Correlation between socio-demographic characteristics, metabolic control factors and personality traits with self-perceived health status in patients with diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the relationship between metabolic control factors, socio-demographic characteristics, personality traits, and self-perceived health status in diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 318 patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes (DM). Participants completed a questionnaire-based survey, which included the NEO Personality Inventory-Revised to measure five personality dimensions and the SF-12 survey to assess self-perceived health status. Binary logistic regression was performed to analyze the data, with socio-demographic characteristics, clinical data, and nutrition status as independent variables, and self-perceived health status (categorized as poor or good condition) as the dependent variable. Unadjusted and adjusted binary logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between personality traits (high vs. low) and metabolic control factors (good control vs. bad control) with health status scores. Results: 60.7% of the participants with diabetes in the study described their health as "good." The results indicated that female gender (OR: 0.314, 95%CI: 0.105-0.938, P = 0.038), age > 60 years (OR: 0.263, 95%CI: 0.117-0.592, P = 0.001), comorbidities (OR: 0.314, 95%CI: 0.178-0.556, P = 0.001), DM complications (OR: 0.531, 95%CI: 0.337-0.838, P = 0.007), diabetic neuropathy (OR: 0.562, 95%CI: 0.356-0.886, P = 0.013), and diabetic ulcer (OR: 0.130, 95%CI: 0.023-0.747, P = 0.022) were independent variables associated with a "poor" health status. However, regular physical activity (OR: 3.144, 95%CI: 1.209-8.175, P = 0.019) and a healthy nutritional diet (OR: 2.456, 95%CI: 1.421-4.245, P < 0.001) were associated with a higher likelihood of a "good" self-perceived health status. Conclusion: Preventive programs and interventions aimed at improving self-perceived health among patients with diabetes should focus on increasing regular physical activity and promoting a healthy nutritional status. These actions should be particularly targeted towards female and older patients with higher neuroticism traits.

Developing a fuzzy bi-objective programming and MCDM model for bridge maintenance strategy optimization.

Bridges serve as critical links in road networks, requiring continuous maintenance to ensure proper functionality throughout their lifespan. Given their pivotal role in the urban landscape, connecting various parts of a city, this research presents a multi-objective optimization model for the maintenance and repair of bridges in Babolsar, Iran. The model takes into account budget constraints and aims to minimize the total life cycle and user costs, encompassing traffic delays and vehicle expenses, while maximizing the reliability of the bridge network. Recognizing the inherent complexity of this problem, a multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm has been developed for an accurate solution. The study further conducts sensitivity analysis on the objective function concerning the available budget, evaluating key parameters such as hourly costs and the time value of vehicles. The results show that with an increase in the budget level, the number of repairs related to the most costly maintenance has significantly risen. In other words, as the budget expands, the model tends to favor repairs with higher costs because their impact on the bridge's performance is more substantial.

Barriers to financial access of disabled people to health services in rural areas: A case study of Iran.

BACKGROUND: People with disabilities (PWDs) account for a significant percentage of the world's population, with a higher prevalence in less developed countries. Access to healthcare services is the main component of health systems performance, with lower access for PWDs living in rural areas. The current study aimed to investigate PWD's access to healthcare services in rural areas of Iran and, secondly, factors that contribute to this issue. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Following a cross-sectional design, the current descriptive-analytical study is performed in the north of Iran. Using the quota sampling technique, 471 PWDs were recruited. Data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire, covering three dimensions of access, by face-to-face interview. Data analysis was administered using central tendency indicators and multiple regression by SPSS version 17. Statistical significance was considered when the P value <0.05. RESULTS: The mean score of PWD's access to healthcare services for dimensions of utilization, availability, and affordability was 8.91 (±6.86), 14.54 (±2.3), and 51.91 (±8.78), indicating very low, low, and moderate levels of access. All three regression models were significant (P < 0.05), and variables of gender, age, marital status, education level, residence status, the income of the household head, receiving financial aid, and house area showed a significant effect (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the seriousness of paying attention to PWD's financial access to healthcare services, particularly in rural areas of Iran. Hence, policymakers should better focus on this problem, mainly regarding accessibility and utilization and factors that result in inequalities.

Preclinical assessment of a recombinant RBD-Fc fusion protein as SARS-CoV-2 candidate vaccine.

Background: Waning immunity and emergence of new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), highlight the need for further research in vaccine development. Methods: A recombinant fusion protein containing the receptor-binding domain (RBD) fused to the human IgG1 Fc (RBD-Fc) was produced in CHO-K1 cells. RBD-Fc was emulsified with four adjuvants to evaluate its immunogenicity. The RBD-specific humoral and cellular immune responses were assessed by ELISA. The virus neutralizing potency of the vaccine was investigated using four neutralization methods. Safety was studied in mice and rabbits, and Antibody-Dependent Enhancement (ADE) effects were investigated by flow cytometry. Results: RBD-Fc emulsified in Alum induced a high titer of anti-RBD antibodies with remarkable efficacy in neutralizing both pseudotyped and live SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. The neutralization potency dropped significantly in response to the Omicron variant. RBD-Fc induced both TH2 and particularly TH1 immune responses. Histopathologic examinations demonstrated no substantial pathologic changes in different organs. No changes in serum biochemical and hematologic parameters were observed. ADE effect was not observed following immunization with RBD-Fc. Conclusion: RBD-Fc elicits highly robust neutralizing antibodies and cellular immune responses, with no adverse effects. Therefore, it could be considered a promising and safe subunit vaccine against SARS-CoV-2.

High purity and recovery of native filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) from Bordetella pertussis using affinity chromatography.

Filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) is a critical adhesion molecule produced by Bordetella pertussis (BP), the causative agent of highly contagious respiratory infection known as whooping cough. FHA plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of whooping cough and is a key component of acellular pertussis vaccines (aPV). However, conventional purification methods for FHA often involve labor-intensive processes and result in low purity and recovery rates. Therefore, this study explores the use of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies as specific tools to achieve highly pure and efficient FHA purification. To generate FHA-specific antibodies, polyclonal antibodies were produced by immunizing sheep and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were generated by immunizing mice with recombinant and native FHA. The MAbs were selected based on affinity, isotypes, and specificity, which were assessed through ELISA and Western blot assays. Two immunoaffinity columns, one monoclonal and one polyclonal, were prepared for FHA antigen purification. The purity and recovery rates of these purifications were determined using ELISA, SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting. Furthermore, the MAbs were employed to develop an ELISA assay for FHA antigen concentration determination. The study's findings revealed that immunoaffinity column-based purification of FHA resulted in a highly pure antigen with recovery rates of approximately 57% ± 6.5% and 59% ± 7.9% for monoclonal and polyclonal columns, respectively. Additionally, the developed ELISA exhibited appropriate reactivity for determining FHA antigen concentration. This research demonstrates that affinity chromatography is a viable and advantageous method for purifying FHA, offering superior purity and recovery rates compared to traditional techniques. This approach provides a practical alternative for FHA purification in the context of aPV development.

Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Ferula gummosa Boiss: extract on human breast adenocarcinoma cell line.

PURPOSE: Ferula gummosa Boiss. is a well-known and valuable medicinal plant in Iran. Research has shown that this plant has several pharmacological properties, including anti-bacterial, anti-cancer and etc. In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxic properties of F. gummosa Boiss. extract in MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma cells. METHODS: The cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic properties of the extract were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and propidium iodide (PI) stained cells, respectively. Apoptosis and necrosis were evaluated by annexin V-PI staining. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS),malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was determined to evaluate oxidative stress. The cell migration and the gene expression were assessed by scratch assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-RT-PCR), respectively. RESULTS: The extract of F. gummosa decreased the viability and cell cycle progression of MCF-7 cells by inducing apoptosis and necrosis, increasing ROS and MDA levels, and decreasing GSH levels and SOD activity. It also lowered the cells' migration capability by enhancing p53 mRNA levels and reducing MMP-9 mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: F. gummosa exhibited pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative, and anti-metastatic effects on MCF-7 cells. It is therefore recommended that detailed future research be done on different parts of the plant or its secondary metabolites to find anti-cancer lead compounds.

Assessing the possible association between MTHFR (rs1801133) and GPx-1 (rs1050450) polymorphisms with the risk of type 2 diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: Oxidative stress in chronic hyperglycemia could injure the tissues and onset of diabetes-related complications like retinopathy and neuropathy. This study investigates the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) genetic variants with these complications. METHODS: In this case-control study, 400 individuals, including 100 healthy subjects and 300 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in three subgroups: with retinopathy(n = 100), with neuropathy(n = 100), and without complication (n = 100) from West Iran, were studied. MTHFR (rs1801133) and GPx-1 (rs1050450) variants were identified by the PCR-RFLP method. The plasma levels of GPx activity, glutathione, malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidative stress (TOS) were measured by chemical methods. RESULTS: Higher BMI, TOS and MDA levels were observed in patients with neuropathy compared to other patients and controls. Diabetic patients with neuropathy had lower levels of glutathione (7.8 ± 4.5; P < 0.001), GPx activity (39.5 ± 8.5; P < 0.001), and TAC (703.1 ± 129.1; P = 0.0001) in comparison with other groups. The patients without complication and retinopathic patients had higher plasma levels of glutathione (12.2 ± 2.4; p = 0.02) and TAC (793.4 ± 124.6; P < 0.001), respectively. MTHFR TT genotype significantly correlated with lower levels of TOS (3.5 ± 1.1; P < 0.001) and OSI (0.0050 ± 0.001; P < 0.001). Subjects with the GPx-1 TT genotype had higher levels of MDA (6.8 ± 2.5; P = 0.02) and lower levels of TOS (3.7 ± 1.6; P < 0.001), which is statistically significant. TT genotype of MTHFR was associated with 3.9 fold (95% CI 1.04-4.76; P = 0.0436) increased risk of neuropathy. Also, GPx-1 CT genotype increased the risk of retinopathy [OR = 2.7 (95% CI = 1.38-5.44; P = 0.0039)]. CONCLUSION: The MTHFR TT genotype increased the risk of neuropathy in diabetic patients significantly. The GPx-1 CT genotype is related to increased retinopathy risk among diabetic patients. Both MTHFR and Gpx-1 TT genotypes were associated with higher BMI levels.

Comparative Immunogenicity and Neutralization Potency of Four Approved COVID-19 Vaccines in BALB/c Mice.

Background: Since the outbreak of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), several vaccine candidates have been developed within a short period of time. Although the potency of these vaccines was evaluated individually, their comparative potency was not comprehensively evaluated. Objective: To compare the immunogenicity and neutralization efficacy of four approved COVID-19 vaccines in Iran, including: PastoCovac Plus, Sinopharm, SpikoGen, and Noora in BALB/c mice. Methods: Different groups of female BALB/c mice were vaccinated with three doses of each vaccine. The serum levels of antibodies against the viral receptor binding domain (anti-RBD) and spike (anti-spike) protein as well as the vaccine formulation (anti-vaccine) were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The neutralization efficacy of these four vaccines was assessed through four neutralization assays: conventional virus neutralization test (cVNT), pseudotype virus neutralization test (pVNT), surrogate virus neutralization test (sVNT), and inhibition flow cytometry. Results: All four vaccines induced seroconversion in vaccinated animals. All vaccines successfully induced high levels of anti-vaccine antibody; however, PastoCovac Plus and Sinopharm vaccines induced significantly higher levels of anti-RBD antibody titer compared to Noora and SpikoGen. Moreover, the results of the antibody response were corroborated by the virus neutralization tests, which revealed very weak neutralization potency by Noora and SpikoGen in all tests. Conclusion: Our results indicate significant immunogenicity and neutralization efficacy induced by PastoCovac Plus and Sinopharm, but not by Noora and SpikoGen. This suggests the need for additional comparative assessment of the potency and efficacy of these four vaccines in vaccinated subjects.

Hippopotamus optimization algorithm: a novel nature-inspired optimization algorithm.

The novelty of this article lies in introducing a novel stochastic technique named the Hippopotamus Optimization (HO) algorithm. The HO is conceived by drawing inspiration from the inherent behaviors observed in hippopotamuses, showcasing an innovative approach in metaheuristic methodology. The HO is conceptually defined using a trinary-phase model that incorporates their position updating in rivers or ponds, defensive strategies against predators, and evasion methods, which are mathematically formulated. It attained the top rank in 115 out of 161 benchmark functions in finding optimal value, encompassing unimodal and high-dimensional multimodal functions, fixed-dimensional multimodal functions, as well as the CEC 2019 test suite and CEC 2014 test suite dimensions of 10, 30, 50, and 100 and Zigzag Pattern benchmark functions, this suggests that the HO demonstrates a noteworthy proficiency in both exploitation and exploration. Moreover, it effectively balances exploration and exploitation, supporting the search process. In light of the results from addressing four distinct engineering design challenges, the HO has effectively achieved the most efficient resolution while concurrently upholding adherence to the designated constraints. The performance evaluation of the HO algorithm encompasses various aspects, including a comparison with WOA, GWO, SSA, PSO, SCA, FA, GOA, TLBO, MFO, and IWO recognized as the most extensively researched metaheuristics, AOA as recently developed algorithms, and CMA-ES as high-performance optimizers acknowledged for their success in the IEEE CEC competition. According to the statistical post hoc analysis, the HO algorithm is determined to be significantly superior to the investigated algorithms. The source codes of the HO algorithm are publicly available at https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/160088-hippopotamus-optimization-algorithm-ho .

Moraea sisyrinchium inhibits proliferation, cell cycle, and migration of cancerous cells, and decreases angiogenesis in chick chorioallantoic membrane.

Objectives: Experimental studies reported that some plants in the genus of Moraea (Iridaceae family) show anticancer potential. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Moraea sisyrinchium on U87 glioblastoma multiforme and HepG2 liver cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The cells were incubated for 24 hr with hydroalcoholic extract of the stem, flower, and bulb of M. sisyrinchium. Then, the cell proliferation (MTT) assay, cell cycle analysis (propidium iodide staining), cell migration test (scratch), Western blotting (Bax and Bcl-2 expression), and gelatin zymography (for matrix metalloproteinases, MMPs) were performed. Oxidative stress was evaluated by determining the levels of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation. Angiogenesis was evaluated on chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane. Results: The extracts of the flower, stem, and bulb significantly decreased the proliferation of HepG2 and U87 cells. This effect was more for U87 than HepG2 and for the bulb and stem than the flower. In U87 cells, the bulb extract increased oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest, and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Also, this extract suppressed the migration ability of HepG2 and U87 cells, which was associated with the inhibition of MMP2 activity. In addition, it significantly reduced the number and diameter of vessels in the chorioallantoic membrane. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the presence of xanthones (bellidifolin and mangiferin), flavonoids (quercetin and luteolin), isoflavones (iridin and tectorigenin), and phytosterols (e.g., stigmasterol) in the bulb. Conclusion: M. sisyrinchium bulb decreased the proliferation and survival of cancer cells by inducing oxidative stress. It also reduced the migration ability of the cells and inhibited angiogenesis.

Actuators and transmission mechanisms in rehabilitation lower limb exoskeletons: a review.

Research has shown that rehabilitation lower limb exoskeletons (RLLEs) are effective tools for improving recovery or regaining lower limb function. This device interacts with the limbs of patients. Thus, actuators and power transmission mechanisms are the key factors in determining smooth human‒machine interaction and comfort in physical therapy activities. A multitude of distinct technologies have been proposed. However, we questioned which consideration point in actuator selection and power transmission mechanisms are used for RLLE. A review of the technical characteristics and status of advanced RLLE designs is discussed. We review actuator selection for RLLE devices. Furthermore, the power transmission mechanisms over the years within each of the RLLE devices are presented. The development issues and possible research directions related to actuators and power transmission mechanisms are provided. Most RLLEs are still in the research phase, and only a few have been commercialized. The aim of this paper is to provide researchers with useful information for investigating technological progress and highlight the latest technological choices in RLLE development.

Developing a composite index for urban ecosystem services (Hyrcanian forests-Gorgan).

The current era has been termed the "Anthropocene," because of the irreversible impact of human activities. Land use change and urban growth are examples of these disturbances leading to the reduction in many ecosystem services (ESs). The subject of this study, Gorgan, has undergone significant changes that significantly affected the area. Studying these changes and understanding their effects on the ecosystem is essential. An integrated method was used to investigate the process of changing the urban ESs over 35 years, considering the physical and ecological characteristics of the area. This marks the first time such a study has been conducted using the hexagonal unit. Then, the composite total ecosystem services (TESs) index was calculated from the modeled and quantified combination of six ESs, including water yield, flood volume, net primary production, soil retention, carbon sequestration, and air pollution removal. Thereafter, the ESs were mapped and evaluated across time and space. The TES is proposed as an appropriate measure for quantifying ES supply and can indicate the overall function of ESs. According to the findings, the TES value declined from 0.427 in 1985 to 0.247 in 2005 and declined to 0.192 in 2020. Moreover, the Hyrcanian forests were the main source of the highest TES in Gorgan city, whereas urban areas had the lowest levels. The shortage of ESs in the study area has resulted in various crises. These include reduced air quality, heightened flood risk, soil erosion, and ecological imbalances in urban regions. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:465-480. © 2023 Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Clinico-Pathological and Prognostic Significance of a Combination of Tumor Biomarkers in Iranian Patients With Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. It is a multifaceted malignancy with different histopathological and biological features. Molecular biomarkers play an essential role in accurate diagnosis, classification, prognosis, prediction of treatment response, and cancer surveillance. This study investigated the clinico-pathological and prognostic significance of HER3 and ROR1 in breast cancer samples. METHODS: Tissue microarrays (TMA) were constructed using tissue blocks of 444 Iranian breast cancer patients diagnosed with breast cancer. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed after 5 years follow-up. TMA slides were stained with monoclonal antibodies against ROR1, HER3, ER, PR, Ki67, P53, HER2 and CK5/6 using IHC and correlation between the investigated tumor markers and the clinico-pathological parameters of patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Our results showed a significant correlation between ROR1 and ER, PR, HER3, and CK5/6 expression. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between HER3 and ER, PR, HER2, and Ki67 expression. Ki67 was also correlated with HER2 and P53 expression. HER3 expression was significantly correlated with tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, perineural invasion, and multifocal tumors. Furthermore, ROR1 expression was significantly associated with tumor metastasis, lympho-vascular invasion, and perineural invasion. While HER2-HER3 coexpression was significantly associated with poor OS, HER3-ROR1 coexpression was associated with lymph node invasion, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: ROR1 and HER3 displayed significant association with different clinic-pathological features and in addition to the other tumor biomarkers could be considered as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer patients.

Social disparities and inequalities in healthcare access and expenditures among Iranians exposed to sulfur mustard: a national study using spatio-temporal analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sulfur Mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that has serious short-term and long-term effects on health. Thousands of Iranians were exposed to SM during the eight-year Iran-Iraq conflict and permanently injured while the socioeconomic imbalance in their healthcare utilization (HCU) and health expenditures remains. This study aims to describe the HCU of SM-exposed survivors in Iran from 2018 to 2021; identify high-risk areas; and apply an inequality analysis of utilization regarding the socioeconomic groups to reduce the gap by controlling crucial determinants. METHODS: From Oct 2018 to June 2021, the Veterans and Martyrs Affairs Foundation (VMAF) recorded 58,888 living war survivors with eye, lung, and skin ailments. After cleaning the dataset and removing junk codes, we defined 11 HCU-related variables and predicted the HCU for the upcoming years using Bayesian spatio-temporal models. We explored the association of individual-level HCU and determinants using a Zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP) model and also investigated the provincial hotspots using Local Moran's I. RESULTS: With ≥ 90% confidence, we discovered eleven HCU clusters in Iran. We discovered that the expected number of HCU 1) rises with increasing age, severity of complications in survivors' eyes and lungs, wealth index (WI), life expectancy (LE), and hospital beds ratio; and 2) decreases with growing skin complications, years of schooling (YOS), urbanization, number of hospital beds, length of stay (LOS) in bed, and bed occupancy rate (BOR). The concentration index (CInd) of HCU and associated costs in age and wealth groups were all positive, however, the signs of CInd values for HCU and total cost in YOS, urbanization, LOS, and Hospital beds ratio groups were not identical. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a tendency of pro-rich inequity and also higher HCU and expenditures for the elderly population. Finally, health policies should tackle potential socioeconomic inequities to reduce HCU gaps in the SM-exposed population. Also, policymakers should allocate the resources according to the hotspots of HCU.

The Potential Therapeutic Effects of Platelet-Derived Biomaterials on Osteoporosis: A Comprehensive Review of Current Evidence.

Osteoporosis is a chronic multifactorial condition that affects the skeletal system, leading to the deterioration of bone microstructure and an increased risk of bone fracture. Platelet-derived biomaterials (PDBs), so-called platelet concentrates, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), have shown potential for improving bone healing by addressing microstructural impairment. While the administration of platelet concentrates has yielded positive results in bone regeneration, the optimal method for its administration in the clinical setting is still debatable. This comprehensive review aims to explore the systemic and local use of PRP/PRF for treating various bone defects and acute fractures in patients with osteoporosis. Furthermore, combining PRP/PRF with stem cells or osteoinductive and osteoconductive biomaterials has shown promise in restoring bone microstructural properties, treating bony defects, and improving implant osseointegration in osteoporotic animal models. Here, reviewing the results of in vitro and in vivo studies, this comprehensive evaluation provides a detailed mechanism for how platelet concentrates may support the healing process of osteoporotic bone fractures.

Novel Cu(ii) acidic deep eutectic solvent as an efficient and green multifunctional catalytic solvent system in base-free conditions to synthesize 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles.

A novel green Cu(ii)-acidic deep eutectic solvent (Cu(ii)-ADES) bearing copper salt, choline chloride, and gallic acid ([ChCl]4[2GA-Cu(ii)]) was synthesized and thoroughly specified by physicochemical approaches such as FT-IR, EDX, XRD, Mapping, ICP, and UV-Vis analyses and physicochemical properties. After the detection of authentic data, the central composite design (CCD) was utilized to accomplish the pertaining tests and develop the optimum condition, and, in the following, [ChCl]4[2GA-Cu(ii)] was applied as a green multifunctional catalytic solvent system in reducing agent-free and base-free condition for the three-component click reaction from sodium azide, alkyl, allyl, ester, and benzyl halide, and terminal alkyne made from amines and caprolactam as a cyclic amide to furnish a successful new library of 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles with a yield of up to 98%. The Cu(ii)-ADES is stable and can comfortably be recovered and reused without a considerable decline in its acting for seven cycles. This triazole synthesizing methodology is distinguished via its atom economy, operational facility, short reaction times, diverse substrate scope, and high performance for large-scale synthesis of the desired products including: -CN and -NO2 as efficient functional groups.

Immune response evaluation after Sputnik V vaccination in Sari healthcare population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Generally, protection against SARS-CoV-2 was assessed by the measurement of antibody titers against spike protein and receptor binding domain "RBD". Many global efforts lead to development of several vaccines based on various strategies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of Sputnik V vaccine among Sari healthcare staff population, Iran. METHODS: Seventy-nine health professional staffs that were vaccinated with two doses of Sputnik V vaccine were selected. The Immune response against spike and RBD proteins was evaluated by ELISA assays 3-4 weeks after second dose of vaccine injection. RESULTS: The results showed the antibody titers were raised after vaccination. Data analysis has also demonstrated that the efficacy of vaccine was not related to age, gender and previous infection of SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSION: Sputnik V vaccine can lead to a protective response against COVID-19 infection in high percentage of the population. J. Med. Invest. 70 : 317-320, August, 2023.

Association of Vitamin D with Suicide Behaviors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Research findings on the relationship between vitamin D and suicide are not consistent; therefore, the objective of the present paper is to assess the relationship between vitamin D and suicide behaviors using a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method : A search strategy was developed using keywords including "Vitamin D", "Vitamin D deficiency", "suicide" "attempted suicide", "completed suicide", "Suicide, Attempted", "Suicidal Ideation." We searched databases including Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, and Google Scholar by July 7, 2022. We examined the titles, abstracts, and full texts of the articles to select eligible ones. To pool the results of the selected studies, we used the random-effect method and mean difference as the effect size. The quality of the articles was evaluated by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Moreover, heterogeneity and bias of reporting were evaluated by the I2 statistic and Egger's and Begg's tests, respectively. Results: Out of 149 studies retrieved in the databases, 11 studies were included in the final phase. Among these, the pooled findings of seven studies included in the meta-analysis phase showed that low levels of vitamin D are related to increased probability for suicide behaviors (P < 0.05). Moreover, subgroup analysis showed a significant relationship between vitamin D and suicide ideation and suicide attempt (P < 0.05). In addition, the I2 statistic indicated moderate heterogeneity (58%) and Egger's and Begg's tests did not show any evidence of publication bias (P > 0.05). Conclusion: This study provides evidence in favor of the relationship between vitamin D and suicide behaviors. It suggests that insufficient levels of vitamin D play a role in suicidal behaviors. However, it should be noted that further and stronger evidence is needed to establish this role. Finally, incorporating vitamin D-rich foods into the diet or taking vitamin D supplements is recommended to reduce the risk of suicide.

Preparation and characterization of biopolymer-based adsorbents and their application for methylene blue removal from wastewater.

In the present study, four biopolymer-based materials consisting of native corn starch (CS), phosphate corn starch (PS), starch nanocrystals (SNCs), and phosphate corn starch nanocrystals (PSNCs) were synthesized and used for methylene blue (MB) removal as a function of various parameters, including initial MB concentration (C0, 10-500 mg L-1), adsorbent dosage (Cs, 0.02-0.15 g), contact time (t, 5-15 min), solution pH (2-11), and temperature (25-45 °C). The removal percentage of MB increased dramatically upon increasing the biopolymer dosage, temperature, and pH; while it decreased upon increasing the initial MB concentration. The adsorption behavior of biopolymer-based materials towards MB was found to be accurately described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacities of the adsorbents were ordered as follows: PSNCs (88.53 mg g-1) > SNCs (79.55 mg g-1) > PS (73.17 mg g-1) > CS (63.02 mg g-1). PSNCs was able to remove 96.8% and 76.5% of 20 mg L-1 MB in greywater and petrochemical wastewater, respectively, at an optimum pH of 9 and retained 86.42% of its usability even after five adsorption-desorption cycles. The analysis of the surface charge of the adsorbents before and after MB adsorption, combined with the FTIR spectrum of MB-saturated biopolymer-based materials, provided evidence that electrostatic interactions was the primary mechanism involved in the adsorption of MB. Meanwhile, hydrogen bonding and π-π interactions were found to have a minor contribution to the adsorption process. Based on the results, it can be inferred that PSNCs has promising potential as an adsorbent for the treatment of MB-containing wastewater, owing to its exceptional properties, which include high adsorption capacity, low cost, and applicability for multiple reuses.

Allelic and Genotypic Analysis of LncRNA ANRIL rs4977574 A/G Mutations in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients: Insights into Tumor Characteristics and Genotypic Correlations.

Aim: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) ANRIL and its genetic polymorphisms are shown to be associated with the risk of several cancers. However, the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of lncRNA ANRIL are not thoroughly assessed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) which is the most prevalent cancer in the head and neck area. Thus, this study aimed to assess the association of SNP of lncRNA ANRIL rs4977574 in patients with OSCC. Methods and Materials: 106 blood samples from the patients with OSCC were obtained with a gender- and age-matched control group to evaluate the SNP of rs4977574 of lncRNA ANRIL. The DNA was extracted using the salt-out technique and DNA genotyping was undertaken using specific primer pairs in the tetra-primer ARMS-PCR technique. Eventually, the frequency of wild-type (A) and the mutated allele (G), as well as the genotypes were estimated between the groups of patients with OSCC and healthy individuals. Results: The results of our study indicated no statistically significant difference in the frequency of rs4977574 A/G of lncRNA ANRIL among the patients with OSCC and healthy individuals (p > 0.05). Likewise, no significant difference was found in the genotypes' frequencies (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, the marked association of GG with smaller tumor size and the high level of differentiation of OSCC cells in the presence of AA or AG genotypes were interesting outcomes of this study (p < 0.05). Similarly, all the genotypes AA, AG, and GG were correlated with the site of the occurrence of OSCC. Furthermore, the association of the genotypes with the lymph node metastasis and the tumors stage was not found to be significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The results of our study indicate that rs4977574 A/G and its genotypes do not have any direct correlation with the presence of OSCC; however, its association with the smaller tumor size and the level of the cancer cells differentiation could imply its possible indirect role.