AN AUTOMATED DENTAL CARIES DETECTION AND SCORING SYSTEM FOR OPTIC IMAGES OF TOOTH OCCLUSAL SURFACE

Dental caries are one of the most prevalent chronic diseases. Worldwide 60 to 90 percent of school children and nearly 100 percent of adults experienced dental caries. The management of dental caries demands detection of carious lesions at early stages. The research of designing diagnostic tools in caries has been at peak for the last decade. This research aims to design an automated system to detect and score dental caries according to the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) guidelines using the optical images of the occlusal tooth surface. There have been numerous works that address the problem of caries detection by using new imaging technologies or advanced measurements. However, no such study has been done to detect and score caries with the use of optical images of the tooth surface. The aim of this dissertation is to develop image processing and machine learning algorithms to address the problem of detection and scoring the caries by the use of optical image of the tooth surface

Plum supplementation and lipid profile: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Plums are abundant in bioactive compounds which have been associated with numerous health benefits. In the present study, we aimed at examining the impact of plum supplementation on lipid profile of individuals. Electronic bibliographical databases were searched for relevant randomised clinical trials. Articles meeting our eligibility criteria were included for data extraction and final analysis. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was estimated using a random-effect model. Of the total articles retrieved in the initial search, nine articles were found to be eligible to be included in the analysis. Our results show that plum supplementation significantly improves total cholesterols levels in the unhealthy individuals. Moreover, plum supplementation reduces the LDL-c levels in the pooled sample (WMD= −11⋅52 mg/dl; 95 % CI−21⋅93,−1⋅11,P = 0⋅03,I2 = 98⋅7 %) and also in some of the subgroups of individuals(dried plum, unhealthy subjects, duration more than 8 weeks). Moreover, it had a significant reducing effect on TC levels just in unhealthy subjects. Although plum supplementation did not have any significant impact on serum levels of TG nor HDL-c. Our results show that supplementation with plums is potentially effective in reducing serum total cholesterol and LDL-c

Evaluation of the leptin receptor in human spermatozoa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leptin, a 167 amino acid peptide hormone, profoundly effects reproduction exerting its biological effects via interaction with the leptin receptor (ObR) which is widely expressed on peripheral tissues. In this study, we have attempted to assess leptin receptor expression in the spermatozoa of fertile males and those diagnosed with male factor infertility; both at the mRNA or protein levels.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Semen samples were collected from fertile males and individuals with male factor infertility. In order to evaluate leptin receptor expression several techniques were utilized, including: reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunostaining, flow cytometry, and western blotting. Mononuclear cells isolated from volunteers' peripheral blood were used as positive controls for leptin receptor expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>leptin receptor was noted on mononuclear cells but we were unable to detect this receptor on spermatozoa at the protein level. Leptin receptor expression was detected on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as positive controls; however it was not detectable on the spermatozoa of both groups by immunofluorescence microscopy or flow cytometry. Furthermore, positive expression of the ObR long isoform as assessed by RT-PCR was observed in the sperm of only four cases, whereas expression of beta-Actin, a house keeping gene, and HspA2, a testis specific gene, was present in all cases.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The long isoform of leptin receptor may not be present on human sperm. Species difference may be accounted for diverse reproductive physiology which depends on metabolic requirement. Leptin receptor expression at the mRNA level in some individuals may be related to contamination by other cells in semen.</p

Prevalence of Depression among Undergraduate Students: Gender and Age Differences

Depressive disorders are the most typical disease affecting many different factors of humanity. University students may be at increased risk of depression owing to the pressure and stress they encounter. Therefore, the purpose of this study is comparing the level of depression among male and female athletes and non-athletes undergraduate student of private university in Esfahan, Iran. The participants in this research are composed of 400 male and female athletes as well as no-athletes Iranian undergraduate students. The Beck depression test (BDI) was employed to measure the degree of depression. T-test was used to evaluate the distinction between athletes and non-athletes at P≤0.05. The ANOVA was conducted to examine whether there was a relationship between level of depression among non-athletes and athletes. The result showed that the prevalence rate of depression among non-athlete male undergraduate students is significantly higher than that of athlete male students. The results also presented that level of depression among female students is much more frequent compared to males. This can be due to the fatigue and lack of energy that are more frequent among female in comparison to the male students. Physical activity was negatively related to the level of depression by severity among male and female undergraduate students. However, there is no distinct relationship between physical activity and level of depression according to the age of athlete and non-athlete male and female undergraduate students. This study has essential implications for clinical psychology due to the relationship between physical activity and prevalence of depression.Los desórdenes depresivos son la enfermedad más típica que afecta diferentes dimensiones del ser humano. Los estudiantes universitarios pueden estar bajo el riesgo de la depresión debido a la presión y estrés que enfrentan normalmente. Por lo tanto, el propósito de este estudio consiste en comparar el nivel de  depresión  entre  hombres  y  mujeres  atletas  y  no  atletas  que  son estudiantes universitarios  de  una  universidad  privada  en  Esfahan,  Iran. La  muestra  de  esta investigación está compuesta por 400 hombres y mujeres atletas y no atletas iraníes que son estudiantes universitarios. El test de depressión de Beck (Beck depression test -BDI) fue utilizado para medir el grado de depresión. Una prueba t fue usada para evaluar la diferencia entre atletas y no atletas en P≤0.05 El ANOVA fue llevado a cabo para examinar si había relación entre el nivel depresión entre atletas y no atletas. El resultado mostró que el índice de prevalencia de depresión entre los estudiantes no atletas hombres era significativamente  más alta que aquellos que si lo eran. Los resultados también presentaron que el nivel de depresión entre mujeres estudiantes es mucho más frecuente que en hombres. Esto se puede deber a que la fatiga y falta de energía que es más frecuente a comparación con los varones. La actividad física estuvo negativamente relacionada al nivel de depresión por la severidad entre hombres y mujeres. Sin embargo, no hay relaciones diferentes entre la actividad física y el nivel de depresión de acuerdo a la edad de los atletas y no atletas hombres y mujeres. Este estudio tiene implicaciones esenciales para la psicología clínica o la psicología de salud debido a la relación entre la actividad física y la prevalencia de la depresión

Estudio comparativo de la prevalencia de la depresión entre estudiantes universitarios: Diferencias de edad y género

Depressive disorders are the most typical disease affecting many different factors of humanity. University students may be at increased risk of depression owing to the pressure and stress they encounter. Therefore, the purpose of this study is comparing the level of depression among male and female athletes and non-athletes undergraduate student of private university in Esfahan, Iran. The participants in this research are composed of 400 male and female athletes as well as no-athletes Iranian undergraduate students. The Beck depression test (BDI) was employed to measure the degree of depression. T-test was used to evaluate the distinction between athletes and non-athletes at P≤0.05. The ANOVA was conducted to examine whether there was a relationship between level of depression among non-athletes and athletes. The result showed that the prevalence rate of depression among non-athlete male undergraduate students is significantly higher than that of athlete male students. The results also presented that level of depression among female students is much more frequent compared to males. This can be due to the fatigue and lack of energy that are more frequent among female in comparison to the male students. Physical activity was negatively related to the level of depression by severity among male and female undergraduate students. However, there is no distinct relationship between physical activity and level of depression according to the age of athlete and non-athlete male and female undergraduate students. This study has essential implications for clinical psychology due to the relationship between physical activity and prevalence of depression.Los desórdenes depresivos son la enfermedad más típica que afecta diferentes dimensiones del ser humano. Los estudiantes universitarios pueden estar bajo el riesgo de la depresión debido a la presión y estrés que enfrentan normalmente. Por lo tanto, el propósito de este estudio consiste en comparar el nivel de  depresión  entre  hombres  y  mujeres  atletas  y  no  atletas  que  son estudiantes universitarios  de  una  universidad  privada  en  Esfahan,  Iran. La  muestra  de  esta investigación está compuesta por 400 hombres y mujeres atletas y no atletas iraníes que son estudiantes universitarios. El test de depressión de Beck (Beck depression test -BDI) fue utilizado para medir el grado de depresión. Una prueba t fue usada para evaluar la diferencia entre atletas y no atletas en P≤0.05 El ANOVA fue llevado a cabo para examinar si había relación entre el nivel depresión entre atletas y no atletas. El resultado mostró que el índice de prevalencia de depresión entre los estudiantes no atletas hombres era significativamente  más alta que aquellos que si lo eran. Los resultados también presentaron que el nivel de depresión entre mujeres estudiantes es mucho más frecuente que en hombres. Esto se puede deber a que la fatiga y falta de energía que es más frecuente a comparación con los varones. La actividad física estuvo negativamente relacionada al nivel de depresión por la severidad entre hombres y mujeres. Sin embargo, no hay relaciones diferentes entre la actividad física y el nivel de depresión de acuerdo a la edad de los atletas y no atletas hombres y mujeres. Este estudio tiene implicaciones esenciales para la psicología clínica o la psicología de salud debido a la relación entre la actividad física y la prevalencia de la depresión

Prevalence of Depression among Undergraduate Students: Gender and Age Differences

Depressive disorders are the most typical disease affecting many different factors of humanity. University students may be at increased risk of depression owing to the pressure and stress they encounter. Therefore, the purpose of this study is comparing the level of depression among male and female athletes and non-athletes undergraduate student of private university in Esfahan, Iran. The participants in this research are composed of 400 male and female athletes as well as no-athletes Iranian undergraduate students. The Beck depression test (BDI) was employed to measure the degree of depression. T-test was used to evaluate the distinction between athletes and non-athletes at P≤0.05. The ANOVA was conducted to examine whether there was a relationship between level of depression among non-athletes and athletes. The result showed that the prevalence rate of depression among non-athlete male undergraduate students is significantly higher than that of athlete male students. The results also presented that level of depression among female students is much more frequent compared to males. This can be due to the fatigue and lack of energy that are more frequent among female in comparison to the male students. Physical activity was negatively related to the level of depression by severity among male and female undergraduate students. However, there is no distinct relationship between physical activity and level of depression according to the age of athlete and nonathlete male and female undergraduate students. This study has essential implications for clinical psychology due to the relationship between physical activity and prevalence of depression

Estrés y Depresión en Madres, Severidad de Autismo en Niños e Ingresos Familiares

This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between mothers’ depression and stress compared with severity of autism in children and the effect of family income on the relationship between these two latter variables. Levels of depression and stress among mothers (n=250) were measured based on Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale of 42 items (DASS¬-42). The severity of autism among children was assessed by Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) according to children’s teachers reports (n=250). Family income was recorded based on mothers’ report and it was investigated as a mediator for the relationship between mothers’ depression-stress and severity of autism among children. Results showed that different incomes of mothers have significant effect on the level of depression and stress among mothers and the severity of autism; besides, results indicated that severity of autism in children changes with family income and mothers’ depression and stress-severity.Este estudio fue conducido para investigar la relación entre depresión y estrés de madres comparados con la severidad de autismo en niños y el efecto de los ingresos familiares sobre una relación entre estas dos variables. Los niveles de estrés y depresión entre las madres (n=250) fueron medidos usando la escala de presión, ansiedad y estrés de 42 ítems (Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale of 42 ítems, DASS¬-42). La severidad de autismo de los niños fue evaluada con la lista de comportamientos autistas (Autism Behavior Checklist, ABC) de acuerdo a los reportes de los profesores (n=250). Los ingresos familiares fueron incluidos de acuerdo al reporte de las madres y fueron investigados como medidores de la relación entre depresión-estrés de madres y la severidad de autismo entre los niños. Los resultados mostraron que los diferentes ingresos de las madres tienen un efecto significativo en el nivel de depresión y estrés de las madres y la severidad del autismo; además los resultados también indicaron que la severidad del autismo cambia con los ingresos familiares y los niveles de depresión y estrés de las madre