Predictive performance of noninvasive factors for liver fibrosis in severe obesity: a screening based on machine learning models.

Objectives: Liver fibrosis resulting from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic disorders is highly prevalent in patients with severe obesity and poses a significant health challenge. However, there is a lack of data on the effectiveness of noninvasive factors in predicting liver fibrosis. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the relationship between these factors and liver fibrosis through a machine learning approach.

Associations Between Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome and Daytime Napping with the Metabolic Syndrome Among Adults: Results from the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) Cohort Study.

Objective: Adverse sleep and wake patterns are associated with physical health complaints, including metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) and napping during the day with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: This study was conducted on 10 065 participants aged 35-65 years using baseline data from the Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease (RaNCD) cohort study.

Piperine relieves neuropathic pain induced by paclitaxel in mice.

Piperine is an amide alkaloid isolated from the black pepper plant. This study examined the pain‑relieving activity of piperine against paclitaxel (PTX)‑induced neuropathy. Male mice were divided into 6 groups: Sham‑operated group (remained intact), PTX group (PTX‑treated mice receiving normal saline), PTX+ piperine 10, 25, and 50 mg/kg groups (PTX‑treated mice receiving piperine) and positive control group (PTX‑treated mice receiving imipramine 10 mg/kg).

Effect of Transplanted Liver Fat Percentage on Organ Survival: A Retrospective Review.

Objectives: Liver transplant is the most effective therapeutic option for patients with end-stage liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and acute liver failure. We evaluated whether the percentage of hepatic fat percentage affected transplant outcomes to determine whether livers with varying severity of macrosteatosis should be considered suitable for donation.

Materials And Methods: We analyzed data from 381 patients with liver failure who received liver transplant at Montaseriyeh Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, between 2013 and 2022.

Exploring strategies to enhance patient safety in spine surgery: a review.

Patient safety is the foundation of spine surgery, where the intricate nature of spinal procedures and the unique risks involved call for exceptional diligence and comprehensive protocols. In this high-stakes field, developing and implementing rigorous safety protocols is not only vital for minimizing complications but also for achieving the best possible outcomes and strengthening the confidence patients have in their care team. Each patient entrusts their well-being to their surgical team.

Pro-renin Receptor (PRR) as a Target to Reduce Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Post Liver Transplantation.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the main causes of chronic liver disorders following liver transplantation. The prorenin receptor (PRR) plays a role in glucose and lipid metabolism, and the hepatic dysregulation of PRR is associated with the upregulation of several molecular pathways, such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) that promotes hepatic lipogenesis and leads to lipid accumulation in hepatocytes by upregulation of lipogenic genes. PRR inhibition leads to a reduction in the hepatic expression of sortilin-1 and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) levels and down-regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and reduces fatty acids synthesis in hepatocytes.

Modulation of hormonal, metabolic, inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in women with polycystic ovary syndrome following combined (resistant and endurance) training: a randomized controlled trail.

Purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent disorder among women. Exercise training has been known as an effective treatment for this disorder; however, there is small amount of evidence examining the optimal exercise programs. We evaluated the function of combined (COM) training on metabolic, hormonal parameters, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in PCOS patients.

The Impact of Functional Promoter Variants in Interleukin-18 on Susceptibility to Rheumatoid Arthritis in Iranian Population.

Background: Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is recognized for its pro-inflammatory properties and plays a central role in the progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), rs1946518 (-607C>A) and rs187238 (-137G), that are found in the IL-18 promoter region can potentially impact the expression of the IL-18 gene. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between these two polymorphisms and RA in the Iranian population.

Digital Health/e-Health Literacy among University Students in the COVID-19 Era: A Systematic Review.

Objective: During the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic, could be observed an established use of online information in the field of coronavirus disease worldwide. As a systematic review study, the present investigation aimed to evaluate related studies about digital health/e-health literacy among university students in the coronavirus disease 2019 era.

Methods: Three electronic bibliographic databases (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Google Scholar) were searched from 2020 until June 2022, and articles were screened according to pre-established inclusion criteria.

Sixteen-Frame Gated Myocardial Perfusion SPECT as a Surrogate for Equilibrium Radionuclide Angiography in Measurement of Systolic and Diastolic Indices: A Cross-Sectional Study.

 Equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA) has long been assumed as the preferred method to assess cardiac volumes as well as left ventricular systolic and diastolic indices. ERNA was used to diagnose subtle changes in cardiac function during chemotherapy or early stages of heart failure. Gated myocardial perfusion SPECT (GMPS) was introduced as a more feasible and versatile alternative to ERNA, but the precision of GMPS to assess systolic and diastolic indices has not yet been fully reviewed.

Aspartame subacute exposure does not affect immune system of BALB/c mice following a tiered approach.

Background: The objective of the present study was to assess potential immunotoxic effects of aspartame in BALB/c mice.

Methods: Aspartame was administered orally at 400 and 2000 mg/kg for two weeks (five days per week). Specific parameters of humoral and cellular immune responses including hemagglutinating antibody (HA) titer, cytokine production (IFN-γ and IL-4 levels), delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response to SRBCs, histopathological examination of spleen and bone marrow, and T-lymphocyte proliferation in response to phytohemagglutinin-A (PHA) were evaluated.

Radiomics-based machine learning for automated detection of Pneumothorax in CT scans.

The increasing complexity of diagnostic imaging often leads to misinterpretations and diagnostic errors, particularly in critical conditions such as pneumothorax. This study addresses the pressing need for improved diagnostic accuracy in CT scans by developing an intelligent model that leverages radiomics features and machine learning techniques. By enhancing the detection of pneumothorax, this research aims to mitigate diagnostic errors and accelerate the process of image interpretation, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Impact of bariatric surgery on infertility in obese women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, with several consequences, including reduced fertility in both men and women. One of the ways to reduce weight is bariatric surgery. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis study was to evaluate the effectiveness of bariatric surgery on weight loss and subsequent improvement of fertility in obese infertile women.

Unique Pathological Findings of Polarized Calcium Oxalate Crystals in Spondylodiscitis of an ESRD Hemodialysis Patient: A Case Report.

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing chronic hemodialysis are at an increased risk of developing spondylodiscitis, an infectious condition affecting the vertebral column. In this case report, we present a 22-year-old male with ESRD, a history of hyperoxaluria, nephrolithiasis, and anemia, who developed spondylodiscitis. Notably, pathological examination of tissue samples obtained during surgical intervention revealed the presence of polarized calcium oxalate crystals within the lumbar laminae and spinal discs, a rare finding in this clinical context.

Effect of deep diaphragmatic breathing on pain in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal cancers.

Background: Patients with gastrointestinal cancers commonly experience acute and chronic pain. This study aimed to determine the effect of deep diaphragmatic breathing on acute and chronic pain in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal cancers.

Methods: This clinical trial was conducted in Kermanshah-Iran in 2022.

Large Myxoid Ovarian Leiomyoma: A Case Report.

Ovarian leiomyoma is a rare, benign spindle cell tumor with a favorable prognosis. Myxoid leiomyoma, a rare subtype of leiomyoma, exhibits significant myxoid changes. We present a case study of a rare ovarian myxoid leiomyoma in a young woman.

Validation of dosimetry programs (Olinda & IDAC) for evaluation of absorbed dose in LuPSMA therapy of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) using Monte Carlo simulation.

Purpose: Clinical trials have yielded promising results for Lutetium Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen (Lu-PSMA) therapy in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. However, the development of precise methods for internal dosimetry and accurate dose estimation has been considered ongoing research. This study aimed to calculate the absorbed dose to the critical organs and metastasis regions using GATE 9.

Carotid artery intima-media thickness in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Obesity in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is an acceptable marker in assessing the risk of heart disease.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the CIMT in PCOS women compared to non-PCOS women.

Extensive humerus and scapula hydatidosis: A unique case report and comprehensive review of management strategies.

Introduction And Importance: Bone hydatidosis is a rare manifestation of Echinococcus infection, presenting significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This case report describes the successful management of an extensive hydatid disease involving the entire humerus and scapula.

Case Presentation: A 44-year-old male presented with progressive right arm pain and swelling.

Weight-adjusted waist index and cardiovascular disease: a population-based study in Ravansar, Iran.

Background: The weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI) is a relatively new index to obesity. This study aimed to explore the reationship between WWI and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 8,899 participants aged 35 to 65 from the Ravansar non-communicable diseases (RaNCD) cohort study in Ravansar, Iran.

Predictive accuracy of machine learning models for conservative treatment failure in thoracolumbar burst fractures.

Background: The management of patients with thoracolumbar burst fractures remains a topic of debate, with conservative treatment being successful in most cases but not all. This study aimed to assess the utility of machine learning models (MLMs) in predicting the need for surgery in patients with these fractures who do not respond to conservative management.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 357 patients with traumatic thoracolumbar burst fractures treated conservatively between January 2017 and October 2023 was conducted.

Infectious brain abscesses and granulomas: analysis of 110 episodes in adults.

Background: Infectious brain abscesses and granulomas, characterized by localized collections of pus or inflammatory tissue within the brain parenchyma, pose significant clinical challenges due to their potentially life-threatening nature and complex management requirements.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated patients diagnosed with infectious brain abscesses and granulomas from March 1, 2012, to October 22, 2021, in Mashhad, Iran. Data were collected from adult patients admitted to the two primary referral centers for community-acquired neuroinfections and neuroinflammations.

Evaluation of pathways involved in the protective effect of trans sodium crocetinate against contrast-induced nephropathy in rats.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is the most important side effect following contrast media application. The purpose of this study was to investigate the nephroprotective effects of trans sodium crocetinate (TSC) against sodium amidotrizoate/meglumine amidotrizoate (SAMA). Wistar rats were classified into eight groups (n = 6, male, 220-250 g) including (1) sham, injection of solvents (intraperitoneally; i.