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ABSTRACT: A dose-response assay in a central composite design platform was conducted to investigate the responses (performance, immunity, and meat quality) of quail chicks to dietary tryptophan (Trp), melatonin (MEL), and N,N-dimethylglycine (DMG) exposed to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). A total of 1,275 quail chicks were randomly allotted to 85-floor pens consisting of 17 treatments with 5 replicates and 15 birds per each pen. Dietary MEL and DMG had a different effect on growth rate and interacted with dietary Trp and AFB1 during the first 4 wk of age, while their effect disappeared at the last week of the experiment. Dietary Trp and AFB1 were only significant on the gain of quail chick after d 28 of the assay. During the second and third weeks of age, the reduction in feed intake caused by AFB1 attenuated by dietary MEL and DMG and dietary Trp profoundly affects feed intake in the last 2 wk of the experiment. Dietary MEL and DMG were effective on feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the second and third weeks of age. AFB1 decreased breast meat yield (BMY) and thigh meat yield (TMY), but the inclusion of either MEL or DMG removed the adverse effects of AFB1. Dietary Trp increased BMY, but it did not affect TMY. Increasing dietary Trp linearly increased the Lactobacillus bacteria (LAB) population, and AFB1 negatively impacts the LAB population. The inclusion of dietary DMG removed that negative effect on LAB. Although AFB1 decreased the antibody production against SRBC-antigen, increasing dietary Trp in intoxicated quails increased the plasma antibody in SRBC-challenged birds. At low levels of dietary Trp (0.15–0.19%), the addition of DMG increased malondialdehyde (MDA) production while increasing Trp reversed this adverse situation. In conclusion, these supplements may interact with AFB1 in younger chicks, and dietary Trp and AFB1 have a significant impact on the growth performance of quail chicks during the fifth and sixth week of age.

3D printing has emerged as a revolutionary technique for producing products with specific shapes and mechanical properties tailored to various needs. Its ability to fabricate intricate structures and forms has garnered considerable attention, leading to numerous research efforts exploring its potential benefits in geotechnical applications. These endeavours highlight the possibilities of utilizing 3D printing technology to create innovative and customized materials for soil reinforcement, such as geosynthetics, and fibres, as well as replicating soil particles, physical models of soil structures, and drainage systems in geo-structures. Additionally, beyond its role in geotechnical engineering, the interaction between geo-structures (foundations, retaining walls, embankments, tunnels, piles, infrastructures, etc.) and the surrounding soil under different loading and environmental conditions is of paramount importance. The interface between these structures and the soil plays a critical role in load transfer and overall stability. Therefore, this study focuses on investigating the interface between soil and 3D printed components through direct shear testing. The experimental campaign aims to examine how different factors, including the type of 3D printing materials, material rigidity, and surface texture of the printed components, influence the shear behaviour of the soil-3D printing material interface. The findings suggest that Young’s modulus of the 3D printed materials plays a crucial role in determining the response of the soil-3D printed parts interface. Furthermore, an optimized design is proposed to achieve the desired shearing resistance at the interface. The insights gained from this investigation have practical implications for optimizing the design of 3D-printed components in geotechnical engineering applications.

This study aimed to investigate the prediction of death obsessionthrough religious orientation and neurotic personality type of femalenurses of Tehran hospitals.The method used in the study wascorrelation and multiple regression analysis. The population of thestudy included all female nurses of private hospitals in Tehran (Laleh,Dey, Apadana, Asia, Azadi, Tehran, KhatamolanbIya, and Fajr) in2012. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 16 and was examinedusing Pearson correlation coefficient and multiple regressionanalysis. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that 30%of the variance death obsession is explained by death predictorvariables (extrinsic religious orientation and neurotic personalitytype). The relationship between extrinsic religious orientation withobsession death (p

Objective: Osteopontin (OPN), also known as SPP1 (secreted phosphoprotein) is a secreted protein present in bodily fluids and tissues. It is also a tumour-associated protein, and elevated OPN levels are associated with tumour formation, progression and metastasis. In cancer patients expression of OPN has been associated with poor prognosis in several tumor types including breast, lung, and colorectal cancers. Research has revealed a promising role for OPN as a cancer biomarker. OPN is subject to alternative splicing, as well as post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation, glycosylation and proteolytic cleavage. Functional differences have been revealed for different isoforms and post-translational modifications. The pattern of isoform expression and post-translational modification is cell-type specific and may influence the potential role of OPN in malignancy and as a cancer biomarker. Tumor specific splice variants are being discovered at an increasing rate and their functions are also investigated in cancer progression. Materials and Methods: After culturing U87-MG cell line in proper medium, RNA extraction following by single strand cDNA synthesis has been performed. Multiple products of RT-PCR by specific primers for spp1 mRNA was isolated and cloned in pTZ57R/T vector for sequencing. Results: We found a novel transcription variant of spp1 gene in U87-MG cell line, experimentally. Our sequencing data revealed that this novel variant lacks a region that potentially is a binding site of some micro-RNAs. Conclusion: Our study revealed that this novel variant has same function with other variants of this gene but we assume that post-transcriptional control mechanisms for this variant are different from the other variants. Computational analysis reveals that shorter variant of spp1 gene has so many regions that are complementary with some micro-RNAs. Then shorter variant is more stable than longer one and has a significant association with cancer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) can have more pronounced effects on joint position sense (JPS) accuracy and gait characteristics. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between lower limb JPS and different aspects of gait pattern including gait asymmetry and variability and spatiotemporal coordination in individuals with bilateral KOA. In this cross-sectional study, lower limb JPS of 43 individuals with bilateral KOA (mild and moderate) were measured. Participants' gait patterns during treadmill walking with self-selected comfortable speed were assessed. The correlations between JPS errors and gait parameters of limb with moderate KOA were analyzed. Positive relationships were found between stance time symmetry index and JPS errors of hip abduction (r = .46, P = .003), ankle plantar flexion (r = .33, P = .03), and ankle dorsiflexion (r = .33, P = .03). Positive relationship was found between single limb support time symmetry index and hip abduction JPS error (r = .41, P = .008). Significant negative associations were found between coefficient of variation of step length and JPS errors of knee extension (r = .47, P = .002) and ankle plantar flexion (r = .33, P = .003). Results did not show any significant relationship between lower limb JPS errors and walk ratio. It is likely that lower limb JPS deficits are partially responsible for some changes in gait patterns observed in individuals with bilateral KOA.

Spatial ability, essential for navigating and interacting with the environment, comprises small-scale (e.g., mental rotation) and large-scale (e.g., spatial navigation) skills. Previous research underscores the influence of motor expertise on these abilities, yet comparative studies among different types of movement experts are limited, especially regarding the impact of gross motor skills on large-scale spatial abilities. This case-control study compared small-scale and large-scale spatial abilities among fine movement experts, gross movement experts, and non-movement experts. Ninety participants (30 per group) were assessed through computer-based spatial ability tests, including the Revised Purdue Spatial Visualization Test (PSVT: R), Mental Rotation Test, a navigation task developed in Unity 3D, and Triangle Completion Test (TCT). Fine movement experts excelled in small-scale spatial tasks compared to non-movement experts. Gross movement experts demonstrated superior large-scale spatial abilities, evidenced by lower errors in TCT and higher navigation scores, distinguishing their performance in spatial navigation and orientation from both fine movement experts and non-movement experts. The study highlights the distinct impacts of fine and gross motor expertise on spatial abilities, with gross motor skills particularly benefiting large-scale spatial navigation. These findings suggest potential clinical applications of gross motor training for improving spatial abilities in neurological populations, advocating for further research in immersive virtual environments and exploring lateral dominance effects on spatial performance., Competing Interests: Declarations Conflicts of interest The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Marta Olivetti Belardinelli.)

N 6 -methyladenosine (m 6 A) is the most abundant modification to mRNAs. Loss-of-function studies of main m 6 A regulators have indicated the role of m 6 A in pre-mRNA splicing. Recent studies have reported the role of splicing in preventing m 6 A deposition. Understanding the interplay between m 6 A and mRNA splicing holds the potential to clarify the significance of these fundamental molecular mechanisms in cell development and function, thereby shedding light on their involvement in the pathogenesis of myriad diseases., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest There is no competing interest related to the submitted manuscript., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

RNA modifications are essential for the establishment of cellular identity. Although increasing evidence indicates that RNA modifications regulate the innate immune response, their role in monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation and polarisation is unclear. While m 6 A has been widely studied, other RNA modifications, including 5 hmC, remain poorly characterised. We profiled m 6 A and 5 hmC epitranscriptomes, transcriptomes, translatomes and proteomes of monocytes and macrophages at rest and pro- and anti-inflammatory states. Transcriptome-wide mapping of m 6 A and 5 hmC reveals enrichment of m 6 A and/or 5 hmC on specific categories of transcripts essential for macrophage differentiation. Our analyses indicate that m 6 A and 5 hmC modifications are present in transcripts with critical functions in pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophages. Notably, we also discover the co-occurrence of m 6 A and 5 hmC on alternatively-spliced isoforms and/or opposing ends of the untranslated regions (UTR) of mRNAs with key roles in macrophage biology. In specific examples, RNA 5 hmC controls the decay of transcripts independently of m 6 A. This study provides (i) a comprehensive dataset to interrogate the role of RNA modifications in a plastic system (ii) a resource for exploring different layers of gene expression regulation in the context of human monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation and polarisation, (iii) new insights into RNA modifications as central regulators of effector cells in innate immunity., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This bioassay evaluated the bioavailability (RBV) of a novel nanoparticle of methionine (nano-Met) relative to DL-methionine (DL-Met), and estimated methionine requirements for both sources in starting broilers. Five supplemental levels (0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.25% of diet) of DL-Met or nano-Met were added to a basal diet containing 0.35% standardized ileal digestible (SID) methionine to create 11 experimental diets, including a basal diet and 10 experimental diets containing 0.40, 0.45, 0.50, 0.55, and 0.60% SID-Met, respectively. A total of 825 one-day-old male Ross 308 birds were randomly assigned to 11 treatments with 5 pen replicates and 15 birds each. Body weight gain (BWG), breast meat yield (BMY), and thigh meat yield (TMY) increased (P < 0.001) while feed conversion ratio (FCR) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in meat samples decreased (P < 0.001) with increasing dietary methionine. Based on the slope-ratio method, the RBV of nano-Met relative to DL-Met for BWG, FCR, and TMY were 102 (48-155%; R2 = 0.71), 134 (68-201%; R2 = 0.77), and 110% (27-193%; R2 = 0.55), respectively. Considering the statistical accuracy of the spline models, the estimated values of DL-Met for maximum BWG and nano-Met for maximum TMY were 0.578% and 0.561%, respectively, which were statistically higher than those recommended for commercial settings. The highest effect size of supplemental methionine was on MDA (ƞ2p = 0.924), followed by FCR (ƞ2p = 0.578), BMY (ƞ2p = 0.575), BWG (ƞ2p = 0.430), and TMY (ƞ2p = 0.332), suggesting the potent antioxidant properties of methionine. Our findings suggest that reducing the particle size of DL-Met to nanoparticles could be a promising strategy to enhance the efficiency of methionine supplementation in broilers, an idea that requires further investigation in future research., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Ghazaghi et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Proximal femur geometry is an important risk factor for diagnosing and predicting hip and femur injuries. Hence, the development of an automated approach for measuring these parameters could help physicians with the early identification of hip and femur ailments. This paper presents a technique that combines the active shape model (ASM) and deep learning methodologies. First, the femur boundary is extracted by a deep learning neural network. Then, the femur's anatomical landmarks are fitted to the extracted border using the ASM method. Finally, the geometric parameters of the proximal femur, including femur neck axis length (FNAL), femur head diameter (FHD), femur neck width (FNW), shaft width (SW), neck shaft angle (NSA), and alpha angle (AA), are calculated by measuring the distances and angles between the landmarks. The dataset of hip radiographic images consisted of 428 images, with 208 men and 220 women. These images were split into training and testing sets for analysis. The deep learning network and ASM were subsequently trained on the training dataset. In the testing dataset, the automatic measurement of FNAL, FHD, FNW, SW, NSA, and AA parameters resulted in mean errors of 1.19%, 1.46%, 2.28%, 2.43%, 1.95%, and 4.53%, respectively., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine.)

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is a common musculoskeletal condition in young and active adults. Exercise therapy is an essential part of rehabilitation in people with PFPS (PwPFPS). Telerehabilitation is an innovative treatment approach that has been used in several musculoskeletal conditions. This study aims to investigate the non-inferiority of telerehabilitation through a smartphone application, the Vito App, compared to face-to-face physical therapy on reducing pain and improving physical function, quality of life, and psychological factors., Methods: This randomized controlled trial will include 60 PwPFPS. to a control group (face-to-face physical therapy) or an experimental group (telerehabilitation). The intervention for both groups consists of stretching, strengthening, balance, and functional exercises for 6 weeks and three sessions per week. The primary outcomes are pain intensity by visual analog scale (VAS), physical function by the Kujala questionnaire and functional tests including the bilateral squat, anteromedial lunge, and step down, and quality of life by the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire quality of life subscale. Secondary outcomes are psychological factors such as anxiety and depression assessed with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire, kinesiophobia assessed with the Tampa scale, and pain catastrophizing assessed with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Assessments will be held in 3 phases: pre-test (before the intervention), post-test (after the 6 weeks of intervention), and follow-up (1 month after the end of the intervention)., Discussion: We expect that both the control group and experimental group will show similar improvements in clinical and psychological outcome measures. If our hypothesis becomes true, PwPFPS can use telerehabilitation as a practical treatment approach. Telerehabilitation can also enhance accessibility to rehabilitation services for active adults and for people living in remote and rural areas., Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) IRCT20201112049361N1. Registered on 29 October 2022., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Purpose: Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (mini-BESTest) is a widely used measure to assess balance impairments. This study aimed to assess the validity, reliability, responsiveness, and minimal clinically important change (MCIC) of the Persian mini-BESTest among ambulatory People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS)., Methods: Fifty ambulatory PwMS participated in this study. Persian mini-BESTest validated against Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Timed-Up and Go (TUG) with/without a cognitive task. To assess the reliability, the Persian mini-BESTest was re-administered for a sample of 30 participants after 1 week. Also, 32 PwMS were tested before and after a 4-week of balance and gait training to assess the responsiveness., Results: No floor/ceiling effect was found for the mini-BESTest total score. There were significant excellent correlations (p < .001) between mini-BESTest and BBS (r = 0.71), TUG (r = -0.76), and cognitive TUG (r = -0.73). No strong correlations were observed between the subscales (r = 0.37-0.55). Test-retest reliability and internal consistency of Persian mini-BESTest total score were excellent, with Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC 3,1 and Cronbach's alpha level of 0.89 and 0.80, respectively. The minimal detectable change was 4 points. The Persian mini-BESTest had acceptable responsiveness (AUC = 0.83), and MCIC was 5 points., Conclusion: The Persian mini-BESTest is a valid, reliable, and responsive measure of balance performance in Iranian ambulatory PwMS.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture can impair balance performance, particularly during cognitive motor dual-tasks. This study aimed to determine the effects of various modalities of cognitive load (working memory, and visuospatial and executive function) on postural control parameters in individuals with ACL injury. Twenty-seven ACL-injured and 27 healthy participants were evaluated doing different cognitive tasks (silent backward counting, Benton's judgment of line orientation, and Stroop color-word test) while standing on a rigid surface or a foam. Each task was repeated three times and then averaged. Center of pressure variables used to measure postural performance included sway area and sway velocity in anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. Cognitive performance was also assessed by calculating errors and the score of cognitive tasks. A mixed model analysis of variance for center of pressure parameters indicated that patients had more sways than the healthy group. The interaction of group by postural difficulty by cognitive tasks was statistically significant for cognitive errors (p < .01), and patients with ACL injury indicated more cognitive errors compared to healthy controls while standing on the foam. The main effect of cognitive task was statistically significant for all postural parameters, representing reduced postural sways in both groups with all cognitive tasks. However, ACL-injured patients showed more cognitive errors in difficult postural conditions, suggesting that individuals with ACL injury may prioritize postural control over cognitive task accuracy and adopt the posture-first strategy to maintain balance under dual-task conditions.

Introduction: Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells have tremendous potentials for cancer treatment; however, various challenges impede their universal use. These restrictions include the poor function of T cells in tumor microenvironments, the shortage of tumor-specific antigens and, finally, the high cost and time-consuming process, as well as the poor scalability of the method. Creative gene-editing tools have addressed each of these limitations and introduced next generation products for cell therapy. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated endonuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system has triggered a revolution in biology fields, as it has a great capacity for genetic manipulation., Method: In this review, we considered the latest development of CRISPR/Cas9 methods for the chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T)-based immunotherapy., Results: The ability of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate the universal CAR T cells and also potent T cells that are persistent against exhaustion and inhibition was explored., Conclusion: We explained CRISPR delivery methods, as well as addressing safety concerns related to the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and their potential solutions., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Purpose: To determine the effects of Perturbation-based Balance Training (PBT) on postural responses and falls in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) and compare the results with conventional balance training (CBT)., Materials and Methods: Thirty-four PwMS were randomized to receive 4 weeks of PBT or CBT. Latency of postural responses to external perturbations, Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG), 10-meter-walk (10MW), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) were measured at baseline and post-training. Also, the proportion of fallers and fall rate were assessed at a 3-month follow-up., Results: The latency of postural responses significantly decreased in PBT compared to CBT. TUG, 10MW, BBS, and ABC, at post-training, and relative risk of falls and fall rate at 3-month follow-up had no statistically significant between-group differences., Conclusions: The results show that PBT is at least as effective as CBT in improving balance and decreasing falls, while it has superiority over CBT whenever the clinicians mainly aim to improve reactive balance strategies. Future studies with a larger sample size are warranted to complement the results of this study.Implication for rehabilitationPerturbation-based Balance Training is at least as effective as conventional balance training (CBT) in improving proactive postural control in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS).Perturbation-based Balance Training has superiority over CBT in improving reactive postural control in PwMS.Perturbation-based Balance Training has no superiority over CBT in improving fall-related outcomes.

Objective: Diagnosis of small airway disease on computed tomography (CT) scans is challenging in patients with a history of chemical warfare exposure. We developed a software package based on different methodologies to identify and quantify small airway disease in CT images. The primary aim was to identify the best automatic methodology for detecting small airway disease in CT scans of Iran-Iraq War victims of chemical warfare., Methods: This retrospective case-control study enrolled 46 patients with a history of chemical warfare exposure and 27 controls with inspiratory/expiratory (I/E) CT scans and spirometry tests. Image data were automatically segmented, and inspiratory images were registered into the expiratory images' frame using the locally developed software. Parametric response mapping (PRM) and air trapping index (ATI) mapping were performed on the CT images. Conventional QCT methods, including expiratory/inspiratory mean lung attenuation (E/I MLA) ratio, normal density E/I (ND E/I) MLA ratio, attenuation volume Index (AVI), %low attenuation areas (LAA) < -856 in exhale scans, and %LAA < -950 in inhale scans were also computed. QCT measurements were correlated with spirometry results and compared across the two study groups., Results: The correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between three air trapping (AT) measurements (PRM, ATI, and %LAA Exp  < -856) and spirometry parameters (Fev1, Fvc, Fev1/Fvc, and MMEF). Moreover, %LAA Exp  < -856 had the highest significant negative correlation with Fev1/Fvc (r = -0.643, P-value < 0.001). Three AT measurements demonstrated a significant difference between the study groups. The E/I ratio was also significantly different between the two groups (P-value < 0.001). Binary logistic regression models showed PRM Fsad , %LAA Exp  < -856, and ATI as significant and strong predictors of the study outcome. Optimal cut-points for PRM Fsad  = 19%, %LAA Exp  < -856 = 23%, and ATI = 27% were identified to classify the participants into two groups with high accuracy., Conclusion: QCT methods, including PRM, ATI, and %LAA Exp  < -856 can greatly advance the identification and quantification of SAD in chemical warfare victims. The results should be verified in well-designed prospective studies involving a large population., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The present study aimed to compare the effects of simultaneous cognitive and motor tasks on walking performance between individuals with nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) and healthy controls., Methods: A total of 20 patients with NSCLBP and 20 healthy controls participated in this study. They walked at their self-selected speed on a treadmill under 3 walking conditions in a randomized order: walking only, walking while performing a concurrent cognitive task, and walking while performing a concurrent motor task. Two-way repeated measure analysis of variance with additional post hoc comparison (Bonferroni test) was used to evaluate the effects of group and walking conditions on gait parameters., Results: The result showed a significant main effect of the group for swing time ( P = 0.012) and double support time ( P = 0.021) in those with NSCLBP compared with healthy controls. Moreover, there was a significant interaction between the group and condition for cadence ( P = 0.004) and step width variability ( P = 0.016).Regarding stride length variability and stride time variability, the analysis indicated a significant effect of condition (P = 0.002 and P = 0.030, respectively). In both groups, no significant differences were observed in gait parameters between motor dual task and single walking ( P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Our findings indicated that those with NSCLBP adapted successfully to walking performance to maintain the performance of the concurrent cognitive task under the cognitive dual-task walking condition. Moreover, the present study observed no dual-task interference under the motor dual-task condition., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2023 Iran University of Medical Sciences.)

Objective: This study aimed to compare sensory organization test and postural control strategies between individuals with mild and moderate-to-severe forward head posture (FHP)., Methods: A sensory organization test (SOT) was performed in 6 conditions using computerized dynamic posturography, to assess postural control. Equilibrium scores representing overall balance, strategy analysis to assess ankle vs hip strategy dominance, and sensory analysis (Somatosensory, visual, vestibular, visual preference ratio) as an indicator of the use of sensory systems were obtained., Results: Our results revealed a significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of equilibrium score (P < .05) and strategy scores (P < .05) in conditions of 4 to 6 of the SOT. The results of sensory analysis of SOT showed visual and vestibular ratios were significantly different between the 2 study groups (P < .05), but somatosensory and visual preference ratios were not significantly different between these 2 groups (P > .05)., Conclusion: Individuals with moderate-to-severe FHP swayed more in comparison with mild FHP ones in conditions with the Sway-referenced platform of the SOT. They tended to rely on the hip strategy more than the ankle strategy excessively when sensory difficulty increased. Overall, it can be concluded that individuals with moderate-to-severe FHP are more likely to have postural deficits., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The rate of infertility has globally increased in recent years for a variety of reasons. One of the main causes of infertility in men is azoospermia that is defined by the absence of sperm in the ejaculate and classified into two categories: obstructive azoospermia and non-obstructive azoospermia. In non-obstructive azoospermia, genital ducts are not obstructed, but the testicles do not produce sperm at all, due to various reasons. Non-obstructive azoospermia in most cases has no therapeutic options other than assisted reproductive techniques, which in most cases require sperm donors. Here we discuss cell-based therapy approaches to restore fertility in men with non-obstructive azoospermia including cell-based therapies of non-obstructive azoospermia using regenerative medicine and cell-based therapies of non-obstructive azoospermia by paracrine and anti-inflammatory pathway, technical and ethical challenges for using different cell sources and alternative options will be described, and then the more effectual approaches will be mentioned as future trends., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Society for Reproductive Investigation.)

Purpose: To compare the effects of exergaming versus conventional exercises on cognition, lower-limb functional coordination, and stepping time in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS)., Methods: Thirty-six PwMS were randomly assigned to either intervention ( n  = 18) or control ( n  = 18) group and received 18 training sessions during six weeks. The intervention group performed exergames that required multidirectional timed-stepping, weight-shifting, and walking while the control group performed conventional matched exercises. Trail making test (TMT part A, B; TMT-A, TMT-B, TMT B-A), six-spot step test (SSST), and choice stepping reaction time (CSRT-including reaction time (RT), movement time (MVT), and total response time (TRT)) were assessed pre- and post-intervention (short-term), and after three-month follow-up (mid-term)., Results: The intervention group showed faster TMT-B ( p = 0.003) and TMT B-A ( p = 0.002) at post-intervention and faster SSST at both post-intervention ( p = 0.002) and follow-up ( p = 0.04). The CSRT components showed no between-group differences at post-intervention; however, at follow-up, the intervention group had lower TRT ( p = 0.046) and MVT ( p = 0.015). TMT-A and RT had no significant between-group differences., Conclusions: In short-term, exergames led to more improvements in complex attention, executive function, and lower-limb functional coordination comparing to the matched conventional exercises. In mid-term, exergaming was more effective for improving stepping time and lower-limb functional coordination. However, the two approaches did not show any superiority over each other for improving simple attention and RT.Implications for rehabilitationWhen designed properly, exergames have great potential to improve attention and executive function of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), at least in the short-term.Exergames seem like an appropriate option for improving lower limb coordination and decreasing choice stepping response time among PwMS in the mid-term.Exergames do not have superiority in improving the choice stepping reaction time compared to their matched conventional treatment.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most common injuries among athletes that lead to postural control disorders. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of balance training with and without cognitive task and external focus of attention on postural control in individuals with ACL reconstruction. Sixty participants with ACL reconstruction, between the ages of 18 and 47 will be randomly allocated to three group's including routine balance training, balance training with external focus of attention. Patients will be assessed at the baseline, after receiving eight weeks of intervention, and four weeks later. A double-blinded design will be used. Center of pressure data acquired from a forceplate will be used to assess amount and velocity of sway, local dynamical stability, and global stability of upright balance. Also, dynamic balance will be assessed using Star Excursion balance test. The results of this research will be used to establish effectiveness of treatment strategies for postural control in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The suggested interventions would be clinically applicable in the athlete with ACL injury.

Air pollution particulate matter (PM) is a world risk factor that the effects of long-term exposure to these factors in terms of damage to cardiovascular and pulmonary function are well known, but little is known comparatively about the effects of PM on emotional and cognitive processes. Exposure to PM can adversely affect the central nervous system (CNS) by inflammatory pathways and activation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) associated with urban air pollution PM. Therefore, we investigated whether prolonged exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) affects hippocampal inflammatory cytokines and emotional and cognition responses. Male mice were exposed to DEPs for 6 and 12 weeks. DEP-exposed mice indicated more disorders in depressive-like responses and spatial memory and learning than in control groups. Pro-inflammatory cytokine expression in tge hippocampus was increased among mice exposed to DEPs. The number of activated microglia increased in the dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 regions of the hippocampus in DEP-exposed mice. These results show that chronic exposure to DEPs can alter neurobehavioral and impair cognition. Generally, these findings reaffirm the importance of protecting from exposure to ambient PM2.5 and also advance our understanding of the toxic actions of air pollution nanoparticles., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Proprioception deficit has been suggested as a possible mechanism contributing for the impaired postural control in low back pain (LBP) patients. Whether proprioception deficit is a result of or a cause of LBP has not been investigated., Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare proprioceptive postural control strategies between prolonged standing induced low back pain developers (PDs) and non-pain developers (NPDs)., Method: Thirty-two healthy subjects performed 1-h prolonged standing and their ratings of perceived LBP have been recorded. Eight quiet standing trials for 60 s performed immediately before and after the prolonged standing. Postural control was challenged by muscle vibration and different postural conditions during quiet standing. Data were recorded using a force platform., Results: Forty percentage of participants is classified as PD. Before the prolonged standing, relative proprioceptive weighting was greater in the PD compared to NPD group ( P = .029). Main effect of postural condition (F 1,24  = 5.21, P = .032) and interaction of time by group (F 1,24  = 8.08, P = .009) were significant for COP displacement in anteroposterior direction. Interaction of postural condition by group (F 1,26  = 7.82, P = .010) and time by group (F 1,26  = 9.71, P = .004) were significant for COP displacement in mediolateral direction. Main effect of postural condition (F 1,26  = 6.31, P = .018) and interaction of postural condition by group (F 1,26  = 7.07, P = .013) were significant for mean velocity in mediolateral direction., Conclusion: The PD group has altered proprioceptive postural control strategies before and after prolonged standing. Proprioception deficit should not be considered to be solely an adaptive response and may be causal for LBP development.

Computed tomography (CT) imaging is being increasingly used in clinical practice for detailed characterization of lung diseases. Respiratory diseases involve various components of the lung, including the small airways. Evaluation of small airway disease on CT images is challenging as the airways cannot be visualized directly by a CT scanner. Small airway disease can manifest as pulmonary air trapping (AT). Although AT may be sometimes seen as mosaic attenuation on expiratory CT images, it is difficult to identify diffuse AT visually. Computer technology advances over the past decades have provided methods for objective quantification of small airway disease on CT images. Quantitative CT (QCT) methods are being rapidly developed to quantify underlying lung diseases with greater precision than subjective visual assessment of CT images. A growing body of evidence suggests that QCT methods can be practical tools in the clinical setting to identify and quantify abnormal regions of the lung accurately and reproducibly. This review aimed to describe the available methods for the identification and quantification of small airway disease on CT images and to discuss the challenges of implementing QCT metrics in clinical care for patients with small airway disease., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Iron is a necessary biological element and one of the richest in the human body, but it can cause changes in cell function and activity control. Iron is involved in a wide range of oxidation - reduction activities. Whenever iron exceeds the cellular metabolic needs, its excess causes changes in the products of cellular respiration, such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl. The formation of these compounds causes cellular toxicity. Lack of control over reactive oxygen species causes damages to DNA, proteins, and lipids. Conversely, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl are reactive oxygen species, using antioxidants, restoring DNA function, and controlling iron stores lead to natural conditions. Iron poisoning causes clinical manifestations in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, heart, kidneys, and hematopoietic system. When serum iron is elevated, serum iron concentrations, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and ferritin will also increase. Supportive care is provided by whole bowel irrigation (WBI), esophagogastroduodenoscopy is required to evaluate mucosal injury and remove undissolved iron tablets. The use of chelator agents such as deferoxamine mesylate, deferasirox, deferiprone, deferitrin are very effective in removing excess iron. Of course, the combined treatment of these chelators plays an important role in increasing iron excretion, and reducing side effects.

Introduction: Patients with nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) complain of pain and fatigue during functional activities. Poor back muscle endurance has been associated with recurrent pain and long-term disability. However, the relationship between proximal muscle fatigue and postural stability is not well understood., Purpose: To investigate the effects of lumbar extensor and hip abductor fatigue on postural stability in NSCLBPs., Methods: To induce isolated fatigue, participants (24 LBPs, 24 controls) were asked to perform multiple back extension and hip abduction in the separate sessions until the muscle force reached 60% of pre-fatigued force. The overall (OSI), anteroposterior (APSI), and mediolateral (MLSI) stability indices were measured during single-leg stance using the Biodex dynamic platform., Results: The results revealed higher postural instability (APSI and OSI) following fatiguing lumbar extensor and hip abductor muscles (greater effect size for APSI than OSI) in LBPs than controls. Furthermore, significant and inverse relationships were found between the level of physical activity, pain, and post-fatigue postural instability (OSI) in NSCLBPs., Conclusion: Fatigue of proximal muscles could differentiate postural stability primarily in the sagittal plane between NSCLBPs and controls. Therefore, reducing the fatigability of these muscles by endurance training in addition to balance training may improve physical activity.

Background: Fear of falling (FOF) is associated with gait disturbances in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). However, previous studies mostly assessed FOF-related changes in gait patterns of PwMS using spatio-temporal gait parameters. Considering the complex nature of gait control, investigation of the higher order properties of the human movement system, particularly inter-segmental coordination variability may provide valuable information about underlying deficits in motor control patterns in PwMS with different levels of FOF. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the differences in lower extremity inter-segmental coordination variability between healthy controls and PwMS with high and low FOF., Methods: This cross-sectional study examined gait patterns of 40 PwMS and 20 age-and-sex-matched healthy controls during treadmill walking at a preferred walking speed for 3 min. The falls efficacy scale-international questionnaire was used to stratify PwMS into high and low FOF subgroups. Variability in coordinative relationships between shank-thigh and foot-shank segments was determined using deviation phase (DP), which is the average standard deviation calculated from all points of the ensemble continuous relative phase (CRP) curve during the stance and swing phases of gait., Results: DP values for shank-thigh (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively) and foot-shank inter-segmental relationships (p < 0.001) during the stance phase as well as for foot-shank inter-segmental relationships during the swing phase (p = 0.03) were significantly greater in PwMS with high FOF compared to those with low FOF and healthy controls. In addition, both groups of PwMS with high and low FOF indicated greater shank-thigh DP values compared to healthy controls during the swing phase (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively)., Conclusion: The findings suggest unsteadiness in neuromuscular organization during walking in PwMS with high FOF. Rehabilitative interventions targeting impairments in lower extremity inter-segmental coordination and FOF may be useful to improve walking and reduce risk of falls in PwMS with high FOF., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)