abbas rahimi foroushani

Airway fungal infection is a severe clinical problem, especially in patients with compromised immune functions. Here, we examined the distribution and antifungal susceptibility profiles of fungal agents isolated from respiratory tract of symptomatic patients hospitalized in pulmonary units.

This descriptive cross-sectional study took place from 2023 to 2024, involving 360 patients. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or sputum specimens were collected and analyzed using mycological and molecular methods for this study. Antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST) was carried out using the broth micro dilution method.

Of a total of 360 respiratory specimens, 114 (31.6%) were positive. The male-to-female ratio was 63:51 (1.3%). Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus were the most common yeast and mold species. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had the highest rate of colonization with fungal agents (47/114, 41%). The isolates associated with COPD in this study included Aspergillus species (4/12, 3.5%), Candida species (41/96, 36%), and other fungal species (2/6, 1.5%). Coughing (87%) was the predominant symptom, and malignancy (52%) was the predominant comorbidity factor. The result of AFST for antifungal agents showed that 9 (22.5%) Candida isolates were resistant, and the highest rate of resistance was related to voriconazole agent (5/9, 55.5%). Resistance to antifungal agents was not observed among Aspergillus isolates.

This study showed a significant relationship between the frequency of Aspergillus and Candida species in patients with underlying lung diseases. In addition, voriconazole was more effective than itraconazole, especially against Aspergillus flavus.

The prevalence of antibiotic resistance has been demonstrated in various food-borne pathogens. Beta-lactam antibiotics are among the first-line antimicrobials that are normally administered in case of gastrointestinal infections. However, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and some other members of Enterobacteriaceae have indicated broad resistance against such antibiotics thanks to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes. In this research, 216 stool samples have been screened for ESBL-producing E. coli, using phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility tests. ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were further screened for the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes CTX-M, SHV, and TEM. Our isolation experiments resulted in 111 E. coli isolates among which 41 (36.9%) isolates were found as ESBL. Also, 51.2% of the above ESBL isolates harbored blaTEM. Furthermore, 18 (43.9%) and 2 (4.9%) of those ESBL isolates had blaCTX-M and blaSHV genes, respectively.  Our results revealed a detectable prevalence of ESBL E. coli in stool samples collected during food outbreaks. Results of such researches can guide how to control the distribution of drug-resistant pathogens in various environments. In this line, the considerable prevalence of ESBL E. coli seems to have originated from the wide administration of various beta-lactam antibiotics.

Acquiring new knowledge necessitates alterations at the synaptic level within the brain. Glutamate, a pivotal neurotransmitter, plays a critical role in these processes, particularly in learning and memory formation. Although previous research has explored glutamate’s involvement in cognitive functions, a comprehensive understanding of its real-time dynamics remains elusive during memory tasks. This study aimed to investigate glutamate modulation during memory tasks in the right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) and parieto-occipital regions using functional Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (fMRS). This experimental research applied fMRS acquisition concurrently with a modified Sternberg’s verbal working memory task for fourteen healthy right-handed participants (5 females, mean age=30.64±4.49). The glutamate/total-creatine (Glu/tCr) ratio was quantified by LCModel in the DLPFC and parieto-occipital voxels while applying the tissue corrections. The significantly higher Glu/tCr modulation was observed during the task with a trend of increased modulation with memory load in both the DLPFC (19.9% higher, P-value=0.018) and parieto-occipital (33% higher, P-value=0.046) regions compared to the rest.  Our pioneering fMRS study has yielded groundbreaking insights into brain functions during S-term Memory (STM) and learning. This research provides valuable methodological advancements for investigating the metabolic functions of both healthy and disordered brains. Based on the findings, cognitive demands directly correlate with glutamate levels, highlighting the neurochemical underpinnings of cognitive processing. Additionally, the obtained results potentially challenge the traditional left-hemisphere-centric model of verbal working memory, leading to the deep vision of hemispheric contributions to cognitive functions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between pregnant women's anxiety and their knowledge and attitude about COVID-19.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 458 pregnant women in Tehran between 2020 and 2021. The research tools included a researcher-made questionnaire and Beck's standard anxiety questionnaire. Questionnaires were provided to pregnant women through social networks and data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Resualts: 

In this study, the average scores of women's knowledge and attitude about Corona infection were 18.22±5.13 and 4.62±2.61, respectively, and their anxiety score was 11.14±6.46. There was a statistically significant relationship between the average score of awareness with mother's age; the average score of attitude with mother's education and spouse's education and employment; and the average score of anxiety with mother's age, the number and weeks of pregnancy and the type of previous births. Anxiety and awareness (P=0.15 and attitude (P=0.97) had no statistically significant relationship, but the two variables of awareness and attitude had a significant positive correlation (P=0.004). Social media (60.9%) and social networks (43.4%) were the most commmen sources of COVID-19 information.

This study showed that there was a moderate awareness and attitude about COVID-19 among pregnant women in Tehran and their level of anxiety had increased compared to before the pandemic. From the results of this study, government could identify the needs of pregnant women at the time of pandemics, and by introducing and providing correct information resources, it can increase the awareness and attitude of them about the pandemic, reduce their anxiety and improve their pregnancy outcomes.

Non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a common painful condition and is responsible for different physical disorders. Despite alternative therapies, patients still suffer from persistent pain. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has provided much evidence of pain reduction, but results have not been examined deeply in CLBP symptoms.

The analgesic effect of rTMS in non-specific CLBP patients was evaluated by the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analysis in resting-state fMRI.

In this experimental study, fifteen non-specific CLBP participants (46.87±10.89 years) received 20 Hz rTMS over the motor cortex. The pain intensity and brain functional scan were obtained during pre and post-stimulation for all participants. The ALFF maps of the brain in two scan sessions were identified and the percentage of pain reduction (PPR%) was determined using paired t-test. Also, correlation analysis was used to find a relationship between ALFFs and pain intensity.

Pain intensity was significantly reduced after induced-rTMS in non-specific CLBP (36.22%±13.28, P<0.05). Positive correlation was found between ALFF in the insula (INS) and pain intensity (rpre-rTMS=0.59, rpost-rTMS=0.58) while ALFF in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and pain intensity had negatively correlated (rpre-rTMS=-0.54, rpost-rTMS=-0.56) (P<0.05). ALFF increased in mPFC while INS, thalamus (THA), and supplementary motor area (SMA) showed decremental ALFF followed by rTMS. 

This study demonstrated that ALFF in INS, THA, mPFC, and SMA is associated with CLBP symptoms and analgesic effects of rTMS. ALFF potentially seems to be a proper objective neuroimaging parameter to link spontaneous brain activity with pain intensity in non-specific CLBP patients.

 The process of thesis completion inherently involves its own set of challenges and complexities, and understanding students’ perspectives can enhance this process. This study aims to investigate the attitudes of general medical students toward the thesis writing process.

 This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on general medical students at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in the year 2021. A total of 117 students, randomly selected from those actively engaged in thesis work or recently defended their theses, participated in the study. The research tool was a questionnaire consisting of 54 questions, including four demographic questions and 50 questions related to the thesis completion process. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and analytical statistics in the SPSS software.

 The most important criterion for choosing the subject of the dissertation was related to the possibility of collecting information from patients’ files (7.15 out of 10). The most favorable answer in the field of choosing a supervisor was quick and convenient access to the supervisor (93 percent). The most favorable answers regarding the process of completing the thesis and its challenges were related to the fact that I was free to choose a supervisor (93 percent) and the involvement of final year medical students in the bedside and intensive care (91 percent).

 University managers with the identified challenges related to the thesis process can take effective measures to solve these challenges and increase the quality of theses.

Socioeconomic status (SES) is frequently seen as a significant indicator of mental health outcomes. This study aimed to determine the mediating role of subjective social status (SSS) in the association of SES and mental health among the employees of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS).

This cross-sectional research involved the analysis of data collected from 4461 TUMS employees using a two-step structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. The study examined the impact of SES on mental health issues, specifically symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. SES was assessed as a composite index, and then each indicator was evaluated separately. SSS was considered as a potential mediator using the MacArthur scale, which was converted to a five-point Likert scale. The analysis utilized a two-step SEM approach in STATA version 14.0 with maximum likelihood estimation.

The majority of participants in the study were female (60.65%), and the mean (±SD) age of the participants was 42.21±8.72 years. The analysis revealed that the composite SES index had a standardized indirect effect of -0.05 on mental health through SSS. SSS accounted for 27.78% of the association between the composite SES index and mental health among TUMS employees (27.27% in males and 22.23% in females).

The results of the study indicated that a lower SES may impact the development of mental health issues, indicating a relationship between SES and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.

Cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy all include hypertension as a key risk factor. Research has shown that the early detection and treatment of hypertension and its risk factors, as well as public health policies to reduce behavioral risk factors, have led to a gradual reduction in mortality caused by heart disease and stroke in high-income countries in the past three decades. Trends in hypertension incidence have been monitored at the national level in Iran. The aim of this study examine province-level disparities in Hypertension incidence from 2004 to 2016.

Use the Non-Communicable Diseases Risk-Factors Surveillance in the Islamic Republic of Iran STEPs registry data. to estimate the incidence rate of hypertension for all provinces in 2004, 2006-2009, 2011, and 2016 using a Bayesian spatial model with Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm in OpenBUGS version 3.2.3 and R version 4.2.2.

The estimated Hypertension incidence rate in total increased from 19.87 per 1000 people (95% credible interval 14.28, 25.48) in 2004 to 193.02 (171.92, 220.48) in 2016. According to the estimates of 2016, we found that the provinces of Markazi, Ardabil, and Semnan had the highest rate of hypertension, and the provinces of Hormozgan, and Sistan-Baluchistan had the lowest rate. Our findings show that Khorasan, North, Alborz, and Semnan have the most significant percentage change in incidence rate from 2004-2016.

To reduce the prevalence of hypertension in Iranian regions, it is crucial to develop regular hypertension screening programs, especially among the elderly.

Despite all the current diabetes prevention programs, only a limited number of patients are identified and receive care.

This was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study including individuals over 30 years old in Buin Zahra city, Iran selected using the multi-stage sampling method (sample size = 1154). Data were collected using a questionnaire for the general public and the health team, the validity and reliability of which had been determined based on the CVR and CVI indexes and the correlation coefficient, respectively.

The average age of the sample and the prevalence of diabetes were 48.42 ± 14.45 years and 9.9%, respectively. Further analysis of the data showed the following:1. the prevalence of diabetes in at-risk people: women with a history of abortion and large children, 12.8% and 31.7%, respectively; gestational diabetes 36.5%;
2. obesity during pregnancy: 19.7%; a family history of diabetes: 22.4%;
3. waist circumference>90 cm: 14.08%, BMI>25: 13.95%; and
4. triglyceride<200: 22%, hypertension: 32.97%.
Further analysis of the data showed statistically significant associations between diabetes and blood sugar level above 100 mg/dl (OR = 2.73), waist circumference >90 cm (OR = 3.02) and gestational diabetes (OR =12.22); no other significant associations were found.
Only 55% of the health team personnel had received diabetes prevention training.

It can be concluded that patient care and education are not of a proper quality. The considerable prevalence of diabetes among people at risk shows that more follow-up and care are needed for them. The training of health team personnel should be very efficient and the number of trainings related to the diabetes program should increase.

Stress is an overwhelming feeling in patients with breast cancer (BC). However, The effect of virtual education has not been fully regulated. Hence, this study intends to compare the impact of 2 virtual education methods on perceived stress and stress coping in women with BC.  

A 3-armed randomized clinical trial was conducted among 315 women with BC who were referred to the Cancer Institute in Tehran. They were randomly assigned to 3 groups: (a) Family-based, receiving family-based training package; (b) peer-support, receiving peer-support educational package;  and (c) control, receiving routine hospital care. Data were collected through demographic and disease characteristics, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14), and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS-21) questionnaires before and 3 months after the intervention.   

The effect of the group factor after controlling the before-intervention scores in perceived stress, problem-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented strategies were P < 0.0001, P = 0.015, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.111, respectively. Also, the effect of the confounding factor of BC disease stage in the dependent variables was P = 0.527, P = 0.275, P = 0.358, and P = 0.609, respectively. The effect size test showed that before the intervention, the mean scores of perceived stress, problem-oriented, emotion-oriented, and avoidance-oriented strategies were 32.00 ± 7.03, 19.36 ± 4.68, 25.10 ± 5.90, and 17.65 ± 6.64 respectively, but after the intervention showed a decrease in mean scores of perceived stress, emotion-oriented, and avoidance strategies.   

What is vibrant in virtual family-based education is far more effective than peer support when problem-oriented coping increases. Conversely, reducing perceived stress in women with BC receiving enough information and family support should be considered.

We aimed to verify the susceptibility of Leishmania infantum, L. major and L. tropica, to commercial lectins in order to identify the three Leishmania species.

The degree of agglutination was determined both macroscopically and microscopically and was scored negative (-) to positive (from 1+- 4+) based on their percentage of agglutination.

Jacalin and UEA-1 were capable of agglutination of L. infantum isolates in both logarithmic and stationary phases at a concentration of 1000 μg/ml (100%). L. tropica isolates showed agglutination with the lectin UEA-1 in both logarithmic and stationary phases (62.5% and 87.5%). L. major and L. tropica showed 75% agglutination with lectin Jacalin in both logarithmic and stationary phases. L. tropica isolates showed 25% agglutination with the lectin WGA in the logarithmic phase. L. infantum, L. major and L. tropica isolates showed 25, 12.5 and 37.5% agglutination in the stationary phase, however, did not show agglutination in logarithmic phases. L. major isolates showed 12.5% agglutination with the lectin PHA in the stationary phase, however, were incapable of agglutination with the L. tropica and L. infantum in both logarithmic and stationary phases.

Despite the fact, that JCA and I-UEA lectins were not able to completely separate L. infantum, L. major and L. tropica. WGA lectin and PHA lectin can help in separating the species of Leishmania parasites.

Food preferences determine food choices, which are significantly associated with overweight/obesity and health outcomes worldwide. Obesity and overweight is one of the health problems of adolescents in the world. This study aimed at determining the relationship between food preferences, body mass index (BMI), and demographic variables among second-year primary school students of Malekan City, located in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, during 2022 to 2023.

This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 582 male and female primary school students in the second grade in both public and private schools of the three towns of Malekan City (Malekan, Lilan, and Mubarakshahr) with a two-stage random cluster sampling method. A two-part online questionnaire including questions on background information and a researcher-made checklist of food preferences was used to collect data. Content validity ratio (CVR), content validity index (CVI), and Cronbach's alpha were used to check the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, respectively (CVI = 0.98, CVR = 0.91). Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test, t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis test, and chi-square test at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS software.

There was a significant association between food preference and sex (P < 0.001), age (P = 0.027), educational grade (P = 0.027), mother’s education (P = 0.028), mother’s job (P = 0.002), father’s education (P = 0.046), residence (P = 0.001), and family income (P = 0.002). There was a significant relationship between BMI with school type (P = 0.002), father’s education (P = 0.033), and mother’s age (P = 0.013).

The results of this study indicate the relationship between food preferences, BMI, and demographic variables of adolescents. Paying attention to the potential strategies to strengthen healthy eating patterns of adolescents and providing an educational program that can improve children’s eating behavior and reduce the possible burden of diseases related to eating behavior such as obesity on the country's health care system seem necessary.

Meat can be contaminated by Leptospira species. This bacterial pathogen causes severe leptospirosis disease in humans and animals. The major aims of this study were to assess seroepidemiological prevalence of leptospirosis in employees of a slaughterhouse in Guilan Province, Iran, using microscopic agglutination test and further investigate the positive samples using nested polymerase chain reaction method.

In this study, 150 employees of a slaughterhouse in Guilan Province, Iran, were participated after completing written consents and personal questionnaires. This sample size was calculated based on the mean prevalence of the pathogen in the region. After assessing sera of the participants for Leptospira antibody using microscopic agglutination test, urine samples were collected from the positive participant for further assessments using nested polymerase chain reaction.

Based on the results, microscopic agglutination test was positive for 10.7% of the participants. However, Nested-PCR was negative for the positive microscopic agglutination tests on sera collected from the participants with antibodies against Leptospira antigens. The current results demonstrate that Leptospira can occur in asymptomatic humans in slaughterhouses and highlight the high potential of the disease transmission to humans in the province. Therefore, further extended control and prevention measures for slaughterhouse workers are recommended to guarantee the food safety. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant global health challenge. Primary care services, such as screening health centers, were crucial in identifying infected individuals. However, these centers were often crowded and posed a high risk to staff and non-COVID-19 patients. This study aims to assess the risk of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in such settings through simulation.

In this study, waiting and sampling rooms of a COVID-19 healthcare center were simulated using different scenarios. Then, the Quanta emission rate was estimated using the viral load in the sputum of infected individuals. Finally, the airborne transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2 was determined using the Wells-Riley method for scenarios of wearing and without masks.

The study showed that the Quanta emission rate in an unmodulated speaking activity was higher than other expiratory activities in both units (p <0.001). Also, the total amount of Quanta was slightly higher in the sampling room than in the waiting room, which was not statistically significant. On the other hand, the calculation of transmission risk showed that the probability of airborne virus transmission in the sampling room was higher (about 2 to 8%). In addition, wearing masks reduced the possibility of airborne transmission of the virus significantly (77 to 81%).

This study shows that the level of risk in the sampling and waiting rooms is moderate. Masks also significantly reduce the possibility of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Taking appropriate health and safety measures such as avoiding crowds, wearing masks, whispering, and monitoring social distancing can reduce the plausibility of airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 (ZIF-8) were used to investigate the feasibility of producing electrospun PET/ZIF-8 polymer media in removing particles from the air stream to compare with the HEPA filter. To make PET/ZIF-8 media, concentrations of 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 wt.% of ZIF-8 were dissolved in PET20% solutions, and dispersed for 10 min. Then, PET/ZIF-8 media was produced with an ESDP30 model electrospinning device. The efficiency and pressure drop of nanofiber media were measured with a respiratory mask and filter test device. The FTIR, XRD and SEM analysis were carried out to obtain the characteristics of nanofibers. The overall XRD pattern and its peaks were in reasonable agreement with previous findings that confirmed the structure of ZIF-8. The FTIR spectra of the obtained materials confirm that the chemical bond structure corresponds to that reported for ZIF-8. In total, The PET/ZIF-8(1%) media efficiency, pressure drop, the average diameter of nanofibers, and the quality factor were 100%, 320 Pa, 171.18±37.91 nm and 0.0143 Pa-1, respectively, which was better than other electrospun PET/ZIF-8 media and HEPA filters. According to the results, with an increase in the weight percentage of Zif-8 (>5 wt.%) in the structure of PET/Zif-8 media, due to the increase in the viscosity of the solution jet, the diameter of the produced nanofibers increased and the efficiency of the electrospinning medium decreased.

Considering the quality of prenatal care services, indentification of the avoidable and inevitable maternal factors and proper promotion of the knowledge and skills of health care service providers is vital for providing suitable preventive and interventional services with the aim of ensuring a successful pregnancy and proper management in the health care system.  This study was conducted to compare the adverse pregnancy outcomes among women with or without a history of Covid-19 in the pregnancy and postpartum stages covered by the Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.

This was a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study including 4124 women, either pregnant or after a recent childbirth (with or without Covid-19) between 20.2.2020  and  29.3.2022, registered in the Sib electronic system (hereinafter Sib) of Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran. Using a checklist developed and validated by an expert panel data were collected on the prevalence of maternal and neonatal outcomes in mothers with or without a history of Covid-19 and compared. The data collected were analyzed with SPSS 24 using descriptive tests such as chi-square and Fisher's exact test and STATA version 22, and the adverse outcomes with high frequencies following Covid-19 were determined.

Analysis of the data showed the following to be the most common outcomes among mothers with a history of Covid-19: 1. obstetric complications and maternal disorders/diseases (hypertension, type-2 diabetes mellitus, at least one case of bleeding during pregnancy, premature/delayed birth and premature rupture of the amniotic sac, n= 457, 27.8%); 2. medical and surgical problems (unhealthy pregnancy weight gain and thromboembolic events, n=206, 12.5%). In addition, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups of pregnant mothers with and without a Covid-19 infection as regards medical and surgical problems (P=0.001) and obstetric complications and maternal diseases (p=0.002). As regards the adverse neonatal outcomes in pregnant mothers with and without a history of Covid-19, there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of Apgar score at minutes 1 and 5 (p≥0.001) and exclusive breastfeeding (P=0.001) and the presence of Covid-19 symptoms in the baby (p<0.001).

Based on the findings of this study it seems that Covid-19 infection during pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of some of the undesirable maternal and neonatal outcomes.  Therefore, it is essential to plan and implement programs for health education, creation of a sound attitude towards better management, enhancement of the skills and capabilities of the health-care providers and, finally, promotion of the knowledge of service recipients.

Presenteeism and productivity are two crucial aspects within the realm of human resources. Presenteeism poses a significant challenge as it refers to employees being present at the workplace despite being unwell. In the context of nursing services, the productivity objective encompasses attaining a level of nursing care that is both suitable and cost-effective. Due to the importance of presenteeism and productivity, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between physical presenteeism and productivity of nurses in intensive care units of hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

Methods & Materials: 

The present study is a descriptive-analytical study that was conducted in 2020-2021. The sample included 305 nurses working in intensive care units within hospitals affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The participants were selected using a stratified simple random sampling technique. The data collection was conducted using a demographic questionnaire, the Stanford presenteeism Scale 6-item questionnaire and the Productivity Assessment Questionnaire. Data were analyzed through SPSS software version 16 using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient, Spearman correlation coefficient, t-tests, ANOVA and regression analysis).

The levels of presenteeism and productivity among nurses were found to be average based on the mean scores of 19.15±4.7 and 47.4±10.19, respectively. Furthermore, there was a significant inverse correlation between productivity and presenteeism (r=-0.345). Regarding the demographic variables, only age, working experience in intensive care units, hospital and current department showed a significant inverse relationship with nurses' productivity (P<0.001). The inclusion of these demographic variables and the two main research variables in the regression analysis produced a significant impact on this relationship.

The results of this study showed that nurses' presenteeism diminishes their productivity, which imposes considerable indirect costs on the organization. Given the high prevalence of presenteeism among nurses and its detrimental consequences, it is recommended to undertake various measures aimed at mitigating this issue. These measures can encompass adjusting organizational and managerial policies, revising administrative rules and regulations to permit sick leave during illnesses, and creating conditions conducive to employees taking time off when unwell.

HTLV-1 is responsible for two important diseases, HAM/TSP and ATLL. Approximately 10 to 20 million people are infected with HTLV-1 worldwide. Identifying altered genes in different cancers is crucial for finding potential treatment strategies. One of the proteins of the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway is MEK1, which is made from the MAP2K1 gene. The effects of the MAP2K1 gene on the MAPK signaling pathway are not yet fully elucidated. The current study aims to determine the MAP2K1 gene mutations and the level of MAP2K1 gene expression in ATLL patients compared to healthy individuals.

Ten ATLL and 10 healthy control individuals were investigated in this study. We used ELISA test to screen anti-HTLV-I antibodies and PCR for confirmation of infection. Then, we extracted total RNA from fresh whole blood, and cDNA was synthesized. The expression levels of the MAP2K1 gene were examined by qRT-PCR, and to check possible mutations in the MAP2K1 gene; all samples were sequenced and analyzed by BioEdite Software.

MAP2K1 gene expression in the ATLL group was significantly higher than in the healthy control (P=0.001). The mutational sequencing analysis showed nucleotide 212 (S→R) change and identification mutations at different nucleotides that were entirely different from the nucleotide mutations defined in the UniProt database.

These results could be a perspective in the prevention, prognosis, and targeted treatment of diseases in which the MAP2K1 gene plays a vital role.

Leishmaniasis is currently considered a re-emerging or emerging infection based on the geographic region. The outcome of leishmaniasis vastly depends on Leishmaniahost interaction. This preliminary study aimed to show the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II genes with healed and non-healed cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), and symptomatic and asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) compared with control groups in Iran.

Ninety-five people, including 31 patients versus 64 individuals in the control group, were enrolled. Among them, 20 patients had confirmed CL based on amastigote observation, 10 had improved CL and 10 non-healed CL. Eleven patients were suffering from confirmed VL based on direct agglutination test (Five asymptomatic and six symptomatic VL cases). Besides, they were residents in an endemic area of VL in the northwest of Iran. To select a control group, it was ensured that they had no history of leishmaniasis. Peripheral blood samples were collected from each patient. After DNA extraction, HLA typing was conducted using polymerase chain reaction - sequence-specific priming (PCR-SSP). Subsequently, data were statistically analyzed by SPSS.

There was a statistical relationship between the presence of HLA-A26 and CL, healed CL and the existence of the B38 allele, C1 allele and symptomatic VL, as well as B1.4 allele and asymptomatic VL (P˂0.05).

This primary finding indicates that several HLA genes have a potential role in the susceptibility of Iranian people to CL and VL.

The purpose of this study is to determine the viability of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in a sample of diarrhea. The investigation focuses specifically on the lt gene and utilizes propidium monoazide (PMA) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to differentiate between live and dead bacteria.

Propidium monoazide is a chemical that can bind to and inhibit the amplification of free DNA during qPCR analysis. In this study, in addition to analyzing diarrhea samples, artificially spiked samples were used to assess the sensitivity and accuracy of the PMA treatment. The qPCR results were compared to the gold standard of culture-based methods both with and without PMA treatment.

The method’s limit of detection was 8 CFU/mL, and it exhibited linearity from a 10-1 to a 10-9 dilution. The qPCR approach revealed a higher bacterial count than the culture method due to the detection of DNA released from dead bacteria. However, when PMA was employed, the bacterial count was similar to that obtained using colony count agar, which is attributed to the elimination of free DNA during investigation.

The present study developed a PMA-based qPCR approach that enables the detection of live bacterial DNA. This method involves PMA and real-time PCR and offers several advantages, including faster detection times (a few hours vs. several days with the traditional culture method) and the ability to exclusively detect live bacteria without interference from free DNA released by dead bacteria. Additionally, the use of real-time PCR enables precise quantification of the live bacterial load. Overall, this approach is cost-effective, rapid, highly sensitive, and specific, making it a valuable tool for various applications.

Breast cancer, with an approximate prevalence of 25.1%, is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer death in women. The presence of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), HER2, Ki67, and disease stage are the most important factors determining a patient’s treatment plan. The majority of treatment decisions are currently determined primarily based on the state of the primary tumor receptors and the patient’s functional status (according to Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) criteria). However, changes in the status of hormone receptors at the site of metastasis have been observed with a high frequency in metastatic breast cancer; this study aimed to investigate the rate of receptor conversion and its impact on survival outcomes.

The records of patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer who had been treated between 2013 and 2018 at the Cancer Institute, Imam Khomeini Hospital, were retrieved. Demographic and clinical information of patients and the prevalence of receptors in primary and metastatic masses were collected and analyzed using appropriate statistical tests.

Of the 150 women with breast cancer, 31 (20.66%) had changes in ER, with 13 (41.93%) patients having a positive alteration and 18 (58.7%)having a negative change in metastatic compared with primary tumors. In 41 patients (27.33%)  PR conversion had occurred, with gain of expression in 19 patients (46.34%) and loss of expression in 22 patients (53.66%). Finally, discordance in HER2 expression was observed in 23 cases (15.33%), of whom 12 (52.17%) showed positive conversion, while 11 patients (47.83%) had a negative conversion. The conversion of hormone receptors was mostly negative, whereas the change in HER2 was mostly positive. Receptor discordance was significantly higher in patients who had lymphovascular invasion compared with those who did not have lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.023). No significant relationship was observed between receptor conversion and the stage of the disease or the age of the patients.

 To determine which patients would benefit most from a biopsy of the metastatic tumor, more studies on receptor discordance between primary and metastatic breast cancer, and predictive factors, particularly lymphovascular invasion, are required. It is suggested, up until further research, that patients with lymphovascular invasion are good candidates for re-evaluation of hormone receptor status in metastatic lesions.

In recent years, the manufacture of air purification media, especially nanofiber filters using polymeric materials and the electrospinning method, has received much attention in air pollution control. The production of high-performance media and low-pressure drops is an important issue in air filtration. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of fabricating electrospinning polyethylene terephthalate (PET) media to abduct submicron and micron particles from the air stream.

To determine the optimal device conditions in the manufacture of PET media, different weight percentages of a PET polymer solution in a mixture of trifluoroacetic acid and dichloromethane solvents (70:30) were first prepared in a pilot study, and various parameters of the electrospinning device were examined and analyzed along with performing the electrospinning process. The surface and morphological characteristics of the media were evaluated using SEM. The pressure drop and efficiency of particle trapping were assessed using a mask and media pressure by a pressure drop test device.

The optimal electrospinning conditions of the PET polymer solution were obtained at a concentration of 20%. The average diameter of nanofibers PET was 163 ± 600 nm with a pressure drop of 26.33 ± 5.5 pa, and average efficiencies of 97.42 ± 1.67% and 99.85 ± 0.21 were obtained for submicron and micron particles, respectively, with a quality factor (QF) value of 0.1740.

The produced media can abduct and remove particles from the air stream for submicron and micron particles in ranges of 96-99% and 99-100%, respectively, with an average pressure drop of 26.33±5.5 pa.

Human rhinoviruses (HRVs) and human adenoviruses (HAdVs) are among the most prevalent viruses in hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI). This study aimed to evaluate the molecular characterization of HRV and HAdV in hospitalized patients with SARI, who aged ≤ 18 years in Tehran, Iran.

To detect these two viruses, a conventional nested RT-PCR (Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) assay was performed on 264 throat swabs collected from December 2018 to March 2019. The epidemiological data were analyzed and phylogenetic trees were constructed.

Of 264 cases with SARI, 36 (13.6%) and 28 (10.6%) were positive for HAdV and HRV respectively. Of 21 HRV sequenced samples, HRV-A (42.9%), HRV-B (9.5%) and HRV-C (47.6%) and of 36 HAdV sequenced samples, HAdV-C6 (38.9%), HAdV-B7 (22.2%), HAdV-B3 (11.1%), HAdV-B16 (5.6%), HAdV-C5 (13.9%), HAdV-C57 (5.6%), HAdV-E4 (2.8%); were detected in children with SARI. Some viral genotypes appeared to cause more severe disease, which may lead to hospitalization.

Large-scale studies are recommended to investigate the epidemiology and molecular characterizations through surveillance networks to provide useful information on etiology, seasonality, and demographic associations in patients with SARI.

Food preferences and health literacy ─ key determinants of food choices in childhood and adolescence ─ are determinants of chronic diseases in adulthood. This study aimed to determine associations between food preferences, health literacy and body mass index (BMI) among elementary school students in Malekan city, west Azarbayejan Province, Iran in 2021-2022.

 This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study included 582 male and female primary-schoolers in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades in both the public and private  schools in Malekan County (Malekan, Lilan, and Mubarakshahr) selected by the two-stage randomized cluster method. A questionnaire including background questions and questions about health literacy and a researcher-made checklist of food preferences was used to collect data online using the Pros-Online Platform. The content validity ratio and index were used to determine validity and Cronbach's alpha index to check for the reliability of the questionnaire (CVI=0.98, CVR=0.91, Cronbach's alpha > 0.7). Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney, t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square tests at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS 26.

The average health literacy score of all the students was rather low (52.9±00.33), that of the female students (55.7±36.49) being slightly higher than that of the boys (49. 9±29.79). Further analysis of the data showed that there was a statistically significant relationship between the students' food preferences and health literacy variables (p<0.001). Furthermore, statistically significant relationships were observed between the students' BMI and their food preferences (p˂0.001) and health literacy (p˂0.001).

Considering the low level of health literacy of the adolescents and a positive relationship between health literacy, food preferences and BMI in adolescents, it can be concluded that increasing their health literacy will improve their healthy food choices. Therefore, it seems that interventions based on a theoretical framework aiming at increasing the students’ health literacy and improving their food preferences can be beneficial to them as a potential strategy for improving their healthy eating patterns resulting in preventing overweight and obesity.

 Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) without any specific antiviral.

 This study aimed to evaluate the expression level of inflammatory chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines in ATLL patients, asymptomatic carriers (ACs), and healthy individuals to assess the role of these inflammatory markers in ATLL pathogenicity.

 This study was conducted from May 2021 to August 2022. The ATLL blood samples were collected from the oncology wards of Imam Khomeini, Shariati, and Imam Hossein hospitals, in Tehran, Iran. The blood samples of ACs and normal control subjects were collected from blood donors referred to blood transfusion centers of Tehran and Alborz provinces, Iran. RNA extraction, complementary DNA (cDNA) synthesis, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were done in targeted sample groups to investigate the correlation and expression rate of C-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3), C-C motif chemokine ligand 4 (CCL4), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), interleukin 23 subunit alpha (IL-23A), and interleukin 17 A (IL-17A).

 A total of 30 samples were collected from 3 groups. The CCL3, CCL4, CXCL8, and IL-17A messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels were significantly upregulated in the ATLL groups. There was a significant difference between CCL3 expression between the ACs and ATLL groups. In addition, CCL4 and CXCL8 expression levels were more significant in the ATLL group than in the normal control group. The IL-17A expression level significantly increased between groups. The IL-23A expression levels had no significant differences between the ATLL, ACs, and normal control groups.

 This study showed significant upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines mRNAs in HTLV-1–associated ATLL compared to the ACs and normal control groups. Conducting more experiments to investigate the therapeutic effect of chemokines/cytokines in ATLL is essential.