Genetic evidence of Coxiella burnetii infection in acute febrile illnesses in Iran.

Mounting evidence suggests that Q-fever is more prevalent in Iran than originally believed. However, in most parts of the country, clinicians do not pay enough attention to Q fever in their differential diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Coxiella burnetii in suspected cases of acute Q fever in north-western Iran using molecular techniques.

Preconditioning of sperm with sublethal nitrosative stress: a novel approach to improve frozen-thawed sperm function.

Research Question: Can sublethal stress induced by nitric oxide on fresh human spermatozoa protect the functional properties of post-thaw human spermatozoa?

Design: Semen samples were obtained from 46 donors. Twenty semen samples were used to determine toxicity level of nitric oxide by incubation of semen with different concentrations of nitric oxide (0.01 to 400 μM).

Altered expression of lncRNA in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, correlation with cytogenetic findings.

Background: Recent studies have devoted much attention to non-protein-coding transcripts in relation to a wide range of malignancies. , a long non-coding RNA, has been reported to be associated with cancer progression and prognosis. Thus, we here determined gene expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a genetically heterogeneous disease, and explored its possible relationships with cytogenetic abnormalities.

Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on meiotic spindle structure and oocyte quality in mice.

Objectives: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been reported to improve pregnancy chances in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and to reduce miscarriage rates by 50-80%. This study, therefore, assesses effects of DHEA on number of retrieved oocytes and meiotic spindles.

Materials And Methods: A randomized, prospective, controlled study was conducted on eight groups, four groups of young mice and four elderly.

Interaction between mesenchymal stromal cell-derived extracellular vesicles and immune cells by distinct protein content.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can effectively contribute to tissue regeneration inside the inflammatory microenvironment mostly through modulating immune responses. MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) display immunoregulatory functions similar to parent cells. Interactions between MSC-EVs and immune cells make them an ideal therapeutic candidate for infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases.

Association of MicroRNA Polymorphisms With Hepatocellular Carcinoma in an Iranian Population.

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can modulate various biological processes by influencing microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis and altering target selection. Common SNPs may alter the processing of miRNA and may be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the relationship between >G, >T, >C, and >C and HCC susceptibility, examining the interaction of the miRNAs with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Cross-talks between the kidneys and the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease, which is considered as a common autoimmune disorder in young adults. A growing number of evidences indicated that the impairment in non-neural tissues plays a significant role in pathology of MS disease. There are bidirectional relationship, metabolic activities and functional similarity between central nervous system (CNS) and kidneys which suggest that kidney tissue may exert remarkable effects on some aspects of MS disorder and CNS impairment in these patients compels the kidney to respond to central inflammation.

Induction of Sublethal Oxidative Stress on Human Sperm before Cryopreservation: A Time-Dependent Response in Post-Thawed Sperm Parameters.

Objective: A recent innovative approach, based on induction of sublethal oxidative stress to enhance sperm cryosurvival, has been applied before sperm cryopreservation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of different induction times of sublethal oxidative stress before cryopreservation on human post-thawed sperm quality.

Materials And Methods: In this experimental study, we selected semen samples (n=20) from normozoospermic men according to 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

Prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors in a nationally representative sample of Iranian children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-V Study.

This study presents the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors in a nationally representative sample of Iranian children and adolescents. This multi-centric study was conducted in 2015 among 4200 students aged 7-18 years. They were selected by multistage cluster sampling from 30 provinces of Iran.

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids-Free Extract from the Cell Culture of Lithospermum officinale with High Antioxidant Capacity.

The benefits of Lithospermum officinale has encouraged people to continue using its extract (CAS 90063-58-4) in both medicinal and cosmetic industries despite the fact that chemical analysis confirms the presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in the extract. While the cultivation of L. officinale takes, at least, 2 years to produce usable crops, its callus culture proliferated 8.

Association of dietary patterns with continuous metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents; a nationwide propensity score-matched analysis: the CASPIAN-V study.

Objective: This study aims to determine the association of dietary patterns with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in children and adolescents.

Methods: This nationwide study was conducted in 2015 among 4200 students aged 7-18 years, who lived in 30 provinces in Iran. The analysis was conducted based on the propensity score using a matched case-control study design.

Frequency of Smear-Negative Tuberculosis in Northwest Iran.

Background: Microscopic smear examination is the most common test in tuberculosis (TB) detection. It is, however, not strong enough to identify TB in the majority of afflicted individuals; thus, a significant number of TB patients are smear negative and capable of transmitting the infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of smear-negative TB in northwest Iran.

Association of parental obesity with cardiometabolic risk factors in their children: The CASPIAN-V study.

Background: The family environment has a crucial role in the development of childhood obesity and related cardiometabolic disorders. This study aims to investigate the association of parental obesity and cardiometabolic risk factors in their children.

Methods: This multicentric cross-sectional study was performed on 14400 students (aged 7-18 years) and one of their parents.

L. inermis-loaded nanofibrous scaffolds for wound dressing applications.

Since ancient times, some herbal medicines have been extensively used for burn and wound treatments, showing preference to the common synthetic medications by virtue of having less side effects and faster healing rate. In this study, hybrid nanofibrous scaffolds of poly-l-lactic-acid (PLLA) and gelatin incorporated L. inermis were fabricated via electrospinning technique.

Impact of Corporate Reputation on Brand Differentiation: An Empirical Study from Iranian Pharmaceutical Companies.

The influence of company reputation or what is often referred to as corporate reputation on branding strategy and producing intangible asset for different industries has been researched in western countries, but there is a gap for the generalizability of findings to countries out of the United State and Europe. To establish the western researcher's external validity of theories in other countries and to obtain a better understanding of the influences of branding and company reputation on pharmaceutical business markets, the researchers applied this study for Iran, a country in the Middle East. The obtained results using SEM (by P.

Validity of triglyceride-glucose index as an indicator for metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents: the CASPIAN-V study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the cut-off values of triglycerides and glucose (TyG) index as one of the indirect indices for metabolic syndrome (MetS) in a pediatric population.

Methods: This national study was conducted in 2015 on 14400 students, aged 7-18 years. They were selected by random cluster sampling from 30 provinces of our country during the fifth survey of a national school-based surveillance program.

Methodology of the Comprehensive Program on Prevention and Control of Overweight and Obesity in Iranian Children and Adolescents: The IRAN-Ending Childhood Obesity (IRAN-ECHO) Program.

Background: The World Health Organization program on Ending Childhood Obesity (WHO-ECHO) has developed a comprehensive and integrated package of recommendations to address childhood obesity. The present study, entitled IRAN-ECHO, was designed and implemented in the framework of the WHO-ECHO program.

Methods: The IRAN-ECHO program is implementing multicomponent interventions by considering life course dimensions.

The association of parental obesity with physical activity and sedentary behaviors of their children: the CASPIAN-V study.

Objective: Low physical activity and sedentary behaviors, two important determinants of childhood obesity, may be influenced by parental lifestyle and weight status. This study aims to determine the association of parental weight status with children's physical activity and screen time.

Methods: This study was conducted on 14,440 Iranian schools students, aged 7-18 years, and one of their parents, who participated in the large national school-based surveillance program.

Self-medication among the elderly in Iran: a content analysis study.

Background: Self-medication is described as the use of drugs without a physician's prescription to treat self-recognized illness or symptoms, and an important health issue among the elderly. Despite the wide range of different definitions, recognizing all forms of self-medication among older adults, particularly, in developing countries, help healthcare professionals and providers to reduce harmful effects of self-medication. The purpose of this study is to describe the practice of self-medication and its related factors among elderly people in Iran based on the experiences of people who are involved in this phenomenon.

Evaluation of Cognitive Functions in Iranian Children and Adolescents With Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes in children and adolescents is a chronic condition with an expanding trend in the community. Several studies have shown cognitive dysfunctions are the most important side effects of diabetes among individuals of younger ages. Due to cultural differences and their impact on cognitive issues, the authors decided to assess the cognitive functions of Iranian children and adolescents with diabetes.

C1019T Polymorphism in the Connexin 37 Gene and Myocardial Infarction Risk in Premature Coronary Artery Disease.

The C1019T polymorphism of the connexin-37 (GJA4) gene is a single-nucleotide polymorphisms involved in atherosclerotic plaque rupture and atherosclerosis predisposition. We examined the association between the C1019T polymorphism of the GJA4 gene and the occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with premature coronary artery disease (CAD). Our study recruited 1000 patients with the final diagnosis of premature CAD and classified them into 2 groups: with a history of MI (n = 461) and without it (n = 539).

Segmentation of breast ultrasound images based on active contours using neutrosophic theory.

Purpose: Ultrasound imaging is an effective approach for diagnosing breast cancer, but it is highly operator-dependent. Recent advances in computer-aided diagnosis have suggested that it can assist physicians in diagnosis. Definition of the region of interest before computer analysis is still needed.