Comparison of serum levels of interleukin 33 in combination with serum levels of C-reactive protein, Immunoglobulin G, Immunoglobulin A, and Immunoglobulin M in recurrent pregnancy loss: A case-control study.

Background: One of the critical cases of recurrent pregnancy loss is immunological factors, whereas obtaining effective prevention or treatment is necessary for cognition of reasons. Objective: In this study, we tried to evaluate some immunological factors related to recurrent pregnancy loss. Materials and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 66 women at the age of 18-35 yr who were referred to the Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ali Ibn Abi Taleb hospital, Zahedan, Iran, from August-December 2019. Interleukin 33 (IL-33) serum levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunoglobulin G, Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin M (IgM), and C-reactive protein levels were measured by serology and hematology methods. Results: The mean age of total participants was 30.8 ± 3.80 yr. The mean serum IL-33 in the case group was 318.5 ± 254.1 pg/ml and was lower than the control group (354.2 ± 259.9 pg/ml), which was not statistically significant (p = 0.52). The level of C-reactive protein in the case and control was not significantly different (p = 0.27), and Immunoglobulin A and Immunoglobulin G in the case and control were also not significantly different (p = 0.46, and p = 0.16, respectively), but there were significant differences (p = 0.003) between the level of the IgM in the case and control groups. Conclusion: No statistically significant difference was observed in the IL-33 serum level, for at least 4-6 months after the last abortion in the case group and the final live birth in the control group. In contrast, serum levels of IgM were statistically significant. Finally, the need for more studies is felt according to the different results of the previous studies in this field.

Patients' perceptions, experiences, and satisfaction with e-prescribing system: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) systems have the potential to increase the quality of care and reduce costs. Officially, since 22 December 2021, e-prescribing has been mandated in Iran. This study aimed to investigate the patients' perceptions about the e-prescribing system. METHODS: A descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023. The study sample comprised 394 patients who were referred to the pharmacies of five teaching hospitals. The sample size was estimated using Cochran's formula. Data collection was performed using a researcher-made questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage) and analytic (Pearson and Spearman correlation, One-way ANOVA, and two-sample t-test) statistics. RESULTS: About 85 % of the patients were aware of the e-prescribing system, and 70 % of them preferred the e-prescribing. Almost 57 % of the patients believed that e-prescribing did not impact their medication adherence. The mean score of patients' satisfaction with e-prescribing, patients' attitude toward e-prescribing, and the impact of e-prescribing on patient care was 3.91 ± 0.046, 3.45 ± 0.028, and 3.10 ± 0.050 out of 5, respectively. There was a significant fair correlation between the impact of e-prescribing on patient care and patients' attitude towards e-prescribing. Additionally, there was a significant but poor correlation between patient satisfaction with the impact of e-prescribing on patient care and patients' attitude toward e-prescribing (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The majority of the patients demonstrated awareness of the e-prescribing system and expressed a preference for electronic prescribing. Patients reported overall positive satisfaction, as well as relatively positive perceptions and experiences with the evaluated e-prescribing system. From the patients' perspective, receiving the e-prescribing tracking code through SMS was the most popular method for tracking their prescriptions. A greater focus on patient engagement and considering their requirements and needs in the system are crucial to improve the delivery of patient-centered care.

The effect of endometrial scratching on reproductive outcomes in infertile women undergoing IVF treatment cycles.

This study was a Randomised Controlled Trial aiming to evaluate the effect of Endometrial Scratching (ES) on fertility rate. Participants were primary infertile women undergoing IVF treatment. ES for the intervention group was done using endometrial aspiration in the luteal phase of the cycle before embryo transfer. In both groups, 2-3 8-celled embryos were transferred after endometrial preparation by Oestrogen and Progesterone. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of age, BMI and endometrial thickness (ET). No significant differences were found between intervention and control groups in chemical pregnancy rate (p = 0.410), clinical pregnancy (p = 0.822), the number of abortions (p = 0.282) and the implantation rate (p = 0.777). Local ES had no significant effects in improving the IVF success rate and reducing the embryo abortion rate.Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Endometrial scratching (ES) is a local injury to the endometrium that was assumed to affect implantation in IVF and IUI cycles positively. However, various studies have shown conflicting results on this matter.What do the results of this study add? Local ES had no significant effects on improving the IVF success rate and reducing the embryo abortion rate in patients with the first IVF cycle.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Larger clinical trials can measure the usefulness of ES with higher powers. However, this study, along with other clinical trials, can help evaluate the ES effect in future meta-analyses.

Blood serum levels of selected biomarkers of oxidative stress among printing workers occupationally exposed to low-levels of toluene and xylene.

Printing workers (PWs) are exposed to a mixture of solvents, yet the health risks associated with such exposuer are unknown. This study aimed to compare the serum levels of selected biomarkers of oxidative stress among occupationally exposed PWs to low-level of toluene and xylenes and unexposed controls. Associations between levels of such biomarkers and occupational exposures to toluene and xylene were also investigated. Urinary levels of hippuric acid (HA) and methyl hippuric acids (MHAs) as exposure biomarkers of toluene and xylenes, respectively, and serum levels of oxidative stress biomarkers, including total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), were measured among the 84 subjects, comprising 44 PWs and 40 unexposed subjects. Mean concentrations of urinary HA and MHAs of PWs showed a significant increase compared with the unexposed controls. Although levels of urinary biomarkers of exposure to toluene (HA) and xylenes (MHAs) were well below the biological exposure indices (BEIs; ACGHI), PWs presented significantly increased serum levels of MDA, and significantly decreased serum activities of SOD and GPx compared to the unexposed controls. However, for serum TAC and CAT activity, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. Correlation analyses indicated that urinary levels of HA and MHAs were positively correlated with MDA levels and negatively correlated with GPx and SOD. Our study suggested that the alterations evidenced in serum levels of MDA, SOD, and GPx could be involved in the oxidative stress caused by co-exposure to low levels of toluene and xylene. Further investigation is needed to clarify the effect of low-level occupational exposure to solvents among PWs.

Effect of Black and Green Tea on Salivary pH: a Double Blinded Cross-Over Study / Efeito do Chá Preto e Verde no pH Salivar: um Estudo Duplo Cego Cross-Ove

Introdução: Alguns produtos à base de plantas podem afetar o pH salivar e a prevenção da cárie dentária. O consumo de chá tem efeitos inibidores sobre algumas bactérias orais. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito dos chás verde e preto sobre o pH salivar. Material e Métodos: neste estudo duplo-cego cruzado, amostras salivares de 50 estudantes saudáveis do sexo masculino da Faculdade de Odontologia de Zahedan, com idades entre 20-22 anos, foram coletadas para avaliação do pH salivar. Todos os voluntários foram solicitados a consumir chá preto comercial no primeiro dia e, em seguida, amostras de saliva foram coletadas antes de beber o chá, imediatamente após beber o chá, 5 e 10 minutos após o consumo do chá. Alternando com o consumo do chá verde, no segundo dia, as amostras de saliva foram coletadas novamente. Em seguida, o pH salivar foi estimado com um medidor de pH digital. Os dados foram analisados por meio de teste t independente e teste t de amostras pareadas. Resultados: O pH salivar médio antes e após o consumo de chá verde foi de 7,15 ± 0,05 e 7,56 ± 0,09, respectivamente, o que apresentou uma diferença notável (p <0,001). Foi de 7,14 ± 0,05 e 7,51 ± 0,10, respectivamente, para o chá preto, com diferença significativa (p <0,0001). O pH salivar médio após o consumo de chá verde foi significativamente maior do que o chá preto (p = 0,006). Conclusão: A ingestão de chá verde e preto levou a um aumento significativo no pH salivar, que foi maior após o consumo de chá verde em comparação com o chá preto. Este estudo sugere os efeitos benéficos de beber chá em fornecer um ambiente alcalino na cavidade oral (AU)

Background: Some herbal products could affect on salivary pH and prevention of dental caries. Tea consumption has inhibition effects on some oral bacteria. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of green and black tea on salivary pH. Material and Methods: In this double blinded cross-over trial, salivary samples of 50 healthy male students of Zahedan Faculty of Dentistry, aged 20-22 years old were collected for evaluation of salivary pH. All volunteers were asked to consume commercially black tea on the first day and then saliva samples were collected before drinking tea and immediately after drinking tea and 5 and 10 minutes after tea consumption. With replacing consumption of green tea, at the second day, saliva samples were collected again. Then the salivary pH was estimated with a digital pH-meter. Data were analyzed through independent t-test and paired samples t-test. Results: Mean salivary pH before and after green tea consumption were 7.15±0.05 and 7.56±0.09, respectively, which showed a remarkable difference (p<0.001). It was 7.14±0.05 and 7.51 ± 0.10, respectively, for black tea, with significant difference (p<0.001). Mean salivary pH after green tea consumption was significantly higher than black tea (p= 0.006). Conclusion:Both green and black tea intake led to a significant rise in salivary pH, which was higher after green tea consumption compared to black tea. This study suggests the beneficial effects of drinking tea in providing an alkaline environment in oral cavity (AU)

The biochemical effects of occupational exposure to lead and cadmium on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes activity in the blood of glazers in tile industry.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of occupational exposure to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) on markers of oxidative stress in glazers in tile industries. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were determined in the blood of 80 subjects, including 40 glazers and 40 nonexposed subjects. Mean levels of blood Cd (8.90 ± 2.80 µg/L) and blood Pb (62.90 ± 38.10 µg/L) of glazers showed a significant increase compared with the control group. In the serum of glazers, the level of MDA was significantly higher and the level of TAC was significantly lower than the control group. We have noted a disturbance in the levels of antioxidants by a significant increase in the CAT activity and a significant decrease in the activities of SOD and GPx in the serum of glazers compared with the controls. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the serum MDA level and CAT activity were positively associated with the blood levels of Pb and Cd. Also, GPx and SOD were negatively correlated with blood Cd levels. The study clearly indicated that co-exposure to Cd and Pb can induce oxidative stress in glazers, resulting in increased lipid peroxidation and altered antioxidant enzymes.

The risk of hearing loss associated with occupational exposure to organic solvents mixture with and without concurrent noise exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study is a meta-analysis of the previous epidemiological studies which investigated the quantitative estimates of the association between independent or combined exposure to noise and mixed organic solvents and hearing loss until October 2014. Overall, 15 studies with information on 7530 individuals (6% female) were included. Having assessed - by puretone audiometry - the adjusted odds ratio estimates for the association between solvents mixture exposure and the risk of developing hearing loss stood at 2.05 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.44-2.9). Similarly, for subjects who were concurrently exposed to noise and solvents mixture, an OR of 2.95 (95% CI: 2.1-4.17) was obtained. There was some evidence of heterogeneity within each of the 2 exposure groups (p heterogeneity < 0.001). This heterogeneity was not explained by differences in strength of effect between duration of exposure, the number of solvent and exposure index in subgroups of solvents mixture exposure. Based on the available data, our analysis has provided the evidence of increased risk of developing hearing loss for workers exposed to organic solvents even at quite low concentration. Moreover, if such exposure is accompanied by noise, it will exacerbate the extent of hearing loss. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(4):521-535.

Intravitreal autologous plasmin prepared by urokinase for vitreolysis: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of intravitreal autologous plasmin injection (IVAP) on vitreoretinal diseases and vitreolysis. METHODS: In this interventional, prospective, case series pilot study, 8 eyes were assigned to IVAP. Plasminogen as centrifuged from the patients' plasma was converted to plasmin by adding urokinase. A total of 0.2 mL extracted plasmin was injected intravitreally. Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) and potential injection-related complications at week 4 were the primary outcome measures. Secondary outcomes included changes in best-corrected visual acuity (VA) (logMAR) and central macular thickness (CMT). RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 54.35 years. Two patients had complete PVD and 3 patients had partial PVD. Four patients had decrease in CMT. The VA was not changed in 6 patients, improved in 1 patient, and decreased in 1 patient. No uveitis, endophthalmitis, or postinjection vitreous hemorrhage was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrated the efficacy of urokinase-prepared IVAP injection on releasing vitreomacular traction and inducing vitreolysis.