Veterinary care and flea preventatives are limited in homeless shelters and outreach organizations serving people experiencing homelessness.

Objective: Pet ownership among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) is common, but access to shelter, veterinary care, and flea-preventative products for PEH who own pets in the US is not well described. We sought to evaluate current knowledge of fleas and flea-borne diseases and characterize practices around pets and service animals among staff at homeless shelters and outreach organizations.

Methods: In-person surveys were administered to staff at homeless shelters and on outreach teams in 7 states from August 2022 to April 2023 to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices and to assess homeless shelter/organizational characteristics.

Changes in Fat Mass Index and Fat-Free Mass Index Vary Significantly by Age and Sex of the Patient, and by Type of Bariatric Surgery.

Background: The loss of fat-free mass after rapid weight loss following bariatric surgery shows BMI is inadequate for reporting weight loss, emphasizing the need for a more accurate body composition metric. This study assessed changes in fat mass index (FMI), fat-free mass index (FFMI), and dietary intake over 6 months after one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) across age and sex groups.

Materials And Methods: This prospective observational study included 151 bariatric surgery candidates.

Effects of Acute Exposure to Methylglyoxal or/and A Diet Rich in Advanced Glycation End Products on Sperm Parameters in Mice.

Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) that accompany many metabolic disorders including diabetes, obesity, and a wide range of dyslipidemia conditions, are strongly associated with adverse effects on cell and tissue homeostasis. Accordingly, our objective was to investigate the impact of AGE-promoting diets on mouse models, considering both scenarios with and without methylglyoxal (MGO) as a primary precursor of AGEs.

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, 5-week-old C57BL/6 mice were split into four groups as a control group (n=5), AGE (n=5), MGO (n=8), and AGE-MGO-diets (n=8).

The transcript level of long non-coding RNAs; MALAT1 and TUG1, and the association with metabolic syndrome-related parameters in women with overweight and obesity.

Background: Recent studies have addressed the possible role of long non-coding RNAs lnc-RNAs), Metastasis-Associated Lung Adenocarcinoma Transcript 1 (MALAT1), and Taurine Upregulated Gene 1 (TUG1), in modulating the underlying mechanisms of obesity-related metabolic abnormalities. However, studies are limited and contradictory. Hence, we sought to investigate the relationship of the transcript level of these two lnc-RNAs with metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related parameters in women with obesity and overweight.

Clinical Phenotype and Disease Course of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Iran: Results of the Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC).

Background: Data on the epidemiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the Middle East are scarce. We aimed to describe the clinical phenotype, disease course, and medication usage of IBD cases from Iran in the Middle East.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of registered IBD patients in the Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC) from 2017 until 2022.

[How long does a tooth last after a surgical crown lengthening?].

The presence of subgingival pathology, such as a deep secondary caries lesion, a fracture, an already existing restoration that needs to be replaced or the presence of a resorption defect, can constitute a difficult starting situation for the preservation of a tooth. How to deal with such a situation has been a topic of discussion for years. Surgical crown lengthening is one of the first and classic treatment options that is often chosen in such cases.

[Non-retentive adhesive restorations].

With the advent of adhesive dentistry, tooth preparation can be minimally invasive. An optimal adhesion to the dental tissues is a requirement. Rubberdam isolation, using a gold standard adhesive and bonding to freshly prepared dentin are all factors that improve the adhesion to tooth tissue.

Chitosan, polyethylene oxide/polycaprolactone electrospun core/shell nanofibrous mat containing rosuvastatin as a novel drug delivery system for enhancing human mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis.

Due to the potential positive effects of rosuvastatin (RSV) on human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) osteogenesis and new bone regeneration, it is crucial to develop a suitable carrier that can effectively control the release profile of RSV. The primary objective of this study was to introduce a novel drug delivery system based on core/shell nanofibrous structures, enabling a sustained release of RSV. To achieve this, coaxial electrospinning was employed to fabricate chitosan (CS)+polyethylene oxide (PEO)/polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous mats, wherein RSV was incorporated within the core of nanofibers.

Lactase persistence phenotype and genotype in Iranian Mazani-Shahmirzadi and Afghan Hazara ethnicities.

Lactase persistence is an autosomal dominant trait characterized by sustained expression of lactase gene throughout adulthood. This trait is mostly prevalent in populations with pastoral or agro-pastoral ancestry and allows lactase persistent individuals to benefit from milk nutrients. Several genetic variants have been identified to be responsible for lactase persistence in different populations and other genetic variants associated with lactase persistence are expected to be found.

Miscommunication in the age of communication: A crowdsourcing framework for symptom surveillance at the time of pandemics.

Objective: There was a significant delay in compiling a complete list of the symptoms of COVID-19 during the 2020 outbreak of the disease. When there is little information about the symptoms of a novel disease, interventions to contain the spread of the disease would be suboptimal because people experiencing symptoms that are not yet known to be related to the disease may not limit their social activities. Our goal was to understand whether users' social media postings about the symptoms of novel diseases could be used to develop a complete list of the disease symptoms in a shorter time.

Linguatula serrata in cattle in southeastern Iran: Epidemiological, histopathological and phylogenetic profile and its zoonotic importance.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence, histopathological observations, and phylogenetic analysis of L. serrata in cattle and its potential zoonotic and public health implications in southeastern Iran.The cross-sectional study was performed in cattle in southeastern Iran.

An increase in the expression of circulating miR30d-5p and miR126-3p is associated with intermediate hyperglycaemia in Iranian population.

Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent metabolic disease worldwide. The disease is characterised by high blood glucose levels and recently it has been shown that changes in the plasma levels of several miRNAs (miRNA) are associated with the disease. Interestingly, alterations in circulating miRNAs occur years before the onset of the disease and demonstrate predictive power.

The expression of DNMTs is dramatically decreased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of male patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Introduction: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an autoimmune rheumatic disease, which affects primarily the joints in children under 16 years old. The etiology of JIA is yet unknown but research has shown that JIA is a multifactorial disease implicating several genes and environmental factors. Environmental factors affect immune cells via epigenetic mechanisms.

PIRO, SOFA and MEDS Scores in Predicting One-Month Mortality of Sepsis Patients; a Diagnostic Accuracy Study.

Introduction: Different scoring systems based on clinical and laboratory findings are designed for prediction of short-term mortality of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. This study aimed to compare the screening performance characteristics of PIRO, SOFA and MEDS Scores in predicting one-month mortality of sepsis patients.

Methods: This diagnostic accuracy study was performed on septic shock and severe sepsis patients referring to emergency department of Loghmane Hakim Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from 2017 to 2018.

The inflammatory effect of epigenetic factors and modifications in type 2 diabetes.

Inflammation has a central role in the etiology of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and its complications. Both genetic and epigenetic factors have been implicated in the development of T2D-associated inflammation. Epigenetic mechanisms regulate the function of several components of the immune system.

Selenium Status after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass: Interventions and Recommendations.

Background: Selenium is an essential element that plays a vital role in maintaining human health and its deficiency can lead to cardiovascular and hypothyroidism complications. In this context, the main concern is about morbidly obese patients who undergo a Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB). Although RYGB leads to 60-70% excess weight loss, micronutrient deficiencies are common after this procedure and can be problematic if not promptly detected.

Methylation of Specific CpG Sites in Genes is Affected by Hyperglycaemia in Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

: Type 2 diabetes (T2D), which is the most common metabolic disorder in the world, results from insulin resistance of target tissues and reduced production of insulin from pancreatic cells with genetic and environmental factors both playing roles in the pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of blood glucose levels on DNA methylation of and genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of non-diabetic, type 2 pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals.: In this case-control study, 54 non-diabetic, pre-diabetic and type 2 diabetic individuals were enrolled and categorized based on their fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels.

The expression of GAS5, THRIL, and RMRP lncRNAs is increased in T cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) comprise a large and diverse group of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) with important regulatory roles in various biological processes, including the immune system regulation. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as an autoimmune disease initiates inflammation in the synovial joints. T cells infiltrating into the synovial membrane have an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.

Anticipatory effect of execution on observation: an approach using ExoPinch finger robot.

Background/aim: This study aims to explore the mirror neuron system (MNS) involvement using mu (8–12 Hz)/beta (15–25 Hz) band suppression in an action observation-execution paradigm.

Materials And Methods: Electrophysiological (EEG) data from 16 electrodes were recorded while 8 participants observed video clips of a hand squeezing a spring. Specifically, the effect of anticipated execution on observation was studied.

Hyperglycemia Affects the Expression of Inflammatory Genes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Innate immune system dysregulation and chronic low-grade inflammation are associated with the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hyperglycemia on mRNA expression of four inflammatory genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals.

Methods: In a case-control study, quantitative real-time PCR was used to analyze changes in IL-1β, IL1R1, IL-6, and IL6ST gene expression in PBMCs of 30 T2D patients with high blood glucose levels, 24 diabetic and nondiabetic individuals with moderately high blood glucose levels and 30 controls with normal blood glucose levels.

IL-6 signalling pathways and the development of type 2 diabetes.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a multifunctional cytokine, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The elevated circulating level of IL-6 is an independent predictor of T2D and is considered to be involved in the development of inflammation, insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction. On the other hand, an increasing number of evidence suggests that IL-6 has an anti-inflammatory role and improves glucose metabolism.

Histone variants expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to analyze the expression of four histone variants, implicated in the regulation of gene expression, in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and healthy controls.

Method: We analyzed the expression of three genes encoding histone variants H3.3, H2A.

Gramicidin Peptides Alter Global Lipid Compositions and Bilayer Thicknesses of Coexisting Liquid-Ordered and Liquid-Disordered Membrane Domains.

Effects of adding 1 mol % of gramicidin-A on the biochemical properties of coexisting liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered (L + L) membrane domains were investigated. Quaternary giant unilamellar vesicles (GUV) of di18:1PC(DOPC)/di18:0PC(DSPC)/cholesterol/gramicidin-A were prepared using our recently developed damp-film method. The phase boundary of L + L coexisting region was determined using video fluorescence microscopy.