The association between obesity and migraine in a population of Iranian adults: a case-control study

Aim

To assess the association between obesity and risk of migraine with aura and features of migraine attacks among a population of Iranian adults.

The effect of foot orthoses on joint moment asymmetry in male children with flexible flat feet

Introduction

It has been widely postulated that structural and functional misalignments of the foot, such as flat foot, may cause mechanical deviations of the lower limb during walking. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foot orthoses on lower extremity joint moment asymmetry during the stance phase of walking in children with asymptomatic flexible flat feet.

Cu-MOF: an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of symmetric anhydrides via the C–H bond activation of aldehydes

In this paper, an efficient and straightforward synthetic approach for the preparation of a number of symmetric carboxylic anhydrides was reported using Cu₂(BDC)₂(DABCO) as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst via the C–H bond activation of aldehydes with excellent yields and simple work up. This C–H bond activation reaction appears simple and convenient, has a wide substrate scope and makes use of cheap, abundant, and easily available reagents. The Cu-MOF catalyst was recycled and reused four times without any loss of catalytic activity.

In this paper, an efficient synthetic method for the preparation of symmetric carboxylic anhydrides was reported using Cu₂(BDC)₂(DABCO) as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst via the C–H bond activation of aldehydes with good yields and simple work up.     

Health related outcomes among people with type 2 diabetes by country of birth: Result from the 45 and Up Study

Background

Ethnic variation in the occurrence of type 2 diabetes, complications, mortality, and health behaviours has been reported. The current research examined patterns of health-related outcomes by country of birth in people with diabetes aged 45 years and over in New South Wales, Australia.

A Multi‐Structural Model for Prediction of Effective Gas Permeability in Mixed‐Matrix Membranes

A new model for prediction of the effective permeability of gases in mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), considering the effects of particle shape and the interfacial layer, is presented. The proposed model treats core filler particles and interfacial shell layers as complex particles. Moreover, the Bruggman mathematical procedure is used to improve the accuracy of the presented model for high concentrations of fillers in MMMs. Also, an appropriate uniform criterion is established to make efficient use of the new model for various experimental data to avoid the need for curve‐fitting procedures. Finally, the proposed model is examined for several sets of experimental data.

     

Microanatomical study of testis in juvenile ostrich (Struthio camelus)

The majority of investigations on the testis, as the main organ of male reproductive system, have been performed in mammalian species, with few studies on bird species. Thus, the structure of the ostrich testis remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the microanatomical characteristics of the testis in five juvenile ostriches. A stereological study was performed according to the Delesse principle. The mean volume fraction of the seminiferous tubules was 0.569, and the mean volume of the seminiferous tubules in an average testis was 1.04 cm³. The Paraffin-embedded sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson’s trichrome, Alcian blue, and periodic acid–Schiff stains. Histological studies revealed that the spermatogonial stem cells and Sertoli cells were localized inside the seminiferous tubules, close to the basement membrane. Inside the tubules a few meiotic cells up to the spermatozoa stage were located in a centripetal manner. Outside the tubules, one to three layers of euchromatic peritubular myoid cells were present, surrounded by loose interstitial connective tissue. A thick tunica albuginea contained many myoid cells and some rete ducts, with the latter extending from the hilus to the free surface of the testis. Straight seminiferous tubules were distributed in the lateral surfaces and hilar portions of the capsule but were rare in the free surface. These capsular rete ducts may participate in testicular fluid transit from the distal tubules through the capsule.     

Pentoxifylline: A Drug with Antiviral and Anti-Inflammatory Effects to Be Considered in the Treatment of Coronavirus Disease 2019

In December 2019, a new coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged from China, causing pneumonia outbreaks first in the Wuhan region and has now spread worldwide. There are no specific drugs for the disease caused by this virus, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Considering that new synthesized drugs cannot be applied immediately to patients, conventional drug in new use is a feasible solution. Chloroquine, remdesivir, favipiravir, lopinavir, ribavirin, and ritonavir have shown efficacy to inhibit coronavirus in vitro. Pentoxifylline, a drug with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and bronchodilatory effects, has previously been shown to inhibit several viral infections. Immunological studies have shown that most patients with severe COVID-19 exhibit substantially elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pentoxifylline is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that increases the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate, which in turn activates protein kinase, leading to a reduction in the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and immune cell migration. Here, we propose pentoxifylline, a drug with low cost and toxicity, as a possible treatment for COVID-19 based on its interesting properties.     

AIDS and heart disease: is cardiac surgery justified?

A compromised immune system, limited survival and increased risk to the anaesthetic and surgical team of acquiring HIV infection have been the major concerns in offering cardiac surgery to patients with AIDS. The current report presents a patient with AIDS who underwent successful, uncomplicated coronary artery surgery. He remains free of ischaemic and any infectioe symptoms 12 months postoperatively.     

Serum concentrations of antiphospholipid and anticardiolipin antibodies are higher in HIV-infected women

Manifestations of viral infections like human immune deficiency virus (HIV) differ between women and men. There are some reports due to a higher risk of thrombosis due to antiphospholipid syndrome in HIV-infected women compared with men. The purpose of this study was demonstrating the impact of gender on serum concentration of antiphospholipid and anticardiolipin antibodies in HIV-infected patients. A total of 58 HIV-infected patients and 58 age, sex-matched healthy adults were enrolled. We measured platelets count, hemoglobin, partial thromboplastin time (PTT); prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), antiphospholipid IgG/IgM and anticardiolipin IgG/IgM serotypes in our studied population. Age, male-to-female ratio, hemoglobin level, PT, INR, antiphospholipid IgM isotype, anticardiolipin IgM and IgG isotypes levels were not significantly different between HIV-infected patients and healthy individuals, when CD4+ T-cell count, CD8+ T-cell count, platelet count, and PTT were significantly lower, and antiphospholipid IgG isotype levels was significantly higher in HIV patients. Antiphospholipid IgG isotypes (3.2 [2.8–4.2] vs. 2.5 [2.3–3.1]; P?<?0.001) and anticardiolipin IgG isotypes (2.2 [1.9–2.7] vs. 1.4 [1.4–1.9]; P?<?0.001) were significantly higher in HIV-infected women than in HIV-infected men. Antiphospholipid IgG/IgM and anticardiolipin IgG/IgM were significantly correlated in HIV-infected men and women when they did not had any correlation in controls. We suggest that HIV infection accelerate thrombosis in women more profoundly than in men, as a result of differences in disease progression and response to therapy in these patients.