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Objective(s): Assessment of nutritional status in adolescent girls in the city of Sari, Mazandaran Province, Iran. Methods: The samples included 240 girls 14 to 18 years. Weight and height measurements were taken, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated and compared with standard charts issued by the US Centers for Diseases Control and prevention (CDC) in 2002. To assess nutrients intake, a food record questionnaire was used and results were compared with the recommended dietary allowances (RDA). Results: About 7.5% were underweight for their age and 3.8% had low BMI for their age. Using the same weight-for-age and BMI criteria, 7.5% and 13.3% were in risk of overweight and 3.8% and 3.3% were overweight respectively; 13.3% of girls had low height for age. There was also inadequate intake of such nutrients as riboflavin, vitamins C, Bl2, A and minerals like calcium and phosphor. 11.7% had severe food insecurity and 14.6% had excessive energy intake. Conclusion: We conclude that theses adolescents are in a phase of nutritional transition because malnutrition, overweight and inadequate intakes of some nutrients were observed.

Objectives. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a xenoestrogen, which is commonly used as a monomer of polycarbonate plastics food containers and epoxy resins. Little is known about the interaction effects between xeno- and phyto- estrogens on glucose homeostasis or other metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to examine effects of individual or combined exposure to low doses of BPA and soy extract on glucose metabolism in mice with the goal to establish its potential mechanisms.

It appears that the biologically-synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) have potential to perform as effective elicitors for the production of valuable secondary metabolites in plants. Besides, it has been reported that the toxicity of the biologically-synthesized NP is not as much as that of the chemically-synthesized NPs. Therefore, it is necessary to test their advantages aspects. In this study, the physical synthesis of perlite NPs and biologically-synthesis of TiO2/perlite nanocomposites (NCs) were conducted. Subsequently, their effects and explant source influence on the growth characteristics and secondary metabolite profiles of Hypericum perforatum callus cultures were evaluated. According to the obtained results, morphology of the synthesized perlite NPs and TiO2/perlite NCs were mesoporous and spherical with sizes ranging about 14.51–23.34 and 15.50–24.61 nm, respectively. Addition of perlite NPs and TiO2/perlite NCs to the culture medium at the concentration range of 25–200 mg/L showed no adverse impacts on the growth characteristics of H. perforatum calli. According to the GC-MS analysis, the stress caused by perlite NPs and TiO2/perlite NCs led to an increase in the variety, amount and number of volatile compounds. The calli obtained from in vitro grown plants produced more volatile compounds relative to the calli obtained from field grown plants under the nanomaterial stress conditions. The production of hypericin and pseudohypericin were also determined in the callus cultures under desired nanomaterials elicitation. Accordingly, our results suggest that perlite NPs and TiO2/perlite NCs can possibly be considered as effective elicitors for the production of volatile compounds, hypericin, and pseudohypericin in callus cultures of H. perforatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents biomimetic nanoscaffolds composed of electrospun polycaprolactone-collagen (PCL-Coll) nanofibers, loaded with bioactive Arnebia euchroma (AE) extract and stem cells, to develop cell-based tissue engineering constructs. The incorporation of AE extract, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, into the PCL-Coll nanofibers resulted in nanoscaffolds denoted as PCL-Coll/AE 0 , PCL-Coll/AE 5 , PCL-Coll/AE 10 , and PCL-Coll/AE 15 , corresponding to AE extract concentrations of 0.0, 5.0, 10.0, and 15.0 wt%, respectively. The PCL-Coll/AE nanoscaffolds exhibited high porosity values of 62.81 ± 4.78 %, 59.9 ± 2.10 %, 52.44 ± 2.66 %, and 46.32 ± 1.35 %, respectively, thereby providing an optimal 3D environment for cell attachment and proliferation. Analysis of the AE extract revealed the presence of abundant shikonin, a key bioactive compound, as indicated by its characteristic absorption bands at 490, 520, and 560 nm. FE-SEM data confirmed the homogeneous immobilization of AE compounds within the 3D nanofiber scaffolds, with fibers averaging 316 ± 137 nm in diameter, falling within the range of natural collagen fibers. To evaluate the structural integrity of the fully stem cell-laden scaffolds, we assessed cell growth, cell attachment within the PCL-Coll/AE nanoscaffolds, the cytoprotective effects of AE extract, and the expression levels of stemness-related genes, including Nanog, Rex1, Sox2, Oct4, Klf4, and C-Myc. Real-time PCR assays indicated that key indicators of stemness were upregulated, with average increases from 120 ± 15 % in PCL-Coll/AE 0 to 250 ± 30 % in PCL-Coll/AE 15 over a two-week period. These upregulations promote cell proliferation and facilitate cell cycle progression. Data indicate that increasing the concentration of bioactive AE extract within the scaffolds enhanced cell adhesion on the scaffold surface and improved cell viability after 7 days of culture, with viability rising from 109 ± 6.15 % in PCL-Coll/AE 0 to 145.5 ± 10.11 % in PCL-Coll/AE 15 . Cytoprotective assays against oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂ revealed relative cell viability for PCL-Coll/AE 0 , PCL-Coll/AE 5 , PCL-Coll/AE 10 , and PCL-Coll/AE 15 as 42.78 ± 5.85 %, 49.29 ± 6.79 %, 64.98 ± 3.32 %, and 78.68 ± 3.09 %, respectively. These results correlate with the antioxidant potency of AE extract compounds, particularly shikonin and its derivatives. Therefore, the cell-laden biomimetic PCL-Coll/AE 15 scaffolds, which demonstrate sustained stemness features and a continuous local release of bioactive AE compounds, represent a promising candidate for tissue engineering applications., 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.)

Hydatid cysts caused by Echinococcus granulosus are a serious health problem that requires effective treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the scolicidal and apoptotic effects of copper oxide (CuO) and gamma alumina (γ-Al 2 O 3 ) with or without chitosan (Chit), using Rosmarinus officinalis extract and chemical methods on protoscolices (PSCs) in vitro. The nanomaterials (NMs) were characterized by FTIR, EDS, DLS, XRD, FESEM, PDI, and zeta potential (ZP). Scolicidal and apoptotic effects of NMs were tested against PSCs at different concentrations and exposure times. The CuO NPs showed the highest scolicidal effect (33.26 %) among all NMs at 1.6 mg/mL and 60 min, followed by phytosynthesized CuO/γ-Al 2 O 3 NC (23.41 %). The chitosan-modified CuO/γ-Al 2 O 3 NC and the chemically synthesized CuO/γ-Al 2 O 3 NC had less effect. The CuO NPs and the phytosynthesized CuO/γ-Al 2 O 3 NC also significantly increased the expression of the caspase-3 gene in the PSCs at 0.4 mg/mL, indicating the induction of apoptosis. In conclusion, this study suggests that the phytosynthesized CuO/γ-Al 2 O 3 NC and the CuO NPs could be potential candidates for treating echinococcosis by killing the PSCs through apoptosis. Further studies are needed to verify the in vivo efficacy and toxicity of these NMs and to optimize their delivery and targeting systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Systemic inflammation may contribute to the initiation and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through diet and lifestyle. We examined the association of dietary inflammation score (DIS), lifestyle inflammation score (LIS) and dietary and lifestyle inflammation score (DLIS) with T2DM and cardiometabolic risk factors among Iranian adults. In this study, we identified and recruited 619 patients with T2DM and 2113 without T2DM from 35 to 75 years old men and women in the baseline phase of the Sabzevar Persian Cohort Study. Using a validated 115-item semi-quantitative FFQ, we calculated a 19-component DIS and a 3-component LIS weighted by circulating inflammation biomarkers. The DIS, LIS and DLIS associations with diabetes were assessed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. The average age of the participants was 48·29 (sd 8·53) (without T2DM: 47·66 (sd 8·42); with T2DM: 50·44 (sd 8·57)). Individuals in the highest compared with the lowest tertiles of DLIS (OR: 3·40; 95 % CI 2·65, 4·35; P trend < 0·001), DIS (OR: 3·41; 95 % CI 2·66, 4·38; P trend < 0·001) and LIS (OR: 1·15; 95 % CI 0·90, 1·46; P trend = 0·521) had an increased risk of T2DM. For those in the highest relative to the lowest joint DIS and LIS tertiles, the results were OR: 3·37; 95 % CI 2·13, 5·32; P interaction < 0·001. No significant associations were found between DLIS and cardiometabolic risk factors, including blood pressure, liver enzymes and glycaemic and lipid profiles, except for waist circumference ( P < 0·001) and waist-to-hip ratio ( P = 0·010). A higher DIS and DLIS score was associated with a higher risk of T2DM, while the LIS score was not associated with T2DM risk.

Cystic hydatid disease (CHD) is a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus). This study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), silver boehmite nanocomposite (Ag/Bhm NC), and silver boehmite nanocomposite modified with chitosan (Ag/Bhm/Chit NC) using Rosmarinus officinalis (R. officinalis) extract and chemical method, and to evaluate their scolicidal and apoptotic effects on protoscoleces (PSCs) in vitro. The nanomaterials (NMs) were characterized by XRD, FTIR, FESEM, EDS, DLS, PDI, and zeta potential (ZP). The NMs were tested against PSCs at different concentrations (0.2-1.6 mg/mL) and exposure times (10-60 min). The size of Ag NPs, phytosynthesized Ag/Bhm NC, Ag/Bhm/Chit NC, and chemically synthesized Ag/Bhm NC were 25.55, 43, 72.3, and 60.8 nm, respectively. Ag NPs and phytosynthesized Ag/Bhm NC showed the highest scolicidal effect, with 65.34 % and 51.60 % mortality rate at 1.6 mg/mL and 60 min, respectively. Caspase-3 mRNA expression was higher in PSCs treated with Ag NPs and Ag/Bhm NC than in control groups (P < 0.05). Phytosynthesized Ag/Bhm NC had stronger scolicidal and apoptotic effect than chemically synthesized Ag/Bhm NC. Ag/Bhm/Chit NC had a weaker scolicidal effect but higher gene expression than Ag/Bhm NC. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of phytosynthesized Ag NPs and Ag/Bhm NC as effective scolicidal and apoptotic agents against PSCs of hydatid cysts, which may be useful for the treatment of this disease., 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 © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Numerous medical costs are spent each year on treating and preventing the progression of diabetes. The positive effect of apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been shown on post-prandial hyperglycemia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of prolonged consumption of ACV on blood glucose indices and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes., Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial and the participants were adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants were divided into two groups: ACV and control. The ACV group was treated with 30 ml of ACV per day. Both the intervention and control groups received the same recommendation for a healthy diet. Before and after eight weeks, fasting blood glucose, insulin, hemoglobin A1C, insulin resistance, total cholesterol (Chol), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride were measured., Results: Fasting blood glucose decreased after intervention in both groups, which was only significant in the ACV group (p = 0.01). There was a significant difference in hemoglobin A1C levels between the two groups (p < 0.001) after eight weeks. LDL was decreased in the ACV group (p < 0.001). Total Chol, LDL/HDL and Chol/HDL ratio decreased after the intervention period in the ACV group compared to the control group (p = 0.003, p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively)., Conclusion: Daily consumption of ACV may have beneficial effects in controlling blood glucose indices and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes., Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.irct.ir, identifier IRCT20140107016123N13., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Jafarirad, Elahi, Mansoori, Khanzadeh and Haghighizadeh.)

Due to the multifaceted nature of Multiple Chronic Conditions (MCCs), setting a diet for these patients is complicated and time-consuming. In this study, a clinical decision support system based on fuzzy logic was modeled and evaluated to aid dietitians in adjusting the diet for patients with MCCs. Mamdani fuzzy logic with 1144 rules was applied to design the model for MCCs patients over 18 years who suffer from one or more chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and kidney disease. One hundred nutrition records from three nutrition clinics were employed to measure the system's performance. The findings showed that the diet set by nutritionists had no statistically significant difference from the diet recommended by the fuzzy model (p > 0.05), and there was a strong correlation close to one between them. In addition, the results indicated a suitable model performance with an accuracy of about 97%. This system could adjust the diet with high accuracy as well as humans. In addition, it could increase dietitians' confidence, precision, and speed in setting the diet for MCCs patients., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

This study was conducted to synthesize γ-AlOOH (bohemite)-based nanocomposites (NCs) of Au/γ-AlOOH-NC and its functionalized derivative using chitosan (Au/γ-AlOOH/Ctn-NC) and with the help of one-step Mentha piperita. The physicochemical characteristics of the NCs were investigated. In addition, biomedical properties, such as antibacterial activity under in vitro and in vivo conditions, and cell viability were assessed. Wound healing activity on infected wounds and histological parameters were assessed. The gene expressions of TNF-α, Capase 3, Bcl-2, Cyclin-D1 and FGF-2 were investigated. The TEM and FESEM images showed the sheet-like structure for bohemite in Au/γ-AlOOH-NC with Au nanoparticles in a range of 14-15 nm. The elemental analysis revealed the presence of carbon, oxygen, aluminum, and Au elements in the as-synthesized Au/γ-AlOOH. The results for toxicity showed that the produced nanocomposites did not show any cytotoxicity. Biomedical studies confirmed that Au/γ-AlOOH-NC and Au/γ-AlOOH/Ctn-NC have anti-bacterial properties and could expedite the wound healing process in infected wounds by an increase in collagen biosynthesis. The administration of ointment containing Au/γ-AlOOH-NC and Au/γ-AlOOH/Ctn-NC decreased the expressions of TNF-α, and increased the expressions of Capase 3, Bcl-2, Cyclin-D1 and FGF-2. The novelty of this study was that bohemite and Au nanoparticles can be used as a dressing to accelerate the wound healing process. In green synthesis of Au/γ-AlOOH-NC, phytochemical compounds of the plant extract are appropriate reagents for stabilization and the production of Au/γ-AlOOH-NC. Therefore, the new bohemite-based NCs can be considered as candidate for treatment of infected wounds after future clinical studies., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Islamic Azad University.)

Background and Aim: Pomegranate as a functional food has various properties and effects on health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of pomegranate extract on serum levels of liver enzymes, hepatokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and total antioxidant capacity in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)., Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 44 patients with NAFLD were divided into two groups: pomegranate extract tablets and placebo. The intervention period was 12 weeks. At the beginning and end of the study, serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), fetuin-A, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and total antioxidant capacity were assessed in both groups., Results: Pomegranate extract reduced the level of ALT (P < 0.001), AST (P < 0.001), GGT (P < 0.001), fetuin-A (P < 0.001), FGF-21(P < 0.001) and IL-6 (P = 0.04) compared to the placebo. Pomegranate extract also led to an increase in total antioxidant capacity (P˂0.001) but had no effect on ALP., Conclusion: It seems that the pomegranate extract improves several markers of NAFLD, and can be useful as a treatment supplement. The clinical trial approved by Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (grant No. NRC-9811)., Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT), IRCT20140107016123N14, https://www.irct.ir/trial/42739., (Copyright © 2022 Research Trust of DiabetesIndia (DiabetesIndia) and National Diabetes Obesity and Cholesterol Foundation (N-DOC). Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Depression is one of the common psychiatric disorders during elderly. This systematic review aims to present the relationship between vitamin D deficiency, depression and testosterone serum concentration in the middle-aged and elderly men. We performed a comprehensive search in the Google Scholar, PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science, Cochrane, Science Direct, and Scopus databases to collect any relevant published studies. The data of the articles that had been investigated the relationship between depression and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25[OH]D) serum concentration (nine studies), or testosterone and 25[OH]D (six studies), as the primary outcomes, were included in our review. The results of the cohort and cross-sectional studies have shown that vitamin-D deficiency is associated with the incidence of depression in older men. In addition, documents have reported the positive association between vitamin D and testosterone, and previous studies have shown that testosterone can involve in the mood. We have proposed scientific mechanisms that have shown vitamin D may also play a protective role in depression through its effect on the testosterone. Therefore, it is a low risk and safe recommendation for the middle-aged and elderly men to use the vitamin D supplement or exposure to the sunlight to prevent depression.

Recently, nanocomposites produced from clays and metals coated with chitosan have shown wound healing activity. This study aimed to synthesize the zinc oxide/malachite nanocomposite (ZnO/Mlt-NC) and its coating form with chitosan (ZnO/Mlt/Chsn-NC). Physicochemical characterization of the produced nanocomposites was investigated. Biomedical effects of nanocomposites, such as in vivo and in vitro antibacterial activity, antioxidant properties, cytotoxicity, and modulation in the gene expressions of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and histopathological parameters, were also investigated. Expression intensities of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) were also investigated by immunofluorescence staining. To investigate biomedical effects under in vivo conditions, infected wounds were induced and inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). The results indicated spherical ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of malachite and strong antibacterial activity and antioxidant properties. The ointments produced from the nanocomposites also exhibited wound healing activity. The administration of the ointments prepared from ZnO/Mlt, and ZnO/Mlt/Chsn NCs decreased the expressions of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, while it increased the expressions of IL-10, TGF-β and bFGF. In sum, the nanocomposites produced from ZnO, malachite, and chitosan had better biological activity than ZnO/Malachite nanocomposites. We suggest applying ZnO/Mlt/Chsn nanocomposites in the structure of ointments to treat infected wounds after future clinical studies., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Mg/rGO nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared by an eco-friendly technique using Rosa canina fruit extract. Physicochemical properties and cytotoxicity to Mentha longifolia in vitro cultures of these nanomaterials were examined by using XRD, FESEM, EDX, FT-IR, DLS/zeta potential, UV-Visible, and GC-MS techniques. The characterization techniques confirmed the synthesis of rGO and Mg/rGO NCs with particle sizes less than 20 nm (based on FESEM). In accordance to the biological measurements, rGO showed in vitro cytotoxicity to M. longifolia shoot cultures. Mg/rGO NCs showed no significant difference in the growth parameters except for a decrease in the shoot number at the concentrations of 50 and 150 mg/L and a decrease in the length of the tallest root at the concentrations of 100 and 150 mg/L, however efficiently improved the photosynthetic pigment contents. The phytochemical assay depicted that the total content of volatile compounds was increased in the treated cultures with 25, 50, and 100 mg/L of rGO and Mg/rGO NCs in comparison to the control. Generally, the more oxygenated and hydrocarbon sesquiterpenes were observed in the cultures treated with 25 and 100 mg/L of rGO and 25 and 50 mg/L of Mg/rGO NCs., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a major depressive disorder. Vitamin D deficiency may play a role in PPD pathogenesis. This study was designed to determine the effect of vitamin D and calcium supplementation on the severity of symptoms and some related inflammatory biomarkers in women with PPD. Materials and Methods: Eighty-one women with a PPD score >12 participated in this study. A total of 27 patients were randomly assigned into three groups (1:1:1 ratio) to receive either 50,000 IU vitamin D3 fortnightly + 500 mg calcium carbonate daily; or 50,000 IU vitamin D3 fortnightly + placebo of calcium carbonate daily, or placebo of vitamin D3 fortnightly + placebo of calcium carbonate daily (placebo group) for 8 weeks. At the baseline and end of the study, the severity score of PPD, levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D, calcium, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL6) and estradiol were measured. Results: The PPD score had more reduction in the vitamin D + calcium and vitamin D + calcium placebo groups than that of the placebo group (-1.7 ± 3.44, -4.16 ± 5.90 and 0.25 ± 2.81, respectively; p  = 0.008). The effect of vitamin D on the PPD score was larger when vitamin D was given alone than given together with calcium ( p  = 0.042 and p  = 0.004, respectively). No significant differences in estradiol, IL6 and TNFα were observed between the three groups. Discussion: Vitamin D may be effective in improving the clinical symptoms of PPD; however, the mechanism of the effect might not entirely operate through inflammatory and/or hormonal changes.

Kaolinite nanocomposites (NCs) could be utilized as agents for wound healing owing to their efficiency and low toxicity. The present study was conducted to synthesize a novel silver/kaolinite NCs (Ag/Kaol NCs) and investigate their chitosan derivation (Ag/Kaol/Chit NCs) using oak extract. XRD, SEM, EDX, FT-IR, and DLS were employed for the investigation of structural and physio-chemical properties of the synthesized NCs. The obtained results revealed that synthesized Ag/Kaol NCs were mesoporous and spherical with sizes ranging from 7-11 nm. They also demonstrated successful synthesis between silver and kaolinite using the extract. Cytotoxicity and in vitro antibacterial activity were also investigated. The clinical effects of ointments containing the NCs for improving wound healing were studied on the wound area, total bacterial count, histological parameters, and protein expression of some genes. Nanocomposites were safe up to 0.50 mg/mL. The results of in vivo and in vitro antibacterial activity showed that Ag/Kaol NCs, were of antibacterial activity ( ). The results of antioxidant activity indicated that Ag/Kaol NCs have antioxidant structures. Our findings concerning molecular mechanism implied that Ag/Kaol/Chit increased the expression of Wnt/ β -catenin and collagen ( ). In sum, Ag/Kaol/Chit showed antibacterial activity and improved wound healing by decreasing the inflammation and promoting the proliferative phase. The novel NCs showed wound healing properties by decreasing inflammation and total bacterial count and increasing proliferative phase. The application of Ag/Kaol/Chit was suggested as a green agent for improving infected wound healing.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease. The beneficial effects of pomegranate have been shown on insulin resistance and obesity, which are linked to NAFLD pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of pomegranate extract in patients with NAFLD. Forty-four NAFLD patients were randomly assigned to receive two pomegranate extract tablets or placebo for 12 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, serum lipids, glycemic indicators, and blood pressure were assessed at baseline and the end of the study. Pomegranate was associated with a reduction in the total cholesterol (p ˂ .001), triglyceride (p ˂ .001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (p ˂ .003), fasting blood sugar (p ˂ .001), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (p = .02), diastolic blood pressure (p = .04), weight (p ˂ .001), body mass index (p ˂ .001), and waist circumference (p = .002), as compared to placebo. A significant increase was observed in serum HDL-C (p ˂ .001) after intervention with the pomegranate extract. However, no significant difference was shown between the two groups in serum insulin and LDL-C. The pomegranate extract supplement could be used as a complementary therapy along with existing therapies to improve glycemic indicators, serum lipids, anthropometric indices, and blood pressure in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In the present study, new-layered inorganic/organic hybrid of silver/talc nanocomposites (Ag/Tlc-NPs) and its chitosan-capped derivative (Ag/Tlc/Csn NCs) were biochemically synthesized utilizing Lawsonia inermis L. extract. The silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were synthesized employing green method on the exterior surface layer of talc mineral as a solid substrate. The negatively charged surface layer of talc might function as templates and can attract the chitosan cations from a solution to yield a layered hybrid structure, whose inorganic phase is formed by Si-O-Ag bonds. Our results revealed that Ag NPs were formed on the exterior surface of talc with a diameter with size of 124-215 nm. In addition, cytotoxicity, in vitro antibacterial activity, and clinical effects of wound-healing ointments containing talc were investigated. The results implied the successful synthesis of Ag/Tlc/Csn NCs using the extract. The structures were safe up to 0.50 mg/mL. In vitro studies confirmed antioxidant and antibacterial properties of Ag/Tlc/Csn NCs. In sum, our findings showed that the ointments improve wound healing process by inducing an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype and bFGF, CD206, collagen1A, and IL-10 production that causes fibroblast migration and wound closure through influencing M2 macrophage. Ag/Tlc/Csn is suggested to be taken into consideration as a medical combination for improving infected wound healing and as a promising agent for clinical administration., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The preparation of ointments from natural compounds is essential for accelerating infected wounds. This study investigated the effects of topical uses of gold nanoparticles (Au)/perlite (Au/Perl) nanocomposites (NCs) by the help of Urtica dioica extract and its chitosan-capped derivative (Chit) on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected wound healing in a mouse model. Furthermore, Au/Perl/Chit nanocomposite was prepared using protonated chitosan solution. The physicochemical properties of the as-synthesized nanocomposites were also investigated. The effects of Au/Perl/Chit NC were assessed by antibacterial, histopathological parameters as well as molecular evaluations. Then, they were compared with synthetic agent of mupirocin. The results revealed that Au/Perl NC was mesoporous and spherical in a range of 13-15 nm. Topical administration of Au/Perl/Chit ointment accelerated wound healing by reducing bacteria colonization and wound rate enhancing collagen biosynthesis and re-epithelialization, the expressions of IL-10, PI3K, AKT, bFGF, and COL1A genes, which is in agreement with the obtained results for mupirocin. In conclusion, the results strongly demonstrated that administration of ointments prepared from Au/Perl and Au/Perl/Chit nanocomposites stimulates MRSA-infected wound healing by decreasing the length of healing time and regulating PI3K/AKT/bFGF signaling pathway and is a promising candidate in stimulating MRSA-infected wound regeneration., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The properties of nanomaterials such as perlite nanoparticles and their increased application have raised concerns about their probable toxic impacts on the aquatic ecosystems and algae. Here, a novel biochemical synthesis and immobilization of CuO is reported on perlite nanoparticles (CuO/Per-NPs) and its toxic effect on alga has been compared with nanoperlites. This biosynthesis of CuO/Per-NPs performed using phytochemicals of Haematococcus pluvialis, Sargassum angustifolium, and walnut leaves in the aqueous extract. The structural, morphological, and colloidal properties of the as-synthesized nanoparticles have been confirmed by various methods. According to the obtained results, the morphology of the synthesized CuO/Per-NPs was spherical with sizes ranging from about 13 to 24 nm. Besides, the effects of Per-NPs and CuO/Per-NPs on unicellular algae H. pluvialis were studied. The changes in the amount of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and Carotenoids in the presence of different concentrations of Per-NPs (25, 50, 100 mg/L) were more than CuO/Per-NPs. Also, decreased growth rate and efficiency of photosystem II confirmed the toxic effects of Per-NPs. However, the toxicity of CuO/Per-NPs appears to be lower than that of Per-NPs, which can be due to the changes in the surface and cationic charge of modified nanoperlit. These changes lead to a decrease in the interaction of nanoparticles with H. pluvilalis and a reduction in ROS production. Finally, the results of GC-MS used to evaluate volatile compounds, indicated an increase in the number of phenolic compounds in comparison to the control samples in 25, 50, and 100 mg/L treatments of nano-perlite.

In this work, novel Fe/ZnO nanocomposites (NCs) and Fe nanoparticles loaded onto porous ZnO nanostructures have been synthesized via a simple biotechnological route by using Berberis thunbergii extract. In this direction, the as-synthesized bio-based porous ZnO derivatives and human serum albumin (HSA), as a biopolymeric model, form nano-hybrid assemblies. The effect of loading Fe on properties of porous ZnO nanostructures as well as the behavior of the nano-hybrid assemblies were evaluated by using XRD, SEM, EDX, DLS, PL, CD, FTIR and UV/Visible-diffuse reflectance spectra (UV/Vis-DRS) techniques. The fluorescence results revealed that the interaction of Fe/ZnO NCs with HSA biopolymer led to the formation of a ground state complexes as nano-hybrid assemblies. The calculated thermodynamic parameters indicated that the binding process occurred spontaneously. The CD and FTIR spectra confirmed the changes in helicity of HSA as well as the random coil and β-turn in the secondary structure of HSA upon interaction with Fe/ZnO NCs.

In this study, we report a facile green-synthesis route for the fabrication of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) using biomass of Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes (B. oleracea). In addition, we have attempted to provide a green synthesis approach to prepare Gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) on the surface of rGO by using stem extract of B. oleracea. The synthesized Au/rGO nanocomposite was evaluated using UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, Raman, FE-SEM, EDX, AFM and DLS techniques. The obtained results demonstrated that the synthesized Au NPs on the surface of rGO was spherical with sizes ranging about 12-18 nm. The Au/rGO NC was, also, developed as photo-synthesizer system for the photothermal therapy (PTT) of MCF7 breast cancer cells. The near-infrared (NIR) photothermal properties of Au/rGO NCs was evaluated using a continuous laser at 808 nm with power densities of 1 W.cm -2 . Their photothermal efficacy on MCF7 breast cancer cells after optimizing the proper concentration of the NCs were evaluated by MTT assay, Cell cycle and DAPI staining. In addition, the potential of the synthesized Au/rGO NCs on reactive oxygen species generating and antioxidant activity were assessed by DPPH. Au/rGO NCs possess high capacity to light-to-heat conversion for absorption in range NIR light, and it is able to therapeutic effects on MCF7 cells at a low concentration. The maximum amount of cell death is 40.12% which was observed in treatment groups that received a combination of Au/rGO NCs and laser irradiation. The results demonstrate that the nanomaterials synthesized by green approach lead to efficient destruction of cancer cell and might thus serve as an excellent theranostic agent in Photothermal therapy applications.

Photothermal therapy (PTT) procedure is anticipated as a new generation of cancer therapy techniques. With this in mind, in this work, an effective drug-free approach was developed to kill MCF7 breast cancer cells using PTT. A novel biocompatible nanocomposite as a PTT transducer was prepared from the in situ phytosynthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) in the presence of perlite as a platform and extract of Allium Fistulosum L. as a stabilizing and reducing agent (Au/perlite NC). The common characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), zeta potential, dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) were used to approve the synthesis of Au/perlite NC. The potential of the synthesized NCs on ROS generating and antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH. In the following, the PTT efficacy of the Au/perlite NC on the destruction of MCF-7 breast cancer cells was assessed in vitro via the cell cycle, cell viability, and DAPI staining assays. The DPPH assay results showed that Au/perlite NC had a radicals scavenging capacity of about 41.47 % in 30 min. Cellular uptake results indicated a significant cell uptake after 1.5 h exposure with Au/perlite NC. Interestingly, cell death was increased dramatically by increasing irradiation time from 6 to 10 min. Cell viability assay revealed that the maximum number of cell death is around 50 % which was observed in the presence of Au/perlite NC by irradiation time of 10 min. Cell cycle results showed that the maximum amount of apoptotic cells (85 %) was observed in Au/perlite NC treatment group received laser irradiation for 10 min. The outcomes demonstrated that the Au/perlite NC can be used as a new drug-free and efficient agent for PTT of breast cancer cells without any concern cytotoxicity., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) causes many problems for mother and her neonate. A healthy diet plays an important role in preventing GDM. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between major dietary patterns and the GDM., Methods: 386 healthy and 306 GDM pregnant women (total 693) completed this case-control study. Basic information and anthropometric indices were recorded, and a food frequency questionnaire was completed. For extracting major dietary patterns, the principal component analysis was performed. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine whether specific dietary patterns are associated to the GDM., Results: Four dietary patterns were identified: "fruits and dairy products", "red meat and plant-based foods", "snacks and high-fat foods" and "carbohydrate-rich foods". Among these major extracted dietary patterns, "fruits and dairy products" showed an inverse association to the GDM (odds ratio adjusted for confounders: 0.50, confidence interval: 0.284-0.882, p-trend = 0.019, for highest vs. lowest quartile)., Conclusions: It seems using a healthy dietary pattern such as "fruits and dairy products" may decrease GDM risk.

Objectives: Cataract is one of the most common causes of visual impairment and blindness in the world. In the present study, we have been trying to investigate the relationship between major dietary patterns and cataract., Design: This was a case-control study., Setting: An ophthalmology outpatient clinic of Khatam al-Anbia Hospital, in Shoushtar city., Participants: 336 subjects (168 patients with cataract and 168 healthy ones), from 40 to 80 years old, were recruited., Measurements: A socio-demographic questionnaire was used to record the demographic information. A food frequency questionnaire was used to determine the foods consumed during the last year. The principal component analysis was used to extract major dietary patterns. The possible relationship between the major dietary patterns and cataract was assessed by multivariable logistic regression models., Results: We tried to eliminate the effect of cofactors. The results showed "dairy products and vegetables" dietary pattern had a negative association with cataract (OR: 0.301, 95%CI =0.137-0.658, P trend =0.002). The fourth quartile of the "traditional" dietary pattern also showed a protective role against the cataract (OR: 0.393, 95%CI =0.184-0.842, P trend = 0.036). The third and fourth quartiles of "carbohydrate and simple sugar" pattern were more related with cataract compared to the first quartile (OR: 3.574, 95%CI =1.665-7.671, and OR: 5.067, 95%CI =2.265-11.335, P trend <0.001 respectively). No significant association was found between «nuts, seeds and simple sugar" dietary pattern and cataract., Conclusion: It seems a dietary pattern rich in proteins and vegetables can decrease the risk of cataract in middle-aged and aged subjects., Competing Interests: No conflict of interest.

Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluated the effect of melatonin supplementation on liver enzymes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and reported conflicting results. To meet these discrepancies, a meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the eff ;ect of melatonin on liver indices in patients with NAFLD. To collect the required data, a thorough search was conducted through Web of science, Pubmed, Cochrane database, Embase, Google Scholar, ProQuest, and Scopus databases. The aim was to find clinical trials over the effect of melatonin supplementation on liver indices up to 16 May 2019. As a result, five eligible articles were selected and analysed in this meta-analysis using a fixed-effects model. Heterogeneity test was performed by I 2 statistics and Cochrane Q test. The results showed that melatonin had a significant effect on aspartate aminoteransferase (AST) (WMD = 2.29, [95 %CI: 1.14, 3.43] IU/L, p = <0.001), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (WMD = -8.40, [95 %CI -11.33, -5.48] IU/L, p < 0.001), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) (WMD = -33.37, [95 %CI: -37.24, -29.49] IU/L, p= < 0.001). Melatonin had no significant effect on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) regarding the overall effect size. Based on this meta-analysis, melatonin supplementation can improve liver indices. However, more RCTs are required with larger sample sizes and better control of confounding variables such as weight, body mass index, and gender to determine the effect of melatonin on patients with non-alcoholic fatty acid disease., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Many factors implicated in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are including oxidative stress, insulin resistance and abnormal production of adipokines. The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the effect of melatonin supplement on some important biochemical markers and signs related to NAFLD., Design: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial., Setting: Twenty-four participants in the melatonin group and 21 participants in the placebo group completed the study., Intervention: Participants received 6 mg melatonin or placebo daily, 1 h before bedtime. The intervention period was 12 weeks., Main Outcome Measures: Anthropometric measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, liver enzymes, high sensitive C‑reactive protein (hs-CRP), fatty liver grade, also leptin and adiponectin serum levels, were measured at the baseline and the end of intervention., Results: A significant improvement was observed in weight (p = 0.043), waist circumference (p = 0.027), abdominal circumference (p = 0.043), systolic (p = 0.039), and diastolic (p = 0.015) blood pressure, leptin serum levels (p = 0.032), hs-CRP (p = 0.024), alanine aminotransferase (p = 0.011), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.034), also the grade of fatty liver (p = 0.020) in melatonin treated group compared with the placebo., Conclusions: Administration of 6 mg/day melatonin had improvement effect on many factors related to NAFLD such as liver enzymes, hs-CRP, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, leptin serum levels and the grade of fatty liver., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Many factors such as social and behavioral are related to appropriate weight gain during pregnancy, and there is much of importance to find them. The aim of the study was to explore the association of personality traits, with eating behaviors, food intake, maternal weight gain during pregnancy as well as the neonatal birth weight., Methods: This is a longitudinal and cross-sectional study. Eating behaviors were assessed using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and the NEO personality inventory was used to assess personality in pregnant subjects. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to determine food intake. Three hundred and sixty pregnant subjects from Ahvaz (the capital city of Khuzestan province, Iran) were followed from the 20th week of pregnancy until delivery., Results: High neuroticism was associated with higher consumption of highly energetic foods (p < 0.05) and less consumption of vegetables (p < 0.01), also was related with lower weight gain during pregnancy and neonatal birth weight (p < 0.05). Openness to experience, extraversion and agreeableness were linked with higher consumption of vegetables (p < 0.05). Conscientiousness predicted lower neonatal weight (odds ratio: 1.20, confidence interval: 1.07-1.34, p < 0.01)., Conclusions: Identification of personality traits would help to change the lifestyle and improve management guidelines.

Background: Diet-based recommendations can be developed for preventing and treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) after investigating the effects of whole diets on NAFLD. The aim of this study was to identify major dietary patterns and their association with the risk of NAFLD., Methods: A total of 244 individuals (122 NAFLD patients and 122 controls) participated in this case-control study. The patients with NAFLD were diagnosed by a gastroenterologist. The participants' dietary intake data were collected using a 147-item semi-quantitive food frequency questionnaire and major dietary patterns were identified by principal component analysis. Adherence to dietary patterns was divided into tertiles and its association with odds of NAFLD was investigated by multivariate logistic regression., Results: The results showed four major dietary patterns, among which adherence to the "ordinary pattern" was positively associated with NAFLD risk. After adjusting for all confounding factors, individuals in the highest tertile of "ordinary pattern" exhibited a significantly elevated risk of NAFLD compared to the lowest tertile (OR = 3.74, 95%CI = 1.23-11.42, P trend< 0.001). As well as, Individuals in the second and third tertiles of the "traditional pattern" were associated with the risk of NAFLD compared to the lowest tertile (medium vs. lowest tertile OR = 2.37, 95%CI = 1.02-5.53; highest vs. lowest tertile OR = 3.58, 95% CI = 1.48-8.68, P trend< 0.001). The highest tertile of "vegetable and dairy pattern" compared to the lowest tertile was inversely associated with NAFLD risk (OR = 0.23, 95%CI = 0.09-0.58, P trend = 0.02). No significant association was found between "fast food type pattern" and the risk of NAFLD., Conclusion: A significant association was observed between different dietary patterns and the risk of NAFLD. These results can potentially serve as a dietary strategy for preventing NAFLD in individuals who are at a high risk for progression of NAFLD.

Background/objectives: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an immune-mediated disease that causes inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Diet has an important role in the treatment of UC. This study aimed to compare the effects of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), as a functional food, with canola oil in the treatment of UC., Subjects/methods: Forty patients were participating in this crossover clinical trial. Thirty two patients completed two intervention rounds. Blood samples were taken before and after 20 days intervention. Disease activity score and gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated using the Mayo score and gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS) respectively., Results: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p = 0.03) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p < 0.001) were decreased significantly after EVOO consumption. Bloating, constipation, fecal urgency, incomplete defecation, and final GSRS were reduced significantly after EVOO consumption (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Intake of EVOO decreased the inflammatory markers and improved gastrointestinal symptoms in UC patients. It seems this functional food can be beneficial in the treatment of UC as a complementary medicine.

Introduction: Gestational diabetes is increasing in developed and developing countries. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of SMS messaging on the self-care among pre-diabetic pregnant women., Methods: This randomized controlled trial conducted on 100 pre-diabetic pregnant women referred to Ahvaz Health Centers, Iran, Sep to Dec, 2016. Women were randomly assigned into the face to face education group and short message systems in addition to the face to face education group. Self-care variables were compared between the groups. Data was analyzed using chi-square, independent and paired t-tests., Results: There was no difference regard to FBG and OGTT, but there was a significant difference between groups in physical activity level ( P <0.001) and in all food groups except bread and cereals after the intervention ( P <0.05)., Conclusion: The education through a short text message system seem couldn't control the blood sugar, but it could promote physical activity and food additives of pre-diabetic pregnant women.

Background: Weight management is an important strategy to prevent the consequences of obesity. The aim of the study was to compare the effect of yoga practice and energy-restricted diet on resting metabolic rate (RMR), anthropometric indices, and serum adiponectin and leptin in overweight and obese women., Materials and Methods: Obese or overweight women were divided into two groups: yoga practicing and energy-restricted diet. Exercise trials consisted of 60-min Hatha yoga equal to 200 kilocalories (kcal) combined with 300 kcal restriction per day, and an energy-restricted diet consisted of 500 kcal restriction per day. The intervention period for both the groups was 8 weeks. RMR, anthropometric indices, and serum adiponectin, leptin, and lipid profiles were measured at baseline and at the end of the study., Results: RMR was increased in yoga but not in the diet group ( P = 0.001). The level of adiponectin was increased in the yoga group compared with the diet ( P = 0.035). The concentration of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol was decreased in the diet group significantly but not in yoga ( P = 0.006). The level of leptin was decreased in both the groups ( P = 0.001), and there were no significant differences between the two groups., Conclusion: The findings of the study demonstrated the effect of yoga practicing on RMR, and serum adiponectin, in overweight and obese women. It seems yoga practice with less energy restriction compared with a common energy restriction diet and is more effective in weight management for those who are in weight loss programs., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Trachyspermum ammi has been used traditionally as a popular ethnobotanical plant in human and animal parasitic infestations. Few scientific studies have been conducted on in vitro anthelmintic activity of T. ammi against various helminths and there is no study on its in vivo/in vitro anthelmintic properties against equine helminths., Aim of the Study: The present study aimed to evaluate in vivo anthelmintic activity of crude powder (CP) and crude aqueous extract (CAE) of T. ammi seeds against gastrointestinal nematodes in the donkey., Materials and Methods: Thirty donkeys, naturally and severely infected with Strongyle-type nematodes, were randomly divided into six groups and administered orally with graded doses of CP and CAE at single dose as follow: Two groups were treated with 1 and 3 gkg -1 body weight of CP, two groups were treated with CAE at the equivalent dose rate 1 and 3 gkg -1 bw of CP and one group was treated with 200 μgkg -1 bw of Ivermectin 0.2% (Positive Control). One group received no medication (Negative Control). Efficacy was determined by faecal egg count reduction (FECR) test. The faecal samples were taken from the donkeys on days 7, 14 and 28 post-treatments (PT) and the egg per gram (EPG) of faeces was determined for each animal. FECR for donkeys treated with CP, CAE, and Ivermectin 0.2% was calculated on days 7, 14, and 28 PT. In the present study, CAE was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine CAE chemical components. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a marker (thymol) was applied to confirm the existence of thymol as an active principle., Results: Based on the FECR findings, the maximum FECR (71.2%) was observed in the group treated with CAE 3 on day 14 PT, while it was 66.2% for CP 3 on the same day. The effects of different treatments (P < 0.001), time (P < 0.001) and their interactions (P < 0.05) on EPG showed a significant difference. A dose-dependent response in the anthelmintic activity of CP and CAE was observed. GC-MS analysis indicated that thymol was the major component of CAE (Area = 45.01%) with the respective peak at retention times (Rt) 10.41 min. On HPLC analysis of CAE, thymol was found to be the major constituent of CAE (Area = 58.76%) with the same Rt at 13.233 min., Conclusion: The present study indicated that both CP and CAE of T. ammi had the dose-dependent anthelmintic effects. Due to the development of drug resistance against synthetic anti-helminthics, T. ammi seems to be a promising alternative for the treatment and prevention of helminths in livestock., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The increased applications of nanomaterials in industry and biomedicine have resulted in a rising concern about their possible toxic impacts on living organisms. It has been claimed that the phytosynthesized nanomaterials have lower toxicity in comparison to their chemically synthesized counterparts. Therefore, it is important to evaluate their toxic effects on the environment. In the present study, we investigated the toxic effects of microwave-synthesized silver-reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites (MS-Ag-rGO) on Chlorella vulgaris . Algal cells were treated by 1, 2, 4 and 6 mg L -1 MS-Ag-rGO for 24 h. The obtained data with three replicates were examined using analysis of variance. Analysis of different growth parameters revealed that MS-Ag-rGO possessed significant dose-dependent toxic effect on C. vulgaris . Scanning electron microscope and fluorescence microscope images of the treated cells established morphological shrinkages and alteration in position of nucleoli. Moreover, reduction in the phenol and flavonoid contents, enhancement of H 2 O 2 content, changes in the antioxidant enzymes activity and decreases in the growth parameters as well as photosynthetic pigments quantities confirmed the toxicity of MS-Ag-rGO to the C. vulgaris cells. Our findings revealed that MS-Ag-rGO possessed higher toxicity on C. vulgaris than Ag-rGO synthesized by hydrothermal technique.

In this work, biological synthesis of MgO/perlite nanocomposites (NCs) besides their effects on morphology and secondary metabolite profiles of Melissa officinalis plant organ cultures were evaluated. MgO NPs were immobilized on the surface of nanoperlite using M. officinalis extract as a capping agent. The as-synthesized MgO/perlite NCs were characterized by using FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDS and DLS. The average particle size of nanoperlite and MgO/perlite NCs was about 10 and 30 nm, respectively. Morphological observations showed that nanoperlite and MgO/perlite NCs had no effect on root number, as well as root and shoot length. None of the applied concentrations of perlite and MgO/perlite NCs could significantly increase the growth parameters in comparison to the control, except for 150 mg/L of nanoperlite which caused an increase in the shoot number. Although, the contents of chlorophyll and carotenoids were not affected, the maximum content of volatile compounds obtained at 100 of MgO/perlite NCs. Rosmarinic acid was detected in shoots, which treated with 25-100 mg/L of perlite and 25, 50 and 150 mg/L of MgO/perlite NCs. Our results provided the evidence that nanoperlite and MgO/perlite NCs at specific levels may act as a novel elicitor for in vitro biosynthesis of valuable secondary metabolites., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Depression and obesity are among the increasingly publicized health problems, both being related to critical complications, and increasing the risk of substantial morbidity and mortality. An increasing number of documents indicate that obesity affects mental status, low serum cholesterol levels, and is related to depressive symptoms. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the possible significant difference in lipid profile levels, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and blood pressure (BP), between depressive and nondepressive older adults., Methods: This was a case-control study where 107 patients, over 65-year-old, were enrolled in this study. Serum total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), BP, and fasting blood sugar were measured. Data were analyzed using the statistical SPSS software version 22. Independent t -test was used to compare the results between the two groups and the Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables. In addition, nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to evaluate the data., Results: The depressive group showed significant lower BMI, WC, LDL-C, and TG ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.016, and P < 0.014). Furthermore, the findings showed significantly higher systolic and diastolic BP in participants who had shown depressive symptoms ( P < 0.035 and P < 0.024)., Conclusions: The findings suggest that a low BMI, serum LDL-C, and TG are related to depressive symptoms the Iranian elderly., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2019 International Journal of Preventive Medicine.)

Curcumin is the principal polylphenol of turmeric that has been used to treat various disorders. However, its anti-obesity effects in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remain controversial. Therefore, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis on the effects of supplementation with turmeric/curcumin on body weight, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in these patients. PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ISI Web of Science were searched until January 2019, without any restrictions. Clinical trials that reported body weight, BMI and WC in patients with NAFLD were included. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Eight studies (449 participants) fulfilled the eligibility criteria of the present meta-analysis. Overall, meta-analysis could not show any beneficial effect of turmeric/curcumin supplementation on body weight (WMD, -0.54 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.40, 1.31; p = 0.56; I 2 = 0.0%), BMI (WMD, -0.21 kg/m 2 ; 95% CI, -0.71, 0.28; p = 0.39; I 2 = 0.0%) and WC (WMD, -0.88 cm; 95% CI, -3.76, 2.00; p = 0.54; I 2 = 0.0%). Subgroup analysis based on participants' baseline BMI, type of intervention, and study duration did not show any significant association in all subgroups. The results showed that turmeric/curcumin supplementation had no significant effect on body weight, BMI and WC in patients with NAFLD. Further studies with large-scale are needed to find out possible anti-obesity effects of turmeric/curcumin., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the size of plate, spoon, and fork on food and energy intake during a meal in obese or overweight staff., Methods: This was a crossover randomized controlled trial that was conducted on 40 obese or overweight clerical staff of the university. The staff was invited to have lunch randomly, receiving either a large or a small set of plate, spoon, and fork. Washout period was 3 weeks, and the participants were then invited to have lunch in a second intervention period and received opposite sizes of dishes compared to the first period sizes. The meal was composed of roasted chicken (kebab), cooked rice, vegetable salad, dairy drink, and soda. Changes in food intake between large and small utensils (plate, spoon, and fork) were analyzed with paired t -test., Results: Rice intake using small or large eating utensils was different ( P = 0.02). But total energy intake was not different. The Pearson correlation test demonstrated a positive and significant correlation between rice consumption and waist-to-hip ratio ( P = 0.02). Soda ( P = 0.02), carbohydrate ( P = 0.01), and total energy intake ( P = 0.03) were negatively correlated with the age of the participant., Conclusions: It seems that only the amount of grain products consumption changes with changing in dishware size with no significant effect on total energy intake. It is recommended that the independent effect of visual cues on food intake for foods with different textures be investigated in future studies., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a common nutritional concern and leads to several problems among some population groups., Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the relationship between maternal vitamin D status and gestational weight gain, maternal biochemical parameters, mode of delivery, and infants' growth indices at birth., Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study between March and June 2017 was carried on 82 mothers in Ahvaz. Blood samples of each mother were obtained at the mean of the third trimester to assay lipid indices (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), fasting blood sugar, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D. Anthropometric assessment of newborns was recorded from neonatal health card at birth., Results: Mean maternal 25-hydroxy vitamin D level was 22.52 nmol/L; 7.33% of mothers had vitamin D deficiency, 76.6% had vitamin D insufficiency, and 15.9% were normal. The mean neonate birth weight, length, and head circumference of mothers who were on the third tercile of 25-hydroxy vitamin D serum level was significantly higher than those in the first tercile (p < 0.001, p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively). Maternal vitamin D serum level had an adverse relationship with fasting blood sugar., Conclusion: Low levels of serum vitamin D may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes and delivery of infants with insufficient growth at birth., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease which is usually associated with chronic airway inflammation. Saffron has anti-inflammatory effects and may has beneficial effects on asthma., Hypothesis: The present study was intended to survey the effects of saffron supplementation on blood pressure, lipid profiles, basophils, eosinophils and clinical symptoms in patients with allergic asthma., Study Design: Our study was a clinical trial., Methods: Subjects (N = 80, 32 women and 48 men, 41.25 ± 9.87 years old) with mild and moderate allergic asthma were randomized into two groups: the intervention group who received two capsules of saffron (100 mg/d), and the control group who received two capsules of placebo for 8 weeks. SPSS software (version 16.0) was used for the data analysis., Results: Saffron improved the frequency of clinical symptoms of the patients (i.e., frequency of the shortness of breath during the day and night time, use of salbutamol spray, waking up due to asthma symptoms and activity limitation) in comparison to the placebo (p < 0.001). Besides, asthma severity decreased almost significantly in the saffron group (p = 0.07). It was also found that saffron, in comparison with the placebo, significantly reduced the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Moreover, eosinophils and basophils concentration reduced in the saffron group (p = 0.06 and 0.05 respectively)., Conclusion: Saffron seems to be an effective and safe option (in 8 weeks supplementation) to improve clinical symptoms of patients with allergic asthma but the toxicity and/or long-term effects of saffron intake are not known. Registration ID in IRCT (IRCT2017012132081N2).

Objective: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and autoimmune disease associated with the imbalance of cytokines secreted from CD4 + T cells. Studies have shown that vitamin A and its active derivatives are able to modulate the immune system in MS patients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of supplementation of retinyl palmitate (RP), the dietary form of vitamin A, on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the plasma and supernatants of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of MS patients., Patients and Methods: Thirty-six relapsing-remitting MS patients were enrolled in this double-blind randomized clinical trial. Participants received one capsule of 25,000 IU RP or a placebo per day for six months. Blood samples were taken before and after intervention. After intervention, the PBMCs were isolated and cultured. The levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the plasma and supernatant of cells stimulated with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, phytohemagglutinin or vehicle (media) were determined. The sample t-test and Mann Whitney U test were used to compare data between groups., Results: The changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, TNF-α, IFN- γ, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-17) in the serum and supernatant of MS patients were not significant (p > 0.05). There were also no significant changes in the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10, IL-13, IL-4, and TGF-β) (p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Unexpectedly, this study found no significant changes in cytokine levels after six months of RP supplementation in MS patients. The results of other studies by our team have shown significant changes in the gene expression of the cytokines in response to RP supplements. Therefore, we recommend that periodic follow-up of RP supplementation may be needed to reveal changes in the level of the cytokines in the plasma and PBMCs and to clarify the real effect of RP on the immune factor levels in the serum of MS patients., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

It has been claimed that the green synthesized NPs possess no toxicity in comparison to the NPs fabricated via conventional protocols like reduction by sodium borohydride. Therefore, it is necessary to test the toxic effects of NPs on environment. In the current study, we report the binding of Fe 3 O 4 NPs to galate ions containing biomaterial namely "galate bio-capping agent". The bio-capping agent is simply mixed with the Fe 3+ cations at pH 8 to produce negatively charged bio-capped Fe 3 O 4 NPs. Finally, the toxic effects of the Fe 3 O 4 NPs were investigated on some growth and developmental indices of the aquatic plant species Azolla filiculoides. The relative frond number and relative growth rate were calculated after treatment of plants with different concentrations of bio-capped Fe 3 O 4 NPs. In addition, the content of phenolics as well as antioxidant enzymes' activity including superoxide dismutase and peroxidase were assessed. The Fe 3 O 4 NPs led to growth reduction and significant changes in total phenol and flavonoid content as well as in antioxidant enzymes' activity. All these findings confirm reactive oxygen species formation due to the nanoparticle toxicity. In consequence, the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense systems of plant were stimulated against oxidative stress.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent mood disorder estimated to affect 20%-40% of women worldwide after childbirth. In recent studies, the effect of vitamin D on prevention of mood disorders and depression has been investigated, but it is still unclear how vitamin D may affect PPD. The evidence on the relevance between vitamin D deficiency and PPD is inconsistent, and assessment of the recent literature has not previously been carried out. Moreover, there are few clinical studies on PPD and vitamin D supplementation. Five studies have so far assessed the relationship between the levels of vitamin D and PPD. Findings from cohort studies suggest that vitamin-D deficiency is related to the incidence of PPD and vitamin D may play a significant role in the recovery of women with PPD, but it is uncertain whether these actions are the effect of vitamin D on the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the levels of estradiol, serotonin, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and/or of other mechanisms involved in PPD.

Background: An appropriate snack for patients with diabetes mellitus should be considered to help them in their treatment due to their hard administrative diet. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of dark chocolate on inflammatory markers, serum adiponectin, and certain biochemical factors in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D)., Methods: This study was a randomized parallel clinical trial. Thirty grams of 84% dark chocolate, along with therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLCs) guidelines, were administrated to patients with T2D. Control group received only TLC guidelines. The intervention period was 8 weeks. Twenty-one subjects in dark chocolate and 23 subjects in control group completed the study. Fasting blood samples were collected before and after the intervention period and inflammatory markers, biochemical factors, and adiponectin levels were assessed., Results: Fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1C, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels declined significantly in the dark chocolate group and this decrease was significant between the intervention and control groups. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and high sensitive C-reactive protein were significantly decreased in the dark chocolate group. Adiponectin levels were not significantly different between the two groups., Conclusions: In this study subjects who received dark chocolate along with TLC guidelines had lower levels of inflammatory markers such as hs-CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6, compared with the subjects who were devoid of dark chocolate and followed only the TLC guidelines. Other studies should be conducted to evaluate the most effective and administrative dosage of dark chocolate as a snack along with the common treatment of diabetes., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest

Background: A combination of genetic and environmental factors is involved in depression etiology. During the last years, the prevalence of depression has increased in both developed and developing countries. Several studies indicated an association between dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) with risk of depression. This systematic review was undertaken to summarize the effect of these diet indicators in depression pathogenesis., Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was performed in the Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases from 1966 to March 2017. Finally, six studies (three prospective cohort studies and three cross-sectional) were ultimately selected for inclusion in the systematic review., Results: 75298 adults and elderly entered the reviewed studies. All of the included studies had high methodological quality. The present study indicated that the intake of foods with higher GI is associated with disease risk. However, the relationship was found to be inverse for GL, though the association was rather weak., Conclusions: Overall, the findings indicated that a diet with lower dietary glycemic index may be effective to reduce the risk or risk of depression.

In the present research, an effective drug-free approach was developed to kill MCF7 breast cancer cells using low-level laser therapy (LLLT) combined with reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based hybrid nanocomposites (NCs). Here, fruit extract of Rosa canina was used for the first time to obtain the rGO/ZnO, Ag-ZnO/rGO and Nd-ZnO/rGO NCs by green synthesis. Physico/photochemical properties of these NCs were evaluated using FTIR, XRD, Raman, XPS, SEM/EDX, UV-Vis, DLS and AFM. The potential of the as-synthesized NCs on ROS generating and antioxidant activity were assessed by DPPH. After optimizing the proper concentration of the NCs their anti-tumoral efficacy were evaluated by DAPI staining and MTT assay tests for laser therapy on MCF7 breast cancer cells. Interestingly, cell death was increased dramatically by increasing irradiation dose from 8-32 J/cm 2 and then decreased by enhancing laser dose. The maximum amount of cell death is 50% which was observed in the presence of ZnO/rGO 20% by irradiation dose of 32 J/cm 2 . Furthermore, in comparison with 810 nm, 630 nm lasers were more effective in LLLT of MCF7 cells. The results show the potential of using rGO-based NCs in LLLT, which may be combined with other therapeutic approaches to assist our fight against cancer.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Riboflavin plays an important role in myelin formation, and its deficiency is implicated as a risk factor for multiple sclerosis. Here, we systematically reviewed the literature concerning the health benefits of riboflavin on MS. The literature recorded within four main databases, including relevant clinical trials, experimental, and case-control studies from 1976 to 2017 were considered. Both human and animal studies were included for review, with no restrictions on age, gender, or ethnicity. Experimental studies demonstrated that riboflavin deficiency triggers neurologic abnormalities related to peripheral neuropathies such as demyelinating neuropathy. Moreover, randomized controlled trials (RCT) and case-control studies in which MS patients received riboflavin supplementation or had higher dietary riboflavin intake showed improvements in neurological motor disability. Riboflavin is a cofactor of xanthine oxidase and its deficiency exacerbates low uric acid caused by high copper levels, leading to myelin degeneration. The vitamin additionally plays a significant role in the normal functioning of glutathione reductase (GR) as an antioxidant enzyme, and conditions of riboflavin deficiency lead to oxidative damage. Riboflavin promotes the gene and protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the CNS of an animal model of MS, suggesting that BDNF mediates the beneficial effect of riboflavin on neurological motor disability. Research to date generally supports the role of riboflavin in MS outcomes. However, further observational and interventional studies on human populations are warranted to validate the effects of riboflavin.