire was used for evaluation of the severity of symptoms. The severity of NVP was evaluated 24 h before entering the study and up to 4 d after using medications and results were compared among the three groups.Seventy-seven women finished the study (28 in the Ginger group, 26 in the B6 group, and 23 in the placebo group). The women of the three groups did not have significant differences according to age, gestational age, parity, and severity of each symptom before treatment and educational status. Total score of Rhodes questionnaire for nausea was decreased significantly in three groups after treatment. (p .001, p = .012, and p = .03 for ginger, vitamin B6, and placebo, respectively.) Also total score of Rhodes questionnaire for vomiting was decreased in three groups (p = .03 for ginger, p = .02 for B6, and p = .04 for placebo). Ginger and vitamin B6 could reduce the severity of all items of Rhodes questionnaire significantly; however, placebo was significantly effective only on the frequency of nausea, intensity of vomiting and frequency of retching. Ginger and vitamin B6 were more effective than placebo (p = .039 and p = .007, respectively); however, total score of Rhodes did not show significant difference between ginger and vitamin B6 (p = .128). Ginger was more effective for nausea (intensity and distress) and distress of vomit.Ginger is more effective than placebo for the treatment of mild to moderate NVP and is comparable with vitamin B6. Trial registration number and registry website: IRCT2015020320923N1.

The aim of the present study was to find the relationship between pre-pregnancy maternal body mass index (BMI) with spontaneous preterm delivery and birth weight. A prospective cohort study was performed on 576 pregnant women. Maternal BMI was determined at the first prenatal visit between 8-12 weeks' gestation and considered as the pre-pregnancy maternal weight. The women were then monitored up to delivery. Out of 576 women, 396 completed the study. The demographics of the women in all BMI groups did not differ with regard to age, height, history of abortion and employment. A total of 21 women (5.3%) were underweight; 198 women (50%) were normal weight; 117 women (29.5%) were overweight and 60 (15.2%) were obese. There were no cases of morbidly obese (BMI > 40 kg/m(2)) women. Obesity in women had a positive correlation with higher gestational age at the time of delivery (r = 0.213, p = 0.015) and a heavier birth weight (r = 0.361, p = 0.008). Low birth weight had a correlation with low maternal BMI (r = 0.157, p = 0.041). Macrosomia was greater in obese women (p = 0.022) and BMI had a positive correlation with macrosomia (r = 0.224, p = 0.034). Preterm delivery showed a negative correlation with maternal BMI (r = -0.124, p = 0.004) and the women with a lower BMI had a greater number of preterm deliveries (p = 0.035).

Background: Dierent studies found that zinc is necessary for sexual maturity, growth and fertility. But there are no distinct studies that clarify the role of zinc supplements on semen parameters. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the zinc supplement therapeutic eects on semen samples of infertile males. Patients and Methods: The study comprised one-hundred-twenty sub fertile males. The study was a double-blinded placebo- controlled clinical trial. The subjects were randomly allocated to treatment with zinc supplement (n = 60) or placebo (n = 60) groups. Subjects in both groups were given 10 mL, three times daily. In order to determine the sperm concentration, Motility and morphol- ogy, standardized semen and blood samples were obtained before and after treatment, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines; semen morphology according to strict criteria, and blood and semen zinc concentration also were measured. Eects of the two interventions were evaluated in sub fertile males. Results: Sub fertile males demonstrated a significant increase (8.8 7.4 10 6 cells/mL to 17.2 13.5 10 6 cells/mL) in concentration and normal sperm in zinc group versus the placebo group. Blood serum zinc concentration increased in the interventional group significantly (P = 0.000), and also semen plasma zinc concentration increased significantly (P = 0.000). Conclusions: Normal sperm percentage and total sperm concentration increased after zinc sulfate treatment. The beneficial eect of zinc and all results of the current study opened new way to medical purposes and public health researches.

To compare the serum androgens level during the third trimester of pregnancy between normotensive and pre-eclamptic women.A case-control study was performed on 64 pregnant women with the gestational age of 28-34 weeks. 32 women were pre-eclamptic (case group), and 32 women were normotensive till term gestation (control group). The serum level of androgens including sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), total and free testosterone, androstenedione (ADD), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), were compared between the two groups.The women of the two groups had no statistically significant difference according to age, gestational age, BMI (body mass index), parity and fetal sex. Serum level of SHBG (90.86 ± 9.30 vs. 55.86 ± 8.02 nmol/l, p = 0.02), total testosterone (3.70 ± 0.57 vs. 2.06 ± 0.24 ng/ml, p = 0.01), free testosterone (1.28 ± 0. 17 vs. 0. 74 ± 0.07 pg/ml, p = 0.01), and ADD (2.47 ± 0.10 vs. 2.17 ± 0.10 ng/ml, p = 0.04), was higher in the pre-eclamptic women. However, there was no difference between the two groups for DHEA-S (0.75 ± 0.18 vs. 0.51 ± 0.08 μg/ml, p = 0.19).Serum androgen levels during third trimester of pregnancy are higher in pre-eclamptic women and this may propose an effect of androgens in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.