Emergence of coinfection with visceral Leishmania infantum in COVID-19 patients: a case‒control field study in an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis in Iran.

Background: COVID-19 is a pandemic involving coinfection with other opportunistic microorganisms, including parasites such as Leishmania infantum. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of L. infantum infection and its role in disease and mortality among symptomatic COVID-19 patients in comparison with the non-COVID-19 control group in the endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Iran.

Impact of Tissue Factor Gene Knockout on Coagulation Properties of Umbilical Cord-Derived Multipotent Mesenchymal Stromal/Stem Cells.

Multipotent mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) refer to a population of stem cells that exhibit distinct progenitor cell characteristics including the potential for differentiation into a wide range of cell types. MSCs have become a promising candidate for cell therapy and tissue regeneration due to their unique properties, such as their ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, their capacity for expansion, self-renewal, and immune-regulatory effects. However, reports have brought attention to thrombosis-related complications associated with MSCs therapy in the last decade.

The emerging role of the microglia triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM) 2 in multiple sclerosis.

Background: The chronic inflammatory condition known as multiple sclerosis (MS) causes inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS). The activation of multiple cell types, including the CNS's resident immune cells called microglia, is a component of the immunological response in MS. Recently, the triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM) family has emerged as a crucial player in modulating microglial function and subsequent neuroinflammation.

A Comprehensive Study on the Prognostic Value and Clinicopathological Significance of Different Immune Checkpoints in Patients With Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The prognostic significance of immune checkpoint expression in the tumor microenvironment has been widely investigated in colorectal cancers. However, the results of these studies are inconsistent and limited to some immune checkpoints.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the correlation between different immune checkpoint expression and clinicopathological features and prognostic parameters.

Serum Selenium Level in Thyroid Cancer: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Despite the implementation of national iodine supplementation programs, structural thyroid diseases are still highly prevalent in most countries. Thus, the link between trace elements other than iodine, such as selenium, and thyroid diseases should be investigated.

Methods: In this case-control study, adult patients with newly diagnosed papillary thyroid carcinoma, benign thyroid nodules, and healthy euthyroid controls without nodules were recruited.

A method for rapid assessment of visual ergonomics and lighting conditions (RAVEL): An in-depth development and psychometrics study.

Background: In workplaces heavily reliant on visual tasks, various factors can significantly influence an individual's performance, necessitating the use of reliable tools to identify and mitigate these factors.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a swift assessment method for visual ergonomics and lighting conditions, evaluating its validity in real-world scenarios.

Methods: The questionnaire's content validity was determined by a panel of experts using the content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI).

Plasticity Comparison of Two Stem Cell Sources with Different Hox Gene Expression Profiles in Response to Cobalt Chloride Treatment during Chondrogenic Differentiation.

The limited self-repair capacity of articular cartilage is a challenge for healing injuries. While mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are a promising approach for tissue regeneration, the criteria for selecting a suitable cell source remain undefined. To propose a molecular criterion, dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) with a -negative expression pattern and bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs), which actively express genes, were differentiated towards chondrocytes in 3D pellets, employing a two-step protocol.

Creation of an in vitro model of GM1 gangliosidosis by CRISPR/Cas9 knocking-out the GLB1 gene in SH-SY5Y human neuronal cell line.

GM1 gangliosidosis is one type of hereditary error of metabolism that occurs due to the absence or reduction of β-galactosidase enzyme content in the lysosome of cells, including neurons. In vitro, the use of neural cell lines could facilitate the study of this disease. By creating a cell model of GM1 gangliosidosis on the SH-SY5Y human nerve cell line, it is possible to understand the main role of this enzyme in breaking down lipid substrate and other pathophysiologic phenomena this disease.

Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis of Dry Eye Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: Clinical diagnosis of dry eye disease is based on a subjective Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire or various objective tests, however, these diagnostic methods have several limitations.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of articles discussing various applications of artificial intelligence (AI) models in the diagnosis of the dry eye disease by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases up to December 2022. We initially extracted 2838 articles, and after removing duplicates and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria based on title and abstract, we selected 47 eligible full-text articles.

Evaluation of the effectiveness of curcumin and piperine co-supplementation on inflammatory factors, cardiac biomarkers, atrial fibrillation, and clinical outcomes after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Background: Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is one of the preferred treatments for patients with heart problems, especially in individuals with other comorbidities and when multiple arteries are narrowed. This study aimed to assess the effects of administrating curcumin-piperine on patients who underwent CABG surgery.

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, in which 80 eligible adults who underwent CABG surgery, were randomized into 4 groups.

Psychometric evaluation of a new instrument to hookah tobacco smoking-related factors in the Iranian female university students based on the Extended Parallel Process Model.

Background: The higher prevalence of hookah tobacco smoking (HTS) has become worrisome in women. Thus, it is essential to identify and measure the perceptions associated with this unhealthy behavior as well as the type of response to risk messages to design the effective programs. This study aimed to psychometric evaluation of a new instrument, named the Extended Parallel Process Model-Hookah Tobacco Smoking Questionnaire (EPPM-HTSQ), for female university students.

Validity and reliability of the Persian version of food preferences questionnaire (Persian-FPQ) in Iranian adolescents.

The assessment of dietary intakes and habits using reliable and youth-specific measurement tools during adolescence is essential. The aim of the present study was to culturally adapt and investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the food preferences questionnaire (Persian-FPQ) among Iranian adolescents. This methodological cross-sectional study was conducted among 452 Persian-speaking adolescents, living in Isfahan, Iran.

Demodex folliculorum (Trombidiformes: Demodecidae) infestation in medical students with facial dermatoses and healthy groups.

Demodex folliculorum (Simon, 1842) has been associated with various dermatological conditions. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Demodex infestation in medical students with facial dermatoses compared with healthy medical students serving as controls. A total of 250 participants were enrolled, including 150 individuals with facial dermatoses and 100 healthy controls.

Intestinal Parasitic Infections in People Referring to the Central Laboratory of Meshkin Shahr County, Ardabil Province, Iran.

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are still a considerable global public health problem. We aimed to determine the frequency of intestinal parasitic infections among people referring to the central laboratory of Meshkin Shahr City, Ardabil Province, Iran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, 460 fecal samples were collected randomly from persons referred to the central laboratory of Meshkin Shahr City, from January to June 2022.

An Association Between GAS5 rs145204276, NEAT1 rs512715, and MEG3 rs4081134 Gene Polymorphisms and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Background: This study explores the association between growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) rs145204276, nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) rs512715, and Maternally Expressed 3 (MEG3) rs4081134 polymorphisms and their impact on susceptibility to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), considering differential expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in PTC.

Methods: A case-control study involving 125 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients and 125 controls was conducted. Genotyping of polymorphisms was performed using tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods.

Evaluation of cyclosporine 0.05% and artificial tears for the management of dry eye disease following cataract surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To compare the effects of cyclosporine 0.05% and artificial tears on dry eye disease following cataract surgery.

Methods: This prospective, double-masked, randomized clinical trial enroled 60 eyes of 60 eligible cataract patients who completed the study.

Latent class of depressive symptoms of and its determinants: A cross-sectional study among Iranian University students.

Background: According to the report of the World Health Organization, mental disorders are one of the 10 most important causes of disability in the world. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the number and frequency of latent classes of depression and its determinants in Isfahan university of medical students.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1408 medical students from Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, were enrolled in the study in 2017.

The role of endothelial growth factor and tear levels in diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: To evaluate the tear level of VEGF and the quantity of tear film in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: Thirty patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR group) and 30 patients with no DR (NDR group), and 30 healthy subjects with age and gender matching were enrolled in this prospective comparative study. The tear samples were collected using the Schirmer strips, and the amount of moisture absorbed by the strips was used to determine the quantitative level of the tear film.

Morphometric parameters of dental pulp in immature teeth in a sheep model after mechanical pulp exposure and restoration with reinforced zinc oxide-eugenol.

Background: The aim of the study was to investigate the morphometric parameters of dental pulp in open apices immature teeth in a sheep model after mechanical pulp exposure and restoration with reinforced zinc oxide-eugenol.

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, a total of 12 immature mandibular central incisors from six adult male sheep, weighing 30-40 kg and with the age of 1 year old with Merino race were examined. After anesthesia, the pulps of the teeth in the case group were mechanically exposed and then were restored with reinforced zinc oxide-eugenol and amalgam.

Downregulation of miR-211 expression in the blood plasma of infertile men compared to the fertile controls.

Objectives: Infertility is inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sex. MiRNA expression changes can serve as potential biomarkers for infertility in males due to impaired spermatogenesis. This research was conducted to measure the expression level of miR-211 in plasma samples as a factor identifying infertility in comparison with the control group.

Inulin-type fructans with different degrees of polymerization improve insulin resistance, metabolic parameters, and hormonal status in overweight and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with reproductive disorders and adverse cardiometabolic risk factors that can negatively impact the general health of women. Inulin-type fructans (ITFs) are proposed to beneficially affect risk factors associated with metabolic disorders. Whether ITFs can help with the management of PCOS by modifying insulin resistance (IR) and androgen levels has not yet been explored.