Expanded Network of Inflammatory Markers of Atherogenesis: Where Are We Now?

Inflammatory biomarkers play a pivotal role in atherosclerotic lesions. The plasma levels of these markers are predictive of adverse outcomes such as myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death. The immune system is involved at all stages of atherogenesis via activation of monocytes/macrophages and T lymphocytes. Circulating proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines produced by these cells interact with specific receptors on various cells and activate specific signaling pathways, leading to inflammation-induced atherosclerotic lesions. Recent studies have focused on predictive value of inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein and interleukin-6. These biomarkers were shown to be associated with poor quality of life and predictive of adverse events in coronary atherosclerosis and left ventricular dysfunction. Vascular predictive value of other numerous inflammatory markers is being investigated. We herein analyze the role of several mediators of inflammation, affecting vascular functions and leading toward atherosclerotic lesions

The condition of entrepreneurship process in Mazandaran sport organizations

Nowadays entrepreneurship is necessary to create growth and a healthy economic environment in society and its role in economic stability has been proven. Entrepreneurship is the consecutive process of idea creation, opportunity discovery among the created ideas and idea exploitation. This research was done to investigate the entrepreneurship of sport organizations in Mazandaran province in 2013. The population included 462 people, among which 213 people were chosen by the Morgan table. 310 questionnaires were distributed randomly and 250 questionnaire were answered. The survey was applied in goal and descriptive in method. The tool for gathering information was Farhangi's questionnaire, the reliability of which was obtained through the Cronbachʾs alpha. After extracting the data, the statistical analysis was done by the software SPSS. The results showed that entrepreneurship is not in a desirable condition in Mazandaran sports organization. Considering the sports situation of the province and the tourism situation in the province, there are many opportunities which can contribute to the economic development of the province if they are fully paid attention to

The condition of entrepreneurship process in Mazandaran sport organizations

Nowadays entrepreneurship is necessary to create growth and a healthy economic environment in society and its role in economic stability has been proven. Entrepreneurship is the consecutive process of idea creation, opportunity discovery among the created ideas and idea exploitation. This research was done to investigate the entrepreneurship of sport organizations in Mazandaran province in 2013. The population included 462 people, among which 213 people were chosen by the Morgan table. 310 questionnaires were distributed randomly and 250 questionnaire were answered. The survey was applied in goal and descriptive in method. The tool for gathering information was Farhangi's questionnaire, the reliability of which was obtained through the Cronbachʾs alpha. After extracting the data, the statistical analysis was done by the software SPSS. The results showed that entrepreneurship is not in a desirable condition in Mazandaran sports organization. Considering the sports situation of the province and the tourism situation in the province, there are many opportunities which can contribute to the economic development of the province if they are fully paid attention to

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Intravenous and Intramuscular Ketamine for Pediatric Procedural Sedation and Analgesia

Introduction: Ketamine is an agent used broadly for pediatric procedural sedation and analgesia in emergency departments. It has been found to be safe and with a low risk of complications. As choosing between intravenous (IV) and intramuscular (IM) injections is a matter of concern, we did comparison between two methods in terms of their efficacy and the rate of complications. Methods: This single-blind clinical trial study recruited 240 children (age: three months to 15 years, weight > 5 kg), who underwent short and painful procedures at the emergency departments. They were randomly allocated in to two groups of 120 patients to receive either IV or IM ketamine with doses of 1.5 and 4 mg/kg, respectively. Indications for use, dose, side effects, and efficacy of the medications as well as duration of the procedure and time to recovery were compared between two groups. Results: The mean age of the IV and IM groups were 6.5 ± 3.6 and 3.05 ± 2.6 years, respectively (p < 0.001). The onset of action of ketamine was 1.7 ± 1.1 minutes in the IV group and 8.6 ± 3.1 in the IM ones (p < 0.001). Patients of the IV and IM groups remained in optimal sedation for 20.6±12.0 and 37.2±11.8 minutes, respectively (P < 0.001). Time until emergency department discharge was 65.3 ± 36.9 minutes in the IV group and 72.2 ± 14.5 in the IM group (P = 0.40). Ketamine had excellent and moderate efficacy in 66.7% and 32.5% of the IV group and 70.0% and 25.0%  in the IM group, respectively (p = 0.02). Totally, 60.0% of IV group patients and 40.0% of IM group experienced drug side effects (p = 0.21). Need to rescue dose was significantly higher in IV group (26.7% vs. 10.0%; p < 0.001). Finally, recovery was tranquil and comfortable in 88 patients (73.3%) of the IV group and 108 patients (90.0%) of the IM group (p = 0.06). Conclusion: We found that although the sedative and analgesic effects of IM and IV ketamine are not significantly different, duration of effect and onset of action are more desirable in the IV group for suturing, fracture reduction, and foreign body removal. Meanwhile, the IM method can lead to lesser need of rescue doses

Marketing methods for electronic resources in medical libraries: a study on the application of the analytical hierarchy process

Paired with the high cost of providing access to electronic resources in medical libraries, the inefficient use of these resources highlights the need for more efforts to promote these resources than ever before. In this study, electronic resource marketing methods were prioritized and the best strategies were determined using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). Using an analytical survey of officials of medical libraries, the most common methods for marketing electronic resources in libraries were determined and divided into categories of strategies. Five important criteria for marketing strategies were also selected. Using AHP, pairwise comparisons were performed between the alternatives (i.e., strategies), which were evaluated against the selected criteria. Data analysis was performed using Expert Choice 11 software. A total of 44 electronic resource marketing methods were identified and categorized into 4 strategies. On average, 43.9% of these methods were used by the surveyed libraries. The AHP showed that simplicity was the most important criterion and that communication networks were the best electronic resource marketing strategy. Home/off-campus access, group training, library search stations, and marketing by individual librarians were the most preferred methods of marketing electronic resources. With the availability of a variety of different methods for marketing electronic resources, medical libraries must select strategies based on important criteria depending on the characteristics of the library, librarians, and users. Thus, the AHP can be an effective and practical solution to decision-making by mathematically prioritizing the selection of the best strategies from a set of alternatives based on differentially weighted criteria

A Comparative Study of the Ideas of Commentators in the Exegesis of "This is My Lord" in the 76th to the 79th Verse of Surah al-An'ām Relying on the Relationship of the Verses

Received: 2020/11/10  |   Accepted: 2021/3/11In the exegesis of the phrase "This is my Lord" in the 76th to the 79th of Surah al-An'am, many commentators do not permit a verbatim interpretation of the verse and they think Prophet Ibrāhim as a divine prophet is immune from having worshipped anyone other than God. On the other hand, some commentators perceive a word for word meaning of this verse but they relate it to the childhood period of his highness and a result, regard him to be purified from Sherk (polytheism). Other commentators who do not accept this belief have presented various exegeses for the explanation of these verses that can be reviewed within 8 categories: For instance, the first group recognize these verses as a sort of pleading by Prophet Ibrāhim (PBUH) for the guidance of his tribe, the second one regard him at the beginning of his puberty in the course of reasoning to find his God; and the third to the eighth groups have mentioned some other reasons. The difference between the ideas of commentators, even contemporary ones, shows the necessity of this analysis. This research first extracts and classifies the presented views regarding these verses and then by the analysis of the arguments for each of them and the relationship of the verses, displays that the first group is closer to the truth and more defendable. Besides, the effect of surveying the relationship of the verses on the recognition of the appropriate view in the comparative exegesis is studied in this article.  © Boroumand, M.H; Joudavi, A; Shahbāzi, S. (2021) A Comparative Study of the Ideas of Commentators in the Exegesis of "This is My Lord" in the 76th to the 79th Verse of Surah al-An'ām Relying on the Relationship of the Verses. Biannual Journal of Comparative Exegetical Researches, 7 (13) 267-293.  Doi: 10.22091/PTT.2021.5306.173

Orphan GPR26 Counteracts Early Phases of Hyperglycemia-Mediated Monocyte Activation and Is Suppressed in Diabetic Patients

Diabetes is the ninth leading cause of death, with an estimated 1.5 million deaths worldwide. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) results from the body's ineffective use of insulin and is largely the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity. T2D increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, retinopathy, and kidney failure by two-to three-fold. Hyperglycemia, as a hallmark of diabetes, acts as a potent stimulator of inflammatory condition by activating endothelial cells and by dysregulating monocyte activation. G-protein couple receptors (GPCRs) can both exacerbate and promote inflammatory resolution. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) indicate that GPCRs are differentially regulated in inflammatory and vessel cells from diabetic patients. However, most of these GPCRs are orphan receptors, for which the mechanism of action in diabetes is unknown. Our data indicated that orphan GPCR26 is downregulated in the PBMC isolated from T2D patients. In contrast, GPR26 was initially upregulated in human monocytes and PBMC treated with high glucose (HG) levels and then decreased upon chronic and prolonged HG exposure. GPR26 levels were decreased in T2D patients treated with insulin compared to non-insulin treated patients. Moreover, GPR26 inversely correlated with the BMI and the HbA1c of diabetic compared to non-diabetic patients. Knockdown of GPR26 enhanced monocyte ROS production, MAPK signaling, pro-inflammatory activation, monocyte adhesion to ECs, and enhanced the activity of Caspase 3, a pro-apoptotic molecule. The same mechanisms were activated by HG and exacerbated when GPR26 was knocked down. Hence, our data indicated that GPR26 is initially activated to protect monocytes from HG and is inhibited under chronic hyperglycemic conditions

Effect of opium on glucose metabolism and lipid profiles in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

Wstęp: To eksperymentalne badanie przeprowadzono w celu określenia wpływu stosowania opium na profil lipidowy i metabolizm glukozy u szczurów z cukrzycą wywołaną podaniem streptozotocyny. Materiał i metody: Aby ocenić wpływ opium, 20 samców podzielono na dwie grupy: kontrolną (n = 10) i otrzymującą opium (n = 10). Po wywołaniu cukrzycy przez 35 dni codziennie mierzono stężenie glukozy we krwi zwierząt. Profil lipidowy i odsetek hemoglobiny A1c (HbA1c) określono na poczatku badania (przed wywołaniem cukrzycy) i w 35. dniu obserwacji. Wyniki: Poziom glikemii u szczurów, którym podawano opium i w grupie kontrolnej był podobny (544,8 ± 62,2 mg/dl v. 524,6 ± 50,0 mg/dl, P = 0,434). Ponadto, nie stwierdzono różnic między grupą leczoną i kontrolną w zakresie wartości HbA1c (6,5 ± 0,5% v. 6,6 ± 0,2%, P = 0,714). Również stężenia cholesterolu całkowitego, cholesterolu frakcji HDL, triglicerydów i lipoproteiny (a) były podobne w obu grupach. Wnioski: Stosowanie opium nie ma istotnego wpływu na metabolizm glukozy i profil lipidowy u szczurów z eksperymentalnie wywołaną cukrzycą.Background: This experimental study was performed to determine the impact of opium use on serum lipid profile and glucose metabolism in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. Material and methods: To determine the effect of opium, 20 male rats were divided into control (n = 10) and opium-treated (n = 10) groups. After diabetes induction, the animals were investigated for daily glucose measurements for 35 days. Serum lipid profile and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were assayed at the baseline (before induction of diabetes) and at 35-day follow-up. Results: The glycaemia levels in the rats treated with opium were similar to the levels measured in the control rats (544.8 ± 62.2 mg/dl v. 524.6 ± 50.0 mg/dl, P = 0.434). In addition, there was no difference between the opium-treated rats and control rats in HbA1c (6.5 ± 0.5% v. 6.6 ± 0.2%, P = 0.714). Compared to the control rats, the serum total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride and lipoprotein (a) in the test animals were similar. Conclusion: Opium use has no significant effect on glucose metabolism and serum lipid profile in rats with induced diabetes

In vitro molecular study of wound healing using biosynthesized bacteria nanocelluse/silver nanocomposite assisted by bioinformatics databases

Background: In recent years, bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) based nanocomposites have been developed to promote healing property and antibacterial activity of BNC wound dressing. Molecular study can help to better understanding about interaction of genes and pathways involved in healing progression. Objectives: The aim of this study was to prepare bacterial nanocellulose/silver (BNC/Ag) nanocomposite films as ecofriendly wound dressing in order to assess their physical, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties. The in vitro molecular study was performed to evaluate expression of genes involved in healing of wounds after treatment with BNC/Ag biofilms. Study design, materials, and methods: Silver nanoparticles were formed by using Citrullus colocynthis extract within new isolated bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) RM1. The nanocomposites were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Besides, swelling property and Ag release profile of the nanocomposites were studied. The ability of nanocomposites to promote wound healing of human dermal fibroblast cells in vitro was studied. Bioinformatics databases were used to identify genes with important healing effect. Key genes which interfered with healing were studied by quantitative real time PCR. Results: Spherical silver nanoparticles with particle size ranging from 20 to 50 nm were synthesized and impregnated within the structure of BNC. The resulting nanocomposites showed significant antibacterial activities with inhibition zones ranging from 7±0.25 to 16.24±0.09 mm against skin pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, it was compatible with human fibroblast cells (HDF) and could promote in vitro wound healing after 48h. Based on bioinformatics databases, the genes of TGF-β1, MMP2, MMP9, CTNNB1, Wnt4, hsa-miR-29b-3p and hsa-miR-29c-3p played important role in wound healing. The nanocomposites had an effect in expression of the genes in healing. Thus, the BNC/Ag nanocomposite can be used to heal wound in a short period and simple manner. Conclusion: This eco-friendly nanocomposite with excellent antibacterial activities and healing property confirming its utility as potential wound dressings

Risk factors associated with positional plagiocephaly in healthy Iranian infants: a case-control study

Abstract Objectives Deformation of the skull by external forces in the absence of synostosis has been defined as positional plagiocephaly. The aim of this investigation was to determine the risk factors of positional plagiocephaly (PP) in healthy Iranian infants. Materials & Methods This case-control study was performed on 300 healthy Iranian infants aged 8-12 weeks who referred to pediatric neurology clinic at Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kashan. Plagiocephaly evaluations were done by using Argenta’s scale. Results Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, there was significant association between PP and male gender (OR=2.26; P=0.002), head circumference (OR=1.22; P=0.006), multiple pregnancy (OR=2.55; P=0.03), abnormal presentation in uterine (OR=2.18; P=0.02), primiparity (OR=2.43; P=0.003), and supine sleep position (OR=2.97; P<0.001). But type of delivery, firmness of headrest, oligohydramnios, and prolonged labor were not correlated with PP. Conclusions The current investigation supports the idea that head circumference, male gender, primiparity, multiple pregnancy, supine sleep position, and abnormal presentation in uterine are correlated with a greater incidence of PP. Further investigations should be undertaken to fully understand PP and its related risk factors