Serum hyaluronate as a non-invasive marker of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B

Background: HBV infection is a serious global heath problem. It is crucial to monitor this disease more closely with a non-invasive marker in clinical trials. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of serum hyaluronate for the presence of extensive liver fibrosis and inflammation. Methods: 28 healthy volunteers and 65 patients with HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B were enrolled. Liver biopsies scored according to Ishak system. Association of serum hyaloronate with liver fibrosis and inflammation were assessed, and cut off points for serum hyaluronate levels were identified by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and their values for prediction of fibrosis and inflammation were assessed. Results: In patients with CHB serum hyaluronate had the most significant correlation and predictive values for the liver fibrosis and inflammation comparing to the other variables. At the cut off point of 126.4 ngm/ml it could discriminate extensive fibrosis from milder ones with sensitivity of 90.9% and specificity of 98.1%. With the same value it could discriminate extensive inflammation from their milder counterparts with sensitivity of 63.6% and specificity of 92.6%. Conclusion: Serum hyaluronate was the best predictor of extensive liver fibrosis and inflammation and it could discriminate subgroups of patients with chronic hepatitis B. It could be used as a non-invasive test to monitor these patients more closely with developing anti viral agents in clinical trials

High-entropy high-hardness metal carbides discovered by entropy descriptors

High-entropy materials have attracted considerable interest due to the combination of useful properties and promising applications. Predicting their formation remains the major hindrance to the discovery of new systems. Here we propose a descriptor - entropy forming ability - for addressing synthesizability from first principles. The formalism, based on the energy distribution spectrum of randomized calculations, captures the accessibility of equally-sampled states near the ground state and quantifies configurational disorder capable of stabilizing high-entropy homogeneous phases. The methodology is applied to disordered refractory 5-metal carbides - promising candidates for high-hardness applications. The descriptor correctly predicts the ease with which compositions can be experimentally synthesized as rock-salt high-entropy homogeneous phases, validating the ansatz, and in some cases, going beyond intuition. Several of these materials exhibit hardness up to 50% higher than rule of mixtures estimations. The entropy descriptor method has the potential to accelerate the search for high-entropy systems by rationally combining first principles with experimental synthesis and characterization.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figure

The prevalence and related factors of low birth weight

Background and aims:The most common reason in neonatal mortality rate in the world is low birth weight (LBW). The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence and related factors associated in birth weight in Garmsar, Iran in 2013. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out on 683 live births which delivered in Garmsar in 2013. The required information was collected by examining the health records of pregnant women and completion of the data registration forms. Data collection was controlled by using SPSSand analyzed by using an Independent T-test, Chi-square test and logistic regression. Results: According to the results, 32 infants out of 683 infants born in 2013 had low birth weight, i.e. the weight less than 2500g. LBW prevalence estimated in this study was 4.7. There were significant statistical relations between low birth weight and the variables including number of births, mothers’ occupation and interval of less than 3 years between pregnancies and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Conclusion: Although our results regarding LBW prevalence and risk factors confirm the results of other studies,it was recommended perspective studies to reconfirm the LBW risk factors

Reproductive biology of Indian squid, Uroteuthis duvauceli (Orbigny, 1835), in the northern Gulf of Oman

Some aspects of the reproductive biology of the Indian squid, Uroteuthis duvauceli, were studied from June 2006 to May 2007. A total of 1200 specimens were collected from approximately 30-80m depths by trawling in 50 stations, of which 360 samples were studied for sex determination and fecundity. The minimum and maximum total and mantle length, and body weight were recorded in December and June, respectively. The highest range of total length (410-420mm), mantle length (150-160mm) and body weight (90-100g) were encountered in September. The specimens were composed of 34% male and 66% female (M:F=1:2). This species was found to be more abundant in summer. The minimum and maximum ovary weights were 2.1g and 7.9g with an average of 4.9g, respectively. These values for nidamental gland weight were 0.70 and 2.61g with an average of 1.6g. The minimum and maximum absolute fecundity were 25510 (in August) and 375600 (in April), respectively. These values for relative fecundity were 5207 (in April) and 867 (in August), respectively. The highest gonadosomatic index (GSI) was in April (14.38) and the lowest was in July (8.63). This squid is, therefore, assumed to be a spring spawner. Minimum and maximum egg diameter were 0.72mm (in August) and 2.5mm (in April), respectively

Primary Ovarian Ectopic Pregnancy: A Case Report

Introduction: Ectopic pregnancy is a serious health problem that leads to maternal mortality and morbidity. The current article was based on the record of a female patient with primary ovarian ectopic pregnancy. Case Presentation: The patient was a 28-year-old female with regular previous menstrual cycle and without using any contraception method. She presented with right lower abdominal pain and amenorrhea. Transvaginal sonography findings revealed a gestational sac in the right ovary. Finally, primary ovarian ectopic pregnancy was diagnosed by laparotomy and confirmed by histopathology. Conclusions: To prevent misdiagnosis, an awareness of this issue should be developed by gynecologists, surgeons, and radiologists. Keywords: Ovary, Ectopic Pregnanc

Reliability and validity of the Oxford happiness inventory among university students in Iran

The aim of the present study was to examine the internal reliability, content validity, construct validity, and concurrent validity of the Persian translation/Farsi version of the Oxford Happiness Inventory. The Oxford Happiness Inventory and Fordyce Happiness Inventory were completed by a sample of 727 Iranian university students. Findings confirmed the internal reliability, construct, and concurrent validity of the Oxford Happiness Inventory. Thus, it can be recommended for use as a trait-measure of happiness among Iranian samples.El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar la fiabilidad internal, la validez de contenido, la validez de constructo y la validez concurrente de la traducción persa/varsión farsi del Inventario de Felicidad de Oxford (Oxford Happiness Inventory). Una muestra de 727 estudiantes universitarios iraníes completaron el Inventario de Felicidad de Oxford y al Inventario de Felicidad de Fordyce. Los resultados confirmaron la fiabilidad interna, la validez de constructo y la validez concurrente del Inventario de Felicidad de Oxford. Así, puede ser recomendarse para su uso como medida de rasgo de felicidad en muestras iraníes