Repository of Research and Investigative Information Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
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How do various encapsulation techniques improve the oral delivery of food protein hydrolysates?
No full textThe development of bioformulations based on food protein hydrolysates (FPHs) has gained significant traction in the food and pharmaceutical sectors due to their biophysical and biochemical properties, including health-promoting effects, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. However, the oral delivery of FPHs presents notable technical challenges, largely due to their inherent limitations such as (bio)stability, permeability, bioavailability, and molecular size. This review provides a comprehensive overview of FPHs, including their structural characteristics, origins, methods of preparation, and associated health benefits. Additionally, it highlights the challenges related to their oral delivery. Recent advancements in the formulation and delivery of FPHs through biopolymeric controlled release systems—such as micro- and nanoparticles, hydrogels, biofunctional films and composites, and electrospun fibers—are discussed. We also explore lipid-based delivery platforms, including liposomes, chitosomes, emulsions, Pickering emulsions, nanostructured lipid carriers, solid lipid nanoparticles, and surfactant-based carriers. Furthermore, this article emphasizes the importance of controlled delivery and targeted release of FPHs following oral administration. The challenges in designing effective lipid/biopolymer-based carriers for FPHs, along with future prospects and opportunities in this growing field, are also thoroughly examined. © 2024 The Author(s). Food Frontiers published by Nanchang University, Northwest University, Jiangsu University, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, International Association of Dietetic Nutrition and Safety and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
Isolated celiac artery vasculitis: a cause of recurrent abdominal pain in a young adult: a case report
No full textBackgroundVasculitis encompasses a group of disorders characterized by inflammation of blood vessel walls, leading to diverse clinical presentations on the basis of the size and location of the affected vessels. Gastrointestinal involvement is a known feature of small- and medium-sized vessel vasculitides, typically as part of systemic inflammation. However, isolated vasculitis of the celiac artery is extremely rare and has been scarcely reported in the literature, making this case particularly novel and significant.Case presentationWe report the case of a 35-year-old Iranian male of Persian ethnicity who presented with a 7-day history of abdominal pain localized to the epigastric and periumbilical regions, accompanied by nausea. On admission, the patient's vital signs were stable, and clinical examination was unremarkable. Laboratory findings revealed elevated C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Contrast-enhanced abdominopelvic computed tomography suggested isolated vasculitis of the celiac artery. Subsequent serological tests showed borderline positive anti-nuclear antibodies, while other specific autoantibodies were negative. On the basis of clinical and radiological findings, the patient was diagnosed with isolated celiac artery vasculitis. Treatment with oral corticosteroids for 10 days led to symptom resolution and normalization of C-reactive protein levels. A follow-up computed tomography scan performed 2 weeks after treatment completion demonstrated complete resolution of inflammatory changes with no residual abnormalities. At 6-month follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic, with no recurrence of symptoms or complications.ConclusionIsolated celiac artery vasculitis is an extremely rare condition that requires high clinical suspicion for timely diagnosis. Early intervention can effectively prevent life-threatening complications and reduce morbidity. This case highlights the importance of recognizing isolated vascular inflammation as a potential diagnosis in patients presenting with unexplained abdominal pain and elevated inflammatory markers
Lack of tolerance to the separate or combined hypnotic actions of different partitions of Melissa officinalis (total, ethyl acetate, and aqueous) and methanolic partition of Albizia julibrissin
No full textObjective The present study investigates the hypnotic action of the methanolic partition of Albizia julibrissin (MPAJ) and various partitions (total, ethyl acetate, and aqueous) of Melissa officinalis (MO) in mice. Methods Pentobarbital-induced sleep (PIS) time prolongation was used to assess the hypnotic action of test compounds. For the tolerance study, MO and MPAJ were given alone or in combination for 7 days, and then the locomotor activity of the mice was measured as an index of tolerance. Mortality of the herbal extracts was studied after intraperitoneal (i.p.) and oral administration in mice. Results Separate administration of total extracts of Melissa officinalis and methanolic extract of Albizia julibrissin at 12.5 mg/kg significantly increased the PIS time. In the combination of two plants, there was no additional or synergistic increase in sleepiness when compared to the separate administration of each plant (p < 0.05). In contrast to diazepam, the locomotor activity of the animals was not significantly altered after 7 days of injection with MPAJ or total extract of MO (TEMO), or their combinations. Conclusion Separate administration of TEMO and MPAJ provides significant hypnotic effects. The combination of two extracts, however, does not result in synergistic or additive hypnotic action. The lack of additive effects could be due to possible interaction by components of the two plants. The increase in mortality rate and undesirable reactions observed after i.p. administration of MPAJ is probably due to the absorption of certain toxic compounds that are not normally absorbed after oral administration
The Effect of The Mental Health Literacy Promotion Program on Emotion Regulation Strategies of Family Caregivers of Patients with Chronic Psychiatric Disorders in Isfahan, Iran
No full textBackground: Emotion regulation strategies help family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients to manage caring behaviors. However, evidence pointed out problems and therefore a need to execute respective programs to improve emotion regulation for caregivers. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of mental health literacy promotion programs on emotion regulation strategies of family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients. Materials and Methods: This is a clinical trial study, with two-group pretest-post-test design with a follow-up period conducted in 2023. Sixty family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients were randomly allocated to intervention control groups. Data collection was done using a demographic characteristics questionnaire and Gross and John's Emotion Regulation Scale. The mental health literacy promotion program was implemented for the intervention group in six sessions weekly. Immediately and 1 month after the last meeting, the questionnaires were completed. The data were analyzed using Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests, Mann-Whitney test, and analysis of covariance by SPSS-22. The significance level was set to 0.05. Results: The results showed that the frequency distribution of demographic variables in the control and test groups had no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The intervention had significant effects on the mean score of emotion regulation strategies, and its subscales included re-evaluation and suppression of family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients in both the post-test and follow-up periods (p < 0.001). Conclusions: According to improving the emotion regulation of family caregivers of chronic psychiatric patients through the mental health literacy promotion program, it is suggested to use this program to achieve the desired emotion regulation
Effect of Lavender Oral Drops in Reducing Dental Anxiety Among Patients Requiring Endodontic Treatment: A Randomised Clinical Trial
No full textObjective: Patients requiring endodontic treatment often experience high levels of anxiety. The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of oral administration of lavender on the anxiety score of these patients. Methods: In this double-blinded randomized clinical trial conducted in 2021, 64 patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were recruited using a simple random sampling technique. Blinding was achieved for both the patients and the evaluators. The samples were split into intervention and control groups using a table of random integers to randomize them. An hour before the commencement of the procedure, the patients filled out the dental anxiety questionnaire. Twenty drops of water in 250 ml of water were given to the control group, whereas 20 drops of lavender extract added to 250 ml of water were given to the intervention group. Two groups completed the anxiety questionnaire 60 minutes after ingesting the remedies. To analyze the data, paired and independent t-tests, and multiple regression analysis were used. Results: 64 patients were randomized and analyzed. Thirty-two of them who were in the control group experienced a substantially smaller decrease in their dental anxiety score compared to those 32 patients who were in the control group (p=0.001). This difference persisted even after grouping individuals by age, sex, and weight. Conclusion: The administration of oral lavender extract drops to individuals requiring endodontic treatment appeared to significantly reduce their dental anxiety scores. The research registration number in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials is IRCT20120908010773N2, which is available at https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/
Chitosan/poly (β-amino ester) hydrogel by controlled release of Centella Asiatica promoted wound healing through improved collagen expression and antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
No full textBurn wound healing presents several challenges, including impaired collagen synthesis, delayed wound closure, and disrupted inflammatory responses. This study investigates the potential of a novel UV-crosslinked hydrogel made of chitosan (CS)/poly(beta-amino ester) (P beta AE) and Centella Asiatica extract (CA) for second-degree burn wound treatment. Among various formulations, a monomer ratio of 1.5:1 and 5 wt 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenyl-acetophenone DMPA crosslinker concentration were found optimal. The hydrogel achieved a similar to 74 controlled release of CA over 72 h and showed significant enhancement in fibroblast viability (123.66 +/- 9 at 5 days). Scratch assay demonstrated a similar to 99.5 wound closure within 24 h. Collagen type I expression was increased by similar to 1.7-fold compared with the control. Additionally, the hydrogel exhibited remarkable anti-inflammatory properties, effectively modulating the inflammatory response. It significantly reduced pro-inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and TNF-alpha while simultaneously enhancing the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-10 and TGF-beta. This dual action not only mitigates inflammation but also fosters a regenerative environment, further supporting the healing process and promoting tissue recovery. The hydrogel exhibited antibacterial properties with inhibition zones of similar to 19.1 mm for E. coli and similar to 12.4 mm for S. aureus. These results suggest that this biocompatible, biodegradable hydrogel is a promising therapeutic candidate for second-degree burn wounds. Highlights Developed a UV-crosslinked chitosan/P beta AE hydrogel with Centella for burns. Optimized hydrogel releases similar to 74 Centella extract over 72 h. Boosts fibroblast viability, migration, and collagen I expression 1.7x. Reduces inflammation by modulating IL-6, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and TGF-beta. Strong antibacterial action against E. coli and S. aureus
Using Internet of Things for Child Care: A Systematic Review
No full textBackground:In smart cities, prioritizing child safety through affordable technology like the Internet of Things (IoT) is crucial for parents. This study seeks to investigate different IoT tools that can prevent and address accidents involving children. The goal is to alleviate the emotional and financial toll of such incidents due to their high mortality rates.Methods:This study considers articles published in English that use IoT for children's healthcare. PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases are considered as searchable databases. 273 studies were retrieved after the initial search. After eliminating duplicate records, studies were assessed based on input and output criteria. Titles and abstracts were reviewed for relevance. Articles not meeting criteria were excluded. Finally, 29 cases had the necessary criteria to enter this study.Results:The study reveals that India is at the forefront of IoT research for children, followed by Italy and China. Studies mainly occur indoors, utilizing wearable sensors like heart rate, motion, and tracking sensors. Biosignal sensors and technologies such as Zigbee and image recognition are commonly used for data collection and analysis. Diverse approaches, including cloud computing and machine vision, are applied in this innovative field.Conclusions:In conclusion, IoT for children is mainly seen in developed countries like India, Italy, and China. Studies focus on indoor use, using wearable sensors for heart rate monitoring. Biosignal sensors and various technologies like Zigbee, Kinect, image recognition, RFID, and robots contribute to enhancing children's well-being
Clonal repetitive element polymerase chain reaction patterns of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in diabetic foot ulcers, Iran
No full textObjectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa has gained attention in diabetic foot infections, which complicate treatment. Further research is essential to understand the prevalence and clinical impact of P. aeruginosa in diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and to develop effective management strategies. Methods: Samples were collected from 66 patients with DFU. The prevalence of P. aeruginosa, its antimicrobial profile, and biofilm formation were assessed by disk diffusion and crystal violet assays. The prevalence of resistance and virulence genes, including bla TEM , bla SHV ,toxA, alg 44, and mucA, was assessed using polymerase chain reaction. Finally, the clonality of the isolates was assessed by repetitive element polymerase chain reaction. Results: The highest levels of resistance were seen against ciprofloxacin, tobramycin, and imipenem, with 58.6, 57.1, and 55.1, respectively. A total of 41.3 and 62.5 of the isolates were strong biofilm-producers and multidrug-resistant, respectively. The prevalence of toxA, alg 44, and mucA, were reported to be 82,93.1, and 75.8, respectively, and for beta-lactamase genes, such as bla TEM and bla SHV, were 65.5 and 0. Among the 28 isolates, 14 GTG types showed clonal relationships with certain strains. Conclusion: These findings suggest that all clonal types were associated with the same hospital, emphasizing the need for epidemiologic surveillance of hygiene practices within healthcare facilities to mitigate strain dissemination
Comparing the efficacy of video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) vs intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy in children with pleural empyema
No full textPurpose To compare the effects of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and fibrinolytic injection into the pleural space in children with empyema. Methods This randomized clinical trial included 51 children with empyema, who were divided into two groups. In the first group (25 patients), VATS was performed, while in the second group (26 patients), 0.1 mg/kg of Reteplase was injected into the pleural space for 3 days. The length of hospitalization, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay, duration of fever and dyspnea, duration of antibiotic administration, duration of chest tube presence, and the need for reoperation were compared between the groups. Results In the Reteplase injection and VATS groups, the mean duration of hospitalization was 21.1 +/- 7.5 and 12.3 +/- 6 days (P < 0.001), respectively, and the length of PICU stay was 7.8 +/- 3.8 and 1.9 +/- 2.3 days (P < 0.001), respectively. The duration of antibiotic administration was significantly longer in the Reteplase group. The chest tubes were present for a longer duration in the Reteplase group, and the duration of fever was also significantly longer. Conclusion VATS surgery in children with empyema is associated with more favorable clinical outcomes compared to fibrinolytic therapy with Reteplase
Therapeutic effect of memantine on patients with posttraumatic headache: A randomized double-blinded clinical trial
No full textBackground:Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in different complications. Posttraumatic headache (PTH) is a disabling complication of TBI. We investigated the therapeutic effect of memantine on patients with PTH. Materials and Methods:This randomized and double-blinded clinical trial was performed in 2020 in a hospital on 90 patients with head trauma. Patients were divided into two groups. The active group received 5 mg memantine tablet for 2 weeks followed by 10 mg tablet daily for up to 6 months. The control arm received identical placebo tablets. Patients were evaluated at 3 months and 6 months. Headache severity was measured with a Visual Analog Scale for Pain. Headache frequency (per week) and duration were also recorded. Results:After 3 months, the patients in the memantine group had significantly lower headache severity (P = 001) and frequency (P = 0.008) in comparison to baseline of the study. However, in the placebo group, there was only significant reduction in the headache duration (P = 0.001), and there was no significant reduction in headache intensity and frequency. After 6 months, there was a significant reduction in headache intensity and duration in both groups (P < 0.05), but only in the memantine group, headache frequency was significantly reduced (P < 0.001). Finally, patients in the memantine group had less headache intensity, frequency, and duration after 6 months of taking memantin than the placebo group.(P < 0.05 for all). Conclusion:The administration of memantine for 6 months could significantly lower the severity, duration, and frequency of PTHs