Impact of Gender on Chronic Complications in Participants With Type 2 Diabetes: Evidence From a Cross-Sectional Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to assess and compare the prevalence of diabetes complications between men and women with Type 2 diabetes (T2D), as well as how gender relates to these complications. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, complications of diabetes, including coronary artery disease (CAD), retinopathy, neuropathy and diabetic kidney disease (DKD), were evaluated in 1867 participants with T2D. Additionally, baseline characteristics of the individuals, including anthropometric measurements, metabolic parameters and the use of dyslipidaemia drugs and antihyperglycaemic agents, were assessed. Gender differences in complications were examined using the chi-squared test. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to investigate the relationship between gender and T2D complications, with and without adjusting for the characteristics of the studied population. RESULTS: In the studied population, 62.1% had at least one complication, and complications were 33.5% for DKD, 29.6% for CAD, 22.9% for neuropathy and 19.1% for retinopathy. The prevalence of CAD and neuropathy was higher in men. However, DKD and retinopathy were more prevalent among women. Odds ratios of experiencing any complication, CAD and retinopathy in men compared with women were 1.57 (95% CI: 1.27-2.03), 2.27 (95% CI: 1.72-2.99) and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.52-0.98), respectively, after adjusting for demographic factors, anthropometric measures, metabolic parameters and the consumption of dyslipidaemia drugs and antihyperglycaemic agents. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of diabetes complications was significantly higher in men with diabetes, highlighting the need for better treatment adherence. CAD was associated with the male gender, whereas retinopathy was associated with the female gender. Men and women with diabetes should be monitored closely for CAD and retinopathy, respectively, regardless of their age, diabetes duration, anthropometric measures, laboratory findings and medications.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes for management of prostate cancer: An updated view.

Prostate cancer represents the second most prevalent form of cancer found in males, and stands as the fifth primary contributor to cancer-induced mortality on a global scale. Research has shown that transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can migrate by homing to tumor sites in the body. In prostate cancer, researchers have explored the fact that MSC-based therapies (including genetically modified delivery vehicles or vectors) and MSC-derived exosomes are emerging as attractive options to improve the efficacy and safety of traditional cancer therapies. In addition, researchers have reported new insights into the application of extracellular vesicle (EV)-MSC therapy as a novel treatment option that could provide a more effective and targeted approach to prostate cancer treatment. Moreover, the new generation of exosomes, which contain biologically functional molecules as signal transducers between cells, can simultaneously deliver different therapeutic agents and induce an anti-tumor phenotype in immune cells and their recruitment to the tumor site. The results of the current research on the use of MSCs in the treatment of prostate cancer may be helpful to researchers and clinicians working in this field. Nevertheless, it is crucial to emphasize that although dual-role MSCs show promise as a therapeutic modality for managing prostate cancer, further investigation is imperative to comprehensively grasp their safety and effectiveness. Ongoing clinical trials are being conducted to assess the viability of MSCs in the management of prostate cancer. The results of these trials will help determine the viability of this approach. Based on the current literature, engineered MSCs-EV offer great potential for application in targeted tumor therapy.

Relationship between reproductive health literacy and components of healthy fertility in women of the reproductive age.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: One of the key factors affecting women's behavior with fertility issues is their health literacy, but this topic has been less addressed in the existing studies. We aimed to determine the relationship between reproductive health literacy and components of healthy fertility in women of reproductive age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2019 to September 2014 on 230 married women who were referred to comprehensive health centers in Lordegan city. Data were collected using a reproductive health literacy questionnaire, demographic and fertility information checklist, and components of healthy fertility. Data analysis was done using SPSS software, version 20. Pearson, Spearman, and independent t-tests were used as appropriate. RESULTS: The mean ± SD reproductive health literacy score in the participants was 43.80 ± 18.99 depicting an average literacy level in more than half of the women. Also, the reproductive health literacy score had a statistically significant relationship with the use of low-failure contraceptive methods (P < 0.001) and planned pregnancy (P = 0.03). However, this relationship was not significant regarding pre-pregnancy care (P = 0.88) and observing the interval between pregnancies (P = 0.57). CONCLUSION: We found a relationship between the level of reproductive health literacy and the use of family planning methods with low failure and planned pregnancy. Hence, it seems that interventions to improve reproductive health literacy are effective in reducing the occurrence of high-risk pregnancies and unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. Therefore, it is suggested that the health system consider and provide education related to reproductive health literacy as a part of healthy reproductive services.

Cannabinoid receptors as new targets for HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP) treatment.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The roles of endocannabinoids are described in immune modulation and neuroprotection. HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP) is an inflammatory neurodegenerative disease. Therefore, in this study, the interactions of HTLV-1 regulatory factors and host cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) were evaluated in HAM/TSP. METHODS: Nineteen HAM/TSPs, 22 asymptomatic carriers (ACs), and 18 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. RNA was extracted from PBMCs and then reverse-transcribed to cDNA. The gene expression of CB1R and CB2R, as well as HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL), Tax and HTLV-1 basic leucine zipper factor (HBZ) were assessed by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: The mean expression of CB1R in ACs (8.51 ± 2.76) was significantly higher than HAMTSPs (1.593 ± 0.74, p = 0.05) and also HCs (0.10 ± 0.039, p = 0.001). The CB2R gene expression level in ACs (2.62±0.44) was significantly higher than HAM/TSPs (0.59 ± 0.15, p = 0.001) and HCs (1.00 ± 0.2, p = 0.006). Meanwhile there was a strong correlation between CB1R and CB2R gene expression levels in the HCs and HAM/TSPs (p = 0.001). HTLV-1-Tax expression in HAM/TSPs (386 ± 104) was higher than ACs (75 ± 32) and statistically significant (p = 0.003). While HTLV-1-HBZ was only expressed in three AC subjects and five HAM/TSPs, thus it cannot be analyzed. CONCLUSION: The up-regulation of CB2R has immunomodulatory effects in inflammatory reactions. While CB1R as a neuroprotective agent may suppress inflammatory reactions in ACs, preventing HAM/TSP. It seems that, like multiple sclerosis (MS), cannabinoid medications are beneficial in HAM/TSP.

Intimate Partner Violence and Attachment Styles as Factors Associated with Coping Stress Styles Among Iranian Women.

The current study sought to examine attachment styles as mediators between intimate partner violence (IPV) and stress coping styles among Iranian women. Data were collected from September to December 2020. The study population was composed of 102 women who were referred to Social Emergency Centers in Isfahan and affected by domestic violence. They were given self-report questionnaires to measure IPV (the Haj-Yahia Violence Questionnaire), Stress Coping Styles (CISS), and Attachment Styles (AAQ). Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships. Sexual IPV victimization was related to both avoidant attachment (ß = .229, p = .015) and anxious attachment (ß = .245, p = .008). Anxious attachment style was related to emotion-oriented coping (ß = .437, p = .000). There was a negative relationship between avoidant attachment and anxious attachment (ß = -.237, p = .032) with avoidance-oriented coping. Sexual IPV victimization and economic IPV victimization were associated with avoidance-oriented coping (ß = -.225, t = 0.816, p = .015; ß = .188, t = 0.816, p = .044). Women who had experienced IPV and had an insecure attachment style were more likely to utilize avoidance and emotional coping strategies. For women who had a secure attachment style, there was no association was found between IPV victimization and coping styles. Attachment styles may influence the relationship between IPV and coping strategies in Iranian women who have experienced violence.

A comparative analysis of pairwise image stitching techniques for microscopy images.

Stitching of microscopic images is a technique used to combine multiple overlapping images (tiles) from biological samples with a limited field of view and high resolution to create a whole slide image. Image stitching involves two main steps: pairwise registration and global alignment. Most of the computational load and the accuracy of the stitching algorithm depend on the pairwise registration method. Therefore, choosing an efficient, accurate, robust, and fast pairwise registration method is crucial in the whole slide imaging technique. This paper presents a detailed comparative analysis of different pairwise registration techniques in terms of execution time and quality. These techniques included feature-based methods such as Harris, Shi-Thomasi, FAST, ORB, BRISK, SURF, SIFT, KAZE, MSER, and deep learning-based SuperPoint features. Additionally, region-based methods were analyzed, which were based on the normalized cross-correlation (NCC) and the combination of phase correlation and NCC. Investigations have been conducted on microscopy images from different modalities such as bright-field, phase-contrast, and fluorescence. The feature-based methods were highly robust to uneven illumination in tiles. Moreover, some features were found to be more accurate and faster than region-based methods, with the SURF features identified as the most effective technique. This study provides valuable insights into the selection of the most efficient and accurate pairwise registration method for creating whole slide images, which is essential for the advancement of computational pathology and biology.

Effects and safety of resveratrol supplementation in older adults: A comprehensive systematic review.

Resveratrol (RSV) has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its potential benefits against chronic diseases. However, its effects and safety in older adults have not been comprehensively studied. This study aimed to determine the effects and safety of RSV supplementation in older adults. MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were comprehensively searched for eligible studies. Studies were enrolled if they were randomized clinical trials and had incorporated RSV supplementation for older adults. Two independent authors conducted the literature search, and eligibility was determined according to the PICOS framework. Study details, intervention specifics, and relevant outcomes were collected during the data collection. The Cochrane RoB-2 tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias. This review included 10 studies. The combination of RSV and exercise improved exercise adaptation and muscle function in healthy older adults and physical performance and mobility measures in individuals with functional limitations. RSV showed potential neuroprotective effects in patients with Alzheimer's disease. In overweight individuals, RSV demonstrated a positive impact on cognitive function, but it increased some biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk at high doses. In older adults with diabetes and those with peripheral artery disease (PAD), RSV was not more effective than placebo. No study reported significant adverse events following RSV treatment. RSV can improve various health parameters in age-related health conditions. However, the optimal dosage, long-term effects, and potential interactions with medications still need to be investigated through well-designed RCTs.

NLP-Assisted Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) frequently coincides with other comorbidities such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, coronary artery disease, or atrial fibrillation. The exhibition of overlapping sets of symptoms associated with these conditions prevents early identification of an acute exacerbation upon admission to a hospital. Early identification of the underlying cause of exacerbation allows timely prescription of an optimal treatment plan as well as allows avoiding unnecessary clinical tests and specialist consultations. The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model for early identification of COPD exacerbation by using the clinical notes generated within 24 hours of admission to the hospital. The study cohort included patients with a prior diagnosis of COPD. Four predictive models have been developed, among which the support vector machine showed the best performance based on the resulting 80% F1 score.

Immunoregulatory effects of nanocurcumin in inflammatory milieu: Focus on COVID-19.

The use of natural compounds, such as curcumin, to treat infections caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, inflammatory diseases, and various types of cancer is an active and dynamic area of research. Curcumin has a long history of use in the food industry, and there is currently a growing interest in its therapeutic applications. Numerous clinical trials have consistently shown that curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, is safe and well-tolerated even at high doses. There is no toxicity limit. However, the clinical efficacy of curcumin has been limited by its constraints. However, scientific evidence indicates that the use of adjuvants and carriers, such as nanoparticles, exosomes, micelles, and liposomes, can help overcome this limitation. The properties, functions, and human benefits of using nanocurcumin are well-supported by scientific research. Recent evidence suggests that nanocurcumin may be a beneficial therapeutic modality due to its potential to decrease gene expression and secretion of specific inflammatory biomarkers involved in the cytokinestorm seen in severe COVID-19, as well as increase lymphocyte counts. Nanocurcumin has demonstrated the ability to improve clinical manifestations and modulate immune response and inflammation in various autoinflammatory diseases. Additionally, its efficacy, affordability, and safety make it a promising replacement for residual cancer cells after tumor removal. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of nanocurcumin as a new therapeutic in clinical trials, including appropriate dosage, frequency, and duration.

Correlates of normal and decreased HDL cholesterol levels in type 2 diabetes: a cohort-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The literature describes an inverse association between the values of triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). This survey was designed to exhibit the features of people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who display this inverse association and identify potential contributing factors to having normal HDL-C values. METHODS: A total of 6127 persons with T2D were assigned to the present survey. Demographic features and clinical status data were compared between subjects with a substantial inverse association of TG and HDL-C and those without. Logistic regressions were performed to ascertain the role of different factors related to normal HDL-C. Moreover, the restricted cubic spline (RCS) functions were conducted to scrutinize the underlying relationships between the studied variables and low HDL-C levels. RESULTS: Patients with high TG (150 ≤ TG < 400) compared to patients with normal TG (TG < 150) were less likely to have normal HDL-C. Younger age, narrow hip, lower levels of blood pressure, two-hour postprandial glucose (2hPP), fasting blood sugar (FBS), hemoglobinA1C (HbA1C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol, and non-HDL-C, higher atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and TG/HDL-C ratio correlate with an inverse connection between the values of HDL-C and TG (all P < 0.05). Age greater than 65 years (odds ratio (OR) 1.260, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.124-1.413) had a positive association, whereas female sex (OR 0.467, CI 0.416-0.523) , 25 kg/m2 < body mass index (BMI) (OR 0.786, CI 0.691-0.894), and higher serum creatinine levels (OR 0.481, CI 0.372-0.621) had an inverse association with having normal HDL-C. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with an inverse connection between TG and HDL-C values had considerably different anthropometric features, lipid profiles, and glucose indices compared to those without this relationship. Furthermore, patients who aged less than 65 years, had female gender, BMI more than 25 kg/m2, and higher serum creatinine levels were less likely to exhibit normal HDL-C levels.

New Insights into the Long Non-coding RNAs Dependent Modulation of Heart Failure and Cardiac Hypertrophy: From Molecular Function to Diagnosis and Treatment.

Heart failure (HF) is a public health issue that imposes high costs on healthcare systems. Despite the significant advances in therapies and prevention of HF, it remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The current clinical diagnostic or prognostic biomarkers, as well as therapeutic strategies, have some limitations. Genetic and epigenetic factors have been identified to be central to the pathogenesis of HF. Therefore, they might provide promising novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for HF. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) belong to a group of RNAs that are produced by RNA polymerase II. These molecules play an important role in the functioning of different cell biological processes, such as transcription and regulation of gene expression. LncRNAs can affect different signaling pathways by targeting biological molecules or a variety of different cellular mechanisms. The alteration in their expression has been reported in different types of cardiovascular diseases, including HF, supporting the theory that they are important in the development and progression of heart diseases. Therefore, these molecules can be introduced as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in HF. In this review, we summarize different lncRNAs as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic biomarkers in HF. Moreover, we highlight various molecular mechanisms dysregulated by different lncRNAs in HF.

Ciprofloxacin antibiotic removal from aqueous solutions by ZnO nanoparticles coated on ACA: modeling and optimization.

Antibiotics are one of the most widely used drug groups. The presence of antibiotics in urban water sources and sewage creates many environmental and medical risks for humans and other living organisms. In this study, the potential of zinc oxide (ZnO) coated on almond shell activated carbon (ACA-ZnO) in removing ciprofloxacin (CIP) from aqueous solutions was investigated. Almond shell was used to make activated carbon. Zinc oxide nanoparticles were prepared by the sol-gel method, and finally, ZnO nanoparticles were bonded to activated carbon. The effect of independent parameters pH, contact time, adsorbent dose, and initial CIP concentration on CIP removal efficiency using ACA-ZnO was investigated by response surface methodology. Optimal removal was obtained at pH = 5.4, CIP initial concentration = 7.4 mg/L, adsorbent dose = 0.82 g/L, and reaction time = 67.3 min. This study followed a quadratic model (R2 = 0.958). The best model of adsorption isotherm fits with the Freundlich model (R2 = 0.9972) and the maximum capacity was 251.42 mg/g adsorption kinetics, and pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.959). The results of this study showed that ACA-ZnO as an adsorbent is very efficient, without environmental side effect and cost-benefit.

Pharmacotechnical aspects of a stable probiotic formulation toward multidrug-resistance antibacterial activity: design and quality control.

As a well-known group of the probiotic family, the Lactobacillus has increasingly contributed to hindering the growth of pathogens, particularly resistant species, in the last decades. Since antibiotic resistance has become a severe problem in global healthcare systems and considerably increased the mortality and morbidity rate in infectious diseases, we aimed to obtain a new stable formulation of Lactobacillus to overcome resistant infections. For this purpose, we designed various gel formulations containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus) as an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in a water base and oil base gel, evaluated the probiotic stability in formulation to obtain an optimum formulation, and finally, investigated the antibacterial activities of that against two common hospital-associated multidrug-resistant pathogens, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Furthermore, the pharmaceutical aspects of the optimum formulation, including stability, homogeneity, spreadability, pH value, conductivity, and rheological behavior, were assessed.The results indicated that the optimum formulation based on glycerol exhibited desirable pharmaceutical properties, including long-term stability, a perfect level of homogeneity, an acceptable range of spreadability with pseudo-plastic thixotropic behavior, and a promising antibacterial potential against MRSA and VRE. Our findings indicate that this novel probiotic formulation could be an excellent candidate to cope with antibiotic-resistant species, representing a hopeful treatment potential for topical applications, particularly in incurable infections. However, further in vivo studies seem warranted to evaluate their bactericidal activity against multi-drug resistant microorganisms.

The lack of association between different LDL-C levels and oxidized LDL in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: High concentrations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) have been a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Also, the role of oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) in forming atherosclerosis plaque has been proven. However, it has not yet been proven that atherogenic LDL-C by-products like ox-LDL will decrease by keeping the LDL levels at the desired level. This study aimed to examine the relationship between LDL-C and ox-LDL in different LDL-C values in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 347 patients with T2D who received statins were enrolled. LDL-C values were defined into four groups as LDL-C < 55 mg/dL, 55 mg/dL ≤ to <70 mg/dL, 70 mg/dL ≤ to <100 mg/dL and LDL-C ≥ 100 mg/dL. Total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and ox-LDL were studied in the four defined groups. Results: Ox-LDL levels were not different among the four groups (p = 0.30). In addition, LDL-C and ox-LDL levels had no significant correlation (r = 0.480, p = 0.376). Additionally, based on this study analysis, ox-LDL levels were significantly correlated with TG levels (r = 0.119, p < 0.05) and TG/HDL ratio (r = 0.390, p < 0.01). Conclusions: It is concluded that ox-LDL levels were not associated with different LDL-C level categories from <55 mg/dL to >100 mg/dL in patients with T2D. However, the revealed association of ox-LDL with TG level and TG/HDL ratio may be considered in the clinic.

Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling: validity, diagnostic accuracy in lateralization of pituitary microadenoma, and treatment in eleven patients with Cushing's syndrome - a single-center retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This single-center retrospective cohort study aimed to describe the findings and validity of Bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling (BIPSS) in the differential diagnosis of patients with ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome (CS). METHODS: Eleven patients underwent BIPSS due to equivocal biochemical tests and imaging results. Blood samples were taken from the right inferior petrosal sinus (IPS), left IPS, and a peripheral vein before and after stimulation with desmopressin (DDAVP). ACTH and prolactin levels were measured. The diagnosis was based on the ACTH ratio between the IPS and the peripheral vein. Also, lateralization of pituitary adenoma in patients with Cushing's disease (CD) was predicted. No significant complications were observed with BIPSS. RESULTS: Based on the pathology report, eight patients had CD, and three had ectopic ACTH syndrome (EAS). Unstimulated BIPSS resulted in a sensitivity of 87.5%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, NPV of 75%, and accuracy of 91%. Stimulated BIPSS resulted in a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, NPV of 100%, and accuracy of 100%. However, pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) had a lower diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity:62.5%, specificity:33%, PPV:71%, NPV:25%, accuracy:54%). BIPSS accurately demonstrated pituitary adenoma lateralization in 75% of patients with CD. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that BIPSS may be a reliable and low-complication technique in evaluating patients with ACTH-dependent CS who had inconclusive imaging and biochemical test results. The diagnostic accuracy is improved by DDAVP stimulation. Pituitary adenoma lateralization can be predicted with the aid of BIPSS.

Decreasing trend of blood lipid profile in type 2 diabetes: Not a promising change in HDL-C, a serial cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been reported to be relatively high. The current study aimed to investigate the trend of serum lipid levels and the prevalence of dyslipidemia in patients with T2D. METHODS: Data were extracted from a cohort of patients with T2D who had regular follow-ups every year for three years. TG, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and non-HDL-C were analyzed. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) was calculated using log (TG/HDL-C). RESULTS: A total of 747 patients with T2D were included in this study, consisting of 469 (62.8%) women and 278 (37.2%) men. There was a significant downward trend in mean TG, TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and AIP levels. The trend of mean HDL-C levels showed no significant change. The prevalence of high TG, high TC, high LDL-C, and high non-HDL-C significantly decreased from the first to the last visit. There was no significant change in the trend of prevalence of low HDL-C. The prevalence of high AIP significantly decreased in women and showed no significant changes in men. CONCLUSIONS: A decreasing trend was observed in the mean levels and prevalence of TG, TC, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and AIP. HDL-C did not change significantly. The success rate in achieving a complete normal lipid profile during follow-up years was not promising and continues to be challenging.

Vitamin C supplementation lowers advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

This study evaluated how daily vitamin C administration impacts systemic oxidative stress and inflammation and its safety in T2D patients. This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm clinical trial included 70 patients with T2D. They were allocated to receive either 500 mg/day of vitamin C or a matching placebo for 8 weeks. Of the 70 subjects assigned to the trial, 57 were included in the statistical analysis (vitamin C: n = 32, placebo: n = 25). Inflammatory and oxidative markers, including advanced glycation end products (AGEs), malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were measured at baseline and the end of the trial. In addition, vitamin C tolerance was evaluated. A nutritionist visited all participants for a standard diabetic regimen. Following vitamin C supplementation, the serum levels of MDA (p-value < .001) and AGEs (p-value = .002) demonstrated a significant decrease after controlling for multiple confounders, including age, blood pressure, waist circumference, HbA1C, TG, and LDL-C, while no significant changes were observed for AOPP (p-value = .234) and ox-LDL (p-value = .480). The FRAP showed an increasing trend as an antioxidant marker but was not statistically significant (p-value = .312). The hs-CRP and TNF-α had no significant changes (p-value: .899 and .454, respectively). Also, no major adverse events were observed. Vitamin C supplementation may be beneficial in reducing AGEs and MDA in patients with T2D.

Effects of acupressure on intestinal function in patients with coronary artery bypass graft surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

Aim: This study aimed to determine the effects of acupressure on the intestinal function of patients undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery. Background: Studies indicated that cardiovascular patients are prone to constipation. Acupressure is one of the therapeutic and palliative approaches that can be used by doctors, nurses, and even patients themselves. Methods: The present three-group randomized clinical trial study was conducted on 90 patients undergoing CABG surgery. In the intervention group, 48 hours after surgery the patients received acupressure points LI4 and ST25 twice a day (10 am and 6 pm) for three sequential days. In the sham group, the patients received acupressure at a 1.5 cm distance from the LI4-ST25 points, and the patients in the control group received only the usual care. This research used a demographic and medical information questionnaire, Rome IV scale, Bristol stool scale, symptom registration checklist, and daily excretion assessment checklist. The intestinal function indices were completed 24 hours after surgery (before intervention), 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours after surgery. Results: All three intervention, sham, and control groups were without defecation in 24 hours (before intervention) and 48 hours after surgery. There was a significant difference between the three intervention, sham, and control groups in the number of stools after 72 hours, 96 hours, and 120 hours after the intervention (p<0.001). Also, a significant difference was observed among the three groups in terms of stool consistency 96 hours after the start of the intervention (p=0.032) and 120 hours after the start of the intervention (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results showed that patients had a significant improvement in the number of bowel movements and stool consistency in the intervention group. In acute conditions, acupressure on LI4-ST25 points can positively affect intestinal function when patients are hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

Lipid profile, ox-LDL, and LCAT activity in patients with endometrial carcinoma and type 2 diabetes: The effect of concurrent disease based on a case-control study.

Background and Aim: The role of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in endometrial cancer (EC) or EC with concurrent type 2 diabetes is still unclear. This study investigated the LCAT activity, ox-LDL, and lipid profile in EC patients with or without type 2 diabetes and compared them with healthy individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes alone. Methods: In this cross-sectional, case-control study, 93 female participants were recruited. The participants were divided into four groups, including EC with type 2 diabetes (n = 19), EC without type 2 diabetes (n = 17), type 2 diabetes (n = 31), and healthy controls (n = 26). Sociodemographic information, the LCAT activity, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and ox-LDL levels were collected. One-way analysis of variance and analysis of covariance, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and χ 2-test were used to compare demographic features and laboratory results among studied groups. Regression analyses were also performed to evaluate the interaction effect between EC and type 2 diabetes on serum LCAT activity. Results: The LCAT activity was significantly lower, and ox-LDL levels were significantly higher in all patient groups compared to the healthy controls (p < 0.001). EC patients had significantly lower LCAT activity and higher ox-LDL levels than type 2 diabetes and healthy groups (p < 0.05). Higher levels of TG and lower levels of HDL-C were observed in all patient groups compared to the healthy group (all p < 0.001). Patients with EC and concomitant type 2 diabetes had significantly lower serum LDL-C levels than healthy and type 2 diabetes groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The combination of EC and type 2 diabetes had a subadditive effect on LCAT activity and ox-LDL level. The lowest LCAT activity and the highest ox-LDL levels were observed in patients with EC and concurrent type 2 diabetes.

Transcatheter closure of a ruptured sinus of valsalva: a systematic review of the literature.

Background: Ruptured sinus of Valsalva (RSOV) is a rare pathology, and current data regarding its symptoms, anatomy, associated pathologies, and appropriate therapeutic approaches are scarce. Transcatheter closure (TCC) has been performed in multiple cases; however, the information on its success rate and complications is limited. Methods: Two independent reviewers performed an advanced search based on inclusion criteria on Scopus, PubMed, and Embase from January 1985 through July 2022. The main search terms were "Sinus of Valsalva", "Rupture/Aneurysm", and "Transcatheter/Catheter/Device". Results: Totally, 1,017 relevant articles from the 3 databases were retrieved. After the final review and appraisal, 94 articles describing 407 patients who underwent the TCC of RSOV were included. Males comprised 65% of the studied patients, and the average age was 34.5 years. The total success rate of TCC was 95.6%. Forty-nine patients (12%) developed complications, the most significant of which were sustained residual shunts in 7 patients (1.7%), substantial new onset or progression of aortic insufficiency in 6 (1.5%), and RSOV recurrence in 6 (1.5%). Post-interventional mortality was reported in only 2 patients (0.5%). Conclusions: The present study is the first systematic review of available data regarding the TCC of RSOV principally comprising case series and case reports. Although TCC seems a good option, precise patient selection is mandatory.