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Introduction: Significant changes have been reported in the dietary regimen of fasting Muslims during Ramadan compared to the other months of year. The present study aimed to assess the effects of Ramadan fasting on macronutrient and micronutrient intakes in fasting individuals. Methods: In total, 119 participants were visited twice (before Ramadan and during the third week of Ramadan). Nutrient intakes were determined using the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and based on a three-day food intake recall during Ramadan and other months. In addition, data on the weight, height, and other demographic variables of the subjects were obtained. Results: One-sample t-test indicated the significantly higher intake of calories, total fats, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, vitamin A, carotene, total vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin C, niacin, and phosphorous compared to the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) before Ramadan (P<0.05). However, the dietary intake of carbohydrates, fibers, polyunsaturated fats, folate, cooper, magnesium, potassium, selenium, and sodium was significantly lower than the RDA before Ramadan. In addition, paired sample t-test showed that the intake of calories, carbohydrates, fibers, total fats, monounsaturated fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, vitamin A, carotene, total vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and sodium significantly decreased after three weeks of fasting. However, only the intake of calories, protein, carbohydrates, fibers, total fats, saturated fats, monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, cholesterol, vitamin A, carotene, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, folacin, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, selenium, and sodium was significantly lower during the third week of Ramadan compared to the RDA, while the intake of vitamin A and niacin was significantly higher than the RDA during Ramadan. Conclusion: According to the results, there was a significant reduction in the dietary intake of some micronutrients during Ramadan, which implies the nutritional recommendations in the selection of proper foods by fasting individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT), in particular, with perfusion agents or with neuroreceptor imaging radiopharmaceuticals, is rapidly becoming a clinical tool in many neurologic and psychiatric conditions. This imaging modality has been used for diagnosis, prognosis assessment, evaluation of response to therapy, risk stratification, detection of benign vs. malignant viable tissue, and the choice of medical or surgical therapy. We will present our institutional experience in this area, formatting a pictorial review of brain perfusion SPECT on more than 20 types of different neurologic and psychiatric diseases, such as dementia, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, head injury, brain tumor, herpes encephalitis, hypoxic brain damage, vacuities, depression, carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, and cocaine abuse. This is a demanding procedure as far as the need for trained and experienced physicians and personnel as well as advanced equipment are concerned. However, extraordinary useful clinical information achieved by this technology outweighs the existing challenge. More routine use of this procedure which is unfortunately underutilized in many countries including ours should be encouraged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer is a major burden of disease worldwide. In many countries, cancer ranks the second most common cause of death following cardiovascular diseases. Breast cancer is considered as one of the main causes of death among women in recent years. The treatment and prevention of cancer have been mentioned by many researchers. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of numerous disorders and pathophysiological processes including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Using antioxidants as preventive and therapeutic agents is recommended. In this study, the effect of selenium ions as inorganic antioxidant compound along with low-level laser therapy on human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 was investigated. Methods: Breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 was exposed to irradiation with a red laser source (660 nm; power density: 30 mW cm2) and another was kept in the dark for 90 seconds. After treatment with laser, the cells were treated with different concentrations of selenium (0-100 μg/mL) for overnight. The MTT assay was used to determine the cell viability. The morphology of cells was studied using inverted light microscopy. All experiments were repeated three times. Results: The results showed that early treatment with low-level laser and then selenium ions reduced the survival and growth of cells. While with the early treatment with selenium and then low-level laser therapy maintained cell survival, and cell death was not observed. Conclusion: This study showed that low-level laser therapy alone is not able to kill breast cancer cells but along with selenium ions, it reduced the cell viability. The morphological study of the cells using inverted light microscopy has confirmed the MTT results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate cerebral perfusion in different types of cerebral palsy (CP) patients. For those patients who underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy, brain perfusion before and after the therapy was compared., Methods: A total of 11 CP patients were enrolled in this study, of which 4 patients underwent oxygen therapy. Before oxygen therapy and at the end of 40 sessions of oxygen treatment, 99mTc-ECD brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) was performed , and the results were compared., Results: A total of 11 CP patients, 7 females and 4 males with an age range of 5-27 years participated in the study. In brain SPECT studies, all the patients showed perfusion impairments. The region most significantly involved was the frontal lobe (54.54%), followed by the temporal lobe (27.27%), the occipital lobe (18.18%), the visual cortex (18.18%), the basal ganglia (9.09%), the parietal lobe (9.09%), and the cerebellum (9.09%). Frontal-lobe hypoperfusion was seen in all types of cerebral palsy. Two out of 4 patients (2 males and 2 females) who underwent oxygen therapy revealed certain degree of brain perfusion improvement., Conclusion: This study demonstrated decreased cerebral perfusion in different types of CP patients. The study also showed that hyperbaric oxygen therapy improved cerebral perfusion in a few CP patients. However, it could keep the physiological discussion open and strenghten a link with other areas of neurology in which this approach may have some value.