Percutaneous versus surgical closure of paravalvular leaks in prosthetic valves: A cross-sectional comparison of clinical outcomes.

Background And Aims: Paravalvular leak (PVL) is a serious complication of prosthetic valve replacement. Both surgical and percutaneous closure techniques are used for PVL closure, but optimal strategies and comparative outcomes are uncertain. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of percutaneous versus surgical PVL closure by analyzing changes in leak severity, functional status, echocardiographic parameters, and clinical outcomes.

Investigation of the relationship between atherogenic index, anthropometric characteristics, and 10-year risk of metabolic syndrome: a population-based study.

Background: People with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are at a higher risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke, osteoarthritis, and some types of cancers. Finding markers which are available and inexpensive are most useful for the prediction of MetS. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between atherogenic index and anthropometric indicators and the 10-year risk of MetS.

Prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in North East of Iran: a population-based study.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common dietary disorder caused by fatty changes in the liver parenchyma and hepatocytes without alcohol consumption. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors of NAFLD in the Mashhad Persian Cohort Study population.

Method: The present population-based cross-sectional study included all PERSIAN Organizational Cohort study in Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (POCM), Mashhad, Iran by census sampling method.

Sexual function and sexual satisfaction in individuals undergoing infertility: A systematic review.

Background: Although sexual function (SF) and sexual satisfaction (SS) are the essential factors influenced negatively by infertility and may be associated with delaying or disrupting infertility treatment, no systematic review has assessed the results of these studies so far.

Objective: The present study aimed to systematically review published interventional research regarding SF and SS among infertile individuals.

Materials And Methods: In this systematic review, the databases of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Library, PsycInfo, Google Scholar, and SID were searched to retrieve the relevant studies in Persian and English languages up to August 2021.

A systematic review of the role of 4D printing in sustainable civil engineering solutions.

This systematic review, not financially supported by any funding body, aims to synthesize the current knowledge on the applications, potential benefits, and challenges of 4D printing in civil engineering, with a focus on its role in sustainable solutions. Comprehensive searches were conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using related keywords. Articles that discussed 4D printing within civil engineering and construction contexts, encompassing both conceptual and empirical studies, were included.

Comparison of the efficacy of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells conditioned medium and platelet-rich plasma on the hippocampus of STZ-induced rat model of Alzheimer's disease: A behavioral and stereological study.

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is accompanied by progressive cognitive disorders and memory loss. This study aims to determine the combined effects of conditioned medium of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (CM) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) on AD model rats.

Methods: Forty-eight male Sprague Dawley rats were classified into 6 groups: Control, Sham, AD, and three treatment groups.

Addiction and the Risk of Common Bile Duct Stones: A 4-Year Retrospective Population-Based Study in Mashhad, Iran.

Background: As a common digestive disorder, choledocholithiasis can have serious consequences, including death. Given that opioids have been shown to contribute to the spasm of Oddi's sphincter, which results in biliary stasis in the common bile duct (CBD), it is likely that opioids can also raise the prevalence of choledocholithiasis. In this regard, this study aimed to investigate how common opium addiction was among choledocholithiasis patients in Mashhad, Iran.

Conditioned Media Therapy in Alzheimer's Disease: Current Findings and Future Challenges.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder accompanied by a reduction in cognition and memory. Till now, there is no definite cure for AD, although, there are treatments available that may improve some symptoms. Currently, in regenerative medicine stem cells are widely used, mainly for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Early clinical exposure as a highly interesting educational program for undergraduate medical students: an interventional study.

Background: Training professional medical experts is so much dependent on the efficacy of the medical curriculum. Bearing this in mind, we aimed to evaluate the attitude of the undergraduate medical students toward the Early clinical exposure (ECE) program as a facilitator transition to the clinical phase.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on undergraduate medical students at the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran who were transferring from the pre-clinical course to the externship course from 2021 to 2022 by census method (i.

Complementary hemispheric lateralization of language and social processing in the human brain.

Humans have a unique ability to use language for social communication. The neural architecture for language comprehension and production may have prominently emerged in the brain areas that were originally involved in social cognition. Here, we directly tested the fundamental link between language and social processing using functional magnetic resonance data (MRI) data from over 1,000 human subjects.

Serum interleukin-18 and its relationship with subclinical atherosclerosis in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic factor, and its blood level has shown a direct correlation with atherosclerosis. We aimed to evaluate the serum IL-18 level in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its relationship with the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery in these patients, as an indicator of atherosclerosis.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 60 patients as the patient group and 30 healthy volunteers as the control group [matched sex, age, and body mass index (BMI)] were selected, and their disease status and general data were gathered using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) form.

Effects of flaxseed consumption on plasma lipids, lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A activity and gut microbiota composition in patients with coronary artery disease.

Clinical studies have demonstrated possible beneficial effects of flaxseed on cardiovascular disease risk factors, but limited studies have evaluated the effects of flaxseed on the plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A (Lp-PLA) and gut microbial composition in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of flaxseed consumption on plasma lipids and lipoproteins, Lp-PLA activity, as well as the relative abundance of some gut microbiota in CAD patients. In a randomized controlled parallel trial, 50 patients with CAD were randomly allocated to 12 weeks of supplementation of flaxseed (30 g/day) or control (usual care).

New Horizon of Intervention in Congenital Heart Disease: AFR in a Complex Cyanotic Patient.

Double-inlet left ventricle (DILV) is the commonest form of the anatomic univentricular heart which has different ventriculoarterial connection; generally, the most prevalent type is DILV with the hypoplastic right ventricle on the left side. The disease is associated with several heart defects, and the treatment method is different based on the anatomy of the heart, but treatment methods are almost always palliative. In this paper, we described one adult patient with DILV and severe left AV (atrioventricular valve) stenosis who is managed with a novel palliative intervention; it means AFR (atrial flow regulator) device implantation for the first time.

A sex education program for teachers of preschool children: a quasi-experimental study in Iran.

Background: Sex education is an important educational dimension. Together with families, teachers play a significant role in providing sex education to children. However, in most cases, they do not have enough information on this topic.

Electrocardiographic Changes Following Acute Hydralazine Overdose.

Hydralazine is an FDA-approved antihypertensive agent which has been utilized for years either alone or in combination with other medications especially the beta-blockers. Hydralazine works as a direct-acting vasodilator, thereby exerting a decrease in vascular resistance and increase in intravascular volume. When overdosed, hydralazine applies its toxic effects by extending its pharmacological action, which produces hypotension, syncope, tachycardia, and nausea.

Allopurinol and Loss of Consciousness in a 78-old Year Man Suffering from Gout.

Allopurinol is an FDA -Approved xanthine oxidase inhibitor, which is effective in the treatment of gout, hyperuricemia and uremic kidney stones in patients with an increased level of uric acid excretion. Xanthine oxidase acts by converting hypoxanthine and xanthine into uric acid, and therefore its inhibition results in decreased production of uric acid. The most common side effects of this medication are as follows: maculopapular rashes, hives, itching, headache, dizziness, abnormal hair loss, fever and hypersensitivity reaction.

Self-Expanding Versus Balloon-Expandable Stents in Patients With Isthmic Coarctation of the Aorta.

Endovascular stent implantation has become the treatment of choice for the management of patients with native coarctation of the aorta (CoA). The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of self-expandable stenting (SES) with balloon-expandable stenting (BES) in the treatment of native CoA. In this single-center retrospective study, all patients who underwent SES or BES for the management of native CoA were enrolled.

Iatrogenic IVC Perforation after Successful Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis.

Central vein perforation as a rare complication of venous interventions is considered a nightmare if occurring in thoracic cage but behaves benignly in abdominal or pelvic region. This is not a rule, as we unfortunately encountered during the procedure of venous intervention in our patient. Although mechanical control of iatrogenic perforation or rupture is the first and most critical step during interventional procedures, the importance of anticoagulant and thrombolytic agents reversal should not be overlooked.

The effect of a self-care program based on the teach back method on the postpartum quality of life.

Background: The postpartum period is a critical stage of life with major changes in the quality of life. Therefore, special consideration is needed to this issue.

Objective: To determine the effect of a self-care program based on the Teach Back method on the postpartum quality of life.

Effect of Oral Methadone on ECG Characteristics and Endocrine Hormonal Changes and Their Inter-relationship.

Introduction: Methadone is the most common opioid in use for opioid substitution therapy. The relation of methadone and electrocardiographic findings is nearly well known while the relationship between its electrocardiographic indexes and hormonal changes is not well recognized.

Objective: To evaluate the hormonal changes in patients who are taking methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) and its effects on electrocardiographic indexes, in comparison with healthy control groups.

Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Missed as Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Although the aortic dissection is not common, its outcome is frequently fatal, and many patients with aortic dissection die before referral to the hospital or any diagnostic testing. The symptoms of aortic dissection can be similar to myocardial ischemia. A 66-year-old male was referred to our hospital with suspicion of aortic dissection after echocardiography done for evaluating his high blood pressure.

Examination of the behavior of gravity quay wall against liquefaction under the effect of wall width and soil improvement.

Deformation of quay walls is one of the main sources of damage to port facility while liquefaction of backfill and base soil of the wall are the main reasons for failures of quay walls. During earthquakes, the most susceptible materials for liquefaction in seashore regions are loose saturated sand. In this study, effects of enhancing the wall width and the soil improvement on the behavior of gravity quay walls are examined in order to obtain the optimum improved region.