Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment and Malnutrition in the Elderly (PCIME): study design and protocol.

PURPOSE: Stroke and dementia are burdensome non communicable diseases but preventable. A joint prevention of stroke and dementia requires a comprehensive approach by controlling common risk factors. Little is known about the role of malnutrition in post-stroke cognitive impairments. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the presence of cognitive impairment after stroke and its association with malnutrition. METHODS: Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment and Malnutrition in the Elderly (PCIME) is a prospective hospital-based cohort study, started on January 2nd, 2018 at Ziaeian Hospital, a referral center for elderly, Tehran, Iran, Middle East. We have used a battery of neuropsychiatric tests, including the Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Mini-Mental State Examination. We have assessed malnutrition using the Mini Nutritional Assessment and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index. CONCLUSION: PCIME will enable us to assess the role of malnutrition in development of post stroke dementia. This study will help clinicians and researchers develop preventive measures to reduce the burden of stroke and dementia.

Upregulation of FNDC5 gene expression in C2C12 cells after single and combined treatments of resveratrol and ATRA.

BACKGROUND: Irisin is a newly discovered myokine that secreted from skeletal muscle cells. Several studies showed that irisin involves in thermogenesis and increases the expression of browning markers such as uncoupling protein-1 that in turns induces the conversion of white adipose tissue to brown fat. Resveratrol (Res) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) can also upregulate the expression of thermogenesis genes. In the present study, the effects of single and combined treatments of Res and ATRA on fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) gene expression was explored. METHODS: The mouse myoblasts, C2C12 cells, were seeded in 6-well plastic plates and cultured in DMEM media. After differentiation, in a pilot study, C2C12 myotubes were treated with different concentrations of Res and ATRA for 12 h. The best result was obtained by treatment of 1and 25 µM of Res and 1 µM of ATRA. Then the main study was continued by single and combined treatment of these compounds at chosen concentration. After treatments, total RNA was extracted from C2C12 cells. Complementary DNA (cDNA) was generated by the cDNA synthesis kit and FNDC5 mRNA expression was evaluated by the real-time PCR method. RESULTS: The FNDC5 gene expression in C2C12 myotubes of alone-treated with 1 µM, 25 µM Res and 10 µM ATRA did not change compared to vehicle group. However, in combination-treated the expression of FNDC5 gene was significantly increased compared to vehicle group. CONCLUSION: This is the first evidence that Res and ATRA can regulate FNDC5 gene expression in C2C12 myotubes. More investigations are necessary to explore the therapeutic effects of these nutrients in obesity, diabetes, cardiac and neurovascular disease.

Burnout Among Nursing Staff in Ziaeian Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Occupational burnout among nurses is a major factor affecting the quality of nursing care. Assessing the prevalence of burnout and its related factors is necessary for discouraging the development of burnout. AIM: The aim of this study is determining the burnout among nurses of Ziaeian Hospital, which has not done before. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, all the nursing staff (287 people) was included after filling the informed consent. Occupational burnout was detected using the Maslach occupational burnout inventory tool. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and the significance threshold was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Most of the subjects were female, married, had a bachelor's degree, worked as a nurse, and had less than 5 years of work experience. The mean score of emotional exhaustion was 29.25 ± 12.64, personal performance was 37.31 ± 7.9, and depersonalization was 14.7 ± 5.1. Altogether, 75% of the population had severe emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and mild personal dysfunction. The severity of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and individual performance impairment weregreater in staff with higher degree. Job position also affected the intensity of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Additionally, there was a significant association between marital status and depersonalization. CONCLUSION: Nurses of Ziaeean Hospital have severe emotional exhaustion and depolarization; and mild personal function impairment. The findings of this research are a guide for the next steps to solve burnout in this hospital.

The association between blood vitamins D and E with age-related macular degeneration: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: This study was aimed to evaluate the association of serum vitamins D and E level with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: This pilot study was performed in two groups of 15 patients in treatment group and 15 patients in control group. Measurements of blood factors [such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)] were performed after 12 h of fasting. To measure vitamins D and E, the serum was isolated from 5 cc blood samples. RESULTS: HDL was higher in the control group as compared with the AMD group. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups (p = 0.08). On the other hand, serum vitamin E in the AMD group was remarkably higher as compared to the control group (p < 0.002). However, no significant difference was found in serum vitamin D levels between the two groups (p = 0.662). Our findings also revealed that there was no statistically significant relationship between BMI and AMD. Moreover, no significant correlation was determined between serum CRP and AMD (p = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicated that none provides evidence for associations between AMD and serum vitamin D levels. The association between vitamin D and AMD requires further investigations in a large population studies, to elucidate whether vitamin D deficiency can be an important risk factor for AMD.