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Due to the limited water resources and growing population, food security and environmental protection have become a global problem. Increasing water productivity of agricultural products is one of the main solutions to cope with the difficulties. By optimizing applied water and nitrogen fertilizer, the pollution of groundwater could be deceased and the water productivity could be increased. The aim of this research was to determine the relationships between water productivity (IRWP) and water use efficiency (WUE) and different amounts of applied water (irrigation + rain fed) and nitrogen (applied and residual). This study was conducted on wheat (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Shiraz) in Shiraz University School of Agriculture, based on a split-plot design with three replications, in 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 periods. Irrigation treatments varied from zero to 120% of full irrigation depth, and nitrogen fertilizer treatments varied from zero to 138 kg ha-1 under basin irrigation system. The experimental data of the first and second years were used for the calibration and validation of the proposed relationships, respectively. The calibrated equations using the dimensionless ratios of irrigation depth plus rainfall, actual evapotranspiration and nitrogen fertilizer plus soil residual nitrogen to their amounts in full irrigation and maximum fertilizer amounts were appropriate for the estimation of water productivity and water use efficiency. The values of the determination coefficient (R2) for water productivity and water use efficiency (0.88 and 0.93, respectively), and the values of their normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) (0.2 and 0.13, respectively) showed a good accuracy for the estimation of IRWP and WUE.

Background: The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) eighth-edition breast cancer staging system incorporating tumor grade, hormone/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptor status, and genomic assays has demonstrated better prognostic value than the seventh edition. Given the crucial role of cancer biology in prognosis, the authors hypothesized that the AJCC eighth-edition criteria offer better biologic differentiation between stages than the seventh edition., Methods: This study analyzed 696 breast cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Text Information Extraction System (TIES) database, with complete information available for staging according to both the AJCC seventh- and eighth-edition criteria., Results: The study indicated an increase in the number of patients classified as stage I in the eighth edition compared with the seventh edition, particularly in hormone-positive breast cancers. Furthermore, the eighth edition demonstrated improved discrimination in overall survival between stages I and II cancers. The eighth edition was able to distinguish significant differences in cell proliferation, intratumor heterogeneity, homologous recombination deficiency, and neoantigen load between stages I and II cancers. Moreover, the eighth edition more clearly differentiated immune cell infiltration between stages II and I cancer than the seventh edition. Finally, immune activity and gene expression of immune checkpoints such as PDCD1, PDL1, CTLA4, LAG3, TIGIT, and IDO1 and 2 showed a more pronounced difference between stages I and II cancers in the eighth edition than in the seventh edition., Conclusion: The AJCC eighth edition breast cancer staging system better distinguishes cancers with more aggressive biology than the seventh edition., Competing Interests: Disclosure: There are no conflicts of interest., (© 2025. Society of Surgical Oncology.)

As a naturally occurring reducing and oxidizing agent, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) has a role in several biotic and abiotic processes. Hence, the onsite, precise, and rapid determination of H 2 O 2 is crucial. Herein, we propose a method for colorimetric detection of H 2 O 2 on the basis of hindered formation of gold/silver core/shell nanoparticles. We used ascorbic acid (AA) as the electron donor to reduce silver ions (Ag + ) to be shelled around gold nanoparticles and iron(III) edta as an accelerator reactant. Upon reduction of Ag + , owing to the formation of core/shell nanoparticles, the color of the system changes from pink to yellow/orange in the spherical nanoparticles and from pink to purple/blue/green/yellow/orange in the nanorods. The nanorods distinguished color in a rainbow manner for higher concentrations of H 2 O 2 , and spherical nanoparticles were critical in the sensitive detection of lower concentrations of H 2 O 2 . H 2 O 2 scavenges AA electrons and therefore inhibits core/shell formation and, consequently, restrains the system's spectral shift and color change. This characteristic was exploited to measure different concentrations of H 2 O 2 . Under well-optimized conditions, various concentrations of H 2 O 2 ranging from 1.0 to 50 µΜ have shown an acceptable linear relationship with different colors and, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 230 nM. Furthermore, various real samples were examined to confirm the practicality of our developed probe., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Background: Intermittent fasting (IF) can be an effective dietary therapy for weight loss and improving cardiometabolic health. However, there is scant evidence regarding the role of IF on indicators of liver function, particularly in adults with metabolic disorders. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of IF on liver function in adults with metabolic disorders., Methods: Three primary electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, were searched from inception to September 2024 to identify original studies that used IF interventions with or without control groups in adults with metabolic disorders. Inclusion criteria were (1) studies of human participants with metabolic diseases, (2) interventions that evaluated the effects of IF, (3) with or without a control group, and (4) measured liver fat, liver steatosis, liver fibrosis, or liver enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as primary outcomes. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran's Q statistic and I-squared statistic (I 2 ). Publication bias was assessed using the visual inspection of funnel plots and Egger's tests. The risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale and the NIH quality assessment tool., Results: A total 21 studies involving 1,226 participants with metabolic disorders were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, IF effectively decreased liver fat with a large effect size [SMD: -1.22 (95% CI: -1.63 to -0.80), p = 0.001], liver steatosis with a medium effect size [SMD: -0.73 (95% CI: -1.12 to -0.35), p = 0.001], ALT with a small effect size [SMD: -0.44 (95% CI: -0.58 to -0.30), p = 0.001], and AST with a small effect size [SMD: -0.30 (95% CI: -0.49 to -0.11), p = 0.001], but not liver fibrosis [SMD: -0.28 (95% CI: -0.59 to 0.02), p = 0.07]. Subgroup analyses showed that IF decreased liver fat and ALT significantly, independent of IF mode, participant age, health status, weight status, and intervention duration. IF significantly decreased liver fibrosis in those with obesity; and decreased AST following 5:2 diets, in middle-aged adults, adults with obesity, and regardless of health status or intervention duration., Conclusions: IF seems to be an effective dietary therapy for improving liver function in adults with metabolic disorders, and many of liver function-related benefits occur regardless of IF mode, intervention duration, or participant health status., Limitations: Significant heterogeneity, small numbers of studies and inclusion of non-randomized trials or single-group pre-post trials were the main limitation of our meta-analysis. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to elucidate the effects of IF on liver function in adults with metabolic disorders., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the trend of some tuberculosis (TB) indices and identify existing gaps in addressing this important public health issue in Hamadan province over a long time period. Study Design: A registry-based cross-sectional study., Methods: In this study, we examined the trend of 10 TB indicators separately in males and females, including the incidence rates of smear-positive pulmonary TB (SPPT), extra-pulmonary TB (EPT), and smear-negative pulmonary TB (SNPT), co-infection with AIDS, relapse rate, smear conversion rate two months after treatment initiation, TB mortality rate, diagnosis rate of pulmonary TB with a smear grade of 3+, treatment success rate, and TB diagnosis rate by the private sector in Hamadan province during 2011-2022. The trend analysis of TB was conducted using Joinpoint regression model, and the annual percentage change (APC) and the average annual percentage change (AAPC) were calculated., Results: A total of 481 females and 554 males were eligible for analysis. The incidence of SPPT in females showed a decreasing trend (AAPC: -7.72; 95% CI: -15.63, -1.10; P =0.008). The rates of EPT and treatment success showed a significant downward trend in both genders. In contrast, the recurrence rate among females exhibited a notable upward trend during the specified time period (AAPC: 18.45; 95% CI: 3.23, 46.47; P =0.0002)., Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the epidemiological profile of TB has exhibited a relatively favorable trend in some of the examined indicators since 2011, with declines observed in both SPPT and EPT., (© 2025 The Author(s); Published by Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)

Objectives: This systematic review aims to synthesize the available literature to determine the association between birthweight and the risk of nonneurological childhood cancers., Methods: We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases up to May 2023 to identify observational studies. Heterogeneity between studies was evaluated using the I2 statistics. Publication bias was assessed using Begg and Egger tests. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) or risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random-effects model., Results: Of 11 034 studies retrieved from the search, 56 studies (including 10 568 091 participants) were eligible. The ORs (95% CI) of low (<2500 g) versus normal birthweight (2500-4000 g) and childhood cancers were as follows: leukemia, 0.92 (0.77-1.11); acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 0.82 (0.72-0.94); acute myeloid leukemia, 0.98 (0.77-1.24); lymphoma, 0.99 (0.47-2.10); Hodgkin, 0.79 (0.61-1.03); non-Hodgkin, 0.85 (0.60-1.20); neuroblastoma, 1.34 (1.14-1.58); retinoblastoma, 0.95 (0.68-1.32); rhabdomyosarcoma, 0.86 (0.61-1.20); embryonal, 0.97 (0.66-1.43); alveolar, 1.92 (0.43-8.51); and Wilms tumor, 1.01 (0.83-1.24). The ORs (95% CI) of high (>4000 g) versus normal birthweight and childhood cancers were as follows: leukemia, 1.30 (1.18-1.42); acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 1.27 (1.16-1.39); acute myeloid leukemia, 1.13 (0.98-1.30); lymphoma, 1.69 (0.72-3.94); Hodgkin, 1.22 (1.02-1.46); non-Hodgkin, 1.22 (0.80-1.86); neuroblastoma, 1.20 (1.02-1.41); retinoblastoma, 1.17 (0.93-1.48); rhabdomyosarcoma, 1.07 (0.90-1.27); embryonal, 1.22 (1.00-1.49); alveolar, 1.02 (0.46-2.27); and Wilms tumor, 1.49 (1.34-1.67)., Conclusion: This meta-analysis identified high birth weight as a potential risk factor for some childhood cancers, while low birth weight might be protective against a few., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

The high rate of cancer worldwide and the heavy costs imposed on governments and humanity have always motivated researchers to develop point-of-care (POC) biosensors for easy diagnosis and monitoring of cancer treatment. Herein, we report on a label-free impedimetric biosensor based on Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene and imprinted ortho-phenylenediamine (o-PD) for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a biomarker for various cancers surveillance, especially colorectal cancer (CRC). Accordingly, MXene was drop-casted on the surface of a disposable silver electrode to increase the sensitivity and create high-energy nanoareas on the surface, which are usable for protein immobilization and detection. A self-assembled monolayer (SAM) was exploited for oriented CEA immobilization on the MXene-modified electrode. The monomer-protein interaction and successful protein removal were confirmed by molecular docking and atomic force microscopy (AFM) investigations to evaluate the quality of the fabricated molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). Also, the role of MXene in increasing the electrical field inside the nanoareas was simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics software. A suitable limit of detection (9.41 ng/mL), an appropriate linear range of detection (10 to 100 ng/mL) in human serum, and a short detection time (10 min) resulted from the use of SAM/MIP next to MXene. This biosensor presented outstanding repeatability (97.60%) and reproducibility (98.61%). Moreover, acceptable accuracy (between 93.04 and 116.04%) in clinical serum samples was obtained compared with immunoassay results, indicating the high potential of our biosensor for real sample analysis. This biomimetic and disposable sensor provides a cost-effective method for facile and POC monitoring of cancer patients during treatment.

Bone tissue engineering has been proposed as a promising solution for healing of bone fractures. An important aspect of bone tissue engineering is the implantable scaffolds that participate in the regeneration and repair of bone tissue. In this study, the composite scaffolds of gelatin- nanocellulose loaded with nanohydroxyapatite and simvastatin (as the osteoinductive component) were fabricated using freeze- drying method. Scaffolds were characterized in terms of morphology, mechanical, biodegradability, water absorption capacity, and simvastatin release characteristics. Also, the biocompatibility and differentiation potential of the scaffolds were evaluated on human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells using the MTT assay and alizarin red staining, respectively. The simvastatin loaded scaffolds showed a sustained release profile in vitro up to 216 h. The results of BMSCs differentiation by alizarin red staining showed significant differences between the simvastatin loaded group and other groups. Moreover, the results of MTT assay verified cytocompatibility and non-toxicity of the scaffolds. Therefore, the gelatin-nano cellulose composite scaffolds loaded with hydroxyapatite and simvastatin may be considered promising for use in bone tissue engineering., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Many enveloped viruses bud from the plasma membrane that is tightly associated with a dense and thick actin cortex. This actin network represents a significant challenge for membrane deformation and scission, and how it is remodeled during the late steps of the viral cycle is largely unknown. Using superresolution microscopy, we show that HIV-1 buds in areas of the plasma membrane with low cortical F-actin levels. We find that the cellular oxidoreductase MICAL1 locally depolymerizes actin at budding sites to promote HIV-1 budding and release. Upon MICAL1 depletion, F-actin abnormally remains at viral budding sites, incompletely budded viruses accumulate at the plasma membrane and viral release is impaired. Remarkably, normal viral release can be restored in MICAL1-depleted cells by inhibiting Arp2/3-dependent branched actin networks. Mechanistically, we find that MICAL1 directly disassembles branched-actin networks and controls the timely recruitment of the Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport scission machinery during viral budding. In addition, the MICAL1 activator Rab35 is recruited at budding sites, functions in the same pathway as MICAL1, and is also required for viral release. This work reveals a role for oxidoreduction in triggering local actin depolymerization to control HIV-1 budding, a mechanism that may be widely used by other viruses. The debranching activity of MICAL1 could be involved beyond viral budding in various other cellular functions requiring local plasma membrane deformation., Competing Interests: Competing interests statement:The authors declare no competing interest.

Identifying new compounds with minimal side effects to enhance patients' quality of life is the ultimate goal of drug discovery. Due to the expensive and time-consuming nature of experimental investigations and the scarcity of data in traditional QSAR studies, deep transfer learning models, such as the BERT model, have recently been suggested. This study evaluated the model's performance in predicting the anti-proliferative activity of five cancer cell lines (HeLa, MCF7, MDA-MB231, PC3, and MDA-MB) using over 3,000 synthesized molecules from PubChem. The results indicated that the model could predict the class of designed small molecules with acceptable accuracy for most cell lines, except for PC3 and MDA-MB. The model's performance was further tested on an in-house dataset of approximately 25 small molecules per cell line, based on IC50 values. The model accurately predicted the biological activity class for HeLa with an accuracy of 0.77 ± 0.4 and demonstrated acceptable performance for MCF7 and MDA-MB231, with accuracy between 0.56 and 0.66. However, the results were less reliable for PC3 and HepG2. In conclusion, the ChemBERTa fine-tuned model shows potential for predicting outcomes on in-house datasets.

The utility of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is expanding in the treatment of breast cancer. Although individual trials have shown comparable survival between patients receiving neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy, large-scale data analyses for outcomes in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) are lacking. We conducted an individual-level statistical analysis using patients from six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating survival outcomes with neoadjuvant versus adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer by abstracting and analyzing only the patients with LABC. Individual patient data for 779 patients with LABC were collected from six RCTs. Overall and disease-free survival rates were compared between patients receiving neoadjuvant vs. adjuvant chemotherapy with the Cox hazard model and log-rank statistics. Since chemotoxicity causing delays to surgical care is a potential drawback of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, local cohort data were then employed to assess the actual incidence of this, along with the causes behind any delays to surgery in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. A time interval from neoadjuvant chemotherapy to surgery of >8 weeks was investigated in a local cohort of 563 patients, representing all locally treated patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2006 and 2019. The statistical analysis demonstrated no overall or disease-free survival differences in LABC patients receiving neoadjuvant vs. adjuvant chemotherapy ( p = 0.96 and 0.74, respectively). Within our cohort, 31 (5.5%) patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy experienced a delay of >8 weeks to surgery, with only 13 (2.3%) attributed to chemotherapy-related complications. Our study provides further support for the paradigm shift towards delivering chemotherapy for breast cancer patients in the neoadjuvant setting.

Dysfunctional workplace behavior (DWB) is a prevalent phenomenon in schools, which has adverse consequences for teachers and students. In addition to the known negative implications, little is known about the mechanism through which DWB functions. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of DWB on teacher emotional exhaustion (EE) and understand whether perceived social support (PSS) moderates the mediating effect that anxiety has on the relationship between DWB and EE. A battery of measurement tools was administered to 249 English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers in Iran. Moderated mediation regressions were used to analyze survey data. Results indicated that anxiety mediated the relationship between DWB and EE. Additionally, it was found that PSS moderated the direct relationship between DWB and anxiety; and the indirect relationship between DWB and EE. DWB was more strongly associated with an increased incidence of anxiety and EE in teachers with low levels of PSS. Results highlight the need to understand the intervening factors and sources of EE to actively identify, assess, and control teachers' behavioral and mental health risk factors. Given the significant role of emotions in teacher well-being, it is imperative to develop effective interventions (e.g., promoting PSS and positive workplace behaviors) in order to optimize teachers' emotional and behavioral health., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Peptihub (https://bioinformaticscollege.ir/peptihub/) is a meticulously curated repository of cancer-related peptides (CRPs) that have been documented in scientific literature. A diverse collection of CRPs is included in the PeptiHub, showcasing a spectrum of effects and activities. While some peptides demonstrated significant anticancer efficacy, others exhibited no discernible impact, and some even possessed alternative non-drug functionalities, including drug carrier or carcinogenic attributes. Presently, Peptihub houses 874 CRPs, subjected to evaluation across 10 distinct organism categories, 26 organs, and 438 cell lines. Each entry in the database is accompanied by easily accessible 3D conformations, obtained either experimentally or through predictive methodology. Users are provided with three search frameworks offering basic, advanced, and BLAST sequence search options. Furthermore, precise annotations of peptides enable users to explore CRPs based on their specific activities (anticancer, no effect, insignificant effect, carcinogen, and others) and their effectiveness (rate and IC50) under cancer conditions, specifically within individual organs. This unique property facilitates the construction of robust training and testing datasets. Additionally, PeptiHub offers 1141 features with the convenience of selecting the most pertinent features to address their specific research questions. Features include aaindex1 (in six main subcategories: alpha propensities, beta propensity, composition indices, hydrophobicity, physicochemical properties, and other properties), amino acid composition (Amino acid Composition and Dipeptide Composition), and Grouped Amino Acid Composition (Grouped amino acid composition, Grouped dipeptide composition, and Conjoint triad) categories. These utilities not only speed up machine learning-based peptide design but also facilitate peptide classification. Database URL: https://bioinformaticscollege.ir/peptihub/., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Background: Improving the quality of clinical training is synonymous with accomplishing nursing education goals and improving the quality of nursing care. This study aimed to improve the quality of clinical training in Maternal and Neonatal Health (MNH) in nursing students., Methods: This action research was conducted in two cycles from June 2017 to June 2018. The study setting was the School of Nursing and Midwifery of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences in southwest Iran. The participants were nursing students, faculty members, clinical trainers, educational managers, and teaching personnel. In the first cycle, semi-structured interviews were held with stakeholders to identify clinical problems and improvement strategies. Based on the results of these sessions, the changes needed to improve the quality of clinical training were planned and implemented. The weaknesses and strengths of the implemented changes were then identified through group discussions with the stakeholders. In the second cycle, a second plan was carried out to correct the weaknesses of the changes planned in the first cycle, and the modifications were implemented and evaluated., Results: The main three categories extracted included an unsystematic curriculum and inadequate monitoring, inadequate resources and facilities, and the student's lack of motivation. The measures taken for improvement included holding communication workshops, developing and internalizing logbooks, reducing the number of students in clinical training groups, using modern clinical training methods, and changing clinical evaluation methods., Conclusion: Improving communication skills among the students, trainers, and hospital personnel and using modern clinical training methods, such as conceptual maps, triple jumps, and clinical skill centers, are the best strategies for improving clinical training in MNH nursing students., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: This study investigates the potential of an in-situ forming scaffold using a fibrin-based scaffold derived from autologous plasma combined with Synthetic Teriparatide (TP) for bone regeneration application. TP is known for its bone formation stimulation but has limited clinical use due to side effects. This autologous delivery system aims to provide precise, controlled, localized, and long-term release of TP for accelerating bone regeneration., Methods: Fibrinogen from autologous plasma was extracted using ethanol, and thrombin was precipitated with ammonium sulfate to create the fibrin scaffold. Characterization of fibrinogen was done through FTIR, SDS-Page, porosity, SEM, degradation, and rheology tests. Viability was assessed by MTT in five groups with different concentrations of TP in fibrin scaffold (50, 100, and 150 µl/ml), fibrin alone, and a control group against HEK and Wharton's jelly cells. The release profile of different concentrations of TP in the fibrin scaffold was also examined., Results: The formation time of the fibrin scaffold was 4 ± 0.2 s. The highest Infrared absorption for fibrinogen was confirmed. Rheology assessment revealed a higher elastic modulus than the viscous modulus. The created fibrin scaffold displayed a consistent three-dimensional microstructure with an interconnected porous network. Cytotoxicity assays demonstrated good biocompatibility and enhanced cell growth with different concentrations of TP in the fibrin scaffold. The TP release increased with higher concentrations, peaking at an average of 61% over 54 h., Conclusion: Autologous plasma-derived fibrin scaffolds incorporating TP exhibit satisfactory release within the scaffold and hold promise as a versatile bone filler for clinical use, facilitating osteoregeneration., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate the possible effect of the insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) gene rs1801276 polymorphism on the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)., Subjects and Methods: The rs1801276 polymorphism was investigated in 127 controls and 123 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients using PCR-RFLP., Results: No deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was discovered for the rs1801276 variant of IRS1 in either NAFLD patients or controls ( P >0.05). The distribution of different rs1801276 genotypes and alleles showed significant variations between controls and NAFLD patients. In comparison to rs1801276 'CC' genotype, the "GG+GC" genotype occurred less frequently in NAFLD patients than in controls, which also persisted after adjustment for confounding factors ( P = 0.041, OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.45-0.93). In comparison with the IRS1 rs1801276 "C" allele, the "G" allele was significantly less prevalent in NAFLD patients than in controls ( P = 0.045, OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.58-0.91)., Conclusions: For the first time, we reported a significant association between the IRS1 rs1801276 polymorphism and biopsy-proven NAFLD. More studies are required to further elucidate the contribution of the IRS1 gene to NAFLD susceptibility., Competing Interests: Disclosure: no potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Background: In Iran, one of the most important and influential sources for financing the Primary Health Care (PHC )is the government budget. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the allocation of the PHC budget and evaluating the equality in the allocation of these resources., Methods: In this applied descriptive-analytical study, the study population included all of Iran's 31 provinces. Data was gathered from the registered statistics of the Ministry of Health and the Iranian Statistics Center for the years 2021 and 2022. In this research, the Gini coefficient and the Lorenz curve have been used to measure equality in the allocation of the PHC budget., Results: The results showed that in 2022, the PHC budget increased by 50% compared to 2021. 20 provinces received less than the national average, and 11 provinces received more than the national average. The average allocation budget in urban areas in 2021 and 2022 is 596,452 and 854,936 million rials ($2,385,808 and $2,374,822), respectively. The average allocation budget in rural areas in 2021 and 2022 is 1,144,350 and 1,752,936 million rials, respectively ($4,577,400 and $4,869,267). The numerical value of the Gini coefficient for the budget allocation in 2021 and 2022 was 0.20 and 0.19, respectively., Conclusion: The Gini coefficient shows that the allocation of the PHC budget is relatively unequal. Advocacy for the reallocation of resources in the health sector based on evidence and based on the deprivation coefficient of demographic groups is one of the most basic ways to support the more deprived and less developed provinces., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Iran University of Medical Sciences.)

Nowadays, photoplethysmograph (PPG) technology is being used more often in smart devices and mobile phones due to advancements in information and communication technology in the health field, particularly in monitoring cardiac activities. Developing generative models to generate synthetic PPG signals requires overcoming challenges like data diversity and limited data available for training deep learning models. This paper proposes a generative model by adopting a genetic programming (GP) approach to generate increasingly diversified and accurate data using an initial PPG signal sample. Unlike conventional regression, the GP approach automatically determines the structure and combinations of a mathematical model. Given that mean square error (MSE) of 0.0001, root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.01, and correlation coefficient of 0.999, the proposed approach outperformed other approaches and proved effective in terms of efficiency and applicability in resource-constrained environments.

Background: Nowadays, with the increasing prevalence of cancer mortality, finding the best cancer inhibitors is vital. Angiogenesis, which refers to the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones, undergoes abnormal changes in the physiological process of solid tumors. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) plays a crucial role in angiogenesis. Hence, one of the suggestions in cancer treatment has been inhibiting VEGFR signaling to prevent angiogenesis. The computational approach as an in vitro alternative method is crucial to reduce time and cost. This study aimed to use classification algorithm to separate potent inhibitors from inactive ones., Materials and Methods: In order to apply the machine learning model, biological compounds were extracted from the BindingDB database. Due to the large number of molecular features, the classification model was susceptible to overfitting. To address this issue, a correlation-based feature selection algorithm was proposed as a means of feature reduction. Subsequently, for the classification step, a support vector machine model that utilizes both linear and non-linear kernels was employed., Results: The implementation of the support vector machine model with the radial basis function kernel, along with the correlation-based feature selection method, resulted in a higher accuracy (81.8%, P value = 0.008) compared to other feature selection methods used in this study. Finally, two structures were introduced with the highest binding affinity to inhibit the second VEGFR., Conclusion: According to the results, the correlation-based feature selection method is more accurate than other methods., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Advanced Biomedical Research.)

Acinetobacter baumannii has been identified as a major cause of nosocomial infections. Acinetobacter infections are often difficult to treat with multidrug resistant phenotypes. One of the most effective ways to combat infectious diseases is through vaccination. In this study, an attempt was made to select the most protective and potent immunostimulatory epitopes based on the epitope-rich domains of the ZnuD, OmpA and CarO proteins of Acinetobacter baumannii to design a vaccine that can protect against this infection. After predicting the epitope of B- and T-cells, seven antigenic regions of three proteins CarO, ZnuD and OmpA, were selected. These regions were bound by a GGGS linker. The binding affinity and molecular interactions of the vaccine with the immune receptors TLR2 and TLR4 were studied using molecular docking analysis. This vaccine design was subjected to in silico immune simulations using C-ImmSim. The designed vaccine was highly antigenic, non-allergenic and stable. TLR2 and TLR4 were selected to analyze the ability of the modeled chimeric protein to interact with immune system receptors. The results showed strong interaction between the designed protein vaccine with TLR2 (-18.8 kcal mol-1) and TLR4 (-15.1 kcal mol-1). To verify the stability of the interactions and the structure of the designed protein, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for 200 ns. Various analyses using MD showed that the protein structure is stable alone and in interaction with TLR2 and TLR4. The ability of the vaccine candidate protein to stimulate the immune system to produce the necessary cytokines and antibodies against Acinetobacter baumannii was also demonstrated by the ability of the protein designed using the C-ImmSim web server to induce an immune response. Therefore, the designed protein vaccine may be a suitable candidate for in vivo as well as in vitro studies against Acinetobacter baumannii infections., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 Hormozgan University of Medical Science.)

The synthesis of noble metal nanostructures with adjustable optical properties is essential due to their potential applications in various fields such as imaging, (bio) sensors, and catalysis. In this study, Au@Ag core-shell nanorods were synthesized with tunable optical properties. The synthesis process includes a two-stage approach: first, gold nanorods were synthesized through seed-mediated growth, and in the second stage, these gold nanorods were used as seeds to synthesize Au@Ag core-shell nanorods through the silver deposition process. Tunable core-shell nanorods were produced by changing the concentration of silver ions, reducing agent, stabilizing agent, seeds, and buffer as well as pH and the reaction time. Transmission electron microscopy images demonstrated the formation of the Au@Ag core-shell nanorod structure. In addition, UV-visible spectroscopy revealed the peak height and its shift towards shorter wavelengths, demonstrating the tunable optical properties of the synthesized nanorods. Overall, in this study, we demonstrated the synthesis of Au@Ag core-shell nanorods with adjustable plasmonic optical properties that could be changed by precisely controlling the thickness of the silver shell on the surface of the gold core., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Background: The timing of trans-anal endorectal pull-through (TAEPT) for Hirschsprung's disease (HD) is controversial. Early endorectal pull-through avoids the occurrence of preoperative enterocolitis. However, delayed pull-through (≥31 days) enables postnatal maturation of the anal canal and sphincter complex. The aim of this study was to identify the best age to perform trans-anal pull-through according to the literature., Methods: This is a comprehensive systematic review. All articles published from 2010 to 2022 were searched in the Web of Science, Ovid Medline, PubMed, CINAHIL, and Embase databases, using the keywords HD, delayed or early treatment, trans-anal pull-through surgery, age, sex or gender, complications and outcomes. Articles that met the inclusion criteria with good to fair quality according to the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment and low bias score in the Cochran collaboration tool were reviewed., Results: Sixteen studies were eligible to be reviewed. The overall results of this study showed that due to more common short-term complications at neonatal period and lower contrast enema diagnostic accuracy in determining the transition zone, it seems to be reasonable decision to postpone surgery until the child is several months old. There was also no difference in terms of complications and outcomes of trans-anal pull-through surgery between females and males., Conclusion: It is not recommended to delay surgery too much for ages over 1 year. Ages between 3 and 12 months can be a good time for interventional treatment for HD., (© 2024 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)

Background: Aortoenteric fistulas are rare and life-threatening pathology characterized by an abnormal connection between the aorta and the gastrointestinal tract., Case Presentation: The patient is a 61-year-old male who initially presented with hypogastric pain, hematemesis, and melena. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) revealed an abdominal aorta aneurysm but not a fistula. Imaging modalities were inconclusive in the diagnosis. The patient became unstable hemodynamically and was transferred to the operation room. The definitive diagnosis of aortoenteric fistula was confirmed during surgical exploration. Urgent surgery was performed; however, the patient experienced a cascade of complications, including rebleeding, intestinal leakage, and hemodynamic instability due to aortic bleeding. Despite rigorous interventions, the patient expired due to multiple organ failure 53 days after the first repair surgery., Clinical Discussion: There is no definite imaging method due to the lack of guidelines, and the absence of exact findings has led to intraoperative diagnosis in up to 50 % of cases. This is one of the modalities of choice to examine suspected aortoenteric fistulas. Many authors prefer Computed tomography (CT) with intravenous contrast for suspected AEF despite its limitations in clarity. Others recommend CT angiography as the preferred modality. It is worth noting that, as reported in a comprehensive retrospective review, the mortality rate is approximately 46 % within 60 days after AEF repair surgery., Conclusion: This report adds to the limited data about primary aortojejunal fistulas, an extremely rare type of aortoenteric fistulas which has been reported in only a few cases. Understanding the importance of promptly suspecting, diagnosing, and intervening is crucial, emphasizing the importance of sharing such cases for medical guidance and better patient outcomes., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement None., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes after ethanol sclerotherapy (EST) in poor responder patients with endometriomas., Methods: In this before-after clinical trial, the outcomes of ART of 31 poor responders with endometriomas were evaluated after EST between July 2023 to March 2024. These patients had undergone ART at least in one cycle before and did not respond well. Recurrence rate, antral follicle count (AFC), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and relief of symptoms including dysmenorrhea and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) were evaluated before the procedure. Follow-up assessments were conducted two and six weeks after the procedure for evaluating the complications. Fisher's exact test, chi-square test, and paired sample t-test were used for statistical analysis using SPSS 24., Results: In this study, the levels of AFC and AMH increased significantly after endometrioma stripping therapy (p<0.05). Additionally, the number of embryos obtained increased significantly, indicating potential improvement in oocyte quality. There was a significant reduction in pelvic pain scores (p=0.001), as well as a notable decrease in dysmenorrhea (p=0.02) and dyspareunia (p=0.001). Moreover, 16.12% of patients reported recovery from intermenstrual bleeding. However, no significant difference was observed in the amount of gonadotropin used (p=0.56)., Conclusion: EST is an appropriate and safe procedure before ART for poor responders who have endometriomas and can be a replacement for surgery among selected patients., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright© 2024, Journal of Reproduction & Infertility.)

The uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and elasticity modulus (E) of intact rock are two fundamental requirements in engineering applications. These parameters can be measured either directly from the uniaxial compressive strength test or indirectly by using soft computing predictive models. In the present research, the UCS and E of intact carbonate rocks have been predicted by introducing two stacking ensemble learning models from non-destructive simple laboratory test results. For this purpose, dry unit weight, porosity, P-wave velocity, Brinell surface harnesses, UCS, and static E were measured for 70 carbonate rock samples. Then, two stacking ensemble learning models were developed for estimating the UCS and E of the rocks. The applied stacking ensemble learning method integrates the advantages of two base models in the first level, where base models are multi-layer perceptron (MLP) and random forest (RF) for predicting UCS, and support vector regressor (SVR) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) for predicting E. Grid search integrating k-fold cross validation is applied to tune the parameters of both base models and meta-learner. The results demonstrate the generalization ability of the stacking ensemble method in the comparison of base models in the terms of common performance measures. The values of coefficient of determination (R2) obtained from the stacking ensemble are 0.909 and 0.831 for predicting UCS and E, respectively. Similarly, the stacking ensemble yielded Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) values of 1.967 and 0.621 for the prediction of UCS and E, respectively. Accordingly, the proposed models have superiority in the comparison of SVR and MLP as single models and RF and XGBoost as two representative ensemble models. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is carried out to investigate the impact of input parameters., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright: © 2024 Fereidooni et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Pentoxifylline (PTX), a non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has demonstrated protective effects against lung injury in animal models. Given the significance of pulmonary toxicity resulting from paraquat (PQ) exposure, the present investigation was designed to explore the impact of PTX on PQ-induced pulmonary oxidative impairment in male mice.Following preliminary studies, thirty-six mice were divided into six groups. Group 1 received normal saline, group 2 received a single dose of PQ (20 mg/kg; i.p.), and group 3 received PTX (100 mg/kg/day; i.p.). Additionally, treatment groups 4-6 were received various doses of PTX (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day; respectively) one hour after a single dose of PQ. After 72 hours, the animals were sacrificed, and lung tissue was collected.PQ administration caused a significant decrease in hematocrit and an increase in blood potassium levels. Moreover, a notable increase was found in the lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels, along with a notable decrease in total thiol (TTM) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) contents, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzymes activity in lung tissue. PTX demonstrated the ability to improve hematocrit levels; enhance SOD activity and TTM content; and decrease MPO activity, LPO and NO levels in PQ-induced pulmonary toxicity. Furthermore, these findings were well-correlated with the observed lung histopathological changes.In conclusion, our results suggest that the high dose of PTX may ameliorate lung injury by improving the oxidant/antioxidant balance in animals exposed to PQ., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Several studies showed the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of Satureja Khuzestanica (SK) in animal models. This study aimed to determine the effect of SK supplementation on glycemic and lipid outcomes of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Methods: The study was designed as a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial using block randomization. Seventy-eight T2DM patients were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 39) or placebo (n = 39) groups. They received SK or placebo in 500 mg capsules daily for 12 weeks. Anthropometric, blood pressure, liver enzymes, glycemic, and lipid outcomes were measured before and after the intervention., Results: At baseline, there were no significant differences in age, sex, or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels between the groups. SK supplementation led to a significant decrease in FBS (-12.6 ± 20.7 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 3.5 ± 31.9 mg/dl; p = 0.007), HbA1c (-0.28 ± 0.45 in the intervention group versus 0.11 ± 0.54% in the placebo group; p = < 0.001), insulin (-1.65 ± 6.18 in the intervention group versus 2.09 ± 5.90 mIU/L in the placebo group; p = 0.03), total cholesterol (-14.6 ± 21.1 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 8.2 ± 30.9 mg/dl in the placebo group; p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (-4.6 ± 15.2 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 5.8 ± 14.6 mg/dl in placebo group; p < 0.001) levels, and significant increase in HDL-cholesterol (3.9 ± 4.9 mg/dl in the intervention group versus 0.9 ± 5.2 mg/dl in placebo group; p = 0.005)., Conclusion: Based on the study results, SK supplementation may improve glycemic indices and lipid profile of patients with T2DM. Our findings may provide novel complementary treatments without adverse effects for diabetes complications. These results need to be further confirmed in clinical trials., Registration: This trial has been registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT ID: IRCT20190715044214N1, registration date: 21/02/2021)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Due to the expansion of the aquaculture industry in the world and the importance of controlling ammonia in fish breeding water, high levels of which impose significant damage to fish farming, it is crucial to develop affordable, rapid, and on-site methods for timely and accurate detection of ammonia. In this study, a colorimetric sensor based on the formation of gold/silver core/shell nanorods (NRs) was developed for the rapid detection of ammonia. The sensor functioned by the specific dissolution of silver(i) oxide by ammonia, which triggered the activation of silver ions and the subsequent formation of gold/silver core/shell NRs in the presence of a reducing agent ( i.e. , ascorbic acid (AA)). This led to changes in the surface composition, size, and aspect ratio of the NRs, which was accompanied by a vivid color change from green to red/orange in less than a minute. The colorimetric sensor was optimized by adjusting the effective parameters, including ascorbic acid, silver ion, and sodium hydroxide concentration as well as pH and reaction time. After the optimization process, the sensor was found to have a linear range from 50 to 800 μmol L -1 (0.85-13.6 ppm). In addition, the application of the sensor was validated by measuring the ammonia content in water samples from rearing ponds for rainbow trout, sturgeon, and tilapia before and after feeding. The sensor's label-free, rapid, user-friendly, naked-eye, and cost-effective operation makes it an attractive option for on-site environmental monitoring of ammonia., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterial pathogen is responsible for the ongoing global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic. Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), the only currently approved TB vaccine, is successful in preventing disseminated disease in newborns. However, it has a variable efficacy against pulmonary TB in adults. This protective effect of the vaccine varies greatly among different populations and geographical areas, which the increased exposure of particular populations to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is considered as one of the reasons for this issue. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to NTM species causes the host immune system to be improperly primed. It has also been suggested that NTM species may be blamed for reduction in BCG vaccine effectiveness against M. tuberculosis . The increased exposure of certain populations to NTM has diverse effects on BCG efficacy. Moreover, the exposure to NTM can induce opposite effects on BCG efficacy depending on the NTM exposure route and survivability. A detailed understanding of the impact of NTM exposure on the efficacy of the BCG vaccine is essential for ongoing efforts to develop new TB vaccines as it may ultimately be a crucial success factor. The aim of this study was to review the findings of the studies focusing on the effects of NTM on BCG vaccine efficacy in animal models., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Ovarian cancer is among the most lethal gynecological cancers, primarily due to the lack of specific symptoms leading to an advanced-stage diagnosis and resistance to chemotherapy. Drug resistance (DR) poses the most significant challenge in treating patients with existing drugs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved three new therapeutic drugs, including two poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (olaparib and niraparib) and one vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor (bevacizumab) for maintenance therapy. However, resistance to these new drugs has emerged. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of DR and exploring new approaches to overcome them is crucial for effective management. In this review, we summarize the major molecular mechanisms of DR and discuss novel strategies to combat DR., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report regarding the present study., (© 2024 Alemzadeh et al.)

Background: Cancer is a considerable health problem worldwide and the second leading cause of death in children. It has many physical, psychological, and social consequences for children and their families. The ability to adapt to cancer plays a vital role in the recovery and quality of life of affected children. This study aimed to explain the adaptation of children with cancer to their disease., Methods: This qualitative study adopted the directed content analysis approach based on the Roy nursing model. The participants were nine children with cancer aged 6-18 years old, five family members, four nurses, one doctor, one teacher, and two charity association members, recruited by purposive sampling method. The information was collected via individual semi-structured interviews, a focus group discussion, and field notes. The data were analyzed simultaneously with data collection using the Elo and Kyngäs method. The study rigor was ensured based on the Guba and Lincoln criteria., Findings: Of the four categories of physical challenges, fragile self-concept, the difficulty of role transition, and disruption of the path to independence, the theme of Falling and rising in the cancer vortex was abstracted., Conclusion: Based on the Roy model, the children in the present study were at the compensatory level of adaptation. This research demonstrates that the adaptation of children being treated for cancer is fragile and not constant. With each hospitalization and exacerbation of the disease, they made efforts to adapt to their disease using regulatory and cognitive subsystems. Paying attention to different stimulants and the effects of support systems on physical challenges, fragile self-concept, difficult role transition, and disruption of the path to independence for each child, as well as providing individualized care for these children, can help their adaptation to and healthy transition from the vortex of cancer. The Roy adaptation model was helpful and efficient for elucidating the adaptation of children with cancer. Providing care for children by healthcare specialists, especially nurses, should be theory-based and individualized., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer mortality worldwide. There are disparities in the epidemiology of CRC across different populations, most probably due to differences in exposure to lifestyle and environmental factors related to CRC. Prevention is the most effective method for controlling CRC. Primary prevention includes determining and avoiding modifiable risk factors (e.g., alcohol consumption, smoking, and dietary factors) as well as increasing protective factors (e.g., physical activity, aspirin). Further studies, especially randomized, controlled trials, are needed to clarify the association between CRC incidence and exposure to different risk factors or protective factors. Detection and removal of precancerous colorectal lesions is also an effective strategy for controlling CRC. Multiple factors, both at the individual and community levels (e.g., patient preferences, availability of screening modalities, costs, benefits, and adverse events), should be taken into account in designing and implementing CRC screening programs. Health policymakers should consider the best decision in identifying the starting age and selection of the most effective screening strategies for the target population. This review aims to present updated evidence on the epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention of CRC.

Background: Humic derivatives have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties., Aim: This study aimed to assess the experimental wound-healing effect of 0.5% humic acid gel., Materials and Methods: A full-thickness skin wound was created on the dorsal side of 24 Sprague Dawley male rats (220-250 g). The animals were then randomly divided into the control, sham, and experimental groups. Skin wounds were bandaged daily using sterile gauze dipped in normal saline, carboxymethylcellulose, and 0.5% humic acid for 21 days. The wound-healing rate was evaluated grossly and histologically at various time intervals post-injury., Results: Wound-healing percentage was significantly higher in the gel treatment group at all time points ( P < 0.05). The mean number of inflammatory cells was significantly lower in the humic acid gel group than in the other groups ( P < 0.001). Moreover, the number of new vascular cells and fibroblasts were significantly increased in the humic acid gel compared to the control ( P < 0.001)., Conclusion: These data confirmed that 0.5% humic acid gel accelerates wound healing, probably by anti-inflammatory effects, as well as by promoting vascular and fibroblast proliferation. Therefore, the humic acid gel may be used to improve wound care., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2023 Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery.)

Background: We aimed to examine the effects of age, diagnosis year (calendar period) and birth year (cohort) on the incidence trends of breast cancer among Golestan women, Northeast Iran, 2004-2018., Methods: Incidence data were obtained by residential status (urban/rural) and ethnic region (Turkmens/non-Turkmens). We calculated age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) per 100,000 person-years. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) were calculated, and age-period-cohort (APC) models fitted to assess non-linear effects of period and cohort as incidence rate ratios (IRRs)., Results: The total number of female breast cancer cases in Golestan, 2004-2018, were 3853, with an overall ASR of 31.3. We found higher rates in urban population (40.5) and non-Turkmens region (38.5) compared to rural area (20.8) and Turkmens region (20.2), respectively. There were increasing trends in incidence rates overall (EAPC= 4.4; 95%CI: 2.2, 6.7), with greater changes in rural areas (EAPC=5.1), particularly among non-Turkmens (EAPC=5.8). The results of the APC analysis indicate the presence of significant non-linear cohort effects with increasing IRRs across successive birth cohorts (IRR=0.1 and IRR= 2.6 for the oldest and the youngest birth cohorts vs. the reference birth cohort, respectively)., Conclusion: We found increasing trends in breast cancer incidence among Golestan women over the study period, with disparities in patterns and trends by residence area and ethnic region. The observed cohort effects suggest an increasing prevalence of key risk factors for breast cancer in this Iranian population. Further investigations are warranted to clarify the relationships between determinants such as reproductive factors and ethnicity in the region., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common nonviral sexually transmitted disease (STI) worldwide. Vaccination is generally considered to be one of the most effective methods of preventing infectious diseases. Using AP65, AP33 and α-actinin proteins, this research aims to develop a protein vaccine against Trichomonas vaginalis., Methods: Based on the B-cell and T-cell epitope prediction servers, the most antigenic epitopes were selected, and with the necessary evaluations, epitope-rich domains of three proteins, AP65, AP33, and α-actinin, were selected and linked. Subsequently, the ability of the vaccine to interact with toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR2 and TLR4) was assessed. The stability of the interactions was also studied by molecular dynamics for a duration of 100 nanoseconds., Results: The designed protein consists of 780 amino acids with a molecular weight of 85247.31 daltons. The results of the interaction of the vaccine candidate with TLR2 and TLR4 of the immune system also showed that there are strong interactions between the vaccine candidate protein with TLR2 (-890.7 kcal mol -1 ) and TLR4 (-967.3 kcal mol -1 ). All parameters studied to evaluate the stability of the protein structure and the protein-TLR2 and protein-TLR4 complexes showed that the structure of the vaccine candidate protein is stable alone and in complex with the immune system receptors. Investigation of the ability of the designed protein to induce an immune response using the C-ImmSim web server also showed that the designed protein is capable of stimulating B- and T-cell lymphocytes to produce the necessary cytokines and antibodies against Trichomonas vaginalis., Conclusions: Overall, our vaccine may have potential protection against Trichomonas vaginalis. However, for experimental in vivo and in vitro studies, it may be a good vaccine candidate., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is arguably the most lethal human malignancy. It often co-occurs with differentiated thyroid cancers, yet the molecular origins of its aggressivity are unknown. We sequenced tumor DNA from 329 regions of thyroid cancer, including 213 from patients with primary anaplastic thyroid carcinomas. We also whole genome sequenced 9 patients using multi-region sequencing of both differentiated and anaplastic thyroid cancer components. Using these data, we demonstrate thatanaplastic thyroid carcinomas have a higher burden of mutations than other thyroid cancers, with distinct mutational signatures and molecular subtypes. Further, different cancer driver genes are mutated in anaplastic and differentiated thyroid carcinomas, even those arising in a single patient. Finally, we unambiguously demonstrate that anaplastic thyroid carcinomas share a genomic origin with co-occurring differentiated carcinomas and emerge from a common malignant field through acquisition of characteristic clonal driver mutations., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests All authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Schizophrenia constitutes a severe psychiatric disorder with detrimental impacts on individuals, their support systems, and the broader economy. Extensive research has revealed a notable association between variations in the Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) gene and an increased susceptibility to schizophrenia.This study represents the first systematic review of the literature investigating the impact of CTLA-4 polymorphisms and expression on the development and progression of schizophrenia.Our investigation involved a comprehensive search strategy, using a combination of title, abstract, and MESH terms in four databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, until August 29th, 2023. The complete texts of the identified records were obtained and rigorously assessed based on predefined exclusion and inclusion criteria. Out of the numerous records, a total of 88 were identified through the databases. 10 studies met the criteria; therefore, their quality was assessed and included in this systematic study. The records were then categorized into polymorphism and expression groups. Our investigation emphasizes an association between rs3087243, rs231779, rs231777, rs16840252, rs5742909, and rs231775 polymorphisms and the development of schizophrenia. The results demonstrate a correlation between CTLA-4 polymorphisms and schizophrenia, compelling the need for further research to thoroughly examine the role of CTLA-4 in schizophrenia and other psychiatric disorders., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

This study shows a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation study on the performance of the RHO zeolite membrane for separating nitrogen from methane/nitrogen gas mixtures. The contamination of natural gas, predominantly composed of methane, with nitrogen diminishes its value. Zeolite membranes offer promising prospects for gas separation due to their stability, rigid pore structure, and molecular sieving properties. The study investigates the impact of pressure difference (up to 30 MPa), feed composition, and membrane thickness on the separation rate at a system temperature of 298 K. Results demonstrate that the RHO zeolite membrane exhibits high permeability and selectivity for N 2 separation, surpassing the upper limit defined by Robson with a maximum permeability of 2.14 × 10 5 GPU (Gas Permeation Units). Exceptional selectivity of N 2 over CH 4 molecules is observed. Additionally, altering the feed composition and membrane thickness positively influences the membrane's separation performance, thereby enhancing its efficiency. The findings contribute to the advancement of separation technologies, providing valuable insights into the potential application of zeolite membranes for efficient N 2 separation from CH 4 /N 2 gas mixtures in natural gas processing. Furthermore, the study explores the use of Deep Neural Network (DNN) models to predict the membrane's performance under diverse operating conditions. The DNN models, trained using simulation data from MD simulations, exhibit high accuracy with a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) exceeding 0.9, ensuring reliable predictions. The integration of DNN models facilitates the optimization of zeolite membrane-based gas separation systems, improving their design and operation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Artificial intelligence talks about modeling intelligent behavior through a computer with the least human involvement. Drug repositioning techniques based on artificial intelligence accelerate the research process and decrease the cost of experimental studies. Dysregulation of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors as the tyrosine kinase family of receptors plays a vital role in a wide range of malignancies. Because of their functional significance, they were considered promising drug targets for the therapy of various cancers. This review has summarized small molecules capable of inhibiting FGF receptors that progressed using artificial intelligence and repositioning drugs examined in clinical trials associated with cancer therapy. This review is based on a literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases to gather the necessary information in each chapter by employing keywords like artificial intelligence, computational drug design, drug repositioning, and FGF receptor inhibitors. To achieve this goal, a spacious literature review of human studies in these fields-published over the last 20 decades-was performed. According to published reports, nonselective FGF receptor inhibitors can be used for cancer management, and multitarget kinase inhibitors are the first drug class approved due to more advanced clinical studies. For example, AZD4547 and BGJ398 are gradually entering the consumption cycle and are good options as combined treatments. Artificial intelligence and drug repositioning methods can help preselect suitable drug targets more successfully for future inhibition of carcinogenicity., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Advanced Biomedical Research.)

Branched actin filaments are found in many key cellular structures. Branches are nucleated by the Arp2/3 complex activated by nucleation-promoting factor (NPF) proteins and bound to the side of preexisting "mother" filaments. Over time, branches dissociate from their mother filament, leading to network reorganization and turnover, but this mechanism is less understood. Here, using microfluidics and purified proteins, we examined the dissociation of individual branches under controlled biochemical and mechanical conditions. We observe that the Arp2/3 complex remains bound to the mother filament after most debranching events, even when accelerated by force. Strikingly, this surviving Arp2/3 complex readily nucleates a new actin filament branch, without being activated anew by an NPF: It simply needs to exchange its nucleotide and bind an actin monomer. The protein glia maturation factor (GMF), which accelerates debranching, prevents branch renucleation. Our results suggest that actin filament renucleation can provide a self-repair mechanism, helping branched networks to sustain mechanical stress in cells over extended periods of time.

One of the cost-effective alternative methods to find new inhibitors has been the repositioning approach of existing drugs. The advantage of computational drug repositioning method is saving time and cost to remove the pre-clinical step and accelerate the drug discovery process. Hence, an ensemble computational-experimental approach, consisting of three steps, a machine learning model, simulation of drug-target interaction and experimental characterization, was developed. The machine learning type used here was a different tree classification method, which is one of the best randomize machine learning model to identify potential inhibitors from weak inhibitors. This model was trained more than one-hundred times, and forty top trained models were extracted for the drug repositioning step. The machine learning step aimed to discover the approved drugs with the highest possible success rate in the experimental step. Therefore, among all the identified molecules with more than 0.9 probability in more than 70% of the models, nine compounds, were selected. Besides, out of the nine chosen drugs, seven compounds have been confirmed to inhibit EGF in the published articles since 2019. Hence, two identified compounds, in addition to gefitinib, as a positive control, five weak-inhibitors and one neutral, were considered via molecular docking study. Finally, the eight proposed drugs, including gefitinib, were investigated using MTT assay and In-Cell ELISA to characterize the drugs' effect on A431 cell growth and EGF-signaling. From our experiments, we could conclude that salicylic acid and piperazine could play an EGF-inhibitor role like gefitinib., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The use of pesticides plays an essential role in improving crop quality and yield, however, it causes air, water, and soil pollution and the residue of these pesticides in agricultural products threatens the ecosystem and human life. Therefore, it is highly desirable to develop rapid, simple, and cost-effective methods for regular monitoring of pesticide residues in agricultural products especially strawberry that is consumed fresh and unpeeled. In this study, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) of varying sizes have been exploited as sensing units to design a non-enzymatic colorimetric sensor array for the detection and discrimination of various pesticides including; bifenazate (BF), paraquat (PQ), diazinon (DZ), thiometon (TM), and carbendazim (CD) and chlorpyrifos (CP). Because of their strong size- and environmentally-dependent properties, AuNPs with different sizes produced distinguished plasmonic patterns in the presence of pesticides at a vast range of concentrations (25-800 ng mL -1 ). Plasmonic patterns of sensor units have been analyzed by various data visualization (bar plots and heat maps) and pattern recognition methods (linear discriminant analysis (LDA)). The multivariate calibrations showed linear responses ranging from 50 to 800 ng mL -1 for carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, paraquat, and bifenazate and 25-800 ng mL -1 for diazinon and thiometon. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 17.7, 22.8, 22.4, 9.7, 7.4, and 23.8 ng mL -1 for carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, paraquat, diazinon, thiometon, and bifenazate respectively. Finally, the applicability of the designed sensor was evaluated in real samples comprising tap water, well water, soil, and fruit, leave, drainage water, and culture substrate of strawberry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Importance: Saprophytic fungi can cause nosocomial infections in high-risk patients. These infections are related to high mortality and cost. In the current study, different species of filamentous fungi and yeast were isolated from the environment of the studied hospitals. Some species were resistant to antifungal drugs. We suggest that the future work concentrates on the relationship between the level/quantification of saprophytic contamination in the environment of hospitals and fungal infections in patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells is a strategy to meet high proliferation rates, invasion, and metastasis. Also, several researchers indicated that the cellular metabolism changed during the resistance to chemotherapy. Since glycolytic enzymes play a prominent role in these alterations, the ability to reduce resistance to chemotherapy drugs is promising for cancer patients. Oscillating gene expression of these enzymes was involved in the proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells. This review discussed the roles of some glycolytic enzymes associated with cancer progression and resistance to chemotherapy in the various cancer types., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are widely recognized as effective pain relievers and function by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase enzyme (COXs). Moreover, they have been found to participate in various cellular processes through different signaling pathways, such as WNT, MAPK, NF-κB, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR. This makes them potential candidates for chemoprevention of several malignancies, particularly colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the use of NSAIDs in cancer prevention and treatment is a complex issue due to their adverse effects and gastrointestinal toxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to explore combination therapies that can minimize side effects while maximizing synergistic effects with other agents and to evaluate the success rate of such approaches in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the effects of NSAIDs in the prevention and treatment of CRC. We will focus on elucidating the possible mechanisms of action of these drugs, the signaling pathways involved in CRC, and the potential synergistic effects when combined with other therapeutic agents., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Objectives: It is crucial to investigate the daily functions commonly utilized by individuals with low back pain (LBP) due to their implications for recurrence and chronicity. Stand-to-sit (StTS) task is one of the more repetitive functions in human daily life. This study aims to evaluate pelvic and lower limb joint kinematics during the StTS task in individuals with Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain (NSCLBP) compared to a healthy control group., Methods: Pelvic and lower limb joint kinematic data in all three planes were recorded from 20 individuals with LBP and 20 healthy individuals using a Qualisys motion capture system during the StTS task. A Functional Data Analysis statistical approach was employed to compare the kinematic data between the two groups., Results: In the initial phase of the movement, we observed a greater anterior pelvic tilt (P=0.028) and an altered pelvic frontal plane motion pattern (P=0.029) in the LBP compared to the healthy group. The only significant differences between the lower limb joint kinematics of the two groups were a less hip external rotation position (P=0.025) and a more knee adduction pattern (P=0.002) on the right side in the LBP subjects compared to the healthy group., Conclusion: Considering a few differences noted between the two groups across various joints and planes evaluated, it appears that the kinematic pattern of the lower limbs does not significantly differ between the NSCLBP and healthy groups during the StTS task in most comparisons. However, distinct kinematic patterns have been observed in the pelvic region, particularly in the sagittal and frontal planes, between the two groups., Competing Interests:  The author(s) do NOT have any potential conflicts of interest for this manuscript., (2024 © BY THE ARCHIVES OF BONE AND JOINT SURGERY.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the 3-dimensional movement kinematics of pelvic and lower limb joints in CLBP subjects, compared to healthy individuals, utilizing a functional data analysis (FDA) approach., Methods: In this study, a 7-camera Qualisys motion capture system was employed to record the kinematics of the pelvic, hip, knee, and ankle joints in 20 patients with low back pain (LBP) and 20 control subjects on both sides during the sit-to-stand motion. An FDA statistical approach was utilized to compare the data collected over time between the 2 groups. The STS task was divided into two distinct phases: the prelift off phase (pre-Lo) and the postlift off phase (post-Lo)., Results: During the "pre-Lo phase" of the STS motion, our statistical analysis revealed that the only significant difference between the two groups was a decreased medial rotation (P = .00) in the hip joint position of LBP patients on their dominant side, in comparison to healthy subjects. As for the "post-Lo phase," the LBP group exhibited a more anterior pelvic tilt position (P = .00) and increased pelvic counterclockwise rotation (P = .03) in the sagittal and transverse planes when compared to the control group. Regarding hip joints, the LBP group demonstrated a more flexed position (indicative of reduced extension) on both the dominant (P = .00) and nondominant (P = .00) sides, coupled with diminished abduction (P = .04) and internal rotation (P = .03) of the hip on the dominant side. In relation to the knee and ankle joints, the results indicated a more adducted knee position (P = .00) and decreased ankle joint flexion (P = .02) on the dominant side in CLBP subjects when compared to the healthy group during the STS motion., Conclusion: Our findings indicate that patients with CLBP exhibited distinct kinematic patterns in the pelvic and lower limb joints during the STS motion. These kinematic alterations primarily manifest in the joints of the dominant limb, with most of the differences observed during the second phase (postlift off phase) of the motion. It appears that these changes in pelvic and lower limb joint kinematics should be taken into account when planning future rehabilitation programs for CLBP patients engaged in this task., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Aim: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a significant health issue worldwide. This study investigated the effect of the adiponectin receptor 1 gene ( ADIPOR1 ) polymorphism on susceptibility to NAFLD. Methods: Data from 330 participants, including 165 biopsy-proven NAFLD patients and 165 healthy controls, were collected. The PCR-RFLP method was used to detect the genotypes of ADIPOR1 rs2275738 or T-106C variant. Results: The "CC" genotype of the ADIPOR1 rs2275738 polymorphism, compared with the "TT" genotype and the "C" allele, compared with the "T" allele, are markers of increased NAFLD susceptibility ( p  = 0.018; OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.43-2.01 and p  = 0.041; OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.24-2.35, respectively). Conclusion: This research suggests, for the first time, that the ADIPOR1 rs2275738 "CC" genotype is associated with a 107% increased risk for biopsy-proven NAFLD.

Microbes are a major source of enzymes due to their ability to be mass-cultivated and genetically modified. Compared with plant and animal enzymes, microbial enzymes are more stable and active. Enzymes are generally classified into six classes based on their reaction, substrate specificity and mechanism of action. In addition to their application in medicine for treating diseases, these compounds are used as anti-inflammatory, thrombolytic and digestive agents. However, challenges such as immunogenicity, tissue specificity and short in vivo half-life make clinical trials complex. Enzymes are metabolic catalysts in industry and their production and extraction must be optimized to preserve profitability due to rising demand. The present review highlights the increasing importance of bacterial enzymes in industry and medicine and explores methods for their production, extraction and purification.

Background: We aim to present incidence rates and geographical distribution of most common early-onset gastrointestinal cancers (EOGICs), including early-onset esophageal cancer (EOEC), gastric cancer (EOGC) and colorectal cancer (EOCRC) in Iran, 2014-2018., Methods: Data on new cases of EOEC, EOGC and EOCRC were obtained from publicly available annual reports of the Iranian National Population-based Cancer Registry (INPCR). Incidence rates were calculated using the population data available from the Statistical center of Iran. We considered the World standard population for calculation of age-standardized incidence rates (ASR). We also calculated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ASR. All rates are presented per 100000 person-years., Results: Overall, 19,679 new cases of EOGIC were registered by the INPCR between 2014 and 2018. The ASRs (95% CI) of EOEC, EOGC and EOCRC were 0.49 (95% CI: 0.47-0.51), 1.67 (1.63-1.71), and 3.07 (3.01-3.13) per 100,000 person-years, respectively. Our findings indicate decreasing and constant trends in the ASR of EOEC and EOGC during the study period, 2014-2018. There was an increasing trend in the ASR of EOCRC. We also found geographical disparities in the incidence rates of EOGICs across provinces of Iran, suggesting the highest ASRs of EOEC in Golestan (1.3), EOGC in Ilam (2.99) and EOCRC in Ilam (4.49)., Conclusion: Our findings suggested that the incidence rate of EOCRC is consistently increasing. We also found variations in the incidence of EOGICs among different provinces. Further investigations are recommended to clarify the time trends and risk factors of EOGICs in Iran., Competing Interests: Competing Interests The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this work., (© 2024 Middle East Journal of Digestive Diseases.)