Impact of COVID-19 and vaccination on first and second trimester screening results.

COVID-19 has been shown to affect pregnant women. Since pregnant women are at risk of this infection, vaccination against COVID-19 has been suggested as an imperative way to diminish rate of COVID-19 in this population. In the current observational study, we have collected data of first and second trimester screening (FTS and STS) from pregnant women who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and/or vaccinated against COVID-19 during their pregnancy, and compared this data with a group of control pregnant women.

Extreme βHCG levels in first trimester screening are risk factors for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.

Multiples of the normal median (MoM) of free βHCG is a valuable parameter in evaluation of risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. In the current retrospective study, we assessed the maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women having free βHCG MoM levels < 0.2 or > 5 in their first trimester screening (FTS).

Incorporation of second-tier tests and secondary biomarkers to improve positive predictive value (PPV) rate in newborn metabolic screening program.

Background: Nowadays, neonatal screening has become an essential part of routine newborn care in the world. This is a non-invasive evaluation that evaluated inborn errors of metabolisms (IEMs) using tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for the evaluation of the baby's risk of certain metabolic disorders.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 39987 Iranian newborns who were referred to Nilou Medical Laboratory, Tehran, Iran, for newborn screening programs of IEMs.

Effects of synbiotic supplementation on serum adiponectin and inflammation status of overweight and obese breast cancer survivors: a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Purpose: Adipokines and inflammatory factors can affect breast cancer (BC) prognosis and recurrence among breast cancer survivors (BCSs). This study was to evaluate the effects of synbiotic supplementation along with a low-calorie diet on some recurrence-related factors such as adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) among obese and overweight BCSs.

Methods: We performed a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial among 76 overweight or obese postmenopausal women with a history of hormone-receptor-positive BC.

Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Omentin-1 and Spexin Levels, Inflammatory Parameters, Lipid Profile, and Anthropometric Indices in Obese and Overweight Adults with Vitamin D Deficiency under Low-Calorie Diet: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial.

Background And Aims: Improved vitamin D levels can have a favorable effect on some metabolic variables. The objective of the current study was to determine the effects of vitamin D supplementation during a weight-loss intervention on the levels of omentin-1, spexin, lipid profiles, and inflammatory factors in obese and overweight participants.

Methods And Materials: In this double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 70 overweight and obese participants with vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D ≤ 20 nmol/L) were assigned into the intervention (a daily dose of 2,000 IU vitamin D + low-calorie diet) and placebo (placebo + low-calorie diet) groups for 8 weeks.

The effect of synbiotic on glycemic profile and sex hormones in overweight and obese breast cancer survivors following a weight-loss diet: A randomized, triple-blind, controlled trial.

Background: The investigation was designed to assess the effects of synbiotic supplementation on glycemic profile, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and sex hormones in overweight and obese postmenopausal breast cancer survivors (BCSs) who had hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer.

Methods: This randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 76 overweight and obese BCSs aged 57.43 (5.

Fine-tuning of routine combined first- trimester screening: The ratio of serum-free- beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (fβ-hCG) to pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) could improve performance of Down syndrome screening program, a retrospective cohort study in Iran.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of the current national screening policy for Down syndrome (DS) in Iran and suggest a more efficient protocol with a wealth of a large series of first-trimester screening (FTS) data obtained from Nilou medical laboratory. To fulfill this aim, detection rate (DR), positive screening rate (PSR), false negative rate (FNR) and odds of being affected given a positive results (OAPR) were calculated at different cutoff risk. In the latest update of DS screening program in Iran, there is no place for intermediate group to be further investigated.

Effects of Probiotic Yogurt on Serum Omentin-1, Adropin, and Nesfatin-1 Concentrations in Overweight and Obese Participants Under Low-Calorie Diet.

Data on the effects of probiotics on adipokines such as omentin-1, nesfatin-1, and adropin are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of probiotic yogurt along with a low-calorie diet (LCD) on serum omentin-1, adropin, and nesfatin-1 concentrations in obese and overweight individuals. Sixty obese or overweight individuals aged 20-50 years old were involved in this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Tribological performance of Graphene/Carbon nanotube hybrid reinforced Al2O3 composites.

Tribological performance of the hot-pressed pure Al2O3 and its composites containing various hybrid contents of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were investigated under different loading conditions using the ball-on-disc method. Benchmarked against the pure Al2O3, the composite reinforced with a 0.5 wt% GNP exhibited a 23% reduction in the friction coefficient along with a promising 70% wear rate reduction, and a hybrid reinforcement consisting of 0.

Recent Advances on Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Reinforced Ceramics Nanocomposites.

Ceramics suffer the curse of extreme brittleness and demand new design philosophies and novel concepts of manufacturing to overcome such intrinsic drawbacks, in order to take advantage of most of their excellent properties. This has been one of the foremost challenges for ceramic material experts. Tailoring the ceramics structures at nanometre level has been a leading research frontier; whilst upgrading via reinforcing ceramic matrices with nanomaterials including the latest carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene has now become an eminent practice for advanced applications.