Porous Materials for Early Diagnosis of Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, present formidable challenges in modern medicine due to their complex pathologies and the absence of curative treatments. Despite advances in symptomatic management, early diagnosis remains essential for mitigating disease progression and improving patient outcomes. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as MRI, PET, and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker analysis, are often inadequate for the early detection of these diseases.

Efficacy of intermittent fasting on improving liver function in individuals with metabolic disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Intermittent fasting (IF) can be an effective dietary therapy for weight loss and improving cardiometabolic health. However, there is scant evidence regarding the role of IF on indicators of liver function, particularly in adults with metabolic disorders. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of IF on liver function in adults with metabolic disorders.

Tibial stem extension versus standard configuration in primary cemented total knee arthroplasty: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: In order to increase the stability of tibial component in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), intramedullary stem extensions (SE) have been developed. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to address the critical knowledge gap on post-operative outcomes and complications rate comparison between tibial component with SE compared to the tibial component standard configuration (SC) in primary cemented TKA.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of online databases, including Pubmed, Embase, ISI Web of science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus, using the following MeSH terms, (total knee arthroplasty) OR (TKA) OR (total knee replacement) AND (Tibial stem) OR (stem extension) OR (long stem).

Quality, topics, and demographic trends of animal systematic reviews - an umbrella review.

Background: Animal systematic reviews are critical to inform translational research. Despite their growing popularity, there is a notable lack of information on their quality, scope, and geographical distribution over time. Addressing this gap is important to maintain their effectiveness in fostering medical advancements.

Does a multimedia education program work as a remedy for stress and burden in family caregivers of elderly heart attack patients? A clinical trial study.

Background: Supportive care has been found to improve quality of life and reduce the disease burden for aging individuals. After a heart attack, elderly patients often require a caregiver. In developing communities, caregiving responsibilities frequently fall on family members.

Moral distress, ethical climate, and compassion fatigue among oncology nurses: the mediating role of moral distress.

Background: Oncology nurses have a vital role in providing care for individuals with cancer. Ethical dilemmas arise for oncology nurses caring for these patients. Nurses experience moral distress when work conflicts with personal beliefs, leading to inappropriate responses or uncertainty about ethics.

Compassion Competence and Patient Safety Competency in psychiatric nurses.

Background: Compassion Competence and the ability to strive to understand the suffering of patients in psychiatric ward is essential for nurses to establish effective therapeutic communication in the process of their recovery. Patient Safety Competency is of great importance for nurses to prevent adverse events and minimize errors. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Compassion Competence and Patient Safety Competency in nurses working in psychiatric wards of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences affiliated hospitals in 2024.

Exploring the relationship between facilitating factors and adherence to nursing ethical standards.

Background: Professional ethics is a cornerstone of the nursing profession, with its observance closely linked to the enhancement of nursing services and the satisfaction of service recipients. This study aimed to assess nurses' compliance with professional ethical codes and its relationship with factors that facilitate such compliance.

Methods: This descriptive-analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021 in a hospital located in southern Iran.

Determining and comparing the achieved competencies of graduating nursing students of public and private universities in Iran.

Aim: This study aims to determine and compare the achieved competencies of graduating nursing students of public and private universities in Iran.

Background: The main responsibility of nursing education is to train nurses who possess the necessary competencies to provide safe and high-quality care. Given that a significant proportion of nursing education in Iran is the responsibility of private universities, it is essential to ensure that nursing graduates acquire the required competencies.

The impact of Covid-19 on harm reduction policies in Iran: an interrupted time series analysis.

Background: The global emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019 posed unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems, disrupting routine services and necessitating swift adaptations. Harm reduction programs, vital for addressing substance use-related health risks, faced unique challenges during the pandemic, impacting vulnerable populations. This study focuses on the repercussions of Covid-19 on harm reduction policies in Iran, specifically examining the distribution of condoms, syringes, and methadone to high-risk individuals attending Triangle Centers.

Prophylactic barrage laser in patients with previous vitreous loss during cataract surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: One of the significant challenges that can arise during cataract surgery is the occurrence of posterior capsule rupture (PCR) and vitreous loss. It may result in different complications including cystoid macular edema, endophthalmitis, glaucoma, and considerably retinal detachment which consequently contributes to poor functional outcomes.

Methods: This study was a prospective double blinded randomized clinical trial including 42 patients with previous complicated cataract surgery including posterior capsular rupture and consequently vitreous loss that anterior vitrectomy was done for them.

Neuroprotective effects of quercetin on hippocampal CA1 neurons following middle cerebral artery ischemia‒reperfusion in male rats: a behavioral, biochemical, and histological study.

Introduction: Cerebral ischemic strokes cause brain damage, primarily through inflammatory factors. One of the regions most affected by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) is the hippocampus, specifically the CA1 area, which is highly susceptible to ischemia. Previous studies have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory properties of quercetin.

The experiences of unprofessionalism among students in dental education: a qualitative study.

Aim: The present study aimed to explore the unprofessional behavior of educators, senior students, and peers in the education process of dental and oral health services.

Method: This qualitative study employed a conventional content analysis approach. The undergraduate students (n = 21) were recruited to participate in the study through purposive sampling.

Evaluation of bone mineral density and its influencing factors in patients infected with HIV under antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Reduced Bone Mineral Density (BMD) has been linked to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and treatment. There is a lack of information regarding the osteoporosis status of middle-aged patients with HIV in Iran, despite the fact that Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is widely accessible.

Objective: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the BMD status and low BMD risk factors in patients with HIV under ART living in Iran.

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) uncovers candidate genes linked to the germination performance of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under salt stress.

Background: Improving the germination performance of bread wheat is an important breeding target in many wheat-growing countries where seedlings are often established in soils with high salinity levels. This study sought to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying germination performance in salt-stressed wheat. To achieve this goal, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed on 292 Iranian bread wheat accessions, including 202 landraces and 90 cultivars.

Morphological variation of Ficus johannis subsp. afghanistanica (Warb.) Browicz in Sistan-va-Baluchestan province, Iran.

Background: Ficus johannis subsp. afghanistanica (Warb.) Browicz is an important plant species belonging to the Moraceae family and is part of the Ficus genus.

Combination therapies and other therapeutic approaches targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome and neuroinflammatory pathways: a promising approach for traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) precipitates a neuroinflammatory cascade, with the NLRP3 inflammasome emerging as a critical mediator. This review scrutinizes the complex activation pathways of the NLRP3 inflammasome by underscoring the intricate interplay between calcium signaling, mitochondrial disturbances, redox imbalances, lysosomal integrity, and autophagy. It is hypothesized that a combination therapy approach-integrating NF-κB pathway inhibitors with NLRP3 inflammasome antagonists-holds the potential to synergistically dampen the inflammatory storm associated with TBI.

A novel dual filtering mechanism for laser safety eyewear with polycarbonate lens coated by zirconium dioxide and silicon dioxide.

In laser safety eyewear, due to the lack of complete blocking of ultraviolet and infrared rays, we proposed a structure based on one-dimensional multilayer composed of several layers of silicon dioxide and zirconium dioxide materials alternately behind polycarbonate lens. It is find out that the acceptance angle range to the photonic crystal is 0 to 39°. This incident angle range corresponds to the band gap of the photonic crystal.

Algae- and bacteria-based biodegradation of phthalic acid esters towards the sustainable green solution.

Phthalic acid esters are widely used worldwide as plasticizers. The high consumption of phthalates in China makes it the world's largest plasticizer market. The lack of phthalic acid ester's chemical bonding with the polymer matrix facilitates their detachment from plastic products and subsequent release into the environment and causes serious threats to the health of living organisms.

Effect of DLPFC rTMS on anhedonia and alpha asymmetry in depressed patients.

Anhedonia, a core symptom of depression, has been defined as the loss of pleasure or lack of reactivity to pleasurable stimuli. Considering the relevance of alpha asymmetry to MDD and anhedonia, we explored the effect of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) stimulation on frontal and posterior EEG alpha asymmetry (FAA and PAA, respectively), in this exploratory investigation. 61 participants randomly received sham (n = 11), bilateral (BS; n = 25), or unilateral stimulation (US; n = 25) of the DLPFC.

Effects of Acupuncture on Cognitive Functions in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To explore the effects of acupuncture in comparison with sham acupuncture on cognitive functions in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 31 RRMS patients in the acupuncture group were treated with traditional Chinese acupuncture based on the treatment principle of calming the mind, reinforcing qi and blood, and 31 patients in the control group were treated with sham acupuncture (shallow needling at non-acupuncture points) twice a week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) score, which was evaluated by a psychologist at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment.

Machine learning-based estimation of crude oil-nitrogen interfacial tension.

Accurate estimation of interfacial tension (IFT) between nitrogen and crude oil during nitrogen-based gas injection into oil reservoirs is imperative. The previous research works dealing with prediction of IFT of oil and nitrogen systems consider synthetic oil samples such n-alkanes. In this work, we aim to utilize eight machine learning methods of Decision Tree (DT), AdaBoost (AB), Random Forest (RF), K-nearest Neighbors (KNN), Ensemble Learning (EL), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Multilayer Perceptron Artificial Neural Network (MLP-ANN) to construct data-driven intelligent models to predict crude oil - nitrogen IFT based upon experimental data of real crude oils samples encountered in underground oil reservoirs.

Assessing three novel composite anthropometric-metabolic indices for predicting 10-year incidence of metabolic syndrome: findings from the kerman coronary artery disease risk factors study (KERCADRS).

Purpose: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a condition of high prevalence worldwide associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The predictive value of novel indices of combined anthropometric and serum lipid parameters as predictors of MetS is, to our knowledge, unexplored. We aimed to assess the 10-year predictive value of three indices of triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), visceral adiposity index (VAI), and lipid accumulation product (LAP) for incidence of MetS in Southeastern Iran.