The oral health situation and treatment need of schoolchildren Afghanistan: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: The present study explores the treatment need for dental caries in schoolchildren in Herat, Afghanistan. METHODS: A convenience sample of 13 schools were selected for the study. All schools were located in the urban areas near Herat and were selected through allocation by the Ministry of Health, which also approved the study protocol. In the schools, classes were allocated by the principal of the school. All the children in the allocated classes were included in the survey. Data collection was performed in the school setting by trained Afghan dentist examiners. To measure caries experience, DMFT/dmft scores were used, counting the number of decayed (measured at both white spot (D≥1) and cavitation level (D≥3), according to WHO criteria), missing and filled teeth. CONCLUSION: Dental caries is a considerable oral health problem in the study population. The present sample has a high proportion of untreated carious lesions and a very low level of restorative care. Moreover, significant differences were shown in relation to gender and age groups. The present survey results confirm the need for professional operative and preventive oral health care in this region.

On viscoelastic drop impact onto thin films: axisymmetric simulations and experimental analysis.

This study investigates the effect of fluid elasticity on axisymmetric droplets colliding with pre-existing liquid films, using both numerical and experimental approaches. The numerical simulations involve solving the incompressible flow momentum equations with viscoelastic constitutive laws using the finite volume method and the volume of fluid (VOF) technique to track the liquid's free surface. Here, the Oldroyd-B model is used as the constitutive equation for the viscoelastic phase. Experiments are also performed for dilute viscoelastic solutions with 0.005% and 0.01% (w/w) polyacrylamide in 80:20 glycerin/water solutions, in order to ensure the validity of the numerical solution and to investigate the elasticity effect. The formation and temporal evolution of the crown parameters are quantified by considering the flow parameters, including the fluid's elasticity. The results indicate that the axisymmetric numerical solutions reasonably agree with the experimental observations. Generally, the fluid's elasticity can enlarge the crown dimension at different thicknesses of the fluid film. Moreover, at intermediate values of the Weissenberg number, the extensional force in the crown wall can control the crown propagation. Furthermore, the results reveal that the effects of the Weber number and the viscosity ratio on this problem are more significant at higher values of the Weissenberg number.

Therapeutic potentials of the caffeine in polycystic ovary syndrome in a rat model: Via modulation of proinflammatory cytokines and antioxidant activity

Recent studies have shown that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects about 6% of women worldwide. It is associated with reproductive and metabolic dysfunction. Caffeine is naturally found in tea, cocoa, and coffee. It has been shown that caffeine can change hormonal profiles, stimulate ovulation, and enhance fertility. Therefore, in this study, the effects of caffeine on rats with PCOS were investigated. For this purpose, 40 female rats were divided into five groups: (1) control group (without any intervention), (2) sham group (administration of olive oil as a caffeine solvent), (3) PCOS group (injection of 2 mg of estradiol valerate for each rat), (4) caffeine group (administration of 37.5 mg/kg caffeine for each rat), and (5) PCOS + caffeine group. After 21 days of treatment, the ovaries of rats were removed and prepared for further evaluations, including hematoxylin and eosin staining, TUNEL assay, real-time PCR, and biochemical analysis. Administration of caffeine in PCOS mice considerably reduced both the volume of the ovary (P < 0.05) and follicular clusters (P < 0.01). However, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were dramatically active in the PCOS + caffeine group compared to others (P < 0.05). Besides, caffeine treatment in PCOS mice led to Bax reduction and increased Bcl-2 expression. On the other hand, the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in PCOS + caffeine group was high compared to other groups. We found that caffeine can reduce apoptosis and inflammation in PCOS ovaries and enhance the unpleasant symptoms of PCOS (AU)

Neural stem cells neuroprotection by simvastatin via autophagy induction and apoptosis inhibition.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Simvastatin (SIM), a member of statin family, on the cellular antioxidant system, autophagy and apoptosis in NSCs exposed to hydrogen peroxide. BACKGROUND: Reduction in cellular oxidative stress increases the survival of neural stem cells (NSCs) after transplantation into the damaged area of the affected central nervous system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: NSCs derived from bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) were exposed to H2O2 (100 µM) for 48 hours after pretreatment with SIM (2 µM). Next, the expressions of the master antioxidant transcription factor, Nrf2/nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NFE2)-related factor 2, autophagy-related proteins (microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B known as LC3I and LC3II and also p62/Sequestosome), and apoptosis (Bcl-2/ B-cell lymphoma 2 and Bax/BCL2 associated X protein) were analyzed. RESULTS: SIM caused Nrf2 over-activation (more localizations in the cellular nucleus), reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS), induction of autophagy (decrease in p62 expression and increase in LC3II/LC3I ratio) and inhibition of apoptosis (decrease in Bax protein and increase in Bcl-2) in NSCs exposed to H2O2-induced oxidative stress, thereby prolonging the cell viability within 48 hours at low concentration (2 µM). CONCLUSION: SIM protects NSCs against H2O2-induced apoptosis in a pleiotropic signaling manner (Fig. 7, Ref. 35).

COMPARISON OF MORPHOMETRIC AND MORPHOLOGY OOCYTES AFTER IN VITRO MATURATION BETWEEN HEALTHY WOMEN AND PATIENTS WITH POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME.

OBJECTIVES: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) occurs in 6-10% of all women in their reproductive age. In women with PCOS, controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) often results in an increased risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). In vitro maturation (IVM) of human oocyte is an alternative technique for in vitro fertilization (IVF). The aim of this study was to compare the morphometric analysis and morphology of oocytes after in- vitro maturation (IVM) between normal women and those suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty two women of 20 to 35 years of age that were undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation by the ICSI/IVF protocol were chosen for the study. The immature oocytes (n=108) were divided into two groups: the first oocyte group was comprised of 16 normal women (n=54); and the second group included 16 women with PCOS (n=54); then the oocytes were matured in vitro. After 24-48h of incubation, the oocyte maturation rate and morphometric and morphological characteristics were assessed using an inverted microscope, and then the images were compared. RESULTS: There were significant differences in the maturity of oocytes between normal women and those with PCOS after IVM (P<0.05). Moreover, morphometric assessments revealed that there were no significant difference in the total diameter (µm) (zona thickness (ZPT) + perivitelline space width (PVS) + cytoplasm (CD) of oocytes between normal women and those with PCOS (156.3±6.8 and 137.7±9.9), respectively (P>0.05). Evaluation of morphological oocytes showed that morphological abnormalities, including ooplasmic vacuolization and granulation were higher in PCOS women compared to normal women (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The increased quality of oocytes after IVM reflected a positive impact of IVM oocytes on normal women as compared to women with PCOS.

The effect of L-arginine supplementation on body composition and performance in male athletes: a double-blinded randomized clinical trial.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2016.266.

The effect of l-arginine supplementation on body composition and performance in male athletes: a double-blinded randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Athletes used a lot of dietary supplements to achieve the more muscle mass and improve their athletic performance. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of l-arginine supplementation on sport performance and body composition in male soccer players. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This double-blinded, randomized and placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 56 male soccer players, with age range of 16-35, who referred to sport clubs in Isfahan, Iran. Subjects were randomly assigned to either l-arginine or placebo groups. Athletes received daily either 2 g per day l-arginine supplement or the same amount of placebo (maltodextrin) for 45 days. Sport performance and also body mass index (BMI), body fat mass (BFM) and lean body mass (LBM) were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Also, 3-day dietary records were collected at three different time points (before, in the middle of, and at the end of the study). RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 20.85±4.29 years. Sport performance (VO2 max) significantly increased in l-arginine supplementation group (4.12±6.07) compared with placebo group (1.23±3.36) (P=0.03). This increase remained significant even after adjustment of baseline values, physical activity and usual dietary intake of subjects throughout the study. No significant effect of l-arginine supplementation was found on weight, BMI, BFM and LBM. CONCLUSIONS: l-arginine supplementation (2 g per day) could increase the sport performance in male athletes, but had no effect on anthropometric measurements, including BMI, BFM and LBM. So, further studies are needed to shed light our findings.

Do patient-reported outcomes have a role in the management of patients with cystic fibrosis?

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a rapidly growing area of expertise and the most commonly used patient-reported outcome (PRO). The impact of cystic fibrosis (CF) on HRQoL is liable to be great, making CF patients ideal candidates for the application of HRQoL instruments. The aims of this study were to assess the affect of CF on HRQoL, to ascertain the reliability and validity of the United Kingdom Sickness Impact Profile (UKSIP) and the Cystic Fibrosis Quality of Life Questionnaire (CFQoL) in the adult CF population, and to examine their role in the management of patients. METHODS: Seventy participants were recruited from the All Wales Adult Cystic Fibrosis Centre at Llandough Hospital, UK. There were two stages to the study: self-report of the UKSIP and CFQoL; and completion of the same two questionnaires 7-10 days later. RESULTS: The areas of HRQoL most impaired by CF were employment and concerns regarding the future. The UKSIP and CFQoL showed high internal consistency (rα = 0.89-0.93) and test-retest reliability (r(s) = 0.57-0.94, p < 0.005) in the CF population. Validity was variable with the UKSIP showing discrimination across socio-demographic factors, whilst the CFQoL showed increased sensitivity to clinical variables. Many parameters influenced patient-reported HRQoL, with the greatest correlations seen with the Borg score (p < 0.005). The use of a HRQoL instrument in CF annual reviews is recommended to provide holistic patient care. The results of this study underpin the value of HRQoL as a patient-reported outcome measure in the management of adult CF.

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 functional promoter polymorphism 1562C>T increased risk of early-onset coronary artery disease.

The Matrix metalloproteinase-9 functional promoter polymorphism 1562C>T may be considered an important genetic determinant of early-onset coronary artery disease (ECAD). In this study, association between MMP-9 1562C>T allele with plasma MMP-9 activity, homocysteine and lipid-lipoproteins level and ECAD in Iranian subjects was investigated. This case-control study consisted of 53 ECAD patients (age < 55 years) and unrelated late-onsets CAD (age>70 years) who angiographically had at least 50% stenosis. MMP-9 1562C>T polymorphism was detected by PCRRFLP, plasma MMP-9 activity, serum lipid and homocysteine levels were determined by gelatin gel zymography, enzyme assay and by HPLC, respectively. The presence of MMP-9 1562C>T allele was found to be associated with ECAD (OR=3.2, P=0.001). The ECAD patients with MMP-9 1562C>T allele had higher MMP-9 activity (P=0.001), LDL-C (P=0.045), TC (P=0.02) and homocysteine (P=0.01) levels than the LCAD subjects. MMP-9 1562C>T allele is a risk factor for ECAD. The carriers of this allele have high levels of MMP-9 activity, LDL-C, TC and homocysteine (P=0.01), thus, are more likely to develop myocardial infarction and CAD at young age (less than 55 years).

The effect of PEG coating on in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo disposition of topotecan loaded liposomes in rats.

Amphoteric drugs encapsulated in PEGylated liposomes may not show superior therapeutic antitumor activity due to increased leakage rate of these drugs in presence of PEG-lipids. In order to investigate the effect of PEG coating on in vitro and in vivo characteristics of topotecan loaded liposomes, an amphoteric anticancer drug, PEGylated and conventional liposomes were prepared by lipid film hydration method. Various properties of the prepared nanoliposomes such as encapsulation efficiency, size, zeta potential, physical stability as well as the chemical stability of lactone form of topotecan, cytotoxicity and topotecan pharmacokinetics were evaluated. In vitro cytotoxic activity was evaluated on murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and human mammary adenocarcinoma (BT20) cells. Pharmacokinetic was evaluated in Wistar rats after i.v. injection of topotecan, formulated in PBS pH 7.4 or in conventional or in PEGylated liposomes. The conventional liposome (CL) formulation was composed of DSPC/cholesterol/DSPG (molar ratio; 7:7:3), while for PEGylated liposome the composition was DSPC/cholesterol/DSPG/DSPE-PEG(2000) (molar ratio; 7:7:3:1.28). The size of both liposomes was around 100 nm with polydispersity index of about 0.1. In comparison with free drug, liposomal topotecan showed more stability for topotecan lactone form in vitro. Compared to free topotecan, PEGylated and conventional liposomes improved cytotoxic effect of topotecan against the two cancer cell line studied. The results of pharmacokinetic studies in rats showed that both CL and PEGylated liposomal formulations increased the concentration of total topotecan in plasma, however, initial concentration and the values of AUC, MRT and t(1/2 beta) were much higher (P<0.001) for PEGylated liposomal drug than for conventional one or free drug. PEGylated liposome resulted in a 52-fold and 2-fold increases in AUC(0-infinity) compared with that of free topotecan and CL, respectively. These results indicated that PEG modified liposome might be an effective carrier for topotecan.