The effect of genistein on insulin resistance, inflammatory factors, lipid profile, and histopathologic indices in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome / 대한생식의학회지

Objective@#Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism, irregular menstruation, ovulatory dysfunction, and insulin resistance. Recent studies have reported the possible role of phytoestrogens in PCOS. This animal study aimed to evaluate the effects of genistein on insulin resistance, inflammatory factors, lipid profile, and histopathologic indices on PCOS. @*Methods@#PCOS was induced by 1 mg/kg of letrozole in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats then received normal saline (PCOS group), 150 mg/kg of metformin, or 20 mg/kg of genistein dissolved in 1% methylcellulose solution for 42 days. Body weight, the glycemic and lipid profile, and inflammatory, antioxidative, and histopathological parameters were assessed at the end of the intervention. @*Results@#Treatment with genistein significantly alleviated the increased level of fasting blood insulin (p=0.16) and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (p=0.012). In addition, the genistein group had significantly lower levels of serum malondialdehyde (p=0.039) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p=0.003), and higher superoxide dismutase enzyme activity (p<0.001). Furthermore, the histopathological analysis indicated that genistein administration led to an increase in luteinization and the development of fewer cysts (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#Biochemical and histopathological analyses indicated that genistein administration to rats with PCOS induced significant remission in oxidative, inflammatory, and glycemic and histopathologic parameters (all p<0.05).

The effect of genistein on insulin resistance, inflammatory factors, lipid profile, and histopathologic indices in rats with polycystic ovary syndrome / 대한생식의학회지

Objective@#Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by hyperandrogenism, irregular menstruation, ovulatory dysfunction, and insulin resistance. Recent studies have reported the possible role of phytoestrogens in PCOS. This animal study aimed to evaluate the effects of genistein on insulin resistance, inflammatory factors, lipid profile, and histopathologic indices on PCOS. @*Methods@#PCOS was induced by 1 mg/kg of letrozole in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats then received normal saline (PCOS group), 150 mg/kg of metformin, or 20 mg/kg of genistein dissolved in 1% methylcellulose solution for 42 days. Body weight, the glycemic and lipid profile, and inflammatory, antioxidative, and histopathological parameters were assessed at the end of the intervention. @*Results@#Treatment with genistein significantly alleviated the increased level of fasting blood insulin (p=0.16) and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (p=0.012). In addition, the genistein group had significantly lower levels of serum malondialdehyde (p=0.039) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p=0.003), and higher superoxide dismutase enzyme activity (p<0.001). Furthermore, the histopathological analysis indicated that genistein administration led to an increase in luteinization and the development of fewer cysts (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#Biochemical and histopathological analyses indicated that genistein administration to rats with PCOS induced significant remission in oxidative, inflammatory, and glycemic and histopathologic parameters (all p<0.05).

Quercetina Melhora o Perfil Lipídico e Apolipoproteico em Ratos Tratados com Glicocorticóides em Altas Doses / Quercetin Ameliorates Lipid and Apolipoprotein Profile in High-Dose Glucocorticoid Treated Rats

Resumo Fundamento Os glicocorticóides (GCs) são amplamente prescritos para o tratamento de numerosos distúrbios clínicos devido às suas propriedades anti-inflamatórias e imunomoduladoras, e um dos efeitos indesejáveis mais comuns desses medicamentos é a dislipidemia. Objetivo Avaliar o efeito da quercetina, um flavonoide derivado de plantas, no perfil lipídico de ratos tratados com glicocorticóides em altas doses. Métodos Um total de 32 ratos Sprague-Dawley foram distribuídos aleatoriamente entre quatro grupos (8 ratos por grupo) e tratados por 6 semanas com uma das seguintes opções : (i) solução salina normal; (ii) 40 mg/kg de succinato sódico de metilprednisolona (MP); (iii) MP + 50 mg/kg de quercetina; (iv) MP + 150 mg/kg de quercetina. O MP foi injetado por via subcutânea e a quercetina foi administrada por gavagem oral 3 dias por semana. No final do estudo, o perfil lipídico dos animais foi medido através de kits enzimáticos. Os dados foram analisados e a significância estatística foi estabelecida em p <0,05. Resultados Os níveis séricos médios de colesterol total (CT), triglicerídeos (TG) e LDL aumentaram drasticamente em animais tratados com GC em comparação com o grupo controle. Ambas as doses de quercetina (50 e 150 mg/kg) melhoraram o CT (43% e 45%), LDL (56% e 56%) e TG (46% e 55%, respectivamente). A razão Apo B/A1 diminuiu mais de 20% após a ingestão de Anti-Inflamatory Agents. Conclusões Esses dados sugerem que a ingestão de quercetina Quercetin; induzida por glicocorticóides. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 115(1):102-108)

Abstract Background Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely prescribed for the treatment of numerous clinical disorders due to their anti-inflammatory and immune-modulatory properties and one of the most common untoward effects of these drugs is dyslipidemia. Objective To evaluate the effect of quercetin, a plant-derived flavonoid, on the lipid profile of high-dose glucocorticoid treated rats. Methods A total of 32 Sprague-Dawley rats, were randomly distributed among four groups (8 rats per group) and treated for 6 weeks with one of the following: (i) normal saline; (ii) 40 mg/kg methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MP); (iii) MP + 50 mg/kg quercetin; (iv) MP + 150 mg/kg quercetin. MP was injected subcutaneously, and quercetin was administered by oral gavage 3 days a week. At the end of the study, the animals' lipid profile was measured by enzymatic kits. Data were analyzed and statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results The mean serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and LDL levels were drastically increased in GC-treated animals compared with the control group. Both doses of quercetin (50 and 150 mg/kg) ameliorated TC (43% and 45%), LDL (56% and 56%) and TG (46% and 55% respectively). Apo B/A1 ratio decreased more than 20% following quercetin intake and the decline in TC/HDL, TG/HL, LDL/HDL ratios were significant. Conclusions These data suggest that quercetin intake with both doses of 50 and 150 mg/kg could be considered as a protective agent for glucocorticoid-induced dyslipidemia. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; 115(1):102-108.)

Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis: study profile of first nation-wide inflammatory bowel disease registry in Middle East

BACKGROUND/AIMS: A recent study revealed increasing incidence and prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Iran. The Iranian Registry of Crohn's and Colitis (IRCC) was designed recently to answer the needs. We reported the design, methods of data collection, and aims of IRCC in this paper. METHODS: IRCC is a multicenter prospective registry, which is established with collaboration of more than 100 gastroenterologists from different provinces of Iran. Minimum data set for IRCC was defined according to an international consensus on standard set of outcomes for IBD. A pilot feasibility study was performed on 553 IBD patients with a web-based questionnaire. The reliability of questionnaire evaluated by Cronbach's α. RESULTS: All sections of questionnaire had Cronbach's α of more than 0.6. In pilot study, 312 of participants (56.4%) were male and mean age was 38 years (standard deviation=12.8) and 378 patients (68.35%) had ulcerative colitis, 303 subjects (54,7%) had college education and 358 patients (64.74%) were of Fars ethnicity. We found that 68 (12.3%), 44 (7.9%), and 13 (2.3%) of participants were smokers, hookah and opium users, respectively. History of appendectomy was reported in 58 of patients (10.48%). The most common medication was 5-aminosalicylate (94.39%). CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, IRCC is the first national IBD registry in the Middle East and could become a reliable infrastructure for national and international research on IBD. IRCC will improve the quality of care of IBD patients and provide national information for policy makers to better plan for controlling IBD in Iran.

Effect of Eicosapentaenoic Acid Supplementation on Paraoxonase 2 Gene Expression in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a Randomized Double-blind Clinical Trial

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is recognized as one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases, and it is mostly associated with oxidative stress, atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia. Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) due to its antioxidant properties may play a role in the atherosclerosis development. Although long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the exact mechanism of action is still unknown. Our goal in this study was to determine the effect of EPA administration on gene expression of PON2 in patients with T2DM. Present study was a randomized, controlled double-blind trial. Thirty-six patients with T2DM were randomly allocated to receive 2 g/day EPA (n = 18) or placebo (n = 18) for 8 weeks. There were no significant differences between 2 groups concerning demographic or biochemical variables, and dietary intakes as well (p > 0.05). However, patients received EPA showed a significant increase in the gene expression of PON2 compared with placebo group (p = 0.027). In addition, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased and fasting blood sugar decreased significantly after EPA supplementation compared with control group. Taken together, supplementation with 2 g/day EPA could be atheroprotective via the upregulation of PON2 in patients with T2DM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03258840

Evaluation of serum interleukin-34, as a marker of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis patients

Aim of the work: To evaluate the role of IL-34 in the pathogenesis of SLE and RA and to assess its role as a biomarker of disease activity. Subjects and methods: This study was carried out on 29 patients with SLE, 29 patients with RA, and 29 healthy control subjects. SLE disease activity was measured by systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI). RA disease activity was measured by 28-joint disease activity score (DAS-28). Serum IL-34 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) . Results: There was highly significant elevation in IL-34 level in SLE and RA when compared to control group (p<0.001). IL34 level did not differ significantly between SLE and RA groups (p˃ 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between IL-34 level and SLEDAI in SLE patients as well DAS 28 score in RA patients. The highest level was detected in patients with high disease activity. There was statistically significant correlation between IL-34 levels and ESR, CRP, and anti-ds DNA antibodies but inversely correlated with C3 in SLE patients. There was also statistically significant correlation between IL-34 levels and ESR, CRP RF, and anti CCP antibodies in RA patients. Conclusion: IL-34 could be useful marker for disease activity in SLE and RA

Designing and Evaluating Educational Intervention to Improve Preventive Behavior Against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Endemic Areas in Iran

OBJECTIVES: Health education programs are one of the most important strategies for controlling cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in endemic areas such as Neshabur city. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a comprehensive health education program to improve preventive behaviors for CL. METHODS: This was an interventional study conducted on 136 high school students in Neishabur city. Data collection instruments included a demographic questionnaire and a researcher-made questionnaire based on the “Health Belief Model” and “Beliefs, Attitudes, Subjective Norms and Enabling Factors Model” constructs. The control and intervention groups completed the questionnaires before and 2 months after the intervention. The intervention was conducted in 6, 1-hour educational sessions for the intervention group students and 2, 1-hour sessions for school administrators, teachers, and students’ parents. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the 2 groups in the pre-intervention phase. However, in the post-intervention phase, there were significant differences between the 2 groups for mean scores of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, cues to action, self-efficacy, attitude, subjective norms, behavioral intention, enabling factors, and behavior associated with CL. CONCLUSION: Health education program based on the “Health Belief Model” and the “Beliefs, Attitudes, Subjective Norms and Enabling Factors Model” model constructs may be a comprehensive and effective educational program to improve preventive behaviors against CL in students.

Erythrocyte Membrane Unsaturated (Mono and Poly) Fatty Acids Profile in Newly Diagnosed Basal Cell Carcinoma Patients

Studies have reported different changes in the fatty acid composition of red blood cell (RBC) total lipids in patients with various types of cancer. It has been indicated that n-3/n-6 ratio plays a key role in the general consequence of skin photocarcinogenesis. However, to our knowledge there was no study examining the unsaturated fatty acid profile in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) patients. So, we explore the fatty acid composition of RBCs in newly diagnosed BCC patients in a hospital-based case-control study. This study has been conducted on new case BCC patients in Razi Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Fatty acid concentration in erythrocyte membranes defined as relative values after extraction, purification and preparation, by gas chromatography.Analysis revealed that heptadecenoic acid (p = 0.010) and oleic acid (p < 0.001) was significantly higher in BCC patients in comparison with control group. Among polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linoleic acid (LA), and arachidonic acid (AA) were significantly higher in BCC patients (p < 0.001). It has been indicated that n-3 was significantly lower (p = 0.040) and n-6 was significantly higher (p = 0.002) in BCC patients. In addition, total PUFA (p < 0.001) and n-6 PUFAs/n-3 PUFAs (p = 0.002) were significantly higher in BCC patients compared to the control group. Here we indicated that new case BCC patient had significantly higher n-6 PUFA and lower n-3 along with other differences in unsaturated fatty acid in comparison with healthy subjects. Our study provides evidence that lipids are important in BCC development.

Transition in tobacco use stages and its related factors in a longitudinal study

OBJECTIVES@#Considering the increase in the non-communicable diseases associated with tobacco use in recent decades in Iran, it is necessary to have a general view of the current condition. This study aimed to identify factors associated with tobacco use and to estimate the probability of a 5-year transition in the stages of tobacco use in an adult population.@*METHODS@#In this study, 5190 people in the 40-64-year-old population of Shahroud (North East of Iran) were interviewed in 2009 and 2014 on tobacco smoking. The association of independent variables with tobacco smoking was evaluated using the population-averaged logit model. We calculated smoking transition probabilities from non-smoking to current smoking and past-smoking stages during a 5-year span.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of current tobacco smoking in 40-69-years age group was 11.1% (95% CI 10.3-12.0), 1% among women (95% CI 0.8-1.3) and 25.6% among men (95% CI 23.7-27.6). During this 5-year period, the probability of transition of a non-smoker to an overall current tobacco smoker was 2.3%. Meanwhile, 18.5% of the overall current tobacco smokers had changed into past smokers. Unemployed (OR = 2), male gender (OR = 53.9), widow/widowers (OR = 5.4), divorces (OR = 3.3), and high economic status (OR = 1.2) are associated to tobacco smoking.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Compared with the other studies, the prevalence of tobacco use in this population is low but transition rate of non-smokers into current smokers or past smokers is high. Conducting interventions on determinants of starting and quitting smoking and education and awareness raising on the risk and harms of smoking seems necessary.

Income-related inequality in completed suicide across the provinces of Iran / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to measure income-related inequality in completed suicide across the provinces of Iran.METHODS: This ecological study was performed using data from the Urban and Rural Household Income and Expenditure Survey-2010 conducted by the Iranian Center of Statistics, along with data on completed suicide from the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization in 2012. We calculated the Gini coefficient of per capita income and the completed suicide rate, as well as the concentration index for per capita income inequality in completed suicide, across the provinces of Iran.RESULTS: The Gini coefficients of per capita income and the completed suicide rate in the provinces of Iran were 0.10 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06 to 0.13) and 0.34 (95% CI, 0.21 to 0.46), respectively. We found a trivial decreasing trend in the completed suicide incidence rate according to income quintile. The poorest-to-richest ratio in the completed suicide rate was 2.01 (95% CI, 1.26 to 3.22). The concentration index of completed suicide in the provinces of Iran was −0.12 (95% CI, −0.30 to 0.06).CONCLUSIONS: This study found that lower income might be considered as a risk factor for completed suicide. Nonetheless, further individual studies incorporating multivariable analysis and repeated cross-sectional data would allow a more fine-grained analysis of this phenomenon.

Pre-hypertension and the risk of diabetes mellitus incidence using a marginal structural model in an Iranian prospective cohort study / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-hypertension and its sub-classification on the development of diabetes.METHODS: In this cohort study, 2,941 people 40 to 64 years old without hypertension or diabetes were followed from 2009 through 2014. According to the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC)-7 criteria, we classified participants into normal and pre-hypertension groups. The effect of pre-hypertension on the 5-year incidence rate of diabetes was studied using inverse probability of treatment weighting. We modeled the exposure and censored cases given confounding factors such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking, economic status, and education.RESULTS: The 5-year incidence rate of diabetes among people with pre-hypertension and those with normal blood pressure (BP) was 12.7 and 9.7%, respectively. The risk ratio (RR) for people with pre-hypertension was estimated to be 1.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 1.41). The RRs among people with normal BP and high-normal BP, according to the JNC-6 criteria, compared to those with optimal BP were 0.96 (95% CI, 0.73 to 1.25) and 1.31 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.72), respectively.CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that participants who had higher levels of BP (high-normal compared to optimal BP) had a higher risk of diabetes development. With regard to the quantitative nature of BP, using the specifically distinguishing of stage 1 hypertension or high-normal BP may be a more meaningful categorization for diabetes risk assessment than the JNC-7 classification.

Pre-hypertension and the risk of diabetes mellitus incidence using a marginal structural model in an Iranian prospective cohort study / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-hypertension and its sub-classification on the development of diabetes. METHODS: In this cohort study, 2,941 people 40 to 64 years old without hypertension or diabetes were followed from 2009 through 2014. According to the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC)-7 criteria, we classified participants into normal and pre-hypertension groups. The effect of pre-hypertension on the 5-year incidence rate of diabetes was studied using inverse probability of treatment weighting. We modeled the exposure and censored cases given confounding factors such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking, economic status, and education. RESULTS: The 5-year incidence rate of diabetes among people with pre-hypertension and those with normal blood pressure (BP) was 12.7 and 9.7%, respectively. The risk ratio (RR) for people with pre-hypertension was estimated to be 1.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 1.41). The RRs among people with normal BP and high-normal BP, according to the JNC-6 criteria, compared to those with optimal BP were 0.96 (95% CI, 0.73 to 1.25) and 1.31 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.72), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that participants who had higher levels of BP (high-normal compared to optimal BP) had a higher risk of diabetes development. With regard to the quantitative nature of BP, using the specifically distinguishing of stage 1 hypertension or high-normal BP may be a more meaningful categorization for diabetes risk assessment than the JNC-7 classification.

Income-related inequality in completed suicide across the provinces of Iran / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to measure income-related inequality in completed suicide across the provinces of Iran. METHODS: This ecological study was performed using data from the Urban and Rural Household Income and Expenditure Survey-2010 conducted by the Iranian Center of Statistics, along with data on completed suicide from the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization in 2012. We calculated the Gini coefficient of per capita income and the completed suicide rate, as well as the concentration index for per capita income inequality in completed suicide, across the provinces of Iran. RESULTS: The Gini coefficients of per capita income and the completed suicide rate in the provinces of Iran were 0.10 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06 to 0.13) and 0.34 (95% CI, 0.21 to 0.46), respectively. We found a trivial decreasing trend in the completed suicide incidence rate according to income quintile. The poorest-to-richest ratio in the completed suicide rate was 2.01 (95% CI, 1.26 to 3.22). The concentration index of completed suicide in the provinces of Iran was −0.12 (95% CI, −0.30 to 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: This study found that lower income might be considered as a risk factor for completed suicide. Nonetheless, further individual studies incorporating multivariable analysis and repeated cross-sectional data would allow a more fine-grained analysis of this phenomenon.

Income-related inequality in completed suicide across the provinces of Iran / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#The aim of this study was to measure income-related inequality in completed suicide across the provinces of Iran.@*METHODS@#This ecological study was performed using data from the Urban and Rural Household Income and Expenditure Survey-2010 conducted by the Iranian Center of Statistics, along with data on completed suicide from the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization in 2012. We calculated the Gini coefficient of per capita income and the completed suicide rate, as well as the concentration index for per capita income inequality in completed suicide, across the provinces of Iran.@*RESULTS@#The Gini coefficients of per capita income and the completed suicide rate in the provinces of Iran were 0.10 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06 to 0.13) and 0.34 (95% CI, 0.21 to 0.46), respectively. We found a trivial decreasing trend in the completed suicide incidence rate according to income quintile. The poorest-to-richest ratio in the completed suicide rate was 2.01 (95% CI, 1.26 to 3.22). The concentration index of completed suicide in the provinces of Iran was −0.12 (95% CI, −0.30 to 0.06).@*CONCLUSIONS@#This study found that lower income might be considered as a risk factor for completed suicide. Nonetheless, further individual studies incorporating multivariable analysis and repeated cross-sectional data would allow a more fine-grained analysis of this phenomenon.

Pre-hypertension and the risk of diabetes mellitus incidence using a marginal structural model in an Iranian prospective cohort study / 한국역학회지

OBJECTIVES@#The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pre-hypertension and its sub-classification on the development of diabetes.@*METHODS@#In this cohort study, 2,941 people 40 to 64 years old without hypertension or diabetes were followed from 2009 through 2014. According to the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC)-7 criteria, we classified participants into normal and pre-hypertension groups. The effect of pre-hypertension on the 5-year incidence rate of diabetes was studied using inverse probability of treatment weighting. We modeled the exposure and censored cases given confounding factors such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking, economic status, and education.@*RESULTS@#The 5-year incidence rate of diabetes among people with pre-hypertension and those with normal blood pressure (BP) was 12.7 and 9.7%, respectively. The risk ratio (RR) for people with pre-hypertension was estimated to be 1.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90 to 1.41). The RRs among people with normal BP and high-normal BP, according to the JNC-6 criteria, compared to those with optimal BP were 0.96 (95% CI, 0.73 to 1.25) and 1.31 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.72), respectively.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Our results showed that participants who had higher levels of BP (high-normal compared to optimal BP) had a higher risk of diabetes development. With regard to the quantitative nature of BP, using the specifically distinguishing of stage 1 hypertension or high-normal BP may be a more meaningful categorization for diabetes risk assessment than the JNC-7 classification.

Effects of rhubarb (Rheum ribes L.) syrup on dysenteric diarrhea in children: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Rheum ribes L. is a plant native to China, Iran, Turkey, India, and a few other countries. Antidiarrheal activity is considered to be one of its important properties according to various systems of traditional medicine. An increasing rate of bacterial resistance to antibiotics has led to treatment failure in some cases of shigellosis in children, and underlines a need for safe, efficient and valid options.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of R. ribes syrup as a complementary medicine for treatment of shigellosis in children.</p><p><b>DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS</b>This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial started with a group of 150 children aged between 12-72 months with suspected Shigella dysentery. R. ribes syrup or placebo syrup was administered to the intervention and control groups, respectively for 5 days. In addition, the standard antibiotic treatment (ceftriaxone for the first 3 days and cefixime syrup for 2 further days) was administered to both groups.</p><p><b>MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES</b>Body temperature, abdominal pain, need for antipyretics, defecation frequency, stool volume and consistency and microscopic stool examination were recorded as outcome measures. Any observed adverse effects were also recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mean duration of fever and diarrhea in the R. ribes group was significantly lower than that in the placebo group (P = 0.016 and 0.001, respectively). In addition, patients in the R. ribes group showed shorter duration of need for antipyretics and shorter duration of abdominal pain (P = 0.012 and 0.001, respectively). However, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding the microscopic stool analyses. Furthermore, no adverse effect was reported.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>R. ribes syrup can be recommended as a complementary treatment for children with Shigella dysentery.</p><p><b>TRIAL REGISTRATION</b>Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial: IRCT2014070518356N1.</p>

Short and long term evaluation of the efficiency of PermaNet® 2. 0 bed net against environmental factors and washing using bioassay tests

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to examine the resistance of PermaNet® 2.0 bed nets against repeated washing and environmental factors by using bioassay tests. After 5, 15 and 21 washings with detergents and by using bioassay tests, the resistance of 40 PermaNet® 2.0 bed nets was compared with that of 40 bed nets conventionally treated with one K-O tablet. To examine the long-term resistance, 31 PermaNet® 2.0 bed nets were also distributed among villagers, and were re-collected to perform bioassay tests after 1, 2 and 5 years. In the first phase of this study, the insecticidal effect of the conventionally-treated nets significantly decreased due to repeated washings (P < 0.001); however, it was not significant regarding PermaNet® 2.0 bed nets (P = 0.92 in continuous exposure and P = 0.12 in mortality tests). In the long-term phase of this study, the time required for knockdown of PermaNet® 2.0 increased over the first 2 years and then decreased. In addition, the mortality rate decreased over the first 2 years and then increased. In conclusion, it seems that the technique used by the manufacturer for impregnation of PermaNet® 2.0 bed nets has an acceptable efficiency in comparison with conventional techniques.

Serum uric acid level in the severity of congestive heart failure [CHF]

Background and Objective: It has been observed that in a clinical condition like hypoxemia there is an increase in the serum Uric acid level. The objective of our study was to find out the relationship between serum uric acid levels in the severity of Heart failure

Methods: We analyze 285 patients with a diagnosis of Congestive heart failure admitted in Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from March 1[st] to August 2016. Age group of patients was 17- 67 years. New York Health Association [NYHA] scoring were used to access the severity of Congestive Heart Failure. Serum UA level >7.0 mg/dl was considered high

Results: Total 285 patients with CHF were analyzed with a mean age of 54+/-2.8 years in which males were 65.96% and 34.03% were female. 40% were in class II of New York Health Association [NYHA], 32.63% in class III and 25.61% in class IV and 1.75% were in class I. Out of 285, 59.29% met the definition of hyperuricemia. In which 83.43% were male and 16.57% were female. Most of the Hyperuricemic patients 62.13% were in age group of 51- 60 years, with a mean age of 57+/-4.5 years. We found a significant correlation between uric acid level and BNP [p= <0.001], and use of diuretics [p=<0.001]. 34.93% of the Hyperuricemic CHF patients were in NYHA III and NYHA IV whose SUA was above 8 mg/dl as compared to 31.57% Hyperuricemic CHF patients whose SUA was below 8 mg/dl

Conclusion: High serum Uric acid was observed in 59.29% of patients with CHF. The observed significant correlation between UA level and some established prognostic markers in these patients may indicate that serum UA could provide additional prognostic information in this population. SUA as a marker can be measured anywhere at a low cost to help identify high-risk patients with CHF. Lowing uric acid is expected to be a new approach for prevention and therapy of HF

MR imaging features of chemotherapeutic neurotoxicity in cancer patient

Aim of the work: this study aimed to display the role of imaging by MRI in early detection and accurate diagnosis of chemotherapeutic neurotoxicity in neoplastic patients under chemotherapy

Patients and methods: this study included 50 cases of different cancers with CNS radiological manifestations. It included any cancer patient, regarding the age, sex and primary cancer and received any type of chemotherapy. The entire patients were evaluated by CEMRI technique, MR venography as well as diffusion weighted MRI

Results: our result showed different forms of neurotoxicity that occur in cancer patients due to the effect of chemotherapy such as posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Conclusion: all survivors of cancer patients should have lifelong follow-up, preferably with magnetic resonance imaging which provided greater anatomic detail and early detection of any abnormality

Identifying and prioritizing cleaner production strategies in raw materials' warehouse of yazdbaf textile company in 2015

Introduction: Cleaner productions in textile industry is achieved by reducing water and chemicals' consumption, saving energy, reducing production of air pollution and solid wastes, reducing toxicity and noise pollution through many solutions. The purpose of the present research was to apply Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats [SWOT] and Quality Systems Planning Matrix [QSPM] techniques in identifying and prioritizing production in raw materials' warehouse of Yazdbaf Textile Factory

Materials and Methods: In this research, effective internal and external factors in cleaner production were identified by providing the required information through field visit and interview with industry managers and supervisors of raw materials' warehouse. Finally, to form matrix of internal and external factors 17 important internal factors and 7 important external factors were identified and selected respectively. Then, QSPM matrix was formed to determine the attractiveness and priority of the selected strategies by using results of internal and external factors and SWOT matrixes

Results: According to the results, the total score of raw materials' warehouse in Internal Factor Evaluation [IFE] matrix is equal to 2.90 which shows the good situation of warehouse than the internal factors. However, the total score in External Factor Evaluation [EFE] matrix is 2.14 and indicates the relative weak situation of warehouse than the external factors

Conclusion: Based on the obtained results, continuity, monitor, and improvement of the general plan of qualitative control [QC] of raw materials and laboratory as well as more emphasis on quality indexes according to its importance in the production processes were selected as the most important strategies