Evaluating convalescent plasma therapy in severe COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Convalescent plasma (CP) therapy is a form of passive immunization which has been used as a treatment for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CP therapy in patients with severe COVID-19.

Methodology: In this retrospective cohort study, 50 patients with severe COVID-19 treated with CP at Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Kashan, in 2019 were evaluated.

Effectiveness of levamisole in the treatment of patients with severe COVID-19: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Introduction: Inflammation plays a role in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathophysiology and anti-inflammatory drugs may help reduce the disease severity. Levamisole is an anthelmintic drug with immunomodulatory and possible antiviral effects. This study aimed to evaluate the role of levamisole in the treatment of patients with COVID-19.

Assessment of the validity and reliability of the nurses' professional values scale-revised in Persian version among nursing students.

Background: Evaluating professional values is crucial to developing effective strategies for integrating them into professional performance and clinical education. A standard questionnaire is an instrument that can be used to evaluate professional values. This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Nurses Professional Values Scale-Revised (NPVS-R) among nursing students in the Persian language.

High-throughput phenotyping of wheat root angle and coleoptile length at different temperatures using 3D-printed equipment.

Background: Innovation in crop establishment is crucial for wheat productivity in drought-prone climates. Seedling establishment, the first stage of crop productivity, relies heavily on root and coleoptile system architecture for effective soil water and nutrient acquisition, particularly in regions practicing deep planting. Root phenotyping methods that quickly determine coleoptile lengths are vital for breeding studies.

Temporary ectopic banking as a treatment option for mangled thumb: a case report.

Background: Management of the extensive soft tissue injuries remains a significant challenge in orthopedic and plastic reconstructive surgery. Since the thumb is responsible for 40% of the functions of the hand, saving and reconstructing a mangled thumb is essential for the patient's future.

Case Presentation: This case report describes the management of a severe occupational thumb injury in a 25-year-old white Persian male who sustained an occupational injury to his left thumb, resulting in extensive burn, crush injury to the distal and proximal phalanx, and severe soft tissue damage to the first metacarpal, thenar, and palmar areas.

Diagnosis of lung cancer using salivary miRNAs expression and clinical characteristics.

Objective: Lung cancer (LC), the primary cause for cancer-related death globally is a diverse illness with various characteristics. Saliva is a readily available biofluid and a rich source of miRNA. It can be collected non-invasively as well as transported and stored easily.

Fluoride-induced testicular and ovarian toxicity: evidence from animal studies.

Fluoride (F), as a natural element found in a wide range of sources such as water and certain foods, has been proven to be beneficial in preventing dental caries, but concerns have been raised regarding its potential deleterious effects on overall health. Sodium fluoride (NaF), another form of F, has the ability to accumulate in reproductive organs and interfere with hormonal regulation and oxidative stress pathways, contributing to reproductive toxicity. While the exact mechanisms of F-induced reproductive toxicity are not fully understood, this review aims to elucidate the mechanisms involved in testicular and ovarian injury.

Identification of novel cytoskeleton protein involved in spermatogenic cells and sertoli cells of non-obstructive azoospermia based on microarray and bioinformatics analysis.

Background: During mammalian spermatogenesis, the cytoskeleton system plays a significant role in morphological changes. Male infertility such as non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) might be explained by studies of the cytoskeletal system during spermatogenesis.

Methods: The cytoskeleton, scaffold, and actin-binding genes were analyzed by microarray and bioinformatics (771 spermatogenic cellsgenes and 774 Sertoli cell genes).

Prioritizing implementation solutions for the urban family physician policy in Iran: a multi-criteria decision-making study.

Background: Family physician program is one of the effective reforms of the health system in Iran, but despite the implementation of this program in rural areas and the passage of ten years since its implementation in two provinces of Fars and Mazandaran, its implementation has faced problems. The aim of this study is to identify and prioritize implementation solutions related to the challenges of the family physician program in Iran.

Methods: This is a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 22 snowball-sampled experts and managers of basic health insurers to extract problems and executive solutions through coding and data analysis using Atlas Ti software and content analysis in the first stage.

Evaluation of nutritional, anthropometric, and psychological outcomes in different metabolic and bariatric surgery techniques: a follow up study.

Background: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is a suitable solution for the treatment of morbid obesity. Investigating an MBS method that has the best outcomes has always been the main concern of physicians. The current study aimed to compare nutritional, anthropometric, and psychological complications of individuals undergoing various MBS Techniques.

The relationship between intrinsic capacity and functional ability in older adults.

Introduction: Intrinsic Capacity in integrated geriatric care emphasizes the importance of a thorough functional assessment. Monitoring the intrinsic capacity of older individuals provides standardized and reliable information to prevent early disability. This study assessed the relationship between intrinsic capacity and functional ability in older adults.

Optimizing polycrystalline diamond compact bit selection and drilling parameters for deviated wells in the Majnoon Field, Iraq.

Several mechanisms were postulated to reduce drilling problems, improve hole cleaning characteristics, and keep the bit in good condition for the second usage. This study was conducted on Majnoon Field in southeastern Iraq to optimize the bit and drilling parameters. The results indicated that the 16" SFD75D bit proved the preferred bit for both vertical and deviated wells due to its directional capabilities.

Protective effect of Panax ginseng extract on cisplatin-induced AKI via downregulating cell death associated genes.

This study is designed to assess the effect of root extract of P. ginseng on kidney tissue injury attributed to cisplatin and its molecular mechanism involved in this process in the AKI rat model. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 experimental groups including: the control group, the cisplatin group, the extract 100 mg/kg group, and the extract 200 mg/kg group.

Magnetic nanoparticles of Nd2Fe14B prepared by ethanol-assisted wet ball milling technique.

The magnetic material Nd2Fe14B is one of the strongest magnetic materials found in nature. The demand for the production of these nanoparticles is significantly high due to their exceptional properties. The aim of the present study is to synthesize magnetic nanoparticles of Nd2Fe14B using ethanol in the wet ball milling technique (WBMT).

Berberine decorated zinc oxide loaded chitosan nanoparticles a potent anti cancer agent against breast cancer.

Breast cancer ranks as the second leading reason of cancer mortality among females globally, emphasizing the critical need for novel anticancer treatments. In current work, berberine-zinc oxide conjugated chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using various characterization techniques. The cytotoxic effects of CS-ZnO-Ber NPs on MCF-7 cells were assessed using the MTT assay.

Diversity and composition of vegetation and soil seed banks after sand dune restoration by oil mulching and plantations.

Soil seed bank (SSB) is valuable reserves of seeds hidden in the soil and are especially important for the preservation and establishment of vegetation under adverse environmental conditions. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the effects of restoration measures on SSB, especially in arid ecosystems. Here, we assess the impacts of oil mulching (1 and 3 years after mulching) and plantations (15-year-old) on the diversity and composition of SSB and aboveground vegetation (AGV) in comparison with those in non-restored areas (i.

Predicting preventive self-care behaviours among type 2 diabetes based on the health belief model in Bandar Abbas city: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: It is essential to manage type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through self-care behaviours and to ascertain the predictors of correct health training for the control of diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive role of the constructs of the health belief model in encouraging T2DM to adopt self-care behaviours in Bandar Abbas city.

Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 in Bandar Abbas.

Condyle Preservation in Patients With Mandibular Resection Is Associated With Enhanced Quality of Life and Function.

Background: Operative treatment of advanced mandibular tumors may require excision of a portion of the mandible including the condyle. It is not clear how condylar excision affects postoperative quality of life (QoL).

Purpose: The study purpose was to measure the association between operative management of the condyle and postoperative health-related QoL and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function.

Effects of isolation methods on physicochemical properties of defatted starch from the acorn (Quercus brantii).

This study explores the innovative combined effects of alkaline isolation with ultrasound pretreatment on the physicochemical properties of acorn (Quercus brantii) starch. The optimal pH for maximizing the yield of alkaline-isolated acorn starch (AAS) was determined, followed by comparison with alkaline-isolated defatted acorn starch (ADAS), ultrasound-pretreated acorn starch (UAS), and ultrasound-pretreated defatted acorn starch (UDAS). The results demonstrated substantial improvements in yield and purity, with the highest yield (68.

Advances in IgY antibody dosage form design and delivery strategies: Current status and future perspective.

Immunoglobulin Y (IgY), a unique type of antibody found in birds, is attracting increasing attention for a broad range of biomedical applications. Rational IgY protection, dosage form design, and delivery are highly essential to transform functional IgY antibodies into desired IgY products for therapeutic and prophylactic administration. Although progress has been made in this field, it remains in the early stages, highlighting the fundamental research and development needed in this aspect of IgY technology.

Ultrasound-assisted efficient targeting of doxorubicin to the tumor microenvironment by lyso-thermosensitive liposomes of varying phase transition temperatures.

Premature drug release is the primary hindrance to the effective function of the lyso-thermosensitive liposomes (LTSLs) of doxorubicin (Dox), known as ThermoDox® for the treatment of cancer. Herein, we have optimized LTSLs by using a combination of phospholipids (PLs) with high transition temperatures (Tm) to improve the therapeutic outcome in an assisted ultrasound approach. For this, several Dox LTSLs were prepared using the remote loading method at varying molar ratios (0 to 90%) of DPPC (Tm 41°C) and HSPC (Tm 54.

Colistin antibacterial activity, clinical effectiveness, and mechanisms of intrinsic and acquired resistance.

Following a period of disuse owing to the emergence of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, colistin has regained global attention as an antibiotic of last resort. The resurgence in its utilization has led to a concurrent increase in acquired resistance, presenting a significant challenge in clinical treatment. Predominantly, resistance mechanisms involve alterations in the lipid A component of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure.

Assessing the predictive value of elevated triglycerides, triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), and TG/HDL ratios for cardiovascular disease and mortality during 20 years of follow-up: Tehran lipid and glucose study.

Objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, influenced by a complex interplay of risk factors including lipid disorders and insulin resistance (IR). The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index and the triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL) ratio have emerged as potential indicators for assessing cardiovascular risk. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of hypertriglyceridemia, the TyG index, and the TG/HDL ratio for mortality and CVD occurrence within an Iranian population.