Quality control of eggs using multivariate analysis of micro-Raman spectroscopy

Considering the pivotal role of eggs in the food industry and their nutritional significance, this study employed micro-Raman spectroscopy of eggs, examining both shells and yolks to assess the quality and freshness of eggs. Raman spectra were collected at different temperatures and time intervals to investigate temperature and time effects, potentially indicating Raman peak reduction due to Maillard reaction and oxidation of proteins and lipids and carotenoid depletion, respectively. By calculating the ratio of Raman peaks, lipids, fatty acids, and choline methyl were introduced as biomarkers of temperature and time. Notable correlations were identified between Raman peaks and egg quality coefficients, including egg coefficient and peak 1002 cm$^{-1}$ (protein), total weight and 1301 cm$^{-1}$ (Lipids), yolk weight and 2934 and 3057 cm$^{-1}$, total weight with peak 710 cm$^{-1}$, and egg shape index and peak 3057 cm$^{-1}$. Analysis of eggshells at different time intervals revealed Raman peak reduction during time, demonstrating Raman's effectiveness in assessing egg quality from its shell. Using the PLS-DA method, the classification of eggs at different temperatures and storage times using egg yolk Raman spectra was performed with 80% accuracy, predominantly influenced by carotenoid peaks, showing Raman a practical, and non-destructive method for egg quality and freshness control

The effect of Dorema aucheri-Hydroalcoholic extracts on thyroids hormones in adult male rats.

زمینه و هدف: فلاونوئیدها گروهی از ترکیبات پلی فنولیک با خاصیت آنتی اکسیدانی می باشند که دارای خاصیت ضد سرطانی، ضد توموری و ضد تیروئیدی هستند. گیاه بیلهر گیاهی است حاوی فلاونوئید که در این تحقیق اثر آن بر هورمون های تیروئیدی مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی 50 سر موش صحرایی نر بالغ به 5 گروه ده تایی تقسیم شدند. گروه ها شامل گروه کنترل بدون دریافت ماده ای و گروه شاهد با دریافت آب مقطر و سه گروه دریافت کننده عصاره بیلهر به میزان 100، 200 و 400 mg/kg به مدت سه هفته به صورت خوراکی بودند. در پایان این مدت از موش ها خونگیری به عمل آمد و هورمون های تیروئیدی T3، T4 و TSH اندازه گیری و اطلاعات با کمک آزمون های آماری کروسکال والیس و دان مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد که غلظت پلاسمایی هورمون TSH در گروه دوز mg/kg 100 افزایش معنی دار (05/0

The effect of hydroalcohlic extract of capparis spinosa flower buds on sex hormones in adult male rats

زمینه و هدف: لگجی گیاهی است حاوی فیتواستروژن ها که تأثیر تعدیل کننده بر هورمون ها دارند و ممکن است؛ بر محور هیپوفیز گناد تأثیرگذار باشد. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی تأثیر احتمالی این گیاه بر هورمون های تستوسترون و گنادوتروپین (FSH و LH) انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی 40 سر موش صحرایی نر بالغ به پنج گروه (8 =n) شامل: گروه کنترل، گروه شاهد با دریافت آب مقطر، و سه گروه دریافت کننده عصاره لگجی به میزان 100، 200 و mg/kg 400 تقسیم شدند. حیوانات عصاره را به مدت 28 روز از طریق گاواژ دریافت کردند. 24 ساعت پس از آخرین گاواژ حیوانات تحت بیهوشی با اتر قرار گرفتند و خونگیری از قلب آن ها انجام شد. سطوح هورمون های جنسی تستوسترون، LH و FSH در سرم با استفاده از کیت الیزا مورد سنجش قرار گرفت. یافته ها: غلظت پلاسمایی هورمون تستوسترون در گروه تیمار با دوز mg/kg 100 کاهش معنی دار نسبت به گروه شاهد و کنترل داشت (05/0>P). غلظت سرمی هورمون FSH و LH در گروه های تجربی نسبت به شاهد و کنترل هیچ تغییری نشان نداد. نتیجه گیری: عصاره هیدرو الکلی گیاه لگجی می تواند بر عملکرد هورمون تستوسترون موثر باشد و می تواند در درمان اختلالات محور هیپوفیز گناد موثر واقع شود

Socioeconomic status and catastrophic health expenditure evaluation in IR Iran: A comparative study in 2004 and 2011

Background: Health equity is a main principle of all healthcare systems in the world. Family Physician (FP) program, as a health sector reform (HSR) in Iran, was executed to reduce households’ health care cost and to achieve health equity in 2004. Meanwhile, catastrophic health expenditure is known as an accepted indicator in HSR evaluation. In this context, after determining and comparing socioeconomic status (SES) among different periods, we made an attempt to evaluate households’ health financial protection in different quintiles after implementation of FP program.  Methods: The current cross-sectional study was based on the data obtained from Household Income and Expenditure Survey in 2004 and 2011. The health expenditures, catastrophic health expenditure (CHE), and SES were determined by this data during these years. Descriptive analyses and comparisons using Chi-squared test were carried out via SPSS, version 20.  Results: A total of 1716 households were included in the survey during 2004 and 2011. The highest proportion of households was related to quintiles very poor and poor with respect to each year. Moreover, it was observed that SES in 2011 had the worse situation compared to that in 2004; this situation was worse in urban areas. In the present study, CHE is related to poorer quintiles, and in rural areas no household was faced with CHE in 2011.  Conclusions: Implementation of FP program in rural areas with more primary care has prevented hospitalization. This was considerable for poorer quintiles and has led to financial protection for rural households

Effect of Workplace Noise on Hearing Ability in Tile and Ceramic Industry Workers in Iran: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study

Introduction. Noise as a common physical hazard may lead to noise-induced hearing loss, an irreversible but preventable disorder. Annual audiometric evaluations help detect changes in hearing status before clinically significant hearing loss develops. This study was designed to track hearing threshold changes during 2-year follow-up among tile and ceramic workers. Methods. This follow-up study was conducted on 555 workers (totally 1110 ears). Subjects were divided into four groups according to the level of noise exposure. Hearing threshold in conventional audiometric frequencies was measured and standard threshold shift was calculated for each ear. Results. Hearing threshold was increased during 2 years of follow-up. Increased hearing threshold was most frequently observed at 4000, 6000, and 3000 Hz. Standard threshold shift was observed in 13 (2.34%), 49 (8.83%), 22 (3.96%), and 63 (11.35%) subjects in the first and second years of follow-up in the right and left ears, respectively. Conclusions. This study has documented a high incidence of noise-induced hearing loss in tile and ceramic workers that would put stress on the importance of using hearing protection devices

Glutathione-dependent enzymes in the follicular fluid of the first-retrieved oocyte and their impact on oocyte and embryos in polycystic ovary syndrome: A cross-sectional study

Background: Oxidative stress and GSH-dependent antioxidant system plays a key role in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Objective: We compared glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in serum and follicular fluid (FF) of the first-retrieved follicle and their impact on quality of oocyte and embryo in PCOS women undergoing IVF. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 80 pairs of blood samples and FF of the first-retrieved follicle from PCOS women, at the Infertility center of Ghadir Mother and Child Hospital. The mean activity of GPx and GR, also GSH levels in the serum and FF were compared to the quality of the first follicle and resultant embryo. Results: Retrieved oocytes included 53 (66.25%) MII, 17 (21.25%) MI, and 10 (12.5%) germinal vesicles; after IVF 42 (52.50%) embryos with grade I and 11 (13.75%) with grade II were produced. The mean values for all three antioxidants were higher in the FF compared to serum (p < 0.001). Also all of the mean measured levels were significantly higher in the FF of the MII oocytes compared to that of oocytes with lower grades (p = 0.012, 0.006 and 0.012, respectively). The mean GPX activity and GSH levels were significantly higher in the serum (p = 0.016 and 0.012, respectively) and FF (p = 0.001 for both) of the high-quality grade I embryos. Conclusion: GSH-dependent antioxidant system functions more efficiently in the FF of oocytes and embryos with higher quality. Key words: In vitro fertilization, Glutathione, Antioxidant, Oocyte, Embryo.&nbsp

Enquiring the effect of metacognitive beliefs and religious attitude on the tendency to cigarette use in adolescents

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Background and Objectives: According to the reduction of consumption age in cigarette smoking and tobacco and physical and social harms of this phenomenon, prompted the researcher to study and carry out this investigation in order to assess the effect of metacognitive beliefs and religious attitude on the tendency to cigarette use in male adolescents.Materials and Methods: This study is descriptive and correlative. The statistic population consisted of all of the male high school's students of the city of Mehran in the academic year 2014, which according to the statistic of the education department of the city were 502 people. The sample of 217 persons was calculated based on Kokran formula and was selected by cluster sampling. In this study ultra-cognitive questionnaire (MCQ), Alport's 21-items questionnaire to measure religious attitudes, and the researcher's 23-items questionnaire of tendency to cigarette smoking were used. The data were analyzed using spss software.Results: The results showed that there is a meaningful and inverted relation between negative beliefs about uncontrollable and dangerous of concern and cognitive self-consciousness with tendency to cigarette smoking (p<0/05), and also there is a meaningful and inverted relation between external religious attitude and general religious attitude with tendency to cigarette smoking (p<0/05). Also the results of the investigation showed that the components of metacognitive beliefs (R=0/32) and external religious attitude (R=0/35) have a highest ability in predicting the tendency to cigarette smoking in students, respectively (p<0/05).Conclusion: Due to demonstration the influence of meta cognitive beliefs and religious attitude on the reduction of tendency to cigarette smoking in the students, it is recommended that strengthens religious beliefs by holding classes and question-answer sessions, as well as advisory classes in school programs in order to strengthen cognitive self-awareness and decline negative thoughts to reduction the tendency to cigarette smoking among students.Keywords: Metacognitive beliefs, religious attitudes, tendency to cigarette smoking, studentFor downloading the full-text of this article please click here

Shift Work Effects and Pregnancy Outcome: A Historical Cohort Study

Objective: Employed mothers face considerable amount of hazards. Especially shift work can impact pregnant women by affecting some hormones. This study was conducted to assess the adverse effects of shift work on pregnancy outcomes. Materials and methods: This historical cohort study was conducted in 2017 in order to assess the effect of shift work on pregnancy outcomes. The subjects were consecutively selected from pregnant women, which referred to Al Zahra and Shahid Beheshti hospitals, Isfahan, Iran for their pregnancy care. The effect of shift work on pregnancy and labor complications (low birth weight, small for gestational age, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, intra-uterine growth retardation, spontaneous abortion, preterm delivery, excessive bleeding during labor, and type of labor) was assessed. The effect was adjusted for occupation and number of children as well. Data were analyzed by SPSS (ver. 17) usingT-test, chi-Square test and logistic regression analysis. Results: Totally, 429 pregnant women entered the study. There was not a statistically significant difference between morning and shift workers regarding age. It was found that shift work probably increases the incidence of small for gestational age, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, intra-uterine growth retardation, spontaneous abortion, and preterm delivery, but after adjustment for job and number of children the effect was observed only on preterm delivery. Conclusion: Working in a rapid cycling schedule of shift work may cause an increase in the incidence of preterm delivery in pregnant mothers

Efficacy of Low-Level Laser Therapy in the Management of Tinnitus due to Noise-Induced Hearing Loss: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Background. Several remedial modalities for the treatment of tinnitus have been proposed, but an effective standard treatment is still to be confirmed. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy on tinnitus accompanied by noise-induced hearing loss. Methods. This was a double-blind randomized clinical trial on subjects suffering from tinnitus accompanied by noise-induced hearing loss. The study intervention was 20 sessions of low-level laser therapy every other day, 20 minutes each session. Tinnitus was assessed by three methods (visual analog scale, tinnitus handicap inventory, and tinnitus loudness) at baseline, immediately and 3 months after the intervention. Results. All subjects were male workers with age range of 30–51 years. The mean tinnitus duration was 1.85±0.78 years. All three measurement methods have shown improved values after laser therapy compared with the placebo both immediately and 3 months after treatment. Laser therapy revealed a U-shaped efficacy throughout the course of follow-up. Nonresponse rate of the intervention was 57% and 70% in the two assessment time points, respectively. Conclusion. This study found low-level laser therapy to be effective in alleviating tinnitus in patients with noise-induced hearing loss, although this effect has faded after 3 months of follow-up. This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand clinical trials registry with identifier ACTRN12612000455864)

Evaluation of Candida colonization index, molecular identification, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida species isolated from critically ill pediatric patients: A singlecenter study in Iran

Background and Purpose: Given the high mortality rate of invasive candidiasis inhospitalized pediatric patients, it is crucial to establish a predictive system to achieveearly diagnosis and treatment of patients who are likely to benefit from early antifungal treatment. This study aimed to assess the Candida colonization index, species distribution, and antifungal susceptibility pattern of Candida strains isolated frompediatric patients with high Candida colonization index (CI)Materials and Methods: This study was carried out at the Children’s Medical Center inTehran-Iran. In total, 661 samples were collected from 83 patients. The Candida CI wascalculated according to the descriptions of previous studies. The isolates were identified using polymerase chain reaction-based techniques. The Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute protocol M60 was used to conduct the antifungal susceptibility test.Results: A colonization index greater than 0.5 was confirmed in 29 cases (58% ofpositive samples) with two children developing candidemia. Candida albicans (n=53,49.5%) was the most common Candida species in patients with CI > 0.5. Except foracute lymphoblastic leukemia, no risk factors were linked to a high index in colonizedchildren (P > 0.05). Twelve isolates (7.01%) were multi-azole resistant with high MICsagainst both isavuconazole and ravuconazole and seven strains (4.09%) wereechinocandins resistant.Conclusion: In pediatric intensive care units, patients are at risk of fungal infection,particularly candidemia. In this study, more than half of the children with positive yeastcultures had CI > 0.5, and 6.8% developed candidemia