Structure-bioactivity relationship study on anticancer Pd and Pt complexes with aliphatic glycine derivative ligands.

To investigate the structure and bioactivity relationship, six Pd(II)/Pt(II) complexes with N-isobutylglycine (L1) and cyclohexylglycine (L2) as N^O amino acid bidentate ligands, 1,10'-phenanthroline (phen) and 2,2'-bipyridine (bipy) as N^N donor ligands, and [Pd(L1)(bipy)]NO3 (1), [Pd(L2)(bipy)]NO3 (2), [Pd(L1)(phen)]NO3 (3), [Pd(L2)(phen)]NO3·2H2O (4), [Pt(L1)(phen)]NO3 (5), along with [Pt(L2)(phen)]NO3 (6) were prepared and then characterized. The geometry of each compound was validated by doing a DFT calculation. Furthermore, tests were conducted on the complexes' water solubilities and lipophilicity. All bipy complexes had superior aqueous solubility and less lipophilicity in comparison with phen complexes, as well as complexes containing cyclohexyl-glycine compared to isobutyl-glycine complexes, probably because of the steric effects and polarity of cyclohexylglycine. The in-vitro anticancer activities of these compounds were examined against HCT116, A549, and MCF7 cancerous cell lines. Data revealed that all Pd/Pt complexes demonstrate higher anticancer activity than carboplatin, and complexes 3 and 4 are more cytotoxic than cisplatin against the HCT116 cell line, particularly against MCF7 cancerous cells. In addition, among all compounds, complex 4 has more anticancer ability than oxaliplatin. Due to different solubility and lipophilicity behavior, the accumulation of Pt complexes and clinical Pt drugs in each cancerous cell was investigated. The binding capabilities of these complexes to DNA, as the main target in chemotherapy, occur through minor grooves and intercalate into DNA, which was done using absorption, fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Finally, the docking simulation study showed the mode of DNA bindings is in good agreement with the spectral binding data.

The association between paleolithic diet pattern scores and psychological disorders in Iranian adults.

BACKGROUND: There is evidence indicating that the transition from traditional Paleolithic lifestyle to contemporary lifestyle plays a significant impact in the occurrence and widespread of psychological problems. This study aimed to examine the associations between the Paleolithic diet (PD) and the Paleolithic-like lifestyle and the likelihood of psychological issues in adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 7165 participants who were enrolled in the Yazd Health Study (YaHS) and Yazd Nutrition Study (TAMYZ). To evaluate the participants' food intake, a reliable 178-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was utilized. The PD score was computed using the food intakes of subjects received from FFQ. The study utilized the authorized Iranian version of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS 21) to evaluate psychological illnesses and stress levels. RESULTS: The mean ± SD of PD and Paleolithic-like lifestyle scores were 38.93 ± 5.27 and 48.48 ± 5.61, respectively. Based on the findings of the present study, after adjusting for potential confounders, it seems that increasing adherence to PD alone or in combination with lifestyle factors significantly reduces the risk of anxiety (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.49-0.96; P-trend = 0.044 and OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.48-0.96; P-trend = 0.047, respectively). However, significant effects on the risk of depression and stress were not observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our research indicates that adhering to a Paleolithic diet, either alone or in conjunction with lifestyle factors, significantly reduces the risk of anxiety in the general population.

Electrocardiography changes and different stages of heart failure in central Iran: A cross-sectional study from Yazd Health Study.

Background and Aims: Electrocardiography (ECG) is a widely accessible, noninvasive, and cost-effective diagnostic instrument used to evaluate patients with suspected heart failure (HF). The aim of this study is to investigate electrocardiographic changes in patients with different stages of HF in a random population of Yazd city. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study included 319 individuals, randomly selected, aged 40 years and more, registered in the Yazd Health Study was conducted from March 2022 to May 2023 at Afshar Hospitals. In accordance with the AHA/ACC guidelines, HF was classified into four stages (A, B, C, and D). Results: The 159 individuals were classified in the stage 0 group, 77 were in Stage A, 65 were in Stage B, and 18 were in Stage C of HF. In the Stage 0, the PR interval (PRi) was 130.5 ± 18.1 ms, while in Stage C, it was 143.3 ± 21.9 ms, with a significant difference (p = 0.047). Similarly, the QRS interval (QRSi) increased with HF staging (p = 0.001). The frequency of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia (HLP), chronic heart disease, alcoholism, and PRi, QRSi, QT interval levels were independent predictors of HF stage in multivariate regression analysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of HF stages, as classified by the AHA/ACC guidelines, was observed, with significant correlations between ECG parameters and HF progression. abnormal rhythms, left bundle branch block, ischemia, hypertrophy, and left atrial enlargement increased with higher HF stages. Major risk factors like DM and HTN exhibited a heightened prevalence in advanced HF stages, accentuating their pivotal role in the progression of HF.

Selective Hydrolysis of Ovalbumin by Zr-Based Lacunary Polyoxotungstate in Surfactant Solutions.

This study aims to design an artificial metalloprotease based on a Zr-containing polyoxometalate Na8[Zr(W5O18)2] [Zr(W5)2] for the hydrolysis of ovalbumin (OVA) in the presence of different surfactants, which can be used in many areas of the biological and medical sciences, particularly for targeted proteolytic drug design. For this reason, parameters, including the free energy of binding, the chemical nature of amino acid residues, secondary structures, and electrostatic potentials, of Zr(W5)2-OVA and Zr(W5)2-OVA-surfactant were analyzed by molecular docking simulations. The investigations showed that the presence of surfactants decreases the binding affinity of Zr(W5)2 for OVA amino acids, and hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions are formed between Zr(W5)2 and OVA amino acids. Additionally, GROMACS further illustrated the significance of SDS and CTAB surfactants in influencing the conformational changes of the OVA that lead to selective protein hydrolysis. In agreement with molecular dynamics simulation results, the experimental analysis showed more protein hydrolysis for the Zr(W5)2-OVA-surfactant systems. For instance, circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated that Zr(W5)2-OVA-CTAB and Zr(W5)2-OVA-TX-100 were more hydrolytically efficient due to the increased level of ß-structures rather than α-chains, which showed that surfactants can facilitate the accessibility of Zr(W5)2 to the cleavage sites by inducing partial unfolding of the OVA structure.

The effect of data balancing approaches on the prediction of metabolic syndrome using non-invasive parameters based on random forest.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities (including obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia), which can be used to identify at-risk populations for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The achievement of a simple approach for diagnosing MetS without needing biochemical tests is so valuable. The present study aimed to predict MetS using non-invasive features based on a successful random forest learning algorithm. Also, to deal with the problem of data imbalance that naturally exists in this type of data, the effect of two different data balancing approaches, including the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) and Random Splitting data balancing (SplitBal), on model performance is investigated. RESULTS: The most important determinant for MetS prediction was waist circumference. Applying a random forest learning algorithm to imbalanced data, the trained models reach 86.9% and 79.4% accuracies and 37.1% and 38.2% sensitivities in men and women, respectively. However, by applying the SplitBal data balancing technique, the best results were obtained, and despite that the accuracy of the trained models decreased by 7.8% and 11.3%, but their sensitivity improved significantly to 82.3% and 73.7% in men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The random forest learning method, along with data balancing techniques, especially SplitBal, could create MetS prediction models with promising results that can be applied as a useful prognostic tool in health screening programs.

Anticancer Drug Extraction from Plasma Samples Using Three-Dimensional Polyoxometalate-Based Supramolecular Frameworks as Sorbents.

Four self-assembled inorganic-organic hybrid materials, namely, H{Na(H2O)3[Gd(PDA)(H2O)2]3[BW12O40]}·4H2O (1), H{Na(H2O)3[Tb(PDA)(H2O)2]3[BW12O40]}·3H2O (2), H{Na(H2O)3[Er(PDA)(H2O)3]3[BW12O40]}·H2O (3) (PDA = 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxylate), and [Pr3(H2O)13(pydc-OH)2][BW12O40]·12H2O (4) (pydc-OH = 4-hydroxy-2,6-pyridinedicarboxylate), were hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. Hybrids 1-3 are isostructural and contain a Keggin unit, which is linked to lanthanoids to produce distinct trinuclear lanthanoid building blocks. The fragments are connected by anion-π and hydrogen bonding interactions to create 3D networks. In hybrid 4, a trimeric Pr-organic species bearing a Keggin unit forms a 2D coordination polymer, and then hydrogen bonding interactions between 2D layers lead to the formation of a 3D structure. These polyoxometalate-based frameworks were used as sorbents for the dispersive microsolid-phase extraction (D-µSPE) of two anticancer drugs (doxorubicin and epirubicin) in human plasma samples. Analytes were quantified and separated using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD). The method's linearity was between 0.8-500 ng mL-1 and 1.0-500 ng mL-1 for the antineoplastic drugs doxorubicin and epirubicin, respectively. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) were in the range of 0.2-0.3 ng mL-1, while the precision was in the range of 3.5-4.3%. Finally, human plasma samples from patients treated with doxorubicin or epirubicin were analyzed by using the D-µSPE-HPLC-FLD method.

Metabolic syndrome prediction using non-invasive and dietary parameters based on a support vector machine.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a widely used index for finding people at risk for chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Early detection of MetS is especially important in prevention programs. Relying on previous studies that suggest machine learning methods as a valuable approach for diagnosing MetS, this study aimed to develop MetS prediction models based on support vector machine (SVM) algorithms, applying non-invasive and low-cost (NI&LC), and also dietary parameters. METHODS AND RESULTS: This population-based research was conducted on a large dataset of 4596 participants within the framework of the Shahedieh cohort study. An Extremely Randomized Trees Classifier was used to select the most effective features among NI&LC and dietary data. The prediction models were developed based on SVM algorithms, and their performance was assessed by accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive prediction value, negative prediction value, f1-score, and receiver operating characteristic curve. MetS was diagnosed in 14% of men and 22% of women. Among NI&LC features, waist circumference, body mass index, waist-to-height ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were the most predictive variables. By using NI&LC features, models with 78.4% and 63.5% accuracy and 81.2% and 75.3% sensitivity were yielded for men and women, respectively. By incorporating NI&LC and dietary features, the accuracy of the model in women improved by 3.7%. CONCLUSIONS: SVM algorithms had promising potential for early detection of MetS relying on NI&LC parameters. These models can be used in prevention programs, clinical practice, and personal applications.

Evaluation of lifestyle and dietary inflammatory score and their relationship with the odds of depression, stress, and anxiety in adults living in Yazd, Iran; based on YaHS and TAMYZ cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and stress are becoming more common worldwide. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between dietary inflammations scores (DIS) and lifestyle inflammation scores (LIS) and the risk of depression, stress, and anxiety in a large sample of Iranian adults. METHODS: This study was based on 5579 adults (20-70 years) who participated in the Yazd Health Study (YaHS). The DIS score was calculated from the intake of 19 food groups and the LIS score was derived from four components. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (ORs) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) of depression, stress, and anxiety across quartiles of DIS and LIS. RESULTS: 2749 of the participants (46 % male) had anxiety, depression and stress. According to the adjusted model, there was a positive association between LIS and the risk of anxiety (OR: 1.23, 95 % CI: 1.01-1.49) and depression (OR: 1.39, 95 % CI: 1.14-1.69, P for trend: 0.03). However, there was no significant association between LIS and the risk of stress. There was also no significant association between DIS and the risk of anxiety, depression and stress. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that higher LIS scores were associated with depression and anxiety. It is suggested that following a LIS that includes smoking status, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and body mass index as indicators of the inflammatory promoting lifestyle, may increase the risk of depression and anxiety.

The association between dietary anti-oxidant quality score and psychological disorders among Iranian adults: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Evidence linking relation between dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS) and psychological disorders is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to assess relationship between DAQSs and psychological disorders including depression, anxiety and stress among Iranian adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data on 7165 participants of the recruitment phase of Yazd Health Study (YaHS) and Taghzieh Mardom-e-Yazd Study (TAMYZ). Dietary intakes and psychological problems were evaluated using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and the validated Iranian version of depression, anxiety and stress scale questionnaire. DAQS was calculated for each person by summing up the assigned scores to a ratio between daily consuming each of the nutrients including vitamin A, C, E, selenium, manganese, zinc and their daily recommended intake (Score of 0 for a ratio of <2/3 and 1 for a ratio of >2/3). Eventually, association between DAQS and psychological disorders was assessed via logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Although no significant relationship was observed between DAQS and psychological disorders in general population, a protective role was found for DAQS against anxiety only in women after adjusting history of chronic disease; age; marital status; education level; smoking status; total energy intake and physical activity level (second tertile versus first tertile: OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.40-0.99). However, this finding was nonsignificant after further adjustment for body mass index. CONCLUSION: Average levels of DAQS might be related to psychological distress especially among women. However, more studies are recommended to valid the findings.

Dietary phytochemical index and psychological disorders in a large sample of Iranian adults: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Intake of plant foods and phytochemicals can decrease the odds of mental health. AIM: The aim of study is to investigate the association between Dietary Phytochemical Index (DPI) with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress in a large sample of Iranian adults. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 7385 adults aged 20-50 years old were provided from the recruitment phase of Yazd Health Study, a population-based cohort research on Iranian adults. Food intakes were assessed via a validated and reliable food frequency questionnaire. Symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress were assessed using a validated Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales questionnaire with 21-items. DPI was calculated by the percent of daily energy intake taken from phytochemical-rich foods. RESULTS: After adjustment for potential confounders, normal weight subjects in the highest tertile of DPI had lower odds of depression (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.44-0.97) and anxiety symptoms (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.45-0.93) compared with those in the lowest tertile. However, the apparent association was not found between depression, anxiety and stress in overweight and obese subjects. CONCLUSION: We found a significant association between DPI and mental health in normal weight adults. Prospective studies are required to approve these conclusions.

Empirical dietary inflammatory index and lifestyle inflammation score relationship with obesity: A population-based cross-sectional study.

The present study aimed to investigate the association between the empirical dietary inflammatory index (EDII) and lifestyle inflammatory score (LIS) with general and abdominal obesity in Iranian adults using data from the Yazd Health study (YaHS). This cross-sectional study was conducted using the information of participants of the YaHS study. The dietary assessment was conducted using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and anthropometric measurements assessed by standard protocols. The inflammatory potential of diet and lifestyle were calculated using EDII and LIS scores. We also created a combinational index of EDII and LIS as an EDII-LIS score. General and abdominal obesity were defined based on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) cut points, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of general and abdominal obesity across tertiles of EDII and LIS were estimated using logistic regression analyses, adjusted for potential confounders. A significant association was found between a higher EDII score and general obesity (OR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.04-1.41, p trend: .016), however, there was no significant association between EDII and both definitions of abdominal obesity. Participants in the highest versus lowest tertile of LIS had higher odds of increased abdominal obesity (ORWC: 37.0, 95% CI: 28.8-47.5, p trend <.001, ORWHR: 3.30, 95% CI: 2.65-4.11, p trend <.001). In addition, there was also a direct relationship between the higher score of EDII-LIS and the increased likelihood of abdominal obesity (ORWC: 15.0, 95% CI: 12.3-18.3, p trend <.001, ORWHR: 2.68, 95% CI: 2.18-3.29, p trend <.001). Greater adherence to the EDII score was associated with a higher odds of general obesity, but not abdominal obesity. Also, individuals with a higher score of LIS and EDII-LIS are more prone to abdominal obesity.

Magnetic solid-phase extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water samples using magnetic carbon nanofiber/MIL-101(Cr) nanocomposites.

In this study, magnetic carbon nanofibers (Fe3O4@CNF) were modified with MIL-101(Cr) (Fe3O4@CNF@MIL-101) and used as sorbents for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) to extract polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from real water samples. Gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) was used for the determination of the PAHs. The effect of experimental variables on the extraction efficiency of PAHs was investigated and optimized. These variables include the quantity of sorbent, the kind and volume of the elution solvent, the duration of extraction and desorption, and the salt concentration. The linear range was found to be 0.01 to 200 ng mL-1 with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.9906 to 0.9931 after the effective extraction parameters were optimized. Its detection limits (LOD) were also calculated to be between 0.003 and 0.005 ng mL-1 (S/N = 3). The method's repeatability was tested at three different concentration levels (0.1, 1, and 10 ng mL-1), and relative standard deviations (RSDs%) were obtained in the range of 2.3 to 5.0%. Finally, using the MSPE-GC-FID method, PAHs were extracted from tap water, wastewater, seawater, and spring water samples. The relative recoveries were in the range of 95.7 to 99.8%.

Efficient oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides catalyzed by heterogeneous Zr-containing polyoxometalate grafted on graphene oxide.

In this study, a tri-component composite named Zr/SiW12/GO was meticulously prepared through an ultrasonic-assisted method. This composite incorporates zirconium nanoparticles (Lewis acid), a negatively charged Keggin type polyoxometalate, and graphene oxide, and serves as a remarkable heterogeneous catalyst. The Keggin component plays multiple roles as reducing, encapsulating, and bridging agents, resulting in a cooperative effect among the three components that significantly enhances the catalytic activity. The catalytic performance of Zr/SiW12/GO was thoroughly investigated in the oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides under mild conditions, employing H2O2 as the oxidant. Remarkably, this composite exhibited exceptional stability and could be effortlessly recovered and reused up to four times without any noticeable loss in its catalytic activity.

The relationship between dietary lipophilic index and load with depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Dietary fatty acids can affect brain health by modifying neuronal membrane fluidity. Dietary lipophilic index (LI) and load (LL) may be related to cell membrane fluidity. This study aimed to determine the relationship between dietary LI and LL with symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, taken from the YaHS (Yazd Health Study) population-based cohort, the data of 2,982 individuals was extracted. Several questionnaires- a 178-item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale 21 (DASS 21), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)- were used to obtain information on dietary intake, mental status, and physical activity, respectively. LI and LL were calculated using dietary intake and the melting point of each fatty acid. RESULTS: The analysis was performed on 2982 individuals. The odds ratio of depression in the second tertile of dietary LI compared to the first tertile was 0.815 (95% CI 0.66-1.00, P = 0.051, Ptrend = 0.017) and after adjusting confounders was 0.793 (95% CI 0.63-0.99, P = 0.043, Ptrend = 0.011). Also, LL was related inversely with anxiety (0.771, 95% CI 0.63-0.93, P = 0.003) that after multiple regression, OR of anxiety was 0.762 (95% CI 0.53-1.07, P = 0.045). The odds of stress in the third tertile of LL was 1.064 but not statistically significant (95% CI 0.88-1.28, P = 0.729). CONCLUSION: This study showed an inverse association between dietary LI and depression symptoms. Anxiety and stress did not show a significant relationship with LI or LL.

Spirometric Parameters in Waterpipe Smokers, Cigarette Smokers, and Non-smokers of Shahedieh Cohort Study.

Background: Different kinds of smoking tobacco may affect pulmonary function and reduce some spirometric parameters. This study aimed to assess the relationship between smoking cigarettes and waterpipe and spirometric parameters. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 1543 middle-aged individuals, as a sub-study of the Shahedieh cohort study in Yazd. The participants were randomly selected from the Shahedieh cohort population and were divided into 6 groups according to their smoking habits: non-smokers (n=455), cigarette smokers (n=139), waterpipe smokers (n=287), ex-cigarette smokers (n=131), concurrent waterpipe and cigarette smokers (n=121), and cigarette or waterpipe passive smokers (n=410). Spirometry was performed on all participants and spirometric parameters were compared between different groups. The data were analyzed by SPSS (version 20) using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Kruskal-Wallis, and Mann-Whitney U tests. Findings: FEV1 %, FEV1/FVC, and PEF25-75% were significantly lower in cigarette smokers, compared to waterpipe smokers and non-smokers. The measures were not significantly lower in waterpipe smokers in comparison to non-smokers. The frequency of obstructive pattern and small airway diseases was significantly higher in cigarette smokers compared to waterpipe smokers and non-smokers. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that in the middle-aged population, spirometric parameters related to airway obstruction (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, and FEF25-75%) were significantly lower in cigarette smokers than in non-smokers and waterpipe smokers, but these parameters were not significantly different between waterpipe smokers and non-smokers.

Electrospun mesh pattern of polyvinyl alcohol/zirconium-based metal-organic framework nanocomposite as a sorbent for extraction of phthalate esters.

Herein, an electrospun composite polyvinyl alcohol/zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (PVA@UiO-66) nanofiber coating was prepared on the surface of stainless steel mesh (SSM) and then utilized as novel sorbent for the extraction of phthalate esters (PEs) in milk and water samples. Gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) was used for the quantitative determination of extracted analytes. The SSM coated with PVA@UiO-66 was used in a polypropylene syringe to fabricate the solid-phase extraction (SPE) device. The PVA@UiO-66 nanofiber coating was confirmed using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis (FT-IR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The effective parameters of the extraction efficiency including volume and type of desorption solvent, sample volume, ionic strength, pH, extraction flow rate, and desorption flow rate were optimized. At the optimal extraction conditions, the calibration plots for phthalate esters were linear within the range of 0.05-100 ng mL-1 and, low detection limits (0.015-0.06 ng mL-1). Finally, this semi-automated SPE was used for the extraction and detection of phthalate esters (PEs) in milk and various environmental real water samples. The results showed good precision with acceptable and satisfactory extraction recovery values ranging from 89.5 to 99.2% and relative standard deviations (RSDs%) ranging from 4.5 to 6.9%.

Insulinemic potential of diet and psychological disorders: A cross-sectional, population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Serum insulin levels and insulin sensitivity can impact mental disorders. This study investigates the association of the insulinemic potential of diet calculated using the empirical dietary indices for insulin resistance (EDIR) and hyperinsulinemia (EDIH) with psychological disorders, including depression, anxiety, and stress. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was undertaken on 5405 individuals, aged 20-70, from the Yazd Health Study (YaHS). The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect dietary intakes. EDIR and EDIH were calculated from the FFQ data. Psychological disorders were assessed by an Iranian-validated version of the depression, anxiety, and stress scale questionnaire 21 (DASS 21). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed and odds ratio (OR) and 95 % confidence interval (CI) were reported. RESULTS: The mean ± SD of EDIR and EDIH were 0.32 ± 0.17 and 0.11 ± 0.08 in the total population, respectively. In the final adjusted model, participants in the highest versus the lowest quartile of EDIR had statistically higher odds of depression (OR: 1.28; 95 % CI: 1.01-1.62, P-trend = 0.032). However, no statistically significant association was observed between the EDIH score and depression. Also, EDIR and EDIH scores were not significantly associated with the odds of anxiety and stress. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design of the study prevented the inference of causality. CONCLUSIONS: Higher adherence to EDIR was positively associated with depression, but there was no significant association between EDIH and depression. EDIR and EDIH were also not significantly related to anxiety or stress.

Evaluating Neck Circumference as an Independent Predictor of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components Among Adults: A Population-Based Study.

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a public health problem worldwide, represents a high-risk condition for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The reserve of subcutaneous fat in the upper torso is an important factor in the development of MetS and its risk factors. As neck circumference (NC) is a simple and reliable index that indicates upper-body subcutaneous fat accumulation, this study was conducted to investigate the association between NC with MetS and its components in a large population-based sample of Iranian adults. Methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 2094 individuals aged 20-70 years from Yazd Health Study (YaHS). MetS was defined based on the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. NC more than 40.25 cm for men and more than 35.75 cm for women was considered a high-risk NC. Logistic regression analysis was applied to obtain the associations of NC with MetS and its component. Results After adjusting for age, BMI, energy intake, physical activity, and smoking in those whose NC was higher than normal, the risk of the MetS (odds ratio {OR}: 2.32; 95%CI: 1.55-3.46, P<0.001 in men and OR: 2.56; 95%CI: 1.76-3.74, P<0.001 in women), abdominal obesity (OR: 4.39; 95%CI: 2.67-7.23, P<0.001 in men and OR: 1.92; 95%CI: 1.27-2.90, P=0.002 in women), high blood pressure (OR: 1.54; 95%CI: 1.07-2.21, P=0.02 in men and OR: 1.51; 95%CI: 1.06-2.14, P=0.02 in women), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (OR: 1.47; 95%CI: 1.01-2.15, P=0.04 in men and OR: 1.69; 95%CI: 1.23-2.32, P=0.001 in women), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR: 1.41; 95%CI: 1.03-1.99, P=0.04 in men and OR: 1.68; 95%CI: 1.17-2.41, P=0.005 in women) were higher. There was no significant difference in the risk of hyperglycemia between the two NC groups in both sexes. The Pearson's correlation coefficients of NC with waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index, and waist-to-height ratio were 0.52, 0.43, 0.41, and 0.31, respectively (P<0.001). Moreover, NC had a considerable correlation with serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure (0.27, -0.30, 0.29, 0.25, P<0.001), respectively. Conclusion Increased NC was significantly associated with higher odds of MetS and its components. Since NC measurement is simple, inexpensive, reliable, and less invasive, it can be used as a complementary tool in the screening and diagnosis of MetS and its risk factors in clinical and community programs especially in developing countries.

Insulinaemic potential of diet and lifestyle and risk of type 2 diabetes in the Iranian adults: result from Yazd health study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that insulin directly affects the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) but the relationship between insulinaemic potential of diet and lifestyle and the T2DM risk is still unknown. Accordingly, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the insulinaemic potential of diet and lifestyle based on indices including empirical dietary index for hyperinsulinaemia (EDIH), empirical lifestyle index for hyperinsulinaemia (ELIH), empirical dietary index for insulin resistance (EDIR) and empirical lifestyle index for insulin resistance (ELIR) and the T2DM risk in the Iranian adults. METHODS: This study was performed on data of enrollment phase of the Yazd Health Study (YaHS) and TAghzieh Mardom-e-Yazd (Yazd Nutrition Study) (TaMYZ) on 5714 adults aged 20-70 years (mean: 36.29 years). A validated food frequency questionnaire and clinical tests were used to assess food intake and T2DM ascertainment, respectively. We used the Cox regression analysis for determining the relationship between the indices and T2DM risk. RESULTS: After adjusting for confounding variables, our findings showed that diet with higher ELIH score is 2.28 times more likely for T2DM risk (RR 2.28 [95% CI 1.69-2.56]), but there was no significant relationship between the EDIH, ELIR and EDIR scores and T2DM risk in adults, in the entire study population. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that diets with higher ELIH score increases the T2DM risk, but there was no significant relationship between the EDIH, ELIR and EDIR scores and T2DM risk. Further epidemiological studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Impact of flexibility on the aggregation of polymeric macromolecules.

Dependence of the dimerization probability and the aggregation behavior of polymeric macromolecules on their flexibility is studied using Langevin dynamics simulations. It is found that the dimerization probability is a non-monotonic function of the polymers persistence length. For a given value of inter-polymer attraction strength, semiflexible polymers have lower dimerization probability relative to flexible and rigid polymers of the same length. The threshold temperature of the formation of aggregates in a many-polymer system and its dependence on the polymers persistence length is also investigated. The simulation results of two- and many-polymer systems are in good agreement and show how the amount of flexibility affects the dimerization and the aggregation behaviors of polymeric macromolecules.