Examining Effects of Pilates Workout and Jujube Supplementation on Liver Fat Content, Enzymes, and Platelet Count

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the fastest-growing health issues worldwide. This study aimed to assess the effect of an eight-week Pilates exercise program and jujube supplementation on liver fat content, liver enzymes, and platelet count in women with NAFLD. Materials and Methods: The current work is a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study with a control group. Forty middle-aged women with NAFLD were selected via purposive sampling and allocated randomly to four equal groups, including jujube, Pilates, Pilates+jujube, and control. Liver enzymes measurement, platelet count, and ultrasonography were conducted to determine the fatty liver degree 24 hours before and 48 hours after the intervention. The Pilates protocol was performed three sessions weekly for eight weeks. The jujube supplementation group and the Pilates+jujube group consumed .4 g/kg jujube daily in the morning and evening. The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software, using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, ANOVA, and dependent t-test. The level of significance was set at P <.05. Results: AST, platelet count, waist-to-hip ratio, and fat levels in the Pilates, jujube, and Pilates+jujube groups changed significantly compared with the control group and baseline values (P <.05). Conclusion: Pilates exercise and jujube consumption can lower serum enzyme concentrations along with fat content of the liver and raise blood platelet count. As a result, they may be regarded as efficient techniques to treat NAFLD

Investigation of Cancer Risk Factors in the Lifestyle of Medical Students at Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Every year, over 10 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed worldwide. Cancers tend to be closely associated with lifestyle.This study aimed to investigate the lifestyle-related cancer risk factors in the medical students of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 270 students of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran, who were selected through convenience sampling. Data collection was performed using a lifestyle risk factor questionnaire, which was provided to students online. Data were analyzed with the statistical analysis software SPSS-21 by using descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Mann-Whitney tests at the 0.05 significance level. Results: All participants were in the age range of 22-25 years old. About 28% of the participants were male and 72% were female. Men showed higher awareness of cancer warning signs than women (p=0.046). Women were more active in taking protection measures against chemical substances than men (p=0.042). Men were in significantly better condition in terms of the use of hormones than women (p=0.048). Married people were also more active in taking protection measures against chemical substances than single people (p=0.042). Conclusion: Compared to other lifestyle risk factors for cancer, the surveyed medical students had particularly poor “eating habits” and “solar radiation exposure”. About half of the surveyed students had a high level of exposure to sunlight. Therefore, it is highly recommended to implement a program to raise students’ awareness of cancer risk factors and promote healthy lifestyles in this population

Survey of the Relationship between Fatty Liver Disease in Men by Ultrasound and Serum Ferritin Level

Introduction: The most common hepatic disease is fatty liver. Raised serum ferritin levels are often described as an indicator of liver function. The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation between fatty liver in men by ultrasound and serum ferritin levels in patients referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Jiroft in 2020. Materials and Methods: In this case series study, there is both a descriptive and an analytical component. The study population consisted of all male patients with fatty liver. Patients were included in the study after being visited by a specialist and thus diagnoses their fatty liver were mades by ultrasound.  After clinical examination and diagnosis of fatty liver, patients were prepared on a fasting basis for Paraclinical tests (serum levels of iron, and ferritin).  After collecting data from patient surveys based on a researcher-made checklist, the data were entered into SPSS V23 (22). Results: The mean age of patients was 46.8± 16.7. 27. There was a statistically significant correlation between ferritin level and disease severity based on the ultrasound view (P-value = 0.000). Also, there was a significant correlation between serum iron level and disease severity based on the ultrasound view (P-value = 0.005). Conclusion: The present study findings indicate a correlation between the severity of fatty liver disease and the level of serum ferritin and iron. Therefore, we need to pay special attention to the level of these indicators in patients with fatty liver

Assessment of Health Literacy and Self-care Behaviors among Patients Discharged from COVID-19 Wards

Introduction: The rapid outbreak of the new COVID-19 virus has become an international health challenge. Confronting the prevalence of this pathogenic virus requires, in the first step, health literacy and self-care on people’s part. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out over three months. A total of 67 patients discharged from a COVID-19 ward were selected randomly. Data were collected using a validated researcher-made questionnaire on health literacy and self-care. The data were then analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Results: Sixty-seven patients (mean age: 45.32 ± 9.39; age range: 29 - 87) were assessed. The majority were male (64.2%), married (79.1%), illiterate (44.8%), and homemaker or unemployed (37.3%). The overall mean score of health literacy and self-care was moderate. The results of the Pearson correlation test showed a significantly positive association between overall health literacy and its components as well as the total self-care and its components among the patients studied (p <.001). Conclusion: Since self-care increases with health literacy among COVID-19 patients, it demands educational interventions in this area to improve health literacy

General Health Subcomponents and Marital Satisfaction: Examining a Correlation during COVID-19

Introduction: COVID-19 is known as a general health threat. General health can play a significant role in marital adjustment and satisfaction and thus the strength of the family foundation. The current study aimed to determine the correlation between families’ general health subcomponents and marital satisfaction during the COVID-19 pandemic in Khaf, Iran. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 90 married people using the convenience sampling. The study instruments involved a demographics form, a general health questionnaire, and a marital satisfaction questionnaire. Data analyses were performed in SPSS statistical software ver. 22, using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Pearson correlation coefficient, multiple regression, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Tukey’s post hoc tests. The level of significance was set at p <.05. Results: Among the general health subcomponents, the highest mean score belonged to depression (12.80 ± 4.65) and the lowest to social dysfunction (12.04 ± 4.24). The general health score was 49.70 ± 17.35, and the marital satisfaction mean score was 123.13 ± 34.02. Marital satisfaction was negatively and significantly associated with general health (r = -.71) as well as the subcomponents of somatic symptoms (r = -.64), anxiety (r = -.71), social dysfunction (r = -.66), and depression (-.067) (p <.001). Conclusion: As COVID-19 depression and anxiety have the most significant impact on individuals’ general health and marital satisfaction, healthcare managers and policymakers are advised to consider solutions to these disorders in families. As such, they can contribute to spouses’ general health and marital satisfaction and thus strengthen the family foundation

Human monkeypox infection re-emerges amid the COVID-19 crisis: A review

Background: Monkeypox is a re-emerging viral disease that has recently negatively affected the lives of many people in different countries of the world and has caused many concerns. One of the concerns about this virus is that it will become a new pandemic in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While the world is still struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, the newly emerging viral disease monkeypox first broke out in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2022, amid the coronavirus crisis. Methodology: This review was carried out by searching articles using the keywords monkeypox, epidemic, covid-19, and emerging infection in various databases and extraction of relevant data based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Discussion: Considering that the monkeypox virus is the cause of acute infections in humans and animals, it can have many effects on the overall population structure and economic issues of a country and threaten the health of human and animal populations. It can spread via direct and indirect contact both between humans and humans and animals. Asymptomatic patients are also able to spread the disease. Now that routine human smallpox vaccination has discontinued and herd immunity is declining, new assessments of monkeypox are required. Furthermore, basic ecological studies are required to better understand the animal species involved in virus transmission and maintenance, as well as to influence future preventive actions. Therefore, knowing different aspects of this disease, its prevention, and treatment methods are quite important.   Conclusion: Although cases of this disease have been reported in many non-endemic countries of the world, and we should be prepared for its prevention and proper treatment but considering its slower transmission method it seems that this disease can be controlled and prevented much more easily than COVID-19

Investigate the Effect of Age, Sex, and Refractive Errors on the Central Thickness of the Cornea in Ophthalmology Centers in Jiroft City : association between age, sex, and refractive errors with the central thickness of the cornea

Background: The central thickness of the cornea, as one of the parameters of the anterior segment of the eye, is one of the important factors in the evaluation of patients with eye disorders.  Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by census method in the summer of 1400 on 255 patients referred to Jiroft ophthalmology centers. Data were collected using a researcher-made checklist and analyzed using SPSS version 22 statistical software and Student's t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation coefficient at a significance level of P < 0.05. Results: 159 people (62.3 %) of the participants were women, and the average age of all people was 34.99 ± 7.33 years. The average central thickness of the cornea in the right eye in the three myopic, binocular and emmetropic groups was 501.93, 519.76, and 512.10, respectively, with the highest average central corneal thickness scores corresponding to the binocular group and the lowest average central thickness scores. The cornea of ​​the myopic group is observed and the results of the analysis of variance showed that there is a statistically significant difference between the three groups in terms of the average scores obtained (P < 0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that age, gender, and refractive errors had a significant effect on the central thickness of the cornea in ophthalmology centers of Jiroft city, and there was a wide range of central corneal thickness values ​​with normal distribution

بررسی میزان اطلاعات پرسنل بیمارستان امام خمینی (ره) جیرفت و ارزیابی آمادگی آنها درهنگام بروز بحران

Introduction: The occurrence of various crises in Iran is undeniable and hospitals are among the organizations that are directly affected by these crises. This study was performed with the aim of evaluating the level of information of the staff of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Jiroft and to assess their readiness in the event of a crisis in 2020. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Census method was used for sampling and all of the personnel working in the Emergency Department of Imam Khomeini Hospital  in Jiroft were included in the study. Data were collected using a valid and reliable researcher-made questionnaire of "Disaster Preparedness", which has 3 parts. Data were collected, coded, and entered to SPSS software, and then analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistical tests. Results: 63 of the personnel of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Jiroft were included in the study. The mean age of the personnel of Imam Khomeini Hospital was 47.3±2.07 years. Minimum age of the participants was 22 year and the maximum was 59 years. Most of the personnel participating in this study were female (41 people, 65.1%). Most of the personnel had a Bachelor’s degree. No statistically significant correlation was observed between the level of awareness of personnel and age, gender, level of education, or job experience of personnel (P_value>0.05). There was a statistically significant correlation  between the level of awareness of personnel and participation in crisis management training courses (P_value = 0.002). There was a statistically significant correlation  between the level of readiness and participation in crisis maneuvers (P_Value = 0.04).  A statistically significant correlation was observed between the level of awareness and membership in Crisis Committee (P_Value = 0.05). There was a statistically significant correlation between the level of awareness and readiness with sending the enactments of the Crisis Committee to the departments (P_Value = ???). Conclusion: Since it is very important to raise the awareness of the staff working in healthcare centers on managing crises that occur unexpectedly, it is necessary to continue and expand the activities of the Crisis Committee and to provide more accurate training and information in this regard.  مقدمه: بروز بحران های مختلف در کشور ما غیرقابل انکار است و بيمارستان ها از جمله سازمان هایی هستند که مستقيما تحت تاثير اين بحران ها قرار مي گيرند. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی ميزان اطلاعات پرسنل بیمارستان امام خمینی(ره) جیرفت و ارزیابی آمادگی آنها درهنگام بروز بحران درسال 1399 انجام شد. روش کار: اين پژوهش به صورت  مقطعي- توصيفي صورت گرفت. جهت نمونه گيري از روش سرشماري استفاده شد و كليه پرسنل شاغل در بخش اورژانس بيمارستان امام خمینی (ره) جیرفت وارد مطالعه شدند. در اين پژوهش جهت جمع آوري اطلاعات از پرسشنامه محقق ساخته" آمادگي مقابله با بلايا"  كه مشتمل برسه بخش مي باشد، استفاده گردید. داده های جمع آوری شد و پس از کدبندی و ورود داده ها با نرم افزار آماری SPSS و آزمون های آماری توصیفی وتحلیلی تجزیه و تحلیل شد. یافته ها: 63 نفر از پرسنل شاغل بیمارستان امام خمینی جیرفت وارد مطالعه شدند. میانگین سنی پرسنل بیمارستان امام خمینی 07/2± 3/47 سال می باشد. حداقل سن شرکت کنندگان 22 سال و حداکثر 59 سال بود. بیشتر پرسنل شرکت کننده در این مطالعه زن (41 نفر و 1/65 %) بودند. بیشتر پرسنل دارای مدرک تحصیلی لیسانس بودند. بین سطح آگاهی و سطح آمادگی با سن، جنس، مدرک تحصیلی،سابقه کارپرسنل تفاوت معنی دار آماری مشاهده نشد (P_Value>0.05). بین سطح آگاهی پرسنل با شرکت در دوره های آموزشی مقابله با بحران تفاوت معنی دار آماری وجود دارد (P_value=0.002) بین سطح آمادگی با شرکت در مانورهای وقوع بحران تفاوت معنی دار آماری وجود دارد (P_Value=0.04) بین سطح آگاهی با عضویت در کمیته بحران تفاوت معنی دار آماری مشاهده شد (P_Value=0.05) بین سطح آگاهی و آمادگی با ارسال مصوبات کمیته بحران به بخش ها تفاوت معنی دار آماری وجود دارد. نتیجه گیری: از آنجا كه ارتقاء آگاهي پرسنل شاغل در مراكز بهداشتي درماني جهت اداره بحران هايي كه بصورت غيرمترقبه اتفاق مي افتد بسيار مهم است، پيگيري و گسترش فعاليت هاي كميته بحران و آموزش و  اطلاع رساني دقيق تر در اين زمينه ضروري به نظر مي رسد

Non-coding RNA-Mediated N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) deposition: A pivotal regulator of cancer, impacting key signaling pathways in carcinogenesis and therapy response

The emergence of RNA modifications has recently been considered as critical post-transcriptional regulations which governed gene expression. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most abundant type of RNA modification which is mediated by three distinct classes of proteins called m6A writers, readers, and erasers. Accumulating evidence has been made in understanding the role of m6A modification of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in cancer. Importantly, aberrant expression of ncRNAs and m6A regulators has been elucidated in various cancers. As the key role of ncRNAs in regulation of cancer hallmarks is well accepted now, it could be accepted that m6A modification of ncRNAs could affect cancer progression. The present review intended to discuss the latest knowledge and importance of m6A epigenetic regulation of ncRNAs including mircoRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, and their interaction in the context of cancer. Moreover, the current insight into the underlying mechanisms of therapy resistance and also immune response and escape mediated by m6A regulators and ncRNAs are discussed

Targeting AMPK signaling in ischemic/reperfusion injury: From molecular mechanism to pharmacological interventions

Ischemia is a pathological process in which blood supply to a particular organ is temporarily interrupted resulting in disturbed biological function and homeostasis of local tissues. Following ischemia, reperfusion and reoxygenation may occur which further worsens oxidative stress-mediated damage in cells and tissues. The combined processes are referred to as ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Immediate management and treatment of I/R is of utmost importance for preventing irreversible and extensive cellular damage. Apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress are the most validated pathologies associated with I/R. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) modulates energy metabolism in cells and its activation occurs in response to elevated AMP and ADP levels. Aberrant levels of AMPK are noted in various pathological settings such as diabetes mellitus, cancer and neurological diseases. This review emphasizes AMPK signaling, its related molecular pathways and therapeutic utility during I/R. Activation of AMPK through phosphorylation prevents apoptosis and reduces oxidative stress and inflammation upon I/R. Inducing AMPK signaling normalizes mitochondrial function to inhibit cell death. Autophagy as a cytoprotective mechanism undergoes activation by AMPK/mTOR and AMPK/ULK1 pathways