Reference Database of CrossLaps and Osteocalcin for a Healthy Iranian Population

Markers of bone turnover are becoming an important tool for practitioners in the management of osteoporosis. Therefore, it is essential to establish a reference database of the markers before using them in various clinical settings. A total of 785 individuals (37% males, 63% females) without apparent or suggested abnormalities affecting bone mass were randomly selected from 13 clusters in Bushehr Port in southern Iran. The serum CrossLaps ELISA and the N-MID Osteocalcin ELISA were used for the quantitative measurement of CrossLaps and osteocalcin in sera. Bone mineral density was determined for the lumbar spines (L2-L4), proximal femur (neck), and forearm (the distal part) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Men had higher biochemical serum bone markers (P60 years. In men, serum CrossLaps levels were decreased progressively by increases in age, with the peak at 20 – 29 years. In women, there was a significant decrease in serum osteocalcin from 20 – 29 years to 30–49 years, followed by a progressive increases during 50 – 59 years, with the peak at >60 years. In men, the highest concentrations for serum osteocalcin occurred at 20 – 29 years. At all sites checked for bone mineral densitys, women in the high osteocalcin quartile had the lowest mean bone mineral densitys values, but women in the high CrossLaps quartile had the lowest mean bone mineral densitys at lumbar and radial sites. However, in men, bone mineral densitys values at neither site differed between the lowest and the highest quartiles of serum biochemical bone markers. We presented a five- year age-specific mean values of bone markers in a general healthy Iranian population. Only women in the high osteocalcin and CrossLaps quartiles had the lowest mean bone mineral densitys values at the lumbar and radial sites. Our results suggest that the significance of osteoclastic bone resorption or bone formation as a determinant of bone mineral densitys may depend on sex

Reference Database of CrossLaps and Osteocalcin for a Healthy Iranian Population

Markers of bone turnover are becoming an important tool for practitioners in the management of osteoporosis. Therefore, it is essential to establish a reference database of the markers before using them in various clinical settings. A total of 785 individuals (37% males, 63% females) without apparent or suggested abnormalities affecting bone mass were randomly selected from 13 clusters in Bushehr Port in southern Iran. The serum CrossLaps ELISA and the N-MID Osteocalcin ELISA were used for the quantitative measurement of CrossLaps and osteocalcin in sera. Bone mineral density was determined for the lumbar spines (L2-L4), proximal femur (neck), and forearm (the distal part) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Men had higher biochemical serum bone markers (P<0.0001). In women, there were progressive increases in serum CrossLaps after 30 years of age, peaking at >60 years. In men, serum CrossLaps levels were decreased progressively by increases in age, with the peak at 20 – 29 years. In women, there was a significant decrease in serum osteocalcin from 20 – 29 years to 30–49 years, followed by a progressive increases during 50 – 59 years, with the peak at >60 years. In men, the highest concentrations for serum osteocalcin occurred at 20 – 29 years. At all sites checked for bone mineral densitys, women in the high osteocalcin quartile had the lowest mean bone mineral densitys values, but women in the high CrossLaps quartile had the lowest mean bone mineral densitys at lumbar and radial sites. However, in men, bone mineral densitys values at neither site differed between the lowest and the highest quartiles of serum biochemical bone markers. We presented a five- year age-specific mean values of bone markers in a general healthy Iranian population. Only women in the high osteocalcin and CrossLaps quartiles had the lowest mean bone mineral densitys values at the lumbar and radial sites. Our results suggest that the significance of osteoclastic bone resorption or bone formation as a determinant of bone mineral densitys may depend on sex. Archives of Iranian Medicine, Volum

Generation of THz frequency using PANDA ring resonator for THz imaging

In this study, we have generated terahertz (THz) frequency by a novel design of microring resonators for medical applications. The dense wavelength-division multiplexing can be generated and obtained by using a Gaussian pulse propagating within a modified PANDA ring resonator and an add/drop filter system. Our results show that the THz frequency region can be obtained between 40–50 THz. This area of frequency provides a reliable frequency band for THz pulsed imaging

Chronic complications of diabetes mellitus in newly diagnosed patients

AbstractThe prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has increased in recent decades. This study was designed to determine retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, hypertension and hyperlipidemia and their interdependence in newly diagnosed diabetic patients. In this study, 200 consecutive newly diagnosed patients were evaluated and screening tests for retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, hypertension and hyperlipidemia were undertaken.The frequency of positive screening tests for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy was found to be 73.5%, 58.5%, 52%, 10%, and 6% respectively.A significant proportion of newly diagnosed diabetic patients have signs of these chronic complications

The correlation between total antioxidant capacity and nitric oxide concentration in seminal plasma with sperm DNA damage

Sperm DNA quality is important in male fertility. Oxidative stress increases sperm DNA damages. Antioxidants decrease production of free radicals and scavenge them. Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical which is produced by most cells and has a dual role on cells. Low concentrations of NO is essential in biology and physiology of systems but high level of NO has a detrimental effect on cells. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the nitric oxide concentration and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in seminal plasma with sperm DNA damage. Semen samples from 45 infertile men and 70 normozospermic men were examined for DNA damage, nitric oxide concentration and TAC. DNA damage was measured by comet assay and nitric oxide concentration was evaluated by Griess assay. TAC was measured in seminal plasma based on the generation of peroxyl radicals from 2,2-azinobis (2-amidino propane) dihydrochlorid (AAPH). Our results show that the means of DNA damage and nitric oxide concentration in infertile men was higher than fertile men. TAC level in infertile men was significantly lower than fertile men. DNA damage was significantly correlated with nitric oxide concentration in infertile men (p = 0.001, r = +0.598) and TAC (p = 0.04, r = - 0.3) in infertile men. In conclusion, sperm DNA damage in infertile men may be induced by nitric oxide-mediated oxidative stress and low levels of TAC.Keywords: Nitric oxide, male infertility, total antioxidant capacity, DNA damageAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(35), pp. 5739-5745, 30 August, 201

Dual-wavelength thulium fluoride fiber laser based on SMF-TMSIF-SMF interferometer as potential source for microwave generationin 100-GHz region

A dual-wavelength thulium-doped fluoride fiber (TDFF) laser is presented. The generation of the TDFF laser is achieved with the incorporation of a single modemultimode- single mode (SMS) interferometer in the laser cavity. The simple SMS interferometer is fabricated using the combination of two-mode step index fiber and single-mode fiber. With this proposed design, as many as eight stable laser lines are experimentally demonstrated. Moreover, when a tunable bandpass filter is inserted in the laser cavity, a dual-wavelength TDFF laser can be achieved in a 1.5-μm region. By heterodyning the dual-wavelength laser, simulation results suggest that the generated microwave signals can be tuned from 105.678 to 106.524 GHz with a constant step of �0.14 GHz. The presented photonics-based microwave generation method could provide alternative solution for 5G signal sources in 100-GHz region

Optimizing Employment and learning system using big data and knowledge management based on deduction graph

In recent years, big data has usefully been deployed by organizations with the aim of getting a better prediction for the future. Moreover, knowledge management systems are being used by organizations to identify and create knowledge. Here, the output from analysis of big data and a knowledge management system are used to develop a new model with the goal of minimizing the cost of implementing new recognized processes including staff training, transferring and employment costs. Strategies are proposed from big data analysis and new processes are defined accordingly. The company requires various skills to execute the proposed processes. Organization\u2019s current experts and their skills are known through a pre-established knowledge management system. After a gap analysis, managers can make decisions about the expert arrangement, training programs and employment to bridge the gap and accomplish their goals. Finally, deduction graph is used to analyze the model

A Public Bicycle Sharing System Considering Renting and Middle Stations

Recently, public bicycle sharing system (PBSS) has become one of the most favorite urban transportation systems that can help governments to decrease environmental problems such as pollution and traffic. This paper studies a sharing system that includes two types of stations. The first category contains stations that users can rent or return back bicycles and each bicycle can be rented by any new user who arrives to the stations. The second group is the stations which are near shopping centers, historical and other places that users and tourists can stop and visit them. These stations are used only for parking the rented bicycles for a period of time and after that, the users must ride their bicycles and turn them back to their destination stations. After discussing the network of the model under the closed Jackson network, the Mean Value Analysis (MVA) method will be used to calculate the mean queue of each station and analyzing the proposed model

A Pattern for Measuring Quality of Financial Statements

This research aims to present a pattern for measuring the quality of financial statements. To achieve this aim, firstly by reviewing the literature and theoretical background and also running an expert interview, a collection of indexes related to the quality of financial statements are identified, and then by using a questionnaire and performing Fuzzy Delphi method and confirmatory factor analysis we have identified indexes which have a significant effect on the quality of financial statements. After that, using the analytic network process, we have measured the relative weight of each of those indexes (7 indexes) regarding their effect on the quality of financial statements. Lastly, by measuring each of the indexes, and then computing the weighted average of measurements of all indexes (7 indexes), the measure of the quality of financial statements is computed. For assessing the validity of the presented pattern, we have used a regression model for 57 companies listed in Tehran Exchange for years from 1394 to 1396. We have shown that consistent with the literature, there is a significant negative relationship between the quality of financial statements and cost of equity. This relationship proves that the presented pattern has enough validity for measuring the quality of financial statements. Results of this research have shown that average of measures of quality of financial statements for 57 selected firms during years 1394 to 1396 are improved