Effect of antimicrobial peptides and monoterpenes on control of fire blight

Aim of study: Antimicrobial peptides and monoterpenes are safe compounds that have been used for control of many plant diseases. Herein, the effects of two recombinant antibacterial peptides (AMPs) were compared with two monoterpenes for control of Erwinia amylovora directly or via induction of plant defense enzyme guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD).Area of study: The experiments were performed at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (Iran).Material and methods: The central composite design (CCD) method was used to study the effect of mixing the compounds and copper compound (Nordox) in controlling the pathogen. The resistance level was studied on shoots of tolerant (‘Dargazi’) and semi-susceptible (‘Spadona’) pear cultivars treated with the antibacterial compounds.Main results: Thanatin and 1,8-cineole showed the highest and lowest antibacterial effects. All treatments reduced E. amylovora pathogenicity on blossom. The CCD analysis revealed that the best reduction in colony number obtained by mixing Lfc, thanatin, thymol, 1,8-cineole and Nordox at concentrations of 32, 16, 24, 250 and 250 μg/mL. Thymol and 1,8-cineole at 500 μg/mL decreased disease severity significantly compared to that of AMPs. The level of GPOD enzyme in ‘Dargazi’ was higher than in ‘Spadona’. All treatments increased the GPOD levels in both cultivars. Furthermore, resistance level and GPOD ratio were negatively correlated.Research highlights: Antimicrobial peptides showed better effect on growth inhibition of E. amylovora than monoterpenes. Mixing of these peptides and monoterpens at special dosage enhanced their antimicrobial efficacy against E. amylovora; that could represent a new method in control of fire blight disease

A comparative study on the structure of English abstracts of Persian and English medical journals

زمینه و هدف: امروزه مقاله نویسی علمی اهمیت خاصی پیدا کرده است و بهترین راه به اشتراک گذاشتن دستاوردهای علمی بنظر میرسد به شرط آنکه معیارهای تعیین شده مرتبط با زبان مقاله نویسی رعایت گردد. هدف از این تحقیق شناسایی انحرافات ساختاری چکیده های ترجمه انگلیسی چاپ شده در مجلات فارسی زبان ایرانی و مقایسه آنها با چکیده هایی است که از ابتدا به زبان انگلیسی نوشته شده و در مجلات بین المللی پزشکی به چاپ رسیده اند. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی- تحلیلی تعداد 64 چکیده (32 چکیده از مجلات ایرانی و 32 چکیده از مجلات بین المللی) بر اساس مدل پیشنهادی Swales مورد تجزیه و تحلیل و مقایسه قرار گرفت. بررسی دقیق تری هم بر اساس مدلCARS (Create A Research Space) پیشنهاد شده توسطSwales در قسمت مقدمه این چکیده ها انجام شد. توالی مقدمه، مواد و روش ها، یافته ها و نتیجه گیری (IMRC=Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion) به عنوان قسمتهای ساختاری جهت بررسی در نظر گرفته شد. داده ها به کمک آزمون های آماری کای اسکوئر و آزمون دقیق فیشر تجزیه و تحلیل شد. یافته ها: یافته ها نشان داد در حالی که چکیده های ترجمه شده همگی توالی IMRC را رعایت کرده اند، در چکیده های اصیل انگلیسی زبان این توالی کاملاً رعایت نشده است. در قسمت مقدمه چکیده ها، اختلاف معنی داری در نگارش بیان هدف تحقیق وجود داشت که در چکیده های ترجمه شده بیشتر به چشم می خورد (001/0

Rhetorical Variation in Medical Article Abstracts Written in English and Persian

The present study aimed at finding structural variations in the translated abstracts from Persian into English and comparing them with abstracts originally written in English and published in international journals in the area of medical sciences. To do this, 64 medical article abstracts (32 in Iranian journals, 32 in international journals) were analyzed and compared on the basis of Swales’ model (1990). More detailed analysis was done in the Introduction unit regarding CARS model (Swales, 1990) and also language features of each unit were identified. The IMRC (Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion) sequence was considered as the structural conventions for the analysis. The results showed that in terms of structural units, there was a significant difference in using the Methods unit between the two groups of abstracts (p= 0.002). Some variations were observed in the Introduction unit and language features. The data revealed that the translated abstracts from Persian into English in research medical articles meet the determined criteria for scientific writing while the original ones often ignore the criteria, although they are linguistically superior to the original English one

Effect of barbiturate coma on prognosis of head injury patient by Glassco coma scale< 8

چکیده: ضربه مغزی شدید یکی از علل عمده از کار افتادگی طولانی مدت و مرگ، به خصوص در افراد کمتر از24 سال می باشد. هدف از مطالعه بررسی تأثیر کمای باربیتوراتی با انفوزیون مداوم تیوپنتال بر پیش آگهی بیماران ضربه مغزی با ارزیابی کمای گلاسکو (Glassco coma scale=GCS) کمتر از 8 می باشد. این تحقیق یک مطالعه مداخله ای بالینی نیمه تجربی می باشد که روی32 بیمار ضربه مغزی با GCS کمتر از 8 بستری در بخش مراقبت های ویژه بیمارستان آیت الله کاشانی شهرکرد صورت گرفت. پس از تثبیت وضع عمومی وکنترل علائم حیاتی بیماران آنها را به مدت 48 ساعت با حمایت مکانیکی تنفسی تحت انفوزیون mg/kg/h 2 تیوپنتال در بخش مراقبت های ویژه قرار می دادیم، سپس بیماران را برحسب انجام عمل جراحی کرانیوتومی یا عدم آن و بر اساس ارزیابی پیش آگهی گلاسکو (GOS= Glassco out coma scale) مورد ارزیابی قرار دادیم. میزان خطر نسبی پیش آگهی نامطلوب در بیمارا ن کرانیوتومی شده تیوپنتال گرفته به نگرفته 59/. و در بیماران کرانیوتومی نشده 69/. به دست آمد. با توجه به اعشاری بودن میزان خطرنسبی در هر دو دسته از بیماران بنظر می رسد انفوزیون تیوپنتال در بهبود پیش آگهی بیماران ضربه مغزی مفید می باشد

Comparison of Canal Preparation Pattern of K3 and ProTaper Rotary Files in Curved Resin Blocks

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare canal preparation pattern of K3 and ProTaper rotary files in curved resin blocks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four resin blocks were used in this experimental study and randomly divided into two groups. Their initial images were scanned. After preparation, their images were scanned again in the same position. Pre and post preparation images were superimposed by Photoshop software and the removed resin was measured in 5 different points, and then analyzed statistically by ANOVA and T-test. RESULTS: At O point (orifice), significantly (P&lt;0.05) more outer canal wall was removed in the ProTaper group than in the K3 group. There was no significant difference at any other points of outer wall. Removed material of inner canal wall was not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Under the condition of this study, both systems performed acceptable preparation pattern except at the beginning of the curve

Original Article Efficacy of Addition of Folic Acid to Sodium Valproate in Treatment of Acute Mania, a Double Blind Clinical Trial Study

Abstract Introduction: Treatment resistance is common in acute mania, so the role of augmented therapies, including nutritional factors and vitamins have always been considered. This study aimed to assess the effect of addition of folic acid to sodium valproate in treatment of acute mania. Methods: This double blind randomized clinical trial study was done in Mashhad Avicenna psychiatric hospital, in 2011 and was registered with IRCT201112188106N1 code in Iranian registry clinical trials site. Twenty nine manic patients, divided into two groups randomly. They received sodium-valproate+folic acid or sodium-valproate+placebo. The severity of mania, by Jung Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and cognitional improvement, by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), were determined at baseline, after 3 and 6 weeks. Data analyzed by SPSS-16, к 2 and t-student tests. Result: The mean scores of YMRS at baseline, after 3 and 6 weeks, in the folice acid group were 22±2.44, 8.26±4.86 and 3.13±1.64 respectively, and in placebo group were 21.14±1.95, 14.14±4.31 and 13±5.21 respectively. The mean scores of YMRS significantly decreased in the folic acid group compared to the placebo group after 3,6 weeks (p=0.005, p&lt;0.001 respectively). The mean scores of MMSE showed no significant difference in same intervals (p=0.068, p=0.068). Conclusion: Our study showed that adjuvant treatment by folic acid in addition to standard treatment with sodium-valproate during manic phase in patients with BMD-I after 6 weeks of treatment was effective

Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep: A Survey on Polysomnographic Characteristics of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Background and Objective: Periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are two common sleep disorders that frequently co-occur in one subject. In this study, we evaluated the polysomnographic (PSG) features of patients with OSA with and without PLMS. Materials and Methods: Patients with OSA diagnosed by PSG who referred to our sleep clinic over 2 years were studied for PLMS during a standard diagnostic sleep study. PSG features including apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and sleep quality were evaluated and compared between patients with OSA with and without PLMS. Results: We evaluated 122 patients with OSA, of whom 17 had comorbid PLMS. Mean sleep quality was significantly lower in patients with PLMS compared to those without PLMS (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in terms of mean age, gender, arousal index (AI), ODI, and apnea/hypopnea between the two groups. Conclusion: Patients with OSA with PLMS comorbidity have remarkably lower sleep quality and this finding is independent of the severity of arousals or respiratory events. Proper evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of PLMS comorbidity in patients with OSA might improve treatment response.  

The Effects of Body Acupuncture on Obesity: Anthropometric Parameters, Lipid Profile, and Inflammatory and Immunologic Markers

A randomized controlled clinical trial in 196 obese subjects was performed to examine the effectiveness of body acupuncture on body weight loss, lipid profile and immunogenic and inflammatory markers. Subjects received authentic (cases) or sham (controls) acupuncture for 6 weeks in combination with a low-calorie diet. In the following 6 weeks, they received the low-calorie diet alone. Subjects were assessed at the beginning, 6 and 12 weeks later. Heat shock protein (Hsps)-27, 60, 65, 70 antibody titers and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were also assessed. A significant reduction in measures of adiposity and improvement in lipid profile were observed in both groups, but the levels of anti-Hsp-antibodies decreased in cases only. A reduction in anthropometric and lipid profile in cases were sustained in the second period, however, only changes in lipid profile were observed in the control group. Anti-Hsp-antibodies and hs-CRP levels continued to be reduced in cases but in controls only the reduction in hs-CRP remained. Changes in anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, and anti-Hsp-antibodies were more evident in cases. Body acupuncture in combination with diet restriction was effective in enhancing weight loss and improving dyslipidemia

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions