The Effect of Oral Protein Supplementation on the Growth of Very Low Birth Weight Preterm Infants Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: During NICU admission, extra-uterine growth retardation that can affect the neurodevelopmental outcome is a challenging problem in extremely preterm infants. This trial aimed to determine the effect of additional enteral protein supplementation on the growth velocity of the anthropometric parameters.

Method: In this randomized controlled trial, 77 preterm infants (gestational age ≤33 weeks and birth weight <1500 g) who reached full enteral feeding with either fortified breast milk or preterm formula were included.

Comparison of the efficacy of inhaled versus infused milrinone in the management of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn in resource-limited settings: A randomized clinical trial.

Background: The standard treatment for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is inhaled nitric oxide (iNO), which is not available in Iran. Consequently, other drugs, such as milrinone, are prescribed. So far, no study has investigated the effectiveness of inhaled milrinone in the management of PPHN.

Association of lower vitamin a levels in neonates and their mothers with increased risk of neonatal late-onset sepsis: A case-control study.

Background: In developing countries, neonatal sepsis is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity. Vitamin A deficiency also affects the immune system severely and is associated with various neonatal infections. We aimed to compare maternal and neonatal vitamin A levels among neonates with and without late-onset sepsis.

Epidemiologic comparison of the first and second waves of coronavirus disease in Babol, North of Iran.

Background: A few studies compared the epidemiologic features of the first and second waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. This research was carried out to compare the 1 and the 2 waves of the epidemics in the northern Iran.

Methods: In this observational research, demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients with COVID-19, admitted to four government hospitals affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences during the 1 and the 2 waves of COVID-19 epidemics have been compared.

Two new neutral copper(II) complexes with dipicolinic acid and 3-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole formed under different reaction conditions: synthesis, characterization, molecular structures and DNA-binding studies.

Two Cu(II) complexes, [Cu₂(μ-atr)(pydc)₂(H₂O)₄]·5H₂O (1) and [Cu(atr)(pydc) (H₂O)]·H₂O (2), with pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (H₂pydc) and 3-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole (atr), have been synthesized and characterized. The interaction ability of the both complexes with native calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) has been monitored as a function of the metal complex-DNA molar ratio. UV-vis spectrophotometry, circular dichroism (CD), thermal denaturation studies, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and viscosity measurements.

4-Methyl-N-[(E)-4-methyl-1-(4-methyl-phenyl-sulfon-yl)-1,2-dihydropyridin-2-yl-idene]benzene-sulfonamide.

The reaction of 2-(amino-meth-yl)pyridine and 4-toluene-sulfonyl chloride in CH(2)Cl(2) at pH 8 led to the title compound, C(20)H(20)N(2)O(4)S(2). The aromatic rings are almost perpendicular to each other and the dihedral angles between the aromatic ring planes are 74.33 (9) (central pyridine versus benzene ring of the tosyl group bonded to the imine functionality), 73.

A novel apolipoprotein C-III variant, apoC-III(Gln38-->Lys), associated with moderate hypertriglyceridemia in a large kindred of Mexican origin.

Apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) is a major protein component of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), chylomicrons, and a minor component of high density lipoproteins (HDL). Studies of naturally occurring human variants of apoC-III will help in adding to our understanding of the physiological function of this apolipoprotein. Using isoelectric focusing (IEF) of VLDL fractions we screened over 2500 lipid clinic patients and have identified an individual with a novel apoC-III variant.

The apolipoprotein B Q3405E polymorphism has no effect on its low-density-lipoprotein receptor binding affinity.

A better understanding of the apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) sequences involved in binding to the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor will be achieved by studying the effects of polymorphisms and rare mutations of apoB100. Upon re-examination of apoB100 DNA sequencing discrepancies, a charge-change polymorphism, Q3405E, was found in the putative LDL receptor binding domain of the protein. Positively charged lysine and arginine side chains of the protein have been demonstrated to participate in the ligand.

The apolipoprotein C-II variant apoC-IILys19-->Thr is not associated with dyslipidemia in an affected kindred.

The rare apolipoprotein C-II (apoC-II) mutation, apoC-IILys19-->Thr, also known as apoC-II-v, has been found previously in association with hyperlipoproteinemia. From a lipid clinic screening we identified three unrelated individuals who had the apoC-IILys19-->Thr mutation. Among eight family members of one proband, we have found another four who were affected.