Seasonality of COVID-19 incidence in the United States.

Background: The surges of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) appeared to follow a repeating pattern of COVID-19 outbreaks regardless of social distancing, mask mandates, and vaccination campaigns.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the seasonality of COVID-19 incidence in the United States of America (USA), and to delineate the dominant frequencies of the periodic patterns of the disease.

Methods: We characterized periodicity in COVID-19 incidences over the first three full seasonal years (March 2020 to March 2023) of the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA.

Oocyte-Secreted Serum Biomarkers GDF9 and BMP15 in Women with Endometriosis.

Oocyte-secreted growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) are critical paracrine regulators of female fertility. Recent studies demonstrated that serum concentrations are associated with the number of oocytes retrieved during IVF, and therefore potential clinical use as biomarkers. However, it is unknown if the presence of endometriosis affects serum GDF9 or BMP15.

Bias or biology? Importance of model interpretation in machine learning studies from electronic health records.

Objective: The rate of diabetic complication progression varies across individuals and understanding factors that alter the rate of complication progression may uncover new clinical interventions for personalized diabetes management.

Materials And Methods: We explore how various machine learning (ML) models and types of electronic health records (EHRs) can predict fast versus slow onset of neuropathy, nephropathy, ocular disease, or cardiovascular disease using only patient data collected prior to diabetes diagnosis.

Results: We find that optimized random forest models performed best to accurately predict the diagnosis of a diabetic complication, with the most effective model distinguishing between fast versus slow nephropathy (AUROC = 0.

mutations causing congenital unilateral absence of the vas deferens (CUAVD) and congenital absence of the uterus (CAU) in a consanguineous family.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common recessive genetic diseases, with a wide spectrum of phenotypes, ranging from infertility to severe pulmonary disease. Mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene are considered the main genetic cause for CF. In this study, we recruited a consanguineous Iranian pedigree with four male patients diagnosed with congenital unilateral absence of the vas deferens (CUAVD), and one female patient diagnosed with congenital absence of the uterus (CAU).

Analysis of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Seromarkers Among Barbers in Tehran.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are major health problem in the world. Hairdressers (barbers) are in continuous contact with scissors and blades, and are considered a high-risk group for these infections.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections in barbers in Tehran and to evaluate their attitudes and knowledge about the occupational risk of these infections.

Comparative In silico Study of Sex-Determining Region Y (SRY) Protein Sequences Involved in Sex-Determining.

Background: The SRY gene (SRY) provides instructions for making a transcription factor called the sex-determining region Y protein. The sex-determining region Y protein causes a fetus to develop as a male. In this study, SRY of 15 spices included of human, chimpanzee, dog, pig, rat, cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep, horse, zebra, frog, urial, dolphin and killer whale were used for determine of bioinformatic differences.

Documentation of instrumental vaginal deliveries: The benefits of a pro forma.

Background: Instrumental vaginal deliveries (IVDs) account for approximately 11% of births in Australia. Complications resulting from IVD can occasionally be the subject of litigation. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists suggests a standardised pro forma in their guidelines as an aid to accurate and complete IVD documentation.

Effects of a Topical Saffron (Crocus sativus L) Gel on Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetics: A Randomized, Parallel-Group, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Erectile dysfunction is a man's persistent or recurrent inability to achieve and maintain erection for a satisfactory sexual relationship. As diabetes is a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction among diabetic men has been reported as 35% to 90%. This randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effects of a topical saffron (Crocus sativus L) gel on erectile dysfunction in diabetic men.

Gastric pouch after simple or radical cystectomy for benign and malignant bladder disease.

Background: There is a controversy regarding the use of gastric pouch for benign and malignant bladder diseases.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to report our experience, mostly on gastric neobladder (not gastrocystoplasty) for benign and malignant bladder diseases, its complications, outcomes and follow-up results.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective case series, we described our experience on seven gastric pouches (2 gastrocystoplasty and 5 gastric neobladders).

Peripartum hysterectomy in a tertiary hospital in Western Sydney.

The aim of this study was to review the incidence, indication, management and complications of peripartum hysterectomy (PH) in a tertiary level hospital over a decade. A retrospective review of all cases of PH performed at Westmead Hospital, Western Sydney, 2003-2012, was undertaken. PH was defined as hysterectomy performed after 20 weeks' gestation or any time after delivery but within 6 weeks' postpartum ( Awan et al.

An Analysis of the NSW Midwives Data Collection over an 11-Year Period to Determine the Risks to the Mother and the Neonate of Induced Delivery for Non-Obstetric Indication at Term.

Objective. To determine the risks of induced term delivery to the mother and neonate at different gestational ages in the absence of obstetric indications. Study Design.

Complications and the effect of varicocelectomy on semen analysis, fertility, early ejaculation and spontaneous abortion.

Varicocele is still an enigma. Its effects on semen analysis, fertility and, more recently, early ejaculation and spontaneous abortion in spouses are not yet fully understood. In this retrospective study, we evaluated these four parameters (semen analysis, fertility, early ejaculation and spontaneous abortion among spouses) in relation to varicocele and varicocelectomy during a 13-year period.

Assessment of angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, serum and urine level changes in superficial bladder tumor immunotherapy by intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin.

Background And Aim: Bladder tumor is one of the most common genitourinary tumors. Management of non-muscle invasive (NMI) bladder tumors is primarily by transurethral resection (TURBT) followed by intravesical immunotherapy or chemotherapy. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is the most effective adjuvant therapy in NMI bladder tumor.

Comparison of open and laparoscopic varicocelectomies in terms of operative time, sperm parameters, and complications.

Introduction: Varicocele is one of the most common causes of infertility. In this study, we evaluated and compared the operative time, sperm analysis results, and complications of three different methods of open and laparoscopic varicocelectomies.

Materials And Methods: From among all bilateral varicocelectomies in our center, we randomly selected 30 of each following cases: laparoscopic varicocelectomy, open subinguinal varicocelectomy under general anesthesia, and open subinguinal varicocelectomy under local anesthesia.

Evaluation of Crocus sativus L. (saffron) on male erectile dysfunction: a pilot study.

In this study, the effect of Crocus sativus (saffron) was studied on male erectile dysfunction (ED). Twenty male patients with ED were followed for ten days in which each morning they took a tablet containing 200mg of saffron. Patients underwent the nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test and the international index of erectile function questionnaire (IIEF-15) at the start of the treatment and at the end of the ten days.

Male fertility after spermatocele formation from tunica vaginalis in patients with bilateral vas agenesis.

To form spermatocele from vaginal layers as a sperm reservoir and intra-uterine insemination (IUI) in infertile men with bilateral vas agenesis (BVA), we studied 19 patients with azoospermia due to BVA referred to our infertility clinic from March 1992 until May 2003. The ages of the patients ranged from 20-41 (mean 29.6+/-5.

Aphallia associated with urethro-rectal fistula and stones in the bladder and urethra.

Aphallia is a rare urogenital anomaly. It usually coexists with other serious anomalies, which are incompatible with normal life. We present herewith a 18-month-old child who presented with aphallia and urethro-scrotal fistula along with stones in the bladder and urethra.

Early results and complications of 210 living donor nephrectomies.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the early complications seen after donor nephrectomy in living donor renal transplantation. Between November 1989 and June 1998, 270 living donor nephrectomies were performed at the Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran. Sixty donor records which were incomplete were discarded from this study.

Kidney transplantation in older adults: does age affect graft survival?

Introduction: There is a paucity of data on long-term patient and graft survival in the older kidney recipients. Our aim was to evaluate the long-term outcomes of kidney transplantation in patients aged 50 years and older and compare them with outcomes in younger recipients.

Materials And Methods: Forty-seven recipients aged 50 years and older and 47 recipients aged younger than 50 years were randomly assigned to two groups (groups 1 and 2, respectively).

Erectile function in end-stage renal disease before and after renal transplantation.

Introduction: Erectile function in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and renal transplant patients is a challenging issue. In this study we evaluated the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) according to standard questionnaires and paraclinical tests including Rigiscan.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a prospective, interventional, nonrandomized study of 15 consecutive male patients who underwent living donor renal transplants from March 2003 to June 2004.

Preliminary report of a nationwide case-control study for identifying risk factors of tuberculosis following renal transplantation.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is an important infection encountered posttransplantation, especially among patients in developing countries, where there are high incidences of morbidity and mortality.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and twenty subjects (1%) from 15 major kidney transplantation centers in Iran from 1984 to 2003 were compared with 440 controls who were matched for operative time, treatment center, and surgical team.

Results: Mean ages of research subjects and controls were 38.