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Abstract Background One of the key functions and ultimate goals of health systems is to provide financial protection for individuals when using health services. This study sought to evaluate the level of financial protection and its inequality among individuals covered by the Social Security Organization (SSO) health insurance between September and December 2023 in Iran. Methods We collected data on 1691 households in five provinces using multistage sampling to examine the prevalence of catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) at four different thresholds (10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%) of the household’s capacity to pay (CTP). Additionally, we explored the prevalence of impoverishment due to health costs and assessed socioeconomic-related inequality in OOP payments for healthcare using the concentration index and concentration curve. To measure equity in out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for healthcare, we utilized the Kakwani progressivity index (KPI). Furthermore, we employed multiple logistic regression to identify the main factors contributing to households experiencing CHE. Findings : The study revealed that households in our sample allocated approximately 11% of their budgets to healthcare services. The prevalence of CHE at the thresholds of 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% was found to be 47.1%, 30.1%, 20.1%, and 15.7%, respectively. Additionally, we observed that about 7.9% of the households experienced impoverishment due to health costs. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the age of the head of the household, place of residence, socioeconomic status, utilization of dental services, utilization of medicine, and province of residence were the main factors influencing CHE. Furthermore, the study demonstrated that while wealthy households spend more money on healthcare, poorer households spend a larger proportion of their total income to healthcare costs. The KPI showed that households with lower total expenditures had higher OOP payments relative to their CTP. Conclusion The study findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve financial protection in healthcare and mitigate inequalities among individuals covered by SSO. It is recommended that these interventions prioritize the expansion of coverage for dental services and medication expenses, particularly for lower socioeconomic status household.

Abstract Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) causes sterility by affecting the reproductive system. Vitamin B12 improves sperm quantity and function. Objective: Vitamin B12 protection against H. pylori adverse effects was investigated. Materials and Methods: 40 C57 male mice (6 wk) were randomly assigned to 4 equal groups (n = 10) including, group 1 (control without any intervention), group 2 (H), 3 (HP), and 4 (HB) received 1 × 109 colony forming unit (CFU) of H. pylori, 1 × 109 CFU of H. pylori+phosphate buffered saline, 1 × 109 CFU of H. pylori+50 μ g/kg vitamin B 12 intraperitoneally, respectively. In the induction groups, the H. pylori was orogasterically injected 3 times with 1 cc phosphate buffered saline throughout the day. Then testicular metrics, sperm motility, viability, quantity, and shape, plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity were measured. Also, testicular-tissue changes were examined using Johnson scores, tubular differentiation index, and spermatogenesis index. Vitamin B12, homocysteine, and testosterone serum levels were examined. Results: The results showed a significantly lower Johnson score, tubular differentiation index, and spermatogenesis index, and serum level of testosterone and homocysteine as well as a higher MDA level in the H and HP groups than the HB group (p < 0.05). In contrast, the highest superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes activity and total antioxidant capacity as well as the lowest serum level of MDA were found in the HB group compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Vitamin B 12 increased antioxidant enzyme activity, enhanced sperm parameters, and decreased injury to testicular tissue. It can be used as a potent antioxidant in reducing testicular damage induced by H. pylori.

Objective(s): Currently, the most important treatment approach for hemophilia type A is recombinant Factor VIII. However, due to its low retention time in the blood, the patients usually need successive injections. In addition, neutralization of injected proteins by antibodies complicates treatment. We examined the prolongation of the persistence time of injectable FVIII in the blood and the potential effects on survival using promising PEGylated liposomes (PEGLip) utilizing hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC, Tm= 54.5 ºC) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (POPC, Tm= – 2 ºC).Materials and Methods: Nanoliposomes with different percentages of PEG (3% and 5%) were obtained via the thin film hydration procedure and extrusion. Liposomal FVIII formulation was prepared and characterization was done.Results: The results revealed that the formulations are in the 80–120 nm range with uniform dispersion, which was confirmed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging. The phase transition temperature (Tm) of the liposomes was obtained by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). With an attachment efficacy of approximately 87%, proteins bind non-covalently yet with a strong affinity to the exterior of PEGLip. The final formulations underwent additional examination. No significant change was observed in size, charge, and PDI between the FVIII-conjugated liposomal formulations and their liposomal nanoparticles. The selected formulations were injected into BALB/c mice. The circulation time and potential clotting effectiveness of PEGLip-FVIII are vastly improved over free protein, in non-hemophilic mice. Conclusion: The obtained results showed that using phospholipids with high Tm (HSPC) can improve the hemostatic efficiency of liposomes more than phospholipids with low Tm (POPC).

Background and purpose: Benzo[a]pyrene is an organic compound naturally found in tobacco smoke and exhaust emissions from vehicles. This compound is recognized as an environmental pollutant and is abundantly present in urban and industrial environments. The effects and hazards of benzo[a]pyrene due to its presence in tobacco smoke and vehicle exhaust gases, particularly on human health, are significant. This compound can increase the risk of carcinogenesis, as it possesses toxic and carcinogenic properties that can cause serious harm to humans through direct or indirect contact. This study examined the protective effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Rhamnus frangula on liver and kidney toxicity induced by benzopyrene in mice and compared it with vitamin E. Materials and methods: In this study, 55 male mice were randomly divided into 11 groups of 5 each. The first to third groups were used as negative control (normal diet), olive oil (solvent for benzo[a]pyrene), and positive control (benzo[a]pyrene) respectively. Benzo[a]pyrene was administered at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks via gavage. The fourth group received vitamin E alone (250 mg/kg via gavage), and the fifth group received vitamin E along with benzo[a]pyrene. The sixth, seventh, and eighth groups received the hydroalcoholic extract of Rhamnus frangula L. daily at doses of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg body weight orally, respectively. Additionally, three intervention groups received the hydroalcoholic extract of Rhamnus frangula L. at high doses along with benzo[a]pyrene for 4 weeks. Results: Administration of benzo[a]pyrene at a dose of 20 mg/kg resulted in liver damage, as evidenced by a significant increase in liver enzymes ALT and AST, as well as bilirubin, compared to the control group. Benzo[a]pyrene also caused an increase in ALP levels, although this increase was not significant. Although the slight increase in ALP due to benzo[a]pyrene was reduced in the group treated with a high dose of Rhamnus frangula L., treatment with Rhamnus frangula L. at any of the doses used in this study was not able to reduce ALT, AST, and bilirubin levels. In contrast, treatment with vitamin E reduced the activity of ALT and AST compared to the benzo[a]pyrene group. A significant increase in urea and creatinine in the benzo[a]pyrene group compared to the control group indicates kidney damage caused by benzo[a]pyrene. Rhamnus frangula L. only at the highest dose of 1000 mg/kg reduced urea and creatinine levels, and vitamin E did not affect improving the nephrotoxic effects of benzo[a]pyrene. Conclusion: The study results indicated that biomarkers under investigation can serve as useful tools for assessing hepatic and renal toxicity induced by benzo[a]pyrene. Furthermore, the hydroalcoholic extract of Rhamnus frangula L. exhibited significant protective properties against hepatic (increased ALP) and renal (increased urea and creatinine) damages caused by benzo[a]pyrene and may perform better than vitamin E in certain cases. These findings underscore the importance of utilizing plant extracts in combating the adverse effects of pollutants.

Abstract Background Promoting exclusive breastfeeding can have a great effect in reducing the complications and mortality rate of mother and child. Objective The study aimed to compare the effects of continuous and intermittent supportive counselling on the self-efficacy and continuity of breastfeeding among Lactating mothers with COVID-19. Methods The study was a semi-experimental research method and was conducted on 73 mothers with COVID-19 who were hospitalized in Ayatollah Mousavi Hospital in Zanjan, Iran from May 2021 to April 2022. In the continuous counselling group, counselling was provided daily for 14 days, while in the intermittent counselling group, counselling was provided once a week for four weeks. Breastfeeding continuity was assessed based on the World Health Organization’s classification, and breastfeeding self-efficacy was measured using Dennis’ standard breastfeeding self-efficacy questionnaire (BSE) up to four months after delivery. The data were analyzed using chi-square tests, independent t-tests, paired t-tests, analysis of variance with repeated measures, and survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier) with a 95% confidence level. Results The survival analysis revealed that the cessation of exclusive breastfeeding occurred in 17 cases within the continuous counselling group and in 22 cases within the intermittent counselling group. The rates of continuation for exclusive breastfeeding were 52.8% and 40.5% in the continuous and intermittent counselling group respectively. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in the continuation of breastfeeding and the trend of changes in the mean scores of breastfeeding self-efficacies between the continuous and intermittent counselling groups. Furthermore, comparing the change in breastfeeding self-efficacy scores between the one-month and four-month follow-ups within the continuous counselling group, a statistically significant increase was observed. Conclusion The results indicated no difference in the effectiveness of continuous and intermittent counseling methods in improving breastfeeding continuity in women with COVID-19. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of different counseling approaches on breastfeeding outcomes during crises. Trial registration The study was registered on the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials website on 29/06/2021 with the registration code IRCT20150731023423N19. It can be accessed via this link: https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/user/trial/55391/view .

Background: Docetaxel (DXL) is an antineoplastic agent for cancer treatment, the therapeutic efficiency of which is limited due to low solubility, hydrophobicity, and tissue specificity.Objective: In this study, nano-niosomes were introduced for improving therapeutic index of DXL.Material and Methods: In this experimental study, two nano-niosomes were synthesized using Span 20® and Span 80® and a thin film hydration method with DXL loading (DXL-Span20 and DXL-Span80). Characterization, in-vitro cytotoxicity and bioavailability of the nano-niosomes was also evaluated via in-vivo experiments.Results: DXL-Span20 and DXL-Span80 have vesicles size in a range of 84-90 nm and negative zeta potentials. DXL entrapment efficiencies were obtained as 69.6 and 74.0% for DXL-Span20 and DXL-Span80, respectively; with an in-vitro sustained release patterns. Cytotoxicity assays were performed against MDA-MB-231, Calu-6, and AsPC-1 cell lines, and the results indicated that DXL loading into nano-niosomes led to decrement in values of half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) at least 2.5 times and at most 6.5 times, compared to free DXL. Moreover, the rat blood bioavailability of DXL after intraperitoneal administration and the pharmacokinetic parameters indicated higher DXL plasma level and the higher effectiveness of DXL-Span80 compared to DXL-Span20. Conclusion: Carrying DXL by the nano-niosomes led to enhanced cytotoxicity (and lower IC50 values) and higher efficacy with enhanced pharmacokinetic parameters.

Background and Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of determining the effect of different disinfection methods on the efficiency, pressure drop, and quality of medical masks used by medical staff. The filtration efficiency of medical masks was also investigated in the present study. Materials and Methods: In the present study, four models of medical masks used by the treatment staff were selected. The masks were then disinfected with the disinfection methods recommended by the disease control and prevention centers, including heat methods, autoclaves, ultraviolet rays, immersion in 70% alcohol, and immersion in sodium hypochlorite. Finally, the effect of each disinfection method on the efficiency, pressure drop, and quality of the masks was checked using the test system. Results: Based on the results obtained from the study, disinfecting masks using thermal methods, autoclaving, ultraviolet radiation, immersion in sodium hypochlorite, and immersion in 70% alcohol caused changes in efficiency by 5.58%, 9.83%, 8.15%, 13.34%, and 20.38%, respectively. Additionally, changes in pressure drop were observed at rates of 12.9, 7, 6.92, 183.75, and 16.13 Pa, respectively. Moreover, the quality factor of masks improved after disinfection using thermal methods and autoclaving, in contrast to other methods. Furthermore, the assessment of filtration efficiency indicated that three out of four types of masks examined had efficiencies lower than 85%. Conclusion: Disinfection of medical masks using the heat method was chosen as the best disinfection method due to the least change in efficiency, a slight increase in pressure drop, and availability, and the 70% alcohol immersion method was chosen as the weakest disinfection method due to the decrease in efficiency, increase in pressure drop, and destruction of the mask's structure.

Abstract Liposome nanoparticles have emerged as promising drug delivery systems due to their unique properties. Assessing particle size and polydispersity index (PDI) is critical for evaluating the quality of these liposomal nanoparticles. However, optimizing these parameters in a laboratory setting is both costly and time-consuming. This study aimed to apply a machine learning technique to assess the impact of specific factors, including sonication time, extrusion temperature, and compositions, on the size and PDI of liposomal nanoparticles. Liposomal solutions were prepared and subjected to sonication with varying values for these parameters. Two compositions: (A) HSPC:DPPG:Chol:DSPE-mPEG2000 at 55:5:35:5 molar ratio and (B) HSPC:Chol:DSPE-mPEG2000 at 55:40:5 molar ratio, were made using remote loading method. Ensemble learning (EL), a machine learning technique, was employed using the Least-squares boosting (LSBoost) algorithm to accurately model the data. The dataset was randomly split into training and testing sets, with 70% allocated for training. The LSBoost algorithm achieved mean absolute errors of 1.652 and 0.0105 for modeling the size and PDI, respectively. Under conditions where the temperature was set at approximately 60 °C, our EL model predicted a minimum particle size of 116.53 nm for composition (A) with a sonication time of approximately 30 min. Similarly, for composition (B), the model predicted a minimum particle size of 129.97 nm with sonication times of approximately 30 or 55 min. In most instances, a PDI of less than 0.2 was achieved. These results highlight the significant impact of optimizing independent factors on the characteristics of liposomal nanoparticles and demonstrate the potential of EL as a decision support system for identifying the best liposomal formulation. We recommend further studies to explore the effects of other independent factors, such as lipid composition and surfactants, on liposomal nanoparticle characteristics.

Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death among young people worldwide. Chloroquine, an antimalarial drug, has been shown to easily cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and inhibit autophagy in a variety of disorders, including Alzheimer disease and brain ischemia. We investigated the effects of chloroquine on neuronal protection after induction of brain trauma in male rats. Methods A total of 120 male Wistar rats were treated with chloroquine at doses of 1.5, 3, and 6 mg/kg intraperitoneally after induction of diffuse TBIs. The veterinary coma scale was used to assess short-term neurological deficits. BBB disruption was evaluated using the Evans Blue dye method 6-hour post-injury. Vestibulomotor function was evaluated using the beam walk and beam balance methods. Histopathological changes in the brain tissue in different groups were evaluated using light microscopy and hematoxylin-eosin staining. Brain water and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) contents of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) were assessed using the wet/dry method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results The results showed that injecting chloroquine (3 and 6 mg/kg) 30 minutes after TBI significantly reduced brain edema and BBB disruption, and recovered neurological deficits post-TBI (P

سابقه و هدف: امروزه مديران تلاش براي تأمين سلامت سازماني و حفظ و ارتقای آن را بيش از گذشته در اولويت فعاليت‌هاي خود قرار مي‌دهند. در این زمینه مدیریت جهادي که از مدیریت بر مبنای ارزش‌های اسلامی حکایت دارد، لازمۀ دستیابي به سازمان سالم و توسعۀ همه‌جانبۀ امور است. هدف پژوهش حاضر بررسی تأثیر مدیریت جهادی بر سلامت سازمانی با نقش میانجی قابلیت‌های پویا در مراکز و واحدهای پیام‌ نور استان اصفهان بود. روش کار: این پژوهش از نظر هدف کاربردي، بر‌حسب نوع داده‌ها کمّی و از لحاظ روش گردآوري داده­ها توصيفي از نوع همبستگی است. جامعۀ آماری پژوهش شامل مراکز و واحدهای پیام ‌نور استان اصفهان بود که از میان مدیران و کارشناسان بخش فرهنگی آنها با استفاده از فرمول کوکران تعداد 92 نفر به‌روش تصادفی ساده نمونۀ پژوهش در نظر گرفته شد. روایی پرسش‌نامه به دو روش صوری و محتوایی و پایایی آن با استفاده از روش آلفای ‌کرونباخ تأیید شد. سپس الگوی مفهومی پژوهش با استفاده از فن الگو­یابی معادلات ساختاری آزمون شد. در این پژوهش همۀ موارد اخلاقی رعایت شده است و مؤلفان تضاد منافعی گزارش نکرده‌اند. یافته‌ها: نتایج نشان داد که مدیریت جهادی به‌صورت مستقیم بر سلامت سازمانی تأثیر مثبت و معناداری داشت. همچنین مدیریت جهادی از طریق قابلیت‌های پویا بر سلامت سازمانی تأثیرگذار بود. نتیجه‌گیری: با ایجاد ساختار یک سازمان جهادی و استفاده از مؤلفه‌های مدیریت جهادی با شناسایی و به‌کارگیری قابلیت‌های پویای سازمان می‌توان به ارتقای سطح سلامت سازمانی در مراکز و واحدهای پیام نور کمک کرد.

Background and Aim: Evidence-based practice improves the quality of clinical performance. Attitude affects the implementation of research findings into practice. The Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS-36) evaluates the attitude of therapists toward evidence-based practice. The present study aimed to provide a validated Persian translation of the EBPAS-36 for audiologists. Methods: The original EBPAS-36 was translated by using the international quality of life assessment protocol. The validity of translated version was surveyed by an expert panel and the Persian version with 35 questions was yielded. A demographic questionnaire and EBPAS P-35 were given to 182 audiologists to evaluate the psychometric properties. The reliability was evaluated by completing the EBPAS P-35 after 2 weeks by 30 of the participants and Cronbach’s alpha and Intra-Class Correlation (ICC) were calculated. Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFA) were also conducted. Results: The content validity ratio was above 0.33 for all except item 10 which was removed from the Persian version. The mean(SD) total score was 2.38(0.46). A significant relationship was observed between the total score and all subscales (p

To evaluate the effectiveness of biochemical factors such as blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, and serum uric acid in identifying and diagnosing acute tubular necrosis lesion in broilers, kidney tissue and blood samples from 80 broiler chickens at the slaughter stage were collected. Tissue samples were collected in 10% formalin to detect pathological lesions. The components of BUN, creatinine, and serum uric acid were measured with commercially available kits. After preparing the histopathological sections, based on the percentage of necrosis of the kidney tubules in each tissue sample, the pathological lesions were divided into 3 degrees: mild, moderate, and severe. The results showed that 36 samples out of 80 samples (45%) had acute tubular necrosis (ATN) lesions; 14 (17.5%), 12 (15%), and 10 (12.5%) samples had severe, moderate, and mild tubular necrosis lesions, respectively. The amount of uric acid in chickens with moderate and severe lesions showed a significant difference with the chickens without lesions and the mild lesion. However, BUN and creatinine increased significantly only in severe ATN lesions. In general, the results of this study state that severe lesions of renal tubules are associated with an increase in serum BUN, creatinine, and uric acid, but in moderate lesions, only uric acid may increase. Therefore, according to the results of this study, uric acid can be considered as a diagnostic biomarker in moderate to severe ATN.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are non-coding, single-stranded, endogenous RNAs that regulate various biological processes, most notably the pathophysiology of many human malignancies. It process is accomplished by binding to 3′-UTR mRNAs and controlling gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. As an oncogene, miRNAs can either accelerate cancer progression or slow it down as a tumor suppressor. MicroRNA-372 (miR-372) has been found to have an abnormal expression in numerous human malignancies, implying that the miRNA plays a role in carcinogenesis. It is both increased and downregulated in various cancers, and it serves as both a tumor suppressor and an oncogene. This study examines the functions of miR-372 as well as the LncRNA/CircRNA-miRNA-mRNA signaling pathways in various malignancies and analyses its potential prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications.

Brucellosis, or Malta fever, is one of the common diseases in humans and livestock that causes many health problems and economic losses. Therefore, this study investigated the frequency of seroconversion of persons with brucellosis symptoms in Gachsaran, Iran from 2016 to 2017. In this study, 1379 people (age range of 10- 70 years) with clinical symptoms of brucellosis were monitored by standard agglutination test (SAT, Wright's Agglutination Test) who referred to the pathobiology laboratory from the beginning of 2016 to the end of 2017. In this monitoring, the individuals with a titer greater than or equal to 1: 320 (based SAT) and greater than or equal to 1: 160 (based 2ME) were selected. Using questionnaires, data on gender, contact with livestock, and dairy consumption behavior were collected. The study variables were analyzed using a chi-square test (p≤0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of brucellosis between men and women (p = 0.16), but direct contact with livestock (p = 0.001), history of unpasteurized dairy consumption (p = 0.001), occupation (p = 0.001) and location (p = 0.001) had a significant effect on infectivity to brucellosis. Based on the results of this study, apart from gender, other factors are the most important causes of seroconversion of persons to brucellosis.

ObjectiveThe objective of present study was to evaluate the genetic diversity within 23 genotypes of Freesia hybrida including 6 parents and their 17 F1 hybrids, using 10 ISSR primers in order to utilize such diversity in breeding program of this plant. Materials and methodsAfter extraction of genomic DNA from fresh leaves and amplification of marker regions by the PCR, followed by the electrophoresis, a matrix of binary data was created based on scoring of electrophoretic bands. Marker parameters including number of polymorphic loci, polymorphism information content, effective multiple ratio, resolution power index, and marker index as well as genetic variation indices including observed number of alleles, effective number of alleles, Nei's gene diversity index, and Shannon's information index were calculated by using the ISSR marker data. Principle components analysis based on the Jaccard similarity coefficient with UPGMA algorithm were done followed by the cluster analysis using Dice coefficient and based on Ward’s grouping method. ResultsOut of 110 amplified loci of the 10 ISSR markers, the mean of polymorphism percentage 94.7% within the used genotypes was estimated. Maker IS-HB11 showed maximum number of polymorphic loci (12), effective multiple ratio (7.93), resolution power index (7.83), and marker index (2.67) as well. Cluster analysis grouped genotypes into four clusters, which was confirmed by the result of principle component analysis. ConclusionsRelative high value of the polymorphism information content (0.368), showed that the ISSR makers utilized in present study were genetically well informative regarding to the number of identified alleles and their distribution in the genome of Freesia. Based on the gene diversity indices, there was no significant difference between the parental genotypes and the F1 hybrids in terms of genetic variation. However, the level of this variation was acceptable and is capable to be utilized for breeding program in this plant.

Abstract The study aimed to examine the effect of simultaneous application of florfenicol and lasalocid on the performance and vital organ function of chickens. For this, 300 chicks were divided into four groups. Group one to three received florfenicol, lasalocid and lasalocid plus florfenicol, respectively. Group four as the control group received a basic diet without lasalocid or florfenicol. Lasalocid was used from 7 to 35 days old, continuously. Florfenicol was used at 21 days old for 5 days. The growth indices were measured at the end of each week. The chickens were euthanized at the ages of 28 and 35 days old after collecting blood samples with and without anticoagulants. The liver, heart, muscle, kidney and sciatic nerve were collected in formalin 10% for histopathological examination. The blood and serum samples were used to determine clinical pathologic and hematologic indices. The ratio of internal organs to body weight and ratio of the right ventricle to the total ventricles (RV/TV) of the heart was measured. Results showed, the use of lasalocid decreased feed conversion rate and triglyceride, and increased total protein. Simultaneous administration of lasalocid and florfenicol affected histopathology of the liver and heart and significantly increased creatine phosphokinase, uric acid and the ratio of RV/TV of heart. The eosinophil percentage in the chickens who received florfenicol plus lasalocid was significantly higher than chickens who received florfenicol alone (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it seems that simultaneous administration of the florfenicol and lasalocid induces side‐effects especially on cardiac function and it is not recommended.

Due to the desirable and interesting applications of refrigerants in organic Rankine cycles, heat pumps, and refrigeration, engineers and researchers are becoming more interested in refrigerant properties. One of the most dominant thermophysical properties of these fluids is their normal boiling point (Tb). In the current study, a novel extreme learning method (ELM) and ensemble decision tree boosted algorithm (EDT Boosted) are proposed to forecast the normal boiling point from 16 different molecular groups and one topological index. To this end, a total of 334 data points of Tb are gathered to prepare and test ELM and EDT boosted algorithms. The visual and mathematical comparisons of model outputs and real Tb express that proposed models have great potential to predict Tb of refrigerant. Moreover, sensitivity analysis is applied to explain the effectiveness of input parameters on the determination of Tb for refrigerants.

Introduction: Physiological and psychological changes during pregnancy are the cause of many psychological disorders including depression. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between vitamin D levels and common complications of pregnancy with the incidence of postpartum depression in mothers. Methods: The present study is a prospective cohort that was performed in two stages on 300 pregnant women who were in the third trimester of pregnancy. The sample selection method was done in several steps using demographic characteristics questionnaire, Sherborne and Stewart social support questionnaire and Edinburgh depression questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16 and descriptive statistics, independent t-test, paired t-test, one-way ANOVA and Chi-square. A p value of less than 0.5 was considered significant. Results: The results of the study showed that gestational complications such as urinary tract infection (P = 0.139), diabetes (P = 0.587) and gestational hypertension (P = 0.080) were not significantly associated with postpartum depression. There is also no significant relationship between vitamin D levels during pregnancy in people with postpartum depression and non-patients. (P> 0/05). Also, low level of social support was associated with a 3.2-fold increase in the risk of postpartum depression (P = 0.001) Conclusion: Postpartum depression is associated with devastating consequences for both mother and fetus. Therefore, pregnant women, especially those with risk factors and a history of postpartum depression, should be supported by various sources and at the head of the family.

ABSTRACT With much of the world infected with or vaccinated against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (commonly abbreviated SARS-CoV-2; abbreviated here SARS2), understanding the immune responses to the SARS2 spike (S) protein in different situations is crucial to controlling the pandemic. We studied the clinical, systemic, mucosal, and cellular responses to two doses of SARS2 mRNA vaccines in 62 individuals with and without prior SARS2 infection that were divided into three groups based on antibody serostatus prior to vaccination and/or degree of disease symptoms among those with prior SARS2 infection: antibody negative (naive), low symptomatic, and symptomatic. Antibody negative were subjects who were antibody negative (i.e., those with no prior infection). Low symptomatic subjects were those who were antibody negative and had minimal or no symptoms at time of SARS2 infection. Symptomatic subjects were those who were antibody positive and symptomatic at time of SARS2 infection. All three groups were then studied when they received their SARS2 mRNA vaccines. In the previously SARS2-infected (based on antibody test) low symptomatic and symptomatic groups, reactogenic symptoms related to a recall response were elicited after the first vaccination. Anti-S trimer IgA and IgG titers, and neutralizing antibody titers, peaked after the 1st vaccination in the previously SARS2-infected groups and were significantly higher than for the SARS2 antibody-negative group in the plasma and nasal samples at most time points. Nasal and plasma IgA antibody responses were significantly higher in the low symptomatic group than in the symptomatic group at most time points. After the first vaccination, differences in cellular immunity were not evident between groups, but the activation-induced cell marker (AIM+) CD4+ cell response correlated with durability of IgG humoral immunity against the SARS2 S protein. In those SARS2-infected subjects, severity of infection dictated plasma and nasal IgA responses in primary infection as well as response to vaccination (peak responses and durability), which could have implications for continued protection against reinfection. Lingering differences between the SARS2-infected and SARS2-naive up to 10 months postvaccination could explain the decreased reinfection rates in the SARS2-infected vaccinees recently reported and suggests that additional strategies (such as boosting of the SARS2-naive vaccinees) are needed to narrow the differences observed between these groups. IMPORTANCE This study on SARS2 vaccination in those with and without previous exposure to the virus demonstrates that severity of infection dictates IgA responses in primary infection as well as response to vaccination (peak responses and durability), which could have implications for continued protection against reinfection.

Introduction: Prevention of diabetes and its associated complications is especially important during menopause because significant changes occur in blood lipid levels along with insulin resistance due to aging and predispose to cardiovascular diseases. Regarding to the lower side effects of herbal medicines than chemical medicines, this study was performed with aim to evaluate the effect of evening primrose on blood sugar and fat profile of pre-diabetic postmenopausal women.Methods: This triple-blind randomized clinical trial was performed in 2018-2019 on 82 pre-diabetic postmenopausal women referred to the comprehensive health service centers in Rafsanjan. The intervention group received two 1000 mg capsules of evening primrose daily and the control group received placebo for three months. Before and after the intervention, fasting sugar (FBS, HbA1C) and blood lipid profile (including triglyceride, total cholesterol, low and high density lipoprotein) were assessed in the two groups by blood test. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 16) and independent t-test, Paired t-test and covariance test. P

Abstract There is an evidence that ginger enhance semen quality via improving different sperm parameters mainly count, viability, motility, morphology and DNA integrity. According to research results in various species, ginger seems to have strong antioxidant properties (due to the presence of active phenolic compounds) and androgenic activity. Ginger improves semen quality and increases fertility of sperm by disrupting the production of free radicals, dissolving oxidative chain reactions, reducing oxidative stress and altering the levels of gonadotropin hormones (LH, FSH) and sex hormones (such as testosterone). The antioxidant and androgenic properties of ginger give a sperm with normal morphological structure (head, middle and tail) and more integrated chromatin. The rate of DNA failure and damage to the mitochondrial genome in these cells is minimal and they have the most progressive motility, the highest viability and the best fertility. Therefore, the use of the ginger significantly improves the biological parameters of sperm (number, total motility, survival rate and normal morphology) and also increases all specialized fertility indicators of sperm. Tacking account of lacking literature and possibility of toxicity and adverse effect of ginger on vital organ, further clinical trial especially on evaluating the safety and clinical effect must be considered. Also, dose and duration of consumption by monitoring of health indicators and biochemical changes in all species such as human, animal and poultry must be applied.

Introduction: Numerous studies on acute kidney injury (AKI) following trauma have been performed, and acceptable findings have been reported in the adult population. The present meta-analysis summarizes the studies performed on the pediatric population to evaluate the prevalence of AKI following trauma in this population. Method: The Medline, Embase, Scopus and Web of Sciences databases were searched for articles published until the July, 31, 2021. Two independent reviewers screened observational studies performed on children with physical trauma and AKI related to it. The interested outcomes were the prevalence and mortality of trauma-related AKI in traumatized children. Results: Data of 9 articles were included in the present meta-analysis. The prevalence of trauma-related AKI varied between 0% and 30.30% among included studies. Pooled analysis showed that the prevalence of trauma-related AKI was 9.86% (95% CI: 8.02 to 11.84%). The prevalence of AKI after exertional rhabdomyolysis, direct physical trauma, and earthquake related injuries was 0%, 12.64% and 24.60%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of AKI and trauma etiology (p = 0.038). Moreover, the occurrence of AKI in children with trauma was associated with an increased risk of mortality (OR = 5.55; 95% CI: 2.14 to 13.93). Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that 9.86% of children develop AKI following trauma, which may increase their risk of death by about 5.5 times. Nevertheless, since none of the studies had adjusted their analyzes for potential confounders, caution should be exercised in interpreting the relationship between trauma-related AKI and mortality.

During the fall 2019 and spring 2020 semesters, 156 MPH students enrolled in the Integrative Learning Experience at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health explored concepts of the built environment and health by auditing 2500 street segments in 4 urban neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama. In teams of 4 to 5, in-class and online students worked collaboratively to assess 63 built environment variables related to transportation, land use, advertisement, and neighborhood physical disorder. This type of “community assessment” is the first stage of the Evidence-based Public Health Framework and consistent with the applied nature of an MPH degree. Authors conducted secondary data analysis of final team assignments to demonstrate how students translated observations and ratings into practical recommendations for neighborhood improvements to promote physical activity. Students recommended improvements in neighborhood infrastructure and services, specifically: creating exercise space, providing outdoor exercise equipment, improving neighborhood safety, and cultivating a culture of health. The Integrative Learning Experience course encouraged students to use their knowledge and skills to prioritize recommendations to improve neighborhood conditions. Variable ratings and observations increased student awareness of the built environment and its potential to impact individual and community health. Moreover, the project helped students make connections between proximal outcomes, such as improving neighborhood walkability, and distal outcomes, such as improved health outcomes among residents. Finally, this project modeled for students the use of evidence-based strategies for making data-informed decisions, which are essential skills for new and emerging public health professionals.

Oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between the production of oxygen free radicals and the body's antioxidant defense, is strongly associated with physical activity during a horse's sporting life. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of Malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxatase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) as indicators of oxidative stress and to compare them between two horse races of Arab and Dareshoor. For this purpose, 26 non-pregnant and non-lactating female horses from Yazd province (13 Arab and 13 Dareshoor) were randomly selected. Blood samples were taken from all horses at rest. MDA, TAC and antioxidant enzymes were tested in the serum of the studied horses. The results showed that the rate of MDA in the serum of Arabian horses was significantly lower than Dareshoor horses (0.98±0.55 vs 1.59±0.56 µmol/L, respectively). Also, serum TAC concentrations in Arabian and Dareshoor horses did not show any statistically significant difference, although the rate of this parameter in Arabian horses was slightly higher than in Dareshoor (113.54±70.75 vs 112.56±53.93 µmol/L, respectively). In Arab race, level of SOD, GPX and CAT were also higher than Dareshoor. These differences between SOD and GPX enzymes were statistically significant (p

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was a health emergency for the world in which started in 2019. Various factors are involved in the pathogenesis of this virus, including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), the type of diet, the degree of observance of health protocols, and the health status of people. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status and health behaviors of patients infected with COVID-19. Methods: A descriptive-analytical research method was used in this study. One of the outpatient centers for the patients infected with COVID-19 in Kermanshah was selected as the research setting. The study population included all patients infected with COVID-19 and the sample size was 200 people. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 22. Results: Most patients (51%) were females and most of them suffered from body aches (81%) and headaches (94%). Most of the patients (76%) did not use a mask. Regarding the nutritional status, a large number of patients used all food groups such as carbohydrates, proteins, fruits, and vegetables less than the standard amount. Conclusion: It can be concluded that people with underlying diseases are more prone to the disease than others and adherence to social distancing and mask use helps a lot to control the disease. In addition, the appropriate intake of food groups reduces the severity of the disease by strengthening the immune system in people.

Background and objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common debilitating neurodegenerative disease caused by inflammatory demyelinating processes in the central nervous system. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of core stability training on serum levels of progranulin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in women with MS. Methods: The study population consisted of 24 women with MS (aged 25 to 40 years) in Bojnourd (Iran) with expanded disability status scale score of 2-5. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of core stability training (n=12) and control (n=12). The training group performed 30-40 minutes of core stability training, three sessions a week for eight weeks. Blood sampling was done 24 hours before the first session and 48 hours after the last training session. Serum levels of progranulin and TNF-α were measured using commercial ELISA kits. Analysis of covariance was used to assess data at a significance level of 0.05 . Results: The eight-week core stability training was associated with a significant increase in serum level of progranulin (P=0.037) and a significant decrease in the level of TNF-α (P=0.000). Conclusion: The findings indicate that the eight-week core stability training could significantly change serum levels of progranulin and TNF-α and improve the condition of women with MS. Therefore, this type of training could be applied as a complementary therapy for MS patients.

Environmental stresses are among the main factors limiting growth and reproduction of the plants. Cold stress is one of the most important environmental stresses which incurs serious losses to different plant products and is considered as a threat to sustainable plant production. A set of morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes that occur during the autumn acclimates plant species to the low winter temperatures. Investigation of cold tolerance mechanisms at the cellular levels is a vital step in genetic manipulations for the purpose of improving plants’ resistance against cold. The occurrence of sudden low temperatures either in early autumns or late springs incurs various damages to plants. Cold acclimation during the autumn is necessary for plants to tolerate the low temperatures in winter. Although the overall adaptive process through which plants become tolerant to the low temperature is similar, this phenomenon varies slightly according to the plant species and climate condition. Moreover, when experiencing cold stress, different plant organs show various degrees of injuries, which can be minimized following proper agricultural practices through plant reinforcement. In fact, in time strengthening of the plant and avoiding any stress source can minimize the cold stress damages to the plant. An overview of the causes of cold stress injuries and plant response mechanisms can be helpful in reducing a part of low temperature detrimental effects.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which has become a major threat to public health worldwide. During the past decade, traditional medicine has been widely used the epidemic outbreaks such as SARS, H1N1 influenza, and MERS. In this review, we summarized the recent finding and evidence of herbal formula of TCM in the treatment of COVID-19.

Thymol and carvacrol as a natural essential oils and phenol compounds, are a component derived from some medicinal plants, such as thyme and oregano species. These compounds have been shown to possess a wide range of biological activities, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-infalmmatory, modulating of immunity respond and anticarcinogenic properties. One of main effects of these compounds that make them as valuable material in poultry medicine is antibacterial effect. The increasing consumption of organic and healthy meat and eggs in human society has made it increasingly necessary to use compounds that are completely natural and do not cause problems for human health. Since antibiotics are chemical compounds that can remain in meat and eggs and cause antibiotic resistance, allergies, mutations and even poisoning in humans. Therefore, utilization of compounds that are natural antibiotics can be easily fed with a higher safety in healthy poultry production. In this regard, the role of thymol and carvacrol as natural antibiotics in the poultry production has been discussed in a recent review.

Abstract Background Among the genetic elements, integrons may contribute to the widespread incidence and spreading of antibiotic resistance among Escherichia coli isolates. Accordingly, this review aims to investigate the prevalence of class 1 integron in E. coli isolated from animal sources in Iran. Methods This systematic literature search was performed from January 1, 2000 to the end of May 1, 2019. Then, publications that met our inclusion criteria were selected for data extraction and analysis. Also, the quality of included studies was independently assessed by two researchers based on the Joanna Briggs Institute. Meta-analysis was performed by the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis (CMA) software using the random effects model, Cochran’s Q, and I 2 tests. Publication bias was estimated by funnel plot and Egger’s linear regression test. Results Based on inclusion criteria, five studies were included to meta-analysis. From those studies, the pooled prevalence of integrons was 33% (95% CI, 23.8–43.7%) ranging from 23.8 to 52.4%. There was a significant heterogeneity among the 5 studies (χ 2 = 11.73; p < 0.019; I 2 = 65.91%). Additionally, Begg’s and Egger’s tests were performed to quantitatively evaluate the publication biases. According to the results of Begg’s test (z = 1.22, p = 0.22) and Egger’s test (t = 3.03, p = 0.056), a significant publication bias was not observed. Conclusions Our finding revealed the relatively high prevalence of class 1 integrons among E. coli isolates. Moreover, there was a significant heterogeneity among studies and subgroup analysis also showed that there was no difference about prevalence of class 1 integrons among different sample source.

Introduction: Tinnitus is a central auditory disorder in which different processing systems are involved as a network. One of these networks is memory. Previous studies have demonstrated some deficits in various types of memory in chronic tinnitus. Objectives: The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the semantic memory, which is not yet investigated in the tinnitus population. Methods: In this case–control study, 15 subjects with chronic tinnitus and 16 matched healthy controls were included. 40 semantically related and 40 semantically unrelated word pairs were presented to the participants in a counter-balanced fashion. They were asked to make decision about their semantic relatedness. Then the participants’ reaction times and the accuracy of responses were calculated. Results: Mean of reaction times were significantly longer in the tinnitus group (M = 1034 ms, SD = 0.31) compared to the control group (Mean = 1016 ms, SD = 0.13), p

Today, the most important factor in the occurrence of metabolic and reproductive diseases in dairy cattle is the disturbance of natural process in body’s cellular-molecular events that occur after increasing of oxidants and the formation of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of a significant association between the serum concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), as oxidative stress indexes, with the incidence of subclinical ketosis and clinical endometritis in dairy cows. For this purpose, 101 Holstein dairy cows were divided into 4 groups (healthy, subclinical ketosis, clinical endometritis, and both of them subclinical ketosis-clinical endometritis), and serum levels of MDA and TAC were measured in one month before delivery. The lowest serum concentration of TAC and the highest plasma MDA levels were observed in cows with both of diseases, while control group (healthy cows) had the highest serum concentration of TAC and lowest MDA levels (P≤0.05). There was no significant difference in serum concentrations of TAC and MDA between clinical endometritis and subclinical ketosis groups (p>0.05). The results of this study demonstrated a significant correlation between serum concentrations MDA and TAC with the incidence of clinical endometritis and prevalence of ketosis-endometritis in dairy cows (P≤0.05). Conflict of interest: None declared.Keywords: Malondialdehyde, Total Antioxidant Capacity, Clinical Endometritis, Subclinical Ketosis.

Background: Craniosynostosis mostly occurs as a single abnormality; however, it may rarely occur concomitantly with other congenital abnormalities known as syndromic craniosynostosis. Cardiac anomalies are among the most common ones occurring coincidentally with craniosynostosis. Nevertheless, the information about the exact prevalence of cardiac anomalies in craniosynostosis has not been well-understood yet. We aimed to assess the prevalence of different cardiac anomalies that coincidence with craniosynostosis. Method: This cross-sectional study was done on 145 patients with craniosynostosis from January 2015 to December 2019. 103 patients with a single-suture involvement were placed in the nonsyndromic group, and the remaining 42 with pansynostosis or the clinical manifestations of Apert, Pfeiffer, Crouzon, and Carpenter syndromes in the syndromic group. The prevalence of cardiac anomalies was evaluated and compared between the groups. Results: The prevalence of congenital cardiac anomalies was 22.3% and 50% in non-syndromic and syndromic cases, respectively (P=0.001). Syndromic boys predominantly presented cardiac anomalies (P=0.85), whereas non-syndromic girls were mostly affected by cardiac anomalies (P=0.75). Age was not associated with congenital cardiac anomalies, neither in non-syndromic (P=0.31) nor in syndromic (P=0.26) patients. The number of affected sutures was not associated with cardiac anomalies (P>0.05). Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) (16.7%), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (14.3%), and ventricular septal defect (VSD) (11.9%) were the most prominent anomalies found among the syndromic patients, while TR (8.7%), atrial septal defect (ASD) (3.9%), and PDA (3.9%) were common among the non-syndromic ones. Conclusion: Congenital heart disease is a prevalent abnormality among children with craniosynostosis. Therefore, cardiac assessment in craniosynostosis is strongly recommended.

The main aim of this work is the determination of aromaticity in biochar from easier accessible parameters (e.g., elemental composition). To this end, two machine learning models, including adaptive neurofuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and least-squares support vector machine (LSSVM), were used to predict this constant form 98 dataset gathered from earlier reported sources. The outputs of the statistical parameters showed that the LSSVM model has the ability to estimate the target parameter with R-squared values of 0.986 and a mean relative error of 3.821 for the overall dataset. Also, by analyzing the sensitivity on the input parameters, it was shown that the carbon percentage has the greatest effect on the target values, and a high focus should be placed on this parameter. Finally, by comparing the methods proposed in this paper with other models published in previous studies, our model has shown higher accuracy in predicting the target parameter.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous, non-coding, single-stranded and tiny RNAs that modulate several biological functions, more importantly, the pathophysiology of numerous human cancers. They are bound with target mRNAs and thereby regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional levels. MiRNAs can either trigger cancer progression as an oncogene or alleviate it as a tumor suppressor. Abnormal expression of microRNA-1297 (miR-1297) has been noticed in several human cancers suggesting a distinct role for the miRNA in tumorigenesis. More specifically, it is both up-regulated and down-regulated in various cancers suggesting that it can act as both tumor suppressor and oncogene. This review systematically highlights the different roles of miR-1297 in the pathophysiology of human cancers, explains the mechanisms underlying miR-1297-mediated tumorigenesis, and discusses its potential prognostic, diagnostic, and therapeutic importance.

Introduction: There is no comprehensive meta-analysis on the value of physiological scoring systems in predicting the mortality of critically ill patients. Therefore, the present study intended to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to collect the available clinical evidence on the value of physiological scoring systems in predicting the in-hospital mortality of acute patients. Method: An extensive search was performed on Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases until the end of year 2020. Physiological models included Rapid Acute Physiology Score (RAPS), Rapid Emergency Medicine Score (REMS), modified REMS (mREMS), and Worthing Physiological Score (WPS). Finally, the data were summarized and the findings were presented as summary receiver operating characteristics (SROC), sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). Results: Data from 25 articles were included. The overall analysis showed that the area under the SROC curve of REMS, RAPS, mREMS, and WPS criteria were 0.83 (95% CI: 0.79-0.86), 0.89 (95% CI: 0.86-0.92), 0.64 (95% CI: 0.60-0.68) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83-0.89), respectively. DOR for REMS, RAPS, mREMS and WPS models were 11 (95% CI: 8-16), 13 (95% CI: 4-41), 2 (95% CI: 2-4) and 17 (95% CI: 5-59) respectively. When analyses were limited to trauma patients, the DOR of the REMS and RAPS models were 112 and 431, respectively. Due to the lack of sufficient studies, it was not possible to limit the analyses for mREMS and WPS. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that three models of RAPS, REMS and WPS have a high predictive value for in-hospital mortality. In addition, the value of these models in trauma patients is much higher than other patient settings.

Introduction: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), as a dangerous central nervous system damage, continues to threaten communities by imposing various disabilities and costs. Early adjustment of the immune system response using Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) immunization may prevent the SCI-related secondary damages. As a result, the current study is designed to review and analyse the evidence on active and passive immunization with MBP for treatment of traumatic SCI. Methods: Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched until the end of 2020. Criteria for inclusion in the current study included pre-clinical studies, which performed passive (injection of MBP-activated T cells) or active (administration of MBP or MBP-modified peptides) immunization with MBP after traumatic SCI. Exclusion criteria was defined as lack of a non-treated SCI group, lack of evaluation of locomotion, review studies, and combination therapy. Finally, analyses were conducted using STATA software, and a standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported. Results: Data from 17 papers were included in the present study. Finally, analysis of these data showed that passive immunization (SMD=0.87; 95%CI: 0.19-1.55; p=0.012) and active immunization (SMD=2.08, 95%CI: 1.42-2.73; p

Hypoparathyroidism is an endocrine disorder that can be congenital or acquired. Generally, hypoparathyroidism is characterized by hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and low or abnormal levels of Parathyroid Hormone (PTH). It can be asymptomatic or symptomatic. The symptoms include seizures, paresthesia, depression, psychosis, extrapyramidal manifestations, and increased intracranial pressure. In this case study, we reported a 40-year- old male patient who was admitted to the emergency department with generalized tonic- clonic movements and urine incontinency. Laboratory investigations revealed hypocalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and low parathyroid hormone levels and in paraclinical studies, including Electroencephalography (EEG) and brain CT-scan, despite normal EEG, extensive intracranial calcification involving the basal ganglia, thalamus, white matter of the cerebral hemispheres, and subcortical area of the frontal and parietal lobes were observed on CT-scan.

In Classical literature, metaphor is a kind of deviation from the normal language, whose main role is glory and speech, so that it can be removed from ordinary language. On the contrary with this traditional thinking, the cognitive linguists conceived the new concepts and functions for metaphor. In the new perspective, language is basically metaphorical and can not be thought of without metaphor and communicating with the outside world. In a new approach, unlile the view of classical intellectuals, metaphor is a meta-language tool that emphasizes the link between language and thought. In this perspective, the conceptual or cognitive metaphor, the experience of abstract and undefined matters are in the form of tangible and descriptive issues. The significance of conceptual metaphors in understanding the system of thought and perceiving the most important mental concepts dominates in each work. One of the most important functions of conceptual metaphor is the understanding of abstract and inexpressible affairs in terms of physical and sensible things, because many of fundamental concepts in our conceptual system are usually understood through metaphorical concepts. Sayr al Ebad Elal Maad-e-Sanai is one of the most prominent mystical works in Persian poems that expresses the journey of the soul to the world, and then returns to the kingdom of the metaphorical and allegorical language. The mystical, allegorical language of Sanai has given a special distinction to his gnostic thoughts. This style prominence owes to the metaphorical attitude and meaning of the Sanai hence, the most prominent tool used by the Sanai in Sierra El-Ebad is the use of the function of cognitive metaphor to describe and understand better the mystical abstract concepts and extrasensory. Based on the above mentioned, the present study is descriptive-analytical and in the framework of the cognitive metaphor, the study of Sayr al Ebad Elal Maad-e-Sanai and the identification and analysis of the most important writings and concepts in which the poet attempts to portray and to associate them to the audience with the language of metaphor. Accordingly, these metaphors are analyzed based on the target domain and the subjective concepts of classification and some semantic functions. In the next step, another classification based on the cognitive function of the conceptual metaphors of Lakoff and Johnson (structural, ontology, and directional) has been respectively performed in the order of the highest frequency. Sayr al Ebad Elal Maad-e-Sanai is the story of the soul's journey to the world of creation and the mystical kingdom and God’s gate. In this collection, the language of metaphor is the best tool for expressing the metaphysical concepts which related to the journey of the soul and its barriers. Therefore, understanding the main and most important metaphorical writings of Sierra El Abad has a valuable role in recognizing the hidden points of the text as well as the literary style and the poet’s intellectual system.After the analysis of the most important metaphorical writings of Sanai, the most important phenomena and the metaphorical concepts are respectively the use of moral vices, wits, four elements, the world, the soul, the heavens and the earth, desire, the kingdom, the virtues, the spirit, the body , Science and the stages of man's creation. The results show that the use of conceptual, metaphorical patterns has an important and effective role in explaining the abstract and supernatural ideas of Sanaei. According to the findings, the most frequent metaphorical concepts and phenomena related to the ethical vices, which have been manifested in the metaphorical animal forms of moral vices; on the other hand, the most important semantic functions of the sensual field, savage, meanness, slander, ugliness and covetousness, blackness, poison, mercilessness, bitterness, impoverishment and destruction. The structural metaphors have the most important and the most cognitive function in Sayr al Ebad Elal Maad-e-Sanai. These metaphors have a more pronounced application in the emergence of dominant thinking on the subject. The most prominent metaphorical examples used to explain the important and often meta sensual concepts include: the types of animals, the types of instruments, the types of buildings, the governmental jobs, kinship relativity, the common occupations, prophets, plant types, and the lightening elements. The ontological metaphors have a special place after structural metaphors. In the meantime, the most frequent realm of ontological metaphors is the field of humanism. Then in the directional metaphor, the most manifested one is in the "high order", which is mostly used for positive, pleasant, and often superficial conceptual domains.

Abstract Aims/Introduction Postmenopausal women receive bisphosphonates for osteoporosis treatment. The effect of these medications on developing diabetes mellitus in prediabetic patients is yet to be investigated. We aimed to determine the effect of alendronate on plasma glucose, insulin indices of postmenopausal women with prediabetes and osteopenia. Materials and Methods The present triple‐blind randomized controlled clinical trial included 60 postmenopausal women, aged 45–60 years. All patients were vitamin D sufficient. They were randomly enrolled in intervention (70 mg/week alendronate for 12 weeks) and control (placebo tablet per week for 12 weeks) groups. The morning 8‐h fasting blood samples were collected at the baseline and follow‐up visits to measure the fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL), insulin and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Plasma glucose and insulin concentration were measured 30, 60 and 120 min after the glucose tolerance test. The Matsuda Index, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, homeostasis model assessment of β‐cell function and the area under the curves of glucose and insulin were calculated. Results The mean (standard deviation) fasting plasma glucose (102.43 [1.46] mg/dL vs 94.23 [1.17] mg/dL, P = 0.001), 120‐min insulin concentration (101.86 [15.70] mU/L vs 72.60 [11.36] mU/L, P = 0.026), HbA1c (5.60 [0.06]% vs 5.40 [0.05]%, P = 0.001), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (3.57 [0.45] vs 2.62 [0.24], P = 0.021) and Matsuda Index (7.7 [0.41] vs 9.2 [0.4], P = 0.001) significantly improved in the alendronate‐treated group. There were more statistically significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose (−8.2 [8.63] mg/dL vs −2.5 [14.26] mg/dL, P = 0.002) and HbA1c (−0.2 [0.23]% vs −0.09 [0.26]%, P = 0.015) observed in the alendronate‐treated group than the placebo group during the study course, respectively. Conclusions Administration of 70 mg/week alendronate improves fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c and insulin indices in postmenopausal women.

Introduction: Mental health of adolescent girls as future mothers is of great importance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of religious identity in the relationship between mother-child interaction and mental health of adolescent girls in Yazd, Iran. Method: This study was conducted on 319 female students, studying at the tenth to twelfth grades of high schools in Yazd. In this study, Parent-Child Relationship Survey (PCRS), the Goldberg General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), and Lotf-Abadi National-Religious Identity Questionnaire were used. The structural equation modeling was used to analyze data using AMOS software version 25. Results: The findings of this study, using the method of structural equation modeling, showed that the quality of mother-child interaction had a direct and significant effect on both mental health disorder (β = -0.16, P< 0.001) and religious identity (β = 0.31, P< 0.001). In addition, the results showed that religious identity had a direct and significant effect on mental health disorder (β = -0.16, P< 0.001). Furthermore, religious identity played a mediator role in the relationship between mother-child interaction and mental health disorder (β = -0.05, P< 0.05).Multiple indices were used to evaluate the model and the results showed that the proposed model had goodness-of-fit. Conclusion: Religious identity, as a protecting resource, helps adolescents against the stress and dangers, which arise from the puberty-related problems and increases their mental health. A good mother-child relationship has direct and significant relationship with the religious identity of adolescent girls. Therefore, the quality of relationship with mother, as a result of the religious identity development, can increase the mental health of female adolescents.

Here, the authors explore the relationship between socioeconomic position (SEP) across the life course and inflammation in a multi-cohort study and show that educational attainment is most strongly related to inflammation, suggesting that socioeconomic disadvantage in young adulthood is independently associated with later life inflammation.

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was used as an efficient, and environmentally friendly catalyst for the solvent-free three-component synthesis of quinazolinone derivatives by condensation of 2-aminobenzimidazole, dimedone or 1,3-cyclohexanedione, and different aldehydes. The catalyst was recovered easily, and reused without significant loss of its activity. Solvent-free and mild reaction conditions, nontoxic-, biodegradable-, and inexpensive catalyst, environmentally benign method, and high to excellent yields are some important features of this protocol. Keywords: Carboxymethyl cellulose, Green catalyst, Ball milling, Benzimidazoloquinazolinone derivatives, Solvent-free

A self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) composed of ethyl oleate, Tween 80 and polyethylene glycol 600 was prepared as a new route to improve the efficacy of imatinib. The drug-loaded SNEDDS formed nanodroplets of ethyl oleate stabilized by Tween 80 and polyethylene glycol 600 with a diameter of 81.0±9.5 nm. The nanoemulsion-based delivery system was stable for at least two months, with entrapment efficiency and loading capacity of 16.4±0.1 and 48.3±0.2%, respectively. Imatinib-loaded SNEDDS was evaluated for the drug release profiles, and its effectiveness against MCF-7 cell line was investigated. IC50 values for the imatinib-loaded SNEDDS and an imatinib aqueous solution were 3.1 and 6.5 µg mL-1, respectively.

Introduction: During the last decades, frequent reports on the poor semen quality in humans have raised many researchers' concerns to study the possible impact of lifestyle or environmental factors on semen quality. The debate is continuously growing on the adverse reproductive effects of exposure to heavy and trace metals found in the environment, even at their relatively low levels. Materials and Methods: This study was carried out from July 2018 to February 2019. A total of 40 men were divided into two groups (idiopathic oligo– and/or asthenozoospermia and normozoospermic men) to determine the correlation between arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) levels in the seminal plasma with sperm quality parameters including concentration, total motility, progressive motility, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), sperm plasma membrane integrity (SPMI), acrosome integrity (AI) and DNA fragmentation in Iranian men with idiopathic oligo– and/or asthenozoospermia and normozoospermic individuals. Results: A significant positive or suggestive correlation was found between as concentrations in the seminal plasma and sperm concentration, motility, progressive motility, viability, MMP, SPMI, and DNA fragmentation. Moreover, seminal plasma Cd concentrations were also correlated negatively with sperm viability. We also found a positive correlation between the seminal plasma Mn levels and sperm concentration, motility, progressive motility, morphology, viability, acrosome integrity, and DNA fragmentation. Conclusion: We showed that the levels of As, Cd, and Mn levels in the seminal plasma are associated with the sperm functional parameters. Considering the unpleasant effects of the studied metals on semen quality, it is suggested that long-term contact with these metals be avoided, especially by people at their reproductive age.

For (im)migrants, understanding how to navigate a host country and how to access the existing social systems and the public welfare ecosystem are among the most difficult and confusing tasks [...]

The mechanochemical synthesis of cocrystals has been introduced as a promising approach of formulating poorly water-soluble active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). In this study, hot-melt extrusion (HME) as a continuous process and grinding and ball milling as batch processes were employed to explore the feasibility of cocrystallization. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) and isonicotinic acid (INCA) were selected as the model API and coformer. CIP–INCA cocrystal was produced in all techniques. It was revealed that higher cocrystal content could be achieved at longer durations of grinding and ball milling. However, milling for more than 10 min led to increased co-amorphous content instead of cocrystal. A design of experiment (DoE) approach was used for deciphering the complex correlation of screw configuration, screw speed, and temperature as HME process parameters and their respective effect on final relative cocrystal yield. Statistical analysis showed that screw configuration, temperature, and their interaction were the most critical factors affecting cocrystallization. Interestingly, screw speed had minimal impact on the relative cocrystallization yield. Cocrystallization led to increased dissolution rate of CIP in phosphate buffer up to 2.5-fold. Overall, this study shed a light on the potential of mechanochemical synthesis techniques with special focus on HME as a continuous process for producing cocrystals.

Amaryllis is a bulbous flowering plant that has attracted many florists in Iran in recent years. The present study aimed to explore genetic diversity and quantitative and qualitative yield of imported cultivars and promising genotypes of amaryllis. The research used 16 genotypes based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in the Ornamental Plants Research Center in Iran (2017-2018). Based on the guideline of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), 17 major traits were selected to assess the genotypes. The differences in genotypes showed a wide diversity in all traits among them. The highest general heritability was observed in flowering period (93.86%) and leaf length (91.24%) and the lowest in the number of florets per branch (20.37%). Overall, most traits had high heritability. The highest number of flowering branches, flowering period, floret length, stalk diameter, leaf number, and leaf length were obtained from ‘Moscow’. The highest peduncle length, floret width, and flowering period were observed in the promising genotype ‘OPRC-202’. The flower form was double in ‘Cherry Nymph’, ‘Dancing Queen’, and ‘OPRC-204’, miniature in ‘Baby Star’, and simple (single-flower) in the other genotypes. Based on the results, the promising genotypes ‘OPRC-202’ and ‘OPRC-204’ have a high potential to be introduced as new competitive cultivars in domestic and international markets. The promising genotypes and cultivars were categorized in four groups. The results showed that major of the diversity in the traits was due to genetic factors and the effect of the environment on these traits was less.

ABSTRACT Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) have developed mechanisms to manipulate cellular antiviral measures to ensure proper DNA replication, with detailed processes far from being understood. Host cells repress incoming viral genomes through a network of transcriptional regulators that normally control cellular homeostasis. The nuclear domains involved are promyelocytic leukemia protein nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), interferon-inducible, dot-like nuclear structures and hot spots of SUMO posttranslational modification (PTM). In HAdV-infected cells, such SUMO factories are found in close proximity to newly established viral replication centers (RCs) marked by the adenoviral DNA binding protein (DBP) E2A. Here, we show that E2A is a novel target of host SUMOylation, leading to PTMs supporting E2A function in promoting productive infection. Our data show that SUMOylated E2A interacts with PML. Decreasing SUMO-E2A protein levels by generating HAdV variants mutated in the three main SUMO conjugation motifs (SCMs) led to lower numbers of viral RCs and PML-NBs, and these two structures were no longer next to each other. Our data further indicate that SUMOylated E2A binds the host transcription factor Sp100A, promoting HAdV gene expression, and represents the molecular bridge between PML tracks and adjacent viral RCs. Consequently, E2A SCM mutations repressed late viral gene expression and progeny production. These data highlight a novel mechanism used by the virus to benefit from host antiviral responses by exploiting the cellular SUMO conjugation machinery. IMPORTANCE PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) are implicated in general antiviral defense based on recruiting host restriction factors; however, it is not understood so far why viruses would establish viral replication centers (RCs) juxtaposed to such “antiviral” compartments. To understand this enigma, we investigate the cross talk between PML-NB components and viral RCs to find the missing link connecting both compartments to promote efficient viral replication and gene expression. Taken together, the current concept is more intricate than originally believed, since viruses apparently take advantage of several specific PML-NB-associated proteins to promote productive infection. Simultaneously, they efficiently inhibit antiviral measures to maintain the viral infectious program. Our data provide evidence that SUMOylation of the viral RC marker protein E2A represents the basis of this virus-host interface and regulates various downstream events to support HAdV productive infection. These results are the basis of our current attempts to generate and screen for specific E2A SUMOylation inhibitors to constitute novel therapeutic approaches to limit and prevent HAdV-mediated diseases and mortality of immunosuppressed patients.