Frequency, shape, and estimated volume of intracranial physiologic calcification in different age groups investigated by brain computed tomography scan: a retrospective study / 대한해부학회지

Intracranial calcification is referred to calcification of parenchyma and vascular structures in brain which can be physiologic or pathologic. This study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the frequency, location, pattern, dimensions and estimated volume of intracranial physiologic calcification (IPC) by computer tomography in different age groups. In this cross-sectional retrospective study, brain computed tomography scans of 216 patients were analyzed in 9 age groups each containing 24 patients from 2 to 89 years old. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA, post hoc Tukey), chi square, and linear regression tests (P≤0.05 was considered significant). Rate of calcification in different areas were as follows: pineal gland (75.0%), habenula (36.4%), pineohabenula (15.0%), right lateral ventricle choroid plexus (RCP) (67.7%), left lateral ventricle choroid plexus (LCP) (62.7%), falx cerebri (26.8%), petroclinoid ligament (13.2%), tentorium cerebelli (6.8%), third ventricle choroid plexus (0.9%), fourth ventricle choroid plexus (2.7%), basal ganglia (0.9%). A significant correlation exists between the presence of calcification in pineal, habenula, RCP, and LCP (P≤0.001). Nodular shape of calcification was dominant (47.9%). Estimated volume of pineal calcification showed increased levels in group 8 (70–79 years old) compared to group 2 (10–19 years old) (P≤0.05). Since the accurate description of radiologic appearance of IPCs (location, shape, and size) accompanied with age and clinical manifestation is of great importance in diagnosis and distinguishing from pathologic calcification—for example in patients with melatonin dysregulation or schizophrenic patients—this study was required.

Health concerns regarding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on male fertility / 대한생식의학회지

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus found in China in 2019. The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been found to be closely related to the cells that secrete angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). ACE2 is involved in the renin-angiotensin system and is widely secreted in several tissues, including the testis, which has raised concerns because organs with high expression of the ACE2 receptor are susceptible to infection. Analyses have shown that in testicular cells, such as spermatogonia, seminiferous duct cells, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells, there is a high expression level of ACE2. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 may damage male reproductive tissues and cause infertility. Since male infertility is an important problem, scientists are evaluating whether COVID-19 may influence male infertility through the ACE2 receptor.

Health concerns regarding the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on male fertility / 대한생식의학회지

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus found in China in 2019. The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been found to be closely related to the cells that secrete angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). ACE2 is involved in the renin-angiotensin system and is widely secreted in several tissues, including the testis, which has raised concerns because organs with high expression of the ACE2 receptor are susceptible to infection. Analyses have shown that in testicular cells, such as spermatogonia, seminiferous duct cells, Sertoli cells, and Leydig cells, there is a high expression level of ACE2. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 may damage male reproductive tissues and cause infertility. Since male infertility is an important problem, scientists are evaluating whether COVID-19 may influence male infertility through the ACE2 receptor.

The effect of education via mobile phones on procrastination of Iranian users: designing a treatment aid application

Introduction: Procrastination, in addition to wasting time, reducing personal performance and causing feeling of guilt, can cause failure of receiving treatment or counseling. Therefore, using accessible and easy-to-use technologies such as mobile phones can facilitate the treatment of people with this problem. This study aimed to investigate the effects of education via mobile phones on procrastination of Iranian users

Methods: The study was carried out using semi-experimental single group method on 32 Iranian users who had installed the counter procrastination application on their android mobile phones. The participants filled Basco's procrastination questionnaire before and after the education. After two months of using the application, the results of pre-test and post-test were gathered and analyzed using student t-test

Results: Findings showed that education via mobile phones has been effective in reducing the procrastination in participants

Conclusion: This application, due to ease-of-use, high accessibility and saving cost, time and energy, can be useful in consulting, treatment and education centers

Association of Self-Care Behaviors and Quality of Life among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Chaldoran County, Iran

BACKGROUND: Self-care of diabetes is an essential part for controlling the disease and improvement of quality of life in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This study aimed to analyze the associated factors of quality of life in patients with T2DM in order to design effective interventions. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 T2DM patients referred to health centers of Chaldoran, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. The quality of life's questionnaires from World Health Organization and the self-care behaviors' questionnaires were used for data collection. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 46.30% and 53.30% of them were male. Among demographic variables, gender (P=0.002), age groups (P=0.007), and household monthly income (P=0.009) were significantly associated with total quality of life. Also, self-care nutrition (odds ratio [OR], 1.47; P=0.001), self-management of blood glucose control (OR, 1.29; P=0.002), and self-medication behavior (OR, 1.18; P=0.030) were identified as factors significantly associated with quality of life. CONCLUSION: Self-care behaviors were significantly associated with quality of life; among them, the greatest influence was observed in self-care nutrition behavior. According to the findings of this study, appropriate interventions on self-care behaviors about nutrition can improve the quality of life for T2DM patients.

Effect of educational intervention on the fruit and vegetables consumption among the students: applying theory of planned behavior

Background: The importance of consuming fruits and vegetables [F and V] in prevention of chronic diseases is known. Childhood play an important role in formation of healthy eating habits

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of education, with application of the theory of planned behavior, on improvement of F and V consumption

Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 184 fourth, fifth, and sixth-grade students participated were enrolled from Jan 2013 to Jun 2014. The samples were selected from 6 schools in Chalderan County, West Azerbaijan, Iran through cluster random sampling method. Two out of 6 schools were randomly selected and each was employed in either experimental or control group. The data collection instruments included a researcher-made questionnaire and a 24-h F and V recall. Data were collected after verification of the reliability and validity of the questionnaire

Results: Before the intervention, no significant difference was observed between the intervention and control group regarding attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention and fruits and vegetables consumption [P>0.05]

However, after the educational intervention, the mean scores of attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, behavioral intention variables and fruits and vegetables were significantly higher in the intervention group when compared to the control group [P<0.05]

Conclusions: Increased behavioral intention, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control can promote F and V consumption among the students

Spontaneous expression of neurotrophic factors and TH, Nurr1, nestin genes in long-term culture of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

It has been reported that rat bone marrow stromal cells [BMSCs] can be spontaneously differentiated into neural-like cells without any supplemental growth factors and/or chemical treatment after long-term culture. This study aims to determine whether, growth factors secreted by MSCs could induce self-differentiation into neural-like cells in a long-term culture. This study consisted of two groups: i. rat BMSCs [passage 5] were cultured in alfa- minimal essential medium [alpha-MEM] and 10% fetal bovine serum [FBS] without the addition of inducer and exchanging medium for three weeks, as the experimental group and ii.rat BMSCs [passage 5] as the control group. Each group was analysed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] to evaluate the expressions of neurotrophic factors and neural marker genes. Statistical analyses were carried out using one-way analysis of variance [ANOVA] and Tukey's multiple comparison with SPSS software [version 16]. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The experimental group [fifth passage of BMSCs] obtained from adult rats spontaneously differentiated into neural precursor cells after long-term culture. Cultured cells expressed tyrosine hydroxylase [TH], Nurr1 and nestin genes. Furthermore, some growing cells in suspension became neurosphere-like. Self-differentiated rat MSCs [SDrMSCs] expressed significantly higher levels of NGF [0.96 +/- 0.16], nestin [0.63 +/- 0.08], and Nurr1 [0.80 +/- 0.10] genes [p<0.05]. In this study, we reported that rMSCs in long-term culture underwent spontaneous transformation to neural precursors without the supplement of growth factors and specific chemicals. Cells expressed neural markers such as: TH, Nurr1, and nestin genes

[Effects of intra-oral intake of different concentrations of sucrose on biobehavioral pain response to immunizations in infants]

An uncontrolled pain in infants can lead to permanent damage of the components of cognitive growth and development and change in response to painful stimuli. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of oral sucrose%20 and%50 on biobehavioural pain response to hepatitis B virus [HBV] vaccine injection in term newborns. In this triple blind clinical trial study, which was performed in Semnan Amir-Al-Momenin Hospital, 91 term infants were selected and randomly divided into three groups. Two minutes prior to immunization with HBV vaccine by intramuscular injection, 2 ml of 20% or 50% sucrose solution was given to the infants in, experimental groups, while, the infants in the control group were orally received only 2 ml of sterile distilled water. The pain response was measured by using Neonatal Infant Pain Scale [NIPS] tools before the administration of sucrose, immediately after injection and 5 min after injection. The results showed that the administration of 50% sucrose significantly reduces pain response in newborns immediately and 5 minutes after HBV vaccination [P < 0.05]. But the administration of 20% sucrose was effective only 5 minutes after HBV vaccine injection. The administration of 50% sucrose can effectviley reduce the pain due to HBV vaccination in infants.

Can social instability, food deprivation and food inequality accelerate neuronal aging?

Based on both animal and human studies, inequality in food intake and social instability has adverse effects on the health of individuals and the community. However, it is not known whether social instability, food deprivation and food inequality affect neuronal death and premature aging in young animals. To address this question, the effects of these adverse situations, histopathological changes in hippocampal pyramidal cells and aging process were investigated. Forty eight New Zeeland white male rabbits were divided into six groups and all of them were housed in similar conditions, with 2 animals per cage in a temperaturecontrolled colony room under light-dark cycle. All experimental animals were fed on standard rabbit commercial pellets and different social situations such as food deprivation, inequality in food intake, and unstable social status were applied to experimental groups during eight weeks. Afterward, lipofuscin accumulation and apoptosis, as main markers of aging, were compared to the control group by Long Ziehl Nelseen staining and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling [TUNEL reaction] assay to reveal the rate of lipofuscin pigment accumulation and TUNEL-reactive apoptotic bodies in the hippocampal pyramidal cells. Serum cortisol level was also measured. Inequality in social situation raised chronic stress [i.e. food deprivation, social inequality and instability] and caused significant changes in lipofuscin accumulation in hippocampal pyramidal cells in comparison to the control group [p<0.005]. The results also showed a significant increase in the ratio of apoptotic to normal cells in all of the stressed groups compared to the control group [p<0.05]. Moreover, application of the social inequality and stresses alone or together modulated levels of cortisol in the experimental group. These findings suggest that food deprivation, inequality and social instability enhance the susceptibility of hippocampal pyramidal cells to apoptosis and premature aging induced by lipofuscin accumulation

role of biodegradable engineered nanofiber scaffolds seeded with hair follicle stem cells for tissue engineering

The aim of this study was to fabricate the poly caprolactone [PCL] aligned nanofiber scaffold and to evaluate the survival, adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of rat hair follicle stem cells [HFSC] in the graft material using electrospun PCL nanofiber scaffold for tissue engineering applications. The bulge region of rat whisker was isolated and cultured in DMEM: nutrient mixture F-12 supplemented with epidermal growth factor. The morphological and biological features of cultured bulge cells were observed by light microscopy using immunocytochemistry methods. Electrospinning was used for production of PCL nanofiber scaffolds. Scanning electron microscopy [SEM], 3-[4, 5-di-methylthiazol- 2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide [MTT] assay, and histology analysis were used to investigate the cell morphology, viability, attachment and infiltration of the HFSC on the PCL nanofiber scaffolds. The results of the MTT assay showed cell viability and cell proliferation of the HFSC on PCL nanofiber scaffolds. SEM microscopy images indicated that HFSC are attached, proliferated and spread on PCL nanofiber scaffolds. Also, immunocytochemical analysis showed cell infiltration and cell differentiation on the scaffolds. The results of this study reveal that PCL nanofiber scaffolds are suitable for cell culture, proliferation, differentiation and attachment. Furthermore, HFSC are attached and proliferated on PCL nanofiber scaffolds

[Optimization of beam orientation and weight in radiotherapy treatment planning using a genatic algorithm]

The selection of suitable beam angles and weights in external-beam radiotherapy is at present generally based upon the experience of the planner. Therefore, automated selection of beam angles and weights in forward-planned radiotherapy will be beneficial. In this work, an efficient method is presented within the MATLAB environment to investigate how to improve the dose distributions by selecting suitable coplanar beam angles and weights for the beam. In the beam angle and weight selection algorithm, the optimal beam angles and weights correspond to the lowest objective action value of the dose distributions of each group of candidate beams. Optimal weights and angles reach a balance between all the objectives. In this work, we used a genetic algorithm and adopted a real-number encoding method to represent both beam weights and angles with an assignable number of repetitions. For the evolution of this algorithm, we used bod monophasic and biphasic methods. In monophasic evolution, the chromosome containing the weights and angles is evolved in a single phase. In biphasic evolution, the chromosome is evolved while keeping me parameter [e.g., weight] constant and then, in the second phase, the evolution is continued while keeping the other parameter [e-g., angle] constant. The dose calculation was carried out using [correction-based techniques]. Simple and simulated clinical cases are presented to test the algorithm. They show that the biphasic evolution requires more computation time compared to monophasic [typically 40 and 20 minutes respectively] but results in a better optimization. The results show the efficacy of the algorithm and its fairly acceptable computation time