Prehypertension; patient awareness and associated cardiovascular risk factors in an urban population in Iran

Background: This study was to estimate the frequency of prehypertension and to characterize patient awareness and associated cardiovascular risk factors in an urban population in Iran. Methods: During a hypertensive awareness program, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 2036 people. All participants completed a questionnaire about their demographic and anthropometric indices and were asked about symptoms, risk factors and preventive measures of hypertension. Data were compared between prehypertensive and non-hypertensive groups. Results: Prehypertension was detected in 30 (n=611) of the subjects. Previous CHD, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia were more prevalent in low prehypertension group compared to high normal blood pressure. The male sex, increasing age and body weight were positively associated with the rate of prehypertension. Only 8 of participants with prehypertension were aware about the symptoms of hypertension, 12 correctly mentioned at least three risk factors of hypertension, and 48 explained appropriate preventive measures. Conclusion: Prehypertension was prevalent in this population. Age, body weight, male sex, and previous CHD were the major determinants. Furthermore, hypertension awareness was alarmingly poor. Therefore, hypertension prevention programs focused on increasing public awareness are essential

Dry eye disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus; comparison of the tear osmolarity test with other common diagnostic tests: A diagnostic accuracy study using STARD standard

Background: To determine the diagnostic performance of tear osmolarity in diagnosis of dry eye disease by using tear lab osmolarity system in people with type 2 diabetes, and to compare it with common diagnostic tests already available in clinical practice. Methods: Two hundreds forty three people with type 2 diabetes were included. Tear osmolarity was measured with the tear osmolarity system. The 308 mOsm/L cutoffwas used to diagnose dry eye disease. The following tests were also performed: Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, Tear Film Break up Time (TFBUT), Schirmer I test, Rose Bengal and Fluorescein staining. The results of these tests were compared to the tear osmolarity measurement. Results: The prevalence of dry eye disease detected by the tear osmolarity test was 27.7. It was as follows for the other common diagnostic tests: OSDI (17.7), Schirmer I test (33), TFBUT (41), Rose Bengal (11), and Fluorescein staining (4). Fluorescein staining had the highest specificity (97). With the cutoffscore >12, the positive likelihood ratio for the OSDI questionnaire was the highest (1.78). The sensitivity was poor for all common diagnostic tests. ROC curve analysis could not determine optimal cut offs for the common diagnostic tests. Conclusions: The available common diagnostic tests underestimate the presence of dry eye disease in people with type 2 diabetes. Moreover, they could not discriminate tear hyperosmolarity from normal. Tear osmolarity could be considered as the best single test for detection of dry eye disease in people with type2 diabetes. © 2015 Najafiet al

Comparison of Impulsivity and Emotional Lability in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Adults with and without Pornography

The goal of this study was to compare impulsivity and emotional lability in college student with ADHD symptoms with and without pornography and students without ADHD with pornography and normal people. The method was ex-post facto, cross-sectional design. The statistical population consisted of students from national universities in Tehran with and without ADHD with and without pornography and normal people. The research sample was 500 students who were selected on the bases of cutoff scores in 4 groups of 125 people: 1) with ADHD with pornography, 2) with ADHD without pornography, 3) without ADHD with pornography 4) normal group. To collect data, the World Health Organization ADHD Adult scales, Problematic Use of Pornography, Impulsivity, and Emotional Lability were used. Research data were analyzed through univariate and multivariate analysis of variance test. The results showed impulsivity and emotional lability in the group 1 is significantly higher than the group 2, also the groups 3 are more than group 4. It can be concluded impulsivity and emotional lability have important clinical implications in psychopathology, prevention and treatment of ADHD and pornography. Also, it is possible to reduce their impulsiveness and emotional lability

Cryopreservation of Limited Sperm Using A Combination of Sucrose and Taurine, Loaded on Two Different Devices, and Thawed at Two Different Temperatures

Background: Cryopreservation of sperm is essential for patients with low sperm counts and couples undergoing infertilitytreatment. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Taurine (T) and Sucrose (S) in individual spermcryopreservation utilizing cryotop and petri dish and thawing at 37 and 42°C.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 17 normospermic semen samples were processed using the"Swim-up" procedure and progressively motile sperm were then isolated from these samples using an inverted microscope.Sperm were added to droplets of "sucrose medium" with 25 mM Taurine antioxidant (S+T) and the commercialcryoprotectant "Sperm Freeze" (CPA), loaded on a petri dish and cryotop. After rapid freezing of the samples, theywere thawed at two different temperatures (37°C and 42°C), and the sperm classical parameters, viability, and DNAfragmentation were assessed.Results: Statistical analysis displayed a significant increase in total and progressive motility in individual spermfreezing on cryotop with CPA and thawing at 42°C (P<0.05). Other parameters did not show any differences betweenthe CPA and S+T groups and two thawing temperatures in either of the cryopreservation methods.Conclusion: Although, both cryoprotectants (CPA and S+T) may preserve individual sperm effectively using cryotop,the CPA and thawing at 42°C showed a better effect on the motility percentage of the small number of sperm

An introduction to the royan human ovarian tissue bank

From December 2000 until 2010, the researchers at Royan Institute conducted a wide range of investigations on ovarian tissue cryopreservation with the intent to provide fertility preservation to cancer patients that were considered to be candidates for these services. In 2010, Royan Institute established the Royan Human Ovarian Tissue Bank as a subgroup of the Embryology Department. Since its inception, approximately 180 patients between the ages of 7-47 years have undergone consultations. Ovarian samples were cryopreserved from 47 patients (age: 7-35 years) diagnosed with cervical adenocarcinoma (n=9); breast carcinoma (n=7), Ewing�s sarcoma (n=7), opposite side ovarian tumor (n=7), endometrial adenocarcinoma (n=4), malignant colon tumors (n=3), as well as Hodgkin�s lymphoma, major thalassemia and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (n=1-2 patients for each disease). Additionally, two patients requested ovarian tissue transplantation after completion of their treatments. © 2016, Royan Institute (ACECR). All Rights Reserved

Antenatal umbilical coiling index in gestational diabetes mellitus and non-gestational diabetes pregnancy

Objective: Umbilical cord abnormalities increase fetal morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to compare antenatal umbilical coiling index (aUCI) in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and non-gestational diabetes mellitus (non-GDM) pregnancy, considering uncertainties about the best time to perform antenatal ultrasonography scan. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 246 parturients were included, 123 with GDM and 123 with non-GDM pregnancy. Gestational diabetes was confirmed at 24�28 weeks of gestation (WG) using one-step strategy. An anatomical ultrasound survey of placenta and umbilical cord was performed at 18�23 as well as 37�41 weeks of gestational age. Results: At 18�23 WG, the frequency distribution (10th, 90th percentiles, mean ± SD) of the aUCI in the GDM and non-GDM groups were (0.13,0.66,0.32 ± 0.19) and (0.18,0.74, 0.4 ± 0.31) respectively. These values were (0.12,0.4, 0.25 ± 0.11) in the GDM group at 37�41 WG and (0.17,0.43, 0.29 ± 0.11) in the non-GDM group. A significant relationship was detected between UCI value and GDM/non-GDM groups at both antenatal evaluations (18�23 WG; P = 0.002, 37�41WG; P 90th) (P = 0.001). However, hypocoiling were significantly more frequent in GDM than non-GDM in both antenatal evaluations (P < 0.001, P = 0.006). Conclusion: Antenatal UCI in pregnancy complicated by GDM were lower in comparison with non-GDM pregnancy. The most abnormal pattern of coiling in gestational diabetes was hypocoiling in both trimesters. In addition, 18�23 WG is the best time to perform ultrasound scan to detect aUCI and umbilical cord pattern. © 201

Royan Institute First Attempts: Autotransplantation of Vitrified Human Ovarian Tissue in Cancer Patients

Today, timely diagnosis and therapeutic progress open a road of hope for survival in cancerous patients. Increasedknowledge about the various cytotoxic treatment's impacts on ovarian function and fertility has resulted in a surgein the number of patients seeking to preserve their fertility before starting the anti-cancer treatment process. In thisregard, embryo cryopreservation can be recommended for fertility preservation when the woman is married and hasadequate time for ovarian stimulation. If patients are prepubertal girls or not married women, oocytes or ovarian tissuecan be frozen instead to be used in the future. In this regard, the first attempts for ovarian tissue transplantations wereconducted in 2016 and in 2019 for two cancerous patients whose ovarian tissue was cryopreserved in the RoyanHuman Ovarian Tissue Bank (Tehran, Iran). Unfortunately, the transplantations did not result in a live birth

Ultrastructural evaluation of human metaphase II oocytes after vitrification: closed versus open devices

Objective: To compare the ultrastructural appearance of oocytes after vitrification and warming with two different devices. Design: Oocytes were examined by ultrastructural analysis after vitrification and warming with use of closed (CryoTip; Irvine Scientific, Santa Ana, CA) or open (Cryotop; Kitazato BioPharma Co., Ltd., Shizuoka, Japan) devices. Setting: Pordenone Hospital IVF Unit and Medical Morphological Research Department, University of Udine. Patient(s): Surplus oocytes from 10 patients (aged 31-39 years) undergoing assisted reproductive technologies at the Pathophysiology Unit of Human Reproduction and Sperm Bank between 2006 and 2008. Intervention(s): Oocytes with normal invertoscopic appearance underwent vitrification and warming with closed (CryoTip) or open (Cryotop) devices and were processed for transmission electron microscopy. Main Outcome Measure(s): Cryodamage extent and cell alterations in oocytes after open or closed vitrification and warming procedures and their rehydration rate. Result(s): A higher rate of complete oocyte rehydration and less-severe ultrastructural alterations were observed after vitrification and warming with the open Cryotop device. Conclusion(s): These preliminary data suggest that oocyte ultrastructure is better preserved with an open rather than closed vitrification and warming protocol