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To assess serum vitamin D trend from baseline to 12 months after one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB).In this observational cohort analysis of longitudinal data, we assessed the trend of serum vitamin D, and its associations with anthropometric, and biochemical measurements in 98 patients undergoing OAGB in a bariatric surgery center. All participants were on800 IU/day vitamin D supplementation.Vitamin D, lipid profile, creatinine, and albumin levels significantly improved at 12 months post-surgery. Vitamin D concentrations significantly increased from 26.52 ± 12.32 to 54.52 ± 27.90 ng/mL at 12 months. The correlations between vitamin D concentrations and weight, body mass index, lipid profile, ferritin, glycemic indices, and albumin were not significant. In addition, the correlations between vitamin D and parathormone, vitamin D receptor, calcium, phosphorus, body composition, and basal metabolic rate (BMR) did not reach the threshold of statistical significance at 12 months following bariatric surgery. Although there was a significant correlation between body weight and body composition (P 0.001) and basal metabolic rate (BMR) (r = 0.762, P 0.001) at 12 months, there were no significant correlations between weight change percent and body composition (P 0.05), BMR (r = -0.101, P = 0.350), and vitamin D (r = 0.120, P = 0.271) at 12 months.Our results showed that supplementation of vitamin D with dosage of800 IU/day is sufficient for prevention of vitamin D deficiency within 12 months after OAGB surgery. Note: This data is mandatory.

Background & Aims of the Study: Since beta-thalassemia is the most commonly inherited disease in Iran, its preventive and controlling programs are considered vitally important in the healthcare system. This study was conducted to investigate the incidence rate and epidemiology of major beta-thalassemia (MBT) over the last twenty years in Kerman, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study, as a kind of health system research, carried was out on all patients with beta-thalassemia (born from March 1998 to March 2018) registered in Kerman Health Center. The data, extracted from the national records of genetic diseases, were analyzed in SPSS software (version 16) using Fisherchr('39')s exact test. Results: Based on the results of the present study, the incidence rate of MBT was calculated at 0.99 cases per 10,000 live births. According to this result, 29 subjects with MBT were born from 1998 to 2018. The most important cause of thalassemia was determined as non-identification of thalassemia minor in carrier couples and their lack of awareness about their complication (62%). The other cause was the non-cooperation of screened carrier couples in attending prenatal diagnosis (20.7%). It was revealed that in 23 MBT cases, the parents were relatives (79.3%). The diagnosis of 62% of patients had been made before they turned one year. Conclusion: It is recommended that the following measures been adopted to avoid MBT incidence: strengthening the care team, cooperating with gynecologists in identifying pregnant women suspected of having thalassemia minor in the first weeks of pregnancy and referring them to genetic counseling centers for condition determination, educating families and changing carrier couples attitudes toward abortion, monitoring and improving screening laboratories, and implementing public education programs for specific groups.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), derived from various tissues, are served as a promising source of cells in clinic and regenerative medicine. Umbilical cord-Wharton's jelly (WJ-MSCs)-derived MSCs exhibit advantages over those from adult tissues, such as no ethical concerns, shorter population doubling time, broad differentiation potential, readily available non-invasive source, prolonged maintenance of stemness properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of MRI (1.5 T, 10 min) on stemness gene expression patterns (OCT-4, SOX-2, NANOG) of WJ-MSCs. Additionally, we assessed cell viability, growth kinetics and apoptosis of WJ-MSCs after MRI treatment. The quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) data showed that transcript levels of SOX-2, NANOG in MRI-treated WJ-MSCs were increased 32- and 213-fold, respectively. MTT assay was performed at 24, 48, and 72 h post-treatment and the viability was not significantly different between the two groups. The doubling time of the MRI group was markedly higher than the control group. In addition, the colony formation ability of WJ-MSCs after MRI treatment significantly increased. Furthermore, no change in apoptosis was seen before or after MRI treatment. Our results suggest that the use of MRI can improve the quality of MSCs and enhance the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies.

Antioxidants that used for the infertility treatment cannot have their complete effectiveness, because of their instability in the culture medium.One of the most advances, in the drug delivery systems, is nanoliposomes-loaded, as biodegradable and bioavailable carriers. Hormonal and antioxidant agents encapsulating inside the nanoliposomes were used, to increase the effectiveness of antioxidants in the sperm culture medium.Semen sample from 15 asthenospermia were divided into 10 equal parts. After preparation, the sperms were incubated with free form of drugs and nanocarriers contained resveratrol, catalase, resveratrol-catalase and testosterone for 45 min. All sperm parameters, sperm DNA and gene expressions were evaluated before and after freezing.Before freezing, all nanocarriers and free testosterone showed higher sperm motility compared to free drugs (Nanoliposomes could improve the sperm parameters and DNA integrity before and after freezing, by increasing the effectiveness of antioxidants. So, it can be recommended in the ART lab.

Background: The relationship between strong immune response to infections and trace elements such as selenium (Se) and copper (Cu) is well documented. Furthermore, Se and Cu behave as negative and positive acute phase reactants under infectious conditions, respectively. Since SARS-CoV-2 causes systemic inflammation, this study was conducted to evaluate the association of Se and Cu serum levels with symptoms and immune response to SARS-CoV-2, and then assess the Cu/Se ratio in this matter.Methods: Blood samples and nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from 126 SARS-CoV-2 participants with mild and severe clinical symptoms. The SARS-CoV-2 infection and immune response to the virus were confirmed by RT-PCR and anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, respectively. The measurement of Se and Cu serum levels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry and colorimetric assay, respectively. Finally, data were analyzed and a P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean Se levels were higher in patients with mild symptoms (108.73 ± 5.38 μg/L, P-value = 0.0012) and IgG non-responders (110.33 ± 3.38 μg/L, P-value < 0.001), whereas, the mean Cu was higher in participants with severe symptoms (111.055 ± 11.98 μg/dL, P-value = 0.045) and IgG responders (112 ± 9.98 μg/dL, P-value = 0.0058). The Cu/Se ratio was lower (ratio < 1) in participants with no immune responses to infection and mild symptoms versus immune responder patients with severe symptoms (P-value < 0.001).Conclusion: Our results suggest that Cu/Se ratio may be considered as a nutritional biomarker of severity and immune response in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients.

Exosomes, as natural occurring vesicles, play highly important roles in the behavior and fate of ischemic diseases and different tumors. Secretion, composition, and function of exosomes are remarkably influenced by hypoxia in ischemic diseases and tumor microenvironment. Exosomes secreted from hypoxic cells affect development, growth, angiogenesis, and progression in ischemic diseases and tumors through a variety of signaling pathways. In this review article, we discuss how hypoxia affects the quantity and quality of exosomes, and review the mechanisms by which hypoxic cell-derived exosomes regulate ischemic cell behaviors in both cancerous and noncancerous cells.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the social support provided for non-depressed women and women with postpartum depression referring to health centers in Jahrom. Method: In order to achieve the mentioned goal, three health care centers randomly selected. 60 referring women who had the required criteria were selected by convenience sampling method and were divided into two groups of postpartum depression (30) and non-depressed (30) people. For evaluation of social support, the Phillips Social Support scale was used, and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Questionnaire was used to evaluate postpartum depression. Data were analyzed by T-test. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference between the non-depressed and those with postpartum depression in terms of social support (P = 0.03). These findings are remarkable in that they can be used to prevent the progression of treatment for postpartum depression. Conclusion: It is necessary to implement social and behavioral interventions in order to encourage and educate families, friends and kinship networks in order to provide socially desirable support for mothers, as well as cultural interventions in order to modify the morbidity of men to reduce postpartum depression. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.18(4) 2019 p.736-740

Background: The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet has been associated with reduced hypertension and risk of cardiovascular diseases, nevertheless DASH diet is rich in foods that are recommended to be inversely associated with cancer risk. The objective of the present study was to conduct the first meta-analysis of studies investigating the associations between DASH diet and risk of colorectal cancer.Methods: Relevant studies were identified in PubMed and Scopus (up to April 2019). Meta-analysis was conducted to calculate the summary relative risk (RR) estimates based on the highest versus the lowest category of DASH scores.Results: Six articles (four prospective cohorts and two case-controls) were eligible. The pooled adjusted RR of Colorectal cancer for the highest DASH score versus the lowest category was 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.75-0.88).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that adherence to the DASH diet was associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer. These results support the need to promote healthy diet with higher intake of whole grain, vegetables, fruits, and low-fat dairy products and lower intake of salt, sweets and saturated fat to reduce colorectal cancer risk.

This work presents a passive wireless measurement system for potentiometric chemical probes inside a small laboratory tube. An inductively coupled link is utilized with DC-to-frequency signal transduction via load modulation. The wireless power transfer part of the system features advantageous flexibility in coil separation distances and stability in the frequency providing maximum power transfer, as evidenced by the couple-mode theory analysis. We then demonstrate continuous pH sensing through a cap for a 50-ml centrifuge tube. Instrumentation and resultant data are presented, showcasing excellent linearity and tunable outputs. Our approach and system architecture can be used for numerous passive wireless potentiometric sensing applications in both laboratory and industry settings, as well as other wireless sensing systems, with minor circuit modification.

β-Thalassemia (β-thal) is one of the most common inherited diseases all over the world. These patients are very susceptible to infection disease, and the mortality and morbidity of infected patients will increase. The object of this systematic review study was to determine mortality and morbidity of infected β-thal patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We searched PubMed, Elsevier, and Scholar Google to obtain related papers. The time of search was 21 June until 17 July 2020. All original and review articles and case reports were searched with key words: COVID 19, beta or β-thalassemia (β-thal), mortality and morbidity. Data were extracted after quality assessment of all articles. We obtained seven, 21 and six articles from PubMed, Scholar Google and Science Direct, respectively. Finally, seven articles were discussed in our study. The total number of enrolled patients was 34. Twenty-six patients carried transfusion-dependent β-thal major (β-TM). The most common symptoms were fever, cough, pain and dyspnea. Nine patients died. The result of this study has shown that the mortality and morbidity of infected β-thal patients will escalate.

Background: Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 are anabolic hormones that play a vital role in the growth of various physical organs. Exercise is one of the stimuli that affect GH and IGF-1 secretion. Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of two types of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on plasma levels of GH and IGF-l in overweight nurses. Methods: In this study, 27 nurses were voluntarily selected and randomly assigned to three groups (9 participants for each group): 1. HIIT (type 1), including eight seconds of spring running and 12 seconds of active recovery, 2. HIIT (type 2), including a 40-meter shuttle run with maximum speed, 3. control. HIIT (type 1) was performed for four weeks, three sessions per week, each session 6 - 9 min with more than 90% HRmax. HIIT (type 2) was applied for four weeks, three sessions per week, with more than 90% HRmax. The control group did not participate in any training protocol. The serum value of GH and IGF-1 were compared in three groups. The data were analyzed by the dependent t-test and ANOVA. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to analyze the intergroup data at P ⟨ 0.05. Results: The results showed that HIIT (type 1) and (type 2) significantly increased plasma GH (P = 0.032 in group 2 and P = 0.010 in group 1) and IGF-l (P = 0.004 in group 2 and P = 10.013 in group 1) levels in nurses. The results showed a significant difference in the variables (GH and IGF-l) among HIIT (type 1), HIIT (type 2), and control groups. Conclusions: It can be concluded that four weeks of adverse intermittent exercises are effective in increasing the concentration of GH and IGF-1 serum and decreased percentage body fat in young nurses with overweight, and proportional to the intensity of the exercise protocol response rate is different.

A novel viral respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-C0V-2), is responsible for a pandemic situation in the world. Pregnant women are susceptible against this virus due to physiologic changes of immunologic system. Some adverse pregnancy outcome such as; death, still birth, preeclampsia, intra uterine fetal distress may increase in infected pregnant women. Infected women should be isolated and investigated and they should admit in a designated hospital with adequate facilities and multi-disciplinary expertise to manage them. Some adverse neonatal complication such as; Small for Gestational Age, Large for Gestational Age, shortness of breath, thrombocytopenia with abnormal liver function, rapid heart rate, vomiting and pneumothorax may increase in affected neonate. This study reviews the problems and guidelines of covid-19 in pregnancy. The limitation of this study was; we didn't conduct systematic review among studies were done in pregnancy and COVID 19.

Objective Uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) plays a crucial role in energy homeostasis via insulin secretion regulation, free fatty acid concentrations, and lipid metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the association of 45-bp ins/del polymorphism of UCP2 with susceptibility to NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) and T2DM (Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus). DNA was extracted from the white blood cells of the subjects, and the gene polymorphism was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this study, 72 patients with NAFLD, 71 healthy individuals as control, 80 patients with T2DM, and 77 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Results A higher prevalence of insertion/insertion genotype was observed in T2DM patients compared to the controls (p- value˂ 0.05). There was no difference in genotype distribution between NAFLD patients and controls (p-value > 0.05). NAFLD patients with D/D, D/I genotype had higher triglyceride, ALT, and AST levels; however, their HDL levels were lower than healthy controls. Patients with T2DM with D/D or D/I genotype also had significantly higher fasting serum glucose (FSG). While we found an association between the 45 bp I/D polymorphism in 3ʹUTR of UCP2 and T2DM, no correlation between this polymorphism and NAFLD was identified.

This study aimed to report a one-pot, eco-friendly and room temperature procedure to prepare highly stable (at least 15 months) silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the aqueous leaf extract of Cordia myxa. The effects of different parameters, such as applied pH in the reaction mixture, amount of the leaf extract, silver ion concentrations, time of reaction and synthesis temperature, on the formation of NPs and their Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) spectra were studied. The characterisation of the prepared AgNPs was done using UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-Ray Differentiation (XRD) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) techniques. The shape of the synthesised AgNPs was spherical and it sized 3–10 nm with a face-centred cubic structure with SPR spectra at 410 nm. A possible reaction mechanism of AgNP formation by biomolecules of C. myxa was also introduced. The efficiency of the synthesised AgNPs as an excellent catalyst for the reduction of organic azo dyes using NaBH4 was proved. Dose-dependent cytotoxic activity of the prepared AgNPs against SW480 and HCT116 human colon cancer cell lines was also shown using MTT assay. Furthermore, the Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay was utilised to confirm the antioxidant activity of NPs. Non-toxic reagents and low-cost synthesis were the main features that made these AgNPs more attractive for chemical/biomedical applications.

Studies have revealed a relation between birth weight (BW) and later risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This meta-analysis aimed to report the dose-response relationship between BW and risk of CVDs. The relation of BW to CVD subtypes was found to be U-shaped as BW below ~ 2500 g and above ~ 4000 g affected positively CVD risk (OR = 1.14 = 95%CI 1.03–1.27 and OR = 1.08; 95%CI 0.99–1.18, respectively). Regarding CVD subtypes, low BW was directly linked to greater risk of CHD (OR = 1.15; 95%CI 1.02–1.29) and stroke (OR = 1.28; 95% CI 1.05–1.55), while high BW was related to increased risk of arterial fibrillation in adulthood. A U-shaped nonlinear relationship was specifically demonstrated between BW and overall CVD and its subtypes. There is a U-shaped association between BW and all CVD subtypes.

Objectives: Pain is one of the major problems for patients after cesarean section. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of amniotic membrane as cesarean wound dressing on pain after cesarean section. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 90 pregnant women who underwent cesarean section in Amir-alMomenin hospital, Gerash, Iran. The participants were divided into 2 groups each of 45. The wound was dressed with amniotic membrane in one group and with simple gauze in the other group. Pain was measured and recorded in the 2 groups by visual analogue scale (VAS). The need for receiving analgesics 24 hours after the cesarean section was also assessed and compared between the 2 groups. Results: The results showed no signifcant difference between the 2 groups regarding the mean pain, 4 and 12 hours after the cesarean section (P=0.308 and P=0.628, respectively). However, a signifcant difference was observed between the 2 groups, in this regard, 24, 36, and 48 hours after the operation (P=0.026, P=0.026, and P=0.004, respectively). Moreover, the patients in the amniotic membrane group needed less analgesics compared to those in the control group 24 hours after cesarean section (P=0.041) Conclusions: Use of amniotic membrane dressing can be effective in reducing pain after cesarean section and can eliminate the patients’ need for analgesics. Hence, it can be used as an effective complementary method along with usual analgesics for pain relief.

This paper describes a cooperative control method for autonomous vehicles, in order to perform different traffic maneuvers. The problem is formulated as a distributed optimal control problem for a ...

Background: Adipokines, including vaspin and chemerin, have different biological roles associated with body mass index, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of resistance exercises on serum levels of vaspin and chemerin in middle-aged obese women. Methods: In this study, 20 inactive obese women with the mean and standard deviation of age and body mass index of 52.13 ± 10.06 and 30.87 ± 2.01 were divided into two groups of resistance (n = 10) and control (n = 10) exercises. Resistance exercise program included 3 sessions per week for 12 weeks (50% - 75%, one repetition maximun). Anthropometric indices, vaspin, and chemerin levels were measured before and after exercises. Results: The results suggested that changes in serum levels of chemerin and vaspin after 12 weeks of resistance exercises showed a significant difference compared to the control group (P = 0.001, P = 0.002). Conclusions: It can be concluded that 12 weeks of resistance exercise is effective in reducing vaspin and chemerin and reducing body fat percentage in middle-aged obese women, and the response rate varies according to the type and duration of the exercise protocol.

Background Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious complication of pregnancy and one of the main causes of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in the world. Finding a biomarker with high sensitivity and specificity could lead to prediction and early diagnosis of the disease and reduces its complications. In this study, we evaluated diagnostic accuracy of Soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) to Placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio for diagnosis of PE. Methods The cases included 23 mild, 15 severe preeclamptic patients, and 20 normal term pregnant women as control referred to GYN ward of the Persian Gulf Hospital in Bandar Abbas from 2014 to 2016. Levels of sFlt-1 and PlGF were measured. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to calculate diagnostic accuracy of sFlt-1/PlGF ratio. Results The mean Level of sFlt-1/PlGF in PE patients (91.33 ng/ml) was significantly higher than control women (17.62) (P Conclusions Our data showed sFlt-1/PlGF ratio has higher accuracy for differentiating PE patients from non-PEs in comparison with its power for differentiating severe or early onset forms of the disease.

Background Obesity and overweight are known as risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, osteoarthritis, and some cancers leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Cuminum cyminum L. is one of the medicinal plants belonging to the Apiaceae family. The native regions for this plant are India, Iran, the Mediterranean region, and Egypt. Cumin contains essential fatty acids and volatile oils, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and terpenes. Cumin could be used as an anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, anti-dyspepsia, and anti-obesity agent. Therefore, this systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of cumin on weight, BMI, waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio. Methods PubMed, Scopus, ISI, science direct, and Google Scholar databases were searched for April 2020. Twelve studies were included for this systematic review. Results Cumin can modulate anthropometric indices in the obese and overweight population by activating some enzymes, increasing the expression of insulin‐responsive glucose transporter type 4, and preventing fat accumulation in the body. Conclusions Cumin has anti-obesity effects on obese people. Thereby, more studies are required to assess the effect of different dosages of cumin on anthropometric indices.

Objective: To investigate the association of uncoupling protein-2 ( UCP2 ) –866G > A gene polymorphism (rs659366) with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods: We performed a case-control study with a cohort of 75 patients with NAFLD (of Iranian ethnicity) and 76 healthy individuals of Iranian ethnicity. The UCP2 –866G > A polymorphism (rs659366) was determined using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: Patients with AA and AG genotypes were 71% and 68%, respectively, more likely to have NAFLD, compared with individuals with the GG genotype (reference group). In subjects with a GG genotype, serum triglyceride (TG) concentration was significantly higher in patients with NAFLD ( P = .04). Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentrations in all 3 genotypes and serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) concentrations in AG and GG genotypes of UCP2 gene polymorphism were significantly higher in patients ( P A UCP 2 polymorphism in patients with NAFLD. * Abbreviations : NAFLD : nonalcoholic fatty liver disease NHANES : United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey T2DM : type 2 diabetes mellitus UCP : uncoupling protein ATP : adenosine triphosphate SNP : single-nucleotide polymorphism BMI : body mass index WC : waist circumference HC : hip circumference WHR : waist-to-hip ratio BIA : bioelectrical impedance analysis EDTA : ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid FSG : fasting serum glucose TC : total cholesterol HDL-C : high-density lipoprotein cholesterol TG : triglycerides AST : aspartate aminotransferase ALT : alanine aminotransferase LDL-C : low-density lipoprotein cholesterol Tris : trisaminomethane dH2O : distilled water PCR-RFLP : polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism PCR : polymerase chain reaction NCBI : National Center for Biotechnology Information HGVS : Human Genome Variation Society ANCOVA : analysis of covariance bp : base pair OR : odds ratio CI : confidence interval NA : not applicable BMR : basal metabolic rate FM : fat mass FFM : fat-free mass

Diet is a known source of pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators, and inflammatory markers have been associated with mechanisms involved in prostate cancer initiation and progression. The Dietary Inflammatory Index (DIIEMBASE and MEDLINE were searched from inception to February 2018, for relevant observational studies. The random effects model was used to calculate the overall relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Data from five case-control and one cohort study were eligible for inclusion. The adjusted pooled RR of prostate cancer for the highest (the most pro-inflammatory diet) versus lowest (the most anti-inflammatory diet) DII categories was 1.74 (95% CI: 1.24-2.43). The analysis in the DII score as a continuous variable was also performed and the results showed that the risk of prostate cancer was 9% higher for each one-point increase in the score.This meta-analysis suggests that promoting diets rich in anti-inflammatory food components (i.e., whole grains, fish, green vegetables, and fruits) should help in reducing preventing prostate cancer.

This paper presents a distributed coverage control scheme based on receding horizon control for the coordination of multiple mobile robots to cover an event. The mission space is modeled using a probability density function representing the probability of occurrence of events. The distributed scheme is generated by the decomposition of a single optimal coverage problem into distributed receding horizon coverage control problems, each of them associated with one robot. The distributed coverage scheme is proven to optimally stabilize robots at a centroidal Voronoi configuration, which is an optimal configuration to cover an event. The control scheme is tested in three simulation environments to illustrate its good performance at environments with any probability density function of events, as well as its ability to generalize to much larger groups of mobile robots.

Background: Genetic and environmental factors are both involved in the etiology of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Among the genetic factors, certain polymorphisms of adiponectin gene are associated with NAFLD. In the current study, we investigated the association between metabolic parameters with different genotypes of adiponectin +276 G>T polymorphism among the Iranian NAFLD patients, and the effect of nutritional intake with development of NAFLD. Methods: In this study, 75 patients with NAFLD and 76 healthy individuals were enrolled. Dietary intakes were assessed using a semi-quantitative Food-Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR) were calculated. Biochemical assays including FSG (Fasting Serum Glucose), liver enzymes, lipid profiles, Malondialdehyde, insulin resistance and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) were measured after 12 hr fasting. Gene polymorphism study was done by using of sequencing method. Results: Although, T allele frequency was more prevalent in patients with NAFLD than control, adiponectin +276 G>T polymorphism was not associated with risk of NAFLD. Among the metabolic parameters, TAC in TT genotype was significantly lower 1.44(0.69 to 2.81) p>0.05, AST in GT, GG genotypes, and ALT in all three genotypes were higher in NAFLD patients in compared to healthy subjects (pT polymorphism in adiponectin gene with some metabolic parameters.

Background The use of biomarkers for diagnosis of Preeclampsia (PE), a life-threatening pregnancy disorder, could reduce serious complications of this disease. In this study, we investigated dysregulation of endoglin (Eng) expression and diagnostic accuracy of soluble endoglin (sEng) in PE patients. Methods For this case-control study, 26 mild and 15 severe preeclamptic women along with 20 normotensive controls were recruited. The expression level of Eng (the co-receptor of TGF-β1) was evaluated using qRT-PCR. Also, the serum concentration of soluble Eng and expression of membranous Eng were determined by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Results A significant up-regulation in Eng mRNA and sEng levels was observed in PE patients versus normal controls. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed up-regulation of membranous Eng staining in syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast cells of PE patients. The serum levels of sEng were significantly increased in all patients (mild, sever, early- and late-onset) as compared to healthy pregnant women (P˂0.001). Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that sEng had the highest accuracy in distinguishing PE from normal pregnancies with cut-off value of 20.4, sensitivity of 92.1%, specificity of 90%, and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.94 (95% CI: 0.88-1.00). Conclusion Our data showed that the up-regulation of Eng mRNA along with its membranous and soluble form in PE patients leads to defect in angiogenesis pathway. Also, the results of this study revealed sEng potential as a marker for diagnosis of PE and its severity.

In this paper, the discrete action reinforcement learning automata (DARLA) method is expressed. The performance of the reinforcement learning algorithm is improved using the opposite concepts. This is an automatic method that can find the global optima without any knowledge about the parameters of the research space. To find the global optimal point, the interval that contains the optima is determined by DARLA as the cost function is minimized. In the opposition-based DARLA method, learning is performed based on opposition. The main idea in the opposition is to consider the search direction and its opposite at the same time to reach the candidate solution. This concept has increased the convergence rate and accuracy, and this algorithm can be used for many real-time applications. To prove this, the opposition-based DARLA is proposed to design a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller for the automatic voltage regulator system. The experimental results for the optimizing PID controller problem demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed approach.

Background It has been suggested that dietary modifications in combination with genetic predisposition play an important role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. In the current study we aimed to investigate the major components of metabolic syndrome in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nutritional intakes according to different genotype of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) −866G/A gene polymorphism in these patients. Methods In this study 151 participants including 75 patients with NAFLD and 76 healthy individuals were enrolled. Dietary intakes were assessed using a semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Physical activity was obtained by metabolic equivalent questionnaire. Anthropometric assessments were conducted by a trained researcher and body mass index and waist to hip ratio were calculated. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and biochemical assays including fasting serum glucose, liver enzymes and lipid profiles were measured. Polymorphisms of −866G/A UCP2 gene was determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results Serum triglyceride concentrations in 53.3 % of NAFLD patients compared with 35.5 % of control group was more than 150 mg/dl (P = 0.034). A significantly higher prevalence of low serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations was also observed in female NAFLD patients (P 0.05). However, according to genotypes patients with AG genotype had significantly higher protein consumption compared with control group (P

Regarding to the nonlinear nature of the bang---bang phase-locked loops (BBPLLs), its transient analysis is very complicated. In this paper, new equations are proposed, expressing transient behavior of the BBPLLs with first order filter in response to phase step input. This approach gives new insights into the transient behavior of the BBPLLs. Approximating transient response by a reasonable specific waveform; the loop transient time characteristics such as locking time, peak time, rise time and over shoot are derived with acceptable accuracy. The validity of the resulted equations is verified through simulations using MATLAB SIMULINK. Simulation results show the high accuracy of the proposed equations for BBPLLs transient behavior.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a debilitating disease that typically affects a large number of the middle-aged and elderly population. Current treatment strategies have had limited success in these patients. This study aims to investigate the safety of treatment with autologous bone marrow (BM)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplanted in patients with OA of the knee, ankle, or hip.We enrolled 18 patients with different joint involvements (knee, ankle, or hip OA) and one was lost to follow-up. BM samples were taken from the patients, after which BM-derived MSCs were isolated and cultured. Each patient received one MSC injection. Patients were followed with clinical examinations, MRI and laboratory tests at 2, 6, 12, and 30 months post-transplantation.We observed no severe adverse events such as pulmonary embolism, death, or systemic complications. A limited number of patients had very minor localized adverse effects such as rash and erythema. There were no changes in liver function, hematology, or biochemistry analyses before and after cell therapy. There was no evidence of tumor or neoplastic changes in the patients during the 30-month follow-up period. All patients exhibited therapeutic benefits such as increased walking distance, decreased visual analog scale (VAS), and total Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA Index (WOMAC) scores which were confirmed by MRI.Our study has shown that injection of MSCs in different OA affected joints is safe and therapeutically beneficial. However, further studies are needed with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods to confirm these findings.

Background: Failure in complete healing of the wound is one of the probable complications of cesarean. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of dressing with aloe vera gel in healing of cesarean wound. Methods: This prospective randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 90 women who had undergone cesarean operation in Amir-al-Momenin hospital (Gerash, Iran). The participants were randomly divided into two groups each containing 45 patients. In one group, the wound was dressed with aloe vera gel, while simple dressing was used in the control group. Wound healing was assessed 24 hours and 8 days after the cesarean operation using REEDA scale. The data were analyzed through Chi-square and t-test. Results: The participants’ mean age was 27.56±4.20 in the aloe vera group and 26.62±4.88 in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, a significant difference was found between the two groups concerning body mass index, heart rate, and systolic blood pressure (P

This paper presents a distributed receding horizon coverage control algorithm to control a group of mobile robots having linear dynamics with the assumption that the robot dynamics are decoupled from each other. The objective of the coverage algorithm considered here is to maximize the detection of the occurrence of the events. First the authors introduce a centralized receding horizon coverage control and then they introduce a distributed version of it. To avoid the common disadvantages that are associated with the centralized approach, the problem is then decomposed into several RHCC problems, each associated with a particular robot, that are solved using distributed techniques. In order to solve each RHCC, each robot needs to know the trajectories of its neighbors during the optimization time interval. Since this information is not available, an algorithm is presented to estimate the trajectory of the neighboring robots. To minimize the estimation error, a compatibility constraint, which is also a key requirement in the closed-loop stability analysis, is considered. Moreover, the proof of the close-loop stability of this distributed version is provided and shows that the location of the robots will indeed converge to the centroids of a Voronoi partition. Simulation results validate the algorithm and the convergence of the robots to the centroidal Voronoi configuration.

Flavonoids are important constituents of food and beverages, and several studies have shown that they have neuroactive properties. Many of these compounds are ligands for γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors in the central nervous system. This study aimed to investigate the anticonvulsant effects of quercetin (3,3′,4′,5,7-pentahydroxyflavone), which is a flavonoid found in plants, in rats treated with pentylenetetrazole in acute and chronic seizure models. Single intraperitoneal administration of quercetin did not show anticonvulsive effects against acute seizure. Similarly, multiple oral pretreatment with quercetin did not have protective effects against acute seizure. However, multiple intraperitoneal administration of quercetin (25 and 50 mg/kg) significantly increased time to death compared with the control ( p < 0.001). However, quercetin pretreatment had no significant effects on the pattern of convulsion development during all periods of kindling. But on the test day, quercetin (100 mg/kg) could significantly increase generalized tonic–clonic seizure onset (GTCS) and decrease GTCS duration compared with the control ( p < 0.01, p < 0.05). We conclude that quercetin has a narrow therapeutic dose range for anticonvulsant activities in vivo, and it has different effects on the seizure threshold. The different effects of quercetin on seizure threshold may occur through several mechanisms.

In this paper an exact transient analysis of Bang-Bang PLLs (BBPLLs), as a nonlinear system, is presented. The proposed analysis considers the input step in frequency. The results contain all important times, the related VCO control voltage and output excess phase. We considered frequency steps in which BBPLL does not experience cycle slipping. We could obtain an expression for maximum frequency step size in which cycle slipping does not occur. To evaluate the proposed analysis, many simulations are performed using MATLAB SIMULINK where all show very high accuracy of the proposed equations.

In this paper, a cooperative fuel and comfort efficient control for autonomous vehicles is presented in order to perform different traffic maneuvers. The problem is formulated as an optimal control problem in which the cost function takes into account the fuel consumption and passengers comfort, subject to safety and speed constraints. The optimal solution takes into account the comfort and fuel consumption, which is obtained by minimizing a jerk, an acceleration, and a fuel criterion. It is shown that the method can be applied to control different groups of vehicles in different traffic scenarios. Simulation results are used to illustrate the generality property and performance of the proposed approach.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious complication of pregnancy with hallmarks of incomplete placentation, placental ischemia and endothelial dysfunction. Imbalance between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placenta growth factor (PlGF) and their receptors play important role in pathophysiology of PE. Objective: This study was aimed to asses PlGF mRNA expression in placenta of women affected with PE. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, expression of PlGF mRNA was evaluated in 26 mild PE cases, 15 severe preeclamptic women and 20 normotensive controls. Patients were sub-classified as early onset PE (9) and late onset (32). After RNA extraction, PlGF expression was quantified with qRT-PCR. Results: The results of PlGF mRNA expression between mild-severe, and early-late onset PE patients showed no statistically significant difference compared with the control group (p=0.661, p=0.205 respectively). Conclusion: Despite we found no distinct differential expression of PlGF mRNA in placental tissue of PE patients compared with control women, but according to decreased level of this angiogenic factor in PE even before clinical onset of the disease, determining molecular mechanisms related to reduced secretion of PlGF into the maternal circulation may be useful for future therapeutics.