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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Management of concomitant cataract and glaucoma depends on the stage of glaucoma and the patients situation. There are different surgical options for handling visually significant cataract and mild-to-moderate open-angle glaucoma (OAG). We aimed to compare the one-year results of phacoemulsification alone versus phacoviscocanalostomy in these patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This was a parallel-arm, single-masked, randomized-controlled trial, conducted at Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, Iran between January 2016 and January 2018. We enrolled 89 eyes from 89 patients with mild-to-moderate primary OAG or pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEXG) with visually significant age-related cataract. They randomly underwent phacoemulsification alone (n = 44) or combined phaco-viscocanalostomy (n = 45). All patients had a 12-month follow-up period, and the mean intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of antiglaucoma medications, and complete and qualified success rates were compared. RESULTS: After the 1st and 3rd months, the mean IOP showed significantly decreased in the phaco-visco group compared to the phaco group (P

Background and Aims: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a severe complication in diabetes patients, often resulting in significant morbidity and mortality due to non‐healing. This study investigated the effectiveness of 5% topical potassium permanganate on these ulcers. Methods: A clinical trial was conducted on 23 patients with Wagner grade I and II DFU. Patients in the control group received standard treatment, while those in the intervention group also received 5% potassium permanganate topically. Data were recorded at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days for analysis. Results: Among 23 patients studied, 7 (30.4%) were male and 16 (43.7%) female, with an average age of 59 ± 4 years. Both groups showed a statistically significant decrease in wound size and infection over time (p < 0.001). The intervention group, however, had a more substantial reduction in wound size and infection rate (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Potassium permanganate, when applied topically, is both well‐tolerated and effective in enhancing wound healing and reducing infection in DFU, suggesting its potential as a complementary treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The current study was carried out with the objective of formulating and validating the media literacy instructional model within the educational framework. Methods: Employing a qualitative exploratory approach, this study utilized purposeful sampling and criteria-based techniques for sample selection. Data collection involved semistructured interviews during field research and examination of primary documents and educational materials in the library. Theoretical saturation was reached after interviewing 20 individuals, with data analysis conducted through thematic analysis. Following validation and alignment with existing theoretical frameworks and literature, expert opinions were sought regarding the scope and elements of media literacy education. Results: The findings facilitated the identification of 49 elements distributed across 6 dimensions: media literacy instructors, educational practices, curriculum development, school environment, governmental involvement, and Ministry of Education contributions. Conclusions: Overall, the results offer valuable insights for educational policymakers aiming to enhance media literacy within the realm of Education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air-fuel premixers are integrated parts of the premixed burner systems. The present paper describes the modeling, design optimization, and testing of an air-fuel premixer for a 5 kW natural gas porous media burner. The design was aimed at decreasing NOx and CO emissions by forming a homogeneous mixture of air and fuel. The design parameters were optimized employing CFD analysis coupled with a design of experiments (DOE) method. Then, a test model, based on the optimized design, was built and installed in a porous media burner testing apparatus. The test results have shown that the new premixer successfully reduced NOx emissions. It also improved flame stability by preventing flashback in several cases which revealed a new flashback mechanism in such burners. This improvement is achieved by preventing locally near-stoichiometric zones with high flame speeds from being formed. The effect of the new premixer on CO emissions was shown to depend on the firing rate and equivalence ratio. While reduced CO emissions are achieved at high firing rates and equivalence ratios, the level of CO emissions is increased for low firing rate and equivalence ratio magnitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, watersheds have changed under the influence of various environmental and human factors, and their expected performance has decreased in terms of meeting human needs, providing natural responses, and reducing environmental risks. However, evaluating health status and its impact on various factors has not been given enough attention. To this end, an attempt has been made to evaluate the health and ecological security of the subwatersheds of the Sharghonj Watershed using the pressure‐state‐response approach emphasizing flood‐related issues in the region. Toward that, 21 preliminary hydrological, anthropogenic, natural, and climatic criteria were selected. The preliminary variables were then finalized based on the results of the collinearity test and the data availability. The final variables were appropriately allocated to pressure, state, and response (PSR) indices, and associated health and ecological security indices were determined at the subwatershed scale. The results showed that the PSR ranged from 0.56 to 0.86, 0.46 to 0.84, and 0.35 to 0.96, respectively. Health and ecological security also varied from 0.53 to 0.83 and 0.27 to 1.01 in different subwatersheds. Eventually, the weighted mean PSR indices for the Sharghonj Watershed were 0.72, 0.67, and 0.73, respectively. The weighted mean health and ecological security indices were 0.70 and 0.68, respectively. The research results indicated that the dynamic of various variables related to floods considerably affects the health of the Sharghonj Watershed. It could be concluded from the results that the Sharghonj Watershed is highly flood‐susceptible, whose health and ecological security status was mainly controlled by the damages due to the destruction of residences and orchards by floods in the past few years. The results of the current study provide an appropriate roadmap to the decision makers and planners for the better management of the watershed resources in the region through allocating adequate financial support and implementation measures to priority subwatersheds. Highlights: Flood‐based health of the Sharghonj Watershed, Iran, was levied using 21 criteria.Barberry orchards played an essential role in determining watershed health.Proper land‐use and floodplain management affected watershed health positively.The health and security changes of the Sharghonj Watershed were dissimilar.Flood damages mainly controlled the health and ecological security status. Recommendations for Resource Managers Determining the determinant factors on flood‐related issues in the study watershed to accordingly implement appropriate flood control measures.A problem‐oriented approach and in‐depth conceptualization of pressures and management policies applied to watersheds are essential in integrated watershed management.Designating the subwatershed‐specific best management scenarios based on the health and ecological security conditions in a technically productive and economically efficient strategy.Focusing on priority subwatershed to shortly adopt appropriate measures before worsening the governing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal management of burns begins with first aid from the first hours of injury. Adequate knowledge of how to perform first aid for burns can reduce the consequences of injury. Therefore, this study aims to determine the knowledge, attitude, and sources of information assessment towards burn First aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran. A questionnaire‐based survey was conducted to assess knowledge, attitude, and sources of information towards burn first aid among people referred to a burn centre in the north of Iran in 2023. In this survey, a convenience sampling method was adopted. The variables consisted of four items on socio‐demographic information, 15 items on knowledge, ten items on attitude, and one item on sources of information related to burn First aid. A total of 371 individuals responded to the survey. The mean age of participants was 31.90 ± 8.49 years old. The mean score of the total knowledge of the participants in the research was 6.04 ± 3.05. There was a statistically significant relationship between the variables of age, sex, marital status, place of residence, level of education, and history of receiving first aid training with the participants' knowledge level. The average score of the total attitude of the participants was 44.08 ± 3.88. Out of 371 participants, 214 people (57.7%) had an average attitude, and 157 people (42.3%) had a good attitude towards burn first aid. There was a statistically significant relationship between place of residence, level of education, and history of receiving first aid training with the participants' attitudes in the research. In addition, the level of knowledge had a statistically significant relationship with the participants' attitude level in the research (p‐value <0.001). The majority of participants have limited knowledge of burn first aid. This lack of knowledge could lead to severe consequences. Therefore, healthcare organizations should review and promote consistent guidelines for burn first aid to tackle and minimize the effect of this grave injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo explore changes in central macular thickness (CMT) after a two-month period of glaucoma therapy with topical latanoprost after uneventful phacoemulsification.MethodsForty-one eyes of 31 patients with primary open angle or pseudoexfoliative glaucoma who required glaucoma medications after cataract surgery were prospectively enrolled. All eyes had undergone uneventful phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation at least 4 months before initiation of latanoprost. After a complete ophthalmic examination, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fluorescein angiography (FA) were performed at baseline before starting latanoprost. All eyes received latanoprost for 2 months, and clinical examinations were repeated one and two months afterwards; OCT and FA were repeated after 2 months. Outcome measures were CMT and loss of more than 2 lines of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).ResultsMean patient age was 71.6±7.8 years. Intraocular pressure decreased from 21.5±3.4 mmHg to 14.4±2.6 mmHg (p0.05 for all comparisons).ConclusionTopical use of latanoprost later than 4 months after uncomplicated cataract surgery does not seem to predispose to increased macular thickness or CME and may safely be used in this setting.

Reproduction is characterized by a series of massive renovations at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Recent studies have strongly tended to reveal the involvement of basic molecular pathways such as autophagy, a highly conserved eukaryotic cellular recycling, during reproductive processes. This review comprehensively describes the current knowledge, updated to September 2022, of autophagy contribution during reproductive processes in males including spermatogenesis, sperm motility and viability, and male sex hormones and females including germ cells and oocytes viability, ovulation, implantation, fertilization, and female sex hormones. Furthermore, the consequences of disruption in autophagic flux on the reproductive disorders including oligospermia, azoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, globozoospermia, premature ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, and other disorders related to infertility are discussed as well. Abbreviations: AKT/protein kinase B: AKT serine/threonine kinase; AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; ATG: autophagy related; E2: estrogen; EDs: endocrine disruptors; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; FSH: follicle stimulating hormone; FOX: forkhead box; GCs: granulosa cells; HIF: hypoxia inducible factor; IVF: in vitro fertilization; IVM: in vitro maturation; LCs: Leydig cells; LDs: lipid droplets; LH: luteinizing hormone; LRWD1: leucine rich repeats and WD repeat domain containing 1; MAP1LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; NFKB/NF-kB: nuclear factor kappa B; P4: progesterone; PCOS: polycystic ovarian syndrome; PDLIM1: PDZ and LIM domain 1; PI3K: phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PtdIns3P: phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate; PtdIns3K: class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; POI: premature ovarian insufficiency; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SCs: Sertoli cells; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; TSGA10: testis specific 10; TST: testosterone; VCP: vasolin containing protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Glaucoma is a highly prevalent eye disease related to optic nerve lesions and visual field defects. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is a type of glaucoma that occurs frequently with unknown etiology. In this study, we investigated the serum levels of selenium, selenoprotein P1, glutathione, hemolysate glutathione peroxidase1 (GPx1) activity and aqueous humour selenium in POAG patients. Methods: Ninety sex and age-matched subjects (POAG patients; n=45 and, controls; n=45) with the controlled confounders (smoking, hypertension and alcohol beverages) were recruited on clinical histories and exams. The serum and aqueous humour selenium levels were measured using GFAAS technique. The serum selenoprotein P1 level was assayed with the ELISA method. The hemolysate GPx1 activity and serum reduced glutathione level were also measured using known colorimetric techniques. Results: The serum selenium (P=0.01) and selenoprotein P1 (P

The traditional paradigm for safety assessment of chemicals for their carcinogenic potential to humans relies heavily on a battery of well-established genotoxicity tests, usually followed up by long-term, high-dose rodent studies. There are a variety of problems with this approach, not least that the rodent may not always be the best model to predict toxicity in humans. Consequently, new approach methodologies (NAMs) are being developed to replace or enhance predictions coming from the existing assays. However, a combination of the data arising from NAMs is likely to be required to improve upon the current paradigm, and consequently a framework is needed to combine evidence in a meaningful way. Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) represent an ideal construct on which to organize this evidence. In this work, a data structure outlined previously was used to capture AOPs and evidence relating to carcinogenicity. Knowledge held within the predictive system Derek Nexus was extracted, built upon, and arranged into a coherent network containing 37 AOPs. 60 assays and 351 in silico alerts were then associated with KEs in this network, and it was brought to life by associating data and contextualizing evidence and predictions for over 13,400 compounds. Initial investigations into using the network to view knowledge and reason between evidence in different ways were made. Organizing knowledge and evidence in this way provides a flexible framework on which to carry out more consistent and meaningful carcinogenicity safety assessments in many different contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]