The association of diet and anthropometric indices with high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), among depressed and healthy female nurses.

زمینه و هدف: افسردگی با افزایش سطوح سرمی پروتئین واکنشگر فاز حاد (CRP) و به دنبال آن التهاب سیستمیک ارتباط دارد. التهاب، مکانیسم احتمالی اثر رژیم غذایی بر پیشرفت بیماری‌های مزمن است. هدف این مطالعه بررسی ارتباط بین دریافت غذایی و شاخص‌های تن سنجی با سطوح سرمی پروتئین واکنشگر فاز حاد با حساسیت بالا (hs-CRP) در پرستاران سالم و افسرده‌ی بیمارستان‎های شهر اهواز بود. روش بررسی: در این مطالعۀ توصیفی-تحلیلی 98 پرستار زن (45 نفر افسرده و 53 نفر سالم) به صورت تصادفی از 6 بیمارستان اصلی وابسته به دانشگاه علوم پزشکی جندی شاپور اهواز در سال 1389-1388 انتخاب شدند. بسامد دریافت غذایی، اندازه‌های تن سنجی و سطوح hs-CRP سرم اندازه‌گیری شد. نتایج با آمار توصیفی، آزمون های آماری ANOVA و مدل رگرسیون خطی تجزیه و تحلیل شد. یافته‌ها: بین دو گروه سالم و افسرده از نظر میانگین hs-CRP اختلاف معنی داری مشاهده نشد. در افراد افسرده، نمایه توده بدن، وزن، درصد چربی و نسبت چربی به وزن بدن ارتباط مثبت معنی‌داری با hs-CRP سرم داشت (05/0P). در گروه افسرده، افرادی که از نظر سطوح hs-CRP سرم در چارک چهارم قرار داشتند نسبت به چارک دوم، دریافت ویتامین‌های B12، A و E بیشتری داشتند (05/0P). نتیجه‌گیری: نتایج این مطالعه نشان داد که در افراد افسرده، اندازه‌های تن سنجی بالاتر و دریافت ویتامین‌های B12، A و E بیشتر از رژیم غذایی، با افزایش پاسخ‌های فاز حاد ارتباط دارد

Nutrition Education Based on Health Belief Model Improves Dietary Calcium Intake among Female Students of Junior High Schools

This study examined the effects of a nutrition education programme based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of dietary calcium in female students. In this interventional study, 188 students were placed into intervention (95) and control (93) groups. The intervention group participated in a nutrition education programme. Students in both the groups completed KAP and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at baseline and after two and three months of follow-up respectively. The data were analyzed by independent and paired t-tests. Those who received the intervention were found to have better attitude (p=0.049) and practice (p=0.005) scores compared to the controls. The HBM constructs, including perceived susceptibility (p=0.006), perceived severity (p=0.001), perceived benefits (p=0.002), perceived barriers (p=0.001), and taking health action (p=0.02) scores, were also significantly higher. The findings support the effectiveness of nutrition education based on the HBM in improving the knowledge, attitude, and practice relating to calcium intake among adolescent students

Readiness for E-learning among the Academics of Abadan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Understanding user e-readiness is important to any e-learning program's success. The aim of this study was to investigate the e-learning readiness of students, faculty members, and employees of Abadan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This cross-sectional-analytical study was conducted on 187 academicians. The Academics' E-Readiness Questionnaire (ARQ) was used to evaluate e-learning readiness. Results: The results of the Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there is a statistically significant difference in the mean rank of computer skills between students (82.5 ± 5.2), faculty members (140.1 ± 4.2), and employees (142.1 ± 3.9). So that the mean rank of faculty members and employees was significantly higher than that of students (P ≤ 0.001), the results of the Bivariate analysis showed that among the students, the number of workshops and seminars held on the topic of e-learning has a significant positive association with the mean rank of computer skills (P ≤ 0.001, r=0.343). Moreover, a Positive significant association between knowledge and attitude towards electronic education (r=0.172, P ≤ 0.001) was observed among the students. Besides, a significant negative association was found between work experience and attitude towards e-learning among faculty members (r=0.39, P=0.04). Conclusion: The expansion of e-learning can be achieved through increasing the attention to educational needs, existing Platforms, required infrastructures and facilities, knowledge and attitude of employees, faculty members, and students, and the reduction of the existing resistance to change among the experienced faculty members

Evaluating the Magnolol Anticancer Potential in MKN-45 Gastric Cancer Cells

Background and Objectives: Combination therapy improves the effect of chemotherapy on tumor cells. Magnolol, used in treating gastrointestinal disorders, has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. We investigated the synergistic effect of cisplatin and magnolol on the viability and maintenance of MKN-45 gastric cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The toxicity of magnolol and/or cisplatin was determined using the MTT technique. The trypan blue method was used to test magnolol and/or cisplatin’s effect on MKN-45 cell growth. Crystal violet staining was used to assess the treated cells’ tendency for colony formation. The expression of genes linked to apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cell migration was examined using the qPCR method. Results: According to MTT data, using magnolol and/or cisplatin significantly reduced cell viability. The ability of the treated cells to proliferate and form colonies was also reduced considerably. Magnolol and/or cisplatin treatment resulted in a considerable elevation in Bax expression. However, the level of Bcl2 expression was dramatically reduced. p21 and p53 expression levels were significantly increased in the treated cells, while MMP-9 expression was significantly reduced. Conclusions: These findings show that magnolol has a remarkable anti-tumor effect on MKN-45 cells. In combination with cisplatin, magnolol may be utilized to overcome cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells

Update on riboflavin and multiple sclerosis : a systematic review

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (CNS). Riboflavin plays an important role in myelin formation, and its deficiency is implicated as a risk factor for multiple sclerosis. Here, we systematically reviewed the literature concerning the health benefits of riboflavin on MS. The literature recorded within four main databases, including relevant clinical trials, experimental, and case-control studies from 1976 to 2017 were considered. Both human and animal studies were included for review, with no restrictions on age, gender, or ethnicity. Experimental studies demonstrated that riboflavin deficiency triggers neurologic abnormalities related to peripheral neuropathies such as demyelinating neuropathy. Moreover, randomized controlled trials (RCT) and case-control studies in which MS patients received riboflavin supplementation or had higher dietary riboflavin intake showed improvements in neurological motor disability. Riboflavin is a cofactor of xanthine oxidase and its deficiency exacerbates low uric acid caused by high copper levels, leading to myelin degeneration. The vitamin additionally plays a significant role in the normal functioning of glutathione reductase (GR) as an antioxidant enzyme, and conditions of riboflavin deficiency lead to oxidative damage. Riboflavin promotes the gene and protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the CNS of an animal model of MS, suggesting that BDNF mediates the beneficial effect of riboflavin on neurological motor disability. Research to date generally supports the role of riboflavin in MS outcomes. However, further observational and interventional studies on human populations are warranted to validate the effects of riboflavin

Brain-derived neurotrophic and immunologic factors: beneficial effects of riboflavin on motor disability in murine model of multiple sclerosis

Objective(s): In the present study, C57BL/6 female mice (n=56) were used to explore the neuroprotective effects of riboflavin in motor disability of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) as a model of multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: The animals were assigned into 7 groups: sham-operated 1 (SO1), healthy mice receiving PBS (phosphate buffer saline); sham-operated 2 (SO2), healthy mice receiving PBS and riboflavin; sham treatment 1 (ST1), EAE mice receiving water; sham treatment 2 (ST2), EAE mice receiving sodium acetate buffer; treatment 1 (T1), EAE mice receiving interferon beta-1a (INFβ-1a); treatment 2 (T2), EAE mice receiving riboflavin; treatment 3 (T3), EAE mice receiving INFβ-1a and riboflavin. After EAE induction, scoring was performed based on clinical signs. Upon detecting score 0.5, riboflavin at 10 mg/kg of body weight and/or INFβ-1a at 150 IU/g of body weight administration was started for two weeks. The brain and spinal cord levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) were studied using real-time PCR and ELISA methods. Results: BDNF expression and protein levels were increased in the brain and spinal cord of the T3 group compared with the other groups (

Serum Concentrations of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, Triiodothyronine, and Thyroxine in Outpatients Infected with SARS-CoV2 in Khuzestan Province, Iran: A Disease Clinical Course Approach

Background and Objectives: The virus SARS-CoV2, which causes COVID-19, affects the endocrine system. This study investigated serum concentrations of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) in 53 outpatients infected with SARS-CoV2 and 53 non-infected matched participants in Khuzestan Province, Iran. We also examined the possible association of clinical symptoms progression and disease severity with serum concentrations of TSH, T3, and T4. Materials and Methods: A checklist was applied to collect demographic and clinical data. Blood samples were taken for biochemical analysis of serum concentrations of TSH, T3, and T4. Clinical symptoms of the infected outpatients were monitored weekly for 28 days. Results: Our results indicated that, as the severity of the disease increased, the respiratory and pulse rates raised significantly. Additionally, disease severity was significantly different between genders. Specifically, 79.5% of the asymptomatic/mild, and 38.5% of moderate outpatients were men. We also found significantly lower serum T3 but higher T4 in infected outpatients, compared with controls. However, serum TSH did not significantly differ between the two groups. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis revealed no relationship between clinical symptoms progression and disease severity with serum concentrations of TSH, T3, and T4 in our study population. Additionally, GEE analysis showed that the odds ratio of neurological symptoms among women was 2.5 times that of men, the odds ratio of neurological symptoms in illiterates was 10 times higher than that of those without a high-school diploma, and the chance of developing pulmonary symptoms in those without high-school diploma was about 21 times higher than illiterates. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study showed that infected outpatients had significantly lower serum T3 but higher T4 than non-infected participants. There was no relation between symptom progression and disease severity with serum concentrations of TSH, T3, and T4, but educational status and sex significantly affected the chance of neurological and pulmonary symptoms occurring over 28 days. Our results may be used to develop potential therapies to treat COVID-19 disease

Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Status in COVID-19 Outpatients: A Health Center-Based Analytical Cross-Sectional Study

The antioxidant system can be critical in reducing exacerbated inflammation in COVID-19. This study compared the antioxidant and inflammatory responses between COVID-19 outpatients and seemingly healthy individuals. This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 53 COVID-19 outpatients and 53 healthy individuals as controls. The serum concentrations of amyloid A (SAA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were measured and compared between COVID-19 patients and controls using the independent sample t-test before and after controlling for dietary supplement use. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression model, limited to COVID-19 patients, was used to evaluate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of disease symptoms on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 after the disease onset. Serum concentrations of SOD (p ≤ 0.001) and GPx (p = 0.001) were significantly higher in COVID-19 patients than in controls before adjustment for dietary supplement use. GPx remained significantly higher among COVID-19 patients than in controls after adjustment for all dietary supplements (p = 0.005). Moreover, serum concentrations of GPx (p = 0.003), SOD (p = 0.022), and TAC (p = 0.028) remained significantly higher among COVID-19 patients than in controls after adjustment for vitamin D supplementation. This study showed higher GPx in COVID-19 outpatients than in controls after adjustment for dietary supplement use. Moreover, elevated SOD, GPx, and TAC concentrations were shown in COVID-19 outpatients compared to controls after adjusting for vitamin D supplementation. These results may provide a useful therapeutic target for treating oxidative stress in COVID-19 disease, which may help ameliorate the pandemic

Riboflavin may ameliorate neurological motor disability but not spatial learning and memory impairments in murine model of multiple sclerosis

Summary: Background & aims: Riboflavin has an important role in myelin formation. This experimental study assesses the interactions between the effects of riboflavin and interferon beta-1a (INF-β1a) on motor disability, spatial learning and memory, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Methods: In the present research C57BL/6 mice (n = 56) were divided into sham and treatment groups. Riboflavin was administrated (10 mg/kg/day) orally for two weeks alone and/or combined with INF-β1a at 150 IU/g of body weight. After the induction of EAE, the animals were investigated for the clinical signs. Spatial learning and memory were assessed through the standard Morris water maze (MWM). The brain and spinal cord levels of BDNF were studied using real-time polymerase chain reactions and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, repeated measures, and generalized estimating equations model. Results: The results in the brain revealed that BDNF mRNA expression (P < 0.01) and protein levels (P < 0.05) increased in the EAE mice treated with the combination of riboflavin and INF-β1a compared to the treated groups with riboflavin or INF-β1a. Clinical scores were reduced in groups treated with riboflavin compared to other groups. EAE mice treated with riboflavin swam significantly faster in MWM compared to other groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between EAE and healthy mice in other spatial learning and memory evaluating variables. Conclusion: The data highlighted the synergistic role of riboflavin and INF-β1a in improving the disability but not spatial learning and memory mediated by BDNF in EAE. Keywords: Riboflavin, Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, Memor