Advancing mental health in the Middle East: A Paradigm Shift.

Mental health is a vital part of the bigger well-being picture in the Middle East, which faces specific challenges. In history, mental health has had a bad reputation and low access to services but this is changing as stakeholders are now promoting mental wellbeing. This literature review examines new ways to advance mental health in the Middle East. It explores cultural context, educates on mental health issues, integrates primary care and mental health services, uses technology for communication purposes, builds community support, and advocates for policy reform towards improved mental healthcare outcomes. A comprehensive review across all academic databases was published between 2018 and 2023 using search terms "mental health" and "Middle East". The study highlights the importance of understanding cultural and social factors that contribute to people's comprehension of their minds. Additionally, it suggests methods of raising awareness against stigma like digital platforms and community-based education among others. It also points out two measures: first, it indicates that integrating MHI into Primary Health Care (PHC) Systems increases accessibility; secondly, it proposes that a technology-supported personalized approach can be used to support individuals when needed. On this note, the paper underscores the necessity of utilizing local players within communities at large. The review puts a lot of stress on the significance of approaches that are community-based and involve all people living within an area. This review is very timely and comprehensive in its framework meant to improve mental health in the Middle East. The results could be useful in providing insights for devising appropriate culturally sensitive interventions aimed at promoting mental health in this region. In highlighting particular difficulties as well as possibilities, however, the review guides policy makers, healthcare practitioners, and societies aiming to improve their collective response to mental health problems.

Effect of aqueous Nigella sativa extract on the functional parameters of post-thaw human spermatozoa during vitrification.

OBJECTIVE: Sperm vitrification leads to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can damage the functional parameters of sperm. The present study aimed to investigate the antioxidant effect of Nigella sativa extract on motility, plasma membrane function, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA damage, and intracellular ROS production. METHODS: A total of 20 sperm samples were used. Samples were divided into six experimental groups, including groups with aqueous extract from N. sativa seeds at concentrations of 1% to 6%, a cryopreserved control group, and a fresh control group. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed significantly higher total sperm motility at concentrations of 3% to 6% than in the vitrified semen control group. Additionally, progressive motility and all motion characteristics at all concentrations were significantly higher than in the vitrified semen control group. The presence of N. sativa seed extract also improved the quality of the sperm parameters assayed in all experimental groups (1%-6%; intracellular ROS production, DNA damage, MMP, and sperm membrane function) compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Higher concentrations of N. sativa led to improvements in all sperm parameters and sperm quality. These findings indicate that N. sativa seed extract is effective for improving the quality of sperm after vitrification.

Moderately hyperglycemia as an independent prognostic factor for the worse outcome of COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Blood sugar (BS) has been proposed as a prognostic factor for COVID-19. In this historical cohort study we evaluated the association between admission time BS and COVID-19 outcome. METHODS: First, hospitalized COVID-19 patients were divided into three groups; Non-diabetic patients with BS < 140 mg/dl (N = 394), non-diabetic patients with BS ≥ 140 mg/dl (N = 113) and diabetic patients (N = 315). Mortality, ICU admission, and length of hospital stay were compared between groups and odds ratio was adjusted using logistic regression. RESULTS: After adjustment with pre-existing conditions and drugs, it was shown that non-diabetic patients with BS ≥ 140 mg/dl are at increased risk of mortality (aOR 1.89 (0.99-3.57)) and ICU admission (aOR 2.62 (1.49-4.59)) even more than diabetic patients (aOR 1.72 (1.07-2.78) for mortality and aOR 2.28 (1.47-3.54) for ICU admission. CONCLUSIONS: Admission time hyperglycemia predicts worse outcome of COVID-19 and BS ≥ 140 mg/dl is associated with a markedly increase in ICU admission and mortality.

The antioxidant roles of L-carnitine and N-acetyl cysteine against oxidative stress on human sperm functional parameters during vitrification.

OBJECTIVE: Amino acids can protect sperm structure in cryopreservation due to their antioxidant properties. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of L-carnitine (LC) and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on motility parameters, plasma membrane integrity (PMI), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), DNA damage, and human sperm intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) during vitrification. METHODS: Twenty normal human sperm samples were examined. Each sample was divided into six equal groups: LC (1 and 10 mM), NAC (5 and 10 mM), and cryopreserved and fresh control groups. RESULTS: The groups treated with LC and NAC showed favorable findings in terms of motility parameters, DNA damage, and MMP. Significantly higher levels of intracellular ROS were observed in all cryopreserved groups than in the fresh group (p≤0.05). The presence of LC and NAC at both concentrations caused an increase in PMI, MMP, and progressive motility parameters, as well as a significant reduction in intracellular ROS compared to the control group (p≤0.05). The concentrations of the amino acids did not show any significant effect. CONCLUSION: LC and NAC are promising as potential additives in sperm cryopreservation.

Can laboratory tests at the time of admission guide us to the prognosis of patients with COVID-19?

INTRODUCTION: To enhance the COVID-19 patients' care and to optimize utilizing medical resources during the pandemic, relevant biomarkers are needed for prediction of the disease's progression. The current study was aimed to determine the factors that affect the mortality of COVID-19 patients admitted in Baharloo hospital in Iran. METHODS: in the current retrospective study, 56 survived patients and 56 patients who were died (a total of 112 cases) because of COVID-19 infection were randomly selected from those who were admitted to Baharloo hospital. Each patient who was diagnosed with COVID-19 and had recovered from it matched with each non-survived patient in the term of age. Laboratory tests of all these patients at the time of admission were recorded and compared. All analyses performed using spss version 22 by considering α = 0.05 as a significant level. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the age and gender distribution between the two groups (p > 0.05). The prevalence of diabetes among survived patients was 37.5% and among non-survived patients was 26.8% and there was no statistical difference between two groups regarding this comorbidity (p = 0.22). Also, there was no statistical difference in the prevalence of hypertension and coronary heart diseases between two groups (p > 0.05). Lymphocyte percentage, blood oxygen level, and platelet (PLT) count was significantly higher in patients who had recovered (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: LDH level, Lymphocyte percentage, PLT count, and blood Oxygen saturation have associations with severe forms of COVID-19 infection and can be used as predictors to assess the patients who are suspected of infection with COVID-19 at the time of admission.

The combined effects of three-dimensional cell culture and natural tissue extract on neural differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma stem cells.

Tissue engineering, as a novel transplantation therapy, aims to create biomaterial scaffolds resembling the extracellular matrix in order to regenerate the damaged tissues. Adding bioactive factors to the scaffold would improve cell-tissue interactions. In this study, the effect of chitosan polyvinyl alcohol nanofibres containing carbon nanotube scaffold with or without active bioglass (BG+ /BG- ), in combination with neonatal rat brain extract on cell viability, proliferation, and neural differentiation of P19 embryonic carcinoma stem cells was investigated. To induce differentiation, the cells were cultured in α-MEM supplemented with neonatal rat brain extract on the scaffolds. The expression of undifferentiated stem cell markers as well as neuroepithelial and neural-specific markers was evaluated and confirmed by real-time Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence procedures. Finally, the three-dimensional (3D) cultured cells were implanted into the damaged neural tubes of chick embryos, and their fates were followed in ovo. Based on the histological and immunofluorescence observations, the transplanted cells were able to survive, migrate, and penetrate into the host embryonic tissues. Gene network analysis suggested the possible involvement of neurotransmitters as a downstream target of synaptophysin and tyrosine hydroxylase. Overall, the results of this study indicated that combining the effects of 3D cell culture and natural brain tissue extract can accelerate the differentiation of P19 embryonic carcinoma cells into neuronal phenotype cells.

Dietary saffron reduced the blood pressure and prevented remodeling of the aorta in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nutritional saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stigma hydroalcoholic extract on blood pressure (BP) and histology of the aorta in normotensive and hypertensive rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Saffron (200 mg/kg/day) was given orally for 5 weeks to normotensive and hypertensive rats. Hypertension was induced by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 40 mg/kg/day) administration in drinking water, and BP was measured weekly. Histological examination of the thoracic aorta included staining with hematoxylin and eosin, orcein, and periodic acid Schiff methods. RESULTS: Saffron had no effect on normotensive rats, but on hypertensive rats, prevented BP elevation form the third week of treatment (P<0.001). Furthermore, saffron reduced the cross-section area, media thickness, and elastic lamellae number of the aorta (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Nutritional saffron prevented BP increases and remodeling of the aorta in hypertensive rats. It may be useful for preventing hypertension.