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Porous polymeric materials (poly HIPEs) have attracted considerable attention in many fields focused on biomaterial applications. In this research, co-polymeric hydrogels of poly (HEMA-co-NVP) were synthesized in the emulsion phase. Poly (HEMA-co-NVP) poly HIPE was produced by co-polymerization of 2-Hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) in the presence of N, N-methylene bisacrylamide (MBA as cross-linker), and initiation of ammonium persulfate (APS) and N, N, N, N-tetramethylene diamine (TEMED). The co-polymerization was based on the free-radical polymerization method by employing two immiscible liquids in the poly HIPE method. The characterization of the poly HIPE-based co-polymer was done by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The optimization process was done by measuring the water absorption and the best amount was kept stable in each stage. The highest water absorption value of synthetic porous hydrogel synthesized in the HIPEs method was 8.9 g/g with average pores of 2-5 μm, while its synthetic hydrogel with the same values of reactants and without HIPEs method was 1.2 g/g. These results show that the poly HIPE-based polymerization of co-polymers can be intended to raise their water uptake.

Abstract Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly diminishes an individual’s quality of life and increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Recent clinical and experimental findings suggest that infection with parasitic helminths may suppress the development of certain inflammatory conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunoregulatory effects of Dicrocoelium eggs on experimentally induced colitis in C57BL/6 mice using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). C57BL/6 mice received 3.5% DSS orally for 7 days to induce colitis, during which they were treated intraperitoneally with Dicrocoelium eggs. The severity of colitis was assessed through parameters such as body weight, stool consistency or bleeding, disease activity index (DAI), colon lengths, macroscopic scores, histopathological findings, colon gene expression levels, and serum cytokine levels. Our results indicated that Dicrocoelium eggs administration significantly reduced the severity of colitis and disease activity. Histopathological scores improved, correlating with downregulation of IFN-γ and upregulation of IL-4 expression. This findings suggest the therapeutic potential of Dicrocoelium eggs in treating colitis. Immunotherapy involving Dicrocoelium eggs primarily induces a Th2 response and modulates IFN-γ, contributing to reduced inflammation in colitis. Thus, this approach could be a promising therapeutic strategy for alleviating inflammation in IBD.

Background: Each country’s health system is tasked with providing services to ensure the health of its population. Dental services are among these essential services. However, dental service utilization is unevenly distributed worldwide. This study’s findings will give health sector officials and policymakers valuable insights to enhance system performance.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study, conducted in 2021, aimed to determine the distribution of dentists worldwide. The analysis utilized the Pareto curve, the dentist-to-population ratio (DPR), the Gini Coefficient (GC), and the Lorenz curve. The goal was to identify the countries with the highest number of dentists.Results: There are over 2,500,000 dentists globally, averaging 3.6 dentists per 10,000 people. However, the ratios vary significantly, with about 6.8 per 10,000 in countries with very high Human Development Index (HDI) groups and 0.19 per 10,000 in low HDI groups. The data indicates that more than 80% of dentists work in countries with very high and high HDI.Conclusion: This study suggests that job concentration is higher in areas with superior welfare and facilities, and dentistry is no exception. Therefore, creating better welfare in more disadvantaged areas, implementing mandatory government plans, and strategic government planning can help mitigate distribution inequality.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the greatest pandemic in the world. This virus involves the respiratory system, causes pulmonary dysfunction, and causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Pulmonary dysfunction due to COVID-19 may be asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe/critical. COVID-19 may involve other organs, and its sequelae may be persistent for a long time. The pulmonary function test is a method for evaluating the lungs in people. In this study, we reviewed the results of pulmonary function test (PFT) in patients with a history of COVID-19 involvement based on previous studies. Materials and Methods: The present review was conducted in 2024 using the keywords COVID-19, pulmonary function test, recovery, and pulmonary involvement in English. Eligible articles (articles containing the mentioned keywords) published during the years 2019 to 2023 were searched in Scopus, Pubmed, Wiley, and Google Scholar international databases. Relevant articles were identified, and after review, the most important and valuable points were presented. Results: PTF should not be done during COVID-19 involvement because it increases the rate of disease transmission. Small airway dysfunction, restrictive ventilatory dysfunction, and pulmonary diffusion impairment patterns are the most common findings in the PFTs of patients with a history of COVID-19. PFT improves gradually after the recovery of pulmonary involvement of COVID-19 for two years, even in patients with severe or critical forms of COVID-19. Conclusion: In this review, we summarized the results of studies about pulmonary function tests after COVID-19 involvement in survivors. Small airway dysfunction, restrictive ventilatory dysfunction, and pulmonary diffusion impairment are the most common findings in the PFT of survivors of COVID-19. These patterns are more prevalent among patients with severe or critical forms of COVID-19, and they are associated with the risk factors of COVID-19 severity, such as age, underlying disease, and pulmonary disorders. Forced vital capacity and diffusion capacity of lungs for carbon monoxide decreased in patients with COVID-19, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/FVC and residual volume (RV) increased in these patients and they were associated with COVID-19 severity. The pulmonary involvement of COVID-19 recovers over time, and after two years, patients return to their baseline PFTs.

Background: Equity in health refers to ensuring that individuals have timely and sufficient access to healthcare services when needed. Human resources are a vital component of healthcare organizations, and they play a crucial role in improving people's access to services. Dentists, in particular, are essential healthcare professionals as oral and dental health significantly impacts overall societal health. This study aims to investigate the key factors contributing to the inequality in the distribution of dentists. Methods: A scoping review was conducted, systematically searching three databases—Scopus, PubMed, and WOS—using relevant keywords until January, 2023. A total of 565 preliminary results were screened, and 447 titles and abstracts were reviewed. Ultimately, 23 full-text articles were included in the analysis. Qualitative content analysis and thematic network were used to synthesize the extracted data. Results: Thematic analysis of the evidence yielded four main themes that contribute to inequality in the distribution of dentists: the development of the inequality situation, methods for analyzing inequality, causes of inequality, and potential solutions to address inequality. Conclusion: Policymakers should gain an understanding of the determinants that contribute to inequality and how these factors manifest in their respective countries. Policymakers can work towards achieving a more equitable distribution of dentists by directing resources towards policies and measures that improve access to oral and dental services. This will ultimately enhance overall societal access to oral healthcare services.

In recent years, northeastern Iran, particularly Khorasan Razavi province, has experienced wind erosion and dust storms, although large-scale studies are limited. To assess wind patterns, sand drift, and dust events, hourly wind data were analyzed using Fryberger’s method, along with trend analysis through the Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope tests. Additionally, MODIS satellite data and Google Earth Engine helped identify event frequency and spatial patterns. The results show that east (12%) and southeast winds (9.6%) are the most frequent, with an average annual wind speed of 4.39 knots. Sand drift potential (DP = 96, RDP = 21.6) indicates sand movement from southeast to northwest, with a multi-directional wind system (unidirectional index of 0.22). The results of the AOD index show that the amount of dust in the north and northwest part is more than other locations, and more than 500 events with dust has been registered over the last two decades. These findings suggest that policymakers should monitor these trends to mitigate the environmental and infrastructural damage caused by blowing sand.

Nanoencapsulation of thyme essential oil (TEO) volatiles into β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and their release requires in-depth kinetic, structural and in silico studies for elucidating the mechanisms for attaining the equilibrium state. Monoclinic crystalline structures of β-CD/TEO with 5 –10 μm were formed by TEO encapsulation and visualized using SEM. The β-CD:TEO 8.5:1.5 (w/w) ratio ensures 71.66% TEO retention efficiency and a cumulative release in hexane after 7 h of 75%. Thymol molecule is the favourite candidate to occupy the inner cavity of β-CD, although competition by carvacrol, o-cymene, 2-carene and camphene against thymol was noticed by GC/MS when increasing the TEO concentration. The molecular mechanics calculations suggested that binding of thymol, carvacrol and o- cymene within the hydrophobic cavity of β-CD is thermodynamically achievable, having complexation energy between -18.48 ÷ -22.07 kcal/mol, nonetheless the most stable complex is formed with α- pinene, if energy input is provided, displaying the lowest complexation energy, -25.89 kcal/mol. All inclusion complex (IC) powders had similar antiradical activity against DPPH (40 - 43%). The IC2 β-CD/TEO 8.5:3.00 (w/w) powder displayed antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus, while IC3 β-CD:TEO 8.5:1.50 (w/w) exhibited the strongest antifungal activity of all powders against Geotrichum candidum and Rhodotorula glutinis. The ICs obtained suggest a competitive mechanism of TEO components in occupying the β-CD inner cavity that predispose each powder formulae for specific applications in food in relation with their functional properties.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder appearing as a main public health problem nowadays. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of calcitriol on microalbuminuria in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM). Patients and Methods: This double-blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 38 patients with T2DM who had micro- albuminuria. These patients were randomly classified into two groups of treatment and control. The treatment group received calcitriol 0.25 μg daily since the control group received a placebo. Duration of treatment was three months. In baseline, serum creatinine (Cr), fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), cholesterol (Chol), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), and micro-albuminuria were measured. Patients were followed up for three months. P 0.05). After the intervention, there was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the median of serum Cr, FBS, HbA1c, Chol, TG, LDL-c, HDL-c, and microalbuminuria. The median of microalbuminuria in the treatment and control groups was decreased at 46 mg/g and 11 mg/g, respectively. The difference in median of micro-albuminuria was not statically significant between the two groups; however, a significant difference was detected in the treatment group before and after the intervention (P=0.03). Conclusion: Administration of calcitriol could reduce micro-albuminuria after three months. Therefore, the addition of calcitriol to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) in patients with T2DM and micro- albuminuria may have a beneficial effect on reducing their proteinuria. Trial Registration: The trial protocol was approved by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (identifier: IRCT2016091429812N; https://en.irct.ir/trial/23865, ethical code; IR.SSU.Rec.65415).

Abstract There are differing views on cannabis and phytocannabinoid usage in diverse domains of application. This review explores the advantages and drawbacks of using cannabis and phytocannabinoids, including their effects on human health, in addition to highlighting the need for precise and repeatable analytical methods for quantifying controlled phytocannabinoids in consumer cannabidiol (CBD) products and foods. The composition and characteristics of the phytochemicals found in cannabis, the advantages and disadvantages of controlled and uncontrolled phytocannabinoids, and the need for regulation and standardization in the use of cannabis and products containing phytocannabinoids are all covered in this review of the pertinent literature. Cannabinoids used illegally can have negative consequences, but controlled phytocannabinoids found in consumer CBD products are relatively safe and unlikely to cause any adverse effects. It is necessary to restrict the amount of CBD in foods and consumer products in order to ensure safety. To measure the amount of restricted phytocannabinoids in these products, accurate analytical techniques are also required. In order to increase the use of cannabis among consumers, more research is needed to improve our understanding of the bioavailability and metabolic pathways of these compounds. Furthermore, consumers want clear and uniform federal rules governing the amount of CBD in food products in order to ensure correct dosing. To promote safe and responsible use, cannabis and phytocannabinoids must be carefully considered, regulated, and standardized. It is necessary for consumers to have clear, consistent standards governing the percentage of CBD in their food products. As a result, they would know the exact amount of CBD in their products.

Abstract Background and Aims Continuous routine care is necessary to prevent long‐term complications of chronic diseases and improve patients' health conditions. This review study was conducted to determine the factors disrupting continuity of care for patients with chronic diseases during the pandemic. Methods All original articles published on factors disrupting continuity of care for patients with chronic disease during a pandemic between December 2019 and June 28, 2023, in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases were searched. Selection of articles, data extraction, and qualitative evaluation of articles (through STROBE and COREQ checklist) were done by two researchers separately. Data graphing form was used to extract the data of each study and then the data were classified by thematic analysis method. Results Out of 1708 articles reviewed from the databases, 22 were included. The factors disrupting the continuity of care for patients with chronic diseases during the epidemics were classified into two main categories: patient‐side factors and health system‐side factors. Patient‐side factors including psychological, individual and social, disease‐related, and health system‐side factors including provider access, health system institutional, and infrastructural and financial problems were among the subcategories disrupting the continuity of care for patients with chronic diseases during the pandemic. Based on the studies, psychological factors and access to the provider were among the most frequent factors affecting the continuity of care for patients with chronic diseases in the pandemic. Conclusion Considering the factors disrupting the continuity of care and applying appropriate interventions based on them, can guarantee the continuity of providing services to chronic patients in health crises.

Abstract Background and Aims One of the main responsibilities of health systems impacted by the global Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, where the first case was discovered in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, is the provision of medical services. The current study looked into the impact of vaccination on the utilization of services provided to COVID‐19 patients. Methods This study was conducted in Iran between 2021 and 2022, utilizing a cross‐sectional research design. The research team collected data on the utilization of provided services and the number of COVID‐19 vaccines administered to 1000 patients in Iran through a random sampling approach. The data were analyzed with statistical methods, including the mean difference test, and multiple linear regression. Results Regression estimates show that after controlling for confounding variables like age, type of admission, and comorbidities, vaccination reduces the utilization of healthcare services in the general majority of services. The study's results reveal a fall in COVID‐19 patients' utilization of services, specifically in patients administered two or three doses of the vaccine. However, the reduction is not statistically significant. Regression models are in contrast to univariate analysis findings that vaccination increases the mean utilization of healthcare services for COVID‐19 patients in general. Comorbidities are a crucial factor in determining the utilization of diagnostic and treatment services for COVID‐19 patients. Conclusion Full COVID‐19 vaccination and other implementations, including investing in public health, cooperating globally, and vaccinating high‐risk groups for future pandemics, are essential as a critical response to this pandemic as they reduce healthcare service utilization to alleviate the burden on healthcare systems and allocate resources more efficiently.

A novel, uncomplicated, and cost-effective methodology has been devised for the rapid synthesis of novel lower-rim-connected bisresorcinarene macrocycles. The incorporation of sodium p-styrenesulfonate (NaSS) facilitates the generation of a diverse array of products on a large scale, achieving high yields. Notably, the utilization of NaSS obviates the need for corrosive acids, and the absence of toxic solvents renders this reaction both environmentally friendly and economically advantageous. Furthermore, the process eliminates the necessity for column chromatography in product purification. The structural characterization of the synthesized derivatives was confirmed through comprehensive analyses, including FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HR-Mass, and CHNO techniques.

Change detection of lakes is important to monitor ecosystem health and wind erosion process in arid environments. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate unsupervised classification based on vegetation indices to monitor Land cover changes (LCCs). The Hamoun Biosphere Reserve is located in the east of Iran and is considered one of the most important wetlands in the center of the Iran Plateau. To detect land cover changes, using Landsat images from the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s ground control points (GCP) and spectral profiles, four major land cover classes were obtained (sparse vegetation, dense vegetation, bare land, and water bodies). To create AOIs, the pure pixels were selected using obtained spectral profiles of the main land types by GCPs in 2020. The separability of representative AOIs by classes was examined by Jeffries–Matsushita distances and scattering ellipse parameters. A maximum likelihood classifier (MLC) was applied to Landsat images in 2020 with an overall accuracy of 93% and a Kappa statistic of 0.90. Subsequently, based on Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) maps, as additional input data, unsupervised classification was used to classify the same images in 2020. The observed accuracy and kappa statistic of the used classification technique was up to 0.91 and 0.89 respectively. The finding indicated that in 2000, the area of arid land increased (90% of all areas) and became a major land use type, whereas water bodies (74% of all areas in the 1990s) reached zero in this year. Yearly water body changes revealed a severe dryness condition in this wetland. After 2000, in most cases in subsequent years, the water body completely dried up and in the seasonally flooded years, it did not exceed 10% of the total wetland’s area. On the other hand, before 2000, on average, 60% of the wetland’s area was dominated by the water class. Our study showed that in the time series without GCP for monitoring past changes, an unsupervised SAVI-based technique could provide acceptable accuracy in this region.

Abstract The purpose of this study is the design and synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) conjugated with paclitaxel and to investigate the parameters affecting the stability of synthesised nanoparticles with drug delivery capability. Here, synthesised GNPs were coated with polyethylene glycol. Then these particles were conjugated with paclitaxel under different conditions and the physical and structural characteristics, as well as the factors affecting the loading of paclitaxel on nanoparticles, were evaluated by ultraviolet spectrophotometer, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and zeta potential apparatus. It was found that pegylated GNPs have a limited loading capacity at the time of 24 h of incubation and the Paclitaxel loading was observed to be pH dependent. The use of these particles in the treatment of breast cancer (MCF7) was also investigated using the MTT test. It was determined that the survival percentage of MCF7 cells in the presence of paclitaxel‐bound nanoparticles decreases to about 55% at the maximum measured concentration (690 μM).

Abstract Introduction Unequal Access to human resources for health, reduces access to healthcare services, worsens the quality of services and reduces health outcomes. This study aims to investigate the distribution of the nursing workforce around the world. Methods This is a descriptive-analytical study, which was conducted in 2021. The number of nurses and world populations was gathered from World Health Organization (WHO) and The United Nations (UN) databases. The UN has divided world countries based on the Human Development Index (HDI) into four categories of very high, high, medium and low HDI. To investigate the distribution of the nurses around the world, we used the nurse population ratio (per 10,000 population), Gini coefficient, Lorenz curve and Pareto curve. Findings On average, there were 38.6 nurses for every 10,000 people in the world. Nations with the very high HDI, had the highest nurse/population ratio (95/10,000), while the low HDI nations had the lowest nurse/population ratio (7/10,000). Most nurses around the world were females (76.91%) who were in the age group of 35–44 (29.1%). The Gini coefficient of nations in the each four HDI categories varied from 0.217 to 0.283. The Gini coefficient of the nations between the four HDI categories was 0.467, and the Gini coefficient of the whole world was 0.667. Conclusion There were inequalities between countries all over the world. Policymakers should focus on the equitable distribution of the nursing workforce across all local, national and regional levels.

Background: In recent decades, especially after the publication of the World Health Report in 2000, many efforts have been made to develop assessment tools and improve the performance of health systems at the global and national levels. The purpose of this study was to design a method and assess the performance of health systems in various countries in its use.Methods: In this retrospective study, health systems were evaluated using the opinions of experts as well as international data. Health system experts expressed their views on appropriate indicators for evaluation. The performance of the studied health systems was ranked using multi-criteria decision-making techniques (SAW & TOPSIS). Collected data were analyzed using multiple regression analysis.Results: Data related to 38 indexes in eight general areas of macroeconomics, affordability for health costs, disease control, health care financing, health and nutrition, life expectancy, health resources, and mortality rates were collected in 105 countries from 2018 to 2020. According to the findings of country ranking, the health systems of Sweden, Norway, and Japan have the best performance and Afghanistan, Nigeria and Guinea have the weakest performance in the years examined.Conclusion: Health systems face major challenges around the world. Scientific evaluations show that spending more resources and costs does not necessarily enhance the performance of health systems, yet using and distributing these resources and costs in health systems could enhance the hope for better performance.