Chili pepper consumption and duration of fissure symptoms onset are associated with perianal fistula development among patients with anal fissure: a case-control study.

Background: Perianal fistula is one of the complications of deepened anal fissure. The present case-control study aimed to assess the risk factors of fissure-associated fistulas due to the limited available evidence.

Methods: Patients with fissure-associated fistulas were considered as case, and patients with anal fissure who were undergoing medical treatment without any previous anorectal surgeries were considered as control group.

Efficacy of uterine flushing with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on pregnancy rates in primary unexplained infertility: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: There are limited and controversial findings concerning ovulation induction using intrauterine and intramuscular human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection compared to intramuscular hCG alone. The study aimed to examine the impact of intrauterine hCG injection, which is used to induce ovulation, on the efficacy of the intrauterine insemination (IUI) technique in patients with unexplained infertility.

Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted involving 80 subjects with unexplained primary infertility at the infertility clinic of Al-Zahra Hospital in northwest Iran.

Circular RNAs as a novel class of potential therapeutic and diagnostic biomarkers in reproductive biology/diseases.

Infertility is a prevalent problem among 10% of people within their reproductive years. Sometimes, even advanced treatment options like assisted reproduction technology have the potential to result in failed implantation. Because of the expected changes in gene expression during both in vitro and in vivo fertilization processes, these methods of assisting fertility have also been associated with undesirable pregnancy outcomes related to infertility.

Recent progress in prompt molecular detection of liquid biopsy using Cas enzymes: innovative approaches for cancer diagnosis and analysis.

Creating fast, non-invasive, precise, and specific diagnostic tests is crucial for enhancing cancer treatment outcomes. Among diagnostic methods, those relying on nucleic acid detection are highly sensitive and specific. Recent developments in diagnostic technologies, particularly those leveraging Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), are revolutionizing cancer detection, providing accurate and timely results.

The effect of mindfulness-based counselling on the anxiety levels and childbirth satisfaction among primiparous pregnant women: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Anxiety during pregnancy is linked to adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, as well as dissatisfaction with childbirth, and may contribute to the development of postpartum depression. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of mindfulness-based counselling on the anxiety levels and childbirth satisfaction among primiparous pregnant women.

Methods: This two-group, parallel, randomized controlled trial involved 60 eligible primiparous pregnant women who were referred to health centers in Kermanshah province (western Iran).

Neuroimaging Findings of Psychosis in Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background: Previous studies on neuroimaging findings in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients with hallucinations and delusions have yielded inconsistent results. We aimed to systematically review neuroimaging findings of delusions and hallucinations in AD patients to describe the most prominent neuroimaging features.

Methods: We performed a comprehensive search in three online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science in June 2023.

Diagnosis of Schizophrenia and Its Subtypes Using MRI and Machine Learning.

Purpose: The neurobiological heterogeneity present in schizophrenia remains poorly understood. This likely contributes to the limited success of existing treatments and the observed variability in treatment responses. Our objective was to employ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and machine learning (ML) algorithms to improve the classification of schizophrenia and its subtypes.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Strength-Based Parenting Scale in an Adolescent Sample.

Purpose: Despite the increasing interest in positive psychology and the functional characteristics of one of its practical derivations, strength-based parenting, there is a paucity of information regarding the assessment tools for strength-based parenting and their psychometric properties. Thus, this study aimed to translate the Strength-Based Parenting Scale (SBPS) into Persian and investigate its validity and reliability among Iranian adolescents.

Method: Of the 645 adolescents who completed the Persian translation of the SBPS (349 females, M = 14.

Deep Learning-Based Prediction of Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease With the Ensemble Channel Selection Approach.

Purpose: A debilitating and poorly understood symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) is freezing of gait (FoG), which increases the risk of falling. Clinical evaluations of FoG, relying on patients' subjective reports and manual examinations by specialists, are unreliable, and most detection methods are influenced by subject-specific factors.

Method: To address this, we developed a novel algorithm for detecting FoG events based on movement signals.

Lignin-based nano-mimetic enzymes: A promising approach for wastewater remediation.

Lignin-based nano-mimetic enzymes have emerged as a promising approach for wastewater remediation, addressing the limitations of conventional treatment methods. This review article explores the potential of lignin, a renewable biomaterial, in developing these novel enzyme-inspired systems. The introduction highlights the rising pollution levels, stricter environmental regulations, and the need for innovative wastewater treatment technologies.

A review of chitosan role in milk bioactive-based drug delivery, smart packaging and biosensors: Recent advances and developments.

Chitosan, a versatile biopolymer derived from chitin, is increasingly recognized in the milk industry for its multifunctional applications in drug delivery, smart packaging, and biosensor development. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advances in chitosan production techniques. These include chemical, biological, and novel methods such as deep eutectic solvents (DES), microwave-assisted approaches, and laser-assisted processes.

Improving rooster semen cryopreservation with telmisartan-enhanced extender.

Semen cryopreservation is essential for preserving genetic resources and enabling artificial insemination in poultry breeding. However, avian sperm is known to experience detrimental changes during the freezing process. Telmisartan, an angiotensin-II receptor antagonist recognized for its antioxidant properties and ability to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), was hypothesized to improve post-thaw semen quality by enhancing mitochondrial function and providing antioxidant protection to sperm.

Electro-assisted solid-phase microextraction of Hg(II) in rice and water samples using NiCo-LDH-MXene fiber.

Food and water contamination with heavy metals is still a significant public health issue, necessitating development of simple and rapid analytical methods. Herein, a novel electro-assisted solid-phase microextraction (EA-SPME) method was developed to determine mercury (Hg(II)) in rice and water samples. A novel SPME-fiber coating was prepared through electrosynthesis of NiCo-layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) onto MXene deposited onto the graphenized pencil fiber.

Unveiling Langerhans cell histiocytosis presenting as hidradenitis suppurativa: A case report and systematic review.

Introduction And Importance: Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder characterized by the proliferation of abnormal Langerhans cells, often presenting with symptoms that mimic common dermatological conditions such as hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Accurate diagnosis is essential because LCH can affect multiple organ systems and necessitates distinct therapeutic approaches.

Case Presentation: We report a rare case of a 39-year-old male with a 7-year history of diabetes insipidus (DI), who presented with polyuria, polydipsia, and enlarging purulent lesions in the axilla and groin.

Massive lower gastrointestinal bleeding due to pseudoaneurysm of the femoral artery following buttock gunshot injury: A case report.

Introduction: Arterio-enteric fistula is one of the extremely rare complications of penetrating trauma.

Case Presentation: A 27-year-old male presented to the emergency department with a gunshot to the right buttock. Initial assessments revealed a left femoral shaft fracture, the right buttock as the bullet inlet and the medial portion of the left thigh as an outlet, with no other significant findings.

The influence of resistance training on inflammatory markers, body composition and functional capacity in healthy older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Older adults experience chronic inflammation, which is associated with health conditions such as sarcopenia, and resulting in reduced functional capacity. Resistance training (RT) is a beneficial intervention for improving health in the elderly.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of RT on inflammatory biomarkers, body composition, and functional capacity in healthy adults aged 60 years and over.

The impact of PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4, TIM-3 and LAG-3 immune checkpoint receptor expression in the development of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) and disease recurrence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The immune checkpoint receptors play a crucial role in managing the transplantation outcome including development of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) and disease recurrence following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is well established. This study aimed to investigate the expression of immune checkpoint receptors, including PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, and LAG-3 in donors, as well as changes in their expression during the first 90 days (day 30 and day 90) post-HLA-matched allo-HSCT, concerning the development of aGVHD and disease relapse. Forty-one donor/recipient pairs were included in this study.

Role of exosomes in dental and craniofacial regeneration - A review.

Background: The treatment of congenital deformities, traumatic injuries, infectious diseases, and tumors in the craniomaxillofacial (CMF) region is complex due to the intricate nature of the tissues involved. Conventional treatments such as bone grafts and cell transplantation face limitations, including the need for multiple surgeries, complications, and safety concerns.

Objective: This paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the role of exosomes (EXOs) in CMF and dental tissue regeneration and to explore their potential applications in regenerative dental medicine.

Socio-cultural erosion and the mental health crisis in Iranian youth: Root causes, challenges, and culturally aligned interventions.

This review, in light of the Socio-Cultural Erosion Theory, addresses the alarming deterioration in mental health among Iranian youth. According to this theory, rapid socio-cultural changes, economic instability, and pervasive influences of digital media create a drift between traditional values and modern expectations that are detrimental to mental health. The major risk factors identified in order of significance were, in descending order, economic hardship, academic stress, cultural pressures, and digital exposure.

Effects of biological fertilizers on physiological traits and bioactive compounds in saffron (Crocus sativus L.).

Background: Relatively few studies have explored the impact of biofertilizers on the qualitative and quantitative yield of saffron despite its global agricultural and medical importance. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and phytochemical responses of saffron to potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and iron-zinc (Fe-Zn) biofertilizers over 2 consecutive years (2022-2023). The treatments included single and combined applications of K, P, and Fe-Zn biofertilizers containing active bacterial inoculum, along with a control group, resulting in a total of eight treatments.

Global Prevalence and Subtype Distribution of Blastocystis sp. in Rodent Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to gather and analyse global data on the prevalence, subtypes (STs) distribution and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis sp. in rodents.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed across multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and ProQuest) for studies published by 23 July 2024.

Enhanced heart sound classification using Mel frequency cepstral coefficients and comparative analysis of single vs. ensemble classifier strategies.

This paper seeks to enhance the performance of Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs) for detecting abnormal heart sounds. Heart sounds are first pre-processed to remove noise and then segmented into S1, systole, S2, and diastole intervals, with thirteen MFCCs estimated from each segment, yielding 52 MFCCs per beat. Finally, MFCCs are used for heart sound classification.

Innovation or acquisition? Emissions mitigation strategies and the role of renewable technologies.

One of the actions taken to mitigate the climate change is research, development and demonstration (RD&D) investments in renewable energy (RE) technology. In addition to domestic RD&D spending, the import of foreign technologies, as a main channel of technology transfer, is another option to obtain higher share of renewable energies in order to achieve climate objectives. In this study, a panel dataset of 28 OECD member countries from 2011 to 2020 is analyzed, using the OLS, fixed-effects, and two-step system GMM methods, to assess the impacts of public spending on renewable energy RD&D (RERD) and the import of renewable energy technologies on the energy-related CO2 emissions.