Barriers and facilitators of HIV partner status notification in low- and lower-middle-income countries: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Background: The uptake of HIV partner status notification remains limited in low- and lower-middle-income countries. This mixed-methods systematic review aims to summarize the barriers and facilitators of HIV partner status notification in these settings.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science from January 01, 2000, to August 31, 2023, for empirical qualitative and quantitative studies.

Effect of elevated ammonium on biotic and abiotic stress defense responses and expression of related genes in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) plants.

Ammonium (NH) enhances plant defense mechanisms but can be phytotoxic as the sole nitrogen source. To investigate the impact of a balanced NH and NO ratio on plant defense parameters without adverse effects, cucumber plants (Cucumis sativus L.) were grown under control (14 mM NO + 2 mM NH) and elevated level of NH (eNH, 8 mM NO+ 8 mM NH).

Facilitators and barriers of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis use among four key populations in Iran.

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) significantly reduces HIV transmission, but it is not commonly prescribed in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to identify facilitators and barriers to PrEP use among four key populations (KPs) in Iran.

Methods: We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), and sexual partners of people living with HIV (PLHIV) to obtain deep insights into the participants' experiences, beliefs, and viewpoints.

Frequency-domain instrument with custom ASIC for dual-slope near-infrared spectroscopy.

Real-time and non-invasive measurements of tissue concentrations of oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) and deoxyhemoglobin (HbR) are invaluable for research and clinical use. Frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (FD-NIRS) enables non-invasive measurement of these chromophore concentrations in human tissue. We present a small form factor, dual-wavelength, miniaturized FD-NIRS instrument for absolute optical measurements, built around a custom application-specific integrated circuit and a dual-slope/self-calibrating (DS/SC) probe.

Characterizing people who inject drugs with no history of opioid agonist therapy uptake in Iran: Results from a national bio-behavioural surveillance survey in 2020.

Injection drug use is the primary driver of the human immunodeficiency virus HIV epidemic in Iran. We characterized people who inject drugs (PWID) living in Iran who had never received opioid agonist therapy (OAT) and examined barriers to OAT uptake. We recruited 2,684 PWID with a history of drug injection in the previous 12 months using a respondent-driven sampling approach from 11 geographically dispersed cities in Iran.

Enhanced Therapeutic Efficacy of Gold Nanoparticle-Enhanced Laser Therapy for Oral Cancer: A Promising Photothermal Approach.

Laser therapy employs a concentrated and slender light beam to eliminate or eradicate cancerous cells and pre-cancerous abnormalities. The specific wavelength of 808 nm light is preferentially absorbed by tumor cells compared to healthy cells. This study aimed to assess the combined therapeutic impact of laser and gold, given that gold exhibits photothermal properties when exposed to laser radiation.

Comparison the Effect of Rehabilitation at Home and Outpatient Physiotherapy after Total Knee Arthroplasty Surgery on Quality of Life and Knee Function: A Clinical Trial Study.

Background: Primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is an effective procedure to better function and relief the pain in advanced osteoarthritis patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of outpatient clinic-based setting of physiotherapy versus home-based rehabilitation (HBR) for functional recovery immediately after primary TKA procedure.

Materials And Methods: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted on patients underwent TKA in 2021-2022.

Dual-ratio approach to pulse oximetry and the effect of skin tone.

Significance: Pulsatile blood oxygen saturation ( ) via pulse oximetry is a valuable clinical metric for assessing oxygen delivery. Individual anatomical features, including skin tone, may affect current optical pulse oximetry methods.

Aim: We developed an optical pulse oximetry method based on dual-ratio (DR) measurements to suppress individual anatomical confounds on .

Strengths and Weaknesses of HIV Partner Notification Implementation in Iran.

HIV partner notification is a key intervention to facilitate access to HIV testing and treatment. This qualitative study investigated the strengths and weaknesses of the HIV partner notification program in Iran. Additionally, it provides comprehensive recommendations to mitigate potential harms and maximize the benefits of partner notification services.

Evaluation of the Effects of Punica granatum Flower Tablets on Pain and Healing of Minor Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the therapeutic effect of the Punica granatum (PG) flower on recurrent aphthous stomatitis in comparison with corticosteroid therapy.

Materials And Methods: This cross-over randomized clinical trial was conducted on the patients who had been referred to Shiraz Dental School for their RAS in 2021. All the participants used both P.

Signaling function of NH in the activation of Fe-deficiency response in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).

NH is necessary for full functionality of reduction-based Fe deficiency response in plants. Nitrogen (N) is present in soil mainly as nitrate (NO) or ammonium (NH). Although the significance of a balanced supply of NO and NH for optimal growth has been generally accepted, its importance for iron (Fe) acquisition has not been sufficiently investigated.

A qualitative study exploring approaches, barriers, and facilitators of the HIV partner notification program in Kerman, Iran.

Background: HIV partner notification services can help people living with HIV (PLHIV) to identify, locate, and inform their sexual and injecting partners who are exposed to HIV and refer them for proper and timely counseling and testing. To what extent these services were used by PLHIV and what are the related barriers and facilitators in southeast Iran are not known. So, this study aimed to explore HIV notification and its barriers and facilitators among PLHIV in Iran.

Comparison of Fat-Free Mass and Ideal Body Weight Scalar for Anesthetic Induction Dose of Propofol in Patients with Morbid Obesity: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Obesity is a growing problem worldwide and can affect both the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of various drugs, including anesthetics, resulting in the under-or overdosing of certain drugs. There is no consensus on the ideal dosing regimen for obese populations.

Objectives: In this study, 2 weight-based dosing of propofol used for induction of anesthesia were compared in terms of the onset of action time, adequacy of anesthesia, and effects on hemodynamic indices (eg, heart rate [HR] and blood pressure).

Comparing the activity level of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-8 in patients with diabetes and moderate to severe chronic generalized periodontitis.

Objectives: The response of the host to plaque can be affected by systemic diseases like diabetes, hormonal changes, or immunological deficits, which can hasten the progression and severity of periodontitis. This study aimed to compare the activity of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) in patients with moderate to severe generalized chronic generalized periodontitis between healthy individuals and those with type 2 diabetes who were referred to the Tabriz School of Dentistry.

Materials And Methods: For this cross-sectional study, 90 patients were randomly divided into three groups based on inclusion and exclusion criteria: patients with chronic generalized periodontitis with diabetes, patients with generalized chronic periodontal disease with normal blood glucose, and a control group of 30 healthy individuals.

Single-distance and dual-slope frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy to assess skeletal muscle hemodynamics.

Significance: Non-invasive optical measurements of deep tissue (e.g., muscle) need to take into account confounding contributions from baseline and dynamic optical properties of superficial tissue (adipose tissue).

Injection cessation and relapse to injection and the associated factors among people who inject drugs in Iran: The Rostam study.

Background: Drug injection is a major health-related problem worldwide. Injection cessation and relapse to injection could significantly alter the risk of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among people who inject drugs (PWID). This study aimed to estimate the rate of injection cessation and relapse to injection among PWID in Iran.

Guillain-Barre syndrome after antithymocyte globulin administration in a kidney transplant recipient: A case report and literature review.

This report describes a rare case of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) following receiving rabbit antithymocyte globulin (ATG) after kidney transplantation to prevent acute allograft rejection in a 34-year-old man. The patient presented severe pain in the right temporomandibular joint, fever, chills, myalgia, polyarthralgia, and bone pain. Twelve hours later, he developed quadriplegia, paresthesia, and a limited range of active motions in all extremities.

Evaluation of salivary transferrin in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: About 94% of oral cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). Its occurrence is age-related due to some factors. Salivary biomarkers have good susceptibility to OSCC's early diagnosis.

The role of oncolytic virotherapy and viral oncogenes in the cancer stem cells: a review of virus in cancer stem cells.

Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) are the main "seeds" for the initiation, growth, metastasis, and recurrence of tumors. According to many studies, several viral infections, including the human papillomaviruses, hepatitis B virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and hepatitis C virus, promote the aggressiveness of cancer by encouraging the development of CSC features. Therefore, a better method for the targeted elimination of CSCs and knowledge of their regulatory mechanisms in human carcinogenesis may lead to the development of a future tool for the management and treatment of cancer.

A Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipient with Nephrotic Syndrome and Immune Complex Deposits in Tubular Basement Membrane: A Rare Case Report.

Following allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) may develop which may affect several organs. Although the presence of nephrotic syndrome after HSCT is rare, sometimes it occurs in the setting of GVHD. The most common histological finding on kidney biopsy of patients with proteinuria owing to GVHD is membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN).

Awareness and willingness to use HIV self-testing among people who inject drugs in Iran.

Background: Most people who inject drugs (PWID) in Iran have not undergone recent HIV testing. While PWID face barriers when seeking HIV testing at health facilities, HIV self-testing (HIVST) could be a promising approach to improve HIV testing uptake. We examined the awareness and willingness to use HIVST among PWID in Iran.