A data mining algorithm for determination of influential factors on the hospitalization of patients subject to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: The present study is on the development of a data mining algorithm for finding the influential factors on the hospitalization of patients subject to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive analytical study conducted cross sectionally in 2017 on a research community of 150 people with disease symptoms referred to clinics and hospitals across Tehran (Iran). The people were surveyed by a self-designed questionnaire, including queries on life style and family information. The sampling was simple intuitive from previously published studies. The modeling of the data was based on the CRISP method. The C5 decision tree algorithm was used and the data was analyzed by RapidMiner software. Results: The common symptoms of the patients were found to be shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, sputum, continuous cold, and cyanogens. Besides, the family history, smoking, and exposure to allergic agents were other influential factors on the disease. After accomplishment of this study, the results were consulted with the experts of the field.Conclution: It is concluded that data mining can be applied for excavation of knowledge from the gathered data and for determination of the effective factors on patient conditions. Accordingly, this model can successfully predict the disease status of any patient from its symptoms

Investigation of the effect of probiotic yogurt and fenugreek on allergic asthma

Background: Asthma as the variable degrees of airway obstruction is reversible and allergic asthma is a common form of asthma. Yogurt is coagulated milk and fenugreek as a plant is used in traditional medicine. Oral administration of yogurt (as food) can provide probiotic agents that have the main effects on immune responses. In this study, the effect of yogurt and fenugreek on asthma was studied.  Materials and Methods: After producing of asthma model in BALB/c mice in 4 groups, groups were treated with yogurt, yogurt-probiotics, and yogurt-fenugreek. At least, total IgE in serum, IL-4, 5, 13 in BAL (Broncho-Alveolar lavage) fluid was measured. Histopathological sections were prepared and eosinophilic infiltration and mucus-secreting were investigated. Results: Eosinophilic infiltration and mucus hyper-secretion were decreased in treated groups. Total IgE in serum was decreased in asthma-yogurt-probiotic and asthma-yogurt-fenugreek groups in comparison with asthmatic and asthma-yogurt groups. The amount of IL-4 in BAL of the asthma-yogurt-fenugreek group was decreased. The amount of IL-5 in BAL of the asthma-yogurt-probiotic and asthma-yogurt-fenugreek groups was decreased. The amount of IL-13 was decreased significantly in three treated groups. Conclusion: This study showed that yogurt with fenugreek and probiotic has a strong effect on suppression of progression of airway inflammation and asthma pathophysiology.   &nbsp

Investigation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Phagocytosis in Allergic Asthma Mice Model

The respiratory system is exposed to the potentially harmful environment agents. More importantly, respiratory system infection is an important risk factor for inflammation and some pathogens can be main responsible of asthma. Phagocytosis is a main mechanism to eliminate of microbial infection. Phagocytic clearance may control asthma pathogenesis. In asthma, cytokines balance may be changed, therefore we investigated possible change in phagocytes in the present study.14 male Balb/c mice were divided into two control and asthmatic group. Asthma model in mice was produced by ovalbumin. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated and reduction nitro blue tetrazolium and latex bead florescence phagocytosis tests were done.There was no significant difference in phagocytosis and NBT reduction test between asthmatic and control groups (P≤0.05).Airway inflammation and unbalancing of cytokines in asthma might modulate phagocytosis function. Therefore, asthmatic patient might be more susceptible to airway infection but there was not any notable changes in phagocytosis

Design and Fabrication of Gold Nanoparticles for Anti-Asthma Drug Delivery

Background and Aim: Nanoparticle drug delivery has recently found a special place in medicine and treatment. Different nanoparticles have different capabilities and functions. Gold nanoparticles are one of the most widely used nanoparticles and have many uses in pharmaceuticals and medical purposes, including diagnostic, therapeutic, and imaging methods, and due to their unique characteristics, such as high contact surface area compared to volume. Gold nanoparticles have many advantages over other nanoparticles such as their neutral nature, stability, high diffusion property, non-toxicity, environmental compatibility, optical adjustment. Our goal is to synthesize and characterization gold nanoparticles with specific applications to produce the best delivery system of drugs to the asthmatic lung. Methods: Turkevich method has been used for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles and approving studies have been done. Results: The produced GNP has the average diameter 100-200 nm and the Z-average was 137.9 d.nm and in positive charge area. PDI for GNP was 0.358. Conclusion: In this study, we were able to produce the applicable gold nanoparticles for carrying drugs to asthmatic bronchi. Gold nanoparticles easily reach target cells due to their high dispersion power. Drug side effects are reduced when gold nanoparticles are used in conjunction with the drug for drug delivery purposes. *Corresponding Authors: Alireza Taheri, Email: [email protected]; Seyyed Shamsadin Athari, Email: [email protected] Please cite this article as: Mehrabi Nasab D, Taheri A, Athari SS. Design and Fabrication of Gold Nanoparticles for Anti-Asthma Drug Delivery. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2020;6:1-7 (e4). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v6.3258

Evaluation of Pre- and Post-operative Hemoglobin in Patients with Maxillofacial Injuries

Background: In the past decades, a significant increase has been observed in head and face traumas bleeding during and after surgery is one of the most important and dangerous factors for patients. This study was performed to assess the bleeding amount in patients during maxillofacial surgeries and the necessity of blood transfusion.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 441 patients were enrolled, of which 83.2% and 16.8% were male and female, respectively. To compare the patients’ mean hemoglobin concentration before and after surgery, paired t-test was used. Furthermore, to compare the mean hemoglobin concentration and mean intraoperative bleeding between males and females, independent t-test was used. The significance level was set as 0.05 for all tests.Results: Results showed that the mean difference of hemoglobin concentration before and after surgery in patients of the study had a significant difference (P < 0.001). The amount of blood loss during surgery showed no significant difference between males and females (P > 0.050).Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that there was a decrease in mean hemoglobin concentration after surgery, and also, the amount of blood loss in patients during surgery was not high enough for blood transfusion. However, it should be considered that to prevent any problem during surgery, assessing patients with anemia before surgical operations is necessary

A Survey on the Effects of Gold-Nanoparticles in Allergic Asthma

Background and Aim: Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease and allergies are the most important cause of asthma. Different types of drugs have been developed to control asthma, and the use of carrier systems to transfer drugs to the airways is an effective method. Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) is a subject of substantial research that can be easily synthesized and, in this study, the effect of gold nanoparticles on allergic asthma was evaluated. Methods: There are 4 groups of mice, including: the control group, the control group receiving AuNPs, the asthmatic group, and the asthmatic group receiving AuNPs. An animal model of asthma was produced using ovalbumin (OVA). The negative control group was sensitized and challenged with PBS. Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were collected, then quantitative real-time PCR for the four target genes (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and MUC5ac) and histopathological study of lung tissue was done. Results: In the OVA group, the mRNA expression of targeted genes had no significant differences (P>0.05). Mucus hypersecretion, goblet cell hyperplasia, peribronchial and perivascular inflammation had no significant difference between AuNPs receiving groups with non-treated groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that AuNP did not affect asthma and control mice. These nanoparticles did not elicit any immune or allergic responses and can be easily used for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. *Corresponding Authors: Alireza Taheri; Email: [email protected]; Seyyed Shamsadin Athari, Email: [email protected] Please cite this article as: Mehrabi Nasab D, Taheri A, Jafari B, Athari SS. A Survey on the Effects of Gold-Nanoparticles in Allergic Asthma. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2021;7:1-5 (e21). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v6.3276

Effects of black seed (Nigella Sativa) on type 2 cytokines gene expression and mucus production in the airways of asthmatic mice

Background: Black Seed (BS) is used in traditional medicine as a therapy for a variety of diseases including allergic asthma.Materials and Methods: In the present study, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of BS on cytokine gene expression, lung airway eosinophilia and goblet cell hyperplasia were examined in a mouse mice model of allergic asthma. Groups of 6-week-old female BALB/c mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injections of OVA plus alum on days 1 and 14. On days 24, 26, 28 and 30, the mice were exposed to OVA in saline for 30 min with nebulizer. Similar experiments were conducted with mice receiving saline as a negative control.Results: The mouse allergic asthma model received BS by food on days 23, 25, 27 and 29. Then, the percentage of inflammatory cells as well as mRNA expression levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13 and mucin (MUC5a) genes were survived in Broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Furthermore, we attempted to examine histopathological examination of the lung. Mice receiving BS showed a significant decrease in the number of eosinophils, and a potential inhibitory effect on mRNA expression levels of Th2-driven immune response cytokines and mucin, resulting in decreased production of interleukin and mucin in allergic asthma.Conclusion: Our findings suggested that BS has an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effect during the allergic response in the lung, and can be a promising treatment for allergic asthma in humans

Content Analysis of Iran Primary School Books in 2014-2015 in Relation to Oral Health Topics

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate oral health issues in primary school textbooks in Iran. Methods: The contents of Iran primary school textbooks in the academic year 2014-2015 were assessed in accordance to oral health-related teachings. Oral health topics of 39 textbooks (pictures and texts) were retrieved and analyzed using content analysis method and presented by figures and tables. Results: In whole, 25 oral health-related lessons were found .The textbooks of the first grade contained the highest (10) and those of the fourth grade had the lowest (0) number of oral health lessons. Among Oral health-related issues, the largest number (12) of lessons was about tooth brushing, while prevention of gingival disease comprised the least number (1). Some important oral health issues such as the role of healthy teeth and gums in health of other parts of the body were not discussed in the textbooks. Conclusion: According to this study, the potential of primary school textbooks in delivering oral health messages has been neglected in Iran. Taking the critical importance of school ages into account, incorporating health issues in textbooks should be more strongly emphasized