Impacts of Sodium/Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors on Circulating Uric Acid Concentrations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Several trials have assessed the antihyperglycemic effects of sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We conducted a quantitative analysis to assess the impact of SGLT2is on serum uric acid (SUA) in patients with T2DM. Methods: Placebo-controlled trials published before 13 August 2021 were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus. The intervention group received SGLT2i as monotherapy or add-on treatment, and the control group received a placebo that was replaced with SGLT2i. Clinical trials providing changes in SUA were included. The mean change of SUA, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and body weight were calculated (PROSPERO CRD42021287019). Results: After screening of 1172 papers, 59 papers were included in the systematic review. A total of 55 trials (122 groups) of 7 types of SGLT2i on patients with T2DM were eligible for meta-analysis. All SGLT2is significantly decreased SUA levels compared with the placebo groups: empagliflozin mean difference (MD) = -40.98 μmol/L, 95% CI [-47.63, -34.32], dapagliflozin MD = -35.17 μmol/L, 95% CI [-39.68, -30.66], canagliflozin MD = -36.27 μmol/L, 95% CI [-41.62, -30.93], luseogliflozin MD = -24.269 μmol/L, 95% CI [-33.31, -15.22], tofogliflozin MD = -19.47 μmol/L, 95% CI [-27.40, -11.55], and ipragliflozin MD = -18.85 μmol/L, 95% CI [-27.20, -10.49]. SGLT2i also decreased FPG, body weight, and HbA1c levels. SUA reduction persisted during long-term treatment with SGLT2i (except for empagliflozin), while the SUA reduction was affected by the duration of diabetes. Conclusions: SGLT2i can be a valid therapeutic strategy for patients with T2DM and comorbid hyperuricemia. Besides reducing FPG, body weight, and HbA1c, SGLT2i can significantly decrease SUA levels compared to placebo (Total MD = -34.07 μmol/L, 95% CI [-37.00, -31.14])

Enhancing the performance of the aggregated bit vector algorithm in network packet classification using GPU

Packet classification is a computationally intensive, highly parallelizable task in many advanced network systems like high-speed routers and firewalls that enable different functionalities through discriminating incoming traffic. Recently, graphics processing units (GPUs) have been exploited as efficient accelerators for parallel implementation of software classifiers. The aggregated bit vector is a highly parallelizable packet classification algorithm. In this work, first we present a parallel kernel for running this algorithm on GPUs. Next, we adapt an asymptotic analysis method which predicts any empirical result of the proposed kernel. Experimental results not only confirm the efficiency of the proposed parallel kernel but also reveal the accuracy of the analysis method in predicting important trends in experimental results

Stock Companies as an Important Source of Influence to Increase Investment in Economic Projects: Case Study of Mofid Brokerage Firm

One of the main tools to extend and make deeper the capital market is promoting the level of market analysis. Without extensive and comprehensive research and analysis on the capital markets, we cannot expect to grow capital market's position in the national economy. A brief review of developments in stock companies, as a key element of the market capitalization of the economy, indicates that gap analysis has been existed on this market. But promising steps have been taken towards the use of standard indicators and methodologies for analyzing our capital markets through recent years. However, it is still common that we are far from the analyzing the capital market and we have lots of works to do on this field. In this study we investigated the relationship between conservatism and some characteristics of the board of directors (as the main strategy of the company) in order to motivate and increase the level of investments. To achieve this goal, 53 companies which are the subcategories of Mofid brokerage firm were selected for a period of 6 years (from 1385 to 1391)

THE SUBLETHAL EFFECTS OF FIVE COMMERCIAL INSECTICIDES ON THE AMYLOLYTIC AND PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF THE BIOCONTROL AGENT, HABROBRACON HEBETOR SAY (HYMENOPTERA: BRACONIDAE)

Habrobracon hebetor Say is an important biological control agent that has a wide range of lepidopteran hosts, especially from the Noctuidae and Pyralidae families. Nutrition is a very important element in the efficiency of natural enemies in integrated pest management (IPM). In the presented research, the sublethal effects of five selected chemical and botanical insecticides, fenvalerate, propargite, buprofezin, dayabon and palizin, on the activity of amylase and protease enzymes in the midgut of this important ectoparasitoid wasp were studied under laboratory conditions. Changes in the activity of enzymes were investigated by LC30 treatment of the female wasps, which were 0.14, 7.01, 3.04, 9.58 and   2.53 mg a.i./mL, respectively. The obtained results showed that this parasitoid wasp has a long midgut in its digestive tract. Also, there were significant differences among the enzymatic treatments (F5,12 =14.695 and 99.278) except protein concentration (F5,12 = 0.670). Regarding the amylase enzyme, the highest and lowest activities were obtained in the control and fenvalerate treatment (0.0435±0.0023 mU/mg vs. 0.0277±0.0010 mU/mg). In addition, the highest proteolytic activity was observed in the control (4.9817±0.0268 U/mg) and the lowest in the propargite treatment (3.2231±0.0917 U/mg). By closely investigating the results, dayabon and palizin showed the lowest negative effects on the enzymes and could be applied together with this parasitoid wasp in IPM designs

Electronic Customer Relationship Management: Opportunities and Challenges of Digital World

Management information systems (MIS) considerably changed business processes. According to this, Electronic customer relationship management (ECRM) emerged in conjunction with evolution of traditional customer relationship management in e-business contexts. In an analogy, Electronic customer relationship management is similar to a double-edged sword i.e. it provides some opportunities for the system performers, on one side; and challenges the firms, on the other side. In this paper we are seeking for marketing opportunities such as better communication and interactions with customers as well as created choices regarding any customer data storage that ECRM offered as a potential source to benefit from firms’ competitive advantages. On the other hand, it studies the challenges including on-line channel management as well as integrating data and issues related to information technology architecture firms encounter in implementing ECRM

Insecticidal activity of isolated essential oils from three medicinal plants on the biological control agent, Habrobracon hebetor Say - Hymenoptera : Braconidae

The effects of Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae), Piper nigrum L. (Piperaceae) and Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae) essential oils were investigated on the biological control agent, Habrobracon hebetor Say. The female wasps of H. hebetor were treated by LC30 concentrations of the tested essential oils for 24 h and their demography was investigated. Results indicated that the adult longevity, survival, fecundity, fertility, hatch rate, offspring sex ratio and the other demographic parameters negatively were affected by these essential oils. At the same time, our findings indicated that G. glabra essential oil has the less severe effect on H. hebetor. Accordingly, G. glabra essential oil seems to be a compatible botanical compound with H. hebetor for applying in integrated pest management programs

Effect of Sulfur Mustard Toxicity on FLT3-ITD Gene Mutation in Sulfur Mustard Veterans

Background: Sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical blistering warfare that affects different organs especially hematopoietic system. Prevalence of acute myeloblastic and lymphoblastic leukemia is increased by sulfur mustard exposure. FLT3-ITD mutation can be effective on leukemogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the frequency of FLT3-ITD mutation in the patients who exposed to SM. Methods: This study was implemented on 42 people poisoned by SM during Iraq-Iran war about three decades ago and is now resident in Mashhad, Iran. The control group included 30 healthy males that are relatives of the patients with first-degree. After DNA extraction, PCR was performed for FLT3-ITD analysis. Results: By analysis of PCR products, no FLT3-ITD mutation was detected in the patient or control groups. There was no significant difference in hematological factors between the two groups. Conclusion: Other mechanisms can lead to leukemia in SM exposed persons. Elapsed time after exposure to sulfur mustard can be effective on leukemogenesis, then future more study may be beneficial for early diagnosis of leukemia in SM exposed veterans

Gender Differences in COVID-19 Deceased Cases in Jahrom City, South of Iran

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological features of deceased patients and comparing the discrepancies between male and female patients based on high prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), its irreversible effects and the rising mortality rate in Jahrom city. Methods: This is a descriptive-analytical retrospective study that was conducted from the beginning of March 2020 to the end of November 2020. The study population were included all patients with COVID-19 who admitted to Peymaniyeh Hospital in Jahrom and died of COVID-19. Clinical and demographic data were collected from medical records and analyzed by SPSS software. Results: In this study, 61 patients (57.54%) were men and 45 patients (42.36%) were women. The mean age was 68.7±18.33 in men and 68.82±14.24 in women. The mean hospitalization length was 9.69±7.75 days in men and 9.69±7.75 days in women patients. There was no statistically significant difference between men and women patients (p>0.05). The results showed that 17 (27.87%) men and 28 (45.9%) of women patients had hypertension and the prevalence of this disease was significantly higher in women than men (p=0.01). In this study, 7 (11.48%) men and 13 (21.31%) women had hyperlipidemia. The frequency of hyperlipidemia in women caseswas significantly higher than in men patients (p=0.024). Men cases’ diastolic blood pressure (mean=77.53) was significantly higher than women’s diastolic blood pressure at the same time with a mean of 71.42 (p <0.05). Conclusion: The findings of the study represented the mortality rate in men which is higher than women patients. The prevalence of underlying diseases such as hypertension and hyperlipidemia were higher in women than men. Despite higher mortality among women, symptoms such as fever and dyspnea were less common in women than men

Upregulation of miR-210 promotes differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteoblasts

Numerous studies indicated that microRNAs are critical in the regulation of cellular differentiation, by controlling the expression of underlying genes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of miR-210 upregulation on differentiation of human umbilical cord blood (HUCB)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into osteoblasts. MSCs were isolated from HUCB and confirmed by their adipogenic/osteogenic differentiation and flow cytometric analysis of surface markers. Pre-miR-210 was amplified from human DNA, digested and ligated with plenti-III-mir-green fluorescent protein (GFP) vector, and cloned in STBL4 bacteria. After confirmation with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), the plenti-III-GFP segment bearing pre-miR-210 was transfected into MSCs by electroporation. Two control vectors, pmaxGFP and Scramble, were transfected separately into MSCs. The expression of miR-210 and genes related to osteoblast differentiation, i.e., runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and osteocalcin gene, in the three groups of transfected MSCs was analyzed 0, 7, 14, and 21 days of transfection by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). Overexpression of miR-210 was observed in MSCs transfected with miR-210-bearing plasmid, and this was significantly different compared to Scramble group (p < 0.05). Significantly increased expression of Runx2 (at day 7 and 14), ALP and osteocalcin genes (at all time points for both genes) was observed in MSCs with miR-210-bearing plasmid compared to controls. Overall, the overexpression of miR-210 in MSCs led to MSC differentiation into osteoblasts, most probably by upregulating the Runx2, ALP, and osteocalcin genes at different stages of cell differentiation. Our study confirms the potential of miRNAs in developing novel therapeutic strategies that could target regulatory mechanisms of cellular differentiation in various disease states

Global injury morbidity and mortality from 1990 to 2017 : results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Correction:Background Past research in population health trends has shown that injuries form a substantial burden of population health loss. Regular updates to injury burden assessments are critical. We report Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study estimates on morbidity and mortality for all injuries. Methods We reviewed results for injuries from the GBD 2017 study. GBD 2017 measured injury-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) using the Cause of Death Ensemble model. To measure non-fatal injuries, GBD 2017 modelled injury-specific incidence and converted this to prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). YLLs and YLDs were summed to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Findings In 1990, there were 4 260 493 (4 085 700 to 4 396 138) injury deaths, which increased to 4 484 722 (4 332 010 to 4 585 554) deaths in 2017, while age-standardised mortality decreased from 1079 (1073 to 1086) to 738 (730 to 745) per 100 000. In 1990, there were 354 064 302 (95% uncertainty interval: 338 174 876 to 371 610 802) new cases of injury globally, which increased to 520 710 288 (493 430 247 to 547 988 635) new cases in 2017. During this time, age-standardised incidence decreased non-significantly from 6824 (6534 to 7147) to 6763 (6412 to 7118) per 100 000. Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardised DALYs decreased from 4947 (4655 to 5233) per 100 000 to 3267 (3058 to 3505). Interpretation Injuries are an important cause of health loss globally, though mortality has declined between 1990 and 2017. Future research in injury burden should focus on prevention in high-burden populations, improving data collection and ensuring access to medical care.Peer reviewe