Knowledge and Attitude of Dental Students and Recent Dental Graduates Towards Dental Pulp Stem Cells in Iran

Objectives Considering the growing knowledge about stem cells and the role of cell-based therapies in the future, dentists should have adequate knowledge about oral stem cell sources and their applications in dentistry. The present study assessed the knowledge and attitude of dental students and recent dental graduates towards dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in Iran. Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in 2021 on 175 participants, including 86 dental students and 89 recent dental graduates from the Dental School of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences (RUMS), Rafsanjan, Iran and Dental School of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU), Tehran, Iran. A researcher-designed questionnaire was used to collect data. The validity and reliability of the questionnaire were assessed. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 21 using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, independent t-test, and ANOVA. Results The mean knowledge and attitude scores of the participants were 66.16±8.51% and 68.65±11.87%, respectively. The mean attitude score was significantly correlated with “interest in participating in the courses related to stem cells” and “scientific journal review rate”. The level of knowledge of the participants from SBMU was significantly higher than that of participants from RUMS (P<0.05). Other variables did not had a significant effect on the mean score of knowledge or attitude (P>0.05). Conclusion Dental students had a positive attitude towards the application of stem cells; however, their knowledge was inadequate. Therefore, some appropriate measures must be adopted to enhance the knowledge of dental students about DPSCs, especially in universities with lower ranks

Analysis of car following headway along multilane highway

This study describes driver’s car following headway on multilane highways. The aim of this study is to analyse the driver’s car following headway along multilane highway at four selected locations. The objectives of this study were to determine car headway at Jalan Batu Pahat – Ayer Hitam multilane highway and to develop linear regression models to present the relationships between headway and speed. Videotaping method was used in field data collection during peak hours. Data were extracted from recorded video by using the image processing technique software. The distance headways and associated vehicles speeds were classified into vehicle following category by vehicle type: car following car, car following heavy goods vehicle, heavy goods vehicle following heavy goods vehicle and heavy goods vehicle following car categories. Linear regressions models were used to develop the relationships between headway and speed. Based on all headway distribution, it is found that patterns of the vehicle headways at four study locations were similar, which shown a significant number of the vehicles travel at headways less than 5 seconds. Furthermore, it can be concluded that many drivers tend to follow the vehicles ahead closely on multilane highways. The regression models were significantly reliable based on their R-square values which are ranging between 0.80 and 0.95. From the analysis, cars were found to maintain larger headways when following heavy goods vehicles compare to when following other cars

Analysis of car following headway along multilane highway

This study describes driver’s car following headway on multilane highways. The aim of this study is to analyse the driver’s car following headway along multilane highway at four selected locations. The objectives of this study were to determine car headway at Jalan Batu Pahat – Ayer Hitam multilane highway and to develop linear regression models to present the relationships between headway and speed. Videotaping method was used in field data collection during peak hours. Data were extracted from recorded video by using the image processing technique software. The distance headways and associated vehicles speeds were classified into vehicle following category by vehicle type: car following car, car following heavy goods vehicle, heavy goods vehicle following heavy goods vehicle and heavy goods vehicle following car categories. Linear regressions models were used to develop the relationships between headway and speed. Based on all headway distribution, it is found that patterns of the vehicle headways at four study locations were similar, which shown a significant number of the vehicles travel at headways less than 5 seconds. Furthermore, it can be concluded that many drivers tend to follow the vehicles ahead closely on multilane highways. The regression models were significantly reliable based on their R-square values which are ranging between 0.80 and 0.95. From the analysis, cars were found to maintain larger headways when following heavy goods vehicles compare to when following other cars

Melayar Keluarga yang Cemerlang dalam Islam

Keluarga adalah satu institusi yang bersifat khusus yang saling mengikat antara satu sama lain. Pembentukan keluarga adalah satu tanggungjawab dalam setiap pasangan yang berkahwin. Insan yang cemerlang adalah bermula daripada keluarga yang cemerlang yang sedikit sebanyak adalah asas kemajuan pembentukan negara yang cemerlang. Oleh kerana itu, Islam mengajar kita pelbagai jenis aspek kehidupan berlandaskan agama seperti akidah, akhlak, sosial, pendidikan dan ekonomi, spiritual dan material. Hal ini demikian termasuklah seawal cara pemilihan pasangan bagi membentuk generasi keluarga yang cemerlang. Dengan kata lain, ibu bapa adalah tunggak utama dalam pembentukan keluarga yang cemerlang berlandaskan agama. Dalam bab ini menerangkan asas pembentukan keluarga dan peranan ibu bapa dalam membentuk anak yang cemerlang. Kecemerlangan ibu bapa adalah menjadi modal insan yang berjaya. Ilmu keibu bapaan seperti cara didikan anak perlu dipelajari oleh ibu bapa bagi satu pasangan yang mempunyai anak demi melahirkan anak yang cemerlang sekali gus menjadi ibu bapa yang prihatin. Ilmu keibu bapaan dan pengisiannya merangkumi tanggungjawab semua pihak termasuklah susami, isteri dan anak-anak. Hal ini demikian dapat membantu membentuk sahsiah diri dan disiplin anak-anak. Sahsiah dan disiplin yang tinggi dapat mencetus kecemerlangan dan kegemilangan dalam diri

A Prospective Cohort Study of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Risk and Opium Addiction in South Eastern Iran

Opium addiction and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are endemic in different parts of Iran, particularly in Bam, where a massive earthquake occurred. This study was designed to compare the incidence rate and severity of CL cases among opium addicted and non-addicted individuals in south-eastern Iran. This study was carried out as a prospective cohort by active house-to-house visits of 1,481 habitants in Bam. CL cases were confirmed by smear and identification of Leishmania species was performed using nested-PCR. The data was analyzed by x2 and t-tests, using SPSS software and also KaplanMeier survival curve and long-rank test in Stata 11.2 and P,0.05 was considered as significant. A total of 904 individuals consisting of 226 opium addicted and 678 non-addicted individuals were followed-up for a period of seven years. The two cohorts were similar in terms of age, sex and place of residency. A similar pattern of incidence was observed among the two cohort groups. In contrast, the severity of CL in terms of the number, duration and the size of the lesions in opium addicted individuals was significantly (P,0.001) higher than non-opium addicted individuals. In conclusion, the present findings indicate that there is no relationship between the incidence of CL and opium addiction

1-(2-Pyrid­yl)-N,N′-dipyrimidin-2-ylmethane­diamine

In the title compound, C14H13N7, inter­molecular N—H⋯N and C—H⋯N hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into infinite one-dimensional chains along (100). A C—H⋯π inter­action also occurs in the crystal

Validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire assessing food group intake in the PERSIAN Cohort Study

PurposeA semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was developed for use in the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN Cohort), investigating non-communicable disease risk factors. This study aimed to assess the validity and reproducibility of this FFQ, through food group intake.MethodsParticipants, recruited from seven PERSIAN cohort centers, completed the FFQ at the beginning of the study (FFQ1) and at the end (FFQ2), with a 12-month interval in between, during which two 24-h dietary recalls (24 h) were completed each month. Correlation coefficients of the median intake of food groups recorded by the FFQs were compared to those of the 24 h to assess validity, and the two FFQs were compared to assess reproducibility of findings.ResultsOverall, data from 978 participants were included in this validation analysis. Of the 26 food groups assessed, Tea, Sugars, Whole/Refined Grains, and Solid Fats/Oils, had the strongest correlations (0.6–0.79), while Red Meat, Chicken and Eggs showed moderate correlations (0.42–0.59). The weakest correlations observed belonged to Fresh fruit Juice and Other Meats (0.23–0.32). Reproducibility was assessed among those who completed both FFQ1 and FFQ2 (n = 848), revealing moderate to strong correlations in all food groups, ranging from 0.42 in Legumes to 0.72 in both Sugar and Sweetened Drinks.ConclusionThe PERSIAN Cohort FFQ is appropriate to rank individuals based on food group intake

Height and body-mass index trajectories of school-aged children and adolescents from 1985 to 2019 in 200 countries and territories: a pooled analysis of 2181 population-based studies with 65 million participants

Summary Background Comparable global data on health and nutrition of school-aged children and adolescents are scarce. We aimed to estimate age trajectories and time trends in mean height and mean body-mass index (BMI), which measures weight gain beyond what is expected from height gain, for school-aged children and adolescents. Methods For this pooled analysis, we used a database of cardiometabolic risk factors collated by the Non-Communicable Disease Risk Factor Collaboration. We applied a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends from 1985 to 2019 in mean height and mean BMI in 1-year age groups for ages 5–19 years. The model allowed for non-linear changes over time in mean height and mean BMI and for non-linear changes with age of children and adolescents, including periods of rapid growth during adolescence. Findings We pooled data from 2181 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight in 65 million participants in 200 countries and territories. In 2019, we estimated a difference of 20 cm or higher in mean height of 19-year-old adolescents between countries with the tallest populations (the Netherlands, Montenegro, Estonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina for boys; and the Netherlands, Montenegro, Denmark, and Iceland for girls) and those with the shortest populations (Timor-Leste, Laos, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea for boys; and Guatemala, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Timor-Leste for girls). In the same year, the difference between the highest mean BMI (in Pacific island countries, Kuwait, Bahrain, The Bahamas, Chile, the USA, and New Zealand for both boys and girls and in South Africa for girls) and lowest mean BMI (in India, Bangladesh, Timor-Leste, Ethiopia, and Chad for boys and girls; and in Japan and Romania for girls) was approximately 9–10 kg/m2. In some countries, children aged 5 years started with healthier height or BMI than the global median and, in some cases, as healthy as the best performing countries, but they became progressively less healthy compared with their comparators as they grew older by not growing as tall (eg, boys in Austria and Barbados, and girls in Belgium and Puerto Rico) or gaining too much weight for their height (eg, girls and boys in Kuwait, Bahrain, Fiji, Jamaica, and Mexico; and girls in South Africa and New Zealand). In other countries, growing children overtook the height of their comparators (eg, Latvia, Czech Republic, Morocco, and Iran) or curbed their weight gain (eg, Italy, France, and Croatia) in late childhood and adolescence. When changes in both height and BMI were considered, girls in South Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and some central Asian countries (eg, Armenia and Azerbaijan), and boys in central and western Europe (eg, Portugal, Denmark, Poland, and Montenegro) had the healthiest changes in anthropometric status over the past 3·5 decades because, compared with children and adolescents in other countries, they had a much larger gain in height than they did in BMI. The unhealthiest changes—gaining too little height, too much weight for their height compared with children in other countries, or both—occurred in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, New Zealand, and the USA for boys and girls; in Malaysia and some Pacific island nations for boys; and in Mexico for girls. Interpretation The height and BMI trajectories over age and time of school-aged children and adolescents are highly variable across countries, which indicates heterogeneous nutritional quality and lifelong health advantages and risks

Repositioning of the global epicentre of non-optimal cholesterol

High blood cholesterol is typically considered a feature of wealthy western countries(1,2). However, dietary and behavioural determinants of blood cholesterol are changing rapidly throughout the world(3) and countries are using lipid-lowering medications at varying rates. These changes can have distinct effects on the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, which have different effects on human health(4,5). However, the trends of HDL and non-HDL cholesterol levels over time have not been previously reported in a global analysis. Here we pooled 1,127 population-based studies that measured blood lipids in 102.6 million individuals aged 18 years and older to estimate trends from 1980 to 2018 in mean total, non-HDL and HDL cholesterol levels for 200 countries. Globally, there was little change in total or non-HDL cholesterol from 1980 to 2018. This was a net effect of increases in low- and middle-income countries, especially in east and southeast Asia, and decreases in high-income western countries, especially those in northwestern Europe, and in central and eastern Europe. As a result, countries with the highest level of non-HDL cholesterol-which is a marker of cardiovascular riskchanged from those in western Europe such as Belgium, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Malta in 1980 to those in Asia and the Pacific, such as Tokelau, Malaysia, The Philippines and Thailand. In 2017, high non-HDL cholesterol was responsible for an estimated 3.9 million (95% credible interval 3.7 million-4.2 million) worldwide deaths, half of which occurred in east, southeast and south Asia. The global repositioning of lipid-related risk, with non-optimal cholesterol shifting from a distinct feature of high-income countries in northwestern Europe, north America and Australasia to one that affects countries in east and southeast Asia and Oceania should motivate the use of population-based policies and personal interventions to improve nutrition and enhance access to treatment throughout the world.Peer reviewe

Global variations in diabetes mellitus based on fasting glucose and haemogloblin A1c

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are both used to diagnose diabetes, but may identify different people as having diabetes. We used data from 117 population-based studies and quantified, in different world regions, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and whether those who were previously undiagnosed and detected as having diabetes in survey screening had elevated FPG, HbA1c, or both. We developed prediction equations for estimating the probability that a person without previously diagnosed diabetes, and at a specific level of FPG, had elevated HbA1c, and vice versa. The age-standardised proportion of diabetes that was previously undiagnosed, and detected in survey screening, ranged from 30% in the high-income western region to 66% in south Asia. Among those with screen-detected diabetes with either test, the agestandardised proportion who had elevated levels of both FPG and HbA1c was 29-39% across regions; the remainder had discordant elevation of FPG or HbA1c. In most low- and middle-income regions, isolated elevated HbA1c more common than isolated elevated FPG. In these regions, the use of FPG alone may delay diabetes diagnosis and underestimate diabetes prevalence. Our prediction equations help allocate finite resources for measuring HbA1c to reduce the global gap in diabetes diagnosis and surveillance.peer-reviewe