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Introduction: Although a long time past since COVID-19 was broken out, it is hard to determine which pharmacological combination regimen is more efficacious. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) plus interferon (IFN) beta-1a regimen compared to the hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) regimen in moderately ill patients with COVID-19. Methods: A multiple-centre retrospective observational case-controlled study was performed between March and September 2020, including adults with confirmed COVID-19. The patients were categorised into age- and sex-matched two groups; LPV/r plus IFN beta-1a (n = 102) and HCQ (n = 298) regimens. Clinical outcomes and mortality rates were compared between the groups. Results: LPV/r plus interferon (INF) beta-1a regimen had improved none of the clinical outcomes and mortality rate compared to the HCQ regimen. The length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and the need for oxygen therapy were slightly worse in the LPV/r plus INF beta-1a regimen (4.73 ± 2.93 days, 63%) than in the HCQ group (3.74 ± 3.30 days, 48.3%). No statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in care of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, LOS in ICU, the need for non-invasive ventilation and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation as well as in-hospital mortality rate. Conclusions: LPV/r plus IFN beta-1a regimen did not show any meaningful improvement in clinical outcomes or mortality compared to the HCQ regimen. Larger randomised controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy of this combination further.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most prevalent microvascular complications of diabetes, and the most leading cause of visual loss around the world. The lack of effective and approved treatment in DR is a major challenge for diabetic patients. Nowadays, natural compounds have got attention of the researchers for management of DR. Many evidences suggest that puerarin as a natural polyphenol exerts advantageous effects against DR. In the present review, we summarized the protective effects of puerarin against DR, and discussed the underlying mechanisms of these effects. Puerarin attenuates retinal neovascularization and neurodegeneration in diabetes mellitus, and the underlying mechanisms are related to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties of the compound. In conclusion, puerarin might be a potential adjuvant agent for the prevention and treatment of DR. However, comprehensive studies are necessary to show its effectiveness and safety, particularly in human.

Abstract Objectives We will evaluate the efficacy and safety of Melatonin, compared to the standard therapeutic regimen on clinical symptoms and serum inflammatory parameters in patients with confirmed COVID-19, who are moderately ill. Trial design This is a single-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with a parallel-group design conducted at Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, Iran. Participants All patients admitted to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Departments of Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, Iran will be screened for the following criteria. Inclusion criteria: 1. Age ≥20 years 2. Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (positive polymerase chain reaction). 3. Moderate COVID-19 pneumonia (via computed tomography and or X-ray imaging), requiring hospitalization. 4. Hospitalized ≤48 hours. 5. Signing informed consent and willingness of the participant to accept randomization to any assigned treatment arm. Exclusion criteria: 1. Underlying diseases, including chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, seizure, depression, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cholestatic liver diseases. 2. Severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia. 3. Use of warfarin, corticosteroids, hormonal drugs, alcohol, other antiviral and investigational medicines, and illegal drugs (during the last 30 days). 4. History of known allergy to Melatonin. 5. Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Intervention and comparator Intervention group: The standard treatment regimen for COVID-19, according to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education's protocol, along with Melatonin capsules at a dose of 50 mg daily for a period of seven days. Control group: The standard therapeutic regimen for COVID-19 along with Melatonin-like placebo capsules at a dose of one capsule daily for a period of seven days. Both Melatonin and placebo capsules were prepared at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran. Main outcomes The primary outcomes are the recovery rate of clinical symptoms and oxygen saturation as well as improvement of serum inflammatory parameters, including C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-ɑ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 within seven days of randomization. The secondary outcomes are the time to improve clinical and paraclinical features along with the incidence of serious adverse drug reactions within seven days of randomization. Randomization Included patients will be allocated to one of the study arms using block randomization in a 1:1 ratio (each block consists of 10 patients). This randomization method ensures a balanced allocation between the arms during the study. A web-based system will generate random numbers for the allocation sequence and concealment of participants. Each number relates to one of the study arms. Blinding (masking) All study participants, clinicians, nurses, research coordinators, and those analyzing the data are blinded to the group assignment. Numbers to be randomized (sample size) A total of 60 patients randomized into two groups (30 in each group). Trial Status The trial protocol is Version 1.0, August 14, 2020. Recruitment began August 22, 2020, and is anticipated to be completed by November 30, 2020. Trial registration The trial protocol has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT). The registration number is “ IRCT20200506047323N5 ”. The registration date was 14 August 2020. Full protocol The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting the dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.

Abstract Objectives We investigate the effects of Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) root extract, an anti-inflammatory natural medicine, compared to the usual therapeutic regimen on clinical symptoms and laboratory signs in patients with confirmed COVID-19 that are moderately ill. Trial design This is a single-center, open-label, randomized, clinical trial with parallel-group design. This study is being conducted at Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, Iran. Participants Both male and female patients with ≥18 years of age (≥ 35 kg of weight), admitted at the Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas for treatment, screened for the following criteria. Inclusion criteria: 1. Confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection (via polymerase chain reaction [PCR] and/or antibody test). 2. Presenting as moderate COVID-19 pneumonia (via chest computed tomography (CT) and/or X-ray) requiring hospitalization. 3. Hospitalized ≤48 hours. 4. Signing informed consent and willingness of study participant to accept randomization to any assigned treatment arm. Exclusion criteria: 1. Underlying diseases, including chronic heart disease, chronic hypertension, severe renal failure, severe liver failure, and thyroid disorders. 2. Severe and critical COVID-19 pneumonia. 3. Use of warfarin, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), diuretics, corticosteroids, and antiarrhythmic drugs. 4. Treatment with Investigational and antiviral therapy in a clinical study within one month before randomization. 5. History of allergy to Licorice. 6. Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Intervention and comparator Intervention group: The standard treatment regimen for COVID-19 along with a Licorice-based herbal preparation (D-Reglis ®, Irandarouk Pharmaceutical Company, Iran) at a dose of 760 mg three times a day for a period of seven days. Control group: The standard treatment for COVID-19 based on the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education's protocol for a period of seven days. Main outcomes The recovery rate of clinical symptoms, including fever, dry cough, and tiredness, as well as paraclinical features, including thrombocytopenia, lymphocytopenia, and C-reactive protein, are evaluated as primary outcomes within seven days of randomization. Time to improvement of clinical and paraclinical features and length of stay in a hospital, along with the incidence of adverse reactions are also evaluated as the secondary outcomes within seven days of randomization. Randomization An electronic table of random numbers will be used to allocate the included participants into either control or intervention groups (in a 1:1 ratio) using the simple randomization method. Blinding (masking) This is an open-label trial without blinding and placebo control. Numbers to be randomized (sample size) A total of 60 participants randomizes (30 patients allocated to the intervention group and 30 patients allocated to the control group). Trial Status The protocol is Version 1.0, May 31, 2020. Recruitment began July 30, 2020, and is anticipated to be completed by October 30, 2020. Trial registration This clinical trial has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT). The registration number is “IRCT20200506047323N2”, https://www.irct.ir/trial/47990 . The registration date is 31 May 2020. Full protocol The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.

Introduction: The goal of DUE is to improve patients’ care. Studying the administration and utilization pattern of IVIg is an important research topic due to its significant role in the treatment and control of many disorders, high prices, and limited availability. We aimed to evaluate the pattern of IVIg use in an educational hospital. Material and methods: In this descriptive-cross sectional and retrospective study, 250 patients’ records included medical orders, nursing notes and drug chart were studied. We used FDA and UK protocol to evaluate of IVIg indications in our study. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Prescription of IVIg in our hospital adhered to FDA- approved indications and red indications of UK guideline with 64.1% and 67.6%, respectively. ITP was the most common cause of the correct prescriptions (52.7% based on FDA guideline and 50% based on UK guideline). Sepsis (15.5%), hyperbillirubinemia (10.4%), encephalitis (3.5%), and aplastic anemia (1.38%) were incorrect indications of IVIg in our study. ADRs was observed in 14.5% of patients. Discussions: Consumption of IVIg in our hospital, was more consistent with international guidelines compared with other hospitals in IRAN, of course unnecessary prescriptions cannot be ignored. We suggest to develop own national guideline and educate our prescribers to minimize irrational prescription of expensive and important medicines such as IVIg.

AbstractBackground: The incidence of drug interactions in hospitalized patients due to the administration of various drugs, the lack of proper monitoring and sometimes multiple patient’s co-morbidities, is common. This study aims to evaluate potential drug-drug interactions (PDDIs) in pediatrics hospitalized in an educational pediatric hospital. Methods: The present study is a retrospective cross-sectional study. The study population included patients hospitalized in different parts of Bandar Abbas pediatrics hospital. A total of 400 medical records were assessed. PDDIs were evaluated by Lexi-Comp drug interaction and SPSS software was used for data analysis.Result: Based on our results PDDIs were observed in 133 cases (33.25%). The mean ± SD of PDDIs per prescription was 1.97 ± 1.56. The majority of the interaction were moderate (79.1%) with risk rating C (45.7%). Salbutamol, phenytoin, phenobarbital and clarithromycin were responsible for the most interactions with 95, 40, 25,17 of PDDIs, respectively. Drug interactions with risk-rating X, observed in 5 cases. Number of drugs per prescription was significantly associated with PDDIs (P= 0.000)Conclusion: Although the prevalence rate of PDDIs in this study was lower than reported by recent studies, but careful evaluation of drug charts and implantation of educational programs for medical staff, should be considered. Abbreviation PDDIs: Potential Drug-Drug InteractionsDDIs: Drug-Drug InteractionsED: Emergency departmentNICU: Neonatal Intensive Care UnitPICU: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Abstract Objectives We investigate the effects of melatonin, compared to the usual therapeutic regimen on clinical symptoms and laboratory signs in severely ill patients with confirmed COVID-19 who are admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Trial design This is a single-center, open-label, randomized, clinical trial with a parallel-group design. This study is being conducted at Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, Iran. Participants All patients admitted to the ICU of Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, Iran, will be screened for the following criteria. Inclusion criteria 1. Age >20 years 2. Definitive diagnosis of COVID-19 based on RT-PCR or/and serological testing 3. Severe pneumonia and lung involvement in imaging 4. Signing informed consent Exclusion criteria 1. Underlying diseases, including convulsive disorders, chronic hepatic and renal diseases 2. Use of mechanical ventilation 3. History of known allergy to Melatonin 4. Pregnancy and breastfeeding Intervention and Comparator Intervention group: The standard treatment regimen for COVID-19, according to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education’s protocol, along with Melatonin soft gelatin capsule (Danna Pharmaceutical Company) at a dose of 5 mg twice a day for a period of seven days. Control group: The standard treatment for COVID-19 based on the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education’s protocol for a period of seven days. Main outcomes The primary outcomes are the recovery rate of clinical symptoms and checking arterial blood gas (ABG), C-reactive protein (C-RP), Ferritin, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) within seven days of randomization. The secondary outcomes are time to improvement of clinical and paraclinical features and length of stay in the ICU, need for mechanical ventilation, and mortality rate within seven days of randomization. Randomization Included patients will be allocated to one of the study arms using block randomization in a 1:1 ratio (each block consists of 6 patients). This randomization method ensures a balanced allocation between the arms during the study. A web-based system will generate random numbers for the allocation sequence and concealment of participants. Each number relates to one of the study arms. Blinding (masking) This is an open-label trial without blinding and placebo control. Numbers to be randomized (sample size) A total of 60 participants randomizes (30 patients allocated to the intervention group and 30 patients allocated to the control group). Trial Status The protocol is Version 1.0, February 16, 2021. Recruitment began February 28, 2021, and is anticipated to be completed by July 31, 2021. Trial registration The trial protocol has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT). The registration number is “ IRCT20200506047323N7 ”. The registration date was February 16, 2021. Full protocol The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest of expediting the dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.

Abstract Objectives We investigate the effects of Ginger, compared to the usual therapeutic regimen on clinical manifestations and paraclinical features in patients with confirmed COVID-19 that are moderately ill. Trial design This is a single center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial with parallel group design. Participants Inclusion criteria: 1. Patients admitted to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Departments at Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, Iran 2. Age ≥18 years (weight ≥35 kg) 3. Hospitalized ≤48 hours 4. Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis (Positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)) 5. Moderate pneumonia and lung involvement in imaging 6. Signing informed consent and willingness of study participant to accept randomization to any assigned treatment arm Exclusion criteria: 1. Underlying diseases, including heart disease, chronic hypertension, severe renal failure, severe liver failure, and thyroid disorders 2. Use of warfarin, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), diuretics, corticosteroids, and antiarrhythmic drugs 3. Severe and critical pneumonia 4. History of known allergy to Ginger 5. Pregnancy and breastfeeding Intervention and comparator Intervention group: The standard treatment regimen for COVID-19 along with Ginger-based herbal tablets (Vomigone ®, Dineh Pharmaceutical Company, Iran) at a dose of 1000 mg three times a day for a period of seven days. Control group: The standard treatment for COVID-19 based on the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education's protocol, along with Vomigone-like placebo tablets (Dineh Pharmaceutical Company, Iran) at a dose of two tablets three times a day for a period of seven days. Main outcomes The primary outcome is recovery rate of clinical symptoms, including fever, dry cough, tiredness, and GI symptoms as well as paraclinical features, including thrombocytopenia, lymphocytopenia, and C-reactive protein within seven days of randomization. Time to improvement of clinical and paraclinical features along with the incidence of serious adverse events are the secondary outcomes within seven days of randomization. Randomization An interactive web-based system will be used to allocate eligible participants, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, to one of the two study arms (in a 1:1 ratio) using block randomization. Blinding (masking) All study participants, research coordinators, clinicians, nurses, and investigators will be blinded to the group assignment. Numbers to be randomized (sample size) A total of 84 participants will be randomized into two groups of 42 patients. Trial Status The protocol is Version 1.0, May 23, 2020. Recruitment began July 21, 2020, and is anticipated to be completed by October 30, 2020. Trial registration This clinical trial has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT). The registration number is “ IRCT20200506047323N1 ”. Registration date is 23 May 2020. Full protocol The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.

Introduction: burn wounds are common happenings which cause many people have irreversible defects and to be death around the world every year. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Melilotus officinalis and Alpha ointment in the healing of burn wounds and compare their findings with silver sulfadiazine (SSD).Methods: Seventy-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups, and similar burn ulcers were produced on the back of rats. The first group of rats received no treatment, base gel was used topically to group II, in groups III-V, Alpha, SSD and Melilotus officinalis preparations were applied, respectively. Wound healing, contraction and histopathological examination were evaluated at the end of 7, 14, and 21 days.Results: Alpha ointment was equally effective as Melilotus officinalis gel, while its efficacy was better compared to SSD for all parameters of wound healing on days 7, 14 and 21. Alpha and Melilotus officinalis preparations as less expensive medications which significantly improve the quality of wound healing and scar formation and also are more appropriate treatment choices than SSD.Conclusion: Alpha and Melilotus officinalis are recommended as alternative to SSD, especially in patients with low economical backgrounds or in those who show adverse reactions to SSD.

Objective: The present study is based on an ethnobotanical research project conducted in Hormozgan province that is located in south of Iran, bordering waters of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. This survey was carried out in order to recover the ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal knowledge of the residents of this province. They are using medicinal and functional plants for treating or preventing several diseases. Materials and Methods: Ethnobotanical data sheets were run with the native inhabitants and people of the province by arranging frequent field trips to different parts of the province and direct interviews with them especially those who were more familiar with the plants and their usage. Results: A total of 150 plant species belonging to 53 families were recorded for their ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal uses among the people of province. The records were developed byscientific names, family names, local names, medicinal parts used, different ways of their application, and traditional uses of the plants. There was high compliance in the use of plants in painful disorders, gastrointestinal, and dermatological diseases. Conclusion: This study revealed that the people of Hormozgan province have a rich knowledge of natural resources. The use and consumption of medicinal plants are still important parts of their life.Rational use of native medicinal plants may benefit and improve their living standards and quality of life. The results of this study can be used as a basis for selecting herbs for further pharmacological, phytochemical, and pharmacognostical studies.

Abstract Introduction Considering that the adoption of self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes can reduce the complications caused by this disease, aim of the present study was compared the effect of SMS-based teaching and face-to-face teaching on self-care behavior of type 2 diabetic patients in Khorramabad city. Methods This was a pre- and post-test semi-experimental study. The research sample size was composed of 135 diabetic patients referred to the Khorramabad diabetes clinic who were selected using random sampling method and were randomly divided into face-to-face teaching group (n = 45), SMS-based teaching group (n = 45), and control (n = 45). Data collection tools were demographic information questionnaire, Tubert self-care behaviours questionnaire, and self-efficacy questionnaire. The educational intervention in the face-to-face training group included four face-to-face training sessions and in the SMS-based training group included three to four daily training SMS and without training intervention in the control group. For all analysis, SPSS software version 24 was done and at a significance level of 0.05. Results At the baseline, average score of self-efficacy and self-care, and blood sugar were not significant between the face-to-face teaching, SMS-based and control groups. However, at the end of intervention, the mean score of these variables were significantly more in the face-to-face teaching and SMS-based groups compared to the control group (p-value

Industrial investment in Iran, especially in the wake of sanctions’ intensification in the 2010s, decreased significantly. The government implemented fiscal policy which has been associated with uncertainty. In this paper, using a dynamic panel model and generalized method of moments, we examined the effect of fiscal policy uncertainty on investment in 24 industrial groups in Iran over the period 2002-2020. The results indicated that the growth of fiscal level shock,resulted in a low but positive effect on investment directly. However,the coefficient of cross effect between the growth of fiscal level shock and the fiscal policy uncertainty undermined the positive effect on industrial investment. The government has had two effects on industrial investment indirectly through the demand side shock. By creating demand, it has had a positive effect on industrial investment with the cross effect between the growth of the fiscal level shock and industrial sales. However, on the other hand, the growth of the fiscal level shock has been associated with the creation and growth of fiscal policy uncertainty, so that the cross effect between the growth of fiscal policy uncertainty and the growth of industrial sales on industrial investment shows a high negative coefficient. The results of these two effects suggest that due to high uncertainty,the indirect government effect on investment in 24 industrial groups is negative, which happens through the demand-side shock. Moreover, the growth of fiscal policy uncertainty, sanctions, and interest rates, respectively, have had the most adverse effect on investment in 24 industrial groups in Iran.

Abstract The integration of distributed energy resources and smart grid technologies has increased the vulnerability and complexity of modern power systems, especially in the face of extreme events. Enhancing the resilience of power systems is crucial to ensure continuous and reliable electricity supply during and after such events. This paper proposes a preventive framework to enhance the resilience of networked microgrids (NMGs) during extreme events. The framework integrates optimal energy management strategies and preventive resilience enhancement measures, focusing on the coordination and utilization of hydrogen (H2) energy systems and controllable distributed generators (CDGs). The framework leverages capacity‐based signals to prompt H2 system owners and CDG operators to prepare for disruptions by fully charging H2 storage tanks and pre‐scheduling CDG commitments. By utilizing this proactive energy scheduling, critical loads can be supplied through stationary fuel cells and CDGs, improving overall network resilience. The proposed resilient energy management approach combines optimization techniques to improve the resilience of NMGs and reduce their dependence on the main grid. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed linear model in enhancing the resilience of NMGs and improving their operational performance during extreme events. The contributions of this paper include advancements in understanding NMGs, the development of a preventive framework, integration of H2 energy systems and CDGs, and proposal of effective signalling models.

Abstract Background Post COVID-19 syndrome, also known as "Long COVID," is a complex and multifaceted condition that affects individuals who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to comprehensively assess the global prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder in individuals coping with Post COVID-19 syndrome. Methods A rigorous search of electronic databases was conducted to identify original studies until 24 January 2023. The inclusion criteria comprised studies employing previously validated assessment tools for depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, reporting prevalence rates, and encompassing patients of all age groups and geographical regions for subgroup analysis Random effects model was utilized for the meta-analysis. Meta-regression analysis was done. Results The pooled prevalence of depression and anxiety among patients coping with Post COVID-19 syndrome was estimated to be 23% (95% CI: 20%—26%; I2 = 99.9%) based on data from 143 studies with 7,782,124 participants and 132 studies with 9,320,687 participants, respectively. The pooled prevalence of sleep disorder among these patients, derived from 27 studies with 15,362 participants, was estimated to be 45% (95% CI: 37%—53%; I2 = 98.7%). Subgroup analyses based on geographical regions and assessment scales revealed significant variations in prevalence rates. Meta-regression analysis showed significant correlations between the prevalence and total sample size of studies, the age of participants, and the percentage of male participants. Publication bias was assessed using Doi plot visualization and the Peters test, revealing a potential source of publication bias for depression (p = 0.0085) and sleep disorder (p = 0.02). However, no evidence of publication bias was found for anxiety (p = 0.11). Conclusion This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate a considerable burden of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, among individuals recovering from COVID-19. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive mental health support and tailored interventions for patients experiencing persistent symptoms after COVID-19 recovery.

Abstract Background Opioid use disorder (OUD) has been associated with adverse health outcomes, and its potential impact on COVID-19 outcomes is of significant concern. This study aimed to assess the susceptibility and clinical outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with OUD using a propensity score-matched design. Methods A historical cohort study was conducted in Alborz province, Iran, during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients aged 18 years and above with confirmed COVID-19 were included in the study. OUD was defined as a compulsive urge to use opioids or opioid-derivative drugs. Non-opioid abusers with COVID-19 were selected as the control group. Data on demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory factors, comorbidities, and vital signs were collected. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the groups and assess the impact of OUD on ICU admission, mortality, the need for intubation, and the severity of pulmonary involvement on CT scans. Results A total of 442 patients were included in the study, with 351 discharged and 34 deceased. The PSM analysis showed that OUD was not significantly associated with ICU admission (OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 0.22–2.91, p = 0.631). However, opium users had an increased risk of mortality (OR: 2.38, 95% CI: 1.30–4.35, p = 0.005) and a higher likelihood of requiring intubation (OR: 3.57, 95% CI: 1.38–9.39, p = 0.009) compared to non-opioid abusers. The severity of pulmonary involvement on CT scans did not show a significant association with OUD. Conclusion OUD among hospitalized COVID-19 patients was associated with an increased risk of mortality and the need for intubation. These findings highlight the importance of addressing OUD as a potential risk factor in the management and treatment of COVID-19 patients. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and develop appropriate interventions to mitigate the impact of OUD on COVID-19 outcomes.

Abstract Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a vital protein involved in neuronal development, survival, and plasticity. Alcohol consumption has been implicated in various neurocognitive deficits and neurodegenerative disorders. However, the impact of alcohol on BDNF blood levels remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effect of alcohol consumption on BDNF blood levels. A comprehensive search of electronic databases was conducted to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. Data extraction was performed, and methodological quality was assessed using appropriate tools. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the overall effect size of alcohol consumption on BDNF levels. A total of 25 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Alcohol use and BDNF blood levels were significantly correlated, according to the meta-analysis (p = 0.008). Overall, it was discovered that drinking alcohol significantly decreased BDNF levels (SMD: − 0.39; 95% CI: − 0.68 to − 0.10; I2: 93%). There was a non-significant trend suggesting that alcohol withdrawal might increase BDNF levels, with an SMD of 0.26 (95% CI: − 0.09 to 0.62; I2: 86%; p = 0.14). Subgroup analysis based on the source of BDNF demonstrated significant differences between the subgroups (p = 0.0008). No significant publication bias was observed. This study showed that alcohol consumption is associated with a significant decrease in BDNF blood levels. The findings suggest a negative impact of alcohol on BDNF levels regardless of alcohol dosage. Further studies are needed to strengthen the evidence and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

In the present study, the effects of startup and addition of ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) salts for 4 weeks before fish stocking on efficiency of biofilter for removal of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) from water, survival rate, growth performance, ammonia metabolizing and urea cycle enzymes activities as well as mucosal immunity of African cichlid (Labidochromis lividus) fingerling. The experimental unit was a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) with water holding capacity of 200 L in which 20 fingerling fish with average weight of 3.06±0.07 g were stocked and cultured for 30 days. The experimental groups included the RAS without startup and adding salts (control, group 1), startup of RAS before fish stocking (group 2) and startup RAS with adding salts (group 3). Water from each experimental unit was sampled after 0, 10, 20 and 30 days of fish stocking. The results showed that the TAN concentration in the groups 2 and 3 was significantly lower than the control group (P

Background and aim: Citation analysis and drawing citation maps is one of the widely used techniques in the analysis of scientific documents. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to learn as much as possible about the field of Iranian nuclear sciences by creating a citation map based on scientific metrics. Materials and methods: This applied descriptive study was conducted using the citation method. In this study, all scientific productions of Iranian nuclear sciences (6155 documents) in the period of 1990-2021 and on May 26, 2021 in Web of Science (WoS) were studied. VOSviewer and Excel were used to analyze and draw the citation map. Findings: The results showed that Annals of Nuclear Energy was the best journal with the publication of 187 documents; Qavami's article (2014) was the best article with 530 citations, and Seyyed Mohammad Nabavi was considered the best author in the field of nuclear sciences with 23 documents and 993 citations. Among the universities in the country, Islamic Azad University took the first place with 868 documents and 6577 citations. The most cited documents in Iranian nuclear sciences were placed in 12 subject clusters, making the first cluster with the subjects of Medical Physics and Nuclear Medicine formed the largest cluster with 21 documents. The most frequently cited authors in this subject area also had 21 subject clusters, making the first cluster the largest with 103 authors and the subjects of medical physics and radiology. Moreover, the most frequently cited organizations in this subject area had 19 subject clusters, with the first cluster being the largest with 70 organizations. Conclusion: Although the growth process in the production of documents in the field of nuclear sciences in Iran has been accompanied by ups and downs, scientific production in this field is generally increasing. The results of the citation analysis in this field can be an effective step in identifying as many scientific productions as possible and in keeping track of publications and considerations in this field for policy making in the shortest possible time.

Nowadays, it is necessary to accelerate the construction of new power plant in face of rising energy demand in such a way that the electricity will be generated at the lowest cost while reducing emissions caused by that generation. The expansion planning is one of the most important issues in electricity management. Nuclear energy comes forward with the low-carbon technology and increasing competitiveness to expand the share of generated energy by introducing Gen IV reactors. In this paper, the generation expansion planning of these new Gen reactors is investigated using the WASP software. Iran power grid is selected as a case of study. We present a comparison of the twenty-one year perspective on the future with the development of (1) traditional thermal power plants and Gen II reactors, (2) Gen III + reactors with traditional thermal power plants, (3) Gen IV reactors and traditional thermal power plants, (4) Gen III + reactors and the new generation of the thermal power plant, (5) the new generation of thermal power plants and the Gen IV reactors. The results show that the Gen IV reactors have the most developing among other types of power plants leading to reduce the operating costs and emissions. The obtained results show that the use of new Gen of combined cycle power plant and Gen IV reactors make the emissions and cost to be reduced to 16% and 72% of Gen II NPPs and traditional thermal power plants, respectively.

The aim of this study was to determine the lethal concentration of zinc oxide nanoparticles in freshwater angelfish. Accordingly, 126 specimens of angelfish were prepared with a mean standard length of 3 ±0.51 mm and an average weight of 3.5 ± 0.3 g and after adaptation to new conditions, a toxicity test was performed in a completely randomized design with three replications for 96 hours. In addition to the control group, 6 treatments were prepared with concentrations of 0, 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200 mg/l zinc oxide nanoparticles. After the end of the experiment, the data were analyzed by probit analysis with a 95% confidence level and lethal concentrations ranging from 5 to 95 percent values ​​were calculated from the probit table. Then, the lethal concentration of 50 percent at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours was 188.04, 119.93, 83.75, and 74.99 mg/L, respectively, by probit analysis. The results of this study show that zinc oxide nanoparticles are slightly toxic in terms of toxicity to freshwater angelfish.

Abstract Background In recent years, methamphetamine use has increased noticeably in Iran, and this can make harmful consequences for the health of individuals and society. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the consequences of regular methamphetamine use in Tehran. Methods This study was conducted based on a conventional content analysis approach. Data were collected through observation and in-depth interviews with 20 regular adult users of methamphetamine in Tehran (including 15 males and 5 females). Participants were selected using snowball sampling and purposeful sampling, which continued until data saturation. Guba and Lincoln’s criteria were used to assess the strength of the study. Results The extraction of the codes resulted in three main categories: (1)the short-term consequences, consisting of the sub-categories of individual and social consequences, (2) the long-term consequences, consisting of the sub-categories of psychological and physical consequences, high-risk behaviors, severely decayed memory and changes in the eating pattern, and (3) hallucinations and delusions including the sub-categories of visual and auditory hallucinations, persecutory delusions and delusion of having supernatural power. Conclusion Regular methamphetamine use may have serious adverse effects on the overall health of individuals. It is therefore highly recommended that educational programs must implement with the use of methamphetamine in the high- risk groups in order to raise awareness and change attitudes about the short and long term consequences. is highly recommended.

An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the inclusion potential of five levels of Calotropis persica seed powder (CSP) (0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 g/kg of the basal diet) in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) diet, in a completely randomized design. To perform the test, 3600 fries (11.5 ± 3.64 g) were treated for 56 days. According to the results, the increase in milkweed seed powder up to 40 g/kg, resulted in a significant increase in specific growth rate and intestinal lactic acid bacteria count compared to the control (p < 0.05). The best results of survival rate, feed conversion ratio, hepatosomatic and gastrosomatic indices were achieved in the treatments receiving 20, 30, 40, and 50 g/kg CSP (p < 0.05). Antibacterial activity of skin mucus, lysozyme and alkaline phosphatase showed the highest level in the 40 g/kg treatment (p < 0.05). Based on the results, the inclusion of 40 g/kg milkweed seed powder caused positive health effects and could be a suitable herbal feed additive in the rainbow trout diet.

The robust controller synthesis and analysis of the water level process in the U-tube system generator (UTSG) is addressed in this paper. The parameter uncertainties of the steam generator (SG) are modeled as multiplicative perturbations which are normalized by designing suitable weighting functions. The relative errors of the nominal SG model with respect to the other operating power level models are employed to specify the weighting functions for normalizing the plant uncertainties. Then, a robust controller is designed based on μ-synthesis and D-K iteration, and its stability robustness is verified over the whole range of power operations. A gain-scheduled controller with H∞ -synthesis is also designed to compare its robustness with the proposed controller. The stability analysis is accomplished and compared with the previous QFT design. The μ–analysis of the system shows that the proposed controller has a favorable stability robustness for the whole range of operating power conditions. The proposed controller response is simulated against the power level deviation in start-up and shutdown stages and compared with the other concerning controllers. Keywords: Robust control, Steam generator, Uncertainty modeling, μ-synthesis

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has become a major concern in the field of children’s health research. We assessed HRQoL among Iranian children and adolescents according to the socioeconomic status (SES) of their living region.Methods: Via multistage cluster sampling from rural and urban school students aged 6 to 18 years, this nationwide study was conducted from 2011 to 2012. HRQoL was assessed using the adolescent core version of the Pediatric Quality of Life questionnaire. Through survey data analysis methods, the data were compared according to the SES of the living region, sex, and the living area.Results: Overall, 23043 students participated in the survey (participation rate=92.2%). The mean age of the participants was 12.55±3.31 years. Boys accounted for 50.8% of the study population, and 73.4% were from urban areas. At national level, the mean of the HRQoL total score was 81.7 (95% CI: 81.3 to 82.1) with a mean of 83.5 (95% CI: 83.0 to 84.1) for the boys and 79.8 (95% CI: 79.1 to 80.5) for the girls. The highest and the lowest scores, respectively, belonged to social functioning (90.0 [95% CI: 89.7 to 90.3]) and emotional functioning (78.2 [95% CI: 77.7 to 78.7]). The highest total HRQoL score belonged to the second highest SES region of the country (mean=83.1; 95% CI: 82.5 to 83.7). The association between total HRQoL and the score of all the subscales and SES in the living area was statistically significant (P

Abstract Background Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multidimensional concept with significant effects and children and adolescence; while physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) have been suggested as its probable predictors. Present study aims to investigate the association of PA, ST and their combination, with HRQoL in a nationally-representative sample of Iranian children and adolescents. Methods As for the estimated sample size, 25,000 students aged 6–18 years were selected via multi-stage cluster sampling from 30 provinces of Iran. Sociodemographic data was obtained by using the questionnaire of the World Health Organization-Global school based student health survey (GSHS). Persian Pediatric Quality of Life inventory (PedsQL) and Physical Activity Questionnaire for the pediatric age group (PAQ-A) were applied for evaluating HRQoL and PA, respectively. PA scores 1–1.9 and 2–5 were respectively considered as low and high PA. The average duration of time spent on watching TV and leisure time computer use were considered as ST behaviors. ST of less than 2 h was considered low. Results Out of 25,000 invited individuals, 23,043 students (mean age: 12.5) completed the study (response rate: 92.17%). In linear regression models, ST duration had significant inverse association with total QoL (β: − 0.49, p

Abstract A 6-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of protein-free (PF) and essential amino-acid-deficient (EAAD) diets on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of silvery-black porgy (Sparidentex hasta) juveniles. Three experimental diets were formulated: a control diet in which 60% of dietary nitrogen was provided by intact protein (fish meal) and 40% by crystalline AA [(blends of essential amino acids (EAA) and none essential amino acids (NEAA)]; an essential amino-acid-deficient diet in which 60% of dietary N was provided by intact protein, whereas the rest was provided by NEAA and a protein-free (PF) diet, based on carbohydrate sources. Survival rates in fish fed the EAAD and PF diets were lower than in fish fed the control diet. Weight gain in fish fed with EAAD was 5.6 g lower than fish fed with the control diet. Furthermore, fish fed the PF diet lost weight and their final body weight was 12.2 g lower than the control group. Fish fed the PF diet had the highest whole-body moisture, but the lowest whole-body protein, lipid, threonine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and serine levels. Digestive pancreatic enzyme activities including trypsin, lipase, α-amylase, and carboxypeptidase A significantly decreased in fish fed EAAD and PF diets. The information obtained from this study testing two extreme diets (EAAD and PF) may serve for better understanding the impact of protein and EAA nutritional imbalances in fish performance.

Background and Objective: Diabetes is a chronic disease in which patients require lifelong self-care behaviors. The present study offset to determine the effect of educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on promoting self-care behaviors of type 2 diabetes patients in Ilam, Iran 2014. Methods: A quasi-experimental research was conducted based on HBM in which 70 type 2 diabetic patients from Ilam, western Iran in 2014 were selected by multi-stage random sampling. A self-designed questionnaire was used, and pre-test was administered, subsequently, the educational intervention sessions were provided in the form of presentation, questions and answers, group discussion, and practical demonstrations in four sessions over a period of one month. Two months after the intervention, the post-tests were administered. The data were analyzed via SPSS 20 applying independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test, and univariate and multivariate regressions at a significance level of less than 0.05. Results: The mean scores of susceptibility, severity, perceived benefits and barriers, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors were at average and lower levels before the intervention; nonetheless, after the educational intervention, the mean score of each HBM construct and the self-care behaviors significantly increased (p

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effects of dietary synbiotic (SYN) (Pediococcus acidilactici + Galactooligosaccharides; 10 g kg−1), sodium propionate (SP; 5, 10 and 20 g kg−1) and a combination of SYN + SP on the growth performance, humoral immunity, antioxidant responses and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila of African cichlid (Labidochromis lividus) fingerlings (0.52 ± 0.05 g) in a feeding trial lasting 63 days. A completely randomized design was run with eight treatments, including 0 (control) and supplemented diets containing SYN + SP (e.g., 10 + 5, 10 + 10, 10 + 20, 0 + 5, 0 + 10, 0 + 20 and 10 + 10). The lowest feed conversion ratio value was observed in fish fed the 5 g kg−1-SP and 10 g kg−1-SYN (p < 0.05). The highest values of protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value were recorded in fish fed the 10 g kg−1-SYN (p < 0.05). Fish fed the 10 g kg−1-SYN diet had the highest activities of immunity (lysozyme, immunoglobulin) and antioxidant responses (glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) (p < 0.05). After 28 days post-challenge, the highest survival rate (57%) was recorded in the diet containing 10 g kg−1 SYN and 5 g kg−1 SP. The results indicated that the single administration of SYN or combined with SP, especially at the level of 5 g kg−1 of diet, enhanced the survival and growth performances, humoral immune response, antioxidant and digestive enzymes of African cichlid.

Background and Aim: Nowadays, organizations significantly emphasize on different aspects and dimensions of knowledge and intellectual capitals. Knowledge and information are power and each individual equipped with them is powerful. Thus attention to knowledge and intellectual capitals for reaching to Psychological Empowerments in each organization is necessary and inevitable. The aim of this research was to study the impact of Intellectual Capital on Psychological Empowerments in experts of Iran’s Ministry of Youth and Sports. Materials and Methods: This cross- sectional study was performed among 230 experts in Iran’s Ministry of Youth and Sports through convenient sampling. Data collection was conducted by the use of standard questionnaires of intellectual capital Bontis (1998) and psychological empowerment Spreitzer (1995) with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of 0.71 and 0.86. Descriptive statistics and regression tests were used for data analysis by spss. Results: Results of study showed that mean intellectual capital and psychological empowerments was 3.49 and 3.81 respectively. Additionally, results showed that intellectual capital had the ability to predict the examinees’ psychological empowerments (R square= 0.12). Conclusion: According to the results, it is necessary to use intellectual capitals in organizations for more psychological empowerment and also training sessions should be conduct

Introduction: This study aims to evaluate the association of birth weight (BW) with weight disorders in a national sample of Iranian pediatric population. Methods: This nationwide survey was conducted among 25000 student’s aged 6-18 year-old students, who were selected using multistage cluster random sampling from 30 provinces of Iran in 2011-2012. Anthropometric measures were measured under standard protocols by using calibrated instruments. Abdominal obesity was defined based on waist circumference (WC) ≥90th percentile value for age and sex. The WHO criterion was used to categorize BMI. Students’ BW was asked from parents using validate questionnaire and was categorized as low BW (LBW) (BW 4000 g). Results: This national survey was conducted among 23043 school students (participation rate: 92.6%). The mean age of participants (50.8% boys) was 12.54 ± 3.31 years. Results of multivariate logistic regression show that LBW increased odds of underweight (OR [odds ratio]: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.37, 1.89) and students with HBW had decreased odds of underweight (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.93) compared to students with NBW. Students with LBW compared to student with NBW had decreased odds of overweight (OR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.69, 0.98) and general obesity (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.95). On the other hand, HBW increased odd of overweight (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.50), generalized obesity (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.29, 1.96) and abdominal obesity (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.49) compared to NBW group. Conclusion: BW is a determinant of weight disorders and abdominal obesity in childhood and adolescence. This finding underscores the importance of prenatal care as well as close monitoring of the growth pattern of children born with low or high BW.

On the current study the effects of reducing branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) in diets of Sobaity sea bream in a constant level (40%) on growth and nutritional indices, pancreatic enzymes activity, whole body chemical proximate and amino acids, was assessed. This experiment was conducted in Marine Fish Research Station of Imam Khomeini harbor during July and August of 2014. For these purposes, four different treatments in triplicate were used during 42 days in the base of feeding with semi purified diets containing crystalline amino acids. The control diet was without any deficiency, the leucine (LEU), isoleucine (ILE) and valine (VAL) diets were deficient in leucine, isoleucine, and valine respectively. According to the results, the survival rate was not affected by treatments. Growth and nutritional factors including final weight, the percentage of weight increase, specific growth rate, protein efficiency and nitrogen retention were decreased in deficient diets related to the control but feed conversion ratio increased. Crude lipid decreased in all deficient treatments that showed disorder in lipid metabolism in regards to BCAA deficiency. Leucine, isoleucine and valine content of the whole body showed no significant differences between treatments in spite of deficiency in diets that showed amino acids sparing for these three essential amino acids. Reduction in pancreatic enzyme activity showed the relations of BCAA on secretion and activities of these enzymes.