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In the context of uncertain economic environments urban agglomerations play a crucial role in economic development, reshaping industrial chains and fostering inter-city cooperation. This study employs the Global Production Network (GPN) theory to enhance our understanding of how cities integrate into regions, emphasizing the often-overlooked governmental influence in strategic coupling processes. In examining the evolution of China's smartphone industry within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) this research categorizes 19,599 smartphone companies into five distinct groups. Through analyzing their spatial distribution and geographical linkage the study identifies four strategic coupling modes based on the localization of assets, considering spatial influence and technological complexity along horizontal and vertical dimensions. Structural and institutional elements within these modes are also explored. The research uncovers unique integration patterns among nine cities in the GBA's mobile industry, revealing distinct spatial clusters rooted in technological, resource and innovation factors. Crucially, local policies play a pivotal role. Cities such as Shenzhen and Dongguan emerge as technology hubs, contrasting with Foshan and Zhongshan, which leverage resource advantages. The spatial impact, contingent on specific assets, underscores the necessity for nuanced top-down coupling methods in regional development. Moreover, the study emphasizes the significance of nurturing innovation links, not only between leading companies but also among midstream and downstream enterprises, enhancing cities' strategic coupling capabilities.

The industrial cooperation of Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is one of the leading regional development strategies of this world-class urban agglomeration. This study constructed the industrial cooperation network based on the travel Origin-Destination (OD) connections among industrial parks. A multi-dimensional industrial cooperation and industrial development calculation index system were also set up to measure the nonlinear interaction relationship between them. The research found that an industrial collaboration network has been basically formed in the GBA, particularly presented by major cities. Some undeveloped cities may receive more benefits in the industrial collaboration network. The Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact in terms of within city connection instead of cross-city industrial cooperation. In addition, the degree of coupling between urban industrial coordination and urban industrial development has improved significantly over one decade and taking industrial collaboration as the input variables, industrial collaboration efficiently leads to industrial development outputs in almost every city in the GBA. Practically, decision makers should encourage and support intercity industrial collaboration, particularly between cities with closer geographic proximity, as it has been found to result in stronger cooperation and better economic enhancement. In addition, although industrial collaboration does not guarantee industrial development, when the collaboration systems and policies are enhanced, the synergy and coordination between them gradually improve. This highlights the potential benefits of continued investment in industrial collaboration for economic development.

A variety of experimental tracer diffusivities of Mg and O in magnesium oxide available in the literature were first assessed. Atomic mobilities including bulk and short-circuit diffusion of Mg and O were then obtained by means of the CALPHAD (Calculation of Phase Diagram) approach. Afterwards, the diffusion-controlled kinetic model of oxidation in a gas-MgO-Mg environment was developed based on the moving boundary model and Fick's law, coupling with the modified thermodynamic description of MgO. A mathematical expression for parabolic rate constant kp of the oxide scale was derived for magnesia and correlated with the thermodynamic and diffusion kinetic information. The evaluated kp results were in line with the experimental data. Finally, the oxidation process of pure magnesium at 673 K was model-predicted, and the predicted evolution of the oxide thicknesses agreed very well with the experimental data. It was indicated that the grain boundaries diffusion of magnesium cations predominated the high temperature oxidation process.

The widespread adoption of metformin as a primary therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes has prompted inquiries into its potential impact on vitamin B 12 (cobalamin) levels and subsequent deficiency. This study aimed to elucidate this complex relationship and enhance the care provided to patients undergoing metformin treatment. A comprehensive search of meta-analyses , systematic reviews, randomised controlled trials and guidelines published between January 2010 and September 2021 was conducted. MeSH terms 'metformin' and 'vitamin B 12 ,' along with corresponding DeCS terms, guided the search. Varied recommendations from different scientific associations underscore the need for regular monitoring of vitamin B 12 levels in patients undergoing long-term metformin therapy. Different durations of metformin exposure, spanning from 6 weeks to 48 months, were associated with decreased vitamin B 12 concentrations. Observed decreases in B 12 concentrations ranged from 7.7 to 65.8 pmol/L, with percentage reductions ranging from 6.3 % to over 35 %. The evidence highlights a dosage-dependent correlation between higher metformin doses and an increased prevalence of B 12 deficiency. The results obtained highlight the association between metformin and B 12 deficiency. The prevalence of B 12 deficiency under metformin is of a greater magnitude than the one declared on the Summary of Product Characteristics approved by the medicine regulatory agencies. Thus, clinicians should be aware of this possible side effect when prescribing metformin, in order to prevent, monitor and treat if present.

Background and Objective: Obesity has produced conflicting results on various indices of prostate cancer diagnosis. Since the effect of body mass index (BMI) on Gleason score and prostate specific antigen (PSA) as well as the overall classified risk of prostate cancer results is important, the present study was conducted to investigate the association of BMI and age with Gleason score and PSA in Patients with prostate cancer. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 310 prostate cancer patients referred to the affiliated hospitals of Babol University of Medical Sciences from 2011 to 2021 were evaluated in terms of age, height, weight, PSA and Gleason score. Based on BMI, the patients were divided into three groups: obese (BMI≥30), overweight (BMI=25-30) and normal weight (BMI7) and were divided into three categories based on PSA: 4-10, 10-20 and more than 20. Then, the association of BMI and age with Gleason score and PSA was investigated. Findings: The mean BMI of the patients was 26.3±3.77 kg/m2. The mean PSA was 35.72±8.5 ng/dL and the mean Gleason score was 7.1±1.11. The mean Gleason score increased with increasing age (p

This study aimed to verify the effects of participation motivation in sports climbing on leisure satisfaction and physical self-efficacy. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the causal relationships between participation motivation in sports climbing, leisure satisfaction, and physical self-efficacy, and to determine participation motivation. This study examined this causal relationship by verifying leisure satisfaction’s mediating effect on the relationship between participation motivation in sports climbing and physical self-efficacy. The participants of this study included 324 individuals over the age of 20 years with at least three months of sports climbing experience in the Seoul and Gyeonggi regions. The results indicated that among the subfactors of participation motivation in sports climbing, only skill acquisition and achievement positively affected leisure satisfaction, that leisure satisfaction positively affected physical self-efficacy, and that leisure satisfaction mediated the relationship between skill acquisition and achievement among the subfactors of participation motivation in sports climbing and physical self-efficacy. This study indicated that improved leisure satisfaction through sports climbing increases physical self-efficacy, including perceived improvement in physical abilities and confidence in interpersonal relationships. Accordingly, to expand and sustain participation, a systematic system for sports climbing instruction and educational programs is required to increase skill acquisition and a sense of accomplishment.

Federated learning (FL) is the up-to-date approach for privacy constraints Internet of Things (IoT) applications in next-generation mobile network (NGMN), $5^{\mathrm {th}}$ generation (5G), and $6^{\mathrm {th}}$ generation (6G), respectively. Due to 5G/6G is based on new radio (NR) technology, the multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) of radio services for heterogeneous IoT devices have been performed. The autonomous resource allocation and the intelligent quality of service class identity (IQCI) in mobile networks based on FL systems are obligated to meet the requirements of privacy constraints of IoT applications. In massive FL communications, the heterogeneous local devices propagate their local models and parameters over 5G/6G networks to the aggregation servers in edge cloud areas. Therefore, the assurance of network reliability is compulsory to facilitate end-to-end (E2E) reliability of FL communications and provide the satisfaction of model decisions. This paper proposed an intelligent lightweight scheme based on the reference software-defined networking (SDN) architecture to handle the massive FL communications between clients and aggregators to meet the mentioned perspectives. The handling method adjusts the model parameters and batches size of the individual client to reflect the apparent network conditions classified by the k-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm. The proposed system showed notable experimented metrics, including the E2E FL communication latency, throughput, system reliability, and model accuracy.

With the exponential growth of the Internet of things (IoT) in remote sensing image applications, network resource orchestration and data privacy are significant aspects to handle in bigdata cellular networks. The image data sharing procedure toward central cloud servers in order to perform real-time classifications has leaked client personalization and heavily burdened the communication networks. Thus, the deployment of IoT image sensors in privacy-constrained sectors requires an optimized federated learning (FL) scheme to efficiently consider both aspects of securing data privacy and maximizing the model accuracy with sufficient communication and computation resources. In this article, an adaptive model communication scheme with virtual resource optimization for edge FL is proposed by converging a deep q-learning algorithm to enforce a self-learning agent interacting with network functions virtualization orchestrator and software-defined networking based architecture. The agent targets to optimize the resource control policy of virtual multi-access edge computing entities in virtualized infrastructure manager. The proposed scheme trains the learning model and weighs the optimal actions for particular network states by using an epsilon-greedy strategy. In the exploitation phase, the scheme considers multiple spatial-resolution sensing conditions and allocates computation offloading resources for global multiconvolutional neural networks model aggregation based on the congestion states. In the simulation results, the quality of service and global collaborative model performance metrics were evaluated in terms of delay, packet drop ratios, packet delivery ratios, loss values, and overall accuracy.

Autores: Renato Dalle Vedove Silveira Cabral, Sophia Azevedo Maligeri, Edson Kazuo Saito e orientado por Patrícia Nunes Bezerra Pinheiro. Objetivos: Destacar a queda das doações de sangue durante a pandemia do SARS-COV-2, citar as iniciativas tomadas por serviços de saúde e analisar a eficácia destas. Material e métodos: Revisão de literatura com a utilização da plataforma Pubmed. Com os descritores “pandemic”AND “blood bank”, chega-se a 189 resultados. Aplicando filtros “texto completo grátis”e “2020 a 2021”encontra-se 131 resultados. Após a leitura dos resumos, 43 revelaram-se relevantes com o tema e destes, após a leitura completa, apenas 40. Resultados: À exceção do relato de dois artigos, a redução das doações no período foi severa para os bancos de sangue com relatos de estoques quase esgotados. As principais medidas de contingência adotadas foram: postergação de cirurgias eletivas, diminuição do uso de hemoderivados com descontinuação ou redução dos valores de hemoglobina e plaquetas para transfusão profilática, além da extensão do vencimento dos produtos. Para aumentar a segurança no momento das doações medidas como agendamento de horário, distanciamento físico entre as cadeiras, ambientes bem ventilados, uso de equipamentos de proteção individual pelos trabalhadores e testes rápidos de triagem para COVID-19 foram implementados. Discussão: Atualmente a tecnologia e a ciência caminham juntas em uma jornada de descobertas e conquistas. Todavia, ainda não é possível reproduzir sangue em laboratório, cabendo ao receptor apenas a esperança de doações. De acordo com a Organização Mundial da Saúde é recomendável que 5% da população seja doadora de sangue, no entanto, antes da pandemia o Brasil apresentava uma média baixa, de 2 a 2,5% de doadores e durante a pandemia da COVID-19 as doações diminuíram ainda mais. Diversos pacientes hematológicos e oncológicos necessitam de transfusões regulares para sobrevivência. Além disso, com o agravamento da pandemia, a demanda por transfusões devido às complicações da COVID-19 aumentou, enquanto o estoque de sangue sofreu o efeito contrário. A fim de controlar a disseminação da doença instaurou-se medidas restritivas. O altruísmo do ato de doar sangue perdeu forças em meio ao medo, ansiedade e individualismo que propagaram-se pela sociedade. Os bancos de sangue precisaram realizar campanhas de doações massivas com o intuito de sensibilizar a população, expuseram a carência do estoque e a segurança de seus estabelecimentos. Com novas abordagens, os doadores rotineiros voltaram a ativa, apesar da menor frequência, e novos doadores, os denominados “pandêmicos”, passaram a doar. Conclusão: Os bancos de sangue foram drasticamente afetados pela pandemia. Para a redução deste impacto as melhores medidas tomadas são: o uso da telemedicina para a entrevista de aptidão para doação, permanência dos bancos de sangue abertos em feriados, utilização de grandes espaços externos para campanhas de doações e o uso das redes sociais para a realização de marketing e engajamento social. Além das medidas já citadas, é importante ressaltar que brasileiros matriculados no ensino superior representam aproximadamente 18% da população, esta parcela deveria ser incentivada a realizar doações sanguíneas, com posterior validação como horas complementares.

An electrochemical and sensitive sensing of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane [bisphenol A (BPA)] was developed based on a didodecyldimethylammonium bromide-modified expanded graphite paste electrode (DDAB-EGPE). The DDAB-EGPE was prepared by suspending an EGPE in a DDAB aqueous solution, and allowing the DDAB to form a hydrophobic film on the expanded graphite surface. Compared with the EGPE, the DDAB-EGPE showed improved electrochemical response of BPA because of the preconcentration of BPA in DDAB via hydrophobic interaction. Due to the electrocatalytic activity of BPA, a sensor for BPA was constructed based on the DDAB-EGPE. The DDAB-EGPE exhibited a wide linear response to BPA ranging from 6.0 × 10−8 to 2.0 × 10−5 mol/L with a detection limit of 7.1 nmol/L at S/N = 3. The designed sensor showed good reproducibility and stability. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to the determination of BPA in three types of real plastic product samples. This sensor presented a simple, rapid, and sensitive platform for the determination of BPA and could become a versatile and powerful tool for food safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS) primarily affecting the optic nerves and spinal cord, but also involving other regions of the CNS including the area postrema, periaqueductal gray matter, and hypothalamus. Knowledge related to pediatric manifestations of NMOSD has grown in recent years, particularly in light of newer information regarding the importance of not only antibodies to aquaporin 4 (AQP4-IgG) but also myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) in children manifesting clinically with this syndrome. In this review, we describe the current state of the knowledge related to clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and chronic therapies for children with NMOSD, with emphasis on literature that has been published in the last 5 years. Following the review, we propose recommendations for the assessment/follow up clinical care, and treatment of this population.

Background & aim: Hepatitis B risk factors are a main consideration among jobs related in healthcare. There is a high risk of hepatitis B infection in health care workers, compared to the general population due to higher exposure to patients infected with the virus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunity against hepatitis B virus and frequency of HBsAg positive cases among medical staffs of Shahid Beheshti hospital in Yasuj, Iran. Methods: The present cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study was conducted by interviewing 270 personnel of Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Yasuj in 2016. After completing the questionnaire which included demographic and review vaccination records, 5 ml of blood was taken from the participants. Using an ELISA kit specific antibody levels against hepatitis B virus and HBsAg were measured. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and chi-square. Results: A total of 112 patients (41.5%) of the subjects were male and 158 (58.5%) were female. The results indicated that a number of seven subjects (6.2%) had no immunity against hepatitis B virus, 68 (25.1%) had border immunity and 195 (72.2%) had complete immunity. 9 patients (3/3 %) were infected with hepatitis B. Among these participants, 5 patients (55.6%) were female and 4 (44.4%) were male. None of them had any sign of obesity, smoking, high risk sexual behavior, blood transfusion and did not develop jaundice. Conclusion: The present study revealed that the frequency of HBsAg positive cases was in the expected range, and that the samples studied had a favorable safety level.

The study was conducted to investigate rumen impaction in goats slaughtered at Katsina Metropolitan Abattoir by administering 147 questionnaires and making weekly visits to the abattoir for information retrieval for eleven weeks. In addition, live-weights of sampled animals, weight of rumen contents and empty rumen were determined. The data indicated that 60% of the animal keepers allow their animals to scavenge on refuse and majority (93%) of the respondents observed some effects of rumen infection, which include death of the animals (34%). The result revealed that the problem was more common among the age range of 16 and 18 months of age and that sex also has effect on the rate of impaction occurring more in females. Types and quantity of non-degradable materials in the affected animals were identified and polythene materials occurred more. Frequency of non-degradable materials was also observed in goats. The study recommends cleanup of the environment in that, it will substantially reduce foreign bodies syndrome in goats, proper feeding, addition of mineral constituents in the diet, hence there is need for state legislature to enforce proper disposal of non-degradable synthetic polythene materials to make the environment safe for ruminants.

Background: Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) can play a critical role in the regulation of many facets of innate and adaptive immune responses through transcriptional activation of type I interferons, other proinflammatory cytokines, and chemokines. However, their roles in transplantation immunity still remain to be elucidated. Objective: To evaluate the time course of mRNA expression of all 9 members of IRFs family of transcription factors during liver allograft acute rejection. Methods: Blood samples of 19 patients with autoimmune hepatitis receiving liver transplants were collected on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 post-transplantation. The patients were followed for 6 months after transplantation and divided into two groups of acute rejection (AR) (n=4) and non-acute rejection (non-AR) (n=15). Results: All of the studied transcription factors were down-regulated in AR-group on days 3, 5, and 7 post-transplantation compared to non-AR group. The mean±SEM IRF5 on day 7 post-transplantation was significantly (p=0.005) lower in AR-group than in non-AR group (0.7±0.21 vs. 1.91±0.27, respectively); expression of other IRFs family members was not significantly different between the two groups on days 3, 5, and 7 post-transplantation. Conclusion: IRF5 may have an important role during the acute rejection of liver transplants.

Background: Patients with hepatic diseases are treated with numerous drugs metabolized by cytochrome P450. Objective: To evaluate the frequencies of CYP2C19 variant alleles (*2, *3, and *17), genotypes, and phenotypes, and the relationship between the frequency of these alleles and the underlying hepatic diseases among patients with advanced liver diseases who were candidates for liver transplantation. Methods: The Study was conducted on 120 patients suffering from various hepatic disorders, candidates for liver transplantation, and 52 healthy volunteers. DNA was extracted from blood samples and analyzed by TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. The CYP2C19 genotypes were classified into poor, extensive, intermediate, and ultra-rapid metabolizer phenotypes. Results: Viral hepatitis was the most common cause of liver disease among studied patients. The frequencies of CYP2C19 alleles *1, *17, and *2 were 66.7% (160/240), 20.8% (50/240) and 12.5% (30/240), respectively. Allele CYP2C19*3 was not found in the studied population. The most prevalent genotypes were CYP2C19 *1/*1 (47.5%) and *1/*17 (24.2%). The predicted CYP2C19 phenotypes were extensive metabolizer (47.5%), heterozygote extensive metabolizer (45.9%), ultra-rapid metabolizer (5%), and poor metabolizer (1.6%). There was no significant difference between the frequencies of CYP2C19 genotypes between healthy people and patients. The distribution of CYP2C19 genotype frequencies was not significantly associated with the underlying disease conditions (p=0.472). Conclusion: The distribution of CYP2C19 genotype frequencies in Iranian healthy people and patients with various hepatic diseases was not significantly different. This may allow the physicians to predict a tailoring dose regimens based on the individual’s metabolic capacity, decrease the risk of harmful side effects of the drugs, and optimize the treatment.

Background: Interleukin-28 (IL-28B) rs12979860 C/T polymorphism is a known predictor of sustained virological response after antiviral treatment in hepatitis C. IL-28B affects the innate immune system as well as intrahepatic expression level of interferon-stimulated genes. Objective: To investigate the effect of recipient IL-28B polymorphism on occurrence of acute rejection after liver transplantation. Methods: 140 liver allograft recipients were selected. Acute rejection episodes were recorded in 39 patients (AR group); the remaining had normal graft function (non-AR group). 70 normal subjects were also studied as the control group. The IL-28B rs12979860 was genotyped through PCR-RFLP method. Results: No significant difference was found between AR and non-AR groups in terms of genotype and allele frequency. However, the CC genotype was significantly (p

A successful liver transplantation team consists of several specialists to work closely together. The histopathologist (anatomical pathologist) is one of the key players in this multidisciplinary team. This role starts with the pre-transplantation evaluation of the recipient’s liver by diagnosis or confirming the underlying liver disease and continues with the evaluation of the explanted recipient’s liver for any further information about the underlying liver disease including malignancies such as hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, or any other incidental findings. The evaluation of the new donor liver begins with determining the suitability of the donor liver for transplantation during or before the operation and continues throughout the entire posttransplantation period by evaluating not only the allograft diseases but also evaluating other tissues for infections, malignancies, etc. It is worthy to note that in many of the above-mentioned situations, histopathology is the gold-standard diagnostic test. In this review, we present on various tasks of a histopathologist according to the current literature and our own experience in the largest liver transplantation center in Iran.

Background: A Burn injury is a major health problem in the developing countries. Various treatments were applied for treatment of burn wounds by Iranian traditional medicine for thousands of years ago. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the natural products based on treatment of burn wounds by herbalists or herbal medicine vendors in the Mazandaran province. Methods: This research was a cross-sectional study and all herbalists or herbal medicine vendors were enrolled in this study. Snow ball sampling method was used with a questionnaire. Demographic data, methods of treatment for wounds, itching and pain were collected. The results were analysised. Results: In this study, 29 herbal and 4 animal based products were recommended by herbal medicine vendors for treatment of burn wounds. The results showed that 77 percent of respondents to treatment of burn wounds by natural products were recommended. Aloe Vera gel was the first choice for treatment of burn that was recommended by the herbalists. Conclusion: These results are interesting to find new drugs for treatment of burn wound healing with regards to Iranian traditional medicine. Since there are limited animal and clinical studies for approval of these natural products, future studies are needed for assessment of these traditional medicines for treatment of burn injuries.

Background: The aim of the present study was to survey birds' schistosomes in migratory birds (Anati­dae: Anas platyrhynchos) which are the source of the disease in Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran.Methods: A number of mallards were bought from the markets of hunted birds. The respiratory tracts (nasal mucosa) and intestinal blood vessels were studied for adult worms. The nasal mucosa was separated and observed by a microscope. In order to separate the visceral schistosomes, after separating intestine, vessel mesenteric was studied under the lamp light and then in saline. The para­site sample was collected for subsequent observation.Results: Fifteen (13.6%) cases out of 110 studied birds had nasal mucosa contaminated with Trichobilhar­zia sp. egg. Besides that, two birds had adult worms schistosome visceral i.e. Bilharziella sp.Conclusion: The elements that cause cercarial dermatitis in aforementioned region are Trichobilharzia sp. and Bilharziella sp. parasites. Thus, it is necessary for the authorities of health, environmental and agricultural organization of the province to cooperate in order to control this disease.

AbstractBackground: Solid organ transplantation is the only definitive treatment available for patients with endstage organ failure. Organs procured from brain-death donors are the main source of transplants. Following brain death, a burst of inflammatory reaction develops; it is characterized by increased plasma levels of cytokines. This inflammatory reaction has been associated with increased early allograft dysfunction.Objective: In this study, we test if the increased inflammatory response in brain-death donors is associated with more recipient complications.Methods: We prospectively recruited 38 consecutive brain-death donors admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Following the declaration of brain death, the demographics data on donor and recipient characteristics and cause of brain death were recorded. The post-liver transplant complications in recipients were stratified according to the Clavien classification. Plasma levels of cytokines IL-6, IL-2, and TNF-α were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits, in all donors before organ procurement. Results: The mean (range) age of donors was 44 (16–74) years. Trauma due to car accident was the most common cause of brain death (79%). The post-liver transplant complications occurred in 19 (50%) recipients. The mean±SD plasma TNF-α concentration was significantly (p

AbstractA 55-year-old man with hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma was treated with liver transplantation without veno-venous bypass. During the procedure his arterial blood pressure remained at 55/30 mm Hg and did not respond to increasing doses of norepinephrine. Vasoplegia was managed aggressively with the intravenous infusion of high doses of epinephrine.

Background: Acute rejection is the main problem in liver transplantation that occurs in the first days or months of transplantation. It includes histological and cellular rejection. Acute histological rejection is confirmed by biopsy. Glutathione S-transferase family is the most important genes in phase II detoxification working in xenobiotic and drug metabolism. GSTO2 is one of the members of this family. GSTO2 (N142D) polymorphism may influence metabolism of immunosuppressive drugs. Objective: To determine if GSTO2 polymorphism has association with acute liver rejection. Methods: The present study included 120 patients with histological-proven acute liver rejection and 182 patients without acute rejection. Both groups were matched for sex and age. To determine variants of GSTO2, we used polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: There was a significant association between the GSTO2 genotype and acute liver rejection (NN: OR: 3.642, 95% CI: 1.179–5.444) and (ND: OR: 2.533, 95% CI: 1.672–8.149) compared to those with DD geneotype. Conclusion: Recipients with either NN or ND genotype for GSTO2 are more likely to develop acute liver rejection compared to those with DD genotype.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetSx) is common among liver transplant recipients. It contributes to morbidity and mortality. Objective: To determine the prevalence of MetSx in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LTx) in Iran. Methods: 202 liver transplant recipients of both sexes completed this study. Relevant information including age, sex, the underlying disease, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, fasting serum levels of blood sugar (FBS), triglyceride (TG), and HDL-cholesterol were measured. The prevalence of MetSx was evaluated at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after LTx. Results: The prevalence of MetSx was 36.6% after 1 month that decreased to 28.2% after 12 months of follow-up. The lowest prevalence of MetSx (27.7%) was observed 9 months after LTx. Our data showed a decrease in TG and an increase in HDL-C level and no significant changes in blood pressure, waist circumference and FBS during the study period. Conclusion: The prevalence of MetSx after LTx is high when compared to the normal population. It seems that a change in diet after transplantation may affect the prevalence of MetSx.

Background: Myocardial performance index (MPI) or Tei index is a Doppler-derived index of combined systolic and diastolic myocardial function, calculated as the sum of isovolumetric relaxation time (IRT) and isovolumetric contraction time (ICT) divided by the ejection time (ET). Objective: To evaluate the right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function using MPI in children before and after liver transplantation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 30 children with liver cirrhosis before liver transplantation, 30 age-matched comparison group at least 6 months after liver transplantation, and 30 agedmatched children without history of heart disease in Nemazi Liver Transplant Center, Shiraz, Iran, from April 2012 to April 2014. Echocardiographic evaluation was carried out with a GE Vivid 3 echocardiographic machine, using a 3-MHz probe with tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) software using conventional and TDI method. Results: The mean±SD left ventricle Tei index in patients was 0.33±0.02 before liver transplantation, 0.34±0.02 after liver transplantation, and 0.33±003 in the comparison group (p=0.36). The mean±SD right ventricular Tei index was 0.35±0.04 in patients before transplantation, 0.36±0.46 after liver transplantation, and 0.28±0.04 in the comparison group (p