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Abstract: Background: Numerous studies have revealed the protective role of dietary antioxidants against hypertension and diabetes. In the current systematic review and meta-analysis, we evaluated the possible role of dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) against metabolic parameters in the adult population. Methods: A literature search of authentic electronic resources including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, and Cochrane had been performed to retrieve the qualified observational studies that reported the mean plus/minus the SD for the parameter in subjects of the highest versus lowest dietary TAC categories up to July 2020. Results: Totally, the number of included studies was 13 for fasting blood sugar (FBS), 12 for systolic blood pressure (SBP), and 12 for diastolic blood pressure (DBP), with the participants’ number of 26349. The results of the current study showed that being at highest category of TAC significantly reduces serum FBS (WMD: −2.381; CI: −3.445, −1.316; P2DM) (P=0.37) and hypertension (HTN) (P=0.09) was observed. Subgroup analysis revealed the geographical location, dietary assessment tool, sample size, and gender as possible sources of heterogeneity. Conclusion: Higher intake of dietary TAC was associated with reduced SBP, DBP, and FBS in the current observational studies of this meta-analysis. These findings further confirm the clinical importance of dietary antioxidants in the prevention of different metabolic disorders.

Summary Objective The aim of the present study was to assess the interaction of major dietary patterns with Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART) prepropeptide gene rs2239670 variant in apparently healthy obese Iranians. Methods A total of 288 apparently healthy obese participants aged 20-50 years were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Usual dietary intake was assessed using a 147-item semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaire. Genotyping of the CART gene rs2239670 polymorphism was conducted by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP). Results The results showed that the majority of the participants had GG genotype (65.4%). Three dietary patterns were extracted: prudent dietary pattern (PDP), legume dietary pattern (LDP), and mixed dietary pattern (MDP). There were significant interactions between PDP and rs2239670 variant on fat free mass (FFM) (p Interaction = 0.039), basal metabolic rate (BMR) (p Interaction = 0.039). Also, significant interactions were observed between LDP and rs2239670 polymorphism on the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p Interaction = 0.026), waist to hip ratio (WHR) (p Interaction = 0.050), agouti-related protein (AgRP) (p Interaction = 0.012), and α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) (p Interaction =0.006). Conclusions The CART rs2239670 SNP interacts with dietary patterns to affect some of the cardio-metabolic risk factors.

Introduction: Obesity is a strong promoter of cardiometabolic risk factors and is associated with several chronic comorbidities. Recently, the role of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and agouti related peptide (Ag-RP) in regulation of energy balance has attracted much attention. In current study, we evaluated the association between α-MSH and Ag-RP with cardiometabolic factors among obese individuals with different adherence to Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) values. Methods: In this research, 188 obese adults aged between 20 and 50 years old and body mass index (BMI) between 30 and 40 kg/m2 were recruited. Dietary intakes of participants and DQI-I calculation was performed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with 132 food items. Serum glucose, lipids, insulin, and plasma α-MSH and Ag-RP levels were measured using ELISA kits. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were also calculated. Results: Among those with the lowest adherence to DQI-I, Ag-RP was positively associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P = 0.03) among males, which was associated with waist circumference (WC) (P = 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P = 0.01). Moreover, among males with low and moderate adherence to DQI-I, α-MSH was positively associated with insulin (P = 0.04), weight (P = 0.03), WC (P < 0.01), SDP (P = 0.02) and DBP (P = 0.01). Also, Ag-RP showed a positive association with BMI values (R2 = 0.03; P = 0.03). Conclusion: According to our findings, in obese subjects with poor to moderate adherence to DQI-I, Ag-RP and α-MSH were in positive correlation with cardiometabolic risk factors. These findings further clarify the clinical importance of these parameters as prognostic factors of cardiometabolic abnormalities.

Background In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the association between dietary inflammatory potential, eating patterns, and quality of life among women. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 278 reproductive-aged women with obesity or overweight. Validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire, the three-factor eating questionnaire (TFEQ)-18, and the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI) were used to evaluate dietary intakes, quality of life, eating behaviors, and sleep quality, respectively. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the association between variables. Results Being unemployed, single, and having no children were determinants of choosing a diet with higher inflammatory potential. In multivariate logistic regression, higher DII scores were associated with lower quality of life components. In structural equation modeling, DII was negatively associated with waist circumference and cognitive restraint. Conclusion Women with higher restraint scores and women with higher waist circumferences were more likely to follow an anti-inflammatory diet. Further studies are warranted to better elucidate the mediatory associations between assessed variables to affect DII in this population.

Objective The aim of this study was to explain the impact of media on service quality and diversity based on the integrated marketing communication (IMC) approach. Raising awareness about the influence and role of media in integrated marketing communications highlights the importance of media management in organizations and companies. Moreover, it can prepare the ground for optimal management of intra-organizational media and optimal use of external media. Consequently, this study seeks to find an answer for the following question: “How Sepah Bank can manage the media in accordance with its marketing goals in order to help integrate marketing communications and influence the local audience in line with the bank's ultimate objectives. Methodology The present survey research is descriptive researches in terms of methodology and applied in terms of purpose. Interviews with the focus group was employed to extract the initial model; in addition, the structural equation modeling method and LISREL were implemented to assess the relationship between the components of the model. For this purpose, SPSS software was used. The statistical population of this study included all experts of central offices of Sepah Bank branches. Besides, 450 questionnaires were distributed among the experts of the central offices of Sepah Bank, and finally 410 questionnaires were analyzed. Eventually, qualitative content analysis method was use to investigate qualitative data. Findings According to the research model, the media can manipulate the diversity and quality of banking products through accessing news and reports about the activities of other local and foreign banks and also reflecting on public reports as well as scientific and educational articles in the field of banking services. Therefore, research hypotheses were approved, indicating the effect of media on the diversity and quality of service through providing information to the public. Conclusion Media management in organizations is not confined to advertising purposes to influence customers and increase sales. Instead, management and planning are implemented in order to make optimal use of educational functions, provision of information, and media monitoring functions. It is sought by targeting local audiences based on IMC approach to influence the quality and variety of services. Organizations can employ organizational media (organizational publications, websites, brochures, etc.), mass media (press, radio and television, etc.), and advertising media (environmental advertising, press advertising, radio and television advertising, as well as Internet advertising) to influence audiences both inside and outside the organization. As a result, we should conclude that intra-organizational and external media can have significant impact on the diversity and quality of banking services by means of purposeful reflection on the people’s problems, demands, and opinions concerning banking interactions, reflection on the activities and services of other domestic and foreign banks, reflection on the cybercrime and hacking, as well as reflection on educational and scientific articles in the field of banking services.

BACKGROUND: In the present study we investigated the role of +405 VEGF gene polymorphism in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and to explore its association with several biochemical risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: VEGF +405 single nucleotide polymorphism were genotyped in 150 patients with metabolic syndrome and 50 healthy individuals using the PCR-RFLP method. Serum levels of biochemical variables were assessed by commercial ELISA technique. RESULTS: GC genotype was more prevalent among patients with metabolic syndrome. In GC genotype, patients with metabolic syndrome had higher waist to hip ratio, WHR, triglyceride, and lower high density lipoprotein and alanine aminotransferase concentrations compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrated that +405 VEGF gene polymorphism was a potent predictor of metabolic abnormalities in patients with metabolic syndrome. Further studies with larger sample size are needed to clarify these associations properly.

Objective: Despite significant success in international festivals, Iranian cinema industry has failed to gain a share of the global markets. This interdisciplinary research, while examining the factors affecting the entry of Iranian cinema industry into international markets, tends to find out the flourishing context for the products of Iranian cinema, the steps it has taken to gain a share of the international markets, and what planned measures should be taken into account for this purpose in order to determine its distance from the involved countries and to provide the necessary solutions to advance the goal of internationalization. The macro-factors affecting all businesses in general and the specific factors of the cinema industry have been examined and finally, the consequences of such strategies have been clarified. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive model for the entry of Iranian visual and cinematic products into the international markets. Methodology: This research is "fundamental" in terms of purpose and is "exploratory" in terms of result which has applied a "qualitative" approach. This research is based on the systematic model proposed by Strauss and Corbin on grounded theory; for this porpuse, 23 interviews were conducted with the experts including directors and film agents, international activists in the field of video distribution and professors of media management and marketing management during 2019 and 2020. Findings: The proposed model provides a comprehensive image of the current situation of Iranian visual products and cinema industry in terms of the possibility of entering into the international markets. For example, any shifts toward making expensive films cannot give us the power to compete with the dominant cinema and it does not comply with the style and history of cultural-artistic films for which Iranian cinema is known in the world. Meanwhile the lack of infrastructure and necessary laws for the field of film export, lack of copyright in Iran, inability of Iranian film and cinema to compete with the mainstream in the world, lack of attention to producing films based on the audiences’ taste, technical requirements, content requirements, lack of required capital, the lack of professional business and international marketing managers, and, of course, the legal requirements are among the main barriers to the entry of Iranian films into the international markets. Therefore, necessary efforts should be made in the management structures to transform the Iranian cinema market into an organic market in accordance with international standards with a focus on the decision-making institutional context in the field of cinema and the role of national production and wealth. They should establish communication between traditional business owners and startup innovators. Within the ideological attitude of the government, the procedures should shift from a negative to a positive view, and with an economic (business) priority to make it possible to adapt the films to the target market and gain economic benefit. There is also the need for a change in the attitude and the plan of the senior institutions in order to shape the bases of co-production and to change the attitude of Iranian cinematographers in exploiting new technologies for a more professional production and distribution of the films. Conclusion: Unilateralism, lack of a collective spirit, and lack of professionalism have prevented the right action for Iranian cinema to enter international markets. Ignoring the need for cinema to become industrialized, ignoring the power of its media, and relying solely on marketing and commerce have prevented Iranian cinema from gaining a share of the global market. However, the entry of Iranian films into the international market as the indicator of culture and art can represent the national identity of the country and help maintain the country credibility in the field of public diplomacy. In addition, the commercial performance of the cinema, provided that its industrial cycle is completed, will be an important source for the growth of non-oil exports and help the independence of the country's economy from oil exports.

SUMMARY: Background & aims: Malnutrition is one of the major problems in hospitalized patients which increases the risk of chronic diseases. This highlights the need for an appropriate indicator to predict the risk of cardiometabolic risk factors and numerous chronic diseases in these patients. Regarding of few studies in this context, we aimed to investigate a better understanding of associations between neck circumference (NC) with metabolic disorders and renal diseases in hospitalized patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted among 303 participants (167 77 and 136 men) hospitalized from March to June 2019 in internal disease wards of Imam Reza Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Demographic information, anthropometric (NC, height, and weight), biochemical and nutritional supportive, were collected and evaluated. Results: In the present study, the mean age of men and women in three tertiles of NC were 57.76 ± 18.22, 56.16 ± 16.78, and 60.78 ± 14.22 years, respectively and there was no significant difference in the age of the three tertiles (P = 0.144). Men showed to have higher NC compared with women (p

In this paper, an optimal design procedure for LCC -series compensation network is proposed for a stationary wireless electric vehicle charger. The main focus of this paper is to optimize the resonant network suitable for a wide range of operation from no-load to full-power operation. The conventional methods only consider the full-load condition to design the resonant network; in contrast, the proposed method employs a time-weighted average efficiency for different coupling conditions to achieve high efficiency over a wide load range including light-load and no-load operation. The resonant network is tuned to realize zero voltage switching for the primary side inverter. Moreover, a finite-element analysis is performed to calculate self- and mutual inductances as well as core losses for magnetic couplers. In order to validate the feasibility of the proposed design, a 1 kW/85 kHz prototype with circular magnetic couplers is implemented. According to simulations and experiments, flat profiles for both efficiency and output voltage against output power variations are achieved. Experimental results demonstrate a 94.8% peak efficiency for the full-load operation.

This study investigates the feasibility of the application of ultrasonic measurement to characterize Steel-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (SFRC). Specifically, the effects of steel fiber content, age, moisture content, and fiber orientation on Ultrasonic-Pulse-Velocity (UPV) were investigated. In this regard, beam and cylindrical samples were fabricated with different steel fiber contents. The result indicated that for beam specimens the UPV increases with the addition of fiber up to 2% and decreases for higher fiber percentages. Additionally, the fiber orientation within the beam specimens influences the UPV measurements. For cylindrical samples, the rate of UPV decreased with the addition of steel fiber reinforcement. In addition, it was discovered that the curing period affects the magnitude of UPV.

Background There are limited number of studies with controversial findings regarding the association between anemia at admission and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. Therefore, in this research, we aimed to investigate the prospective association between anemia and COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients in Iran. Methods In this prospective study, the data of 1274 consecutive patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 were statistically analyzed. All biomarkers, including hemoglobin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were measured using standard methods. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of less than 13 g/dL and 12 g/dL in males and females, respectively. Assessing the association between anemia and COVID-19 survival in hospitalized patients was our primary endpoint. Results The mean age of the participants was 64.43 ± 17.16 years, out of whom 615 (48.27%) were anemic subjects. Patients with anemia were significantly older (P = 0.02) and had a higher frequency of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer (P P P = 0.01), ventilator requirement (OR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.54, P = 0.004), and the risk of ICU admission (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.46, 2.90, P Conclusion The prevalence of anemia in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 was high and was associated with poor outcomes of COVID-19.

The lower level of salivary immunoglobulin A in children with cerebral palsy can be considered as the main cause of recurrent infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of concurrent exercise training on immunoglobulin A and salivary alpha-amylase levels in children with cerebral palsy. Twenty children with spastic cerebral palsy (age 9.5 ± 1.8 years, height: 161.29 ± 4.23 cm, weight 31.5 ± 2.5 kg, fat 14.3 ± 1.2%, body mass index [BMI] 15.6 ± 1.8 kg/m2) were selected by available sampling method and assigned randomly to the experimental and control groups. The training protocol consisted of 12 weeks of resistance and endurance exercise, so that at the beginning of each session, resistance training and then aerobic training were performed. Fasting saliva samples were taken 10 min before and 48 h after the last exercise session. Independent and paired sample t-tests were used to assess the changes between and within the groups, respectively. The significance level was set at 0.05. The results of this study showed that 12 weeks of concurrent exercise training had a significant effect on salivary immunoglobulin A, salivary alpha-amylase, maximal oxygen consumption, total salivary protein, fat percentage, and BMI in children with cerebral palsy (p 0.05). It seems that 12 weeks of concurrent exercise training improves some immune factors and body composition of children with spastic cerebral palsy. So it can be beneficial to use a period of resistance and aerobic exercise training with appropriate training methodology in children.

This trial evaluated the effects of thylakoid-rich spinach extract supplementation combined with a hypocaloric diet on body composition and serum levels of neopterin, chemerin, and omentin-1 in obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In this randomized controlled trial, 48 obese women with PCOS, aged 20-45 years old, were recruited and randomly divided into thylakoid (n = 24) and placebo (n = 24) groups. They received a low-calorie diet with 5 g/day thylakoid-rich spinach extract or a low-calorie diet with 5 g/day placebo for 12 weeks. The mean age of the participants of the thylakoid group was 31.86 years, and the placebo group was 32.04 years. Thylakoid-rich spinach extract supplementation with a low-calorie diet increased serum levels of omentin-1 (10.90 vs. 3.87 ng/L; p < .001) and decreased fat mass (-5.19 vs. -1.35 kg; p < .001) and serum levels of neopterin (-0.66 vs. -0.38 nmol/L; p = .003) and chemerin (-41.24 vs. -11.26 ng/L; p < .001) in the thylakoid group compared to the placebo group. A significant improvement in omentin-1, chemerin, and neopterin by thylakoid-rich spinach extract supplementation was under the influence of weight change and insulin resistance status throughout the study. A significant decrease in the other anthropometric indices and insulin resistance was also observed in the thylakoid group, compared to the placebo group (p < .001, for all parameters). Thylakoid-rich spinach extract combined with a low-calorie diet increased circulating omentin-1 and decreased fat mass, abdominal obesity, as well as circulating chemerin, neopterin, and insulin in obese women with PCOS.

The ease of communication and anonymity that computer-mediated communication provides has created fertile ground for transgressive (socially non-normative) online behaviours. The purpose of the current research is to explore the types of transgressive comments on Iranian celebrities’ Instagram pages. Within a qualitative descriptive approach, the current research employs Braun and Clarke’s ‘thematic analysis’ to analyze transgressive user comments. Using a judgmental (purposive) non-probability sampling technique, we selected posts from 22 Iranian celebrities’ Instagram pages. Afterwards, we analyzed 53,066 comments in these posts and extracted four dominant transgressive themes: ‘unwanted advertisement,’ ‘partner seeking,’ ‘attention seeking,’ and ‘emotional release’; we then extracted their sub-themes. Transgressive behaviours disrupt the communicative experience on social networks, endanger users’ security and safety, and can lead to mental problems and even offline harassment and violence. Recognizing these behaviours and their patterns can contribute to more effective use of social control means.

Objective To describe the ocular manifestations of sarcoidosis in a South Florida population and identify risk factors for the presence of ocular disease. Design Retrospective consecutive case series. Methods Medical charts of individuals with sarcoidosis seen in the University of Miami pulmonary department were reviewed for ocular disease. Odds ratios were used to identify risk factors for ocular sarcoidosis. Results Fourteen of 108 individuals with sarcoidosis had ocular involvement. The mean age of the 14 individuals was 56±15 years. Seventy-one percent were female, 50% were black, and 21% were Hispanic. Twelve had uveitis of which panuveitis was the most common subtype. Five had ≤20/70 vision in at least one eye due to uveitis. Neurosarcoidosis was a risk factor for ocular sarcoidosis (OR 6.14, p=0.03, 95% CI 1.21-31.09). Conclusion Ocular manifestations occurred in a minority of individuals in a pulmonary sarcoidosis clinic in South Florida. Uveitis was the most common ocular manifestation. Neurosarcoidosis was a risk factor for ocular involvement.

Abstract. Backgrounds: Central obesity, as a pivotal component of metabolic syndrome is associated with numerous co-morbidities. Dietary factors influence central obesity by increased inflammatory status. However, recent studies didn’t evaluate the association between central obesity and dietary inflammation index (DII®) that give score to dietary factors according to their inflammatory potential. In the current systematic review and meta-analysis, we summarized the studies that investigated the association between DII® with central obesity indices in the general populations. Methods: In a systematic search from PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Sciences and Cochrane electronic databases, we collected relevant studies written in English and published until 30 October 2019. The population of included studies were apparently healthy subjects or individuals with obesity or obesity-related diseases. Observational studies that evaluated the association between DII® and indices of central obesity including WC or WHR were included. Results: Totally thirty-two studies were included; thirty studies were cross-sectional and two were cohort studies with 103071 participants. Meta-analysis of observational studies showed that higher DII® scores were associated with 1.81 cm increase in WC (Pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) = 1.813; CI: 0.785–2.841; p = 0.001). Also, a non-significant increase in the odds of having higher WC (OR = 1.162; CI: 0.95–1.43; p = 0.154) in the highest DII category was also observed. In subgroup analysis, the continent, dietary assessment tool and gender were the heterogeneity sources. Conclusion: The findings proposed that adherence to diets with high DII® scores was associated with increased WC. Further studies with interventional designs are necessary to elucidate the causality inference between DII® and central obesity indices.

Polycystic ovary syndrome is an observed plurimetabolic syndrome associated with central obesity and insulin resistance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of 12-week training program on weight loss, serum ghrelin, acylated ghrelin, des-acylated ghrelin, and obestatin levels in obese sedentary women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). To this end, thirty sedentary obese women with PCOS (mean age 31.07 ± 2.49 years, height 162.23 ± 2.39 cm, weight: 87.23 ± 4.48 kg, BMI 33.12 ± 0.92) were recruited from a multidisciplinary PCOS specialty clinic in Tabriz city in 2017 and evaluated before and after a 12-week training program, including 45 min per session of aerobic training at an intensity of 60–75% of age-predicted maximum heart rate (300 kcal/day). After the exercise program, body weight, waist circumference, and percentage body fat mass were decreased. Also, fasting glucose, insulin, and serum acylated ghrelin levels were significantly decreased (P 0.05). The moderate aerobic exercise training is associated with improvements in obestatin and health profiles of obese women with PCOS without associated structured energy restriction.

PurposeObesity is a major risk factor for chronic renal fibrosis and kidneys’ structural and inflammatory impairments. This study aims to examine the possible therapeutic effects of vitamin D supplementation against renal inflammatory and kidney’s structural fibrosis and degeneration.Design/methodology/approachForty male Wistar rats were divided into two groups for 16 weeks: normal diet (ND) and high-fat diet (HFD); then, each group was subdivided into two groups including ND, ND + vitamin D and HFD, HFD + vitamin D. Vitamin D supplementation was done for five weeks at 500 IU/kg dosage. Renal tissue concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin 6, interleukin 1 beta, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), serum values of lipids, markers of glucose homeostasis and urea, creatinine and uric acid and renal tissue histological and structural changes were determined.FindingsHFD feeding caused remarkable histological and structural changes including higher TNF-α, MCP-1 and TGF-βconcentrations in renal tissues of rats, whereas vitamin D has potent anti-inflammatory effects (P= 0.036, 0.047 and 0.02, respectively). Vitamin D administration also reduced urea and uric acid concentrations (P= 0.023 and 0.049, respectively). Moreover, vitamin D reduced glomerulomegaly, reduced lipid accumulation and limited dilated Bowman’s space in rats and improved glycemic status by increasing insulin (P= 0.04) and reducing insulin resistance (P= 0.006).Research limitations/implicationsThe current study has some limitations. It was better to measure the level of inflammatory cytokines’ expression in the kidney tissues. Additionally, the measurement of baseline values of inflammatory cytokines was not possible because of the possibility of animals’ drop-out.Practical implicationsAccording to the study findings, vitamin D treatment in the current report showed a significant therapeutic role in reducing inflammation, improving glycemic and lipid abnormalities and structural and histological modifications in renal tissues of rats. These findings have a great value because after confirming in a human model, vitamin D can be suggested as a potential therapeutic tool in clinical practice.Social implicationsAfter being confirmed by other animal or human researches, the results of the current work could have great social implications by reducing the prevalence of obesity-related renal complications and highlighting the beneficial roles of vitamin D.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the histological and inflammatory changes in the kidneys and metabolic parameters in the HFD induced rats and also clarified the therapeutic roles of vitamin D in ameliorating the inflammatory, histological, metabolic and functional changes in the kidneys of obese rats.

In the current study we aimed to evaluate the gender-specific associations between metabolic and psychological risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in patients with metabolic syndrome.In a cross-sectional study of 256 patients with metabolic syndrome (157 men, 99 women), the cardiovascular disease risk was evaluated using the FRS scoring system by a pre-defined computerized algorithm. Psychological distress was also assessed by general health questionnaire (GHQ)-12. Evaluation of the biochemical parameters including fasting serum glucose (FSG), lipid profile, liver enzymes and adiponectin concentrations were also performed using the enzymatic methods.The prevalence of low, intermediate and high risk of CVD in men was significantly higher than women (P 0.05). Both genders in high risk of CVD had significantly higher age, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and FSG concentrations compared with male and females in intermediate and low risk of CVD (P 0.05). In multiple logistic regression, being single was in the highest relationship with high psychological distress values compared with married or divorced/separated marital status. Moreover, high SBP and low high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentrations were also potent determinants of high psychological distress (P 0.05).In the current study, the prevalence of CVD risk factors were higher in men compared with women. Moreover, higher age, SBP and FSG were potent determinants of FRS in both genders. Marital status and serum HDL were in relation with psychological distress among patients with metabolic syndrome.

The presence of openings greatly affects the response of unreinforced masonry (URM) walls. This topic greatly attracts the attention of many researchers. Perforated unreinforced masonry (PURM) walls under in-plane loads through the truss discretization method (TDM) along with several machine learning approaches such as Multilayer perceptron (MLP), Group of Method Data Handling (GMDH), and Radial basis function (RBF) are described in this paper. A new method named Multi-pier (MP) that is fast and accurate, is used to determine the behavior of PURM walls. The results of the MP method are expressed as a ratio of lateral load-bearing capacity and initial stiffness of PURM walls to the solid wall in order to generalize the obtained results to other PURM walls. The outcomes of the MP method are employed to predict the behavior of PURM walls using various machine learning approaches. Using the validated network with suitable accuracy, empirical functions and curves are presented in an effort to provide a simplified and practical approach to assess the reduction in the load-bearing capacity and initial stiffness of PURM walls. Results indicate that the adjacent piers of opening have a remarkable impact on the overall response of the PURM wall. Finally, the ability of the MP method to conduct stochastic analysis is evaluated. Moreover, the effect of randomness in the mechanical characteristics and their spatial variation within the PURM wall is presented.

Voltage source multilevel inverters with reduced leakage current, single-stage voltage step-up feature, compact design, and an efficient performance are a promising technology for high-frequency ac (HFac) microgrids feeding through renewable energy sources. This article proposes a novel single-source common-grounded (CG) step-up nine-level (9L) inverter, which can be applied in HFac microgrid applications. The proposed CG-based boost inverter is comprised of only nine switches (9S) and three self-balanced capacitors. Using the switched-capacitor (SC) technique, a double voltage boosting feature within a single power processing stage is achieved, while the leakage current concern is eliminated due to a CG-based configuration between the input dc source and the null of the grid. With the help of an LC input filter, the input current profile is free from large discontinuous inrush spikes. The working principles of the proposed 9L9S-CGSC inverter are discussed in this article. The modulation and closed-loop control strategy, as well as a comparative study, are presented. Finally, the open and closed-loop grid-tied performances of the proposed topology are evaluated by both simulation and experimental results obtained from a 1.2-kW laboratory-built prototype.

Importance: Cancer and other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are now widely recognized as a threat to global development. The latest United Nations high-level meeting on NCDs reaffirmed this observation and also highlighted the slow progress in meeting the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the third Sustainable Development Goal. Lack of situational analyses, priority setting, and budgeting have been identified as major obstacles in achieving these goals. All of these have in common that they require information on the local cancer epidemiology. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study is uniquely poised to provide these crucial data. Objective: To describe cancer burden for 29 cancer groups in 195 countries from 1990 through 2017 to provide data needed for cancer control planning. Evidence Review: We used the GBD study estimation methods to describe cancer incidence, mortality, years lived with disability, years of life lost, and disability-Adjusted life-years (DALYs). Results are presented at the national level as well as by Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a composite indicator of income, educational attainment, and total fertility rate. We also analyzed the influence of the epidemiological vs the demographic transition on cancer incidence. Findings: In 2017, there were 24.5 million incident cancer cases worldwide (16.8 million without nonmelanoma skin cancer [NMSC]) and 9.6 million cancer deaths. The majority of cancer DALYs came from years of life lost (97%), and only 3% came from years lived with disability. The odds of developing cancer were the lowest in the low SDI quintile (1 in 7) and the highest in the high SDI quintile (1 in 2) for both sexes. In 2017, the most common incident cancers in men were NMSC (4.3 million incident cases); tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancer (1.5 million incident cases); and prostate cancer (1.3 million incident cases). The most common causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for men were TBL cancer (1.3 million deaths and 28.4 million DALYs), liver cancer (572000 deaths and 15.2 million DALYs), and stomach cancer (542000 deaths and 12.2 million DALYs). For women in 2017, the most common incident cancers were NMSC (3.3 million incident cases), breast cancer (1.9 million incident cases), and colorectal cancer (819000 incident cases). The leading causes of cancer deaths and DALYs for women were breast cancer (601000 deaths and 17.4 million DALYs), TBL cancer (596000 deaths and 12.6 million DALYs), and colorectal cancer (414000 deaths and 8.3 million DALYs). Conclusions and Relevance: The national epidemiological profiles of cancer burden in the GBD study show large heterogeneities, which are a reflection of different exposures to risk factors, economic settings, lifestyles, and access to care and screening. The GBD study can be used by policy makers and other stakeholders to develop and improve national and local cancer control in order to achieve the global targets and improve equity in cancer care. © 2019 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death in the US. Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of screening using low dose CT (LDCT) in reducing lung cancer related mortality. While lung nodules are detected with a high rate of sensitivity, this exam has a low specificity rate and it is still difficult to separate benign and malignant lesions. The ISBI 2018 Lung Nodule Malignancy Prediction Challenge, developed by a team from the Quantitative Imaging Network of the National Cancer Institute, was focused on the prediction of lung nodule malignancy from two sequential LDCT screening exams using automated (non-manual) algorithms. We curated a cohort of 100 subjects who participated in the National Lung Screening Trial and had established pathological diagnoses. Data from 30 subjects were randomly selected for training and the remaining was used for testing. Participants were evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of nodule-wise malignancy scores generated by their algorithms on the test set. The challenge had 17 participants, with 11 teams submitting reports with method description, mandated by the challenge rules. Participants used quantitative methods, resulting in a reporting test AUC ranging from 0.698 to 0.913. The top five contestants used deep learning approaches, reporting an AUC between 0.87 - 0.91. The team's predictor did not achieve significant differences from each other nor from a volume change estimate (p =.05 with Bonferroni-Holm's correction).

Single-source inverters with integrated switched-boost (SB) module and single-stage energy power conversion architecture have become a popular solution in many power electronics applications. This paper presents a novel topology of such types of inverters, which offers a modular design with a dynamic voltage boosting feature over a wide range of input voltages. The basic configuration of the proposed topology is able to generate three output voltage levels. It is comprised of an integrated SB module and a Quasi-H-Bridge (QHB) cell. The QHB cell consists of a self-balanced floating capacitor and four power switches, and the SB cell consists of a boost inductor and a single power switch. A five-level boosted output voltage can be achieved through the differential connection of two identical QHB cells utilizing a single SB module. The circuit description of the proposed topology, a comparative study, and the simulation and measurement results are given to verify the feasibility of this proposal.

Multilevel inverters (MLIs) based on the flying capacitor (FC) concept are beneficial in many renewable energy-based applications due to their compactness, low current stress on semiconductor devices, and reasonable thermal behavior for high-power applications. However, the recently developed FC-based topologies suffer from half dc-link voltage utilization and a variable high-frequency common-mode voltage (HF-CMV). The aim of this paper is to propose an FC-based family of MLIs with a five-level (5L) output voltage, full dc-link voltage utilization, and low HF-CMV. Using redundant states and the phase-shifted sinusoidal PWM technique, the value of the flying capacitor has been reduced significantly. The performance of the converter has been verified using Gallium Nitride (GaN) power switches. Circuit description and a brief comparative study with existing MLIs are given to justify the suitability of the topology.

Abstract. Background: Many studies have investigated the effect of ALA supplementation on lipid profile, and different results have been obtained from these studies. The current systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis was conducted to achive a strong conclusion about the effect of ALA supplementation on lipid profile including total cholesterol (TC), low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL, HDL) and triglyceride (TG). Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, SCOPUS, ProQuest and Embase for randomized placebo-controlled human trials that examined the effect of ALA supplementation on lipid profile up to November 2020. The dose and duration of ALA supplementation for included studies were ranged between 300–1200 mg/d and 2–16 weeks respectively. Weighted mean differences (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the effect size. Cochran’s Q and I2 tests were also used to assess between-study’s heterogeneity. In addition, subgroup analysis was performed to investigate potential sources of heterogeneity. Dose-response relationship was done using fractional polynomial modeling. Results: Among all eligible studies, 12 studies with a total number of 548 participants were selected. ALA caused a significant reduction on TC (WMD): −10.78 mg/dl, 95% CI: −20.81, −0.74, P=0.002), LDL (WMD: −10.88 mg/dl, 95% CI: −19.52, −2.24, P=0.014) and TG (WMD: −31.02 mg/dl, 95% CI: −49.63, −12.42, Pnon-linearity=0.026), TG (Pnon-linearity

Despite the significant differences in pathological background of neurodegenerative diseases, epileptic seizures are a comorbidity in many disorders such as Huntington disease (HD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Regarding the last one, specifically, it has been shown that the risk of developing epilepsy is three to six times higher in patients with MS compared to the general population. In this context, understanding the pathological processes underlying this connection will allow for the targeting of the common and shared pathological pathways involved in both conditions, which may provide a new avenue in the management of neurological disorders. This review provides an outlook of what is known so far about the bidirectional association between epilepsy and MS.

BACKGROUND Over the past few years, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids have been reported in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) complications.This study evaluated the effects of Camelina sativa oil (CSO) supplementation as one of the richest dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids on glucose homeostasis,inflammation, metabolic endotoxemia, and oxidative stress in NAFLD patients. METHODS A total of 46 patients with NAFLD were allocated to either an intervention (20 g/d CSO) or placebo (20 g/d sunflower oil) group receiving a calorie-restricted diet for 12 weeks. Fasting plasma levels of glycemic indices, hs-CRP, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), antioxidant enzymes activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), and uric acid were measured at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS The CSO supplementation led to significant differences in insulin concentration, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), hs-CRP, LPS, TAC, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, MDA and 8-iso-PGF2α between the two groups at end of the study (ANCOVA, P

Shorter telomere length is associated with numerous comorbidities; central obesity might trigger leukocyte telomere shortening; in the current meta-analysis we evaluated the association of central obesity with leukocyte telomere length among adults. A systematic search from Scopus, PubMed, Embase and Proquest electronic databases up to May 2021 was done. The final screening, provided five articles to be included in final meta-analysis. Those in the highest category of telomere length had 3.72 cm lower waist circumference (WC) compared with those in the lowest category (WMD=-3.718; CI=-7.180, -0.257 P = 0.035; I

Background Epidemiologic studies show that cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript prepropeptide (CARTPT) gene polymorphism modifies diet-obesity relationships. However, the interaction between CARTPT gene polymorphism and diet quality indices have not been investigated yet. The current study was aimed to evaluate the interaction between major dietary indices including Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) and Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and CARTPT gene rs2239670 variants among apparently healthy obese Iranians. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out by employing 288 apparently healthy obese adults aged 20–50 years with a BMI of 30–40 kg/m2. Diet quality was evaluated by Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) and Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) using a 132-items semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaire. The CARTPT gene rs2239670 polymorphism was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) technique. Blood concentrations of glycemic markers, lipid profile, α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) were also measured. ANCOVA multivariate interaction model was used to analyze gene-diet interactions. Results The significant interactions were identified between CARTPT gene polymorphism and HEI, affecting BMR (PInteraction = 0.003), serum glucose (PInteraction = 0.009) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol HDL concentrations (PInteraction = 0.03) after adjusting for the effects of sex and age. Also we found gene-diet interaction between CARTPT genotypes and DQI-I in terms of fat mass (FM; PInteraction = 0.02), waist circumference (WC; PInteraction Interaction Interaction Interaction Interaction = 0.05) in individuals even after adjusting for potential confounders. Conclusion Current study showed the effects of interaction between CARTPT genotype with adherence to HEI and DQI-I scores on obesity-related anthropometric and metabolic risk-factors.

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a metabolic condition with high prevalence worldwide. This study aims to examine the relationship between serum concentrations of gastrointestinal hormones such as cholecystokinin (CCK), ghrelin, peptide YY (PYY), and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the ingredients of MetS in obese population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 40 obese subjects (20 with MetS and 20 BMI and age-matched control individuals). The age range of the participants was 20-50 years and the participants’ anthropometric characteristics were measured. Serum lipids and the concentrations of oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), insulin, hs-CRP, CCK, PYY, and ghrelin were assessed with commercial ELISA kits. RESULTS: Serum levels of hs-CRP, total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in patients with MetS were significantly higher while CCK and insulin concentrations were higher in obese non- MetS group (P

This paper presents a new three-phase single-stage multiport inverter (SSMPI). The proposed topology contains no electrolytic capacitors. Therefore, its reliability and lifetime are improved in comparison with the well-known two-stage multiport voltage source inverters. In addition, the SSMPI has a modular structure and the number of input ports can be easily increased. The input ports of the SSMPI can be fed by different photovoltaic (PV) strings. Therefore, the SSMPI can be used in PV power plants with multiple PV strings to enhance the reliability and the lifetime of the power plant. The SSMPI can extract the maximum power from multiple PV strings with different irradiations, orientations, and characteristics. In this paper, the SSMPI structure and its challenges in switching command generation and control are explained. Then, a new switching algorithm based on space vector modulation and a novel control strategy are developed to fulfil the requirements of the SSMPI. The simulation and experimental test results of a 2.4 kW prototype show that the proposed converter can inject three-phase currents to the grid with a unity power factor and without using any ac current sensors. Moreover, the maximum power is extracted from the input ports in different test conditions.

Background Finding the relationship between the major dietary patterns and cardiometabolic phenotypes could be used for planning prevention programs based on the cultural and dietary habits to prevent transient from a metabolically healthy state to an unhealthy state. So, we aimed to assess the association between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic phenotypes in the northwestern population of Iran. Method In the present cross-sectional and population-based study, 504 adults sampled by cluster sampling in East-Azerbaijan, Iran. Factor analysis was used for determining the dietary pattern. Metabolic phenotypes were determined according to body mass index (BMI) cut–off point (25 kg/m2), and the presence of the metabolic syndrome. The independent sample t-test, one-way ANOVA, chi-square, and multinomial regression were used for statistical analysis. Results In both adjusted (OR: 2.24, 95% CI: 1.17, 4.31) and unadjusted models (OR: 3.14, 95% CI: 1.54, 5.42), the last tertile of the animal dietary pattern was associated with metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotypes. After adjusting, the last tertile of the animal dietary pattern was significantly associated with an increase of metabolically unhealthy obese (MUHO) phenotype (OR: 2.61, 95% CI: 1.18, 5.76). Conclusion In the present study, the animal dietary pattern was associated with MHO and MUHO phenotypes. It is suggested that some measures should be taken to strengthen nutrition education for the population and advocate a balanced diet to improve the condition.

Background: The vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA) family of cytokines regulates proliferation, angiogenesis, and migration of endothelial cells, increases vascular permeability, and controls thrombogenicity. Recent studies have suggested that the VEGFA gene plays an important role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and its related disorders. Dietary diversity score (DDS) has also been shown to have potential favorable effects against features of metabolic syndrome. This study examined the interactions between +405 VEGFA C/G (rs2010963) polymorphism and DDS on the metabolic and biochemical profile of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, in the current study, we aimed to evaluate the interaction between DDS and VEGFA rs2010963 gene polymorphisms in modification of metabolic risk factors including serum lipids, blood pressure, serum adiponectin, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3 concentrations in patients with metabolic syndrome. Methods and Materials: In the current cross-sectional study, 254 patients with metabolic syndrome were recruited. Measurements of blood pressure, anthropometric parameters, and dietary intakes were performed and the DDS was calculated. Biochemical variables including serum adiponectin concentrations, lipid profile, serum glucose, and MMP-3 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method (ELISA) and enzymatic colorimetric methods. Determination of +405 C/G VEGFA gene polymorphisms was performed using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Results: Patients in the lowest DDS quartile had higher insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), while patients in the highest DDS quartile had higher quantitative insulin check index (QUICKI; p < 0.05). Higher serum triglyceride and systolic blood pressure (SBP) values and lower serum adiponectin concentrations were also observed in lower DDS quartiles (p < 0.05). Patients with the CC genotype in the VEGFA rs2010963 polymorphism had significantly higher body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT; p < 0.05) compared to patients with the other 2 genotypes. In lower quartiles of DDS, 30% of patients with metabolic syndrome had the GG genotype, while 30.4 and 30.8% of patients with metabolic syndrome in higher DDS quartiles had GC and CC genotypes, respectively (p = 0.04). Conclusion: Our study found lower insulin resistance, serum triglyceride, and SBP and higher adiponectin concentrations among patients with metabolic syndrome in highest quartiles of DDS. Moreover, patients with the CC genotype were more likely to have higher BMI, fasting blood glucose, AST, and ALT. This significant interaction gives a possible evidence of a VEGFA-DDS association that may be relevant to metabolic syndrome. Further studies are warranted to clarify the underlying mechanisms of these interactions.

The interleaved bidirectional buck–boost converter dual active half-bridge (IBBC-DAHB) dc–dc converter consists of two converters IBBC and DAHB and a coupled inductor. The IBBC-DAHB converter has significant features such as low ripple current at the low-voltage side, low current stress on the input inductors, voltage stress across the switches less than the high-voltage side, high voltage gain, and zero-voltage soft switching. The converter offers high efficiency using phase-shift modulation when it operates at a nominal design operating point. However, the efficiency decreases due to high circulating current, high current stress, and limited soft-switching range when the source and load voltages deviate from their nominal values. This paper employs both duty cycle and phase-shift modulation methods to improve the above mentioned shortcomings using voltage matching for the DAHB converter. The proposed converter is analyzed and a 500-W experimental prototype with 40–60 V input voltage and 400 V output voltage under 100 kHz switching frequency is implemented to verify the theoretical results. The maximum efficiency of 97.15% is achieved at 60 V and 400 W. A flat efficiency characteristic for the converter is derived by the proposed control method, where the efficiency at 20% of nominal load is 91% and much higher than the phase-shift control, which is 70.8%.

Cancer is one of the chronic and rare diseases in children that is associated with psychological trauma that can cause fear and anxiety in patients. Considering that spirituality as a solid base may be a strong factor in controlling the tense conditions, this study aimed to investigate the effect of true heart spiritual care on cancer anxiety in Mashhad. This is a case–control study on 40 children referred to Dr. Sheikh Mashhad Children’s Therapeutic Center in 2017. Sampling was done randomly in two groups of test and control. The experimental group received the training program in five sessions in 4 weeks. The data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and Marx children’s anxiety scale and entered into spssv.20 software. There was no difference the score of anxiety before intervention in any of the dimensions of anxiety and the general dimension of anxiety in the case and control (P

Considering the importance of determining the association between dietary patterns and diseases in each population, the association of major dietary patterns with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in an adult population of north-west of Iran was studied. In this cross-sectional study, the data of the major Lifestyle Promotion Project conducted in north-west of Iran in 2015 was used. Anthropometric characteristics, blood pressure, and biochemical profile of 531 participants were measured. MetS was determined according to the adult panel III criteria. Dietary patterns were derived by factor analysis using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The logistic regression analysis was adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, education, and physical activity level (model 1) and further for BMI and energy intake (model 2). Three major dietary patterns including animal food, healthy, and Western patterns were identified. Fasting blood sugar was significantly lower in the first tertiles of the Western dietary pattern (p value of the fully adjusted model (model 2), 0.02). According to the results of logistic regression, in both unadjusted model (OR: 2.02, 95% CI: 1.10, 3.69) and adjusted (demographic factors) model (OR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.02, 3.75), individuals in the second tertile of animal food dietary pattern had significantly higher odds for high diastolic blood pressure. Avoidance from animal food dietary pattern could be suggested by dietitians for prevention of hypertension in the adult population.

Chronic eye pain, which has previously been assumed to be due to ocular surface abnormalities (ie, "dry eye [DE] disease"), has recently garnered attention as a potential indicator of neuropathic ocular pain in some patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a modified version of the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory in individuals with eye pain (NPSI-Eye). Enrolled participants (n = 397) completed the NPSI-Eye, general pain severity questionnaires, DE symptom report, and psychological health indices. Participants also underwent mechanical pain sensitivity testing of the cornea, tear film assessment, and evaluation of the efficacy of anesthetic eye drops to relieve pain. Short-term test-retest reliability of the NPSI-Eye was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.98, P < 0.001). Correlations between the NPSI-Eye and indicators of general eye pain were ≥0.65 (P < 0.001), whereas correlations between the NPSI-Eye and DE symptom severity and psychological health indices were lower (rho = 0.56, 0.32, 0.37; all P < 0.001). Individuals who reported little or no decrease in pain after anesthetic eye drops (hypothesized to indicate eye pain with at least partial central involvement) had significantly higher NPSI-Eye scores than participants whose eye pain was completely relieved by anesthetic (P < 0.05). Overall, our results support preliminary validation of the NPSI-Eye, yielding similar metrics to those reported in Bouhassira et al.'s original NPSI publication (2004). However, additional evaluation and refinement of some questions may be desirable, including the potential elimination of items that were not highly endorsed.

The reduction of population concentration in some urban land uses is one way to prevent and reduce the spread of COVID-19 disease. Therefore, the objective of this study is to prepare the risk mapping of COVID-19 in Tehran, Iran, using machine learning algorithms according to socio-economic criteria of land use. Initially, a spatial database was created using 2282 locations of patients with COVID-19 from 2 February 2020 to 21 March 2020 and eight socio-economic land uses affecting the disease—public transport stations, supermarkets, banks, automated teller machines (ATMs), bakeries, pharmacies, fuel stations, and hospitals. The modeling was performed using three machine learning algorithms that included random forest (RF), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), and logistic regression (LR). Feature selection was performed using the OneR method, and the correlation between land uses was obtained using the Pearson coefficient. We deployed 70% and 30% of COVID-19 patient locations for modeling and validation, respectively. The results of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) showed that the RF algorithm, which had a value of 0.803, had the highest modeling accuracy, which was followed by the ANFIS algorithm with a value of 0.758 and the LR algorithm with a value of 0.747. The results showed that the central and the eastern regions of Tehran are more at risk. Public transportation stations and pharmacies were the most correlated with the location of COVID-19 patients in Tehran, according to the results of the OneR technique, RF, and LR algorithms. The results of the Pearson correlation showed that pharmacies and banks are the most incompatible in distribution, and the density of these land uses in Tehran has caused the prevalence of COVID-19.

This trial evaluated the effects of co-supplementing Camelina sativa oil (CSO) and a prebiotic as modulators of the gut microbiota on cardiometabolic risk factors and mental health in NAFLD patients. In all, 44 subjects with NAFLD were allocated to either an intervention (20 g d-1 CSO + resistant dextrin) or a placebo (20 g d-1 CSO + maltodextrin) group and received a calorie-restricted diet (-500 kcal d-1) for 12 weeks. Fasting plasma levels of gucose, insulin, hs-CRP, endotoxin, antioxidant enzyme activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α, and uric acid were measured at the baseline and post-intervention. The depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS) and the general health questionnaire (GHQ) were used to assess mental health. Co-supplementing CSO and resistant dextrin significantly decreased the level of insulin concentration (-0.84 μU ml-1, p = 0.011), HOMA-IR (-0.27, p = 0.021), hs-CRP (-1.25 pg ml-1, p = 0.023), endotoxin (-3.70 EU mL-1, p = 0.001), cortisol (-2.43, p = 0.033), GHQ (-5.03, p = 0.035), DASS (-9.01, p = 0.024), and MDA (-0.54 nmol mL-1, p = 0.021) and increased the levels of TAC (0.16 mmol L-1, p = 0.032) and superoxide dismutase (106.32 U g-1 Hb, p = 0.45) in the intervention group compared with the placebo group. No significant changes were observed in the levels of other biomarkers. Co-supplementing CSO and resistant dextrin in combination with a low-calorie diet may improve metabolic risk factors and mental health in NAFLD patients.

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the interaction effect of aerobic exercise and vitamin D supplementation on inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6, CC16, SP-D, and CC16/SP-D ratio) and lung function (FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC ratio) in male smokers.MethodsAfter applying inclusion criteria, a total of 40 healthy male smokers were recruited in this study. The participants were randomly divided into four groups as follows: Aerobic Exercise + vitamin D Supplementation (AE + VitD,n = 10), Aerobic Exercise (AE,n = 10), vitamin D Supplementation (VitD,n = 10), and Control (C,n = 10). The participants in the AE + VitD and AE groups performed aerobic exercise training (running) up to 50% of the maximum heart rate, three times a week for four weeks. Participants in AE + VitD and VitD groups received 6000 IU/w vitamin D3for four weeks. The participants in control group did not receive any intervention. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, Clara cell protein (CC16), surfactant protein (SP)-D, CC16/SP-D ratio, and lung function (FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC ratio) were measured before and after four weeks of intervention.ResultsSerum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, and CC16 decreased significantly in AE + VitD, VitD, and AE groups after four weeks (P P = 0.011). In addition, FEV1 and FVC increased significantly (P P > 0.05). Furthermore, serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D increased significantly in AE + VitD and VitD groups (P P > 0.05).ConclusionsThe results of present study were that aerobic exercise combined with vitamin D supplementation can reduce serum inflammatory factors and anti-inflammatory proteins and improve lung function after four weeks of intervention. Further trials with larger sample size and longer duration are suggested to confirm these results.Trial registrationRetrospectively registered. IRCT20180513039637N4. Registration date: 2020/10/20. URL:https://www.irct.ir/search/result?query=IRCT20180513039637N4

Digitalization-oriented transformation provides enormous possibilities to all sectors, ranging from manufacturing to the service industries. This study aimed to investigate the role of social media and its utilization by tourism operators/policymakers as a catalyst to enhance the image of a destination that is grappling with political deadlock and burdens of nonrecognition despite its abundance of tourism resources. The case of north Cyprus is an embodiment of a number of destinations that are challenged by political hurdles, conflicts, and nonrecognition, which result in economic hardship, political uncertainty, and social disappointment. This research aimed to investigate the role of social media in popularizing and marketing north Cyprus by placing it on the global digital tourism map. For the purpose of this study, a qualitative research method was employed and data collected through semi-structured interview questions. The interviewees were mainly public sector tourism officials, hoteliers, travel agency managers, and tourism academicians. Data analysis was conducted by applying Atlas.ti 9 (1.0.0.206) software. The findings reveal that tourism operators and policymakers have failed to take advantage of social media platforms—which have become a form of public goods—to mitigate the negative effects of the political impasse that has curtailed the tourism sector. The implications and contributions are also discussed.

Background: Over the past few years, the benefits of co-administration of omega-3 and antioxidants have been reported in the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) complications.This study evaluated the effects of Camelina sativa oil (CSO) supplementation as one of the richest dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids on glucose homeostasis,inflammation, metabolic endotoxemia, and oxidative stress in NAFLD patients. Methods: In all, 43 subjects with NAFLD were allocated to either an intervention (20g/d CSO) or placebo (20g/d sunflower oil) group receiving a calorie-restricted diet for 12 weeks. Fasting serum levels of glycemic indices, hs-CRP, endotoxin, antioxidant enzymes activity, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), and uric acid were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Results: CSO intake led to a significant decrease in insulin concentration (-17.49%), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (-20%), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), (-12.94%), lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (-32.55%), malondialdehyde (MDA) (-18.75%), 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) (-19.55%) and a significant increase in the levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) (31.82%) and superoxide dismutase activity (10.22%) in the CSO group compared with the placebo group. Also, there was no significant difference between the two groups in fasting plasma glucose, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI), catalase, glutathione peroxidase activity, and uric acid level. In addition, within-group analyses showed a significant reduction of insulin, QUICKI, hs-CRP, and endotoxin levels in the intervention group. Conclusion: These findings indicate that CSO may improve glycemic, inflammation, metabolic endotoxima, oxidative stress status, and mental health in patients with NAFLD.

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most frequent form of malignant neoplasia diagnosed in ages 0 to 14 years old. Efforts have not yet converted into a better prospect. Bone marrow relapse is still the leading cause of person-year of life lost in this malignancy. Objectives: This study aimed at identifying the associated risk factors for relapse and mortality for pediatric patients with ALL in standard and high-risk groups. Methods: This study included a cohort of pediatric (0 - 16 years old) patients with ALL referred to Sheikh Hospital, Mashhad, Iran from 2007 to 2016. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory information were considered. Hazard ration (HR) with 95% highest posterior density region was obtained, using a Bayesian competing risks model. Results: Of 424 patients with a mean age of 5.56 ± 3.75 years, 172 (40%) were female. Median follow-up time was 43.29 months, 10.6% had a relapse, and 17.2% had mortality related to ALL. Relapse-free survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 97, 91, and 88%, respectively. Overall survival rates were 86, 83, and 82%, respectively. In the standard-risk group, tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) significantly increased either the relapse risk [HR: 13.47 (2.05 - 67.54)] or mortality risk [HR: 19.57 (2.24 - 32.18)]. In the high-risk group, the higher level of hemoglobin, platelet, and lactic acid dehydrogenase was significantly associated with higher relapse risk. TLS was associated with a higher risk of mortality in high-risk groups. Conclusions: It was suggested that TLS was a predictor for the disease relapse as well as mortality in pediatric patients with ALL. However, further evaluation on the larger population of patients is demanded to ascertain the precision of such parameters in leukemic management strategies.

Background and Aim: Genetic variation in fatty acid desaturases (FADS) has previously been linked to several diet-related diseases. We aimed to determine whether the FADS2 rs174583 variant interacts with the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score and Mediterranean dietary score (MDS) to influence cardio-metabolic risk factors among obese adults.Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among 347 apparently healthy obese adults (aged 20–50 years). Dietary quality indicator scores (DASH and MDS) were generated using a validated 147-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). The FADS2 rs174583 variant was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The gene–diet interaction was analyzed by the ANCOVA multivariate interaction model.Results: A significant interaction was observed between rs174583 and adherence to the DASH score in relation to serum triglyceride (TG) concentration among the female group (PInteraction = 0.046); CT-genotype carriers who were assigned to the second tertile of DASH compared with those in the first tertile had a lower TG level (P < 0.05). Another significant interaction was revealed between adherence to MDS score and rs174583 polymorphism on serum glucose levels (PInteraction = 0.044); the lowest mean of glucose level was observed in homozygous minor subjects (TT) in the third tertile of MDS, in comparison with other tertiles of this dietary index (P < 0.05). There was a similar significant interaction between DASH and rs174583 in relation to diastolic blood pressure (PInteraction = 0.038) among the male group. Additionally, a significant positive association was found between TT genotype and odds of having high TG both in the crude (OR, 3.21; 95% CI, 1.02–10.14) and adjusted (OR, 3.58; 95% CI, 1.07–11.97) models, taking into account different confounders.Conclusion: Adherence to the dietary quality indicators (DASH and MDS) modified the relationship between FADS2 rs174583 polymorphism and cardio-metabolic risk factors in obese subjects. Prospective cohort studies are needed to confirm the results of our study.