High Anti-Müllerian Hormone Strongly Correlates with Reproductive Outcomes in Women Undergoing Assisted Reproduction.

BACKGROUND: In a retrospective cohort of 881 women with gynecologic and unexplained infertility, we aimed to study the relationship between serum AMH levels and ART outcomes. This retrospective cohort includes 881 infertile women aged 20 - 45 who underwent their first fresh autologous non-preimplantation genetic diagnosis ART cycles between 2012 and 2020. METHODS: We assessed the correlation between AMH levels and reproductive outcomes among infertile women with different causes of infertility (including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and unexplained infertility). RESULTS: We found a strong correlation between high AMH levels and reproductive outcomes independent of age and the cause of infertility in women undergoing ART. In all patients with gynecologic and unexplained infertility, higher AMH correlated with the improved number of oocytes (p < 0.001), MII oocytes (p < 0.001), good-quality embryos (p < 0.001), chemical pregnancy rate (p < 0.001 in women < 37; and p = 0.002 in women over 37), clinical pregnancy rate (p < 0.05), and live birth rate (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Serum AMH concentrations can be invaluable for predicting ovarian reserve and reproductive outcomes in young and advanced-age infertile patients undergoing ART. However, it should not be used as the sole predictive marker for disqualifying infertile women from ART treatment. Further large cohort studies are warranted to determine an exact cutoff point for AMH to provide an accurate ART success prediction.

The effect of nutrition education for cancer prevention based on health belief model on nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practice of Iranian women.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, nutrition has received an increasingly important role in the etiology of cancer. Thus, public education about dietary factors associated with cancer risk or prevention could be an important intervention for cancer prevention, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the burden of cancer is increasing rapidly and the access to care is limited. The age-standardized incidence of breast cancer was 35.8 among Iranian women in 2020. We aimed to study the effect of nutrition education on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of Iranian women towards dietary factors related to cancer. METHODS: In this interventional study, 229 women from public health centers were recruited and underwent three 75-min sessions of education based on the Health Belief Model (HBM). Participants were interviewed by trained interviewers using a validated and reproducible nutrition-related cancer prevention knowledge, attitude, and practice questionnaire (NUTCANKAP) questionnaire designed based on the HBM. Nutritional knowledge, attitude, and practice of participants were assessed through this questionnaire. Three 24-h dietary recalls (one weekend and two nonconsecutive weekdays) were also collected before and one month after the intervention. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 45.14 years, and the mean BMI was 27.2 kg/m2. After the intervention, the participants had a higher intake of whole grain (p = 0.03) and a lower fat dairy (p = 0.009) and nuts (p = 0.04). However, the intake of high-fat dairy (p = 0.001) decreased after the intervention. We indicated significant differences in knowledge (p < 0.001) and nutritional practice scores (p = 0.01) after education. In addition, after the intervention, there were significant differences in the mean score of the HBM components, except for the perceived self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: Participation in a nutrition education program positively impacted the knowledge and nutritional practices linked to cancer prevention.

Overexpression of the Long Non-Coding RNA NeSt and FOXCUT in Early Stages of Prostate Cancer Samples as Promising Biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in males worldwide. Recently, it is well characterized that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) play critical roles in the initiation, development, and progression of prostate cancer. NeST, an intergenic lncRNA, was found to be a positive regulator of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IFN-É£, which is responsible for both antitumor immunity properties as well as tumor evasion. FOXCUT, an-other lncRNA, is mainly a regulator of transcription factor, FOXC1 that is believed to be involved in tumor development and progression. METHODS: In a case-control study, 66 paraffin-embedded prostate tissues representing 36 pathologically confirmed cancer and 30 control samples were examined. The cancer samples were classified in a total of three stages based on PSA levels, tumor volume, and Gleason score. RNA extraction was performed for quantitative determination of IFN-É£, lncRNA NeSt, and lncRNA FOXCUT gene expression in both case and control prostate tissues. RESULTS: Our results showed that NeST lncRNA was significantly up-regulated in prostate cancer samples compared to control, while NeST lncRNA and IFN-É£ gene expression was detected mainly in early stages of prostate cancer. The patients with higher NeST and FOXCUT expression had poor clinical features including PSA levels and tumor volume comparing those with lower expression. Moreover, there was a strong correlation between lncRNA FOXCUT and IFN-É£ expression. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggests that lncRNA NeST and lncRNA FOXCUT may be able to be introduced as novel molecules involved in prostate cancer development and may provide a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target.

Preparation and evaluation of the effect of Fe3 O4 @piroctone olamine magnetic nanoparticles on matrix metalloproteinase-2: a preliminary in vitro study.

In the present study, Fe3 O4 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by the coprecipitation of Fe(2+) and Fe(3+) ions and used as a nanocarrier for the production of piroctone-olamine-loaded Fe3 O4 nanoparticles (Fe3 O4 @PO NPs). The nanocrystalline structure of the prepared iron oxide species was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction spectroscopy method. Particle size distribution analysis showed that the size of Fe3 O4 @PO NPs was in the range of 5-55 nm. The magnetization curve of Fe3 O4 @PO NPs (with saturation magnetization of 28.2 emu/g) confirmed its ferromagnetic property. Loading of PO on the surface of Fe3 O4 NPs qualitatively verified by Fourier transform infrared spectrum obtained from Fe3 O4 @PO NPs. Cytotoxicity studies on the human fibrosarcoma cell line (HT-1080) revealed higher inhibitory effect of Fe3 O4 @PO NPs (50% cell death [IC50 ] of 8.1 µg/mL) as compared with Fe3 O4 NPs (IC50 of 117.1 µg/mL) and PO (IC50 of 71.2 µg/mL) alone. In the case of human normal fibroblast (Hs68), the viability percentage was found to be 75% in the presence of Fe3 O4 @PO NPs (120 µg/mL). Gelatin zymography showed 17.2% and 34.6% inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the presence of Fe3 O4 @PO and PO, respectively, at the same concentration of 40 µg/mL, whereas Fe3 O4 NPs did not inhibit MMP-2 at any concentration.

Reproductive health needs of HIV serodiscordant couples: a systematic review.

Objectives: HIV is closely linked to reproductive and sexual health. HIV Serodiscordant couples face significant social, reproductive, and sexual challenges. This systematic review aimed to identify their reproductive health needs. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across six databases: Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Magiran, and Iranmedex. No date restrictions were applied, and only English-language articles published before February 21, 2023, were included. We also searched the grey literature and conducted forward/backward citation searches. Results: From an initial 758 articles, 18 met the inclusion criteria. Studies were qualitative (n = 10) and quantitative (n = 8). Key reproductive health needs included (1) childbearing intention, (2) HIV serodiscordance and sexuality, (3) psychological and social support, (4) training and consultation services, (5) access to reliable information, and (6) focused training for healthcare providers. Conclusion: HIV-discordant couples face various reproductive health challenges. Implementing comprehensive guidelines for reproductive and sexual health, rehabilitation, and fertility planning is crucial to improving their quality of life and health. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023393567.

Astaxanthin improves assisted reproductive technology outcomes in poor ovarian responders through alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Poor ovarian response (POR) to controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) remains challenging, especially in advanced-age women with diminished ovarian reserve, resulting in low live birth rates. Many patients prefer to conceive with their eggs, underscoring the need for improved treatments. This study explores astaxanthin potential as a COS adjuvant to improve ovarian response and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes, considering its impact on oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, and apoptosis, which are key factors in POR. METHODS: In this randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 60 infertile POR patients from POSEIDON Group 4 (the poorest prognosis category, age > 35 and poor ovarian reserve (anti-müllerian hormone < 1.2 ng/ml or antral follicle count < 5) undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection were enrolled. Patients were assigned to receive either 12 mg/day AST or placebo for eight weeks. All patients underwent a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist regimen for COS. ART outcomes were compared between groups. Blood serum and follicular fluid (FF) were analyzed for OS markers (superoxide dismutase [SOD], total antioxidant capacity [TAC], and malondialdehyde [MDA]), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], interleukin-8 [IL-8], and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, and cell-free DNA [cfDNA] (apoptotic marker) via ALU quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: After the intervention, the AST group exhibited a significant elevation in serum (P = 0.013) and TAC (P = 0.030), accompanied by a significant reduction in serum MDA (P = 0.005). No significant differences between AST and placebo groups were observed in OS markers in FF. AST group showed significant reductions in the serum IL-6 (P < 0.001), IL-8 (P = 0.001), and VEGF (P = 0.002) levels following AST therapy. In the AST group, FF levels of IL-6 (P = 0 < 001), IL-8 (P = 0.036), VEGF (P = 0.006), and cfDNA (P < 0.001) were significantly lower than in the placebo group. Between-group comparisons showed significant differences in the alterations of serum SOD (P = 0.027), IL-6 (P < 0.001), and IL-8 (P = 0.035) levels between AST and placebo groups. The AST group showed significant increases in the number of retrieved oocytes (P = 0.003), MII oocytes (P = 0.004), frozen embryos (P = 0.037), and high-quality embryos (P = 0.014) compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSION: AST shows promise as a COS adjuvant therapy, potentially enhancing some ART outcomes in POR through alleviating OS, inflammation, and apoptosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical trial registration number: IRCT20230223057510N1, URL: https://irct.behdasht.gov.ir/trial/68870 , registration date: 2023 March 16.

The potential application of artificial intelligence in veterinary clinical practice and biomedical research.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a fast-paced technological advancement in terms of its application to various fields of science and technology. In particular, AI has the potential to play various roles in veterinary clinical practice, enhancing the way veterinary care is delivered, improving outcomes for animals and ultimately humans. Also, in recent years, the emergence of AI has led to a new direction in biomedical research, especially in translational research with great potential, promising to revolutionize science. AI is applicable in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research, cancer research, drug design and vaccine development, epidemiology, disease surveillance, and genomics. Here, we highlighted and discussed the potential impact of various aspects of AI in veterinary clinical practice and biomedical research, proposing this technology as a key tool for addressing pressing global health challenges across various domains.

Association between gastric cancer and the intake of different types of iron and meats.

BACKGROUND: Heme and non-heme irons are two forms of iron in the diet. Few studies have evaluated the association between heme iron intake and the risk of gastric cancer (GC). We aimed to investigate the association between heme, non-heme and total iron intake and risk of GC in Iran. METHODS: In a hospital-based case-control study, nutritionists interviewed 178 pathologically confirmed GC patients and 276 controls using a valid Diet History Questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression model was used to estimate Odds Ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) for iron intake and risk of GC. RESULTS: Subjects in the highest tertile of total iron intake were 46% less likely to get GC than those in the lowest (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32-0.92), however, the associations were not significant for intake of heme and non-heme iron. The risk of GC in the highest tertile of total meat intake was 2.51 times higher than the lowest. We found significant associations between GC and chicken (OR = 2.95; 95% CI: 1.66-5.22) and fish intake (OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.09-3.27), However, we found no associations between the risk of GC and intake of red meat, salted fish, and liver. CONCLUSION: Total iron intake was associated with a lower risk of GC which could be partly due to the high prevalence of anemia in Iran. Although, we could not find any significant association between the risk of GC and the intake of heme and non-hem iron among the Iranian population.

Astaxanthin ameliorates inflammation, oxidative stress, and reproductive outcomes in endometriosis patients undergoing assisted reproduction: A randomized, triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Purpose: In a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial (RCT) including 50 infertile women with endometriosis candidate for assisted reproductive techniques (ART), we studied the effect of Astaxanthin (AST) on pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress (OS) markers, and early pregnancy outcomes. Methods: Before and after 12 weeks of AST treatment (6 mg per day), blood serum and follicular fluid (FF) samples were collected from 50 infertile women with endometriosis stage III/IV undergoing ART. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) and OS markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]) were measured in the serum and FF. ART outcomes were also compared between the groups. Results: Increased serum levels of TAC (398.661 ± 57.686 vs. 364.746 ± 51.569; P = 0.004) and SOD (13.458 ± 7.276 vs. 9.040 ± 5.155; P = 0.010) were observed after AST therapy in the treatment group. Furthermore, serum MDA (14.619 ± 2.505 vs. 15.939 ± 1.512; P = 0.031) decreased significantly following antioxidant treatment. In addition, significantly lower serum levels of IL-1ß (4.515 ± 0.907 vs. 6.8760 ± 0.8478; P = 0.000), IL-6 (5.516 ± 0.646 vs. 5.0543 ± 0.709; P = 0.024) and TNF-α (2.520 ± 0.525 vs. 2.968 ± 0.548; P = 0.038) were observed after AST treatment. In addition, AST supplementation led to an improved number of oocytes retrieved (14.60 ± 7.79 vs. 9.84 ± 6.44; P = 0.043), number of mature (MII) oocytes (10.48 ± 6.665 vs. 6.72 ± 4.3; P = 0.041), and high-quality embryos (4.52 ± 2.41 vs. 2.72 ± 2.40; P = 0.024). Conclusion: AST pretreatment can modulate inflammation and OS in endometriosis-induced infertile patients. ART outcomes also improved after 12 weeks of AST therapy. Our results suggest that AST can be a potential therapeutic target for infertile patients with endometriosis undergoing ART.

Association of dietary total antioxidant capacity, alternative healthy eating index, and dietary inflammatory index with semen quality in men seeking infertility treatment.

Background: Since the association between dietary quality scores and semen quality remains unclear, we carried out a hospital-based cross-sectional study to investigate the association of Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity (dTAC), Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), and Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) scores with semen quality in men seeking infertility treatment. Methods: This study enrolled 210 men with unexplained or idiopathic infertility. Semen samples were collected and analyzed according to the WHO 2010 criteria. Dietary data was collected using a 168-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed for Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the relationship between dTAC, AHEI, and DII scores with abnormal semen in crude and adjusted models. Results: There were no significant differences across quartile categories of the dTAC, AHEI, and DII scores regarding semen parameters. There was a trend toward a significant direct association between DII and abnormal semen risk (p = 0.01). Infertile men in the highest quartile of DII had a 2.84 times higher risk of abnormal semen in the crude model (OR: 3.84; 95% CI: 1.64-8.95); such that remained after adjusting for several potential confounders. There was no significant association between dTAC or AHEI and the risk of abnormal semen in infertile men, either before or after adjusting for potential confounders. Total energy (p = 0.05), fat (p = 0.02), saturated fat (p = 0.02), mono-saturated fat (p = 0.009), Thiamine (Vitamin B1) (p = 0.02), Niacin (Vitamin B3) (p = 0.03), Calcium (p = 0.01), and Selenium (p = 0.01) were inversely associated with semen normality. Discussion: The study suggests that certain dietary factors may affect semen quality, and the mechanisms underlying the observed associations are likely multifactorial, involving complex interactions between diet, oxidative stress, inflammation, and hormone levels. Further research is required to confirm the results, fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying the associations, and identify specific dietary interventions that may improve male fertility outcomes.

The Iranian Newborn Multiples Registry (IRNMR): a registry protocol.

Purpose: Over the last decades, several twin/multiples registries have been developed worldwide, mostly concentrated in Europe and high-income countries (HICs). In Iran, we lack accurate nationwide epidemiological and biobank data on twins. We established the Iranian Newborn Multiples Registry (IRNMR) to evaluate the role of genetics and environmental factors in the variation of phenotypes among newborn monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs. IRNMR is a multicenter hospital-based registry. Materials and methods: In the pilot phase, we collected epidemiological data from multiples born in Imam Khomeini Hospital complex and Aban Hospital located in Tehran, the capital of Iran, with a population exceeding 8 million, Allameh Bohlool Gonabadi Hospital, Gonabad, Razavi Khorasan, and Shahid Sadoughi Hospital, Yazd, Iran. Results: The IRNMR has recruited 457 sets of newborn twins and multiples so far. We hold follow-up sessions by mother and child health professionals to monitor multiples' growth, development, diseases, and mortality. Conclusions: We successfully developed a newborn multiples registry in Iran. This registry will create an invaluable database to study the relative influence of genes and environmental factors on various chronic diseases, growth, development, and behavioral disorders. We intend to collaborate with other centers to develop a large multicenter nationwide multiple birth registry and biobank in Iran.

The Effect of Astaxanthin and Metformin on Oxidative Stress in Granulosa Cells of BALB C Mouse Model of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), involved in the pathogenesis of the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), play a key role in the onset of apoptosis in follicles and granulosa cells (GCs). We aimed to investigate the antioxidant effects of AST and metformin separately and in combination on GCs using a PCOS mouse model. Forty-eight prepubertal female BALB C mice aged 25-30 days and weighing 12-14 g were studied. The PCOS model was created by subcutaneous injection of the dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) hormone in 8 mice of BALB C for 20 consecutive days. Apoptosis and the amount of ROS were evaluated in GCs of the ovaries via flow cytometry. The activity of AKT protein was measured by western blot, and the viability of GCs was investigated using spectrophotometry. Ovarian tissue sections were prepared, stained with H&E, and the morphology of the sections was examined. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS v22.0 software using one-way ANOVA. We found that AST administration leads to a significant reduction in oxidative stress (P<0.01) and consequently a significant decrease in the rate of apoptosis (P<0.01). While the expression of AKT in the AST group revealed a significant increase (P<0.05), it decreased in the metformin group. However, it was still significantly higher than the control and PCOS groups. Ovulation was confirmed in both metformin and AST groups. Further studies are warranted to prove the efficacy of AST and to introduce it as a complementary therapeutic agent in PCOS.

Integrating Electronics to Textiles by Ultrasonic Welding for Cable-Driven Applications for Smart Textiles.

The connection between flexible textiles and stiff electronic components has always been structurally weak and a limiting factor in the establishment of smart textiles in our everyday life. This paper focuses on the formation of reliable connections between conductive textiles and conventional litz wires using ultrasonic welding. The paper offers a promising approach to solving this problem. The electrical and mechanical performance of the samples were investigated after 15 and 30 wash-and-dry cycles in a laundry machine. Here the contact resistances and their peeling strength were measured. Furthermore, their connection properties were analysed in microsections. The resistance of the joints increased more than 300%, because the silver-coated wires suffered under the laundry cycles. Meanwhile, the mechanical strength during the peeling test decreased by only about 20% after 15 cycles and remained the same after 30 cycles. The good results obtained in this study suggest that ultrasonic welding offers a useful approach to the connection of textile electronics to conductive wires and to the manufacture of smart textiles.

Epidemiological Study of Various HPV Strains in Cervical Fluid Samples in South-Eastern Iran, 2018-2020.

BACKGROUND: Uterine cervical malignancy is one of the commonly detected malignancies related to the human papillomavirus (HPV) and is increasing incidentally in developing countries. Therefore, the use of an efficient diagnostic method is required as an effectual step for cervical cancer prevention and treatment. The purpose of the study was to diagnose various types of HPV in the cervical cytology specimens in the South-East of Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed on 1079 cervical fluid cytology specimens referred for two years, between 2018-2020. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and hybridization (INNO-LiPA HPV Genotyping EXTRA II assay) were used to determine HPV DNA and their genotypes, respectively. RESULTS: HPV was positive in 37.7% (407 of 1079) patients with a mean age of 34.62 ± 8.82. Among positive cases, 252 (62%) had only one HPV genotype and 155 (38.05%) had multiplex HPV genotypes, which included 94 (60.7%), 38 (24.6%), 18 (11.6%) and 5 (3.2%) cases with two, three, four and five or more genotypes, respectively. The samples with multiple strains revealed 31 HPV genotypes with the four most prevalent being HPV6 (14.7%), HPV16 (10.9%), HPV53 (9.6%) and HPV51 (5.9%). CONCLUSION: HPV infection is the main health challenge for women that requires improved health service programs and appropriate epidemic vaccination.

Pathogenic Salmonella weakens avian enriched blood monocytes through ATP depletion, apoptosis induction and phagocytosis inefficiency.

Salmonella enterica Subsp enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium, ST) is one of the most important serovars of the genus Salmonella in human and animals. Because of its intracellular tropism, monocytes/macrophages are pivotal in killing of Salmonella serovars; they are also responsible for transporting of ST to extra-intestinal organs. To investigate the effect of the ST on the functions of avian innate immune cells, almost homogeneous enriched monocytes (EMo) were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 2-3 weeks-old of healthy broilers. The EMo were then divided in three groups: control (media only), treatments (challenged with ST clinical isolates) and [doxorubicin (Dox), specifically as positive control for EMo apoptosis] groups. Cellular-molecular damage caused by ST in EMo was assessed with bioluminescence (for caspase-3, 7, and 9 activities and intracellular ATP content), chemiluminescence (for pro/anti-oxidant capacities) and flow cytometry (for apoptosis/necrosis). Further, phagocytosis capacity of post-ST challenged EMo was assessed using a flow cytometry-based internalisation of FITC-loaded polystyrene microparticles. Like the effects of Dox, in post-ST challenged EMo much higher caspase-3, 7 and 9 activities and ATP depletion along with decreased phagocytosis capacity and anti-oxidant load were observed. The results herein indicate that ST weakens EMo particularly through caspases activation/apoptosis. These findings can open a new window on the molecular aspects of Salmonella-macrophage interactions and immunopathology/pathogenicity of salmonellosis in animals especially avian species.

Discriminatory Accuracy of the Gail Model for Breast Cancer Risk Assessment among Iranian Women.

BACKGROUND: The Gail model is the most well-known tool for breast cancer risk assessment worldwide. Although it was validated in various Western populations, inconsistent results were reported from Asian populations. We used data from a large case-control study and evaluated the discriminatory accuracy of the Gail model for breast cancer risk assessment among the Iranian female population. METHODS: We used data from 942 breast cancer patients and 975 healthy controls at the Cancer Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran, in 2016. We refitted the Gail model to our case-control data (the IR-Gail model). We compared the discriminatory power of the IR-Gail with the original Gail model, using ROC curve analyses and estimation of the area under the ROC curve (AUC). RESULTS: Except for the history of biopsies that showed an extremely high relative risk (OR=9.1), the observed ORs were similar to the estimates observed in Gail's study. Incidence rates of breast cancer were extremely lower in Iran than in the USA, leading to a lower average absolute risk among the Iranian population (2.78, ±SD 2.45). The AUC was significantly improved after refitting the model, but it remained modest (0.636 vs. 0.627, ΔAUC = 0.009, bootstrapped P=0.008). We reported that the cut-point of 1.67 suggested in the Gail study did not discriminate between breast cancer patients and controls among the Iranian female population. CONCLUSION: Although the coefficients from the local study improved the discriminatory accuracy of the model, it remained modest. Cohort studies are warranted to evaluate the validity of the model for Iranian women.

Association of physical activity, body mass index and reproductive history with breast cancer by menopausal status in Iranian women.

BACKGROUND: The incidence rate of breast cancer (BC) is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Iran. We investigated the association between BC risk and physical activity (PA), body mass index (BMI), and reproductive history among Iranian women. METHODS: We conducted a large hospital-based case-control study and compared 958 BC cases with 967 controls at the Cancer Institute of Iran during 2011-2016. We used multiple logistic regression models and adjusted for potential confounders to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for the associations between BC and different risk factors, including low physical activity. RESULTS: Women with high levels of physical activity had a lower risk of BC compared to those who were inactive (OR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.41, 0.75). In premenopausal women, the association was observed only in normal-weight women (OR = 0.31, 95%CI: 0.13, 0.75), while it was limited to obese women in the postmenopausal group (OR = 0.29, 95%CI: 0.12, 0.66). We found a high risk of postmenopausal BC among overweight (OR = 1.69; 95%CI: 1.01, 2.81) and obese women (OR = 1.9; 95%CI: 1.14, 3.14) compared to women with a normal BMI. We observed an inverse association among postmenopausal women who had between three and five children (OR = 0.31, 95%CI 0.14, 0.64) and more than six children (OR = 0.21, 95%CI 0.12, 0.42) compared to nulliparous women. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of physical activity, low parity, and being overweight or obese were major risk factors for BC. For the first time, we report a strong association between physical activity and BC risk in Iranian women.

IL-18 and IL-1ß Gene Polymorphisms: The Plausible Risk Factors for Chronic Hepatitis B.

Chronic inflammation is the main risk factor for induction of liver cirrhosis and also hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Although our knowledge is growing regarding molecular mechanisms of immune responses against viruses, the main mechanisms that lead to the progression of chronic inflammation and then CHB are yet to be clarified. IL-18 and IL-1ß are the members of the IL-1 family and produced in the cytoplasm of a wide range of immune and nonimmune cells and activated by inflammasome pathways. The cytokines play key roles in the pathologies of CHB. IL-18 and IL-1ß productions are altered in CHB patients. It has been hypothesized that the polymorphisms within IL-18 and IL-1ß genes may be the main reasons for the induction of chronic inflammation in CHB patients. This review article discusses the related investigations regarding the main correlation between the polymorphisms within IL-18 and IL-1ß genes and CHB pathogenesis.

Cross-talks between the kidneys and the central nervous system in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease, which is considered as a common autoimmune disorder in young adults. A growing number of evidences indicated that the impairment in non-neural tissues plays a significant role in pathology of MS disease. There are bidirectional relationship, metabolic activities and functional similarity between central nervous system (CNS) and kidneys which suggest that kidney tissue may exert remarkable effects on some aspects of MS disorder and CNS impairment in these patients compels the kidney to respond to central inflammation. Recently, it has been well documented that hormonal secretion possesses the important role on CNS abnormalities. In this regard, due to the functional similarity and significant hormonal and non-hormonal relationship between CNS and kidneys, we hypothesized that kidneys exert significant effect on initiation, progression or amelioration of MS disease which might be regarded as potential therapeutic approach in the treatment of MS patients in the future.

Statistical optimization of kojic acid production by a UV-induced mutant strain of Aspergillus terreus.

The ability of four Aspergillus strains for biosynthesis of kojic acid was evaluated among which Aspergillus terreus represented the highest level (2.21g/L) of kojic acid production. Improvement kojic acid production ability of A. terreus by random mutagenesis using different exposure time to ultraviolet light (5-40min) was then performed to obtain a suitable mutant of kojic acid production (designated as C5-10, 7.63g/L). Thereafter, design of experiment protocol was employed to find medium components (glucose, yeast extract, KH2PO4 (NH4)2SO4, and pH) influences on kojic acid production by the C5-10 mutant. A 25-1 fractional factorial design augmented to central composite design showed that glucose, yeast extract, and KH2PO4 were the most considerable factors within the tested levels (p<0.05). The optimum medium composition for the kojic acid production by the C5-10 mutant was found to be glucose, 98.4g/L; yeast extract, 1.0g/L; and KH2PO4, 10.3mM which was theoretically able to produce 120.2g/L of kojic acid based on the obtained response surface model for medium optimization. Using these medium compositions an experimental maximum Kojic acid production (109.0±10g/L) was acquired which verified the efficiency of the applied method.