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Nader D Nader,1 Hadi Hamishehkar,2 Abdolreza Naghizadeh,3 Kamran Shadvar,3 Afshin Iranpour,4 Sarvin Sanaie,5 Francis Chang,1 Ata Mahmoodpoor3 1State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA; 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 3Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; 4Al Garhoud Private Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 5Neurosiences Research Center, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranCorrespondence: Ata MahmoodpoorAnesthesiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tabriz, IranEmail amahmoodpoor@yahoo.comObjective: We aimed to examine the effects of adding a longer-acting insulin glargine to existing glucose control on reducing blood-glucose fluctuations in an intensive care unit (ICU).Methods: A total of 110 patients randomly received adjuvant insulin glargine 15 IU/day (glargine) or placebo (control), in addition to daily infusion of insulin to maintain glucose levels at a target of 140– 180 mg/dL. End points were mean and variance of blood glucose and frequency of hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, ICU stay, and mortality. Data were analyzed with repeated-measures ANOVA and Mann–Whitney U test.Results: Average daily glucose level was significantly less in the glargine group than controls (P< 0.0001), while there was no difference in daily variance in blood glucose between the two groups. The duration of glucose concentrations being within the target range was identical between the glargine and control groups (16.6± 4.9 vs 16.4± 4.6 hours/day, P=0.844) during the 7 days of admission. The frequency of hypoglycemia was greater in the glargine group and total duration of hyperglycemia (> 180 mg/dL) much longer among controls (P< 0.001). Similar mortality rates were observed in both groups, while ICU length of stay was 2 days shorter in the glargine group.Conclusion: Addition of insulin glargine to routine protocols more effectively reduces glucose levels and decreases incidence of hyperglycemic episodes and regular insulin usage. This adjustment may be associated with decreases in duration of ICU stay or increases in hypoglycemic events.Keywords: critically ill patients, dysglycemia, hyperglycemia, insulin glargine

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease with cognitive impairment being a crucial manifestation. Oxidative stress and inflammation play significant roles in the disease's pathogenesis. This systematic review explores the association between inflammation and oxidative stress markers, with cognitive outcomes in MS patients., Methods: This study adhered to the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and PRISMA 2020 methods. Eligibility criteria included studies with MS patients, evaluating serum inflammation and/or oxidative stress markers, assessing cognitive function, and examining the relationship between these factors. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, were searched and the risk of bias was assessed using the JBI checklists., Results: Out of 1609 identified records, 10 studies were included in this systematic review. The studies were published between 2006 and 2023 and involved 629 MS patients. Current evidence suggests a negative correlation between TNF-α, and cognitive outcomes in MS (reported in three out of five studies). Associations between the decreased native and total thiol levels, as well as interleukin (IL)-17A with cognitive impairment, and the correlation between IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) with cognitive scores in MS are also reported (one study for each). IL-10 (four studies), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase activity (CAT), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), IL-8, IL-18, and IL-2 (one study for each) did not found to be associated with cognition in MS and evidence regarding the possible role of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) is not definitive., Discussion: The review findings suggest a complex association between oxidative stress and inflammation with cognitive outcomes in MS. Diversity in study designs, participant characteristics, and assessment methods makes the findings of this study inconclusive and highlights the need for future research., 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 © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) is a noninvasive technique that involves the application of electrical stimulation to specific acupoints on the skin. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of TEAS in alleviating postoperative pain after gynecological surgeries., Method: A systematic search of multiple electronic databases was carried out to identify relevant studies that investigated the use of TEAS for postoperative pain management in gynecological surgery settings., Results: After screening and data extraction, a total of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed that TEAS was associated with reduction in postoperative pain intensity compared to control interventions, such as sham stimulation or conventional analgesics. However, this reduction was statistically insignificant (p > .05). Additionally, TEAS was found to be effective in reducing the consumption of analgesic medications and improving patient satisfaction with pain management. The assessment of certainty of evidence revealed a grading of low to moderate., Conclusions: Overall, the findings of this meta-analysis suggest that TEAS may be a promising adjunctive therapy for alleviating postoperative pain in gynecological surgery patients. However, caution should be exercised when interpreting the results and making clinical recommendations based on the low to moderate quality of the current evidence. Further high-quality studies are needed to confirm these results and establish optimal treatment protocols for TEAS in this patient population., 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 article., (Copyright © 2024 American Society for Pain Management Nursing. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Iontophoresis therapy (IPT) is a noninvasive technique that uses electrical impulses to deliver charged molecules into the skin for controlled and targeted drug delivery. IPT has been explored as a noninvasive treatment option for Peyronie's disease (PD), but the current literature in this regard is still scarce., Objective: We aimed to systematically review the current literature on the application of IPT in the management of PD to provide a comprehensive evaluation and holistic outlook on the subject., Method: A comprehensive search strategy was implemented in the following databases to retrieve research articles: PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Web of Science. Google Scholar was also manually searched. The search results were imported into Rayyan reference management for assessment based on the predefined inclusion criteria. The quality of the articles was evaluated by the proper JBI checklist (ie, per the study design), and the JBI grades of recommendation were used for grading the evidence., Results: A systematic search yielded 451 publications, 11 of which met the criteria to be included in this systematic review. The results demonstrated that IPT, usually with verapamil and dexamethasone, has shown promising results in treating PD. These methods can reduce pain, plaque size, and penile curvature while improving sexual function and quality of life with no serious adverse events. However, most studies had moderate to low quality, indicating a weak recommendation for a certain health management strategy., Conclusion: Based on the extant literature, there is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of IPT for the management of PD. Placing it in the forefront of research can facilitate the management choices for PD even further, given its therapeutic potential., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Sexual Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The therapeutic effects of probiotics in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation on cell adhesion molecules, oxidative stress, and antioxidant parameters in TBI patients. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 46 TBI patients who were randomly assigned to receive either a probiotic supplement (n = 23) or a placebo (n = 23) for 14 days. The probiotic capsule contained four strains of Lactobacillus (L. casei, L. bulgaricus, L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus) , two strains of Bifidobacterium (B. longum, B. breve) , and Streptococcus thermophilus . Serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, pro-oxidant antioxidant balance (PAB), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and arylesterase (ARE) activity were measured at the beginning and end of the trial. Dietary intakes of patients were also recorded at the beginning and end of the trial. At the end of the study, there were no significant changes in ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PAB, MDA, NO, TAC, and ARE levels. However, patients who received probiotic supplements had significantly increased dietary intakes of energy, macronutrients, vitamin E, zinc, copper, and selenium compared with the placebo group. This study provides evidence that probiotic supplementation for 14 days in TBI patients has beneficial effects on dietary intake. However, it did not affect serum levels of cell adhesion molecules, oxidative stress, or antioxidant parameters. These findings should be considered preliminary, and further research is needed to evaluate long-term and clinical outcomes.

Background and Aims: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Oxidative stress is a crucial mediator in multiple conditions, including the MS. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a potent antioxidant, present in enzyme complexes of mitochondria, and involved in oxidative phosphorylation to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the outcomes of CoQ10 supplementation in oxidative stress, inflammatory, and clinical status of patients with MS., Methods: Following the Cochrane and PRISMA methods, a comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases, and clinical studies that reported the outcomes of CoQ10 supplementation in MS patients, are included. The risk of bias was assessed using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials (RoB2)., Results: The initial search yielded 237 articles, of which eight reports from six studies (total n = 195), including three RCTs, two semi-experimental studies, and one retrospective analysis were included. The effects of 2-3 months of CoQ10 supplementation on inflammatory factors, antioxidant enzyme system, and lipid peroxidation remain controversial in 200mg/day dose; however, 500mg/day of CoQ10 supplement can improve oxidative stress and inflammation, along with depression and fatigue amelioration in MS patients., Discussion: This study concludes that CoQ10 might exert dose-dependent beneficial effects on ameliorating oxidative stress and inflammation in MS, and also sheds light on its possible utility in relieving clinical symptoms of MS; however, limitations of the evidence such as the small number of included studies, suggested future studies for clinical recommendations., Funding and Registration: The research protocol was approved and supported by the Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (grant number: 71910). This study was registered in International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023461877)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most important causes of disability across the globe. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has been proposed as a potential adjunct therapy., Objective: This systematic review aims to explore the application of TENS in the rehabilitation of individuals with CP. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases for studies published up to December 2023. Inclusion criteria encompassed clinical studies that evaluated the effects of TENS on rehabilitation outcomes in individuals with CP. Data were extracted and synthesized in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the appropriate Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist based on the study design., Results: A total of 11 studies were eligible for entering this systematic review. Studies reported the application of TENS for different CP-induced conditions, including motor function, spasticity, and gait. Following the administration of TENS in CP patients, an overall favorable trend with few to no side effects was reported. Nevertheless, most of the included studies were of low to moderate quality., Conclusion: Although this review offers a comprehensive examination of the use of TENS in CP rehabilitation, the scarcity of high-quality studies indicates that further research is necessary to confirm its efficacy in this population.

Introduction: A growing number of studies have thus far showed the association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and the intestinal microbiome homoeostasis. As reported, the gut microflora can be significantly different in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) compared to those in healthy individuals., Methods: The authors collected the relevant articles published until 2022 and these are carefully selected from three scientific databases based on keywords., Discussion: This review highlights research on the anti-diabetic properties of berberine (BBR)-induced glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), as a glucose-lowering factor and a balance regulator in the microbial flora of the intestines, which plays an important role in adjusting the signalling pathways affecting insulin secretion., Results: Considering the anti-diabetic characteristics of the BBR-induced GLP-1, BBR makes a promising complementary treatment for reducing the clinical symptoms of DM by reducing the hyperglycaemia. Berberin might be a safe and effective drug for T2DM with little or no adverse effects.

Xerostomia, generally addressed as dry mouth, poses significant challenges to patients' quality of life, particularly in the context of cancer treatment. Although various medications and interventions, including salivary substitutes and stimulants, muscarinic agonists, antineoplastic detoxifying agents, anti-inflammatory agents, superoxide dismutase mimetics, mesenchymal stem cells, submandibular gland transfer, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, dose fractionation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, photobiomodulation, acupuncture, and nutritional interventions, have been proposed for this condition, no approved or definite treatments are currently available. Moreover, the evidence supporting the efficacy of proposed interventions remains limited and subject to controversy in terms of safety, efficacy, and optimal protocol. This review provides a comprehensive insight into cancer treatment-related xerostomia, underlying its pathophysiology, etiology, clinical manifestation, and therapeutic options, providing a clinical guide for clinicians to adopt a patient-tailored approach to cancer treatment-related xerostomia and offering vision on current ongoing and future studies in the field., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The lead author is currently an associate editor of the European Journal of Medical Research. The authors declare no other competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Selenium is a trace element with significant antioxidant activity. This study aimed to seek evidence concerning selenium supplementation in MS. A systematic search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases to identify the studies assessing the consumption rate, efficacy, and safety of selenium and selenium-containing supplementations in MS patients. The meta-analysis was performed using the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis and the risk of bias was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tools. A total of 9 studies were included, which consisted of six studies regarding the rate of selenium supplement consumption in MS patients, with a total sample size of 2381 patients. Based on the quantitative synthesis, 14.3% (95% CI, 12.8-16.0%; I 2 , 3.58%) of MS patients had current selenium supplements usage, and 11.3% (95% CI, 7.6-16.6%; I 2 , 81.40%) of patients had used selenium supplements previously. Although there is no evidence regarding supplementation with selenium alone, three RCT studies reported the safety of selenium-containing supplementation use in MS with improved inflammation and oxidative stress conditions. The findings of this study show that over 10% of patients with MS used selenium supplements, with no clinical significance supporting the benefits. There is a lack of evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of selenium supplements in MS patients. Due to the limited number of included studies and the lack of comprehensive and specific studies regarding selenium supplements in MS, the results must be interpreted with caution, and future clinical trials are required., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disabling disease of the central nervous system. People living with MS often have co-existing sleep disorders and cognitive dysfunction. The objective of this study was to scrutinize the relationship between cognitive outcomes and sleep conditions in MS., Methods: This study followed the Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) and PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched and original studies delineating the relationship between sleep status and cognitive findings in MS patients‌ were included. The risk of bias was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal tools., Results: In the final review, out of 1635 screened records, 35 studies with 5321 participants were included. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and polysomnography were the most common assessment tools for evaluation of sleep condition, and cognitive evaluations were conducted using the tests including Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT). Assessing the quality of studies showed no significant bias in most of the included articles. A link between sleep condition and cognitive abilities was suggested in the literature, especially with objective measurement of sleep condition; however, current evidence did not support a substantial association between self-reported sleep quality and processing speed and working memory in patients with MS., Discussion: Evidence proposes sleep is an independent factor associated with cognitive outcomes in MS. Given the limitations of the evidence such as the lack of well-designed prospective studies, these findings need to be interpreted with caution., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: The incidence of hypertension (HTN) as a worldwide health problem is rising rapidly. Early identification and management of pre-HTN before HTN development can help reduce its related complications. We evaluated the relationship between liver enzymes levels and pre-HTN/HTN in the Azar cohort population., Method: This cross-sectional study was based on data from the large Azar cohort study and a total of 14,184 participants were included. Pre-HTN and HTN were defined based on the American Heart Association guideline. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels were measured by Pars Azmoon kits. The relationship between pre-HTN/HTN and liver enzyme levels was evaluated by logistic regression., Results: Of 14,184 participants, 5.7% and 39.6% had pre-HTN and HTN, respectively. In the adjusted model, AST levels of 19-23 IU/l were associated with an elevated risk of pre-HTN (OR [95% CI]: 1.24 [1.04-1.48]). A dose-response increase was seen in pre-HTN in relation to ALT, with the highest OR in the third tertile (1.34 [1.09-1.63]). The odds of pre-HTN also increased with GGT in the third tertile (1.25[1.03-1.52]). In addition, the odds of HTN increased with increased levels of AST, ALT, ALP, and GGT, such that the highest ORs were recorded in the third tertile (OR 1.22 [1.09-1.37], 1.51 [1.35-1.70], 1.19 [1.07-1.34], and 1.68 [1.49-1.89], respectively). Among these enzymes, GGT had the highest OR regarding HTN., Conclusion: This study indicates that AST, ALT, ALP and GGT levels were associated with pre-HTN (except for ALP) and HTN, independent of known risk factors. Hence, it may be possible to use liver enzymes to predict the incidence of pre-HTN and HTN, empowering primary care providers to make the necessary interventions promptly., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Cognitive impairment is highly prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS) with poorly understood underlying mechanisms. Lipids are considered to be associated with MS progression through the inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, brain atrophy, cellular signaling, and tissue physiology. In addition, serum lipids are proposed as a modifiable factor affecting the neuropsychiatric condition; therefore, this study aims to assess the association between serum lipid levels and cognitive outcomes in MS., Methods: This study was carried out following the PRISMA 2020 statement. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase in March 2023, and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI)'s critical appraisal tools were utilized for risk of bias (RoB) assessments in the included studies. The quantitative synthesis was performed with the comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA3) software., Results: Out of 508 screened records, 7 studies were eventually found to meet our inclusion criteria. In two studies, the course of MS in the sample of the study was only Relapsing-Remitting MS (RRMS), whereas the other five studies' sample was a combination of different phenotypes. Studies utilized different scales such as Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in MS (MACFIMS), Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS (BICAMS), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuropsychological Tests (BRB-N) for cognitive evaluations. Dealing with possible confounders such as age, disease duration and level of disability was the most common possible source of bias in the included studies. One study revealed an inverse relationship between serum levels of apolipoproteins (including ApoA-I, ApoB, and ApoB/ApoA-I) and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) scores. Also, a correlation between 24S-hydroxycholesterol (24OHC) serum concentrations and SDMT score was reported in one study. The association between serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and different aspects of cognitive function was reported in the studies; however, serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) were not found to be associated. The quantitative synthesis revealed a significant correlation between TC and the MoCA scores (r =-0.238; 95 %CI: -0.366 to -0.100; p-value = 0.001); however, the correlation between TG levels and MoCA were not statistically significant (r:-0.070; 95 %CI: -0.209 to 0.072; p-value: 0.334). In addition, the mata-analyses were not associated with significant findings regarding the correlation between lipid profiles (including HDL, LDL, TG, and TC) and other cognitive assessment scales including SDMT, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT), and California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) (p-values>0.05)., Discussion: Available evidence suggested a link between TC and LDL with cognitive outcomes of MS patients which was not evident in our quantitative synthesis. The limited number of studies, high RoB, different cognitive assessment scales and reporting methods, and the cross-sectional design of the included studies, were the main limitations that alleviate the clinical significance of the findings of this study and suggested further investigations on this topic., Funding and Registration: The research protocol was approved and supported by the Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (grant number: 71,909). This study is registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO ID: CRD42023441625)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Evening primrose oil (EPO), extracted from the seeds of Oenothera biennis, has gained attention for its therapeutic effects in various inflammatory conditions., Method: We performed a systematic search in multiple databases and defined the inclusion criteria based on the following PICOs: P: Patients with a form of inflammatory condition, I: EPO, C: Placebo or other therapeutic interventions, O: changes in inflammatory markers or patients' symptoms; S: randomized controlled trials. The quality of the RCTs was evaluated using Cochrane's RoB tool., Results: Several conditions were investigated in the literature. In rheumatoid arthritis, mixed results were observed, with some studies reporting significant improvements in symptoms while others found no significant impact. EPO showed some results in diabetes mellitus, atopic eczema, menopausal hot flashes, and mastalgia. However, it did not demonstrate effectiveness in chronic hand dermatitis, tardive dyskinesia, psoriatic arthritis, cystic fibrosis, hepatitis B, premenstrual syndrome, contact lens-associated dry eyes, acne vulgaris, breast cyst, pre-eclampsia, psoriasis, or primary Sjogren's syndrome. Some results were reported from multiple sclerosis after EPO consumption. Studies in healthy volunteers indicated no significant effect of EPO on epidermal atrophy, nevertheless, positive effects on the skin regarding hydration and barrier function were achieved., Conclusion: Some evidence regarding the potential benefits of EPO in inflammatory disorders were reported however caution is due to the limitations of the current survey. Overall, contemporary literature is highly heterogeneous and fails to provide strong recommendations regarding the efficacy of EPO on inflammatory disorders. Further high-quality studies are necessitated to draw more definite conclusions and establish O. biennis oil effectiveness as an assuring treatment option in alleviating inflammatory conditions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background and Aim: Crocus sativus also known as saffron, is one of the most popular traditional plants. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of saffron extracts in ADHD., Method: This study includes clinical trial studies that assessed the efficacy and/or safety of saffron in ADHD patients. Non-English papers, review articles, commentaries, letters, observational studies, thesis, animal studies, in-vitro studies, and conference abstracts were not included. The risk of bias in randomized studies was evaluated based on the Cochrane RoB.2, and risk of bias in pre-post intervention studies was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool., Results: Four studies met our inclusion criteria with a total of 118 patients. The results manifested an efficient role of saffron as either an adjuvant therapy to MPH or a single therapy against ADHD, without significant safety issues., Discussion: Saffron demonstrates promise in improving ADHD symptoms, with an acceptable safety profile. Future well-designed multicentral studies are suggested., 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.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common neuropsychiatric challenge that primarily targets young females. MDD as a global disorder has a multifactorial etiology related to the environment and genetic background. A balanced gut microbiota is one of the most important environmental factors involved in human physiological health. The interaction of gut microbiota components and metabolic products with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system and immune mediators can reverse depression phenotypes in vulnerable individuals. Therefore, abnormalities in the quantitative and qualitative structure of the gut microbiota may lead to the progression of MDD. In this review, we have presented an overview of the bidirectional relationship between gut microbiota and MDD, and the effect of pre-treatments and microbiomebased approaches, such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and a new generation of microbial alternatives, on the improvement of unstable clinical conditions caused by MDD., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. Caffeine, as the most widely consumed psychoactive substance, has been suggested to have potential effects on the clinical course and disability levels of MS patients. This study aimed to review the current evidence on the effects of coffee/caffeine in patients with MS., Methods: This study followed the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis and PRISMA 2020 statement. Clinical evidence regarding the effects of caffeine/coffee in MS patients was considered. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase in October 2023, and updated via handsearching in March 2024. JBI's critical appraisal tools were utilized to scrutinize the risk of bias., Results: Out of 297 screened records, eight studies were eventually found to meet our inclusion criteria. The sample size of the studies varied between 12 and 1372 and the study designs were retrospective cohort, RCT, single-blind crossover trial, single-arm pilot study (each one study), and cross-sectional (four studies). No significant association between the level of disability and coffee/caffeine intake has been reported, although it was reported to be associated with cognitive improvements., Discussion: Evidence indicates an association between coffee/caffeine consumption, and improved cognitive outcomes in patients with MS, while there is no considerable relationship with the disease disability. Considering the limitations of the evidence, such as the small number of studies, and great diversity in study designs, the findings of this study should translate to clinical practice with caution., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Despite the growing prevalence of diabetes and its complications, there is a dearth of data regarding factors associated with glycemic control. Therefore, in this cross-sectional study, we aimed to identify factors influencing glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Iranian population., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the Azar cohort population and the glycemic control status of patients with T2DM was investigated. Possible risk factors including age, sex, marital status, educational level, smoking status, sleep duration, family history of diabetes and hypertension, socioeconomic status, physical activity level, and co-existence of other chronic diseases and their relationship with glycemic control status were also assessed. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify determinants of glycemic control., Results: Among 1,710 T2DM patients (60.2% female), the overall prevalence of poor glycemic control was 56.8%. In the unadjusted logistic regression analysis model, a low wealth score index significantly increased the risk of poor glycemic control (OR: 1.49;1.10-2.02). Variables significantly associated with poor glycemic control even after adjusting for confounding factors were first-degree family history of diabetes (OR: 1.34; 1.08-1.65), and sleep duration (OR: 1.29 ;1.02-1.62 for 6.6-8 h/d; OR:1.42;1.10-1.88 for > 8 h/d). Interestingly, we found that the co-existence of ≥ 3 chronic diseases with diabetes decreased the risk of poor glycemic control., Conclusions: In the current study, most of the patients with T2DM had uncontrolled glycemic control. Due to the individual and social costs of diabetes complications, it is necessary to suggest tailored and effective interventions for controlling blood glucose levels in people with diabetes., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Cannabis consumption exerts multiple effects on metabolism via various pathways, including glucose regulation and insulin secretion. Studies concerning the association between cannabis use and diabetes mellitus type 2 are discrepant., Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the association between cannabis use and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Search Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Proquest, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library with no time, language or study types restriction until July 1, 2022, using various forms of "cannabis" and "diabetes mellitus" search terms., Selection Criteria: Randomized control trials, cohort, and case-control studies investigating the relationship between cannabis consumption and diabetes mellitus type 2 were included., Data Collection and Analysis: The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of studies. We pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random-effects model, generic inverse variance method, DerSimonian and Laird approach., Main Results: A meta-analysis of seven studies, containing 11 surveys and 4 cohorts, revealed that the odds of developing T2DM in individuals exposed to cannabis was 0.48 times (95% CI: 0.39 to 0.59) lower than in those without cannabis exposure., Conclusions: A protective effect of cannabis consumption on the odds of diabetes mellitus type 2 development has been suggested. Yet given the considerable interstudy heterogeneity, the upward trend of cannabis consumption and cannabis legalization is recommended to conduct studies with higher levels of evidence., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background and Objective: Obesity has historically been seen as a sign of wealth and social privilege, as can be inferred from studying the ancient works. We aimed to report the causes, diagnostic approaches, and treatment among the authentic books of traditional Iranian medicine., Methods: We searched the original versions of historical books and used a narrative approach to report the history of obesity., Results: Obesity was often seen as an indicator of complete health. Obesity in healthy women was a requirement for beauty, based on descriptions of women from the Zoroaster period and from antiquity to the late Qajar period. This point of view existed during various ages. However, after the constitutional period, the view of obesity changed into that of an illness, due to modern ideas and offshore role models, especially during the Pahlavi era. This change led to serious attempts to treat obesity. Obesity is a critical problem that needs immediate attention to prevent substantial health consequences. Different medical paradigms have presented their criteria and foundations throughout history. The emphasis of Iranian alternative medicine was on prevention and the maintenance of health, with the next step being treatment. Prevention, treatment, consuming medicinal plants, and recovery have often been written about in the traditional books of medicine., Conclusions: Throughout the traditional Iranian medical texts, physicians have made recommendations about maintaining an appropriate body weight. The best treatment was prevention and a healthy lifestyle. The treatments for controlling and restricting obesity included paying attention to nourishment, mobility, and even the habitat., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Melatonin is a neurohormone secreted predominantly by the pineal gland that is demonstrated to be associated with the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). This research desires to evaluate the tolerability and beneficial effects of exogenous melatonin supplementations in patients with MS., Methods: This study was executed following the PRISMA 2020 statement. Both observational and interventional studies which reported the clinical effectiveness and/or safety of melatonin supplementation in patients with MS were included in this systematic review. Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched and the risk of bias in included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools based on study design., Results: Out of 1304 results of database searches, finally, 14 articles, including 7 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 6 case-control studies, and one quasi-experimental study, were included based on the full-text review. Included phenotypes of MS were mostly relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) (in 11 studies); it was secondary progressive MS (SPMS) in only one study, and two other studies had a mixture of the different phenotypes. The course of treatment with melatonin supplementation was between 2 weeks and 12 months. There were no substantial safety issues. Although melatonin was associated with enhanced oxidative stress and inflammation status, concerning the clinical benefits, limited studies suggested improvements in sleep conditions, cognitive outcomes, and fatigue in MS., Discussion: There are insufficient data to support the regular melatonin prescription in MS. Limitations such as the small number of included studies, the diversity of the dosage, route, and duration of melatonin administration, and the diversity of assessment tests lead to unconvincing findings in this study. There is a need for future studies to achieve a comprehensive judgment on this subject., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Background: Plasma total cholesterol is considered a negative acute phase reactant. In various pathological conditions, such as trauma, sepsis, burns, and liver dysfunction, as well as post-surgery, serum cholesterol level decreases. This study aimed to investigate the role of lipid profiles in determining the probability of organ dysfunction after surgery., Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients who underwent thoracoabdominal surgery and were admitted to the intensive care unit of Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz, Iran, between October 2016 and September 2018. During the first two days of admission, blood samples were taken, and serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and albumin were measured. The relation between the changes in these laboratory markers and six organ functions including cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, central nervous system, hepatic, and hematologic, length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation duration, and vasopressor use were investigated. The independent t test was used to compare continuous variables. The association between different variables and organ dysfunction and mortality was evaluated by using logistic regression., Results: The serum TC increased the risk of mortality (OR=1.09, 95%CI=1.06-1.11, P<0.001), renal dysfunction (OR=1.09, 95%CI=1.06-1.12; P<0.001), liver dysfunction (OR=1.07, 95%CI=1.03-1.10; P<0.001), respiratory dysfunction (OR=1.08, 95%CI=1.05-1.13; P<0.001). Moreover, LDL, HDL, and TG were found to be inversely related to mortality, organ dysfunction, length of stay in the hospital and intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation duration, and vasopressor use., Conclusion: TC could be considered a risk factor for mortality, organ dysfunction, and clinical outcomes. On the other hand, LDL, HDL, and TG played a protective role in the patients' mortality, organ dysfunction, and clinical outcomes., Competing Interests: None declared., (Copyright: © Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences.)

Sepsis and septic shock are still one of the most important medical challenges. Sepsis is an extreme and uncontrolled response of the innate immune system to invading pathogenesis. Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxytrans-stilbene), is a phenolic and non-flavonoid compound naturally produced by some plants and fruits. The object of the current study is to systematically review the impacts of resveratrol and its mechanisms of function in the management of sepsis and its related complications. The guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statements were applied to perform the study (PROSPERO: CRD42021289357). We searched Embase, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, ProQuest, and Scopus databases up to January 2023 by using the relevant keywords. Study criteria were met by 72 out of 1415 articles screened. The results of this systematic review depict that resveratrol can reduces the complications of sepsis by affecting inflammatory pathways, oxidative stress, and modulating immune responses. Future human randomized clinical trials are necessary due to the promising therapeutic effects of resveratrol on sepsis complications and the lack of clinical trials in this regard., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Aims: This study aimed to assess the association of age at menarche (AAM) with multimorbidity and chronic diseases., Methods: We used data regarding the reproductive history of 8,294 female participants of the Azar Cohort Study. A questionnaire assessed the participants' demographic information, reproductive history, personal behaviors, smoking status, socioeconomic status, activity status, and wealth score index., Results: Among 8,286 women included in the analysis, the AAM was < 12 years (early) in 648 (7.8%), 12-14 years (normal) in 4,911 (59.3%), and > 14 years (late) in 2,727 (32.9%) individuals. Early menarche was associated with a high risk of diabetes, obesity, and high WHR. On the other hand, late menarche was associated with higher rates of hypertension, stroke, and diabetes but a lower risk of MM, rheumatoid disease, obesity, abdominal obesity, and WHtR., Conclusion: Changes in AAM have significant health implications. Factors predisposing individuals to early menarche and its consequences should be considered in chronic disease prevention strategies for adolescents and young adults., 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.)

Objective: We aimed to study the association of parity number with multimorbidity (MM) and polypharmacy among women in the Azar cohort population., Patients & Methods: This cross-sectional investigation was based on data from the Azar Cohort Study. Information regarding demographics, personal habits, physical activity level, medical and reproductive history, and anthropometric measurements of 8,290 females (35-70 years) were evaluated. Ordinal logistic and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess for associations of parity number with multimorbidity (MM), polypharmacy, chronic disease, and abdominal obesity., Results: More educated participants and people in the fifth quintile of the Wealth Score Index were less likely to have a higher parity number. With increasing parity numbers, the prevalence of MM, polypharmacy, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, stroke, rheumatoid diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancers tended to rise. Moreover, we found that increasing parity numbers (especially when ≥ 5) enhanced the odds of abdominal obesity, waist-to-hip ratio ≥ 0.85, and waist-to-height ratio ≥ 0.5; these significant associations were more obvious in parity numbers ≥ 9 and WHtR ≥ 0.5., Conclusion: The parity number is associated with MM and polypharmacy in Iranian women enrolled in the Azar Cohort Study. Further studies exploring the pathways (biological, social, and environmental) underlying these relationships will provide clues for preventing morbidity and premature mortality among susceptible andhighly parous women., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (NUTRIC) score (mNUTRIC score) have been validated as screening tool for quantifying risk of adverse outcome critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of mNUTRIC score to assess outcomes in this population., Materials and Methods: This prospective, observational study was conducted on adult patients admitted to the general ICUs of two university affiliated hospital in northwest of Iran. The association between the mNUTRIC score and outcomes was assessed using the univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression. The performance of mNUTRIC score to predict outcomes was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-curve., Results: In total 445 ICU patients were enrolled. Based on mNUTRIC score, 62 (13.9%) and 383 (86.1%) individuals were identified at high and low nutritional risk, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) for predicting ICU mortality, using vasopressor, duration of vasopressor, and mechanical ventilation (MV) duration were (AUC: 0.973, 95% CI: 0.954-0.986, P < 0.001), (AUC: 0.807, 95% CI: 0.767-0.843, P < 0.001), (AUC: 0.726, 95% CI: 0.680-0.769, P < 0.001) and (AUC: 0.710, 95% CI: 0.666-0.752, P < 0.001), respectively., Conclusions: An excellent and good predictive performance of the mNUTRIC score was found regarding ICU mortality and using vasopressor, respectively. However, this predictive was fair for MV and vasopressor duration and poor for ICU and hospital length of stay., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: This umbrella review aimed to systematically review the available literature and assess the association of dietary intake or serum levels of different vitamins and the risk of PD, to help find out more efficient treatments for PD patients by replenishing the deficiency of vitamins., Methods: Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar and hand searching bibliographies of retrieved articles in duplicate, were used to detect all relevant meta-analyses investigating the relationship between vitamins and PD. After study selection, data were extracted from previously published meta-analyses and pooled by Review Manager version 5.4 and CMA software version 2.2.064 to achieve effect sizes. Level of statistical significance was set at P ≤ 0.05., Results: 14 meta-analyses were included in the meta-review. Serum vitamin D and B12 levels were significantly lower in PD (SMD = -0.67 and SMD = -0.40 respectively). Homocysteine (Hcy) levels were significantly higher in PD patients (SMD = 1.26). Also the odds ratio for highest vs. lowest vitamin E intake was 0.73 which was significant. However, there was no significant difference between vitamin A, C and B6 intake or serum levels in PD vs. control groups., Conclusion: Serum vitamin D and B12 levels were significantly lower in PD in comparison to healthy individuals, while Hcy level was significantly higher in PD patients. Also higher vitamin E intake was associated with significantly lower risk of development of PD in comparison to lower vitamin E intake. However, there was no significant difference between risk of PD and higher vitamin A, C and B6 intake or serum levels of folate., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Belgian Neurological Society.)

Purpose: Sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) encompass various problems throughout the body, and two of its major problems are the creation of oxidative substances in the body and decrease of the body's antioxidant capacity to deal with the stress and organ damage. Optimal enteral nutrition fortified with antioxidant or immunomodulator amino acid is a hot topic concerning sepsis in the critical care setting. Taurine plays a protective role as an antioxidant in cells that is likely to have a protective role in inflammation and cytotoxicity. Methods: In the present study, 20 septic patients and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled. The blood and plasma taurine levels of the patients on days 1, 3 and 7 were measured. Blood and plasma taurine level and the correlation between them, organ failure, and severity of the disease were assessed. Results: Taurine concentrations in the plasma of the septic patients were significantly lower than control group, and the whole blood concentrations were significantly higher than those of the control group ( P <0.001). There was not a significant correlation between the blood and plasma taurine levels in control and septic patients. In addition, there was not any correlation between the severity of the disease, organ failure, mortality, and plasma as well as the blood concentration of taurine. Conclusion: In septic patients, taurine concentration in plasma and blood are low and high, respectively. These concentrations are not linked to each other and not associated with the patients' outcome, and the disease severity, and organ failure., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (©2023 The Authors.)

The prevalence of both Alzheimer's disease (AD) and diabetes mellitus is increasing with the societies' aging and has become an essential social concern worldwide. Accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of tau proteins in the brain are hallmarks of AD. Diabetes is an underlying risk factor for AD. Insulin resistance has been proposed to be involved in amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation in the brain. It seems that diabetic conditions can result in AD pathology by setting off a cascade of processes, including inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ROS and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) synthesis. Due to the several side effects of chemical drugs and their high cost, using herbal medicine has recently attracted attention for the treatment of diabetes and AD. Saffron and its active ingredients have been used for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-AD properties. Therefore, in the present review paper, we take account of the clinical, in vivo and in vitro evidence regarding the anti-diabetic and anti-AD effects of saffron and discuss the preventive or postponing properties of saffron or its components on AD development via its anti-diabetic effects., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Inter-individual variations in the clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection are among the challenging features of COVID-19. The known role of telomeres in cell proliferation and immune competency highlights their possible function in infectious diseases. Variability in telomere length is an invaluable parameter in the heterogeneity of the clinical presentation of diseases., Result: In this study, our aim was to investigate the possible association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and COVID-19 severity. LTL was measured in 100 patients with moderate and severe forms of COVID-19 using the quantitative PCR (q-PCR) method. Statistical analysis confirmed a strong inverse correlation between relative LTL and COVID-19 severity., Conclusions: These findings suggest that LTL can be a useful parameter for predicting disease severity in patients, as individuals with short telomeres may have a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s43042-023-00415-z., Competing Interests: Competing interestsAll authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Metformin is a biguanide, evolved as one of the most widely used medicines. The applications of this component include but are not limited to reducing blood glucose, weight loss, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Studies about other probable indications have emerged, indicating that this agent can also be utilized for other purposes. In this review, applications of metformin are noticed based on the current evidence. Metformin commonly is used as an off-label drug in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but it worsens inflammation and should not be used for this purpose, according to the latest research. Metformin decreased the risk of death in patients with liver cirrhosis. It is an effective agent in the prevention and improvement of survival in patients suffering hepatocellular carcinoma. There is evidence of the beneficial effects of metformin in colorectal cancer, early-stage prostate cancer, breast cancer, urothelial cancer, blood cancer, melanoma, and bone cancer, suggesting metformin as a potent anti-tumor agent. Metformin shows neuroprotective effects and provides a potential therapeutic benefit for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD). It also has been shown to improve mental function and reduce the incidence of dementia. Another condition that metformin has been shown to slow the progression of is Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Regarding infectious diseases, tuberculosis (TB) and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are among the conditions suggested to be affected by metformin. The beneficial effects of metformin in cardiovascular diseases were also reported in the literature. Concerning renal function, studies showed that daily oral administration of metformin could ameliorate kidney fibrosis and normalize kidney structure and function. This study reviewed the clinical and preclinical evidence about the possible benefits of metformin based on recent studies. Numerous questions like whether these probable indications of metformin can be observed in non-diabetics, need to be described by future basic experiments and clinical studies., (© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Introduction: In sepsis, the immune system is overreacting to infection, leading to organ dysfunction and death. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of curcumin nanomicelles on clinical outcomes and cellular immune responses in critically ill sepsis patients., Method: For 10 days, 40 patients in the intensive care units (ICU) were randomized between the nano curcumin (NC) and placebo groups in a randomized study. We evaluated serum levels of biochemical factors, inflammatory biomarkers, the mRNA expression levels of FOXP3, NLRP-3, IFN-γ, and NF-κp genes in the PBMCs, and clinical outcomes before the beginning of the supplementation and on days 5 and 10., Results: NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) mRNA expression levels significantly P = 0.014, P = 0.014, and P = 0.019, respectively) decreased, but forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) mRNA expression levels increased significantly ( P = 0.008) in the NC group compared to the placebo group after 10 days. NC supplementation decreased serum levels of IL-22, IL-17, and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) ( P < 0.05). Nevertheless, biochemical factors and nutritional status did not differ significantly ( P > 0.05). NC supplementation resulted in decreased sequential organ failure assessment and multiple organ dysfunction syndromes scores, while it did not have significant impacts on length of stay in the ICU, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, a saturation of oxygen (%), and respiratory rate (breaths/min) PaO2/FiO2 ( p > 0.05)., Conclusion: For critically ill patients with sepsis, NC supplementation may be an effective therapeutic strategy. More randomized clinical trials involving longer follow-up periods and different doses are needed to achieve the best results., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Karimi, Pourreza, Vajdi, Mahmoodpoor, Sanaie, Karimi and Tarighat-Esfanjani.)

Method: This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness of probiotics in reducing inflammatory biomarkers and the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stays. PubMed-Medline, SCOPUS, Embase, and Google Scholar databases up to July 2021 were searched. The meta-analysis was carried out using random-effect analysis. To determine the sources of heterogeneity, subgroup analyses were performed. In case of the presence of publication bias, trim and fill analysis was carried out. The Cochrane Collaboration tool was used for checking the quality assessment. We hypothesized that probiotics would improve inflammatory markers (CRP and IL-6) and the length of ICU stay in traumatic brain injury and multiple trauma patients., Results: The present meta-analysis, which includes a total of seven studies, showed that there were no significant effects of probiotics supplementation on interleukin (IL)-6 (Hedges's g  = -2.46 pg/ml; 95% CI: -12.16, 7.25; P =0.39), C-reactive protein (CRP) (Hedges's g  = -1.10 mg/L; 95% CI: -2.27, 0.06; P =0.06), and the length of staying in ICU. The overall number of RCTs included in the analysis and the total sample size were insufficient to make firm conclusions., Conclusion: As a result, more carefully designed RCTs are needed to investigate the effect of probiotics on inflammatory biomarkers and the length of ICU stay in traumatic brain injuries and multiple trauma patients in greater detail., Competing Interests: All authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Nooshin Noshadi et al.)

Population aging and its consequences are a substantial global concern. The growth in the number of older people is one of the most important factors increasing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on society. The Tabriz Older People Health Survey aimed to understand the socio-demographics, health-related behaviors, and health profile of older adults. This cross-sectional study was conducted on a representative sample of 1362 community-dwelling older adults in Tabriz, the most populated city in northwest Iran. The study used probability proportionate to size sampling and the data collection was undertaken in each participants' place of residence from July 2019 to January 2020. Trained interviewers administered the questionnaire, which measured each participant's socio-demographics, health-related behaviors, and health profile. The sample of 1362 participants consisted of 56.4% women and 54.4% were young older people (60-69 years old). Almost half of the sample were completely illiterate. There was no daily walking in 13.3% of the sample, with women reporting a more sedentary lifestyle than men. Almost 10% of the participants (n = 135, 9.9%) were current smokers, which was higher among men (20.9% vs. 1.5%) and women made up over 88% of those living alone. In terms of sleep quality score (men: 4.63 ± 2.70, women: 5.97 ± 2.93), anxiety (men: 5.79 ± 4.70, women: 7.59 ± 5.51), depression (men: 9.54 ± 3.20, women: 10.63 ± 3.09), and social support (men: 23.65 ± 4.50, women: 22.69 ± 4.77), men were significantly better than women. There were also significant sex differences between women and men in the prevalence of diabetes (31.6% vs. 19.5%) and hypertension (86.5% vs. 73.4%). Furthermore, overall hypertension was the most common underlying disease (81.0%). Older women were significantly worse off than older men, in terms of social and disability-related, as well as having a higher burden from several NCDs. The results of this study might help regional health policymakers to identify targets for improving the health status among community-housed geriatrics., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is globally the leading cause of hepatic dysfunction. Garlic has many physiological benefits, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, lipid-lowering, and antidiabetes effects. The present study aimed to systematically review the effects of garlic ( Allium sativum ) and its mechanisms of function in managing NAFLD and its associated complications. The guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statements were applied to perform the study (CRD42021289348). The Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane PubMed, and Google Scholar databases were searched until February 2022. According to the inclusion criteria, finally, 12 studies were entered into the study. The evidence provided in the study revealed that garlic could regulate the development of NAFLD via several mechanisms of action, such as lowering body weight, modulating lipid and glucose metabolism, and reducing inflammation and oxidative stress (OS). Overall, the beneficial effects of garlic in the treatment of NAFLD make it a potential therapeutic and efficient agent in managing NAFLD and its related risk factors. There is an insufficient number of clinical trials addressing the effects of garlic in humans; therefore, conducting more human research in the future is recommended., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Sanaz Pourreza et al.)

The proceeding pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 is the latest global challenge. Like most other infectious diseases, inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune system dysfunctions play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Furthermore, the quest of finding a potential pharmaceutical therapy for preventing and treating COVID-19 is still ongoing. Silymarin, a mixture of flavonolignans extracted from the milk thistle, has exhibited numerous therapeutic benefits. We reviewed the beneficial effects of silymarin on oxidative stress, inflammation, and the immune system, as primary factors involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. We searched PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Science Direct databases up to April 2022 using the relevant keywords. In summary, the current review indicates that silymarin might exert therapeutic effects against COVID-19 by improving the antioxidant system, attenuating inflammatory response and respiratory distress, and enhancing immune system function. Silymarin can also bind to target proteins of SARS-CoV-2, including main protease, spike glycoprotein, and RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase, leading to the inhibition of viral replication. Although multiple lines of evidence suggest the possible promising impacts of silymarin in COVID-19, further clinical trials are encouraged., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

The worldwide prevalence of obesity is approximately tripled between 1975 and 2016 according to World Health Organization; therefore, obesity is now considered a global pandemic that needs academic and clinical focus. In search of antiobesity agents, Crocus sativus, known widely as saffron, has been praised for its beneficial effects. Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted to investigate the weight lowering effect of saffron. Following PRISMA guidelines, several medical databases were comprehensively searched for RCTs with a population consisting of obese individuals. A random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool estimates across studies, and standardized mean difference (SMD) was used to synthesize quantitative results. Twenty-five RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis showed a nonsignificant decrease for weight (-0.32 kg; CI: -3.15, 2.51; p = 0.82), BMI (-0.06 kg/m 2 ;CI:-1.04,0.93; p = .91), waist circumference (-1.23 cm; CI: -4.14, 1.68; p = .41), and hip circumference (-0.38 cm; CI: -5.99, 5.23; p = .89) and a significant decrease of waist-to-hip ratio (SMD = -0.41; CI: -0.73, -0.09; p = .01; I 2  = 0%). The mean difference in fasting blood sugar showed a significant reduction in patients with metabolic syndrome (SMD = -0.30; 95% CI: -0.63, 0.03; p = .07; I 2  = 0.37%) but a nonsignificant change in the HbA1C level (WMD = 0.05; 95% CI: 0.32, 0.41; p = .79). Despite bearing several limitations, mainly as a result of heterogeneity among included studies, the available evidence indicates saffron supplementation shows promising effects on some cardiometabolic factors among overweight to obese patients; however, further investigations and high-quality evidence are required for more generalizable and comprehensive results., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Due to the widespread use of herbal medicine and evidence pointing to the health benefits of saffron supplementation, this review was performed to evaluate the effects of saffron supplementation on glycemic parameters and lipid profiles based on previous reviews. Relevant articles were retrieved from various databases, which included PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane until 2020, with no date restrictions. The quality of the included reviews was assessed using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) checklist. Finally, of 877 obtained articles, eight reviews meeting the inclusion criteria were included for analysis. Among the eight included reviews, seven articles were meta-analyses. In addition, one review had an average quality while seven had a good quality. A narrative description of the included reviews was performed, while a network meta-analysis was not conducted. A brief review of the results was reported according to the weighted mean difference and mean difference. Seven included reviews assessed the effects of saffron or crocin supplementation on glycemic parameters, and six examined these effects on lipid profile parameters. Almost half of the articles reported significant effects of these supplements on glycemic parameters and lipid profiles. Taken together, results suggest that saffron supplementation may improve glycemic and lipid profile parameters; however, further high-quality studies are needed to confirm the clinical efficacy of saffron on glycemic parameters and lipid profiles., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objectives: Probiotic supplementation has been linked to changes in cognitive function via the gut-brain axis (GBA). However, the current literature lacks a comprehensive review regarding this matter in the elderly population., Method: Electronic databases including Medline (PubMed), Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were comprehensively searched for identifying studies that assessed the effects of probiotics on the cognitive function of the elderly published until July 2020. Articles were critically reviewed and if met the inclusion criteria, entered the study., Results: Among a total of 1374 studies, 10 were eligible for meta-analysis. No significant alteration was found in the cognition of the elderly (SMD=-0.04; 95% CI [- 1.07,0.98]; P  = 0.93). There was a nonsignificant increase in the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (SMD = 0.58; 95% CI [-1.40,2.56]; P  = 0.56) and a nonsignificant reduction in malondialdehyde levels (SMD=-0.44; 95% CI [-1.07,0.19]; P  = 0.17). Levels of total antioxidant capacity (SMD = 39.93; 95% CI [2.92,76.95]; P  = 0.03) and total glutathione (SMD = 61.51; 95% CI [12.39,110.62]; P  = 0.01) significantly increased. A significant reduction was also noted in total cholesterol levels (SMD=-4.23; 95% CI [-8.32, -0.14]; P  = 0.04)., Conclusion: Our study did not support the hypothesis of the positive effect of probiotics on cognitive function in the elderly population; which might be due to the heterogeneity across the studies.