4265 research outputs found
Sort by
The effects of Vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profiles and c-reactive protein among patients with cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
No full textBackground: Insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and chronic inflammation are important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Hence, vitamin D supplementation might be an appropriate approach to decrease the complications of CVD. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the effects of vitamin D supplementation on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and C-reactive protein among patients with coronary artery disease. Methods: Two independent authors systematically searched online databases including EMBASE, Scopus, Pub- Med, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science until 20th September 2018. Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool was applied to assess the methodological quality of included trials. The heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using Cochran�s Q test and I-square (I2) statistic. Data were pooled using a random-effects model and weighted mean difference (WMD) was considered as the overall effect size. Results: A total of eight trials (305 participants in the intervention group and 325 in placebo group) were included in the current meta-analysis. Pooling effect sizes from studies revealed a significant reduction in fasting glucose (WMD): -15.67; 95 CI: -29.32, -2.03), insulin concentrations (WMD: -3.53; 95 CI: -4.59, -2.46) and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (WMD: -1.07; 95 CI: -1.49, -0.66), and significant increase in the quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index (WMD: 0.02; 95 CI: 0.01, 0.03) following the administration of vitamin D. In addition, pooled analysis revealed a significant increase in serum HDL-cholesterol concentrations following vitamin D therapy (WMD: 3.08; 95 CI: 1.42, 4.73). Additionally, vitamin D supplementation significantly reduced C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (WMD: -0.75; 95 CI: -1.28, -0.23). Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated the beneficial effects of vitamin D supplementation on improving glycemic control, HDL-cholesterol and CRP levels among patients with CVD, though it did not affect triglycerides, total- and LDL-cholesterol levels. © 2019 Bentham Science Publishers
Exosomes and cancer: From oncogenic roles to therapeutic applications
No full textExosomes belong to extracellular vehicles that were produced and secreted from most eukaryotic cells and are involved in cell-to-cell communications. They are an effective delivery system for biological compounds such as mRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), proteins, lipids, saccharides, and other physiological compounds to target cells. In this way, they could influence on cellular pathways and mediate their physiological behaviors including cell proliferation, tumorigenesis, differentiation, and so on. Many research studies focused on their role in cancers and also on potentially therapeutic and biomarker applications. In the current study, we reviewed the exosomes' effects on cancer progression based on their cargoes including miRNAs, long noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs, DNAs, mRNAs, proteins, and lipids. Moreover, their therapeutic roles in cancer were considered. In this regard, we have given a brief overview of challenges and obstacles in using exosomes as therapeutic agents. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biolog
The impact of depression, self-esteem, and body image on sleep quality in patients with PCOS: a cross-sectional study
Get PDFBackground: To date, some factors associated with quality of sleep in patients with PCOS have been identified. Previous studies have mainly focused on limited psychological variables related to sleep disorder without evaluating them in a comprehensive framework. Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of predictive factors on the sleep quality of PCOS patients using structural equation modeling (SEM). Material and methods: The present study is a case control that is done in an infertility clinic in Hormozgan, Iran. The case group (n = 201) consisted of women with PCOS and the control group (n = 199) was healthy women whose partners had male infertility. All the women recruited to the study completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Body Image Concern Investigation, the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index on attendance at the Hormozgan Infertility Clinic. Direct and indirect relationship between clinical signs, psychological situation, self-esteem, and body image was studied as independent predictors of sleep quality using structural equation modeling. Results: Compared with the control group, there was a lower sleep quality in women with PCOS in all fields, especially subjective sleep quality (P < 0.05), daytime function (P = 0.001), and use of sleep medication (P = 0.003). The strongest effect from a psychological variable on sleep quality was body image which had negative impact on sleep quality of patients with PCOS. Conclusion: Our study showed that body image plays an important role in the sleep quality of women with PCOS. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG
The effects of ginger intake on weight loss and metabolic profiles among overweight and obese subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
No full textThis systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to summarize the effect of ginger intake on weight loss, glycemic control and lipid profiles among overweight and obese subjects. We searched the following databases through November 2017: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The relevant data were extracted and assessed for quality of the studies according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data were pooled using the inverse variance method and expressed as Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) with 95 Confidence Intervals (95 CI). Heterogeneity between studies was assessed by the Cochran Q statistic and I-squared tests (I2). Overall, 14 studies were included in the meta-analyses. Fourteen RCTs with 473 subjects were included in our meta-analysis. The results indicated that the supplementation with ginger significantly decreased body weight (BW) (SMD ¡0.66; 95 CI, ¡1.31, ¡0.01; P D 0.04), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (SMD ¡0.49; 95 CI, ¡0.82, ¡0.17; P D 0.003), hip ratio (HR) (SMD ¡0.42; 95 CI, ¡0.77, ¡0.08; P D 0.01), fasting glucose (SMD ¡0.68; 95 CI, ¡1.23, ¡0.05; P D 0.03) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) (SMD ¡1.67; 95 CI, ¡2.86, ¡0.48; P D 0.006), and significantly increased HDL-cholesterol levels (SMD 0.40; 95 CI, 0.10, 0.70; P D 0.009). We found no detrimental effect of ginger on body mass index (BMI) (SMD ¡0.65; 95 CI, ¡1.36, 0.06; P D 0.074), insulin (SMD ¡0.54; 95 CI, ¡1.43, 0.35; P D 0.23), triglycerides (SMD ¡0.27; 95 CI, ¡0.71, 0.18; P D 0.24), total-(SMD ¡0.20; 95 CI, ¡0.58, 0.18; P D 0.30) and LDL-cholesterol (SMD ¡0.13; 95 CI, ¡0.51, 0.24; P D 0.48). Overall, the current meta-analysis demonstrated that ginger intake reduced BW, WHR, HR, fasting glucose and HOMA-IR, and increased HDL-cholesterol, but did not affect insulin, BMI, triglycerides, total-and LDL-cholesterol levels. © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Melatonin Attenuates Upregulation of Duox1 and Duox2 and Protects against Lung Injury following Chest Irradiation in Rats
Get PDFObjective: The Lung is one of the most radiosensitive organs of the body. The infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes into the lung is mediated via the stimulation of T-helper 2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13, which play a key role in the development of fibrosis. It is likely that these cytokines induce chronic oxidative damage and inflammation through the upregulation of Duox1 and Duox2, which can increase the risk of late effects of ionizing radiation (IR) such as fibrosis and carcinogenesis. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the possible increase of IL-4 and IL-13 levels, as well as their downstream genes such as IL4ra1, IL13ra2, Duox1, and Duox2. Materials and Methods: In this experimental animal study, male rats were divided into 4 groups: i. Control, ii. Melatonin-treated, iii. Radiation, and iv. Melatonin (100 mg/kg) plus radiation. Rats were irradiated with 15 Gy 60Co gamma rays and then sacrificed after 67 days. The expressions of IL4ra1, IL13ra2, Duox1, and Duox2, as well as the levels of IL-4 and IL-13, were evaluated. The histopathological changes such as the infiltration of inflammatory cells, edema, and fibrosis were also examined. Moreover, the protective effect of melatonin on these parameters was also determined. Results: Results showed a 1.5-fold increase in the level of IL-4, a 5-fold increase in the expression of IL4ra1, and a 3-fold increase in the expressions of Duox1 and Duox2. However, results showed no change for IL-13 and no detectable expression of IL13ra2. This was associated with increased infiltration of macrophages, lymphocytes, and mast cells. Melatonin treatment before irradiation completely reversed these changes. Conclusion: This study has shown the upregulation of IL-4-IL4ra1-Duox2 signaling pathway following lung irradiation. It is possible that melatonin protects against IR-induced lung injury via the downregulation of this pathway and attenuation of inflammatory cells infiltration. © 2019 Royan Institute (ACECR). All rights reserved
Degradation of phenol using US/periodate/nZVI system from aqueous solutions
Get PDFIn the present work, the degradation of phenol from aqueous solutions was investigated using periodate/zero valent iron nanoparticle (nZVI) in the presence of ultrasound at a batch reactor. The Experimental tests were carried out using pre-designated concentrations of nZVI, periodate, and pH ranging from 1-7 mM, 0.5-5 mM, 3-11 respectively. During the all experimental tests the ultrasonic reactor was operated at a fix frequency (40 kHz), temperature (33±1) and power (350 W). The results of nZVI/periodate/ultrasound system on degradation of phenol showed that the removal efficiency was indeed affected by the amount of free radicals produced to initiate the oxidative decomposition of phenol. also, by increasing the nZVI loading to 3 mM and periodate concentration to 3 mM, the efficiency of phenol removal was increased. Besides, the acidic pH (pH = 3) was found to be more effective than neutral and alkaline pH in degradation of phenol. © 2019 Global NEST Printed in Greece. All rights reserved
The effects of spirulina on glycemic control and serum lipoproteins in patients with metabolic syndrome and related disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
No full textThe aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of spirulina on glycemic control and serum lipoproteins in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and related disorders. Two independent authors systematically searched online database including EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception until April 30, 2019. The Cochrane Collaboration's risk of bias tool was applied to assess the methodological quality of included trials. The heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using Cochrane's Q test and I-square (I2) statistic. Pooling effect sizes from studies showed a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (FPG; weighted mean difference WMD: �10.31; 95% confidence interval, CI �16.21, �4.42) and insulin concentrations (WMD: �0.53; 95% CI �0.62, �0.44) following the administration of spirulina. Pooled analysis showed also a significant reduction in total cholesterol (WMD: �20.50; 95% CI �38.25, �2.74), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; WMD: �19.02; 95% CI �36.27, �1.78), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) concentrations (WMD: �6.72; 95% CI �9.19, �4.26) and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (WMD: 1.42; 95% CI 0.16, 2.68) following spirulina therapy. This meta-analysis demonstrated the beneficial effects of spirulina supplementation on improving FPG, insulin, total cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C, and HDL-C levels in patients with MetS and related disorders. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Molecular detection of antibiotic resistance genes, and class I, and II integrons in Salmonella enteritidis isolated from Iranian one-day-old chicks
No full textThis study aimed to investigate the molecular detection of antibiotic resistance genes, and class 1, and II integrons in Salmonella enteritidis isolated from Iranian one-day-old chicks. In this cross-sectional study, 650 samples were collected from one-day-old chicks from different regions of Iran and transferred to the Central Veterinary Laboratory-Iran Veterinary Organization (CVL-IVO). The prevalence of Integrons and resistance genes were determined by PCR. The pattern of antibiotic resistance was determined using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The data were analyzed using SPSS software through consensus table, and Chi-square test. Results showed the prevalence 33.3 of integrons. Frequency class I and II integrons were 26.6 and 6.6, respectively. All isolates had GES, and gyrB genes, but 6.6 of those have DHAM gene. Other isolates did not show any resistance gene. The highest resistance was observed to Nalidixic acid, Penicillin and Nitrofurantoin (100). The lowest resistance was reported to Trimethoprim with prevalence 6.6. Our results showed a high prevalence of class � integrons, and a correlation between presence of class I and II integrons with resistance to Nalidixic acid, Penicillin, Nitrofurantoin, Colistin, Levofloxacin, and Ciprofloxacin in Salmonella enteritidis. © 201
Iranian teachers� knowledge about first aid in the school environment
Get PDFPurpose: School students are at risk of unintentional injuries. Teachers are the main caregivers and the first protectors for school students and must be able to deliver first aid. This study aimed to assess the school teachers� knowledge about first aid in Kashan, Iran. Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken on a sample of 200 teachers working in public and private primary, secondary and high schools in Kashan city, Iran. Data collection was achieved via a questionnaire consisting of items on teachers' characteristics and 20 questions on basic first-aid practices. One point was given for each correct answer. The lowest and highest possible scores were 0 and 20. Then, the sum scores 0�9, 10�16, and 17�20 were ranked as weak, moderate, and good first aid knowledge, respectively. Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, and regression analysis. Results: The mean age and working experience of teachers were respectively (41.37 ± 6.35) years and (20.07 ± 7.29) years. Among all teachers 51.0 were males and 66.3 were working in public schools. Totally, 40.3 of the teachers had passed courses on first aid and 48.5 had confronted with situations needing first-aid; 59.7 evaluated their own knowledge of first aid as moderate. The mean score of first-aid knowledge was 10.00 ± 2.58. Teachers who had received first aid training and those with previous experiences of situations requiring first-aid possessed higher scores (p < 0.001). Most teachers answered wrongly to the questions regarding first aid in a child with a fracture (93.4) or struck by electricity (85.2). Conclusion: Most of the teachers had insufficient knowledge on first aid. They mostly did not pass any training on first aid. Urgent action seems necessary for training teachers on first aid through in-service training programs. © 2019 Chinese Medical Associatio