A population-based prospective study on obesity-related non-communicable diseases in northern Iran: rationale, study design, and baseline analysis.

Background: Iran is facing an epidemiological transition with the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, such as obesity-related disorders and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We conducted a population-based prospective study to assess the prevalence and incidence rates of CVDs and obesity-related metabolic disorders and to evaluate the predictive ability of various CVD risk assessment tools in an Iranian population.

Method: We enrolled 5,799 participants in Amol, a city in northern Iran, in 2009-2010 and carried out the first repeated measurement (RM) after seven years (2016-2017).

Diagnostic Accuracy of Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography as Non-invasive Assessment of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Liver biopsy remain as the gold standard for diagnosing hepatic fibrosis; however, it has some limitations, such as life-threatening complications, low acceptance by the patients, and variations in the related sample. Therefore, there is a need for the development of non-invasive investigations for diagnosing hepatic fibrosis. Vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) is one of these non-invasive methods.

Candidate Molecular Biomarkers for the Non- Invasive Detection of Colorectal Cancer using Gene Expression Profiling.

Background & Objective: olorectal Cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer after prostate (breast in women) and lung cancer; it is also the third cause of cancer deaths reported in both men and women in 2020. Currently, the most commonly used diagnostic tools for CRC are colonoscopy, serological methods, and other imaging techniques. Despite the benefits and abilities of these methods, each of them has disadvantages that reduce its functionality and acceptance.

Role of microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids in cancer development and prevention.

Following cancer, cells in a particular tissue can no longer respond to the factors involved in controlling cell survival, differentiation, proliferation, and death. In recent years, it has been indicated that alterations in the gut microbiota components, intestinal epithelium, and host immune system are associated with cancer incidence. Also, it has been demonstrated that the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) generated by gut microbiota are vitally crucial in cell homeostasis as they contribute to the modulation of histone deacetylases (HDACs), resulting effected cell attachment, immune cell immigration, cytokine production, chemotaxis, and the programmed cell death.

Relationship between dietary macronutrient composition and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in lean and non-lean populations: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: The current study aimed to customize dietary changes for lean patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Design: The current study was done with a population-based cross-sectional design. The FFQ was used to analyse dietary macronutrient intake and ultrasonography results for NAFLD diagnosis.

Bizhan Aarabi and Knowledge Development in Neurotrauma.

Neurotrauma (NT) is one of the common causes of mortality and morbidity. Investigating the role of people who had an impact on the development of knowledge of NT is reasonable. Our aim is to investigate the role of Bizhan Aarabi, professor of Neurosurgery, on the knowledge development in NT.

Empagliflozin Improves Liver Steatosis and Fibrosis in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

Introduction: To evaluate the efficacy of empagliflozin compared to pioglitazone in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods: In this prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we assigned 106 patients with NAFLD and T2DM to receive empagliflozin 10 mg (n = 35), pioglitazone 30 mg (n = 34), or placebo (n = 37) for 24 weeks. Liver fat content and liver stiffness were measured using fibroscans.

Erythrocyte membrane fatty acid profile & serum cytokine levels in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background & Objectives: Fatty acids may affect the expression of genes, and this process is influenced by sex hormones. Cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), so this study was aimed to assess the association of erythrocyte membrane fatty acids with three cytokines and markers of hepatic injury in NAFLD patients and to explore whether these associations were the same in both sexes.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 62 consecutive patients (32 men and 30 women) with NAFLD during the study period.

Hirschsprung Disease Diagnosis: Calretinin Marker Role in Determining the Presence or Absence of Ganglion Cells.

Background: Hirschsprung disease is a complex genetic disorder of the enteric nervous system (ENS), often called congenital aganglionic megacolon and characterized by the absence of enteric neurons along a variable length of the intestine. The definitive diagnosis of Hirschsprung disease relies on histologic and/or histochemical staining of sections from suction rectal biopsies. Calretinin immunohistochemistry (IHC) may be a useful in its diagnosis.

Household Food Insecurity is Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in Rural Type 2 Diabetic Patients.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is associated with household food insecurity (HFI). However, the studies examining the relationship between HFI and HRQOL in patients with type 2 diabetes are scarce. Thus, this study was designed to examine the relationship between HFI and HRQOL in rural type 2 diabetic patients.

Association between Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase and de novo Lipogenesis in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Objective: This study explored the association between serum nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) and hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and determined whether or not this association is sex dependent.

Subjects And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 62 consecutive patients (32 males, 30 females) with NAFLD were recruited. Serum NAMPT (by ELISA), palmitic acid, and the DNL index of erythrocyte membranes as markers of hepatic DNL (by gas chromatography) were analyzed.

Mutation Analysis of KRAS and BRAF Genes in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: a First Large Scale Study from Iran.

Background: The investigation of mutation patterns in oncogenes potentially can make available a reliable mechanism for management and treatment decisions for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study concerns the rate of KRAS and BRAF genes mutations in Iranian metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients, as well as associations of genotypes with clinicopathological features.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1,000 mCRC specimens collected from 2008 to 2012 that referred to the Mehr Hospital and Partolab center, Tehran, Iran enrolled in this cross sectional study.

Prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Predictors in North of Iran.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the aspects of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Due to the increase of MetS in Iran, this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of NAFLD, its potential predictors and their sex distribution in north of Iran, Amol.

Methods: In 2008 this population based cross-sectional study included 5023 adult individuals who were randomly selected from Amol healthcare centers.

Evaluation of HER-2/neu overexpression in gastric carcinoma using a tissue microarray.

Background: Amplification and overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2 / neu) oncogene has considerable prognostic value in breast and gastric cancers. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency, overexpression pattern, clinical significance, and concordance between the results for protein expression and gene amplification of HER-2/neu in gastric and gastro-esophageal junction carcinomas.

Materials And Methods: In this study, 101 gastric tissue samples which were included in tissue microarray were immunohistochemically examined for overexpression of HER2/neu.

Thyroid dysfunction and choleduocholithiasis.

Background: Disturbances in lipid metabolism which occur during hypothyroidism leadto the formation of gallstones. This study aims to evaluate the thyroid functionpattern in patients with common bile duct (CBD) stones.

Methods: This case-control study recruited 151 patients with preliminary diagnosesof CBD stone who underwent ERCP (cases).

New 1,2,4-triazole-based azo-azomethine dyes. Part II: synthesis, characterization, electrochemical properties and computational studies.

A new series of monoiminated 1,2,4-triazole-based azo-azomethine dyes have been synthesized via condensation reaction of 4-amino-3-methyl-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole with various substituted azo-coupled salicylaldehyde. The dyes have been characterized by using FT-IR, UV-Vis and (1)H NMR spectroscopic methods as well as elemental analysis. The electrochemical behavior of the dyes has been investigated by cyclic voltammetry in DMSO at five different scan rates.

Liver histology changes in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis after one year of treatment with probucol.

Background: Probucol, a lipid-lowering agent with antioxidant effects, is effective in normalizing liver enzymes in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We studied changes in the liver histology of patients with NASH after use of probucol for one year.

Methods: Ten patients with biopsy-proven NASH were included.

Probucol in the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: a double-blind randomized controlled study.

Background/aims: A final step in the pathology of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is oxidative damage to hepatocytes. Probucol is a lipid-lowering agent with strong antioxidant properties. We designed a double-blind randomized controlled study to evaluate the effects of probucol in NASH.

Correlation between clinical severity score and the lower esophageal sphincter relaxation pressure in idiopathic achalasia.

Objectives: Achalasia is an esophageal motor disorder characterized by aperistalsis and incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The meaningful correlation between LES relaxation pressure and the severity of clinical symptoms is uncertain. The aim of this study was to elucidate the correlation between the clinical scoring and the LES relaxation pressure.

Probucol in the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: an open-labeled study.

Goals: To evaluate the effects of probucol, an agent with strong antioxidant properties, in reversing biochemical changes in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Background: There is currently no well-established medical treatment of NASH. It is believed that oxidative stress plays a major role in hepatic damage in these patients.