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Background and purpose: The mature form of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) binds to BDNF/NT-3 growth factors receptor (Trk-B). This binding leads to activation of Ras–MAPK pathway which is integrated with cell growth and proliferation. The BDNF deficiency is correlated with various diseases and affects aging and miscellaneous. In the present study we aimed to design a chimeric LAMP-BDNF protein and assess its suitability to target neuronal cells employed in silico approaches. Materials and methods: The specific binding between the BDNF and Trk-B would be used to guide the drug loaded lysosomes in to brain tissue. So, the structure of the chimeric BDNF/LAMP2 protein was predicted and its quality was confirmed using bioinformatics tools. Then, the interaction between the structures of BDNF/LAMP2 protein and Trk-B was analyzed by protein-protein docking. The orientation of the interaction between these proteins was compared to orientation of Trk-B interaction with its specific antibody using structural superimposition. Results: Findings showed that the chimeric BDNF/LAMP2 protein could preserve the original structure of the BDNF molecule. Moreover, the chimeric BDNF/LAMP2 protein was found to be capable of interacting with Trk-B. The interaction orientation and binding affinity for BDNF/LAMP2 protein and Trk-B were similar to the orientation and binding affinity of interaction between Trk-B and its specific antibody. Conclusion: The designed chimeric BDNF/LAMP2b protein would be capable of targeting the exosomes toward neural cells and provides better drug delivery to brain tissue.

Abstract Background The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between neck circumference and gestational diabetes. Methods This prospective study was conducted on 372 Iranian pregnant women. The criteria set by the American Diabetes Association through 2 h was used to classify subjects with regard to their gestational diabetes. At the 14–16th weeks of pregnancy, the neck circumference was measured. The maternal and fetal outcomes were measured as well. Results The adjusted logistic regression revealed that neck circumference was a predictor for gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.06, 1.34; P = 0.002). The ROC analysis depicted that the cut-off for neck circumference in indicating gestational diabetes was 34.3 cm, with the sensitivity of 53% and the specificity of 66%. Conclusion The findings of the present study revealed that the neck circumference of ≥34.3 cm can be deemed as a predictor of gestational diabetes in the case of Iranian pregnant women.

Abstract Background This study aimed to determine the characteristics, vaccination status, and outcomes of confidence interval (COVID‐19) patients, admitted to a tertiary hospital in Iran during the predominant severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) Delta variant period. Methods This retrospective study assessed the medical records of all hospitalized COVID‐19 patients, who were admitted to a tertiary hospital from July 10 to September 15, 2021. Adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with poor outcomes. Results More than 25% of hospitalized patients received at least one vaccine dose of SARS‐CoV‐2. The Sinopharm BIBP vaccine (China) was the most commonly received vaccine (73.3%). After adjusting for age and comorbidities, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for poor outcomes was significantly lower in hospitalized patients who received Remdesivir compared to those not receiving Remdesivir (AOR: 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15, 0.78; p

In the article published in volume 32, issue 215, 2022,http://jmums.mazums.ac.ir/article-1-17695-fa.html the affilifations of Naghi Shahabi Majd, Hosein Ranjbaran, and Shabanali Khodashenas were published incorrectly, which are now corrected.

Background: Understanding prevalence of various menopausal symptoms and symptom severity in Iran will enhance reproductive health care. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms among menopausal women in Babol, Iran. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on the 150 healthy postmenopausal women aged between 45–65 years in Babol city (located in Northern Iran), and cluster sampling was used as a method of sampling. The questionnaires used in this study include: symptom score card for measuring the frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms and socio demographic data. Results: The mean ± SD age at natural menopause was 48.5 ± 4.1 years. The most prevalent symptoms were back pain and joint pain (48.7%), anxiety and unusual tiredness (48.0%), irritability (46.7%), muscle pains (44.0%) and hot flashes (42.7%). The average overall symptom score card in the study for menopausal symptoms was 22.1 ± 9.8. The severity of symptoms was in the range of mild to moderate in 42% of samples, and 58% of samples had moderate to severe symptoms. Conclusion: This study showed that more than half of the women had moderate to severe menopausal symptoms and an earlier mean age of menopause (48.5 y) for women in Babol, Iran.

Lower extremity kinematic alterations associated with sport-related knee injuries may contribute to an unsuccessful return to sport or early-onset post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Also, without access to sophisticated motion-capture systems, temporospatial monitoring of horizontal hop tests during clinical assessments is limited. By applying an alternative measurement system of two inertial measurement units (IMUs) per limb, we obtained and validated flying/landing times and hop distances of triple single-leg hop (TSLH) test against motion-capture cameras, assessed these temporospatial parameters amongst injured and uninjured groups, and investigated their association with the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Using kinematic features of IMU recordings, strap-down integration, and velocity correction techniques, temporospatial parameters were validated for 10 able-bodied participants and compared between 22 youth with sport-related knee injuries and 10 uninjured youth. With median (interquartile range) errors less than 10(16) ms for flying/landing times, and less than 4.4(5.6)% and 2.4(3.0)% of reference values for individual hops and total TSLH progression, differences between hopping biomechanics of study groups were highlighted. For injured participants, second flying time and all hop distances demonstrated moderate to strong correlations with KOOS Symptom and Function in Daily Living scores. Detailed temporospatial monitoring of hop tests is feasible using the proposed IMUs system.

Introduction: The hormonal changes that happen during pregnancy may have effects on weight, blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, and possibly metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to determine the association between parity and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged women in Babol, Iran. Methods: A total number of 800 women, with the age range of 30 to 50, were selected through a systematic random sampling method and sampling propionate to size from Babol. The metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the criteria set by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) III. The individuals' socio-demographic characteristics, the number of live births, pregnancies, lifestyles, current physical activity, and dietary factors were assessed. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent association between parity and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Results: The data were obtained from 633 participants (79.1%). The women, who reported a history of gravidity or parity, had a mean score of 2.4 ± 1.0. One hundred and ten (110, 17.4%) women had less than two parities and 523(82.6%) had two or more parties. Women who developed metabolic syndrome were more likely to have a higher parity at the time of interview (p= 0.001). Women with ≥ 2 parity had significantly higher odds of metabolic syndrome (OR= 1.91, 95% CI= 1.08-3.37). In addition, logistic regression analyses were then performed to assess the association of parity with each component of the metabolic syndrome. The women with ≥ 2 parity were significantly more likely to have abdominal obesity (p= 0.010). Conclusion: Higher parity or gravidity was associated with higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged women. Health policy makers should work with health providers to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged multipar women.

Introduction: Concurrent cisplatin-based chemoradiation is currently considered the treatment of choice for locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Celecoxib is a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor which can potentially enhance the effect of radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of celecoxib in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Materials and Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma were included in this clinical trial study. The patients were assigned to receive 7 weeks concurrent chemoradiation with weekly cisplatin and either celecoxib 100 mg twice daily or placebo. After completion of chemoradiation, all patients received combined chemotherapy with cisplatin plus 5-Fu every 3 weeks for 3 cycles. Clinical response rates and treatment-related toxicity were the primary and secondary end-point of the study. Results: Total of 50 eligible patients with the median age of 43 years were enrolled in the trial. Overall (complete and partial) clinical response rate was 100% in both groups. Complete and partial clinical response rates were 64% and 36% in study group and 44% and 56% in control group respectively (P>0.25). There was no difference in terms of treatment-related toxicity rates between two groups. Conclusions: This clinical trial showed that addition of celecoxib 100 mg twice daily to concurrent chemoradiation does not increase the response rates and treatment-related toxicities in patients with locoregional nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Mitral regurgitation (MR) is a common valvular lesion in the general population with considerable impact on mortality and morbidity. The MitraClip System (Abbot Laboratories, Abbot Park, IL, USA) is a novel percutaneous approach for treating MR which involves mechanical edge-to-edge coaptation of the mitral leaflets. We present our initial experience with the MitraClip System in 5 patients. In our series, the cause of MR was both degenerative and functional. Two patients received two MitraClips due to unsatisfactory results after the implantation of the first clip. Acute procedural success was seen in 4 patients. Blood transfusion was required for 2 patients. All the patients, except one, reported improvement in functional status during a 2-month follow-up period. Our initial experience with MitraClip implantation indicates that the technique seems feasible and promising with acceptable results and that it could be offered to a broader group of patients in the near future.