Factors affecting blood sugar changes in diabetic patients using a three-level model in analysis of longitudinal data.

Background: Diabetes, a currently threatening disease, has severe consequences for individuals' health conditions. The present study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the changes in the longitudinal outcome of blood sugar using a three-level analysis with the presence of missing data in diabetic patients.

Methods: A total of 526 diabetic patients were followed longitudinally selected from the annual data collected from the rural population monitored by Tonekabon health centers in the North of Iran during 2018-2019 from the Iranian Integrated Health System (SIB) database.

Development of decision tree classification algorithms in predicting mortality of COVID-19 patients.

Introduction: The accurate prediction of COVID-19 mortality risk, considering influencing factors, is crucial in guiding effective public policies to alleviate the strain on the healthcare system. As such, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of decision tree algorithms (CART, C5.0, and CHAID) in predicting COVID-19 mortality risk and compare their performance with that of the logistic model.

Joint modeling of longitudinal and competing risks for assessing blood oxygen saturation and its association with survival outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

Background: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the association between longitudinal and survival outcomes in the presence of competing risk events. To illustrate the application of joint modeling in clinical research, we assessed the blood oxygen saturation (SPO2) and its association with survival outcomes in coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Materials And Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we followed 300 COVID-19 patients, who were diagnosed with severe COVID-19 in the Rohani Hospital in Babol, the north of Iran from October 22, 2020 to March 5, 2021, where death was the event of interest, surviving was the competing risk event and SPO2 was the longitudinal outcome.

Methods of determining optimal cut-point of diagnostic biomarkers with application of clinical data in ROC analysis: an update review.

Introduction: An important application of ROC analysis is the determination of the optimal cut-point for biomarkers in diagnostic studies. This comprehensive review provides a framework of cut-point election for biomarkers in diagnostic medicine.

Methods: Several methods were proposed for the selection of optional cut-points.

Evaluation of elevated serum apelin-13 and D-dimer concentrations in individuals diagnosed with pulmonary embolism.

Background: Given the limited specificity of D-dimer, there is a perceived need to discover a more precise marker for diagnosing individuals who are suspected of having pulmonary embolism (PE). In this study, by evaluating the increase in the serum level of Apelin-13 and D-dimer, we found valuable findings about Apelin-13, which can be suggested as an auxiliary and non-invasive diagnostic biomarker in individuals with suspected PE, based on the obtained results.

Methods: In this case-control study, 52 Iranian individuals were included, all of whom were suspected to have PE.

Preventive behaviors of COVID-19 in the Iranian adult population during the pandemic: Integrated effect of the health belief model and the planned behavior intention using causal path analysis.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the integration of the health belief model (HBM) and the theory of intention to plan preventive behavior for COVID-19 during the pandemic.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a sample of 480 adult participants from different outpatient clinics were recruited in the studyhe participant responded by self-report; the health belief model (HBM) scale, preventive behavior scale, subjective norms scale, the intention of planned behavior scale, and perceived control behavior scale were measured. The hypothesized causal path models were examined using SEM analysis.

Modeling Factors Associated with Dialysis Adequacy Using Longitudinal Data Analysis: Generalized Estimating Equation Versus Quadratic Inference Function.

Background: In hemodialysis patients, changes in dialysis adequacy (DA) are examined longitudinally. The aim of this study was to determine factors affecting DA using the generalized estimating equation (GEE) and to compare them with the quadratic inference function (QIF).

Study Design: A longitudinal study.

Bayesian model averaging for predicting factors associated with length of COVID-19 hospitalization.

Introduction: The length of hospital stay (LOHS) caused by COVID-19 has imposed a financial burden, and cost on the healthcare service system and a high psychological burden on patients and health workers. The purpose of this study is to adopt the Bayesian model averaging (BMA) based on linear regression models and to determine the predictors of the LOHS of COVID-19.

Methods: In this historical cohort study, from 5100 COVID-19 patients who had registered in the hospital database, 4996 patients were eligible to enter the study.

Determination of plasma transcobalamin-II and zinc levels in newly-diagnosed and long-standing grand mal epileptic patients.

Background: The changes of plasma transcobalamin-II (TCII) and Zinc (Zn) Levels in epileptic patients are not clearly understood. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the plasma contents of TCII and Zn levels in newly-diagnosed epileptic seizure patients, long-standing grand mal epileptic patients following treatment with sodium valproate and healthy control group.

Methods: Thirty patients aged 36.

Assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of medical and dental students about maintaining and disinfecting toothbrushes.

Introduction: Proper toothbrush care and maintenance play an important role in oral health. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical and dental students regarding the maintenance and disinfection of toothbrushes.

Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study examined 824 medical and dental students of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.

Evaluation of Time-Varying Biomarkers in Mortality Outcome in COVID-19: an Application of Extended Cox Regression Model.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges for clinicians. The monitoring trend for laboratory biomarkers is helpful to provide additional information to determine the role of those in the severity status and death outcome.

Objective: This article aimed to evaluate the time-varying biomarkers by LOWESS Plot, check the proportional hazard assumption, and use to extended Cox model if it is violated.

Nitric oxide and inducible nitric oxide synthase levels in EE and NERD patients.

Aim: This article aimed to evaluate nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) markers in patients with erosive esophagitis (EE) and those with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and compare them with the control group.

Background: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common disturbances of the upper digestive tract. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is expressed in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

A path causal model in the association between self-efficacy and self-care with quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes: An application of the structural equation model.

Background And Aims: The simultaneous role of self-care and self-efficacy in improving the quality of life (QoL) of diabetic patients has been less considered in previous studies. This study was aimed to investigate the path association between self-care and self-efficacy with QoL using the structural equation model (SEM).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 496 individuals of type 2 diabetic patients aged 35-75 years that were selected consequently from outpatients' clinic, in Babol, the north of Iran.

Evaluation of Fructosamine 3-kinase and Glyoxalase 1 activity in normal and breast cancer tissues.

Background: Breast cancer is a typical malignancy and the most common in the female and it is the primary reason behind cancer-related deaths of women around the world. The pathological role of the non-enzymatic change of proteins by reducing sugars become frequently shows in different kinds of cancer. Cancer cells generally rely upon aerobic glycolysis as the main source of energy.

Role of scaling combination of risk factors in clinical and imaging findings during pregnancy in predicting placenta accreta spectrum.

Background: Placenta accreta is one of the known causes of maternal mortality and morbidity. If diagnosed before delivery, appropriate actions can be taken. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of scaling combination of risk factors in predicting placenta accreta spectrum (PAS).

Cue-based feeding and short-term health outcomes of premature infants in newborn intensive care units: a non-randomized trial.

Background: Feedings based on behavioral cues is a method relying on infants' behavioral expressions of readiness to feed. The objective of this interventional study was to determine the effect of cue-based feeding on the short-term health outcomes of preterm infants.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study utilized a historical or phase lag design.

Association of social support, spirituality with psychological factors in Iranian breast cancer survivors: An evidence from a cross-sectional study.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the protective role of social support and spirituality in the prevention of depression, anxiety and fatigue severity.

Design: In a cross-sectional study, 305 women of breast cancer survivors were recruited in the study.

Methods: The participants answered a self-reported the hospital anxiety and depression scale, fatigue severity scale (FSS), social support and spiritual health questionnaires.

Combined effect of oral famotidine and cimetidine on the survival of lethally irradiated mice: An study.

Aims: The study aims at evaluating the effects of the combinatory famotidine/cimetidine diet on radiated mice's survival.

Materials And Methods: Two hundred and seventy male mice were categorized into 11 groups, a number of which were comprised of subgroups too. The groups under analysis were posed to varying doses of gamma-radiation, including 6, 7, 8, and 9 Gy, followed by treatments using various drug doses 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg, with survival fractions as long as a month after irradiation being measured and recorded.

Delayed phases of contrast MRI, can it be valuable in multiple sclerosis active phase diagnosis?

Background: Observing the enhancing plaques in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is one of the most valuable diagnostic modalities in confirming the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), its recurrence and for better detection of active disease. Since active lesions discovery can improve designating diffusion in time diagnosis of MS and controlling disease activity, and there is not any definite time for delay image acquisition, therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the enhancement of MS plaques in different delayed phases.

Methods: In this interventional study, after receiving written consent, 40 MS patients with at least one enhancing plaque in a previous MRI were evaluated in Babol Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital.

Accuracy of self-perceived risk perception of breast cancer development in Iranian women.

Background: The accuracy of subjective risk perception is a matter of concern in breast cancer development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of self-perceived risk assessment of breast cancer development and compared to actual risk in Iranian women.

Methods: The demographic, clinical, and reproductive characteristics of 800 women aged 35-85 years were collected with an in-person interview.

Association between serum folate with inflammatory markers, disease clinical activity and serum homocysteine in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Does folate level have an effect on maintaining clinical remission?

Background Folate is an important vitamin with protective effect against some human diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum folate levels, inflammatory markers and disease clinical activity in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).   Methods The participants were classified into two groups in which 38 IBD patients and 38 healthy controls were studied.

Sensitivity and specificity of mean platelet volume as a laboratory marker for irritable bowel syndrome: Can it be added to Rome criteria?

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and mean platelet volume (MPV) as laboratory markers to discriminate IBS patients from both healthy controls and patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: This case-control study enrolled patients referred to Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital, Endoscopy Department, Babol, Iran, for colonoscopy examination from 2015 to 2017.

Comparison of competitive cognitive models in explanation of women breast cancer screening behaviours using structural equation modelling: Health belief model and theory of reasoned action.

Introduction: The efficacy of the theory of reasoned action (TRA), compared with the health belief model (HBM), has not been fully elucidated in screening practices.

Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study was conducted with samples of 500 women aged 35-85 years, in the north of Iran. The data of demographic characteristics, awareness, health belief, subjective norms and screening behaviours were collected using standard instruments.