The Relationship Between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Menstrual Disorders at Different Ages of Menarche and Sex Hormones

Objective

The present research aimed to study the relationship between body mass index and menstrual disorders at different ages of menarche and sex hormones.

Iranome: A catalog of genomic variations in the Iranian population

Considering the application of human genome variation databases in precision medicine, population‐specific genome projects are continuously being developed. However, the Middle Eastern population is underrepresented in current databases. Accordingly, we established Iranome database ( www.iranome.com ) by performing whole exome sequencing on 800 individuals from eight major Iranian ethnic groups representing the second largest population of Middle East. We identified 1,575,702 variants of which 308,311 were novel (19.6%). Also, by presenting higher frequency for 37,384 novel or known rare variants, Iranome database can improve the power of molecular diagnosis. Moreover, attainable clinical information makes this database a good resource for classifying pathogenicity of rare variants. Principal components analysis indicated that, apart from Iranian‐Baluchs, Iranian‐Turkmen, and Iranian‐Persian Gulf Islanders, who form their own clusters, rest of the population were genetically linked, forming a super‐population. Furthermore, only 0.6% of novel variants showed counterparts in “Greater Middle East Variome Project”, emphasizing the value of Iranome at national level by releasing a comprehensive catalog of Iranian genomic variations and also filling another gap in the catalog of human genome variations at international level. We introduce Iranome as a resource which may also be applicable in other countries located in neighboring regions historically called Greater Iran (Persia).     

Design and development of vitamin C-encapsulated proliposome with improved in-vitro and ex-vivo antioxidant efficacy

Vitamin C, as an antioxidant additive in pharmaceutical and food products, is susceptible to environmental conditions, and new design strategies are needed to enhance its stability. The aim of this study is to prepare vitamin C proliposome using film deposition on the carrier by applying different factors, and optimise the characteristics of the obtained powder using the design expert^® software. The optimised formulation demonstrated acceptable flowability with 20% vitamin C loading. This formulation released about 90% vitamin C within 2?h and showed higher (1.7-fold) in-vitro antioxidant activity. Ex-vivo antioxidant activity was 1.9 and 1.6 times higher in brain and liver cells, respectively. A 27% reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) level of liver cell was obtained comparing free vitamin C. Therefore, this study results suggest that the vitamin C-encapsulated proliposome powder might be an appropriate carrier for oral drug delivery of vitamin C with better antioxidant efficacy.     

Prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries in the healthcare workers of Iranian hospitals: an updated meta-analysis

Background

Needlestick and sharps injuries (NSIs) are critical occupational risk among health care workers (HCWs), which is extremely worrying due to the potential risk of transmitting bloodborn pathogens (BBPs). This study was carried out to evaluate the prevalence of NSIs among Iranian HCWs.

Methods

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the key terms percu* injur*, needle* stick injur*, needlestick* injur*, or sharp* injur* were searched in the Scientific Information Database (SID), MagIran, IranMedex, Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, and Scopus. A prefabricated checklist, including variables: first author, publication year, study population, sample size, gender, total prevalence of needlestick in each gender, type of questionnaire, region, and type of hospitals, was used to extract data from the selected articles included which were published between 2003 and 2016.

Results

The analysis showed that the prevalence of NSIs in the Iranian HCWs was 42.5% (95% CI 37–48). Moreover, the prevalence of NSIs was more in women (47%; 95% CI 36–58) compared to men (42%; 95% CI 26–58).

Conclusion

Given the high prevalence of NSIs, it is necessary to supply safe needles and instruments, hold training programs focused on new methods of using sharp objects safely, observe safety principles and standards, reinforce the practical skills of personnel, and pay more attention to reporting and improving occupational behaviors like avoiding needle recapping in order to reduce the prevalence of NSIs and consequently reduce potential risk of transmission of BBPs.

     

Enhancing the Anticonvulsant Effects of Nifedipine in Rats Through Encapsulation with Water-Soluble β-Cyclodextrin Polymer

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - Encapsulation is one of the efficient methods recently developed for improving drug delivery. The present study was designed to encapsulate nifedipine (NIF) by...     

Effect of low-frequency electrical stimulation parameters on its anticonvulsant action during rapid perforant path kindling in rat

Low frequency stimulation (LFS) may be considered as a new potential therapy for drug-resistant epilepsy. However, the relation between LFS parameters and its anticonvulsant effects is not completely determined. In this study, the effect of some LFS parameters on its anticonvulsant action was investigated in rats. In all animals, stimulating and recording electrodes were implanted into the perforant path and dentate gyrus, respectively. In one group of animals, kindling stimulations were applied until rats achieved a fully kindled state. In other groups, different patterns of LFS were applied at the end of kindling stimulations during twenty consecutive days. In the first experiment the effect of LFS pulse numbers was investigated on its anticonvulsant action. Animals were divided randomly into three groups and 1, 4, and 8 packages of LFS (each pack contains 200 pulses, 0.1 ms pulse duration at 1 Hz) were applied five minutes after termination of kindling stimulations. Obtained results showed that 4 packages of LFS had the strongest anticonvulsant effects. Therefore, this pattern (4 packages) was used in the next experiment. In the second experiment, 4 packages of LFS were applied at intervals of 30 s and 30 min after termination of kindling stimulations. The strongest anticonvulsant effect was observed in the group received LFS at the interval of 30 s. Therefore, this pattern was selected for the third experiment. In the third experiment the effect of LFS at frequencies of 0.25 Hz and 5 Hz was investigated. The group of animals which received LFS at the frequency of 0.25 Hz showed somehow stronger anticonvulsant effect. The results indicate that different parameters of LFS have important role in induction of LFS anticonvulsant effects. Regarding this view, it seems that the slower LFS frequency and the shorter interval between LFS and kindling stimulations, the stronger anticonvulsant effect will be observed. But there is no direct relation between number of pulses and the magnitude of anticonvulsant effect of LFS.     

Model System for Measuring the Effects of Position and Curvature of Fiber Reinforcement Within a Dental Composite

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of fiber curvature and position on flexural strength (FS), toughness, and elastic modulus in a dental flowable composite test specimen. Methods and Materials: Test specimens made of composite resin (Denfil Flow) were reinforced with preimpregnated glass fibers (Interlig). Control specimens (group A) did not contain fiber reinforcement. Fibers were placed with different positions and orientations into the test specimens (2 mm × 2 mm × 25 mm) (groups B, C, D). The test specimens (n = 10) were stored in distilled water for 3 days at 37°C before testing in a three‐point loading test (ISO 10477) at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min to determine FS, flexural modulus (FM), and toughness. Data were analyzed with 1‐way analysis of variance and Tukey HSD (σ= 0.05). Results: The FM varied from 4.7 ± 0.5 to 6.7 ± 0.5 GPa. The lowest flexural strength and toughness values in reinforced specimens resulted from compression side fiber reinforcement (132 ± 12 MPa, 21 ± 4 MJ) and the highest from curved fiber reinforcement (174 ± 8 MPa, 83 ± 28 MJ), though this was not statistically significant from tension‐side reinforcement. Although the toughness of the curved reinforced group was significantly higher than other groups, the flexural strength of curved reinforcement was not significantly higher than tension‐side reinforcement. Conclusion: Position and fiber orientation influenced the flexural strength, FM, and toughness. The most effective in increasing toughness was curved placement of fibers.     

The Effect of Hypnosis on Pain Relief During Labor and Childbirth in Iranian Pregnant Women

This study describes the effect of hypnosis on pain relief during labor and childbirth. Using a qualitative approach, 6 pregnant women were trained to use self-hypnosis for labor. Outcomes were analyzed using Colaizzi's procedure. Women described their feelings about hypnosis during labor as: a sense of relief and consolation, self-confidence, satisfaction, lack of suffering labor pain, changing the feeling of pain into one of pressure, a decrease in fear of natural childbirth, lack of tiredness, and lack of anxiety. They expressed increased concentration on the uterus and cervical muscle, awareness of all the stages of labor, and having “positive thoughts.” Births were perceived as being very satisfactory compared to their previous experiences.     

Nintinol self-expandable metallic stenting in management of malignant obstructive jaundice: a case series

Background and Aims

Palliation therapy is the only available therapeutic method for most patients with tumor-induced obstructive jaundice. Metallic stents are now performed percutaneously as an alternative route to the endoscopic approach. It is widely accepted because of its safety, good patency rate, and minimal invasiveness. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term results of metallic self-expandable stent insertion in patients with malignant stenosis of the biliary tree.

Methods

It is a longitudinal study of patients with percutaneously biliary stenting from September 2005 to March 2009. The patients had unresectable malignant biliary obstruction with unsuccessful endoscopic stenting and access. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram performed after adequate local anesthesia, under sonographic or fluoroscopic guidance. Stenting or balloon dilation was performed through the hydrophilic guide wire. Among 50 patients, 45 stents were placed in biliary tree stenosis sites. Patients’ follow-up was during the first, second, third, and then the sixth month after insertion of biliary stents. Stent patency was considered successful in our patients, when there were no lab results or sonographic appearance of biliary tree obstruction.

Results

10(20%) patients’ stent placement treatment failed because of unsuccessful technical procedure. The stenosis of biliary tract was complete and passage of guide wire was not possible through the tumor growth. 6 (15 %) patients with successful stent placements died within one month (mean, 22 days). Total serum bilirubin resolved to below 1.5 mg/dl within 30 days for 36 (90%) patients with successful stent placements. Early complications not leading to death occurred in 28% of cases. The mean survival time for all patients who underwent stent placement was 140 days (16-420days). The mean patency rate for all stents was 147 days.

Conclusions

Percutaneous biliary stenting is a safe procedure with few technical complications and a high success rate of palliation for patients with malignant biliary jaundice. Early complications are mostly managed conservatively and death is mainly due to systemic effects of the malignant disease.