Determination of the actual height predictors in Iranian healthy children

Height measurement is an important part of nutritional assessment especially in children. However, in such cases as hospitalized or certain kinds of malformations or disabilities, height cannot be measured accurately. We aimed to determine appropriate height predictors in Iranian healthy children for further use in disabled and/or hospitalized children. A total of 730 apparently healthy children aged 7-11 years old from both sexes from Tehran, Meshed and Rasht were enrolled in a cross sectional study. Height, demispan (DS), halfspan (HS), arm length (AL) and tibia length (TL) were all measured using a measuring tape. Linear regression models were established between height, DS, HS, AL and TL. For boys AL (R2=0.783) and TL (R2=0.837) and for girls AL (R2=0.720), TL (R2=0.765), HS (R2=0.771) and age (R2=0.775), respectively, entered the linear regression model. When height predictors were evaluated individually for each city, only in Tehran DS also entered the regression model. Concordance of different percentiles of height estimates based on AL with those of actual height proposed this measure as a reliable height proxy for this age group in clinical as well as field practice.     

Acute and subchronic toxicity assessment of the hydroalcoholic extract of Stachys lavandulifolia in mice

Stachys lavandulifolia is used as the herbal tea and its wide and potent medical effects have been reported for the extract in animal studies. This study aimed to find the safety profile of the extract to find the appropriate doses for further human studies. The aerial parts of the plant were air-dried and the hydroalcoholic extract was obtained and concentrated by percolation method with 140 mg/ml concentration. To assess the toxicity profile of this extract, 60 female mice (30 cases, 30 controls, 24.8 ± 2.1 g, 4-6 weeks) were administered the extract by oral gavages in acute (24 hrs), subacute (14 days) and subchronic (45 days) models. All clinical, hematological, biochemical and histopathological changes were assessed in appropriate midpoints and endpoints and compared with control group. Doses up to 140 mg?kg were recognized as maximum tolerated dose in subchronic model. Abnormal changes in kidney and liver weight in treatment groups as well as the significant elevation of biochemical parameters in 45 days study has suggested the possible hepatic and renal toxicity potentials of this extract with doses upper than 140 mg?kg. Doses up 70 mg?kg could be considered as no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) and could be used in further clinical trials on the possible therapeutic effects of this plant.     

Blood group antigens frequencies in the northeast of Iran

Background

Identification of blood group antigen frequencies in a population has various benefits in transfusion medicine. Most data in the literature include frequencies of these antigens in European and American countries. In this study for the first time we have reported frequencies of these antigens in the northeast of Iran.

Materials and methods

Blood group antigens were characterized in the 522 blood donors in Mashhad, Iran. The following antigens including ABO, Rh (D, C, E, c, e), MNSs (M, N, S, s), Lutheran (Lu^a, Lu^b), P (P, P₁), Kell (K, k, Kp^a, Kp^b), Lewis (Le^a, Le^b), Duffy (Fy^a, Fy^b) and Kidd (Jk^a, Jk^b) were typed and phenotypes frequencies were expressed as a percentage.

Results

In the ABO blood group, the most common phenotype was O (33.9%) followed by A, B and AB. In the Rh blood group, the most common antigen was e (97.9%) and R₁r (31.8%) being the most common phenotype. The most common phenotypes for MNSs, P, Lu and Kell blood group were M+N+, S−s+, P₁, Lu (a−b+), K−k+ and Kp (a−b+). A very rare phenotype of Lu (a−b−) was also observed in 2.7% of cases. We found rare phenotypes of Le (a+b+) and Fy (a−b−) in 7.9% and 3.4% of subjects, respectively.

Conclusion

We determined some differences in phenotype frequencies of blood group compared with other studies. We found higher frequencies of B blood group and also more frequencies of some rare phenotypes, Lu (a−b−), Le (a+b+) and Fy (a−b−).     

Predictors of Weight Regain and Insufficient Weight Loss According to Different Definitions After Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Retrospective Analytical Study

Background

Weight regain (WR) and insufficient weight loss (IWL) after sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are challenging issues. This study aimed to evaluate the predictors of WR and IWL after SG.

Methods

In this retrospective analytical study, 568 patients who underwent SG at Hazrat-e Rasool General Hospital, Tehran, Iran, between January 2015 and April 2022 were evaluated. A total of 333 patients were included. WR and IWL were evaluated by multiple criteria such as a BMI of > 35 kg/m², an increase in BMI of > 5 kg/m² above nadir, an increase in weight of > 10 kg above nadir, percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL) < 50% at 18 months, an increase in weight of > 25% of EWL from nadir at 36 months, and percentage of total weight loss (%TWL) < 20% at 36 months. All participants were followed up for 36 months.

Result

The univariate analysis showed that preoperative BMI, obstructive sleep apnea, metformin consumption, and grades 2 and 3 fatty liver disease were associated with WR and IWL (P < 0.05). WR or IWL incidence varied (0–19.3%) based on different definitions. The multivariate analysis showed that a preoperative BMI of > 45 kg/m² [odds ratio_Adjusted (OR_Adj) 1.77, 95% CI: 1.12–4.11, P = 0.038] and metformin consumption [OR_Adj: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.19–0.78, P = 0.001] were associated with WR and IWL after SG, regardless of the definition of WR or IWL.

Conclusion

This study showed that preoperative BMI of > 45 kg/m², obstructive sleep apnea, metformin consumption, and grades 2 and 3 of fatty liver disease were associated with WR or IWL.

Graphical abstract

     

Model for Prediction of Optimal Debulking of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Background: Primary cytoreduction surgery followed by chemotherapy is the cornerstone treatment for epithelialovarian cancer (EOC). In patients with a low probability of optimal primary surgical debulking, neoadjuvantchemotherapy (NACT) followed by interval debulking increases the chance of optimal surgery. The aim of this studywas to develop a model to identify preoperative predictors for suboptimal cytoreduction. Methods: Medical recordsof patients with EOC who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery in a referral tertiary gyneco-oncology centerwere reviewed from 2007 to 2017. Data were collected on a range of characteristics including demographic features,comorbidities, serum tumor markers, hematologic markers, preoperative imaging, surgical procedures, and pathologicreports. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to clarify the ability of preoperative factors to predictsuboptimal primary surgery. Results: The majority of patients (71.3%) who underwent primary cytoreductive surgerywere optimally debulked. Based on the Youden index, the best cut-off point for the serum CA125 level to distinguishsuboptimal debulking was 420U/ml with 0.730 (95%CI:0.559 to 0.862) sensitivity and 0.783 (0.684 to 0.862) specificity.Multiple logistic regression results showed that serum CA125 level >420 U/ ml (p value <0.001), the presence of livermetastasis on preoperative imaging (p value: 0.041) and ascites (p value: 0.032) or massive ascites (p value:0.010)significantly increased the risk of suboptimal debulking (logit p = 2.36 CA125 level +1.85 Liverinvolvement +1.68presence of Ascites+ 2.28 Massive Ascites). Conclusion:The present study suggests that a serum CA125 level >420 U/ml,the presence of ascites or massive ascites and liver metastasis are strong predictors of suboptimal primary surgery incases of EOC. Based on the constructed model, with any of these 4 factors, the probability of suboptimal debulking inEOC is more than 80%.     

Expression of acyl-CoA synthetase 5 reflects the state of villus architecture in human small intestine

Several disorders of the small intestine are associated with disturbances in villus architecture. Thus, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with the differentiation of villi represents an important step in the improvement of the understanding of small intestinal pathology. Screening of antibodies from a hybridoma library led to the identification of an acyl-CoA synthetase 5-specific monoclonal antibody. Protein synthesis, mRNA expression, and the enzyme activity of acyl-CoA synthetase 5 were studied by several methods in human small intestinal tissues with Crohn's disease or coeliac disease, respectively. Acyl-CoA synthetase 5 mRNA and protein levels were substantially reduced in injured small intestinal mucosa. Moreover, impaired synthesis of the acyl-CoA synthetase 5 protein was reflected by a decrease in intramucosal enzyme activity. Subtle changes of the acyl-CoA synthetase 5 pattern correlate with conversion of intestinal epithelial cells to a gastric phenotype. These results suggest that deranged acyl-CoA synthetase 5 expression, synthesis, and activity are closely related to the state of villus architecture and epithelial homeostasis in human small intestine.     

Enhancement of the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus by 3-alkyl esters and 3-aryl esters of hexahydroquinoline derivatives

In this study, 3-alkyl and 3-aryl esters of hexahydroquinoline derivatives were screened for their ability to decrease bacterial resistance to ciprofloxacin (CAS 85721-33-1), which is extensively used to treat bacterial infections. A group of 3-alkyl and 3-aryl esters of hexahydroquinoline derivatives in which 2-aryl thiazole is substituted at 4-position were synthesized. The enhancement of the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin by these new synthetic compounds was evaluated against a resistant clinical strain of Staphylococcus aureus. The agar disk diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of different synthetic compounds in the absence and presence of ciprofloxacin. These results indicate that the antibacterial effect of ciprofloxacin is enhanced by two 3-alkyl esters of hexahydroquinoline derivatives (7b-3 and 7b-4).The enhancing effect of 7b-4 on the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin was greater than that of compound 7b-3. In comparison to the other synthetic compounds, 7b-4 showed a 5.61-fold increase of the inhibition zone on the ciprofloxacin supplemented plates. The result demonstrated that compounds 7b (3 and 4) could serve as valuable probes to study the structure-function relationships of agents that reverse the resistance to ciprofloxacin.