3790 research outputs found
Sort by
The Effect of Cerebellar tDCS on Static and Dynamic Balance of Inactive Elderly Men
No full textThe aim of this study was investigating the effect of cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on static and dynamic balance of inactive older adults. Twenty-four older adults participated in this study. All participants underwent static and dynamic balance tests. In the Experimental group, anode electrode was positioned at the O point in the cerebellum and cathode electrode was positioned on the left eye socket (FP1). In the control group, the anode and cathode electrodes were positioned at O and FP1 points, respectively, but the current stimulation was stopped after 30 s. Then, the posttest was performed. Data analysis was done using MANCOVA. There was a significant difference between the Experimental and control groups in static balance (p = .12) and dynamic balance (p = .18) and the performance was better in the experimental group. It can be concluded that tDCS can improve static and dynamic balance in inactive older adults
MicroRNA-124 Enhances T Cells Functions by Manipulating the Lactic Acid Metabolism of Tumor Cells
No full textHigh production of lactic acid is a common feature of various tumors. Lactic acid is an immunosuppressive molecule with crucial roles in tumor cells' immune escape, which could largely be attributed to its negative effects on the T cells present in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Strategies that decrease the glycolysis rate of tumor cells could enhance immunosurveillance and limit tumor growth. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is a key enzyme in the glycolysis pathway, and it plays a vital role in lactic acid buildup in the TME. MicroRNA (miR)-124 has been shown to be able to decrease tumor cell lactic acid synthesis indirectly by reducing PKM2 levels.In this study, we first overexpressed miR-124 in the tumor cells and evaluated its effects on the PKM2 expression and lactic acid production of the tumor cells using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and spectrophotometry, respectively. Then, we cocultured miR-124-treated tumor cells with T cells to investigate the effects of miR-124 overexpression on T cell proliferation, cytokine production, and apoptosis.Our results demonstrated that miR-124 overexpression could significantly reduce the amount of lactic acid produced by tumor cells by manipulating their glucose metabolism, which led to the augmented proliferation and IFN-gamma production of T cells. Moreover, it rescued T cells from lactic acid-induced apoptosis.Our data suggest that lactic acid is a hindering factor for T-cell-based immunotherapies; however, manipulating tumor cells' metabolism via miR-124 could be a promising way to improve antitumor responses of T cells
The simulation of the emission of iron fumes caused by shielded metal arc welding using a computational fluid dynamics method
No full textComputational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an indispensable simulation tool for predicting the emission of pollutants in the work environment. Welding is one of the most common industrial processes that might expose the operators and surrounding workers to certain hazardous gaseous metal fumes. In the present study, we used computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodology for simulating the emission of iron fumes from the shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) procedure. A galvanized steel chamber was fabricated to measure the pollutant concentration and identify the size of the fume created by the SMAW. Then, the emission of welding aerosol was simulated using a method of computational fluid-particle dynamics with the ANSYS 2020 R1 software. The highest amount of welding fumes concentration was related to iron fumes (i.e., 3045 mu g/m(3) with a diameter of 0.25 mu m). The results of the current study indicated that the local exhaust and general ventilation system can prevent the spreading of welding fumes to the welder's breathing zone and the surrounding environment. CFD was also found to be an efficient method for predicting the emission of the iron fumes created by SMAW as well as for selecting an appropriate ventilation system. However, further studies that take the modeling of welding-generated emission of additional metal particles and gases into account will need to be undertaken
Main Polymorphisms in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease
No full textAspirin exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is a condition caused by increased bronchoconstriction in people with asthma after taking aspirin or another NSAID. Molecular analysis of the human genome has opened up new perspectives on human polymorphisms and disease. This study was conducted to identify the genetic factors that influence this disease due to its unknown genetic factors. We evaluated research studies, letters, comments, editorials, eBooks, and reviews. PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, Cochrane Library, and Scopus were searched for information. We used the keywords polymorphisms, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, asthma, allergy as search terms. This study included 38 studies. AERD complications were associated with polymorphisms in ALOX15, EP2, ADRB2, SLC6A12, CCR3, CRTH2, CysLTs, DPCR1, DPP10, FPR2, HSP70, IL8, IL1B, IL5RA, IL-13, IL17RA, ILVBL, TBXA2R, TLR3, HLA-DRB and HLA-DQ, HLA-DR7, HLA-DP. AERD was associated with heterogeneity in gene polymorphisms, making it difficult to pinpoint specific gene changes. Therefore, diagnosing and treating AERD may be facilitated by examining common variants involving the disease
Association of ApaI rs7975232 and BsmI rs1544410 in clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients according to different SARS-CoV-2 variants
No full textA growing body of research has shown how important vitamin D is in the prognosis of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). The vitamin D receptor is necessary for vitamin D to perform its effects, and its polymorphisms can help in this regard. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether the association of ApaI rs7975232 and BsmI rs1544410 polymorphisms in different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants were influential in the outcomes of COVID-19. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was utilized to determine the different genotypes of ApaI rs7975232 and BsmI rs1544410 in 1734 and 1450 patients who had recovered and deceased, respectively. Our finding revealed that the ApaI rs7975232 AA genotype in the Delta and Omicron BA.5 and the CA genotype in the Delta and Alpha variants were associated with higher mortality rate. Also, the BsmI rs1544410 GG genotype in the Delta and Omicron BA.5 and the GA genotype in the Delta and Alpha variants were related to a higher mortality rate. The A-G haplotype was linked with COVID-19 mortality in both the Alpha and Delta variants. The A-A haplotype for the Omicron BA.5 variants was statistically significant. In conclusion, our research revealed a connection between SARS-CoV-2 variants and the impacts of ApaI rs7975232 and BsmI rs1544410 polymorphisms. However, more research is still needed to substantiate our findings. © 2023, The Author(s)
Association of the ACE2-Angiotensin1-7-Mas axis with lung damage caused by cigarette smoke exposure: a systematic review
No full textThrough the Mas receptor, angiotensin-(1-7) Ang-(1-7) has been shown to have a key role in the development of lung inflammation. This systematic review (SR) sought to identify the relationship between lung damage brought on by exposure to cigarette smoke (CS) and the ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas pathway. In this investigation, relevant keywords were used to search PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus (Elsevier), and Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science up to December 2022. Nine studies were chosen because they satisfied the inclusion/exclusion criteria. The majority of research concluded that exposure to CS increased the risk of lung damage. Smoking cigarettes is the main cause of COPD because it causes massive amounts of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species to enter the lungs, which stimulate the production of inflammatory cytokines like IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, as well as the invasion of inflammatory cells like neutrophils and macrophages. These findings support the renin-angiotensin system's (RAS) involvement in the pathophysiology of smoking-induced damage. Additionally, via stimulating pro-inflammatory mediators, aberrant RAS activity has been linked to lung damage. Lung inflammation's etiology has been shown to be significantly influenced by the protective known RAS arm ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas. In conclusion, these are important for informing policymakers to pass legislation limiting the use of smoking and other tobacco to prevent their harmful effects
ASSESSMENT OF BASNEF MODEL TO IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL BEHAVIORS OF FAMILIES HAVING AN ELDERLY MEMBER: PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION
No full textBackground: Education can improve nutritional behaviors of individuals. The aim of this study was to assess effects of nutritional health education based on the BASNEF model on nutritional behaviors of families with Materials & Methods: The present research was conducted as an interventional study among 70 individuals (35 subjects for intervention and 35 for control groups) giving care to family members older than 60 years. The data collection tool in this study was a researcher-made questionnaire designed based on the BASNEF model measuring awareness, attitude, subjective norms, enabling factors and intent toward nutritional behaviors. Baseline and follow up information between interventions and controls were compared and the results were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: The results of paired t-test revealed series of significant differences between score obtained at baseline and follow-up measurements within the intervention group for only 3 subscale of knowledge (p= 424.68, p= 0.001), attitude (t = 66.54, P = 0.001), as well as behavioral intention (t = 974.9., P= 0.001). The results of independent t-test showed series of significant differences between the two groups for 4 subscale of knowledge (t=0.399, p=0.001), attitude (t=90.78, p=0.000), enabling factor (t=0.09, p=0.02) and intention (t=110, p=0.000). Conclusion: Our findings indicated that participating in educational programs can significantly increase level of knowledge, attitude, and behavioral intention about healthy nutritional behaviors. This study demonstrated the importance of receiving educational programs adopted from a model such as BASNEF in developing personal understanding of enabling factors to change the behavioral nutrition
The effects of prevalence of inequalities in mental disorders between groups using Blinder- Oaxaca decomposition
No full textBACKGROUND: The prevalence of inequalities in sociodemographic factors in some mental disorders (MDs) has been shown in previous reports. The aim of this study was to assess the main contributors that affected prevalence of inequalities in MDs between groups.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted on adults in 10 cities from Ilam province. We selected participants using cluster sampling; clusters were cities (n1 = 10), geographical area (n2 = 153), and households (n3 = 382). Screening tools and clinical interview were applied through standardized and validated questionnaires, namely, GHQ-28 and DSM-IV-TR, respectively. Participants were divided into socioeconomic groups via principal composition analysis (PCA). Blinder-Oaxaca approach was applied to distinguish the gap in inequalities between groups.RESULTS: The prevalence of MDs in the advantage group was 22.6 and, in disadvantages was 35.6. The concentration index (CI) of the MD prevalence rate was -0.013 (95 CI: -0.022, -0.004) which indicated that MDs were more common in the disadvantaged groups. The odds of MDs in advantaged people was 81 more compared to the disadvantaged group (OR: 1.81; 95 CI: 1.28, 2.57), also in females compared to males (1.60; 95 CI: 1.21, 2.24). Analysis of gap inequality between groups showed that the gap in prevalence rates of MDs between groups was 12.CONCLUSION: This study revealed a socioeconomic inequality in MD rates in the adult population. Therefore, results of this study provide contributors in MDs inequality in order to control and reduce the prevalence of MDs in the community
Real-time impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cutaneous leishmaniasis case finding and strategic planning, preventive interventions, control and epidemiology in a region with a high burden of cutaneous leishmaniasis and COVID-19: A cross-sectional descriptive study based on registry data in Ilam-Iran
No full textBackground and AimsCutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a severe parasitic disease affecting people, mostly in underdeveloped nations. As a zoonotic infection yearly incidence of CL depends on several parameters such as demographic, epidemiological, and environmental factors as well as prevention and control measures. The sudden outbreak of pandemics such as SARS-Corona-Virus-2 pandemic, can probably affect the incidence or reporting of other diseases, especially infectious diseases, in various ways such as pressure on health systems, providing sanitary services and its components, lockdowns and changes in people's living habits. AimThis study aimed to evaluate the COVID-19 impact on the incidence and other epidemiological aspects as well as control measures of CL in Ilam Province-Iran. MethodsRequired data was extracted from the CL registration system in Ilam from 2014 to 2021 to demonstrate the trend of CL incidence before and after COVID-19 pandemic. ResultsBased on our results, a declining pattern of CL incidence was observed, accompanied by the advent and intensification of the viral pandemic in Iran and Ilam province. Although, this decreasing pattern was not integral in all areas, and even increase in CL detection was emphasized in some regions. ConclusionIt may be inferred that the COVID-19 pandemic may disrupt treatment programs of CL cases, rodent nest destruction, and fighting vector insects
Docosahexaenoic acid-loaded chitosan/alginate membrane reduces biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa and promotes MSC-mediated burn wound healing
No full textAims: Chitosan, like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), is used in medicine as a wound healing accelerator. Thus, in this study, chitosan-alginate (CA) membranes containing DHA and MSCs were produced, and their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against burn infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated. Methods: Physicochemical properties were assessed by SEM, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Porosity, cytocompatibility, and antibacterial and antibiofilm activities were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. The viability and apoptosis of MSCs were studied using flow cytometry. Wound healing effects were analyzed based on histopathological features, the wound contraction rate (WCR) ratio, and bacterial clearance. Results: The CA membranes showed antibiofilm activity both in vivo and in vitro, accompanied by reduced lasI and rhlI expressions and pyocyanin production. The membranes were highly porous and biocompatible and showed favorable physicochemical properties. Docosahexaenoic acid incorporation to CA membranes improved their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities, as well as MSCs' viability by reducing crystallinity and increasing porosity (p =.008). Treatment with CA-DHA-MSC accelerated burn wound healing (with complete healing being observed after 14 days, WCR = 85) and augmented antibacterial and antibiofilm activities in vivo compared to CA-DHA and CA-MSC. The CA-DHA-MSC group delivered a significantly higher WCR and lower inflammation than the CA-MSC group (p =.0001). Conclusion: In combination with DHA-loaded CA membranes, MSCs reduced the healing time of burn wounds, offering a viable option for designing effective wound dressings