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The association between age at menarche and anthropometric factors
No full textBackground and aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between age at menarche (AAM) and anthropometric parameters in young female students in Shahrekord, southwest Iran.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in elementary and senior girls’ schools in Shahrekord in 2018. The sampling method was multistage cluster sampling. The 633 students were studied out of 4868 students selected before the commencement of the study. The statistical analysis was done with a one-way analysis of variance, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and the Kaplan-Meier estimate. The checklist was used to collect the participants’ information. All analyses were conducted using SPSS version 24 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA).
Results: The average AAM of our participants was 13.34±0.95 years. Only 8.5% of the 633 participants had reached menarche before the age of 12. In this study, the association between AAM and height (P<0.001) and weight (P=0.007) were significant, while there was no relationship between AAM and body mass index (P=0.91).
Conclusion: This study found that the average AAM was like that found in other studies in Iran and other regions of the world. Furthermore, efficient puberty health education is required for female students, especially those aged 12 years.
Keywords: Menarche age, Anthropometric, Body mass index, Weight, Heigh
Validity and reliability of the Persian version of Recce stigma scale in people with multiple sclerosis and its impact on quality of life
No full textBackground: There is often a fear of social stigma experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), which negatively impacts the quality of their lives (QoL). Currently, no Persian-validated questionnaire is available to assess this issue in pwMS. This study aimed to assess the validaty and reliability of the Persian version of Reece Stigma Scale Multiple Sclerosis (RSS-MS) questionnaire for pwMS. Method: This cross-sectional was conducted between January and February 2023 in Isfahan, Iran. The demographic and clinical information and the RSS-MS and Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale-29 (MSIS-29) questionnaires were recorded from pwMS. The content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR) have been used to evaluate validity. To identify the factors supporting the MS-related stigma, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted. Results: The present study recruited 194 pwMS. Based on factor analysis, only two factors had eigenvalues ≥ 1.0 and exhibited high internal consistency. The Cronbach’s α coefficient for internal consistency of the RSS-MS scale was 0.822. More evidence for the construct validity suggested that having higher levels of stigma is significantly correlated with psychological (r = 0.468, p-value 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicated that the modified version of the RSS-MS scale in the Persian language showed acceptable validity and reliability for evaluating the stigma among Persian pwMS. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the cruciality of monitoring and addressing stigma among pwMS, as it can potentially enhance medical, psychological, physical, and QoL outcomes
Urinary biomarkers in diabetic nephropathy
No full textDiabetic nephropathy (DN), a significant consequence of diabetes, is associated with adverse cardiovascular and renal disease as well as mortality. Although microalbuminuria is considered the best non-invasive marker for DN, better predictive markers are needed of sufficient sensitivity and specificity to detect disease in general and in early disease specifically. Even prior to appearance of microalbuminuria, urinary biomarkers increase in diabetics and can serve as accurate nephropathy biomarkers even in normoalbuminuria. In this review, a number of novel urine biomarkers including those reflecting kidney damage caused by glomerular/podocyte damage, tubular damage, oxidative stress, inflammation, and intrarenal renin-angiotensin system activation are discussed. Our review also includes emerging biomarkers such as urinary microRNAs. These short noncoding miRNAs regulate gene expression and could be utilized to identify potential novel biomarkers in DN development and progression
Neuroimmune response and oxidative stress in the prefrontal cortex mediate seizure susceptibility in experimental colitis in male mice
No full textInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder. Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses have a vital role in the pathophysiology of IBD as well as seizure. IBD is associated with extraintestinal manifestations. This study aimed to explore the relationship between colitis and susceptibility to seizures, with a focus on the roles of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in acetic acid-induced colitis in mice. Forty male Naval Medical Research Institute mice were divided into four groups: control, colitis, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ), and colitis + PTZ. Colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of acetic acid, and seizures were induced by intravenous injection of PTZ 7 days postcolitis induction. Following the measurement of latency to seizure, the mice were killed, and their colons and prefrontal cortex (PFC) were dissected. Gene expression of inflammatory markers including interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, NOD-like receptor protein 3, and toll-like receptor 4, as well as total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitrite levels were measured in the colon and PFC. Histopathological evaluations were performed on the colon samples. Data were analyzed by t-test or one-way variance analysis. Colitis decreased latency to seizure, increased gene expression of inflammatory markers, and altered levels of MDA, nitrite, and TAC in both the colon and PFC. Simultaneous induction of colitis and seizure exacerbated the neuroimmune response and oxidative stress in the PFC and colon. Results concluded that neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the PFC at least partially mediate the comorbid decrease in seizure latency in mice with coliti
Design and One-Pot Green Synthesis of a Three-Component 1,1′-Bi(2-Naphthol)/Reduced Graphene Oxide@MnO2 Nanocomposite for Battery-Type Supercapacitor Applications: A Revolution in the World of Medicine
No full textA three components 1,1′-bi(2-naphthol)/reduced graphene oxide@MnO2 (BN-rGO@MnO2) nanocomposite for battery-type supercapacitor applications was successfully synthesized. This nanocomposite was synthesized through one-pot reduction of a permanganate anion (MnO4−) and non-covalently 1,1′-bi(2-naphthol)-functionalized graphene oxide (BN.GO) using pomegranate fruit extract as a green reducing agent source. The formation of nanocomposite was confirmed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy. The synthesized BN.rGO@MnO2 nanocomposite was characterized by FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The capability of the BN.rGO@MnO2 nanocomposite for use as an energy storage electrode material in a supercapacitor was examined by investigating its electrochemical behavior by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic charge-discharge tests. Specific capacitance of 487 F g−1 was achieved at 2 A g−1. This nanocomposite showed 81% retention of charge storage capacity after 2000 CV cycles. The application of these battery types has been implemented in various fields including medical purposes, portable electronic devices and hybrid electrical vehicles, of which their medical utilization specifically in cardiac pacemakers has attracted considerable attention. This study holds significance in the field of materials science and nanotechnology, as it proposes a potentially eco-friendly and economical method for synthesizing materials with applications in energy storage technology. The use of herbal reductions may indicate a move towards sustainable and environmentally friendly synthesis techniques. Moreover, the successful synthesis of MnO2 nanoparticles and rGO could contribute to advancements in the development of more efficient and affordable supercapacitors, which are crucial for various energy storage applications
Relationship between placental thickness, grading, and heterogeneity in fetal growth restriction in the third trimester of pregnancy by ultrasonography and pathology tests and their relationship with estimated fetal weight and neonatal outcome
No full textIntroduction: The placenta is the influencing factor on the fetal weight and is as the first organ that reveals the pathological changes of pregnancy. Therefore, placental ultrasound findings influence the diagnosis of fetal growth restriction (FGR). Objectives: This study examines the relationship between placental thickness, grading and heterogeneity during ultrasound and placental pathology in third trimester FGR fetuses and its effect on neonatal outcome. Patients and Methods: This prospective observational study included 67 pregnant women with FGR fetuses in the third trimester of pregnancy with the mean gestational age of 34.52 ± 2.65 weeks and possible termination of pregnancy within the next seven days. The placental thickness, grading, and heterogeneity in ultrasonography were examined and compared with thickness and grading. Their effect was also considered in neonatal outcome and the results were analyzed. Results: In this study, there is a significant relationship between the thickness of the placenta before and after birth with the weight of the placenta, weight and Apgar score, neonatal arterial pH at birth and fetal growth restriction grading in ultrasound, and neonatal outcome. Conclusion: This study shows that ultrasonic placental findings can be effective in determining the final weight of the placenta and fetus and also the final outcome of the baby at birth. Therefore, ultrasound of the placenta should be performed along with pregnancy ultrasound
Association between cytomegalovirus infection and neurological disorders: A systematic review
No full textCytomegalovirus (CMV) belongs to the Herpesviridae family and is also known as human herpesvirus type 5. It is a common virus that usually doesn't cause any symptoms in healthy individuals. However, once infected, the virus remains in the host's body for life and can reactivate when the host's immune system weakens. This virus has been linked to several neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Autism spectrum disorder, Huntington's disease (HD), ataxia, Bell's palsy (BP), and brain tumours, which can cause a wide range of symptoms and challenges for those affected. CMV may influence inflammation, contribute to brain tissue damage, and elevate the risk of moderate-to-severe dementia. Multiple studies suggest a potential association between CMV and ataxia in various conditions, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, acute cerebellitis, etc. On the other hand, the evidence regarding CMV involvement in BP is conflicting, and also early indications of a link between CMV and HD were challenged by subsequent research disproving CMV's presence. This systematic review aims to comprehensively investigate any link between the pathogenesis of CMV and its potential role in neurological disorders and follows the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis checklist. Despite significant research into the potential links between CMV infection and various neurological disorders, the direct cause-effect relationship is not fully understood and several gaps in knowledge persist. Therefore, continued research is necessary to gain a better understanding of the role of CMV in neurological disorders and potential treatment avenues
Prevention as a prominent self-management strategy in men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A qualitative study
No full textThe aim of this study is to explore the strategies used by male patients with COPD to prevent the exacerbation of the disease. This grounded theory study as a part of a more extensive research was conducted in Iran from January 2019 to October 2022. The study participants included patients with COPD, their family caregivers and pulmonologists. The participants were recruited using purposeful and theoretical sampling. A total of 12 semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data. The data was analyzed by the Strauss and Corbin 2008 data analysis method. The finding showed that male patients with COPD use different strategies to prevent exacerbation. These strategies have consisted of limitation (physical activity limitation, exercise limitation, recreational limitation, work limitation, smoking limitation, social relations limitation, environmental limitation and corona precautions), improvement (healthy diet, simple exercises, emotional state improvement, social relations improvement, adjusting the environment and controlled activity), organization (medication adherence, following orders) and support (transfer to others, others assistance, others observance). The findings of this study can lead to a better and deeper understanding of the prevention of exacerbation in male patients with COPD and adds to the growing body of knowledge about COPD self-management
Preparation of graphene oxide nanoparticles and their derivatives: Evaluation of their antimicrobial and anti-proliferative activity against 3T3 cell line
No full textAntibacterial applications of graphene derivatives have been very highlighted during the last decade. In this study, graphene-based materials, i.e., graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and carboxylated graphene oxide (GO-COOH), were synthesized and characterized by UV-vis spectrophotometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and TEM. The main difference in these nanomaterials is the content of their oxygen-containing functional groups. According to EDX elemental analysis, GO-COOH has the highest ratio of carbon to oxygen and the highest oxygen-containing functional groups. Cytotoxicity of GO, RGO, and GO-COOH in eight concentrations at two times (24 and 48 h) on 3T3 cell lines showed concentration-dependence cytotoxicity for these three nanomaterials. The antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of these three materials against gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria, as well as a fungus (Candida albicans), were evaluated by MIC, MBC, anti-biofilm, and Time-Kill tests. Our data demonstrated that the GO-COOH has the highest antimicrobial properties, which can result from increasing the oxygen-containing functional groups. To the best of our knowledge, comparing all cytotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-biofilm properties of these three graphene derivatives in one study has not been reported yet
Immunological processes of enhancers and suppressors of long non-coding RNAs associated with brain tumors and inflammation
No full textImmunological processes, such as inflammation, can both cause tumor suppression and cancer progression. Moreover, deregulated levels of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression in the brain may cause inflammation and lead to the growth of tumors. Like other biological processes, the immune system’s role in cancer is complicated, varies, and can help or hurt the cancer’s maintenance. According to research, inflammation and brain cancer are correlated via several signaling pathways. A variety of lncRNAs have recently been revealed to influence cancer by modulating inflammatory pathways. As a result, lncRNAs have the potential to influence carcinogenesis, tumor formation, or tumor suppression via an increase or decrease in inflammation functions. Although the study and targeting of lncRNAs have made great progress in the treatment of cancer, there are definitely limitations and challenges. Using new technologies like nanocarriers and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) to target treatments without hurting healthy body tissues has shown to be very effective. In this review article, we have collected significantly related lncRNAs and their inhibitory or stimulating roles in inflammation and brain cancer for the first time. However, there are limitations, such as side effects and damage to normal tissues. With the advancement of new targeting technologies, these lncRNAs may be candidates for the specific targeting therapy of brain cancers by limiting inflammation or stimulating the immune system against them in the future