Possible crosstalk between leptin and insulin resistance in sedentary obese boys at different stages of puberty

Puberty with interactive growth in tissues is a sensitive period in life that can be more affected by obesity. Also the increase of leptin and insulin resistant independent of obesity have been seen in puberty. The aim of our study was to investigate the role of puberty on changes in leptin, testosterone, and insulin resistance in sedentary obese boy with considering possible crosstalk between leptin and insulin resistance. 58 sedentary obese boys (14.10 + 1.37 years) participated in this study. Tanner stage scales were used to measure puberty by self-reporting. Initially anthropometric characteristics and then, fasting serum’s glucose, insulin, leptin and testosterone, were measured. With increasing mature from TS2 to TS5, the increasing of testosterone, body mass and lean body mass and the reduction of body fat percentage were significantly (p≤0.05). but the changes in leptin and HOMA-IR were not significant. However, the decreased leptin after adjusting for BMI between TS3 and TS4 were significant (p≤0.05). During puberty, rapid growth in muscle tissue were associated with decreased body fat percent, serum leptin and insulin resistance. Among the possible reasons is a 15-fold increase in serum testosterone from TS2 to TS5. These changes reflect the cross talk between muscle and adipose tissue by hormonal mediators

Injecting and Sexual Networks and Sociodemographic Factors and Dual HIV Risk among People Who Inject Drugs: A Cross-sectional Study in Kermanshah Province, Iran

Background: Few studies suggest that social network factors, including size of sexual network may associate with drug-related and sexual high-risk behaviors. The objective of this study is to investigate injecting and sexual networks and sociodemographic factors that might be associated with dual HIV risk (DHR) among people who inject drug (PWID).Methods: The data from a cross-sectional study of 455 PWID that were recruited through peer-referral sampling were used in this study. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisted of modules on sociodemographic characteristics, sexual and injection-related risk behaviors during 12 months before the interview. DHR was defined as engaged in both using a syringe previously used by other PWIDs and unprotected sex during last 12 months. Data analysis was performed with descriptive and logistic regression. In final model, we considered variables with P 0.050).Conclusion: DHR was common in PWID in Kermanshah. Having multiple injecting and sexual partners increased the odds of engaging in dual risk behaviors, but regular visit of NSPs can reduce the DHR among PWID

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

A Survey on Applications of Nanomaterials for Conservation of Artworks

Artworks and historical monuments are often subjected to various damages and deteriorations, according to their age. Damages on artworks or repaired artworks may be provoked by human (vandalism) or by environmental factors such as humidity and light (UV). Nanotechnology provides new methods and innovative ways for the preservation of historical monuments. One of these methods is the preparation of more efficient nanomaterials with smaller particle size, and applying a thin layer coating of materials by different processes such as sol-gel method. In the current study, coating by a variety of conventional polymers is discussed with respect to their protective characteristics of historical monuments in addition to different assessment methods on their protection mechanisms. This study is extended to the important role of organosilicons for preparation of silica nanoparticles and latter protection capacity on coating properties. Another important category of polymers which may provide protective coatings for historical artworks are acrylic polymers. By considering the increasing importance of organic-inorganic hybrids in protection mechanism, some discussions are focused on such hybrids as nanocomposite coatings. The hybrids can be coated on different substrates to impart different properties such as hydrophobicity and anti-graffiti properties. In addition to the use of nanomaterials in conventional polymer coatings for protection and restoration of historical monuments, this paper further explains the preparation of nanomaterials for their usefulness in consolidating wall paintings, removal of aged polymers from historical monuments and enhancing cellulosic paper stability against fungal growth

Effect of Group Form Poetry Therapy on Mental Status of Schizophrenic Patients

Objective: Schizophrenia is one of the complex psychiatric disorders. Although the antipsychotic agent is the main treatment for this disorder, but psychological interventions are effective on clinical symptoms and poetry therapy as one of those interventions may be effective on psychosocial aspect of schizophrenia. The purpose of present study is investigation of poetry therapy effect on mental and behavioral state of schizophrenic patients. Materials & Methods: In this interventional and experimental study 29 schizophrenic patients were selected by sample of convenience from Razi psychiatry center and were assigned probability to poetry therapy group (n=14) and control group (n=15). For experimental group, poetry therapy was held in one hour session, twice weekly for 6 weeks. The brief psychiatric rating scale and behavioral problem scale were used as questionnaires. Statistical analysis of data was done by Independent T test and paired T test. Results: The findings showed that there was significant difference between mental and behavioral state of before and after intervention in poetry therapy group (P<0/001). There was no significant difference before and after intervention in control group (P=0/774). We found significant differences between poetry therapy and control group after intervention (P<0/05), but there was no difference between two groups before intervention (P=0/812). Conclusion: The study confirmed the effectiveness of poetry therapy on mental and behavioral state of schizophrenic Patients

The effect of opioid use on pulmonary function test in advanced COPD patients

Background: Opium has previously been shown to increase exercise endurance and decrease breathlessness in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, but controversy in this issue persists, therefore the role of opium in the management of patients with advanced COPD remains undefined. Method: In order to compare the effects of opium on pulmonary function, we studied two groups of patients with COPD who were attending the chest clinic of Labaffinejad hospital. Group A-consisted of COPD patients with history of smoking alone and group B-patients who consumed opium in addition to cigarette smoking. Patients were matched for their age, and packs/year cigarette smoking habit. Individuals with history of heart disease or occupational lung disease and those with severe COPD who needed hospitalization during 6 months prior to the study were excluded. A complete history and physical examination was done and patients' chest X-ray was taken. For each patient pulmonary function was evaluated by spirometry using Fukuda, Spirometric FVC, FEV 1, FEV 1 / FVC and predicted value for each parameter was recorded, and results were compared between the two groups of patients. Statistical analysis was done by using Kolmogorov - Smirnov test and student t-test. Results: Results shows that there is significant difference (p = 0) between the two groups for FVC and FEVI. We concluded that opium may have a beneficial effect in improving lung function in patients with severe COPD

Investigating the Relationship between the Level of Physical Activity, Dietary Intake, and Body Mass Index with the Quality of Life of People with Down Syndrome during the Epidemic of COVID-19

Background: Considering the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic on the level of physical activity, food patterns, and quality of life (QOL) of people in the community, the present study aims to investigate the relationship between the level of physical activity, dietary intake, and body mass index (BMI) with the QOL of people with Down syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in 2021. 384 girls and boys with Down syndrome (mean age 12.07 ± 3.48 years and 12.28 ± 3.03 years, respectively) were selected by available and targeted sampling method. The research tools included physical activity questionnaire for older children (PAQ-C) and physical activity questionnaire for adolescents (PAQ-A), food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36), which were completed by the parents of the samples. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics methods (Spearman correlation coefficient and Mann-Whitney U test) in SPSS software. Findings: The average score of physical activity level for boys and girls was 2.62 ± 0.93 and 2.53 ± 0.95, respectively, which indicates the unfavorable level of physical activity in these people. In the dimension of QOL and based on the eight subscales, it was determined that there was no difference between the dimensions of QOL in girls and boys. Besides, there was no significant relationship between the amount of physical activity of girls and boys with QOL dimensions. Findings related to consumption of macronutrients and QOL dimensions showed that in girls and boys, there was a relationship between protein and fat consumption and physical pain, although this relationship was weak (P < 0.05). Moreover, in girls and boys, a negative relationship was observed between carbohydrate and fat consumption with vitality, physical performance, and physical limitation (P < 0.05). According to the results, it was found that in boys and girls, there was a negative and significant relationship between BMI and vitality, physical performance, and physical limitation (P < 0.05). However, in boys, a significant negative relationship between BMI and mental problems was also observed. This means that by reducing the BMI of girls and boys, the aspects of QOL in them improved (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The reduction in the intake of carbohydrates and fat macronutrients in girls and boys leads to changes in some aspects of the QOL (increasing vitality, improving physical performance, and reducing physical limitations) due to the epidemic of the COVID-19. It can also be expected that by reducing the BMI, improvement in indicators of vitality, physical performance, and reduction of physical limitations will be achieved