Prediction of cervical cancer screening: application of the information-motivation-behavioral skills model.

INTRODUCTION: Screening is an effective method for preventing cervical cancer. The present study aimed to determine the predictability of cervical cancer screening using the information-motivation-behavioral skills (IMB) model, as this model can help understand the factors that influence health-related behaviors. METHOD: The present cross-sectional study examined 310 women aged 20 to 60 in Isfahan, Iran, between 2020 and 2021. To this end, comprehensive health centers and gynecology clinics of hospitals were randomly selected by lot. Women who met the study's inclusion criteria were selected via convenience sampling. An IMB skills questionnaire developed by researchers comprised the data collection tool. The data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software, descriptive and regression tests, and AMOS 24.0 software. FINDINGS: Approximately 18.1% of the participants had never undergone routine cervical cancer screening. The regression model results indicated that the model components accurately predicted regular cervical cancer screening (P < 0.00). Path analysis revealed that information (ß = 0.05, P = 0.002), motivation (ß = 0.187, P = 0.026), and behavioral skills (ß = 0.95, P < 0.001) were directly associated with regular cervical cancer screening. Furthermore, behavioral skills had the greatest direct effect on regular cervical cancer screening. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated that the IMB model accurately predicted cervical cancer screening. Therefore, it is possible to improve cervical cancer screening in women by designing and implementing interventions based on this model's components, particularly those that improve behavioral skills.

The possible effects of the MTOR polymorphisms on preeclampsia susceptibility, severity, and onset: a case-control study and in silico analysis.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia (PE) is a gestational complication with developed hypertension and proteinuria. Evidence showed the role of mTOR in various cellular processes. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of MTOR polymorphisms on susceptibility, severity, and onset of Preeclampsia (PE). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 250 PE pregnant women and 258 age-matched control subjects were recruited in this study. To genotype MTOR polymorphisms, the PCR-RFLP method was used. The SpliceAid 2 and PROMO tools were used for in silico analysis. The maternal MTOR rs17036508T/C polymorphism was associated with PE risk in various genetic models. There was no relationship between rs2536T/C and rs2295080T/G polymorphisms and PE. The TTC and TGC haplotypes of rs2536/ rs2295080/ rs17036508 polymorphisms were significantly higher in PE women. Subgroup analysis revealed the association between the MTOR rs2295080 variant and an increased risk of Early-onset PE (EOPE). However, the MTOR rs17036508 was associated with a higher risk of EOPE and Late- Onset PE. In addition, the MTOR rs2295080 could increase the risk of severe PE. The results of the in silico analysis showed that rs17036508 disrupted several binding motifs in the mutant sequence. The PROMO database revealed that the T to C substitution leads to the loss of the TFII-I binding site in the mutant allele. CONCLUSION: The MTOR rs17036508T/C polymorphism was associated with PE risk. There was an association between the MTOR rs2295080 variant and an increased risk of EOPE. The MTOR rs17036508T/C and rs2295080T/C variants could disrupt several binding motifs and TFII-I binding respectively.

The relationship between preeclampsia risk and SENCR rs555172 gene polymorphism and expression.

Preeclampsia, the more severe manifestation of gestational hypertensive disorders, is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Genetic polymorphisms in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are considered as potential genetic preeclampsia. This study aimed to explore the association between SENCR rs555172 SNP and PE risk in healthy pregnant women compared to women with preeclampsia. A total of 140 healthy pregnant women and 130 preeclampsia cases were included in the study. The rs555172 genotype was determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and the expression of the SENCR gene was analyzed in 40 placenta tissue samples from both groups. Various statistical approaches were employed to assess the genotypic and allelic frequencies. The results showed no significant difference in the frequency of the rs555172 polymorphism between healthy pregnant women and those with preeclampsia in terms of the dominant (p=0.82), recessive (p=0.39), and over-dominant (p=0.42) models. Additionally, the analysis of SENCR relative expression revealed no significant difference between the two groups (p=0.48). In conclusion, the LncRNA SENCR rs555172(G/A) seems not associated with an increased risk of Preeclampsia in pregnant women.

IGF2BP2 and IGFBP3 Genotypes, Haplotypes, and Genetic Models Studies in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance has been correlated with the genetic diversity within the insulin-like binding proteins genes. Moreover, insulin resistance is one of the key characteristics of the widespread reproductive endocrine condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Hence, this study is aimed to determine the association between IGFBP3 and IGF2BP2 gene variants and PCOS risk. METHODS: A total of 300 subjects (150 PCOS cases diagnosed based on Rotterdam ESHRE/ASRM consensus criteria and 150 healthy subjects) were recruited in this case-control cross-sectional study. Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR) was used for genotyping rs11705701, whereas genotyping of rs1470579 and rs2854744 was done employing PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. RESULTS: The CC and AA+AC genotypes of rs1470579 conferred an increased risk of PCOS in our population. Regarding the rs2854744, an increased risk of PCOS was observed under the codominant homozygous (TT vs. GG) model by 2.54 fold. The C allele of rs1470579 and T allele of rs2854744 enhanced PCOS risk by 1.97 and 1.46 folds, respectively. Haplotype analysis showed that the Ars1470579Ars11705701 haplotype conferred a decreased risk of PCOS (odds ratio = 0.53, 95% confidence interval = 0.34-0.83, p = 0.006). The AC/GG/GT, AA/GA/GT, AC/GA/GG, and AC/GA/GT genotype combinations of rs1470579/rs11705701/rs2854744 were associated with a decreased risk of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: IGF2BP2 rs1470579 and IGFBP3 rs2854744 enhanced PCOS susceptibility in a Southeastern Iranian population. Further investigation involving larger cohorts representing diverse ethnic backgrounds is needed to confirm the current findings.

Association study to evaluate Foxo1 and Foxo3 gene polymorphisms in polycystic ovary syndrome: a preliminary case-control study and in silico analysis.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is known as a multifactorial and multi-gene-mediated endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age. FoxO1 and FoxO3 are members of the forkhead transcriptional factors family that play a pivotal role in the function of ovaries. The current work is aimed at investigating the association between gene variants of FoxO1 and FoxO3 and the risk of PCOS in a sample of the Iranian population. METHODS AND RESULTS: We recruited 200 women diagnosed with PCOS and 200 healthy women. Both polymerase PCR-RFLP and ARMS-PCR methods were used for genotyping. Sanger sequencing was recruited to confirm the genotyping results. The T allele of rs17592236 and the C allele of rs12585277 decreased PCOS risk by 29 and 28%, respectively. In contrast, the C allele of rs2253310 and G allele of rs2802292 increased the risk of PCOS by 1.39 and 1.63 folds, correspondingly. Bioinformatics results showed that some genes, including matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), phosphoinositide-3-Kinase Regulatory Subunit 224 1 (PIK3R1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor Gamma (PPARG), and glycogen synthase 225 kinase-3 beta (GSK-3 beta) have significant interactions with FoxO1, suggesting that FoxO1 might have crucial roles in regulating different signaling pathways in ovarian cells. CONCLUSION: We found that FoxO1 rs17592236C > T and rs12585277C > T had a protective role against PCOS, while FoxO3 rs2253310C > G and rs2802292G > T  enhanced the risk of this metabolic disorder in our population. Additional studies on larger populations with varying races are needed to confirm these findings.

Relationship Between Genetic Polymorphisms in Cell Cycle Regulatory Gene TP53 and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Case-Control Study and In Silico Analyses.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine and metabolic condition with several potential causes. Insulin resistance is a hallmark of PCOS that often coexists with hirsutism, hyperandrogenism, being overweight, and hormonal imbalances. The functioning of multiple replication and transcription factors is regulated by tumor suppressor genes (TSGs), which play a crucial role in maintaining genomic integrity and controlling the cell cycle of granulosa cells. In the present study, we examined how three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TP53, a cell cycle regulatory gene, affect the risk of developing PCOS in a sample of an Iranian population. Genomic DNA was extracted from 200 PCOS patients and 200 healthy women to analyze TP53 rs17880604, rs1625895, and rs1042522 SNPs using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Our findings revealed that the majority of PCOS cases were overweight [25 < body mass index (BMI) < 30]. A positive association was observed between the TP53 rs1042522 SNP and the risk of PCOS under codominant heterozygous and overdominant genetic patterns (odds ratio > 1). Meanwhile, a negative association was observed between TP53 SNPs (rs1625895, rs17880604) and susceptibility to PCOS under codominant heterozygous and dominant models of inheritance (odds ratio < 1). Moreover, different genotype and haplotype combinations of rs17880604/rs1625895/rs1042522 conferred a decreased risk of PCOS in our population. We found no statistical difference in the frequency of TP53 genotypes between PCOS cases and/or controls in terms of BMI, waist circumference, prolactin level, and markers of lipid and carbohydrate profile (P > 0.05). Molecular dynamic prediction showed that the missense substitution in the 17p13.1 position (rs1042522) could change the properties and secondary structure of the p53 protein. As inherited risk factors, TP53 variations may play a  pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PCOS among Iranian women. Replicated population-based studies on other ethnicities are required to find the genetic contribution of variants of TP53, or SNPs located in other TSGs, to the etiology of this endocrine disease.

Impact of Survivin rs9904341 and rs17878467 Polymorphisms On Risk of Preeclampsia in Iran.

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder that affects pregnancy, mother, and fetus. Early diagnosis of PE remains a challenge. This study aimed to investigate the association between survivin two (rs9904341 and rs17878467) SNPs and PE risk in healthy pregnant women compared to women with preeclampsia. A sample of 166 healthy pregnant women and 160 cases with preeclampsia was included and genotyped for rs9904341 with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and rs17878467 with amplification-refractory mutation system (ARMS) PCR. The genotypic and allelic assessments were performed using various statistical approaches. The frequency of rs9904341 and rs17878467 polymorphisms was not significantly different between PE and healthy pregnant women. rs9904341: codominant (p = 0.5), dominant (p = 0.24), recessive (p = 0.61), over-dominant model (p = 0.38), and log additive (p = 0.25). rs17878467: codominant (p = 0.41), dominant (p = 0.23), recessive (p = 0.4), over-dominant model (p = 0.42), and log additive (p = 0.24). The frequency of survivin rs9904341 CG and CC genotypes was higher in severe PE women compared to controls and this polymorphism was associated with PE severity only in the dominant model (OR = 1.84, CI 1.04-3.26, P = 0.034). There was a significant association between survivin rs9904341 polymorphism and PE severity. No relationship was found between survivin rs9904341 and rs17878467 polymorphisms and PE onset. The allelic and genotypic frequencies of survivin rs9904341 and rs17878467 polymorphisms are not significantly different between the preeclampsia and control groups in all genetic models. Haplotype analysis showed lower frequency G rs9904341 T rs17878467 haplotype in PE woman and this haplotype was associated with lower risk of PE (OR = 0.54, CI 0.33-0.91, P = 0.02).

Association of Genetic Polymorphisms in Long Noncoding RNA HOTTIP with Risk of Idiopathic Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.

The clustered homeobox gene family known as the Hox family plays a fundamental role in the morphogenesis of the vertebrate's embryo. A long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), known as HOTTIP (HOXA transcript at the distal tip), has been functionally characterized and contributed to the pathogenesis of various conditions. The current case-control study was undertaken to examine the gene frequencies and shared alleles of the HOTTIP  gene in Iranian participants with or without idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Both ARMS-PCR reaction and RFLP-PCR techniques were employed to detect three HOTTIP polymorphisms (rs2023843C/T, rs78248039A/T, and rs1859168C/A) in a DNA sample of 161 women with RSA and 177 healthy women. We found that the TT genotype of the HOTTIP rs2023843 C/T polymorphism was associated with a lower risk for idiopathic RSA. In contrast, the TT genotype of the HOTTIP rs78248039 A/T polymorphism was correlated with an enhanced risk of RSA. The presence of the A-allele for HOTTIP rs1859168 C/A polymorphism was associated with an increased risk for idiopathic RSA. Haplotype analysis showed that the T/T/A, C/T/A, T/T/C, and T/A/A haplotypes of rs2023843/rs78248039/rs1859168 enhanced RSA susceptibility. Computational analysis predicted that this lncRNA might act as a potential sponge for some microRNAs; therefore, affecting the expression of genes being targeted by them. In addition, both rs2023843 and rs1859168 variants could alter the local secondary structure of HOTTIP. Our results showed that HOTTIP rs2023843C/T, rs78248039A/T, and rs1859168C/A polymorphisms may confer genetic susceptibility to idiopathic RSA in an Iranian population.

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.

Genetic variants of HOTAIR are associated with susceptibility to recurrent spontaneous abortion: A preliminary case-control study.

AIM: To investigate the association between Hox transcript antisenses RNA (HOTAIR) polymorphisms, rs12826786 C/T, rs920778 T/C, rs4759314 A/G, and rs1899663 G/T, with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) susceptibility in the Iranian women. METHODS: We enrolled 161 patients diagnosed with RSA and 177 healthy women with at least one live birth without a history of abortion. Genotyping of HOTAIR polymorphisms was carried out using both restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction and amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction methods. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed to estimate the strength of association. RESULTS: Different inheritance models of rs12826786 C/T, rs920778 T/C, and rs1899663 G/T polymorphisms significantly enhanced the risk of RSA (p < 0.05), whereas the rs4759314 A/G polymorphism was correlated with diminished risk of developing RSA under recessive AA versus GA + GG (OR 0.42 [95% CI = 0.19-0.91]), log-additive GG versus GA vs. GG (OR 0.67 [95% CI = 0.48-0.93]), and allelic A versus G (OR 0.65 [95% CI = 0.47-0.92]) models. Moreover, the TGTC, TTCT, TTTC, CGTC, CGTT, CTCC, CTCT, CTTC, and CTTT haplotypes of rs920778/rs1899663/rs12826786/ significantly increased the risk of RSA. The studied variants were not in strong linkage disequilibrium. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that variations in the HOTAIR gene might serve as beneficial biomarkers for determining susceptibility to RSA. To confirm these findings, replication studies with a larger population and different races are needed.

Cannabinoid receptor type-1 and its correlation with CB1 gene polymorphism-1359G/A in ectopic pregnancy compared to the control group.

AIM: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is one of the most important causes of maternal mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of the cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1) and its association with CB1-1359G/A gene polymorphism (rs1049353) in the fallopian tubes in EP compared to controls. METHODS: In this case-control study, 100 women with EP (cases) and 100 women that underwent abdominal surgery due to the hysterectomy or uterine tubal ligation (healthy controls) were included. Genotyping of CB1-1359G/A polymorphism, tissue expression of CB1 at the protein and mRNA levels were studied using restriction fragment length polymorphism, IHC method, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. RESULTS: Genotyping showed that in EP, the frequency of AA, AA+AG genotypes, and A allele was significantly higher than healthy control subjects (p = 0.001). Also, patients with EP had significantly increased IHC expression of CB-1 compared to the control samples (p = 0.016). Patients with AA and AG genotypes had a significantly higher IHC expression of CB-1 compared to the GG genotype. qRT-PCR analysis showed that patients with EP had significantly increased expression of CB-1 compared to the control samples (p < 0.001). Patients with AA and AG genotypes had higher significant mRNA expression of CB-1 compared to the GG genotype. CONCLUSIONS: CB1 is likely to be effective in creating innate immunity in humans and can affect the process of EP in the fallopian tube. CB1 is also a pathological valuable factor in identifying the pathway of inflammation during ectopic implantation.

Evaluating the agreement of ultrasound imaging and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) measurement in confirming completed medical abortion: cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Clinical methods that are generally used to evaluate the completeness of medical abortion are not reliable. Ultrasound imaging and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) measurements are used to diagnose completed medical abortion, but a precise evaluation of these two methods has shown contradictory results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the agreement of serum ß-hCG measurement and ultrasound imaging to confirm complete medical abortion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on pregnant women who had been referred to our center for medical abortion from 2015 to 2017. All cases occurred in the first trimester of pregnancy. They obtained one or two doses of vaginal misoprostol for medical abortion. Success rate of medical abortion was measured by both transvaginal ultrasound imaging and consecutive serum ß-hCG measurements two to four weeks after initial treatment. RESULTS: Among the 275 women who completed the study, complete medical abortion was confirmed by serum ß-hCG in 231 women (84.3%) and transvaginal ultrasound imaging in 195 women (70.8%) after two weeks. All remaining cases completed the medical abortion after an additional two weeks, confirmed by both transvaginal ultrasound imaging and serum ß-hCG. The sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of ß-hCG were 95.2%, 86.7%, 84%, and 70%, respectively; and these values for transvaginal ultrasound imaging were 68.5% 64.5%,77%, and 30.%, respectively, for the diagnosis of completed medical abortion. CONCLUSION: Serum ß-hCG measurement is as effective as transvaginal ultrasound imaging to confirm successful medical abortion in early pregnancy.

An association study of polymorphisms in the H19 imprinted gene in an Iranian population with the risk of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies that causes problems in female fertility at the reproductive age. PCOS is a multifactorial disease, with genetic factors playing a crucial role in its development. H19 is a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expressed from the maternal chromosome, which is correlated with PCOS. In this study, 115 women suffering from PCOS and 130 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles were recruited as case and control groups, respectively. After the extraction of genomic DNA, the restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction was employed for genotyping of rs2067051G>A and rs3741219T>C. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS package V.22 for Windows. In silico analysis was recruited to determine the effects of SNPs on the secondary structure of gene transcript as well as miRNA binding sites. The obtained data showed that the A allele of rs2067051G>A was associated with the high risk of PCOS (OR = 2.00, 95%CI = 1.38-2.91, P = 0.00). AG and AA genotypes led to a 3.64- and (about) a five-fold increase in the risk of PCOS, respectively (95%CI = 2.02-6.54, P = 0.00, and 95%CI = 1.51-16.52, P = 0.00, respectively). These variants caused a significant increase in the risk of this disorder in all genotype models except in the recessive model. However, no association was found between rs3741219T>C and the increased risk of PCOS, either in the allele or in the genotype models. According to the findings, rs2067051G>A is associated with an increased risk of PCOS in the Iranian population.

The effects of DICER1 and DROSHA polymorphisms on susceptibility to recurrent spontaneous abortion.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a serious problem in pregnancy. The exact etiology of RSA is unknown in more than 50% of all the patients. However, genetic variations are known as susceptibility factors for idiopathic RSA. Considering the role of miRNA biosynthesis machinery in the miRNA production and effect of miRNAs on various diseases, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of DICER1 rs3742330 and DROSHA rs6877842 polymorphisms on RSA risk. METHODS: In this case-control study, 150 RSA patients and 195 age-matched healthy female controls were recruited. Both polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR-RFLP method. RESULTS: The frequency of DICER1 rs3742330AG genotype was higher in the control group (P = .022). There was a statistically significant association between rs3742330 polymorphism and a reduced RSA risk in dominant and allelic models (P = .013 and P = .007, respectively). No statistically significant association was found between DROSHA rs6877842 variant and RSA risk. The combination of AG and GC genotypes and G-G alleles of DICER1 rs3742330 and DROSHA rs6877842 polymorphisms led to a decreased RSA risk. However, the synergic effect of rs3742330A and rs6877842G alleles (A-G) and AA-GG genotypes was associated with an increased RSA risk. CONCLUSION: the DICER1 rs3742330AG genotype and combination of AG and GC genotypes and G-G alleles of DICER1 rs3742330 and DROSHA rs6877842 polymorphisms were associated with a reduced RSA risk.

The Validity and Reliability of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (Version A) in Primiparous Women in Mashhad, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Although pregnancy and childbirth are physiological processes, fear of childbirth is a common problem that is often associated with requests for cesarean delivery. This study was undertaken to determine the validity and reliability of the Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire A (W-DEQ [A]) primiparous women in Mashhad, Iran. METHODS: This study was conducted on 220 primiparous women with a gestational age of 28-30 weeks referred to health centers in Mashhad. Using demographic questionnaire, Beck's Anxiety Inventory, Beck's Depression Inventory, and the W-DEQ (A), for determining the validity and reliability of the W-DEQ (A), first two linguists translated the questionnaire into Persian; then, two other linguists translated the Persian version back into English. The content validity of this version was then assessed by expert faculty members. The final version was sent to the questionnaire's original developers (Klass Wijma and Barbro Wijma) and then used after their approval. Factor analysis was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The result of actor analysis revealed six factors, forming 58.8% of the total variance. The reliability of this questionnaire was confirmed with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.84, and the fear of childbirth was found to be correlated with Beck's anxiety (r=0.414) and depression (r=0.287) scores. CONCLUSION: The W-DEQ (A) is a valid and reliable tool for measuring the fear of childbirth and is recommended to be used for measuring the fear of childbirth among Iranian women.

The effect of mixing on fermentation of primary solids, glycerol, and biodiesel waste.

In this study, the effect of mixing on volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and composition was investigated through running five identical bench-scale reactors that were filled with primary solid and dosed with either pure glycerol or biodiesel waste. Experimental results revealed that there was an inverse correlation between the mixing intensity and the VFA production. The total VFA production in the un-mixed reactor was 9,787 ± 3,601 mg COD/L, whereas in the reactor mixed at 100 rpm this dropped to 3,927 ± 1,175 mg COD/L, while both types of reactor were dosed with pure glycerol at the beginning of each cycle to reach the initial concentration of 1,000 mg/L (1,217 mg COD/L). Propionic acid was the dominant VFA in all the reactors except the reactor mixed at 30 rpm. It is hypothesized that low mixing facilitated hydrogen transfer between obligate hydrogen producing acetogens (OHPA) and hydrogen consuming acidogens in these non-methanogenic reactors. Also, in a narrower range of mixing (0 or 7 rpm), the total VFA production in biodiesel waste-fed reactors was considerably higher than that of pure glycerol-fed reactors.

The role of endothelial progenitor cells in transient ischemic attack patients for future cerebrovascular events.

BACKGROUND: The role of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the maintenance of vascularization following ischemic brain after experimental stroke has been established. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated the role of circulating EPCs in transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients for future cerebrovascular (CV) events. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The level of circulating EPCs (staining markers: CD34, CD309) were determined using flow cytometry at 24 h after TIA in thirty consecutive patients. The EPCs level was also evaluated once in thirty healthy volunteers. Over a period of 12 months, all patients were evaluated by an experienced neurologist for recurrent TIA, stroke or death induced by CV disorders. RESULTS: Circulating EPCs increased in patients group following the first attack of TIA when compared with controls. By analysis of covariance, cardiovascular event history, hyperlipidemia, and statin therapy remained significant independent predictors of EPCs. The mean (standard deviation) duration of follow-up was 10.5 (3.1) months (range, 2-12 months). During follow-up, a total of three patients died due to CV accident and four patients experienced again recurrent TIA. By analyzing data with Cox regression, EPC did not predict the future CV events in TIA patients. CONCLUSION: Increased incidence of future CV events did not occur in those patients with elevated EPCs in the first attack of TIA. The significant predicting factors of EPCs were cardiovascular event history, hyperlipidemia, and statin therapy.

Investigating Ovulation Induction Outcomes in Patients with Decreased Ovarian Reserve Treated with Double Stimulation during The Follicular and Luteal Phases Compared to The Conventional Antagonist Cycle: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: It is difficult to obtain healthy oocytes in poor ovarian responders with conventional treatment methods. Thus, the need to investigate new methods is essential. This study aims to investigate ovulation induction outcomes in patients with decreased ovarian reserve (DOR) in two groups treated with double stimulation (DuoStim) during the follicular and luteal phases in comparison with the antagonist cycle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a randomised clinical trial that enrolled the patients with reduced ovarian reserve. The patients referred for in vitro fertilization (IVF) at Molud Infertility Clinic, Ali Ebn Abitalib (AS) Hospital, Zahedan, Iran from 2020 to 2021. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, those who underwent treatment with DuoStim during the follicular and luteal phase (case group) and those who received the conventional antagonist cycle (control group). RESULTS: The mean number of metaphase II (MII) eggs was 7.7 ± 3.1 in the case group and 6.1 ± 3.9 in the control group (P=0.063). The mean total number of retrieved eggs in the case group was 9.2 ± 3.7 and in the control group, it was 6.9 ± 4.4 (P=0.023). The mean number of embryos obtained in the case group was 6.5 ± 3.9; in the control group, it was 4.7 ± 2.8 (P=0.016). CONCLUSION: The DuoStim method can effectively play a role in increasing the total number of retrieved eggs and embryos (registration number: IRCT20120817010617N8).

The effects of NLRP3 rs10754558 and rs4612666 polymorphisms on preeclampsia susceptibility, onset, and severity: a case-control study and in silico analysis.

Preeclampsia (PE) is one of the serious complications of pregnancy and its exact etiology is unknown. Inflammasomes are multiportion complexes whose relation with PE has been described. Evidence showed the effect of NLRP3 inflammasome in PE pathogenesis. In the current study, we investigated the possible impacts of NLRP3 polymorphisms on PE. A total of 252 PE and 258 control pregnant women were selected for the study. The PCR-RFLP method was employed to genotype rs10754558 and rs4612666 polymorphisms. The RNAsnp and SpliceAid 2 software were used for in silico analysis. There was no relationship between NLRP3 polymorphisms and PE. In comparison to control women, the NLRP3 rs10754558 could increase the risk of severe PE in codominant and dominant models (OR=1.89, 95% CI=1.19-3.01, P=0.012, OR=1.95, 95% CI=1.24-3.06, P=0.0037, respectively). The findings of the in silico analysis revealed the effects of rs10754558 C to G and rs4612666 C to T substitutions on protein binding sites and rs10754558 C to G substitution on secondary RNA structure. These findings could confirm the finding those studies reported the impacts of these variants on various diseases. In conclusion, the NLRP3 rs10754558 variant was associated with an increased risk of EOPE and severe PE.

Positive Pressure Ventilation Treatment Based on Daytime and Night-time Titration in Patients with Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate the improvements of gas exchange and excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) in daytime and night-time split polysomnography (DSPSG and NSPSG). Materials and Methods In the present randomized controlled trial, patients with OHS were enrolled in two DSPSG (51 patients) and NSPSG (50 patients) groups in the Bamdad respiratory and sleep research center in Isfahan, Iran. In both groups, the diagnostic polysomnography (PSG) and titration were conducted in one session according to the guidelines of NSPSG. SpO2, PaCO2, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), were measured initially and 12 weeks after treatment. Furthermore, the PSG parameters and the type of treatments for the two groups were recorded and analyzed. Results A total of 101 OHS patients (age: 62.02 ± 12.4 year old; 61 females [60.4%]) were evaluated. There were no significant differences regarding BMI, gender, and AHI between groups ( p > 0.05). Primary SpO2, PaCO2, and ESS were not significantly different between the two groups. After 12 weeks of treatment by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP), there were significant improvement of SpO2, PaCO2, and ESS score ( p < 0.001). The amount of change of these variables was not different between groups. Among all variables, only the lower SpO2 and higher PaCO2 were associated with response to BiPAP. Discussion There were no significant differences in the number of changes of SpO2, PaCO2, and ESS by treatment in the DSPSG and NSPSG groups. Therefore, DSPSG may be considered as a valuable alternative method for the diagnosis and titration in OHS patients. Clinical Trials IRCT20170512033930N2.