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A two-year experiment was performed to evaluate the efficacy of spermidine on the field performance of marigolds under water deficit and weed infestation conditions in the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons. The experiment was arranged as the split split-plot design based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Irrigation intervals (I1, I2, and I3: irrigation after 40, 80, and 120 mm evaporation from the class A pan, respectively) were assigned to main plots, weed infestation (weed-free and weed infestation) was assigned to the subplots, and foliar applications of spermidine (1 mM) (4-6th leaf stages and pre-blooming stage) were allocated to sub-subplots. The percentage of ground cover, leaf water content, leaf area index, and oil and essential oil yield decreased but leaf temperature increased in the I2 and I3 and also in the weed infestation conditions. This reaction led to a decline in the grain yield of the marigold plants. Foliar application of spermidine increased the percentage of ground cover, leaf water content, leaf area index, and oil and essential oil yield and decreased the leaf temperature in weed-free conditions. In conclusion, spermidine positively affected the grain and oil yield of marigold plants under water-stress conditions, when the weeds were absent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The burden of neurological disorders increases with population growth and aging and nearly three-quarters of the global burden of neurological disorders has been reported in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, this study aimed to report the epidemiological features and the burden of neurological disorders in North Africa and the Middle East (NAME) countries. Methods: The study population included 21 countries in the NAME region with a population of more than 600 million. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database was used. In GBD 2019, neurological disorders are classified into 7 diseases and injuries. Incidence rates, prevalence rates, death rates, disability adjusted life years (DALYs) rates by age-standardized rate (ASR) per 100 000 people were measured. Also, the attributed burden to high body mass index (BMI), high fasting plasma glucose, smoking, and alcohol use were reported. Results: The highest incidence rates of neurological disorders in 2019 were in Iran 11293.27 (95% UI, 10132.62-12499.59) and Egypt 10257.33 (95% UI, 9189.37-11341.16), respectively, and the highest mortality 41.12 (95% UI, 17.68-92.44) and DALYs 1503.0 (95% UI, 853.8-2492.15) rates were in Afghanistan. In NAME region, the incidence and prevalence rate of neurological disorders increased by 0.84% (10006.37 to 10090.79) and 1.36% (33711.72 to 34170.57) respectively, while the mortality and DALYs rate decreased by 2.75% (34.11 to 33.17) and 3.92% (1438.48 to 1382.14) between 1990 and 2019. The highest decrement of the neurological disorders-related DALYs with a 10.10% decrement pertained to Afghanistan (1671.86 to 1503). The highest increment of the neurological disorders-related DALYs with a 1.89% increment pertained to Morocco (1330.69 to 1355.83). The highest attributed DALYs to alcohol use pertained to Turkey 9.8 (95% UI, 4.23-18.05). The highest attributed DALYs to high BMI 112.23 (95% UI, 29.3-285.75) and high fasting plasma glucose 100.36 (95% UI, 18.79-302.85) pertained to Qatar. The highest attributed DALYs to smoking pertained to Lebanon 106.34 (95% UI, 37.65-253.87). Most DALYs were associated with those aged 75 years and more. Conclusion: Despite progressive reduction in death due to neurological disorders in the NAME region in recent decades, there was a considerable and increasing number of people affected by different neurological disorders. As populations age, societies will face more challenges regarding prevention, detection, treatment, and rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Contrast-induced nephropathy is one of the most common adverse consequences of contrast media use. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of pentoxifylline to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods: This prospective, single-blind, quasi-experimental study was performed on 68 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction who were admitted for percutaneous coronary intervention at Imam Ali Hospital, affiliated with Kermanshah university of medical science (KUMS), Kermanshah province, Iran. Patients were assigned randomly to the control (n = 34) and pentoxifylline (n = 34) groups. Normal saline 0.9% at 0.5-1 mL/kg/h was prescribed from 12 hours before to 12 hours after angioplasty. Pentoxifylline was prescribed at a dose of 400 mg 3 times per day from 24 hours before to 48 hours after angioplasty. Serum creatinine level was measured for both groups at the time of referral and after 72 hours of angioplasty. Independent samples t-tests, chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test were used to assess the differences between groups. Results: No significant difference was found between the 2 groups regarding demographic and baseline clinical characteristics. The mean serum creatinine level (time of referral) was 1.52 ± 0.11 mg/dL and 1.55 ± 0.14 mg/dL in pentoxifylline and control groups, respectively (P = .999). Seventy-two hours after angiography, the mean serum creatinine level was 1.54 ± 0.13 mg/dL and 1.56 ± 0.17 mg/dL in pentoxifylline and control groups, respectively (P = .999). We found that contrast-induced nephropathy occurred in 7 patients (10.3%); 4 controls (11.8%), and 3 patients (8.8%) in the pentoxifylline group, which was not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = .690). Conclusion: The findings of the current study showed that oral administration of pentoxifylline to patients at higher risk for developing contrast-induced nephropathy undergoing coronary angioplasty may decrease the occurrence of contrast-induced nephropathy, but this decrease is not statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Spontaneous abortion is one of the most common problems which a woman may encounter during her pregnancy which is one of the most important causes of maternal death. Therefore, the aim of this study was to report the epidemiological features of spontaneous abortion in North Africa and the Middle East (NAME) countries. Materials and methods: The study population included 21 countries in the NAME region with a population of more than 600 million. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2019 database was used. Incidence rates, the prevalence rates, death rates, the disability adjusted life years (DALYs) rates by age-standardized rate (ASR) per 100,000 people were measured. Also, the attributed burden to iron deficiency was reported. Results: In 2019, the highest prevalence 39.44 (95% CI, 24.58_ 59.26) and incidence 4794.16 (95% CI, 3491.77_ 6353.03) rates of spontaneous abortion were in Afghanistan. In 2019, the highest spontaneous abortion related-death 5.88 (95% CI, 3.23_ 8.97) and DALYs 339.12 (95% CI, 184.29_ 516.95) rates by ASR were in Yemen. In MENA, average prevalence (44.7 to 19.82) and incidence (5434.95 to 2409.61) rates have decreased by nearly 56%, and also average death (1990 4.51 to 2019 0.48) and DALYs (263.15 to 29.37) rates have decreased by nearly 89% between 1990 and 2019. The highest spontaneous abortion-related DALYs rate was attributed to iron deficiency. In 2019, Yemen (29%) had the highest attributed burden to iron deficiency. Conclusion: This study on 21 countries in the NAME region with a population of more than 600 million showed that average prevalence and incidence rates of spontaneous abortion have decreased by nearly 56%, and also average and the disability adjusted life years (DALYs) rates have decreased by nearly 89% between 1990 and 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To find whether the gene variants and haplotypes of cytochrome (CYP) 27B1 (1α-hydroxylase), group-specific component (GC) that is a vitamin D binding protein, vitamin D receptor (VDR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and retinoid-X receptor (RXR) affect the risk of preeclampsia. Methods: In a case–control study 100 women with preeclampsia and 100 healthy pregnant women were investigated for gene variants and haplotypes of vitamin D biosynthesis, transport, and function using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results: The frequency of gene variants of PPARγ Pro12Ala and RXR -α (A/G, rs749759) were not significantly different comparing patients and controls. The TT genotype of CYP 27B1 (G > T) was associated with 2.2-fold (95% CI 1.04–4.7, p = 0.039) increased risk of early-onset preeclampsia. Also, the TT genotype of GC rs7041 (T > G) increased the risk of preeclampsia [OR = 2.13 (95% CI 1.09–4.17, p = 0.027)]. The VDR ApaI GT genotype elevated susceptibility to preeclampsia (OR = 2.55, p = 0.04). Further, the presence of VDR ApaI GT+TT genotype was associated with higher levels of body mass index, and systolic blood pressure, and lower level of 25 (OH)-D3. In the presence of haplotype CYP T, VDR T, and RXR A (TTA) compared to haplotype GTG the risk of preeclampsia was 6.71-fold (p = 0.044). Conclusions: The present study indicated an association between the CYP 27B1, GC, and VDR ApaI variants with the risk of preeclampsia. Also, the variants of the latter polymorphism influenced BMI, blood pressure, and vitamin D levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molybdenum is an essential micronutrient that regulates plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic environmental stresses. However, little is known about the joint effects of water stress, molybdenum, and cultivar on physiological traits of field-grown common bean. Therefore, a split-plot factorial design was used to determine the main and interaction effects of Water stress (3 levels: 55–60, 90–95 and 120–125 mm evaporation from class A pan), Molybdenum (2 levels: control and 80 g per ha), and Cultivar (2 levels: Akhtar and COS-16) on physiological traits and grain yield of common bean. The results indicated that leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll index, relative water content (RWC) and grain yield decrease with increasing water stress. Spraying molybdenum to the plants increased LAI, RWC, and grain yield, but the extent of the increase varied with cultivar. The positive effect of molybdenum also varied with the magnitude of water stress, and it was higher in severe water stress condition compared to that in normal irrigation and moderate water stress conditions. Of the two cultivars, COS-16 gave significantly higher grain yield than Akhtar cultivar, but Akhtar was superior in terms of physiological traits. The study demonstrated that the application of Molybdenum under water stress may cause an increase in N uptake and the efficiency of its use, that consequently increases the chlorophyll index and grain yield of common bean cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to prepare a novel, natural nanoparticle (NP) as a drug carrier, which also has inherent therapeutic effects. Methods: Pistacia khinjuk gum NPs were prepared and Response surface methodology (RSM) was used for statistical analysis of data and optimizing the size of NPs. Results: NPs were in the range of 75.85-241.3 nm. The optimization study was carried out and an optimized size (70.86nm) was obtained using DMSO as a solvent. The volume of the organic phase was 111.25μl and the concentration of gum was 1% w/v. The cell viability assay was performed on the pure gum and NPs toward β-TC3, MCF7 and HT29 cell lines. It was observed that NPs have higher cytotoxic activity in comparison with pure gum and that the IC50value was achieved at 1% of NPs in β-TC3 cells. The obtained NPs demonstrated antibacterial activity against two bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus). Conclusion: Altogether, according to the obtained results, these NPs with inherent cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity are an attractive carrier for drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]