Effects of a Saffron Alcoholic Extract on Visual Short-Term Memory in Humans: a Psychophysical Study

The effects of an extract from saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on visual short-term memory (STM) were examined in 20 volunteers. The extract was obtained from saffron petals using 100% ethylic alcohol, concentrated by vacuum evaporation, dried, and encapsulated (30 mg per capsula). Ten participants received the extract each day for three weeks, while other 10 subjects received encapsulated placebo. Then, the contrast sensitivity of a subject was estimated; sinusoidal grating patches with different contrast levels (0 – 100%) were used (experiment 1). In experiment 2, the retention of STM was assessed in two-force choice tests, using a delayed match to sample paradigm. In experiment 3, the n-back memory test with different interstimulus intervals (up to 14 sec) was used. It was found that subjects after medication with the saffron extract demonstrated better correct memorizing of the preceding visual stimuli (from two to five). At the same time, extract medication somewhat improved retention of visual STM, but only for several intermediate interstimulus intervals, and the effect was not very remarkable. Our findings buphasize the expedience to research of the effects of physiologically active dietary constituents in humans.На групі з 20 добровольців досліджували впливи екстракту шафрану (Crocus sativus L.) на візуальну короткочасну пам’ять (КЧП). Екстракт отримували з пелюсток шафрану, використовуючи 100 %-вий етиловий спирт, концентрували за допомогою випаровування під вакуумом, висушували та капсулювали (30 мг у капсулі). 10 учасників приймали екстракт один раз на добу протягом трьох тижнів, тоді як інші 10 тестованих отримували плацебо (також у капсулах). В експерименті 1 визначали контрастну чутливість кожного випробуваного. Використовували зображення решіток із ліній, контраст яких змінювався за синусоїдальним законом; контрастність пред’явлених зображень варіювали від 0 до 100 %. В експерименті 2 оцінювали ємність КЧП випробуваних у тестах дворівневого вибору, застосовуючи парадигму відтермінованої оцінки збігу зі зразком. В експерименті 3 використовували n-зворотний тест збереження пам’ятного сліду при різних інтервалах між візуальними стимулами (до 14 с). Після курсового приймання екстракту шафрану тестовані демонстрували кращий рівень коректного запам’ятовування двох–п’яти попередніх візуальних стимулів. У той же час позитивний вплив екстракту на збереження зорових слідів у КЧП хоч і проявлявся, проте лише для деяких проміжних міжстимульних інтервалів, і він був менш значним. Наші спостереження підкреслюють доцільність дослідження ефектів фізіологічно активних компонентів, які входять до складу продуктів харчування

What Is the Additive Value of Nutritional Deficiency to Va-Fi in the Risk Assessment For Heart Failure Patients?

OBJECTIVES: to assess the impact of adding the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI) to the U.S. Veterans Health Administration frailty index (VA-FI) for the prediction of time-to-death and other clinical outcomes in Veterans hospitalized with Heart Failure. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of veterans hospitalized for heart failure (HF) from October 2015 to October 2018. Veterans ≥50 years with albumin and lymphocyte counts, needed to calculate the PNI, in the year prior to hospitalization were included. We defined malnutrition as PNI ≤43.6, based on the Youden index. VA-FI was calculated from the year prior to the hospitalization and identified three groups: robust (≤0.1), prefrail (0.1-0.2), and frail (\u3e0.2). Malnutrition was added to the VA-FI (VA-FI-Nutrition) as a 32 RESULTS: We identified 37,601 Veterans hospitalized for HF (mean age: 73.4 ± 10.3 years, BMI: 31.3 ± 7.4 kg/m CONCLUSION: Adding PNI to VA-FI provides a more accurate and comprehensive assessment among Veterans hospitalized for HF. Clinicians should consider adding a specific nutrition algorithm to automated frailty tools to improve the validity of risk prediction in patients hospitalized with HF

Management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: A national clinical guideline

One of the best approaches for evidence-based care is providing and using the guidelines. Observing these guidelines results in a better quality of health care, decreased unnecessary or harmful interventions, lower health costs, and an increase in patients� satisfaction. Management of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-1 in children and adolescents is a guideline published after 6 years of research and review of resources in the domain of treatment of ADHD. A research team formed in Iran University of Medical Sciences provided this guideline by addressing reliable references and observing a scientific approach. This guideline is provided with respect to the present resources for the standard treatment of ADHD in our country. To prepare this guideline, this research team considered the most recent and strict version of the writing method in the treatment section of Health, Treatment, and Education Ministry. Although the present guideline has some shortcomings, it is a turning point in the history of the development of health care. It presents a systematic approach in the treatment of such disorder, one of the most prevalent disorders in child psychiatry. The colleagues and treatment centers can help such an issue by applying this guideline. © 2020, Iran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Prospective Acid Reflux Study of Iran (PARSI): Methodology and study design

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common and chronic disorder but long term, prospective studies of the fate of patients seeking medical advice are scarce. This is especially prominent when looking at non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We designed a prospective cohort to assess the long term outcome of GERD patients referring to gastroenterologists. Consecutive consenting patients, 15 years of age and older, presenting with symptoms suggestive of GERD referring to our outpatient clinics undergo a 30 minute interview. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is performed for them with protocol biopsies and blood samples are drawn. Patients are then treated according to a set protocol and followed regularly either in person or by telephone for at least 10 years.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Our data show that such a study is feasible and follow-ups, which are the main concern, can be done in a fairly reliable way to collect data. The results of this study will help to clarify the course of various subgroups of GERD patients after coming to medical attention and their response to treatment considering different variables. In addition, the basic symptoms and biological database will fuel further molecular epidemiologic studies.</p

Psychological and Biomechanical Aspects of Patient Adaptation to Diabetic Neuropathy and Foot Ulceration

© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. Purpose of Review: The purpose of this review was to elucidate how psychological and biomechanical factors interrelate in shaping patients’ experience with diabetic symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) and its sequela-diabetic foot ulceration (DFU). Recent Findings: Recent findings emphasize the importance not only of neuropathic pain but also of other DSPN symptoms, such as unsteadiness. We highlight the negative spiral between unsteadiness, falls, and psychological distress. Moreover, unsteadiness is a key determinant of non-adherence to offloading resulting in the delayed DFU healing. While depression is an established predictor of incident DFU, findings linking depression and DFU healing remain inconclusive. Examination of physical activity in DFU development and healing represents the most recent application of research to this field. Summary: Research evidence indicates that DSPN markedly impairs physical and emotional functioning and suggests that there is an unmet need for the development of multifaceted interventions that address both psychological distress and biomechanical challenges experienced by patients with this debilitating complication of diabetes

Synthesis and evaluation of radiolabeled, folic acid-PEG conjugated, amino silane coated magnetic nanoparticles in tumor bearing Balb/C mice

To design a potent agent for positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) imaging and targeted magnetic hyperthermia-radioisotope cancer therapy radiolabeled surface modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) were used as nanocarriers. Folic acid was conjugated for increasing selective cellular binding and internalization through receptor-mediated endocytosis. SPIONs were synthesized by the thermal decomposition of tris (acetylacetonato) iron (III) to achieve narrow and uniform nanoparticles. To increase the biocompatibility of SPIONs, they were coated with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), and then conjugated with synthesized folic acid-polyethylene glycol (FA-PEG) through amine group of (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane. Finally, the particles were labeled with 64Cu (t1/2 = 12.7 h) using 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid mono (N-hydroxy succinimide ester) DOTA-NHS chelator. After the characterization of SPIONs, their cellular internalization was evaluated in folate receptor (FR) overexpressing KB (established from a HeLa cell contamination) and mouse fibroblast cell (MFB) lines. Eventually, active and passive targeting effects of complex were assessed in KB tumor-bearing Balb/C mice through biodistribution studies. Synthesized bare SPIONs had low toxicity effect on healthy cells, but surface modification increased their biocompatibility. Moreover, KB cells viability was reduced when using folate conjugated SPIONs due to FR-mediated endocytosis, while having little effect on healthy cells (MFB). Moreover, this radiotracer had tolerable in vivo characteristics and tumor uptake. In the receptor blocked case, tumor uptake was decreased, indicating FR-specifi c uptake in tumor tissue while enhanced permeability and retention effect was major mechanism for tumor uptake

An Innovative Motor- Cognitive Exercise Wearable Platform for Improving Balance in HIV PatientsI.

International audienc

Inflammatory Biomarkers Differ among Hospitalized Veterans Infected with Alpha, Delta, and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Variants

Mortality due to COVID-19 has been correlated with laboratory markers of inflammation, such as C-reactive protein (CRP). The lower mortality during Omicron variant infections could be explained by variant-specific immune responses or host factors, such as vaccination status. We hypothesized that infections due to Omicron variant cause less inflammation compared to Alpha and Delta, correlating with lower mortality. This was a retrospective cohort study of veterans hospitalized for COVID-19 at the Veterans Health Administration. We compared inflammatory markers among patients hospitalized during Omicron infection with those of Alpha and Delta. We reported the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of the first laboratory results during hospitalization and in-hospital mortality, stratified by vaccination status. Of 2,075,564 Veterans tested for COVID-19, 29,075 Veterans met the criteria: Alpha (45.1%), Delta (23.9%), Omicron (31.0%). Odds of abnormal CRP in Delta (aOR = 1.85, 95% CI:1.64&ndash;2.09) and Alpha (aOR = 1.94, 95% CI:1.75&ndash;2.15) were significantly higher compared to Omicron. The same trend was observed for Ferritin, Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase, Lactate dehydrogenase, and Albumin. The mortality in Delta (aOR = 1.92, 95% CI:1.73&ndash;2.12) and Alpha (aOR = 1.68, 95% CI:1.47&ndash;1.91) were higher than Omicron. The results remained significant after stratifying the outcomes based on vaccination status. Veterans infected with Omicron showed milder inflammatory responses and lower mortality than other variants

Wearable Sensors and the Assessment of Frailty among Vulnerable Older Adults: An Observational Cohort Study

Background: The geriatric syndrome of frailty is one of the greatest challenges facing the U.S. aging population. Frailty in older adults is associated with higher adverse outcomes, such as mortality and hospitalization. Identifying precise early indicators of pre-frailty and measures of specific frailty components are of key importance to enable targeted interventions and remediation. We hypothesize that sensor-derived parameters, measured by a pendant accelerometer device in the home setting, are sensitive to identifying pre-frailty. Methods: Using the Fried frailty phenotype criteria, 153 community-dwelling, ambulatory older adults were classified as pre-frail (51%), frail (22%), or non-frail (27%). A pendant sensor was used to monitor the at home physical activity, using a chest acceleration over 48 h. An algorithm was developed to quantify physical activity pattern (PAP), physical activity behavior (PAB), and sleep quality parameters. Statistically significant parameters were selected to discriminate the pre-frail from frail and non-frail adults. Results: The stepping parameters, walking parameters, PAB parameters (sedentary and moderate-to-vigorous activity), and the combined parameters reached and area under the curve of 0.87, 0.85, 0.85, and 0.88, respectively, for identifying pre-frail adults. No sleep parameters discriminated the pre-frail from the rest of the adults. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a pendant sensor can identify pre-frailty via daily home monitoring. These findings may open new opportunities in order to remotely measure and track frailty via telehealth technologies