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Lessons from Tanzania’s Marburg Outbreak Control: Implications for Regional Preparedness in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean
No full textEvaluation of frizzled class receptor 3 and miR-378 expression levels in cumulus cells of polycystic ovary syndrome women: A case-control study
No full textBackground: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Recent studies suggest that frizzled class receptor 3 (FZD3) and miR-378 play significant roles in PCOS by affecting oocyte maturation.
Objective: Considering the importance of FZD3 and miR-378 in ovulation, the present study aimed to determine the expression levels of FZD3 and miR-378 genes in cumulus cells of germinal vesicles and metaphase II oocytes in women with PCOS.
Materials and Methods: The samples for this case-control study included, randomly selected, 25 women with PCOS who were treated at the Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd, Iran. The diagnosis of PCOS was made based on the criteria defined in the Rotterdam guidelines. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction determined the expression level of FZD3 and miR-378.
Results: This study showed increased expression of FZD3 and miR-378 in cumulus cells of immature oocytes compared to mature oocytes (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: High levels of FZD3 and miR-378 in cumulus cells of immature oocytes can inhibit their maturation. FZD3, a component of the WNT signaling pathway, is overexpressed in immature oocytes and may negatively affect the maturation process. Additionally, miR-378 inhibits oocyte development by targeting and repressing essential genes. Currently, various aspects of microRNA function remain unknown. MiR-378 may exert its regulatory role by directly targeting the FZD3 gene or by targeting other genes and mediators that interact with FZD3 or the protein it encodes. This study may provide a foundation for further investigation of this hypothesis in future research
Chrysin’s protective effect on the expression of protamine, Tsga10, Dazl, and Akap4 genes against diazinon toxin in male rats: An experimental study
No full textBackground: Environmental pollution due to pesticides is a major health problem worldwide that causes toxicity. Chrysin (C) is a flavonoid that reduces the adverse effects caused by diazinon (D).
Objective: To investigate the protective effects of C on the expression of protamine, testis-specific gene antigen 10 (Tsga10), deleted azoospermia-like gene (Dazl), and A-Kinase anchoring protein 4 (Akap4) genes in the testicular tissue of rats receiving D.
Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 42 Wistar rats (7–8 wk, 180–250 gr) were selected. This study was conducted in 2021 at the Pasteur Institute of Iran, Amol Research Center, Amol, Iran. Injections were performed 5 days a week for 4 wk. Random grouping of rats: 1) control: without any injection. 2) Sham: injection of 10% tween 80 solution as D solvent. 3) D: injection at a concentration of 20 mg/kg/BW. 4 and 5) C with low dose (C10 mg/kg/BW) and high dose (C20 mg/kg/BW). 6 and 7) D with low dose of C (D20 mg/kg/BW/ C10 mg/kg/BW) and D with high dose: (D20 mg/kg/BW/ C20 mg/kg/BW). Finally, the testes were examined in terms of histology and gene expression.
Results: Histological results showed that D improved spermatogenesis after C intervention by reducing germinal cells, diameter, and lumen area. SPSS results showed that D reduced the expression of Dazl (p < 0.0001), Tsga10 (p = 0.01), and protamine (p < 0.0001) genes, but increased the expression of Akap4 gene (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion: D has a negative effect on the expression of meiotic genes in rat testicular tissue, while C greatly reduces the adverse effects caused by D
Refractive Profile and Angle of Deviation in Patients with Congenital Esotropia and Congenital Exotropia:
No full textPurpose: To compare refractive error and angle of deviation in patients with congenital esotropia (CET) and congenital exotropia (CXT). Methods: This retrospective study reviewed the medical documents of 246 patients with CET (n = 206) and CXT (n = 40) admitted to Farabi Eye Hospital, Iran, from 2012 to 2022. All patients were between 6 and 12 months old at the time of admission. Refractive error components and angles of deviation in these patients were recorded and analyzed. Results: In patients with CET, the mean sphere, cylinder, and spherical equivalent (SE) were 2.59 ± 2.28 diopters (D), –0.42 ± 0.57 D, and 2.38 ± 2.28 D, respectively. Also, the mean horizontal deviation at near was 45.5 ± 12.3 prism diopters (Δ) (range, 20–98 Δ). The most common range was 44–55 Δ (40%), followed by 33–44 Δ (28%) and 55–65 Δ (12%). On the other hand, the mean sphere, cylinder, and SE in patients with CXT were 1.88 ± 1.84 D, –0.39 ± 0.69 D, and 1.69 ± 1.74 D, respectively. Also, the mean horizontal deviation at near was 45.0 ± 17.1 Δ (range, 20–105 Δ). For the CXT group, deviation ranges of 33–44 Δ (37%), 44–55 Δ (32%), and 22–33 Δ (15%) were most prevalent. The mean sphere and SE were significantly higher in the CET group than in the CXT group (P = 0.010). Conclusion: This study found a distinct refractive profile and distribution of the angle of deviation in patients with CET versus CXT. Patients with CET demonstrated significantly greater hyperopia than those with CXT
Systematic Literature Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Khan Kinetic Treatment for Neck and Back Pain
No full textIntroduction
Khan Kinetic Treatment (KKT) utilizes high-frequency, small-amplitude sinusoidal waves to activate neuromuscular structures to treat neck and back pain. It integrates biomechanics, physical therapy, and neurophysiology. Despite its global use, KKT is not included in clinical guidelines for neck and back pain due to limited data on its safety and efficacy. This study aims to evaluate the available literature on KKT’s current practice in spinal pain management.
Methods
A systematic literature search of PubMed and Google Scholar identified articles on KKT for cervical and lumbar pain using specific keywords. Eligibility criteria included English-language articles without publication date restrictions, patients over 18 years of age undergoing KKT for neck or lower back pain, any outcome measure, and no restrictions on study design or publication date, with the latest date being June 2024.
Results
The search yielded 219 articles; 5 studies met the inclusion criteria and quality assessment. The studies included three Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two case reports. Sample sizes ranged from 1 to 49 participants, focusing on neck and lower back pain. The RCTs were rated as Level 2 evidence, while other studies were rated as lower evidence. A high risk of bias was observed in the included trials, and significant heterogeneity in design and outcomes precluded meta-analysis.
Conclusion
Current evidence on KKT’s efficacy for spinal pain is sparse and inconsistent. While some studies suggest benefits in pain reduction and functional improvement, methodological limitations and small sample sizes undermine generalizability. Further, well-designed studies are needed to evaluate KKT’s efficacy, safety, and costeffectiveness
The Problem of Acute Kidney Injury in Children Undergoing Cardiac Surgery
No full textThe problem of acute kidney injury (AKI) in children undergoing cardiac surgery remains relevant even in the presence of modern medical technologies and methods. This complication, which occurs after pediatric cardiac surgery, has significant negative consequences, leading to the patient staying in the infant intensive care unit (IICU) for a longer period and even an increased risk of death. According to the literature, cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSAKI) is a common complication after surgery to correct congenital heart defects in children, with a reported incidence rate of up to 42%. This fact is increasingly recognized as a serious problem affecting the health of pediatric patients. The aim of the study is to analyze modern concepts concerning the impact of cardiac surgery on the development of acute kidney injury in children, and to, identify the main trends and current scientific ideas about the mechanisms which form this complication in pediatric cardiac surgery. The review was compiled using literature search methods in databases such as Scopus, PubMed, MedLine, Cyberleninka, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, and TripDataBase, covering the period from 2014 to 2024. Scientific studies aimed at identifying risk factors for the development of acute kidney injury in children after cardiac surgery have identified a number of important aspects, including the age of the patients, the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, the level of surgical complexity of the operation, the need for mechanical ventilation, and inotropic support. Despite significant achievements in this area, some aspects remain under-researched. As the use of substitutive renal therapy as part of the comprehensive treatment of acute renal failure is increasing, understanding these problems becomes more urgent
Proliferation and Apoptosis in H. Pylori-associated Chronic Gastritis with Epithelial Metaplasia
No full textHelicobacter pylori - causes pathologies such as gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, adenocarcinoma. Pseudopyloric mucosal metaplasia in the incisura region is significantly correlated with the development of precancerous changes - atrophy and intestinal metaplasia. Pseudopyloric metaplasia of the gastric mucosa develops as a result of persistence of H. pylori infection. Immunohistochemical and histological study of gastric mucosa biopsy specimens from patients with dyspeptic complaints was performed. Chronic non-atrophic gastritis was histologically detected in 21 patients. Of these, 17 (80.95%) were H. pylori-positive. Out of 55 patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, 38 (69.1%) were H. pylori-positive. Ki-67 IM was significantly increased during the development of atrophic gastritis: in the antral region to 50.6±8.3 (P<0.05), in atrophy and pseudopyloric metaplasia in the incisura region to an average of 47.3±8.2 (P<0.05) and in the gastric body region to an average of 46.9±7.4 (P<0.05). In chronic atrophic gastritis, p53 expression was detected in the antral region in 22 (40.0%) patients, and in atrophy and pseudopyloric metaplasia in the incisura region in 18 (50.0%) and in the body in 4 (57.1%). All patients were H. pylori-positive. Intestinal metaplasia was found in 36 (65.5%) patients in the antral region, 34 (61.8%) patients in the incisura region and 24 (43.6%) patients in the body of the stomach This study showed that in chronic H. pylori-associated atrophic gastritis there is an acceleration of cell proliferation and impaired apoptosis, especially in areas of atrophy, as well as pseudopyloric and intestinal epithelial metaplasia, leading to an increased risk of gastric cancer
Acknowledgement to Reviewers 2024
No full textThis is an annual reviewer acknowledgement by the journal's editorial board to thank and acknowledge the journal reviewers for their time and efforts
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Using Enhanced Iron Slag Pervious Concrete
No full textMunicipal wastewater should be treated properly before being discharged into the environment; however, due to high expenses, it might be unattainable, particularly for developing countries. This study investigates the application of enhanced iron slag pervious concrete (EISPC), an economical and sustainable approach for treating municipal wastewater before being discharged into the environment, where it does not meet the criteria of environmental standards. Consequently, three rectangular cube canals (2 m in length, and 0.3 m in width and height) were constructed and filled with EISPC with a mixture of 100% coarse aggregate iron slag (4.75-9.5 mm). Subsequently, a continuous flow rate of wastewater was entered into these canals with a flow rate of 100 l/hr. Wastewater traveled through canals and its quality was evaluated upon exiting the canals over a week, with evaluations conducted every 24 hours. The results showed that EISPC effectively reduced the chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and total suspended solids (TSS) by about 45%, 80%, and 75% at the first sampling, and 25%, 65%, and 50% at the end of the experiment, respectively. The primary mechanism for pollutant removal was the physical entrapment of contaminants within the interconnected pores of EISPC and the porous structure of the iron slag aggregates. Also, the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images proved satisfactory trapping of pollutants and efficiency of EISPC for further application in wastewater treatment plants
The Impact of Magnetic Field on Groundwater Treatment Using Steam Injection in Certain Shallow Wells Located in The Ogbomoso South Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria
No full textAs a precious resource, groundwater needs to be shielded from pollution. It is crucial to preserve not just the amount but also the quality of the groundwater supply. Because of toxicity, health risks, and industrialization, pollution-related groundwater contamination is becoming a bigger problem. In the ogbomoso local government area of oyo state, Nigeria, a few shallow wells will be used for this study’s investigation of the impact of magnetic fields on steam injection groundwater treatment. The groundwater samples tainted with oil were taken from various wells situated at various points in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The flow source installed was a steam injection. The global health organization’s (who) results and the treated water results were contrasted. The following characteristics were measured before and after treatment: ph, dissolved oxygen (do), ec, turbidity, nitrate, potassium, iron, zinc, hardness, biological oxygen demand (bod), and chemical oxygen demand (cod). There was a range of 7.53 to 7.98, 8 to 12 mg/l, 100 to 665 µs/cm, and 0. 014 to 0.106 ntu for the pH, oxygen content, ec value, and turbidity. Nitrate, potassium, iron, zinc, and other elements varied in values from 0.03 to 2.57, 1 to 28.54, 1 to 17.06, and 0.01 to 0.03 mg/l, respectively. The ranges for cod, bod, and hardness were 3 to 8.5 mg/l, 1.5 to 4.5 mg/l, and 34 to 116 ppm, respectively. The quality of treated groundwater sample is enhanced by steam injection method. The quality of treated water is significantly enhanced when steam injection is used in conjunction with magnetic fields