Gap analysis of maternity service quality and associated factors at a maternity hospital in northwest Iran: a cross-sectional survey using SERVQUAL and HEALTHQUAL questionnaires.

Background: Concerning maternity service, the mother's quality assessment is central because emotional, cultural, and respectful support is vital during labour and the delivery process. Studies concerning the perceived quality of maternity services from the perspective of mothers have rarely been carried out in Iranian hospital settings. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the gap between the expectations of patients with maternity services and their perceptions of the service and identify associated factors at a maternity hospital in northwest Iran using service quality (SERVQUAL) and health quality (HEALTHQUAL) questionnaires.

Development of a checklist for cognitive assessment requirements (CARE) based on a Delphi consensus study.

Situational factors can influence cognitive performance and should be considered for conducting cognitive assessments. The objective of this project was to develop a checklist for Cognitive Assessment Requirements (CARE) to identify these situational factors before conducting cognitive assessments and account for them. This study employed a four-round Delphi approach involving 22 experts to identify situational factors that can impact cognitive assessment results.

Accuracy of GFAP and UCH-L1 in predicting brain abnormalities on CT scans after mild traumatic brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. In recent years, blood biomarkers including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) have shown a promising ability to detect head CT abnormalities following TBI. This review aims to combine the existing research on GFAP and UCH-L1 biomarkers and examine how well they can predict abnormal CT results after mild TBI.

Improving the thermal and hydrophobic properties of bamboo biocomposite as sustainable acoustic absorbers.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the potential of chemical modification to improve the hydrophobic properties and thermal stability of bamboo fibers and to evaluate the sound absorption performance of raw and modified fibers. To achieve this goal, bamboo fibers were modified using stearic acid coatings and aluminum hydroxide nanoparticles. The results showed that the modification of fibers with stearic acid (STA) can improve the contact angle and hydrophobicity of bamboo fibers, so that for modified fibers with a concentration of 0.

The association between the dietary inflammatory index and multiple myeloma: a case-control study.

The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a common grading system for diet inflammatory potential. Recent investigations link DII to hematopoietic malignancies. However, the relationship between DII and Multiple myeloma (MM) is unknown.

Clinical evaluation of corneal ulcer with a portable and smartphone-attachable slit lamp device: Smart Eye Camera.

Corneal ulcer is one of the most important ophthalmic emergencies. A portable, recordable, and smartphone-attachable slit-lamp device called the "Smart Eye Camera" (SEC) is introduced to compare evaluating corneal ulcers between the SEC and the conventional slit-lamp. A total of 110 participants were included in the study, consisting of 55 patients with corneal ulcers and 55 age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers as controls.

siRNA-mediated inhibition of hTERT enhances the effects of curcumin in promoting cell death in precursor-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells: an in silico and in vitro study.

This study investigates the interrelationship between human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and ferroptosis in precursor-B (pre-B) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), specifically examining how hTERT modulation affects ferroptotic cell death pathways. Given that hTERT overexpression characterizes various cancer phenotypes and elevated telomerase activity is observed in early-stage and relapsed ALL, we investigated the molecular mechanisms linking hTERT regulation and ferroptosis in leukemia cells. The experimental design employed Nalm-6 and REH cell lines under three distinct conditions: curcumin treatment, hTERT siRNA knockdown, and their combination.

Diagnostic Value of Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor-Targeted PET Imaging in Oncology: A Systematic Review.

Gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR), overexpressed in various cancers, is a promising target for positron emission tomography (PET). This systematic review investigated the diagnostic value of GRPR-targeted PET imaging in oncology. A systematic search was conducted on major medical databases until May 23, 2024.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Accuracy of MiRNAs in Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a significant contributor to global cancer mortality, with limited effective diagnostic and prognostic tools. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising biomarkers for PC diagnosis and prognosis. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus.

Efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke and left ventricular assist device: review of the literature and meta-analysis.

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are used as definitive therapy or as a bridge to heart transplant in patients with advanced heart failure. Thromboembolic complications such as acute ischemic stroke (AIS) are common among patients with LVAD support. This study aims to evaluate the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with AIS due to large vessel occlusions (LVO) and LVAD-support.

Immunogenicity of an in-silico designed multi-epitope DNA vaccine encoding ROP21 and ROP29 of Toxoplasma gondii against both acute and chronic toxoplasmosis in BALB/c mice.

Background: Toxoplasma infections are highly prevalent worldwide and can cause serious complications in immunocompromised individuals and lead to congenital infections in neonates. Despite ongoing efforts to develop T. gondii vaccines, none have been developed.

From experts' perspective, factors affecting the effectiveness of online educational programs in promoting the health literacy of MS patients: A grounded theory approach.

Background: Online educational programs have emerged as a promising tool for promoting health literacy (HL) among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. However, identifying influencing factors is crucial for maximizing their effectiveness.

Aim: This study aimed to explain the factors affecting the effectiveness of online educational programs in promoting HL among MS patients in Iran.

Investigating the relationship between social media use and the attitudes towards nutrition and body image shame among Iranian female students: A cross-sectional study.

Social media are Internet-based services that allow participation in online communities and exchanges. Considering the high and increasing statistics of the use of social media all over the world and its impact on people's lives, the present study aimed to determine the relationship between social media and nutritional attitudes and body image shame among Iranian female students. This cross-sectional study was performed on 201 female student of Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran from May to December 2023.

MicroRNA as a Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been applied as biomarkers for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Early diagnosis and management of DLBCL can improve patient survival and prognosis.

Aims: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of miRNA biomarkers in DLBCL patients.

Chronic Patellar Tendon Rupture: Choice Between Two Allograft Reconstruction Techniques: A Case Report.

Case: In this article, we present 2 cases of neglected patellar tendon rupture. One was treated using an Achilles tendon allograft, and the other with a patellar tendon-bone allograft. Both methods allowed for early range of motion and resulted in good functional outcomes with a 1-year follow-up period.

Integration of Gastric Cancer RNA-Seq Datasets Along With PPI Network Suggests That Nonhub Nodes Have the Potential to Become Biomarkers.

Background: The breakthrough discovery of novel biomarkers with prognostic and diagnostic value enables timely medical intervention for the survival of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer (GC). Typically, in studies focused on biomarker analysis, highly connected nodes (hubs) within the protein-protein interaction network (PPIN) are proposed as potential biomarkers. However, this study revealed an unexpected finding following the clustering of network nodes.

Study on the Antibacterial Properties and Optical Characteristics of Clear Orthodontic Aligners Coated With Zinc Oxide and Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the antibacterial properties and optical characteristics of clear orthodontic aligners coated with zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles.

Materials And Methods: In this experimental laboratory study, polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) aligner samples were coated with nanoparticles of ZnO, MgO and a combination of both (ZnO + MgO). The surface coatings were analysed before and after stability testing using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM).

Development of Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides Based on Genomic Analysis of Streptococcus salivarius.

Background: In the oral environment, the production of bacteriocins or antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by impeding the proliferation of closely related microorganisms. This study aims to conduct in silico genome screening of Streptococcus salivarius to identify potential antimicrobial compounds existing as hypothetical peptides, with the goal of developing novel synthetic antimicrobial peptides.

Methods: Draft genomes of various oral Streptococcus salivarius strains were obtained from the NCBI database and subjected to analysis using bioinformatic tools, viz.

The crosstalk between exosomal miRNA and ferroptosis: A narrative review.

Ferroptosis is a type of cell death that multiple mechanisms and pathways contribute to the positive and negative regulation of it. For example, increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induce ferroptosis. ferroptosis unlike apoptosis, it is not dependent on caspases, but is dependent on iron.

Survival, Tumor Control, and Safety Outcomes of Proton Therapy in Sinonasal Cancer Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: In sinonasal cancer (SNC), treatment with proton therapy (PT) provides excellent local control, especially after gross total resection. Because of the heterogeneity and rarity of this disease site, a comprehensive assessment of toxicity, survival, and control rates is lacking. Our primary objective was to assess the toxicity outcomes of PT in SNC patients, with a secondary aim of assessing survival and tumor control after PT.

Investigation of the Potency of KALA and REV Cell-Penetrating Peptides for In Vitro/In Vivo Delivery of an HPV Multiepitope DNA Construct.

Developing human papillomavirus (HPV) therapeutic DNA vaccines requires an effective delivery system, such as cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs). In the current study, the multiepitope DNA constructs harboring the immunogenic and conserved epitopes of the L1, L2, and E7 proteins of HPV16/18 (pcDNA-L1-L2-E7 and pEGFP-L1-L2-E7) were delivered using KALA and REV CPPs with different properties in vitro and in vivo. Herein, after confirmation of the REV/DNA and KALA/DNA complexes, their stability was investigated against DNase I and serum protease.

Identification of Cell Fate Determining Transcription Factors for Generating Brain Endothelial Cells.

Reliable models of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), wherein brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) play a key role in maintenance of barrier function, are essential tools for developing therapeutics and disease modeling. Recent studies explored generating BMEC-like cells from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) by mimicking brain-microenvironment signals or genetic reprogramming. However, due to the lack of comprehensive transcriptional studies, the exact cellular identity of most of these cells remains poorly defined.

Prediction of facial nerve outcomes after surgery for vestibular schwannoma using machine learning-based models: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Postoperative facial nerve (FN) dysfunction is associated with a significant impact on the quality of life of patients and can result in psychological stress and disorders such as depression and social isolation. Preoperative prediction of FN outcomes can play a critical role in vestibular schwannomas (VSs) patient care. Several studies have developed machine learning (ML)-based models in predicting FN outcomes following resection of VS.